Hull City’s management have at several points stated that the Allams will invest further funds in January to go towards new players if promotion looks like a real possibility.
Ehab Allam said in October: “Obviously if we are doing well we will want to have a push. That’s our ambition and our goal and our target. It’s an opportunity dependent upon where we are and we will look at it then.”
Adam Pearson reitterated that later in the month: “There’s absolutely no need to sell players whatsoever. If anything we’ll be looking to strengthen in January in key positions and if we’re going to make a sustained bid for promotion, that will definitely need to happen.”
Assem Allam confirmed that was still the case after appointing Nick Barmby as caretaker manager almost four weeks ago: “Ehab said in the media that we are waiting until January and if it looks like we are advancing we will pay to acquire more players of Premier League quality. We are preparing millions to spend in the transfer window in January.”
The 1-0 win at Coventry on Saturday puts City 5th, four points behind an automatic promotion spot and four points ahead of Brighton outside the play-off zone. That means City will very likely be in the mix when the transfer window reopens in three weeks, and Barmby today said in the Hull Daily Mail that strengthening will go ahead:
“You have to think about January and we are doing that. We’ve got certain targets we’re looking at and Adam Pearson is working hard behind the scenes. He knows what’s going on and where to look.”
While City have a settled first eleven, it does contain weak points and a lack of strength in depth that has yet to be exposed by injuries.
Peter Gulacsi has started to look more assured in goal and Adrian Basso has been safe enough when called upon. However, neither has a long-term claim to the position with their contracts running only until the end of the season. Nor has either been outstanding on many occasions. We know the difference a top goalkeeper can make, with Boaz Myhill’s saves in the 2008 play-offs against Watford and Bristol City just as memorable as the goals in those victories.
In defence, despite his early season promise, James Chester has been culpable for a number of goals recently. Birmingham’s Chris Wood beat him in the air then was quicker to get to Marlon King’s lay-off to score. He left the man he was marking for Southampton’s first goal, as did Jack Hobbs for their second. Neither centre back is impassable as Michael Turner was.
On the wings, Cameron Stewart has made an excellent impact, while Richard Garcia and Jamie Devitt could also prove useful returnees. But Robbie Brady’s loan comes to an end soon and doesn’t seem worth extending, leaving City short of wide players.
Matty Fryatt and Aaron Mclean have been finding the net recently but doubts remain whether either can do so on a consistent basis. Jay Simpson and Mark Cullen are back from loans soon but neither looks ready to challenge for the first team in a promotion push. However, we are well aware that Adam Pearson – rightly – will only conduct transfers at fair prices and reliable goal-scorers are valuable commodities. This will be the true test of how much the Allams want their club to have Premier League status.
Which positions do you think Hull City need to strengthen to maintain the promotion challenge, and who do you think will be on the club’s shortlist?
