Stoke City were four Championship points better than Hull last season and with a summer of shrewd recruitment already behind them they look a steal to topple Phil Brown’s men in totesport’s Premiership match-betting.
Potters’ boss Tony Pulis has done some decent business in recent weeks with the signings of proven Premiership scorer Dave Kitson, Danish No1 Thomas Sorensen and Nigerian international Seyi Olofinjana.
All three will improve the Staffordshire side and with concrete rumours that Pulis has bid 8 million GBP for Valencia’s Serbian striker Nikola Zigic it is clear that the club has plenty more money to spend.
Meanwhile Tigers boss has experienced frustration in the transfer market with recent bids Bolton’s Kevin Davies rejected. Brown has signed Spurs’ classy but injury-plagued defender Anthony Gardner, Hungary winger Peter Halmosi and George Boateng from Middlesbrough.
But Hull’s biggest concern will be the scorching pre-season form of last year’s Manchester United loan star Frazier Campbell. Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted that Campbell is on the verge of a Red Devils breakthrough and that will probably scupper any hopes the Tigers had of re-signing him on loan again.
Without Campbell Hull would not have reached the Premiership and his absence from the Premiership side means it will be an uphill struggle to avoid the wooden spoon.
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