Hull City pre match chat

[Cjay]

A pretty solid Christmas period was slightly dampened by a New Year struggle with well organised Blackburn Rovers.

However unbeaten with 3 wins and 1 draw in 4 is a decent total and a very decent opportunity presents itself on Saturday.

No way to say this nicer, we play away to the worst home side in the league.

Hull have only taken 11 points from 13 games at home, only 2 wins.

It was this type of form which lead to the sacking of Tim Walter as manager and the appointment of former Reading manager Ruben Selles at the beginning of December.

Has been a slight improvement from Selles in the sense he has managed to somewhat fix the very leaky Hull defence.

Only 6 goals conceded.

But only 5 goals scored as well.

They did however manage to beat Blackburn and give Middlesbrough a real scare today.

In terms of tactics they aren't afraid to press, but they focus more on keeping it solid in the middle and hitting on the break.

Operating in a 4-3-3 formation Selles has worked hard to make them harder to beat.

He has the pace and craft of wingers Abu Kamara and Abdülkadir Ömür to call on and the attacking talent of former Cagliari striker Joao Pedro.

They are a physical team with size and strength at the back and pace up top.

But still struggling and really should be beaten.

Our nearest rivals both have on paper far tougher games.

Burnley have a Lancashire derby vs Blackburn Rovers who we know ourselves very well how tough they can be.

Sheffield United travel to 8th placed Watford, a team whose promotion push Is being entirely derailed by the awful away form.

Home form for Watford is joint 2nd best in the league.

For ourselves the usual questions.

Rotation?
Ampadu back in?
Gnonto for the poor James ?

[Sean_Nile]

Blackburn when they played Hull were more attacking and employed the stacked (love train) players at the far post the same way that Arsenal do to increase their chances of scoring. We could learn some lessons on how to take more effective corners.

[The Subhuman]

Rotation?
Ampadu back in?
Gnonto for the poor James ?

And injuries

Byram likely won't play, even if he could. He needs that rest. Bogle should start

Meslier
Bogle
Wober - (I'd go Schmidt)
Ampadu
Rodon (He will need a break soon)
Struijk
Gnonto
Tanaka
Piroe
Aaronson
Solomon

Solomon on corners

[mentalcase]

A winnable game but that's our achilles heel.
Stop them getting corners and we ought to be able to command a set piece.
I would love to see us having more shots instead of trying to walk the ball in the net, Rodon for instance had a least 4 clear shots yesterday second half but chose to pass it back.

[Irish Ian]

I hadn't realised that Hull were struggling so badly.

Derby game though and it at the end of a very tiring run of fixtures for both sides.

I would start Wee Willy with james rotated onto the bench.

Of course the injury news will dictate other changes

[Sean_Nile]

[Cjay]

On the promotion race

"I don't look too far ahead. I don't have a special points amount for January and February. It is game after game.

We are on an incredible run. Someone told me that this is the best Christmas run this club has ever had in terms of points. We are on a really good run but you always have to be switched on and ready for the next game to make sure this run continues.

"We had a good run last year and we didn't get promoted. If you want to finish in the top positions, you can't stop winning points. We are on 52 points right now and we are top of the league. We have a really good points tally, more than two per game, but if we stop winning points we won't make the top six, never mind the top two.



On Max Wober's fitness

"I liked his performance in the second half. He looked sharp and played his part in the build up to the penalty. I was a little worried before the game because I thought that Max would only be capable of 20 to 30 minutes maximum to chip in but I got the feeling after the first half that we couldn't allow Sam Byram to play 20 more minutes because he looked so exhausted.

"It was perhaps a little risky to play Max for 45 minutes but he's an experienced player and I thought he could manage himself a little bit. It's good for him to come through another 45 minutes and it's good to have him back."



On Isaac Schmidt's lack of game time

"My door is always open. Once a player comes, he always gets an answer.

"Sometimes you are proactive as a coach when you get the feeling there is a bit to explain. Of course, there are some differences. A player who plays more or less each and every game perhaps deserves more of an explanation when he's not playing than perhaps a player who is 16 to 17-year-old like Sam Chambers, for example. I think that's quite normal and natural. There will always be an honest answer.

In the Blackburn situation, I was already thinking about changing to a three-man formation. I wanted to have my captain Ethan on the pitch in this difficult game and we had the chance to play with three centre-backs and that was the reason I brought him in and not a natural replacement like Isaac Schmidt, who is more of a offensive minded full-back and can't play as a third centre-back.

"But whenever a player has a question, my door is always open."



On facing Hull City

"It's always tricky when a new manager comes in and brings new ideas in. Even after a few more weeks, you see more changes. It will be a different Hull side in comparison to what we faced at Elland Road.

"They have got quality players and have really good options in the offence. Of course, they will be disappointed with the first half of their season but I'm pretty sure they will try to use this home game to win important points. We are aware they will be a threat. We have to be spot on like we have been in the last away games with what we do, our team selection and set up."



On potentially adding to the squad

"Quality players always help and to add a quality player with good character is always good but I'm also not a big fan of doing too much in January. Of course, if you are forced into doing something due to injuries or something is really missing in the group, then you have to react.

"But once you head into January sitting top of the table, they can't be too much wrong in the group. Sometimes when you do too much business it can disturb the spirit right in and around the group. They are pretty tight together and everyone is needed. Everyone chips in. We need everyone with the rotation. We have a pretty tight group and I like this. I don't like when a group is too big.

Of course, when there are a few injuries, you wish for a few more players. But once everybody is fit and you've perhaps got four players for one position, it can also be a bit negative for the spirit and the togetherness. When you're on a good run, you can't allow yourself to be too naive to not stay awake until the end of the window if there are perhaps opportunities."



On the demanding festive schedule

"It's exhausting to be honest. You always have to be switched on to prepare for the next opponent. It always helps when you have pretty good results like we have done in the last weeks. The mood is good and you see the progress.

Once you're top of the league, it's always an enjoyable situation but there's still lots of work and you have to be pretty switched on.

It's a busy, tough period in terms of workload but I'm used to it. I know December and January are tough months in the Championship."



On Junior Firpo's injury rehab

"He's more or less in the final stages of his rehab. He's not in team training yet but I hope after the Hull game that he will return back to team training, perhaps even before the FA Cup game if everything works out before the upcoming days. It's looking good and pretty soon he will be back in team training."

[andrewjohnsmith]

And injuries

Byram likely won't play, even if he could. He needs that rest. Bogle should start

Meslier
Bogle
Wober - (I'd go Schmidt)
Ampadu
Rodon (He will need a break soon)
Struijk
Gnonto
Tanaka
Piroe
Aaronson
Solomon

Solomon on corners

We've got a nice little break after the Hull game. Two weeks with only Harrogate in the cup. I don't think Farke will gamble dramatically in that game. But he will rotate a few. Wouldn't be surprised to see Strujik and Rodon v Harrogate. But that will be a much less strenuous game for them.

[andrewjohnsmith]

I definitely got a feeling of fatigue in the Blackburn game. Expect Farke to do his usual rotations.

Piroe and Ampadu to start

Probably swapping both wingers

Byram almost certainly won't start. But good to hear it wasn't an injury that had him subbed at half time

Wober will probably start at LB out of necessity even though it sounds like he's not fully ready

The two weeks after the Hull game may be time to get Firpo back

[mentalcase]

This will be another tough game to a team that always want to spoil their neighbours game, I fully expect another shithousery display from our opponents, up to us to counter it all.
It will be a bruising encounter and I don't think it'll be high scoring, but 3 points on the road would be fantastic.
Hopefully I get the news of a ticket tomorrow.

[GreennWhite]

Start our strongest 11 away to Hull. Get on top and have the game won as early as we can ( shouldn't be that hard ) In all seriousness this is a game we cant take lightly. 3 points is a must in this game. IF it goes well then get all 5 subs on and rest the ones who need it most. In the FA cup game rest as many players as we can. The next league game we can then back to business with a fully ready squad bursting to get back out to play.

[The Subhuman]

Start our strongest 11 away to Hull. Get on top and have the game won as early as we can ( shouldn't be that hard ) In all seriousness this is a game we cant take lightly. 3 points is a must in this game. IF it goes well then get all 5 subs on and rest the ones who need it most. In the FA cup game rest as many players as we can. The next league game we can then back to business with a fully ready squad bursting to get back out to play.

Don't we always do that?

[andrewjohnsmith]

Start our strongest 11 away to Hull. Get on top and have the game won as early as we can ( shouldn't be that hard ) In all seriousness this is a game we cant take lightly. 3 points is a must in this game. IF it goes well then get all 5 subs on and rest the ones who need it most. In the FA cup game rest as many players as we can. The next league game we can then back to business with a fully ready squad bursting to get back out to play.

Yes. Because there's a break after this game. But fitness/fatigue will have a lot to do with it.

[GreennWhite]

Don't we always do that?

Nope, we left James, Solomon and Piroe on the bench away to Derby. Do you ever look at the team that starts ?

[GreennWhite]

Yes. Because there's a break after this game. But fitness/fatigue will have a lot to do with it.

Exactly AJS, we hadnt the players to rotate our team last year to keep us competitive throughout the season which meant too many players played too often.
We have the ideal oportunity coming up to allow us to do that, and give them a well earned break. Madness if we dont take this oportunity.

[Stonecoldwhite]

"In the Blackburn situation, I was already thinking about changing to a three-man formation. I wanted to have my captain Ethan on the pitch in this difficult game and we had the chance to play with three centre-backs and that was the reason I brought him in and not a natural replacement like Isaac Schmidt, who is more of a offensive minded full-back and can't play as a third centre-back."

And there it is from the managers mouth^
He wanted to go 3 at the back so as to push more forward, he has virtually explained that Schmidt isn't particularly defensive minded (hint hint, he's probably like Junior) And he wanted his Captain on the pitch (probably dishing out orders etc)
Is it not better to try and think of these reasons the manager isn't playing Schmidt yet rather than go attacking the manager or player himself, there is still time for the player to come good, he might even turn into the next Trent Arnold if he loves attacking that much.

[Stonecoldwhite]

On Max Wober's fitness

"I liked his performance in the second half. He looked sharp and played his part in the build up to the penalty. I was a little worried before the game because I thought that Max would only be capable of 20 to 30 minutes maximum to chip in but I got the feeling after the first half that we couldn't allow Sam Byram to play 20 more minutes because he looked so exhausted.

"It was perhaps a little risky to play Max for 45 minutes but he's an experienced player and I thought he could manage himself a little bit. It's good for him to come through another 45 minutes and it's good to have him back."

And there we go again, another perfectly reasonable explanation - "Exhausted"
No need to go into meltdown attacking the manager about 'over rotation, lack of rotation, etc etc. So hopefully after the manager spotting that Byram might recover that much better and be ready for Hull. In my view the manager is doing a fantastic job all-round at the club, and in a very dignified manner.
I was also very impressed when Wober came on, especially in the attacking sense, he looked quite impressive.

[mentalcase]

Wober was class against blackburn


^ ^
See you've stopped ranting kenny.

[DDB220]

A pretty solid Christmas period was slightly dampened by a New Year struggle with well organised Blackburn Rovers.

However unbeaten with 3 wins and 1 draw in 4 is a decent total and a very decent opportunity presents itself on Saturday.

No way to say this nicer, we play away to the worst home side in the league.

Hull have only taken 11 points from 13 games at home, only 2 wins.

It was this type of form which lead to the sacking of Tim Walter as manager and the appointment of former Reading manager Ruben Selles at the beginning of December.

Has been a slight improvement from Selles in the sense he has managed to somewhat fix the very leaky Hull defence.

Only 6 goals conceded.

But only 5 goals scored as well.

They did however manage to beat Blackburn and give Middlesbrough a real scare today.

In terms of tactics they aren't afraid to press, but they focus more on keeping it solid in the middle and hitting on the break.

Operating in a 4-3-3 formation Selles has worked hard to make them harder to beat.

He has the pace and craft of wingers Abu Kamara and Abdülkadir Ömür to call on and the attacking talent of former Cagliari striker Joao Pedro.

They are a physical team with size and strength at the back and pace up top.

But still struggling and really should be beaten.

Our nearest rivals both have on paper far tougher games.

Burnley have a Lancashire derby vs Blackburn Rovers who we know ourselves very well how tough they can be.

Sheffield United travel to 8th placed Watford, a team whose promotion push Is being entirely derailed by the awful away form.

Home form for Watford is joint 2nd best in the league.

For ourselves the usual questions.

Rotation?
Ampadu back in?
Gnonto for the poor James ?

I have no problem whatsoever for Gnonto to start. However, I don’t agree with just changing out James because he has had a couple of bad games, particularly against Blackburn. DJ has generally been comparatively consistent this season, but I am basing this against his previous seasons rather than a general bar. His end product has always been the issue for me, it can be top class on occasion but poor on a regular basis. If he could generate more end product consistently, he would more than justify what we paid for him and would no doubt attract a lot of interest.
His pace away from home is a huge weapon for us, so either DJ or Willy starting on the right is fine for me.

Whoever does not start this game will be starting against Harrogate. Perhaps one or two youngsters also. We will as others have commented probably get to see Schmidt then as a starter.

For the Hull match:
Wober is likely to start at LB if Byram isn’t fi, I think the team pretty much picks itself if there are no additional injuries, with the exception of who is alongside Amps in the middle - Rothwell or Tanaka

[airedale]

I too would not drop Dan James ,the game against Blackburn wasn't his best due to the pace of their full back .think he's on loan from Liverpool.