When Robert Burns wrote ‘the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry’, I’m 99.9% sure he was referring to writing match previews; specifically those where your plans to connect with an ‘interviewee’ flounder.
You didn’t know Burns was a blogger for Ayr Utd?
But that’s what’s happened I’m afraid, so you’re stuck with me. I did consider a Q&A with myself, but at the risk of getting flummoxed by my own line of daft questions and needless jibes, I thought maybe instead I’d just preview the game in the traditional way.
So, Hull City. What do we know?
Well, when we played them back in November and drew 0-0, Andy Dalton – editor of the award-winning Amber Nectar website and podcast – was rather more concerned with events off the pitch at the KCOM Stadium than on it.
Quote: “Things are as grim as ever. City are rooted in the bottom three with a poor manager, a poor squad and owners who veer between malice and negligence. The universally loathed owners remain in place and the club is up for sale”
But, contrary to Andy’s prediction, the Tigers gave the Canaries a proper run for their money on a rain-sodden night Humberside night, and there was little to warm the hearts of the travelling canaries aside from a guilt-edged chance for Tom Trybull that he managed to head wide.
Andy’s prophesy of a 0-2 was some way off coming to fruition, although few argued with his take on Chris Martin, once of this parish: “He is awful. He’s a greater threat to us than you”.
Tigers’ fans were heartened by their performance that night, and fair enough because they made life tough for City, but what they probably weren’t prepared for was it to signal the start of a ten-game unbeaten run in the league that stretched from the end of November through to the end of January.
It was a run that was spearheaded by the highly-rated Jarrod Bowen and which took them to the edge of the playoffs. A coincidence it may have been, but the mood of Hull fans was also buoyed in late autumn when it appeared the Allams were on the point of selling up.
It may also be a coincidence that their fine run ended around the same time Assem Allan decided finally to turn down the offer that was on the table but despite the continued uncertainty, the Tigers remain in the playoff hunt. While they are now down to 12th, only five points separate them and sixth place Derby County, and so they won’t be here tonight just to go through the motions.
They have however enjoyed more success at home than on the road – we’ll ignore their win at Elland Road because Leeds fans will take it personally – and after losing at Forest on Saturday they have now lost four on the spin on the road.
In that time they have scored just once and have conceded at least two goals in each of their last six away games. In fact, while I’m loathe to mention it, [*whispers*] they have conceded 17 goals in that run.
So, an ‘along come Norwich’ evening awaits? Or will the collective nerve be held, and the P-word countdown continue with another win?
Calls for this special time to be enjoyed are bang on the button, but when the prize is so huge it’s bloody hard sometimes. I suspect tonight will be one of those.
But, as I keep banging about, chances like these don’t come along too often. And with this one being so unexpected, it would be a crime not to take the opportunity to pi$$ off the whole of Yorkshire, the Midlands and Ipswich.
Even with ten to go, there are going to be unexpected hurdles and hiccups – they’re inevitable – and football’s mischievous gods will make sure they occur when we least expect them.
Just not tonight eh? Especially with Blades and Los Blancos both winning.
Mystic MFW
Penney predicts: This won’t be as easy as some of us might reckon, especially at this stage of the season. But Aarons and Lewis will deal with Bowen whichever side he plays on so it’s 2-0 City for me.
Andy assumes: I like Nigel Adkins, as he seems like a thoroughly nice chap, but I don’t think tactically he can live with Farke. 4-1 Norwich.
Gaz guesses: My hugely unreliable gut tells me we’re due a *temporary* stumble sometime soon, but there’s no logic in plumping for anything other than a Norwich win. So, Canaries 2, Tigers 1.
Cookie concludes: There’s a chance we could be playing catch-up again depending on Tuesday’s results. I’m expecting a tense nervous affair with Hull setting out to frustrate. 1-0 City with a big dollop of angst.
Stew suspects: At some stage it’s inevitable the pressure will affect our performance – but not yet, I reckon. In that case, our football should be too much for Hull. City to win 3-0.
Siri says: City 3 – Hull 1
It will be a repeat of Friday, with two wide men sitting on Aarons and Liewis , it will be down to us to find away round that Reckon Farkie has been working all week on ways to cope and counter. A lot depends who is out of the block first to impose themselves.
still going for a (as Mr P says) squeaky bum 2-1
Good read as usual Gary, I am desperate for us to win, I always predict us to win, but I am not arrogant enough to expect us to win.
I have followed City since the fifties and have seen enough to know that if you get too comfortable in watching your team win you can be deflated by the unlikeliest of results so it’s lucky pants on and fingers tightly crossed.
Today’s helping of wind and rain will subside just in time for Tim, Tom, Teemu and the lads to treat us all to a convincing win and after another on Saturday, following ‘Dirty Leeds’ getting one over the Blades at lunchtime, I see us sitting 7 points clear of 3rd place come tea-time.
Let’s not be nervous and just roar the guys on, we’ve 72 points after 36 games having scored 72 goals which is all fantastic but they need our 100% support coming off the final bend.
Ei Ei Ei O …… and all that!
Another tight game IMO but with city to win
Norwich 3 Hull 1
It was funny watching Ipswich’s supporters celebrating Bristol score an own goal to give them a point must be sad when you need a hand from your opponent on the night.
Our two main rivals produced professional performances last night, though losing Maldine for 3 games is a bonus. With luck they’ll both be down to 9 men and have a ward full of injuries by the time they’ve kicked hell out of each other on Saturday.
I think we’ll also put a professional performance in tonight and come out 3-1 to the good.
Hi Keith
I needed a boost today as one of our dogs will (very unexpectedly) shortly have to be put down.
Reading your post has cheered me immensely!
COYY.
So sorry to hear this Martin – always a horrible time. Let’s just hope those lads in yellow and green give you something to (temporarily) smile about later.
Best
Gaz
Hear, hear
Really sorry to hear that Martin.
I love dogs. We lost one in tragic circumstances when I was a sixth-former. She was aged only about 3, and I’ve never forgotten the feeling of numb devastation.
In adulthood though I’ve never had one simply because both Mrs B and I out and about far too much. (And also being in the NW you have to take them for a walk, whether it’s raining… or raining heavily).
Anyway according to the Pink’un there’s a big announcement at the Carra at 7.30 tonight so hopefully that’s the news we’ve all been waiting – which should cheer you up a little more. Or even a lot.
Hi Martin
Sorry to hear your sad news hope the other dog is ok.
Will you replace or just keep the 1 dog, it is always hard when loding a pet.
Sad to hear that Martin.
Dogs and footy ehhh, emotional turmoil.
Both you & Mrs P Take care.
Another real tough game, much like Swansea. It is not so long since I was predicting both Swansea and Hull to make late bids for the POs, and I am still not convinced that one or both might not just do that. I will take another hard fought 1-0 to NCFC to line up that all-important clash of the mini-mes on Saturday lunchtime.
ALSO, seeing lots of rumours that a new contract for Farke will be announced before tonight’s game – this should give all a boost (if true)!
They are asking fans to be there by 7:30.
Interesting.
Yes, saw that first. Now lots of web reports that this will be the announcement that we have all been waiting for!
Speculation –
1. Teresa May is going to ask City fans to have final vote on Brexit as every decision taken at Carrow Road over the past 23 months has been proven right.
2. Delia is taking part in Strictly
3. Gareth Bale is coming in the summer on a free.
4. David Strihaka, Lucciano Becchio and Michael Theoklitos are returning.
Whatever else can it be???
I’m hopeful it’ll be something more upbeat than any of those…..
Thanks to each and every one of you for your kind comments.
She’s got a (very) slight chance and as her owners we’re not the type of folks to give up. The other dog (Geezer) is fine but we sourced him ourselves while Minnie was a rescue Mrs P took a chance on. Big difference as we’ve discovered.
You can’t imagine how much I appreciate the comments and it says so much about MFW as a community.
Cheers all.
So sorry to hear about the pooch Martin.
Went through the same in early Nov 2017; got new puppy on 31 December that year and it’s the best medicine…
2 – 1 to the Canaries tonight………………please!!!
O T B C
As I said earlier:
“I think we’ll also put a professional performance in tonight and come out 3-1 to the good.”
How can I put this politely without offending anyone?
Let’s try:
Chris Martin, the second word is “off”….