In the final interview Ruben Selles conducted as Hull City’s head coach, he highlighted the biggest challenge facing the Tigers in the transfer market this summer. Speaking after the final day draw at Portsmouth, which was just enough to keep City in the Championship, Selles highlighted the need for goals to be brought in over the summer
City finished the season as the Championship’s lowest scorers with only 44 goals in their 46 league games. Joao Pedro was the club’s leading scorer with six goals, and none of those came in the final 10 games after his fine strike at Bristol City, which also saw him sent off.
Abu Kamara’s three assists saw him joint-top of the goal creation charts, along with Marvin Mehlem, who left the club in January when he joined German side Paderborn. Even Chris Bedia, who departed in the winter window, ended the campaign three behind Pedro.
“We need to add goals to the team,” Selles told Hull Live at Fratton Park. “I think that’s pretty obvious. If we can add goals with players that can score goals, a couple of players that can support us on that, we will improve. We also need to find a better way to handle those situations (take their chances).”
“We need to add goals to the team. I think that’s pretty obvious. If we can add goals with players that can score goals, a couple of players that can support us on that, we will improve. We also need to find a better way to handle those situations (take their chances).”
Those comments from Selles will not have gone unnoticed by new head coach Sergej Jakirovic. The Bosnian’s style of play demands quick transitions, zipping the ball quickly and getting forward in two or three passes with an end product at the end of the move.
Selles wanted that to happen, but for a number of reasons, he just could not get his side to create enough chances to make their life far more comfortable. It was an issue to an extent, for Liam Rosenior the season before, especially at home.
Therefore, needing to add goals is nothing new for City, but it’s something they’ve found difficult in the transfer market. Twelve months ago, the Tigers lost the majority of the players who scored in the near-miss campaign under Rosenior. Barely a handful were left by the time Liam Delap, Jaden Philogene, Fabio Carvalho, Ozan Tufan and the rest had moved on. Those goals were never replaced, and it was perhaps no surprise to see their struggles last term.
Selles’ warning at Fratton Park cannot be ignored. City must react and react quickly. Acun Ilicali, Jared Dublin and their recruitment team must bring in players capable of delivering Jakirovic’s vision. Oli McBurnie would be a good start if that one can get over the line, but his goal record in recent seasons suggests he won’t be the answer to all of the Tigers’ prayers.
Presuming there are no departures, Mason Burstow and Kyle Joseph must stand up and be counted. Given the club spent the best part of £5m on those two, a goals return of just two in a combined 47 games tells its own story.
Other players also need to step up and chip in, and that’s on the manager to find a way of making that happen, but the former Dinamo Zagreb boss will surely be under no illusions about the task in front of him and he will need the right backing if things are to be different next term.
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