This week’s blog entry seemed to generate a few questions, so I thought I’d answer them seeing as I had a spare minute or two. Those of you who’ve asked me questions in the past, I’ve kind of ignored them because they’re probably a bit old now. Sorry if this looks a bit self-indulgent, but it’s my blog, my opinion, so you might as well hear it. If you’ve got a question, feel free to stick it in the comments section and I’ll try to do a regular midweek blog Q+A styleee thing. Here goes!

Garreth Ellyard went to the trouble of asking quite a few, so I’ll look at his first:

(1) Do you think anyone else would keep their job after 2 wins in 28 games (not including pre season) so why should Brown?

TC: I see what you mean, but I think seasons should be viewed separately where possible. I think we should judge him on this season’s games, which apart from Saturday against Birmingham, had been reasonable in my opinion.

(2) Do you know any player that has left city while Brown has been in charge and said one good thing about him (Brown).

TC: Don’t really see your point. Any player who gets left out or sold by the manager isn’t exactly going to be complimentary. If you mean does he falls out with players too much, I would say yes. Brown’s got a fair old ego on him, and would do well to reign himself in a tad every now and then. We aren’t a big enough club to fall out with too many players. Cousin and Marlon King were both a bit petulant but were very good players for City, and might have been worth giving a bit more leeway. Then again, who knows what was said behind closed doors?

(3) He (Brown) is always keen to blame everyone apart from himself, he always says how weak the defence is so why get rid of Turner after he signed a four year contract? I think Duffen had a part in this but Brown could have said no.

TC: Nail on the head. Selling Turner is the real reason fans are calling for Brown’s head in my view. It wasn’t handled brilliantly by the club, but there must be a reason behind it. I’m sure we’ll find out one day!

(4) I think he is losing the plot for example making Sonko team captain he has no leadership in the squad because he is a new player like Maccca the week before, why is this?

TC: I was baffled myself by Sonko being made captain. Possibly he wanted Sonko to communicate more, and thought giving him the armband might help? The centre halves did lack communication at Sunderland and maybe Brown thought Sonko was the more natural leader of the two. I agree though it seemed a strange decision.

(5) His tactics aren’t working, the team was playing long ball and it did not work at all, yet he does not change them. Why?

TC: I think Brown wanted City to pass the ball on Saturday. Despite the front two being big, they’re also good footballers who do more with the ball at their feet. I give credit to Birmingham for packing the midfield and making it tough for us to pass the ball, and blame our players for not being good enough on the day to break down Blues.

Mike said/asked
“I disagree with you that City "seemed to lack a real desire." I don't see how you can fault their effort. They were all over midfield chasing and winning balls; they applied pressure from the start and were applying pressure when the whistle blew.”

TC: Ok, so this isn’t really a question, I just wanted a right to reply. I suppose I should have phrased that a little differently. I wasn’t saying they weren’t trying. I think I’ve only seen City really not try on one occasion and that was a horrible night in Barnsley a few years ago. I think it’s very unfair to accuse players of that. What I meant was, they lacked that extra 5% perhaps, the willingness to go the extra yard that might have made the difference.

Also, they seemed to lack real belief that they could win the game, which worries me more than any tactical deficiencies. I just got the feeling that Birmingham were really willing to put their bodies on the line for the points, like City did to great effect in the first half of last season. That’s the mentality we need to get back to if we are to stay up this season in my opinion.
Thanks for the typo spot as well, I didn’t mean to question Chuccho’s gender honest!!

As I said, if you want to ask me anything Hull City related, feel free, and if I have time I might make this a regular midweek thing.

TC