The Dazed Review – Hull City v Nancy

My Second trip to the KC this pre season and again their really were not many there … very dissapointing as this was the first time Hull City has ever played a french team and these were a French team that won silverware last year and will be in European competition this year also ! So to have only around 4000 there was very poor … I think they need to have a good look at the pricing and the way they deal with pre season games for next season …

So to the game and the starting line up maybe was a little surprising until you remember that Collins was injured and Delaney not quite there either … So Thelwell to Centre back and Lynch gets what i think has to be one of his last chances to shine which unfortunately he does not … to be fair the only defender that looked to be coping in the early minutes was Turner yet again, what a buy he is turning out to be !

Nancy had all the early pressure targetting our right back area as the weak link to attack down, this was dragging our defense all over as Thelwell covered for lynch on occasions and it even dragged Dawson in way to deep into the middle with elliot offering about as much cover as a chocolate fireguard … It seemed a goal was on its way and then it came … Rachid Hamdani got onto the end of a cross and cooly finished into the roof of the net … our marking was pretty lax at that point as Elliot or Dawson should have been onto him …

This did seem to spur the team into action well and we started creating chances, Elliot going close as well as Thelwell also going close … we had one ruled out from Elliot as he was offside from a pass by Turner which to be hhonest Turner was open and clear on goal so maybe should have had a pop himself ??? but disregarding this the game had become entertaining at parts but you would say the result was fair at half time … 1-0 to Nancy …

Second half begins And John Welsh comes on to replace the very inaffective Andrews … Would say that he will be good a s a squad player but not good enough as the starting holding midfielder … Marney seemed to prefer partnering with Welsh as they seem to work on the same wavelength knowing where the other is and covering each other nicely … Welsh helped create a couple of chances and one particular for duffy which he blasted over … Duffy really is desperate for a goal but in the end he became provider when he finaly sprung the offside trap that he had failed to do in both games this week and produced a pinpoint left foot cross which Fagan wandered in and finished nicely with a thumping header … a deserved equaliser in my opinion … that cross was to be Duffys last kick of the game as he and Paynter were replaced by Burgess and Barmby … great to see Barmby running about again in the black and amber shirt and he played well i thought … all of a sudden we had three players who all seem to have that extra footballing brain, Marney, Welsh and Barmby to watch these start playing again was at times wonderful as the passing through the middle through to Barmby was quick and decisive …

As the game drew to a close Nancy made a number of subs which broke up the game quite a bit but despite this we finished the stronger and had some good chances right up until the final whistle … end result is Hull City 1 – 1 AS Nancy and fair result over all … they are a good team and i will be looking out for their results this season in europe … lets hope we see european opposition next pre season … home or away !!



b>Right Player ratings

Myhill – 6 Not a lot to do to be honest … could not do much for the goal but one point is that his kicking is very very erratic and why he does not throw it only he knows !!!

Dawson – 6 First half was dragged about quite a bit trying to plug gaps and trying to cover a lot of the pitch which he did quite well, was not helped by Elliots lack of effort defensively !!

Turner – 7 The pick of the defense in my opinion, looked assured once again and helped bring the play out when he could to the midfield … also threatening going forward for set pieces …

Thelwell – 6 Not at right back and I think not a very assured performance … once Delaney is back next week can see him revert to right back if Ricketts is not ready …

Lynch – 5 The weak link in defence … was placed under a lot of pressure early on and did not cope … think this could have been his last game for the Tigers ??

Andrews – 5 about as effective as Lynch … when ashbee is back and if Ashbee is back to the player he was before injury questions have to be asked as to Andrews future …

Marney – 7 Spent the first half doing the work that andreews should have been doing as well as trying to provide for the forwards … looked more relaxed in teh second half when Welsh was there but tired towards the end … still can tell he is a class above any of our players !

Elliott – 6 Going forward he is lacking in confidence and defensively he is not doing too much at all or it is too little not often enough ! if Yeates comes this week then i feel Elliot will not be our first choice left winger … a player too much in the comfort zone if you ask me …

Fagan – 8 My man of the match … ran tirelessly and when ever the ball is near him he terrified the full back … great finish for the goal also … feel if he is willing to continue on the right wing then this will be a big season for him …

Paynter – 7 Did not do anything wrong all after noon and could have scored in the second half when put through by Elliot

Duffy – 6 Not too bad … could do to work on his beating the offside although he did do brilliant to set up the goal … would love to have seen him partner Barmby up front …

Subs

Welsh – 8 Changed the game …. massive season for welsh where we could see what he can do consistantly rather than every so often due to ‘6 week holidays’ reckon him and Marney will be our first choice central pairing …

Barmby – 7 Good to see him back and played well … linked up with Marney and Welsh especially well and anyone in the east stand saw that he was not happy at Elliot almost straght away after he came on … had something that we have missed from too many people on the pitch … passion

Burgess – 5 Would place him alongside Lynch and Andrews as our worst performers … really really needs that loan spell out to try and get some of teh old ben back as we cannot risk this during the season !!



Top Tiger – Fagan over the 90 minutes although would say Welsh was a very close second !!

Tigers Tail – Lynch over the 90 but Andrews and Burgess were right down there with him !!!

Ref Watch – 6/10 missed a blatant hand ball in the first half from teh wall on a Marney free kick but over all not too bad i though …

Where to now ?? – The business begins now , we have a game that we would not be expected to win next week against a team that has just come down from the Premiership, this could be good for us as the pressure will be on them .. who knows … a sneaky victory or a point away from home to start ???

Click here to see pictures from todays game , many thanks to Tiger Phil.

Also guess the team threads are now in the forums for the first two games of the season against West Brom and Barnsley