Tag Archives: Hull City

Everton Plot Swoop For Premier League Defender Amidst Summer Shake-Up

Josh Challies March 30, 2017

Everton have improved significantly under the guidance of Ronald Koeman this season but the Dutchman is aware he has work to do to ensure the Toffees remain competitive.

With an ageing defence, Ronald Koeman is keen to freshen up his defensive ranks this summer by seeking the signature of new signings and The Liverpool Echo states the Dutchman’s head has been turned by Hull City’s Harry Maguire.

24-year-old Maguire has impressed this season for the struggling Tigers, with his stellar performances including keeping Romelu Lukaku quiet at Goodison Park until his side were reduced to ten-men, as well as frustrating Manchester United in a goalless draw.

Maguire has been touted as a potential choice for Gareth Southgate’s England squad and a move to Everton would significantly booster his chances, whilst Koeman believes the right signings this summer could see the Toffees push into the top-four.

Why Maguire?

Harry Maguire is just one of the names being discussed by Everton’s hierarchy ahead of the summer transfer window, with the Toffees also keen on Burnley’s Michael Keane, but a significant shake-up to the back-line is expected this summer.

Phil Jagielka turns 35 this summer and has been in-and-out of the line-up this season, whilst Ramiro Funes Mori sees his future shrouded in speculation too. On top of that, first-choice man Ashley Williams turns 33 this summer and doesn’t have many years left in the tank.

With a signing like Maguire, Everton could get years of service from the England ace- just like they’ve done with Jagielka and Leighton Baines, both of whom signed in 2007 and have represented the Merseyside outfit valiantly for the past decade.

Will Hull sell?

Hull City’s position in the table doesn’t give them a strong standing point in negotiations and their chances of keeping Maguire will look minimal if the Tigers are to be relegated. Whilst Marco Silva has improved the club’s fortunes, Hull still sit in the relegation zone and are three points behind Swansea City- whilst Middlesbrough and Sunderland below them have a game in hand.

Even if Hull survive the threat of relegation, Maguire would not be blamed if he was to push for an exit and Everton would be the ideal stepping stone for the youngster, as the guidance of a world-class manager like Koeman would be superb.

Learning from the likes of Ashley Williams and Leighton Baines would also be beneficial, whilst Maguire would join a side breaming with young talent and one that has a great future there for the taking.

‘He Must Start vs. Bayern’ Arsenal Fans Rave Over Midfielders Performance vs. Hull City

Oli Price-Bates February 11, 2017

Arsenal needed to win when they hosted Hull City on Saturday evening, and they did just that. 

The goals came via a handball and a penalty, but the Gunners were in control of the game most of the time, although some late pressure from Hull did cause some nerves inside the stadium.

For the most part, the Gunners played well. One player who really impressed though was Oxlade-Chamberlain. He has been (forcefully) moved into a central midfield position, but he has played better than we’ve seen him play all season.

The Ox and Coquelin are not players that help the team dominate possession and that was reflected in the match statistics. Hull had more possession than the home side, which is a rare sight, especially for a team so close to the bottom of the league. However the Ox was efficient in possession and that’s the most important thing.

One of his best attributes is his running between midfield and attack, he completed 5 dribbles against Hull. The Ox completed 86% of his passes, including 4 accurate long balls. Defensively he made 2 tackles and 1 interception, he also used his energy to get back and help the team defend on several occasions.

Here are some of the best tweets about Oxlade-Chamberlain’s performance. The performance was so good the fans are keen to see him play in Munich. 

In my opinion it is great to see The Ox developing in central midfield. He was showing little to no progression on the wing and it is now great to see him settling and improving in a position. Now, Wenger needs to give him the game time to continue that development and realise his colossal potential.

On the face of it, you wouldn’t expect him to be a central midfielder at all. But since moving to that position he has impressed with his passing range and immense amount of energy. He’s taken over Aaron Ramsey’s position and despite a lack of experience there, he has arguably outperformed the Welshman by far.

Pretty Average: All The Arsenal Players Rated Out Of 10 vs. Hull

Patrick Ribeiro February 11, 2017

These are Fresh Football’s ratings for Arsenal’s 2-0 victory at home to Hull City in the Premier League.

Petr Čech – 7

With pressure on the veteran shot-stopper after last week’s debacle at Stamford Bridge, Čech responded with two very good saves from Oumar Niasse attempts to keep the Gunners in control.

Héctor Bellerín – 6.5

A decent display from the young Spaniard, who found himself in goalscoring positions on a couple of occasions, meanwhile also managing Hull’s new boy Kamil Grosicki.

Shkodran Mustafi – 6

A relatively stress-free day for Mustafi, who instead saw Niasse look to initiate attacks from the right-hand side of Hull’s attack.

Laurent Koscielny – 6

Had a lively iteration of Niasse and, at times, Lazar Markovic to deal with too, which the Frenchman did with varied success, as well as being a key figure in Arsenal’s initial construction of play.

Kieran Gibbs – 6

The left back was very good in associative play, a differing threat he holds over current mainstay Nacho Monreal, but there were a few moments in which he struggled to take care of Markovic that will stand as a concern surrounding his bid to start more often for Arsenal.

Francis Coquelin – 6.5

Far better from one of Arsenal’s under-fire figures, picking out carefully plotted tackles to commence counter-attacks in ways few others know how to replicate.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7

‘The Ox’ demonstrated a real eye for the final ball on occasions, which is sure to strengthen the case made for his transition into the centre of midfield.

Alex Iwobi – 6

Typically pleasing in and around the box, as Arsenal looked to crack down an in-form Hull side.

Mesut Özil – 6

He’ll have seen better days, by his standards, as he appeared to constantly be on the receiving end of an imperfect pass, when it wasn’t him who was providing them himself. Lively, however, which always bodes well going forwards.

Theo Walcott – 5.5

The link-ups in Arsenal’s attack were actively present, but throughout the Gunners’ greatest periods going forwards, Walcott very rarely came into the equation.

Alexis Sanchez – 7

Undoubtedly Arsenal’s key figure throughout the game, Alexis wrapped up his decent showing with both of the North Londoners’ goals to his name.

Subs:

Mohamed Elneny – 6

Tightened the game up alongside Coquelin in the second period, with Wenger sure to be pleased to have the Egyptian back at his disposal.

Lucas Perez – N/A

Danny Welbeck – N/A

Hull City

Eldin Jakupović – 5

The Hull goalkeeper cut a sorry figure in the lead-up to Arsenal’s killer blow in the dying moments of the game, as he recklessly abandoned his goal and basically left San Clucas resigned to blocking Perez’s header with his arm, as Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot.

Omar Elabdelloui – 4.5

The ex-Olympiakos man never got anywhere near the likes of Iwobi, Alexis and Gibbs.

Andrea Ranocchia – 4.5

Another to suffer at the hands of Arsenal’s mobile attack, with the Gunners unlucky not to convert a couple of chances a lot earlier than Alexis’ controversial opener.

Harry Maguire – 5

A key figure in Hull’s recent renaissance, the ball-playing defender was unable to be as effective as he has been in recent weeks, as the Tigers struggled to get out of their own half for prolonged periods of the game.

Andrew Robertson – 6

Kept Walcott quiet and offered an outlet at the other end.

Tom Huddlestone – 5

Often so crucial to Hull’s game, Huddlestone was unable to get a grip of things in the centre of the park, limiting the away side somewhat.

Sam Clucas – 5

Another who never managed to impact the game from the middle, as a late red card wrapped things up for the playmaker.

Alfred N’Diaye – 6.5

The towering figure of the ex-Villarreal and Sunderland man began to impose himself as the game went on, often providing well-timed passes to the flanks on the break. A good start to his Hull career.

Lazar Markovic – 6.5

Not the best going backwards, but given space, Markovic really did come to life on the counter.

Kamil Grosicki – 5.5

The Poland international promised a lot with his first few involvements, but his impact gradually faded at the expense of Markovic starring.

Oumar Niasse – 6

In good form, the striker might well have added to the hype had it not been for Čech on a couple of occasions.

Subs:

Ahmed Elmohamady – 5

Replacing Ebdellaoui, Elmohamady did at least provid a greater threat down the right flank, but in turn, plenty of gaps were also left behind him.

Evandro – N/A

Adama Diomandé – N/A

3 Alternative Selections For Your Premier League Fantasy Football Team This Week

Patrick Ribeiro December 9, 2016

Premier League football could well be in for a triple dosage of goal-laden games this week, given the amount of must-win duels coming our way.

In hope of a response to Wednesday’s 5-0 drubbing at the hands of FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League, Leicester City will be praying for three points, something that has escaped them since late October.

The Foxes’ opponents this Saturday come in the form of favourable quantity Manchester City, also coming into this weekend’s clash off the back of European disappointment versus Celtic and with an underwhelming record of just three wins in their last six league games.

Old Trafford hosts the anticipated meeting between top four contenders, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, neither being left with much margin for error, whereas at the other end of the table, the likes of Hull City, Crystal Palace, Swansea City and Sunderland all face “cup finals” of their own.

But with so many blows expected to be traded this weekend, it’s perhaps a surprise to see we’re backing just one striker to rake in a large sum of points this weekend in Fantasy Premier League. Here are our reasons:

1 – Gylfi Sigurðsson

Club: Swansea City
Position: Midfielder
Price: £7.4m

Currently sitting bottom of the pile in the Premier League, the need for points is urgent at the Liberty Stadium and they won’t have many better opportunities to do so than when Sunderland come to town.

The Black Cats are on the up, winning three of their last four league games, but they’re still very much within the realms of the lower end of the table, as two points separate the relegation candidates prior to Saturday’s fixture.

Swansea’s last victory saw the Swans topple Crystal Palace in a 5-4 thriller a fortnight ago, of which Gylfi Sigurðsson was on hand to chip in with a goal and assist en route to victory. Last weekend’s 5-0 loss away to Spurs was the first time in six appearances that the Icelandic star didn’t contribute directly to a Swansea goal, so if Bob Bradley’s side are to lift off the root of the league table come Saturday, we expect the 27-year-old to have a significant input.

3 Strikers You Need In Your Fantasy Football Teams This Weekend ft. Everton, Sunderland & Manchester City Stars

Patrick Ribeiro November 18, 2016

With the third international break of the season behind us, it’s now full steam ahead for club football until March. Offering no respite, the Premier League returns with a tasty collection of potential relegation ‘six-pointers’, a meeting between old foes at Old Trafford and even a London derby.

Undoubtedly, there’ll be plenty of heart beats to be skipped, goals to be fought for and points to be clocked along the way. Here’s who Fresh Football are backing to lead the way in this week’s Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 12.

1 – Jermaine Defoe

Club: Sunderland
Position: Striker
Price: £7.4m
We could have tipped Diego Costa to star, here, as so many are sure to do, but we like the look of a potentially big showing from Jermain Defoe against lowly-placed Hull City at the Stadium of Light. Of course, Sunderland have fared worse than their opponents so far, winning their first league game of the season as late as their last outing.

The clash between the two clubs is, without a doubt, a must-win game, and given the momentum to be gained from their last fixture and the fact that they’re at home; there may well be a theoretical advantage to be placed upon the otherwise unreliable Black Cats this weekend.

Leading the line, David Moyes’ men will be looking towards Defoe to come up with a clutch moment or two to help them take down Hull. At £m, the veteran could well be the perfect stop-gap for those who simply need to replace an injured/suspended striker for a week, or one that’s otherwise unlikely to come up big against tough opposition.

5 Quality Midfielders To Put In Your Fantasy Football Team For Under £7.5m

Fresh Football September 23, 2016

As values of players increase and prolific consistent points-scoring players start to become clearer to Fantasy Premier League players, managers may have to save a little money in the midfield area in order to sufficiently strengthen the defence or the attack and stick with the strict £100m budget.

Here are five low priced midfielders that we feel will not only keep the cost down, but also bring vital points into your squad.

1) Robert Snodgrass- Hull City
Value- £5.7m
16/17 Total Points- 31

Robert Snodgrass is one of the main attacking threats for Hull this season, and following his move from relegated Norwich, the winger has overcome a horrific injury and is back to his his best.

The Scotsman has scored three goals this season in five games, and at just £5.7m, he is a bargain who will score you points in the midfield, having picked up 31 this season, making him the highest scoring Hull City player.

Hull have a couple of tough fixtures coming up. They make the trip to Anfield on Saturday before hosting Chelsea the week after. However, fixtures start to get a little less harsh after the October international break with a trip Bournemouth followed by a home game against Stoke. Plenty of opportunities for Snodgrass to score more points.

Transfer Window Rankings (20th-17th): Hull, Burnley, West Brom & Swansea Feature

Patrick Ribeiro September 5, 2016

As two of the most free-spending managers in football history, José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, paved way for the arrival of more high-profile managerial switch-a-rounds, it’s perhaps no surprise to see Premier League clubs shatter the records of expenditure once more with a £1.165 billion bill, surpassing the £870 million mark set just last season.

In its trail, the relentless cash burning has left a bunch of euphoric agents, players and, for the most part, many satisfied fans with the acquisitions made by their favourite clubs. Some teams went about their business better than others, however. Here’s where all 20 Premier League clubs stand in Fresh Football’s rankings:

20th – Hull City

Key Incomings: Ryan Mason (£13m), David Marshall (£3.5m), Will Keane (£1m), James Weir (Undisclosed), Dieumerci Mbokani (Loan), Markus Henriksen (Loan).

Key Outgoings: Mohamed Diamé (£4.6m), Sone Aluko (Released), Ryan Taylor (Released)

As refreshing and laudable as one’s start to the season can be, the fact Hull’s squad still appears worryingly depleted, let alone arguably too weak to survive in the Premier League, sees them languish behind others as far as transfer dealings are concerned. It cost them a manager at the start of the season, after all.

David Marshall provided some solid performances during his time with Cardiff City in the Premier League, whereas Ryan Mason, despite being a bit costly, adds some quality to the Tigers’ midfield. The likes of Will Keane should also have space to grow into the player his potential promises to see him become, but whether he, among others, will manage to have the desired impact on the squad remains to be seen.

Stranger things have happened in the Premier League, of course, but the suspicions that Mike Phelan’s squad is still far too small and short in quality won’t go away.

19th – Burnley

Key Incomings: Jeff Hendrick (£10m), Steven Defour (£7.3m), Patrick Bamford (Loan), Jon Flanagan (Loan), Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson (£2.5m).

Key Outgoings: Joey Barton (Released), Matty Taylor (Released), Lukasz Jutkiewicz (Loan).

Sean Dyche is sticking to what saw his team promoted last season, that much is clear, after a fairly quiet summer at Turf Moor. Whether that will cost Burnley, or not, remains to be seen, but it more than likely was the defining factor in their relegation from the Premier League just two seasons ago.

Nevertheless, the arrivals of Steven Defour and Jeff Hendrick refresh the club’s midfield, whereas a stagnating Patrick Bamford joins with a point to prove, initially behind the likes of Sam Vokes and Andre Gray in the pecking order. The star quality remains unconvincing, however, but their strong unification can drown those concerns. At least there’s a clear method to Burnley’s actions, or lack thereof.

18th – West Bromwich Albion

Key Incomings: Nacer Chadli (£13m), Matt Phillips (£5.5m), Allan Nyom (£4m), Brendan Galloway (Loan), Robson Hal-Kanu (Free).

Key Outgoings: James Chester (£8m), Rickie Lambert (Undisclosed), Sebastien Pocognoli (Loan), Victor Anichebe (Released), Stephane Sessegnon (Released), Anders Lindegaard (Released).

Such was the disappointment with the lack of transfer activity at the Hawthorns that relegation-proof manager Tony Pulis was rumoured to be considering his position as West Bromwich Albion boss. That storm seems to have been weathered by the Midlands club, but they will now have to face the realities of their dealings.

On face value, the additions look adequate. Nacer Chadli’s powering figure looks like your average template for a Pulis wide man, whereas Brendan Galloway and Allan Nyom are decent reinforcements for the backline.

Happy or unhappy, Saido Berahino is still at the club, but fans will be rightly upset to have missed out on key targets, such as Islam Slimani, now at Leicester City, the striker’s ex-team mate, William Carvalho, and Malaga midfielder Ignacio Camacho. It’s a missed opportunity overall for squad that looks to be in desperate need or revitalisation.

17th – Swansea City

Key Incomings: Borja Bastón (£15.5m), Fernando Llorente (£5m), Leroy Fer (£4.75m), Mike van der Hoorn (£2.1m), Aflie Mawson (£5m).

Key Outgoings: André Ayew (£20m), Ashley Williams (£12m), Bafetimbe Gomis (Loan), Eder (£3.8m).

Hardly traffic-stopping stuff at the Liberty Stadium, but when has that ever been the case wherever Swansea City’s spending has been concerned? Still, the South Wales outfit managed to quietly smash their own transfer record by landing Borja Bastón for £15.5 million after his 19-goal season on loan at La Liga club Eibar.

The experienced Fernando Llorente also bolsters Francesco Guidolin’s frontline, whereas Leroy Fer, who has already found the back of the net from midfield twice this season, hopes his third move to a Premier League club won’t result in a successive relegation. The biggest worry, however, has to be how Swansea manage to cope with the exits of their top goalscorer and club captain, André Ayew and Ashley Williams. For now, it’s a season to sweat over.

The 3 Must Pick Players For Your Fantasy Football Team This Week ft. Man Utd Star

Patrick Ribeiro August 26, 2016

Gameweek three of the Premier League is upon us and, as always, Fresh Football will be here to offer you guidance with regards to your Fantasy Premier League teams. Here are our three hot picks for this week:

1 – Riyad Mahrez
Club: Leicester City
Position: Midfield
Price: £9.5m

Much like last year, nobody knows quite what to expect from Leicester City this season after the heroics of the past campaign. What’s deemed acceptable for the Foxes may well mould itself as the season goes on, but one objective remains clear – they’ll want to win their first league game of the season fairly sharpish!

A disappointing 2-1 defeat away to a depleted Hull City side was followed by a far more respectable score line at the King Power Stadium, drawing 0-0 to Arsenal, but with Swansea City coming to town, Leicester have the chance to right the wrongs.

Leicester will need to look no further than Riyad Mahrez for inspiration, despite the Algerian firing blanks so far this season. The winger grabbed a hat-trick in the Foxes’ 3-0 win versus Swansea at the Liberty Stadium last December, whereas he was also on the score sheet in the return fixture that saw the Premier League champions win 4-0 back in April.

Premier League Team of the Week: 3 Hull, 2 Liverpool, 1 Man Utd & 1 Chelsea Player Feature

Chris Baker August 16, 2016

After each gameweek, our writers will put together a Premier League team of the week. Here’s our selection for gameweek 1, we’ve gone for a 4-2-3-1 formation. 

GK – Maarten Stekelenburg

The Everton shot-stopper had an afternoon to remember against Spurs, individual brilliance saw him stop Vincent Janssen scoring after a quick reaction save, he then made a miraculous save against Erik Lamela when he tipped his shot onto the bar.

The Everton goalkeeper had a very consistent game and managed 100% claim success, with the Toffee’s shot stopper managing two saves per goal.

His individual brilliance was a main reason Everton managed a point against Spurs, has taken the gloves from Tim Howard and looks set for a sublime season.

FB – Antonio Valencia

Valencia carried his fantastic pre-season form into the start of the BPL campaign; he was an outlet throughout the game and supported the attack immensely down the right hand side whilst delivering dangerous crosses into the box.

His efficient style of play saw Valencia create once chances for the Red Devils, whilst finishing the game with an impressive 86% pass accuracy.

He was one of the best players offensively and defensively for United, a brilliant start to life under Mourinho for the Colombian.

CB – Eric Bailly

One of the best Premier League debuts I have seen, the powerhouse at the back dominated the Bournemouth attacking line, was efficient on the ball and just as impressive without, putting in hard tackles and being dominant in the air.

The dominant brute Bailly won 67% of his tackles on his debut whilst completing an impressive 100% take on’s, which shows he wants to come out from the back, the most impressive stat from his first game is he managed to complete 95% of his passes.

Was consistent throughout and Bailly looks very comfortable at the heart of the United defence, this will certainly not be the last time he is in our team of the week.

CB – Curtis Davies

On paper, he had a very tough afternoon ahead of him, with Ahmed Musa and Jamie Vardy running in behind the Hull defender, but, he certainly got the better hand of the attackers and was inspirational in Hull’s victory, he had a solid game and didn’t let Vardy have a minute to rest on the ball. Davies came close to breaking the deadlock early on and saw his team worthy winners over the champions.

Standing at 6ft 2, he managed to win 100% of his aerial duels against the Foxes; Hull kept the ball well against Leicester and played from the back with Davies scoring 78% pass accuracy.

FB – Ahmed Elmohamady

We know he’s also a right back but we simply couldn’t leave out Elmo, he’s the second full back in our eleven. Elmohamady was another Hull player to impress against Leicester, he grew into the game tremendously and his work rate up and down was a key role in how Hull’s set up to win.

The right-back was dominant and was simply too good not to include, hence why we picked two RB’s. Like Davies, Elmohamady managed to win 100% of his aerial duels and also won 50% of his tackles.

Bagging himself an assist in the winning goal and was just as superb defending, brilliant game for the Egyptian.

CM – Idrissa Gueye

The new Everton man had a very solid game in the middle of the park, keeping possession well and helped the Toffees midfield tick, showcased his athleticism and energetic play whilst proving why Koeman wanted him so badly, a brilliant debut for the ex-Villa man.

As mentioned, Gueye kept possession very well and in the end finished the game with an 82% passing accuracy, winning 100% of his aerial duels and 67% of his tackles.

CM – N’Golo Kante

Kante was another to make his debut in game week 1; the midfield engine was superb for Chelsea against West Ham and put them in total control of the game, Kante always made himself an outlet for the back four whilst his midfield drive was a consistent theme.

The midfield workhorse was at the heart of everything last night and accomplished 95% passing accuracy, which is very good for a midfielder.

Although he was cautioned in the opening minutes this certainly didn’t restrict the midfielder for the rest of the game, brilliant individual performance and looked good next to Nemanja Matic.

AM – Saido Mane

Scoring contender for one of the best individual goals of the season already, Mane was majestic against the Gunners and caused their defence havoc all game. Mane had a 100% shooting accuracy in his Reds debut, whilst having 67% successful take on’s.

Although he was offensively perfect, Mane also tracked back well to support his defenders, his performance was of such high quality and if he can continue that on a regular basis he will have a crucial season.

AM – Philippe Coutinho

Coutinho was absolutely fantastic against Arsenal, he scored one of the best free-kicks you’ll see this season and scored his second after the break, and he grew into the game massively in the second half and put in work to Arsenal’s makeshift defence, an individual master-class by the Brazilian.

Like Mane, Coutinho managed a 100% shooting accuracy against Arsenal which is simply impeccable, whilst the play-maker also averaged 77% pass accuracy.

The attacking midfielder carved the Gunners apart and was a key player in Liverpool’s 4-3 victory at the Emirates stadium.

AM – Robert Snodgrass

From the first whistle Snodgrass was causing Leicester City problems, using his strength and trickery to get the beating of their defence and deliver excellent crosses.

The experienced Hull City man was showcasing brilliant link-up play on the flank fluently whilst supporting the defence well.

The influential midfielder created two chances against the Foxes which show’s his efficient brilliance on the day, as mentioned, he was superb in helping out defensively and won 4/4 tackles.

Scoring the winner against the Premier League champions is worthy enough to be in the team of the week, Hull will rely massively on their star man to help them avoid relegation this season. Eden Hazard almost made it in.

ST – Alvaro Negredo

Brilliant debut for Middlesbrough’s marquee signing, their star striker put a superb shift in and helped his team get a deserved point, he was hanging off the last man and held the ball up magnificently, like any experienced striker, was in the right place at the right time to score a clinical goal on his debut.

The new Boro’ man accomplished 100% shooting accuracy in his debut which led to him scoring one goal, finishing the game with 73% passing accuracy.

Player Ratings: Hull City 2-1 Leicester City

Patrick Ribeiro August 13, 2016

Here are Fresh Football’s ratings for Hull City’s Premier League clash versus Leicester City at the KCOM Stadium.

Hull City

Eldin Jakupović – 6

Had little to do, but, bar the penalty, saved all he had to fairly comfortably.

Ahmed Elmohamady – 8

The Egyptian had a growing influence throughout the game through his anticipation and work rate. Elmohamady was at the heart of Hull’s second goal and equally as efficient at the opposite end.

Curtis Davies – 7

Busy at the back, but saw his best moments shine through at the other half. Came close to breaking the deadlock early, whereas his glancing header led to Hernandez’s goal in the first half.

Jake Livermore – 7

The makeshift centre back provided a crucial block with the goal gaping for Jamie Vardy that would have seen Leicester City take the lead in the 41st minute. Hull City scored five minutes later.

Andrew Robertson – 6.5

Robertson was occupied with keeping Riyad Mahrez quiet, struggling to do so in the first half, but later forcing the Algerian winger to roam centrally as the tide of the game turned.

Tom Huddlestone – 6.5

It was a fairly good performance from the ex-Tottenham man, but a couple of mistimed tackles, in particular one wrongly given as a penalty, blemished his performance, slightly.

David Meyler – 7

The former Sunderland midfielder offered bite and relentless work rate to get Hull over the line with a win on the opening day of the Premier League.

Sam Clucas – 7.5

Clucas recouped and dictated possession well, combining with Meyler and Huddlestone to dominate the midfield for large parts of the game.

Robert Snodgrass – 7.5

Excellent deliveries from set-pieces and a winning goal to go with it for Robert Snodgrass, who also combined well with Elmohamady on the right flank on numerous occasions. His experience was invaluable in the final stages of the game.

Adama Diomandé – 7

The Norwegian forward’s work rate was commendable, causing havoc inside the box in aid of Abel Hernandez.

Abel Hernandez – 7

Scored the game’s first goal and got the better of Leicester’s captain Wes Morgan.

Leicester City

Kasper Schmeichel – 5

The Danish goalkeeper struggled to deal with Hull’s corners, consequently conceding on the stroke of half-time.

Danny Simpson – 5

A few late tackles saw Danny Simpson receive a booking early on. Luckily, much of Hull’s play came down the right flank.

Luis Hernandez – 5

Really struggled in new surroundings, often losing in combative battles with Diomandé.

Wes Morgan – 4

Had to deal two strikers inside the box and looked like he was really feeling the workload.

Christian Fuchs – 5.5

Fairly solid in the first half, but couldn’t go toe-to-toe with both Snodgrass and Elmohamady in the second half.

Riyad Mahrez – 6.5

Looked the most likely to create something for the Premier League champions and scored Leicester’s spot-kick.

Andy King – 4.5

Andy King looked totally ineffectual and outnumbered by Hull’s three-man midfield. Subsequently, he was substituted around the one-hour mark.

Danny Drinkwater – 5

Thwarted by Hull’s midfield and really missing N’Golo Kanté’s presence the most.

Demarai Gray – 6

A lively first half from the ex-Birmingham man, but he gradually saw less and less of the ball in the second period, despite winning a dubious penalty shortly after the restart.

Ahmed Musa – 6

The Nigerian was typically sharp on the turn, but lacked execution in the final third.

Jamie Vardy – 5

A real bad day at the office for Vardy, miss-kicking and blazing over the few chances he had to score.

Daniel Amartey – 5

Came on to battle for the ball at a time when Hull had already surrendered possession. An untimely change.

Shinji Okazaki – 6

Added tenacity to the Foxes’ attack instantly, but others weren’t on the same wavelength.

Leonardo Ulloa – N/A

Twitter Reacts As Hull City Beat Leicester City In Dramatic Premier League Opener

Oli Price-Bates August 13, 2016

Even after the unpredictability of last season, very few would have given Hull City a hope in this Premier League opener.

The Premier League Champions had never lost their opening game of the following season before today. But the Premier League has not been following the script as of late and Leicester know that more than anyone else.

Hull City, without a permanent manager and with a squad in disarray were the bookies favourites to get relegated before the big kick off. Those odds may have been cut following this result, albeit in the first game of the season but Hull’s performance surprised many, including the home crowd who amongst all the off the pitch problems, got behind their team excellently.

This Leicester City side had a similar look to last season, but also notable differences. The lack of N’Golo Kante in midfield and Robert Huth in defence were telling. No defensive authority in a goal-line scramble led to Abel Hernandez acrobatically putting Hull City ahead. Riyad Mahrez converted a penalty just seconds into the second half, but Hull replied almost immediately with a Robert Snodgrass strike from outside of the box.

Stat of the Match: Hull City scored as many goals (2) against Champions Leicester as they had managed in their previous 5 Premier League games

If this was the first game of last season, I don’t think anybody would have been shocked about this result but Leicester City are now the reigning Premier League Champions and they need to get used to that extra burden. Here’s a sample of reaction from Twitter.

This result just showed that we are in for another unpredictable campaign. Hull showed similar characteristics that made Leicester City so successful last season. The lowly Premier League sides have been watching and you can expect them to attempt to recreate Leicester City’s style in order to win points. Fearless, counter-attacking football. Leicester, on the other hand, will need to get used to having the ball more often and the ‘tinker man’ Ranieri must find a new way to play.

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Twitter Reacts To Hull Star’s Blatant Cheating

Josh Challies January 31, 2015

Premier League football returned with a bang this weekend, as the early kick-off between Hull City and Newcastle United displayed one of the most bizarre incidents of the season so far.

Remy Cabella had given the visitors the lead with a deadly strike but Ahmed Elmohamady put the ball into the net with an equaliser last into the half- only it didn’t stand, as the Egyptian ace was guilty of one of the most blatant bits of cheating we’ve ever seen.

Elmohamady attempted to re-create Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘hand of God’ goal from 1986 but his attempt 29 years later was rumbled by the keen eye of the linesman, who correctly disallowed the goal.

Astonishingly, the Hull man even had the audacity to complain at the decision given against him- although he had no grounds to appeal what so ever!

‘No Pride’: Mixed Responses From Hull Fans After United Defeat

Josh Challies December 1, 2014

It wasn’t a great weekend for Hull City as they were comfortably beaten by Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford, which was a kick in the teeth for many supporters.

Since that defeat, opinions on social media have been rather split with what exactly went wrong for the Tigers, whilst others simply look ahead to a busy festive period. Fans are adamant that new faces need to be added in January, whilst some go as far as suggesting those currently donning the colours are showing no pride and the same excuses.

No improvements from Hull could prove to be disastrous, as they sit just one point above bottom of the table but are currently outside of the drop-zone due to their superior goal difference.

‘Wish He’d Sign A Contract!’: Burnley Fans Respond To First Premier League Win

Josh Challies November 8, 2014

Burnley managed to do what many thought was impossible and win a Premier League game earlier today, as they defeated Hull City 1-0.

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Ashley Barnes was the man of the moment, seeing the Clarets pick up three points in the league for the first time in 196 days, which is a long time (unless you’re a Liverpool fan waiting for a league title). Naturally the Twitter Clarets went into overdrive, with many backtracking on criticism’s of the goalscorer that they had previously made.

There was also the expected digs at arch-rivals Blackburn Rovers, whilst one fan is sat right now next to a grumpy wife that supports the Tigers!