Match Day Thread Hull City Home

I think we'll turn this around again.
Posh getting battered (sorry Minxy)

 

Our midfield 3 is garbage.

Ralls and Colwill have to replace Bacuna and Vaulks at half time.

 

Well you've got half of your wish Hilts.
Ralls on for Vaulks

 

Bossing possession and having more attempts on goal.
Need to get one back early.

 

Collins hits the post

 

Well that was rubbish! Back to hoof ball and we couldn’t pass wind. Morison out!

 

That was garbage.

Didnt deserve to lose but thats what happens when you pick that 3 in midfield. Ralls immediately changes things but Colwill should have come on as well.

Nelson was appalling as well.

Lose to teams like that and you are heading one way.

 

Grant McAnn must have thought xmas came early seeing our team sheet.

A major mistake by Morison picking not only Vaulks but Bacuna as well; probably the worst 2 midfielders in the league.

When will City play football for 90 minutes? They make it so hard for themselves playing so negatively and cautiously from the off.

I got sick and tired of seeing the back 3 passing it sideways to each other back and fore until they try a short pass which ends up being passed back to them or a aimless long punt to nowhere.

The problem is no central midfielder in the first half made runs into space for a ball to be played. The hopeless V&B pair just are so vacant. Ralls made a difference until he drifted further back and Colwill didn’t have enough possession.

Only Davies looked positive but he was ignored largely.

Their goal came from Bacuna giving away possession for no reason and then terrible defending leaving a midget unmarked to nod home.

So onto the second half and the expected subs (why 4?) and many chances going begging. The officials lacked bottle and City lacked quality in the final moment. How does Collins not score in injury time?

So Hull rode their luck and stole the points. I can’t recall Smithies having a save to make.

Morison must take some blame for a calamitous midfield selection but the players have to make more effort in the first half and be adventurous.

The season just got a lot more tougher tonight losing that 6 pointer.

 

All valid points. Our skill levels are just not up to it.

Who told our centre backs they could hit 40/50 yard balls like Glenn Hoddle? I can't recall any such effort getting to the intended player and gave the ball away cheaply each time.

In saying that another appalling officials display. The referee was happy to make decisions when there was nothing on them but wouldn't make one when important. Flint was virtually raped on 3 occasions. When has it been legitimate to virtually remove a players shirt when defending set pieces? Both referee and linesman were blind on each occasion.

Collins returned to the player we know. Hit the post when it was easier to score and put another free header 8 yards wide. He must be moved on.

For me the only bright spot was Isaac Davies. If he can maintain his pace and add some physical strength he could be a real player.

 

Isaak Davies is learning his trade. He's qick but far too lightweight to start the game against defenders with fresh legs - far better to bring on as a sub later on against a tiring defences in the same way that Harris has been used in the recent past. He tried hard and will get better as he bulks up, but Collins should have partnered Moore from the off with Colwill behind them - why didn't Colwill start anyway?

Midfield was again an absolute disaster - the mix is all wrong. Vaulks and Bacuna lack any dynamism and Ralls showed them both up when he came on. Once again, if Ralls was fit enought to be on the bench he should have started. He would have driven the side forward in the first half and if struggling later could have been replaced - the substitutions were the wrong way around. On top of that, Pack is an expert at passing to a team mate who's behind him.

The sight of McGuinness/Flint/Nelson passing the ball across the park between them was like a parks team trying to copy Man City. Hull just sat back and watched them. Nobody from our midfield went and fetched the ball off them and carry it forward. The long punt up field was inevitable, and when it came we invariably lost possession. The one bright spot was again Giles. Everything good came through him down the left hand side, but he must wonder what else he has to do.

I had and have still got high hopes for Morison at the helm this season, but as poor as the team performance was, last night he must carry the can for a disasterous start to the game brought on by an abject team selection.

 

Went to the game again last night. Think I need to stop going as QPR was my only other game I've made it to.

Agree with the majority of what's been said above TBH. Whilst we dominated possession, 90% of it was meaningless.

The starting midfield was too slow. Bacuna was a passenger for nearly the entirety of his time on the pitch.
Vaulks ran around a lot and tried but it wasn't a good display.
Pack I felt a little sorry for as all too often, when he did pick the ball up there was absolutely no movement in front of him to allow him to try pick a pass, hence it going backwards all the time.

Giles too was a waste of space up until around 40 minutes in when it finally dawned on him to actually try running at his opposite number rather than stay with his back to goal and just pass it backwards to Nelson (who also had a poor game with regards to use of the ball) or turn inside a step or two and then go sideways or backwards.

On the plus front Davies did look bright to begin with, Ralls made a huge difference when he came on, Ng had a decent game and Smithies barely had a save to make, which says we were relatively sound defensively.

Flint absolutely should have had at least 2 penalties that I could see from where I was sat.

Regards 4 subs, I think their No'3 went off with concussion, so both teams get an extra sub for that.

 

I can only imagine Colwill and Ralls weren’t fit enough for 90.
There being no other rational explanation for not starting them.

ps Just read Morison on Bacuna. He said Leo is a very good player, was playing well and was unlucky to be brought off.
Am I missing something here

 

Hmm, can only assume this is his attempt to protect a player who is getting it in the neck big time and to try lift his confidence etc ?

I actually thought Bacuna should have been dragged off earlier than Vaulks TBH.

Ralls I believe has had some kind of sickness issue, so could well have still been feeling a bit short of a full game.
Colwill I can only assume was a rest, just to try not burn him out too quickly.

Both definitely need to start the next game though if fit and available.

It could also be time to consider dropping Nelson for Brown (or Morrison, but I'm not sure if he or Flint can play that left side properly).

 

Even if they weren't, they'd have made a huge difference that first half and I doubt we'd gone in half time one down if they'd started.

I thought game management was something you did towards the end, not at the beginning. Trying to rescue a losing position is not the answer.

For me, Morison's halo slipped a bit last night.

 

Agree on your last point. Nelson looks no more than a bang average Div 1 central defender. His clearances and passing were dreadful.

I also think McGuiness looked a bit rabbit in the headlights. Perhaps he should be out of the firing line for a game or 2.

That would see Morro and Brown coming in. 2 changes may be a bit much but I think it needs a little rethink. Particularly if Morro is fully fit. We are a much greater set piece threat with Morro and Flint getting stuck in.

Finally, where is Bagan? Gone off with Masky maybe? Get him back at left back and Giles can go left midfield where he can do so much more damage. In saying that Giles fitness level is so good that the left wing back role is easy for him.

 

Nelson had a shocker last night. His passing was terrible. He shouldn’t be playing the LB/CD role - he’s not good enough for that role.
What you get with Flint is what it says on the tin. 100% effort but limited ability. Also he needs to lose the Jesus look. And whilst I’m at it Pack and Morrison could lose their buns.
Short back and sides with brylcreem please!

 

Lovely boys. Fine pairs of shoulders.

Someone should tell them hippies went out of fashion in the 70's.

 

Why on gods green earth are Bacuna and Nelson ever considered for a place in the starting line up. Nelson for me is one of the worst players ever to don a City shirt.

 

I can only agree with that but I would add (play it back) Pack to that too.