I'm as disappointed as anyone with last night, but it's not so bad. I agree with comments on other threads - Dembele was stupid, but it was never a red card, and the sending off completely changed last night's game. If it had been 11 verses 11 I don't think we would be talking about another sterile performance with little penetration, I think the goals would have come and we'd be talking about another well-earned win in Europe. As it is, we'll never know (as I'm sure the pessimists among us will point out). But whatever happens in the other games in the group, two more wins will see us through. From what we've seen we are better than Odense and Krakow, and we've still got to play both of them at home. While I'm not taking those results for granted, there's every chance to wrapping up the 6pts we need. Twente away is a tougher prospect (but not an impossible one), but it isn't a game where we absolutely have to get a result. And if Twente win their next game at home to Odense, they will be through before playing us. If that happens and they give some squad players a game, we might even wrap everthing up before the final game. There are lots of reasons to be optimistic. Now bring on Everton for three points to push us up the Premier League table. COYW!
It seems to be about the consistency of our play. Whether this can be due to the rotation of players trying to slot in and out of the team. It would seem Jol is trying to integrated the new players via the rotation, while Hodgson's idea was to try and keep a stable team for continuity. Different managers different ideas on how to keep a squad of players happy. It's a difficult one, Jol trying to use the Europa League games to integrate the new players into the team, but the problem being is using them again in the Premier, they find the pace of our game quicker. It will take time.
And, as I suggested above, it's not entirely fair to judge the team on last night's performance. I still think we would have won if it had stayed at 11 vs 11, or even if it had become 10 vs 10 at an earlier stage of the match. It's true though that the jury is still out on some of our new signings. Does anyone know why Grygera wasn't playing? I got the impression that he had done well so far, and was surprised to see him not involved against either Stoke or Krakow. Is he injured? I haven't heard anything to that effect.
Yes Captain, I thought Grygera played an absolute blinder from what I heard on 5 Live of the Chelsea game.
I agree complete with the assessments of the situation last night, but I'm not sure our lack of offense was due to new people not fitting in yet or anything else like that. I thought our game changed in the last 20 minutes after Gecov was pulled in favor of Sidwell, and later when Sa' was taken off for Kasami. I just don't think Gecov and Etuhu had/have the wherewithal to run our team - Gecov in particular. Once Sidwell stepped onto the pitch, our tempo increased and we were able to attack in their third. Kasami certainly helped that, but Sidwell for me was the catalyst. I think our lack of edge in the first 70 minutes was due to a lack of quality, nothing more. And I've had it with Dembele. He was useless last night even before he saw red. Duff was strangely ineffective as well.
Dembele is poor. What has he done for FFC apart from the super individual effort against Spurs in the FA Cup last year and scoring 2 against Wolves - both at home....nothing.
It is such a shame that Ruiz is ineligible for Europe. He has the skill and ability to unlock defences. With AJ playing so well at the moment, Ruiz could be just what we need to provide him more service. Yes, he has not slotted into life at Fulham quickly but he WILL come good. We are still adjusting and although last nights performance was poor, even before Dembele got sent off, thumping them at the Cottage in a couple of weeks will erase last night. I heard MJ talking before the game about the depth in squad at the moment, but am still curious about the number of players that can play in the hole. Dembele's best position is there, but that is also where Ruiz and arguably Zamora would prefer to play, not to mention Kasami. I agree with Captain, there is not too much to worry about, some astute signings in january and we will be flying .........
I posted an article way back in June saying how I would like to see Demba Ba added to our squad,reply posts pointed out that although on a free we possibly could not afford his wage demands around the 60k+ per week. We then go on to sign Ruiz at what 10mil and pay him around 60k per week,from my viewpoint a strange decision. I know who I would rather see in my squad, look at the performances he seems to turn in for Newcastle. I know one man does not make a team,but from the tv clips I have seen and,their fans reviews he is already establishing himself as a geordie hero.
Yes, Demba Ba would have been good for us. I like him. He plays somewhat in the same role as Zamora, but he seems to have a nose for goal, too. He and Best (who I have in my fantasy team) make a nice pairing. Ruiz hasn't shown us much so far, but players rarely walk into a new situation and make a big, positive splash. Dempsey showed little for the first 4 months he was with us, for example. After Zamora's first year here, many fans (including people on this board) were calling for his head. So you never know. A personal and heart-felt shout out to Rocky ... I hope you're well, brother.
Demba ba is a good player but it was only the last 2-3 games that hes actually scored his first goals for them, so thats 3-4 mabye 5 games he played without scoring,plus he had his time with WHU aswell. i just think Ruiz needs time to adjust,
And Demba Ba has a history of injury problems, one of the reasons that he didn't join Stoke before his move to West Ham (who were desperate enough to take the risk) came through. Valjing, I'm sure I remember you criticising others - AJ for one - for being 'sicknotes'. While Ruiz hasn't proved his worth yet, there were good arguments for not investing heavily in Ba.
On the original subject I was dissappointed to see just how much of a difference the Red Card made to us. I would have thought Jol would have some tactic in play so that we can keep battling even if a player down. I didn't see that the other night.
On the Ba/Ruiz thing - isn't hindsight a wonderful thing? Before the season started he was a massive gamble given his injury history, like Captain says. I didn't see the Krakow game, and I'm quite glad I didn't. Still, I'm looking forward to tomorrow, a win would do us wonders (well, most of us).
Bidley Re a win tomorrow would do us wonders (well most of us) "A cheap jibe",all Fulham fans who come on this forum,want to see our team win, so why post such nonsance
Wow, way to stuff words into my mouth! It was meant to be light-hearted, but I'm not daft enough to think that we'll all be optimistic if we put in a good performance and get the points tomorrow. I admit my optimism is starting to wane of late. Maybe if we win tomorrow you'll be able to lighten up a little mate We all tow the same line, COYW!
