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Are Hull finally on the up again?

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Steve Wilson | 11:25 UK time, Thursday, 26 November 2009

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This weekend Hull City return to Eastlands to face Manchester City so stand by to see manager Phil Brown's half-time team talk from last season repeated ad-nauseam.

You can't forget it, it was the one where he delivered his half-time team talk to the players on the pitch.

It was Boxing Day 2008, and it was the moment it all went wrong for Hull City. At least that's what everybody says, so it must be true - mustn't it?

Cast you minds back - Hull had already won at Spurs and Arsenal, drawn at Liverpool and almost got a point at Old Trafford. as they headed for Manchester City and were threatening to be the story of the season.

Perhaps a 4 - 1 defeat to Sunderland just before Christmas had burst the bubble?

What is certain is that Hull were 4-0 down at half-time against City when Phil Brown decided the sanctuary of the dressing room was too good for his side. To a mixture of astonishment and amusement, he made them sit in front of the travelling fans while he let rip.

And so did the media as over the course of the weekend Brown found himself on the end of tirade. We were told he had scored a spectacular own-goal, that the dressing-room would not forgive him.

And so it seemed for a long time. Hull's spiralling descent to the relegation zone seemed unstoppable, and people queued up to say "I told you so".

The City game marked the half-way point of the season and despite the defeat Hull had 27 points.

But they won only one more game and took just eight more points all season.

I was at the KC on that nerve-shredding final day.Dawson scores a screamer in Hull's 3-2 win over Everton

Hull played like exhausted and petrified novices, losing to a team of Manchester United youngsters - but .

At the final whistle the then chairman Paul Duffen was in tears and Brown grabbed a microphone, looked for the nearest camera, and embarked on a truly terrible rendition of .

"Lucky, lucky Hull" we were told, as they were installed as one of the firm favourites to go down this season with Brown top of the list to be the first manager sacked (that "honour" has since gone to Portsmouth's Paul Hart).

Even a month ago you could still have argued the City debacle was the beginning of the end.

removed Brown's biggest ally from the club's board, and Adam Pearson returned as chairman with Brown not given any long-term guarantees about his future.

So what's happened? Contrary to what everyone expected the players he "lost" at City have rallied round their manager.

They scrapped to victory over Stoke, rallied superbly to draw with West Ham, and in a 30-minute blitz which left David Moyes' side with too much to do.

Hull are far from out of the woods, but they are four points above the relegation zone in only their second top flight season.

At the beginning of their Premier League adventure 16 months ago, I'm sure most Hull fans would have taken that.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    too many people have written hull off this season - me being one of them
    but the last few weeks have made me think again. hull might of looked dead a buried last may but phil brown has slowly turned it round. looking forward for hulls next win against the big teams

  • Comment number 2.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 3.

    Hull will go one of two ways - a series of scrappy campaigns that ends up in eventual Premiership stability a la Bolton, or a series of yo-yo relegation/promotion years like West Brom. Personally, I'll go for the latter. Hull play some alright football, but when it's not their day, they're awful. Can't see them getting anything at City (predict 3-1, City to finally get a win), and this could burst any bubble that is trying to form.


  • Comment number 4.

    No Hull are not on the way up again they will be relegated this season. FACT!!

  • Comment number 5.

    @LABSAB9
    "No Hull are not on the way up again they will be relegated this season. FACT!!"
    Yawn!! I bet you said that last season too. FACT!!

  • Comment number 6.

    I think Phil Brown has done a miraculous job. Who would ever have tipped them to reach the Premier League? Who tipped them to stay up? The answer is probably no-one to both questions! And who this season said they would stay up - well it looks like they could prove everyone wrong again. Whats more baffling is that some have been calling for Brown's head - crazy. I actually think they will go down this season, but i will happily eat humble pie when/if they stay up.

  • Comment number 7.

    5. At 1:05pm on 26 Nov 2009, HullFlagFlyingHigh wrote:
    @LABSAB9
    "No Hull are not on the way up again they will be relegated this season. FACT!!"
    Yawn!! I bet you said that last season too. FACT!!


    YAWN - No didnt say it last season but i'm saying it this season poor team and poor manager don't let a couple of results blind you.

    Lucky win against Stoke (Scraped it)
    Lucky to draw with West Ham (West Ham poor aswell)
    Lucky Win against Everton (A whole team out injured and still could/should of come back from 3 down)

    Just face FACTS mate you will be going down with Portsmouth and A N Other

  • Comment number 8.

    Steve, you said that the Boxing Day event has been covered ad-nauseam and then you go on and cover it again.
    Also the Tigers didn't stay up because of Newcastles poor team, they stayed up because over the course of a full season they won more points than three teams below them. The excellent results you referred to at the start of the season helped us to stay up. Otherwise you might as well say that Man Utd won the league because of nineteen other teams inability to get more point than them,nonsense.

  • Comment number 9.

    City will be fine. They need to tighten up in a few areas but with Duffen gone there appaears to be a cloud lifted off them. Ironic? Coincidence? I don't know but if last night is anyhting to go by they are in with a great shout of safety.

  • Comment number 10.

    They should have won the game against West Ham but apart from that one I think they will stay up-on one condition-if Hunt and Bullard play together in half of their remaining fixtures. I am impressed with the spirit of the side and if they can get some confidence at the back I don't think we will see the need for any more half time team talks on the pitch. I was one of the few people that thought that Brown did the right thing in that match. He was trying to connect the players with the fans and that they need to fight for their club and supporters and not just for the paycheck...something that players from many other clubs seem to forget....(anyone remember the party attended by the 100 fittest girls in Manchester). I think Wigan paying their wages back to the away fans that went to white hart lane is a much more significant event.

  • Comment number 11.




    Lets Hope not for the sake of the Premiership

  • Comment number 12.

    Which means? City are a valuable member of the Premier League.

  • Comment number 13.

    Two words to describe why Hull will stay up this season.

    JIMMY BULLARD

  • Comment number 14.

    I didn't mind mind Phil last season but his antics in the summer really annoyed me. He sold Turner for around 10 million, a player who had completed just his first, yet impressive season in the top flight. But as a welshman he really annoyed me when he bid peanuts for cardiff's Ross McCormack who had scored bags of goals in his first championship season. He then claimed that cardiff's price tag of around 5 million was unreasonable! having signed him for 100k a year earlier, calling mccormack a championship player! if he thought that, why was he trying to sign him for hull? Plus they offered 5 million for Zamora! ridiculous.

  • Comment number 15.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 16.

    Steve, I really don't understand the media sometimes. They seem to love to act like they know more about the game than the people that are still involved in the game. (And I don't consider the media to be involve in the game, more, feeding off of the game.) They love taking quotes and situations out of context to create a story. And then they seem to act a bit shirty when what they want to happen doesn't come to fruition.

    A previous poster is right. Hull stayed up because the league table said so. Newcastle's problems are there own.

    Ever since Brown decided to be unusual and keep the players on the pitch at half time, the media have wanted to use it as a stick to beat him with because too many ex-pro's decided that that wasn't the way things should be done. Well, if they want to do things differently, get off the comfy sofa and put your neck on the line in the hot seat. (Enough cliches?)

    Personally, I don't care much for Phil Brown and I think that Hull are a poor team but why must we keep hearing that Brown trying something different is some sort of watershed or defining moment?

    If the players act professionally (what is all this 'losing the dressing room business' that people spout?) then the clubs status in the premiership will be down to whether they are good enough or not, and not as a result of whether Brown tried something different on Boxing Day 2008!

  • Comment number 17.

    Now now bobbieflowers no need to get personal you don't even know me i am merely expressing my opinion in a forum where open discussion and debate are encouraged.

    If all you can add is mindless, childish insults i suggest you get back in your box and shut the lid until you can have a grown up discussion/debate.

    Goodbye

  • Comment number 18.

    Lucky win against Stoke (Scraped it)
    Lucky to draw with West Ham (West Ham poor aswell)
    Lucky Win against Everton (A whole team out injured and still could/should of come back from 3 down)

    LABSAB9,you really are a plank.
    How were we lucky to win against Stoke.We played superb and dominated the whole game. The same applies to the West Ham game. And as for the Everton game, City were much the better side. Everton only had two shots on target the whole game.

  • Comment number 19.

    I made a comment a few weeks back that I thought we would see a more mature Phil Brown over the coming months. This maturity probably costs us entertainment value on camera, but I am sure he is still the same guy in the dressing room and on the training ground as he always was. And he will get better.
    Everyone was enjoying the ride when Hull made it to the Premier League, and especially when they started to beat top teams. Then reality sets in, mistakes are made and it is a long haul back. Twelve months on and some decent luck, a different Chairman, a more experienced amd mature Manager, and a team of guys with the passion they need to fight for survival will make it an interesting and hopefully successful season.
    I say good luck to Phil Brown, I always hoped he could work through his dark days, as he is a character the game needs. Good luck to Hull City as well, the Premiership needs you!

  • Comment number 20.

    Now Now children, lets pick up the toys and put them back in the pram.
    The change on the board at hull has clearly affected them in a positive manner. Obviously sometimes its not the manager who needs to go, in some cases its manager and chairmen (humhum Liverpool).
    In any case, Hull will deserve to stay up if they play well enough from here until the end of the season, not because they have played well in 3 games. Those who go down will deserve it. If you dont play well, you get relegated. FACT

  • Comment number 21.

    It's really disappointing to see this incident dragged up again as a so-called 'turning point' - I've come to expect better from you Steve. The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ pundits clearly lost interest in Hull City halfway through last season and couldn't be bothered to investigate beyond this superficial reason for a change in fortunes. Whether ill-advised or not, the half-time dressing-down was soon forgotten: in fact the next match was a spirited display against high-flying Villa which we were unlucky to lose via a last-minute own goal.
    The real reasons for City's dip in form are much simpler, and can be summarised in two words: Marlon King. King led the line superbly during the first half of the season, but then left the club unexpectedly for reasons that were clearly nothing to do with football, and was simply not replaced. From that moment on, City only scored 11 goals in the league, and only once managed more than a single goal in a match. Our defence remained as solid as ever, but with no goal threat and a lack of real quality in midfield, it was always a struggle to get any kind of a result.
    Football players win matches, not managers, and City's recent upturn has far more to do with players than with Phil Brown and Adam Pearson. Jimmy Bullard has brought quality and an infectious enthusiasm to our midfield, and even more importantly, Anthony Gardner is finally managing to stay fit and fill the gap left by Michael Turner. With Altidore finding his feet in the premiership, our squad is considerably stronger than last season's. Provided we can keep these key players fit, we have as good a chance as any team currently in the bottom half of the table.
    So please, can we have less speculation on managers, their tans and their karaoke ability, and more insight into the real business that is conducted on the pitch.

  • Comment number 22.

    Surely you're missing the point, adoptedtiger? Steve is questioning the notion that the Boxing Day incident turned Hull's season.

  • Comment number 23.

    bobbieflowers wrote:

    your a moron FACT

    If you're going to call someone a moron, isn't it rather embarrassing to make an error in your four words that suggest the moron is yourself?

  • Comment number 24.

    Personally I'm a Villa fan, but being at university in Hull gives me the chance to watch Premiership football for a very extremely reasonable price (Yes take not Villa!).

    I was fortunate enough to be at the Everton game and what I saw was 14 players fighting tooth and nail for each other and for those supporters. I get really annoyed by people saying Hull's only chance of survival revolves around Jimmy Bullard. Take Wednesday night, he wasn't even in the squad. Obviously a big loss but the players to pulled on that shirt made up for his absence. Andy Dawson was absolutely immense and was definitely MOM.

    I also like Phil Brown, he's a very honest and straight forward manager in that he says what he's thinking and isn't afraid to deviate away from the "accepted" was of football management. With him in charge Hull have every chance of not only avoiding relegation, but also establishing themselves as a Premiership team for years to come.

  • Comment number 25.

    Will Hull win this weekend? Probably not. Will Man City draw another game. Probably not, and the probably shouldn’t. I would hate to see the yoyo of football supporters jump on Browns back again if hull do take a stuffing this week (but lets hope not).

    I agree with the previous comments that loosing Marlon King was a massive loss to Hull last season and one they didn’t recover from. The team has a new perspective this season and one hell of a strong midfield. Personally I think that a midfield of Hunt, Gio, Bullard and Marney is one heck of a way to go and one that any midfield in the league will have to play well to beat. I still don’t think we have a goal scorer....are the Campbell rumours going to start again soon?

  • Comment number 26.

    I think the main part of Hull's problem of image is Phil Brown, highlighted so brilliantly by the media with the Man City team talk as this article says and also his last game of the season singing antics. He also generally comes across like a Nazi float at the Notting Hill carnival in interviews etc (stole that quote from The Thick Of It). I think Adam Pearson has been a positive influence and has tried to prevent it from becoming the Phil Brown show and results have improved.

    However, it's not the only reason that Hull do badly, and in fact, do they actually do that 'badly'?

    Despite all the team talk stuff, which was irrelevant as they were 4-0 down, they stayed up. It doesn't matter when you get your points. It's almost like the Jenson Button unworthy champion argument because he won his races at the start of the season, it's nonsense. Hull are also doing quite well this season after being written off by all and sundry at the start.

    People tend to get ahead of themselves. They had an unusually good start to the season last year with some unbelievable results, and I think people forgot that they were a newly promoted team when things went against them.

    This season they're probably where they could expect to be and avoiding relegation will be an achievement for them.

  • Comment number 27.

    23. At 03:27am on 27 Nov 2009, RoJoSal wrote:
    bobbieflowers wrote:

    your a moron FACT

    If you're going to call someone a moron, isn't it rather embarrassing to make an error in your four words that suggest the moron is yourself?

    ________________________

    am I missing something? hmm let me check my spelling...your (correct) a (think I spelt that one right) moron (must have got that one write cos you've spelt it the same) fact (bing! got that one write as well)

    try to read something properly before you jump in trying to make a fool out someone...fool

  • Comment number 28.

    and yes i have just realised i used the wrong spelling of right b4 you saying anything...guess you'll have to mark me down for spelling and grammar this time eh

  • Comment number 29.

    am I missing something? hmm let me check my spelling...your (correct)

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Actually incorrect. It should be you're, which is you are. So you are a moron = you're a moron.

    Your is used to signify possession. eg is that your car?

  • Comment number 30.

    There was a reason for the half time rollicking, they were woeful up to that point and in their previous match. To say they fell apart after it is to tell untruths.
    Yes they are on the up. However with players like McShane in defence they won't go anywhere he must be the worst defender in the history of the game. (an aside, he should have cleared the ball in a recent international but got out of it's way to let Henry play it accross goal for Gallas to score).

  • Comment number 31.

    Sorry bobbieflowers, but i really do have to laugh at you, as you really are a moron hehehe. You make a post to prove you are not and at the same time do the opposite. Oh dear oh dear oh dear. Hang your head laddie

  • Comment number 32.

    For the benefit of the Cardiff fan at #14

    It's since come out that Turner was sold for £4M, which explains the complaints from Charlton and Brentford about their sell on fees being smaller than expected.

    Zamora is a player with several years Premierleague experiance. Alright his goal return isn't particularly good, but we always felt Zamora was being signed to play alongside a nippy goal scorer. McC on the other hand has no Premierleague experiance and would be a gamble for any side signing him to play there. Expecting McC to fetch a bigger fee than Turner and the same fee as BZ is laughable.

  • Comment number 33.

    Broxn is a terrible tanned manager, what he did to those guys at half time back fired on him. he had hoped for the comeback and for people to say "wow gees, this brown is a real innovator, what an idea, what a great manager" and had hull fought back to 4-3 and then went on to have a moderate season, say finishing 12th, comfortably clearing relegation...brown would like the poublic to believe it was all down to him, taking all the credit whilst allowing his players none. I imagine he was doing this to enhance his own rep, and gain a better move for himself as a manager.

  • Comment number 34.

    Hull City did do much better in the second half at Eastlands last season, conceding only one further goal. Of course the rest of the season was very poor, though this may have been down to Phil Brown losing his nerve rather than losing the dressing room. And losing Marlon King too, as once he was jetissoned Hull City's attacking potential was much depleted and the team became defensive and much easier to beat, the players losing confidence and self-belief by the week. Thanks to Adam Pearson and Jimmy Bullard times have suddenly got better for Hull City, and long may that improvment last. But Phil Brown is lucky to still be in a job - though in football, luck is an important ingredient.

  • Comment number 35.

    Re putting Hull's poor results, in the 2nd half of last season, down to Phil Brown's "losing the dressing room" after the half time team talk at City. Surely Hull's players want to play in the Premier League, irrespective of whether they like or admire their manager. Getting yourself relegated because you're too busy, sulking about how the manager spoke to you, would be a bit of an own goal - if you'll excuse the pun.
    As for Brown being lucky to be in a job. Who would they replace him with? Three teams have to be relegated - it's the rules. The most likely contenders are teams with relatively small fan bases and who are unfashionable and therefore have relatively small budgets. In others words, teams like Hull. Very few managers, would be able to do a better job. I'm always amazed that clubs who, everyone antipates getting relegated, sack their manager when the team is struggling. What were they expecting?

  • Comment number 36.

    Look at last season hull where all over teams in the first half of the season and thats because they where full of good spirits, but then they lost the passion after the january transfer window and then they went on a bad spree but still managed to save them selves wish i think this is good. But this season nearly every team have a had there problems takr liverpool for starters look at all the injuries that they started the season with but when they get there full squad back they will climb the table again. Back to my original point, this means that this will happen to hull im not writing hull of or trying to be sacky its just they have got the spark they had last season, but when they find that certain spark i think the big teams sholud watch out!

  • Comment number 37.

    I find it amazing that people can talk about that game changing our season last year. Nothing changed, we got hammered by Sunderland the week before, the change had already happened. The problem at Man City was that the players didn't even try. Phil Brown saw this and felt embarrassed. The fans had changed their Christmas plans, spent good money and driven 2 and a half hours to Manchester. The players had to be seen to take responsibility for this. Ok Phils response was a bit different, but the reason he did it was good. To suggest that that half time talk changed our season, having conceded 8 goals in the previous 135 minutes is pretty shabby journalism Steve. I expect more from the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳...

  • Comment number 38.

    At 1:42pm on 26 Nov 2009, LABSAB9 wrote:
    5. At 1:05pm on 26 Nov 2009, HullFlagFlyingHigh wrote:
    @LABSAB9
    "No Hull are not on the way up again they will be relegated this season. FACT!!"
    Yawn!! I bet you said that last season too. FACT!!


    YAWN - No didnt say it last season but i'm saying it this season poor team and poor manager don't let a couple of results blind you.

    ----------------
    i am merely expressing my opinion
    -------------
    How is Phil Brown a poor manager? He took a side that were more fancied for relegation than promotion and got them in the EPL and then he kept them there. By the narrowest of margins, but the FACT is he did it. That can only be called success. If being successful is the sign of a poor manager is being successful then yes he is a poor manager.
    Oh and if you keep saying 'FACT' your not trying to pass on your opinion your trying to say what you are saying is the only true statement so dont try and pass it off as otherwise...
    The only FACT is that Phil Brown got Hull into the Premier League and he kept them there. Yes he can be a bit different as a manager and maybe his personality isnt to everyones taste, but if you asked Hull fans 2-3 years ago whether they would want Phil Brown in charge if it meant they were exactly where they are now and in the current situation I bet you would get only one answer...

  • Comment number 39.

    38. At 2:04pm on 27 Nov 2009, ForOne

    =========================================================================

    Consider this compadre

    Hull are 2nd in the table with a +5 goal difference on 80 points

    Man Utd are top with a +10 goal difference on 80 points

    Hull face bottom of the table and already relegated Liverpool and Lose 3-0 giving a now +2 goal difference.

    Man Utd face Everton and Lose 10 - 0 giving a goal difference of 0

    Hull win the league! But did they win it, or did man utd lose it. Consider this

  • Comment number 40.

    I was one of the lucky city fans to be in the stadium that day. And i thought what Phil Brown did was great. They were much improved in the 2nd half and think the players responded well. They just got found out after those 2 games and teams set themselfs up well against them and thats when the dive started.
    This year Hull's season will depend on one thing, Jimmy Bullard! One of the best players in the leauge and definatly the most underated, if he's fit and playing well he'll inspire everyone else around him and hull will become a forse again. Man I hope he doesnt play this weekend, city need the win.

  • Comment number 41.

    it's just more anti Hull ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ bias, can anyone show me in the last few months a balanced article about Hull City on any part of this website (even when we win, the articles begrudgingly give us a little credit).
    But that's ok that's how we like, keep writing us off, and we'll keep p1ssing you off by sticking around and occasionally giving you PL elites a bloody nose !

  • Comment number 42.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 43.

    No-one wants Hull to stay in the Premiership (apart from the 15,000 or so who turn up for their home games). Hopefully, in a few years time they will be back in Division two where they belong!

  • Comment number 44.

    Phil Brown OUT!

  • Comment number 45.

    "Are Hull finally on the up again?"

    I really hope not!

    The best thing to come out of Hull? The Housemartins!! and or course the legend that is ... KEITH EDWARDS!

  • Comment number 46.

    masterbertieblade

    you have got problems my friend. It is better to have a representative from a city such as Hull in the prem

    Us in the north west can't end up having to make all 4 top divisions

  • Comment number 47.

    Good blog Steve - also like your enthusiastic commentaries on MoTD - lets hope the half time team talk at Eastlands last season however finally gets put to bed. Understand your Grandad used to be a City supporter - top man.

    As adoptedtiger rightly says, the reason for our demise last season post Xmas was the departure of bad boy Marlon King and a nagging back injury to Daniel Cousin as well as being without both Bullard & Gardner.

    As for masterbertieblade - grow up.

    You might notice we play to our capacity of 24900 with segregation - have 20500 passholders and would get more in if the KC was bigger.

    As for Sir Keith Edwards - he came to us originally from you, you numpty before you resigned him. As for being back in Div 2 I think you'll find you had a dose of that yourself (then Div 4) in the 80's.

    UTT

  • Comment number 48.

    the city of liverpool produces the best footballers in the world pound for pound.

    only newcastle comes close, it's a shame they only have poor clubs to accomodate them

  • Comment number 49.

    Hull City fans who have followed the club through the last few decades are all absolutely delighted to be where we are today. And it's no fluke.

    Great to see that we provoke such strong feelings, although the negative posters on here seem to uderestimate some of the incredible achievments at the club. Take Andy Dawson, who's sensational free-kick won us the game v Everton, and it really was a wonderful strike. He's been with the club since 2003 and has played in all 4 divisions. He's taken some stick along with the rest of the squad this season as not being up to the task, but look at that response. He played really well against Everton.

    Paul McShane has come in for stick in the other full back position, but he too showed strength, skill and pure guts not to be muscled out by a top class adversary: Tim Cahill. Great performance! And that from the man who was 'blamed' for Tierry Henry's hand-spoon assist.

    OK, our defence is leaky (we had to sell the phenomenal Michael Turner to balance the books), but IF we can keep Jimmy Bullard fit and if Stephen Hunt can build on his excellent start with the club, then together with the superb Geovanni we have the creativity to create chances at this level from midfield.

    We play better football than Stoke and we've got a year's valuable experience on Wolves, Birmingham and Burnley. Portsmouth have an awful lot to do. Wigan have big problems, Bolton are on a woeful run, West Ham (and I am a massive Zola fan) look vulnerable. So, The Tigers have an excellent chance of staying up again. An excellent CHANCE. We could, of course, go down this year.

    Just to be there is an honour in itself. To be playing some good football again is a joy. To see us seriously bidding to be a World Cup Host Stadium fills me with pride for my home City. Hull folk have not had a great deal to shout about and they are generally a self-effacing, cheerful bunch. Phil Brown, love him or hate him, is part of a project that has brought us to the top table of football. With Adam Pearson at the hlem we have a chairman we can trust. There are signs of serious foundations taking root for us to establish ourselves as Yorshire's premier club. That is something to be truly proud of.

  • Comment number 50.

    I wonder whether people hate Hull because of the team, the manager or the City? I don't really have anything agains the club, i just think the City is a dump. And many of its residents are diry chavs (sorry to those of you who aren't, but you can't deny it). When i went to watch a game there recently i realised i never wanted to go back to Hull. Thats why i wouldn't give a monkeys if the club went down, for the City more than anything. Grim.

  • Comment number 51.

    Deats80, you are typical of the anti-Hull brigade and I just don't understand where the snobbery comes from. I don't know what a diry chav is, but I presume you're trying to say we're all like that fat family from Bransholme that Fergie tried to persuade to stop eating chips `n lard. Hull is not such a bad place. It's like many port towns in that it has a unique atmosphere and undoubted charm in the 17th Century oldtown. Some great pubs to be visited on the Fish Trail (great tip there for visiting fans). I now live in Barcelona, which sounds more glamorous, but I enjoy going back to my hometown and have enormous respect and affection for its people. I suspect people like Deats80 just need someone to look down on because they're not actually very high up the food chain themselves. UTT

  • Comment number 52.

    Deats80, you are a disgrace to talk about a city like that,you sound like a chav.
    Non of what you said is true and you should be banned from the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ site.

    Grow sum balls and tell us where your from!

  • Comment number 53.

    I live in China now, but i originate from Harrogate. So i am from the real part of Yorkshire.

    How come the majority of people who visit Hull say its a dump, but those who live there always stick up for it? Simple. If someone visits your home and says its horrible you are offended and deny it, because you are embarrassed. Thats what you are doing now. Lets have a poll, where you would rather live: Manchester, Liverpool, London, Leeds, York, Sheffield, Nottingham, Birmingham or Hull. Ive chosen some cities in there that i don't even like that much but Hull would come bottom every time.

    I dont have anything against the football club in particular - although some of its fans are pure scum - we've seen the hooligan element there and i've witnessed it at a game once too. So i'm not anti Hull City, just anti-Hull.

    Cheers!

  • Comment number 54.

    Don't worry, Deans80, you won't be missed.

    I live just outside Barcelona now and previously spent 6 years in Manchester. I don't rate London as a place to live, though I like visiting. My borther used to live in Liverpool, it has a lot in common with Hull, actually. Great people, port atmosphere, but watch your car!I'd go for Hull above all of the other cities you mention. The fact that you wouldn't be sharing the experience with me would be, well, a bonus. UTT

  • Comment number 55.

    I dont rate any cities in the UK as places to live (litter, crime, laughable house prices, overcrowding, traffic the list goes on..) but that don't mean that Hull ought to be/not be in the PL.

    Those that are there, are there on merit.

    Hull included.

    And until they cannot sustain their position - on merit - then they belong there!



  • Comment number 56.

    I agree #55 i NEVER once said Hull didn't deserve to be there. Like you so correctly state, any club there is there by merit.

    In fact i was trying to answer the question as to why there is so much anti Hull City media reporting. My conclusion is that its to do with the City more than the club. Would a journalist rather go to one of the above mentioned cities, or Hull.

    But based by recent comments it could have something to do with the fans too....

    You really shouldn't knock the UK, it has some of the best cities on Earth. I've traveled in over 70 countries World wide and on the issues of litter, crime, overcrowding and traffic, England is a paradise compared to most. Housing prices are a joke though, i will definitely give you that one!!!

    #54 have you put your claws away yet? Wow, what a female.

    Normally 'special atmospheres' around port areas mean drunken yobs fighting in poverty striken areas. Clearly there are exceptions, but Hull isn't one.

  • Comment number 57.

    You got your answer on the pitch today, Deats80. Jimmy B and the boys know how to celebrate a fantastic point in front of their fantastic fans who will all make their fantastic way home to their fantastic City: HULL!!!

    I think most neutrals would agree, we bring a smile to many faces with our cheeky little performances.

    When I saw the Man City line up today I have to admit I was awestruck by the 70 million punds worth of talent lined up as Man City's front 3. Did we buckle: no! UTT

  • Comment number 58.

    bcn, are you simple? Where had i had a go at HCFC? So why was their performance 'answering me'? Had i criticised their style of football or their Premiership status? No. The City yes, the footy club no.

    But sadly its fans like you who are a little 'simple' who go mouthing off that make people turn against Hull. Its obvious from your IQ of 27 that you were deported from chavsville.

    And no you don't bring smiles to peoples faces with your results. People were shocked with your good start to last season, and thats it. You took was it 8 points from 19 games after that, so the only smiles were mocking ones if anything. Get over yourself.

  • Comment number 59.

    It may come as a surprise to you Deatsy boy, but I've got an MA in Modern History from Oxford University.

    I suspect, bieng from West Yorkshire, you just might be a Leeds fan, which would go a long way to explaining your inferiority complex.

    For now, I'm afraid the facts are that we are YORKSHIRE'S NUMBER ONE!!!! That may not bring a smile to your face, but it sure does to mine.

    Now why don't you go and harbour your grudges elsewhere and stop slagging the Hull people off?

  • Comment number 60.

    Harrogate is in North Yorkshire, so you possibly should get yourself a degree in geography, or at least a GCSE kiddy.

    You have History, i have History and Politics, whooop-de-do. Why would it surprise me? I think you must be a smart guy, after all you ditched Hull and moved. It can't be 'all that' after all, or you would have stayed. Suppose you had enough of the angry port town filth?

    You are the number one team in Humberside. Whilst you may like to associate yourself with Yorkshire, you will never truly be part of it in this generations eyes. You are just a poor relative. Yorkshire is Gods country, for Gods people, not for Hull chavs. ;)

  • Comment number 61.

    North, West, East is best. Eat your heat out, Deatsy boy! FACT: WE'RE YORKSHIRE'S NUMBER 1. Up The Tigers!

  • Comment number 62.

    You forgot South, did you miss geography cos you were too busy beating up grannys to steal their pensions? FACT: NEEDS MORE EDUCATION

    Eating heat is also difficult. You probably eat a dog on heat, but thats another matter...

    Shows how downhill Oxford has gone. That or you are a liar...

  • Comment number 63.

    typo, Deatsy, sorry about that. I know you're finding it tough to live with the fact that:
    a) Hull City are YORKSHIRE'S NUMBER ONE FOOTBALL TEAM and
    b) Hull Chavs are actually capable of getting MA's from the best Universities in the country.

    But I've got news for you: THEY ARE BOTH TRUE!!!

    Just to prove my point: I won a Hastings Scholarship tostudy atThe Queen's College, Oxford. That's Elizabeth Hastings, who set up a trust fund to help Yorkshire schoolboys to make it to Oxford. That was back in 1985 when Oxford United were not a bad side.

    So you can check my credentials with a bit of Wikipaedia research. Sorry to have to challenge your bigotry, Deatsy, but your needless attck on the Hull public was beyond the pale. I'm very proud of my roots and going back to Hull is a pleasure. Especially to the KC!

    Now I've learnt that Harrogate is in fact NORTH Yorkshire I may have to adjust my guess that you're a Leeds fan. Maybe it's Darlington you follow. I can't resist a giggle at that thought.

  • Comment number 64.



    Deats. Have you got the right city? Hull is far more attractive than you give credit for and certainly more impressive than a number of the places on your list

  • Comment number 65.

    Deats80, if Hull is the armpit of Britain you suggest it is, why is it home to a top class university and world leading businesses like Smith & Nephew?
    I'd strongly argue that the bad experience you've had with the city isn't the norm and I'm sure many of the city’s alumni would attest to this.
    Whilst it's far from perfect, and shares many problems with other cities, Hull does seem to be unfairly demonised in the media and I'm sure this leads people to expect the worst and focus upon it.
    Much of its bad reputation stems from the city's poor standing in the education league tables which is widely and regularly reported. Unfortunately this gauge of the city's worth ignores the fact that Hull is closely circled by another, well performing, education authority. This results in the best students draining from within the centre of Hull and unfairly skews the true picture of the area's educational standing.

  • Comment number 66.

  • Comment number 67.

    Deats80, HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, Harrogate, that explains everything, i used to work in Ripon not far away, both places are full of arrogant over-opinionated snobby spoilt brats, with no respect for good honest hard working normal people.Hulls great place with great people and getting stronger, your just a jealous, vindictive, middle-class brat,

    and I still think your a disgrace.

    Cheers

  • Comment number 68.

    ah Harrogate the Beverly Hills of Yorkshire, full of over priced houses, over inflated people and outside the town limits no one gives a toss, Harrogate is a boil on the ar$e of Yorkshire !

    "UP THE TIGERS"

  • Comment number 69.

    I do believe Harrogate was voted the 3rd most desirable place to live in Britain. But don't let facts get in the way of ignorance ;)

  • Comment number 70.

    By whom? Probably by self-obsessed snobs from Harrogate. I think, Deatsy boy, that the ignorance on display in the above posts is all yours.

    P.S. I'm still waiting for your apology for calling me a liar. I'll not hold my breath, though.

  • Comment number 71.

    Get over it loser.

  • Comment number 72.

    More commentary less comment

    Full of Christmas cheer I settled down to watch MOTD, particularly pleased because my club Man City had won. My mood changed within minutes of watching MOTD thanks to the provocative comments of Steve Wilson. I quote a few below:


    'Roberto Mancini steps onto the merry-go-round' 'City provide a cautionary tale'....'one manager, twenty-two trophies..' '23 years, 14 managers, no trophies' 'you can't build anything lasting on shifting sand' 'ex-city managers are just about everywhere you look' [the stoke manager] 'is the one in the cap roberto' 'wouldn't be surprised to see just a few nerves around manchester city today' 'his fourth club mancini, suggests that he likes to move on as much as his club like to move them on' 'bellamy dropped today, said to be particularly unhappy about the sacking of Mark Hughes, and also said to be interesting Tottenham'

    and there were more...

    Do you not think that those people wanting to watch City v Stoke really want to here this drivel and general negativity about our teams. Clearly you are not a City fan and that's fine, but I don't really expect my license fee to go towards funding this banal commentary. You are not alone though in your general cyncism, as the 'pundits' back in the studio continued to lay into City and focussed on a poor game by Robinho. I long gave up listening to the drivel of Alan Green on Radio 5 and his one-eyed Liverpool rant, do I really have to watch MOTD with mute on. Bring back John Motson who in all his years and experience managed to actually commentate on the match and not share endless provocative comments and fuel the general unrest that is so endemic among football these days.

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