Here’s my review of the current Hull City squad and my expectations and predictions for the future.
Goalkeepers
Allan McGregor
(Contracted until 2018)
Undisputed number one this season. McGregor’s only fault
is his lack of stature. Sadly being one of the high-earners, it looks a given
that he’ll go in the summer. I’d try to keep him though. He’s a bold character
and a long-serving squad member. Verdict:
KEEP
David Marshall
(2019)
He’s been an excellent goalkeeper but has never settled here
and never will. There are too many bad memories in such a short space of time
and too many people who groan the second he steps onto the pitch. He
desperately needs to move on. Verdict:
SELL
Recruitment
I’d give Will Mannion and Callum Burton a bigger role as
back-up to McGregor. More likely though is that the club keep Marshall and
bring in an experienced back-up.
Defenders
Ola Aina (loan)
He’s improved throughout the season particularly since
Adkins moved him back to the right and his versatility has helped the team at
times. He’s still a very poor defender compared to his predecessors in the
position like Odubajo, Rosenior and even Elmohamady and his crossing leaves a
lot to be desired. Another loan seems unlikely but I think we can do better in
the short term. He should have a good career once he matures. Verdict: END LOAN
Fikayo Tomori (loan)
Probably the most promising of the Chelsea loanees given
his age and pedigree already. He’s not ready for a battle at the bottom of the
Championship though. I would definitely take him back next season but the
relationship with Chelsea ended when Slutsky went. Verdict: PROBABLY OUT OF OUR HANDS
Brian Lenihan
(2018)
Sadly hasn’t been involved this season and, in truth, hasn’t
looked the prospect he did a couple of seasons ago. There are rumours explaining
his absence but whether true or not, it’s probably the end of the line and if
so - a waste of potential. Verdict: RELEASE
Moses Odubajo (2018)
By far the best full-back in our squad before his cruel injury.
I hope he gets an opportunity to show what he can do before the end of the season.
Regardless, the club need to make a decision with their hearts not their head.
Give him at least a year to get back to his level. They’ll kick themselves if
he does so somewhere else. He’s a ten million pound player at his best. Verdict: KEEP
Max Clark (2018)
A stubborn, hard-working left back. Max lacks a yard of
pace but makes up for it in determination and reading of the game. This has
been his first season at left-back since being converted to midfield in the
U21s five years ago. He’s local, versatile and improving. Pay him what he’s
worth. Verdict: KEEP
Stephen Kingsley
(2020 plus)
He’s had a disappointing season but he’d be crazy to
write him off. He came with good pedigree. He was (stupidly) signed late into
the transfer window and had to do all his moving and settling after the season
started and then picked up an injury that dragged on and on and on. He’s
hopefully in for a change of luck. Verdict:
KEEP
Michael Dawson
(2018)
The skipper is going. That seems obvious. The club haven’t
made him feel valued by letting his contract run down and attempting to replace
him at the end of January. In some ways, I don’t blame them because he’s not the
player he was and a two-year deal on big money isn’t smart business. Like some
who’ve come before him though, the likes of Windass, Ashbee, Barmby and Meyler,
it’s a pity the club haven’t acted to combine a playing and coaching role to
take advantage of an intelligent, passionate and committed footballer. Verdict: NOTTINGHAM BOUND
Michael Hector (loan)
Rarely has a player made a more promising start to a career
at City and gone downhill so fast. Not since the days of loan signings from Bury
scoring off their arse on debut and then reverting to type anyway. I’d have
happily signed him permanently, Anthony Gardner style, before August was over but
fortunately I’m not in charge. He’s clumsy, over-confident and nowhere near
good enough a defender for his age and physical attributes. Verdict: GOODBYE
Ondrej Mazuch
(2019)
At his best an accomplished defender who relishes a battle
and does the simple things well. Sadly, he’s made of glass. He’s injured every
other week. If he can be wrapped in cotton wool, he’s possibly the best
defender in the squad. Verdict: KEEP
Angus MacDonald
(2020 plus)
Came from Barnsley with accusations of being a bit of a “Billy
Big Boots” and it may not be coincidental that he’s the only player super-chipper
Nigel Adkins has tried to take down a peg or two. That shambolic showing
against Millwall though (when he was far from the only one) he’s looked good.
He’s calm on the ball, strong in the tackle and reacts well to danger.
Definitely has the potential to be amongst the best centre halves at this
level. Verdict: KEEP
Recruitment
Another centre-half is needed to challenge MacDonald and Mazuch.
Probably two given the Czech’s injury record. We definitely need a right-back
regardless of what happens to Odubajo and a left-back if Clark moves on.
Midfielders
Seb Larsson (2018
plus)
He’s surpassed all expectations since he arrived after
his release from Sunderland. He’s not as sprightly as he once was but he works
incredibly hard in midfield, passes well and drives on those around him. He’s
probably played more games without a break than you’d want from someone of his
age but his experience has been invaluab le and when confident, his quality
around the box has shone through. Verdict:
ONE MORE YEAR
David Meyler
(2018)
I’ve always made my view on Meyler well known. He’s
massively under-appreciated. He’s not technically sound but has a massive
heart, great attitude and will do any job asked of him. I can just about accept
the club letting him go as a business decision but the way its gone about it
has been as moronic as those in the stands who’ve given him stick down the
years. Verdict: KEEP
Markus Henriksen
(2019)
A revelation of late. Adkins has shown faith in him (like
Slutsky) and given him the confidence to go out and show what he’s about. We
saw flashes of ability prior but he’s also shown steel and maturity in midfield
of late that gives us great hope for next season. In saying that, you just know
that having taken 18 months to find a player in there – Ehab will now flog him.
Verdict: KEEP
Evandro (2019)
An enigma. A talented player who has an un-Brazilian-like
willingness to get stuck in but is constantly injured and doesn’t appear to
have a favoured position. I don’t think another year of trying to accommodate is
any good to us but equally, I don’t see anyone buying him. Verdict: FOR SALE
Jackson Irvine
(2020 plus)
By far the best signing of the past year. Took a while to
settle but his infectious work-rate, ability to challenge in the air and eye
for goal have helped us marginally improve under Adkins. He can have a big
season in a system that accommodates him. Verdict:
KEEP
Kevin Stewart
(2020)
Hasn’t worked out at all for him since he moved from
Liverpool but he’s clearly a capable player. He has a lot of the same deficiencies
as Aina – he plays like its academy football with time to turn on the ball and
stroll around. He’s worth sticking with but he needs a rocket up his arse. Verdict: KEEP, FOR NOW
Jon Toral (2020)
He’s shown glimpses of his ability on the ball and his
creativity but hasn’t made a position his own amid competition from the vibrant
Irvine and the quality of Evandro the odd week he’s fit. He needs to really
take games by the scruff of the neck otherwise he’ll be left with cameos on the
wing again – which do not suit him at all. Verdict:
KEEP
James Weir (2019)
He came in with a reputation of being a stand-out in the
Manchester United U23 side but has rarely shone in ours. His attitude is
questionable because he’s far more committed in his first team cameos. I’ve
seen nothing yet to make it worth involving him in the first team. Verdict: MOVE ON
Recruitment
A battling, mobile midfielder who can run a game is badly
needed. Otherwise we have a lot of options and quality in this area. That may
not be the case if, as expected, Meyler is released, Larsson moves on and
vultures circle around Henriksen. Daniel Batty needs to be given his head as a
priority too. Certianly ahead of Weir and possibly Stewart if he doesn’t
improve.
Forwards
Kamil Grosicki
(2020)
The most divisive member of the squad. Has undoubtable
ability and could bring pace and skill to wide areas. His attitude is
disgraceful though. He hasn’t wanted to play for us since we were relegated and
having seen most of his mates be sold or returned, I don’t entirely blame him.
But his lack of appetite for earning his money since he didn’t move in August
has been unforgivable. It’s damning that he’s still been our only threat at
times even with his unwillingness to try a lick. Hopefully his World Cup
impresses a Chinese club who throw money at us. Verdict: HAS TO GO
Harry Wilson (loan)
What a player. I’d ring Liverpool every day asking to
keep him next season. They won’t agree because Klopp always likes to look over
his squad in the summer – to his credit – but it’d be worth reiterating our
interest hourly. Verdict: BEG
Jarrod Bowen (2020
plus)
He’s been a victim of the Adkins regime having had a
wonderful first half of the season. He looks weighed down by the need to
defend, defend, defend when we don’t have the ball. That’s probably not a bad
thing if he’s to progress but we need to find a balance that enables him to get
into positions around the box where he’s proven himself to be very dangerous
with his movement off the ball, close control and smart finishing. Verdict: NO BRAINER
Abel Hernandez
(2018)
Sadly, he’s off. I have it on good authority that if he
hadn’t been injured, he was going in August. Such a shame its come to this but
we were lucky he stayed last time and the cuts in budget, lack of ambition and
shrinking squad aren’t going to appeal to him regardless. Verdict: HE’S GONE
Adama Diomande
(2018)
Never really worked as a striker but no-one can ever
criticise his commitment and his work-rate. It’s time to move him on though. Verdict: RELEASE
Fraizer Campbell
(2019 plus)
It’s not really been the same, has it? He didn’t look fit
when he arrived in the summer and through niggly injuries and reduced game
time, hasn’t ever got close to 100%. He’s still a real grafter and has shown
his ability in flashes but needs a big pre-season. Verdict: KEEP
Will Keane (2019)
Has never really settled. He was out of his depth last
season, thrown into a situation he should never have been in and then has had
to recover from a bad injury. If we can’t improve on him, we have to keep him
because he’s the only striker we’ve got who isn’t an indenti-kit of the others.
Verdict: REPLACE
Nouha Dicko (2020
plus)
Another solid hard worker who’ll take the knocks up front
and do the hard running into channels. But he hasn’t been enough of a goal
threat. At times, the team hasn’t been set up for him to succeed but he’s also
missed golden opportunities. Has to be more ruthless. Verdict: KEEP. PROBABLY
Recruitment
We’re crying out for a striker who can play on his own,
get hold of the ball and help our wingers and midfielders get around the box. They’re
not common or cheap and we probably aren’t going to be trying to buy one. The
difference between a guy like Lee Gregory recently and our forwards was stark.
Let’s home someone has been watching players far and wide. Otherwise its going
to be necessary to get Campbell in better shape than he has been so far and
keep him fit. Tyler Hamilton from the U23s is a wide player who is worth a
cameo here and there, particularly if Wilson isn’t replaced.
My squad for 2018/19:
McGregor, Mannion, Burton.
Odubajo, New right-back, Kingsley, Clark, Mazuch,
MacDonald, New centre-half/ves.
New midfielder, Larsson, Meyler, Henriksen, Toral,
Irvine, Stewart/Batty.
New Striker, Campbell, Dicko, Wilson, Bowen, New winger/Hamilton.
