IS HULL CITY FOR REAL?

Nobody gave them a chance from the start, and newly-promoted Hull City Tigers (coming from the 2nd Division Championship League) had taken the 2008-09 Barclays Premier League season by storm by currently occupying sole second spot in the standings with 14 points, behind only co-leaders Chelsea and Liverpool (17 points) after seven games played. UEFA Champions League titlist and BPL defending champs Manchester United is currently at sole fifth spot with only 11 points to date.

The team, which plays their home matches at the 25,000-seater Kingston Communications Stadium, had been the toast of the league this early in the season. Manager Phil Brown had done a tremendous job in steering the Tigers to their current form. They had so far submitted a 4-wins, 2-draws and 1-loss slate, capped by an earthshaking demolition of powerhouse Arsenal, 2-1.

Herewith is the current roster of league wonder Hull City :

1	Boaz Myhill	Goalkeeper
2	Nathan Doyle	Midfielder
3	Andy Dawson	Defender
4	Ian Ashbee	Midfielder
5	Wayne Brown	Defender
6	Michael Turner	Defender
7	Craig Fagan	Striker
8	Nick Barmby	Midfielder
9	Dean Windass	Striker
10	Deiberson Geovanni	Midfielder
11	Bryan Hughes	Midfielder
12	Matt Duke	Goalkeeper
13	Ryan France	Midfielder
14	Richard Garcia	Striker
15	Bernard Mendy	Defender
16	Peter Halmosi	Midfielder
17	Paul McShane (on loan from Sndrlnd )	Defender
18	Caleb Folan	Striker
19	John Welsh	Midfielder
20	George Boateng	Midfielder
21	Samuel Ricketts	Defender
22	Dean Marney	Midfielder
23	Marlon King (on loan from Wigan )	Striker
24	Kamil Zayatte (on loan from Yng Boy )	Defender
25	Daniel Cousin	Striker
26	Tony Warner	Goalkeeper
27	Nicky Featherstone	Midfielder
29	Matt Plummer	Defender
30	Anthony Gardner	Defender
31	Will Atkinson	Midfielder
32	James Bennett	Midfielder
33	Stelios Giannakopoulos	Midfielder
35	Liam Cooper	Defender
36	Jamie Devitt	Midfielder
37	Bill Law	Striker
38	Joe Lamplough	Defender
39	Steve Gardner	Defender
42	Nick McNamara	Midfielder
43	Tom Woodhead	Goalkeeper
	Michael Bridges (on loan to Carlsle )	Striker
	Ryan Kendall	Striker