In order to prepare properly for the next ten glorious months of hot club-on-club action, we’re previewing various leagues from around the globe. Next up, our bread and butter, the best league in the world… the English Premier League (Suck it, Barclays!) Let’s get our learn on.
Here kitty, kitty, kitty.
Last season was Hull City’s inaugural season in the Premier League and the club avoided the drop. Barely. The Tigers had a torrid start to the season sitting jointly atop the table as late as October
25, 2008 with 20 points. Hull managed to score only 15 points the remainder of the season (a mere two wins) and 8 points after the midway point to escape relegation by only one point. No team was worse than Hull City, but the good start preserved the club’s payoff for this upcoming season.
Brazilian midfielder Geovanni was crucial to Hull’s hot start scoring 6 goals by mid-November but only 2 the remainder of the season. Geovanni scored this superb goal against Arsenal in an early season victory but he disappeared faster than a meat pie on Mike Ashley’s plate.
Manager and perma-tanned Phil Brown must have sensed his team sliding into the abyss when he decided to publicly embarrass the squad at halftime of the Boxing Day match against Manchester City. Brown treated his team like school children dressing them down on the field in front the fans. He might as well have told them that they could not have orange slices. It worked, somewhat, as Hull tied the second half with Citeh 1-1, unfortunately they had let in 4 goals and scored none in the first half.
This is all in the past now, although Brown and his orange-ness still lead the team this year. Hull have not augmented the squad this summer only selling Sam Ricketts to Bolton and letting Hull legend Dean Windass go on a free transfer. Hull did make a move on Michael Owen after he batted his eyes, I mean sent out his brochure, but could not compete with the comely Manchester United for the oft-injured striker. Hull has also attempted, to no avail, to sign Bobby Zamora, Frazier Campbell and Darryl Murphy.
The team’s biggest signing came in January when Hull bought Jimmy Bullard from Fulham. The midfielder promptly picked up a knee injury in his first match with Hull and required ACL surgery shortly thereafter. Bullard may be out for the entire season.
Hull is basically the same squad this year as it was last year, except with more experience. It is hard to imagine Hull doing much better this season since it has not improved its personnel nor can it expect to have the same early season good form. The team had the third-worst goal differential (-25) and has not improved its defense. Best case scenario is Hull City ekeing out 15th place and worst case is relegation, which the oddsmakers appear to have at nearly even money. If I were to bet, I would put money on the Tigers going down this season.
Note: Just as a I finished this preview, a nasty rumor about Hull making a move for Jozy Altidore came to my attention. I am against this.
UPDATE: Hull has signed Jozy on loan, defender Habib Beye on a transfer and Seyi Olofinjana. This certainly is a step in the right direction. Jozy should get lots of playing time but it is not clear whether this will make the team more of a scoring threat. Still odds are they are relegated.
Dear Jozy:
Don’t go to Hull City. And waste another year.
Jimmy Bullard’s move to Hull City… worst decision ever.
I can imagine Danny Murphy laughing his ass off during last week’s flight to Lithuania for Fulham’s Europa League match.
Funny, Fulham finished 17th last season… with Bullard, and Hull finished 17th this season… with Bullard.
Phil Brown is the John Boehner of the EPL (SI,B!)!! Does no else see this? Perma-orange-tan!(as noted above) Impotent… Insolent… Imbecilic! Inflated sense of importance, will be luck to end up a footnote to history. Even then he’d have to be caught shagging dead girl/live boy to make it stick.. >>>hate>>>
Um, guys, you are aware that there is no apostrophe in Barclays right? You had it right for the first two, but the last two has had it.
As far as Hull goes… yeah, relegation fodder, but to be honest, with so many teams candidates for the drop, they’ll probably eek it out again like last year.
I expect Phil Brown to tan himself so much this year that, not having a darker shade to turn, his skin turns snow white.
But. . . but . . . we’re gonna sign Habib Beye! And maybe Seyi Olofinjana. And Ross McCormack says he’s totally coming over, if Cardiff doesn’t stand in his way (McCormack looks threateningly at Cardiff’s board and does a surreptitious “hold me back!” thing with his hands).
Aw, raspberries. Come on, you Tigers.
I’d love Hull City if they just got rid of Phil Brown. (And then maybe face-raped him a bit.)
I see what you’re doing here, TFA. . .