A tough start but there is still time for
CHAMPIONSHIP life has been fairly brutal to Hull City on their return to the second tier following last season’s promotion.
In their opening 11 games, City have come up against two of last season’s relegated Premier League side, a beaten play-off finalist, a beaten play-off semi-finalist, one in crisis and another managed by Neil Warnock.
Hull Live’s Tigers reporter Barry Cooper takes a look back at the season so far...
How has the season gone to date?
It’s been a solid start, if not a struggle at times, but the performances have been have better than their results suggest.
The biggest frustration is the ease at which they’ve allowed teams to score against them.
The opening day win over Preston probably lifted expectations beyond what was reasonable, such was the level of performance, it generated a huge amount of excitement which was always going to be tough to match.
Thankfully, after that awful run of games without a goal and victory, it came to an end with Saturday’s terrific 2-0 win over Boro.
What’s been the high point?
The fourth goal at Preston when City rubberstamped their opening day victory in front of the travelling supporters. It had been such a long wait for them to see their side live in the flesh and to do it in such style was superb.
What’s impressed you the most?
Their work ethic and desire.
Things haven’t gone their way and the criticism was growing, particularly the manager, but throughout the opening batch of games, the players have stuck at it, have worked tirelessly and given their lot.
Verdict on City’s new signings?
A mixed bag, and that’s always likely to be the case when you sign so many players, particularly with the limited budget City have.
Di’shon Bernard has been the pick so far. His Man of the Match display on Saturday caught the eye, and despite their defensive problems, Bernard has come in and done well alongside Jacob Greaves, both young players operating at this level for the first time.
Andy Cannon scored on the opening day before struggling to make any kind of impact, though his last two starts has coincided with two good results, while Tyler Smith looks a threat, particularly off the bench and you fancy his first goal won’t be too far away.
Ryan Longman has shown glimpses but illness and injury haven’t helped, the same with Randell Williams and Tom Huddlestone, while Matt Ingram’s form has been so good Nathan Baxter hasn’t been given a sniff.
Matt Smith came with great fanfare from Manchester City but has yet to
really capture the imagination.
How has Mccann adjusted to life back in the Championship?
Mccann’s in a difficult position because what happened two years ago when City were relegated in such a humiliating way lives long in the memory of so many fans, and the title win of last term doesn’t really change too much in the eyes of some.
He’s a young manager learning his trade at a difficult club, one where the fans and owners have been at war long before he took the job and often gets caught in the crossfire.
His squad is largely made up of academy graduates, free transfers and loans and he’s fighting the fire with an arm tied behind his back, a situation made worse by the fact his best player has been out all season and has therefore not been able to get his best team on the pitch at the same time.
What’s been the biggest surprise?
Probably the lack of goals. For a side that scored four on the opening day, to then go seven games without one did come as a surprise, particularly when you factor in how prolific they were last term.
Yes, there’s a step up in quality but I didn’t expect it to be such a challenge for the likes of Keane Lewis-potter and Josh Magennis.
What are City missing?
George Honeyman, their talismanic playmaker. He came back for 45 minutes against Sheffield United and that’s all we’ve seen of him since – his loss has been keenly felt all over the park, particularly in knitting things together, driving the tempo and his quality from set-pieces.
Also, a clinical finisher may well have made a significant difference to City.