Altidore fined over Twitter revelation
Posted Saturday, October 24, 2009 by PA
Hull manager Phil Brown has disciplined striker Jozy Altidore after the youngster revealed the reason for his omission from the side on Twitter on Saturday.
The USA striker was left out for Saturday afternoon's dismal goalless draw with fellow strugglers Portsmouth at the KC Stadium after arriving late and he then compounded the error by revealing all.
Brown was far from happy with the 19-year-old on-loan Villarreal forward, who will now be fined.
He said: "It's going to cost him a lot of money, unfortunately.
"That for me is information that stays in house. The reason he wasn't on the bench was our business.
"Jozy was on the bench until 2.10 when I decided to change it.
"It's unacceptable behaviour, full stop.
"You prepare all week for a matchday, mentally and physically. To ask a player to arrive an hour and a half before a game is not too much to ask is it?"
The Altidore issue and the failure of record signing Jimmy Bullard to make his home debut were the most noteworthy aspects of a dour Barclays Premier League basement scrap.
Bullard had been expected to start after making his return from a nine-month lay-off as a substitute at Hull on Monday, but Brown revealed the #5million midfielder had suffered a shin injury playing for the reserves.
Brown said: "Jimmy took a whack in the game on Tuesday. It was probably an over-zealous lad who was looking for a scalp.
"He had it on his mind Thursday and Friday, and that is the only reason he didn't play any part today.
"There have been one or two suggestions it's the knee but the only coincidence is that it's the same leg."
The game lived up to its billing as a relegation battle as both sides lacked inspiration and chances were few and far between.
Bottom side Pompey had the better chances just after the hour as Aruna Dindane was denied by Boaz Myhill and saw a shot blocked by his own team-mate, Younes Kaboul. Hassan Yebda also forced Myhill to save in a rare spell of excitement.
The result left both sides in the bottom three with Pompey still bottom on four points.
The final whistle prompted boos from the home fans, who had earlier voiced their disapproval at Brown's decision to substitute midfielder Stephen Hunt.
But Brown said: "It is testimony to how far this club has come that the crowd have gone home disappointed with a point.
"The most important thing for me was the clean sheet and Anthony Gardner's performance.
"Defensively we were quite solid and I thought the shape of the team was good too."
Opposite number Paul Hart found reasons for encouragement despite a disappointing performance from his side.
Hart said: "I think that is the worst we have played in a month and we still created chances, and in the second half we should have won it.
"You know your luck is out when Dindane shoots and it is going in and we even stop that one.
"We came here to get a point. We have been all over Everton and Spurs in the last month and they couldn't handle us.
"I am pleased the lads got something from the game. I think we deserved that."
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