Ahead of Everton v Hull City, we spoke to Hull City fan Rob from @HullCityLive.
Describe Everton in ONE word.
Underachievers.
If you could immediately transfer one player from Everton to Hull – who would it be?
Lukaku is too obvious an answer I know but as a club who’ve been crying out for a striker for years, I’d have to take one who isn’t far off being genuinely world class.
Do you think Evertonians should be pleased with Everton’s season so far?
I think it’s too big a club to accept mediocrity but given Koeman wasn’t able to bring in the sort of player you probably expected after the sale of the club and he’ll need to do that to really have an impact on the top 4 or 5 places. It is a bit of an opportunity missed – you lost and drew a lot of games before Xmas that I thought you’d win.
How confident are you that Hull will survive relegation? Where do you think you’ll eventually finish in the league?
I think it’s going to be really difficult now. The recent games against Burnley at home and Leicester away were a really big opportunity that we missed and ended up in a really tough situation. We’ve got some decent home games and Palace and Micddlesbrough still have to play the whole top five so I’ve not given up but it’s looking unlikely.
If relegated – do you feel your current squad has what it takes to be bounce back?
It does if it’s kept together but that’s also unlikely. Vultures will be circling around Harry Maguire, Andy Robertson, Sam Clucas, Abel Hernandez, etc. Plus we’ve got six players on loan. It will be a tough job.
Thinking back to August – what would have been considered a successful season for Hull?
Probably just avoiding setting a new Premier League record low points tally! Relegation seemed inevitable with the threadbare squad and the failure of the owners to sell meant an unbelievable level of disinterest.
Tell us why a lot of Hull fans want Assem Allam out?
A lot of it goes back to the attempt to change the club’s name to “Hull Tigers”. Not just the idea itself but the stubbornness and disrespect he showed fans once it became clear the idea wasn’t popular. He outed himself as a bully and when he didn’t get his way he lost interest in the club. He left it to his son to run and he’s proven himself to be equally arrogant but considerably denser. They’d already removed concessions for disabled supporters which was a hideous move that didn’t get a lot of press and then last summer they did away with them for children and OAPs too. That was the final straw for a lot of people who’d actually stuck up for them over the divisive name change application and subsequent fan campaign. Leaving the team in the shape they did as the Premier League kicked off this season was just another “final straw” point for some fans. Hence the masses of empty seats at every game.
Who is your player of the year so far?
Probably Sam Clucas. We’ve had some really good performers who’ve stepped up and taken the opportunities presented by injuries and selling players. Clucas has been the pick of them, for me. He’ll play anywhere and make a good job of it but he’s been particularly impressive in the centre of midfield playing as a ball winner. He doesn’t over complicate things and he works harder than anyone.
Your score prediction for the game?
2-1 home win. We rarely get anything at Goodison. And Gareth Barry normally crocks one of ours!
