Premier League 14/15: Team By Team Preview And Predictions

19. Hull City

Last Season: 16th Manager: Steve Bruce Opening Fixture: QPR (a) Transfer Activity: Jake Livermore (Tottenham) has re-joined Hull for a club record fee after impressing whilst on loan last season, and he is one of a number of promising young British players to come into the club this summer. Tom Ince (Blackpool) turned down European giants Inter Milan to join the Tigers, and manager Steve Bruce will see that as a real coup for a team who will be competing alongside Inter in the Europa League this season. Left-back Andy Robertson (Dundee United) and Harry Maguire (Sheffield United) are another two highly-rated youngsters to have signed for a combined total of over £5million, and considering that the club also paid around £6million for winger Robert Snodgrass (Norwich), Hull fans will be hoping the club's willingness to splash the cash will pay dividends this campaign. Notable departures include Robert Koren, Abdoulaye Faye, Cameron Stewart, Conor Henderson, Joe Dudgeon and Matty Fryatt. Possible Starting XI: McGregor; Elmohamady, Bruce, Davies, Chester, Figueroa; Huddlestone, Livermore, Meyler; Long; Jelavic Key Player: Tom Huddlestone Verdict: In avoiding relegation and reaching the FA Cup final, last season surely went better than any Hull supporter could have realistically expected, and the reward for their cup success was qualification for the Europa League this campaign - but how much of a reward actually is it? As demonstrated in the past, Europa League campaigns can have a seriously negative impact on a club's league campaign, and that may prove to be the case for Hull this season. Nonetheless, players such as Curtis Davies, Tom Huddlestone and Shane Long are of proven quality and provide a spine to the team which at least half of the clubs in the Premier League would be more than happy with. Whether Bruce can strike a balance between the four competitions which Hull are competing in to allow Hull's best players to be fit and ready to play in the league will be crucial in determining whether the club stay up or not this season, it may just prove too difficult a task. Prediction: 19th