Hull City

Lack of quality where it really counts—in front of goal—cost Hull City the chance to finish off a dogged and determined Blades outfit. A replay is going to see the Tigers have to play three games in five days, not what the doctor ordered as they strive to beat the drop.

I have an appalling personal record following City at Bramall Lane; six attempts, one scuppered by a breakdown at Melton on the way, and I still have yet to see the Tigers triumph. Talk about a bogey ground.

After last week's magnificent draw at Chelsea, Brown took the players to Dubai for warm weather training and Andy Dawson’s mind was definitely elsewhere when his slip let in United’s overlapping fullback to get to the by-line and produce a classic cross which Greg Halford planted firmly beyond the grasp of the recalled Bo Myhill.

This galvanised the Tigers who created sustained pressure which was rewarded with a goal on 34 minutes from Kamil Zayette, the Guinean netting with a header resulting from a corner.

From then on the Premier League outfit dominated in what turned into a blood and thunder Yorkshire derby cup tie, but the visitors' failure to secure the services of a proven finisher in the transfer window may yet come to haunt them later in the season as pressure never really looked like securing a goal unless it came from a set piece.

Caleb Folan was charged with leading the line, but the big Irishman consistently failed to hold the ball up or bring others into play. The ball over the top is not an option unless the midfield are prepared to bomb on; and let’s face it, City are sadly lacking in pace at the business end.

Bullard’s absence is a worry, and it has since come out that City’s record signing travelled to the U.S. for a personal tete-a-tete with knee maestro Dr. Steadman, a far cry from the official line that the club have no real concerns about the former Fulham man’s fitness.

Some positive notes are that Anthony Gardner played the full 90, Richard Garcia provided the offensive drive in an all-action performance, and City never looked like conceding after the equaliser.

Hull City are in the sixth round draw for the first time since 1972 and lie 12th in the Premier League, so any concerns need to be seen in this context.

FA Cup Preview: Sheffield United Vs Hull City, Bramhall Lane, Sheffield, Saturday 14th February, 2008, 15:00 GMT.

A lot has changed since Sheffield United last took on their Yorkshire rivals Hull City at Bramhall Lane. Kevin Blackwell will look to recreate the 2-0 victory that dented the Tigers chances of Automatic Promotion to the Premiership last season.

The Blades were still in the hunt for a playoff berth last season after Blackwell dragged the pround South Yorkshire team up from fifth from bottom of the Championship. However, the playoffs were a bridge too far for Blackwell's Blades, but maybe not this season.

This season the resharpened Blades are once again in the hunt for promotion and sitting in fifth place right in the chasing pack for that Automatic Promotion spot. Kevin Blackwell will be hoping that a good performance in the FA Cup against Premiership opposition will help to keep momentum for the rest of the season.

Last season the Blades managed to gain the scalps of Manchester City and Bolton from the Premiership before falling to Middlesbrough. They will be hoping to recreate some of that FA Cup magic and give Hull a St. Valentines Day Massacre.

The nucleaus of both defences are the same as last season with Sheffield United playing four of last season's victorious team (Kenny, Naughton, Naysmith and Kilgallon) in the loss against arch rivals Sheffield Wednesday last week.

Hull City have been boasting six Championship regulars from last season. From the last fixture between the to rivals, Rickets, Dawson, Turner, Marney, Ashbee, and Fagan are still regulars in the Hull City lineup. However, Phil Brown may well ring the changes for this fixture to rest first team regulars, as he has done in previous rounds.

Some of Brown's changes could be forced on him due to injuries, as record signing Jimmy Bullard is still struggling with a knee problem and could face a late fitness test along with skipper Ian Ashbee, Boaz Myhill and Craig Fagan.

Some good news on the horizon for the Tigers could be the return of Anthony Gardner who has been out of action for five months, along with the possible return of Nick Barmby who will be aiming to fight back into the Tiger's first team.

The Baldes also have some injury worries with Ugo Ehiogu, Gary Speed and Derek Geary all out and their influential skipper Chris Morgan still struggling with a hamstring injury. Kevin Blackwell will also have to contend with the suspension of star striker Darius Henderson who is suspended and the loss of Arturo Lupoli, Jamie Ward and Leigh Bromby who are all cup-tied.

The Chelsea fans massed inside Stamford Bridge made their feelings very clear after they saw their draw 0-0 with Hull City this afternoon. As the increasingly beleaguered Luiz Felipe Scolari got up out of his seat and made his way down the tunnel, he did so with a loud chorus of boos ringing in his ears.

The result means Chelsea slip into fourth place as a result of Aston Villa’s 2-0 win away to Blackburn.

Hull City came to Stamford Bridge and were far from overawed. Indeed, they can fell disappointed not to have snatched all three points.

The game saw Ricardo Quaresma make his full debut for the Blues after his deadline day loan move from Inter Milan. Henrique Hilario also filled in for the injured Petr Cech.

The first half saw Chelsea’s best chances. John Terry had the first, somehow conspiring to fire over the bar from three yards after Michael Ballack’s shot had been blocked.

Seven minutes later Geovanni had the Tigers’ first shot on goal. The ex-Barcelona man curled the ball inches wide of the post from 20 yards out.

Quaresma looked lively on his debut, and it took an excellent saw from Hull’s goalkeeper Duke to deny the Portuguese his first Chelsea goal.

Ballack then hit the side netting with a superb free kick from 25 yards out.

But Hull did look dangerous on the counter attack. Kevin Kilbane was desperately unlucky not to score for the away side just before the break, seeing his 40th minute header hit the post and stay out.

Some defensive indecisiveness on the part of Jose Bosingwa and John Obi Mikel presented Craig Fagan with a golden opportunity to give his side the lead, but he rather tamely chipped the ball straight at Hilario.

Quaresma’s afternoon ended on 63 minutes when he was replaced by Didier Drogba. The home fans were not happy with the decision. A rendition of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing - a chant famously directed at Avram Grant during his Chelsea tenure - could be heard amongst some sections of the crowd.

Subsequent events bore out their frustrations. Chelsea looked less threatening with the departure of Quaresma, and Hull looked like the only side likely to score a goal.

Phil Brown’s men were presented with another brilliant chance to take the lead, but again they didn’t take it. This time Phil Marney was the culprit. He was played in by Geovanni but with only Hilario to beat he placed his shot wide.

Chelsea had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down minutes later. Kalou’s speculative ball into the box appeared to strike Dawson but Lee Mason wasn’t convinced and a penalty wasn’t given.

Salomon Kalou had Chelsea’s best chance to snatch victory, but like Fagan and Marney before him, he failed to find the net when faced with just the keeper to beat.

Ashbee had one last chance for Hull before the final whistle was blown, volleying wide from a Marney corner.

The final whistle brought with it a loud chorus of boos. Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Chelsea continue to look stale and lacking in ideas. This is their fourth 0-0 draw of the season. He might have a World Cup to his name, but in the Premier League Scolari continues to look out of his depth.

The good thing about playing Hull is, they play to win. They are in their worst run of the season but they still play to win.

In the last 10 matches, they have drawn twice and lost eight. Playing at Stamford Bridge should not be a worry for them (anyone) anymore. Early this season, Hull’s win against Arsenal was what propelled their incredible winning run. Now, they could be hoping that a win against Chelsea would revive their top half dream.

A win at Stamford Bridge for Hull City? Not unthinkable, but Chelsea are fresh from the latest big team humiliation. We may not play like wounded animals anymore but we keep losing the big matches, we have to continue to win the other matches or end our campaign in March.

So dropping points tomorrow is unthinkable for Chelsea.

The comforting thing is that in the away fixture this season, when Hull were making headlines, we beat them 3-0 on their turf. Incidentally, we had just been beaten by Liverpool then, at home—ending the four-and-a-half year run.

Here again, having lost to Liverpool, Chelsea would look to batter Hull City. A comfortable win is very important. I say it’s going to be comfortable because based on form, it should be a comfortable win for us and we play Aston Villa next, at Villa Park.

Ricardo Quaresma could be making his debut tomorrow. I’m not sure if he will start but he is surely going to play a part and Scolari has confirmed that. Scolari has said that Quaresma is a better dribbler than anyone else in the team.

All eyes on the new boy.

He has given his typical first-day-in-new-club speech where he says what a great club Chelsea is and what a good opportunity he’s got. Where I have a problem is when he says he "admires" Kalou and Malouda.

I’m sure something’s lost in translation there. Check out this interesting piece on Quaresma.

When Cudicini left, one thing all of us feared is an injury to Cech. I’d say I even anticipated it. Cech will miss tomorrow’s match due to a niggle and he would be replaced by Hilario.

We have not been our defensive best this season (neither at our attacking best). With all those forgotten cleansheets and disastrous set pieces, the arrival of Hilario only makes me more concerned. I think Scolari would play an orthodox 4-3-3 with Quaresma and Kalou on either sides.

I think Anelka will start. Anelka has not scored since mid-December except the one against Southend but he would still start. Hope he makes a difference tomorrow.

My prediction is 2-1.

It's over now, and the dust has started to settle along with the February snow. Well, how did we do? Has the Hull City management team pulled off the great transfer coup that we all hoped for? Did we get the 'blow your socks' off signing that Phil Brown suggested mid-January?

In a way yes, no and maybe. We have made some very good signings in Kevin Kilbane, Jimmy Bullard, Kamil Zayette on a permanent contract and bringing in Manucho from Manchester United on loan until the end of the season.

Much of the Tigernation have been be-moaning the lack of that 'blow your socks off' signing that we were lead to believe was going to happen, but did we get a blow your socks off signing?

Yes, in Jimmy Bullard a pacy highly regarded and experienced midfielder with bags of talent. If as the press and many fans of other clubs would attest the tigers did get a real coup with the signing of Bullard.

The club as a whole made signings to help in areas that many of us would have said we had deficiencies at the start of the transfer window. We needed a defender, a central midfielder and a striker as priorities. We got all of these positions filled before the last week of the transfer window.

Much of the problem we have had in the defence has been caused by injuries not ability. With the permanent signing of Kamil Zayette the centre of the back four now has three very good specialist players in Turner, Gardner (two weeks away from fitness) and Zayette who can also play as a defensive midfielder.

Since the return to fitness of Andy Dawson the the left back position now has a player who is a natural left footer in the position and frees up Ricketts to play in his preferred right back position. Yes, we will sorely miss the steady McShane who returned to Sunderland but this frees up one of our home based loan places.

In midfield we also added Kevin Kilbane. An experienced premiership player with over 90 international caps to his name. That kind of expereince does not grow on trees and could prove to be more important to us in the coming months as the season gets more intense.

Up front the acquisition of Manucho on loan is a good strong forward who will be needed. With the departure of Marlon King back to Wigan (before been farmed out on loan again to Middlesbrough) the forward line was looking a little thin on the ground.

Now, if these players had been made on the final day of the transfer window I expect the Tiger-nation would be ecstatic at such pedigree coming into the club. However, because Phil Brown made these signings early we have all had the chance to see exactly what the signings have to offer the club.

Bullard has got a knock already and not really played more than a token role as a sub. Manucho is still tying to find his feet at a new club after next to no Premiership experience at Manchester United. Zayette is, well Zayette, a good quality solid performer that we already knew he was, and Kevin Kilbane has come into the side as if he has played for the team for more than the three games he has played.

Getting away from the negatives of the situation. Phil Brown has good reason to believe that we have the pedigree with in the club to make a good fist of survival this season. We have strengthened the team in the areas that the team needed work.

If Brown can bring the elements together and instill the need for that fighting spirit that the team had at the beginning of the season. If we can once again have a balanced side without too many changes week in week out, then when all areas are fit we will have a pretty formidable team, for our stature.

Two sides lacking quality and composure produced an exciting 2-2, but error strewn draw at a blowy and freezing cold KC Stadium.

The conditions did nothing to help, but as an advert for top flight English football this match saw the players treating the ball as if it were a hand grenade with the pin pulled out. Truly woeful stuff.

In the wake of Wednesday’s debacle at Upton Park, we on the terraces were not surprised to see Tiger’s Manager Phil Brown decide on personnel changes, but there was widespread shock amongst the faithful when it was announced that Craig Fagan and Richard Garcia were to lead the attack.

But once again it seemed that when Fagan powered home a cross from Bernard Mendy to put the hosts 2-1 up, Brown had pulled a rabbit from the tactical hat. City were in control and it looked as if they would go on to win the game comfortably.

Being a Tigers fan leaves you with a sense that nothing is ever inevitable, and so it came to pass that the Baggies grabbed an equaliser, and based on the second half chances created, it was a fair result.

West Brom’s leveller resulted in a mistake by Ricketts who instead of either blasting the ball into touch, or passing back to Matt Duke chose to dally by the corner flag. He lost the ball, the City defence failed to lock down the penalty area and the result was Zayette hacking down Koren, Chris Blunt dispatching the spot kick with aplomb.

City started this game billed by Brown as “must not lose”, but by the rest of us as “must win” with gusto. Chances were created and Garcia should have done better with a free header from a Kilbane left flank centre, but when Mendy ran through a static Baggies defence to score on 44 it reflected the balance of play, so to end up at 2-2 was a bitter pill to swallow against a team mired in trouble.

From a City point of view it is a blessed relief to finally get of 27 points after six defeats on the spin, but I am concerned that Brown doesn’t appear to know his best starting 11, and there has been a dramatic collective loss of form and confidence epitomised by the fall from grace of Giovanni.

Nevertheless there is hope. We have banked enough points from earlier in the season to stand a realistic chance of staying up, and the arrival of Jimmy Bullard for an eye watering £5 million, is a clear statement of intent from Chairman Paul Duffen that he expects not only to survive, but to compete in the Premier League.

Barney Corkhill's Unofficial World Club Championship (UWCC) saw another defence this past Wednesday as champions West Ham United took on Phil Brown's Hull City at Upton Park.

West Ham were on a good run of form going into this one, having gone six games unbeaten, while Hull's form had been patchy at best, picking up seven points from the last 18 available.

It was West Ham who continued their good form, however, as they ran out 2-0 winners, making it three games in a row that they have won by a two goal margin.

Hull were very disappointing throughout the match, and are starting to look unrecognisable from the side that had such an impressive first half to the season.

David Di Michele gave the Hammers an early lead after Hull's debutant keeper Matt Duke—who was one of few in Hull colours to shine—kept out Carlton Cole. The lively Cole also won a penalty for his side, West Ham's third spot-kick in as many games.

Matt Duke brilliantly denied Mark Noble's powerful strike from the spot, and continued his marvellous form for the rest of the first half.

Hull showed a brief sign of resurgence at the beginning of the second half, but any hopes of a fightback were extinguished soon after as David Di Michele's shot hit the post, the third time West Ham had hit the woodwork in the match, and fell into the path of Carlton Cole who had an easy tap in.

Of the 92 voters in the poll, 81.5 percent of them said that Hull wouldn't beat West Ham so well done to all of you!

West Ham's run

West Ham 3-1 Fulham (West Ham become new champions)

Hartlepool 0-2 West Ham

West Ham 2-0 Hull City

(Click here to see the complete history of Barney Corkhill's Unofficial World Club Championship.)

West Ham's next title defence comes later today as they take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Could Arsenal become the best side in the world?!

Apologies for the lateness of this article, I was struck with a rather nasty bout of food poisoning while on holiday.

A favorite Angelic writer of mine was recently criticized for writing football articles that fell under the banner of humor. Disgracefully, in my opinion, it seems that some people seem it fit to criticize someone for daring to try and make light of the "Beautiful game."

Bill Shankly once famously said that football was more important than life and death. It may seem this way at times, and there is no denying your team's results really can affect the way your mood swings, but sometimes you just have to take a step back and realize—and I say this with trepidation: Football is a game.

If there was no humor left in football, we would be left facing a game filled with dickheads like Ashley Cole holding clubs ransom over pay deals he claimed were tantamount to slavery.

We would be left with the endless boring sagas over where Ronaldo, Gerrard, or anyone Manchester City are after is going to be next season.

We would be left with the nonsense rants by Wenger, Ferguson and sadly, now Benitez.

We would be left with a joyless shell of a game that I happily play in all weather conditions and have to pay £1.50 subs for the privilege. (Subs, if you are unaware, are paid to local clubs to help pay for things like kits, nets and sausages after the game.)

The soul of football really is being sapped out of the game, and for every Sheik Mohammed or Russian ruble that enters our game ,a little part of the game you fell in love with is being bought and discarded with.

Jimmy Greaves was famous for saying "Its a funny old game", but I'm not sure how much longer this saying can hold sway.

Players like Paul Gasgcoine and Dean Windass are a dying breed. Gazza famously was booked for mockingly showing a referee a yellow card when the official had dropped it. This, to me, was one of the first signs that it had gone too far.

That is why we must embrace the little bit of humor that is still left in the game.

That is why I thank god for Hull City's Jimmy Bullard.

Bullard is a footballer that loves the game. This can be said of players like Gerrard and Lampard also. But how often do you ever see Steven Gerrard actually smile? Maybe when he scores a goal, or when Liverpool win, but very rarely anytime else.

Gerrard's drive and motivation are excellent, and I am very happy that he is a Liverpool player. But sometimes, I just want to tell the miserable bugger to cheer up!

Bullard is a player who obviously is absolutely delighted just to be able to be called a footballer. Any interview I have ever seen with Bullard has been fun, entertaining, and his love of the game has shone through.

It's easy to say that football is fun when your winning trophies, but how many trophies has Jimmy Bullard ever won?

Still, he consistently plays the game with a love and a joy that can usually only be seen on playgrounds and fields all over the country.

If you think I’m over exaggerating, have a look at a couple of clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIB7dCl51Z8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMlWpGE0akw

When Jimmy Bullard suffered his horrible knee injury, every true football fan was gutted.

When Jimmy Bullard received his England call up, every true football fan was delighted.

When Jimmy Bullard is substituted, every true football fan, home and away, applauds him, for the single reason that Jimmy Bullard is a footballer that we can actually relate to.

Without players like Jimmy Bullard, the game that I truly love will become completely unrecognizable.  So please don't ever criticize humor in football. Players like Jimmy Bullard will disappear soon, and the humor will follow.

Lets so how much you miss it when it's gone.

EPL Preview: West Ham v. Hull City, Upton Park, London, 19:45 GMT.

Tonight's game is the second game between eighth placed West Ham and ninth placed Hull City. In the last encounter the two teams were separated by a solitary Michael Turner goal that gave the Tigers all three points.

Gianfranco Zola will be hoping to over turn this result and carry on with West Ham's current purple patch of form. Phil Brown's Hull City side are unfortunately looking at a sixth consecutive defeat if they can not grasp at least a point tonight.

Zola's Hammers will be hopeful that their record signing Savio Nsereko will be ready to play. The U-19 German international joined from Italian club Brescia in mid-week for reportedly more than £7.5m.

Hull too will be hoping to show off their new record signing in £5m Jimmy Bullard. Bullard, who only trained for the first time with his new team mates on Wednesday, has been restricted in training due to a virus and isn't expected to take a full part in the action.

However, Phil Brown is hopeful that the England international will be able to play a part in the action from the subs bench. Bullard, who supported West Ham as a boy, was unable to take any part in the Tiger's victory over Millwall in the FA Cup over the weekend, even though he was signed in time to play a part in the action.

The Tigers boss will be happy with Hull's recent FA Cup exploits and will be hopeful that they will help to kick start a run of good form in the Premiership.

West Ham will be pleased that Matthew Upson will be making his return to the heart of the Hammers defense but with the loss of Craig Bellamy to Manchester City and Kieron Dyer doubtful, Zola will have to shuffle his players for tonight's fixture.

Brown too will have to make a few changes for the tonight's game as George Boateng, Nick Barmby, and Anthony Gardner will all be missing for the Tigers' visit to Upton Park. However, Craig Fagan has returned to the squad from suspension and Kevin Kilbane will also figure in the Tigers team for tonight.

Millwall supporters were once again up to their old tricks, when it was reported that two incidents of violence occurred on either side of the North Stand of the KC Stadium, both where the away supporters were seated.

Millwall travelled up north to take on Hull City in the fourth round of the FA Cup, and Hull’s 2-0 victory was marred by what was described as "mindless hooliganism."

In an incident just before kick-off, the stewards were quickly joined by police in riot gear in dealing with trouble that started in one corner of the North Stand, where the Millwall fans were closest to the home fans.

There was another incident in the second half, in the other corner of the North Stand, which also was packed with Millwall hooligans. In the end, 12 supporters were arrested all together.

After myself having been to Millwall for an away match with my beloved club Gillingham last season, I can safely say that football hooliganism, as far as Millwall are concerned, does exist and sadly doesn’t seem like going any time soon.

One incident I remember from that match last season was when I was sitting on the coach as we went through the streets of London on our way home after the game. I looked out the window and saw a man in a Gillingham shirt. My friend Vaughan asked me something, I answered, and then I turned round and looked out the window again, and this poor man had been started on by six Millwall fans.

I looked at this man in the Gillingham shirt and all he was doing was reading the Matchday programme as he walked presumably to the train station. I didn’t understand why the Millwall fans would attack him, but then I realised. His crime? Wearing a Gillingham shirt.

As the coach then drove on through the streets of East London, I saw another incident. There were no traffic lights to stop us so I couldn’t really analyse closely, but what I saw was loads of people, a few in Gillingham colours, and several in Millwall colours. They all seemed to be entwined, and I can only presume there was a fight, one which logically thinking Millwall fans would’ve started.

Hull City chairman Paul Duffen has definitely got things right when he said: "There is no place for this kind of mindless hooliganism in football. It is an ugly throwback to a bygone era which most clubs have long since eradicated from their culture.

"Hull City Football Club will be seeking full financial compensation from Millwall for all the damage and will be making the strongest representations to the football authorities regarding this incident."

An interesting statement on the Hull City’s official club website read: "Hull City AFC utterly condemns the violence and criminal damage caused by Millwall supporters at the Kingston Communications Stadium during yesterday's FA Cup fourth round tie."

"A full statement will be issued on conclusion of police and stadium investigations, but it is already clear that a significant contingent of the travelling Millwall supporters arrived at the match with the single intention of causing maximum disruption.

"Over 50 seats were destroyed together with toilet facilities and concession shutters, all in the North Stand occupied by visiting supporters."

Let’s hope for football’s sake that Millwall Football Club gets what it deserves, and will rightfully be punished for its once again stupid actions.

quotes and picture: www.skysports.com