The case for the prosecution
Why oh why do we continue to play players out of position when we have alternatives in the squad. If the answer is that those alternatives are not good enough, then why are they still in the squad?
Surely you avoid almost all criticism if you follow a policy of replacing an injured, suspended or lacklustre player with another player who is comfortable in that position. Take the Carlisle game. We had two players, Ashbee and France, missing from the previous game against York. Surely you replace Ashbee with Hinds and France with Walters, in other words, disturb an already changed team as little as possible? Oh no, instead move your best centre back (Delaney) into midfield, play your most creative central midfielder (Green) wide right and bring a centre back (Whittle) in who hasn't had a game for over three months (not therefore surprised at the ensuing hamstring problem which followed).
Unsurprisingly the team did not settle into any sort of pattern and a point was scraped late on due in the main to Carlisle losing their nerve.
A week later at home to Torquay and it gets worse. Dawson, Allsopp and Whittle now join Ashbee and Price on the sidelines. Fair enough things are pretty stretched, but surely you play Hinds at right back, Marshall in the middle and France on the right, RIGHT! ...er, no actually.
Play Thelwell at right back, who hasn't had a game for six weeks and Marshall on the right wing who, although known for his versatility, has never played right midfield. Obviously we are losing at half time and a change is required. Surely Marshall will get his chance in the middle and France will assume his position on the right? Don't be silly, instead move Damien into midfield again... and move the tiring Thelwell from right back to centre back.
Asking players to play in positions that they usually don't, doesn't work, yet we persist with the policy. During the pre-Pearson era such tactics were often forced upon us due to the lack of personnel available. What is the excuse now?
The case for the defence
We are second in the table. Four points clear of the chasing pack. Only Donny have more wins, more goals scored and a better goal difference and we have the third best defence in the division. How can you question the manager's decisions, especially when taking into account:
The massive pressure that comes with a team everyone expects to be better than they are. The poisoned chalice of 'potential' which has hung heavy around the club's neck for decades.
The fact that this is yet another new team which has had to do the majority of its bonding, understanding and preparation during the current campaign.
Every team that plays us prepares for the game like it is their biggest of the season (opposition web sites and message boards confirm as much).
And last, but by no means least, the Hull City Fan. I include myself in this when I say that too many City fans have become very negative. I don't blame them; it comes from years of having hopes continually dashed whilst having to accept the progress being made by seemingly smaller, less impressive teams.
The cynicism and depression which has become ingrained in the psyche of the fans is proving hard to breakdown and it rear's it's head at the earliest opportunity. The answer? Well, like all addictions and prejudices the only way to tackle them is to confront them. First, own up to the fact that you can be over critical and quick to criticise and force yourself to hold these feelings back. Having done so, immediately turn that into something positive. So when Marshall looked as though he was struggling big time playing on the right of midfield against Torquay, I stopped myself from shouting, "Taylor what the **** are you playing him on the wing for" and substituted it with "Get stuck in Marshall, keep going son" - not praising him for an indifferent performance but encouraging a player struggling with the role he has been given.
We have to realise that we only take in what we see at the match and what we read in the media. Only Taylor really knows who can do what and the impact this has on the whole team. We see a player, like him and want him to play, we don't know what he's like in training, whether or not he has an attitude problem or personal issues.
Whoever puts the shirt on and plays for City, regardless of their position in the team has received the full support and belief of the manager who knows them best and that should be good enough for us considering our current position in the division. Shouldn't it?