The start of a fresh EFL campaign is just days aways and, with the big kick off on the horizon, it's time to look ahead to what the new season holds in store.
In time-honoured tradition, Playmaker Stats is here to a) preview how every EFL club is shaping up ahead of next season and b) make a bold prediction regarding how each will fare.
Let's go!
HULL CITY
Manager: Tim Walter
Last season: 7th in Championship
Captain: Lewie Coyle
Top scorer last season: Jaden Philogene (12 goals)
Most minutes last season: Alfie Jones (4050 minutes)
Transfer activity this summer
Preview
Hull City finished one place and three points away from a Championship play-off spot last season, as the Tigers prowled menacingly around the promotion picture before coming up short.
Given they had finished 15th the previous season, there were positives to take - but also a sense that a team blessed with plenty of attacking quality had missed a golden opportunity.
In an underwhelming 1-0 defeat to Plymouth on the final day of last season, Hull had some high-end talent on display. However, since then, Player of the Year Jacob Greaves Greaves has signed for Ipswich, Young Player of the Year Jaden Philogene has re-signed for Aston Villa and high profile loanees such as Fábio Carvalho, Tyler Morton and Liam Delap (now also at Ipswich) have all moved on from the MKM Stadium.
Then manager Liam Rosenior - now at Strasbourg - also departed shortly after the 2023/24 season ended and his successor Tim Walter now has to quickly stamp his identity on a side in transition.
Walter has a reputation for high-intensity, possession-based football and the early signs in pre-season suggest he has already bedded in many of his ideas.
That said, the former Hamburg man has consistently referenced the desperate need to bolster his squad this summer and the existence/quality of potential recruits will play a big role in how they fare this season - the recent arrival of full-back Cody Drameh from Leeds a step in the right direction.
Key man: Alfie Jones
His central defensive partner Greaves may have received the majority of the plaudits, but Alfie Jones has been a consistently solid presence at the heart of Hull's defence over recent seasons.
New boss Walter will no doubt rely on the dependable performer, who clocked up more Championship minutes (4050) than any other Tigers' player last term.
Playmaker prediction: Mid-table
