Match Day Thread Hull City v Derby

It's not about panicking.
It's about discussing our current thoughts about our team / club on a message board.

 

Individually

 

So .. 3 games in ... are we still confident we'll score goals at this level ? Some on here were horrified that I suggested we'd struggle and needed some investment in those areas ! Daft lad needs to stop mucking around get that fkn loan sorted and give McCann a semblance of a budget to give us a chance to compete on a level playing field .. midtable budget my 4rse

 

I think you've missed out a big concern there. Which is our piss poor home attendances. To be fair I was in West Stand last night, which was like a library but from there the East Stand sounded loud, quite impressive really, and it looked quite full.
So I take on board all your concerns above but do think our low fan base is also a concern and a bit of dead weight around our necks financially.
Compared to Sheffield Wednesday were I am told it is £44 for a one off match day ticket, they are still pulling in over 24,000 in League 1 and Sheffield United who are heading for a sell out this Saturday at home even following a humiliating relegation last season and a 4-0 thumping last night. Our 10,000 crowds look a bit pale in comparison.

 

The worry for me is by the time Wilks/Honeyman get up and firing (take into account they have had no preseason), we could be well adrift considering the next half dozen fixtures.

Not sure it's been said, but when we were chasing the game against a geriatric defence, we match them up with Eaves and Magennis. Davis and Jagielga must have been pissing themselves. I know it was down to player availability, but that situation aint gonna change much soon.

 

I don't know where Ehab got this 'mid-table budget' **** from. We've signed mostly League One and League Two players on frees or Premier League youngsters who've only ever played on loan in League One or League Two. Moncur and Huddlestone are the only players we've signed that can be considered Championship-quality signings that have improved us. We've not actually improved from last season's squad imo. We've replaced our outgoings and loan players who returned to their parent clubs with players who are equal, worse or unproven, but not really better.

I wasn't expecting us to spend lots of money this summer before the embargo came to light but as an example to compare, Luton paid around £500,000 in compensation to Motherwell to sign Allan Campbell. That is exactly the sort of the player we should've been after in the summer as a long-term replacement for Smallwood in that defensive midfield role and £500,000 is nowt these days for a solid defensive midfielder. It's only slightly higher than what we paid Rangers for Docherty. This embargo is self-inflicted. Derby and Reading would probably give a bollock to have our embargo terms as all they'd have to do is pay back £500,000.

 

I was asked the classic 'what is bitter? I dont drink'. Sorry I don't give a **** if you drink or not, but you are been paid as a barman, you should know. I wonder if they actually receive any training.

 

You know more then a Sheffield Wednesday fan , from Sheffield who I was talking too this morning then obviously. 24,000 plus gates in League 1 against a newly promoted club, as champions, playing in the Championship attracting 10,000 ? I can see your argument,

 

Really? Sounds like a Bedwetters reunion.

 

The attendances are a big issue, the question is what do we do about it. I feel we get bogged down by comparing our prices to everyone else but it doesn't matter. Point is the crowds are still piss poor, so we need to do something. Best thing would have been to not drive so many away in the first place but we are where we are.

 

Isn't reducing prices, bringing back concessions, and selling bundles which brings admission down even further 'doing something about it' ?

 

Who is panicking?

 

Perhaps the Owls fan was quoting taking himself and his son to a game which would still cost over the £44 mark he told me today ?
Also you are forgetting Hull City are in the Championship and Wednesday are in League 1.

 

Sort of, but I think we all know it's not going to be anywhere near enough.

Sadly, reverting all the concessions and other stuff that drove people away hasn't brought anywhere near as many back. I think at the time we knew that would be the case. Now we'll just have to do a lot more to get those people back or attract others.

I don't think there's a simple answer, but I think PR and promoting the club would be my first port of call. The endless negativity around finances, embargoes, we can't afford this or that, we're not close enough to London, we're not saleable, all of which seems self-inflicted. That all needs to go, and be replaced with Pearson/Duffen style hype and positivity.

 

It's a start, but just dropping the price isn't enough to get people through the door, as any shop owner knows. And that's without considering the complex recent history of the club and its "customers" which throws up all sorts of other considerations and relationships that need to be mended.