Hull City's transfer remit is clear after Fenerbahce drubbing exposed glaring problem The Tigers were well beaten by their European rivals What started as a hugely positive night for Hull City ended in a 5-1 thumping at the hands of Fenerbahce on Thursday evening as the Tigers rounded off their trip to Turkey in front of a partisan crowd at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium. City showed yet more glimpses of the thrilling way Tim Walter wants to play this season, and for 40 minutes, his charges took the game to Jose Mourinho's men, but succumbed to two quick goals before half-time and then two more immediately after. A fifth was added later in the game before youngster Sincere Hall stepped off the bench to notch his second goal in as many friendlies. Here's the tale of the tape from a steamy night in Istanbul... Walter needs help It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know City are short of players but it really gets hammered home when you see the teamsheet. There's a lack of quality and depth in the final third, and it shows. Yes, Oscar Estupinan is coming back but that's only going to paper over the cracks. This is meant as no disrespect whatsoever to Ryan Longman, but City have got a player who scored three goals and collected two assists replacing Jaden Philogene's 12 goals and six assists. Therein lies the problem and it is one that has to be a concern and will continue to be until such time as it gets resolved. There are three weeks to go until the season starts and City are well short of where they need to be to even start the Championship season, let alone struggle through until the end of the transfer window by which point they will have played three league games, and hopefully progress through the Carabao Cup. There may not be panic from the owner and vice-chairman, but it's hard to avoid the fact as we stand here now on July 19, they are woefully underprepared and we are getting towards the stage where things have got to happen and ultimately that means quality players in the door quickly. So much to be excited about, but there's a caveat For 40 minutes, City dominated the game and they played some lovely, free-flowing football with a purpose. They were incisive, the rotations were eye-catching and dazzled Mourinho's men for much of the first period. Unfortunately, there was no end product and it told. Whether it be Ryan Giles off the left, Abdus Omur off the right or Seri and Slater cutting through the middle, there was just nobody in the box, in between the posts to carry any threat. Ryan Longman couldn't find space, struggled to make runs and that's because he isn't a natural frontman. When Pandur and Jones got in a mix-up, Edin Dzeko gobbled up a half chance to head his side into the lead and within seconds, the game was taken away from City. That clinical edge Walter must wish he had. In fact, he must wish he had the likes of Jaden Philogene, Liam Delap and Fabio Carvalho at his disposal because things could have been very different at the break. Defensively his side became ragged thereafter, with Mourinho's men cutting them apart at will, but this will have been a hugely beneficial learning experience for the new manager, and his players. The youngsters In times of difficulty, it's so often the youngsters who give you reason to be optimistic and it's the same here. Just as they did against Kasimpasa on Saturday, the latest crop of youngsters came off the bench and did themselves proud. They were fearless, in particular, Sincere Hall, who buzzed around in the second period showing confidence to get on the ball and get at players, and he was rewarded with a well-taken goal, his second in successive games. Nathan Tinsdale was another who caught the eye at the weekend and showed glimpses in his little cameo this evening, while the experience will have been ideal for Andy Smith coming on to face a player like Edin Dzeko. It's tough to expect the likes of Tinsdale and Hall to have a huge impact this season, and City should not be looking to load them because of potential shortcomings in the transfer market, but they could just surprise one or two this term. Goalkeeping concerns An awful lot of faith has been placed in Ivor Pandur, particularly from the Tigers owner, but the 24-year-old still doesn't look Championship ready, and that will be a concern for Walter. His indecision led to the opening goal when he started to come for a ball into the box only to stop, which left Alfie Jones with a problem and then from the cross, he probably should have kept out Edin Dzeko's header. There were other moments of indecision and nervousness, and obviously the 35-yard lob will be something he'll need to look at and so, too, Walter. It's all well and good having your goalkeeper so far up the pitch, but if you lose the ball, you're massively at risk and that goal from Hakan Yandas should serve as a big warning. With Matt Ingram on his way out of the club, City now have three goalkeepers in Pandur, Harvey Cartwright and Thimothee Lo-Tutala with absolutely no Championship experience, something that has to be a mild concern at the very least going into the new campaign, they surely need more cover?
It’s a pity Moore chose to go elsewhere cos with him or hopefully someone like him up front it will look a lot better
Of course they're not, I'm not arguing they're aren't superior opposition, they clearly are and their forwards made the difference. But I do think the champions league monicker is overblowing it. Of course we did beat a genuine champions league club at this stage last year with much of the same squad and again, far from complete. Perhaps I just feel the difference in performance, nous and result is stark. Either way, the gulf in standard isn't/shouldn't be the schooling that we saw last night. I'm sorry, it reminded me of Shota. No lack of endeavour but all that work getting in good areas undone by rank defensive naivety, without ever really threatening consistently enough to really have them worried. They could have got out of there with greater respect with a more pragmatic approach IMHO.[/QUOTE] True enough, I just think they ran out of energy. The game we are playing is very high intensity, so having to play a game against more skilled opposition coming off the back of 9 days of hardcore training in the heat was probably the last thing some of them wanted. It'll certainly help with the conditioning going forward, but I feel like weaker opposition would have been better given how tired TW said they were going into the game.
"City now have three goalkeepers in Pandur, Harvey Cartwright and Thimothee Lo-Tutala with absolutely no Championship experience, something that has to be a mild concern at the very least going into the new campaign, they surely need more cover?" it's all of their own making
If it’s your boss telling you and your place in the XI is under threat then yeah probably they will I remember saying to you a while ago this is how Walter is going to play. The keeper is high to act as a release for play. It will have moments like last night but will have moments it works.
but they can still pass back to him with him coming forward from 6 yards he doesnt have to leave the goal unattended
Then you’re giving up space that’s the ideology of it all. It’s not like he will be on the half way line when they have possession
Ok. Why do you think we won’t get a good number of players in? I am in agreement that we need lots of players in, funnily enough I said it in my ‘completely stupid post’. Calm down.
Thing is, it happened to Allsop once all season. He was off his line for pretty much all of it. Seri won’t make the mistake again, anyone looking at Pandur needs to stop. Walter won’t be he’ll be saying to Seri why are you losing the ball when there is no one behind you to get it back
I think we will get lots of players in I'm not so sure about the quality though Acun did well last January though
Again I told you this would happen. Having watched the goal back it’s probably a case of Pandur needing to be slightly better positioned and retreat a bit quicker. You can argue with it but this is the way it’s going to be. Dropping a player to cover sacrifices the attacking portion of the system which is what it’s all about for Walter. It’s the second preseason game. There will be teething issues. It’s far more daring than what Rosenior had us play so mistakes like this could happen.
I believe the quality will be there, and as you say, in January we proved we can. It just takes a bit longer to get them. Tim Walter has not rushed into getting anyone in and that is still a good thing, as it stands. It’s blindingly obvious we need to recruit, but it is still not time to panic. Will be soon. But not yet. That seems hard for some to fathom.
