Match Day Thread Hull City v Stoke

[Blaknamberblood]

I think it's fair to say that we didn't consider getting a big midfielder to be a priority this summer. I know you and a couple of others were keen on it, but I think it's acceptable to want to go in a different direction. Seri, Slater and Tufan are excellent players and I think looking to replace them with anyone else to improve our recent results is barking up the wrong tree.

Slater isn't the biggest, but it's not like he's weak or can't put himself about. Similar to Smallwood really. In fact, for a team which I keep reading is too soft, we concede an incredible amount of fouls, and ultimately it was free kicks that beat us last night. Maybe we actually need to be less physical...

It could also be argued that we are struggling with the physicality hence we are committing the fouls !

 

[Kalman]

I think it's fair to say that we didn't consider getting a big midfielder to be a priority this summer. I know you and a couple of others were keen on it, but I think it's acceptable to want to go in a different direction. Seri, Slater and Tufan are excellent players and I think looking to replace them with anyone else to improve our recent results is barking up the wrong tree.

Slater isn't the biggest, but it's not like he's weak or can't put himself about. Similar to Smallwood really. In fact, for a team which I keep reading is too soft, we concede an incredible amount of fouls, and ultimately it was free kicks that beat us last night. Maybe we actually need to be less physical...

Giving away fouls doesn’t mean our midfield isn’t lightweight. Clipping a player’s ankles whilst they’re running doesn’t require a lot of strength, it just requires you to stick your leg out. How many fouls did Wilmot and Flint give away last night compared to Seri and Slater?

Having a tall, strong midfielder is more than just putting tackles in. It gives teams an advantage in the middle when going shoulder-to-shoulder and winning aerial duels.

 

[gtigerbackin hull]

I saw Shota walking alone near Beverley Railway Station at about 1.30pm today. Hands in pockets , head bowed down, shoulders slumped, looking as miserable as hell with the weight of the world on his back. He's not a happy bunny.

 

[tigerrev]

Maybe we actually need to be less physical...

Or quicker to the ball

 

[HullCiteh]

I saw Shota walking alone near Beverley Railway Station at about 1.30pm today. Hands in pockets , head bowed down, shoulders slumped, looking as miserable as hell with the weight of the world on his back. He's not a happy bunny.

Well he should play 4 in the back then the prick

 

[big vern]

I saw Shota walking alone near Beverley Railway Station at about 1.30pm today. Hands in pockets , head bowed down, shoulders slumped, looking as miserable as hell with the weight of the world on his back. He's not a happy bunny.

He should spend more time drilling the defence on how to be a cohesive unit. Since Greaves trousered his new contract he had been poor.

 

[HullCiteh]

He should spend more time drilling the defence on how to be a cohesive unit. Since Greaves trousered his new contract he had been poor.

 

[Red top reader]

I saw Shota walking alone near Beverley Railway Station at about 1.30pm today. Hands in pockets , head bowed down, shoulders slumped, looking as miserable as hell with the weight of the world on his back. He's not a happy bunny.

He lives near there, I’ve seen him on several occasions walking along there, spoke to him a cpl of times, to be honest he always looks like that even after a victory lol

 

[Brucebones]

I don't know what it is, but after I've heard his post match interviews I feel like calling the samaritans. He might be a decent bloke but can anyone truly imagine him giving an inspiring half time team talk to give the players a lift.

I know, I get so wound up watching us & seeing him waving his arms about, shouting & looking angry, then the interview, he comes across like a cat/dog that’s been kicked & just wants to lie there.
I’ve really started feeling sorry for him rather than mad at him for his failings.

 

[TIGERSCAVE]

So what's the message there exactly? They're probably not good enough to start? Even if they're intended to be cover over the course of the season, now is their chance to have a crack at it surely? Once others come back they may not get so much of a look in.

You'd think with a young F Campbell playing such a part in our promotion season, a player with Vale's background should get a look in, or at least a bench spot pretty quickly surely?

Exactly this Benj'... Harry Wilson anyone...?

 

[TIGERSCAVE]

On the physicality thing and at the risk of repeating myself

Smallwood 5 foot 10 and 72kg...
Honeyman 5 foot 6 (and a half) 72kg

 

[Mckechnie Orange]

Exactly this Benj'... Harry Wilson anyone...?

If they're as good as Campbell and Wilson then it won't be too long before they're in the team.

 

[look_back_in_amber]

It really wasn’t that good QC!! A long night, poor watch. My two penneth; Stoke didn’t really need to get out of 2nd gear, physical, out muscled us, got lucky with deflections, but we’re our own worst enemy. We’re just too lightweight, defence lacking confidence but still inviting trouble messing around playing at the back, haemorrhaging goals at an alarming rate, not moving the ball fast enough, no forward movement - de jar vu - how many times have we said that? Bearing in mind Shota has had a bit more extra time to prepare & train for this game, worrying. I did feel for Elder being hooked, thought he was our main threat of getting up the pitch first half.

Shota's interview, he looks shot. Acun's dream currently looking like a nightmare.

Positives; Pelkas looked industrious & a threat 2nd half, improved us. Should have started.
Painful watching, but took mind off my forthcoming deep root tooth canal treatment.

Don't know if anyone has mentioned it but the one minutes silence on behalf of Her Majesty at the MKM did us proud, for a change, was fantastically observed and impeccable. Made me feel really proud to have been a part of the hcafc family last night.

Always worth waiting for

 

[Plum]

If they're as good as Campbell and Wilson then it won't be too long before they're in the team.

I keep thinking about Shota's initial response in his post match interview when he was asked about the Chelsea lads. 'Who' he said. Almost certainly he misheard or didn't quite understand the question but it made me wonder if he actually knows who's going to come through the door from one day to the next. Is Acun just collecting players and dumping them on him?

 

[eimaj]

Lots of comments about no width, no pace, etc etc but where are our wide players currently ? Where are our 'fast' players currently ? Ahh yeh, injured !!!, there is no rule in football about standing still, players can move.. the better players are fluid in their movement and move out to the flanks, when the circunstances are right, before you scoff, have a think

Who the **** are these injured wide players I keep hearing people bang on about?

Allayhar and Tetteh were played out wide out of necessity. Allayhar did his best there, but he really needs playing down the middle.

 

[springtiger]

It could also be argued that we are struggling with the physicality hence we are committing the fouls !

You are right we are slow to the tackle so often a fraction late or clumsy. Both the small players are constantly slow to get the loose and second balls , short legs short to the distances maybe? Yea I am sure there are fast little ones - we don’t have any !!!
We appear to foul because we are lightweight so do a lot Of manhandling rather than have the build to let physicality work. last night it seemed every time the ball fell into space they got there before us .

 

[Mckechnie Orange]

Who the **** are these injured wide players I keep hearing people bang on about?

Allayhar and Tetteh were played out wide out of necessity. Allayhar did his best there, but he really needs playing down the middle.

Believe Ali was envisaged (according to Tan in pre-season at least) to be competing with Longman in a wide right berth. We have Longman fit who can play there, Williams and Vale. I also assume Sinik (who's not far away) was primarily signed as the main wide left player, and we have Longman who can play there also. Pelkas also can play either side but will drift more centrally.

I don't understand how we can 'not have the wingers' to play 433. Even currently.

Also worth noting, we don't seem to have the wingbacks to play 352 either and the best one last night got crooked at half time.

 

[AndyPayton]

Not sure I can add anything that anyone hasn’t already said. Hate the long drive back midweek after a performance and result like that!

On another note, what’s going on with the pies at City?! Had my first one of the season last night. Totally tasteless…

 

[Trumpton Tiger.]

Not sure I can add anything that anyone hasn’t already said. Hate the long drive back midweek after a performance and result like that!

On another note, what’s going on with the pies at City?! Had my first one of the season last night. Totally tasteless…

Two more complaints, which only surface after a poor home defeat. 1. The club shop was closed after the game, despite having all the staff in there and all the lights on and 2. The walkway across the bridges back to Londesbourgh Street after the game was in total darkness. None of the lighting was working, that is down to HCC.

 

[AndyPayton]

Two more complaints, which only surface after a poor home defeat. 1. The club shop was closed after the game, despite having all the staff in there and all the lights on and 2. The walkway across the bridges back to Londesbourgh Street after the game was in total darkness. None of the lighting was working, that is down to HCC.

Yes I wondered that about about the lighting as well!