Hulse

[James1979]

we're top by playing one up front, why change to playing 2? Hulse's main job is to win headers and bring others like adel into the game. He does that well imo.

[brightonr]

we're top by playing one up front, why change to playing 2?

Good point James.

Hulse's main job is to win headers and bring others like adel into the game. He does that well imo.

But why can't we have a skillful player to bring others into the game, instead of a useless lump like Hulse doing it? A player who can score from decent positions. One that doesn't necessitate hoofing endless balls upfield in the forlorn hope that they bounce off his head into the path of someone who can score.

I too hope he proves me wrong, but if he takes much longer, the damage will have been done.

[JonDoeman]

we should sell him then.

Who'd buy an ageing often injured non scoring striker?

[PedalR]

I've only really seen him in last two games. Both times he's had to plough a lone furrough on his jacksy up front. He's had to endure being man-to-man marked with poor/limited service. In both games he's had to deal with refs who've seemed to pull him for a soft foul for every 2 out of 3 challenges he's won.... basically he's been asked to perform a pretty hopeless task. I'd never suggest that Hulse was compareable to Torres but we've all seen how a world-class striker like Torres can suddenly look pedestrian if they are not properly supplied/supported by rest of team.
Yesterday Hulse stuck at it, won more than his fair share of ball and worked his nads off. Iwelumo (who's a similar type player) had to do a similar role yesterday and he looked far less effective than Hulse. Finally, Helguson barely touched ball after replacing Hulse yesterday - I know he only had 10 mins but it did illustrate the general "thanklessness" of being the sole man upfront yesterday... trying to make someting of balls fired in during driving rain, swirling wind and two ugly CBs constantly digging at you.
So, I'd want to reserve judgement on Hulse whilst we're playing the kind of shape/formation (xmas tree???) we do at the mo'.

[Hoopaman]

I've only really seen him in last two games. Both times he's had to plough a lone furrough on his jacksy up front. He's had to endure being man-to-man marked with poor/limited service. In both games he's had to deal with refs who've seemed to pull him for a soft foul for every 2 out of 3 challenges he's won.... basically he's been asked to perform a pretty hopeless task. I'd never suggest that Hulse was compareable to Torres but we've all seen how a world-class striker like Torres can suddenly look pedestrian if they are not properly supplied/supported by rest of team.
Yesterday Hulse stuck at it, won more than his fair share of ball and worked his nads off. Iwelumo (who's a similar type player) had to do a similar role yesterday and he looked far less effective than Hulse. Finally, Helguson barely touched ball after replacing Hulse yesterday - I know he only had 10 mins but it did illustrate the general "thanklessness" of being the sole man upfront yesterday... trying to make someting of balls fired in during driving rain, swirling wind and two ugly CBs constantly digging at you.
So, I'd want to reserve judgement on Hulse whilst we're playing the kind of shape/formation (xmas tree???) we do at the mo'.

You are spot on. The team is built around Taarabt and Hulse is there to do a job. Which I think he does rather well. Yeah he needs a goal but that will come.

[JonDoeman]

Yeah it is a good post PedalR, but he needs to stop missing sitters.

[G.T.P]

fantasy island talk. wheres the plane?
hulse will NEVER be prolific, and will NEVER go on a goalscoring run. hes proved that thus far, and hes only got a couple of games left till hes out the side forever anyway imo.
stop comparing him to furs, cos its madness.

oh and how we all laughed when cardiff got parkin, but what a debut goal. hulse aint got that in him if he played till he was 92.

[Robsondinho]

fantasy island talk. wheres the plane?
hulse will NEVER be prolific, and will NEVER go on a goalscoring run. hes proved that thus far, and hes only got a couple of games left till hes out the side forever anyway imo.
stop comparing him to furs, cos its madness.

oh and how we all laughed when cardiff got parkin, but what a debut goal. hulse aint got that in him if he played till he was 92.

18 in a season for Derby aint bad for a championship striker.

Unless we sign David Villa, Zlatan Ibrahimovic ETC. No one will be prolific (1 in 2 im talking about at this level). Point being unless we spend stupid money we will not sign a great goalscorer. As I said earlier strikers play on confidence, no one except superstars can garantee you goals. As a striker your only good as your service (altough Hulsey has missed a few sitters )

[G.T.P]

yeah, he had a good season when he was hungry and things went well for him. hes not the man for the job, its been proven, good goalscorers do more than hes done thus far.
i should of put 'will never be prolific again' to keep the pedants happy, my bad.
hes 32 and on his way out the game, not up and coming like the two we all want.
a 1 in 3 man is three million (austin) to five million (graham) imho.
a 1 in 25 (hulse) is 750k.

[RussRanger]

Gerryhatrick, I would argue that Gallen got better with age. Although not the tallest, his awareness for bringing others into play and his general hold up play was pretty good in a mediocre team. He'd also drop back into midfield to help out. If Hulse could be more like him, we'd be okay.

[Stanley]

At 31 Hulse still has a good 4/5 years left in him. A bit early to be writing him off especially at NPC level. Call yourselves 'supporters'

[stainrodisalegend]

Hulse has had more than one good season GDP, look at his goalscoring record, it stands comparisoin with virtually any established striker in this division. But his record is not the issue - the point is he hasn't done a great deal in the eight or so games he's played so far (in fairness I've seen him have two pretty good games, the stand out being at home to Preston). But his performance gainst Bristol City was more typical when he missed a hat full. I don't buy the line about his work being all selfless and brilliant for the team - think Helguson brings others into play by heading the ball back to on-rushing players but Hulse just seems to flick long balls on to no one but the opposition goalkeeper. I still think he could come good but his mobility is a concern and the question remains how many games can we continue to say "give him time"? 2? 5? 10? 15? Or wait the full 20 when it might be too late?

[G.T.P]

At 31 Hulse still has a good 4/5 years left in him. A bit early to be writing him off especially at NPC level. Call yourselves 'supporters'

not with us tho, we will be prem. do you want him leading the line against terry and ferdinand etc?

[SheepRanger]

A strikers game is all about confidence, I mean look at Torres, on of the worlds finest strikers, but watching him at the moment you would think he plays for the dog & duck in Divions 27 of Sunday football.

Hulse needs a couple of goals to get going, BUT can we and do we have the time to wait for these goals to come?

Ishmael Miller it is then...

Sorry, wrong thread

[Warnocks Lad]

He wins the headers well but his shooting is abismal.