Premier League Preview 2009/2010 – Fulham & Hull City

Fulham
(Last season – 7th)

This time last year Fulham had just managed to stay up by the skin of their teeth and it would have taken a pretty radical thinker to suggest they would somehow follow that up by making it into Europe. But thanks to good team spirit, a manager who knows how best to improve a player’s confidence and therefore performance, a watertight defence, an industrious midfield and a team that gelled admirably playing slick, incisive football, Fulham earnt their highest ever top flight finish.

That they managed to get into Europe and finish above the likes of Tottenham, Manchester City and even Newcastle, who all possess far greater resources than the Cottagers, is impressive enough. That they did so by conceding just 34 goals is even more remarkable. Fulham boasted the fourth best defensive record in the Premier League last season ahead of Arsenal, Aston Villa and co, and it was this defensive solidity that laid the foundations for their excellent league campaign.

However, as is so often the problem when so-called smaller clubs overachieve, sooner or later the big dogs come sniffing. And Arsenal are circling Brede Hangeland, a key component of Fulham’s success in 2008/2009. Not only did Hangeland provide a hugely commanding presence at the back for Fulham but his calming influence also helped bring the best out of the underappreciated Aaron Hughes alongside him. Hughes excelled last season in what was a coming-of-age campaign for the 29-year-old. It might surprise a few of you, especially West Ham fans, to learn that John Paintsil and Paul Konchesky were also exemplary.

If Hangeland does leave, as is beginning to look likely, then Roy Hodgson has a tough job on his hands trying to keep Fulham challenging for a similar position as last season. The Texan born Norwegian is that important to them. Having said that, given Hodgson’s immense knowledge of the Scandinavian market you wouldn’t bet against him finding an equally obscure yet wholly adequate replacement. But regardless, with the added burden of European football in the crazily bloated ‘Europa League’ Fulham’s squad currently lacks the depth for one to really imagine them attaining or improving on 7th.

An area that Hodgson certainly does need to address is in attack. Fulham only scored 39 league goals in 38 games last season, a sum that really defies belief when you consider how high they finished. Even Newcastle scored more and they were relegated. No way can Fulham prosper again with such a weak goal tally. Between them Andy Johnson, Bobby Zamora, Erik Nevland, Eddie Johnson and Diomansy Kamara managed just 17 league goals in 08/09 – Nicolas Anelka scored more than that by himself. Hodgson tried unsuccessfully to bring in Peter Crouch and must continue looking for a goalscorer if Fulham are to repeat what was a distinguished campaign.

The midfield still looks dynamic though – Clint Dempsey won yet further praise with his stellar Confederations Cup performances for USA while Dickson Etuhu should take heart for showing signs of improvement. Whether Danny Murphy can continue to run the midfield at his age as he has done previously will be an important factor in Fulham’s season. All in all, 7th may not quite be possible this time around, but with Hodgson continuing to preach his attack-minded ethos and smooth passing and the promise of European football at Craven Cottage to entertain the fans it should be an exciting year ahead for Fulham.

Key Man: Brede Hangeland (if still around)
One to Watch: Clint Dempsey

In: Stephen Kelly (Birmingham, free), Bjorn Helge Riise (Lillestrom, undisclosed), Kagiso Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows, undisclosed – subject to work permit approval)

Out: Moritz Volz (released), Julian Gray (released), Troy Brown (Ipswich, free), Olivier Dacourt (Internazionale, end of loan)

Hull City
(Last season – 17th)

Who or what is Hull? All I remember from last season is Phil Brown: Phil Brown smiling, Phil Brown stroking his beard, Phil Brown talking about Phil Brown getting the England job, Phil Brown getting angry with his naughty little players, Phil Brown on Goals on Sunday, Phil Brown looking nervous, Phil Brown having it out with Cesc Fabregas, Phil Brown fretting, Phil Brown looking sad and Phil Brown singing with cathartic end of season glee. I don’t remember a ‘Hull’ in any of that.

Wait a minute. Beat Arsenal away? And Spurs? In consecutive matchdays? Beat Newcastle away too you say? Well that’s not very hard is it? Hmm still, I’m going to have to do a bit more research into this ‘Hull’ of which you speak.

Ok so I’m being a bit mischievous here. Phil Brown should sit me in the corner of a football pitch and tell me off. But you get the point. In pre-season of 2008/2009 you could have got decent odds on Hull City staying up such was the magnitude of the task at hand for a club that had never before played top flight football. Unfortunately however Hull’s survival, which make no mistake was a significant achievement, ended up being overshadowed by the grim, towering, sunlight-blocking spectre of Phil Brown’s ego.

The manner in which Hull stayed up was certainly unusual. Football is often described as a ‘game of two halves’ but it is rare to witness so distinctly a marked season of two halves. The Tigers were magnificent up to around December, peaked with a well-earnt draw at Anfield and then absolutely capitulated. Where they were loitering around the top eight early on in the season, a horrendous run of 15 defeats in 21 games from December to May saw Hull very nearly nosedive all the way back to the Championship. Fortunately for Phil Brown and his players Newcastle were even worse though, and despite a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United on the final day survival was ensured by a single point.

Heading into 2009/2010 Hull are many people’s favourites for the drop and unfortunately for Tigers fans it isn’t hard to see why. Second season syndrome is a wicked beast at the best of times; when it kicks in halfway through the first season you’ve got problems.

Brown has tried his upmost to bring in fresh new faces, particularly upfront, but it seems like every time he is on Sky Sports News declaring interest in a player within 48 hours said player is holding up a new shirt smiling cheerily in the corridors of another club (Owen, Campbell, Fortune, Beye). After managing just 39 league goals last season (the same amount as Fulham might I add) a goalscorer is an absolute imperative. So far Dean Windass and Manucho are out, Kamel Ghilas and Jozy Altidore are in. Will the young American bring the necessary fire in his boots?

As well as the need for quality strikers on Humberside, Hull desperately need a fit Jimmy Bullard in the team. His energy, drive and infectious enthusiasm would have been perfect for the Tigers last season, and if he can get back to full fitness and start enjoying his football again it will benefit everybody at the KC Stadium.

And, before my swipe at Phil Brown is interpreted as some kind of agenda, let me add that I do think the former Bolton assistant is a competent manager. Hull have done the right thing in sticking by him. After all he did keep them up, however bizarrely it was achieved. The problem is, as has been widely acknowledged, Brown got carried away with early season success and let his ego get the better of him. To paraphrase Kipling, if he can keep a cool head when all about him are losing theirs and not resort to pomposity of the highest order, his true managerial capabilities will shine through and both his reputation and Hull City will benefit. Regardless, it promises to be a long hard scrap for Hull this season, and relegation looks a distinct possibility.

Key Man:Michael Turner
One to Watch: Jimmy Bullard

In: Kamel Ghilas (Celta Vigo, undisclosed), Stephen Hunt (Reading, undisclosed), Steven Mouyokolo (Boulogne, undisclosed), Seyi Olofinjana (Stoke, £3m), Jozy Altidore (Villarreal, loan),
Out: Sam Ricketts (Bolton, undisclosed), Wayne Brown (Leicester, free), Matt Plummer (Darlington, free), Dean Windass (Darlington, free), James Bennett (Darlington, free), John Welsh (Tranmere, free).

English Premier League, Fulham, Hull City, Phil Brown, Premier League 09/10, Previews