results will always come before entertainment

[ted1965]

It was like watching the Championship again, the last two weeks have been a reminder as to what we left behind and to be honest what we hope to leave behind for a long time to come. It wasn’t that bad though it could have been worse, we could have lost heavily like Sunderland this league is full of games where effort far outweighs excitement. I don’t think a couple of dull games can diminish the exciting ones we have witnessed so far, those types of games are only possible when both sides think they can win the last two games both opponents came looking for a point and if they got more so be it a little like we have done away from home. That’s the nature of this league, we have shown we are very formidable at home and so certain teams will set their stall out to combat our strengths.

It’s another point nearer survival and with Sunderland and the Baggies losing again we moved a little further ahead of them. I have to say both look very poor and though it can change in a matter of games right now it would seem two relegation places are looking booked which would leave only one. The Baggies huff and puff but they have the cutting edge of the Swiss navy and as for Sunderland they just look woeful, it shows money isn’t always the answer to a problem. I think we all hope both continue to suffer nightmares and every point we collect moves us further clear of the bottom two. It’s that other place that is being contested so fiercely and we really do need to get some points away from the Brit. As we saw today you simply can’t expect to keep winning games at home and as Bolton have shown in the last month away wins allied to good home form really can take you away from danger fast.

It does seem teams are finding the long throw a little easier now or more likely that with a slippery ball Rory is finding it a little harder to throw the ball with the same accuracy as earlier when conditions were drier and better suited to his talent. That’s why we really need a little more guile and creativity in the middle of the park. It’s been a great experience every time Rory has a throw but maybe now it wont be as effective for a while and we need to concentrate more on actually creating chances from open play.

We could easily have won today and everyone would have been delighted it’s not a bad point considering this was a game that had dangers lurking in the form of expectation due to our magnificent home form and the fact Hull have been finding life a little more difficult from the first few months. Hull came to frustrate us and they succeeded but we also frustrated ourselves in simply not using the ball constructively at times when we have it. In the last three games not including the United game we have conceded one goal and collected 5 points which isn’t bad at all, the only observation we are not creating as many chances as we had before and that is a worry, if the long throw isn’t going to be as effective due to wetter conditions then we need to work on ball retention and getting decent service into the box, as we did with the goal against the Baggies last week.

We seem to have just reverted to type a little, defensively more solid but we do seem to have lost a little impetus going forward. I do wonder if Tone is using a dig in till we reach January window and then given a healthy position compared to what many had predicted can be used to bring one or two quality acquisitions to drive us forward into the final battle. There’s no doubt that we will have more opportunity to compete in the transfer window in 15th place than 19th. So the excitement of earlier home games might not have been there over the last two but then it takes two teams to make a game and neither Hull or the Albion came believing they were going to win, both seemed content to settle for a point the Albion couldn’t hold out and today Hull did that’s football. This is the Premiership we beat Arsenal and drew with Hull, that is this season in a microcosm at the start of the season we’d have been delighted to be heading into December sitting so high in the table and while we’re far from safe would we rather be in the Brazilians position or making excuses like Keane for yet another appalling performance and defeat.

So while not the most thrilling game it's one more point towards the only objective we had when this adventure began survival at all costs. The entertainment can come when we have established the foundations of a Premiership club.

[bayernoatcake]

I have been entertained these last two games. Obviously not great footballing quality from the 3 teams involved but the games have been absorbing imo. They've been played at a fair pace and have a lot of blood and guts and I like that. I for one have been entertained these past two games.

[Pugsley]

Nov 29, 2008 18:38:02 GMT ted1965 said:

So while not the most thrilling game it's one more point towards the only objective we had when this adventure began survival at all costs. The entertainment can come when we have established the foundations of a Premiership club.

IF (and it still is a massive IF) Stoke survive, you can expect more of the same next season.

..and if Pulis is in charge, the season after, and after and after.

Pulis is a limited manager over-achieving playing dire 'football'. Good for him and Stoke, but it doesn't win any friends*


*Which doesn't really matter, but it will impact us when trying to bring in more talented footballers and teams will eventually sort us out.

[Brick-Top]

Toss post as usual ted

[mumf14]

Hull are a good side.Currently 6 th place.The fact that they were only promoted last season should not really come into the equation.They are there are on merit and we should not forget this simple fact.

What WAS important is that we gained another point over West Brom Sunderland and those teams below us.A pattern is slowly starting to develope and the relegation 'mini-league' is slowly taking form.

We now need to maintain the pressure on those teams below us and try to avoid being drawn into the relegation fight.

Sunderland West Brom and Blackburn are the teams we need to take special notice of.!

[lancer]

The fact that Hull are sixth, and have been now for some time, proves one thing beyond doubt. This much vaunted Premier division, three or four team excepted, is populated by teams are little more than decent. Look at the number of teams in the relegation mix already, half way through the season.
Any team can beat any team, and so I beg TP, 'Go for it Tony. attack teams. I have seen very little to fear so far this season. Hull and Stoke, have already proven that we are more than a match for most of the other teams, and we can afford to take the game to them.
Don't agree with you Pugsley, that it's a massive 'if' if we survive. I think we have a much better than even chance of surviving comfortably.