17. Aug, 2021
Greatest living Hullensian..Part 1... Lewie Coyle...
Loaded magazine had a recurring article I used to enjoy... no not that one.
It was called "Greatest living Englishman" and they covered some of the best writers, comedians, actors and musicians that this country has produced in the last few decades.
It gave me this idea to basically pay tribute to the brightest development this club has seen in the last twelve months, which is the rise of Hull-born players in my opinion.
You could have started with several but Lewie Coyle feels like the best place to begin. Why? Because he chose this club. After we bid for him in the summer of 2020 he went to see the philosophy quoting, Poundland Morrisey that is Joey Barton and told him he wanted to go and it was the only club he would ever do that for.
Now, a razor sharp Tweeter then said "Oh no sorry Pep... no can do mate... I've got Hull City on the line" but still... the point stands.
All signs suggest our Lewie is a good stick, he won the PFA community player of the year award at Fleetwood for his work in schools and with local charities, and he's been a regular presence in the Tiger's Trust work since joining. He's one of the first players the club turn to when they need a player present for a good reason.
It wasn't plain sailing for him in his first season and he had to bide his time to win a regular spot in the team. Suspension and then injuries gave Josh Emmanuel the chance and in City's opening quarter of the season he was one of our stand-out players. Lewie had to take it on the chin and get his head down and he did just that. Mainly finding playing time in the Papa John's Trophy until he got his chance back in the league.
He played well and applied himself consistently when he could have phoned it in with no crowd and league two opposition, this peaked with the best goal of the season as he hit an absolute "thunderbastard" (copyright of Tiger Tube) vs his old club to cap a remarkable fightback with the tigers turning around a two goal deficit to win 3-2.
When he got his chance he took it with both hands and even though Josh Emmanuel had played really well he wouldn't be displaced again.
But what of the player? He reminds me of a right footed Andy Dawson, not with the set piece delivery but in the consistency. Doesn't get caught out of position, has a great sense of timing, wins his battles and is good on the ball. Good may not be actually be fair, he's really good on the ball, as are the whole back four this season, Lewie comes out with the ball with drive and control and backs himself to make things happen. In the first half vs Preston he was probably our best outlet.
He's calm under pressure, he doesn't take silly chances, he's a big mouth at the back and he's quick. In other words, he's an ideal full back and an ideal leader. I think we paid around 400k for him, to say that's a bargain is an understatement.
Then there's what it means, in my last blog about the dilemna that city fans face about going I mentioned him looking into the east stand before kick-off soaking it in, similarly after the Preston game he was picking out the lads in the crowd excitedly. The phrase he's one of our own really is for him, as he really is.
The boy needs his own song, he's a future captain and belongs in the conversation for one of the best players we currently have.
More power to him.
Thanks for reading. UTT.