Source: FOOTYMAD
2010-11 npower Championship Preview: Hull City
LeedsUnitedMAD take a look at the 24 teams whom will compete in the 2010/11 npower Championship; in this edition we feature Yorkshire rivals Hull City. Rick Skelton - HullCityOnline.comThis really is a step into the unknown for us. On paper we have a squad of players who clearly should know how to get out of the Championship again, but the finances mean we could still lose more players. Nigel Pearson is a great appointment, though, so it should be a more positive season than last year and we should, in theory, be winning more games. We could genuinely finish anywhere between 1st and 24th - this is Hull City after all - but I think we'll just miss the play-offs. Last season Relegated Prediction 10thThe new boys I'm sorry to see Steven Mouyokolo go to Wolves, but otherwise we've done what's necessary. Harper and Solano look like good signings - and they represent two more signings than I thought we'd be able to make. The club still needs to cut the cost of the massive, unsustainable wage bill, and until then it's hard to imagine many more players arriving. Adam Pearson, the chairman, says they're trying to sign a striker, but it depends on losing more players first.Men to watch Having Ian Ashbee back from what looked like a career-threatening injury will be massive for us. He hasn't played competitively since May 2009 but has featured in pre-season.Best youngsters Tom Cairney should shine this season in the centre of midfield - he started to break through last season - and Mark Cullen, a youth-team product, is a striker with bags of potential.Target for the boo-boys Any of our goal-shy strikers will get it. Caleb Folan probably.Hate figure Anyone even slightly associated with Leeds or Sheffield United.Going up Middlesbrough, Burnley, Nottingham ForestGoing down Millwall, Scunthorpe, PortsmouthWhen Do We Meet?Elland Road: 9 Nov 2010KC Stadium: 1 Feb 2011Previous Positions:2007-08: 3rd2008-09: 17th (PL)2009-10: 19th (PL)OddsPromotion: 13/2Relegation: 7/1First Team Squad (As of 30 July 2010.)Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.No.PositionPlayer3DFAndy Dawson4MFIan Ashbee (captain)5DFAnthony Gardner6DFPaul McShane7FWCraig Fagan8MFNick Barmby12GKMatt Duke13FWMark Cullen14MFRichard Garcia16MFPéter Halmosi17MFKevin Kilbane18FWCaleb Folan21MFJimmy BullardNo.PositionPlayer24DFKamil Zayatte25FWDaniel Cousin27MFNicky Featherstone31MFWill Atkinson34GKMark Oxley35DFLiam Cooper36MFJamie Devitt39DFSteve Gardner44MFSeyi Olofinjana45MFTom Cairney—MFDanny Emerton—MFJames Harper—MFNolberto Solano
