Loyalty v. Rotation

[Alf Bentley]

I can't help feeling that we've lost out this season by being too impatient, trying to change too much too quickly.....after all, last season's squad made the play-offs, so even if some players inevitably had faded and needed changing or supplementing, a complete revolution was not required.

Weale, Hobbs, Morrison, Berner, Dyer, Fryatt, Waghorn...all players who contributed greatly to a side almost promoted 12 months ago. Some might have lost form anyway or might not have fitted in with a new manager, but did they ALL need to be effectively told: "I don't think you're good enough"?

Maybe some weren't good enough...but were their replacements?

Which managerial approach would make you perform better?:

a) Keep working, learning and improving and I think you can do it!

b) I can do better than you, prove me wrong immediately or you're out!

[Bettsj2]

I can't help feeling that we've lost out this season by being too impatient, trying to change too much too quickly.....after all, last season's squad made the play-offs, so even if some players inevitably had faded and needed changing or supplementing, a complete revolution was not required.

Weale, Hobbs, Morrison, Berner, Dyer, Fryatt, Waghorn...all players who contributed greatly to a side almost promoted 12 months ago. Some might have lost form anyway or might not have fitted in with a new manager, but did they ALL need to be effectively told: "I don't think you're good enough"?

Maybe some weren't good enough...but were their replacements?

Which managerial approach would make you perform better?:

a) Keep working, learning and improving and I think you can do it!

b) I can do better than you, prove me wrong immediately or you're out!

To be fair in the case of Hobbs, he was played quite a bit when Sven first arrived and showed no signs of regaining his form and Fryatt just didnt want to be here anymore. That was clear from the moment Sousa preferred Campbell to him. Dyer is the one out of all those mentioned that I think deserved more. Against Millwall at home, the front line of him, Vassell and Yakubu looked particularly fruitful but after that game hasnt featured much at all.

Weale, Morrison and Berner were never good enough. They got by as the unit worked well but when some of the unit disappeared then i'm afraid the whole thing fell apart.

[gazzer]

I'm going to Grace Road.- playing Sotland and should win (though admittedly they lost last year)

[Jakemoore]

To be fair in the case of Hobbs, he was played quite a bit when Sven first arrived and showed no signs of regaining his form and Fryatt just didnt want to be here anymore. That was clear from the moment Sousa preferred Campbell to him. Dyer is the one out of all those mentioned that I think deserved more. Against Millwall at home, the front line of him, Vassell and Yakubu looked particularly fruitful but after that game hasnt featured much at all.

Weale, Morrison and Berner were never good enough. They got by as the unit worked well but when some of the unit disappeared then i'm afraid the whole thing fell apart.

I agree with everything except, Berber has always been good enough, I'd start him any day, he's quality, he's call and he's experienced. And as for Fryatt, he just couldn't play in a 4-3-3 formation (I've been told by inside sources that he wouldn't or couldn't play that role)

[Guest Bilo]

I can't help feeling that we've lost out this season by being too impatient, trying to change too much too quickly.....after all, last season's squad made the play-offs, so even if some players inevitably had faded and needed changing or supplementing, a complete revolution was not required.

Weale, Hobbs, Morrison, Berner, Dyer, Fryatt, Waghorn...all players who contributed greatly to a side almost promoted 12 months ago. Some might have lost form anyway or might not have fitted in with a new manager, but did they ALL need to be effectively told: "I don't think you're good enough"?

Maybe some weren't good enough...but were their replacements?

Which managerial approach would make you perform better?:

a) Keep working, learning and improving and I think you can do it!

b) I can do better than you, prove me wrong immediately or you're out!

Ah, the old stick or carrot argument.

It's a toughie, and the answer really depends on the individual. Some players need to feel as though they're wanted at all times, and the slightest suggestion they're not perceived to be good enough for the team will leave them looking for the exit. Fryatt to me appears to be just such a player. Pearson clearly knows that the softly-softly approach works with him and gets the best out of him. I think it's probably the same for Hobbs and to a lesser extent Weale. The former will probably stay at Hull in my opinion and the latter has an uncertain future here if Sven finds a good keeper in the summer. The problem whether we could find better is a tougher question again. Fryatt especially seems to be doing brilliantly at Hull but I think it's all about the dynamic between him and Pearson. He could score 30 goals next season for Hull under Pearson, be sold to a bigger club for £4m and flop massively because he's lacking his talisman. If he can only play for Pearson then looking wistfully every time his name comes up on the vidiprinter serves no purpose.

What we need to do then is find adequate replacements. This is my worry, I'm not sure we have everywhere.

Weale - Not replaced but counterpart Ricardo is shaky.

Hobbs- Mee has done well but goes back in the summer.

Morrison - More than adequately replaced with Bamba.

Berner - Cunningham seemed to offer a great deal pre injury but van Aanholt, for all his pace, is not as solid defensively.

Dyer - Vassell better employed in the middle and Dyer hasn't really been replaced.

Fryatt - We don't have a player in his position who is as prolific, Possible exception is Gallagher on form but he's a Pearson signing anyway.

Waghorn - Waggy's style isn't what Sven wants, or so it appears.

So really only one of these players has been replaced adequately with a permanent player. Sven must address this as a matter of urgency over the summer, though don't expect a like-for-like replacement because Pearson's and Eriksson's football philosophies are of course very different.

[Fox92]

The play off squad last year was either good enough or just carried up by momentum. Hobbs, Morrison and Fryatt for example all looked comfortable in this divison.

Weale

Never been a big fan of him, totally has me shaking. Ricardo was signed and is also the same. Both differ in attributes.

Hobbs

In my opinion, should be in our first team. Player of the year last season, and a good defender with lots of potential. Bamba has signed, but I prefer Hobbs.

Morrison

Versatile player. Only 22 years old I think, and was good in our play off push. Replaced and sold.

Berner

Does lack pace, and Cunningham was a fantatic loan signing. Van Aanholt now plays and is not that solid defensive wise.

Dyer

Inconsistant. Not a big fan. Replaced by Vassell who is a far better player.

Fryatt

Natural goalscorer. It only goes to show, look at him now. Yakubu is our only natural goalscorer now and he's another loanee.

Waghorn

Not a fan. Can't control his shots.

Sven could only sign loans at the time when he come in. He inherited a pretty bad squad (and so did Sousa) and needed to make some changes. Some of the loans are fantastic though. A lot of players were sold and this summer is massive.

The players that were sold can't be bad or not good enough though, its pratically the same squad that got us into the play offs. And I'm not a big fan of selling these particular players, most of them are only 22/23/24/25 years old and have a lot of time to become better players.