The Tigers have had a summer to forget, and as they prepare to host the champions Saturday they look doomed to relegation already.
Any side that comes up to the Premier League via the playoffs has, according to the self-proclaimed experts, a disadvantage in comparison to its rivals. It is perceived that the extra two weeks of uncertainty regarding the club's fate means that transfers can be more difficult to secure while preseason programs all of a sudden need to be tailored toward a different challenge. Hull City, however, has taken that to a whole new level.
Since beating Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley on May 28, the Tigers have lost a manager, sold their match-winner and seen three of their most consistent performers pick up long-term injuries.