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| Deadly from a yard out... |
I've been to Hull or 'Big Fleetwood' as I like to wittily call it twice. It's a long way away. When you get to Leeds, you think 'ah, I'm nearly there' then there's about 3000 miles more to go, over flat repeating landscape that looks like a looping graphical background on an old fashioned computer game. Field, house, small village, copse of trees, field, house, repeat for hours till you see Hull itself looming grimly in the distance like that fishing port up the road that aren't our rivals on growth hormones.
In a non partisan footballing sense, you have to admire a club who had a tiger print kit long before the fancy dan Man Utd came up with zebra print or City adopted a paisley grandma's curtains style, especially as it came when they were a bit shit and opened them up to mockery.You also sympathise with a side lumbered with such grim tin eared ownership as they are. In a partisan sense, you probably think, oh, fucking hell, Hull away.
You should be aware by now, I'm not a specialist in pre match analysis of the opposition so instead of analysing the City team, I'm instead going to offer the fact that in ( think) 2005? I took the (astonishingly still current) love of my life to Bloomfield Road for her one and only visit, enticed by the prospect of a half time pie. She said she enjoyed it, describing the experience of watching us play Hull in the league cup as 'surprisingly more like Glastonbury than I thought it would be, but with more angry fat blokes than hippies.' She has since rejected all offers to relive the wonder of football. I don't know why.
So that's that. Here's another thing I've been thinking about. What about an FA Cup of songs that mention team names? Could we establish the best song that isn't an official 'team song' but mentions the name of a football team in the title? Does this matter? Probably not. Does anything matter. It's a matter for debate. Hull City are the first side I've had the opportunity to mention this thanks to the whimsical late 90s indie stylings of Salako who recorded the track below which will compete against local boys made good, Membranes.
In a non partisan footballing sense, you have to admire a club who had a tiger print kit long before the fancy dan Man Utd came up with zebra print or City adopted a paisley grandma's curtains style, especially as it came when they were a bit shit and opened them up to mockery.You also sympathise with a side lumbered with such grim tin eared ownership as they are. In a partisan sense, you probably think, oh, fucking hell, Hull away.
You should be aware by now, I'm not a specialist in pre match analysis of the opposition so instead of analysing the City team, I'm instead going to offer the fact that in ( think) 2005? I took the (astonishingly still current) love of my life to Bloomfield Road for her one and only visit, enticed by the prospect of a half time pie. She said she enjoyed it, describing the experience of watching us play Hull in the league cup as 'surprisingly more like Glastonbury than I thought it would be, but with more angry fat blokes than hippies.' She has since rejected all offers to relive the wonder of football. I don't know why.
So that's that. Here's another thing I've been thinking about. What about an FA Cup of songs that mention team names? Could we establish the best song that isn't an official 'team song' but mentions the name of a football team in the title? Does this matter? Probably not. Does anything matter. It's a matter for debate. Hull City are the first side I've had the opportunity to mention this thanks to the whimsical late 90s indie stylings of Salako who recorded the track below which will compete against local boys made good, Membranes.
It's a clear Blackpool victory. The post punk stylings of the Sandgrown cultural heavyweights triumph over a long forgotten band who were probably named after a Crystal Palace winger. The first result in the FA Cup of songs that include the names of football teams is 'Salako - Hull City Tiger 0 - 1 Membranes - A Murmuration of Starlings on Blackpool Pier'
After all that delightful fun filled intro, do we really need the match report? With this sort of high quality feature, packed full of cutting edge football facts, you've got to question whether you really need that Sky subscription don't you?
Anyway. No CJ, No Kemp means Matty V will probably add a bit of bite and Ward maybe go wide. But wait! What is this?! Sullay and Bez?!? Together! On the pitch! In the same team! From the start?! I'm not sure why I'm so surprised cos Critch is unfathomable but it feels a bit like putting two volatile chemicals together that should kept in separate areas of the lab. This could be mental. Either we'll maraud forward fearlessly, raining shots on goal or we'll be left with Kenny Dougall doing midfield on his own as Ward, Bez and Sullay run into hopelessly defenders like lemmings. I'm excited at the prospect of the former. He who dares wins and all that. I hope Matty V is warmed up and ready from the start as this will either work or it won't.
So, with my apologies for the length and sheer irrelevance of 90% of the intro, we're off!
After all that delightful fun filled intro, do we really need the match report? With this sort of high quality feature, packed full of cutting edge football facts, you've got to question whether you really need that Sky subscription don't you?
Anyway. No CJ, No Kemp means Matty V will probably add a bit of bite and Ward maybe go wide. But wait! What is this?! Sullay and Bez?!? Together! On the pitch! In the same team! From the start?! I'm not sure why I'm so surprised cos Critch is unfathomable but it feels a bit like putting two volatile chemicals together that should kept in separate areas of the lab. This could be mental. Either we'll maraud forward fearlessly, raining shots on goal or we'll be left with Kenny Dougall doing midfield on his own as Ward, Bez and Sullay run into hopelessly defenders like lemmings. I'm excited at the prospect of the former. He who dares wins and all that. I hope Matty V is warmed up and ready from the start as this will either work or it won't.
So, with my apologies for the length and sheer irrelevance of 90% of the intro, we're off!
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First question is which way round will Sullay and Bez play - it looks like Bez on the right and Kaikai on the left. This is a bigger ground by League 1 standards and it's a quirk of bigger grounds that they make the ball seem to move slower in the air. Not much happens in the opening phase. Bez plays a neat ball from deep. Yates gets caught offside. Madine lays it off for Sullay who inexplicably just runs straight past it. It is Sullay and Madine however that cause the first flutter of the heart as Kaikai is wide, he runs at his man, makes as if to beat him, but crosses as the defender commits to the tackle. It looks for a second as if Madine might turn it home, but he's squeezed out of it and the ball is hacked away.
A couple of big Gaz lay offs don't quite work. He nods to Sullay who gives it him back, a well weighted quick return but the Goal Machine can't find a shot or a pass. Then he nods to Bez who looks like he might go right through, but gets all tangled up in himself and misses the chance to slide it square to the unmarked Kaikai loitering just on the edge of the box. It's been all Pool, hardly dominant, but definitely more in control till a shot from the angle on the right hand side draws a sharp save from Maxwell who should stop it, but does well to hold it as it skips off the the turf.
The game is settling down into a bit of a pattern. Hull are letting us have the ball and we're knocking it about and probing. They're trying to hit us directly when we surrender possession. From one of those quick breaks, they work it right and a low cross is well cut out by Maxwell sticking out a boot, kind of sitting down as he stretches to cut out a chance with two hull forwards goal side of their men and waiting to tap it in.
Having had that attack, the Tigers are keen to pen us in (see what I did there) and go snarling (sorry, I did it again) into tackles as we try to get out. They create a chance from a similar angle as the previous, tight to the left touchline, whipping a free kick across. Maxwell punches and there's a moment where it looks like it's dropping perfectly for a return shot with Maxwell out of position but it just doesn't fall for their player quite right. The pitch is a bit of pudding, it's not really awful but it's just not bouncing quite as anyone wants.
When we do get out, it's a lofted ball to Madine, who cushions a perfect header to Sullay. The enigma hits it on the half volley from 20 yards and it's inches wide. It looks like it might have glanced off Yates on the way though which could have just touched it wide. Hull respond with a break of their own as Ward slips, they're storming through the middle, riding the desperate challenges and looking very dangerous but they can't find the right final ball as the cross is screwed beyond everyone. Pool go direct again and Madine has a snapshot from the edge of the box then Ward does similar at the end of a nice move, gaining the chance to shoot from another Big Gaz flick on.
The Tigers attack again, a move that starts with a poor header from Ballard and consists of some lovely football, surprisingly angled passes that leave the Pool defence chasing shadows, but fortunately are also ultimately a bit too advanced for the Hull forwards and for all the lovely play, there's no real threat on the seaside goal in the end.
Madine is being grappled for what seems like about 10 seconds before the ref blows. From the free kick, Sullay arrows it deep, beyond the far post, Madine stretches, knocks it back and Marvin collects and looks to have a go, but at the same point, Turton's momentum carries him into the path of both the ball and his team mate and the ball bobbles wide. A great chance which fell to the two players probably most ill suited to take it.
As half time ticks round, Hull get themselves a free header, from a free kick, curled in from just outside the left hand corner of the box. It looks a nightmare moment, but the Hull forward gets under it and it sails comfortably over the bar.
---
It's been an odd game. Moments of intensity but a sense that both sides are happy to let the other team have it and play on the counter. There's been some nice football but nothing consistently good enough to take control of the game. The play has gone in phases, one side, then the other having a little move or two. Sullay has done ok in my view. It's probably his fault that the Capitol building got stormed and Covid rates are what they are, but I make it three moments in which he's been a key part of a chance and he also tracked back and stopped a Hull move after Husband had been played around. Bez has struggled to impose himself but probably contributed a bit more deeper overall than Sullay has. I'd be wondering if Matty V would work a bit better in terms of taking control of the midfield, though his lack of pace means he's less of a threat on the counter which is how the game has been played so far.
Dougall has prompted well, Madine looks like a class act again and Big Marvin is on Rolls Royce form. I've still got a slight but undeniably gnawing anxiety about the game though. I think Critch needs to do something, but I can't quite pin down what it is.
Something raucous plays through the tannoy at half time. The clatter a contrast to the relatively studied (by League One standards) nature of the game so far.
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We start with a corner that looks fairly harmless but is flicked on at the near post but can't quite be turned home at the far post, Madine twisting himself, trying to fold himself like someone bending a stiff envelope but he's unable to apply enough of himself to turn it goal ward. Pool follow this up with a nice period of possession which feature some silkly play between Madine and Dougall in midfield, a lovely trick from Sullay that just fails as the ball runs an inch out of play. Fine margins.
Then my anxiety is proved to be well founded. Hull go down the right, out pacing Husband, it's put across for Mcguinness who is squeezed out of it but still manages to gets a foot on it and lays it back for the unchallenged Wilks to lash it home on the diagonal right into the bottom corner.
Hull dominate for 3 or 4 minutes until we finally break and Sullay goes on a run and draws a foul. He takes the kick himself and fizzes a weird dipping ball to no one, leaving Marvin running after it gamely as it goes for a throw, looking like a cricket fielder who knows the ball is going for four but has to try anyway.
Matty V is coming on. It's Sullay coming off though. Not sure I concur cos I bloody love Sullay and Bez has done nowt, but a change is clearly needed as Hull have dominated since our early chance. Virtue's introduction prompts a nice passing move but we can't make a cross from it, let alone a shot and the move ends as Bez tries to beat his man by going from side to side for a bit then pushing him over and the referee's whistle hands possession back to the Tigers.
Hull win a free kick wide left, about 15 yards from the goal line. It's delayed by Bez being injured and Ben Woodburn coming on. When it's finally taken, it's whipped across dangerously but no one gets a head on it and Pool regroup again. C'mon! Woodburn lofts it in it , it seems to fall for Madine, but it just bounces through to the keeper. Woodburn does well to pick up a loose ball, Dougall bursts through and is pulled back. Woodburn stands over over the free kick, then lifts it deep, but too deep... then Ward does well wide and gets to the byline, swerving a low dangerous, bouncing ball in. It's hacked away. It's a bit better from Pool.
Pool pass for what seems like ten minutes and finally work a throw out wide, level with the penalty area. It's cleared and we started all over again, another thirty seconds passing around before Woodburn sets Husband away but his cross goes between everyone and it's a Hull goal kick. We're playing football but it looks like Hull don't really mind us doing so.
Another spawny hand ball is given against us, it's Virtue's turn to be penalised for not playing football with his hands behind his side like a penguin. Happily for both us and wor Matty, the free kick is decent but only decent enough to clip the bar.
Then just as it feels like it's getting hopeless and Hull are more likely to score... more good stuff from Woodburn who has added a bit of energy. Burke slips on the dicey pitch, Woodburn nicks it and hares through the middle, bearing down on goal. The defender is desperately chasing but not catching him and scythes him down. It's a clear red, especially as the player has already been booked. It's also a dangerous free kick. Big Gaz is over it, still on a high from the worlds greatest penalty last week. He strolls up like he's going to put bin bag out on Sunday morning, then he absolutely lashes it over the wall but sadly, it's over the top of the bar as well.
Woodburn causes more trouble, stretching to reach a Madine knockdown and winning a corner. Woodburn takes, there's a deflection which sends it past there far post, Madine lashes it back in to the danger area, Husband has a go, then Yates lashes it home from an inch out. He's barely had a sniff today, but now he's the hero.
More Pool subs now as Critch is going for it, Robson, Garbutt and Gabriel on for Husband, Turton and Ward.
A really mistake ridden 3 or 4 minutes ensues as Hull dig in and challenge Pool to make a chance. We don't rise to that till Gabriel takes his man on wide and wins a free kick as his legs are taken. Big lads in the middle jostle and Woodburn delivers. It's lovely ball and Ballard charges in, gets to it with a defender and it goes just wide...
The game reverts to the previous pattern, Hull frustrating us. Madine lays off to Woodburn but he can't quite take it, he sees it and does the right run, but the ball doesn't quite go as quickly as he needed and he ends up leaving it behind. Gabriel has an insane run, sprinting, falling, scrambling, spinning and somehow getting into the box, going past, over, under and through about 4 players and against all odds, gets in a position to shoot, but the ball is taken off his toes and it's a corner which comes to nothing.
As half time ticks round, Hull get themselves a free header, from a free kick, curled in from just outside the left hand corner of the box. It looks a nightmare moment, but the Hull forward gets under it and it sails comfortably over the bar.
---
It's been an odd game. Moments of intensity but a sense that both sides are happy to let the other team have it and play on the counter. There's been some nice football but nothing consistently good enough to take control of the game. The play has gone in phases, one side, then the other having a little move or two. Sullay has done ok in my view. It's probably his fault that the Capitol building got stormed and Covid rates are what they are, but I make it three moments in which he's been a key part of a chance and he also tracked back and stopped a Hull move after Husband had been played around. Bez has struggled to impose himself but probably contributed a bit more deeper overall than Sullay has. I'd be wondering if Matty V would work a bit better in terms of taking control of the midfield, though his lack of pace means he's less of a threat on the counter which is how the game has been played so far.
Dougall has prompted well, Madine looks like a class act again and Big Marvin is on Rolls Royce form. I've still got a slight but undeniably gnawing anxiety about the game though. I think Critch needs to do something, but I can't quite pin down what it is.
Something raucous plays through the tannoy at half time. The clatter a contrast to the relatively studied (by League One standards) nature of the game so far.
---
We start with a corner that looks fairly harmless but is flicked on at the near post but can't quite be turned home at the far post, Madine twisting himself, trying to fold himself like someone bending a stiff envelope but he's unable to apply enough of himself to turn it goal ward. Pool follow this up with a nice period of possession which feature some silkly play between Madine and Dougall in midfield, a lovely trick from Sullay that just fails as the ball runs an inch out of play. Fine margins.
Then my anxiety is proved to be well founded. Hull go down the right, out pacing Husband, it's put across for Mcguinness who is squeezed out of it but still manages to gets a foot on it and lays it back for the unchallenged Wilks to lash it home on the diagonal right into the bottom corner.
Hull dominate for 3 or 4 minutes until we finally break and Sullay goes on a run and draws a foul. He takes the kick himself and fizzes a weird dipping ball to no one, leaving Marvin running after it gamely as it goes for a throw, looking like a cricket fielder who knows the ball is going for four but has to try anyway.
Matty V is coming on. It's Sullay coming off though. Not sure I concur cos I bloody love Sullay and Bez has done nowt, but a change is clearly needed as Hull have dominated since our early chance. Virtue's introduction prompts a nice passing move but we can't make a cross from it, let alone a shot and the move ends as Bez tries to beat his man by going from side to side for a bit then pushing him over and the referee's whistle hands possession back to the Tigers.
Hull win a free kick wide left, about 15 yards from the goal line. It's delayed by Bez being injured and Ben Woodburn coming on. When it's finally taken, it's whipped across dangerously but no one gets a head on it and Pool regroup again. C'mon! Woodburn lofts it in it , it seems to fall for Madine, but it just bounces through to the keeper. Woodburn does well to pick up a loose ball, Dougall bursts through and is pulled back. Woodburn stands over over the free kick, then lifts it deep, but too deep... then Ward does well wide and gets to the byline, swerving a low dangerous, bouncing ball in. It's hacked away. It's a bit better from Pool.
Pool pass for what seems like ten minutes and finally work a throw out wide, level with the penalty area. It's cleared and we started all over again, another thirty seconds passing around before Woodburn sets Husband away but his cross goes between everyone and it's a Hull goal kick. We're playing football but it looks like Hull don't really mind us doing so.
Another spawny hand ball is given against us, it's Virtue's turn to be penalised for not playing football with his hands behind his side like a penguin. Happily for both us and wor Matty, the free kick is decent but only decent enough to clip the bar.
Then just as it feels like it's getting hopeless and Hull are more likely to score... more good stuff from Woodburn who has added a bit of energy. Burke slips on the dicey pitch, Woodburn nicks it and hares through the middle, bearing down on goal. The defender is desperately chasing but not catching him and scythes him down. It's a clear red, especially as the player has already been booked. It's also a dangerous free kick. Big Gaz is over it, still on a high from the worlds greatest penalty last week. He strolls up like he's going to put bin bag out on Sunday morning, then he absolutely lashes it over the wall but sadly, it's over the top of the bar as well.
Woodburn causes more trouble, stretching to reach a Madine knockdown and winning a corner. Woodburn takes, there's a deflection which sends it past there far post, Madine lashes it back in to the danger area, Husband has a go, then Yates lashes it home from an inch out. He's barely had a sniff today, but now he's the hero.
More Pool subs now as Critch is going for it, Robson, Garbutt and Gabriel on for Husband, Turton and Ward.
A really mistake ridden 3 or 4 minutes ensues as Hull dig in and challenge Pool to make a chance. We don't rise to that till Gabriel takes his man on wide and wins a free kick as his legs are taken. Big lads in the middle jostle and Woodburn delivers. It's lovely ball and Ballard charges in, gets to it with a defender and it goes just wide...
The game reverts to the previous pattern, Hull frustrating us. Madine lays off to Woodburn but he can't quite take it, he sees it and does the right run, but the ball doesn't quite go as quickly as he needed and he ends up leaving it behind. Gabriel has an insane run, sprinting, falling, scrambling, spinning and somehow getting into the box, going past, over, under and through about 4 players and against all odds, gets in a position to shoot, but the ball is taken off his toes and it's a corner which comes to nothing.
4 minutes of injury time and we play nice triangles, Woodburn gets a cross in, again, showing intent to get to a ball that looked like it was going out and pulling it back, Gabriel goes on another run and is sent literally cartwheeling by their full back. We're trying, but we don't look like getting through. We have one last chance to load the box up, it's pumped in, sent out again, Woodburn touches off to Garbutt, who hits a nicely shaped but easily cleared cross. The header away falls to Virtue who shapes to shoot, but the ball doesn't sit up right on the spongy pitch and the ref has seen enough...
---
A point is a point away at a high flying team. I thought Woodburn did well when he came on and offered a lot and we were the better team at the end but it wasn't a game I especially enjoyed. I don't know if it was the match itself or the camera angle but it felt like I was distanced more than normal. We had chances that objectively were quite decent but aside from Sullay's effort and the build up to Super Gaz's free kick, none of them seemed to really quicken my heart rate in the way that they normally would.
It's more evidence of what we know - we're solid enough, in fact, we're really solid and we can play some nice stuff without creating enough, Gary Madine is decent but we struggle to consistently pressure teams. That sounds a bit negative but whilst we've got to be pleased with taking 4 points from Hull over the season we've also got to find a way of playing that is more convincing going forward if we want to beat poorer sides who will pack the defence. This has been essentially the same conundrum for the last two seasons and maybe January will bring the answer.
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A point is a point away at a high flying team. I thought Woodburn did well when he came on and offered a lot and we were the better team at the end but it wasn't a game I especially enjoyed. I don't know if it was the match itself or the camera angle but it felt like I was distanced more than normal. We had chances that objectively were quite decent but aside from Sullay's effort and the build up to Super Gaz's free kick, none of them seemed to really quicken my heart rate in the way that they normally would.
It's more evidence of what we know - we're solid enough, in fact, we're really solid and we can play some nice stuff without creating enough, Gary Madine is decent but we struggle to consistently pressure teams. That sounds a bit negative but whilst we've got to be pleased with taking 4 points from Hull over the season we've also got to find a way of playing that is more convincing going forward if we want to beat poorer sides who will pack the defence. This has been essentially the same conundrum for the last two seasons and maybe January will bring the answer.
There's only so many times you can dissect the same team and come up with fresh answers. I really want Bez to come good, but I don't think the right flank is his natural habitat. I didn't think Sullay did especially badly but he got hauled off again and Critch shows no sign of ever playing him more centrally where he's best. Woodburn's decent showing is probably timely as we definitely miss CJ and no one has really put their hand up to replace him yet, so perhaps the Liverpool lad has a shout at starting if the talismanic sprinter isn't fit yet.
Northampton next. Let's rip them to bits. Sullay double hat trick please.
utmp
Northampton next. Let's rip them to bits. Sullay double hat trick please.
utmp
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