The Local Lowdown: Hull City

Hull City were promoted as League One champions three seasons ago. How have they adapted to life in the Championship?

That's a tough question because so much has changed since promotion, not least the club's ownership which has completely shifted the landscape of the football club. Acun Ilicali's takeover in January 2022 has reinvigorated the city and given fresh belief into a fanbase that had become desperately disillusioned under the Allam's regime.

Crowds are well above 20,000 on a consistent basis having dropped to around 10,000 following promotion, expectation levels have risen accordingly and there's a genuine chance the club could return to the Premier League in the near future.

Their first season was a battle against the drop and one of change given the takeover, last season started well before going up in smoke and seeing Rosenior coming in to stem the flow of goals against the EFL's worst defence when he arrived in November just before the World Cup break.

He steadied the ship, there was a brief flirtation with a possible play-off run but the season fizzled out with the Tigers firmly stuck in mid-table and all of us looking forward to this season. 

The club have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to build and maintain a rapport with the community it serves, and while much of their work goes unnoticed, there's a real momentum building and that's been helped by significant investment in the playing squad over the last three or four transfer windows.

Hull are level on points with Saints ahead of Saturday's showdown

What was the expectation coming into the current campaign, and how have those ambitions shifted after a strong start? 

The expectations are high because the club have invested heavily in their playing squad. Big money was spent 12 months ago both on transfer fees (Ozan Tufan, Dogukan Sinik, Allahyar Sayyadmanesh) and salaries for free transfers (Jean Michael Seri, Oscar Estupinan) and despite boasting one of the largest wage bills in the Championship, it didn't work out with Shota Arveladaze.

Since Liam Rosenior has arrived and with his style of play coupled with the arrivals of Jaden Philogene, Scott Twine and Liam Delap to name but three, there's a genuine belief that they're a squad capable of challenging for the top six.

Manager Liam Rosenior was appointed in November last year. What has he brought to the job? 

He's brought an awful lot, not least a defined style and identity to the club which it didn't have under the previous manager. He's young, he's passionate and as a former player, has a rapport with the supporters.

The cut of his jib appeals to fans, he's amenable and likeable but ultimately, the goodwill of supporters only goes so far and he, like all managers, needs results.

Liam needs time, he's young and has – and will – make mistakes, but the club are moving forward at a good pace, they've been able to attract some top young talent and with his way of working, City will be a success in time.

Whether that comes this season remains to be seen, but there is no doubt he's the perfect fit for the football club.

Hull boss Liam Rosenior is approaching one year in the job

Hull made some eye-catching summer signings. Who has impressed in the early weeks of the season? 

Jaden Philogene has been gradually improving and his first half showing at Millwall was his best yet, scoring a fine goal before setting up Adama Traore. He then went off to England's Under-21s where he made his debut at the City Ground in the 9-1 demolition of Serbia, scoring twice and setting up his City teammate Liam Delap.

Delap is another who has caught the eye. His arrival was met with some scepticism after fairly underwhelming loan spells at Preston and Stoke last season, but he's been excellent, and like Philogene, has caught the eye in an England shirt.

Alfie Jones came through the Southampton Academy and seems to have made a big impact in East Yorkshire since arriving from Saints in 2020. What have you made of his development? 

I started covering the club at the time of Jones's arrival so have watched him closely and he's somebody that has matured into a top Championship defender, from being a very good operator at League One level.

Grant McCann once described him during the League One-winning campaign as a Rolls Royce defender and that's not changed. As Liam Rosenior says, he's too pretty to be a central defender, he needs more kicks like his skipper Lewie Coyle, but joking aside, he's been excellent and one of the club's best pieces of business in recent times.

If there was one criticism of Alfie it would be that his goalscoring record is worse than abysmal and that's meant with the greatest of respects. For a player of his calibre, he should be hitting good numbers at the other end with the amount of set-plays City are able to conjure up.

Against Plymouth, he went with his head from a yard out with the ball on the floor instead of sticking his foot behind it. Had he done that, he would have scored and City win the game.

An 18-year-old Alfie Jones in action for Saints in pre-season in 2016

What do you expect from Saturday’s game, and what sort of atmosphere should the travelling Saints fans expect?

As former Saint, David Prutton said on our 1904 Podcast this week, this is one for the purists and for two managers who demand similar approaches from their side, this should be a game of real high quality.

For City, after four successive home draws (three of which finished 1-1), there's a need to break that deadlock, and against a team who will come and play their way, Rosenior's side will fancy their chances having already taken four points off the other two relegated Premier League sides.

Atmosphere-wise it will be good. The home crowd get behind their side and with the ground pretty much close to capacity in recent times, Saints fans can be assured of a vibrant backing for the hosts.