Let's be fair, with our squad, we'll struggle in this league, we all know it. But we can survive. We won't do much until someone with deep pockets, aspiration and vision rocks up. We all know that. Not sure why I posted, really.
First game of the season for me. To be fair GM interview spot on. I thought we were brave and played pretty well first half and bit harsh to be 2-0 down but they were just that bit sharper than us. Second half poorer going forward but some sterling efforts in midfield (Smith, Docherty) and at the back (thought both CBs did well apart from being blocked off for opening goal.) I could see Smith playing the CDM role, reminded me a bit of Slater when he came in towards end of last season. Thought Coyle struggled - Emmanuel was more of a second right back than a right winger. And we looked a bit toothless upfront which was the most worrying aspect of the afternoon.
Didn't see the game today but was expecting a lot worse then 2-0 .. our season won't be defined against the likes of Fulham who let's be fair are one of, if not THE favourite to go up. Reading the thread it seems our performance level improved to a degree which is all one can hope for, and a difficult run of fixtures is ahead of us. I personally think Jones best position is at defensive midfield, so if Bernard can perform well at the back, I'd love to see him back in that position. I do still think we need bodies in the building and cb with an experienced head as everyone keeps mentioning would be ideal, not sure about the incoming striker and who it may be, but pace is the key in this division, seems as well listening to McCann he expects all 4 absentees back after the international break which is great news if true because my gawd do we miss gorgeous George. If we can scrape something out of the next few games, then get George back on the park fit and raring to go, and with a couple of sensible incomings we'll be okay.
I think you're spot on. The Allams will regard success as punching marginally above our weight in terms of where we are in the Championship salary league. I still think we'll just about do that, but until they go hard to think we'll do much more.
He came on when the game was gone and the rest of the team seemed to be resigned to the loss so it was tough for him. Personally I'd rather have seen him at full back, Coyle had a rough afternoon, he could have been brought off or pushed forward.
Most disappointing for me was that we seemed bereft of ideas 10 mins into the second half. There was no movement off the ball, players had no choice but to pass the ball back and across time and again until somebody hoofed it down the middle for their 2 giant centre halves to clear up. The last 30 mins really looked like men v boys to me and I think we're actually better than that.
Sat here having a few beers game still on my mind, thinking that’s three games on the trot without scoring, not good in fact very concerning, Expected to get beat today but not the two home games before. Ate this losing lark makes me drown my sorrows, not good for my health, need a win next week to celebrate with a few beers.
It was clear after 20 mins that we had set up wrong - FB's, KLP and Williams all too wide leaving Fulham to dominate the centre, similar to the match against Derby. Coyle and Elder were run ragged. Maginnes was isolated but won little anyway. Both goals the result of individual mistakes. The first goal the result of a simple distraction by Fulham leaving Mitrovic a clear run and header. The second goal was Ingram being too slow off his line. Despite everything, we waited until 80th minute to make a change - ****ing Eaves, who was presented with the ball by the keeper 2 yards out and yet still failed to hit the target. It was a League 1 side against a Premier league team. McCann out. Allams out. **** off the lot of you.
A much better performance today against a technically superior promotion-bound Fulham. After the spiritless performance against a mediocre Derby in midweek, we gave them a much more aggressive performance in the second half and kept them out for the last 60 minutes. I was particularly impressed with Bernard, showed some real crunching tackles, and Greaves did a great job against Mitrovic, and was unlucky that the ref missed a blatant blocking him out of the play on their first goal. Unlike the Derby game which I couldn't wait for it to end, we kept going for the full 90 minutes, helped by a return to form of Doherty in mid-field, my MOTM. On the negative side KLP was disappointing for the third game in a row, and McCann needs to have a word about his constant bitching. When Jones is fit he should go back into the DMF spot with Bernard at CH alongside Greaves. After one more game the impressive Moncur will be back, with Honeyman set to return in 2-3 weeks. So a MF of Doherty, Honeyman, Smith, and Moncur will begin to cause more problems for the weaker teams. Hopefully Eaves will be moved out and a real striker loaned in to partner Magennis up top. Next week will be another difficult game but better times lie ahead. I feel much better about our chances tonight than I did on Wednesday !!!
On the whole, not a bad performance, yes, we were outclassed, but we never gave up, and in the past, we would have capitulated and lost 4 or 5 nil. Fulham always looked as if they could go up one or two more gears, but we never gave up and kept going. Docherty looked more himself, both Bernard and Greaves did okay, Coyle and Elder tried hard, and McCann bringing on Emmanuel certainly stemmed Robinson's advances much better in the 2nd half. Smallwood struggled, Smith is tidy, but doesn't affect the game enough for me as yet, maybe he will get better. KPL looks frustrated and he needs to be a bit more level headed. We certainly need something different to Magennis, he does okay, but we need a different option at times. Eaves just looks totally out of his depth when playing at this level. We need to find a way of playing out A game against teams around our level, not put in poor performances against the likes of Derby.
We need to find a way of playing out A game against teams around our level, not put in poor performances against the likes of Derby. This will be the key to survival. I just hope the coach and his players can pull it off.
