As Southampton faded from footballing prominence in the late 00’s, Hull City were roaring, I mean soaring. That’s the only tiger based pun, promise.
Mavericks like Geovani & Jimmy Bullard managed by Basil Fawlty-esque Phil Brown, Hull were a relatively likeable side in the Premier League. In the last 15 years though the Tigers have had three bites at the Premier League cherry, they’ve suffered Wembley heartbreak in a FA Cup final & enjoyed a one season stint in League One.
Very much topsy-turvy Tigers.
It’s very easy to underestimate Championship sides that don’t carry the name weight of a Leicester City or Leeds United but don’t be fooled by Hull City. Under Liam Rosenior they’re an exciting side with young talent throughout that are certainly capable of being playoff contenders.
As a fan of the sitcom Two Pints of Lager & Packet of Crisps we’ll look at Hull City through a similar lens. Two loanees and a marque signing.
Liam Delap & Tyler Morton - from Manchester City and Liverpool respectively - both experienced the Championship last season with varying levels of success. Morton a stalwart in Blackburn’s side whereas Delap struggled at Stoke & Preston but if Pep Guerdiola rates the striker you can afford him a rough season at two teams who, let’s be real, are underwhelming from an attacking point of view.
They’re the loanees of note, now the standout signing. Jadon Philogene-Bidace.
1 goal and 3 assists in his 6 games since joining from Aston Villa. The left sided forward key to Hull’s attacking play, a keen dribbler with a 70% success rate so far. He links up with England U21 teammate Delap in the Tigers front three.
Noteworthy that Philogene-Bidace bagged a brace in England’s recent 9-1 win against Luxembourg. Delap too on the scoresheet.
Two forwards in form, just what Saints want to face. Not.
Moreover, young talent isn’t the only thing that defines Rosenior’s side, they simply put are quite hard to beat. Only losing twice this campaign, both away from the MKM stadium. Once to a very late goal against Norwich City in the season opener and the other away to high flying Ipswich Town - maybe it’s something to do with trips East Anglia. In Rosenior’s 41 games in charge Hull have lost just 10 (24.39%.)
Not only are they proving hard to beat Hull City are also capable of beating the supposed ‘big boys’ of the division. Currently Hull are the only side to beat Leicester City in the Championship. A 0-1 win at the King Power Stadium courtesy of a long range Liam Delap strike. Hull won this match with just 36% possession - sounds like a familiar story right. Leicester had 21 shots yet only posted a xG of 1.20. A high shot count with a low xG value, the plot thickens.
Saints may be unbeaten in three matches however given the last performance after an international break - Leicester, 1-4 - let’s temper expectations regarding the trip to Humberside.
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