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The Difference Between this Season and Last

Discussion in 'Hull City' started by StrovolosTiger, Aug 20, 2011.

  1. StrovolosTiger

    StrovolosTiger Well-Known Member

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    It really doesn't surprise me we have made such a poor start this season because we have not addressed our deficiencies from last season and we have also lost one of the big positives from last season.

    Our defence now looks very edgy. Today CP barely threatened, but when they did (particularly in that first half) we looked like we would concede. Why? Because Jack Hobbs is a million miles away from Anthony Gerrard. I've said it before and the way things are going I will likely say it again, Hobbs is a panicker and lack basic intelligence. Classic example of this was in the second half when Joe Dudgeon wen in for a tackle in our half and got his foot stood on. Hobbling and obviously needing time to recover, what does Hobbs do? He passes him the ball. We somehow need to gain some composure at the back, composure that we had in bucket-loads when Chester partnered Gerrard last season.

    Next difference is, our attack is nowhere near as good as last year. When you consider we were, I think the second or third lowest scorers last season, that is REALLY worrying. This is mainly due to the complete loss of form of Matty Fryatt. AGAIN in the first half he blew a one-on-one with the goalie and generally looked off the pace once more. Not his fault that he's lost form but it shows our lack of depth up front when he fails to produce the goods and nobody else steps up to the plate.

    Finally, we have not go the "defence-unlocking-midfielder" we were so publicly after. Tom Cairney played really well today but still failed to pick a pass behind the defenders that put a striker in. Robbie Brady is quick and skillful, but someone needs to teach him how to deliver that ball into dangerous areas as he doesn't do that well enough or regularly enough.



    What's the answer? Simple, we need a skillful, big, tough centre forward in the Grant Holt, Rickie Lambert mould, someone to EFFECTIVELY make chances for Fryatt so that he can face goal instead of always have his back to goal. We need an Anthony Gerrard ( if not the man himself ) an experienced, quality centre half that isn't over 30 years of age that can marshall the defensive line. And we need a quick attacking midfielder that can create opportunities and make runs into the box to score (Jacob Butterfield please!)


    All in all a VERY disappointing day and Nigel Pearson didn't do himself any favours with his rude and evasive responses to some quite reasonable questions from Burnsie after the match. Pearson is a good manager but his media presence is very poor. Someone should tell him that when he talks to Burnsie he is, in reality, talking to the fans and when reasonable questions are asked they deserve an honest answer.


    Final note, loved Aaron McLeans wipeout of their keeper late on. If he was 6 inches taller he would be a top striker.
     
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  2. Nick HCAFC

    Nick HCAFC Active Member

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    442 not one striker up front, simple solution.
     
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  3. StrovolosTiger

    StrovolosTiger Well-Known Member

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    We played 433 today.
     
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  4. Jobboshinpad

    Jobboshinpad Active Member

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    Can't disagree with any of the above but thats because I'm terribly terribly disappointed I feel like we've lost the best player thats ever donned the black and amber!!! Nope we've just lost 3 out of 4! Oh wait, we've just joined a relegation battle:(

    I just can't see how NP can reformat, galvanise, change, improve the group of players I saw today into something capable of matching last seasons performance???? IS this just me or can anyone see a silver lining to this very black looking cloud?
     
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  5. H-D

    H-D Active Member

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    I agree Strovolos, but we don't have the resources to acquire 3 top quality Championship players. We'll undoubtedly dip into the market before January, but I can only see loans coming in. Our main focus has to be improving the attack, whether we'll do that by bringing someone in or changing the strategy I don't know.

    Hobbs had a bad day - I think he's a good player, but some of his long range passes were just horrendous. His positioning and awareness isn't as poor as people make out, he just needs to improve on his distribution (or leave it to Chester to carry the ball out from defence).

    NP's interview on Humberside is a non issue for me, we know how he is with the media and I thought we had grown to accept that - people are just finding negatives with the manager after a poor performance. We can all criticise tactics and substitutions, in my view he got some of that wrong, but I don't think his supposed obnoxiousness and rudeness in the Burnsy interview can be held against him.
     
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  6. Febbos

    Febbos Well-Known Member

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    Well yeah, last 15 minutes......:emoticon-0120-doh:
     
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  7. Carmine Galante.

    Carmine Galante. Well-Known Member

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    It's not Hobbs' job to hit forty yard passes, it's the midfields .

    The poor bastard made dozens of really simple passes to feet to Evans, Cairney, Koren,Brady and McKenna only to get the ball back two seconds later.
    Bullard was a **** but he made finding
    space and time look easy ,something our midfield need to try and grasp to at least take a bit of pressure off Hobbs .

    Chester was all at sea for the first half hour and his passing was dire at times today as well.

    It just seems fashionable to pick out Hobbs.
     
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  8. H-D

    H-D Active Member

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    I take your point about Hobbs, I was trying to defend him really, because we've lost a few games it's common practise to pick out the unfashionable centre half for criticism.

    He undoubtedly played a few awful long balls, but as you say the midfield should provide more options for him when we're in possession at the back. McKenna concerns me at this moment in time.
     
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  9. StrovolosTiger

    StrovolosTiger Well-Known Member

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    There were LOADS of instances of Hobbs failing in the basic duties of a CB today, and not related to distribution.

    A couple of times in the second half he chased balls back to the goal line (right in front of me) when it was a simple task to shield the ball and let it go out for a goal kick. Instead, he turned and hoofed the ball toward the midfield simply because there was a player chasing him down.

    Also late on in the second half when time was getting short CP got the ball on the break down our right and pushed forward toward the penalty area. Instead of holding his ground and ushering the ball and player out toward the dead ball line Hobbs slid in with a challenge. He mistimed it and gave away a free-kick allowing CP to waste yet more tim.

    I watch Hobbs closely every game, and Chester for that matter, and Hobbs inspires nothing but insecurity in the defence. This opinion isn't because of it being fashionable to bash him. I repeat, at the end of last season I posted some stats on which defensive partnership was best and worst. Worst was that which Hobbs formed with Gerrard.

    Having said all that I definitely agree the midfield passed the ball back to him on several occasions today, for no good reason other than they were kopping out of doing their job, Cairney in particular.

    I also think McKenna played well for us today and once he went off we never looked as good.
     
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  10. originallambrettaman

    originallambrettaman Mod Moderator
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    Hobbs makes a lot of poor decisions and he's painfully slow, I think he's by far our weakest centre back, I'd replace him with McShane, but I doubt NP will.

    For me, Chester is by far our best centre back, he had a bit of a mare yesterday, but I don't think he comfortable being paired with Hobbs.
     
    #10

  11. TONY_WARNERS_FACE.

    TONY_WARNERS_FACE. Well-Known Member

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    I remember saying we shouldn't pay a penny over £500k for Hobbs, clearly I was being too generous.

    One clean sheet in how many appearances? He's terrible.
     
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  12. tigerman11145

    tigerman11145 Member

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    I would like to see young Sonny being given a go, he always looks solid and composed.
     
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  13. Kempton

    Kempton Well-Known Member

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    Hobb's is awful !
     
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