Analysis: Can Steve Bruce and his Hull City team eclipse Phil Brown and class of 2008? Parallels are being drawn between the great start made by Steve Bruce and his side and that of Phil Brown's famous class of 2008. Phil Buckingham gives his opinion on which squad will live longest in the memory. THE STARTS: Steve Bruce can be ecstatic with the start made by his side after amassing 10 points from six games, but even that cannot keep pace with the introduction Phil Brown's men were making five years ago. Barring a humbling 5-0 loss to Wigan, a side coincidentally led by Bruce, City were superb through the opening months of the 2008-09 campaign. A magnificent 2-1 win at Arsenal in their sixth game of the season had them sitting pretty with 11 points in sixth but momentum was only just building. Further victories over Tottenham, West Ham and West Brom followed to propel the Tigers up to third by the end of October. Bruce and his men will do incredibly well to keep pace when facing Aston Villa, Everton and Tottenham next month, but this remains a delightful opening to the season to exceed all expectations. Ignoring the daunting away days at Chelsea and Manchester City, both ending in 2-0 defeats, and City have taken 10 points from a possible 12. With a decent November schedule and further opportunities for points coming in December, the modern side may not be too far behind the halfway haul of 27 points set by Brown's side in 2008. THE SQUADS: Such is the quality at Steve Bruce's disposal, few would swap the current crop for the favourites from five years ago. That is some compliment when recalling the esteem Michael Turner, Boaz Myhill, Ian Ashbee and Geovanni were held in upon City's Premier League debut. Throw Andy Dawson, Sam Ricketts, George Boateng, Nick Barmby and Daniel Cousin into the mix and Brown's squad had strength, experience and character five years ago, but a composite of the two teams, old and new, would perhaps have little representation from 2008. Albeit with the aid of significantly greater funds in the transfer market, Bruce has assembled a technically superior squad to Brown. As well as the defensive class of Curtis Davies, James Chester and Maynor Figueroa, Robbie Brady and Sone Aluko have immediately made themselves at home since their Premier League debuts in August. Then there is a midfield pairing to arguably rival any in the club's history. Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore, both capped by England last season, have formed an outstanding partnership since departing Tottenham for the KC. One area where Brown's side have the edge is in attack. As Bruce waits on a first goal from Danny Graham and Yannick Sagbo, City of 2008 netted 17 goals in their first 11 games. Those dried up once Marlon King had departed and Bruce will hope the strength in depth is his salvation. Liam Rosenior, Abdoulaye Faye, Stephen Quinn, George Boyd, David Meyler and Sagbo are just a handful who would do little to weaken a line-up if selected. THE MANAGERS: Although Phil Brown finds himself in charge of Southend United via an ill-fated spell at Preston North End, he was the king of all he surveyed in East Yorkshire five years ago. Masterminding a historic promotion in the Championship play-off final at Wembley elevated him to an immortal status and he refused to rest on his laurels during his first months as a Premier League boss. Brown reveled in being the new man in the spotlight but that inexperience would eventually bring his downfall. Although he had been around the top flight for years, serving under Sam Allardyce at Bolton, Brown began the 2008-09 season with little more than a century of games as a manager. Compare him with Bruce and there is only one winner for experience. Fifteen years in management, a spell that includes over 600 games, ensures there is little Bruce will encounter he has not witnessed before. In fact, there are few in the Premier League with the knowledge boasted by the City boss. It is worth remembering the brilliance of Brown's first two years in charge of the Tigers, rather than the disappointing last 12 months, but there is little question that City have a greater sense of security under Bruce. An air of belonging in the top flight works its way down from the coaching staff to players. STYLE: Phil Brown was being hailed as a tactical master when upsetting all the odds to win 2-1 at Arsenal five years ago and with good reason. A fearless 4-3-1-2 shape, getting the brilliant best out of Geovanni, took the game to opponents and caught plenty by surprise. That was a system built upon the tireless work-rate of Ian Ashbee, Dean Marney and George Boateng, but it did not take long for the Premier League to catch on. Though City were bold and industrious, they perhaps lacked the technical finesse to evolve and once results dropped, a full recovery never quite came. Time will tell if the top flight gets wise to Bruce's team and the individuals within it, but the modern crop are a better footballing side. Building upon their promotion season, where it was not unusual for City to play opponents off the park, Bruce has stuck to his passing philosophies. The arrival of Tom Huddlestone has unquestionably helped them to adapt to the Premier League and City have won no end of plaudits for their stylish approach. It also has some of the bravery synonymous with 2008. Back then it was Daniel Cousin, Marlon King and Geovanni causing havoc and Bruce has followed that example, opting for two up front ever since a humbling start to the season at Chelsea. STAMINA: Phil Brown's side got the job done in 2008-09 but were dragged coughing and wheezing over the finishing line. The first half of their season yielded 27 points before just eight more followed after Christmas. Survival was ensured on the final day of the season by just a point as all the optimism gathered began to unravel. The loss of on-loan Marlon King hurt, as did the injury to £5m record signing Jimmy Bullard in January. With the form of key individuals also fading, that left Brown with few convincing options for the second half of the campaign. Bruce, for now, can only hope his season does not follow the same path. Long-term lay-offs for Robert Koren and James Chester have already damaged his options until the end of November, and the City boss will know further injuries to key players such as Tom Huddlestone, Robbie Brady or Sone Aluko could pose an almighty problem. Luck needs to be on his side to prevent another collapse. The class of 2008-09 have their survival already banked, but all the signs point towards another City side joining them in securing another year in the top flight.
Let's talk next May..... Marlon King affair, Ash's injury, other teams figuring us out, other teams with stronger squads, adrenaline running out etc slowly did for us back in 2008/9. Let's hope Brady, Hudd, Davies to name but 3 keep injury-free and in form. We also need a good transfer window to avoid another Manucho situation.
Without a doubt the class of 2013 has more youth, skill and talent from the class of 2008. In saying that the class of 2008 set the tone for what has happened. But only come next May will we know for sure.
The team of 2008 seemed to go for an all-out bravado approach that could only last so long. This season's team seem more composed and professional in their approach and for that reason I am more confident. The only real worry I have are injuries mounting up which could cause a barren spell and consequent confidence drop.
