Peter Swan: This Hull City side is better the Phil Brown's Wembley promotion winners
THE key to beating Barnsley on Saturday is simple. Score two goals and we will win.
In 12 of their 13 games this season Barnsley have failed to score more than once – the other game was a resounding 5-0 win at Birmingham. Go figure.
City are more than capable of scoring two goals against any side and defensively they are solid enough to limit the Tykes in their attempts on goal.
People often ask me who's the best team I have seen and in previous years I have had to say teams like Swansea and Norwich.
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But this year I have no qualms about saying Hull City are the best side I have seen.
If they can pick up three points against Barnsley, then there is no reason why automatic promotion can't be achieved.
This side is miles better than Phil Brown's side that won promotion in 2008.
Everything is better from the running of the club down to the fans.
The atmosphere around the ground is relaxed and that is reflected in the football on the pitch.
If the Tigers can cut out the individual errors at the back, then who knows what can be achieved.
The fans will expect a win against a Barnsley side who have struggled since thrashing Birmingham.
I don't expect too many changes to be made to the side because they did so well last weekend at Bristol City.
That was an important game as they needed to get back to winning ways following their 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.
The players who missed out last week might have to sit on the bench again.
The majority of players who have been given their chance are taking them. None more so than Paul McShane. I thought he was going to be a bit-part squad player but he has come in and been solid for the last five games and is worthy of his place in the team.
I'm expecting the Tigers to continue their good form and win 3-0.
They have the attacking flair to make life difficult for Keith Hill's men.
City could win playing at 90 per cent but from the fans' point of view, you'd want to see them go at 100 per cent and put a show on at the KC Stadium.
Comments
by BigBillyBilly
Saturday, November 03 2012, 2:09AM
“With echoes from 2007/8 season,City played Barnsley in an evening,televised game,about this time of year,which gave me my first viewing of Fraizer Campbell,City's recruit from Man U's feeder club,Standard Liege.Campbell scored first with exceptional cool,as he had so consistently for the Belgian side.I think we won 3-0,but most impressively,completely dominated Barnsley.
I think we'll win on Saturday,and beat Wolves as well,our non-performance at Boro will colour all the players' thinking for the next few matches,at least.However,I honestly think that this group of players have to cross the Rubicon at some point,and arrive close to the top of the table and then relish the 'pressure' to prove we deserve to be there.How we then cope will tell us a lot about our survival prospects on arrival in the Premier League.(Just BELIEVE!)
As ever,we rarely get a mention,whereas if we were Leeds in 6th we would be 'on the prowl',or 'menacing',or some such.
This team is still learning how to play different systems,so don't expect consistent results,but we should have the ability to press hard and be noticed.C'mon Leroy Rosenior,tell the Nation's Ignorami that something's beginning to rumble just north of The Humber,and it's not just Liam's contract negotiations....”
by Davidht11
Friday, November 02 2012, 5:31PM
“On paper and individually Peter Swann is probably right and we are already better placed at the same time than in the promotion season. We didn't get into a play-off position until March. In fact at the same stage that season we were in the bottom half of the table. The current team is not converting anything like enough of the huge number of chances into goals, same old problem.
Always at my most nervous when we are playing teams that we 'should' beat I can only see the KC covered in banana skins everywhere! SB needs to instill a ruthless streak in the Tigers.”
by wezzytiger
Friday, November 02 2012, 4:32PM
“my only concern is the fact fact we have uncovered a gem in sone aluko. He will surely leave for the african cup of nations. So me thinks we need points on the board sooner rather than later.”
by SteveB1234567
Friday, November 02 2012, 2:14PM
“We always seem to look at the present through rose-tinted glasses; if they're better than the only Hull City team to gain promotion to the top flight ever then I look forward to seeing them prove it.”
by SnothillBaz
Friday, November 02 2012, 9:28AM
“Proof readers? You're 'avin a larf, surely! These days most newspapers are produced using sweatshop labour in India and Pakistan, thereby costing local jobs and killing the local economy. Then the newspaper proprietors complain they are losing circulation and advertising revenue, don't they realise they are cutting their own throats by shipping out the work to 3rd world sweatshops? Not to mention the ethics of child labour, etc etc.”
by SuperRick
Friday, November 02 2012, 8:17AM
“Is that right Swanny, beat Barnsley on Saturday and we're up? Thought not!
For quite a lot of the 2008 seasion we were quite average but got it right when it matters, towards the end! As Fergie says, no trophies are handed out at Christmas - ask Watford in 2008, who were 16 points clear and did not go up (we hammered them in the play off semi!).
There are a lot of games to go, please do not get carried away and start booking hotels for away games at Arsenal and Chelsea just yet!”
by DeanHull
Friday, November 02 2012, 8:09AM
“Go figure?... haha!”
by BigBillyBilly
Friday, November 02 2012, 12:46AM
“That 2008 team lacked the fluency of this one but had a strong spine.Myhill,Turner,Ashbee and Campbell.The first three dominated their area of the field,the latter was gifted and clinical.We also possessed that arch-linkman,Nick Barmby,and the ageing star,Dean Windass.
Right now,I'd back that team to beat the current group in a play-off final,because they could defend for long periods and had the players to punish mistakes.
So let's not get carried away,Swanny or anyone else.This division will be close all the way,and I want our players to show,when the time comes,that they can win under pressure,whether or not that can be achieved with a 3-5-2.The same will apply to Cardiff and Leicester and anyone else who gets their neck in front in the next 5 or 6 months.Having the feeling that we are good enough to be promoted automatically is probably one currently shared by about 12 teams,while making the play offs will still be a goal of about 20 teams.THAT'S how tough it is to get out of this division.We must focus only on being good enough at the point of promotion to have a realistic chance of survival in the Premier League,which is NOT something we can say about the class of 2008,alas!”
by Tigerjim
Thursday, November 01 2012, 8:16PM
“Never known Swanny to be so positive, and he's right for once! This side is miles better than the 2008 vintage (and that was a good side too). It's more balanced, the squad is deeper, and we are playing with flare from the beginning of the season: The 2008 campaign didn't click until after Christmas, then storned up the table. But no cause for complacency v Barnsley. Not so sure I'd go for 3-0, but it would be great to keep a clean sheet, win and play well. UTT!”
by Shelftiger
Thursday, November 01 2012, 7:39PM
“Does anyone ever proof read any more? The title of this article does not scan,
'The' instead of 'Than' and the stories nearly always have spelling mistakes !!! just a pet hate of mine. Anyway rant over -..
This team is definitely better than 2008, and that team was my all time favourite. Looking forward to the rest of the season and roll on Saturday.
C'mon u Tigers”