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Football News: Hull City Premier League season so far

Hull City Premier League season so far
Image from: zimbio.com

Results so far:

H v Leicester City 2-1
A v Swansea City 2-0
H v Manchester United 0-1
A v Burnley 1-1
H v Arsenal 1-4
A v Liverpool 1-5
H v Chelsea 0-2
A v Bournemouth 1-6
H v Stoke City 0-2
A v Watford 0-1
H v Southampton 2-1

Hull City entered the season with a number of problems, fans protesting against the owners, money issues, a small squad lacking quality and a manager walking out after winning the club promotion. The Tigers, under then-caretaker manager Michael Phelan, got off to a flier, in-spite, or maybe because, of those issues and their inability to even fill a subs bench with first team players. With two wins in a row to launch the campaign, Hull were flying high.

Unfortunately, reality hit home after that, with no more wins, and a number of big thrashings, until their last match with Southampton, when they got a surprise victory. During this run, Phelan was given the permanent role, not that it seemed to help, as his very first result as permanent manager was a 6-1 pasting at the hands of Bournemouth. The international break will have given Hull time to regroup and prepare for the winter and its vital Christmas period, which often makes or breaks a season.

 

The one thing which the early victories did, was keep them in touching distance of the pack, giving them a chance of survival this season. A slim chance, all the slimmer due to the disharmony around the club, which needs to be sorted quickly, or Hull run the risk of going the way of Blackpool before them. No matter how good Phelan turns out to be, he will not be able to halt a slide if it begins.

The lack of investment in the summer will need to be addressed in the January window, if there is indeed money there to invest, following the failed summer takeover. Without some investment in the team, Phelan has no hope of staving off relegation at the end of the season.

Written by Tris Burke November 14 2016 19:11:30