Decent article from Brad Rial. I think he's wrong and Mcgregor will be off back to Scotland. He also cant name any forwards that are cheap. Shape of the squad for me looks good, new GK and if Jelavic stays it will be great, but 3-4 forwards. GK New GK. Jako. RB Elmo Lenihan, LB Robbo Brady. CB Dawson Chester Maguire Bruce Davies. Midfield RM Ince Snodgrass. LM Aluko Brady. Quinn CM Hudd Meyler Quinn Diame. Forwards. Jelavic http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Resh...ship-success/story-26606220-detail/story.html Goalkeeper: Keep faith with Allan McGregor We'll start at the back and make our way forward. With the release of Steve Harper and Allan McGregor's indifferent form last season, fans may feel signing a new goalkeeper should be a priority. McGregor made his fair share of costly errors but some of the criticism was harsh. He is certainly no has-been; he's still just 33 – the age when goalkeepers tend to come into their prime – and he'd be my number one come the start of next season. The Scotland international had a great first season, so what went wrong this time? Perhaps he just wasn't pushed hard enough. What McGregor needs is a young, up-and-coming 'keeper to put him under pressure for his place. Defence: Time for Harry Maguire Even after parting with Paul McShane, City retain an abundance of options at centre-back, including James Chester, Michael Dawson, Curtis Davies, Alex Bruce and Harry Maguire. It is hard to see Davies, whose last appearance was at the end of January, staying at the KC beyond this summer. James Chester, meanwhile, is already being linked with Premier League clubs, with Aston Villa the latest said to be showing an interest. Steve Bruce is under no pressure to sell the former Manchester United man but it remains to be seen whether he can hold on to one of his prized assets. Michael Dawson has expressed his willingness to stay despite relegation and so, in an ideal world, I'd like to see a back three of Chester, Dawson and Maguire start the new season. Is Maguire ready after a season of few opportunities? With 150 appearances for Sheffield United under his belt, the 22-year-old is no rookie and after receiving good notices while on loan at Wigan, you'd have to conclude that it's now or never. Flanks: Crucial to keep hold of Elmo, Brady and Robertson It is imperative that City keep hold of Ahmed Elmohamady, Andy Robertson and Robbie Brady. The trio are the Tigers' most prized assets and if they were to leave they would take some replacing. Elmohamady and Brady were vital to City's promotion in 2012/13 and, tailor-made to the wing-backs system, they finished last season strongly. Robertson, meanwhile, could well take the Championship by storm. After a superb start to his Premier League career, the starlet endured a difficult second half of the season and his low-key last six months may well work in City's favour. Although his was linked to Arsenal before Christmas, it wouldn't come as a surprise to see City hold on to the starlet for another year at least. Brady's versatility means Bruce could find room for both left-sided men. Few second-tier defences would relish that prospect. Midfield: Find a new Robert Koren How do you solve a problem like Hull City's midfield? With the futures of Mohamed Diame, Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore up in the air, the only two players who look certain to start next season are David Meyler and Stephen Quinn, both proven performers at Championship level Between them, Meyler, Huddlestone, Quinn and Jake Livermore (whose future remains in serious doubt after his positive test for cocaine) scored three goals during 2014/15. You need much more from your midfield. Even if Diame and Huddlestone stay (and after difficult seasons they may struggle to find suitors), signing a central midfielder, someone in the mould of Robert Koren, must be near the top of Bruce's wish-list. Robert Snodgrass may yet turn out to be an ace up City's sleeve but it would be foolish to expect too much from the former Norwich man as he works his way back to fitness. Attack: Sign a 20 goal-a-season striker Question: How many Hull City players have scored more than 20 goals in a season in the past 18 years? Answer: Two. Gary Alexander bagged 23 in 2001/02, and Stuart Elliott netted a whopping 29 in 2004/05. Fans are naturally always keen to sign a "20 goals a season man" but the truth is, they are hard to come buy. In fact, when the Tigers went up in 2013, Robert Koren was, quite remarkably, their top scorer with a measly NINE goals. After Yannick Sagbo's departure, City have three "out-and-out" strikers on their books in Abel Hernandez, Dame N'Doye and Nikica Jelavic. I'd be astounded if any of them kicks a ball in anger in the Championship next season. A new number nine is almost inevitably going to be top of Bruce's shopping list. What are the other options? In Tom Ince, City have a man who could well carry some of the goal-scoring burden. The 23-year-old scored an impressive 11 goals in 18 games while on loan at Derby and excelled in the second tier in a poor Blackpool side. But with the Rams apparently keen on turning his loan stay into a permanent move, there's no guarantee Ince will be around to reignite his career in Black and Amber. Sone Aluko is another man who will shine if given a run of games. While he never quite made the Premier League breakthrough he threatened after scoring THAT goal against Newcastle, the Nigerian international was incredible at times during the promotion campaign when he scored eight goals in 24 games. City have been linked in the past with Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede, both of Blackburn Rovers, and it is a striker of that ilk that is required now. Sure, they would be pricey but the Tigers need someone who is proven at Championship level, someone who can be the difference between battling for the top six and battling the title. Last season, Norwich kept the majority of their squad together but splashed out on Cameron Jerome and Lewis Grabban, two strikers who had scored a hatful of goals in the Championship. The pair went on to score 32 goals between them as Norwich won promotion. City would do well to take a leaf out of their book. Bruce doesn't need to completely overhaul his squad. He has the foundations of a good side and if City can hold on to their key assets, ship out those who no longer want to be here, and add a goalkeeper, a central midfielder and a couple of strikers to their ranks, they won't be far off.
Oxley had a decent season with hibs I think mcgregor will be off, possibly to rangers if they pull off a miracle at motherwell right now
Personally, I don't think the shape of the squad looks great. Releasing Rosey indicates Bruce is persisting with 3-5-2/5-3-2, which I think is a mistake. In a 4 at the back, we could have Ince and Snodgrass on either flank, possibly the two best wingers in the league. I would far rather something like this: -------------------McGregor Rosenior--Chester--Dawson--Brady --------------Meyler-----Quinn Snodgrass------Diame----------Ince ------------------New Striker Than this: ------------------McGregor ----------Chester--Bruce--Dawson Elmo----Meyler---Diame---Quinn---Brady -------------New Striker---Aluko The former would make us far more exciting & entertaining; I think persisting with the latter will mean we remain predictable and low-scoring, which is what I'm expecting.
Anyone thinking Aluko will somehow turn into a striker must be delusional. Aluko isn't a strikers arsehole
Short memories, Aluko was one of the best strikers in the Championship the first half of our promotion season.
I think, and I'm guessing here, Dan Kelly is saying he's not a striker, and he's got a point. Aluko would be best employed behind a front 2 in a completely free roving role, however hitting upon a formation that allows that is the key issue. If we can do that I think he's Premier League quality.
2 goals from 43 appearances in the Premier League says he isn't. Aluko is his own worst enemy in that he plays for Sone Aluko end of. As I've said before if he has a thousand to one chance of scoring or he can pass to an unmarked team-mate with an open goal, he will take the thousand to one chance every time as all he is interested in is himself.
I thought I was pretty clear in saying we havent played him in his best position, ergo that stat is entirely irrelevant.
As long as Quinn signs on again we can go with what we have now. I suspect that Bruce wont rush to sign anyone for a while and why should he? First job is to sell Hernandez and N'Doye. Trying to offload McGregor and Davies would also be helpful.
I think selling Davies before the end of this window would be stupid. We could easily lose Chester and / or Dawson even right up until the last minute and that would leave just Maguire and Bruce, wouldnt it?
