Post-Match Notes: Hull City’s Performance Against Leeds United
The Abu Kamara redemption arc and box office EFL football at its finest.
The Tigers took a shock lead against Leeds United and then even more surprisingly fought back from two goals down to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat. Not a bad way to notch their first point of 2025.
This edition includes the question is the social media reaction to football too often a storm in a tea cup, a blast from the past and a look at how a more concrete transfer rumour might bolster the squad.
Abu Kamara let his football do the talking after a torrid few days. The youngster was outstanding against the visitors from West Yorkshire, largely thanks to his two goals which were both coolness and technique personified with how he finished. The only thing cooler and more nonchalant was Kamara himself celebrating. All was quickly forgotten of him simply posting a supportive comment on a friend’s social media post celebrating a win for close in the table rivals Portsmouth after the Tigers had just lost to Middlesbrough. Hopefully having a big performance breathes some confidence and I fancy much needed on the pitch arrogance into the up and coming winger.
I get the frustration at his tracking back and the large transfer fee expectation too but sometimes that isn’t how football transfers play out. The social media side of the fan base seemed to have been waiting for an excuse to jump all over Abu Kamara. I think we are all reactionary in real time but I don’t think many Tigers fans would say a critical opinion in the same way to the 21 year olds face as some of what I saw on social media. So why people feel the need to do so by proxy in a sphere the players will not manage to avoid seeing I don’t know. If criticism is just over-reactionary, sometimes over the top and generally negative for the sake of it and especially when its aimed at an individual then why post it.
Abu is a young player, living somewhere new, who has been thrust in at the deep end with Millar and Belloumi out for the season. He needs to take the opportunity to develop as much as he can and shut out the noise. If people see the type of player he is going forward more often and the Tigers and he can find a balance in his work rate they’ll be onto a winner. Its up to him, his teammates and most importantly Ruben Selles to find this balance moving forwards.
Push comes to shove I’m more concerned with how many goals and assists a winger contributes than expecting them to pull off a perfect defensive performance every week. Just because the Tigers are in a relegation scrap I don’t think changes this. They have to score more goals than they have been in order to win football matches. Risk = Reward in more forward thinking positions.
At this point I’m going off on a tangent but watching the highlights back I was brought back to sitting in the car as a kid with BBC radio Humberside/KCFM on. Half of the greatest football radio double act Swanny and Burnsy has returned to club commentary in the form of Burnsy. For me it was spookily like listening to the relative glory days of the past two decades but instead it was a box office draw against high flying and top of the league, Joy Division’s greatest hit - Leeds United. Albeit a fortunate draw due to the Leeds goalkeeper deciding to drop a particularly calamitous performance and indeed the ball at Joao Pedro’s feet on one occasion.
Finally, a look at an extensively reported incoming transfer. Matt Crooks is heavily linked with the Tigers, with the former Middlesbrough midfielder rumoured to be joining from Real Salt Lake City in America-land. Presumably pronounced the Spanish way rather than simply a confirmation of its existence as an alternative to Pretend Salt Lake City. Here is a quick look at how the player profile of Matt Crooks would bolster and improve the Hull City team. He is a 30 year old, 6’4 midfielder who has a good engine, physical presence and a healthy past Championship goal return (a goal every 5/6 games) and bags of experience at the level.
This type of player profile would bring much needed height and a threat for offensive set pieces which the current Hull City squad lacks a bit. Although slightly lacking match sharpness he will adapt well in East Yorkshire with his previous experience on the sunny shores of Teesside. Hitting the ground running is very important for any additions the Tigers make this January, any match winning contributions they can get are vital to securing safety as early as possible.
Looking ahead, the weirdly timed, low ticketed, not televised FA cup clash on Sunday offers the Tigers a chance to win a football match against lesser opposition. They can build some momentum going into the game that arguably matters more against Millwall on the 18th with a good performance in the Yorkshire derby clash. Some future transfers may be watching on too.
UTT