Bullard's a big gamble
Posted on 27th January 2009 at 10:28
Kaka may have dominated all the headlines this month - but there's one transfer which barely got a mention that could ultimately lead to the downfall of a Premier League club.
Hull City had a staggering start to life in the top tier - but the bubble has burst in recent weeks and they've lost their last 5 Prem games on the trot.
That slump in form has prompted boss Phil Brown to get busy in this month's window, drafting in Kilbane and Manucho.
But it's his £5million capture of Jimmy Bullard that has caught the eye.
Don't get me wrong, I love Bullard and think he's a solid player who will provide energy and set-piece threat to the Tigers' armoury.
But for some reason, they've handed him a four-and-a-half-year contract which will see him pick up £45k a week.
This is sheer madness for a number of reasons.
First of all, only a team guaranteed Premier League football for the next 4-5 seasons could guarantee such a wage - and Hull do not fall into that category.
Secondly, Bullard is 29 and not that long ago suffered a near career-ending knee injury - so the odds on him suffering a recurrence of that setback, especially given his age and the rigours of top-flight football, would have a Las Vegas punter licking his lips.
Bullard was out of action for around 18 months with his anterior cruciate ligament injury, so if he suffers a similar setback, Hull will have a very expensive crock on their hands.
As soon as this deal went through, Benito Carbone popped into my head.
It was only a matter of years ago that Bradford City were rubbing shoulders with England's big boys - and they handed Carbone a very similar contract to Bullard's.
The Bantams are currently playing their football down in League Two having nearly gone bust on a number of occasions - and paying off Carbone's contract played a massive role in their fall from grace.
Tigers chairman Paul Duffen has run the club brilliantly and insists the capture of Bullard is 'not a risk'.
The problem is Duffen also claims that Bullard is 'one of the top-three midfielders in the league', something I'm sure messrs Ronaldo, Alonso, Carrick, Fabregas, Lampard, Barry, Ireland, Downing, Modric and Gerrard (I could go on) might have an opinion on.
Right now Hull are only six points above the dropzone, and I'm sure Bullard's arrival will give them a lift.
But I honestly believe they will rue the length of contract and hefty wage awarded to the all-action midfielder, who could eventually lead to the club's downfall.
Hull City had a staggering start to life in the top tier - but the bubble has burst in recent weeks and they've lost their last 5 Prem games on the trot.
That slump in form has prompted boss Phil Brown to get busy in this month's window, drafting in Kilbane and Manucho.
But it's his £5million capture of Jimmy Bullard that has caught the eye.
Don't get me wrong, I love Bullard and think he's a solid player who will provide energy and set-piece threat to the Tigers' armoury.
But for some reason, they've handed him a four-and-a-half-year contract which will see him pick up £45k a week.
This is sheer madness for a number of reasons.
First of all, only a team guaranteed Premier League football for the next 4-5 seasons could guarantee such a wage - and Hull do not fall into that category.
Secondly, Bullard is 29 and not that long ago suffered a near career-ending knee injury - so the odds on him suffering a recurrence of that setback, especially given his age and the rigours of top-flight football, would have a Las Vegas punter licking his lips.
Bullard was out of action for around 18 months with his anterior cruciate ligament injury, so if he suffers a similar setback, Hull will have a very expensive crock on their hands.
As soon as this deal went through, Benito Carbone popped into my head.
It was only a matter of years ago that Bradford City were rubbing shoulders with England's big boys - and they handed Carbone a very similar contract to Bullard's.
The Bantams are currently playing their football down in League Two having nearly gone bust on a number of occasions - and paying off Carbone's contract played a massive role in their fall from grace.
Tigers chairman Paul Duffen has run the club brilliantly and insists the capture of Bullard is 'not a risk'.
The problem is Duffen also claims that Bullard is 'one of the top-three midfielders in the league', something I'm sure messrs Ronaldo, Alonso, Carrick, Fabregas, Lampard, Barry, Ireland, Downing, Modric and Gerrard (I could go on) might have an opinion on.
Right now Hull are only six points above the dropzone, and I'm sure Bullard's arrival will give them a lift.
But I honestly believe they will rue the length of contract and hefty wage awarded to the all-action midfielder, who could eventually lead to the club's downfall.
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