Best since 1928 (Him again)

Stuart Elliott was watched by scouts from Newcastle United, Leeds United and Sunderland last night as he scored the winner in Hull’s 2-1 win over Doncaster.
The goal means that Elliott has become only the second Hull City player in 100 years to pass 20 goals before the New Year, having scored 21 goals in 23 competitive matches this season. The first player to pass 20 goals before the end of the year was Ken McDonald who had scored 22 goals by Christmas Day 1928 – although he only got one more all season. Let’s hope Stuarty has a fair few in him yet – and a few for Norn Iron too!

Don’t mess with us

2nd April 2003: Northern Ireland v. Greece – James Quinn and Keith Gillespie sent off by Gilewski Grzegorz. Demoted by FIFA.
8th September 2004: Wales v. Northern Ireland – Michael Hughes and David Healy sent off by Domenico Messina. Tony Capaldi denied a clear penalty. Now – Messina’s been demoted by FIFA.
You have been warned.
[Via]

Elliott looks to fulfill boyhood dream

Stuart Elliott hopes he will be able to fulfill a boyhood dream by starting against England at Old Trafford on the 26th of March. Elliott’s superb form this season – two goals from becoming Hull’s highest scorer for a decade – means that he is already very near a starting role, and the suspension of James Quinn on top of everything means that he could start up front even if he isn’t given his preferred position on the left wing.
The speculation regarding Elliott’s future continues (Sunderland are said to be stepping up their interest in him) – but Stuart has again stressed that he is quite content where he is. Hull manager Peter Taylor was also keen to deny reports in yesterdays Belfast Telegraph that they had slapped a £750,000 price tag on his head:
“We’ve not slapped anything on him.
“If there was ever an absolutely fantastic offer that was right for us – and right for Stuart – we would consider it because there is a player’s future at stake. But as far as I’m concerned, he couldn’t be happier here.
“He’s playing great. He’s scored 19 goals and he’s one of the most important players we’ve got. Why would we be looking to do anything with him?”
I always knew the ‘tele’ was rubbish.
There are also a couple of good articles about Elliott in the Hull Daily Mail:
Ask the 27-year-old Ulsterman about his future, and you get the truth. Even if you look for the mischief, it’s not there. The eyes are brown, deep and cool – and full of truth.
The very antithesis of the brat pack culture, what you see is what you get with the devout Christian.
“Every player worth their salt would love to play in the Premiership. But I’ve said, and I mean this with all my heart, when I first came here I came because as a Christian it was the right move for me. I believe I’m here because God wanted me to be here.”
And:
“A fan said to me last Saturday about bigger clubs watching me. I had to tell him that this is a massive club. There were 21,000 there last week and we’ll probably be sold out over Christmas.”
BBC Interview (RealAudio)

Elliott looks to fulfill boyhood dream

Stuart Elliott hopes he will be able to fulfill a boyhood dream by starting against England at Old Trafford on the 26th of March. Elliott’s superb form this season – two goals from becoming Hull’s highest scorer for a decade – means that he is already very near a starting role, and the suspension of James Quinn on top of everything means that he could start up front even if he isn’t given his preferred position on the left wing.
The speculation regarding Elliott’s future continues (Sunderland are said to be stepping up their interest in him) – but Stuart has again stressed that he is quite content where he is. Hull manager Peter Taylor was also keen to deny reports in yesterdays Belfast Telegraph that they had slapped a £750,000 price tag on his head:
“We’ve not slapped anything on him.
“If there was ever an absolutely fantastic offer that was right for us – and right for Stuart – we would consider it because there is a player’s future at stake. But as far as I’m concerned, he couldn’t be happier here.
“He’s playing great. He’s scored 19 goals and he’s one of the most important players we’ve got. Why would we be looking to do anything with him?”
I always knew the ‘tele’ was rubbish.
There are also a couple of good articles about Elliott in the Hull Daily Mail:
Ask the 27-year-old Ulsterman about his future, and you get the truth. Even if you look for the mischief, it’s not there. The eyes are brown, deep and cool – and full of truth.
The very antithesis of the brat pack culture, what you see is what you get with the devout Christian.
“Every player worth their salt would love to play in the Premiership. But I’ve said, and I mean this with all my heart, when I first came here I came because as a Christian it was the right move for me. I believe I’m here because God wanted me to be here.”
And:
“A fan said to me last Saturday about bigger clubs watching me. I had to tell him that this is a massive club. There were 21,000 there last week and we’ll probably be sold out over Christmas.”
BBC Interview (RealAudio)

Elliott the flavour of the week

The Belfast Telegraph are reporting that Stuart Elliott is the latest Ulsterman who’s superb form this season has been picked up on – and Premiership and Championship clubs are apparently monitoring his progress.
Elliott, who usually plays on the left wing, has scored 19 goals in 22 appearances this season – and Hull City have slapped a £750k price tag on his head.
Young Stuarty himself:
“I am having the time of my life.
“I believe I am playing the best football of my career and off the pitch things are great too.
“My family are happy, we attend a wonderful church and all those factors combined have helped me.”
The former Glentoran player has also revealed that scoring his first home goal for his country has helped him a lot as well:
“I had scored twice away from home for my country which was a great buzz but to do it in front of your own people and to see the joy it gave them was an enormous boost to me,” said Elliott.
“I have heard about speculation linking me with other clubs and while that it is flattering my job is with Hull City at present. It is a great club with big ambitions and I would love to help them gain promotion to the Championship and then go all the way to the Premiership.”
Indeed, this interest in the Premiership is what might enable Elliott to remain with Hull. The ambitious club have just moved into a new stadium (so don’t have the same financial worries as many other clubs) and have their sights firmly fixed on the top flight. At the minute however, Stuarty seems just fine where he is.

Elliott hat-trick and other matters

Elliott scoring our last goal
Stuart Elliott added 3 more goals to his total for the season on Saturday as Hull trounced third-placed Tranmere Rovers 6-1. Hull were only leading 1-0 at half time, and Elliott only had one assist to show for his afternoon’s work – but Tranmere saw a second goalkeeper unable to continue. Elliott got two of Hull’s 5 second half goals, with his third of the game being from the penalty spot. In fact, after scoring the penalty at the first attempt he had to do it all again because of Hull players in the penalty area. Then, with a good 15 minutes left Stuart was brought off before he could score any more.
Tigers boss Peter Taylor:
“I think that he’s a very dangerous player in the box and all he does is concentrate on the ball and nothing else.
“He doesn’t think about any time he’ll might get a kick. He’ll just go for anything. He’s a tremendous player.
“Stuart was just about to be taken off so I was delighted for him when he scored the penalty. We were taking him off because he’d already been cautioned and if he’d have picked up another then he’d have missed the game against Blackpool on Boxing Day through suspension.”
Funnily enough, Andy Kirk was also forced to take a penalty twice on Saturday. He also managed it however, and set Boston United on their way to a 3-1 win over Darlington.
Also making the headlines at the weekend was Owen Morrison, who made his first start for Bradford and scored the winner in their 1-0 League One win over Huddersfield in the West Yorkshire derby. Morrison promptly signed an 18 month contract with the option to extend it. Bradford boss Colin Todd:
“We initially signed him on loan, but felt we’d better sign him up quickly as he is a great talent. And if he continues to perform at his highest level there might be one or two clubs who wanted to take him.
“It was a superb goal, but he hasn’t played for a while and it showed in the second half.”

Kirk: Chairman’s Response

Boston United chairman Jon Sotnick has spoken out about the Andy Kirk situation, saying that the club don’t need to sell him but that if they receive an offer that meets their valuation of the striker they will definitely consider it:
“We do not need to sell Andy and I was not interested in the bid which was faxed us to because it fell short of our valuation,” said Sotnick.
“Andy is a great player with a excellent eye for goal and we want to keep him. That is our aim because he can help us try and achieve our goal of reaching the play-offs in May.
“But what I will say is I have a financial responsibility to the football club which always comes into consideration. So if somebody did come in with an offer which met or was above are valuation then myself and the board would certainly have to discuss it at length. But for now, we must concentrate on football because we have an important period coming up with a lot of fixtures in a very short space of time.”

Another glamour friendly lined up

Starting to feel like Derry City…
IFA President Jim Boyce has arranged for Portugal to come and play a friendly with Northern Ireland at Windsor Park next year. Germany were already scheduled to come on the 4th of June as part of the IFA’s 125th anniversary celebrations, and now the runners up in this summer’s European Championships are coming too. The game depends on neither team being involved in the Play-Offs for the World Cup in Germany in 2006 and is scheduled for Wednesday 16th November 2005. Jim Boyce said it he couldn’t see us in the play-offs, so it looks like we’ll just have to win the group:
“It is great to get Portugal. Their team is packed with star names and will be a big attraction. I would like us to be in the play-offs but, realistically, cannot see it happening.
“The Portuguese president and I are great friends and he sought me out at a Uefa meeting to confirm they would play the fixture, depending on the play-off position.”
Portugal are currently ranked 8th in the world alongside Mexico, by the crazed and drugged-up nutters who make up FIFA’s rankings.

Kirk bid rejected

Boston United have turned down a 5 figure bid for Northern Irish striker Andy Kirk from an unnamed club. It is thought that the club involved are Championship side Leicester City – Foxes boss Craig Levein was manager at Kirk’s old club, Hearts. Kirk hasn’t played for Northern Ireland since coming on against Greece in 2003 and hasn’t been in the squad since the friendly against Estonia in March this year, but was watched by Lawrie Sanchez last week and is all but certain to be included for the friendly against Canada on the 9th of February.
Boston boss Steve Evans:
“I don’t want him to go anywhere. It doesn’t surprise me that he’s attracting interest, he’s a fantastic finisher and proved himself in the SPL last season. He’s only 25, he’s got a great future ahead of him, but we want to keep hold of him because he’s scoring goals and helping our league form.
“I spoke to the manager who wanted Kirky, but it was only yesterday when I found a bid had been tabled,” Evans said.
“It was five-figures, rising to six with various clauses. But credit goes to our chairman, Jon Sotnick, who turned it down and told me we don’t need to sell Andy. I am thankful he is still my player because he’s a tremendous striker, although I am expecting another bid to be tabled.”
Plymouth and Stoke are also said to be interested in the ex-Glentoran striker.

Saturday Round Up

Andy Kirk continues to be the man of the moment, and the Boston United striker was watched by Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez on Saturday during their match against Northampton. Boston lost 2-1, but Kirk scored their equaliser and then hit the bar with an outrageous effort which have been one of the best goals he’s ever scored if it had went in.
Lawrie Sanchez commented at half time:
“I have heard good reports about Andy since he joined Boston and felt it was time to come and give him a watch. He can score goals, and with Northern Ireland not having masses of forwards, anybody who regularly hits the back of the net comes into consideration.”
Kirk spoke about rumours surrounding a potential ‘big money transfer’ during the week:
“I am not one who takes notice of speculation,” said the Belfast-born 25-year-old.
“If you are doing well then your name will crop up, but I like to distance myself from it. All I am concerned about is scoring more goals and trying to help Boston push for the top of the table.
“I have already hit 10 goals this season, which is great considering it’s not even Christmas yet, and I would certainly prefer to talk about that than anything else.”
About the international situation, he said:
“If Lawrie wants me then I would be delighted to help him out. It would be an honour.”
In other news, Stuart Elliott scored his usual 25 yard goal as Hull beat Colchester 2-1. Steve Jones started for Crewe and did very well to set up the first goal in their 3-0 win over Plymouth, a game in which Tony Capaldi also started.
All three are players I feel must start against Canada, and if they keep playing well, England.