Copied this off the Guardian message board. Consortium speaks a lot of sense. Thanks Consortium.
I think Hull have played a blinder this transfer window, even with the unfortunate injury to Snodgrass.
Getting Saints to play £12 million for Long almost certainly involved black magic and leaked photos of Katharina Liebherr that would put what's currently going on in the Fappening to shame. And even with Long leaving they still have the experienced Jelavic who can do a decent job leading the line while the more exciting Abel Hernández beds in.
Dawson may be about as mobile as a rock but he never gives less than 100%, adding experience and depth to a already fairly solid back four. He should also help the development of Maguire and Robertson, two decent looking prospects. Livermore and Huddlestone is a well balanced midfield while Diame (as long as he stays fit) is a sort of budget-Yaya Toure, able to drive from deep with pace and power to frighten the opposition and create opportunities while doing a good impression of a midfield enforcer on the defensive side of things.
And while those additions to the backline and midfield may be the sort of sensible, calm additions that get supporters nodding their head in appreciation but doesn't really excite them, the three attacking midfielders/wingers they've picked up are rather the opposite.
Tom Ince may well have got a lot of mockery for turning down Milan for Hull and a lot of comments about how he's indicative of what's wrong with young English players but Hull have got a player with real potential there. Admittedly he's a bit hit and miss at times and he really needs to show that he's more than just potential now that he's 22 but he's an exciting acquisition.
Hatem Ben Arfa deservedly gets the headlines... he's an incredibly skilled player who can win a game on his own but he's just (or even more) likely to drift around not doing much in either attack or defence leaving his team playing with 10 men. If he can be consistent and Bruce can keep him motivated then Hull have a player that I think most clubs in the world would be happy to have on their books.
And if he doesn't work out then they've got Ramirez.
In some ways Ramirez is the same as HBA... one moment of brilliance will be followed by 89 minutes of nothing at all (and then another 90 minutes of nothing, then another 90, then 45 before he's subbed, then he'll be benched for the next match). In others he's seemingly very different... from what I know he's extremely popular in the Saints dressing room and no-ones questioned his commitment off the pitch. He's had two seasons to adapt to the Premier League, looked far more decisive in pre-season this year and while I'm perhaps being blinded by optimism I thought this would really be his year. With both him and Ben Arfa coming towards the end of their contracts if they want to make a significant move (or in Ramirez's case get back into the first team at Saints) then they really need to prove themselves now.
I think it's the fact that Hull have brought in that mix that so impresses me. The defence is solid with some talented prospects who can be rotated in, the midfield offers control, workrate and with Diame's arrival a bit of power, they had a competent set of attacking midfielders and strikers anyway but have now sprinkled on some stardust; if Hernández doesn't work out they have Jelavic, if HBA doesn't work out they have Ramirez, if he doesn't work out they have Ince, if they don't work out there's still Elmohamady and Robbie Brady and eventually Snodgrass will be back. That's a well balanced team with depth and options.
The Europa exit was disappointing but does mean Hull don't have to worry about the squad being stretched. Expecting them to break into the top seven is a big ask even with the new squad but I think they should be comfortably top 10 and a real threat in the cups, especially considering West Brom's mediocre form right now.
