Match Day Thread Stoke v Hull City

[Noggin The Nog]

What's the happy deluded scouse said about yesterday? not seen a video anywhere.
ill have a go....

we want to do well for Hull City
we have highlighted set pieces

No one doubts that. But if they can't do the basics at a corner, like put a man on the edge of the box, to contest a 50/50 then we might as well give up.

 

[Chazz Rheinhold]

If there was no enjoyment then you’re going with the wrong company.

Think he goes with a mirror, ben.

 

[SW3 Chelsea Tiger]

Another good piece from bucko

Hull City squad has neither the bodies nor talent to compete
Hull City reporter Philip Buckingham goes in-depth with his analysis from the 2-0 defeat to Stoke City.
The final Championship fixture of this opening month revealed nothing new about where Hull City’s campaign is headed but August’s closing days almost certainly will.

Without strengthening in a big way ahead of Friday’s loan deadline, the Tigers appear destined to endure another season of struggle.

A third defeat in five games only confirmed what most already knew; Nigel Adkins’ current squad has neither the bodies nor talent to compete.

The head coach has spent the last month admitting as much and the 462 travelling fans who witnessed a 2-0 loss to Stoke at the Bet365 Stadium had no wish to argue the point.

These are season-defining days ahead for City. One or two new faces would surely not be enough to avert the relegation scrap that is ominously brewing. Three or four feels an absolute necessity.

The Tigers have already waited too long, leaving themselves more to do than most rivals. Keep procrastinating through this week and they really will be in trouble.
The visit of Derby County this weekend will be the first of 20 Championship fixtures in between transfer windows.

Over half a season will be gone by the time City are next allowed to trade in January and by then the die can be cast.

Placing faith in the current squad would be negligent and foolish.

Gifted and hungry players have been assembled in this transitional phase but they are also in desperate need of help.

These last two Saturdays leading up to August 31 have told us that much.

Although City’s defeat to Stoke was not nearly as concerning as the Blackburn loss seven days earlier, they could have few complaints in becoming the first visitor to the Bet365 Stadium to leave empty-handed since January.

The Tigers had spells in an ugly game but only once in 90 minutes did they ask Jack Butland to make a save. At no point did they really threaten to overturn James McClean’s early goal and Mame Diouf’s deflected strike on the hour mark subsequently took the game further into the distance.

Evandro’s red card soon after ended any prospect of City retaining an unbeaten away record and also stunted any momentum that had come from the midweek win at Rotherham. By the end it was only David Marshall who kept the scoreline respectable.

Adkins was typically defiant afterwards, highlighting all that his side had done well. Deep down, however, there will have been frustration that more was not asked of an out-of-form host.

“We’re still growing as a side but we’re disappointed that we’ve come away from this game with nothing,” said Adkins.

“We have an honest, hard-working group of players who are eager to do well and improve for this football club and that will continue. But we have to bring players in.”

It did not need a trip to the division’s biggest spenders to underline what City lack but its timing was impeccable.

Although Jackson Irvine was absent through injury, denying Adkins his most influential outfield player of the previous week, strengthening cannot possibly come from within.

Only the out-of-favour Angus MacDonald and the injured Ondrej Mazuch might make a difference beyond Saturday’s 18-man squad provided Kamil Grosicki gets his wish to depart this week.


There will come a stage this season where half a dozen players will be ruled out, perhaps even more, and then what? Adkins would be up the Humber without a paddle, last seen drifting out towards Spurn Point.

Everything now hinges on the actions of vice chairman Ehab Allam.

Forty days have now come and gone since George Long became City’s sixth summer signing and the coming days promise to shape the ambitions of an entire season. Adkins can only hope his bosses share an understanding that business is not optional.

What would City’s head coach give for Stoke’s spending power? In a summer that has already seen the big names of Ashley Williams, Tom Ince, Benik Afobe and Sam Clucas arrive in Staffordshire, Gary Rowett was allowed to make Ryan Woods his latest £6m capture ahead of kick-off.

Stoke will surely not be far away when the three tickets back to the Premier League are dished out in May but this should have been the time for City to enjoy facing the pre-season promotion favourites.

A four-game winless run, including the 3-0 home defeat to Wigan on Wednesday, had created an anxious mood inside the Bet365 Stadium.


Adkins had urged his players to heighten the misgivings of Stoke fans but the doubts were eased by another soft goal leaked by City. A left-wing corner was punched away by Marshall under pressure but McClean’s drive from the edge of the box slipped through a mass of bodies and into the net. Nine minutes was all the Tigers could manage in their attempts to truly frustrate Stoke.

City remained in the hunt during a turgid first half, with Fraizer Campbell’s flicked header from Todd Kane’s corner bringing the one and only save from Butland, but any prospect of a second-half comeback were shot dead inside two disastrous minutes.

A second goal leaked was bad enough as Jordy de Wijs was teased by Diouf, whose shot deflected in past Marshall, but Evandro’s dismissal soon after wrapped up Stoke’s three points. A reckless challenge from the Brazilian got what it deserved.
From then it was all about damage limitation. Marshall denied Peter Etebo after earlier keeping out Diouf brilliantly with his feet, before Peter Crouch missed a gilt-edged chance to bring up a 400th career start with a goal. The 10 men were soundly beaten and the full-time whistle came as blessed relief.

If the midweek victory at Rotherham had given a false sense of hope that everything would eventually turn out well this season, the loss to Stoke was the sobering outcome required ahead of the transfer window closing once and for all.

City need new players. Just as they always have done since a dozen were allowed to leave at the end of last term. Ignorance to that fact will only lead the club one way.

Great article, thanks for sharing.

It feels like the local media are finally waking up to this massacre of our club

 

[DJBlackandamberarmy(No4)]

If there was no enjoyment then you’re going with the wrong company.

I must have been going with some right dickheads for 20 odd years then because my enjoyment of the day has always been determined by the result / atmosphere , never understood it when people said I had a good day anyway , a defeat or a **** performance used to ruin my whole week , never mind Saturday night

 

[Sir Cheshire Ben]

I must have been going with some right dickheads for 20 odd years then because my enjoyment of the day has always been determined by the result / atmosphere , never understood it when people said I had a good day anyway , a defeat or a **** performance used to ruin my whole week , never mind Saturday night

I never understand the “no enjoyment if we lose” It’s more than just the football. It was a laugh yesterday in the stands, some funny comments, daft chants & silly behaviour.

I’ve been going to City since the late 70s. If Iosing ruined my whole weekend I’d have stopped going in the late 70s.

 

[balkan tiger]

Think he goes with a mirror, ben.

The one that should be in the ladies?

 

[Top_Tiger]

Anyone here Adkins interview after the game.

I don’t think I have ever been more frustrated listening to him. The way he described the first goal was comical. Then announced we need some ‘bigguns’ to defend set peices. We’ve just signed two new centre half’s Nigel? We need at least 6 big players? Christ.

Don’t be kidding yourself either Nige we where never getting back into the game at 1-0 never mind 2-0 with 10 men don’t say it changed the game, load of more BS.

To be fair though I don’t think one signing we’ve made has been his suggestion bar Long.

 

[Chazz Rheinhold]

Anyone here Adkins interview after the game.

I don’t think I have ever been more frustrated listening to him. The way he described the first goal was comical. Then announced we need some ‘bigguns’ to defend set peices. We’ve just signed two new centre half’s Nigel? We need at least 6 big players? Christ.

Don’t be kidding yourself either Nige we where never getting back into the game at 1-0 never mind 2-0 with 10 men don’t say it changed the game, load of more BS.

To be fair though I don’t think one signing we’ve made has been his suggestion bar Long.

What do you want him to say we're **** **** ****ing ****?

Of course we need some big players, big as in size and big as. In experience and leadership.
He's been saying it all summer.

 

[Top_Tiger]

What do you want him to say we're **** **** ****ing ****?

Of course we need some big players, big as in size and big as. In experience and leadership.
He's been saying it all summer.

No but the ultra positive vibe is annoying. Fair enough he can’t se we where crap, as he would be saying it most of the year. But a bit of realism is needed. Conceding from corners isn’t all about size, obviously it helps, but tatically it can be stopped. I always lambasted Silva’s set up defending set pieces and ultimately I think they took us down, we had massive players that season didn’t make a difference.

Look at Maguire, obviously he’s one of the best centre half’s in the country but he is average at defending set pieces when he’s facing his own goal, it’s technical and it’s about desire, not just height!

 

[Amin Arrears]

What do you want him to say we're **** **** ****ing ****?

Of course we need some big players, big as in size and big as. In experience and leadership.
He's been saying it all summer.

Yes. Why can't he just say it. I know it he knows it everyone knows it. So why waffle a load of complete and utter bollocks?

 

[Chazz Rheinhold]

Yes. Why can't he just say it. I know it he knows it everyone knows it. So why waffle a load of complete and utter bollocks?

I also want to know what his wife is like in bed? Out of ten.

 

[John Ex Aberdeen now E.R.]

No but the ultra positive vibe is annoying. Fair enough he can’t se we where crap, as he would be saying it most of the year. But a bit of realism is needed. Conceding from corners isn’t all about size, obviously it helps, but tatically it can be stopped. I always lambasted Silva’s set up defending set pieces and ultimately I think they took us down, we had massive players that season didn’t make a difference.

Look at Maguire, obviously he’s one of the best centre half’s in the country but he is average at defending set pieces when he’s facing his own goal, it’s technical and it’s about desire, not just height!

As you say size is not be all and end all, positioning is equally as important. IMO your best header of the ball should favour starting level with the back post area, then they can see where the ball is going to be and attack it. Too often the centre-halves stands in the middle of the goal and they are static when jumping to head the ball and an attacker who has started his run from outside the box is going to be favourite.

 

[BlackAndAmberGambler]

I also want to know what his wife is like in bed? Out of ten.

Not great apparently but good in the warm-up. Needs a couple of bigguns upfront and she's leaky at the back. Never kept a clean sheet yet.

 

[Tentotwo]

Never even had a radio on Saturday which is unheard of in our house,such is my despondency with the whole festering ****stain. It’s like some Cnut has suddenly grabbed the tv remote and downgraded the whole package without giving a toss about who was watching it because they’ve suddenly lost interest.

Bastards..

 

[Kempton]

Never even had a radio on Saturday which is unheard of in our house,such is my despondency with the whole festering ****stain. It’s like some Cnut has suddenly grabbed the tv remote and downgraded the whole package without giving a toss about who was watching it because they’ve suddenly lost interest.

Bastards..

It's ****. The word is '****'.

 

[Deano's Volley]

I’ve not missed a home game in years but now I wouldn’t really care if I missed one. I remember being sat in the pub before the Villa game thinking that I didn’t really feel excited/bothered that the new season was back. It was odd.

They’re killing everything about the club that we all know and love.

I'm the same, in the past 20 years I've missed about 10 home games, now I just have no excitement about going to watch it and let other people use my pass to watch the occasional game. Feels like I've lost all feelings for football atm, I used to have a bad weekend when we lost but now when we do I feel nothing. Its become more of a chore than anything. I just hope that when those pair of ****s **** off that we can all get our enthusiasm back and start looking forward to games again. What a day that will be.

 

[Steven Toast]

Marshall has been named YP keeper of the week. They only pick from Yorkshire clubs, but they reckon he's been our best player this season. Considering how busy he's been, I don't think they're that wide of the mark.