Jimmy Bullard: End of a Latics' Legend
Posted by liam_wafc in Transfers, Wigan | 1 May 2006
Jimmy Bullards move to Fulham ends a run that saw him feature in every league game whilst at Latics, starting them all bar one. And although as a footballer Bullard is repleacable, his entertaining character and fantastic goals, although few, will be missed by all Wigan fans.
The midfield dynamo will complete a rumoured £3million plus move to Fulham on 8th May, signing a four year-deal. Bullard holds the record for consecutive games played at Latics, he managed 147 consecutive appearances.
Jimmy Bullard is the embodiment of Wigan's rise up the leagues, one of a handful of players who have risen with Wigan through the leagues (others include Leighton Baines, Lee McChulloch and John Filan). Signed from Peterborough for £275,000 in 2003, Bullard played in the division 2 winning season, both championship campaigns, finishing his Wigan career in the Premiership. Along the way he has enjoyed two promotions, a Cup final and was named in the PFA Championship team of the year in the 2004/2005 season. He rose through the leagues as one of Wigan's key players anf Wigan fans watched as the permed one matured into a Premiership midfielder.
Also during that time, he managed to score some memorable goals, a 35 yarder against Crewe and the volley against Villa being two of the best.
His comical antics, which have made him a cult hero on Soccer AM, include throwing an inflateable ball into play 
instead of the actual ball, pulling down Arsenals Ljunberg shorts down when the lights went out and leapfrogging over a melee of players whilst paly continued. If anything, it's his character that will be missed the most at Wigan.
And whilst in his own right, Jimmy Bullard will go down as a Latic's legend, in terms of football skill, he is a repleacable asset. Although that may seem odd, what has made him a legend is that he excelled at doing the simple things, whilst not having the footballing brain to split a defence open with a killer through ball.
Things that won't be missed however, will be Bullards sometimes shocking set pieces. Although a supposed free kick specialist, Bullard only managed (to my recollection) three goals from set pieces, one against Oldham, another against Middlesborough in the Carling Cup and a brilliant free kick against Newcastle. It can be argued that Wigan have suffered from his inability to get the ball past the first man when on corner kick duties, every now and then setting up a goal from a corner.
Whilst it will be hard to find a Wigan fan crying over the sale of Jimmy Bullard, if reports are true we have made ten times what we bought him for, the fact is it will take a while for some not to see Wigan's former number 21 on the team sheet. On Saturday David Thompson replaced Bullard and for the first half was magnificent, picking out passes that were beyond Bullard's skills. Hopefully Jewell has an ideal replacement in mind.
And so, all that is left to say is, thank you Jimmy Bullard for the services you gave Wigan in aiding us to get where we are today.
Jimmy Bullard, the legend, has swapped his mudhut for a cottage.
Comments
Great goal against us, certainly.
I have to admit I'm a bit surprised by your reaction to Bullard's departure - and I'm surprised Paul Jewell let him go with so little fuss. From what I've seen of him, he's been your best performer this season. I wouldn't count on finding a replacement being that easy...
