Back from the Game - Hull (H)

[PieEater]

Hull got the point they came for. Set up with a 4-6-0 formation and rarely ventured into the Reading half for the first 45 mins.

Meanwhile we have total control of the game, pass it around nicely but only create a few clear chances.

Second half we gift them a goal and in the end were lucky to salvage a point.

Legs and Long played well, Church was utter dogshit. He needs to get fined every time he's caught OFFSIDE, learn the oxf*rd rules you tosser rather than rant at the lino. It's not THAT difficult.

That said the lino was flag happy and flagged Church offside (he was AGAIN) when the ball was played to Long.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Totally unimpressed with Hull. Thought their attitude and general performance stank given the quality players they obviously have.

Reading looked pretty useful in the 1st half without really ever clicking into top gear but in the 2nd half I thought we were awful.

To be honest Hull didn't deserve to win it and that's all you could say.

Play like that at Cardiff and we'll be dead and buried after 10 minutes.

Lastly, don't get me started on the comedians we had for officials either.

[under the tin]

Dire game all round today. Spent most of the second half thinking about what to have for dinner.

I second the motion.
Hull flooded the midfield, and cut off the supply to our flair players at source.
Rosenior had Jobi in his pocket, (HRK did better against him when he came on), and Kebe was not firing on all cylinders.
Our answer was to try route one, lumping the ball forwards; it was like watching a Branfoot team.
It was also kind of reminiscent of earlier in the seasoon 4-5-1, the ball never "stuck" when played this way, because for all of Shane's effort, there was no support for him. Church looks as much of a Welsh international as my grandmother.

Perhaps this kind of performance will serve to illustrate why people like me think some posters on here are overly optimistic.
We may possibly be only 2-3 players away from being genuine contenders, but equally, if 2 or 3 key players either do not perform, (or are sold), then we have a distinctly average look about us.

[soggy biscuit]

Hull set up with a 4-6-0 formation

4-6-0 with Fryatt & McLean up front?

[PieEater]

The spent most of their time in midfield.

[Royal Lady]

I thought we deserved the point as Hull certainly didn't deserve to win after Harte had gifted them their goal.

I thought Church and Kebe, in particular, looked like they hadn't turned up and it worried me that they might both know they are off soon - but hopefully that is not the case at all. I don't know what is wrong with Kebe - he didn't even watch the ball from goal kicks and seemed disinterested in really taking people on yesterday. Church needs to learn the offside rule asap. Why was Long on the wing for much of the second half and even taking throw-ins? He should have been getting in the box and having service to him, looked to me like he was thinking he had to do Kebe's job.

Mills, Pearce and Leigertwood were all solid - but again, I'd struggle to name a MOM.

Ref was abysmal. Same for the Linos.

How someone can give Hull Fans 7 and ours 5 I don't understand - Hull fans only woke up after they scored.

[PEARCEY]

I thought we deserved the point as Hull certainly didn't deserve to win after Harte had gifted them their goal.

I thought Church and Kebe, in particular, looked like they hadn't turned up and it worried me that they might both know they are off soon - but hopefully that is not the case at all. I don't know what is wrong with Kebe - he didn't even watch the ball from goal kicks and seemed disinterested in really taking people on yesterday. Church needs to learn the offside rule asap. Why was Long on the wing for much of the second half and even taking throw-ins? He should have been getting in the box and having service to him, looked to me like he was thinking he had to do Kebe's job.

Mills, Pearce and Leigertwood were all solid - but again, I'd struggle to name a MOM.

Ref was abysmal. Same for the Linos.

How someone can give Hull Fans 7 and ours 5 I don't understand - Hull fans only woke up after they scored.

The Kebe/Long switch was bizarre. Long was hugging the touchline and there wasn't a hope in hell he was going to beat his man in such a tight area...meanwhile Jimmy was in the centre-forward position.

[fozziebear]

Have to agree Shane got a elbow in his face right on half time ref was should have given a red card.Give manset a chance will play against Stevenage i think.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Give manset a chance will play against Stevenage i think.

No he won't - he's cup-tied.

[heathrow royal]

It will probably be the same team with the exception of N hunt coming in for church

[Snowball]

Church looks as much of a Welsh international as my grandmother.

What position did she play?

[Snowball]

he, quite simply messed up

it happens

Yes it does, and far too frequently with Harte.

List the goals this season that Harte has been directly/solely responsible for. It's a very short list.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Manset seems to be the only human being that can jump in the air for a header, and somehow end up with his head lower to the ground than if he just stood still!

I can see at least a year of heavy training before he's ready

Peter Crouch is the same - and it's a tendancy with tall players. As they tower over others in their teens, then never actually learn to time a jump - contrast with the likes of Nicky Shorey who was really good in the air because he had to be to compensate for his lack of height and so had learnt the skill.

I agree in theory with your point ........But Manset is not particularly tall. He's only 6ft1 !!

[Elmer Park]

It will probably be the same team with the exception of N hunt coming in for church

That would be perfectly logical but at this stage I would think there has to be some injury doubt over Hunt and Long for next week and in his post match interview McDermott referred to hoping that something would break for Church at Stevenage. Could be as sub though of course.

[soggy biscuit]

The spent most of their time in midfield.

McLean spent all game hanging up front on the offside line.

[Maguire]

What a shocker of a game. Hull came for a point and got it. Very solid at the back but had nothing going forward.

Reading were suffocated and simply aren't a good enough team to pick their way through massed defences like that. Deserved a point though.

Manset - clearly not fit at all so first priority must be to condition him for the Championship. Can't judge him on what we saw today as without fitness you've got no chance. Kitson wasn't fit when he first joined and look how good he turned out to be.

Best players in a sea of mediocrity were our centre-halves and Leigertwood who again looked strong in the middle of the park.

[Snowball]

It's worth remembering Hull's away record

They haven't lost away since September when they were in all sorts of financial turmoil

A 1-1 Leicester
A 1-1 Barnsley
A 2-2 Leeds
A 2-0 Preston
A 2-2 Middlesbrough
A 0-0 Crystal Palace
A 3-2 Sheffield
A 3-2 Portsmouth
A 1-1 Reading

P9 W3 D6 L0 15-11

[Mr Angry]

Apart from a 20 minute spell in the middle of the first half when we dominated, that game was simply awful, not helped by a useless ref and a blind linesman (on the West Stand side first half). How the Hull #4 didn't get a red card for his assault on Long at the end of the first half is beyond me.

We didn't create enough clear cut chances (1 great save by the Hull keeper from a Long header 1st half excepted) and didn't have enough guile to open up their offside trap often enough to make a difference; the 2 times we did ended up with an airshot by Long with the goal at his mercy, and the penalty (brainless goalkeeping!).

Not a game to live long in the memory.

[SpaceCruiser]

Reading fans who called Mikele Leigertwood "Elwood" are absolute oxf*rd

Yep. But more importantly, how do you feel about Reading fans referring to Hahnemann as USA?

[RoyalBlue]

It will probably be the same team with the exception of N hunt coming in for church

You are assuming Hunt will be fit. I fear not.