We are doing things a bit differently for this game.

Andy Beill from Hull City Online, contacted us to see if we wanted to do a joint review. So Andy has done the preview from the Hull City side and I am posting that here. I have done it from the Blues side and Andy is posting it on his site.

Over to Andy:

The Gameplan
4-4-2, although with our wingers injured at the moment 4-3-3 could be viable. If this turns out to be more 4-5-1, past attempts show that doesn’t work: Our forwards don’t have the all-round game to play as a lone striker, and midfielders don’t get up to support well enough.

Strengths
A fit and on-form Jimmy Bullard can run the game, although since his most recent injury we’ve not seen that.

Our forwards can be a handful for defenders, whether it’s the strength of Jozy Altidore, the ability of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to lay the ball off, or the tenacity of Craig Fagan.

Free kicks and corners from Bullard (and Dawson) and long throws from Sonko and Kilbane are things we should be able to make more of.

Weaknesses
We can give away goals in the opening and closing minutes of either half (and any time in between…) which makes it hard to come back from, and can lead to a thrashing as we chase the game. Not enough attention was paid to the defence going into this season, and you need only look at Birmingham to see what difference a solid unit at the
back and a competency in pressing in midfield can make, only needing to nick one goal to pick up points. We have no options at full back, and in the centre they’re either inexperienced (Mouyokolo, Cooper) or unreliable (Sonko, Gardner, Zayatte).

Injuries/Suspensions
Richard Garcia and Bernard Mendy have both picked up injuries this week ruling them out of the game. If Dowie sticks with 4-4-2 Craig Fagan could move to right wing, otherwise it’s a choice from Geovanni, Kamel Ghilas, Nick Barmby and Dean Marney.

On the opposite flank, Stephen Hunt is out for the rest of the season so Kevin Kilbane may continue in that position, or Tom Cairney could get a chance.

Andy Dawson was stretchered off last week but has since returned to training so should play, otherwise Kilbane will move to left-back.

Anthony Gardner and Kamil Zayatte are definitely out so Mouyokolo and Sonko will continue in central defence.

Amr Zaki won’t be fit in time for this game.

Player by Player

Boaz Myhill – A good shot-stopper but doesn’t command his box or defence at the best of times, and while his confidence appears low at the moment it’s a vicious circle with even backpasses being scuffed.

Paul McShane – Brave and committed but things don’t seem to go his way and his lack of pace doesn’t help. A decent right-back on his day, but worse in his favoured centre back position.

Andy Dawson – A long-standing and popular member of our squad but with his limitations – height, pace,  one-footedness – it’s surprising he’s remained our first choice left back since promotion to the Premier League. His precise last-ditch tackles can save him, and he offers good delivery and the odd goal from dead balls.

Ibrahima Sonko – An unpopular replacement when Michael Turner was sold, and was ditched from the first team by Phil Brown after just five appearances. Has a lack of awareness in dangerous positions leaving fans’ hearts in mouths. However, he’s had a bit more of a no-nonsense approach since being recalled by Dowie and we’re getting some use out of him.

Stephen Mouyokolo – Picked up from the French league in the summer and after being left to develop has proved to be a revelation since getting his chance in the new year. Quick, strong and calm, he looks to be a great prospect – one we’ll surely lose if we go down.

Craig Fagan – Naturally a centre forward but doesn’t get enough goals so is more useful in a supporting role, probably on the right wing this week. Brings energy to the team as he never stops running and chasing. Lack of sportsmanship works both ways as he wins fouls but gives them away too, much to fans’ frustration.

Kevin Kilbane – Not a popular player, many fans wondering how his style of pointing whilst not getting on the ball has earned him so many appearances at the top level. This makes him an unsuitable choice in central midfield but as whatever pace he had has gone he doesn’t seem competent on the left either.

George Boateng – Has become a cult hero. He seemed to be declining fast and fell out of favour with Phil Brown earlier in the season. However, after sorting out their differences, and George perhaps accepting his limitations and the way he now has to play, he’s been a lynchpin in the midfield while we’ve been without long-term injury victim and club captain Ian Ashbee. Putting his body on the line week after week – often to the point he gets flattened – he sets an example not enough of his team-mates follow.

Jimmy Bullard – Always looking to get on the ball, with a surprisingly high level of fitness and work-rate, and a good sense of when to lay it off to the full backs, when to play a one-two so he can re-take possession in a better position, and when to play a long-range pass he’s very capable of delivering. He’s also got the ability to direct shots from distance, whether from free kicks or open play, and crosses well from dead balls. This is what we saw from Jimmy Bullard in
November when he made his first start after injuries limited our £5m January 2009 signing to two substitute appearances. He galvanised the team but then left the field in tears after another knee injury on only his fourth start. We could consider ourselves lucky that this injury only ruled him out for three months, fearing at the time we wouldn’t see him play for us again. However we haven’t really seen the Jimmy Bullard we’d come to expect since his comeback, looking fearful of taking over the game and playing it simple before a challenge comes in. We need him to lose these shackles as we’re seeing the shadow of a great player. Many fans are already calling for him to be replaced by a more committed player.

Jozy Altidore – A very likeable character but we need him to have more of a nasty streak on the pitch because when he shows aggression he has the strength and athleticism to give even the toughest defenders problems. We’re unlikely to be able to afford keeping him after his loan spell ends so it’s a shame our managers haven’t had enough faith or developed him more to see him reach his potential while he’s been here.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink – Needs a strike partner with him as he wins flick-ons and holds the ball up well but lacks the mobility to lead the line on his own. Another player we’ve not seen the best of regularly enough by not playing to his strengths or giving good enough service which he would be capable of finishing.