If the best jokes contain more than a hint of truth, there was plenty to glean from a posting on social media by Hull defender Curtis Davies last week. "Hull squad photo 2016/17" was the caption, with the picture showing Davies alongside eight teammates during the club's pre-season trip to Austria.
At least the smiles seemed genuine; after all, the best approach for Hull's threadbare squad of players is might involve finding humour amid the bleakness. It is difficult, stretching back through 25 Premier League preseasons, to recall a promoted team that has experienced a less satisfactory summer of preparation.