Stars under no illusions about Jakirovic

BLUNT ASSESSMENT AN EYE-OPENER

- By BARRY COOPER

If the Hull City players were under any illusions about what Sergej Jakirovic thought about last season's close shave, his blunt assessment would have cleared away those fears.

The Bosnian, in his first assignment with the media just a couple of hours after his first training session on English soil, delivered a calm, reasoned but precise takedown of City's failings last season.

From the lack of goals, to a poorly executed shape and players being played out of position. Gaps between units - defence, midfield and attack, to you and me - a lack of ball-winning in midfield, along with a shortage of energy.

In a nutshell, Jakirovic pulled apart Tim Walter and Ruben Selles' setup, and perhaps, that level of honesty is what's needed to be able to move forward.

Even when asked if there were any positives to take from last season, despite the nature of the final-day survival, he could offer little.

Acun Ilicali, who flanked him, tried to interject and suggest the question was about any positives. "I know, I know," he replied before going on to say the team had a decent enough October and November.