1. What’s more frustrating: poor concentration and sloppy defending leading to a goal conceded early on, or late in the game? City treated us to both against Ipswich on Saturday, chucking away three points that seemed to have been secured by Allan McGregor’s spot-kick save heroics. Victory would have propelled us to the dizzying heights of 18th ahead of a midweek trip to Millwall (and The Den is rarely a house of fun for us), instead we remain in 20th place. It can’t just be chalked up to bad luck either, we’ve developed a deleterious habit of letting in late goals. 2. The first half of the first half was pretty rancid, not just from a City performance point of view, but also as a spectacle. Indeed, there was more entertainment to be had watching a bird of prey in the North Stand rafters kill another bird and skillfully de-feather it (with feathers, but thankfully not entrails, falling onto fans) than contemplating the grisly fare unfolding on the field. 3. Somehow though the game transmogrified into an absorbing encounter, with City willing themselves back into the game and scoring through the ever impressive Jarrod Bowen (after a good cross from Grosicki) and the decent-in-this-game-despite-generally-woeful-supply-from-the-midfield Nouha Dicko. The Tigers had robbed Ipswich of belief, leaving them a tad petulant and niggly, but foolishly, generously City gave them hope again with a silly challenge that led to the penalty award. McGregor’s save inspired the biggest cheer of the afternoon and that might have inspired City to see out the win, but Ipswich remained energised and moonwalked out of the KCOM with a perhaps unwarranted share of the spoils. 4. Over the top criticism seems just to be the way things are nowadays, and several members of the current squad have been on the scapegoat rota this term. However, it’s fair to say that Markus Henriksen did little to silence his detractors on Saturday, with a foppish, nay fadge-like display that was exemplified by turning away from the ball as he ‘contested’ a header as we defended a corner. 5. Who says that protests don’t work? Rattled by the the stress balls and pre-match march against Nottingham Forest and alarmed by the prospect of dissent during the Queen’s visit to Hull, the Allam family have organised a meeting with fans’ leaders (well, the ones they can trust to say the right things, plus the Supporters’ Trust) – and pretended they want to compromise on the squalid removal of concessions. None of these things would have happened if we’d meekly sat on our hands while the club is dismantled around us. 6. So, there’s to be a meeting. It’s supposedly for “fans group leaders”, though it isn’t really. Amber Nectar and City Independent, present at various incarnations of Fans’ Liaison Committee meetings for over 15 years, have been disinvited in recent times, while the new Hull City Action For Change group is also not welcome. And hey, that’s the Allams’ prerogative – if they don’t want to hear independent views that reflect the wider fanbase, that’s up to them. But we worry that only the Supporters’ Trust will actually represent the fans. 7. It’s a bit reminiscent of November 2013, when Assem Allam – unsettled by dissent over his imbecilic name change idea – summoned fans’ groups to the Circle for one of the more surreal 3½ hours we’ll ever have. He didn’t listen, or even show the faintest comprehension of the issue. Nothing that he and his son have said in the intervening years suggest they’ve developed an understanding of City fans. 8. Then, as now, a meeting was preceded by Assem Allam criticising supporters in the press, suggesting a lack of good faith going into ‘supporter consultation’. He laughably claims that ‘militant’ fans are putting off potential buyers, which shows a startling lack of self awareness and conveniently absolves himself of any responsibility. Let’s face it, Assem and his son are legendary in this city for being difficult to get along with, there is a wasteland of fractured relationships surrounding them and that can’t be pinned on anyone else. The fans didn’t drive Peter Grieve and others away, the Allams did that. 9. The reintroduction of concessions isn’t anything to be lauded, it doesn’t show the Allams to be reasonable as suggested by their dwindling band of self-serving sycophants, since the club had to be censured by the Premier League for the mere righting of a wrong to be considered. Adult prices going up is all good, the whole point is that discounts for children and seniors are subsidised by those paying full price, but failing to reduce the current prices for those who do qualify for concessions shows a (likely deliberate) lack of understanding for the issue people have with the Membership Scheme. 10. Everton are prepared to give Watford £12m to secure the services of Marco Silva as their head coach. Not bad a for a bloke of whom it was asked “what does he know about the Premier League?” and whose appointment at City in January was “astonishing…when there are a lot of people out there who know the Premier League…he’s not got clue.” Whether Silva goes to Goodison Park or not is irrelevant outside of the two clubs vying for his services, but the fact that he is now so sought after by one of the greatest names in the English game may just prove a turning point in the way lazy, xenophobic pundits are permitted to use nationality alone as a reason not to offer gifted football men employment in our game. http://www.ambernectar.org/blog/2017/11/things-we-think-we-think-272/
Having not been there on Saturday, but seen a few of his recent games, it's worrying that he's apparently shown the exact same lack of commitment and reluctance to get stuck in yet again. Like Amber Nectar, I'm generally cautious of writing off a player and I think most get unfair stick, but Henriksen really seems to have made a theme of not putting the effort in. It's a pisstake really. Even more annoying is that every couple of weeks he gets inexplicably recalled to the team and does it again. Point 5 about protests is a good one. We now know that the protests are having an impact on the Allams. If nothing worthwhile comes of this week's meeting then the protests surely will not only continue but be ramped up. The Allams must have a reason for suddenly calling this meeting. Hopefully whatever it is it means they're desperate to stop these protests. If they fail to do that, the frustration and the scale of protests will double.
That bit about Henriksen really is a pile of ****. Yes he fannied out of one header when he had clearly lost his bearings. But he was the fulcrum of our attacks throughout the second half winning header after header and linking play well. It’s one thing when the meffy sheep slate a player week after week for occasional errors made equally regularly by his teammates - but when respected fanzine join in the act, it is time for binding intervention. I shall never buy their flaccid fanzine again.
No I wasn't there, but having seen him consistently do the same thing in several games, what they describe him doing sounds exactly like what I've seen him do, and it's seriously concerning. It's not like he's the usual hard-working player who gets stick for not being skillful enough and making honest mistakes. This is a (supposed) flair player who's getting stick for not putting the effort in. It really is a serious accusation but one that I think is absolutely deserved with Henriksen. Sometimes there are subtleties in a player's game that supporters miss, but when fans are regularly pointing out that a player just straight up isn't trying, that's pretty damning.
Agreed. He won quite a few attacking flick ons and actually harried and got stuck in a few times in the 2nd half. He wasn't great (but most of the team wasn't) but he certainly wasn't terrible.
In the first half, he fannied out of absolutely everything, he was utterly useless. Second half he was actually pretty good.
The call for a meeting was for one reason and one reason only - don't disrupt Turd of Turd Halls meeting with Madge - he thinks he's in for a knighthood in the new year's honours list - then we are expected to call him Sir as well as honorary doctor, Sir Dr Assem Allam - his day wasn't ruined so the meeting isn't necessary - I suspect he'll have a minor health relapse and send his apologies
It does surprise me as he's played his football in leagues that are probably as closely matched to the UK in terms of style and physicality.
It's bollocks though, even suggesting his contribution was any good, it was barely acceptable. He won a few headers, he didn't really do anything else. For a big lad I'd be expecting him to put himself about a bit more. He's flat footed and one paced. There's others within the team that are just as bad and also warrant constructive criticism. I want to see players grafting, you don't have to be the most skilful (See Sheff Utd) but hard work as a unit closing down opponents will cause them more issues and deliver more success than our current piffle. That starts with the front line - hassling and harrying. None of which suit Henriksen, our stand off game isn't working particularly well at the moment.
I think that's harsh. You could say that about a Meyler or an Ashbee type but if someone watches a player less closely and sees him duck out of a header deliberately what other conclusion is there to draw? You don't need to be a football scholar to see someone taking the piss with a lack of effort. I know I'm repeating myself but whilst it's common for a player giving the ball away frequently or failing to score a lot of goals to get stick with little regard for other good work he may doing, it's rare that a specific player is so widely criticised for a lack of effort and fight. I've never seen a reaction to it like the one Henriksen got at Barnsley - where the away crowd were so noticably, audibly fed up of him pulling out of challenges.
I see Henriksen failed to make the top 3 in any vote on the MOTM thread v Ipswich. Quite surprising given AlRawdah's glowing assessment.
I'd agree. First half, the whole team was ****e. Second half, the team seem interested and Henricksen put himself about, winning headers and putting a few tackles in.
The assessment I'd give him is, he wasn't bad, which is a massive improvement on his recent performances. He wasn't MOTM but I don't think he deserves calling out this week.
Exactly as every time Meyler graces the pitch we leak goals _ as does ROI - you knew as soon as he came on they'd score - they did - and yet Henriksen still gets the blame
You could point the finger at almost any player except probably Bowen and McGregor. Henriksen is a long way from OK. He needs to work much harder for the team and Saturdays performance whilst better than recent weeks, still isn't at a level I'd call acceptable. When players sign they come with a reputation and expectation. He's not got anywhere near expectation.
