So how has the season gone in your eyes? Was it better or worse than you expected last August?
Worse. I expected a relegation battle, we ended up with relegation
acquiescence. We had a couple of short runs of good results - four
games unbeaten in November and holding off Chelsea and Manchester City
in February - but the rest of the season was mainly long periods
between wins and disappointment as we failed to beat the division's
lower ranked teams. Whether that was the manager's or the players'
fault, or both, is open for debate, but there were many games we could
and should have got better results from that would have left us safe
at the end of the season. Some poor teams survived because of Hull
City.
Who has been your best player over the season? Who has improved the
most during 2009/10?
There has been no stand-out player. Stephen Hunt probably delivered
the most top quality performances. Geovanni showed good early season
form and Jimmy Bullard had three outstanding games, but after that
both were disappointing. Jozy Altidore and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink
looked like capable strikers, especially when paired together, but
were not given long enough runs in the team. George Boateng and Andy
Dawson always gave it their best, and Anthony Gardner gave us a good
return despite two injuries. Youngsters Steven Mouyokolo and Tom
Cairney were very impressive; we may struggle to keep hold of them.
What was the best moment of the season for your side?
We again gave the big teams a run for their money - losing to injury
time goals against Chelsea (away) and Arsenal (home), battling to
draws against Manchester City (away), Tottenham (away) and Chelsea
(home), and beating Manchester City (home) - but they're not the games
that will keep you up.
The run in November was the high point of the season. Jimmy Bullard
made his comeback in the game against Stoke and he set up the last
minute winner. We came from 0-2 down after 11 minutes to go ahead
against West Ham, and then held on for a draw after having a man sent
off. We beat Everton after racing to a 3-0 lead in 28 minutes. The
month was completed unbeaten when Jimmy Bullard equalised at
Manchester City and performed the greatest ever goal celebration. It
was downhill from there: We lost the next game and injured-again
Bullard left the field in tears.
What was the game of the season?
The 3-3 draw against West Ham. Although it was only the 13th game of
the season both clubs knew they would be fighting each other to avoid
relegation. Drawing the game at home wasn't the result we were hoping
for, but we couldn't count ourselves unlucky after being 0-2 down
early on and playing most of the second half with ten men. Poor
defending from both teams made for an exciting game of football.
If you were manager what would you be doing this summer?
We don't have a manager this summer! Chairman Adam Pearson has taken on
the role of Head of Football Operations to concentrate on selling
players and renegotiating the payments of players' contracts to see
that the club makes it to the start of next season without going into
administration and has a squad that won't drain the club's resources
(and more).
Ideally, players with expensive contracts will be sold off to clubs
willing to match what we're paying them, leaving us with the mainstays
of our last promotion team and some good young players to add to it.
Where do you see the club going from here?
If we can make it through the next few weeks and sell the players we
need to, we should be left with a team capable of competing in the
Championship. If the finances pass critical point and we go into
administration, we can only hope that Adam Pearson is able to save us
once again and we don't continue on a descent down the leagues.
Andy Beill
Editor, Hull City Online
www.hullcityonline.com