1. We hate criticising our own players – they wear the shirt we cherish, and we yearn for them to wear it with distinction. And we know that sometimes it doesn’t happen. But sometimes the reason it doesn’t happen is because those with the greatest footballing privilege we know of don’t work hard enough to make it happen. It pains us immensely to level this extremely serious accusation. But it needs making. The players have given up. They aren’t giving 100% in a Hull City AFC shirt. That is not acceptable. 2. It’s hard to see a way out now. Not when the malaise is affecting not just a few, but almost everyone. Steve Bruce should forget about reputations now, and pick an XI based upon who’ll actually give it a go. Because if we must go down, let’s go down fighting. Not with the sort of abysmal surrender we witnessed on Saturday. 3. Tom Huddlestone is in danger of becoming one of the biggest disappointments of all. He’s clearly unhappy, his physical condition is questionable, and even his famously languid style isn’t disguising a straightforward absence of endeavour. If he keeps this up, his chances of playing for England again are zero. Even turning out in the Premier League in 2015/16, for anyone, is in doubt. 4. Ahmed Elmohamady is more than just Hull City’s Premier League appearance record holder, his commitment, crossing ability and promotion defining dance routines have made him one of the most popular and beloved of current players amongst fans, ourselves included. However, that does not exempt him from criticism for flagrant cheating, and that ‘hand of Allah’ attempt to score with his arm shamed both him and the club. Worse still, he had the temerity to play innocent and hurt when the ref rightly ruled out the goal and booked him. Not on, Elmo, not on at all. Our situation looks grim right now, but if we have to resort to cheating to achieve parity in games, we really don’t deserve to stay up. 5. What of Steve Bruce? He sounds as though he is absolutely bereft of ideas, motivation or enthusiasm. That’s frightening. He won’t go though, and nor should he. Not because he sounds particularly capable of turning things around, or even because of what he did last season. There just isn’t anyone obviously better. 6. No matter how badly they’ve played, sending players a load of slavver by Twitter is a dick move. 7. It’s transfer deadline day today. After apparently “winning” the last one, forgive us for not getting worked up about this one. 8. We enjoying snapping our cheap, tacky flags in half on Saturday, Commercial Department. What’s your next stupid, antagonistic idea? 9. It’s a very fan thing to do, to make out that with just a stroke of luck or two, everything that is wrong would be fixed, that everything would be just fine and dandy… We’ve been unlucky with injuries, refs have made bad calls, we’re just not getting the rub of the green etc. Few fans want to look beyond that myopic and simplistic approach, but club history has shown that there are times when things going badly wrong on the pitch reflect things going badly wrong behind the scenes, and something feels very, very wrong right now. The owner has spent the last year issuing threats, to the fans, to the Council, to the game’s governing body, of what he’ll do if he doesn’t get his own way, and the focus of the front office has been on not using the terms ‘Hull’, ‘City’ and ‘AFC’ when marketing the club in India, on local fixture advertising and on giveaway flags, rather than concentrating on uniting a fanbase that has been insulted, endured massive hikes in ticket prices and told they are ultimately insignificant in the revenue scheme of things. There is a toxic miasma emanating from the club, it feels soul-sick, and it isn’t a stretch to envisage that uneasiness and uncertainty has permeated through to the dressing room despite the manager’s admirable efforts to insulate the squad from the enmity felt between various factions, from the boardroom to the terraces, to those who have felt so disenfranchised and unwanted that they have stayed away this term. Something is rotten in the state of Tigerland and we really hope this can be rectified sooner rather than later. Experience tells us to expect another owner eruption when the FA finally nails the Hull Tigers coffin shut later this month, and it will come at the worst possible time, as we seek to stave off relegation and yet another impending financial disaster. 10. We’ll be returning to the FA’s impending No To Hull Tigers this week, looking at what the club should say in response. Note that it’s what they should say, not will. http://www.ambernectar.org/blog/2015/02/things-we-think-we-think-072/?
There's no doubt that the issues that have divided the fans over the last year or so are affecting the whole club It doesn't excuse the players, but if a culture is rotten (or rotting) it doesn't matter what business it is in - it will struggle
unfortunately Allam's toxic poison is starting to permeate through the club - from the moment he doubled the price for disabled supporters to his continued attempts to expunge the name of Hull City from the record books he is now finding that the nasty effects of the poison administered by him, and only him, is killing the fans loyalty and patience, killing the team's performances, killing the will of the manager and killing the very heart of the club and by doing so he will eventually kill his investment
For me the biggest new arrival in this window is Mike Phelan. I think we must hope that he can bring some new ideas and desire back to the players. On Saturday I counted out loud as pass after pass went sideways or backwards. I got to 25 before we lost possession. Simply not good enough - IMO the players were taking the easy option and lacked fight and/or confidence.
Just thought I'd throw a bit more petrol on the fire.... An absolute debacle What an absolute debacle the game against Newcastle was. I have been supporting Hull City since 1965 but that was one of the worst displays I have ever seen. What has happened to the two great players we got from Tottenham, Huddlestone and Livermore. Hernandez is a total waste of £10m, he can't ever trap a ball properly. Ramirez seems to play when he wants and Robertson needs to learn how to defend. Steve Bruce needs to drop Huddlestone, Livermore, Ramirez and Hernandez and get back to the players who will give 100 per cent. Let's start playing with round pegs in round holes not moving players around. Firstly we need 2 full backs who play that role, Rosenior and Figueroa. Two centre halves pick themselves in Dawson and Davies, although I would be tempted to replace Davies with Maguire. Defensive midfield is either Quinn or Meyler which leaves two wingers in Brady and Elmohamady. That leaves 2 strikers, which at present can only be Jelavic and Aluko. With McGregor in goal that leaves one team slot and that should go to Alex Bruce who never gives less than 100 per cent. I know we have a weak link in Figueroa but who else do we have? Okay we may lack skill but at least we would go down fighting. I am absolutely disgusted with the total lack of commitment by the four players I say should be dropped and feel we are running out of time to stave off relegation. We have 19 points and we need 38 (a point a game) but with only 15 games left it is a big ask. I also can't help wondering why we are bringing in Lennon when we need 2 forwards. Seems we are taking another gamble with N'Daye. What was wrong with bringing in Darren Bent on loan, look what he's doing at Derby. If City go down I will not be renewing my season pass as I think many others will follow. And that comes from someone who has supported City through good and bad, Chliton and Wagstaff to Dolan. For gods sake City wake up before it's too late! Article by Tony Atkin. http://www.hull.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=386970
If someone is going to have a rant like that, they should at least make sure they know which players are actually available.
How do you mean? He mentions Lennon and N'Doye (both still 'in the air' - but unlikely now) and Bent (who he admits is at Derby)?
That guys full on idiot. Bleats on about how he's been a supporter 50 years and then says I won't renew if we go down.
"Firstly we need 2 full backs who play that role, Rosenior and Figueroa." Rosenior's out for the next two months.
He's scored two in two for Derby so far. Bruce was never going to consider him, but he'd have been a handy addition.
Didn't he have relationship with Bruce's daughter as well? I'm not sure about Bent. Especially his wages as well.
That's why I said Bruce wouldn't consider him. If Derby can afford his wages, I'm sure we could, he's out of contract in the summer, he was probably available on a free.
I honestly thought you were older than that Stanners. Still, if you're only interested in PL footy, that's your choice to make.
We've now switched to attacking Stan & not talking about the Newcastle game. MOTD summed it up neatly showing & mentioning Huddleston giving away the ball & then jogging after it. He just didn't look interested. Robertson trying a one two on the edge of our box & Ramirez playing the ball neatly to one of their players to score. From where I was in the North stand it just looked like they weren't interested after the first goal went in.
