Tigers to ‘get ball forward quickly’ as Walter era set to bring change of style
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
New head coach Tim Walter has spoken of his “excitement” at getting his Hull City career under way when he takes charge of his first competitive match as Tigers boss on Saturday in the Championship opener at home to Bristol City.
Fans, players and staff are eager to begin the new campaign following a summer of turmoil at the MKM Stadium after the shock sacking of former head coach Liam Rosenior in May after a seventh-placed finish last term.
Walter, who was appointed just weeks later, has a thin squad following some big name departures over the summer. But he was upbeat when he met reporters at the pre-match press conference today, and said he wants to instil his “winning mentality” on the players while acknowledging this will “take time”.
Outlining his approach, Walter said: “It’s all about the philosophy and bringing a winning mentality to them, that’s how we did it this week and until now but we’ll try to do it more, we are just at the beginning.”
Walter also said he wanted to create a “family mentality”, with a barbecue for players and their families held yesterday with that in mind.
Asked how important team spirit will be in a 46-game Championship season, Walter said: “I think it’s the main key because I will spend more time with them together than with my family. So it’s important that you have a good relation with your players but also that they have a good relation between each other so they get to know each other more and more.
“Especially also on the pitch because my style is different maybe to other styles and I try to implement it, so that means it takes some time to bring it to them.
“But we are in a good point and now are ready to see it at the first match.”
But perhaps the greatest indication of any change in style to the previous regime – Rosenior having focused on patient, possession football – came from defender Alfie Jones.
Asked what the first day of training under his new boss was like, Jones said: “It was a lot different. I think his philosophy and style of play is a lot different to what I’ve played and I think a lot of the lads have played before.
“But it’s really exciting. There’s a lot of rotation from us as defenders playing out and he obviously wants to get the ball forward quickly and get crosses in.”
‘HE WANTS TO GET CROSSES IN’: Alfie Jones
The Tigers’ most recent arrival as they look to bolster the squad was announced just 30 minutes before the press conference, with goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi signing on a three-year contract from Young Boys for an undisclosed fee.
The 25-year-old Geneva-born keeper won two Swiss Super League titles and one Swiss Cup during a two-and-a-half-year spell with Young Boys, for whom he kept 17 clean sheets in 53 appearances.
Racioppi said: “This is a great stadium and I hope to play very fast because I am excited to stay here.
“Young Boys was a very good experience. We played in the Champions League and had a perfect season winning the cup and league. I played a lot of games and I was very happy to win trophies.
“It was a great experience to play in the Champions League. As a footballer, you want to play in these games – the best games in my career. My dream is to play for the Swiss national team.
‘EXCITED TO SEE THE FANS’: New goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi, whose signing was announced today. Picture credit: Hull City
“England is the best country for playing football and Hull City is a very good club with good ambition. I am excited to see the fans and I hope on Saturday we can get our first win in the league.”
The 6ft 2ins goalkeeper is City’s fourth recruit of the summer, following the arrivals of left-back Ryan Giles, right-back Cody Drameh, and attacking midfielder Marvin Mehlem.
Walter remains keen to continue strengthening, calling the current transfer window a “transform window”.
“In the end we need the means to match our ambitions,” he added.
Reinforcements cannot come soon enough as Walter revealed forward Ryan Longman needs surgery on a shoulder injury, leaving Óscar Estupiñán as the only established striker, although Will Jarvis has been recalled from his loan at Irish club Shelbourne.
There was also good news on the injury front, however, with Club Captain Lewie Coyle expected to start against the Robins.
The kick-off against Bristol City is at 12.30pm
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