One of the more surprising moves of the latest transfer deadline day witnessed Hull City stalwart Ian Ashbee cross the Pennines in order to rejoin old flame Phil Brown. Phil Ascough eulogises over a City career spanning nine years.It was a must-win game. Not so much in terms of avoiding relegation but certainly in regards to easing the strain on a manager whose arrival a few months earlier had been welcomed by most Hull City fans.A poor start to the season, some wretched performances and an increasingly restless and vocal minority within the fan base were all adding to the…
All posts tagged Hull
Three weeks’ difference at Hull
Three weeks ago, I reported back on Hull City’s attempts to accommodate a large squad while launching their bid for a speedy return to Premland. A lot has occurred since.While yesterday’s opponents Reading have been out shopping in Eastleigh, Hereford and Swindon, the East Riding club have been considerably more ambitious. Adam Pearson hinted at the imminent arrival of Aaron McLean and Matty Fryatt in his programme notes on December 28, but the forward pairing have been joined by additional incomers - James Chester and Corry Evans have arrived from the Republic of Mancunia, Brad Guzan has replaced another Premier League loanee…
The Monday Profile: James Chester
My fellow blogger Frank Heaven and I are often prone to debate the merits of players labelled “ball playing centre halves”. It’s a term pregnant with meaning- and a slight damning with feint praise is never far from the equation. For just as Glen Johnson’s attacking attributes from full back are often highlighted only to stress his defensive inadequacies, centre backs who can “play a bit” are usually sniffed at for similar reasons.Rio Ferdinand, despite all the accolades and a position in the MVP XI of the World Cup in 2002, has never quite attracted plaudits in the same way…
Squad size issues at Hull
Adam Pearson isn’t one of Football Chairmanship’s more shy and retiring individuals and his programme notes in advance of yesterday’s somewhat unfortunate failure to beat Reading at the KC Stadium were illuminating indeed.Keeping cards close to one’s chest is a piece of advice unbeloved by this executive and his confirmation of the recently leaked intention to spend £2.5 million of Hull City Football Club’s money in the early days of January will have done Julian Assange proud.No names were mentioned but all the pointers suggest that Matty Fryatt and Aaron McLean are on their way to the Sunshine Band stadium…
Sharing with the Oval Ball: the Cons
In last month’s print edition of When Saturday Comes, the ever reliable Roger Titford analyzed the pros and cons of sharing one’s ground with purveyors of the oval ball. The piece sounds a note of warning: my fellow blogger Scarf is rightly incandescent at Stockport’s unequal alliance with Sale Sharks and if Reading’s relationship with London Irish is better, there is still unease among the Royals’ support.Most annoying is the local media’s occasional comparison of the clubs’ respective gates and Titford enlarged upon this in his missive, showing how rugby crowds have grown encouragingly while football league attendances have declined….
Steve: @Lanterne Rouge
All the players were born on the island or have moved...
Lanterne Rouge: Fascinating post Chris. Reading this, I found my hostility to the proj...
Frank Heaven: LR – I think 'one club' counties besides Norfolk would include Heref...
Wimb: Ahhh Zico-Black! watched him play for Lancaster many times during my s...
