Hull City look like they have no team spirit, that has to change
WHEN I think back to the 2007-08 season and our promotion to the Premier League, I certainly don't remember us being the greatest of teams , writes Dean Windass.
We weren't particularly skilful or dynamic and we had our limitations. There were a few of us – and I include myself in this – who could barely maintain a sprint.
But if we had a strength in that season it was our team spirt and togetherness.
That's what made us successful. We were such a tight group that we probably managed ourselves most of the time.
Ian Ashbee and I used to fight like cat and dog during half-time of most games. I'd shout at him for not giving me the ball and he'd shout back at me for not holding it up. Phil Brown used to give us all three minutes to say our piece and then he'd step in and give his instructions.
It wasn't just the senior pros either. Even quiet lads like Michael Turner would chip in and dig people out if it was needed. It was that sort of dressing room.
Everyone cared about getting the club up and that's what made it such an unbelievable feeling when we managed that in the play-off final at Wembley.
I look at the current Hull City side and you have to wonder if it's the same. They might be a more gifted set of players but that only takes you so far in a division like the Championship.
I don't know what goes on behind the dressing room door or who the big characters are but this current run of poor form is concerning.
You can't question the ability and talent of this City team, the vast majority of them have played in the Premier League or higher, but this is the stage of the season when that's no longer the most important quality.
You have to be mentally tough. You have to show resilience. All the successful teams do that. They handle the pressure and stick together.
Trust is a big thing as well. I used to go into games eight years ago believing that Wayne Brown, Michael Turner and Boaz Myhill were going to keep a clean-sheet in the same way they had faith in me and Fraizer Campbell getting a goal.
Everyone knew each other's strengths and weaknesses and that understanding took us a long way.
This City team is chopping and changing at the minute and the easy thing is to point the finger at Steve Bruce for not knowing his best team.
I doubt he does at the minute but the blame lies as much with the players. How many of this squad can currently say they deserve a place in the team each week? Not many I'm afraid. They're making Bruce's job difficult.
Look at his career as a manager and Bruce is not the type to tinker every week, certainly not if his side is winning.
I'm sure there's nothing he'd like more than to be naming the same XI each week at this stage of the season because you need that trust in one another. If you don't think the man alongside you is up to it, that's when you've got a problem.
It's time for the players to take some responsibility for this run of form, to show that they want to win promotion out of the Championship as much as the supporters.
They have to be able to go home after a match and know they couldn't have possibly done anymore for the team.
That might not always be enough but you've got to roll up your sleeves and be ready to give blood, sweat and tears.
Only this group of players can tell you if they can look in the mirror and been able to say they've done that over the last month.
Losing dressing rooms are never happy dressing rooms but the key is having the togetherness and unity to come through adversity like this.
It's not too late for City to end this season in the same way we did in 2007-08 but it's going to need every single player to stand up and be counted.
Don't be left with regrets in the summer.
http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull...tory-29097932-detail/story.html#ixzz45gw7rTtR
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WHEN I think back to the 2007-08 season and our promotion to the Premier League, I certainly don't remember us being the greatest of teams , writes Dean Windass.
We weren't particularly skilful or dynamic and we had our limitations. There were a few of us – and I include myself in this – who could barely maintain a sprint.
But if we had a strength in that season it was our team spirt and togetherness.
That's what made us successful. We were such a tight group that we probably managed ourselves most of the time.
Ian Ashbee and I used to fight like cat and dog during half-time of most games. I'd shout at him for not giving me the ball and he'd shout back at me for not holding it up. Phil Brown used to give us all three minutes to say our piece and then he'd step in and give his instructions.
It wasn't just the senior pros either. Even quiet lads like Michael Turner would chip in and dig people out if it was needed. It was that sort of dressing room.
Everyone cared about getting the club up and that's what made it such an unbelievable feeling when we managed that in the play-off final at Wembley.
I look at the current Hull City side and you have to wonder if it's the same. They might be a more gifted set of players but that only takes you so far in a division like the Championship.
I don't know what goes on behind the dressing room door or who the big characters are but this current run of poor form is concerning.
You can't question the ability and talent of this City team, the vast majority of them have played in the Premier League or higher, but this is the stage of the season when that's no longer the most important quality.
You have to be mentally tough. You have to show resilience. All the successful teams do that. They handle the pressure and stick together.
Trust is a big thing as well. I used to go into games eight years ago believing that Wayne Brown, Michael Turner and Boaz Myhill were going to keep a clean-sheet in the same way they had faith in me and Fraizer Campbell getting a goal.
Everyone knew each other's strengths and weaknesses and that understanding took us a long way.
This City team is chopping and changing at the minute and the easy thing is to point the finger at Steve Bruce for not knowing his best team.
I doubt he does at the minute but the blame lies as much with the players. How many of this squad can currently say they deserve a place in the team each week? Not many I'm afraid. They're making Bruce's job difficult.
Look at his career as a manager and Bruce is not the type to tinker every week, certainly not if his side is winning.
I'm sure there's nothing he'd like more than to be naming the same XI each week at this stage of the season because you need that trust in one another. If you don't think the man alongside you is up to it, that's when you've got a problem.
It's time for the players to take some responsibility for this run of form, to show that they want to win promotion out of the Championship as much as the supporters.
They have to be able to go home after a match and know they couldn't have possibly done anymore for the team.
That might not always be enough but you've got to roll up your sleeves and be ready to give blood, sweat and tears.
Only this group of players can tell you if they can look in the mirror and been able to say they've done that over the last month.
Losing dressing rooms are never happy dressing rooms but the key is having the togetherness and unity to come through adversity like this.
It's not too late for City to end this season in the same way we did in 2007-08 but it's going to need every single player to stand up and be counted.
Don't be left with regrets in the summer.
http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull...tory-29097932-detail/story.html#ixzz45gw7rTtR
