Key events
Joe Pearson gets in touch: “You mentioned how Hull is clearly prioritizing their position in the Championship, rather than this FA Cup tie. I wonder which Championship team is going to send out the weaker side in the other match today between Wrexham and Ipswich. An all ball-boys 22 perhaps?”
The answer is five changes for Wrexham, and 10 for Ipswich.
Seven changes for Chelsea with Cole Palmer, Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro all stepping down. It still looks a pretty strong team though how cohesive will the starting team be?
Andx changes, and with some regret for Hullwith the EFL a clear priority. Not much magic in a selection that drops Ivor Pandur, Charlie Hughes, John Lundstram, Joe Gelhardt, Oli McBurnie and Kyle Joseph.
But let’s see.
Liam Rosenior’s ties to Hull City run deepas he told the BBC this week: “I’ve got an emotional family connection with the club through my grandma. I used to go up there when I was a little boy. I’m talking four or five years old on summer holidays all the way through. Without that football club, I wouldn’t be here now.
“She was a season ticket holder. She got to see me play there. Sadly she passed away pretty much a year to the day before I joined Hull as manager.”
Now, how does he pronounce the word “soap”?
First thing to say is that Hadziahmetovic will be tonight’s copy and paste player.
The teams
Hull: Phillips, Coyle, Egan, McNair, McCarthy, Giles, Hadziahmetovic, Slater, Hirakawa, Koumas, Millar. Subs: Pandur, Lunstram, Jacob, Drameh, Gerhardt, Joseph, Fames, Dowell, Tinsdale
Chelsea: Sanchez, James, Fofana, Sarr, Hato, Caicedo, Santos, Neto, Estevao, Garnacho, Delap. Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Gusto, Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Fernandez, Derry, Joao Peter, Mheuka
Last time out for Chelsea showed the slackness that has cost them this season.
Will Unwin
Will Unwin dug into Rosenior’s time at Hull.
Rosenior was popular at Hull, appreciated for his hard work as a player and for bringing back hope as a coach after a downturn. Many think he was harshly treated when sacked by the owner, Acun Ilicali, less than two years ago but it inadvertently sent Rosenior upwards.
Preamble
To Hull and back and all that, a familiar journey for Liam Rosenior, well thought of as Tigers manager until he was relieved of his duties in May 2024. The East Yorkshire/Humberside club – choose your local governmenr act – of Kingston upon Hull are riding high in the Championship, fourth place going into this weekend. Sergej Jakirović’s team took only one point from their last two matches or else they might be yet higher in the promotion hunt. He’s the third manager since Rosenior ar a club where turmoil is almost as frequent as it has been at Chelsea. Rosenior’s current team had a Tuesday wobble against Leeds, and that vast squad will be reached into, even if they have eight days off after this tie. Let’s see if the North Sea wind is an ill one or not for the Blues.
Kick-off at 7.45pm UK time: Join me.
