In the Brown stuff... but Hull's Phil deserves respect

Phil Brown has been left very isolated at the KC Stadium after this week’s turmoil at Hull City.

At any football club, the relationship between the guy who runs the club and the manager has to be the most important of all.

Brown clearly had a terrific understanding and working relationship with Paul Duffen up until he left as Hull chairman this week.

The problem now is that the manager, under pressure to turn things around quickly, has lost his biggest supporter.

That comes on the back of Hull being booed by their own fans for the first time against Portsmouth last week during the goalless draw against a team in an even worse state than themselves.

It is a miserable state of affairs at Hull and Brown will now be under no illusions about the job in front of him.

But it all comes down to the fact that Hull do not have enough up front as, just like all the other struggling teams, they lack the most commodity of all: goals.

That might sound an easy statement to make. But just look at the contrast between Hull and another of last season’s strugglers, Sunderland.

Sunderland, with fresh investment and a new manager in Steve Bruce, went for Darren Bent in the summer. So did Hull.

Sunderland got their man, paired Bent with Kenwyne Jones, and they look a totally different proposition altogether.

Hull, meanwhile, missed out on Bent, missed out on Alvaro Negredo, missed out on Michael Owen - and they are struggling to score goals as a result.

Let’s be honest, the strikers didn’t want to go to Hull because of the way they finished last season.

You knew and could foresee this season would be a struggle. Then to add to Hull’s problems, they sold Michael Turner for £6m when originally Brown was talking as if he was worth at least twice that.

Hull are clearly having to cut back, budget and don’t have big money to spend and they clearly cannot afford to be relegated. Nobody can.

But they are a club in trouble and need results quickly. Forget about the team talk on the pitch at Manchester City for a moment. Forget about the end-of-season karaoke performance.

It’s not even a case of whether Brown has got it in himself to turn it around, it’s more about whether the team are able to produce the performances for him.

Brown says the players are 1,000,000 per cent behind him. No-one has suggested that Brown has in any way lost the dressing room.

But they really need to dig in and deliver for their manager now. They need results - and fast.

They started last season in great form and finished appallingly. If their season had gone the other way round - appalling start and then great finish to stay up against all the odds - then Brown would be lauded as Manager of the Year.

But where has all that promise and excitement from a year ago gone? Remember Geovanni? Wasn’t he supposed to be a world beater? He is just a typical example of the players losing their way.

Through all of this and whatever happens next, people will still remember Brown as a character. He attracts media attention and headlines.

Let’s be honest, Hull have had more coverage and column inches with Brown in charge than they would have had without. With Brown at the helm last season, Hull probably got more coverage than, say, Middlesbrough. Is that a bad thing?

Clearly, Brown enjoys the limelight. The karaoke. The half time team talk on the pitch. That's what Brown is remembered for.

And just look at the statistics since that famous team talk. Played 29, won 3, drawn 7, lost 19. However much Brown plays down that team talk, the stats tell their own story.

So what next for Brown? He needs to turn things round very quickly at Hull otherwise he will be on his bike. I sincerely hope he turns it round because I never, ever want to see a manager sacked.

But if he loses his job, then of course he’ll come back. He may not resurface straight away in the Premier League.

However, don’t forget he took Hull City into the Premier League, put them on the map and, despite everything, deserves huge respect for that.



Which classic football manager are you? Take our test

Follow MirrorFootball on Twitter for breaking news, the latest opinions and fun stuff throughout the day

Get the best priced tickets to the best games at Mirror Tickets.

Win two tickets to see Fulham vs Man City with Mirror Football.

Your comments

Related content

Terry's next problem: What to do about Chelsea's creaking defence?
    Arsene must loosen the purse strings if Arsenal are to compete again, plus why Terry simply had to go
      Bentley can win back his England place, plus Moyes can capitalise on nervy Liverpool
        Rooney is now one of the world's three best players but I'm still tipping Chelsea for the title
          Why Landon Donovan is my top January signing, plus Frank Lampard and Sol Campbell
            West Ham's new owners, Jermaine Beckford and my three tips for relegation
              Why this season's Carling Cup is putting its big brother in the shade
                Why City's Given is the strong outsider to pip Drogba and Fabregas for Player Of The Year

                  Latest opinions

                  Blog

                  Is this the longest long-range goal of all-time?

                  Football Banter 15:34 09/02/10

                      David Beckham's scored from his own half. So has ex-Liverpool star Xabi Alonso. In fact, he's done i... Read More+

                      Blog

                      3PM Extra: The best things we've found on the internet today - Tuesday, February 9

                      Football Banter 15:00 09/02/10

                          Almost hometime, and here we are again with another selection of good stuff we've found on the web..... Read More+

                          Column

                          West Ham's players should tell Sullivan and Gold where they can stick their pay cuts

                          Darren Lewis 14:54 09/02/10

                              Personally, I’m getting a bit fed up of David Gold and David Sullivan using the media to justify boo... Read More+

                              Column

                              Why the Merseyside derby did football no favours

                              Darren Lewis 14:32 09/02/10

                                  The only things missing from the Battle of Anfield on Saturday were baseball bats and bomber jackets... Read More+

                                  Column

                                  Why Tottenham's players need to show as much ambition as their manager

                                  Darren Lewis 14:28 09/02/10

                                      One win in their last five Premier League games and just three goals since the start of 2010.Tottenh... Read More+

                                      Column

                                      Liverpool remain on course to be third among equals

                                      David Maddock 11:49 09/02/10

                                          What did we learn from the Merseyside derby, apart from the now obvious fact that it is the most vio... Read More+

                                          Column

                                          I'm quite happy with my Mersey derbies having a bit of extra punch

                                          David Maddock 11:42 09/02/10

                                              I'm not adverse to a little violence in football, at the right times, as it happens.Let’s face it, t... Read More+

                                              Blog

                                              On your marks, get set, go... the race is on for the Premier League finish line - Martin Lipton's big lunchtime read

                                              Laptop with Martin Lipton 11:19 09/02/10

                                                  The run-in begins now, the fight to the finish, all or nothing at both ends.And while nobody would t... Read More+

                                                  Column

                                                  Brace yourselves Liverpool fans... the takeover silly season is here

                                                  David Maddock 11:18 09/02/10

                                                      Here's a warning to all Liverpool fans... the takeover silly season has started.By that, I mean brac... Read More+

                                                      Column

                                                      Why two wins this week would be the perfect Valentine's gift for fans in love with the Blues

                                                      Birmingham City 10:58 09/02/10

                                                          So... 37 points in February, is it time to crack out the champagne?Following a fantastic win against... Read More+

                                                          Blog

                                                          Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Tuesday's papers

                                                          Football Spy 09:56 09/02/10

                                                              From today's Daily MirrorArsenal loan star holds showdown talks after QPR axe - ExclusiveBaggies tie... Read More+

                                                              Blog

                                                              Arsenal's descent could lead to madness if Fabregas calls it a day

                                                              Laptop with Martin Lipton 23:00 08/02/10

                                                                  The descent has been steep and dramatic, a seemingly endless battle against gravity.But while Arsene... Read More+

                                                                  Who should replace John Terry as England captain?

                                                                  Latest columnists

                                                                  Darren Lewis

                                                                  Darren Lewis Read more from Darren Lewis

                                                                  David Maddock

                                                                  David Maddock Read more from David Maddock

                                                                  Simon Bird

                                                                  Simon Bird Read more from Simon Bird

                                                                  Matt Lawrence

                                                                  Matt Lawrence Read more from Matt Lawrence

                                                                  Stan Collymore

                                                                  Stan Collymore Read more from Stan Collymore

                                                                  Latest blogs

                                                                  Is this the longest long-range goal of all-time? - Football Banter
                                                                    3PM Extra: The best things we've found on the internet today - Tuesday, February 9 - Football Banter
                                                                      On your marks, get set, go... the race is on for the Premier League finish line - Martin Lipton's big lunchtime read - Laptop with Martin Lipton
                                                                        Why two wins this week would be the perfect Valentine's gift for fans in love with the Blues - Birmingham City
                                                                          Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Tuesday's papers - Football Spy
                                                                            Arsenal's descent could lead to madness if Fabregas calls it a day - Laptop with Martin Lipton
                                                                              Don't bet on Avram Grant or Portsmouth being around next season - Betting Blog
                                                                                Merk my words, Rio and England can't go wrong in Euro qualifiers - Betting Blog