A bit about you:
Name: Joshua Day
Current home town: East Maitland, Australia
Birthplace: Hull, England
How long have you supported your team? About seven or eight years now
Overview of your club:
Favourite thing about your home ground: There's a lot to like about the KC but it's setting, a few hundred metres away from the rest of the city makes the walk to the ground just that bit nicer
Favourite match played by your team & why: It would be easy to say the 6-0 win over Fulham a couple of seasons ago which I was lucky enough to attend, but the game before that, the 2-3 loss to Manchester United saw our players show a lot of determination to go 2-0 up, and despite the collapse it was still a very good game and one that will stay in my memory for years to come. Honourable mention to the 5-3 FA Cup semi final win over Sheffield United too.
Favourite player of all time who played for your club: A few names come to mind, mainly Ian Ashbee, Andy Dawson, Dean Windass and Nick Barmby, but I think Windass tops the lot- his winner in the championship play-off final against Bristol City sent us to the top flight for the first time in our history, and I don't think there's been a player more deserving of scoring such a goal in our history
About our forthcoming match against you:
Your favourite current player in your squad and why? Again, there's a few names that come to mind- I've always been a fan of Allan McGregor, despite his drop in form last season, although back-up keeper Eldin Jakupovic is likely to play in the cup games. Favourite player at the moment though could either be Michael Dawson, Moses Odubajo or Jake Livermore, whose return to playing, and indeed form, has been most welcome. If I had to choose one it would probably be Dawson, he's hardly put a foot wrong so far this season and has been an admirable captain.
Player in your squad we should most fear and why? Well it all depends on how much Steve Bruce rotates but our most dangerous player at present could perhaps be Abel Hernandez- I don't think a single Hull fan expected him to stay after a less than impressive first season, but he's proved his value and ability this season, with a number of predatory and instinctive finishes taking his tally to 7 goals in 11 games so far.
Player in our squad you most fear and why? Where to start? It's not luck that's put Leicester so high up in the table and that's credit to both the players and the incredible work done by Claudio Ranieri. Whilst his form seems to have petered off at the moment, Riyad Mahrez is one of those mercurial wingers who can make something out of nothing, and his goal against us at the KC last year is still firmly in my memory. Jamie Vardy is also in lethal goal scoring form at present and I can only hope that he gets a rest and Leonardo Ulloa gets a run out (although he can be as equally devastating!).
Up and coming prospect in your squad? We have a few young lads who look to have good futures- Andy Robertson is the obvious one- the left back was attracting interest from Arsenal only a few months after signing from Dundee United last summer, but for all his ability going forward, he does at times look shaky and unassured whilst performing his defensive duties. Moses Odubajo and Harry Maguire have big futures too, and as much as I would like Maguire to play regularly in the league, the form of our current defenders Dawson and Davies, who was recently injured, has been keeping him out of the team.
How do you think you’ll do against us? If I'm being honest I think we will lose this one: we're facing a very congested schedule at the moment and this game will be our fourth in ten days, and Bruce has himself said that there will be rotation for this one. I'm expecting us to put in a gritty, determined performance with good defending but I can see the Foxes coming away from this one with a place in the next round.
General Questions:
What do you think of the summer transfer activity both in and out of your club? After relegation I think we all expected the vast majority of our high earners to leave- overall 13 left, although half were released- the departures of fan favourites Paul McShane and Liam Rosenior left many of us displeased, but so far it looks like good business. We also saw the likes of Dame N'Doye, Robbie Brady, James Chester, Tom Ince and Nikica Jelavic leave to balance the books.
In terms of signings, we made seven in the summer. The first two of these signings have had vastly contrasting fortunes- Sam Clucas, signed from Chesterfield has proved to be a real find, and as Bruce recently said, he is one of the first names on the team sheet at the moment. Taylor, on the other hand, has been restricted to sub-par performances in the cup and a decent showing in the first league match of the season.
Other signings include the two loanees from Arsenal, Isaac Hayden and Chuba Akpom- whilst Hayden has been hit and miss (it is his first time playing first team, senior football), Akpom has brought another dimension to our attack and proves a real handful for opposition defenders- he and Hermandez are striking a really dangerous partnership now, and despite only having scored two league goals so far, I'm confident in speculating that there will be plenty more to come Moses Odubajo was another brought in during the summer, from Brentford, and he looks a great player- still very young, he plays as an attacking right back, and his partnership with Ahmed Elmohamady is blossoming by the week.
Shaun Maloney was another brought in, and despite his age of 32, he is still a very creative player and his set piece delivery is top class. I would expect him to start against Leicester. Adama Diomande was our final signing, and we have seen nothing from him yet because he's been injured- what we do know is that he is very quick and powerful so hopefully he's a good player.
Overall I was pleased with our business, as we overcame relegation and are now looking a very good side again.
Where do you think you’ll finish this season? Based on current form I would say in the top 2, although anything is possible in the championship
Which three teams do you think will get promoted to the Premiership ? Hull, Middlesbrough, and either Derby or Brighton via playoffs
Any other comments? Always liked Leicester and I hope they keep up their form in the Premier League. May the best team win come Tuesday night!