Ex-Arsenal legend delivers Premier League advice for Hull City and Sergej Jakirovic
The Tigers are relishing their first campaign back in the Premier League for a decade
Former Arsenal title winner Alan Smith believes Hull City’s best chance of success next season will be to deploy the same tactics that got them promoted to the Premier League.
At times this season, City were content to operate without the ball, and showed in the final that they only needed a chance to win the game. In the Premier League, City will again be forced to spend long periods without the ball, but Smith feels Jakirovic’s style of play can be a big help.
Unlike Burnley and Southampton in recent seasons, City are not going into the top-flight wanting to dominate possession, and will be content to play on the counter-attack if needed.
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“One bit of advice I’d give them is, don’t try to be something you’re not,” he told Hull Live via BestBettingSites. “Just try to take forward what got you into the Premier League. Everyone sees them maybe as the whipping boys, and it’s going to be very difficult.
“But, for the manager, stick with your principles. I don’t know how much they’re going to spend. Defensively, they’ve got a tight unit. But yeah, it’s going to be very difficult.”
Sunderland, under Regis Le Bris, has enjoyed a terrific first season back in the top flight, qualifying for the Europa League, while Leeds United stayed up comfortably.
Nine of next season’s Premier League teams will be playing in Europe, while City can look forward to a more relaxed schedule, but Smith feels the start will be absolutely crucial.
“Possibly Jakirovic’s style of play might help,” Smith continued. “He’d have looked at Sunderland and Leeds and their blueprints and what was it that made them stay up and survive and prosper, really. Money was spent. I don’t know if Hull can spend the kind of money that Sunderland did. But as I say, you need a good start. I think for those players coming in, they need to gain a little bit of confidence that they are good enough at the top level. And if they lose the first five, six, seven games, I think morale will plummet, and it’s going to be a long old season.”
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