No presser for this one, as far as I'm aware, but here's Bruce's comments... Steve Bruce says he will look to freshen up his side for Monday’s game at Preston North End. The match will be the Tigers’ second in 48 hours and despite the 3-0 victory against Burnley on Boxing Day, Bruce will make changes in a bid to maintain the intensity needed to get a result at Deepdale. “I will make changes at Preston,” said Bruce. “I don’t believe that any footballer can be ready and fully recovered in 48 hours, especially going away from home. I don’t want that as an excuse. “We’ve got a big squad with players who are itching to play – the likes of Maloney and Snodgrass, Isaac Hayden and Tom Huddlestone – they all come into my mind. “They are fresh and raring to go and should give us that spark that was so obviously missing at Rotherham last week. “There are some that can handle the two games with no problem, the likes of Sam Clucas for example. But there are those that can struggle with it, Abel Hernandez comes to mind. He’ll give his best, but I thought he played tired at Rotherham. The easiest thing is to play him after scoring against Burnley, but it’s something I have to look at.” Bruce has no fresh injury concerns for the trip accross the Pennines and says his side must show the same attitude as they did against Burnley if they are to get a result. “If we play like we did on Boxing Day then we’ll be okay,” said Bruce. “If we come away from that level and don’t reach that standard then it becomes difficult, so we have to maintain what we showed on Saturday.” http://www.hullcitytigers.com/news/...e-at-preston-2870409.aspx#7sfzV6U9Oc7DJ8qz.99
Hayden for Meyler? Snodgrass for Elmo? I think we need a couple of changes, but I'd be nervous about making too many.
Can't see Diame playing two games close together so Maloney would be the obvious choice for him. Bit risky leaving out Hernandez for Chakpom or Diomande. The system worked well yesterday so it would be nice to see it again, was a kind of 4-4-1-1 which morphed into a 4-4-2 at times. Hayden as the deep lying midfielder and Hudds pushing forward would be nice to see. H Mag was blowing a bit in the second half but I can't see him changing the defence around too much. It would be nice to Odubajo start well tomorrow as he comes out in the first halves looking as nervy as a Jakupovic on a Hot Tin Roof, 3 games in a row now I've seen that. Phelan needs to slap him in the chops before they run out to settle him down.
I know King Chazz, it's shocking that people give their opinions on a football forum, the cheek of it mate
It depends on how Preston set up; a lot of teams have come to the KC and flooded the midfield (which Bruce has aluded to and lamented in previous games), so yesterday we played with an extra midfielder in Diame and it worked because Burnley played with two up top and couldn't get a grasp on the game. However, if Preston play with 5 anyway, it could be trickier to break them down (I'm thinking about Bristol City and MK Dons where we found it tough but still somehow got a result) so I think a bit of creativity in the midfield through the likes of Snodgrass and Maloney would be ideal. Maybe even Clucas in behind Hernandez if they both aren't too tired. Preston seem all over the gaff at the moment, their fans are starting to get ****ed off with the standard of performance and they seem to be really annoyed at the lad Johnson in their midfield (who I thought was one of their better players when they came to the KC) and apparently Will Keane, once one of the brightest prospects in the country, should never play for them again. They aren't blessed with quality, but they do have Paul Gallagher, who usually plays well against us (he always did for Leicester). Check it out: http://www.pne-online.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?7-PNE-Discussions
Haydyn in for Meyler for me… Can't be doing with having Hernandez rested, he'd run through a brick wall for you. Let him get to halftime with us winning then consider giving him a rest.
I think Hayden is the obvious choice for Meyler, but if he doesn't look tired I can see Brucey being tempted to keep him in. Which hopefully won't happen as he's been about as useful as a marzipan dildo in recent weeks.
This is when SB has to earn his corn! If he keeps the same team & we get beat he'll be slated! The only change for me would be maybe snoddy for clucas? Nice touch by snoddy clutching his badge when burnley were singing l**ds scum
Definite starters will be MacGregor Davies Maguire Robertson Livermore Clucas everyone else could be rested.
Add Dave, Meyler and Elmo to that. I'd keep the same midfield and back four. Just rest Hernandez and Diame for Akpom and Maloney. I want to see Maloney in the middle off Akpom.
He did the same to us at Carrow Road when he was playing for Norwich - he mouthed a few pleasantries too
Why the hell would you want to rest Hernandez….. !!… he's 25 FFS.. not 35… tell me, do you think we are more inclined to get a result tomorrow with him in, or out of the side..?
I'd prefer to keep the same team as much as possible - after all, Preston players will also have played so will be equally "tired" - poor old professional footballers eh! However, if Bruce does want to "freshen" things up then I'd like to see Snodgrass start - possibly instead of Elmo or Dave (Elmo drops back it it's Dave). Diame can be rested either for Maloney or Akpom But that's as far as I'd like to go. I'd certainly want to keep Meyler, Livermore, Clucas in midfield & the defence is doing OK-ish at the moment so doesn't really warrant a change.
Sounds like he's going to drop Hernandez which will be somewhat disappointing. Along with Livermore he was the best player on the pitch against Burnley, could have pulled him a bit earlier with Preston in mind. I'd like to see him play the first 45 and we could switch him at the break if he's clearly tired. I'd go: McGregor Odubajo Maguire Davies Robertson Elmo Livermore Hayden Clucas Maloney Hernandez
That's pretty much what I'd do, but, I'm sure Brucie knows the players best and will set up accordingly.
Does he know you? If not, that followed by you staring down at him with a glare and a "what's funny?" would have been funny.
