Back To Basics

Holding my thoughts for such a long while has been worse than trying to give up smoking and just like quitting the dreaded weed proved fruitless, so has keeping quiet on the affairs at Hull City AFC.

Ever tolerant, ever the one to hold my peace until I had something worthwhile to contribute, I have waited for the expected revival to kick in.

I must now say, I don't think it's going to happen this season. I hope I am proved hopelessly wrong but at the moment there are no signs that I will be.

What's the expression I'm searching for? Ahh yes: "The light at the end of the of the tunnel doesn't even appear to have a bulb in it!"

So where has it all gone wrong?

I may be the most unpopular bloke on the block, but the problem for me starts at the top. Nothing that was ever of any substance was built on sand. And the foundations for a successful club can only benefit from a prolonged period of stability. Too much changing things too quickly I fear. So the buck HAS to stop with the chairman.

Mutterings even suggest that he is doubting the wisdom of appointing Peter Taylor to become his third manager in less than a year. Little sacked - Molby sacked - Taylor sacked?

Has the man learnt anything? Apparently not if the news filtering out of the KC is to be believed. I know he is considered by the Tigers fans to be the unfortunate victim of managers and players that don't deliver the goods. However, surely as the man in charge he has to take his share of the blame.

There's no question that Taylor is a talented coach and a manager with a proven track record. So it really does come down to what he has to work with. There's an old expression that says you can't put a quart into a pint pot. And thus it follows that you can't teach the untalented to be talented.

I remember Jan Molby being quoted as saying: "If I have to go back to basics and teach my players how to play football - I will." Maybe it does come down to that now.

So my recommendation is a very basic one. Chuck out the big time charlies. Get some willing workers and big-hearted players in the team. Let's have the Steve Burton's and some of the younger players in the team. Let's have some local lads playing and let the fans see some passion, effort and enthusiasm.

I'm sure you will agree - that's something that we will all rally round and support!