Sports always find a way to surprise many, and no sport is more captivating than soccer.
In the British Premier League last season, Leicester City shocked the football world by overcoming tremendous odds – 5000 to 1, to be exact – to claim the 2016 title. But two matches into a new season, another club is already astounding me — Hull City A.F.C.
Before the season, most experts had written off the Tigers, including myself.
Hull City was freshly promoted into the BPL under the guidance of former manager Steve Bruce. But Bruce left the team three weeks before the season leaving Hull City without a full-time manager, and assistant manager Mike Phelan was handed an interim role.
The Tigers were the hot pick for one of the three relegation slots with bettings odds at 10 to 11. How did the squad respond?
Hull City beat the defending champs Leicester City, 2-1, on August 13th and followed the performance with a 2-0 win against Swansea City a week later.
What makes the Tigers start more impressive is their depth, or lack thereof.
When Phelan took over, he was left with only 13 first-team players to work with due to injuries. But Phelan is optimistic that the results will bring in new transfers.
“The results over the two games will, hopefully, make football players want to come to this football club,” Phelan said in an interview with the Hull Daily Mail. “We do need signings. We are looking to enhance the squad and, hopefully, they now have a different look about it when it comes to playing for this club.”
Hull City will likely draw in players, and if they add a few transfers, they may be quite dangerous. Not only will they avoid relegation, but they will be title contenders.
If they get the additions, the Tigers will become the predators instead of the prey they were perceived to be.
In the match against Leicester, possession was 50-50, and the Foxes had more shots, but the Tigers forced bad shots from the defending champs. It came down to Hull’s style of play – sit back, defend and wait for chances.
The extra defenders frustrate teams used to attacking, and Leicester was just the first to fall victim. Leicester committed 17 fouls and its players were visibly frustrated at the lack of quality chances.
They will give up possession for quality defense, and if your opponents can’t score, you can’t lose.
It’ll keep working. It’s early, but you shouldn’t be surprised if, come May, the Tigers are sitting near the top of the table, or even lifting hardware.
I know I won’t be.