With Wednesday’s debacle fresh in the mind we move on to Hull on Saturday afternoon. The soon to be Tigers have had what most would say is a better than expected reintroduction in 2013/14 to Clive Tyldesley’s,’top table’, oh no, that’s the Moneybags League isn’t it. What’s the Premiership then? A meal for two at (Phil) Browns Bar and Brasserie? (With a voucher of course).
Hull’s ‘success’ this season is based on the hard graft their players put in on the field combined with the odd moment of inspiration, notably from the midfield that have contributed the majority of their goals. Our own workaholic Jake Livermore has been at the heart of this, chipping in with 2 goals and 3 assists, more than any of our midfielders apart from Christian Eriksen. It’s to our advantage that he (Jake) can’t play. Big Tom H will be in the side of course. He finished Tuesday’s game at Selhurst with a short but successful spell in goal, he must create a formidable obstacle for any onrushing forward. As a corollary to Huddlestone donning the gloves, the home side are likely to be light of a keeper due to McGregor’s mishap. Elsewhere though they remain relatively unscathed for this time of the season with Sone Aluko and James Chester their only serious doubts. Steve Bruce moved early in the transfer window by signing Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic. The former is capable of moments of class and the latter always a nuisance whenever he plays against us. Daws is in for a long afternoon once more, this assumes he’s recovered from any nightmares he’s been having involving monsters with grotesquely massive thighs who can turn on a sixpence of course.
Shay given that none of our injured players are capable of making it from the physio table to the first team changing room without suffering some sort of relapse most of our side is likely to be very similar to that which started against City. There are a couple of ponderables though. What formation will Tim go for, how injured is Dembele and given that it’s Window-slamming-shut Day who will be there (Capoue?) to replace him if he’s too knacked to start? I’m going to take a punt and assume 442 and that Mousa is ok. Adebayor and Soldado up front, to begin with anyway, I reckon and Bentaleb and Dembele in midfield. The rest will be as you were.
Hull gave good showings in both the games at WHL earlier in the season when we got the better of them on penalties twice. This too will be a tough encounter, especially given the mauling on Wednesday. For once we should try and start as we mean to continue and start at a decent tempo. Fingers crossed that with some momentum we should be capable of another good result.
Anthony Taylor is down to referee. (I notice that Scott Ledger – our lino from Weds – is in partnership with Howard Webb at West Ham on Saturday. Maybe they’re hoping that two wrong ‘uns will make a right). COYS.
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