Year # 3 for Stoke City

[Jacko]

Never saw the game today between Hull & Chelsea, but was listening to it on the radio. From what I've heard, Hull pretty much started the season like they did last year and seemed to be fighting for it again. I just hope they don't give up the fight like last year.

[AgentZero]

Hull only lost late away to Chelsea and that has to feel like a blow since they were so close to a point at least.
Stoke, as expected, have beaten Burnley and that's an excellent start in Stoke's fight for survival.

hull seems to be interested in the german defender hinkel who is still playing for celtic. i rate him high, would be awesome for hull. i´d say.

It would be great for Hinkel to join a Premiership club. The question is if he wants to give up his trophy chances with Celtic and rather wants to join a more competitive league where he would end up in the relegation fight. Hull and Celtic are different worlds from that aspect and it will be interesting to see what Hinkel is going to do.

[Jacko]

Hull boss Phil Brown has written off his side's first two games of the season by claiming their campaign really starts tomorrow.

The Tigers have been beaten by one of the title favourites in Chelsea and another potential top-four contender in Tottenham, in a tough opening to their Barclays Premier League programme.

Brown has had to pick his players up quickly after Wednesday's 5-1 thrashing by Spurs and is hoping for a change of fortune as his former club Bolton visit the KC Stadium.

Brown said: "We have had two games against two of the best teams in the country.

"We got nothing from them apart from pride in the first and a bit of a lesson in the second.

"Tomorrow represents the start of the season for us."

Hull, however, must arrest a wretched run of results in the Premier League, particularly at home, to secure their first win of the campaign.

Brown's men have not won in 12 matches stretching back to March, while their last home success came against Middlesbrough, who went on to be relegated, back in December.

"It is difficult to win your home games but if we continue with the commitment we have been showing I'll be happy," Brown said.

"There is no doubt in my mind the desire, drive and determination were there on Wednesday - but the quality of the opposition was there for everyone to see.

"We have just got to make sure the first win comes as soon as (possible) and that would take a little bit of pressure off people."

Brown broke with convention in his preparation for the Bolton match by taking his players for a walk through town rather than training this morning.

The squad's destination was the club's derelict old Boothferry Park ground, which still stands as a reminder of past struggles.

Brown said: "We got the five new players down there and they probably all thought I was mental, taking them down there.

"It is quite alarming when you think that was the state of this football club 10 years ago.

"I'm glad no-one has built on it yet, it is a stark reminder of the reality of the last 10 years.

"Look at how far we are now - now we are here [at the KC Stadium], we have got to start playing some football on it."

Brown, undeterred by a number of setbacks, is determined to strengthen his squad before the closure of the transfer window on September 1.

Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo became the latest name to snub the club this week following previous rejections by Michael Owen, Fraizer Campbell, Marc Antoine-Fortune and Bobby Zamora.

"There are a number of players out there I believe will become Hull City players before the end of the window," Brown said.

Portsmouth striker David Nugent seems unlikely to be one of them, however, after Brown denied any interest.

Brown said: "It has been bandied around for three or four weeks now and I have not made any approaches for David Nugent."

Brown is currently giving a trial to Bosnian right-back Sanel Jahic from Greek club Aris Thessaloniki.

"He trained yesterday and I was quite impressed with him but we are having another look behind closed doors today," Brown said.

Saturday's game brings Brown up against not only the club he served as a player and assistant manager, but against a friend in goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and former Hull defender Sam Ricketts.

Jaaskelainen produced two inspired performances against Hull to arguably deny them five points last season while Ricketts was allowed to join him at the Reebok Stadium this summer.

Brown said: "Jussi is a good mate but it is not between me and Jussi, it is between the strikers and Jussi.

"He provided a lot of quality, certainly in the home game last year, but we have got to make sure this time we put those chances away."

Hull are still searching for an adequate replacement for Ricketts, but Brown said: "Sam was in the last year of his contract and the deal was right for the football club, simple as that."

[AgentZero]

So once Hull played against an opponent that is beatable for them with Bolton, they won.. Brown was correct.
It's nothing to get excited about, but it's a start at least.

[werderpaddy]

stoke signed the german national player robert huth.
wish him good luck there!

[AgentZero]

Huth fits Stoke's physical style of football and I wish him well!

[Jacko]

Rumours have it that David James may be going on loan to Stoke. He may be 39 but imo he's stilla bloody good keeper.

[AgentZero]

I agree. I like this guy and I think he is still a good keeper. Not sure if Stoke need him though.

Stoke will stay up this season in my opinion, Hull seem to be in quiet some trouble.

[johnny75]

Good performance by Hull against Chelsea yesterday. Hull can manage the odd surprise, I'm just afraid for them that they won't have quite enough to offer to finish outside the bottom three. Stoke will still be a Premiership club in 2010/11 in my opinion.

[AgentZero]

Good performance by Hull against Chelsea yesterday. Hull can manage the odd surprise, I'm just afraid for them that they won't have quite enough to offer to finish outside the bottom three. Stoke will still be a Premiership club in 2010/11 in my opinion.

Seems like John got that right. Hull are more or less (rather more) relegated since yesterday and they've had enough games to avoid relegation but well, those kind of clubs are not bound to stay up forever anyway.

Stoke played a solid season again, got battered badly by Chelsea today though but if they keep playing like they did most of the time since going up, Stoke should be alright next season as well.