I speak as someone who did not see much of the game today, I just caught the last 15 mins online. Great way for the team to come back after the spectacular disappointment of Wednesday night. We needed a result and we got just that. Good to see Demps on the score sheet again, it is essential we get him scoring regularly again. Ruiz's goal was simply sublime as was the ball from Demps I think to put him through. A clean sheet will be welcomed as well. To anyone that went, how did AJ play ? I am convinced that if we get a striker playing on the shoulders of the defenders we will ultimately create more space for the attacking midfielders to run into. Did he show any signs of doing this ? The commentators eluded to the fact that Demps and Ruiz were playing very well together, hopefully a partnership, with Dembele as well, could be forming. Was very impressed with Eagles in the last 15 mins, not that we really need another winger especially but I think he will be snapped up by someone in January. Brilliant reaction by Martin Jol and the team, well done. COYW
Johnson was the usual full of running. Creates spaces, dembele and dempsey found him several times. It was a shame he didn't score because he deserved it. Bolton were poor, defensively awful. We restricted them to long range efforts. Well done to the defence for the clean sheet. Stockdale looked solid. He will be tested in the coming games but 3 points today was crucial. Ruiz goal deserves a mention, I thought it was over but joy to see it fall in, what a chip, he has some serious skill. The couldn't touch Dembele as well. Nice to see AJ tapping the badge while he got a deserved clap at FT. Bobby who?
AJ was probably man of the match today, though all the front 4 were good. Only concern with the way we set up is when AJ runs out wide which he naturally does quite a bit often we were lacking a proper centre forward to get on the end of AJ's crosses or cut backs. Against, with respect to Bolton stronger opposition this formation and lack of a targetman may become more problematic.
good and needed win today, but it was against a team defensively as poor as QPR, and the 6-0, which perhaps put forward the question of why we didn't go for the juggular more. Nice to see a full house as well, against a team like Bolton, compared to the mere 15'000 of wednesday night. (That figure took a while for me to believe). Finally, I can't quite believe we are 11th in the League. To be honest we have been pretty poor this season, and have missed out on a good 5/6 points that we SHOULD have got, let alone the points that we should have got, if you get my drift.
Aj was good today I thought. He reminds me in some obscure way of Dirk Kuyt. never stops running for the team and I agree he probably was worth a goal today - left about 5 mins before the end so don't know who got the man of the match award. Could easily have been AJ. Ruiz looked decent enough today and his goal was well taken. Clint did what Clint does best and Mousa gave a good account of himself with his link up play and providing through balls. Danny was his usual solid self. The ref - Chris Foy - was pretty poor. My only criticism is that we get to the 18 yard line and stop. We run along it - looking at you here young Dembele - and often go slightly backwards. It is very frustrating that good attacking play ends up with us failing to actually try and get round the back of the defence or take a shot on goal. Happened on Thursday and, less calamitously, again today.
I was at the game yesterday and I thought Fulham were solid and dealt with what Bolton had to throw at them, (which to be fair wasn't much), very well. The Odense nightmare from Wednesday could have affected them but both Jol and the team seem to have already moved on. AJ was a nuisance all afternoon to Bolton's back line with his work rate and running of the channels. Ruiz and Dempsey both had decent games and deserved the goals they got. Ruiz's especially was very well taken and having seen it on MOTD it looked even better than it did live. The second half was a bit of a non event but I just want to give a special shout out to Brede; he was an absolute rock and nothing was ever going to get past him. All in all a good three points to begin the Christmas period. We all know the tough games we have coming up but if we perform as well as we did yesterday we have reason to hope. COYW!!
Morning all, Fulhaman you have highlighted exactly what our problem is there me feels. That is why I asked about AJ's movement. We are crying out for an intelligent striker at the moment. No offence meant to BZ or AJ, but we need a striker who is willing to gamble on the space across the back line. Look what happened on Wednesday against Odense when Frei took the gamble. Dembele was running across the pitch and saw his run and picked him out. Unfortunately, BZ generally plays with his back to goal so will never take the gamble, but I think that AJ has it in his locker to do so. I know it is a huge ask but we need someone like a young Michael Owen or a Defoe who will play this all day long. Agreed 67 though, great way to get over Wednesday and even better way to start the Xmas period. Just the small job of turning over Man Utd now, I reckon we can get something from that game !!! Off to play footie now in a frosty Wandsworth, nice ????? COYW
What's the expression? "You can only beat the team you're up against". Bolton were dreadful yesterday - can't see them staying up on that evidence. Until Dempsey's goal I was beginning to think "here we go again". Plenty of possession but not taking our chances. AJ should have scored when put through by Dempsey, Hangeland might have got his header on target. If Bolton had nicked a goal on the break they'd have stuck 11 men behind the ball and we may have struggled to break them down. In the end I was left wondering again where we'd be without Clint Dempsey, who was my man of the match. Great header for his goal, good ball through to Ruiz, and he might have had at least one more. Despite not scoring, AJ was a menace all afternoon and led the line well. Ok, so he can't hold the ball up like Bobby but his pace and movement causes problems and creates space for Dempsey/Dembele/Ruiz. Whether or not Zamora's fit on Wednesday AJ deserves to keep his place.
Fulhamish ... I agree completely with your assessment. Dempsey got the glory, but it was AJ who helped create all that space for Ruiz, Dempsey and Dembele to run into. Johnson, I think, has earned the start against ManU on Wednesday - though Jol may thing otherwise. -- It seems very fashionable, these days, for the match presenters to talk about how skillful Dembele is and how "he could easily slot in with any of the big four teams", but it was Dempsey who delivered, yet again, the class goal and great passes to Ruiz and Johnson. But we shouldn't read too much into this easy win. Bolton were poor.
We need a striker who is quick and clinical. AJ is fairly quick and not clinical. Need a new striker in January.
I thought it was a great reaction to Wednesday. A well earned 3 points indeed. I really like the Ruiz, Dembele, Dempsey and Johnson aspect. Dembele floats around and no one can pick him up, he was almost unplayable and I think enjoys the freedom of the team set up in this way. Ruiz was great, Johnson put a shift in and created space running the channels and Demps was terrific. Stockdale deserves a mention, he's not trained with the guys for months and slotted in perfectly. He's such a good keeper. Baird was solid and so consistent. Murphy was great too.
