Hull City transfer tips

Do Tigers need new faces to consolidate position?

By Chris Harvey   Last updated: 24th December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hull City transfer tips

Turn-ing heads: Michael Turner has attracted attention this season. Will the Tigers be able to hang on to him?

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Hull City have stunned everyone during their debut season in the Premier League with manager Phil Brown successfully blending new faces with his promotion-winning team.

Chris Harvey looks at whether fresh blood is needed at the KC Stadium for the Tigers to consolidate their position in the top half of the table.

How the new faces have done

Many, myself included, were worried Phil Brown left things a little late to complete his summer shopping.

With just hours to spare of the September window, the Tigers were still extremely short of attacking options having failed to lure Fraizer Campbell back to the KC Stadium.

But unable to land Marlon King on a permanent deal, Brown settled on a season-long loan for the Wigan hitman then snapped up Daniel Cousin from Rangers as the window slammed shut.

Adding attacking flair to a solid defence and hard-working midfield has been the key to the Tigers' remarkable start to life in the top flight. While many promoted clubs have attempted to survive by defending for their lives, Brown's men have taken the game to some illustrious opponents, drawing 2-2 at Anfield, winning at the Emirates and White Hart Lane and scoring three times in a narrow defeat at Old Trafford.

Hull have actually found the net as many times as table-topping Liverpool so far this season with front pair King and Cousin combining with another close-season signing, Brazilian playmaker Geovanni, to score 14 goals between them.

While the Tigers' defence has undoubtedly been placed under pressure in many games this season, the front three are a threat and enough to keep opponents occupied at the sharp end of the field.

Geovanni has been a revelation at the KC; his name is emblazoned across the backs of replica shirts around Hull and Tigers fans have taken him to their hearts after he was allowed to leave Manchester City following one fruitless season.

No less effective has been King. Deemed surplus to requirements at Wigan with the inference he was not cut out for the Premier League, the former Watford man has proved a constant handful and the focal point for many of City's forward thrusts. His strike partnership with Cousin has been particularly fruitful and although the former Ranger man has had to be content with a place on the bench of late, his introduction during the second half of games has been effective at times.

At the other end of the pitch, another late capture, Kamil Zayatte, has been excellent and his central defensive partnership with Michael Turner has flourished.

The loan signing from Swiss side Young Boys Berne on deadline day was inspired and Brown will be hoping to tie up a permanent deal for the Guinea international.

Ironically, Zayatte's signing has forced the Tigers' record signing, Anthony Gardner, to wait for his chance to establish himself in the City defence.

Gardner, bought for £2.5million from Spurs in August, has only managed three games so far with injuries hampering his chances of making an impact at the KC Stadium. However, Brown will be delighted to have such an experienced defender to call on should injuries and suspensions bite in the second half of the campaign.

Of City's other summer recruits, George Boateng has slotted in well in midfield but others have had to make the most of limited opportunities.

Bernard Mendy, a free transfer from Paris St Germain, has done well in patches and his versatility has been crucial. Little has been seen of Peter Halmosi with the signing from Plymouth being used almost exclusively from the bench while the experienced Stelios Giannakopoulos has had to wait for his chance since arriving as a free agent in September.

What they need

The Tigers' incredible start to life in the top flight means there is no need for panic signings next month.

It is more likely Brown and chairman Paul Duffen will be spending more time persuading the likes of Zayatte, King and on-loan Paul McShane to move to the KC Stadium on a permanent basis than scouring the world for the player that could help them beat the drop.

That said, a move to East Yorkshire now looks a far more appealing prospect than it did four months ago so should City decide they need reinforcements then agents aplenty will be on the phone to Brown.

I can't see too many fresh faces at the KC come the end of January but Brown may be tempted to bolster his options across the park.

The Tigers boss gave striker Fraizer Campbell, currently on loan at Spurs, an opportunity to cut his teeth in senior football and he would certainly like him back in his squad having failed with a big-money bid in the summer. Should Harry Redknapp succeed in luring another striker or two to White Hart Lane then Campbell could become available although City could be stumped by the three club rule which would mean the England Under-21 ace could not play for the Tigers this season having already represented Spurs and Manchester United.

More likely is a move for one of Arsenal's young guns who were so impressive in the Gunners' Carling Cup run.

Jay Simpson is one name being linked with a move north and his pace would give Brown options up front.

Egyptian striker Hosni Abd-Rabou is the latest to be touted for a move to Hull after being crowned Player of the Tournament at this year's African Nations Cup but Brown's interest may well be in strengthening the squad in other areas.

Defensively, both full-back positions need cover with Wigan's Ryan Taylor one option.

The former Tranmere star has been on the periphery at the JJB this season and may look elsewhere for regular first-team football.

What they'll get

A recent poll asking Tigers fans what sort of player they thought their side most needed revealed more than 40 per cent wanted Brown to bring in a creative midfielder.

While City could certainly do with a little more flair in the centre of the park, it is hardly a priority given the form of Geovanni who is the one player given license to roam in a disciplined formation.

It is more likely Brown will want more creativity down the flanks with the likes of Halmosi and Richard Garcia failing to deliver the crosses King and Cousin thrive on.

The Tigers have been linked with a £3million bid for FC Twente winger Eljero Elia who has impressed for Steve McClaren's side this season but are facing competition for his signature, most notably from Bayern Munich.

There are whispers Liverpool's Jermaine Pennant is looking for more regular first-team opportunities so a loan move to the KC Stadium could fit the bill.

Possible additions aside, Brown and Duffen will be busier dealing with the players already in the squad.

Some of their time will be spent fending off bids for stars who have caught the eye of so-called bigger clubs.

Among the most coveted is defender Turner who is rumoured to have attracted the attention of Manchester City.

While Turner has stated he is happy at Hull and Brown has no desire to sell, Mark Hughes is likely to have a sizeable transfer war chest in January so should a big enough bid come in it is hard to see how the Tigers could refuse.

Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill has also earned plaudits in the early part of the season with Aston Villa and Spurs thought to be among his admirers. However, it is hard to imagine the Welsh international becoming the instant No.1 at another club so I expect he will remain at the KC.

Moves are already afoot to keep loan stars Zayatte and King at Hull on a permanent basis so I expect both to sign long-term deals during the window. Sunderland's failure to name a full-time successor to Roy Keane may mean Paul McShane has to wait a little longer to find out where he will play his football beyond the end of the season.

The arrival of any more new faces in January will mean others on the periphery moving on either on loan or permanently.

Defender Wayne Brown has been at Preston after falling down the pecking order and will be looking to renew his Deepdale deal. John Welsh and Ryan France have also not had a look in this season and may be forced to look elsewhere for first-team action.

The evergreen Dean Windass has been linked with moves to Leeds and Doncaster in recent months but the fans' favourite seems unlikely to make a switch away from his beloved home-town club so late in his career.

Fan's view - Mark Edwards

Like everyone I've been amazed by how well we have adjusted to the Premier League; I still have to pinch myself when I look at the table. I don't think we can afford to be complacent though and would like us to bring in new faces to freshen things up in the second half of the season.

I'm not convinced we have got things right in defence and would like to see more options at full-back. McShane and Dawson are not the answers so I hope Phil goes knocking on Arsene Wenger's door to see if we can get one or two of his youngsters up to the KC and give them a chance.

In midfield we have competed well but Geovanni has gone off the boil in recent weeks. I wonder if we could tempt Elano to move from Manchester City if he gets pushed further down the pecking order - that would certainly give the opposition something to think about!

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Comments (8)

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Adrian Lamb (Hull City fan) says...

I would like to see the likes of an Arron Ramsey on loan or carlos vela from arsenal. I believe that we do need a little extra pace around the park, mainly on the flanks. Pennant on loan? i dont know but if he wants to play and we can stay up who knows for next season. Also a goal machine of some sort, Campbell would be great but he wouldn't be able to play until next season anyway. I would have like beattie but i think that a good signing for hull would be in the lower leagues. Either Johnathan Walters returning to Hull from ipswich, he offers pace and power, he can play out wide or up front which is what we need or I would love to see Jamie Ward from Chesterfield,I have seen him play and he is such a prospect, Barnsley missed out on him big time! Ideally and realistically, for me i want to see Ramsey, Vela, Walters and Jimmy Bullard and or Ryan Taylor I think we could get jimmy bullard for around £4Million which is a bargain in todays market.

Posted 09:38 14th January 2009

Karl Attisha (Hull City fan) says...

As a Hull fan this season has been amazing and while Hull have been the team no-one expected to do as well as they have this season, they are now beginning to struggle and confidence appears to be low. Phil Brown has done a great job but the cracks are beginning to show with some of the players who have come up through the divisions beginning to suffer with the demands of the Premiership. Brown needs to move away from his loyalty to some of these players and start to look at what we need to stay in the Premiership. Like most fans have said we need that class in the middle of the park and the front line have not got enough goals relying on Turner and others to score on a regular basis.

Posted 17:34 13th January 2009

Martyn Gill (Hull City fan) says...

Eventhough I am amazed and absolutley delighted with citys position in the league, after 20years of supporting the tigers home and away you are a little more realistic than the 1st year season ticket holders at the kc. wayne bridge moved to man city for 15million, we cant compete at that level of buying. Alan smith I agree could be a good signing but that is not where our problem lies and hasn't for 3 or 4 years. We have no width, we attack too narrow and are too easy to defend against. I personally think that for us to succeed in the later part of the season we need wingers, young loanees from the likes of arsenal, liverpool, villa, man utd like we did last year with campbell. There is a problem with this way aswell, a lot of young players have a problem coming to Hull. The winger, Sinclair at Chelsea turned us down last season to go to QPR because he didnt want to leave London! I think its obvious Brown has a relationship with Fergie and Big Sam, our young loanee players lie in those youth and reserve sides. We wont go down this season but we need to think more long term when buying, not going too much down the experienced route (boetang)! Other possible options maybe are the likes of joe ledley from Cardiff or jobi macanuff from Watford who ran rings round a good solid performer like Ricketts in the playoffs last season. After all is said this season was always going to be a massive learning curve and as long as we dont do a reading we can progress next season IN the premiership. Top 17 would surfice this season if you ask any city fan. Anything else we can only take as a bonus. I prefer spendin 30quid to watch us beat arsenal than 20quid and get beat away at Lincoln! Keep up the hard work and come on you ULL!!!

Posted 16:40 13th January 2009

Jess Matthews (Grimsby Town fan) says...

If they need a winger I Personly think they should get Joe Ledley. He has got flair pace the ability to shoot so I think he should sing for hull city at 5 Million pounds and no less.

Posted 15:55 1st January 2009

Mark Williams (Hull City fan) says...

I hope we go for Danny Murphy as I hear he wants a move up north. We'll have no chance in getting Bullard.

Posted 13:22 1st January 2009

Steve Fielder (Hull City fan) says...

City have done fantastically well so far ,with Phil Brown providing a great mix of signings who have something to prove to the football world.He now needs to balance team spirit with more quality. Priority for me would be an aggressive playmaker who can score goals.Lee Cattermole would be a good signing,we have shown we can score goals but more often than not we have to come from behind which we have done admirably so far.So for me a regular midfield goalscorer is a priority.

Posted 23:41 25th December 2008

Mike Barrett (Hull City fan) says...

the mighty tigers have made a corking start to being in the premier league and i think it would be to unfair to bring in an abudance more players. thecurrent squadis doing fantastic job at the minute and whose tosay they cant carryon. i think a good reliable left back somebody like wayne bridge would be a good call and although he may cost a bit its a small price to payfor qualityand experience. i alsothink one or two attckingplayer wth a point to prove might just mx it upa little bit alan smith and jermaine pennant would be ideal.

Posted 14:40 25th December 2008

Tom Huntley (Hull City fan) says...

What about Jimmy Bullard at fulham he wants to move away he is good in attack, good in defence and he has all the attributes to help city on their way to another season in the premier league

Posted 14:43 24th December 2008
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