please log in to view this image ABEL Hernandez could yet be the hero in Hull City's fight against relegation, according to manager Steve Bruce. The Tigers banked another valuable point when drawing 0-0 at Leicester City on Saturday, but it could have been all three had substitute Hernandez taken an 89th-minute chance. After Nikica Jelavic earlier missed a gilt-edged opportunity and City found themselves reduced to 10 men following Tom Huddlestone's dismissal, Hernandez was denied by Mark Schwarzer when sent racing through on goal. The club-record £10m striker has now gone five months without scoring for the Tigers, a barren spell spanning 15 appearances. Although Hernandez now finds himself behind Jelavic and new boy Dame N'Doye in City's attacking pecking order, Bruce believes the Uruguay international could still make the difference over the final nine games. On the chance created by N'Doye's quick free-kick, Bruce said: "I would have been happier if he'd put it on to his left foot. "But make no mistake he'll be a really good player for us. That could have been just the thing to get him up and running. "He's starting to settle now and who knows, it might yet be him who saves us. "Sometimes we've seen people pay millions and millions for players but people need time to settle. "To start with he found the physicality difficult and sometimes that happens, so let's give him time. "We've still got nine games to play." Hernandez's late effort, saved low down by Schwarzer, was the last meaningful act of a tense clash at the foot of the table. Jelavic was said to be "distraught" at his own earlier miss, scuffing Ahmed Elmohamady's lay-off with the goal gaping, as City spurned the best two chances. Premier League leaders Chelsea are next up at the KC Stadium this weekend, but Bruce said: "I don't take into account what's coming. They're all difficult, whether it's Leicester or Man City. It's all difficult, so it's about accumulation of points and we've got another one." TOM Huddlestone will be suspended for the Chelsea game as well as the trip to Swansea on April 4 for picking up two yellow cards. Bruce added: "We've picked up a few results because when Tom Huddlestone's playing well, we play well. "I thought he played very well up to then and it's a shame, two soft free-kicks like that could have cost us the game. Thankfully it didn't." http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Stev...tory-26177603-detail/story.html#ixzz3UYKlN5LH Junior and I discussed Hernandez in the car on the way back from Leicester, he's a bigger fan than I am, but I certainly haven't written him off yet. He's still only has 13 starts and 6 sub appearances in the league. In the eight games he started with Jelavic, he scored twice, though in one game they both had to be pulled off after half an hour. In the five he started without Jelavic(Ben Arfa 3/Aluko 2) he scored once. In the six games he came on as a sub, he's average 15 minutes a game. We've yet to see him start with N'Doye, anyone optimistic about what will happen when we do?
You trying to wind up Roo on purpose? I honestly think the lad has talent. He needs a run of games, but hasn't really for various reasons. The Everton home game was one of the best forward displays I've ever seen.
That run to the by line and pull back was great... until the cut back didn't hit a target. But that's the skill he has. I wrote Mane off as pants for Southampton when I first saw him but now he looks great. Hernandez will be fine once he gets a bit more of a run. He's not a hold up player like a Graham or Altidore, he's a proper striker and he will score goals - just to appease Roo.
We are definitely yet to see the best of him and no mistake. He's started to look a little more effective in his recent late sub appearances, actually breaking through a defence, not being caught acting slow in posession and getting easily pushed off the ball like he was. I think it will probably be next season before we start to see what he's really capable of if we can avoid relegation, the signs are more promising now. I do think it will probably take an injury to see him start another game this season.
I'd actually start against Chelsea. I watch them yesterday and there back 4 isn't the mobile. They great being hard to breakdown, but can struggle when the ball is play down the sides and inbetween for quick players. Although we do need to get the ball of Fabregas, Oscar and Hazzard etc.
Pretty much what Hat said. He was absolute ****e at first. Looked a bit more dangerous the last few games but still need more from him to displace Jelavic or N'doye.
Hernandez is an exceptional player, I watched him a lot at Palermo and he has so much pace and a decent finish too. I have no doubt that next season he will be our main striker, he has a big future ahead of him.
Oh yea that was great, he did really well getting into the box holding the ball till the rest of our team got up then promptly passed the ball to their defender and we almost got caught on the break. Still can't see a 10 million player yet.
In fairness Meyler should have been running in to the box to offer an option rather than just standing on the edge of the box with an enemy in the passing line.
He's shown flashes of great play but has also looked lightweight on occasions. The bottom line is goals and after a promising start they've obviously dried up. If a striker isn't scoring goals he is ****e by definition. Excepting Emile Heskey of course. I just hope that someone is working constantly with him on the training ground to turn him into a Premier League player, otherwise the last few months could have been wasted. Hopefully something clicks and he sticks a couple away in the next few games.
"Sometimes we've seen people pay millions and millions for players but people need time to settle. "To start with he found the physicality difficult and sometimes that happens, so let's give him time. "We've still got nine games to play." Sounds like what Brucey said about Der Prozzy. I was prepared to give him time before Xmas, we dont have time now!! He's Uruguayan anyway FFS they're all dirty animals apart from our two.
He's got some **** tattoos though. I'm pleased he has stopped the nylon pony tail malarkey not good for a professional footballer, in fact it's not good for anyone!
Hernandez has all the assets to be a top striker, pace and an ability to finish but is clearly another foreign player that needs time and coaching to adjust to our league. I'm slightly worried that Dame will tail off just like Hernandez did after his start but fingers crossed it won't happen
The time out of the limelight is probably what Hernandez needs. Once Jela or N'Doye can't play I predict he will do very well. He seems to have the right attitude coming on. I wonder about next year though. There is no doubt in my mind that SB brought in Ramirez to help him settle. I can't see Ramirez staying beyond his loan. So what then? or is it a case of him being comfortable enough to kick on. We shall see. The good thing about Hernandez from a value point of view is that he will always command 5+ million just because of his pedigree and being a Uruguayan int'l.
"He'll come good" they said. "Just give him time" they said. "He's a 'work-in-progress'" they said. "Needs to settle in" they said. "It's more than just scoring goals" they said. please log in to view this image The prosecution rests it's case! Jury still out for me on Hernandez. I have seen some deft touches from him which show he has some class. I have high hopes, like Steve Bruce, that he will make it at this level.
Proschwitz's three goals won us 4 points and saw us promoted. Sagbo scored 4 goals two of which helped us to an FA Cup Final. I'm pretty happy with their contributions. Two of the others were on loan and not our players.
You are on my 'Ignore' list Syd but I just wanted to see what you had to say and it's bollocks. They were all absolute and utter cr@p whether they were bought or loaned. Their job was to score goals and they couldn't and didn't! They scored 5 league goals between them in 60 games and your "Happy". Good Gawd!
The fact I'm on your ignore list speaks volumes about your style. Why shut someone out just because they have a rational opinion that you can't deal with? I said I was happy with their contributions to the club. As I said, one scored goals that got us promoted, the other scored goals to get us into an FA Cup Final. Bleating on about Hernandez's ability and then comparing him to those strikers doesn't mean much. Many were complaining about Jelavic when we got him - I can't remember if you were one. Complaining he looked like a donkey with his running style, and not having scored in however many games. I was thrilled. I knew we had a real striker on the books, and sure enough he's started scoring goals and is our top scorer in the PL. I have no doubt Hernandez will start scoring once he settles in. Even Suarez took a while to get going. He had 4 goals in 13 starts for Liverpool, Hernandez has 3 goals from 13 starts. Not very different if you ask me...
