The 1904 Club podcast have given their scores out of 10 for the campaign so far
Hull City went into the international break with confidence and their league position high, positivity all around, and even with injuries clearing as the club prepares for a busy conclusion to the calendar year.
It’s a far cry from a year ago and a concerning league position. It’s all the more surprising given the summer concerns around a transfer embargo and squad rebuilding for a new manager.
A return of 25 points from 15 games has brought a league position of fifth and autumn dreams of a push for Premier League promotion as City continue to flirt heavily with the play-offs.
Asked last week to rate City’s season so far, manager Sergej Jakirovic gave his squad a 7 rating out of 10, with an assessment on the Tigers’ play-off chances that wasn’t lacking in any confidence. “We can fight for the top six because we have shown until now that we can fight, that we can play against every team in the league,” the Croatian said.
When asked to mark City’s first 15 games out of 10, Jakirovic said: “Seven, because we have a lot of places where we can improve. I think that we can play even better.”
Having got the manager’s assessment, we asked our 1904 Club podcast trio of David Burns, David Pruton and Kathryn Batte the same question to get their scores for the campaign so far and their take on whether City are genuine contenders for the play-offs. Here’s what the trio had to say.
Kathryn Batte
“I think we are contenders. I do think there are teams further down the table who will get their act together. Ipswich are one of those doing it now and I look at Southampton who have won two games after letting their manager go, and are they going to get their act together.
“At the minute we are 100 percent contenders. In terms of a score, I think 7.5 out of 10. I’m thinking of it like player ratings and we’ve not been exceptional to get an 8, but we are above average, so I think 7.5.”
David Burns
“I’d be rubbish on Strictly in so many ways, but if I was sitting as a judge I’d be holding up an 8 or a 9. It has far exceeded what I thought the club were going to do this season. It’s transformed the club, it has transformed the support and the feeling about the club. At least an 8 from me, and maybe even a 9. There is no reason why they can’t sustain it.”
David Prutton
“I think it’s in 7.5 to 8 territory. It does exceed expectation, it does go against what we potentially thought at the start of the season and has gone beyond what I think any City fan believed would have happened. Now comes the expectation.
“We have seen a pretty hefty portion of what the Championship has to offer. What we have seen, there is nothing that should scare what Hull City are going to face. I’d score them 7.5 to 8 and where they find themselves now in the season, it is about keeping the squad happy, keeping the squad motivated and maintaining consistency.
“With the players coming back they should be really strong contenders for the rest of the year.”
Barry Cooper
“City’s start to the season could have scarcely gone any better, in truth. Yes, there has been huge frustrations with dropped points particularly recently against Charlton Athletic and Derby County, but you have to be realistic. They’ve claimed some big scalps, played some great football and already created some special memories.
“In their impressive six-game unbeaten run there were moments where they rode their luck, so you take what you’ve got and 25 points from 15 games and to be second top scorers is superb.
“Of course, there’s areas to improve. Especially defensively, but when you play like City do, you leave yourselves open at the other end. They know how to win games and it’s a completely different feeling to 12 months ago.
“What’s especially impressive is how quickly Sergej Jakirovic has adapted to the Championship, the way he’s improved players and helped create an impressive team spirit has played a major role in why City are the fifth best team at this stage of the season, something you couldn’t have expected at the start of the season.
“Above all else, it’s been good fun. 8.5/10.”
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