2008/09 Preview: The Defenders

History
Ricketts was a slow starter in pro-football. After being released by Oxford United, he joined Telford United, only for the club to disintegrate. He was picked up by Swansea City, becoming the clubs first choice left-back and helping them to promotion from League Two. He also won the first of many caps for Wales, also at left back. Only a penalty shoot-out defeat to Barnsley denied Ricketts and Swansea a second successive promotion. Ricketts would make the step up to the Championship in the summer of 2006, when Phil Parkinson paid £300,000 to bring him to Hull. Installed as the first choice right-back, a long time problem position, he endured a tough first season as the Tigers struggled in the Championship. His second season with the club was a much better one, culminating in promotion to the premier league.

Strengths
Ricketts is a physically imposing full-back, he's tall and powerful. He's quick and has a freakishly high fitness level. In a one on one situation, he's rarely beaten, while his delivery from wide areas is much improved.

Weaknesses
Positionally, he keeps getting better but can continue to improve. His distribution is not that of a player at the top level and he can lack composure on the ball.

Premier Quality?
Probably. Ricketts is physically able to cope with the best attackers in the country. He won't be beaten for pace or in the air very often. His distribution must improve and he'll need to show a massive level of concentration. He lacks top flight experience but has shown a tremendous desire, over the last two seasons, to improve his game and has done so consistently.

Future?
Like Myhill, I'd be very surprised if Ricketts wasn't still a premier league player after his season. If he can improve at the level he has for the past 2 years, he'll prove to be well capable to playing at the highest level.

History
After failing to make the grade at Charlton Athletic, Turner moved on to Brentford, establishing himself as an important part of the team that made the League One play-off's consistently. Turner formed an excellent defensive partnership with Sam Sodje and when Brentford faltered in the play-off's again, both moved up a level. Phil Parkinson paid £350,000 to take Turner to Hull as the replacement for Leon Cort. Turner initially struggled in the Championship but when Phil Brown replaced Parkinson as manager, Turner grew in stature by the week. Initially, he formed a solid partnership with Damien Delaney that helped keep the Tigers in the division and then his alliance with Wayne Brown played a huge part in taking the club to the top level. Turner enjoyed a terrific 2007/08 season, winning ten Player of the Year awards.

Strengths
Understandably, given his height, Turner is superb in the air. He's strong in the tackle and has excellent timing. He understands the job and takes up great positions, in and out of the area. He has developed his ability to read the game and to defuse attacks before danger forms but when the occasion calls for it; he's brave enough to defend in last ditch situations. Turner is also a great attacking weapon, causing problems in the opposition penalty box. Until the second half of last season, he wasn't translating that threat into goals, but he corrected that with several crucial strikes in the promotion run-in.

Weaknesses
Turner tends to get a bit too close to attackers on occasion, conceding free-kick's in dangerous areas. He's also not the quickest across the ground and he isn't a natural leader.

Premier Quality?
Surely. Turner was the best defender outside the top flight last season. He's dominant in the air and getting better and better at reading the game. He's brave and shows a determination to stop goals going in.

Future?
Turner is another player who will impress opposition managers if he plays to his full potential. Along with Myhill and Gardner, he'll be massively responsible for stopping City conceding goals. If those three have anything to do with it, City will have a great chance of survival.

History
Brown started his career at Ipswich Town, but never really forced his way into their first team. After a spell with Watford, he eventually settled at Colchester, skippering them to promotion to the Championship and playing a big part in their surprisingly successful first season at that level. In the summer of 2007, Phil Brown paid £400,000 to bring Brown to Hull. It was money well spent. Brown, an old fashioned centre half and a natural born leader, forged a fantastic defensive partnership with Michael Turner.

Strengths
Primarily, Brown is a leader of men. He's an organiser, he takes responsibility on his shoulders and he understands how defending works. He has the ability to get the best out of those around him. He's a brave defender who'll put his head in where it hurts. He reads the game well and wins his fair share of battles, in the air and on the ground.

Weaknesses
A lack of pace and a couple of inches in height stop Brown from being a top flight defender. Unfortunately, they aren't attributes that can be affected by coaching.

Premier Quality?
I don't think so. Brown's lack of pace will surely be exposed in the top flight, where pacy, powerful forwards are plentiful. With his leadership qualities and experience, he's a tremendous person to have in the dressing room and he could play a part in games that will descend into a battle, against the likes of Bolton and Stoke. After the tremendous part he played in the promotion season, he's earned the chance to play some part in the coming season.

Future?
If everyone is fit, it's hard to imagine that Brown will play too many games next season. He would probably benefit from a relegation season (!) being a proven Championship defender.

History
Along with his brothers, Michael and Kevin, Dawson came through the youth system at Nottingham Forest. He didn't make the first team grade at the City Ground and left for Scunthorpe United, where he blossomed under Brian Laws. A regular tormentor of the Tigers, Dawson was promoted and then relegated with Scunthorpe. Peter Taylor brought 'Daws' to Hull in July 2003 on a Bosman free transfer. Dawson quickly made the left back spot his own and despite competition from Roland Edge, Alan Rogers and Damien Delaney, he's been the preferred left back for the majority of the last 5 seasons, winning three promotions.

Strengths
Dawson is a tenacious, mobile full back, strong in the tackle and brave in the air. He provides very good set piece delivery with his left foot and is a danger when it comes to shooting at goal from a dead ball.

Weaknesses
Dawson is sometimes let down by a poor first touch, while his distribution is disappointing, considering the quality he has with his left foot. Too often he'll take the easy option and punt the ball forward. Defensively, against good wide players, too many crosses come in from Dawson's side of the pitch.

Premier Quality?
On paper, it's doubtful. Dawson appears to lack the pace and composure to play in the top flight. No-one would write him off though; he's stepped up 2 levels already with the Tigers and certainly has great attitude and determination.

Future?

Dawson should join Myhill and Ashbee in making appearances for the Tigers in all 4 divisions. Whether he'll play regularly is debateable. The early signs certainly indicated that Phil Brown wanted to play Mendy at right back and Ricketts at left back. Dawson will certianly welcome the challenge. Who'd put it past him to be first choice left back this season? Not me.

History
Gardner was tipped to play at the top level from the moment he broke into Port Vale's first team. He eventually moved on to Tottenham Hotspur for £1.25m. He performed well for Tottenham and made his England debut against Sweden in 2004, but his time with Spurs was constantly interrupted by injuries, meaning he never established himself in the first team and never realised his early potential. He joined the Tigers, initially on loan, in July.

Strengths
Like Turner, Gardner is a very tall defender and is strong in the air. He's quick over the ground and physically strong. He's comfortable on the ball, he brings it out of defence and has a decent range of passing.

Weaknesses
Technically, there aren't many. Gardner has all the qualities you could want and lots of experience. Unfortunately, he's spent a lot of time injured, including much of a loan spell at Everton last season.

Premier Quality?
Undoubtedly.

Future?
Hopefully, Hull City will see the best of Anthony Gardner. He needs to stay fit and also he needs to be mentally strong. A lot of injuries can affect a player, it's hard to be brave when you spend so much time out of the game, and it must be easy to avoid tough tackles. Phil Brown obviously feels Gardner has the character to overcome the problems he's had thus far.

History
Mendy was produced by Caen in France, breaking into the first team, before winning a dream move to Paris St. Germain. He spent 8 years with the French giants, although he spent a spell on loan at Bolton Wanderers in 2002/03, where he came to attention of Wanderers assistant manager, Phil Brown. He won the first of three caps for France following his return to Paris. He never quite fulfilled his early promise with PSG and opted to move on in July 2008, signing for Hull City on a free transfer.

Strengths
Electric pace is his biggest asset along with great composure on the ball. Mendy loves to attack down the right hand side. He's a tough tackler and has good spring.

Weaknesses
His temperament is questionable, along with his delivery from wide areas.

Premier Quality?
He should be. He did very well when he was on loan at Bolton Wanderers and has good pedigree in France. He's had a tough start to his Tigers career, which will test his mentality, but he has the strength and pace and flair to be a success.

Future?
Mendy appears to see Hull City as a stepping stone to bigger things in England. If he plays his part in establishing the team in the top flight and then leaves for an obscene amount of money, I'm sure no one will complain.

History
Doyle came through the youth ranks at Derby County, where he worked with Phil Brown, but made his mark during a loan spell at Bradford City. It was while he was with Bradford that Phil Brown brought him to Hull in January 2007. He was a regular in the reserve side but rarely featured for the first team until late in the promotion season, when he performed impressively against Crystal Palace and then scored his first goal for the Tigers in the play-off semi against Watford.

Strengths
Doyle has great strength and good pace; he's a solid defender who's comfortable on the ball. His biggest attribute is possibly his versatility. A regular at centre-back for the reserves, he performed superbly for Bradford City in the centre of midfield, while his first team appearances for Hull have come at right back, left back and on the right of midfield.

Weaknesses
A lack of height will hamper his chances of playing regularly at centre back. He doesn't appear to have the range of passing necessary to play in midfield at the top level.

Premier Quality?
No. While he was improving, Doyle wasn't quite good enough to play in the first team in the Championship, so is unlikely to make the break through now.

Future?
Doyle will suffer more than most from the Tigers' promotion. Had we stayed in the Championship, he would've challenged for a first team place this season, but is unlikely to do that in the top flight. He could do with a season on loan in the Championship to continue his development. Long term, he's probably got the best chance of making it as a full back; he has lots of the necessary physical attributes, but lacks experience.