A bit harsh to blame a player for not performing when he isn't being played to his strengths. Personally, I think Bruce got his tactics wrong. We're still too slow pushing up the field, every attack of ours needed to go through 11 defenders. Oh yeah, and Diame needs to learn how to pass. I lost count of the times he tried to run through theirdefence when there was an easy pass on. If hhe's getting marked out of the game, like he was today, that should open up spaces elsewhere. Edit: forgot to say, Shane who? I barely noticed him today.
Hernandez put the yards in today, which he hasn't been doing earlier. He looked better, although the jury is still out IMO. He lacked support and was up against the best defence currently playing in the league. Not really the situation to judge his overall worth.
Barely noticed him, agree with that, but when I did notice him he was in behind us. I dunno why more strikers don't play on the shoulder.
Southampton have let in just 5 goals in their first 10 games - 5 less than the next best defence in the PL. Today wasn't the day to judge Hernandez, who had the disadvantage of having to play up front on his own. We have a tendency to sit deep when we play with a lone striker, so he had no support, few crosses into him - and lets not forget what he can do when given a decent cross to attack.
Wow some Prem league fanboys on here today, this is the best team I have ever seen representing Hull City, ok we might not have scored but the the first half was outstanding, some of the passing was breathtaking, think back only 5 years this season is a massive step up
Southampton got players back very quickly, filled the space on the edge of the box and Hernandez got very little opportunity to attack the ball - good play by them and not really poor play by Hernandez. Given a little more space to operate in he'll score goals but he really does need better support. We certainly missed Jelavic today.
totally agree, an awful mistake for their goal, we never really created anything despite some quality passing Soton do look a quality side.
But the crosses were there today. There were some brilliant ones where we turned their defenders to face their own goal and it was dropping in the middle of the box. He was never anywhere near them. Huddlestone put a few balls behind them and he was late setting off and slower than the defenders every time. Brady put a couple into the left channel but he just didn't anticipate or react to anything. I appreciate it's far too early to write him off, but the lack of service argument just can't apply today. It was actually a good team performance all round. Jelavic would surely have got on the end of some of those crosses. I think his first few games lool worryingly similar to other strikers we've signed who never settled in.
Completely agree with this. It was a good team performance. I don't expect us to be able to afford £10m players, but now we've paid for one I rather expected him to be a bit more involved.
Southampton made it hard for him to be involved with 2 deep lying centre halves, 2 defensive midfielders and full backs who tucked in, all in his way. 2nd half Ben Arfa went missing which also didn't help. He obviously could do with a 2nd striker to link up with but he looks like a goalscorer to me. We had Danny Graham last season ffs!
A goalscorer would get on the end of all these crosses. Jelavic would have scored from one of them today.
Eh??? I dont remember us creating anything, nothing at all. Decent shot? That would be the midfield then, who never ever shoot. Its aqlomost a crime for Livermore or Hudd to shoot.
Thats what I mean though. We must have had 1 shot all game, but there were loads of crosses that didn't get attacked and ball in and around the area where a striker was sorely missed. It was bizarre that we created loads of good positions but no shots.
When was the last time Livermore took a shot? He pisses about with the ball way too much. Our only goal threat from midfield is Diame.
Ben Arfa had a chance on the edge of the box, but it was a really weak shot. There were some good crosses now and again. Robertson ballooned a longer effort embarrassingly over the top and also gave the ball away a couple of times in possession. Hernandez tried an overhead kick, well at least it was something.
I think Diame can pass and he's a player who can actually beat others playing one-twos or just through his strength, so I like him taking the initiative as he generally doesn't give the ball away but puts pressure on.
Hernandez did not get the service he needed today, Ben Arfa is not the partner to play along side him, he needs a Jelly type. Elmo did not get the crosses in today that he normally does, and Brady even though had a good game, he doesn't deliver the ball into the box as well as Robertson.
