Good solid first half performance and looks like Pog is going to be good forus. I did worry when he went down injured a few times and it could have been worse as one of his tackles looked a bit tasty. It would have been typical if he joined the injured crowd after just one game. After Pog came off we were a different team - just awful. Very nervy last 20 minutes. Ruiz was dire all 2nd half but he did have a good first half. I'm still really hoping he will come good. I watched him closely all game, some nice touches but just goes through the motions when challenging with a header with no belief at all that he's going to win it. Murphy did well to keep his nerve bearing his history with Stoke. On the positive side, many reasons to be pleased tonight.
Agree with everything you say F COYW. I particularly liked the way the Pog attacked the ball rather than waiting for it to come to him. Ruiz really needs to step up his game - does he honestly believe that he's fooling anyone with his token efforts not just the air but on the ground. Jol should have subbed him 40 minutes earlier. That said, doing so in the 88th min. was bizarre. Pity Demps isnn't being credited with his 'goal'. All in all a fantastic 3 points and yes mostly positives. Well done the Pog.
DEMPSEY MOTM AGAIN. Ruiz - awful. I've said it before, too light weight, always on the deck, doesn't jump well and drifts out of games. Honestly what was he doing up front in the second half? Jol should have pulled him much sooner. Pavel looks strong, can jump and took his goal really well. As Jol says - he wants to be here. Lets see how he gets on.
A good battling performance yesterday against a tough physical side. Pog looks like he has good touch for a big man, and did the simple things well. Agree with others that the game changed when he went off and we couldn't get the ball to stick in their half. It was never going to be a game for Ruiz to shine - he got mugged countless times, particularly in the second half, and should have been replaced earlier. Time will tell whether he can adapt, but the guy's got talent so he's worth persisting with. I thought Riise had one of his best games for Fulham - really got stuck in and made some good challenges. Agree with Dempsey as MOTM - so unlucky not to be on the scoresheet again and didn't stop fighting for the cause. Also thought Dembele did well in the first half in a slightly deeper role next to Murphy, although he wasn't quite so impressive in the second half. I'd like to see him play a few more games in that position.
Firstly, well done Pog on a great debut and goal. Secondly, how much time does Ruiz have left to use the 'he's got talent and just needs to adjust' excuse? We all know he has talent but unless that talent can be conveyed on the pitch and regularly then we will have no choice but to either drop him or sell him. From what I've seen this season Frei has done so much more for the team in much less appearances, but because he insulted Jol's golden boy it looks like he's going to be frozen out. I want Ruiz to come good I really do, but the guy has had half a season and still looks no better a player than he was when he first came here.
Totally agree 77, except, by a short head my MOM was Hangeland. In this kind of determined mood he lifts not only the other players but the crowd. He somehow always looks more reassured with Hughes (who also had a terrific game) beside him.
And rightly so. If it was true he should be punished - whatever you may think of Ruiz, it's counter-productive to insult your team-mates publicly. You slated Jol for allegedly upsetting the dressing room, Frei should be treated no differently. Deary me. He has had a couple of anonymous games of late but before that he was looking worlds away from the passenger we saw on his debut. It's still his first season and inconsistency is to be expected. If he had played as badly in every game as he did at the beginning of the season you'd have a case.
When Joey Barton came out and said that Gareth Barry shouldn't be in the England team because he wasn't good enough nobody bat an eyelid, I don't remember any sort of punishment from either the FA or Newcastle, because what he said everyone knew was true. Frei has every reason to be unhappy that he's lost his place to a player who has done barely anything since he came here to justify his inflated price tag. If you had been replaced at your job by someone who had been performing worse than you, would you be happy? Bidders, Ruiz hasn't had a decent game since Arsenal. I'm willing to give him a chance like all players but how can Jol justify picking him if his performances aren't up to scratch? Jol just doesn't want to lose face by dropping him. If before we signed him you were to be told that he by this time in the season would only have scored two league goals, would you have agreed to pay the £10 million?
I don't remember that, and they didn't play at the same club anyway. So you think it's ok for players to slag off their team-mates publicly? Shocking. Many other of our players have had stinkers and been picked for the next game, why single out Ruiz? Nice use of 'statistics' to supposedy back your point up - how many has Dembele scored? I suppose we should sell him as well? Ruiz hasn't scored many but he's had some blinding games, and he's not been awful for the entire season as you're trying to make out. Frei deserves a chance when Ruiz is playing badly (so does Gecov, come to think of it) but Jol is obviously trying to address what he feels is upsetting the dressing room - given the rumours that have been floating around this is absolutely the correct thing to do. Would you have more respect for Jol if he simply gave Frei Ruiz's place in the team for slating Ruiz, his teammate?
Bidley's mention of Dembele is highly relevant. At the end of his first season, several of us were wondering if he was more style than substance. This season he has raised his performance. Who's to say Ruiz can't do the same next season? As for Frei, he is also inconsistent when he's had his chances. That's only to be expected in a lad of his age, but let's not kid ourselves that he's the finished article. His time will come, but right now it shouldn't be at the expense of Ruiz. And don't forget Jol dropped Ruiz after one match (well, half a match). If Jol was worried about losing face, dropping him after game 1 was a funny way of showing it.
Guys heard from a few faithful who travelled to Blackburn that Frei came on as sub and was substituted again for playing so bad. So Jol was right to get him on the fridge for tweeting... What if Ruiz had done the same? By no means I suggest that he is playing according to expectations but lets wait.
Frei shouldn't have been brought on vs Blackburn. We took off a CM for a winger. Course we were going to get overrun. I don't think Pog was amazing. He just worked hard and had his heart in it. We brought on the wrong player. Trotta should have come on to have that outlet.
Sounds as though he will be okay for QPR. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7521438/ Great that he acknowledged the welcome. Can't say I saw any Russian flags but it gives an opportuity to give three cheers to the guys with the Norwegian flag (at the front of the Hammy end) who are at every game.
