Clucas - growing in confidence - good signing Dawson - another excellent game - let's hope he stays fit Robertson - great tackle in the second half to nick the ball away when it looked like they'd broke away - good understanding with Clucas Diame, Livermore, McGregor worthy of mentioning although everyone played well
As others have said, everyone.. Pleased for Big H. When their CF tried to shoulder charge him!!! Ha was like pushing a tree. Livermore, Brilliant display. Ran the show from start to finish. Odubajo. Better and better and better. Brilliant signing. That moment when he was back tracking and slipped but still headed the ball, then got up and took the ball off Adomah. Ace. Diame. He's a beast.
Livermore - absolutely outstanding and what a partnership he has developed with Meyler in the middle Diame - possesses that touch of magic Dawson - probably the best leader and organiser we`ve had since Ashbee But having said that to a man the team were terrific yesterday, no half quaters given, 100% effort and everyone played their part to a man including the subs, hats off to Sir Brucie, got them simmering nicely now.
Looks like I'm going against the grain here but for me: 1. Hernandez - for his overall effort and not bottling it whilst being bullied 2. Clucas - shaping up to be a real player 3. Maguire - for me the first 30 minutes were the biggest test for him so far and I thought he passed with flying colours, can only get better playing alongside Dawson and great cover for Davis. Can't see Bruce jnr getting into the side again unless we've got injury problems or need him to provide cover in midfield. Believe again.
I didn't include Hernandez in my nominations but it was a hard call - he certainly had to withstand some tough challenges and often came out with the ball and used it well. I really hope we manage to hang on to him in January.
I've waited to do this because it's incredibly difficult to single out 3. I thought the whole team were outstanding as we swatted away an alleged title favourite - we made them look rubbish. Clucas - He is getting better every bloody game, and he is one of the most consistent players in our team week in week out putting in 7 or 8 out of 10 performances. Every team needs a Sam Clucas - our ginger balance is re dressed and if we had kept Quinn - he wouldn't have got in the team ahead of Clucas. Dawson - Great captains performance, steadying the tiller at the back and helping Marshall another bloody clean sheet! Diame - Beast, they couldn't handle him and his goal and the time he scored it was pivotal to coming out in the second half and showing Middlesbrough what a real promotion contender looks like.
Livermore - masterclass in midfield did what ashbee used to do week in week out. What a unit! Diame - great in the free role he had and they couldn't handle him. Dawson - international class, every week doesn't put a foot wrong and instilled confidence in the back line. Outstanding team performance, the only let down of the day was having Alan Partridge hosting talk sport afterwards! Smashy & Nicey next week ive heard..... Bring on the Robins and UTT.
Livermore Clucas Diame I honestly think if you put any player in those three I wouldn't be able to disagree. Yesterday was the definition of a team performance, every single player was at the top of their game.
I was listening immediately after the game, I can't remember exactly what he said but he got Sam Clucas' name completely wrong. I mean, seriously, no matter how poor a presenter he might be at least get the players names right ffs.
Personally found it easy to pick Clucas as number one, after that it got difficult. Eventually went for : 2. Livermore 3. Dawson Over the last couple of weeks I've not been bothered about the players we sold in the summer. Chezzy was good but he wasn't 8 million pound good.
Buckingham has gone for Clucas, but also gives 8's to Dawson, Maguire, Livermore and Diame... http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull...ddlesbrough/story-28136607-detail/story.html? Though it was only a late cameo, I thought Hayden looked excellent when he came on.
From the Daily Fail Only giving 7's and 8's in what I thought was our best team display for years. For me it was 8's and 9's How good do you have to get to score a 9 ??? Allan McGregor: Hardly tested by Middlesbrough's ineffective attack but a save to keep out Friend at the back post was crucial. That brave, point-blank save came just before City's decisive second goal and set up a fifth straight clean-sheet. 7 Moses Odubajo: The £3.5m summer signing was again very good, offering his side an edge in attack but also a diligent mind in defence. Caught out once when Downing's cross-field pass picked out Friend but otherwise strong throughout. 7 Michael Dawson: There cannot be a defender performing better in all of the Championship at present. Immaculate performance from the City captain, marshalling the best defence in English football with complete dominance. 8 Harry Maguire: No Davies or Bruce, no matter. Maguire's first league start for the Tigers was an immensely satisfying one, thwarting the visitors' flimsy attack with relative ease. Sadly for him, may have to surrender his place at Bristol City. 8 Andrew Robertson: Caught out by the run of Nugent early on but that was the only occasion Boro got any joy down the City left. A superb tackle to stop Downing in his tracks during the second half showed a defender making improvements all the time. 7 Ahmed Elmohamady: Picked out a beautiful cross for Diame to open the scoring and then played a support role in Huddlestone's third. Combining well with Odubajo to make City a threatening side down the right, full of life. 7 Jake Livermore: City's physical strength in midfield set them apart from Middlesbrough for much of the game and it was typified by Livermore. Excellent again in the engine room, breaking up play and setting up attacks. So effective. 8 David Meyler: Promised a performance to frighten Middlesbrough and duly delivered with authority and drive. Never allowed the visitors to find a rhythm and, albeit fortunately, provided the assist for Clucas' key goal. 7 Sam Clucas: (starman) Just about shaded the man of the match plaudits after grabbing the all-important second for City, just reward for an inventive, bright display. Set up a great chance for Elmohamady and also came close with a free-kick. 8 Mohamed Diame: Restored to the starting XI and justified his inclusion with the all-important opening goal. Should have bagged a brace when firing over in the second half but his strength bullied Middlesbrough. Left to a standing ovation. 8 Abel Hernandez: Not on the score-sheet but played a big part in City's dominance with effective hold-up play and tireless running inside the final third. Supporters showed their appreciation before he jets off for international duty. 7 From the bench Chuba Akpom (for Hernandez 73): Unlucky to drop to the bench and could have done better when squaring up a defender on the break. 6; Tom Huddlestone (for Diame 78): Only needed six minutes to dispatch a stunning drive into the top corner to cap the perfect day. 7; Isaac Hayden (for Meyler 87): A bright, if brief, cameo inside the closing minutes for City. 6 Read more: http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-City-player-ratings-stood-win-Middlesbrough/story-28136607-detail/story.html#ixzz3qzrKjJlc Follow us: @hulldailymail on Twitter | HullDailyMail on Facebook
1. Clucas, as has been said, gets better with each game 2. Hernandez, really led the line and created the sapce for Diame to flourish 3. Diame, BEAST! Think the most encouraging part of the match were the substitutions, Husslestone and Hayden really took the game away from 'boro. They look an excellent partnership.
