Hull City Forum Forum

Looking at the first eleven I am reasonably happy. Looking at what happens if two or three of them are missing for six weeks in the same period, less so. Premier League football is quicker and more physical and squads that coped fine in the Championship suddenly find themselves picking teenagers in November. Where are we thinnest, and is that fixable before the window shuts?

Genuinely curious what people think our recruitment actually looks like behind the scenes. Some of the signings over the last couple of years have looked like classic scouting finds and others have looked very much like somebody ran a model and picked a name off it. With the money now available the stakes are much higher and the two approaches tend to disagree about the same player. Which one do we appear to be leaning on, and which should we be leaning on?

There is an argument that says spend everything now, get the squad right before a ball is kicked and give yourself the best chance from day one. There is another that says you have no idea what your actual weaknesses are until you have played fifteen games at this level, and having money available in January when you know exactly what you need is worth more than a punt in August. Which way should we be going?

Everyone outside the city has us down as one of the three going straight back, which is fine and fairly normal for a promoted club. But looking at the division properly, there are three or four established sides who have been flirting with it for a couple of seasons now and have not obviously improved. Who do you think we are genuinely competing with for those places, and is there anyone people have written off who will be nowhere near it?

Everyone outside the city has us down as one of the three going straight back, which is fine and fairly normal for a promoted club. But looking at the division properly, there are three or four established sides who have been flirting with it for a couple of seasons now and have not obviously improved. Who do you think we are genuinely competing with for those places, and is there anyone people have written off who will be nowhere near it?

Cannot afford to do it regularly but I fancy pushing the boat out for one game this season and taking my old fella, who has been going since the sixties. Is it worth the money or is it a lot of cash for a slightly better seat and a dry sandwich? And if it is worth it, which package actually gives you something for the price? Any experiences appreciated before I commit to it.

Cannot afford to do it regularly but I fancy pushing the boat out for one game this season and taking my old fella, who has been going since the sixties. Is it worth the money or is it a lot of cash for a slightly better seat and a dry sandwich? And if it is worth it, which package actually gives you something for the price? Any experiences appreciated before I commit to it.

Stamford Bridge, Saturday 12 September, three o'clock. Our first genuinely daunting away day of the season, and the first time this campaign that nobody outside Hull will give us a prayer. Where we are Seven points from three league games and still unbeaten. Two nil against Manchester United on the opening day, one nil at Coventry, then a goalless draw at home to Aston Villa. Before Tuesday night we had conceded exactly one goal in all competitions, Stoke's in the second round of the... Read more

Stamford Bridge, Saturday 12 September, three o'clock. Our first genuinely daunting away day of the season, and the first time this campaign that nobody outside Hull will give us a prayer. Where we are Seven points from three league games and still unbeaten. Two nil against Manchester United on the opening day, one nil at Coventry, then a goalless draw at home to Aston Villa. Before Tuesday night we had conceded exactly one goal in all competitions, Stoke's in the second round of the... Read more

Beaten at the Stadium of Light and out of the Carabao Cup at the third round. If you had offered most of us that outcome in exchange for a fully fit squad going into Stamford Bridge on Saturday, the hands would have gone up quickly. Jakirovic made eight changes and Le Bris made eleven, which tells you exactly how both clubs viewed the evening. This was two Premier League sides using a Tuesday night to look at players who have not been getting minutes. Cho, Sorba Thomas and Robinio Vaz all... Read more

Beaten at the Stadium of Light and out of the Carabao Cup at the third round. If you had offered most of us that outcome in exchange for a fully fit squad going into Stamford Bridge on Saturday, the hands would have gone up quickly. Jakirovic made eight changes and Le Bris made eleven, which tells you exactly how both clubs viewed the evening. This was two Premier League sides using a Tuesday night to look at players who have not been getting minutes. Cho, Sorba Thomas and Robinio Vaz all... Read more

Friday night, can't be bothered cooking, phone's in hand. What are you ordering? For me it depends on the mood. If I want comfort food it's Bob Carver's every time. Large haddock, chips, and curry sauce. Can't beat it. If I want something different the Turkish place on Spring Bank does an incredible mixed grill box that's about twelve quid and feeds you for two days. Chinese is a tough one in Hull because quality varies massively. There's a place on Chanterlands Avenue that's consistently... Read more