Steve Alexander


After many people had tipped them to go straight back down, Hull City did tremendously well to survive their first season in the Premier League. However, if their start to life in the top flight was the stuff of dreams, the second half of their season was a nightmare, with the Humberside club winning only one of their last 22 league games.

Despite their horrific form in 2009, the Tigers clung onto their Premier League status proving pundits wrong and making it the most successful season in the clubs history. After a summer of mixed dealings in the transfer market it remains to be seen if Phil Brown’s men can again upset the odds and finish the season outside of the relegation zone.

Many big names were linked to the club during the transfer window. Hull fans must have been drooling at the prospect of Michael Owen, Bobby Zamora, Fraizer Campbell, Marc-Antoine Fortune and Real Madrid’s Alvaro Negredo strutting their stuff at the KC Stadium. Brown’s efforts in the transfer market could not be faulted, but as the window shut, none of these players had signed for the Tigers.

It was no surprise that Owen chose Manchester United over Hull – probably not a difficult decision. Zamora however decided to stay at Fulham, despite a fee being agreed between the two clubs. Campbell; on loan at the KC in 2008, was a huge part of the Hull side that won promotion to the Premier League. Surely he would have liked a return to the club where he had such fond memories? Instead he signed for Steve Bruce’s Sunderland. Fortune decided he’d rather play in the SPL with Celtic and Negredo penned a deal at the rather sunnier Sevilla.
 
So why did a host of players turn their backs on signing for Hull this summer? One reason could be manager Phil Brown. Think back to the Manchester City game last year, when after seeing his side trailing 4-0 at half-time, Brown conducted his team talk on the pitch. A manager who so publicly humiliated his own team is not an attractive proposition for many players.

Brown is not one to shy away from the media and seems to enjoy being in the spotlight a bit too much. He was involved in several other controversial incidents last season. The Tigers boss was charged with misconduct by the FA after games against Wigan and Newcastle and later after an FA Cup match against Arsenal.

His motives were questioned when he accused Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas of spitting at the feet of his assistant manager Brian Horton. It was hard to understand why Brown was getting involved in incidents like this when his side were battling to stay in the Premier League.

Another reason which was bound to put off potential signings is the fact that Hull are a club widely tipped to be relegated. After their dreadful end to last season, it is difficult to see where the Tigers will get enough points from to stay up. Therefore, the thought of playing in the Championship next season is not appealing.
 
After failing to attract a host of players to the KC Stadium, there are some positives for Tigers fans. The signings of Jozy Altidore on loan and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink on a free transfer could provide the goals, which were lacking last term. No disrespect to the likes of Craig Fagan and Caleb Folan but they hardly sent opposing Premier League defenders away quaking in their boots.
 
Stephen Hunt and Seyi Olofinjana will provide an added energy to the Tigers midfield and the relatively unknown Steven Mouyokolo and Ibrahima Sonko will add numbers if not quality to a lightweight defence.
 
The biggest boost to Hull’s season will be the return of Jimmy Bullard. After getting injured on his first game for the club after his £5M move from Fulham, the midfielder has not played since. When fit again, he could provide that little bit of extra quality his side desperately need.
 
After strengthening his attacking options however, Phil Brown has astonished Hull fans by selling arguably his most consistent performer over the last few seasons. The sale of Michael Turner to Sunderland has left a huge hole in the heart of the defence – a hole too big for the likes of Sonko and Mouyokolo to fill. Letting Sam Ricketts join Bolton has weakened Hull’s fragile defence even further, proved by Tottenham who hit five goals at the KC Stadium last month.
 
A team’s defence is crucial in order to survive a gruelling Premier League season, against some of the best strikers in the world. Take the examples of Bolton and Blackburn in the past. Their survival was based on a strong backline and being hard to beat. Hull are anything but that. As the transfer window slammed shut, the Tigers had failed to replace Turner and Ricketts, therefore considerably weakening their already porous back four.
 
The captures of Altidore and Vennegoor of Hesselink (although not in the same class as Owen and Negredo) have enhanced Phil Brown’s attacking options. Hunt will provide lots of energy and is capable of scoring goals and along with Geovanni and Bullard when fit, Hull will be a greater threat than last season going forward.

Failure to replace Turner however, could be a costly mistake by Brown and if his side cannot address their abysmal form of 2009, they will not be lucky enough second time around to stay in the top flight.

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