Hull City are confident that they remain in better position than big-spenders please log in to view this image EHAB ALLAM believes Hull City had as good a transfer window as any club in the Championship despite a host of rivals spending big in their pursuit of the Premier League. Middlesbrough’s capture of striker Jordan Rhodes in a deal that could rise to around £12m was the standout deal of the window in the second tier. But it was far from the only significant investment by the promotion chasing pack, with Burnley splashing £6m on James Tarkowski, Nick Blackman joining Derby County for £2.5m and Gary Hooper becoming Sheffield Wednesday’s most expensive signing since the late Nineties when moving to Hillsborough for a little over £3m. In contrast, Hull’s only permanent addition was back-up goalkeeper Dusan Kuciak with Nick Powell also arriving on loan from Manchester United. Speaking to The Yorkshire Post, Tigers vice chairman Allam said: “We were very happy with the window. There was no need to panic at this club. “People may point to other clubs around us spending a lot of money but that can, in my opinion, backfire. You can never be sure how bringing players into a club in January will affect a dressing room. “The dressing room character and spirit is what has got us to the top of the Championship this season. If we had made changes in January, it would have suggested we got things wrong in the summer. And results point to that not being the case. “Our priority was keeping the squad together, with a couple of tweaks due to Steve (Bruce) wanting a third goalkeeper in case of injury and Nick Powell offering us something a little bit different.” Hull approached the window looking potentially vulnerable to interest from elsewhere due to the number of buy-out clauses inserted in the contracts of the squad. Last summer, just such a provision was how Derby County managed to prise Tom Ince out of the KC Stadium when manager Bruce had been keen to retain the winger. However, despite extensive speculation over the likes of Tom Huddlestone, Mohamed Diame, Ahmed Elmohamady and Curtis Davies throughout January, City retained every member of a squad that looks the most well balanced in the Championship. Allam added: “I kept reading about Crystal Palace wanting Diame but that was totally unfounded. We made it clear from the start (of the window) we wanted to keep our squad. “If you look back to last summer, we did have interest in Abel Hernandez and Harry Maguire. Bristol City wanted Harry but we could see his potential so said ‘no’. “Abel also attracted interest but we made it clear we wanted him to stay. And now we are seeing the player that we felt to have signed originally.” Hernandez has since repaid that faith by netting 16 goals, while former Sheffield United defender Maguire has started 12 of City’s last 13 league matches. Hull also tied down Allan McGregor and David Meyler to long-term contracts in January, while talks that began in November with Elmohamady, Davies and Huddlestone about extending deals due to run out in the summer remain ongoing. Sone Aluko is another whose contract is set to expire at the end of June and the Tigers fielded serious interest for the striker on deadline day. “Four clubs in the Championship wanted Sone,” said Allam. “But we wanted to keep him and made that clear to those clubs. Anyone who watched him on Saturday (in the FA Cup fourth round win at Bury) knows what Sone can bring to the team.” http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/spor...ion-than-big-spenders-1-7711910#ixzz3z67rTFM5
Sounds quite a sensible response. The team have got us where we are today so don't see the need for many tweaks.
Agree with all of that; however if Abel gets injured then we are dependent upon a young gun in Akpom, an unproven striker in Diomande and a misfiring but technically gifted Aluko, another 'proven' top end striker on loan would have been the icing on the cake. Powell is NOT that player.
I'm sure two or three players we could have let go freeing up wages, like Aluko, but not to a rival (I read Brighton were interested).
Worry for me is Aluko, he's been pretty **** for a while, obviously can do a job, but his consistency is a huge question! Is he trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes by playing well when he gets the chance or has he got back to the player he can be? Question to those who've seen him in those games, does he look back to his best?
We have goals throughout the team though, we have had 18 different scorers this season, much more than Boro (11), Derby (12) even Burnley (14). I agree we don't have a second 'proven' goal scorer at this level but you have to remember Abel was unproven at the start of the season and has certainly stood up to the plate.
Makes sense, further additions could have unbalanced the squad and end of the day there is still the loan window opening in a week or so if we have a disaster.
After Bury I reckon in Bruceys mind the pecking order after Abel, goes Akpom, Diomande, and Powell before Clucas
Considering Clucas is our second top goal scorer playing from LM, I'd still say he'd get preference, particularly as Bruce has used him as a makeshift forward.
After Bury if Brucey played Clucas ahead of Akpom then Akpom would have right to throw his toys out the pram (again)!
Powell has certainly been signed to be that player, we'll find out over the next couple of months if he is or not. The loan offers for Aluko were from Leeds, Brighton, Fulham and Forest.
After Leeds and Rotherham away I would have had Akpom no where near the starting eleven; his confidence must now be sky high (or should be).
So bring him on as a sub around the 60 minute mark if we're chasing a game or level, and give him a few goes at that, if he starts banging them in, start him in games, if not, I'd still have Clucas ahead.
City would have sold Hernandez at the first decent offer last summer. Sorry Ehab I don't believe you on that one.
