Hull City vs. Leeds United 29th December, 2012 KC Stadium, Hull Hull City A 6 game unbeaten run, consisting of 4 wins and 2 draws, has seen the Tigers remain in 2nd spot in the Championship behind League Leaders Cardiff City. A run of good performances, really showing the rest of the League what this Hull City side are capable of doing. The Tigers were left to rue a series of missed chances against Leicester on Boxing Day, Jay Simpson with 3 of the clearest chances of the game were most notable. The midfield and front mens' link-up play has been admirable, with the likes of Quinn, Elmohamady, Brady, Koren, Simpson and Aluko all combining to create deadly situations for the oppositions defence. The midfield will again, need to be at it's best to create some openings against a recently, fairly resurgent Leeds United. Meyler still hasn't been recalled by Martin O'Neil at Sunderland and therefore may be put back into the frame to replace Cory Evans. That is one of two choices Steve Bruce has to make, along with whether to start any combination of Jay Simpson, Nick Proschwitz or Sone Aluko. The recent momentum gained from the Tigers makes for a great Yorkshire Derby and what could be a crucial game for both sides Promotion aspirations. Leeds United Neil Warnocks' Leeds just can't seem to string together enough wins to push them to the higher reaches of the Table. Their last 6 consist of 4 wins and 2 losses, and they appear to be starting to find their feet. Good results against fellow Championship high-flyers Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Leicester City shows that they are capable of beating anybody. Leeds' hitman Becchio can't stop scoring this Season and the link up play between Jerome Thomas, Luciano Becchio and El-Hadji Diouf has been a lethal cocktail which makes opposition defences quake in their boots at times. The Leeds defence however, continues to be leaky and unreliable, which may come back to haunt Warnock come the end of the end of the Season, should they miss out on Promotion. The midfield, includes Rudolph Austin, Paul Green, David Norris and Michael Brown who are all no-nonsense, nitty-gritty midfielders who will cause Hull's midfield many physical battles throughout the game. Amber's Magic Prediction This is probably going to be the most meaningful tie between these two sides since a few Seasons back when we were both fighting relegation to League 1. It'll be a physical, fast-paced, attacking game with both sides going for a much-needed win. I think City's midfield have what it takes to really unscrew Leeds' defence but I feel that the likes of Koren, Quinn, Aluko and Meyler may not be physical enough and will be bullied off the ball. However, if we execute the wings with Brady and Elmo properly, we have the ability to run riot. We need to keep Diouf, Becchio and Thomas under wraps too or else we could be heading into the New Year quite miserable. I've got a good feeling about this one, and I'm going for Hull City 3-1 Leeds United. Top Scorers Hull City Sone Aluko - 8 goals Robert Koren - 6 goals Jay Simpson - 6 goals Abdoulaye Faye - 4 goals Aaron McLean - 3 goals Leeds United Luciano Becchio - 18 goals Michael Tonge - 5 goals El-Hadji Diouf - 5 goals Paul Green - 4 goals David Norris - 3 goals
Think its time to rest Simmo, but Prossy doesnt seem to play on his own up front whenever he does play. Brucey isnt afraid to gamble is he. For me Jako Elmo Chezzy Faye/Mcshane Hobbs Brady Koren Meyler Quinn Aluko Mclean The game may come too quickly for big Abdi so Mcshane may get the nod. I'm gonna go with Mclean up front, not his biggest fan but i think he woulda got on the end of Brady and Elmo's first half crosses and buried Simmo's header at the end.
I have a feeling also for a 3-1 win, I think TWS will be feeling the strain of playing Chelsea and Forest, and defense seem to be leaking goals. Hopefully we will find our scoring boots, and get the win we need UTT.
Such a difference. I do apologise. Maybe next time I'll pay more attention to the font style of "LUFC" in future...
With a leaky defence at present Leeds can definetly be got at and hopefully Aluko, Brady, Elmo and Meyler (if he plays) can give them a tough afternoon. Diouf, Thomas and Becchio will need to be watched if we're to take the 3 points but I think we're good enough to win this 2-1.
Didn't Warnock say Bruce isn't a good manager, he's just lucky? How nice would it be to do the double of them? Some main factors will take place in this game, and that is why the Championship is so hard to predict... A good defence Vs a good attack and a (currently) mis-firing attack Vs a sometimes sloppy defence. It'll depend on who wins those perfectly matched battles, if we can keep them quiet, we need our fowards to be back on their game to capitalise. Midfield will be a big talking point I imagine... Leeds hard-working no-nonsense midfield against our midfield of pass-and-run'ers, if we can pass the ball about and keep hold of it, we'll create chances, but if we allow them to bully us off the ball, it could be another 'Burnley' type game, so we need to stamp our authority on the game early. I don't imagine Neil Warnock allowing his side to put in 2 sloppy performances on the bounce either, so I think this will be a tighter game than some are predicting. I think it'll end 1-1, or a team to edge it 2-1 depending on how those 'battles' pan out.
Think we will beat them, they aren't up to the standard of the better teams we have played lately and not sure a lot of our lads are bothered by any so-called rivalry will be just another game for them- 3-0 us
Jakupovic Chester Hobbs Faye Elmo Meyler Evans Quinn Brady McLean Aluko Quite liked Chazz's idea of starting McLean. Wouldn't mind it being Simpson or Proschwitz though.
Why drop Koren though? For me, Leeds are a poor side who we can pass of the park, therefore, I'd like our best passers of the ball on the pitch. So taking out Koren and bringing in Mclean seems mental to me. We need to avoid trying so hard to combat Leeds' physical presence that we forget all about our own game. If we play the way we can it doesn't matter if Leeds try to kick us off the park, we'll still win.
True, but he just drifts out of games too much for me. If Koren plays then either we drop Quinn or Meyler or he plays up front with Aluko which is essentially a 3-7-0.
Well I went with: --------------Jakupovic--------------- --------Chester--Faye--Hobbs-------- --Elmo------------------------Brady-- --------Koren---Meyler--Quinn-------- -----------Simpson---Aluko----------- It looks like it could be too open but I think that team could stick 3/4 past Leeds.
