While Hull have produced some characterful wins this season, they’ve endured even more humiliating defeats.
Stan Collymore has questioned in the Daily Mirror whether Mike Phelan is the man to maintain Hull City’s position in the top flight this season.
The former Manchester United assistant stepped in to the breach after promotion winning manager Steve Bruce resigned in the summer due to concerns over the lack of investment, and inspired The Tigers to a scarcely-believable opening day victory against Leicester City with a squad stretched to the bare bones.
Consequently, Phelan was eventually given the job full-time in October, a decision that appeared sensible at the time but has now been brought into question following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Sunderland.
The 54-year-old pointed to yet another inspired performance from the Black Cats’ agile shot-stopper Jordan Pickford as the key factor behind another Hull defeat but a catalogue of key defensive errors, from allowing Jermain Defoe to waltz through for the opener to goalkeeper David Marshall reacting late to Victor Anichebe’s saveable drive, ensured David Moyes’ side enjoyed a relatively straightforward victory.
And Collymore has now queried the decision to hand Phelan the reins full-time, stating that working with a squad low on confidence and quality is a far cry from winning titles with a star-studded Manchester United.
“I like Mick Phelan a lot, he’s a lovely bloke, but he is also a man who has spent most of his coaching career dining at football’s top table,” Collymore wrote in his column for the Daily Mirror. “He’s used to working with successful players who play with confidence.
“But is that the sort of guy Hull fans want leading them into a difficult winter period in which their Premier League status will be at stake, or would they have preferred a survival specialist?”
A backs-against-the-wall victory against Southampton prior to the international break, characterised by the heroics of matchwinner Michael Dawson, suggested that Hull have the personality required to stave off a relegation dogfight.
However, any progress made by their third win of the campaign has surely been swept away by their dismal defensive performance against Sunderland, meaning Phelan, a man who has never managed at the top level, will have to learn fast.
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