Did I mention how unsuited Smallbone is to DM? He was our third or fourth furthest player forward at points in that first half. It was incredible to watch.
I think Russ for everything he does well just has his favourites and doesn't ever not want to play them, tonight didn't call for Smallbone, nvm.
Smallbone is perfectly fine…. But not as a holding midfielder. I would have had him on further forward and Charles starting in holding with Rothwell on the bench.
Not surprised at the result. RM has midfield problems, as much as Charles is a DM, Martin wants runners who work hard and in his last game I picked him out as the only player who wasn't running at 100% when we lost the ball. He was a jogger. Fitness or willingness i cant say, maybe hes carrying a niggle or lost the trust of the manager. Probably still would have been better than the midfield we had tonight.
As we were against the Baggies, where we were fine. Smallbone was more a 6 in that game, but he had Charles to support him (and, in fairness, Stephens). I guess RM thought that too defensive for a home game, but if it ain’t broke…plus Hull have dangerous attackers. Dropped the ball here, did Russ. But he’ll (hopefully) realise that.
Writing was on the wall from when the team sheet came out. Frustrates me when it’s obvious and yet the management don’t see it. The last 3 games told you everything you needed to know. And yet we apparently needed to make the same mistakes again and lose the advantage of the game in hand. I could tell from 5 mins in that we were not at it today, but Hull looked shaky early doors too. 10 mins in I wanted RM to bring on Charles for Rothwell (well, I wanted it from the start…but it clearly was not working to put it very kindly). I was screaming out for a change by the 15th minute and then after every chance Hull squandered was asking how many we need to concede with this midfield before changing it. It was the wrong team today, wrong tactics and Hull were very good. But it was also ****ing easy for them. They really should have been 4/5 up at HT. We did not look up for it. We had to know they would be in our face and full of energy and we did not even try to match it. 3 of the last 4 games now we’ve not been at it. Got away with it against Huddersfield. Had hoped we had learnt our lessons after West Brom but nope. 8 goals conceded in 3 games with no Downes or Charles on the pitch. Frustrated rant over, blue line drawn. Hopefully the traffic has died down now and I can drive home.
I'm trying to out who wanted this result less, us or Millwall. Because there's bound to be a reaction on Saturday now.
Other thoughts... Che was excellent second half. Showed some very good hold up play which allowed us to play in their half more and played some good balls into the channels which was sorely lacking first half. Fraser was a bit wasteful I thought. Made a difference to our play and got into some great positions but final ball was lacking. Despite being better second half we still created barely anything. Starting to look more like early season in that regard which is a bit worrying. Goals v Huddersfield aside (which is a highlight of the season) I don't really get what Rothwell is about. Bit of an odd signing in a position we're not lacking imo. Arma desperately needs a rest. Not looked the same player for about a month now and from where I was sat should have done better with early chance (think it was him) in first half. I'd have him on bench against Millwall. Still a long way to go and shaping up to be an exciting end to the season. Huge huge game on Saturday and a good chance to put this wobble to bed with that and Brum the following week. UTFS.
I’m drawing a blue line around the first half of this game Joe Aribo is back though and I think KWP may be a cyborg
Yeah this. I think Smallbone has been a big part of our success playing the box to box type of role he's been playing. He's just not cut out for that DM role. Not just defensively either as it makes it harder to build our attacks from Baz. I mentioned this at HT but he's just not comfortable taking that straight pass facing his goal when under pressure. This is a very regular tactic of ours when starting attacks and when we can't do it it leaves Baz with much less options with the ball at his feet.
You're right - more that unites than divides. The sinking of The Gaul in the mid seventies was the last major trawler lost sailing out from Hull (30 lives lost from the Hull fishing community and 6 from North Shields, not Hartlepool btw). An end to some dark times - the worst probably being the triple trawler tragedy where 58 trawlermen lost their lives within a month in the winter of 1968. Still remembered. On the subject of football, we were excellent tonight - the best we've played all season first half. That said you've got a hell of a squad. Difficult to not see you getting promotion.
He was poor against Bristol and I don't think he is good enough yet and that is clearly what Martin thinks. Having said all that, i would actually agree he should start. I think he lacks physicality and reading of the game, but at least it is his natural position. Hopefully Downes is back for Milwall though as he is our most important player.
Curious to know how long Downes is out for. He was supposedly close last week but then didn't make the bench tonight.
