Hull City

Phil Brown showed his true colours Tuesday night at the Emirates, after his side bowed out of the FA Cup after a 2-1 defeat to Arsene Wenger's Arsenal.

Hull City took the lead early in the game, thanks to a Barmby fluke goal that ricocheted off Djourou's outstretched leg and arched in the air above Fabianski and in to the Arsenal net.

Hull were delighted, and set about piling their players behind the ball and doing everything they could to stall the game and slow Arsenal down.

One telling statistic shows the extent to which Hull went to try and ruin the game—six yellow cards, most for time wasting.

Arsene Wenger was furious and rightly so. 

Via a fluke, Hull had snatched the lead and were in no mood to play football. Instead, they wanted to manipulate the game to the extremes of negativity. It's the sort of football no one wants to see and supporters and neutrals alike would find Hull's play to be timid, unworthy, cowardly and boring. One bright spot was Geovanni - he was dangerous every time he was on the ball, and looked to be up the singular task of getting his side another goal to make Arsenal's job that much tougher.

But Arsenal pressed on, especially in the second half after Bendtner and Nasri were brought on.

As the referee cautioned player after player, Hull was forced to actually play football rather than clutch and grab.

Arsenal players were able to break free, until the 74th minute when the pressure overcame their adversaries and Arsenal were rewarded; Bendtner controlled the ball inside the 18-yard box, managed to get the ball over to Arshavin, who drew players to him freeing up van Persie from just inside the penalty spot. He made no mistake.

The second Arsenal goal came with some controversy.

An Arsenal free kick saw players flood the box. The Hull keeper came out to punch the ball, but his strike at the ball wound up forcing the ball high in the air to the path of Gallas, who while in an offside position, was not receiving the ball from an Arsenal player.

The referee and his assistant rightly allowed the ensuing goal, and Arsenal went on to win the game.

Having dominated possession (70%+) and completing over twice as many passes as Hull, and having more than three times the corners, and just as many shots on target (Hull only managed two shots on target all game—goes to show how ineffective their offense was on the night), it was a fitting outcome.

After the final whistle had blown, Arsene Wenger could be seen looking in the direction of the Hull bench, but for some unknown reason, the Hull manager didn't seem interested in shaking hands. Wenger made his way down the tunnel, and players continued to celebrate and shake hands with their opposing numbers.

After the game, Phil Brown, Hull's Coach (without his trademark SpiceGirls microphone) was interviewed by Setanta Sports.

He roundly criticized the Arsenal fans in attendance for jeering his players for their stall tactics, blamed the referees for handing the game to Arsenal, and called Arsene Wenger and his team all sorts of names.

When shown the replay of the Gallas goal, he failed to see his own keeper's botched punch attempt at the ball, focusing on the positioning of the touchline ref and Gallas. He got even more incensed, citing that (and getting confused over who was captain for the day, and who the captain was of the squad) Cesc Fabregas had spat at the Hull assistant coach.

It was the stuff of a deranged idiot—Brown's eyes popping out of his head as he hurled his accusation. The commentator, dumbfounded, probed more, but Brown was too far gone in his mind to articulate further. The interview ended, with Brown visibly shaken.

Typical though. Many have felt that Hull have been "punching well above their weight" masquerading as a Premier League Club when they really are fodder for relegation back to the lower division.

Still it doesn't matter in the big scheme of things. Arsenal are off to face Chelsea at Wembley in one of the semifinals, and Hull are left further demoralized as their Cinderella season spirals further down the bowl.

Shame on Hull. Not the sort of stuff you like to see or hear, but then again, not every club can have the class of Arsenal, or the commanding respect that Arsene Wenger has garnered in the English Premier League and beyond.

Phil Brown would do well to remember who he is up against, and perhaps he should focus more on developing his teams play than lashing out at referees and blaming them and everyone else for the result that comes their way.

The saga continues for Mr. Windass. The 39-year old Hull native is in discussions with his parent club, Hull City.

Oldham Chairman Simon Blitz, who recently sacked Oldham manager John Sheridan, has stated that Windass is discussing his role with Hull City, although he is still registered for the rest of the season with the Latics.

John Sheridan's demise as the Oldham manager was sealed with the 6-2 defeat to MK Dons last Saturday, but it was the altercation on a team night out that led to his ultimate dismissal as the club's manager.

At the time of the incident on the Oldham club night out, the English press went to town in reports that Hull's prodigal son, Dean Windass, was at the root of the incident.

Old reports of the Scarborough casino kerfuffle with notorious bad boy Marlon King were dragged out as a pattern emerged.

However, the press, as it does, had fired both barrels too early. It later appeared that Dean Windass was nowhere to be seen.

He wasn't even out with his Oldham teammates that night, but tucked up warm in bed with a mug of cocoa and his wife.

This all leaves Windass with some tough choices to make. Does he throw the towel in with regard to his playing career? This is a decision he has so far tried very hard to not make.

He tried to finagle his way back into the Hull City first team at the start of the Premiership season, then he managed to conjure a loan move when this didn't work to a team with promotion aspirations to avoid making that dreaded retirement call.

Hull City Chairman Paul Duffen as gone on record stating that any rumours about Windass returning to Hull City as a member of the coaching staff are just that: a "rumour."

So, Windass was at the Kingston Communication Stadium on Saturday to watch the Tigers take on Newcastle United, as he wasn't picked to play for Oldham.

Does this mean the Prodigal son is returning home, or will he be sent packing with his tail between his legs for his persistent and petulant ramblings in his weekly blog?

EPL Preview: Hull City Vs Newcastle United, Kingston Communication Stadium, Kingston Upon Hull, East Yorkshire, England, 15:00GMT.

It's Cup final day at the KC Stadium in East Yorkshire today. Well according to Michael Owen, it is. All week in the press we have been hearing about how important this game is to the Magpies, how it is their game of the season, their Cup final no less, but what has happened to the Toon army to make a game against lowly new-boys Hull City be a Cup final?

With the Magpies' next two games against Arsenal and Chelsea the need to pick up points against the Tigers is seen as imperative by the Newcastle management team.

Already this season, the Magpies and the Tigers have met three times with the Tigers winning out on two occasions and the pair battling out a solitary draw in the FA Cup.

The Toon Army see themselves sitting just above the relegation places with goal difference the only thing between survival and relegation. They are a full four points behind their opponents Hull City and with arguably a much harder run in to contend with.

Newcastle will be buoyed by the return to the first team of their 'Cup finalist' Michael Owen. Who despite lengthy spells out injured this season is still their top scorer with ten goals so far this season.

Caretaker manager Chis Houghton will also be happy to see the return of Nicky Butt and Damian Duff who will be having late fitness tests but they will have to do without the services of Kevin Nolan who is still sidelined through suspension.

However, Habib Beye and Danny Guthrie will not be ready for a return to first team action.

Phil Brown has been playing down the six pointer as nothing more than a another day at the office and also trying to divert some of the comments from the Hull City Chairman Paul Duffen.

Duffen has been stating that he thinks only another six points will be needed by the Tigers this season for survival but Brown has been advocating that many more points would be needed to guarantee top flight survival for the East Yorkshire outfit.

The Tigers will be happy to see the return to the first team squad of Andy Dawson who missed the win at Fulham due to suspension. The Tigers will be without the services of George Boateng who is not expected to return until next season along with Hull City's record signing Jimmy Bullard.

The Tiger-nation will be hoping that the win against Fulham will be the catalyst to greater things with the all important last ten games of the Premiership season kicking off this weekend.

With just one win in the league since Christmas, Phil Brown will be looking at the run in and praying that it doesn't come down to the last game of the season needing a win against Manchester United at the KC Stadium.

So, here we are with only 10 Premier League games left for Hull City in their first season of top flight football. The season has been one of optimism, excitement, despondency, frustration, anger (at officials) and soap opera style shenanigans at the KC stadium.

Will the Tiger-nation be cheering on the amber and black next season in the Premiership or the Championship?

The Tigers' remaining games are a mixed bag of six pointers and nerve jangling fixtures against top four teams.

The Tigers Vs Newcastle United

Wigan Athletic V's The Tigers

The Tigers Vs Portsmouth

Middlesbrough Vs The Tigers

Sunderland Vs The Tigers

The Tigers Vs Liverpool

Aston Villa Vs The Tigers

The Tigers Vs Stoke City

Bolton Wanderers Vs The Tigers

The Tigers Vs Manchester United

The remaining fixtures have actually panned out quite well for Hull City. Without a doubt Phil Brown's Tigers have not been the form team of late but they will have a definite chance of Premiership survival for this season.

A total of 40+ points has usually been enough for survival in the toughest football league in the world. On only three occasions since the Premier League was trimmed to 20 teams has a team with more than 40 points been relegated. That was Sunderland in 1996/7 with 40 points, Bolton in 1997/8 with 40 points and West Ham in 2002/3 with 42 points.

With 32 points already in the bag for the Tigers, the East Yorkshire outfit will be hoping to snatch at least another ten points from the remaining fixtures.

Phil Brown will be eying the game against Newcastle as an important game. The Premiership new boys have already beaten the Magpies twice this season and drawn once in the Premiership and the FA Cup.

A victory against the Magpies would help to sustain the momentum that the Tigers gained with their victory against Fulham. That was the first double that the Tigers have gained this season.

The Tiger-nation will also be looking to take all three points from the games against Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Stoke. This would leave the Tigers on 44 points if they were to lose all their remaining games. However, it is still possible that the amber and black footballing machine could still gain points against all of their opponents.

Even down to the last game of the season the Tigers have a chance of grabbing points as Manchester United could very well be crowned Premier League Champions and possibly resting key players for important Champions League and FA Cup final games.

However, the Tigers games alone are not the whole picture. You need to look at the fixtures of the fellow relegation teams as there a lot of teams taking points off of each other. It is entirely possible that Hull City do not reach the magical 40 point mark but still survive.

Middlesbrough also have to play Portsmouth, Stoke, Newcastle as well as Hull City. That means that although Middlesbrough could win all those games, their opponents will not be gaining anything from those games. Alternatively they could all be draws and then it is only a single point gained when three points are paramount.

As it stands all the teams below Phil Brown's Hull City would much rather be in Hull City's position on 32 Points. However, the Tigers' goal difference could well be the thing that is their Archilles' heel, but a minus 16 goal difference is not an envious position to be in.

In my opinion the Tigers will survive this season with approximately 44 points and will end up in about 14th place. The teams for the drop will be West Brom, Middlesbrough and Newcastle, but who knows, it's football after all and anything can happen. That's why we love it.

On the second to last day of 2008, the last game of Premier League football for the year was played at the Kingston Communication Stadium, the home of Hull City Football Club.

It has taken Hull City 104 years to reach the top flight of English football—the nearest they have come previously was before most of the current crop of fans were even a glint in a Tiger's eye.

But for this particular match, they witnessed a spectacle that wasn't overtly interesting in footballing terms, more like a game of chess for 88 minutes then "wham bang thank you ma'am," a flurry of incident.

The year 2008 will forever live long in the memories of Hull City fans. It started with the Phil Brown's Tigers riding high in eighth place in the Coca Cola Championship after fighting relegation the season before.

The rest of the regular season would see the Tigers winning 11 of the next 24 regular season games and drawing five, which would be enough to see them through to the Championship playoffs in third place behind West Brom and Stoke City.

The playoff semi-final was against preseason favorite for automatic promotion, Watford. The Tigers provided a 6-1(on agg) demolition of the Hornets, which saw Hull City head for Wembley Stadium for the first time in their history to play against a Bristol City side that were hoping to get back into the top flight for the first time in over 25 years.

The stage was set for a nail-biting match, but for fans that weren't involved, it was pretty much a dire affair that will be remembered for one of the best goals to have ever been scored at either the new or the old Wembley stadiums.

On 38 minutes, Fraizer Campbell received a threaded pass through the Bristol City midfield and weaved his way through the Bristol defense, taking the ball to the edge of the six-yard box.

But instead of taking a shot on goal, the on-loan Manchester United striker saw the old war horse Dean Windass running to the edge of the box. Campbell cleverly chipped the ball to the free Windass, who hit the ball sweetly on the volley into the top corner of the net, despite the despairing dive of the the Bristol City goalkeeper.

1-0 to the Tigers. And that is how the team got to the top flight of English football for the first time in their history, with a goal from a local lad who had saved us from bankruptcy by being sold many years ago in his prime, only to come back and save the club from relegation the year before and to be the oldest player to score at Wembley Stadium.

Conventional wisdom has it that the team winning promotion from the playoffs is at a disadvantage by being three weeks behind everyone else in preparing for the new season.

Phil Brown and Paul Duffen, the Hull City Chairman, didn't agree with this. They held the belief that we were ahead of the rest of the Premiership teams, as we were fitter than the rest because we hadn't had the layoff that other clubs encountered.

The battle plans were drawn up, and new recruits were brought in: Geovanni from Manchester City on a free transfer, Anthony Gardner from Tottenham Hotspur, Marlon King on loan from Wigan, Kamil Zayette from Young Boys of Zurich on loan, Bernard Mendy from Paris St Germain, Peter Halmosi from Plymouth Argyle, and George Boateng from Middlesbrough. 

After an indifferent preseason, the opener against Fulham would be at the KC stadium, in front of a sellout crowd of Tiger's fans—and they wouldn't be disappointed.

As Ian Ashbee led out the Tigers on that warm August day with fellow Hull City players Boaz Myhill and Andy Dawson, it is worth remembering that these three special players have been with the Tigers all the way from the Coca Cola League Two through to the Premiership.

Indeed, Ian Ashbee has the distinction of being the only player to have captained his club through all four professional English divisions.

After going behind to an early goal from Fulham's Seol Ki-Hyeon in the eighth minute, a sublime strike from Geovanni on 22 minutes saw the Tigers go in at halftime all square.

In a game where the established Premiership side were supposed to be in control of,  it was hardly the case, and on 81 minutes, Hull City sub Caleb Folan popped up and grabbed a late winner after some tenacious play from Craig Fagan, who stole the ball off of a Fulham defender on the edge of their box.

The season would carry on in this vein, with Phil Brown's Tigers gaining confidence with every match. Even after the 0-5 thrashing to Wigan, the Tigers stuck to their principles and played fast-paced, counter-attacking football built on a solid hard-working team performances.

The highlight of the season so far has been the four-game winning streak, which included wins against Arsenal (this at the Emirates on the second time they had lost there since moving to the Emirates), Tottenham, and West Ham.

There have also been some other notable games so far this season; against Everton we out played them for 75 minutes, only to let them back into it in the last 15 minutes. After losing easily to Chelsea, the Tigers traveled to Manchester United at Old Trafford and gave them the scare of their life in a gritty 4-3 loss.

Liverpool was lucky to scrap a 2-2 draw with the help of some dubious refereeing. The 2-1 victory against Newcastle United—when they were in turmoil—helped to give the Tigers belief that they could compete in the Premiership.

The season has had its ups and downs, more ups to be sure, but the season has ended on a low for the Tigers. Only seven points from the last 11 games and three losses on the bounce isn't mid-table form, but more of a relegation form.

However, there is some hope to come out of this run. With a few exceptions, we have proven we are a very difficult team to beat.

Yes, we have been beaten heavily in two of the last three games, but the loss to Sunderland was a game ruined by a poor sending off and a deflected goal. And the first half against Manchester City was one of the best displays of attacking football I have seen for some time—added to the fact that Hull City had one of their most lackluster performances for that first half display added to our misery.

Phil Brown gave the Hull City players some home truths on the pitch at Eastlands at halftime in that match and the players showed that they still had some steel in them as they matched the Manchester City attacking machine.

Which leads to Aston Villa's first appearance at the KC in a Premiership fixture and our last match of 2008.

The Villains came to the KC after an impressive performance against Arsenal, but their skilled front line never looked like it was denting the Tiger's defensive framework.

The highlights of the game came early with a disallowed goal for the home side, when diminutive ex-England international and Hull native Nick Barmby being harshly adjudged to have fouled the massive Villa's keeper Brad Friedel. The expression of relief on Freidel's face told a different story from the one the ref had witnessed.

The game was running out to a stalemate when Kamil Zayette put the ball in to his own net under pressure in the 88th minute. This was followed with a farcical penalty that the ref gave to the Tigers in injury time, only to take it away after the ref's assistant had talked to the fourth official who had seen the incident on video.

The match ended in a flurry of incident, but with yet another loss for the Tigers.

So as the year 2008 draws to a close for the Tigers, would I change any of it?

Probably not.

We have climbed to heights that I never thought the Tigers would climb. I have followed the Tigers for too many years not to be thrilled beyond belief at our current position.

To be eighth in the hardest football league in the World ain't bad at all when you consider the fact that ten years ago, we were on the brink of going out of professional football in England, and less than ten years ago, we were on the edge of a financial abyss that some clubs never come back from.

In December 2008, Phil Brown—the South Shields born Messiah of Hull City—was lambasted by fans and the media alike, for his half time on-field dressing down of the Hull City players at the City of Manchester Stadium.

The demolition of the Tigers at Eastland warranted Brown's outburst on that cold December evening.

However, this afternoon Phil Brown had another mad moment. During his postmatch press conference he was asked about the substitution of Geovanni.

The mercurial little Brazilian was not having a good day at the office for the Tigers but was giving his all for the cause.

On 53 minutes, Brown decided to substitute Geovanni and Kevin Kilbane, bringing on Nick Barmby and Daniel Cousin in a double substitution. Geovanni's demeanor on realizing his substitution left little to the imagination. Although, he did get a rousing round of applause from the Tigers' crowd.

He was belicose and ebulent in his hand gestures and very vocal, even ranting whilst sitting on the bench, even though it was falling on deaf ears from his teammates sitting next to him on the bench.

Brown, when asked about the Geovanni substitution said, "He will never do that to me again."

Brown went on to say, "Geovanni's not bigger than this football club, it's as simple as that." 

"I don't think he was having a positive impact on the game. Nicky Barmby was our match winner on Thursday night (in the FA Cup replay against Sheffeild Uited) and I thought it was a chance for him to come on and play in the same position."

When asked if he had spoken to Geovanni after the match, Brown said he was undergoing drugs testing. "Hopefully they'll find that positive," Brown went on—to very little laughter from the press corp.

However, Brown did insist that there was still a place for Geovanni at the club.

So where does this latest little managerial incident leave the South Shields Messiah of Hull City?

He has certainly left the team and the fans in no doubt that he is the "BOSS"and what he says goes. The fans at the game certainly left Brown in no doubt what they thought of his decision to substitute Geovanni.

However, will this undermine the team's morale?

Geovanni was, at the start of the season, a revelation for the Tigers. His goals set us on the glorious run that left Hull City in third place in the toughest league in the world on the same points as Liverpool and Chelsea.

This after much of the media and most neutral fans would have earmarked the Tigers to go straight back down.

Unfortunately, for the Tigers and Brown a series of incidents have helped to undermine the fabric of the Championship playoff winning team of last season.

Firstly, Marlon King getting a driving ban, fighting with Dean Windass in a local casino, and then getting arrested for assault in a strip bar in London. This lead to his drop in form and the club sending him back to Wigan prematurely ending his loan spell.

Windass was also a thorn in Brown's side constantly harping on at his lack of playing time in the media then fighting with King before becoming the sacrificial lamb to the slaughter in the Eastlands fiasco that ultimately ended his Hull City career.

Craig Fagan getting assaulted against Newcastle United by Dany Guthrie, George Boateng, getting a long term injury. The signing of the injury-prone Jimmy Bullard for a record five million pounds, only to get injured in his first run out for the Tigers and to be out for the rest of the season, have not helped Phil Brown's cause.

So is this current spat a single incident or a symptom of the pressure that he is under?

In his short spell in charge of Derby County he was known for his verbal gaffs and tripping over his own tongue tied word. Is this what happens to Phil Brown when he is under pressure?

If so then look out world, the gaffs are going to come thick and fast at the KC as the Premiership survival race hots up. On current form with no Premiership win since early December it has left the Tigers the club with the worst form in Europe as well as the Premiership.

Will Phil Brown go from Championship winning hero to Premiership relegation zero? I, for one, hope he can hold himself and the team together as the Premiership will be a sadder place without Hull City.

Hull City v. Blackburn Rovers

Kingston Communications Stadium, Hull England, 12:30 GMT, Sunday, Mar 1, 2009.

In the first meeting of the two clubs in the English top flight, the Tigers managed to gain a credible 1-1 draw against Blackburn.

Richard Garcia's looping header drew the Tigers level at the 40 minute mark, two minutes after Jason Roberts had hit a hammer strike to beat Boaz Myhill in the Hull City goal.

Things have changed for both teams since the second game of the 2008-09 Premiership season. Hull City went on a fantastic run, beating Arsenal and Spurs, drawing with Liverpool, and almost turning over Manchester United.

However, since reaching 27 points, the pickings have been slim for the East Yorkshire outfit. With only two points since the victory against Middlesbrough in early December, it has seen the Tigers slide down the table to 13th place.

For the Blue and Whites, the 2008-09 season hasn't been a bed of roses either.

Paul Ince, in his first Premiership managerial role, was not given a chance to cement his time in the top flight because of a set of poor performances, not least, the draw against the Tigers. (In hindsight, that point looked pretty good at the time he was given his marching orders.)

With the Blackburn hot seat vacant, the Rover's board turned to experienced Premiership campaigner Sam Allardyce. Brown and Allardyce have a long history together, with Allardyce giving Brown his first taste of coaching whilst at Blackpool before the pair moved to Bolton Wanderers.

The two took the Wanderers to the brink of European football, before their partnership split with Phil Brown stepping up in a managerial position of his own.

Brown had a torrid spell at Derby County, and then Allardyce, seeing that he could not take Bolton much further, tried his hand at the current disaster that is Newcastle United, before he too was shown the door.

During Allardyce's absence from the game, he was a regular confidant of Brown and was even in the dressing room with the Tigers when they won the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium.

However, this will be the first meeting between the two old friends that sees them going head to head.

Who will win out?

Hull City will be without the services of Caleb Folan, who was injured in the mid-week FA Cup victory over Sheffield United. The Tigers' skipper Ian Ashbee is also a doubt after missing the game, but will have a late fitness test.

Phil Brown will also be buoyed by the return of Craig Fagan who missed the last two games after minor knee surgery.

Blackburn's Vince Grella and David Dunn may miss out with groin strains, but they will be given late fitness tests. 

Allardyce will be hoping that Blackburn's poor run of form, which has seen them only pick up two wins in that last eight games, will be halted with a victory against his old friend.

Likewise, Brown will be hoping that beating his mentor will help to put the Tigers back on track.

Hull 1 - Tottenham 2 (Premier League, February 23, 2009) Spurs took the lead on the quarter hour mark as the visitors worked a short corner to Aaron Lennon on the edge of the box and the unmarked No. 7 crashed his shot past Duke. Ten minutes, later Hull drew level after Spurs made a hash of a Dawson corner with Michael Turner eventually turning the ball over the line. Eight minutes from time, Spurs won the match from another corner routine, this time the Lilywhites took the long way round before Jonathan Woodgate headed the winner from Assou-Ekotto’s left wing cross.

***

Leixoes 2 - Belenenses 2 (Superliga, February 23, 2009) Ze Pedro put the visitors in the lead from the spot, only to be pegged back minutes later through a Rodrigo Silva equaliser. Back came Belenenses,  Gomez striking a sweet free kick just before the break. But in the second half Leixoes once again drew level, this time through a Ze Manel header.

***

Slavia Prague 3 - Plzen 2 (Gambrinus Liga, February 23, 2009)

EPL Preview

Hull City vs. Tottenham Hotspurs, Kingston Communication Stadium, Hull, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, 20:00GMT.

The weekend's fixtures are almost complete, but two teams in desperate need of three points take centre stage at the KC Stadium, Hull for this huge six-pointer.

Earlier this season, the Tigers travelled to White Hart Lane on the back of an historic victory against Arsenal and helped put a nail in Juande Ramos' coffin with a great curling free kick from Geovanni (arguably, one of the contenders for goal of the season).

Phil Brown's Tigers are entering this match after three games without defeat and on the back of sealing the fate of one of Spurs London rival's managers. Luiz Scolari received his marching orders directly from Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich after the Tigers convincingly took a point from the Blues, and looked the most likely to take all three.

Spurs are going through a rough patch away from home; Harry Redknapp's team has not won away from home in four outings, and has only won one game in the last nine. It was against fellow relegation rivals Stoke City, were they won 3-1 at White Hart Lane.

Redknapp will be without the services of Alan Hutton and Jamie O'Hara, and the fixture could be too soon for Ledley King and Jermain Defoe. However, the Spurs team will have the services of Robbie Keane, and he could be partnered up front by Roman Pavlyuchenko for the first time, at the expense of Darren Bent.

Big Harry will be happy to see the return of Vedran Corluka, who was cup-tied mid-week against Shakhtar Donetsk. Jonathan Woodgate, Aaron Lennon, Luka Modric, Wilson Palacios, and Carlo Cudicini were all rested for the UEFA Cup defeat, but are also back in contention.

Hull City have more problems to contend with. Record signing Jimmy Bullard is now on the long term injury list after Dr. Richard Steadman, a knee specialist in the United States, discovered that he had caused fresh tissue damaged to his cruciate ligament in the incident against West Ham. Other notable absences for the Tigers are George Boateng and Craig Fagan.

Phil Brown and the rest of the Tiger nation will be pleased to see the return of Daniel Cousin, and will be hoping that Anthony Gardner can continue in the same vein as he did against Sheffield United in the FA Cup. Caleb Folan will also be available for the Tigers squad, and Brown will be happy to see the return of influential skipper Ian Ashbee after being rested for the FA Cup tie.

However, with both teams going through a period of fixture congestion both teams could be shuffled. Spurs play Shakhtar Donetsk in the return UEFA Cup match on Thursday with the Tigers replaying their FA Cup fixture against Sheffield United at the same time.

The North Londoners then play Manchester United in the Carling Cup on Sunday then take on Middlesbrough and Sunderland within the week. Hull City have important Premiership fixtures against Phil Brown's old boss Sam Alladyce's team Blackburn Rovers then travel to London to take on Fulham all within ten days.

A very important period for both clubs that could make or break their respective seasons.

When we last saw our departing hero Dean Windass he was about to set sail on his swansong in the lower reaches of the Football League. Deano had upset the apple cart at his beloved Tigers in his frustration at a lack of first team playing time with the Premiership cubs Hull City.

After many a weblog and a heated discussion with fellow Hull City striker Marlon King (also jettisoned by the Hull City management and soon to be on trial on assault charges), Deano saw himself surplus to requirements by his boyhood favourites. Through many protestations and discussions with the Hull City management team, Deano found himself floundering around trying to find a berth to continue playing.

Many offers and enquires came in for Deano but the chance to join Coca Cola League One (CC1) outfit Oldham managed by old friend John Sheridan was the one for Deano. It also gave him the chance to rekindle an old friendship, with the veteran goalkeeper Mark Crossley, from his Boro days.

So, Deano set sail for Boundary Park, Oldham but would the chance to help cement Oldham as solid Championship promotion contenders be enough for the veteran striker who on April Fool's Day would reach his 40th birthday?

It didn't take Deano long to find his stride with the Latics. In his first run out with the Greater Manchester side he had three assists in their 3-1 victory over local rivals Stockport County. His form took a slight dip that coincided with a poor couple of games for the Boundary Park team as they fell to promotion rivals Scunthorpe at Glanford Park 2-0, and drew to Swindon Town 0-0.

Things were about to change for the Gypsyville boy against Leicester City, the runaway leaders in the CC1 that would cement Deano as a folk hero at yet another club.

On 50' Greg Fleming the Latics goalkeeper was shown a straight red card for hauling down Leicester City striker Matt Fryatt in the 18-yard box, giving away a penalty kick in the process.

As is common in lower league football a goalkeeping sub is sacrificed for more options on the bench for outfield players and Oldham were no different from many other clubs in not having a reserve keeper.

So, up steps our hero Deano. Windass took his time pulling on the green number one jersey on the edge of the 18 yard box and even longer to make sure that the gloves were just right, in an attempt to psych out the waiting Fryatt.

Deano's hi-jinks worked, the resultant spot kick was powered wide. Soon after the penalty he palmed a shot onto the post from Andy King and dived at the feet of Fryatt to block the rebound shot. Deano helped to keep out the division's highest scoring forward line with a string of brave and well timed saves.

In the post match interview the ever modest Windass offered his services to England manager Fabio Capello as goalkeeper in the friendly match against Spain.

The story doesn't end there though folks. On 14th February Dean Windass the journeyman striker (or goalkeeper) of Hull City (three times), North Ferriby Town, Aberdeen, Oxford United, Bradford City (twice), Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and now Oldham Athletic, scored his 200th professional career goal.

In true Deano fashion he was booked for his efforts. What more would you expect from the man that was famously shown the yellow card three times in one game for Aberdeen. Just this season he was booked for warming up too close to Stoke's procrastinating long throw specialist Rory Delap.

Deano, long may your character and skills continue to shine in English football, it sorely needs it.