Hull v Fulham: A Happy Welcome or a Strong Dose of Reality for the Tigers?
16 August 2008 will forever be a momentous date in Hull City’s history for on the stroke of three, The Tigers kick off their first top flight campaign. Hopes may not be high with many expecting this season’s newly promoted sides to be even less equipped for the Championship-Premier League transition than those of last season. Yet with a couple of decent signings under their belt, definite experience at overcoming the odds and a “what could be worse” opening game against Fulham, perhaps, just perhaps…
It’s a massive perhaps though especially when you consider that last season only two of their players managed to reach a double-figured tally. What makes this statistic even more alarming is one of those - Fraizer Campbell - is no longer a part of the club having returned to his Manchester United home and the other being an ageing Dean Windass. Tigers fans will be desperately hoping that new signing Geovanni can put in a repeat performance of his Manchester City debut from last season where he scored the Blues second goal.
Such a thing is not as farfetched as some may imagine especially when their opening day opponents leaked 60 goals last season. So it’s no surprise Fulham have survival issues of their own. In fact the most surprising thing would be if the Cottagers chomped nails have fully recovered and regrown!
In an attempt to avoid another imitation of the Great Escape and preserve those rescuing summer manicures, Roy Hodgson has done his best to expand ranks at the Cottage including a new big man-little man duo up front in the form of Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora. Everyone will all be hoping that this pairing can help shed the curse of the opening day Fulham appear to have cast upon themselves; the Cottagers have failed to kick off a campaign with all three points for the past four seasons.
Pundits Pick: Historical opening day pride for the Tigers (draw)
Read our statistical guide to the New Foreign Signings, ‘Home Bankers’ & ‘Away Specialists’.
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Tags: COttagers, Football Predictions, footy 15, Fulham, Hull City, Match Preview, Premier 10, Premier League, Tigers
