Hull City returned to Humberside airport on Sunday afternoon with a spring in their collective step after a hugely positive week in the Turkish sunshine. City flew out to Istanbul with growing uncertainty and worry about the situation with their finances, having been firmly placed on the EFL’s naughty step alongside Sheffield Wednesday.
While the Tigers remain rooted to that step and the EFL is not ready to let them come off it just yet, focus in Riva this week has been on the football, and what head coach Sergej Jakirovic can actually impact. Based on what we’ve seen, that’s quite a lot.
Admittedly, Jakirovic’s interview with Hull Live after the win over Istanbulspor on Tuesday was strikingly similar to Tim Walter’s at the same point 12 months ago. The Bosnian admitted he was frustrated, and needed players. A year ago, Walter stood pitchside at Saracoglu and said the same thing after watching his team battered by Fenerbahce.
Jakirovic’s mood is very different from that of Walter, however, but it’s hard to escape the fact that once again successive City managers are being let down by events beyond their control regarding the club’s transfer work. The new manager is in a better place than his predecessor in the sense that he has a better squad at his disposal. Although the number of absentees is making it slightly tougher, the squad size is likely to reduce yet further before it significantly grows again.
Whatever comes with the EFL situation, City must find a way to bolster its ranks in the final third of the pitch. A new number six is required, at least one winger and at least one striker. Realistically, they need more than that to be really competitive; however, those are the ones they need quickly to be in a position to hit the ground running next month.
Had Lewis O’Brien, Owen Beck, Louie Barry and Oli McBurnie been in the building by now, you’d be quietly confident about City’s chances this season, especially with how Jakirovic has knitted things together so quickly, and organised his group and got them playing, believing in his strategy.
That’s not the case, and they remain grossly undercooked when it comes to quality and options. Time remains before the season starts, although not much of it in reality, so Jared Dublin must work quickly and get things signed and sealed because being behind the eight ball in the Championship is a recipe for disaster, as we saw last term.
The Bosnian has been impressive. His approach is relaxed but firm and to the point when it needs to be. He pulls no punches with the players, but in a way that they respond to. His clarity and simple messaging have gone down well, and the players are enjoying working under him. He commands respect.
Training sessions are short, sharp and intense, but the work the players are being asked to do is ensuring they are responsive and getting something out of it, they’re enjoying their work.
Two wins from two during their trip coupled with the victory before they flew out means City have won their last three. And for a group that were bereft of confidence last season, and couldn’t string two wins together, this has been a major step forward.
Results and performances generally mean little in pre-season, but given where this club have been over the past 12 months, it’s only right to take the positives and move forward, especially with what’s going on away from the field of play.
The emergence of young players this week, namely Pharrell Brown and Cathal McCarthy, has been another major positive, while Tyrell Sellars-Fleming bagging two in three is another bright spot.
City flew out to Turkey with a big dark cloud above their head, and while things remain uncertain as they return home, the week in Riva has been a big plus for Jakirovic and the Tigers. Now, he needs backing from those above him to help get this squad in better shape and ready for the rigours of Championship football.
You can catch up on all our video diaries from Turkey right here
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