Hull City 0 - 1 #SWFC - OMDT

[Lord Snooty]

Hull City - V - Wednesday

Sky Bet Championship
15:00 
Home 8/11    14/5    Away 18/5

 

Not so long ago Stubbs was driving me to the club, and as we sailed along the dark roads in from the valley I was listening to the radio in the back. There was an interview with with the Hull manager Nigel Adkins.  Well, when I say interview, it was actually quite clearly a press conference where one hack in particular had taken on the role of chief Inquisitor and clearly his fellow reporters were more than happy to take a back seat and let him fire the bullets for them.  

 

I hadn't been paying too much attention to Hull generally, well, you don't do you. You don't really think about them at all unless we're playing them. I'd forgotten for a moment who their manager even was. But it quickly became evident that they were on the back of bad run. (It transpired later in the interview it was 9 games without a win) The reporter was asking questions, but was passing over Adkins answers. Like a dismissive teenager kissing his teeth as a teacher explained why being able to read and write might prove useful in later life. 

 

"Terrible run. Do you feel like your the man for the job"

"Absolutley."

"But the results are very poor"

"The results are poor yes. But the performance the other night. I think anyone who watched that game will know we should have won it"

"But didn't"

"We didn't no, but the performance was the sort of performance we needed. When you play like that you win more than you lose. It's about getting into the right habits, and though we lost we were much improved"

"But lost."

"But did the right things in the right areas."

"It's nine games without a win now. The players are playing terribly"

"They're not though are they? We're on a bad run but we're not playing badly."

"Yeah whatever fam. You need to fall on your sword innit. Ye get me "

 

Ok. He didn't say the last bit. And it's only a little summary of what was a much longer piece. But. The main point was that the reporter believed it is a completely  results based business. Adkins was saying that it's about doing the right things and the results would come. 

Truth is it's both. But you could see the point the under pressure boss was making. You can play well and lose. 

 

 

 

They had a crappy run. But then turned a bit of a corner. (Despite a surprised tonking from Birmingham) They beat Norwich 4-3, beat Ipswich 3-0 at Portman Road, got creditable draws against Villa and Wolves and then smashed 4 past QPR and 5 past Burton.  They've eleven goals in the last 3 games and find themselves 5th in the form table. 

 

But just a month ago people were wanting the manager out. 

What a fickle World football is. 

 

We too have plenty of people wanting our manager out too.

Despite us being 9th in the divisions form table and the manager taking over the biggest shitstorm since Frederick Fleet shouted "Iceberg! Iceberg right ahead! "

A manager who has only been in post 3 months and  who has spent the grand total of £365k in trying to turn our fortunes around. 

Maybe, like Adkins (who was appointed Hull gaffer a month before Jos came to Hillsborough and got only 1 win in his first 12 games) he needs a little bit of patience and time to try and put things right. 

 

Match Facts
 

• Hull City have only lost one of their last five home league matches against the Owls (W3 D1), a 3-1 defeat in January 2013.

At least it was this century though. Do you know what I mean. It's those other stats I don't like. "Haven't lost to Sheffield Wednesday since 1902, and even then were holding a slender lead until a series of unfortunate events involving lightening, an escaped lion from the local circus and a collapsing sink hole saw them lose in injury time whilst down to 4 men,"

 

• That win is one of just two victories for the Owls against Hull in their last 12 meetings in all competitions (D4 L6).

Crikey. They really have had the upper hand. Though it has to be said I thought we were well on for something at their place in 15/16 until Fernando got done with that horror show tackle. The less said about the predictable outmanoeuvring at Wembley the better. 

 

• Hull's last two league games have been 4-0 and 5-0 wins over QPR and Burton, their third and fourth wins by at least four goals in the league this season - they last had as many wins by this margin in a single season in 1965-66 (5).

See this is what I mean. These are the sort of stats you don't want. "This team are entering the best goal scoring form in their history just before they face your team."

 

• Nigel Adkins has ended on the losing side in each of his last three league matches against Sheffield Wednesday.

Ah. This is better. The manager hoodoo. We need a bit of that. 

 

• Atdhe Nuhiu has scored six goals in his last five Championship matches -

And still they moan! Well. Some of them will be able to cheer tomorrow because there's a chance the bigman won't make it. Which personally I think is a huge blow to the team. And , not least a blow to whoever plays up front without him against the shithawks of Dawson and McDonald./ 

 

 

 

Hull have been lining up with a strong midfield unit in a 4-2-3-1

They have the lad Irvine who I was hoping we would make a play for the other summer. 

It's all undisclosed fees these days. But I've been told it was a deal of £1.5m working up to £2.2m when the additions go on , terrific bit of business for my money.

If he plays tomorrow then he'll be the one to watch making those powerful runs beyond. 

 

 

Can we win?

Of course we can. It a sizeable task of course with us still missing several of our best key players. 

But there is always a chance.  

Nuhiu and Joao if missing for my money will be one of the biggest blows of all. They aren't our best two strikers.  But they have proved a very useful pairing. A partnership where the sum of the parts is more than the whole with them two. 

For whatever reason they work. They work as a pair. As was proved in year one several times. 

 

 

I do wonder if one of the reasons that Joao didn't look his normal self against QPR was that he was shunted so we could try and accommodate our star man.

You could say it worked in that Fernando played well, scored a goal and it was great to have him back. But did it upset the Nuhiu/Joao balance.

Changing from the "Bloody negative" back five to get the little man involved certainly didn't seem to help matters. 

 

Jos is going to find this more and more as players come back ready for pre-season. It's the great jigsaw puzzle. It's the great jigsaw puzzle that finished Carlos. Off. 

How do you get the best from the whole....while including your best individuals.  His hardest spell as manager will probably be the summer retain list...

 

|Anyway. Enough bleating. 

 

I'd like to dedicate this thread  to our wonderful overlord, Neil. 

For Return of the Negs....

 

I salute you ,Sir. 

 

 

COME ON WEDNESDAY

Edited April 13, 2018 by Lord Snooty

[ReginaldD]

I can see Forestieri starting with Rhodes.

Not feeling especially positive about us getting 3 points. Though after the last two games I'd be happy with us getting a clean sheet as the first priority. Then in an ideal world Rhodes scoring a winner to help his confidence.

[Lord Snooty]

1 minute ago, ReginaldD said:

I can see Forestieri starting with Rhodes.

Not feeling especially positive about us getting 3 points. Though after the last two games I'd be happy with us getting a clean sheet as the first priority. Then in an ideal world Rhodes scoring a winner to help his confidence.

 

So a 1-0  away win with a Rhodes winner. It's classic George Graham from you Reg! 

But at this stage we'll take it. 

 

In many ways 1-0 defeats are worse.  I mean, when you get absolutely hammered theres part of you that goes numb.  It stops hurting after the 5th goal I've found. 

But when it's one nil .There's always that glimmer of hope. And it's that hope that does you as the clock winds down. And the opposition start time wasting. They're the painful ones aren't they. Yes. When that glimmer of hope is lodged inside you like a piece of shrapnel in the brain of a derranged Bond villian. 

 

So yes. I too would take a one nil. Make Hull suffer!

[Simaniac Owl]

 

 

[Ian_D]

It's late I'm tired so gave up. Will read it mid morning. Thanks for the effort. 

[S36 OWL]

Brilliant work Mi`Lord . This had me in stitches 

 

 

 

[offalyowl]

Brilliant as always snoots and like you think it's a shame if Lucas or big Dave don't make it, hope we Nick this 2-1 but think it's going to be a 1-1 draw for some reason 

uto 

[Ronio]

Evening, 

 

Nice one Snoots. 

 

We will win this one.  No doubt about it.  2-1 Wednesday win coming up.  Nuhiu and Joao with the goals.  

 

TO VICTORY!!

 

COME ON WEDNESDAY!!!

[nevthelodgemoorowl]

I wouldn't say we were thread bare but my six year old Grandson got a late call this morning to make the Bus to Hull. Unfortunately he had an upset tum and had to forgo his debut opportunity.

 

But like I am always at pains to point out form is only a guide to performance and fate holds the deciding cards in an 11 v 11 contest.

 

Sickened somewhat by RSFH last evening by the patronising tone of the RS Cabal. 'Jos deserves another transfer window' boolox ! I think three windows would be required to sort out the balance of age and quality. Of course the right three or four players with a nice balance of age and experience could set us on the road to a successful season; History tells us however, that our injury returns will be no better than average. So we need a squad with a little more depth in quality than that we have had to manage this season.

 

All this of course does not address our problems at Hull City tomorrow. Drawing on all my coaching experience I'm going for a 3-2-5 and a scragg the barstewards approach !

 

Hull City 2-3 Wednesday. UTO WAWAW

[Orlando_Trustful]

A clean sheet would be nice. 

[ash60s]

Love a win but settle/forecast 2-2 Fessi & Boyd

Good work again M'Lord

[Gresh]

I'm going for us with a 0 v 2 win with FF and Fred scoring a rare goal.

[Guest timrud]

Last two games Hull have scored for fun and we've let endless amounts in. So it has 0-0 all over it.

[Hughthecone]

Great post again Snoots,I always look forward to your words of wisdom,pre match.

[Costello 77]

Another good read... apart from the stats.

 

WTF!?

[Lombardo]

great post as always snoots.

how times have changed for both teams

think we may scrape through though. my guess is goalless first half with neither side making any chances....as this is how we win our games usually...

[N0rtherner]

While Wednesday football has me feeling disappointed every Saturday afternoon this season, Lord Snooty's OMDT has my mood lifted every Sat morning for a lovely read with my coffee.

 

Lo and behold the return of the Neg!

[sagesse]

Come on Wednesday!!!

[MrsHall]

Hull.....fkn Hull. Do ' em. UTO.

[Holmowl]

Marvellous stuff @Lord Snooty

 

The effort and great info you pack into thus season’s OMDTs is staggering. It’s akways a pleasure and a great start to the day (or finish to a heavy night) to read them.

 

And to boot you throw in the odd grenade to spice up our day.

 

Well done and thank you.

 

This morning’s grenade (oh how I wish Trump and Putin only had grenades or better-still boxing-gloves at their disposal) is a very interesting one. A front 3 of FF Nuhiu Joao? Well it did fine on Tuesday - two goals and an assist away from home. But imo it is more likely that a 442 with FF wide will be tried and prove more successful. Would that be with Reach at LB? Or will we buy a proper LB and see Reach LW and FF RW. He played it several times at Watford and we know he is 90% right foot.