Hull City: Unpredictability of Luton Town, Sheffield Wednesday may leave more Tim Walter doubt | OneFootball

The upcoming double test for the Tigers could prove decisive for the German

Hull City's start to the season couldn't have panned out much worse, as the Tigers sit level on points with the relegation zone with over a quarter of the season already played.

Of course, there is the counter-argument that in the remaining 31 Championship encounters, City and their German head coach, Tim Walter, have ample time to turn their fortunes around, especially as only ten points separate them from Watford in sixth.

Momentum is such a key element in football, and at present, it seems that the only way it's gathering at the MKM Stadium is on a downward spiral, given recent results and the atmosphere fostered off the back of such developments.

Therefore, whilst Walter will be glad that Acun Ilicali has continued to provide support in the background, supporters - many of whom remain unimpressed by the style of football and have made their feelings known in recent games - will identify the upcoming double header of matches with Luton Town and Sheffield Wednesday as pivotal for the German's future in the dugout, as well as how the remainder of Hull's season could end up panning out.

Despite seeing the club's current winless run stretch to seven games after a 2-1 defeat to West Brom, which only heightened the pressure on Walter, the German remained in somewhat of an upbeat and defiant mood that he and his squad can turn the tide, with the international break providing yet another gelling period.

But, it was then reported by TEAMtalk just days after that 'crunch talks' would be held by Ilicali and other members of the Hull hierarchy over the imminent direction of the club, with Walter's position at the forefront of such an agenda.

However, Ilicali's comments to Hull Live on Saturday morning show that Walter has been given a reprieve, with the Turkish owner putting a poor start to the season down to misfortune over any other elements.

"We are not happy about it (the start to the season), but I believe there are reasons why, and we are doing everything we can to make everything better," he said.

"I understand our fans, and I understand their frustration because, as I always say, I've come from the stands to be the owner of the club, so that reaction is normal when you get bad results. I believe one hundred per cent in Hull City fans, I believe in their love and loyalty for the club and I believe they won't react in a negative way when they judge everything in a fair way."

"We are not in a position to blame Tim or judge Tim at the moment. In order to judge Tim from my side, I must look at the bigger picture and only in one game, at Norwich City (4-0 defeat), we didn't have the chance to win. Apart from that, in the other 14 games, we had the chance to win the games. We've had some bad luck on the pitch in the nearly three years I've been here, but in the last four months, it's been by far and away the unluckiest period," Ilicali added.

Whilst Ilicali can point to the factor of losing both Mohamed Belloumi and Liam Millar to season-ending ACL injuries, there is an argument that the current crop of players, regardless of the summer turnover in HU3, is massively underperforming.

There was an acceptance that Walter's 'Heart-Attack Football' would include an adjustment period, but not many would have foreseen a lack of identity or inspiration 15 games into the season.

Of course, it hasn't fully been doom and gloom, as Hull have shown on occasions that it can work, particularly in their run of three successive wins - their only victories so far - against Stoke City, Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers.

All three teams either were, or have continued to be extremely inconsistent, which means that Hull will fancy their chances of gaining a respectable, if not maximum, points return against The Hatters or The Owls, who find themselves in the same boat.

Both sides do hold worse defensive records than the Tigers, having conceded 25 (Sheffield Wednesday) and 26 (Luton Town) respectively, so if Hull can execute a shift in attacking output, which has seen them record just 1.1 goals per game and 1.6 big chances per game, there is the potential for the likes of Joao Pedro, Abu Kamara and Mason Burstow to profit.

However, if a measly points total is accrued and supporters fail to see an improvement on overall performance levels, Ilicali will no doubt be sent a loud reminder by those at Kenilworth Road or the MKM Stadium that a change must be necessary, and perhaps should have been made during the international window.