Opposition Opinion: Newcastle vs Hull - “They could cause serious damage”

Newcastle need a response after Leeds, but a confident Hull City side will arrive sensing an opportunity.

For this week’s Opposition Opinion, we spoke to Hull supporter and former HITC Sevens host Alfie Potts Harmer about what’s working under Sergej Jakirović, where the Tigers could hurt us and how he sees Newcastle from the outside. He also picks the player he’d most like to take from our squad and offers a prediction with a little superstition behind it.

Hull have made a cracking start to the season. What’s clicked, and has it changed your expectations for the campaign?

Despite making eighteen new signings, Sergej Jakirović has begun the season with a lot of the players who won promotion last season in his starting XI. The switch to a back three in possession and a back five out of possession which proved so effective in the play-offs has continued to prove resilient despite the step-up in class.

Three clean sheets in our first three games provided an incredibly strong foundation, and despite going a goal down early on against Chelsea, the team illustrated their threat at the opposite end by scoring two quick goals which silenced Stamford Bridge.

It feels as though we've come through a few different tests now with flying colours. Though it's only four games, expectations have undoubtedly shifted, even if that is only from some people thinking we were certain to go down to now believing that we are capable of competing and have a genuine shot at survival.

Who’s been your standout player so far, and who’s an unsung hero?

The back three of John Egan, Semi Ajayi, and Nobel Mendy have all been outstanding, as has Regan Slater in midfield and Mohamed Belloumi who scored twice against Chelsea on our right flank. If I had to pick a single player though, it would be our goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, who is just 23 years of age but appears to have taken to the Premier League with relative ease.

In terms of an unsung hero, last season's top scorer Oli McBurnie probably deserves a little bit more credit for the way in which he has led the line, which has possibly been somewhat deflated by the fact that he's yet to score this season.

How do you expect Hull to approach this game? Where can you hurt Newcastle, and where might we cause you problems?

I expect us to approach it the same as we have approached every game this season. We will sit deep and narrow out of possession, and attack with speed and purpose on the counter-attack.

We can possibly hurt Newcastle physically. We have a notably big, powerful, and athletic team, which appeared to be one area where Newcastle struggled against Leeds.

In terms of where Newcastle can hurt us, I'd expect the biggest threat to come through Lewis Hall and Harvey Barnes down our right side. If Matthias Jaissle is able to find a way of getting Willock or Wissa into space centrally, they could cause serious damage, but our first four opponents this season have all struggled to work the ball through the middle.

What have you made of Newcastle this season, and how do you view us as a club from the outside?

Outside of highlights, I have watched Newcastle twice this season, against Liverpool and Leeds. I thought the first performance was very impressive and the second among the worst I've seen so far this term.

Which Newcastle we will see at the weekend, I'm not sure.

As a club, I've always enjoyed trips to St James' and had a positive view of Newcastle, though my fairly vocal opposition to state ownership more broadly and the repressive dictatorship in Saudi Arabia more specifically has unfortunately led some Newcastle fans to think I have an issue with the club themselves.

I can promise them that isn't the case, in much the same way that my view of Mike Ashley and of Newcastle United were never one and the same when he owned the club.

If you could take one Newcastle player to improve this Hull side, who would it be and why?

Great question! It would probably be one of Tino Livramento, Yoane Wissa, or Anthony Elanga. I think Livramento would be excellent as a wing-back, Wissa would be welcome because we lack a proven Premier League goal scorer, and Elanga's pace would be devastating with our speed on the counter - though I couldn't, in all good conscience, ever drop Mohamed Belloumi.

If I had to pick one, when fit, it would probably be Livramento.

Lewis Hall is also brilliant, of course, but Ryan Giles has been so good at left-wing-back this season it would be equally difficult to drop him.

Finally, what’s your score prediction?

I have successfully managed to positively jinx Hull City by predicting us to lose in every game since the start of the Championship play-offs, so I won't risk engaging in any hubris and ruining it now.

3-0 Newcastle.

Alfie’s warning about Hull’s physical threat stands out after Leeds. Newcastle will need to compete far better and avoid giving a side built to counter-attack the chances to do exactly that. We’d take his prediction, but we’ll certainly have to earn it.

Thanks to Alfie for giving us his time and an honest view from the Hull side. You can find more from him on his YouTube channel.