Hull City - Expected Line-Ups 13 August 2016

[FootballWriter2]

Report written 4 August and to be updated in run up to Hull's opening match home to Leicester on Saturday 13 August at 12:30pm

Last Season Stats

Last season was a real roller-coaster for Hull. Eventually culminating in a fourth-placed finish meaning the playoffs. Eventually ending up at Wembley on the 29th of May against Sheffield Wednesday winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from Mohamed Diame. You would have been forgiven that since that time everything has been rosy for Hull looking forward to a new season and pitting their wits against the best in the country. However, in preseason problems at the club came to a head after discussions ground to a halt about the budget to improve a small squad when manager Steve Bruce resigned after being interviewed for the England Manager post. The scorer of that vital goal, Diame, has also subsequently been sold to Newcastle.

Manager

With Steve Bruce stepping down, Mike Phelan the assistant manager has been taking charge of preseason whilst the club look for the next manager. Usually an advocate of free flowing, attacking football we may see a slightly different approach given the resources he has available at the moment to start the season. I would expect to see a traditional 4-4-2 system in place as well.

Defence

Firstly, the goal keepers.

Eldin Jakupovic – The Bosnian born Swiss goalkeeper will be battling it out with Dusan Kuciak for a starting place in goal next season due to the injury to Allan McGregor. Last season played in 14 games. The play-off hero is my bet to start the season.

Allan McGregor – Has a back injury that will keep him out for at least 6 months as he needs to have surgery.

Dusan Kuciak – The experienced Czech goalkeeper moved from Legia Warsaw to Hull in February. Has yet to play a competitive match. Last season with Legia Warsaw he played 32 games keeping 9 cleansheets.

The Defenders include.

Moses Odubajo – Injured during the friendly game with Grimsby. Has a dislocated knee cap and will be out for 6 months.

Michael Dawson – The club captain has a knee injury picked up in a preseason game against Mansfield town that is set to rule him out until the end of August.

Curtis Davies – The experienced central defender will be first choice in central defence as the team are incredibly short of first team players in this department. Last season played 47 games scoring 2 goals.

Andrew Robertson – A stalwart of the team at left back. Another certainty to play. Last season played in 52 games and scored 4 goals.

Alex Bruce – Has an Achilles injury that is set to rule him out for 6 months.

Brian Lenihan –The young Irish full back will be looking to gain any first team experience this season.

Harry Maguire – Picked up an ankle injury in a friendly game against Grimsby so might not be quite ready for the start of the season.
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Midfielders

Jake Livermore – The central midfielder may have to share central defensive duties with Tom Huddlestone this season. But it looks like Jake Livermore will be preferred in midfield at the moment. Last season he made 39 appearances scoring 4 goals.

Tom Huddlestone – Usually plays with Jake Livermore in central midfield but it looks like he may be plying his trade in centre back for little while at least due to the extensive injuries Hull have there. Last season he played in 47 games scoring 2 goals.

Ahmed Elhomandy –The versatile right wing back and midfielder looks like he will be playing at fullback at the start of the season again due to the injury to Moses Odubajo. The versatile midfielder played 50 games last season scoring 3 goals.

Shaun Maloney – Picked up a slight knock playing against Nottingham Forest but should be ok for the start of the season. The experienced Scottish international attacking midfielder will be looking to get back into midfield action as soon as possible. Last season played 23 games scoring 1 goal.

David Meyler – The Republic of Ireland international and vice-captain will be looking to lead the team out at the beginning of the season given the absence of Michael Dawson. He made 35 appearances last year scoring 3 goals.

Robert Snodgrass – The versatile Scottish winger has had his own injury problems in the past but he has put those behind him and is looking forward to another year of Premier league football. Last season he made 29 appearances scoring 5 goals.

Sam Clucas – The attacking midfielder seems to go from strength to strength. Last season played in 52 games and scored 6 goals. Looks to be a first choice pick for the new season ahead.

Forwards

Abel Hernandez – The Uruguayan international striker will be looking to test his skills against the best Premier League defences this year. Last year’s Player of the year and Players’ player of the year. He played in 45 games scoring 22 goals.

Adama Diomande – The Norwegian striker played a bit part role last season but I think will play a bigger role this season. He made 15 appearances scoring 3 goals.

Expected Line-ups

With Mohamed Diame recently departed to Newcastle United and no sign of reinforcements coming in for the new season, things are already looking a little bleak for Hull before a ball has been kicked in anger. Add to that a list of injured players as long as your arm and no new manager in sight then Hull become the early candidates for relegation. But a lot can still happen between now and the close of the transfer window. I would expect a team similar to the below to start the season (Possible alternative player marked in brackets):

4-4-2 formation:

Goal Keeper: Eldin Jakupovic (Dusan Kuciak)

Defence: Ahmed Elhomandy, Tom Huddlestone, Curtis Davies, Andrew Robertson

Midfield: Jake Livermore (Tom Huddlestone), David Meyler, Robert Snodgrass, Sam Clucas (Shaun Maloney)

Forward: Adama Diomande, Abel Hernandez

There may be some shift in who plays centre back alongside Curtis Davies. At the moment this is looking like Tom Huddlestone until Michael Dawson is back again. Which leaves Jake Livermore to partner David Meyler in central midfield and Robert Snodgrass and Sam Clucas on the wings. With more players they may opt for a 5-man midfield (pushing Tom Huddlestone back into midfield when Michael Dawson is fit) but at the moment they have to use the players they have available.

Summary

A hard one this. I have a feeling their defence will be kept busy at the beginning of the season particularly due to injuries and a fairly tough run of fixtures. The full backs Ahmed Elhomandy and Andrew Robertson maybe good options if you fancy they will keep some clean sheets. Also in attack Abel Hernandez might be a surprise package as a low cost forward. He will play every game if fit and he had a good scoring record last year. Can he do that against Premier League defenders and will he get enough of the ball we shall have to wait and see. But in a patched-up side I wouldn’t expect them to do a Leicester this year.

Pre-season matches:

15 July: Grimsby Town 0-0 Hull City (Blundell Park)

16 July: North Ferriby United 0-2 Hull City (Eon Visual Media Stadium). Goals: Olley, Luer

19 July: Mansfield Town 0-1 Hull City (Field Mill). Goal: Bowen

23 July: Scunthorpe United 0-2 Hull City (Glanford Park). Goals: Maloney, Hernandez

26 July: Barnsley 2-2 Hull City (Oakwell). Goals: Diomande, Bowen

30 July: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Hull City (City Ground). Goals: Diomande (2)

3 August: Caykur Rizespor (Austria)

6 August: Torino (Austria)

1st 10 EPL Matches:

Hull V Leicester
Sat 13 Aug 12:30
Swansea V Hull
Sat 20 Aug 15:00
Hull V Man Utd
Sat 27 Aug 17:30
Burnley V Hull
Sat 10 Sep 15:00
Hull V Arsenal
Sat 17 Sep 15:00
Liverpool V Hull
Sat 24 Sep 15:00
Hull V Chelsea
Sat 1 Oct 15:00
Bournemouth V Hull
Sat 15 Oct 15:00
Hull V Stoke
Sat 22 Oct 15:00
Watford V Hull
Sat 29 Oct 15:00

[admin]

Today's early kick-off (at home against Leicester) and Hull have a load of injury concerns. Based on the above and comments on SkySports, I think the line-up today could be:

Goal Keeper: Eldin Jakupovic

Defence: Ahmed Elhomandy, Jake Livermore, Curtis Davies, Andrew Robertson

Midfield: Robert Snodgrass, Tom Huddlestone, David Meyler, Sam Clucas

Forward: Adama Diomande, Abel Hernandez

It would be a brave man to pick any of Hull's defence. Abel Hernandez the main potential pick in attack.

[admin]

Line-up was:

E Jakupovic, A Elmohamady, J Livermore, C Davies yellow card, A Robertson, S Clucas yellow card, T Huddlestone, D Meyler, A Diomande, R Snodgrass, A Hernandez
Subs not used: J Bowen, J Tymon, D Kuciak, G Olley, S Maloney, G Luer, J Clackstone

[admin]

Unlikely to be any changes for this weekend.