Back in the Premier League after a four-season hiatus, Hull City clinched automatic promotion on the final day of the season thanks to a 2-2 home draw with Championship winners Cardiff. The Tigers ended the campaign eight points behind the Welsh outfit in second spot and two points ahead of the chasing pack and, in the shape of Steve Bruce, have a manager with plenty top-flight experience.
Handed the reins back in June last year, the much-travelled former United defender steered Hull into the Premier League at the first attempt. Out of a job since parting company with Sunderland in November 2011, Bruce replaced Nicky Barmby at the helm and, despite losing main forwards Matty Fryatt and Sone Aluko to long-term injuries, kept Hull inside the top two for all but four and a half weeks of the second half of the season:
The Statistics
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | P | CS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 46 | 24 | 7 | 15 | 61 | 52 | +9 | 79 | 16 |
| Home | 23 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 35 | 22 | +13 | 43 | 10 |
| Away | 23 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 26 | 30 | -4 | 36 | 6 |
CS = Cleansheets
Hull were hardly prolific up top last time round, scoring just 61 goals over the course of the campaign. Bruce’s side found the net 35 times at the KC Stadium but to put that into perspective, they had the poorest home scoring record of any side in the top eight of the Championship. They produced more than one goal on just 11 of their 23 fixtures in front of their own fans and failed to notch on five occasions. At the back, they registered 10 clean sheets at home, conceding two or more goals six times.
On the road, the Tigers managed 26 goals – a tally bettered by 13 of the 24 teams in last term’s Championship – and managed to score more than a single goal on eight occasions. Bruce’s side did, however, failed to find the net seven times and registered only six clean sheets on their travels, shipping more than one goal eight times.
The Manager
Bruce has had a somewhat nomadic career since hanging up his boots. The Hull job is his seventh as a manager but only once – at Birmingham – has he lasted more than 100 matches in charge. Nevertheless, the top-flight experience garnered at St Andrews, Wigan and Sunderland will prove invaluable for the campaign ahead as he looks to keep his side afloat and prove the bookies wrong, with Hull already firm favourites to make an immediate return to the Championship.
Intriguingly, Bruce’s favoured system was 3-5-2 last season, a move away from his usual 4-4-2 formation. The Tigers boss has admitted the new shape was mainly designed to suit the personnel at his disposal; Abdoulaye Faye’s lack of mobility at the back, allied with Robert Koren’s playmaking talents behind a front two was crucial to his decision:
“I think Robert is one of the best players in the league and I thought: ‘How can we get a system to accommodate, not a free spirit, but someone who won’t fit in a 4-4-2.’ It was things like that [that made up his mind] and, of course, trying to be a little bit different.”
It was telling, perhaps, that Bruce rolled out a 4-4-1-1 for the all-important clash with Cardiff on the final day of the season. Up against the pace of former Sunderland man Fraizer Campbell, he opted for a flat back-four and saw his side grab the required result, after Watford unexpectedly lost at home to Leeds. With plenty of time to bolster his squad, it remains to be seen whether Bruce will retain a back-three in the top-flight, though he’s already hinted at a more defensive approach:
“In the Premier League there is a gulf between clubs like Manchester United, City and the rest, where you’re always just fighting to stay up. You have to make your team difficult to beat. But the Championship is much of a muchness so we thought: ‘Can we do something a bit different?’ I’ve enjoyed it because it’s an even playing field.”
The Promoted Squad
Listed below are the main protagonists from the club’s successful promotion push, with only those who played at least half of the 46 league fixtures mentioned in our rundown:
David Stockdale (24 apps) Bruce dipped into the loan market to snap up the Fulham stopper on a couple of occasions. Stockdale registered nine clean sheets during his stint between the sticks but his return to Craven Cottage poses a real problem for the Tigers, with Bruce desperate to acquire a new number one over the summer.
Liam Rosenior (32 apps, 1 assist) first-choice right-back in a back-four, Bruce’s move to 3-5-2 and loan acquisition of Sunderland’s Ahmed Elmohamady dented his prospects. With little offered going forward, he is likely to struggle to find a way into the starting XI next time round.
James Chester (44 apps, 1 goal) offers the greatest security of starts of any Tigers defender. A former Man United youth prospect, he looks nailed-on, regardless of formation.
Alex Bruce (32 apps) the manager’s son drifted out of the first XI and looks another who is likely to rely on injuries to others for game time. With the likes of Jack Hobbs also in the picture after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament problem midway through the season, Bruce’s prospects look bleak.
Abdoulaye Faye (31 apps, 4 goals) moved to the KC from West Ham last summer. The veteran adds plenty experience to the Hull backline and found the net on four occasions last time out, but with question marks over his mobility at the top level, it remains to be seen whether he’s be utilised sparingly by Bruce in the upcoming campaign.
Paul McShane (25 apps, 2 goals) a peripheral figure prior to Bruce’s arrival, he was a key member of the back-three before sustaining an ankle ligament injury that all but ended his season. Shifted to left-back for the final game of the season, he’s been handed a new contract and could be a key lieutenant for the Tigers manager.
Stephen Quinn (42 apps, 3 goals, 6 assists) snapped up on the final day of the summer transfer window from Sheffield United, the Dublin-born central midfielder proved a crucial component of Bruce’s XI. While his attacking returns were relatively respectable, he’s likely to remain off Fantasy radars, with better options amongst the Tigers midfield.
Robbie Brady (32 apps, 4 goals, 13 assists) initially signed on loan from Man United, the 21-year-old penned a permanent deal in January this year. Fielded as a left wing-back in a 3-5-2, Brady also has set-piece duties in his locker – a factor that helped him rack up the assists last time out. Was shifted to the role in “the hole†in the final match of the season as Bruce went 4-4-1-1 and looks the most appealing of the Tigers’ current squad.
Ahmed Elmohamady (41 apps, 3 goals, 9 assists) reuniting with Bruce on loan from Sunderland, the Egyptian was voted the club’s Player of the Year after a series of impressive displays on the flank. Nailing down the right wing-back role in the 3-5-2 formation, Elmohamady also featured as a right winger in a four man midfield – reports indicate he could be set to seal a permanent move from the Black Cats before long.
Robert Koren (40 apps, 9 goals, 5 assists) ended the season as top scorer for the Tigers. A vital player for the Tigers last term, Koren also has a share of set-pieces in his locker, though it remains to be seen just where he’ll fit in if Bruce decides to move away from a 3-5-2 formation. A possible role in “the holeâ€, with Brady wide left would certainly boost his appeal.
Corry Evans (32 apps, 1 goal, 1 assist) younger brother of United’s Jonny Evans, he also joined up from the Old Trafford club. A single goal and assist are indicative of his defensive game in central midfield.
David Meyler (28 apps, 5 goals, 3 assists) initially signed on loan from Sunderland, the midfielder moved on a permanent basis in January and discovered an eye for goal in the lower division, finding the net on five occasions. His grafting abilities in the centre of the park should earn plenty game time but Meyler’s deep-lying role is unlikely to do his Fantasy potential any favours in the top-flight.
Sone Aluko (23 apps, 8 goals, 4 assists) arriving from Glasgow Rangers last summer, the Nigerian international thrived immediately but his season was curtailed by an Achilles injury which saw him feature in just half of Hull’s league matches and forced Bruce into the January market to sign George Boyd from Peterborough. Aluko still managed to finish as the club’s second top scorer with eight goals to his name and may prove a decent cut-price option if Bruce affords him time to find his feet in the top-flight.
Jay Simpson (43 apps, 6 goals, 7 assists) missed only three matches of the previous campaign but was one of 12 players released by the club earlier this month.
Nick Proschwitz (27 apps, 3 goals) signed from German outfit FC Paderborn after a prolific 2011/12, the big German failed to make any real impact and notched on just three occasions. The fact that Bruce has already admitted he has struggled to settle doesn’t bode well for his future game time.
Potential Targets
Acquiring a keeper is clearly a top priority for the season ahead. Bruce is reportedly eyeing up a permanent move for Stockdale, though with Martin Jol determined to purchase a new number one for Fulham, the youngster could return to the KC on loan. Kaspar Schmeichel is another name on the club’s radar after Leicester failed to find a way out of the Championship, while former Wigan stopper Chris Kirkland is also in the mix.
Bruce is also thought to be keeping an eye on Danny Simpson. The right-back’s contract at Newcastle comes to an end this summer and with Mathieu Debuchy firmly ahead of him in the pecking order, a move to Hull would certainly afford him the chance of a regular role. Simpson’s top-flight experience would be vital at the back, while further up the field, Bruce is looking to take advantage of Peter Odemwingie’s situation at West Brom. The Nigerian is set to leave the midlands outfit this summer and having plundered 15 goals and nine assists only a couple of seasons ago, would add plenty to Hull’s offensive threat. Blackburn forward Jordan Rhodes and Burnley’s Charlie Austin – with 27 and 25 league goals respectively in 2012/13 – are both interesting Bruce; the latter has just one year left on his current contract.
Having used his links with former club Sunderland to good effect last time out, the rumour mill is buzzing with suggestions Bruce is in the hunt for Man United duo Nick Powell and Angelo Henriquez. The latter was loaned out to Wigan in the season gone by and may be farmed out again in David Moyes’ first season in charge of the Red Devils, while Powell would also benefit from top-flight experience, having made just two appearances off the bench since moving to Old Trafford from Crewe.
We’ll be revisiting Hull City to assess their revised squad and likely lineup and formation prior to the season kick-off.
