Steve Bruce has been an exceptionally busy man so far in this summer transfer window as he looks to strengthen his squad ahead of next seasonâs Premier League campaign. So far he has completed the £8 million signing of Jake Livermore (and broken the club transfer record in doing so), and there are further moves on the cards. This seems to be a summer in which Hull are beginning to stand up and be counted within the Premier Leagueâs bigger boys, as they follow on from what was a particularly impressive January window. For all the controversy that surrounds their current chairman, Assem Allam, the Tigers could be setting themselves up for a good 2014/15 campaign if he continues to invest money as he has done so far. Firstly, fans will hope that their winter signings, Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long in particular, will enter into next season fully-integrated into the side. It is notoriously difficult for a player to slot into a team when they join in January, and the two strikers did show signs of that at times. However, they are both proven Premier League goal-scorers, and they will be looking to add considerably to their career tally next season. With a frontline finalised, Bruce can focus on packing his midfield with quality. He has already taken a great step toward doing that by securing the signing of Jake Livermore on a permanent basis. The former Spurs player impressed during a season-long loan at the club, and the board have shown ambition enough to react to his performance by purchasing Livermore outright. With recent links to Norwichâs Robert Snodgrass emerging as well, then the creative drive of a side which did lack goals last year could be about to be bolstered. At Carrow Road last season, Snodgrass was a shining light in an otherwise dismal attack for Norwich City. Hull will hope that a Snodgrass/Long/Jelavic triangle will bring the goals that they have been lacking. In defence, Steve Bruceâs men struggled to cope with some of the bigger teams at some points of last year, but Curtis Davies emerged as a fine player. Davies has been in the game for many years now, but with the added responsibility of being club-captain, he enjoyed arguably his best season last time. If reports linking the Tigers to Tottenhamâs Michael Dawson materialise into a move, then the club will suddenly find themselves enjoying one of the most impressive centre-back partnerships in the country. The general ambition of Hull City has clearly been bolstered by their narrow defeat in the FA Cup final last year. No doubt Steve Bruce and co. were devestated by Aaron Ramseyâs extra time winner for Arsenal at Wembley, but they can take the experience, and they will look to go one better next time. The domestic cups will still represent the most prominent chance of silverware for Hull, but their inclusion in next yearâs Europa League will give the squad another goal to work towards. They are still to qualify for the tournament proper, but a decent run in the competition is not entirely out of the question â just look at what Fulham managed to do in 2010. There is also the on-going atmosphere at the KC Stadium. In a bizarre way, the attempts of Allam to change near enough everything about the football club, has created an extreme solidarity within it. The players play for the fans, the fans make extra noise for the players, and the manager just continues to deliver good decisions. Hull are clearly a very different team to last yearâs Southampton, but it is possible that they could achieve a similarly surprising result. The summer has gone well for them so far, and with a few more impressive signings, they could look a very different, dangerous side next year. The FA Cup final loss will have hurt, but if Bruce can stage a bounce-back, then his team could shock even their own supporters. http://astralfootball.com/why-hull-city-could-be-next-years-southampton/31336?
I am very excited for the season ahead. With Snoddy incoming, and hopefully Dawson, we will have a very solid team. Maguire, a LB, and a back up striker (May maybe?) would just about do it.
It's nice to see how many people still talk about us in the FA Cup Final, it was even mentioned during a World Cup Match! To be compared to teams like Southampton, who realistically we should be aiming to become similar to is fantastic...beats the negative vibe usually we get on how we're favourites for the drop...i'm looking forward to the predictions this year in the papers and by pundits etc to see where people actually think we'll finish and for once i don't think we'll be in the bottom three of every prediction!
Good article. But no mention of the exciting developments at the Academy in Bishop Burton....which may well be one of the most important reasons to compare us to Southampton a few years from now.
Southampton? That team that ended up in League 1, in administration, selling everything that wasn't nailed down, before a nice German chap came along and rescued them? Aye, I could go along with that.
This season I'd be delighted with: Round of 32 in Europa League A QF in a domestic cup 50pts in the Premier League If we get near that on all 3 fronts then that's progression from last season. Any more than that would be a bonus.
Very good article, but the comparison with Southampton has been made before, on the field we are perhaps a season behind the Saints. Off the pitch we are eons behind. I consider the signings that we have made are a massive step towards remaining a PL club. I do still get the feelings that we are shopping at TK Max. We are buying players who have either failed to get regular PL games, are at the end of their PL careers or who have been in teams that struggled. All are very good quality players, just like TX Max clothes can be. At the same time they are not the cutting edge of the market. This is not a bad thing, moulded into a good outfit we may have a real chance to see a team of quality players supported and backed up by players that are proven in the PL and eager to improve. I personally would like to see some more younger players come in as development investments. Then we will look to be following in Southampton's footsteps. The Academy will produce results, investment in it is key and linking with a college is a great move. But reputations are made by the money that your Academy players attract and that takes years. Southampton takes players from other PL clubs, it is such a force in the UK that it will be very hard to ever compete. Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal all struggle to match what Southampton offer, they compete by the fact that they are big name clubs, but Southampton has stepped up its game and is one of the top Academies in Europe.
It seems the fans of some other clubs are a little jealous... Newcastle Can't Even Compete With Hull City! http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.u...en_compete_with_hull_city_835371/index.shtml?
The next Southampton but hopefully without our manager leaving for pastures new, & the core of squad leaving along with him.
I Southampton will struggle next year with most of their best players moving on for massive profit. No matter how well we do next year (within reason obviously) I can't see many of ours making us big profits - the only young players we got on the cheap who'll be regulars are Chester and Brady, and both of those struggled with injuries last season. I'm more than happy with us to be the next Hull City to be honest.
I always think if anyone tried to copy another team it doesn't work. Our set up is hugely different to Southampton i think we need to continue trying to sign the likes of Livermore who are in their primes whilst adding the odd Maguire type signing to our side for a cheap fee and someone who could develop.