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QPR
Hull City finished seventh last season under Liam Rosenior, but Acun Ilicali’s decision to sack him and hire Tim Walter backfired this season, with Ruben Selles now in charge at the MKM stadium.
They have climbed out of the Championship relegation zone since Ruben Selles’ arrival, although results and recent signings have been somewhat inconsistent so far.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 15 |  QPRQPR | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 44 | 50 | -6 | 45 |
| 16 |  SwanseaSwansea | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 38 | 49 | -11 | 44 |
| 17 |  PortsmouthPortsmouth | 38 | 11 | 9 | 18 | 46 | 61 | -15 | 42 |
| 18 |  Oxford UnitedOxford United | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 39 | 55 | -16 | 42 |
| 19 |  Hull CityHull City | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 39 | 47 | -8 | 41 |
| 20 |  Stoke CityStoke City | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 37 | 51 | -14 | 39 |
| 21 |  CardiffCardiff | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 42 | 62 | -20 | 39 |
| 22 |  DerbyDerby | 38 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 40 | 51 | -11 | 38 |
It’s not over yet in terms of their fight to survive, and Hull have issues to address under Selles, but the signs are positive for the Tigers after another important weekend at the bottom of the Championship.
However, it hasn’t all gone according to plan for each of the players that left the club alongside Rosenior last summer, either.
Jean Michael Seri’s Hull City and Liam Rosenior admission
The likes of Leeds United loanee Joe Gelhardt have stood out for Hull recently under the guidance of the Spaniard after he took over from Walter as they look to avoid relegation from the Championship.
However, this season promised to be so much more for them. Ilicali’s side have come undone in the market after selling key players in the summer. Some were out of necessity to raise funds, such as the likes of Jacob Greaves and Jaden Philogene.
They followed in Jarrod Bowen’s footsteps as big-money exits in recent years, but others were sold or released due to being in the last years of their contract. Such examples include Jean Michael Seri and Ozan Tufan.
The former left Hull City to join Al-Orobah FC on a permanent transfer last summer. The Ivory Coast international spent two seasons in East Yorkshire, having joined on a free transfer in the summer of 2022 from Fulham.
In particular, he excelled in his second season at Hull City under the tutelage of Liam Rosenior. He’s since stated that it was the best season of his playing career.
Speaking via Afrik Foot, he said: “In terms of performances, my 2023/24 season at Hull City was the best of my career. The chairman had a clear plan, and he brought in Liam Rosenior, a young, very ambitious coach, to play football.
“A coach who gave me the keys to the game. I did a lot of physical work. Everything really came together for me to be at my best.
“It’s no coincidence that I was at a good level at the African Cup of Nations that year; it was the result of my work with the club that season.
“It was a shame to finish seventh, just outside the play-offs. And when I realised the coach was going to join Strasbourg, and that we were going to start a new project, I decided to leave.”
How life in Saudi Arabia has been for Jean Michael Seri so far since Hull exit
Seri may now be in the twilight of his career and benefitting financially from his switch to Saudi Arabia, but his lack of football is likely to be a disappointment following the best season of his career.
The Ivorian could have been so much more in English football, having struggled initially with Hull but thrived as the metronome and heartbeat of the team for Rosenior. He is far from that now with Al-Orobah.
| Team | Appearances | Starts | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
| Hull City – 2024/25 | 39 | 39 | 3,193 | 1 | 4 |
| Al-Orobah | 6 | 6 | 538 | 1 | 0 |
It’s a tale as old as time about what could have been for Seri and Hull, which goes for both this season since parting ways. The Tigers will hope that their remaining fixtures see them survive relegation ahead of rebuilding again in the summer.
It’s also fair to say that Ilicali will have learned a thing or two this season, which he will need to rectify come the summer transfer window under Selles if the Tigers are to move forward.