That’s Slater in pretty much every game though. He coasts a lot of the time and just runs to look busy without doing anything useful. If you watch him closely, he actually moves away during build-up so he’s not a passing option, especially deeper. It’s like he doesn’t want to receive the ball in his own half in case he makes a mistake. My mate who ‘supports’ Man Utd said McTominay used to do the same and it drove him mad.
He's not had much training after hospitalisation and a course of antivirals. Why do city fans always have to find some sort of conspiracy? We know he's been ill and unavailable so it's pretty obvious why he's only on the bench.
Hull manager Ruben 'Olez Olez' Selles told BBC Radio Humberside: "Coventry have been particularly good since Fat Frank took over and we knew it would be a difficult game. We managed to be competitive, stayed in the game and created situations like the one for Kasey [Palmer] - we need to start to put those in. "The game management we showed for the goal we conceded is something we need to stop and eradicate from our game - hopefully forever - because it's costing us points. "The team showed character in the second half. The subs made a big impact and we managed to get the point and show we can be as competitive as anybody. I know what I have in my dressing room - they are competitors and doing everything for the club." Coventry manager Frankenfarter Lampard told BBC CWR: "At this stage of the season you have to take a point and accept it, but we deserved more. Our play was really good with just the end bit missing, at times. "Our defensive game in the first half was really good. They created one chance but it was a foul on Ben Sheaf - other than that, there was no danger and we created a number of chances, particularly at 1-0. "I'm really happy with the players and disappointed for them that we didn't get three points. No disrespect to Hull, who are a good team, but we played like a team playing for the play-offs and I enjoyed our performance."
I thought tonight's game was a great example of how the style of play can look good or bad depending on its execution. Coventry played out from the back just as we did (and just as most sides do these days) but they were much better at it and really cut through us at times going from the keeper to Sheaf or Grimes who would turn and then set them off. We couldn't find those passes a lot of the time.
I found that game a really tough watch at times. Coventry looked good and I thought we were really struggling at times, obviously short of confidence and we looked a bit defeated at 1-0. But somehow we found a way back into it, similar to the Leeds game in a way. The game could've changed massively on a few moments. We were poor but should've been 1-0 up which would've changed the game, then at 1-0 they should've gone 2 up when Simms blasted it over, which would surely have killed us off. It's a good point. These are fine margins and we very nearly didn't get it, and the mood would've been very different. Our attack is in really poor shape right now. Joseph seems to be out of favour but Pedro was ****e tonight. Kamara has been back on the bench again lately and Burstow seems well out of favour, but Lincoln isn't pulling any trees up and Gelhardt is having to play on the wing where he isn't as effective. Crooks is in and out and struggling to make in impact and Palmer is tidy but isn't delivering in front of goal. All these players yet no one is really in favour and in form.
Huge point. A bit of a disappointing performance once again and I think the pressure is getting to the team, so I'll reserve judgement on style of play until October/November next season, but things really need to pick up. Whenever Gelhardt ran at them we looked dangerous but it just happened far too infrequently. Once again conceding within a minute of the restart is just appalling too. If we beat Swansea I'd say we're just about safe as it'd require three results from Cardiff in their last four games, so it's a massive point.
Starting on the bench doesn't mean you're out of favour. Kamara came on and scored, just as he did at WBA.
You can't say we should've been 1-0 up, otherwise you have to also account for the hat full they 'should' have had in that first half. We made it too easy for their attackers numerous times. They'll rightfully be gutted they didn't have a comfy lead at half time. Harsh on Pedro who we barely got the ball to at all. Too many over hit long balls aimed somewhat in his direction again. Lincoln is possibly the only player with an assist from a set piece this season and largely responsible for our last win with a delivery that wasn't under or over hit. Palmer fluffed his chance in this game, but has been heavily involved in more than one of our very few goals in recent games. We don't do enough as a team but he's one of the ones who's actually contributing to our 'goals for' somewhat.
Never realised he’d been in hospital to be honest, which is fair enough. However if so and unfit to come on it’s pointless him been on the bench. Slater obviously had an injury from about the 60th minute, although looked ok for the last 10. Our midfield are in and out of games too much. Grimes is a classy operated at this level who is constantly excellent on the ball. If we are to succeed at this system that’s the type of player we need. To take the ball off the centre halves. Who constantly see too much of the ball.
When they broke away they went for goal, when we broke away and geldert did it at least twice rather than going for goal turned away from goal trying to hold the ball till help arrived, when in fact all that happened was their defence got back into shape.
A lucky point and Pandur kept us in it. We should have had so much more ambition and urgency from the start, and we showed Coventry far too much respect. 3 points would have eased the pressure massively going into the last 4 games. We only seem to become assertive these days when we lose a goal, but even then the urgency only seems to notch up with 10 minutes to go. Another poor team selection IMO. I don't know why we are sticking with this 4-3-3 shape and then put strikers/no 10s on the wings. Also McLoughlin is getting beat far too many times now. I'd stick Coyle in that position for the next game.
Coventry are a much better team and they showed it, we don’t have the right to beat everyone, sometimes you come up against superior opponents. That said, we carved out three guilt edged opportunities and Pandur, as good as he was, only had routine saves to make. I agree, a bit more urgency and assertiveness would have been nice but you probably have to credit Coventry for the way the controlled the game.
Coyle's been getting beaten more frequently than Macca to be fair so I don't think that works as a solution. But to Macca's credit and as a centre back by trade he's been getting forward and helping out with attacks more frequently than Coyle has too. Nothing against Coyle at all, but I'd blood Drameh at RB for the remaining 4 games and see what he can do. We looked a lot quicker with him and Kamara down the right last night and there was far less hesitation in the passes. Coyle's had too many hard games this season and he either needs a rest, or needs some of the pressure taking off him as the season comes to a close.
