More to do IMO with Hughton being determined to stick to his guns (a) by ignoring the criticism about being too cautious which emerges every time he plays two DMs at home, and (b) by ignoring the criticism levelled at him about Fer being best played as DM and not in a more advanced position. If you are only going to play Fer and Howson, then both of them have less attacking freedom, not just Howson. So the key is bringing in Tettey as well. The other excellent feature of their play on Saturday was their flexibly as a threesome. Although Tettey did mostly sit behind the other two, he also got forward when an opportunity presented itself, and both Fer and Howson came deeper to cover and/or to pick up the ball (as well as roaming left and right). So overall our centre midfield was very fluid.
I take your points, but my reasons for criticism of CH were not based on these premises. The criticism of playing 2 DM's was when it was Tettey and Johnson together + 1. There is no chance of creation or fluidity. I have said that I thought playing Fer as the attacking member of the central 3 was a mistake, I can see that he could definitely play that position if required now as he looks a really class act. However in doing so it won't work if then
a] howson is more defensive and not allowed the freedom to play his best game or b] BJ and AT play together. I am not suggesting we play 2 in the middle, not likely ever excepting chasing a game with <30mins to go, as we will not see enough of the ball.
The flexibility of the midfield trio was as you say a joy to behold and makes me wonder why they have until very recently played so rigidly? Certainly playing the right midfield 3 plays a large part in my opinion. After a good performance with so much to be positive about I don't wish to be critical as it genuinely seems like CH is making progress. But you guys with the smug posts kind of bring the worst out in us sceptics. so here goes.
Why has it taken CH this long to figure out that these 3 should be playing together in the middle? We (I think Robbie and Supers) had all suggested this line up some time before CH finally did at Stoke.
This midfield 3 in my opinion could have worked with BJ instead of AT when on form. (BJ'll now have a real job getting back in with AT playing so well.)
But, excepting the 1st game with Fer suspended why was this not employed earlier and well practiced pre-season? We know that CH favoured 1 up top and 5 in the middle. Its these seemingly slow uptakes that cause me doubts about him. That and we still are not getting quality balls in to the Wolf, though there are slow signs of slight improvements here too.
I would not critise his subs on sunday as I thought they were bang on, CH was again let down by individual errors and I wouldn't criticise him for the 2nd goal after 3 players had moments to forget. Others however, like the Snoddy penalty are criminal and reflect very poorly on him
I am not overly critical of the tactics of go for the win at home and be a little more cautious away. But There's cautious and there's Hull away! That midfield that started was wrong on the day, it must of been wrong on the training ground and it was most certainly over negative given the oposition. Visiting the big boys I could understand it although would still find it disappointing if I'd shelled out for a ticket.
You can't be going in to games posing no threat or the oposition will win, there are no sides in the PL who won't at the very least encouraged by such negativity and virtually all will win (Not probably Crystal Palace, but most!)
And if we are gonna be picky we are in the bottom 3 after spending the 14th most in europe! That's not very good is it! Before we all start heralding him as the crusher of all sceptics and the best thing since sliced bread. We have had 2 good performances in a row, encouraging but what if we now have a January to early may style run? It could happen, it did after the 10 game unbeaten run.
But I don't want to be negative he's producing visible improvements, surely the results will follow. I remain sceptical just slightly less so.
And by the way, Hughton can win in most peoples eyes even "Hughton sceptics" such as myself. He did it pretty much all right in my book on Sunday (1 exception being as mentioned in the article in RiverEndRick's post, I thought the defensive line we were holding at the start of the match was to high and left us too exposed.
Bah!
