Manager for next season

[paul_e]

I don't think we're strong enough in central midfield right now to play with just 2 there.  Plus, even though they'd be picked for their at tacking abilities, you need to keep a shape and track runs, which both Adama and Grealish are a bit too 'free spirited' to do in my opinion.  Probably get away with one of them playing a free role behind the striker, but not both.

My hope is that with a stronger manager and coaching set up that can be trained into them as I'd love to see that formation.  Still think we'd need a couple of midfield signings to make it work.

At premier league level I'd agree but in the championship I don't think it would be such a problem.  Get a decent manager and some reasonable coaches and I reckon Veretout, Gana, Sanchez and Gardner is a good enough mix for those 2 spots to get is automatic promotion.  I think a lot of people are massively over-estimating the quality of the championship at the moment.

[Villa in Denmark]

It was a really subdued celebration by Bruce at the final whistle today strange would not be surprised if he quit Hull this week.

Why the hell would he do that?

That Hull gig is the best one he's going to get next season and probably ever again.

The only way he's quiting is Hull's owner is cute enough to realise that he needs a far better manager to stand a real chance of surviving and establishing themselves in the PL and has already agreed a payoff with a new manager lined up.

[ozzjim]

Lol... this is the Benitez that despite games againt Villa, Norwich and Sunderland could not save Newcastle. I think a result against an utterly dejected Spurs completely skewed a pretty average job he did there at the end of the season.

[passport1]

You know what I just want to get out of this f@$#ing league. I am not looking forward to fixtures against the likes of Charlton,Brighton,Rotherham etc. I don't care what football we play to get out.

They need to appoint whoever has the best chance of getting us back in the Premiership.

If it takes a bastard appoint one.

I dont want us playing tippy tappy football if the journey men teams are going to steamroller. us.

[ozzjim]

Last season we played Blues and beat them with Sherwood in charge. Gestede only had to move in front of his man to be on the end of a header and Grealish found acres of space.  I reckon as long as we are organised and bring in 3 or 4 leaders through the spine there is easily enough talent in the squad to get back up next season. Derby even before thug life took over, Newcastle, Brighton and Norwich will be right up there with us i am sure but we have enough with sensible buying to get back up. 

[robbo1874]

Agree with you OzzJim to an extent. I do think we could largely cobble a decent squad together to mount a solid challenge next season from the handful of first team players that don't need to be chopped and the rest of the players we have on our books who haven't featured much in the first team the last few seasons. Getting rid of the wastrels and bringing in a few leaders is vital though. Whatever happens in the lead up to next season, I honestly can't see next season being anywhere near as disappointing as any of the last four or five. Onwards and upwards.

[robbo1874]

You know what I just want to get out of this f@$#ing league. I am not looking forward to fixtures against the likes of Charlton,Brighton,Rotherham etc. I don't care what football we play to get out.

They need to appoint whoever has the best chance of getting us back in the Premiership.

If it takes a bastard appoint one.

I dont want us playing tippy tappy football if the journey men teams are going to steamroller. us.

charlton away was one of my favourite away fixtures living as I did, in Brockley SE4. On the piss in Greenwich, train up to Charlton and a couple in the social club near the ground. Don't think I ever saw us win there, but lots of exciting draws and penalty misses! Banter with the people in the tower blocks overlooking the away end was quite funny. Only bad thing was waiting on the platform one night for a train back to Greenwich for what seemed like hours with thousands of other people. Then when a train did turn up it went straight to bloody London Bridge without stopping! Fark what a pisser that was.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

We won't be playing Charlton.  They were relegated.

[passitsideways]

I don't think we're strong enough in central midfield right now to play with just 2 there.  Plus, even though they'd be picked for their at tacking abilities, you need to keep a shape and track runs, which both Adama and Grealish are a bit too 'free spirited' to do in my opinion.  Probably get away with one of them playing a free role behind the striker, but not both.

My hope is that with a stronger manager and coaching set up that can be trained into them as I'd love to see that formation.  Still think we'd need a couple of midfield signings to make it work.

At premier league level I'd agree but in the championship I don't think it would be such a problem.  Get a decent manager and some reasonable coaches and I reckon Veretout, Gana, Sanchez and Gardner is a good enough mix for those 2 spots to get is automatic promotion.  I think a lot of people are massively over-estimating the quality of the championship at the moment.

Yep - I think we can play a fairly loose midfield against most teams at Villa Park, and you can chuck in the likes of Sanchez and/or Clark in midfield, and maybe field a CB at fullback for away fixtures where more steel is necessary.

[mr underhill]

what did Bruce say yesterday to give the impression he was interested in the job?

[Bottom Right 89]

Seems like there is something in this BBC sport have a quote from Bruce saying he's sitting down with the Hull owners to review and if he doesn't get right assurances he could leave. Is he just angling for a better contract and player investment? or is there a job vacancy near his home that he's interested in?

[brian green]

I think it is much more likely that Hull want somebody better.

[LeeB]

I think it is much more likely that Hull want somebody better.

Here's hoping they've got their eye Di Matteo.

[brian green]

Nice one.  Me too.

[pauliewalnuts]

You know what I just want to get out of this f@$#ing league. I am not looking forward to fixtures against the likes of Charlton,Brighton,Rotherham etc. I don't care what football we play to get out.

They need to appoint whoever has the best chance of getting us back in the Premiership.

If it takes a bastard appoint one.

I dont want us playing tippy tappy football if the journey men teams are going to steamroller. us.

When we played a journeyman championship side last year - Small Heath - we spent 45 minutes playing championship style agricultural football, launching endless long balls at then and it got us absolutely nowhere. It was when we started playing football that the difference in class showed.

The championship is full of teams with years of experience playing basic, ugly football. If we try to do that, they'll easily cope with it.

We did not get relegated due to some bogus dedication to the beautiful game. We got relegated because we had a squad of shit, unbothered intetlopers lead by clueless managers.

The way to get promoted is by being a better team than most of the others.

Adapting to our new surroundings by playing ugly football, buying players who have spent years in the championship or appointing a manager who has managed there for years is not going to get us out, it is going to keep us there