Despite earning promotion back to the Premier League, Hull City have been through a turbulent summer of change.
After victory at Wembley in the coveted Championship Play-Off final, Hull City were back in the Premier League at the first time of asking. However, despite their promotion, Steve Bruce soon resigned from his position as manager, leaving the club in a complicated position. As tensions between Hull City’s fans and the club’s board continue to boil, 2017 could prove to be a huge year for the future of the club.
Fan outside the stadium before the game protest in reference to Hull Chairman Assem Allam
At the beginning of the year, things seemed to be going reasonably well for Hull City. After winning all of their Sky Bet Championship fixtures in January, including a 6-0 home win against Charlton Athletic, Hull City looked like a firm favourite for promotion.
Isaac Hayden celebrates scoring the sixth goal for Hull City against Charlton
Battling their way into the play-offs, Hull City met Derby County who, after a nervy second leg, they beat to progress into the play-off final, after a 3-2 (on aggregate) victory.
Derby’s Jeff Hendrick in action with Hull’s Abel Hernandez
In the final, Hull City met high-flying Sheffield Wednesday, who out played Steve Bruce’s men for much of the game. However, thanks to a terrific Mo Diame strike from outside the area, it was Hull that emerged victorious, winning the game 1-0 to gain promotion back to the Premier League.
Hull City’s Ahmed Elmohamady and Mohamed Diame celebrate winning promotion back to the Premier League
However, it would end up being a summer of discontent for the Tigers, as Steve Bruce departed soon after, citing differences over the direction of the club. As well as losing a number of players to other clubs, such as play-off final goalscorer Mo Diame to Newcastle United, Hull City would begin their Premier League campaign managerless.
Hull City manager Steve Bruce and Alex Bruce celebrate with the trophy after winning promotion back to the Premier League
However, all was not lost. Hull City did manage to bring in a number of decent players over the summer, such as Norwegian midfielder Markus Henriksen, Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason and former Norwich City forward Dieumerci Mbokani.
Hull City’s Dieumerci Mbokani in action with Southampton’s Jose Fonte, with Ryan Mason in the background
And despite all the turmoil surrounding the club, Hull City got off to a flying start, beating the Premier League champions in their first game thanks to goals from Diomande and Snodgrass. They then went on to beat Swansea City 0-2, knock Stoke out of the League Cup, as well as picking up points against Burnley in September.
Hull City’s Robert Snodgrass scores their second goal against Leicester City
After such an impressive start, Mike Phelan was given the job full time in October, a move that was largely applauded by fans and critics alike. Phelan had done a great job so far with the resources available to him, and Hull City fans seemed resoundingly happy that the former Manchester United assistant had been given the full time role.
Hull City manager Mike Phelan
However, since Phelan’s appointment, Hull City have begun to struggle again, picking up only one win on the 6th of November against Southampton. Now sitting in the relegation zone, both Hull City fans and Mike Phelan will be hoping that the Tigers can rediscover their early season form in 2017.
Hull City manager Mike Phelan looks dejected
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