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The Opposition’s View returns for a second season, as we get the inside information from opposition fans every match-day. We spoke to Hull fan Karl as Villa open their 2018/19 account away at the KCOM Stadium.
Words by Harry Trend (@HazaTrand)
Aston Villa kick off their Championship campaign at the KCOM stadium against Hull City this evening. To get the lowdown on the Tigers I’ve asked Karl a few questions (@hcafckarl).
Karl has been a Hull City supporter all his life. He’s got a season pass in the east stand and gets to pretty much every away game.
What are your expectations for Hull City going into the season?
I reckon it will be another tough season but not as bad as last season. We’ll do a lot better than people are expecting.
How would you rate your pre-season out of 10 and why?
I would give our pre-season a 7/10. We managed to win 2 and draw 1 of the 5 games. The best game was the 2-2 draw at home to Newcastle United. We did well to come from behind against a strong Newcastle side. However, they clinched a goal in the last few minutes.
Are you happy with Nigel Adkins’ transfer business so far this summer?
I’m happy with our transfers so far, however we still haven’t done as well as expected. We’ve brought a couple of good defenders in and a decent winger in Milinkovic. However, we’re still lacking a striker and some full back depth.
Which Hull City players should Villa be wary of?
The key players I think Villa should be wary of are Jarrod Bowen, who is our best option going forward at the minute, and of course scored the equaliser in the first game of last season at Villa Park. Another player you should be worried about is Markus Henriksen in the midfield, who is very strong at dictating the tempo of the game and starting forward movement.
If you were Adkins and had to sign one Aston Villa player for the Tigers, who would it be?
Scott Hogan. Basically, down to the fact we don’t have many good striker options.
Where do you see Villa finishing this season and why?
I see Villa finishing 7th – 8th this season. You had a good run out last time round, but I don’t think you are strong enough for the play offs as a lot of other teams look very good.
Score prediction for Monday?
Hull City 2-1 Aston Villa. I can see us going 1-0 down and bringing it back. Evandro and Nouha Dicko to score for us.
