Shortly after Roy Hodgson was appointed as Fulham Manager his early press conferences all carried a similar message; improvement will only come through hard work on the training pitch. Indeed, as Hodgson’s methods appear to be taking effect, the Whites are looking a more solid and structured outfit.
“I would defy anyone to say there was a major class difference between the two teams – I didn’t see it anyway,” said the Fulham Manager following Sunday’s win over Everton at Craven Cottage. Such was the close nature of the encounter; the fact that 14 league positions and over 30 points separated both sides was more a reference to Fulham’s past form than their present state.
The fact that Fulham’s recent performances have seen steady improvements rather than radical swings from one extreme to the other also bodes well for the Team’s survival chances and is a positive reflection on the confidence levels in the camp.
“People talk about confidence but confidence comes when you’re playing well and winning,” Hodgson said. “If you’re not playing well and you’re losing – you can speak until you’re blue in the face about confidence, belief and faith. But unfortunately, the first time a couple of passes go astray that confidence disappears out the window.
“All of us who have been involved in football – we know that. There are no words that can help but what does help, in my opinion, is what you do on the training pitch. I’ve always believed in that – that’s my mantra.
“I don’t believe in magic wands, I don’t believe in team talks changing everything. I believe that if you work very hard with the players on the training field, work hard to make sure that they really know their jobs as individuals and team players and you keep the mood in the squad as good as it can be – then you’ve got a chance.”
