Wembley Bound
By: Matt |
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First off, plaudits to Watford for hanging tough over the course of two legs. As Aidy Boothroyd said, they were punching above their weight for a while, and in the end, Hull just had too much firepower. Cheers to our Yank (kinda) keeper Boaz Myhill as well for some clutch saves, especially in the second leg.
Now on to the Final. Bristol City holds the season advantage, having drawn 0-0 and beaten us 2-1, but I fancy our chances. Bristol play some fantastic football, as they have evidenced in their semi-final win over Palace, but I don’t think one can argue they are the more premiership ready side.
With wily vets Nick Barmby, Dean Windass (and Jay-Jay Okocha when he’s healthy) leading young ‘uns Frazier Campbell and middle age (football speaking) Richard Garcia and Caleb Folan, Hull seems to have the right mix to have a go in the EPL.
In any case it should be a wildly entertaining match, with two of the championships better footballing sides looking to the 60 million pound promised land. COYH.
Category: Team News
Moment of Truth
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Quick out of the blocks. September-October Swoon. Mid-year-Mid-Table. Magnificent March….What will today bring?
Simple. Win over Ipswich. Stoke Loss to Leicester. Automatic promotion. I didn’t think I would ever be saying ‘At least the playoffs would be consolation…’.
It’s hard not to let hopes get too high, but as one lad on the BBC said last night, if you’d have offered me a chance at automatic promotion on the last day of the year, with playoffs guaranteed, I’d have snapped yer hand off.
Realistically, Ipswich are a good side, while Leicester are not, so the playoffs are more than likley, but as I said, I’ll certainly take it.
From the first days at Italian training camp, to coming out of the tunnel at Portman Road in a few hours, what a season it has been. Stay tuned.
COMMMMEEEEE ONNNNNNN YOUUUUUU HUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Category: Team NewsTigers Maul Tykes
By: Matt | 3 Comments
Hully City 3 Barnsley 0
Hull City destroyed high flying Barnsley at the KC on monday night, thanks to two early goals from Man U loanee Frazier Campbell. But before we get to match reaction, I would like to relay to the few of you who may have missed it, this classic exchange between the BBC Barnsley radio presenters:
(Ball is played out of bounds, linesman seems to get the call wrong)
Presenter 1: “It’s like the Stade de France all over again.” (In reference to England’s missed try in the RWC final)
Presenter 2: “I must admit, I haven’t seen the video, only the still shots in the paper…”
Presenter 1: “Well that’s better than the French could do, it was clearly a try…”
Presenter 2: “No comment here….”
Presenter 1: “Well it’s the French, all they do is eat frog legs and smell.”
(Awkward silence as the Hull fans sing in the background)
Legendary.
Back to the match, I won’t bore you with too much play by play, Frazier Campbell scored two in the first few minutes and the match was effectively over. A crisp breakaway finish, and then he showed incredible strength and footwork to bamboozle three Tykes defenders before slotting home for the second. Dean Marney finished smartly under Heinz Muller in the second half to finish it off, and the Tykes never looked up for the battle, heading home with a heavy 3-0 defeat.
Odd too, as they have certainly enjoyed the better run so far, coming into Monday’s match only out of the playoff places by goal differential.
Man of the Match: Dean Windass. Although Campbell obviously was lights out and gave the Tigers the win in the first 20 minutes, Deano wins this award hands down. Not only did he play very well, he actually wrote a book. Now when I first saw this I wasn’t sure whether to be horrified or amazed, but the latter has won out, hence his Man of Match honors. So I’m not positive whether it is actually in English or not, but I’ll have a read and post my review in a few weeks.
Match Highlights
Category: Team NewsLondon Brawling
By: Matt | 1 Comment
Charlton vs. Hull City
The Addicks took down Hull on Champions League evening, 2-1 at the KC. A goalmouth scramble resulting in Luke Varney’s poked opener and Chris Iwelumo’s late second proved too much of a mountain to climb for the Tigers as they bowed out at home to their London opponents.
Before we get to the fisticuffs that punctuated the first half, and resulted in the expulsion of Ian Ashbee and Lloyd Sam, first on Iwelumo. What a player he may turn out to be. He has absolutely dominated the Tigers in years past, when playing for tiny Colchester, including one particularly devastating encounter last season when he scored 4 at Layer Road.
Perhaps Phil Brown should take a closer look at Hull’s torturer in chief Mr. Iwelumo rather than all this nonsense about attracting Christian Vieri. Milan to Hull? He won’t even notice the difference. Promise.
Fight (Sort Of)
And now to the fun stuff. After Ashbee’s lunging tackle on Sam, which wasn’t that bad, the following occurred.
Now I was a bit disappointed with Charlton’s Sam, if your going to react to a tackle you deem as dangerous, don’t then let yourself then get put in a headlock by the person who tackled you to begin with. Truly poor effort on Sam’s part.
Also a bit unfortunate that Dean Windass wasn’t allowed to have a go at someone. I would imagine that his head would break many a fist before any damage was done to himself.
Nickname Battle: Addick vs. Tiger
I have no idea what an Addick is, but a Tiger would most certainly eat one. Or at least have more stripes than it.
Winner: Tiger. Please.
Author’s Note: I’ll be at the match this Saturday, when Hull travels down to London to take on Palace, hopefully some good video and pictures to follow.
Category: Team NewsKing Henrik Sinks Ipswich
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Hull City AFC 3 Ipswich Town1
Henrik Pedersen exploded for two goals in his home Championship debut to lead Hull to victory at the KC over visiting Ipswich town. Nice to see the Dane finally get on track, his goal scoring prowess was certainly never in doubt, one just wondered if his age was catching up to him in his first season with the Tigers.
Jay Jay Okocha played a tremendous game, setting up Pedersen’s first, and torturing a generally dominant Ispwich side for much of the contest. While the result was a bit generous for the Tigers, it was certainly a great way to bounce back from the mid week league cup defeat against Chelski.
Nickname Battle: Tractor Boy vs. Tiger
I’m not even sure what a Tractor Boy is. No doubt harkening back to their rural Suffolk roots, this is certainly one of the weaker showings from a Championship side.
Winner: Tiger. No doubt about it. They could show up with 10 tractors, still not a chance.
Category: Team NewsDavid vs. A Wounded Goliath
By: Matt | 1 Comment
Carling Cup: Chelsea FC at Hull City AFC
As Hull City takes to the pitch at the KC Stadium tonight, they will face a side in turmoil. The shock exit of their ‘Special’ manager, injuries to various key first team players, and a weekend loss to title rivals Man U have left Russian Oil FC in a sorry state.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, their opponents still have the Chelsea badge on their shirt. And that means they still have some tremendous talent and ability to throw at Hull. Still, when the two sides take to the pitch, I feel like we could not have met them at a better time.
5 Reasons why the Tigers will spring the upset-
1. Fat Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Jon Obi Mikel, Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Ballack and Wayne Bridge are all missing. Phew. I don’t care who else they have, when that group is NOT in the team sheet, that’s good news.
2. Avram Grant is the new manager, and his side looked out of ideas on the weekend vs Man Yoo. What has this guy done since Yakubu blasted Maccabi past Champions League opponents six million years ago? All I can recall is pictures of him at Pompey looking like someone just kicked his dog.
3. Henrik Pedersen may make his first start for the Tigers. If the wily Dane can get some service he could have a big impact, he knows Tal Ben Haim very well from their days together at the Reebok Stadium and could cause him problems.
4. Chelsea probably won’t be used to playing in front of a full stadium, after their recent Champions League endeavors, and the KC will certainly be rocking.
5. Number 44. Jay. Jay. Okocha.
Watch this space for post match report and reaction.
Category: Team NewsInto the Black Country
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A penalty from perma-fake tanned Dean Windass gave the Tigers a victory at Molineux, as Hull escaped with a 1-0 win over Wolves on Champions League night.
While most of the country focused on the glitter of Europe’s ‘Premier Club Competition’ (unless you live in West London), Phil Brown’s men went into their midweek clash playing a 4-5-1, with Jay Jay Okocha in his first start supporting Caleb Folan.
Folan, who setup David Livermore for Hull’s late equaliser against Stoke on the weekend, was forced off in the first half due to injury, allowing Deano the chance to come on and seal it.
Although Folan and Pedersen could become quite the pair, especially with Okocha and Bryan Hughes in support, I must say that the pairing of Eastwood and Keogh can be downright scary.
The golden locked Irishman has speed to burn, and Wolves certainly must be savoring the connection formed so far with his Gypsy-partner.
So a first away win for the Tigers was a tremendous result, and now everyone can look forward Saturday’s match with Wednesday, and Chelsea over the horizon in a fortnight.
Stoke
Hull also drew this past Saturday, 1-1 with Stoke. Zzzzzzzz. The only good thing out of this game was the fact that I fondly recalled John ‘The Beast’ Parkin’s wonder goal against his current team during the ‘05-’06 season.
Think Peter Crouch’s absurd Cruyff turn-and finish against Arsenal, but better. And fatter.
Category: Team NewsTigers in Europe
By: Matt | Add Comments
A HA! Fantastic accounts of the Tigers smashing Milan in the Champions League won’t be found here (check back in 2009-2010 for that article), I was actually referring to the two Hull representatives in the weekends Euro 2008 qualifiers. Although I will warn you, it is a fairly dismal account.
Wales v Germany
Sam Ricketts (left) played for Wales against the Teutons in Cardiff, and the Dragons were duly smacked 2-nil by a Miroslav Klose double. On a positive note, Sammy did get the ONLY shot on target for the Welsh. At least the Tigers make it a bit more interesting. One measly shot! No wonder only 25,000 turned up for the visit of a world footballing giant. I don’t think Robbie Savage is so far off in his assessment of Wales’ WC 2010 hopes. Something about a Concord being more likely to travel to the moon. Glad to see the golden-locked nutter and John Toschak are back on good terms.
Northern Ireland v Latvia
Stuart Elliot got the nod against a Latvian side that Norn Iron should have clearly beaten. But alas, this is Northern Ireland we are talking about, quite possibly the most Jekyll and Hyde side in history. Wins against England and Spain. Losses to Iceland and Latvia, the latter courtesy of a Chris Baird horror show, which Fulham fans have been well privy to this season. It’s surreal, although not altogether surprising, (the losses anyway). Ex-Leeds striker David Healy will be fit allegedly, so that should give the provinces’ supporters a bit of hope heading into the mid-week match in Reykjavik. In terms of Elliot’s inividual performance…
They were shut out by Latvia, so what is there to say really.
Category: Team NewsWeek in Review
By: Matt | Add Comments
Hull City vs Blackpool
A generally disappointing performance by the Tigers in the Monday night match, where some awful marking punctuated by inept finishing resulted in a 2-1 defeat to the Championship newcomers.
The result was overshadowed by a scary looking injury to new boy Caleb Folan, who smashed heads with oddly named Tangerine Kaspar Gorkss. The collision left Folan motionless on the turf and a stunned Gorkss gushing blood from a deep cut on his face. Luckily Folan’s injury is not long term, and the big man should be fine.
In terms of the match there was not much positive to report on, Folan looked good in possession, running at defenders, holding the ball up relatively well, and his clever dummy sprung Ashbee to hammer home the Tigers lone tally of the match.
The marking for both Blackpool goals was shambolic, and Okocha or not, it must improve if ‘ull has any chance of touching the playoff places.
Category: Team NewsJay Jay We Gotcha!
By: Matt | 5 Comments
Thanks to the Hull Daily Mail for that, erm, Gem of a headline, but yes, it was confirmed today that Jay Jay Okocha is a Tiger.
Phil Brown has dragged the Nigerian wizard out of the footballing backwater of Qatar, and he just may be the piece needed to push the Tigers up and over the hump into playoff contention. While he may lack the pace he once did, Jay Jay will surely bring a bit of flair to the KC, and could prove to be a consistent supply line to the potentially deadly partnership of Pedersen and Folan.
While it may seem that Hull is falling down the slippery slope of over paying for ageing stars, in Pedersen and now Okocha, these two players are a different proposition. Pedersen seems the model professional, while the sheer enthusiasm and outrageous ability the Nigerian brings is a welcome addition. The League Cup tie versus Chelsea should do a bit to help pay Jay Jay’s purported 10,000 pounds a week wages, now lets just hope Phil Brown didn’t have to pose nude in any more magazines in order to sign the talented midfield player!
Personally I was a huge fan of Okocha while at Bolton, not only for his flair and creativity, but for his ferocious free kick taking ability, which is something the Tigers have lacked, aside from the occasional Andy Dawson screamer. While results will ultimately determine the wisdom of the Tigers most recent acquisition, the Nigerian should do well for the club, and if the defence and Mr. Myhill can hunker down and play with some consistency, the playoffs may not be that far off.
Category: Team News
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