We were almost in Administration last season, The squad was unbalanced, top heavy with players drawing huge wages yet not really wanting to be here, NP's given the squad a huge facelift although were by no means the finished article. We still lack a permanent Goalkeeper, decent cover at centre half, and we lack a striker to support Fryatt with goals, but we do have a better squad than at the start of last season in terms of players actually wanting to be at Hull city and play for the shirt. Pretty much still a work in progress in what is a very very hard league, Alot got carried away on the back of our pre-season, and alot are now frustrated with having to be realistic and admit we aint as good as we thought, i think given the situation stated in the first paragraph another mid table finish, steady progress in reducing our outgoings and stabilising the club really isnt a bad achievement considering. id like to think next season, we can really push on with some good signings, and make a go of getting into the top 3/play offs, but i think this season it could be a step too far, we need to learn to walk again before we can run. Just being a lil bit realistic.
did anybody really get too carried away about pre season? obviously liverpool was good....but bradford, north ferriby , chesterfield, and winterton? wasnt exactly a stearn test.
Well said. NP is building a team of young players that will be a strong foundation for this club for years to come, but that means we have to be patient now. Solid and lasting team improvement is a gradual process. Alternatively we can go for boom or bust and end up in administration.
I refer back to the statements Adam made last January: "We're going to need 4 transfer windows to complete the squad." Now i believe he meant after that particular window but even if you count it we still have 2 and a bit more. Nothing has changed. Keep the patience.
i guarantee that the same people last season who said "we're a work in progress, next season we can really push on for the play-off's" will be saying the same again this season. when others, like myself are saying we should be pushing for a play-off place THIS season. last season was about rebuilding, this season NP has a squad of his own and we really should be pushing on. we are by far the finished article as said, but we should be hoping for a top 6 finish this season otherwise what's the point ? this is the championship after all! we've easily got a top 6 championship side, have we not ?
Three teams were relegated to this divison with better squads than we have; Lester, Ipswich and Brighton have spent shedloads, TWS will always expect to finish above us. Without even thinking there's 7 who can legitimately expect to finish ahead of us.
Spot On there. Now that Bullard has gone i think we shall see NP bring in more players both permanant and loans over the next few weeks to back up what is an excellant and talanted squad. As last season proved nothing is impossible. The results so far all over the champtionship show that No Game will be a given. Just look @ Leeds and Bristiol who lost there first 2 games. Non of us will know for sure until at least January 2012 what the final outcome will be. Keep the faith and Keep supporting. If you dont like it then dont go, simples. UTT COYH
Last season Pearson was given the BOTD time and time and time again after every miserable ****ty dull home performance. Every game leaving the KC using the same arguments to back his case. I personally thought that had we had the January onwards squad from the beginning of the season we would have made the play-offs. If Pearson doesn't get us there this year, I would consider that as a failure
Fron the squad that finished last season lets look at it. Forget Amoo and Akpan and the City players out on loan. Gone are : - Minnone - Guzan - Gerrard (all loans) - Duke - ***an(inj) - Signed up : - Gulacsi(on loan) - Basso - Hobbs - Dudgeon - Mckenna - Adebola - Pusic - Brady(on loan) Overall the squad is much better in quality and NP will add to that over the next few weeks. Rome was not built in a day and also getting Cam Stewart back Fit will be a big plus. To be even writing the season of now is just Ridiculous.
I'm pretty well pleased we are in the championship to be honest. It's a good league with quite a few decent teams in. Anything could happen this season with half the clubs in with a chance of a play off spot. Right now we have a chance. That's good enough for me considering we nearly went bust. Don't think any manager could have done much better in the time NP has had and with the same amount of money.I'm just enjoying the season and win lose or draw I will carry on enjoying the season and life in general. 3-1 to city tomorrow.
we will come good lads don't panic. we never start great (promotion season anybody?) we will be a real force before xmas. watch this space
I'd like to see us playing with two strikers rather than one home and away, then I'm sure we will have an OK season.
A very good article with some very sensible points. I think most of us in April were hoping for a play off push this year, but given our tight financial position and the spending of other clubs optomism has somewhat waned for a play off push. I'm not saying it won't hapen this year, but i won't too disappointed if we didn't. With some clubs who are relegated from the PL it ay take time for them to challenge to go back up. I know it's early days but Derby look like they could be up there after a few quiet seasons and the likes of Leeds, Southampton and Forest have had to fight their way back up. After all the uncertainty surrounding the club last Autumn it doesn't matter of we go up this year or in 3 years time, as long as we have a club to support who can fight for the right to get out of this league that is the main thing.
7 championship teams who have a better squad than us... ? 1. west ham 2. birmingham 3. blackpool 4. leicester 5. forest (debatable) 6. ipswich (debatable)
Based on the performances so far, you can probably add Saints, Brighton, Derby and Boro to that list.
i think leeds proved the other night, they undoubhtedly have a better squad then us, as much as i hate to say it, also cardiff