We will look at everything in Cup break, says boss Rosenior
The next month will present Liam Rosenior and his staff with the opportunity to undertake a forensic examination of Hull City’s season so far. City do not play again until they begin their festive fixtures at Watford on December 11 giving Rosenior the chance to get his feet firmly under the Tigers’ table after three games to whet his appetite following his appointment at the beginning of the month.
As part of Rosenior’s plan to whip his squad into shape and hammer home his philosophy, the players will jet off to Turkiye on Sunday week for a week-long training camp where they’re expected to play two games, with one coming against Istanbul Basaksehir, and the other against Champions League opposition, though that game is now in some doubt with the opposition considering their options following the attack in Istanbul on Sunday.
“There’s no such thing as (time off ) for a manager,” Rosenior explained.
“You are thinking 24/7 about it to improve. It will be a really good time for me and my staff to assess everything - the squad and our performances as a group.”
Since Rosenior was appointed, City drew 0-0 at Millwall having played an hour with 10 men and then went to Cardiff City and secured a thrilling 3-2 victory, before suffering injurytime heartbreak against Reading on Saturday to lose 2-1, having been a goal in front early on.
“I am happy with the break, regardless of the result,” he said. “It would not have been one where if we’d won the game I am saying ‘I wish we could continue.’
“It will give me the time I need to get the processes in place that I need to make this team a better team.”
Both Reading goals came from set-pieces, which is a problem that’s hampered their progress all season and a key area for improvement over the next month, says the City chief.
“We have been defending setplays and corners, since I have come in, in a different way.
“We were outstanding against Millwall.
“But we just switched off (against Reading), which happens.
“But we cannot afford that. Overall, the performance levels in the three games have been very, very good, so I am not going to be too down on the players as they have given me so much.
“It is hard when a new manager comes in to take on board the new information we are giving them and to hear a different voice.
“They are trying to do their best and that’s all I can ask for.”