Source: SKY_Sports
Hodgson needs numbers
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is hoping he will be allowed to add to his threadbare squad over the summer.[LNB] The Cottagers currently work with one of the smallest senior set-ups in the Premier League, with financial constraints restricting their capabilities.[LNB]Despite the lack of money, the capital club have fared admirably this season and could yet secure a top half finish.[LNB]That will provide a solid platform on which to build, with Hodgson already turning his attention to bolstering his numbers once the transfer window reopens.[LNB]He saw the Cottagers slip to a 2-1 defeat against Blackburn in midweek, after leading at the interval, and believes his players are beginning to show the strain of a long, hard season.[LNB]"We've not had many opportunities to rest recently but we've had two days to try and lick our wounds and get some energy back into the players," said Hodgson.[LNB]"Of course it concerns me because Blackburn had 10 or 11 days to prepare for the last game, we didn't and that showed.[LNB]"I think we tired more than they did.[LNB]"We have a very small squad and we've lost a few through injury. We always knew we'd be stretched if we got a couple of injuries and the fatigue factor was always going to be a problem for us as well.[LNB]"Next season I'm hoping the squad will be both bigger and stronger."[LNB]StrengthHodgson is hoping lessons will be learned from the failing against Rovers, with Saturday's opponents Bolton likely to present a similar physical test.[LNB]"Bolton are a team who pressurise the ball well and get it forward early," he added.[LNB]"Like Blackburn, they use their strength of their front players, their height and their good aerial ability to their advantage.[LNB]"In that respect we've had a good warning of what is to come and we will try once again to deal with it. [LNB]"We've got to pick ourselves up from these last two defeats, three defeats counting the cup game, because I've always said we can't afford to stop looking over our shoulder."[LNB]
