Match Prediction: Hull at the KC Stadium
Sunday, 28 December 08, 06:25 AM · Comments (35)
This is a surprisingly difficult game to predict because Hull are not where you would have thought them to be and they're actually doing better than most expected.
Of the three teams that came up last season Hull were the team I predicted would stay up and you've got to fancy that they will now, but I'd never have thought they'd be where they are and while their home form hasn't been as good as their away form, they're still going to be a threat.
However, their threat on Tuesday night is also going to be to our advantage because we play better against teams away or teams that want to play football and not just sit back.
Look at the Arsenal match - they came to play and we should have gone in at half time up by three goals and when we play away from Villa Park, we get more opportunities because the home team is immediately on the offensive, as you'd fully expect from a team playing at home.
Now, you can't expect Hull to play for a point; they're going to want all three and it's exactly what they've done all season at home, which is possibly why they've only won a third of their matches. They've actually lost more and drawn twice, but you just can't them lightly, as the league, while it can be distorted at times (look at where Liverpool are), it doesn't lie.
Interesting statistic for you, which has nothing to do with the game on Tuesday; we've scored more goals than Liverpool this season and exactly the same as Arsenal, but Manchester City who are one point above the relegation zone, have scored more than all three of us.
Anyway, we could find ourselves back in fifth place by the time we kick off on Tuesday night and if that is the case, it will be even more reason to win, but I think we should win this anyway, mostly because of the reasons I've mentioned above.
We are better against teams who are attacking and Hull are going to attack; they have to, so my prediction is three points, but a performance from Hull that will demonstrate they are worthy of their position in the Premier League.
So, that's about it for today. We'll be running a live text commentary during the match as all services are now back to normal after the Christmas break.
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35 Comments · Add yours
This is a Game we should win which is why I'm worried.
Reply to Hitzlsperger:
i agree we should win this one its no good getting 4 points off the likes of arse then dropping points to the likes off stoke and teams like that lets push hard now buy well in jan . there more than a chance to get 4th place now arse are lossing the plot starting with wanker sorry wenger. see you all at hull villa for life
il second Hitzlsperger!
lads this is a game we've got to win.
and if we're going to break the top four we've got to think with the same ultra cockiness they have. so lets not get worried. we're playing well, arsenal were scared of us, we've never been so good.
3-0 away win
Based upon the last ten games Hull are not in great shape and we are. We are better away. If we are up for it we should win.
Gentlemen, many of you offered kind words to me over my post on the Arsenal match. I thank you most courteously; I am touched by the sentiment and it means a lot to me. I hope you’ll allow me some final thoughts on it.
Boxing Day 2008: you can mark that date down on your calendar. The day Arsène Wenger lost the plot. His paranoia was so outrageous I thought the media would be all over it but they seemed subdued. Perhaps the sheer enormity of his wretched state muted their response. Perhaps it was pity. More likely it was the usual thing: football writers are so preoccupied inventing dramas that when the real deal pops up in front of them, they couldn’t find it with radar.
Arsenal in their decline make an easy target and they are ribbed mercilessly by the bloggers. It’s great fun. But, make no mistake, they are a proud club and Wenger’s pitiful outburst was not worthy of their manager. That Sky interview stays with me – did you see his face? I expected to see paramedics hovering in the background.
The prognosis? Some senior member of the Arsenal board needs to take him to one side and tell him the facts of life. Counselling might help, or self-help tapes, or cognac. Do any of us give a fuck?
And now to Hull City F.C.. Lads, if we go two down against this lot, we’re in for a long evening. Forget the Man City debacle, this team is not composed of piss-pot Frenchmen; it has a stout heart and Phil Brown is a man to be respected. No matter, Villans can smell the coffee and the bacon at breakfast and it’s good to be alive.
Sorry if this post is not related to the Hull match but noone will read it if i post on yesterdays page!
Taglor excito meter ;
Defoe - 9/10 Doesnt matter what formation will score goals
Owen - 8/10 If for nothing else just for the name and showing of ambition, i think it would be a mistake to get him personally but it would show intent.
Heskey - 5/10 Past it in my opinion. Perhaps a step sideways not forward or back, short term fix
Crouch - 6/10 Decent on his day
Doyle - 3/10 Average, would rather see the Fonz get a shot
Podolski - 10/10 Real gunner, power speed the whole package, a real excitement machine
Martins 9/10 As above, but more individual brilliance, question marks on his attitude though
Larsson - 1/10 Not coming anyway, a loan type, maybe 10 years ago
Midfield Prospects,
Elano - 9/10 Classy finisher and a real slick passer, excellent free kicks also
Defour - 6/10 Young raw, maybe a good one to bleed slowly into our current system
N´zogbia - 8/10 Outstanding on his day if not inconsistent, pace finishing, can also play LB which would be very helpful
Benayoun - 6/10 Good player but hasnt been a steady type, shows flashes of brilliance, perhaps a bit unproven
Valencia - 9/10 Proven premier league talent, quick, good eye for a goal, hand full for defenders
Bullard - 5/10 Decent player, not a star but has potential to improve, hard working, decent passing game, not an outstanding talent though
Just my opinion, but i think we need to run with the youth policy and further enhance our reputation as one of the pacier teams in the league. Im interested to hear what others deem as worthy signatures come january
Villa 2-0 is my prediction
Hull will not want another half-time team talk on the pitch but I suspect that if anyone's going to do it, it will be us. If Young and Gabby play like they did against Bolton, Hull have no chance; if they don't turn up and Zat Knight returns to his old ways, Hull could nick it.
Reply to Leroy:
would love diego from bremen.
Reply to Leroy:
If we sign Elano i'll stop supporting the club. He is not a good player, i've seen him play up in Manchester and none of City's supporters will give him anymore time. His workrate is terrible, and only shows signs of any talent when its warm enough for him.
As for Hull, I think we'll win but I doubt they'll make it very easy for us.
We should win. they appear to be in meltdown.
Following on from Churchil, the Guardian's reports from the Arse game were unbelievable. They said that Arse would take a lot of positives from the game. They said that it was definately not a penalty. They said that there were few signs that the established order was being rocked.
Mind you they also said that the result would take Arse ahead of us on goal difference!
Fuck me, how do these people get paid?
Reply to churchil:
Churchill for resident poet - but don't get too poncy on us
Leroy - I pretty much agree with your assessment - Podolski should be number one target but would also like Sturridge (class and a big Villa fan) from Man City and Johnson as well (this is admittedly on the unlikely premise that City sign some top stars and will hence give away their youngsters for not much). Not sure about Defoe as it would surely be him or Gabby for one position and Defoe needs to play every week or he sulks - he is also a bit selfish although does score lots of goals
What about defenders. I agree with some other posters that Lescott would be good and would probably want to come but can't see Everton letting him go to us for anyhing less than a massive fee. Glen Johnson would begreat but big and attractive queue for him. Distin might be good cheap cover
I'd personally like Villa to go for 3 or 4 players. Def, Lescott, Att, Defoe & Heskey. or Def, Bridge, Mid N'Zogbia, Att, Defoe & Heskey.
Reply to SidCowanslovechild:
Sidney junior,
I went and re-read what I’d written. You’re right – for a football blog it’s a bit limp-wristed (actually, it was a bit poncy for the Gettysburg Address). In my defence I will say that I was hung-over and fragile. Too much grog. Thanks for keeping me authentic.
I come in peace to a team that is showing real charactor and will, hopefully, create problems for the so-called big 4. I have read kind words on here and thank those who made them. On our recent form you should be confident; but form changes and we will raise our game to give you an excellent game of fottball. I know we are capable of getting a result, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating - enjoy the night, but not too much!
How do we go from the Hull prediction to Transfer speculation again!! Hull have conceded 9 goals in last 2 games and to be quite honest could have been another 3 or 4. we have scored 9 in last 3 against clubs in the top 8. By my reckoning we should win 6 - 0. Now where did i put my tamazapan..........
Damian, your constant shots at Liverpool have grown predictable and tiresome. The team sits in first place despite playing most of the season without one of the best strikers in the world. They're a quality team; you ought to give them credit. They may not end up winning league, but they'll end up in the top 2.
Should be a fantastic game to watch. I'm excited, pretty sure it's on FSC for me too! Everton are playing pretty well lately and waiting to pounce on our place we had better watch our backs and keep up our good run of form...
Everyone is focused on strikers and rightly so, but if we are going to talk about potential transfer targets, a fullback in my mind is right up there with striker. Knight is in reality our sub for CB, because if Cuellar is on he's on for L. Young who is on for our non existent LB. We very badly need to purchase a talented younger FB. I'm not talking about a teen who is unsure if his balls have even dropped. I'm talking about maybe a U21 player or around thereabouts, like the lad from Sheffield Utd. We sign a FB and a ST are our squad is in much more equilibrium.
This is a game that we should be easily winning 3 - 0 .
But Hull have proven on there day they can cause upsets so because its also away , Villa to win 1 - 0 with Gabby to score in early second half and a few good saves from Friedel .
Sorry guys, but i don't think that Podolski will ever put a foot across the german border, simply because he is too stupid. he is a pretty decent footballer, with a lot of talent, no doubt about that but he will never ever learn the english language. god, interviews with him are in most cases too funny to watch. oh and by the way, i hate the FC Bayern München
.
My opinion is that MON should stick with his "buying british" policy. In most cases you won't have a problem of integration (language, culture etc.) and you're newly bought talent is ready right from the beginning.
Oh and by the way, if Villa will keep playing like they did against Arsenal, then I'm pretty sure that I will die on a heart attack while watching a Villa game
greetz from Germany
I am not going to patronise HULL CITY by suggesting they have over achieved, as some reporters are saying that about us too.
However, I wonder if some of their players are starting to have a bit of a 'reality check'? They are dangerous on the counter, but we are more dangerous.
We need to do a professional job on them, and focus for the entire 90mins. We should win comfortably.
Reply to Gubbel:
Welcome Gubbel and thanks for the inside track. We've got our fair share of thickoes who struggle with the English language even with our buy British policy
Reply to churchil:
still your number one fan!
What about the greek lad Samaras that's playing at celtic, he moved up north and he has found his feet, and he is still only about 23-24, another player that i think would do well at villa park is beaty from Sheff u
we should hopefully beat hull if we dont then we will be in a bit of trouble 2 get 4th place because it is only arsenal that are going 2 be really be putting any pressure to us for fourth place because everton are not ready this season although they have had a good run and man city hahah what can u say about them. we will beat hull 3-0 cum on up the villa
Reply to Alan - A Tigers Supporter:
I wish your team luck the rest of the year except for tomorrow night and whenever your Tigers come to Villa Park. I don't know what to make of Hull for tomorrow night's game. They didn't play bad vs. Sunderland and didn't deserve to lose 4-1, then turn around and get hammered by struggling Citeh. I reckon they will bounce back and play well, but home hasn't been too comfortable for the Tigers. What do you think alan and anyone else.
Reply to runner:
samaras is shit but antone can play in the spl and beatie had his chance when he snubbed us for everton so sod him
3-0 to the villa as hull are shocking at the moment, would love to see them sitting on the pitch at half time again
Samaras is shit
Has anyone got a link for the game 2night?!?
This one will be tight. Very tight. 1-1 is my prediction. We haven't drawn away from home yet so law of averages say we're due one. And this one will be it.
I'd fancy us more if it wasn't a night game. There's something about going to places like Hull under the floodlights which make it more difficult than normal. I'm not patronising them, as they've doen fantastically well this season, but it will be treated as a cup tie by them.
Not sure how much Knight will fancy playing against the likes of Windass to be honest with you. Our back line really has to be prepared to show some bottle. Same with the midfield - we'll need to fight to win anything up there.
Reply to Cjamesk:
sky sports mate 7.45
Don't want to take anything away from Hulls start to the season,but if we don't take 3 points in games like this then you can wave bye-bye to the top 4.Bringing Heskey to Villa is not a good idea heskey is looking for his last BIG pay day and i don't think he deserves it. Id love to see Crouch and Gabby that would scare the shite out of any defence.UTV.
Reply to Zidave:
samaras is a flop in frongt of goal he doesnt have the finnishing capabilities needed in the premier
I predict 1-0 Villa with a Hull own goal from a Young cross but controversy at the end as ref seems to give a penalty for hand ball in injury time only to be over ruled by the linesman