Our prediction: 20th 🟥
Expected finish: 18th–20th
Transfer window rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆ (6/10)
Why?
Hull City enter the season as one of the favourites for relegation. They have strengthened several areas of the squad with experienced signings, but the step up from the Championship to the Premier League is enormous.
Staying up will require an exceptional season, and they still appear to lack the overall quality and depth needed to compete consistently at this level. Hull will need their new arrivals to settle quickly and several existing players to make the step up if they are to prove our prediction wrong.
Key transfers
In: Konstantinos Tzolakis, Jack Butland, Matt Targett, Hidemasa Morita.
Hull have clearly prioritised experience and players capable of strengthening the spine of the team. Butland and Targett bring considerable British football experience, while Morita should add composure and technical quality in midfield.
Tzolakis also gives Hull another option in goal, but the question is whether the collective improvement is significant enough to bridge the gap between a successful Championship side and one capable of surviving in the Premier League.
Strengths
- Strong team spirit
- Experienced additions
- Can be difficult to beat at home
AdvertisementHull’s best chance of survival may be to turn their home ground into a place where opponents have to work extremely hard for points. The togetherness that helped them earn promotion should remain an important asset, particularly during the inevitable difficult periods of a Premier League campaign.
Weaknesses
- Lack of proven Premier League quality
- Limited squad depth
- May struggle to score goals consistently
The lack of attacking firepower is particularly concerning. Newly promoted teams rarely get many opportunities against the Premier League’s better sides, which makes taking those chances crucial. Hull do not currently appear to have a reliable source of goals at this level.
Squad depth could also become a major problem. Injuries and suspensions are unavoidable across a full season, and Hull cannot afford a significant drop in quality when first-choice players are unavailable.
Key player
Hidemasa Morita
Morita could become hugely important to Hull’s survival hopes. His experience, positional intelligence and ability to retain possession should help them compete in midfield against technically stronger opponents.
What they still need
Hull could do with a proven goalscorer above everything else. Additional Premier League-level depth in defence and the attacking positions would also significantly improve their chances of staying up.
Verdict
Hull deserve enormous credit for reaching the Premier League, but survival represents an entirely different challenge. There are some sensible additions to the squad and enough experience to ensure they will not simply roll over, particularly at home.
However, the overall gap in quality looks substantial. Unless Hull add considerably more attacking threat before the transfer window closes, we expect goals to be difficult to find and the lack of depth to become increasingly apparent as the season progresses.
Our prediction: 20th.