I'm worried about our Captain. Twice this season there's been drama upon his substitution. I appreciate he wants to play, but for our captain to make a scene while only 1-0 with :20 to go and during an away game, well, that's not very leader-like. Etuhu coming on with fresh legs to defend on a day like today made perfect sense. Thoughts? And, wonderful win today. A nice defensive performance away is worth at least 6-100 points in my book, but I'll gladly take the 3. COYW! One last thought: I believe Deuce is now Fulham's all time highest goalscorer. I mark him passing McBride's tally today. True?
Didn't see the scene but if he wants to play more that's good. Unfortunately he is the only one that can pass forward but we need to play him smartly as the season is long!
Cheetahyz - I didn't see the drama, but I don't think Murphy has much to complain about. Wigan were killing us in the midfield and we needed to change something. In general, I think Murphy's been our second best middle midfielder all year, probably as a result of age, since there's no question about his heart being in the game. As for Dempsey, he'd passed McBride in the middle of last year and he's officially Fulham's top scorer during its Premiership years. I'm not sure where he stands on the all-time record.
In the Premiership, yes. However, I believe he's got another 110 goals to go before he would equal Haynes and another 123 to go past Gordon Davies!
Brian Mc Bride,and Clint Dempsey,are equal I believe, on 36 goals each,( I stand to be corrected), which is the highest number of goals scored by any USA player in the premiership. And for my money 2 of the best players we have had since playing in the premiership. " OH " if only B Mc B was 10 years younger.
I'm worried about Danny M too. I really think this may be his last season, and MJ seems to only want to play him for 60-75 mins per game even this season. We don't seem to have a replacement to really manage the centre of midfield - perhaps a need for January?
Agreed Tosh, his legs seem to failing him. As far as a replacement goes, I was convinced we could use either Kasami or Sidders but the former seems to prefer playing further up the pitch and the latter doesn't have the same brain. Problem is, players in roles similar to Murphy aren't as prevalent these days.
Yes, I agree. I like both Kasami and Siddy, but as you say - not like for like replacements - we may have to play differently as a team
In fact, in all games they are equal on 41. Mc Bride played 141 prem games and scored 33; all games played 157 scored 41 Dempsey played 156 prem games 37 goals; all games played 193 scored 41
SSN (who obviously know a lot less about our players than we do) were saying that Clint had overtaken Brian as the American who has scored the most goals in the PL. Whatever the truth of the statistics they are/were both outstanding players for us and I hope Clint scores many more!
I think he beat Brian's record as highest-scoring PL yank, and he broke the Fulham PL goals back in April.
McBride scored 4 Premier League goals while on loan at Everton, long before he ever came to the Cottage. That's why Dempsey passed him as a Fulham's top Premier League scorer some time ago, and has now passed him as the highest scoring American (with all and any clubs) in the Premier League. Two different records.
Back to Danny. Yes he's a grumpy old man - loved the way he had a go at Riise after he lost the ball that led to Everton's first goal. He was correct though; Riise was day dreaming and was no way up with play. Yes, he's playing deeper because his legs aren't what they were. Yes, we need to be priming a replacement sooner than later. But, and it's a big but, without him we have no creativity in the middle currently. His pass to Bobby yesterday, leading to our opener, was exceptional. And it wasn't the only terrific pass he made in the game. Already this season he has made over 600 passes with a success rate of 90%. If others could hang on to the ball we'd be putting the opposition under more persistent pressure instead of it coming straight back. The result more often than not is a big gap between the forwards and the midfield. Murphy, I'd argue, unfairly get too much stick and blame. No doubt he'll be subbed regularly, and possibly earlier, as the season goes on. However, we still need him to get us through the current period of uncertainty (nearly said mess).
Danny is still an asset to the club. The legs mean that he's been losing the ball a bit more, but he is still a great passer of the ball, as witnessed at Wigan. If he gets upset at being subbed then, frankly, that's fine. Etuhu scares me more, he's not had enough matches - and it shows. Sidwell is the key somehow, and I can't help thinking that Dembele distrupts our midefield shape.
I usually love when players are upset at coming off, it means they want to keep going. It's only natural, but surely Danny can understand why he's coming off. As a man of 34 surely he can't be naive enough to think he's going to play every minute of every game, especially considering we've had 20 odd games already!
