Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Hull City did quite a brilliant job last month in the transfer window with all the fresh faces already making a mark within a week of signing. Marco Silva has dealt mainly in loan deals and has done a done an outstanding job of garnering a core of untried players and bringing out the best of them.
With the new faces who are raring to go, this is how Hull City’s rejuvenated team should look like.
Defence
Eldin Jakupovic is seen getting the nod before David Marshall under new boss Marco Silva and the Switzerland international should be the preferred goalie now. With an average of conceding 1.01 goals per game, the shot-stopper has been impressive so far in the chances he has got.
Andrew Robertson starts as the left-back. The Scotland international was a hot prospect in the last transfer window and the new manager has done well to keep the player despite interests from bigger clubs. The right-back position is likely to taken by new Olympiakos loanee Omar Elabdellaoui. Although Ahmed Elmohamady has been used to that position for most of the first-half, he is mainly a right midfielder and Silva is expected to use him there.
The centre-half pairing should undoubtedly by Michael Dawson alongside Inter loanee Andrea Ranocchia. The Serie A man already registered an assist and is looking to have a huge impact on Hull’s remaining months. With the skipper sidelined with a calf injury at the moment, Harry Maguire has taken the place and was quite assuring against Liverpool. However, with Dawson returning, we expect Maguire to get benched.
Midfield
The Villarreal loanee, Alfred N’Diaye, started with a bang against Liverpool and we expect the Senegal international to keep his place in the deep midfield alongside Tom Huddlestone. Huddlestone has been Hull’s old general with tonnes of experience and the duo provides a combative attitude to the team right in the middle of the park.
The attacking midfield suddenly looks filled with options for Silva now. With Lazar Markovic ineligible for the Liverpool game, the manager had to opt for former FC Porto player Evandro Goebel on the right. But with the Liverpool loanee on the side, Silva is expected to play Evandro through the middle.
Attack
Kamil Grosicki started as the forward alongside Abel Hernandez against Liverpool which was unsuccessful. We expect the former Rennes man to start on the wing, his natural position. With Markovic taking the right, he should take the left.
Abel Hernandez is likely to keep his place in the squad. Although Everton loanee Oumar Niasse has been quite impressive since moving from Goodison Park, he has been impactful from the bench and the manager is expected to keep it that way.
