Back from the game - Hull (A)

[Bandini]

Spot on, RL.

[Bowman's Quiver]

My first away-day in over four year the plastic that I am these days.

Firstly, the goal. I'm in a minority I know but I thought at the time he glanced up and and was aiming for the far top corner of the net. Bloody good strike if so but it's a shame he wasn't hobbling around on one leg by that stage the amount of show boating he'd been doing throughout the game. If only Harte could have caught up with him in the first place to clatter him...

Full backs were shocking, particularly Griffin who should have been shown a second yellow card. Subbed soon afterwards and I wonder if that's the last we've seen of him. Positionally unaware, slow and indecisive. Harte was a little better but not much. Either Cummings or, if not fit, Karacan for right-back in my opinion

We never got hold of the ball in the middle of the park and kept putting ourselves back under pressure. Pearce was immense, Gorkks very promising if a little agricultural (may be lack of match practice this season) and Federici looked as solid as a rock. I don't believe he had an earthly with the goal to be honest and was positioned where you'd expect him be when the lad hit it.

We barely troubled Basso in the Hull goal and Hunt was a passenger up front. HRK was decent again but reluctant to shoot. Manset gave the Hull defence something to think about when he came but only had 20 minutes or so.

Both wingers ineffective, McAnuff particularly so.

And I hope that's the last free kick I see Mills take. I managed to get my body behind the ball and had it covered. Sadly I was in row W and 30 yards up in the stand behind the goal....

[RoyalBlue]

I must have been one of many who watched Hull's goal over and over tonight and, for all his faults, Harte was reasonably tight on Brady as he was searching for the half a yard that would allow him to deliver his cross/shot. Both attackers in the 6 yard box were also tightly marked and not impeding the 'keeper yet when the ball was delivered from 25 yards Federici wasn't even close to preventing it ending up in the back of the net.

I agree that The Zimmer Brothers, who masquerade as our full backs, are the biggest handicap and are rightly being targeted as our Achilles heel but it's not true that they are making Fed look cr@p..................he does that all by himself and far too frequently.

McCarthy is inexperienced but Federici has had the job for 2 seasons and still isn't fit to lace Hahnemann's boots..........................and on that basis we shouldn't have to wait another 5 games for him to be replaced. After 4 straight defeats we need action now!!

In all his years with us how often was Marcus beaten by a shot from outside the box let alone lobbed by an incoming cross Fed is not unlucky, he's just not very good and it's time others stopped making excuses for him.

Meanwhile, Cummings must have the patience of a saint. Unless he becomes a regular in this team in the very near future we won't deserve to hang onto him.

I believe this is now a really competitive squad but it's currently crying out for some ruthless management and I'm looking for the real Brian McDermott to step up to the plate rather than the one who seems far too fond of the tried and failed Coppell approach of hanging onto those who have long since ceased to perform to the required standard.

It is worrying that he too is starting to show signs that he has that same personality trait. Thanks are due to the likes of Griff and Harte for what they have done but they should now become backup players to the likes of Cummings (proven talent) and Mills (a big pressure on him having to come straight in) rather than the other way around.

[Ian Royal]

Just watched the highlights again a few times. Fair play to Feds, nothing wrong with his positioning for teh goal and couldn't do a thing about it. Far too easy down the flanks for Hull with Harte standing watching the passing interchange and McAnuff doing nothing to help him out.

Looked like a good decision on Kebe's offside too. And Church's flick a good effort under the circumstances, but not good enough.

[Negative_Jeff]

I don't know about other people, but sometimes I wish that Back From The Game threads were restricted to those who were ACTUALLY at the game, hence why (other than this post) I rarely post on the thread unless I've been. I'd rather hear from people who were there and listen to their comments on the game, rather than see people who didn't go bickering over something they've seen a 30 second clip of on the Football League Show.

There are normally plenty of other threads in which to say your piece/vent your spleen or whatever.

I will have a go Mrs May. Hull is actually a great place to go for the pubs. We bumped into a familiar face with very long hair and wearing a trademark black and white overcoat in Walters. He rather cleverly pointed out that Le Fondre has now done the leagues 3R`s ie Rochdale, Rotherham and Reading.......
And then there was the game which was shite. The goalscorer Brady looked an excellent player. I love a good left footer playing on the right wing and in the Wellington after the game some Hull supporters reckon he is on loan from Man Utd. McDermott says we need to find a new way of playing, but if that that means him encouraging Federici to launch the ball seventy yards onto Kebe`s bonce then we have to suspect he may have run out of ideas. Certainly the more of a passing game on show at Leicester has gone out of the window since we have subsequently come up against teams prepared to do a bit of pressing.
When Pardew faced a similar dilemma ten years ago he went out and bought Kevin Watson. Leigartwood and Karacan are not players to put their foot on the ball and if Howard is not the man McDermott should do something similar. Or bring in an additional coach with some fresh ideas.

[LUX]

good to hear from you Jeff, hope your health is still O.K.

ps +1 for RL's comment.

[Rex]

I don't know about other people, but sometimes I wish that Back From The Game threads were restricted to those who were ACTUALLY at the game, hence why (other than this post) I rarely post on the thread unless I've been. I'd rather hear from people who were there and listen to their comments on the game, rather than see people who didn't go bickering over something they've seen a 30 second clip of on the Football League Show.

There are normally plenty of other threads in which to say your piece/vent your spleen or whatever.

It really wasn't a game to add much comment on RL but i agree. It was a very indifferent game to watch and for the team - seemingly to participate in. We only got going for a brief bit of sharp and pacey passing in midfield for something like 30 seconds which actually stifled the yawn and focused my mind on anything other than the bird poo in the stand.
There really insn't much to add to the debate over who really is the best keeper to have on the pitch. Feds got clattered a couple of times, made some decent saves and we were under the cosh for most of the game.

Oh and the excuse for a beer was the worst i have tasted since Man City away.

[Negative_Jeff]

good to hear from you Jeff, hope your health is still O.K.

ps +1 for RL's comment.

Ah Lux. Mir geet et gutt. Merci.

[LWJ]

Oh and the excuse for a beer was the worst i have tasted since Man City away.

Cider was shite, but wasn't as bad as Charlton.

[Man Friday]

Just seen FL show. Definitely poor goalkeeping. As a 'keeper you always have to assume the ball can go towards the goal and position yourself accordingly. Very League 2. Impossible to say about the offide. Suspect he was probably level but we'll never know.

[RG30]

Seen every game this season and in many ways that was the worst of the lot. The basics which we do so well such as press teams, creating chances, playing at a good tempo, putting teams under pressure were all missing. Why? It wasn't as if the majority played at Charlton Tuesday.

Griffin looks unfit and simply isn't doing the basics right. Harte is beaten time and time again and surely it is inevitable he'll be dropped. The new defender Gorkhss looked good and seemed to show a good reading of the game. Kebe had little of the ball, McAnuff continued his consistent woeful displays he has shown since appointed captain. Leigertwood and Karacan were second best all afternoon and couldn't take control of a game which was there for the taking. Hunt and Robson-Kanu had sod all to work on all afternoon and in the end it was two poor teams (on current form) playing out one of the poorest gams of football I have seen in a long time. Goal was a bit of a fluke but Harte should have been experienced to block him off. The game summed up by Joseph Mills attempted free-kick in injury time which whould have been better suited for our eggchasing counterparts.

Terrible game with nothing to take out of it.

[FiNeRaIn]

Seen every game this season and in many ways that was the worst of the lot.

This line appears every week.

I think im turning into an RTGl.

[RG30]

Seen every game this season and in many ways that was the worst of the lot.

This line appears every week.

I think im turning into an RTGl.

3 shots on target, 3 shots off target. At least against Barnsley and Portsmouth we could won the game with chances created. Yesterday we gave the Hull defence the easiest afternoon they'll get all season.

[FiNeRaIn]

I thought we hardly created a single chance at portsmouth?

Plus you forgot charlton.

[Wycombe Royal]

Seen every game this season and in many ways that was the worst of the lot.

This line appears every week.

I think im turning into an RTGl.

3 shots on target, 3 shots off target. At least against Barnsley and Portsmouth we could won the game with chances created. Yesterday we gave the Hull defence the easiest afternoon they'll get all season.

And that didn't go unnoticed by McDermott.

I have always thought that a central midfield pairing of Karacan and Ledge is too one dimensional and lacks any creative spark. Both are very good players in their own right but only one of them should be starting. The problem is I don't think we have the creative player we need to play in there. Howard is the only possible option.

[Hoop Blah]

Totally agree on that Wycombe. Howard isn't good enough at his strengths to allow us to carry his weaknesses and Tabb and Gunarsson (not really in contention in midfield anymore is my guess) aren't any different just more average.

I do think someone who could offer a bit more alongside the current two would've made for a prudent purchase but it doesn't sound like it's been an area we've even really looked at. Probably out of our price range in terms of wages, and neither really reknowned as creative as such, but I'd liked to have seen us have a go at getting Norris or Andrews in.

Realistically I think the creative midfield option is one of those we should use the loan market for as decent creative players don't come cheap.

[Compo's Hat]

Not even Compo could kick start anything that could put a gloss on that turd.

There was no point for the first 25 minutes as the hailstones hitting the roof above were so loud i had to shout to have a conversation, haven't seen weather like that since Cambridge. The Hull fans summed up how poor we were when they sang 'How shit must you be, we're winning at home!' towards the end.

A lot has been said already about our performance which i pretty much agree with. I will add however that the front two looked completely alien to each other yesterday. You would have Hunt flicking on balls with his head but Robson-Kanu parallel to him and not running on behind him. HRK doesn't look a striker to me and looked better when moved out to the wing at the end but even had Le Fondre played yesterday i doubt the 0 would have been replaced by a higher number such was the performance.

I saw Karacan make one surging run forward yesterday to try and support the front two and that was it from the center of the park, we look too predictable at times relying on the wingers and McAnuff is quite simply not captain material. When you are struggling you look to your captain (or at least the youngsters will) and he isn't putting in the performances and doesn't look inspiring at all. Quite frankly a shake up of some of the regulars to show their place isn't guaranteed in the side might be a good idea at this time as looking ahead we have fixtures against teams i'm expecting to be down at the bottom come the end of the season and i fear we may be joining them should we not improve, dark times ahead.

[double d]

Just seen FL show. Definitely poor goalkeeping. As a 'keeper you always have to assume the ball can go towards the goal and position yourself accordingly. Very League 2. Impossible to say about the offide. Suspect he was probably level but we'll never know.

That is impossible. You will not expect somebody to shoot from there, and if the ball travels at the speed and height that it did, it is near impossible for goalkeepers to re-position themselves in the 1 second that they see the ball, believe me as I play in goal. Yes it is just for a university team but its the same concept. From where brady was standing with the ball you would expect him to cross it and not shoot in the corner. Bear in mind that feds would have had to backtrack a long way in 1-1.5 seconds that the ball was in the air, there was nothing wrong with that. I doubt most prem keeps would have saved it.

[FiNeRaIn]

Just seen FL show. Definitely poor goalkeeping. As a 'keeper you always have to assume the ball can go towards the goal and position yourself accordingly. Very League 2. Impossible to say about the offide. Suspect he was probably level but we'll never know.

That is impossible. You will not expect somebody to shoot from there, and if the ball travels at the speed and height that it did, it is near impossible for goalkeepers to re-position themselves in the 1 second that they see the ball, believe me as I play in goal. Yes it is just for a university team but its the same concept. From where brady was standing with the ball you would expect him to cross it and not shoot in the corner. Bear in mind that feds would have had to backtrack a long way in 1-1.5 seconds that the ball was in the air, there was nothing wrong with that. I doubt most prem keeps would have saved it.

+1

On deaf ears though, everyone likes to blame fed for pretty much every goal was concede.

[Ian Royal]

Spot on double d. He was actually spot on positionally, a yard or so off his line, near his near post ready to cover that, or come to claim the cross. He was wrong footed and the cross / shot curled perfectly. I'm not a 'keeper, but I reckon it's pretty hard to dive up and backwards when you're caught by surprise.

Took a couple of views, but Fed not at fault. The only league goal this season he's definitely not been at fault for in any way mind, with the Pompey one as a benefit of the doubt with no decent camera angles for me.