Fuller's back and ready for the Tigers (From Northwich Guardian)

Stoke City v Hull City: preview

5:14pm Friday 28th November 2008

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What is it about Phil Brown? The Hull City manager’s tactless remarks at the end of last season that Stoke had ‘not been promoted yet’ were enough to wind up the most mild-mannered Stokie.

I rememember thinking 'who is this bloke?' as he tried pre-match wind ups before the crucial game against Leicester.

It was almost like a re-run of Kevin Keegan saying: “I would love it…”

But since their promotion, it’s been hard not to be won over by the bloke’s straightforward manner and to admire the sheer brilliance of some of his coups in the summer transfer market.

Given that Hull had three weeks less than ourselves and the Baggies to sign new players, Brown’s dealings have been amazingly audacious.

Buying Geovanni on a free transfer from Manchester City could be the best bit of business by any manager in this league this season.

One away defeat all season means this lot are no pushovers, as they showed in scoring three times at Old Trafford recently.

Ian Probert says Hull City will be a tough proposition for Stoke City

Shame that some of their fans, from what I’ve seen on message boards, are a bunch of plonkers.

Hull are without their best striker from last season, Frazier Campbell, who is now on loan at Tottenham. They bought Marlon King in and he has been one of their stars in victories at places like St James’ Park.

One away defeat all season means this lot are no pushovers, as they showed in scoring three times at Old Trafford recently.

We will need some sort of plan to deal with Geovanni, even if it is just to cut off his passing options.

But enough about them. Ricardo is back and he’s been a threat against far better defenders than Hull’s.

Let’s get the ball to him and to Tom Soares and let them do their stuff.

I wouldn’t mind surprising Hull by putting Soares in a more central midfield role and having, say, Tonge as a wide right midfielder.

That would give them more to worry about than our undoubted workrate and well known determination in front of our own fans.

Given that Hull are likely to go for a win, not merely settle for a draw, I am looking forward to watching a cracking Premier League encounter.

I hope we’re going to win, but believe it could be an end-to-end match, which will end in a 2-2 draw.

Let’s get behind the team and make those Tigers cower.