This is the second in a series of relegation assessments. For a similar look at Bolton Wanderers. Check here.
Hull City surprised everyone at the start of the season, winning six of their first nine, knocking off an over-confident Arsenal. The club lost composure. Phil Brown lost his sweet goatee, and perhaps his sanity. Hull won just two of their next 21 games, drifting from a solid European challenge to treading above the relegation zone. They currently set in thirteenth place, a mere four points over the drop.
Form: Hull have done nothing recently to suggest a resurgence. They have won just one of their last eight, and lost four. Shoring up their defense slightly may inject a bit of optimism, though, as the most generous side in the league (52 goals allowed), a 5-0 defeat seems perpetually possible. Hull may stay, but probably not because of a massive fortune turn.
Schedule: Hull’s schedule has difficult tests, though there are points available. The Tigers host both Liverpool and Manchester United, but have softer ties against Portsmouth and Stoke City. Hull also travel to fellow strugglers Middlesbrough and Sunderland. They also play Bolton and Aston Villa. A couple good results, particularly at the expense of clubs such as Middlesbrough and Sunderland could do a great deal to keep them up.
Injuries: Injuries have hurt Sunderland in midfield. George Boateng and Jimmy Bullard are the exact type of experienced, steady midfielders Hull needs to keep the ship upright. Unfortunately both are crocked. Boateng may be back by the end of April, but January-signing Bullard is out for the season. It’s difficult to replicate that type of presence.
Prognosis: Hull City should stay up. They have had an atrocious run of form. If they replicate that in the last eight matches, that would put them on 39 points, giving them a good chance at staying in the Premier League. Their first start and subsequent fall affect perceptions, but being in the position to stay up is an incredible feat, given their squad and pre-season expectations.
We’d lose one heck of a quote machine if Hull goes down.
Good article. It certainly makes for interesting reading and I really hope my beloved Hull City stay up. We’ve been really unlucky with injuries, £5 million on a great player that is injured and put out for the season during his first appearance. It also feels reassuring for a neutral to think we’ll stay up. IF we go down it will be thoroughly disappointing after the start we had to the season.
I think Hull City will stay up , despite losing another player for the season in central defender Gardner . Staying up would be a great achievement considering the team only got promoted through the play-off system and effectively had last pick of players available out of the 3 promoted teams .
I hope you go down for the way you acted at the grove. Utter disrespect for a team that loaned you their training facilities twice without prompt or charge.
Brown should be forced to publicly apologize for his behaviour as should Horton the fat mug. I was there I wanted to hit him. He spent the whole first half shouting at Arsene. Who does he think he is to come to our place and shout at our Boss like that.
In bread muppet.
Here I thought Liverpool fans were bitter but wow John nice to see Arsenal fans who cant deal with a little gamemenship from another manager.
john you are an idiot….you should have been a wet stain on the mattress insted you ended up a full blown muppet.
hull will survive as long as they can pull 1 point from the last four games.
villa away in a few hours should be a 2-0 / 3-0 loss
stoke at home 1-1 draw
bolton 1-1 draw or 2-1 loss
man u 3-0 loss
i see 1 point maybe 2 to put them on 35/36 points
where is all counts though is the game against boro and newcastle if newcastle win hull are in a little trouble if boro win there still somewhat safe.
both boro and newcastle are playing villa and west ham AWAY and playing each one after villa and west ham play everton so they will be hunting points hard out.
table stays same IMO…maybe hull ovetakes s’land
i got some good info that hull only had a tiny budget this year but if they survive im expecting 5-7 $5+ milllion pound additions in january with some heavy hitting coaching staff.