Following Hull City's 1-0 loss at home to Sunderland, it might be time for Tigers boss Tim Walter to rethink his starting eleven and drop one of his summer signings.
Tigers beaten by the Black Cats
Sunday afternoon saw Sunderland travel to the MKM Stadium and come away with all three points. Whilst few among the Tigers' faithful expected their side to topple the league leaders, it was a game that left many in the stands feeling frustrated after the final whistle.
The home side were able to go toe-to-toe with the high flying Black Cats for much of the game, making the eventual loss a tough pill to swallow for those in black amber.
Much of the post match malign was directed towards referee Bobby Madley. The official first found himself in the crowd's crosshairs after he failed to spot a handball just before the end of the first half. Madley then played a controversial role in Sunderland's winner, obstructing City's Marvin Mehlem from a corner and allowing Wilson Isidor to score the only goal of the game.
Sunderland's Wilson Isidor celebrates scoring against Hull City (Sky Sports)
Whilst the refereeing performance has dominated discourse in the days that have followed, there is an argument that the post match debate should focus on the parts of the game that City actually had control over.
Sunday's game was not the first time that City have conceded from their own short corner this season with Walter's style of play leaving his side vulnerable from opposition transitions. Despite yielding some success, there is still confusion as to why the German coach opts for a set piece approach that is so easily exploited by the opposition.
Another area of concern is the lack of attacking action for the home side. The Tigers managed just one shot on target all game, their lowest tally throughout the season so far. With City's problems clearly stretching beyond refereeing decisions, is it time for Walter to refresh his attack and drop one of his favourite players?
Should Tim Walter drop Marvin Mehlem?
Whilst nobody in black and amber has been completely absolved of criticism this season, there have been some question marks raised over Marvin Mehlem's continued inclusion in City's starting eleven.
Walter has asserted himself as the kind of manager who is not afraid of shaking up his team with 26 different players lining up for the Tigers so far this season. In spite of this, Mehlem has started in all but one fixture, having played the most minutes out of any of City's summer signings.
In his most recent start against Sunderland the 27-year-old struggled to get into the game, often getting lost between the Tigers' defensive and attacking phases. Mehlem's stats for the game shows the midfielder's difficulties creating opportunities for his teammates.
Despite playing as the advanced midfielder in City's 4-3-3 formation, it often felt like Mehlem was lagging behind in the attacking third. This left the Tigers' attacking three isolated for much of the game and having to rely on their own abilities to beat defenders in order to progress the ball.
City's striker Chris Bedia cut a particularly lonely figure up front due to the lack of support from the midfield. Standing at 6ft 2in tall the Ivorian is the kind of forward that thrives off holding up the ball and playing off an advanced midfielder, something he was rarely able to do against the Black Cats.
A look at the average position in which Mehlem touched the ball shows this in full colour. Hull's number eight is in line with his fellow midfielders, leaving a large gap between the attack and perhaps suggesting why so many of the Tigers' transitions fell flat on Sunday afternoon.
As per FotMob, Mehlem ranked as the joint worst player on the pitch against Sunderland, sharing a 5.8 rating with Abu Kamara. Whilst the latter will most likely be displaced for Liam Millar ahead of City's next game against Burnley, Walter may prove reluctant to drop the German.
If the Tigers' boss is to roll the dice ahead of Wednesday's game he would have no shortage of alternatives at his disposal. One player who could get the nod is Kasey Palmer. The Jamaican international has only started two games for the Tigers so far but has arguably done enough to now deserve a chance from the off.
When comparing Palmer and Mehlem's stats, it is clear that the former offers a lot more in possession. The former Coventry City man looks far more eager to get on the ball, dwarfing the passing and dribbling output of his German teammate.
Another option for the Tigers' boss is Regan Slater who has popped up with a goal once already this season. The 25-year-old has been a reliable player across the last few campaigns and may be better equipped to deal with a Burnley side who love to dominate the ball.
Walter could also look to bring back Abdülkadir Ömür who is said to be nearing full fitness after suffering a hamstring injury prior to the international break. The Turkish midfielder has been afforded few opportunities to play in his natural number 10 role and Wednesday night could be the perfect time to give him a chance to impress.
With a number of more than capable players waiting in the wings, it would be remiss of Walter to persevere with Mehlem against Burnley and not give the opportunity to one of the other midfielders currently at his disposal.
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