Just before the 2016/17 Premier League season kicked off, there was so much doom and gloom surrounding the Humberside outfit.
Manager Steve Bruce nicked off, leaving Mike Phelan to pick up the pieces, and there was nothing to speak about in regards to new players walking through the KCOM Stadium gates.
Fast forward to early September, and the Tigers have kicked off the campaign with plenty of character, while bringing in some reinforcements to help the current crop.
The question remains: 'Is this squad good enough to avoid the drop?'
If Phelan can keep this same team spirit that he has already instilled, while bedding in the new boys, then perhaps Hull can avoid disaster in their first season back.
Hull City - 2016/17
Key signings
Ryan Mason - from Tottenham Hotspur for £13m
The Tigers shelled out a club-record fee to land Mason from Spurs.
After seven different loan spells with five different clubs, the 25-year-old midfielder will be hoping to gain some continuity at Hull.
Has the experience of more than 50 Premier League matches under his belt and has also represented England so look for Phelan to throw him into the deep end straight away.
Costing such a fee will likely test Mason's mettle and it is now up to him to make the most of what has been for years a very promising career.
David Marshall - from Cardiff City for£3.5m
A quality goalkeeper who has 25 caps for Scotland, Marshall arrives at Hull having tallied over 320 Championship appearances.
He played 37 times for the Bluebirds in their top flight campaign in 2013/14 and is seen as a very dependable operator between the sticks.
Hull now have five goalkeepers on the books in the senior ranks, including the injured Allan McGregor and Eldin Jakupovic, but Marshall will be handed plenty of responsibility while the former is sidelined.
Dieumerci Mbokani - from Dynamo Kiev on loan
The powerful Congolese striker is back in the Premier League after a decent temporary stint with Norwich City last term.
30-year-old Mbokani got a taste for it in 30 top flight matches, which yielded seven goals, and will provide great cover and depth for Abel Hernandez and Adama Diomande.
Mbokani will be used off the bench and provides a different option when Phelan is stuck for ideas.
Markus Henriksen - from AZ Alkmaar on loan
Norway international Henriksen is a clever signing by Hull.
At just 24 and with over 250 first-team experience and 27 national teacups to his name, Henriksen a great deal of know-how around the senior ranks.
A creative midfielder with a nose for goal, the former Rosenborg and AZ ace forms dangerous attacking midfielder region with the likes of Shaun Maloney and Robert Snodgrass.
Henriksen is on loan until January before his deal will be made permanent.
Other additions
Will Keane and James Weir - from Manchester United for£1m and undisclosed
The talented pair have joined Hull to reunite with Phelan who was involved heavily with them at United.
23-year-old striker Keane has been unable to get going at Old Trafford and after loans with Wigan Athletic, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End.
A change of scenery might be the perfect tonic for Keane while 21-year-old midfielder Weir is seen as one for the future, but could be given the chance to gain experience in the centre of pitch by helping out Mason, David Meyler, Jake Livermore and Tom Huddlestone.
Overall
With limited resources and an interrupted preparation, Hull have done as well as they could have.
The poor timing of the Bruce resignation and perhaps a little bit of disorganisation prompted some necessity buys and loans which add at least a little bit of depth and strength to what was a threadbare playing group.
Mason has the most scope, but the other lot of new additions are there to help out and it will take a colossal effort for Hull to avoid the drop this season.
Unless Phelan can consistently have the close-knit squad playing for their lives…
Tribal's Transfer Rating: 6.5/10
