Some interesting pre-match comments from Jimmy Bullard here.
We’re going to go out on that pitch on Saturday believing we can take three points, and why not? Fulham have hardly changed their team since I left and they’re 10th.
I’ve been in a relegation battle with every single one of their players so that’s how quick things can change. Now they’re beating Juventus 4-1, it’s just frightening really.
I don’t recall you being in a relegation battle with Schwarzer, Pantsil, Kelly, Shorey, Gera, Dikgacoi, Greening, Riise, Gera, Duff, Elm or Zamora, Jimmy.
Not at all. It could have easily been us in Fulham’s position and them down there. Who knows next season? We stay in the Premier League, the positions could be reserved.
Presume he means reversed, rather than reserved.
We’ve got the players here, that’s why I’m here.
It’s nothing to do with the manager then? Come to think of it, Hodgson might use this as part of his team-talk come 2.45pm on Saturday.
I wonder if Jimmy still believes he left to go to a bigger club?
i was concerned about him leaving, now i’m glad he’s gone.
Bullard has to say these things, if only in an attempt to boost confidence at the club. Let’s face it – if you’re in the relegation zone, your manager has just been sacked, and you’ve managed to throw away three points against a team that’s all but down, spirits aren’t going to be desperately high.
I’ve got a sneaky feeling that Bullard will be going out with a point to prove tomorrow – which may play into Fulham’s hands perfectly. He’s somebody who demands the ball at all times, making his side’s play a bit predictable at times. It was interesting to see at the Cottage earlier in the season that we allowed him to have the ball inside his own half (picking the ball up from the toes of his own defenders, as he’s accostomed too), but he was quickly closed down whenever the ball was anywhere near him in our half. He simply was rendered ineffective.
I genuinely believe that Fulham are a better side without Bullard. Sure, we miss his set-piece ability (although that was actually rather poor last season), and his enthusiasm was a joy to watch. However, we are certainly a much more organised side without him, and much harder to break down. It’s no coincidence in my opinion that our position at the end of the season was higher than it was when Bullard was in a Fulham shirt.
It’ll be very interesting to see what midfield partnership Hodgson puts out tomorrow. Murphy certainly has the ability to unlock what has been a pretty patchy Hull defence, but Hodgson will be wary of what the likes of Geovanni and Bullard can do if they get a bit of space.
Also worth remembering that Hull actually have a decent home record this year….they will not be that easy to turn over. They are fighting to stay up (literally in the case of Bullard and Barmby), whilst this is Fulham’s 51st competitive game of the season, and we have a big game on Thursday to cope with as well. I can see the points shared in this game – potentially a goalless draw.