Iconic Moments in Football No.76
As a player, the half-time team talk can be something to be very afraid of if you haven’t performed very well in the first half. Sir Alex Ferguson used his infamous ‘hairdryer treatment’, so-called by former players as he would shout in their faces!
One method tried by Hull City’s Phil Brown on Boxing Day 2008 was so unique that it has gone down in football folklore. It is that team talk that is the focus of this week’s ‘Iconic Moment‘.
Brown’s Hull City side were playing in their first season in the top flight of English football for 104 years and their fans were in dreamland. They were already excited to be playing in the same division as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, but they had started the season in fine form. Going into their match away to Manchester City, they sat proudly in were in sixth place.
As the half-time whistle went at the City of Manchester Stadium, Hull were losing 4-0 and were completely outclassed on the pitch. Manchester City had new owners who were willing to spend big to sign the best players and get the club fighting for the biggest honours. Hull couldn’t compete with them and were looking very much like they could be on the end of a huge thrashing.
As the players from both teams headed towards the dressing rooms, Phil Brown headed onto the pitch, calling his players to join him. The team then sat outside the penalty area facing their fans, with Brown standing over them wagging his finger at the players as he put his point across.
The situation was all a bit embarrassing, with it looking like a teacher shouting at his pupils, showing his displeasure at their behaviour!
The match itself ended 5-1 to Manchester City. Hull’s form nose-dived in the second half of the season, winning just the once in the league after that infamous defeat at Manchester City. They managed to stay up on the final day of the season after finishing a point ahead of Newcastle United, who finished in the last remaining relegation spot.
About Author
