Football Season Guide

Hull did not have a good time of it last season. In the end though they stayed up quite comfortably thanks to Nigel Adkins who, after a slow start to life at the KCOM Stadium, ensured that the Tigers were never in trouble in the closing weeks of the season. Expectations are now understandably higher for the new season. There is a sense that this is now Adkins' team and he has bought from the back forwards. Losing Michael Dawson is a blow but Adkins has added a trio of defenders in Jordy de Wijs, Reece Burke and Eric Lichaj. David Milinkovic is another arrival in attack and he will be hoping to fill the boots of Abel Hernandez, a major departure for Hull. Adkins' side have also lost further talent in the shape of David Meyler, Seb Larsson, goalkeeper Allan McGregor and defender Max Clark. With so many departures, it is likely there will be more additions in the build up to the new campaign. That may mean there is less time for the new side to gel together. To date that has not happened though leaving plenty of frustration. Adkins is a proven figure at Championship level and his style of management is certainly enough for some kind of encouragement. Whether it is enough to challenge the top six remains to be seen though.