Hull City Post match thread

[Muddled]

I think a big problem in this game was that lucas and gerrard were sitting so deep and were quite static, we controlled the game so ive no idea why they didnt push up further and shorten the gap between them and the front 3. So many times toure/skrtel looked a bit bemused as they went to play the ball out from the back and there was very little movement directly in front of them.

I agree. The gap between our midfield and our front line was too large. Hull played three at the back, essentially having one defender limit Suarez's time on the ball with the other two centre backs providing cover. Suarez, frustrated at his lack of service dropped deeper to make things happen and nobody took a risk to get past him. Moses and Sterling needed to put in a peformance to support Suarez but they were found wanting.

It's no surprise that as soon as Coutinho came on, he was exploiting that massive void and it freed up Suarez to cause mischief. Obviously this was too little, too late as we sacrficied shape to go for an equaliser.

Ironically, I do wonder if this is a game where 3-5-2 might have actually worked.

[Mostar]

Hope you are right and Sakho starts. Just saw Hull's 3rd goal. ****ing hell. Skrtel didnt need to throw his chest at the ball. Toure is about 10 yards away limping in a different direction. If it was another team I would be pissing myself laughing

I cannot see him not starting on Wednesday.

BR is already under the pressure for not playing a footballer he spent 17m in the summer and we conceded 6 goals in 2 games while he was on the bench.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

I cannot see him not starting on Wednesday.

BR is already under the pressure for not playing a footballer he spent 17m in the summer and we conceded 6 goals in 2 games while he was on the bench.

I thought he was certain to start against Hull if I'm honest I knew Agger was getting dropped but I didn't see the Toure change coming.

[Mostar]

I think a big problem in this game was that lucas and gerrard were sitting so deep and were quite static, we controlled the game so ive no idea why they didnt push up further and shorten the gap between them and the front 3. So many times toure/skrtel looked a bit bemused as they went to play the ball out from the back and there was very little movement directly in front of them.

Need a CM who can get the ball turn with it and run, one who is not so easily marked out of the game.

Gerrard has lost that dynamism now and looks to pass alot more. Lucas never had it, very limited in terms of offensive movement. Sure he is a DM but needs to be able to contribute more going forward in these games where the opposition sets up so defensively.

We needed a mid that can play between the lines and that is the reason why Coutinho (he came on too late to really influence the game) was missed so much.

Lucas, Hendo and/or Gerrard do not have either skill set or mobility any longer to do be an offensive threat in the final third and link up with our strikers and/or wingers and we paid dearly for it.

[dom9]

A rare football post for me.

I think the past two weeks can be / should be seen as a reality check. When we were second and thrashing teams some people were actually starting to think that we could challenge for the title. That is just ridiculous. It's like starting the top of the league threads. Over reaction. Over optimistic. Not living in reality.

And then we have people who have kept quiet over that purple spell who now think we are in relegation form. That too is just ridiculous. You might have an agenda or a preconception, but to twist the stats into an argument that this is relegation form, well, it is only right you're laughed at.

So where are we? We're not title contenders and we're not relegation material. We are IN the top four. Is that an improvement on this time last year? ****ing right it is. Is it good enough? That depends on your expectations. But if you expect a championship challenge, you're not living in reality. And even if we were challenging, the champions have embarrassing hiccups. That happens every single year.

So this should be (and is) a reality check for the majority of us. But there always some that get carried away in whatever direction the very last result takes us.

[cream]

Let's just face facts, Brendan Rodgers got tactically outmaneuvered by Steve Bruce.

I don't think it was just tactics, there was clearly a lack of desire and commitment from the team. Yes we lacked quality, but our our lot could've have still beaten them if they'd bothered turning up.

[Muddled]

A rare football post for me.

I think the past two weeks can be / should be seen as a reality check. When we were second and thrashing teams some people were actually starting to think that we could challenge for the title. That is just ridiculous. It's like starting the top of the league threads. Over reaction. Over optimistic. Not living in reality.

And then we have people who have kept quiet over that purple spell who now think we are in relegation form. That too is just ridiculous. You might have an agenda or a preconception, but to twist the stats into an argument that this is relegation form, well, it is only right you're laughed at.

So where are we? We're not title contenders and we're not relegation material. We are IN the top four. Is that an improvement on this time last year? ****ing right it is. Is it good enough? That depends on your expectations. But if you expect a championship challenge, you're not living in reality. And even if we were challenging, the champions have embarrassing hiccups. That happens every single year.

So this should be (and is) a reality check for the majority of us. But there always some that get carried away in whatever direction the very last result takes us.

You should venture back into the football forums more often, 6wop. But I do of course, understand your reasoning.

I don't think it was just tactics, there was clearly a lack of desire and commitment from the team. Yes we lacked quality, but our our lot could've have still beaten them if they'd bothered turning up.

Yeah, I agree. My initial post was typed with my tongue firmly in my cheek and whilst there was a tiny shred of relevance, we had more than enough quality in that starting eleven to beat Hull. Like you - and others - have said, it was the application - or lack of - that cost us.

[dom9]

You should venture back into the football forums more often, 6wop. But I do of course, understand your reasoning.

I have simply lost interest in football. But that is a topic for another thread.

[Slinky Skills]

Sakho gets altered to Saigon on my phone

Sakho **** he comes up as on my phone!

[tanner]

A rare football post for me.

I think the past two weeks can be / should be seen as a reality check. When we were second and thrashing teams some people were actually starting to think that we could challenge for the title. That is just ridiculous. It's like starting the top of the league threads. Over reaction. Over optimistic. Not living in reality.

And then we have people who have kept quiet over that purple spell who now think we are in relegation form. That too is just ridiculous. You might have an agenda or a preconception, but to twist the stats into an argument that this is relegation form, well, it is only right you're laughed at.

So where are we? We're not title contenders and we're not relegation material. We are IN the top four. Is that an improvement on this time last year? ****ing right it is. Is it good enough? That depends on your expectations. But if you expect a championship challenge, you're not living in reality. And even if we were challenging, the champions have embarrassing hiccups. That happens every single year.

So this should be (and is) a reality check for the majority of us. But there always some that get carried away in whatever direction the very last result takes us.

I'm not saying we're getting bloody relegated, I'm just saying that our form since Utd has been just above relegation form, which since the Utd game it bloody well has. I'm no fan of Rogers, never agreed with his appointment, don't think he'll take us back into the top 4.

Anyway, as you were.

[Muddled]

We've been over this, Tanner. Our form has been just above relegation form and just under Champions League form - it's neither one or t'other. Perhaps you could chat about why you think Rodgers will not get us back into the top four?

[Vermilion]

Is he still there i wonder ?

[Chazza]

We've been over this, Tanner. Our form has been just above relegation form and just under Champions League form - it's neither one or t'other. Perhaps you could you chat about why you think Rodgers will not get us back into the top four?

That would be nice.

Some sort of suggestions as to how the issues are sorted out. Or whom Nicky T thinks can do a better job given the resources and our position in British/European/World football.

[dom9]

I'm not saying we're getting bloody relegated, I'm just saying that our form since Utd has been just above relegation form, which since the Utd game it bloody well has. I'm no fan of Rogers, never agreed with his appointment, don't think he'll take us back into the top 4.

Anyway, as you were.

Yup.

[MrMichael]

I'm not saying we're getting bloody relegated, I'm just saying that our form since Utd has been just above relegation form, which since the Utd game it bloody well has. I'm no fan of Rogers, never agreed with his appointment, don't think he'll take us back into the top 4.

Anyway, as you were.

No it hasn't.

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/form-guide.html

10th in the form table (joint 7th) is no more relegation form than it is championship winning. Please stop making this claim as it is wrong at best, disingenuous at worst, and unnecessary to your wider point. In any case, 6 games is but a very small slice of a season, and were it not for one terrible result on Sunday our form over that period wouldn't look so bad at all, especially when combined with such a strong start to the season.