Premier League: Team of the Week XXIV

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Coach: Marco Silva (Hull City)

Formation: 4-3-3

Coach of the Week was a difficult call this time around, but our eventual selection was Marco Silva, who since arriving at the KCOM Stadium in January has completely rejuvenated Hull City. Two wins, including Saturday’s superb triumph over Liverpool, a draw and a defeat from his first four Premier League games has taken the Tigers to within a point of safety, despite losing key players Robert Snodgrass and Jake Livermore during the January transfer window. When those two moved on to West Ham and West Brom respectively, Hull supporters must have feared the worst, but Saturday’s response will have been just the tonic. An astute recruitment in Andrea Ranocchia looks to have reinvigorated Hull’s previously porous back four, whilst Saturday’ showing from another January signing, Oumar Niasse, bodes well in terms of potency up front.

The timing and circumstances of Mike Phelan’s departure as the boss may have been a surprise, with many critical of replacing an experienced coach in the Premier League with a foreign manager. However, Silva since his arrival has proven in a short space of time that he is more than capable of leading Hull out of trouble, and he has equipped them as best he can for the challenges ahead. A worthy entry for Gameweek 24’s Best Coach.