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WEST BROMWICH ALBION v
HULL CITY For the first time in thirteen years Albion welcome a Hull City side to The Hawthorns for what promises to be a tough opener for Bryan Robson's men. After a fairly disappointing season last year and the subsequent departure of manager Peter Taylor, new Tigers' boss Phil Parkinson has been busy strengthening his team during the summer. Following the sale of star defender Leon Cort to Crystal Palace, Parkinson has moved to bring in three new defenders - Sam Ricketts from Swansea, Brentford's Michael Turner and Leeds' David Livermore. More interestingly he has pulled off something of a coup with the acquisition of Spurs' midfielder Dean Marney. At one time Marney was tipped as a star of the future but due to the glut of talent at White Hart Lane his career has appeared to have stalled, City fans will be hoping his move to the KC Stadium will re-start it.
One of City's major problems last season was a lack of goals,
and with no new striker on board much will depend on former
England star Nick Barmby. If
Hull are to push for a top half finish Barmby must improve on last year's
tally of just five league goals. Up front for Albion another new signing will be the focus of attention - John Hartson. At £500,000, and if he can stay fit and steer clear of suspension, he should prove to be a bargain. His partnership with Nathan Ellington looks full of goals and with Zoltan Gera looking back to his best during pre-season the Baggies' attack looks better than it has for some time. Baggies' fans will also have a huge part to play both against Hull and for the rest of the season and it is vital that patience is displayed. After two years of struggling in the Premiership, fans will be expecting games to be easy at this lower level. A division containing no less than fourteen other former Premiership teams suggests it will be far from easy regaining our top flight status. TEAM NEWS Albion In goal Tomasz Kuszczak looks likely to get the nod over new signing Pascal Zuberbuhler despite the Polish star looking set for a move to Old Trafford. With Neil Clement and Thomas Gaardsoe injured, and Danny Shittu's transfer not completed at time of writing, the defence almost picks itself. New club captain Curtis Davies and new signing Chris Perry will be the central defensive partnership, whilst Paul Robinson will be at left-back. The only decision Baggies' boss Bryan Robson must make is at right-back with Martin Albrechtsen and Steve Watson both vying for the position. In midfield Robson looks set to go with the tried and tested foursome of Zoltan Gera, Ronnie Wallwork, Nigel Quashie and Jonathan Greening. Darren Carter should figure on the bench after impressing in pre-season. Up front new signing John Hartson will make his debut alongside Nathan Ellington. With Kanu and Kevin Campbell both leaving during the summer and Diomansy Kamara injured there could perhaps be a place for young strikers Stuart Nicholson and Rob Elvins on the bench. Possible Squad: Kuszczak, Zuberbuhler, Watson, Albrechtsen, Robinson, Perry, Davies, Greening, Gera, Inamoto, Wallwork, Quashie, Chaplow, Carter, Ellington, Hartson, Elvins, Nicholson. Hull City In goal for the Tigers will be Boaz Myhill, the American born keeper that started his career at local rivals Aston Villa. Myhill was in impressive form for the Tigers last season and is sure to be one of their most important players again this campaign. In defence, Sam Ricketts, Andy Dawson, Michael Turner and Damien Delaney are the quartet likely to figure although there are slight fitness doubts about both Ricketts and Delaney. Sam Collins and Alton Thelwell are both on standby but recent signing from Leeds United, David Livermore is doubtful. Dean Marney is expected to make his Tigers' debut in the centre of midfield alongside John Welsh with the impressive Stuart Elliot and Craig Fagan out wide. Up front Daryl Duffy and Billy Paynter are the expected starters with fitness doubts still surrounding Nick Barmby. Jon Parkin definitely misses the game through injury. Possible Squad: Myhill, Aspden, Ricketts, Thelwell, Dawson, Turner, Collins, Livermore, Delaney, Fagan, Welsh, Marney, Elliot, Andrews, Barmby, Duffy, Paynter, Burgess. LAST MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS
Albion: Tony Lange, Bernard McNally, Steve Lilwall, Darren Bradley, Paul Raven, Daryl Burgess, Andy Hunt, Ian Hamilton, Bob Taylor, Mickey Mellon, Kevin Donovan. Subs not used: Carl Heggs, Nicky Reid Scorers: Taylor 35, Hunt 59, 80 Hull City: Steve Wilson, David Norton, Robert Miller, David Mail, Russell Wilcox, Greg Abbott, David Jones, Lee Warren, Neil Allison (Darren France 60), Dean Windass, Graeme Atkinson. Sub not used: Linton Brown Scorer: France 64 Attendance: 20,122 CURRENT CONNECTIONS None PAST CONNECTIONS Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Paul Anderson, Peter Barnes, Tony Brien, Delroy Facey, Alan Fettis, Chris Hargreaves, John Kaye, Gordon Nisbet, Richard Sneekes, Gerry Summers and Jason van Blerk. Brian Little managed both clubs; Stuart Pearson played for the Tigers and was a coach at The Hawthorns; Former Albion assistant manager Mick Brown was a Hull player; Gordon Dimbleby was Commercial Manager at The Hawthorns and General Manager at Hull.
A full guide to
Hull City can be found
here
whilst a full fixture history can be found
here |
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