With all the excitement of Christmas and the FA Cup over its time for things to get serious in the league now. However this weeks opponents Hull City will be no pushover as after making a steady start to the season they now sit in the final play-off position aiming to return to the Premier League after two seasons away.This week I caught up with Ian Waterson co-editor of City Independent the Hull Dan Hampton Jersey City fanzine to get his opinions ahead of the game.Our very own Aaron Mclean signed for you a while ago now, how has he settled into the side?Hes a Marmite player. Some fans love him, others dont. His work rate is phenomenal and he does create space for others to exploit. However, his detractors claim he simply doesnt score enough goals for a striker. Personally? I think hes been one of our better players this season and continues to improve.Other than in the FA Cup you havent won since mid-December, was this just because you were up against better teams or is your team mi sing something?True, but weve utterly dominated all three league games, though. Middlesbrough scored a worldy two minutes from time, Burnley got lucky with a freak piece of luck (and we always lose at both grounds anyway) while Derby cashed in with their only shot on target. Nothing to worry about in all honesty, keep playing like we do and well definitely win more than we lose.Nick Gale Sayers Jersey Barmby is set to become your new full-time manager how do you feel about this?Local lad done good. Hugely talented and a model profe sional who has played at the very highest level for club and country. Hugely popular with the fans and always likely to be involved with the club in some capacity even though that situation has arrived a little earlier than we probably envisaged. He has and will continue to receive backing of the board and the fans longer than most would due to his local roots.Have you noticed any difference to your side since Barmby took over?Were not boring anymore! The Barmby brand is fast-paced, attack minded, pa sing football. The transition from defensive counter-attacking football under Nigel Pearson has been almost seamle s. Barmby takes enormous credit for this. The players have been given much more licence to expre s themselves and the result is a very entertaining team to watch.Have you mi sed anything from the team since Nigel Pearson left?Were mi sing monotone pre and post-match pre s conferences and Barmby coming off the bench as a super-sub to seal the points now hes taken the job on of managing the club permanently. Although Pearson did a fantastic job, fans always felt disenfranchised from the club. Barmby, very quickly, got everyone on side and working as one to achieve succe s once again.What position would you like to see your team strengthen in the January transfer market and is there anyone you would like to offload?We need a striker because as highlighted above by Aaron McLeans critics, he doesnt score enough. A goalkeeping crisis has blighted the club in recent weeks and if Republic of Ireland international Paul McShane leaves to secure regular first team football ahead of the up and coming Euro 2012 finals, well probably need a defender too.Youre sitting in a good league position at the moment how do you feel about your teams first half to the season?Excellent. The position is fully merited too. The best thing is; Hull City have probably got the youngest squad in the Championship and the players can only get better. The secret of the succe s is the continued, prolonged and flourishing relationship with Man United that has been established for the past five years. Five of our current first team are youngsters schooled the Sir Alex Ferguson way. And the pedigree is evident for all to see.Not too long ago you were in the top flight are you hoping you make a swift return back to the Premier League or are you content at being a Championship side?The ambition should always be Eddie Goldman Jersey to play at the highest level. Barmby did it, the club owners definitely back the plan to return there, while the younger players want a taste of it for real, after largely coming from Premier League clubs. As fans, the top flight isnt all it is painted to be speaking from experience, but the kudos and coverage is simply second to none. And its great for the region, so bring it on!Peterborough are a free scoring side are you worried how you your team will fare against them?The defence is usually one of our strong points and something you saw for yourself at London Road. One of the few teams to shut you out, I believe. Our defence is getting better as the season goes along with Jack Hobbs now growing in stature with the captains armband at centre back and young defensive partner James Chester seemingly on course forBarca at his current rate of progre sion!Will you need to adjust your game play to prevent a wave of goals going against you?It is very unlikely Barmby will change his pa sing philosophy that he is already coursing through the club at all levels. So if were going head to head on a Chicago Bears Jersey pa sing game of attacking football, my money is on the team at home and currently sitting in the play-offs with the incentive of achieving a welcome league double.Is there anyone in the posh squad who you will be particularly wary of?The boy Boyd is certainly a player to watch, plus the lad Taylor in the middle looks a decent larker. If Joe Lewis turns up in red hot form between the sticks that might pose a problem too due to our occasional lapses in front of goal. However, be warned, City do have a Plan BWho will be your key man?As we say round these parts when things are running the risk of going a little awry Keep calm and pa s to Koren. I hope youve done your homework!What player has surprised you the most this season?Hull City-wise Paul McKenna in our midfield has been increasingly influential in our upturn in form, after a relatively slow start for us. In the Championship, its difficult not to admire the exploits of Rikkie Lambert at Southampton. The biggest surprise though, still remains as Jimmy Bullard failing to light up the Championship with Ipswich. Hes a 5m Premier League player dont you know? Well, a surprise to everyone except Hull City fans of courseFinally what do you predict the score will be and where do you expect to finish this season?I dont care as long as Hull City win. I dont care how it arrives either, after some of the rotten injustices weve seen in the last three games. Its always about results Cordarrelle Patterson Jersey first, with the performance second. For the season, weve been getting it right more often than wrong, so the play-offs are not an u