Which Tigers shone and who needed to have done better?
PLAYERS CAN REFLECT ON A ROLLERCOASTER CAMPAIGN
Hull City’s season came to an end on Monday when the Tigers secured a 16th draw of the campaign at playoff-bound Luton Town. It was one of transition for the Tigers, who started out with Shota Arveladze before Andy Dawson took caretaker charge for eight games, with Liam Rosenior arriving just before the World Cup break.
Rosenior and his staff guided the Tigers away from relegation danger and even moved within four points of the top six early in the New Year.
The attention has quickly turned towards the summer, with Rosenior keen to stamp his authority on the squad and see City become a potential challenger next term.
It’s time to reflect on the performances of Rosenior’s players who began with a dramatic 2-1 win over Bristol City at the MKM and ended with that stalemate at Kenilworth Road.
Matt Ingram: Ingram has enjoyed another fine season in between the posts, albeit one heavily disrupted by injury in the final weeks. Saw off the threat of Nathan Baxter early on before the arrival of Karl Darlow presented him with another. 7/10
Karl Darlow: Since coming into the side for the first time at Bristol City in late February, Darlow has looked a class act and shown why the Tigers were so keen to bring him in. Getting him on a permanent deal over the summer would be a significant piece of business, if they can get it done. 7/10
Callum Elder: Rarely did the Australian let his side down. Having battled with Jacob Greaves for the left-back role, Elder proved to be a competent defender at this level and a key part of the dressing room. 6/10
Jacob Greaves: It’s easy to forget Jacob is only 22 given he’s notched up more than a century of appearances, but this has been another really good year, which has seen him play at left-back with some distinction, while also slotting back into his more favoured central defensive role. 7/10
Sean Mcloughlin: Probably the outstanding performer in the second half of the season since being brought into the team at Watford. His partnership with Alfie Jones went a long way to helping Rosenior’s side keep 14 clean sheets. 8/10
Tobias Figueiredo: Arrived last summer from Nottingham Forest with a huge degree of expectation, and has struggled to find any consistent form. The calamity at Swansea in September was remembered for all the wrong reasons, and he never recovered from that. Has barely featured under Rosenior and will be allowed to move on in the summer. 4/10
Alfie Jones: Along with Regan Slater and Mcloughlin, probably the pick of the season, certainly since Rosenior has been in charge, flourishing in his role and within the system City now operate with. Winning Rosenior’s Player of the Season was entirely justified, and his imminent new contract will be a big boost for all concerned. 8/10
Lewie Coyle: Another of the players that can sometimes be underappreciated by some supporters. Always reliable, never shirks his responsibility and gives 100 per cent. Coyle is a very competent defender at this level, and a crucial part of the dressing room which should not be underestimated. 7/10
Cyrus Christie: Until his untimely injury at Ashton Gate, Christie was one of the form players in his position in the Championship. Unfortunately, what initially appeared a fairly innocuous problem ruled him out for the season, robbing City of a key player in Rosenior’s system. 7/10
Ryan Woods: A hugely competent professional at this level and has done nothing wrong in the campaign, however, City just have better options, so it would therefore be no surprise if Woods moved on this summer in search of regular football. 5/10
Jean Michael Seri: A class act. And as Acun Ilicali promised last summer, he would be the conductor of the side and that’s very much the case. Everything good the side does goes through the Ivorian, and though he can sometimes be his own worst enemy with his relaxed nature on the ball, there’s no doubt about his quality and influence. 7/10
Xavier Simons: Despite playing barely 10 minutes in the first half of the season, Rosenior saw enough in training to convince him to sign the midfielder from Chelsea, and going forward, Simons will be a key player for City. In his five starts, he’s shown glimpses of that talent. 6/10
Greg Docherty: A tough campaign for the Scotsman, having started it with an untimely injury after a really encouraging pre-season, it’s been a bit stop-start with him in and out of the team. A reliable squad member, though, and
his goal at Blackpool on a crucial evening deservedly won the best of the season crown. What happens to him this summer will be interesting. 6/10
Regan Slater: Arguably City’s most consistent performer across the 46-game campaign, one which has seen the ex-sheffield United midfielder grow into a key part of the team, wherever he’s asked to operate from the base of the midfield to the number 10 role. If he can add to his five-goal haul next term, he’s got enough in his locker to become one of the leading midfielders in the division. 8/10
Ozan Tufan: It was an inconsistent start from the Turkish international as he got to grips with the demands of the Championship. Following the arrival of Rosenior, Ozan has looked fitter, sharper, more engaged and has been a really influential player, and should go from strength to strength next term. 7/10
Adama Traore: The Mali international wasn’t seen until he emerged from the Ashton Gate bench on February 25, and lit up the remaining weeks. His winning goal against Millwall was the highlight, but his touch and movement in the remaining 11 games was a delight. A key figure next term. 7.5/10
Harry Vaughan: What a cameo the 19-yearold had in the final weeks. It’s fairy tale stuff, isn’t it? Coming from the depths of non-league, getting a contract after a trial with the Under21s and suddenly thrust into the
Championship at Blackburn, and the biggest compliment you can give Vaughan is that he’s looked at home. A genuinely exciting, fearless talent. 7.5/10
Ryan Longman: A campaign that, if Ryan was honest, probably never really got going. Injury troubles coupled with being in and out of the team, saw him struggle for any momentum. His goal at Rotherham in October was a shining moment. 5/10
Vaughn Covil: Not dissimilar to Vaughan in some respects. Signed for the Under-21s last summer, but promoted into the first-team squad by Arveladze and looked a bright talent before his knee let him down against Coventry in late August and that did for him, so grading him here is tough. Curious to see how he goes during pre-season. 5/10
Allahyar Sayyadmanesh: Should have been a crucial component of the squad until his hamstring snapped at Turf Moor in just the fourth game of the season. A lengthy spell out saw him come back at Wigan on January 2, only for the Iranian to go down again. Stopstart season and one that will have left him hugely frustrated. 5/10
Benjamin Tetteh: And so the injury theme continues. Began the season in bright fashion only to see his hamstring go pop against Sheffield United in September. After a long spell out he battled back, again showed promise and scored a fine goal in the win over West Brom, only to hear that dreaded pop once again at Coventry in early March. 5/10
Oscar Estupinan: As first seasons in English football go, the Colombian’s introduction was sensational. Seven goals in his first seven games was brilliant, but his form became more streaky as the campaign wore on and so to it, City’s form, and eventually, a pre-existing ankle injury robbed him and City of their 13-goal leading marksman. 7/10
Aaron Connolly: Started like a house on fire with a couple of really good goals in the win over QPR, his style was perfectly suited to Rosenior, who knew how to extract the best from him. Unfortunately, wasn’t seen after picking up an injury at Stoke and missed the final 14 games. 6/10
Malcolm Ebiowei: The number one January target of Rosenior, who even allowed him to go through injury rehab in the hope of getting a player he valued highly, but it didn’t happen. Ebiowei showed a glimpse or two of his potential going forward, but was a liability going back towards his own goal, and just didn’t seem that keen on being here. 3/10
Dimitrios Pelkas: The Greek international started really well after arriving last summer, his was another case of what might have been had injury not struck. His clash of knees with Hamza Choudhury at Watford in December kept him out for a fair chunk of time, and he wasn’t the same after that. 5/10
Nathan Baxter: Made 12 appearances with his last coming in the defeat to Reading before the World Cup break. Some would argue he probably didn’t hit the heights of his loan spell the previous season before injury curtailed his progress and he returned to Chelsea. 5/10
Tyler Smith: Looked to be a useful squad member for Rosenior over the winter period, and scored a really good goal in the thumping win at Wigan, before being loaned out to Oxford. Injury and the poor form of United in the second half of the season rendered it one to forget for the striker, who is out of contract this summer and likely to move on. 5/10
Brandon Fleming: Despite signing a new contract last summer and seemingly going into the season as first choice, Fleming ended it on loan at struggling Oxford United, probably not how he envisaged things finishing. Just four appearances in the Championship for a year that promised so much will be a tough one to take, albeit a good learning curve for the 23-year-old. 5/10
Dogukan Sinik: Was always playing catch-up after picking up a serious hamstring injury in one of his first training sessions with the club. When he fought his way back, he showed little signs of potential, but didn’t look robust enough to be a success in the Championship and it was not a huge surprise when he returned to Antalyaspor. 4/10
Harvey Vale: Such a shame the move didn’t work out for him nor City. A player with an obvious pedigree and a bright future, unfortunately, the stars would not align with the Tigers. Injury, a loss of form - and confidence - coupled with Arveladze’s troubles proved too much for the Chelsea youngster. 3/10