Last Year’s Record: 8 wins, 11 draws and 19 losses, good for 35 points and 17th place in the Barclay’s Premier League. I covered Hull’s up-and-WAY DOWN campaign in April. Phil Brown and the lads looked like world-beaters for a time, and then slipped badly. They were particularly horrendous at home, where they only gained 14 points all season long and were a -18 in goal differential.
Transfers (In): Stephen Mouyokolo (Boulogne – undisclosed), Jozy Altidore (Villareal – loan), Seyi George Olofinjana (Stoke City – £3M), Stephen Hunt (Reading – undisclosed), Kamel Ghilas (Celta Vigo – undisclosed)
Transfers (Out): Wayne Brown (Leicester City – undisclosed), Dean Windass (Darlington – free), Samuel Ricketts (Bolton – undisclosed)
Season Outlook: From December 13, 2008 to May 24, 2009, Hull City had a total of 63 points available to them. They managed to take 8. Suffice it to say, the run-in for the Tigers did not go particularly well. This did not prevent Phil Brown from celebrating like he’d won the league on the last day of the season. The Tigers managed to stay up despite losing to a below-average Manchester United side, and Brown felt it appropriate to celebrate. I understand that the status of being in the Premier League is important, but I find Phil Brown’s antics to be a bit nervy and self-serving.
Nevertheless, optimism again runs high in the Hull City camp. They recently secured the services of striker Jozy Altidore on a season-long loan from Villareal to help with their paltry upfront attack, and just today finalized their deal for Reading’s winger, Stephen Hunt. Both of these players will help what turned into a highly tepid attack force last season. Geovanni, back for his second campaign with the Tigers, was the leading league goal-scorer with a total of 8. The midfielders, along with Geovanni, have some talent and include the likes of the always useful Nick Barmby, and Craig Fagan and Kevin Kilbane who generally impress. Defensively, Michael Turner is the rock, but this is an area that could definitely use some upgrades. The Tigers conceded at an alarming rate in the second portion of the season as the Cup and League fixtures piled up and their squad wore down. Boaz Myhill is the first-choice keeper, with not much in reserve in that regard.
Hull got no compassion to start the season, as they must travel to Stamford Bridge to help usher in the Ancelotti era for Chelsea. The first half of the season sees the schedule laid out decently for them, though, with nary a back-to-back set that looks too imposing. However, in mid-December when the lovely English winter will be kicking in full gear, the schedule sees the following run: home with Everton, away to Arsenal, home to Manchester United, away to Bolton, home to Chelsea, away to Spurs, away to Manchester United. It’s hard to see how they’ll be able to cope with that run of matches, quite frankly, given the squad depth and the time of year. The good news for Tiger supporters is that their last six matches include the following: away to Stoke City, home to Burnley, away to Birmingham, home to Sunderland, away to Wigan and home to Liverpool. That run should allow them to determine their own fate in this league this season, and sink or swim, they shall put in an effort.
I can imagine Altidore and Hunt making a difference for them at the outset, but I forsee problems for this side in their second season in the top flight. Invariably, clubs with rosters like this and limited funds find themselves really struggling in Year 2. Phil Brown has the full backing of the board and his chairman, Paul Duffen, so he should be safe unless the form becomes horrendous. One key for this side would be the return of Jimmy Bullard from a knee injury. The Tigers broke their transfer record to sign the midfielder in January, only to see him get a fairly serious knee injury in his first action for them. Bullard is quality when he’s on the pitch and could definitely help the attack. City need to consider their defense for any further transfers, and they certainly could do better than Myhill, but it is what it is at some of these clubs. If Alvaro Negredo arrives from Real Madrid, he will also help with the goal-scoring efforts, as well. Will they stay up again? I wouldn’t bet against them, but it will again take a bit of a miracle, I’m afraid.
I want to like Hull, especially since they signed Jozy, but Phil Brown makes it so hard.
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Hopefully Hull will get a couple of good signings in the January transfer window which should help them escape the drop.
Nice article.