Buckingham has some ideas / questions / opinion - so no chance of an interview http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hull-city-need-bold-action-204682 If pre-season is supposed to be a time for abundant promise, a month to excitedly ponder all that a looming campaign might bring, someone really ought to tell Hull City. Another has begun with hope in desperately short supply for the Tigers. A 2-1 defeat to Oxford United in the first leg of an Algarve tour was incidental but this opening friendly demonstrated a simmering unease is again accompanying City fans on the march towards the new season. Despite momentarily lifting spirits with the ambitious appointment of Leonid Slutsky last month, a decorated and enthusiastic new figurehead, the hangover of relegation from the Premier League is yet to subside at the KCOM Stadium. If anything, it has worsened. The loss of Tom Huddlestone over the weekend felt far more significant than a defeat to League One opposition. The former England international has joined Harry Maguire, Curtis Davies, Shaun Maloney and Josh Tymon in opting for a fresh start this summer after joining Derby County for £2m and left yet another hole to fill before a season begins away to Aston Villa in 19 days. And then came Eldin Jakupovic’s departure from the club’s training base yesterday. Another popular figure choosing to walk away, flying out to Hong Kong ahead of his move to Leicester City in the next 48 hours. please log in to view this image LEAVING HULL CITY: Hull City's Eldin Jakupovic. (Image: Focus Images Limited) Slutsky maintained afterwards that new signings were days away but reinforcements are needed urgently. That the Russian began his reign selecting from a 19-man squad, including nine players aged 22 or under, was damning with a new campaign just around the corner. Procrastination brought City’s downfall last summer and will do so again unless bold action is forthcoming. Eldin Jakupovic leaves Hull City camp in Portugal ahead of Leicester City move The Tigers are not nearly ready for the gruelling demands of the Championship as things stand. There was no shame in losing to a sharp and hungry Oxford at the Estadio da Nora but the lack of resources available to Slutsky saw him effectively begin his reign with hands tied behind his back. Michael Dawson was the only recognised central defender in a squad that also lacked an orthodox left-back. The only plentiful commodity was youngsters without experience of the Championship. City resembled an ailing group, one that can only be revived by an influx of new arrivals. Just like frustrated supporters, Slutsky’s players require reassurances that this summer is not headed down the same road as the last ill-fated one. As Kamil Grosicki wrote to David Meyler on Twitter in the wake of Jakupovic’s exit yesterday, “who is next?” The mood of the whole club, from top to bottom, is solely dependent on transfer activity in the next days and weeks. Although supporters are braced to see Andy Robertson join the exodus as talks continue with Liverpool over an £8m move, the skewed balance of this depleted squad needs to be quickly redressed after predictable signs of unrest were evident among supporters on Saturday evening. While Oxford’s players and jubilant fans ended their tour with a mass picture together on the terraces, a section of City’s following brought those all too familiar protest chants against owners Assem and Ehab Allam to the modest home of FC Ferreiras. New season, same old issues. please log in to view this image Leonid Slutsky suffered defeat in his first game as Hull City boss, losing 2-1 to Oxford United Slutsky’s popularity, at least, could not be questioned. The amiable Russian posed for photos and signed autographs before and after his opening friendly in charge, while maintaining a seemingly relaxed outlook. “It was a difficult match because we are not in a good condition,” said Slutsky. “Some players have only trained for four days, some only two weeks. It’s not optimal fitness. This was the first match and for some it was new, like Ola Aina. There was a lot of young players as well. “It’s a very complicated situation but it’s normal that it will take time for them to take on new information. We need analysis and theoretical lessons from this match. Each match gives a lot of information to the coach.” Five things we learned from Hull City's pre-season defeat to Oxford United A defeat to Oxford will have confirmed much of what Slutsky already knew. Although there was still five full internationals in his starting XI, it carried little resemblance to the side relegated in May. A 4-2-3-1 system, one generally preferred by Slutsky, had Brian Lenihan at right-back and Aina on the left of a makeshift central pairing of Dawson and Max Clark. Sam Clucas and Markus Henriksen playing behind Evandro made for a tidy midfield trio and on another night they could have laid the platform for a victory. City were much the better side through the opening stages and should have made their dominance count. Hernandez had a goal disallowed for offside when pouncing on Henriksen’s shot against the post before Clark spurned two excellent opportunities from corners.
Reads like a well thought out and reasoned piece - I fear it's not gonna go down well at Allam towers though, I see no HDM exclusive anytime soon, not enough sucking up in it, not enough by half ....... it's his club don't ya know?
Just what have the HDM got to lose by actually vilifying these anuses instead of skirting about the subject. You want to sell more papers HDM, name them and shame them, mention what state their business is in, the national press will pick up on it quickly. Are the HDM dependent on revenue from the club? They would be banned from talking to players and the ground but todays social media platform would overcome that, any reporter can write an article from a bought seat in the ground home or away. We as supporters don't need post game interviews with the players and manager to have confirmation of what happened as much as it is good to hear them say thanks to travelling fans and as it is, any information or news coming out of the club doesn't exist. WE DO NOT HAVE A VOICE, but our local newspaper and radio station does.
I had a glance at this thread with my cuppa this morning (page 274) no news. I just had another glance 'Ooh page 292 - something big must have happened!' Nope.
Yeah, I stopped reading all the posts & just jump to the last page, if I don't understand what the **** is going on I go to Page 1 to find out who's left & not come in!
A well run club would not have taken Hudds, Robertson & Jak to Portugal they would have left them at home knowing deals where in the pipeline. The club is so poorly run but maybe that is their business style. Someone is headhunted throw a last minute deal. From top to bottom it's an absolute farce.
rather than get pissed off with them on twatter, why don't you disable them or unblock them or castrate them or whatever you do so you don't see their ramblings.
Assuming that Clucas and Robertson go. That leaves the following as the only legitimate first team players. Dawson Marshall - Injured Hernandez McGregor Elmohamady Grosicki Meyler - Injured Diomande Ryan Mason - Injured Evandro Odubajo - Injured Keane - Injured Aina - Loan Excluding youth players who haven't proven anything as if yet. I would expect a minimum of 3 of them to leave. - Grosicki - Dawson - Elmo
I can't see Dawson going at all, who would take him? He's nowhere near Premier League standard these day.
