Match Day Thread Hull City v Middlesbrough

I’ve wondered about that.

 

The defence and midfield, sometimes individually, have often been poor this season, but they’ve got away with it, often due less than clinical sides, tonight they were all poor, Egan, Alphabet and Ajayi in particular. It showed how poor the two centre backs had been when Hughes came on, but for him they could have had another four in the second half! Oh and I hope that Gyabi and Akintola were thrown on to save legs for Wednesday, and as the game had gone, because they were both absolutely pathetic!

 

Don't give them ideas - that'll be the next prize for the Higher or Lower ****.

 

Joe looked as though he was playing to stay fit for a transfer so barely tackled anyone. And Semi was already at Afcon. I hope I’m wrong but that was Joes worst game he was miles off it from the start .

 

well **** me that was **** wasn't it... Just got in, freezing and soaking. What a disaster that was. Embarrassing really. We'd better muller Wrexham on Wednesday.

 

I'm blaming it on the pitch. Good to soft going doesn't suit them and they are wasting energy searching for the better ground. Running around bumping into the nearest player is what you get when you are lacking technical ability.

 

Supposedly, Hughes played as a defensive mid for Wigan a few times. It wouldn’t be the craziest thing the coach could do to try him there. He’s got good passing range and is composed on the ball.

That being said, asking a player to do a job at defensive mid when it’s not their main role is a big ask. I’d argue it’s easier for a defensive mid to play centre-half than vice versa.

 

over 3.5 goals is printing money with city

 

Gelhardt looked to be having words with someone on the bench when he was subbed off. Looked a bit tense.

 

Was going to say how awful was Ajayi but everyone's already saying that.

Thought Crooks was piss poor too. I really like him at times, usually in games that were dominant in, but when we're on the back foot he's a right tit, just goes round catching people late over and over and can't do anything with the ball when we're getting pressed to death like today.

Destan was similar, just loads of late fouls and couldn't compete with their defenders at all.

We concede the same sort of goal repeatedly. First goal we couldn't clear it, gave it to their man and he scores. Second goal we gave it to them three times in a row before they eventually scored. Stoke scored from us half clearing it and.not following up. It's baffling that we're doing as well as we are whilst conceding this many crap goals.

Boro were clinical like Ipswich last home game but we didn't play nearly as well as did for 70 minutes against Ipswich. We totally collapsed after the second goal and just didn't compete with them for the last two goals.

 

Some truth in that. I said to my mate 'why is Joseph's second touch always a tackle?' Not the best surface, but Bro appeared to have brought the right studs. Half of our lot, seemed to lack grip.

 

The defence and Pandur still aren't communicating, something's not right there at all. They aren't on the same wavelength, so many needless things happen 'cause they don't get a shout, or expect something that doesn't happen

 

Sort of agree in that midfield, particularly defensive midfield is a massive issue.

But it really isn't as simple as that.

Serge got the starting XI and tactics wrong again. But as others said, he has enough in the bank account.

Attack is a massive problem. When there's next to nothing up there, it just brings more pressure on midfield and defence. Our attack without McBurnie and a fit Millar & Belloumi is just ****e. Gelhardt has done his best to paper over the cracks.

Defence is also a massive problem. Communication with Panda is an issue. Stupid mistakes is a problem. RB not playing RB is an issue (and no, I'm not a Coyle knocker as such, but that's got to be his main purpose).

So many key injuries are a massive problem, probably the main issue. With McBurnie, Lundstram, Matazo, Millar, Belloumi all playing and firing it would be completely different. Hopefully Zambrano is added in January too. McBurnie and Lundstram are also leaders (another issue). Why can't it be 3 or 4 less important players that are out at any one time, say 3 or 4 of Drameh (or Coyle), Egan, Philips, Destan, Gyabi or something like that? It seems like the perpetual City curse; it's surely got to turn at some point.

 

Lundstram extended his PCL slipping on the training ground. Out for 2-3 weeks.

 

Well that one's really easy to answer! He's just not very good ... but works hard. That's just how he is, always has been and I don't see it changing.

 

Agree about Crooks. Against the likes of Oxford when we had 75% possession and created chance after chance, he looked class. When the opposition have the majority of possession, Crooks is crap off the ball. He doesn’t have the legs to get around the pitch so he just ends up fouling people or two yards behind the ball, blowing out his arse and running like he’s wearing Timbs.

Hadžiahmetović and Lundstram aren’t much better though. The former isn’t trusted to play 90 minutes and the latter’s pretty slow and cumbersome as well.

 

Awkward

 

Oh ****.
Not sure what the hell Serge is going to do then. He has to try something different as it just isn't working without him and Matazo.
3 5 2, with Crooks playing deeper maybe, but it's still not a solution.

 

I worked hard in my job, but I never made it to surgeon level, I had all the equipment, the saws and the cutting tools, but not the touch or the finesse, a bit like Joseph than.

 

Pandur clattering into Egan was just ridiculous. He’s doing something like that at least once every game now. Don’t know what’s going on with him this season but the communication between him and the defence is shocking and he’s making stupid decisions.