Dean Windass
History
Every club has cult heroes. Every set of fans has a name, a player who means more than any other to them and is a bigger hero than anyone else is to anyone other set of fans. At the top of the list of all-time great football heroes, there is a man who supported his team as a boy on the terraces. He was transferred in 1996 in a move that secured the club's very existence. He returned in 2007 to save the club from relegation and then 18 months later, he scored the most important goal in the club's history. He played for North Ferriby after being released by Hull City as a junior, was resigned for the Tigers by Terry Dolan in 1991 and was then sold to Aberdeen for £600,000 in 1996. He went on to play for Oxford United, Bradford City (twice), Middlesborough and both Sheffield clubs. He would eventually return to Hull City in January of 2007, initially on loan, before completing the move in the summer for a fee rising to £350,000. Added to the sizeable loan fee, it meant Hull City had paid out over half a million pounds for a 38 year old. Was it worth it? It was worth every penny. Dean Windass is the ultimate footballing hero.
Strengths
Windass has passion, by the truckload. He loves the game. It doesn't matter which team he's representing, he gives everything he has in every game. When that team is Hull City, he gives even more. As you'd expect from a 39 year old, he has a wealth of experience, he knows every trick in the book. His personality is infectious, he's an incredible character who rubs off on the other players and improves the atmosphere every time he walks into the room. Technically, he's massively under-rated, he's a clever footballer who has a great first touch and superb vision. When it comes to finishing, he's second to not very many.
Weaknesses
Windass never had a great deal of pace, but he's lost the little bit he had. He doesn't have it in him to do a lot more than 60 or 70 minutes. Ten years ago, discipline would have been a big weakness, but Deano is a wily veteran these days, who keeps his cool and works the system.
Premier Quality?
Technically, he's good enough. He'll struggle to out run defenders, but he'll use his experience to cause trouble. He'll win free-kicks, he'll give marauding midfielders someone to play off and he'll always find a yard of space in the box. He's still a chance taker but he'll rely on quality service.
Future?
Windass was recently quoted saying he'll play for Hull City until his legs "fall off". I believe him!
Geovanni
History
'Geo' enjoyed two spells with Cruzerio in his native Brazil. He came through their youth set-up in the late 90's and was sold to Barcelona for £11 million in 2001. He didn't really sparkle at Barca and was loaned to Benfica, before making the move permanent for another fee of £11 million. He spent 3 years in Portugal and while he occasionally showed his potential brilliance, overall, he failed to live up to the price tag. He returned to Cruzerio for a season, before moving to England in July 2007, joining Manchester City. He enjoyed the best possible start to his career in Manchester, scoring away at West Ham on the opening day of the season and then bagging the winning goal against Manchester United a week later. He never really won over City manager, Sven Goran Eriksson, and was restricted, almost exclusively, to appearances from the bench. He signed for the Tigers on a free transfer in June 2008.
Strengths
Typically Brazilian, Geo has good ball control, he's technically excellent and he moves quickly in possession of the ball. He has excellent vision and is capable of providing the perfect pass.
Weaknesses
Physically, Geo is quite small, which may not suit the English game. He suits a position in 'the hole' just off a striker or two, which isn't a system that a lot of English teams play. He'll give Phil Brown a dilemma similar to the one Jay-Jay Okocha gave him last season. In his career thus far, he's generally been unable to utilise his enormous talent.
Premier Quality?
Absolutely. He showed in flashed with man City that he can play in the top flight. He's got every technical gift necessary. Whether he has the character to produce top quality football consistently and to accept the responsibility of being the Tigers major creative force is open to question.
Future?
Geo will be the Tigers Player Of The Season in 2008/09, he'll chip in with 10 goals and he'll make enough chances to help City stay in the Premier League. At least, that's the ideal situation. He certainly has enough talent to make it happen.
Craig Fagan
History
Fagan is another member of the City squad who had to take a step back in his career in order to move forwards. Going nowhere at Birmingham City, where he played as a junior, Fagan joined Colchester United in 2003. He had two good seasons at Colchester, encouraging Peter Taylor to pay £125,000 to bring him to Hull. He had a mixed time with the Tigers and was in the midst of the best form of his career when he was sold to Derby County for £1 million in January 2007. Although he helped Derby win promotion to the top flight, he struggled as the Rams became the laughing stock of English football. He eventually took the opportunity to return to Hull on loan and played a bit part in the Tigers promotion. Phil Brown made the move permanent for a fee of £750,000 in July 2008.
Strengths
Fagan has great pace and quick feet. He's strong and he works hard, he's an irritant to opponents, he doesn't let them settle on the ball. He can play anywhere across the forward line, but was at his best as a wide player in a 4-3-3.
Weaknesses
Unfortunately for a forward, his finishing is erratic. As a wide player, he uses his pace and skill to get into good positions but his crossing is poor. His temperament is questionable; he once picked up 12 yellow and a red card in one season.
Premier Quality?
Thus far, the answer is no. He does have some of the required tools, but hasn't shown himself to be technically good enough or clever enough to be a top level player.
Future?
He needs to improve quite a lot if he's to stay in the top flight. At the moment, you'd imagine that if City stay up, he might move on again.
Caleb Folan
History
Folan came through the youth system at his hometown club, Leeds United. He actually 'enjoyed' a loan spell with Hull City in 2001, although if you blinked, you would've missed his one appearance. He was released by Leeds in 2003 and joined Chesterfield, where his career took an upturn. He improved as a footballer and eventually started to score goals, including the winner against West Ham United in a League Cup giant killing. His League Cup heroics led to a move to Wigan, who paid £500,000 for him. He scored twice in 15 appearances for the Latics, but a change of manager left him surplus to their requirements. He moved to Hull City for a million pounds, becoming the club's record signing. He made his debut at Blackpool in a televised game and suffered a sickening head injury which left him in hospital overnight but thankfully, he recovered quickly. His season was disrupted by a further injury to his foot and the great form of Fraizer Campbell and Dean Windass meant he was often restricted to substitute appearances. He settled into the role, becoming the proverbial super-sub and finished the season with 8 goals, including a priceless winner against Watford in the play-off semi, 2nd leg.
Strengths
Folan is a tall, mobile forward. He wins a good amount of aerial challenges and he's a dangerous weapon when playing 'on the break'. His awareness of his team mates and his touch were much improved throughout the 2007/08 season.
Weaknesses
Like Fagan, Folan is an erratic finisher. He should score more goals, especially with his head. He needs to improve his movement off the ball and perhaps lacks a little bit of strength. While his touch improved, it still has some way to go.
Premier Quality?
Perhaps. Folan did OK in his time with Wigan. He's a better player now. He might suffer from City having several good options to lead the front line.
Future?
Folan is still a young man, he has plenty of football in front of him and quality players to learn from. He should be a useful weapon for the Tigers this season, especially as "super-sub".
Nick Barmby
History
Though born and raised in Hull, it took Barmby a long time to wear the black and amber. As a youth, he was offered a place at Lilleshall, the national football academy in the late 80's and eventually found his way to Tottenham Hotspur. He progressed quickly into the first team at the Lane and would become a part of Spurs infamous five pronged attack in the mid 90's, along with Sheringham, Klinsmann, Anderton and Dumitrescu. His desire to move back north led to a £5.25 million move to Middlesborough, before he left for Everton for £5.75 million. Four good years at Goodison ended with a £6 million move to Liverpool, making him the first player for 41 years to make the move from blue to red. He won 3 trophies in his 2 season with Liverpool, but his form started to slip. He won the last of his 27 England caps that season and eventually moved to Leeds United for £2.75 million in 2002. It was a disastrous move and when Leeds released him (paying £1 million to terminate his contract) he made the move to Hull. In his first season, the team won promotion from League One. Barmby's highlight were surely the volley he scored against Walsall, timed at 7 seconds from the kick off and the majestic performance and brace of goals in a 4-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Injury has played havoc with his City career since the club won promotion to the Championship, but when he's fit, he's still got it. He recovered just in time to play a crucial role in the 2008 Championship play-offs.
Strengths
Barmby has always been a clever player. His movement is intelligent, he always makes good use of the ball, he brings other players into the game and he has good vision. His work rate is phenomenal.
Weaknesses
Age hasn't been good to his body; he takes an age to recover from even the slightest of injury. He doesn't have the pace he once had and as a result, often shows his frustration.
Premier Quality?
It's a difficult one. You have to imagine that if he still had it, a premier league team would have taken him by now. Personally, I think he's still smart enough to play a part in a premier league team; there are players around with far less ability than our Nick. Unfortunately, he needs a run of games to show his best and he's struggled to put runs of games together in recent seasons.
Future?
There's a bit of life left in the old dog yet. He's a tremendous character around the dressing room and has oodles and oodles of experience to pass on. He does need to steer clear of injuries though.
Marlon King
History
King broke into the pro game at Barnet, eventually earning a move to Gillingham. His fledgling career was almost curtailed when he was jailed in 2002 for handling a stolen car. Gillingham stood by him on his release and his form was such, that Nottingham Forest signed him to fire them back into the Premiership. He didn't really set the City Ground alight, nor Elland Road during a loan spell at Leeds United, but he did enjoy a tremendous loan spell at Watford, a move that became permanent. King fired Watford to promotion but, cruelly, injury ruled him out of most of Watford's one season in the Premiership. King fired Watford to the top the Championship in 2007/08 and in January, Wigan paid £3m to take him to the JJB. Without him, Watford surrendered a massive lead in the Championship and ended up clawing onto 6th place, losing to Hull City in the play-offs. King failed to impress at Wigan and joined City on loan in August 2008.
Strengths
King is a fast, powerful striker. He's suited to playing a loan striking role, but works well with a target man alongside him. He has a fair touch but relies on terrific pace. He's a good finisher and is decent in the air.
Weaknesses
His game outside the penalty box isn't the best; he's not a great team player. He relies on others to make chances for him and doesn't do a great job of bringing others into the game.
Premier Quality?
In his brief foray into the top league with Watford, he looked very capable of establishing himself as a premier striker. The Wigan experience might have dented his confidence, but he has enough ability to make it. He'll work with good people at Hull and if he works hard, he'll improve his all-round game, as Caleb Folan has done.
Future?
Hull wanted to take him permanently, but King was reluctant to leave Wigan, unless they paid him to take the drop in wages. A loan move suits both parties. City are covered in case of relegation, while if it doesn't work out, King can go back to Wigan where he still has 2 years left on his contract. Ideally, King will be so impressive, that we'll have to make it permanent in January.
