Well it’s the end of another season. I like you, dear reader, feel drained, elated, relieved, and now perplexed about this car crash of a club. The best thing that has happened this season was it ending and despite the highs and lows on the way, I just feel, like many of you, that I need a bit of a break from it all…
And then the rumours started Monday… sigh.
Let’s not address that now, let’s address the players who played and review the season, like I have with some grades for the last few years. Only one A grade, I’m sorry but you can’t give A grades out left right and centre after that. But some players get credit where it’s due.
You won’t agree with all of them, I’ll get the usual blue tick, conspiracy theory, tin hat wearing loons having a pop, good for them and I’m happy as ever to get your hate tweets at @thelikesofhull .Some of the player summaries might be brief as we had lots of bit part players, and just lots of players…
Enjoy… enjoy the summer. And I’ll see you all next season (I’m moving into a scouting role in non-league so I’m hoping to get to some more games in person…)
Cheers.. UTT
Ivor Pandur A-
The only real consideration for an A. Ivo was superb. A human blockade. A very strong year and I’m reading he’s already won player of the season. He did have the odd ricket in him (I think he’ll be disappointed in Pompey’s equaliser) and his feet aren’t incredible. But he’s a keeper, in both senses of the word.
Lewie Coyle C+
Feels a bit harsh, and yet some fans will think it’s kind. I think watching carefully he was often asked to do things tactically that made him more of a scapegoat. Watch how he squeezes close to his centre backs an awful lot, that’s not his choice, it’s what he’s being told. However this wasn’t his best season in the shirt, he struggled with tricky wingers and when pushing forward he often looked uncomfortable. I’d like to see him stay myself, and think he can bounce back from this. Certainly having two good centre backs next to him in Hughes and Egan helped. We’ll see.
Sean McCloughlin B
Another boo boy favourite. I think he did a grand job at left back and was a huge factor in our survival. Probably not the long term plan there but he was reliable and steady and made us harder to beat. A consummate professional that might be measured more in the long term when we have to watch him play for someone else, because he’s rarely got the respect he’s deserved with us.
Charlie Hughes B+
Nightmare of a start, injuries and mistakes. Then that was it. He’s class, he’s arguably better than Greaves and he’s only getting better. The goal at Sheff Wed was “Whitehurst-esque” (ask your Dad) and he along with Pandur shone the brightest this season. Future captain.
John Egan B
Arguably could have got an even higher grade, but didn’t play enough. Best signing of January, because he brought calmness, experience and discipline to the back four. I don’t know why but we’re just better with more Irish players (see Shane Long, Robbie Brady, Paul McShane, Dave Meyler etc) was the exact player we needed at the end of this season. One more year please.
Alfie Jones C+
I love Alfie. But it wasn’t his best year. He’s consistent mainly, and he isn’t slightly big time, but in a team where we lack steel, I felt the decision to put in Egan for him probably kept us up. Did he get pushed around a bit? A little? One of our best ever value signings, he’ll need to kick on again next year.
Cody Drameh C
There’s talent, clearly. He was unlucky with injuries, but he didn’t really grasp the nettle and take the right back slot with his actual performances, that were a real mixed bag and often questionable in terms of awareness and physicality. Be interesting to see whether he’s here next year, because he is talented for sure.
Ryan Giles E-
He didn’t want to be here. That was crystal clear. Sulky, petulant and half hearted. He’s not even convinced me that when he tries he’s the answer. Hopefully moves on.
Matty Jacob C
Another who may have to move on. I don’t mind him but this wasn’t the year to develop for Matty, and again he could look defensively naïve. Scored a lovely goal at Sheff United that you could see really meant something to him. I’d loan him out personally.
Fin Burns D
Didn’t really play. Didn’t look the hot prospect we’d been told he was when he did. Return to sender.
Steven Alzate B
Had a really golden period in the new year, considering he didn’t cost anything in terms of fee he was a gem. Is rumoured to be one we’ll sell. You really don’t have much time to form opinions on these players any more. Lovely on the ball, sometimes a little too relaxed for the situation we were in? He’d be a loss.
Matt Crooks B
Was as advertised a potential game winner. Deep runs hurt the opposition. Did have a couple of stinkers too, but came up with the goods when most needed. He’s champ ready and we’ll need to keep players like him.
Eliot Matazo B
Looked really good, scored a nice goal, gave us and bit of bite in the middle and then was out for the season with a torn ACL. Typical city.
Abu Kamara C
Clearly has ability. Speed, goals and is a threat on the break. His recoveries improved, but still doesn’t convince me off the ball. Ruben seemed to galvanise him but his body language and social media presence suggests he’s another that might not stay long.
Lincoln C-
Ran around a lot. Didn’t do that much. Again you can see there’s talent. Felt like another brought in from Turkey because of the ownership. Not for me.
Kasey Palmer B-
Unlucky with injuries. I really like what he brings as a player and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet. I’d really like to see him play week in week out. Didn’t always get it done but I think in a more stable team he will.
Gustavo Puerta B
A very talented boy. Much like Palmer, in the right mix he could be an absolute class act. Was it often enough? Maybe not, but again if he goes (and he might) he’ll be a real loss. A bright light when there wasn’t many this season.
Marvin Mehlem D
Despite having the name of a WCW wrestler in the nineties, this was about the only notable thing about Marv, who looked out of his depth and homesick. Went not long after Walts did. We need to sell or release.
Regan Slater C+
Another boo boy target. Personally I think he was asked to play a position that didn’t help him. He’s not a holder. He obviously missed chances like we’ve never seen the like, but that could easily be just some bad luck. He’s had 3 great seasons, if we are writing him off with one bad one, it probably says more about us than him.
Oscar Zambrano N/A
Came, looked good, tested positive for moonjuice… out for a long time. Could be a gem. Who knows? I think we only got him because we ignored the fact that he had the ban coming. Duh.
Harry Vaughan N/A
Finally got a couple of chances when everyone was injured, banned or clinically blind. Thought he did well. Went out the squad again. A real shame, I honestly think this one will bite us on the backside in true Conor Townsend style in the long term.
Nordin Amrabat B
Came in, slightly older than Jesus. Showed more desire than half the existing squad. That was about it. Won’t stay so he’s been saying. Wasn’t a long-term plan anyway. At least he cared.
Louie Barry N/A
Came in to much excitement and before he could really get started. Got hurt. City’s injury curse strikes again. Hope he comes back next season. Speaking of which…
Mohamed Belloumi B
Looked the part… tore Cardiff a new one in the autumn and seemed one of our best signings of the summer. Then PING! You can’t have nice things Hull City fans!? Out he went. One to look forward to next season. Speaking of which…
Liam Miller B
Had his own song, looked tricky in bits, but perhaps was a little hit and miss. Would have got a ton of opportunities to prove himself over the season and then… PING!! Cheers for the massive overload on training Walts you perma-capped div. Sigh.
Mason Burstow C
Thought he might have cracked it when he scored against Swansea. But just didn’t really kick on and got lost in the mix. Had a good attitude but lacked the quality needed at the top end at times. May be one that moves on to get more playing time.
Joe Geldhardt B+
Very good. Scored some important goals and assists in the battle to survive and was as likely as anyone to show a spark that would save us in even the dullest games. Needs to play central. I’d love him back, a firm fan favourite.
Joao Pedro B
Moves like an arthritic 50 year old, however… he’s still got it. Scored a couple of vital goals and gave us the only nine who looked Champ ready and could hold up the ball. The fans love Unc and with such slim pickings you can’t blame them. Put him in deep freeze and thaw him out in July.
Kyle Joseph C
Didn’t really provide what he was supposed to, however you couldn’t help but admire his effort. Reminded me a bit of Jonny Walters at City, and we know how that ended in his career. Jury will be out on him but there’s something there. Get’s one and he might be off to the races.
Manager Ruben Selles B-
Came in to firefight and ultimately did it. I feel he fell into the phase of pragmatism a bit too much, thus we could bank in and counter to beat top six teams, but struggled brutally at home. Had to unpick a transfer policy that could only have been more mental if it was written in excrement on a prison wall. Wasn’t pretty but like Phil Brown did in 2006, he deserves the chance to have a summer window and put together a plan. He may not, which I think most of us think is a mistake. Time will tell. If this is it for Ruben, then he’ll be generally well thought of by this fanbase. A proper grown up who was often not surrounded by his like.
Ownership C-
I’ll probably get stick from both sides, one that thinks it should be worse, and one better. It was a chaotic and uneven window in the summer, slightly better in January, and overall, it’s been schizophrenic. You can’t come for everything they’ve done. Kits have never been better, tickets are fairly priced, the ambition is clear. But the method of getting there has been like a 10-year-old high on fizzy drinks and Harribo going nuts on Championship manager. Fans are just starting to turn and this must be the point where Acun learns from the clear mistakes. They have brought in some unquestionable talent, but they must must must give the manager time to filter out those who didn’t work and bring in a “John Egan/Joe Geldhardt” type or two to even out the balance of the squad. Do that and we can be in the right half of the table next year, don’t and we may as well get ready for league one football. It’s that simple.