Philip Buckingham: The enigma of Hull City's Robert Koren
IF EVERY promotion bid requires a wise old head to navigate a march down the final straight, Hull City have few more qualified for the role than Robert Koren.
Twice the 32-year-old won a place in the Premier League with West Brom in 2008 and 2010, while captaining Slovenia at the 2010 World Cup finals also sets him far apart from the rank and file.
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Hull City's Robert Koren in action against Nottingham Forest.
Such experience has justifiably earned Koren the armband for much of his third season at the KC Stadium. But, just as the reckoning looms large, his position as a leading light in Steve Bruce’s side is under increasing scrutiny.
As omissions against Charlton and Burnley have proved of late – the first time he was named as a substitute in the league since his debut in August 2010 – Koren’s presence is no longer a given. That is a judgment based purely on form.
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City, without question, have come to expect more from a player as gifted as Koren.
In 120 appearances since arriving in the wake of Premier League relegation in the summer of 2010, the playmaker has been an inspiration behind the club’s three-year rebirth.
Only James Chester comes close to challenging him as the most important player of this Championship era. Yet, just as it begins to matter most, Koren has been found wanting.
After playing his part in Stephen Quinn’s winner within a minute of emerging off the bench at Turf Moor, the veteran was recalled to the side beaten 2-1 at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Even with City’s palpable sense of injustice when surrendering a half-time lead, it was a decision that lacked vindication.
Koren, back on the right of an attack-minded trio, only ever briefly ventured in off the periphery of the contest, struggling to make his mark on a busy midfield battle.
The link-up play with George Boyd and Gedo, so often a strength of his, was consistently short of incision, and his goal threat was limited to a first-half free-kick comfortably saved by Karl Darlow.
Koren has been usurped as City’s creative poster boy.
Boyd, the scorer of the opening goal, has enjoyed a magnificent start to life with the Tigers and threatens to push Koren into the shadows.
Finding a space for both players at Huddersfield in 12 days’ time will prove difficult for Bruce to justify on this form.
Koren is City’s enigma, majestic one week, indifferent the next.
Boyd has a similar charm within his make-up and with substance prioritised over style during April’s hard yards, one may have to make way for the other more often than not. On this evidence, there is only one pressing his claims at present.
9 Comments
by Bumblebeard
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:41PM
“City won't go up - there are at least 8 sides better, I expect Cardiff city & Crystal palace to go up automatically & the tricky trees to go up via the play-off's.”
by BigBillyBilly
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 1:17AM
“It would have been remiss of Steve Bruce NOT to seek a Premier League standard midfielder to support Robert Koren,but in my view it was a mistake to play both of them at Crystal Palace.Hull City should have to work hard for the right to play sexy football,and we really haven't got that balance right yet.Either we're really unsexy (Millwall,Burnley,say...) or super-sexy (Leeds,Birmingham).
I trust Steve Bruce to get the balance right to the end of the season,but we have a strong squad that enables him to rest tired players.We are well placed to succeed,however the team sets up.
However,I do agree that we could do with stronger performances against the stronger teams,as the only feather in our cap so far was defeating Watford at Vicarage Road in December,and we'll need to beat teams of our standard to stay in the top Division if we do indeed make it.
I think that Steve Bruce is determined to persist with our style because being hard to beat won't garner the wins we'll need to survive next year,we'll have to take some risks.
Like many,I think we are very imperfect,but we seem no more imperfect than Palace and Watford and many others:how else could we still be 2nd after 3 defeats in 5?”
by BigBillyBilly
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 1:13AM
“It would have been remiss of Steve Bruce NOT to seek a Premier League standard midfielder to support Robert Koren,but in my view it was a mistake to play both of them at Crystal Palace.Hull City should have to work hard for the right to play sexy football,and we really haven't got that balance right yet.Either we're really unsexy (Millwall,Burnley,say...) or super-sexy (Leeds,Birmingham).
I trust Steve Bruce to get the balance right to the end of the season,but we have a strong squad that enables him to rest tired players.We are well placed to succeed,however the team sets up.
However,I do agree that we could do with stronger performances against the stronger teams,as the only feather in our cap so far was defeating Watford at Vicarage Road in December,and we'll need to beat teams of our standard to stay in the top Division if we do indeed make it.
I think that Steve Bruce is determined to persist with our style because being hard to beat won't garner the wins we'll need to survive next year,we'll have to take some risks.
Like many,I think we are very imperfect,but we seem no more imperfect than Palace and Watford and many others:how else could we still be 2nd after 3 defeats in 5?”
by peewil
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 10:58PM
“This is a difficult time for Steve Bruce. Juggling his squad to achieve the results we all wish for is not gong to be easy. Seeing players perform well on the training ground is not the same as a competitive match situation. When City have been able to control the midfield they usually win. As a central player David Meylar's performance is crucial. His passing on Saturday was inconsistent. Robbie Brady and Elmo fulfilled their roles well. Boyd and Gedo were invariably in the best place and were unlucky not to score more. Robbie Koren did not appear to be covering the midfield area as well as he has done in the past which allowed Forest's players to overrun Meylar and the midfield. Hopefully the international break will revitalise our squad, especially the centre midfield players. They are the hub of the side and we need them to perform at their best for the rest of the season. I would also like to see Fathi playing more of a part in the side. He is, after all, an internationally recognised midfield player with experience of big games. He is also capable of playing a centre midfield, or defence, role.”
by TigerPhi1
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 6:46PM
“I feel this season has taken it out of him - he has played pretty much 90 mins in every game without rest - he is in need of a bit of a break.... This week will be good for him - especially as we dont play until the Hudds game. Once he is back up and running again he will be good...”
by PompeyPete40
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 4:17PM
“Koren is a class act but I think lately he has been successful when coming on as an impact player. Perhaps hes not able now to play a full 90 mins and maybe this role would suit him better. The one thing you can take away from his is the fact that he will always come up with a goal at a crucial time”
by Appetite
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 1:19PM
“Everyone's entitled to their opinion but i think now is not the time to start getting on people's back, but rather to get behind everyone in the team for that final push. Let's not forget we wouldnt be where we are now without Koren's goals this season. Form is temporary, class is permanent.”
by hovetiger
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 11:54AM
“Still a class act and even when he is seemingly on the periphery he is still the most capable in our side of producing the defence splitting pass that wins a game.”
by hovetiger
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 11:51AM
“Still a class act, and often is the one who makes the incisive pass which creates the goal. Difficult to drop even when he doesnt appear to doing much simply because, as at Burnley, as against Leeds with his pass to Corry Evans etc, he is still the one player who can create that one moment of magic that can win the game”