20th. Hull
If Im honest, I think there is absolutely no chance of Hull City surviving in the Premier League next season. I would even go as far as saying that not finishing bottom next season would be some form of achievement. Looking at Hulls squad, I think theyre a good Championship team. Steve Bruce is a very good manager and Hull achieved promotion thanks to their efficiency and being well-organised. Their promotion was very different to Southamptons, who finished second in the previous Championship season. Southampton were clearly the second best team in the division that season, whereas I just think this year, Hull were just a little bit more consistent than everyone else. Hulls goal difference of plus nine last season shows that they were edging out teams rather than comfortably beating them, especially when you compare it to Southamptons goal difference the previous year, which was was plus 39. I love the Championship and it provided brilliant entertainment last season. But I dont think it was the best Championship last season quality-wise. Peterborough were relegated with 54 points which would usually see you survive most seasons, but last season a lot of the teams were very, very evenly matched and teams were taking points off everyone. That is why I feel Hull were just more consistent than everyone else but maybe not necessarily better. Also looking at Leicester last season, they had a truly
awful second half of the season but still managed to squeeze into the play-offs. Watford also put a
whole new team of players together who largely had never played in the Championship and they managed to finish third. I just feel The Championship was very winnable last season and fair play to Hull for getting automatic promotion last season but I think they will struggle in The Premier League. Hulls biggest problem last year was scoring goals and I dont think they have really fixed that yet. Last season they scored 61 goals in 46 games which was the lowest of the top 12 teams. Theyre top scorer was midfielder Robert Koren who scored nine Championship goals. They've
signed Danny Graham on loan who scored no goals in six months at Sunderland. They've also
signed Ivory Coast striker Yannick Sagbo who scored 22 times in 90 matches for Evian. I still think they will struggle to score goals in the Premier League which could be their downfall.
Key player: Robert Koren.
Transfers In So Far:Yannick Sagbo from Evian TGFC for £3 million.
Danny Graham from Sunderland on loan.
Steven Harper from Newcastle on a free transfer.
Allan McGregor from Besiktas for £1.8 million.
George Boyd from Peterborough on a free transfer.
Ahmed Elmohamady from Sunderland for £2 million.
Curtis Davies from Birmingham for £2.25 million.
Maynor Figueroa from Wigan on a free transfer.
Possible First Fixture Team (vs. Chelsea): GK: McGregor DF: Figueroa DF: Chester DF: Davies WB: Brady WB: Elmohamady DM: Meyler CM: Koren CM: Quinn ST: Aluko ST: Graham