Toothless Tigers in Disarray as Premier League Season Nears
Hull City supporters wouldn’t be begrudged for dreading the upcoming Premier League season. It’s now 11 days until the top-flight of English football returns and football fans across the country are understandably excited. Seven teams comes into the competition with a new manager at the helm. Hull’s next appointment would make that eight, except with the new season rapidly approaching, a replacement for Steve Bruce is yet to come in at the KC Stadium.
Bruce tendered his resignation last month, a year after trying and failing to do so following Hull’s relegation. The former Manchester United centre-back was convinced to stay on and secured promotion at the first time of asking, albeit via the play-offs. A lack of movement in the transfer market so far was the straw that broke the camels back for the 55-year-old. Now, with less than two weeks to go until the Premier League campaign resumes, and under a month before the transfer window closes, Hull are facing a disastrous summer.
While the current crop of players was enough for Hull to secure promotion at Sheffield Wednesday’s expense, Hull remain one of two Premier League teams yet to make a signing during the transfer window. The departures of Ryan Taylor and Sone Aluko leaves the incoming manager short on options both in defence and attack, even if the pair made just nine league starts between them last season. The Championship may be more grueling than the Premier League, but in the increase in quality means strength in depth is essential.
That isn’t to say Hull don’t have at their disposal Premier League qualities players, with Michael Dawson, Curtis Davies, Jake Livermore and Tom Huddlestone forming an effective spine. The quartet are experienced in England’s top tier, but were also part of the side that dropped back into the Championship two years ago. All in all, Hull have failed to make sufficient strides in their bid to improve. The departures of James Chester and Robbie Brady in particular hindered the Tigers, but then their replacements struggled to live up to the billing following their relegation.
Sam Clucas may have gained a respectable WhoScored rating of 7.06, with six goals and eight assists a commendable return from wide, but a lack of top-flight experience could leave him overawed. The same applies to Moses Odubajo, who is yet to ply his trade in England’s top tier and won't until 2017 after suffering a serious knee injury last month, while the less said about Adama Diomande, who registered three Championship starts last season, the better. One can understand Bruce’s decision to call time on his career at Hull with a lack of summer activity expected to thwart the club’s objective of survival in England’s top tier.
Of course, the same could apply to Burnley. The Clarets have lost Joey Barton, who was voted the club's Player of the Year last season, and signed just Johann Berg Gudmunddson and Nick Pope in return. Stability, however, could prove key to their success this season and Sean Dyche will be better equipped this time around following the experience of relegation the last time they were in the Premier League. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, have invested heavily in players experienced in the top flight of European football, with Marten de Roon, Alvaro Negredo and Victor Valdes all moving to the Riverside Stadium.
It’s a concern for Hull, of that there is no doubt. With Mo Diame leaving for Newcastle, the summer goes from bad to worse for the Tigers now that they have lost the 29-year-old. Only Abel Hernandez (21) scored more league goals for Hull than Diame (10) last season and it would be huge blow to lose the Senegal international. He offers drive in central areas and is a goalscoring threat from deep. With seven of his 10 goals scored inside the penalty area, Diame is able to ghost into the opposition box to hit the back of the net. It’s a trait that is not easily replaceable and now that he’s departed for Newcastle, Hull will struggle to bring in a player who offers a similar goalscoring threat.
This could have larger ramifications for Hull in the final third. Hernandez may have netted an impressive 21 times in the Championship, but he has struggled to make the transition into the top-tiers of European football throughout his career. The Uruguayan has never broken the double-figure mark in his career in the top tier of football and after netting just four goals in his debut Premier League campaign, fans needn’t hold out much hope that he can suddenly establish himself in the division. Without Diame providing a further threat from deep, it remains to be seen where the goals will come from.
On the back of Chuba Akpom’s return to Arsenal following his loan spell, Hull are lightweight in attack, which considering they netted just 33 goals in their last Premier League campaign, is a worry. Given they ended the Championship season relatively poorly by their standards, a disappointing Premier League return is on the cards. Derby set a low precedent when they mustered just 11 points in England’s top tier in the 2007/08 season and some feel Hull could gain a lower total given the club’s current predicament coming into the campaign.
The club were dealt a blow on Tuesday with Hull denied the chance to speak with Chris Coleman over the vacant manager’s job at the KC Stadium. As the Premier League nears its return, the Tigers are in disarray in what could be a long campaign for Hull unless drastic changes are made.
Will Hull struggle in the Premier League this season following their promotion? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
