One shot on goal? Where did you get that stat from? BBC report shows 15 shots, 5 on target. And who says we're not going to spend money? I don't think we were completely outplayed either, we were on top in the first half but for most of the second we were on the back foot. I thought Petric did better than a 4 too, but all the free kicks today were rubbish. Still I can't deny we should've done much better, we never looked to be pushing for a second, which obviously we should've done.
We were never in control of the game. That's the problem. Teams are coming here and bossing us. Simple as that. Getting boring referring to lack of leadership on the pitch but now this is a symptom on the bench too.
That's just the way I saw the game. Wigan had a handful of really good chances, whereas we had little if any. Petric (and I'm a fan) was absolutely useless and it was no surprise that he came off in the second half. Or maybe Jol was resting him for the two Manchester games, we're gonna need his fantastic free kicks after all... I think BBC also counts blocked shots, which obviously increases the amount of shots on target.
Stats after the game are the same as saying if and if. Jol probably will be looking into them and that's where the next line of excuses will come from. Started already with his per-game interview. Oh I forgot we lost Dembele and Dempsey like 5 months ago. We are also missing Sidwell and Diarra. Actually we did miss Sidwell today. Disappointed as we are in free fall and nothing is done to restore some tranquility into the team. And more worrying is watching a 36 yo running most than our supposing saviours Ruiz and Berba.
In a week when the âonesieâ made the headlines this was a âonesieâ game. One shot on target (I agree with Bandit !), one tackle (Richardsonâs to save a defeat), one cross of any note (canât remember if it was Richardson or Kara), one goal (and a good one it was) and one half when we played reasonably. In that first half Hangeland was good, Richardson was working well, Kara was a perpetual enthusiast, Riether and Duff resumed their mutual understanding. However we created nothing. There no crosses - Jolâs rhetoric on the percentage of goals coming from them in his latest video interview obviously passed the players by. There were no defence splitting passes, primarily because there were no forward runs. . And those are the highlights - the second half was dire and no player takes any credit whatsoever. Itâs difficult to comprehend how our players can be knocked off the ball so easily; how professional players cannot make a simple pass of 5 yards (the number of bobbly or misplaced passes was a stat in itself). We were just so disjointed throughout. Presumably the intention was that Ruiz would be the deep lying midfielder, picking up the lose ball, driving forward and/or sitting back and making that telling pass. In reality the game passed him by. Berbatov was never in the game and should have been subbed. We yet again backed off the opposing players giving them unbelievable room. And how De Santos could get his shot away without one of the three players around him putting in a tackle or attempted block beggars belief. We seemed at times so disheartened, which begs the question about the lack of leadership not only on but also off the pitch. As âonesiesâ go, one game to forget. For the memory though here is a video clip of Karaâs goal . http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/fulham-1-wigan-1/ [Uunfortunately it shows other episodes that suggest we were lucky to get a point. Although equally unfortunately, it doesnât show the last minute goal line save from the Ruiz shot - still canât believe it - which could have got all three points for us]
Just got back from the match - a few pubs in the way ! To summarise my view would be to say that we were ok in the 1st half - 2nd half not so good. We fanny again round the wings and can't get a cross in - when we do no-one is in the box to receive it. All a bit disjointed and not playing as a team. Richardson was suprisingly ok and you could say kept us in the game with a great tackle when it looked likely that Wigan were aboit to score. Berbs was not great today - Duff - good to see back and played well. Kara - Thank goodness for him ! Hangleland - god help us if he goes in Jan. Draw was a fair result - not the best display but I've seen worse. I'm going to Manchester next week - wish me luck !!
Fulham seem to have lost the ability to attack with pace that they seemed to have in the early part of the season. All too often we build up slowly from the back, and lose the ball when the likes of Ruiz and Karagounis have to come too deep to collect the ball. Still don't understand why Berbatov and Petric do not seem to have formed a partnership. Is there some sort of rift ? Didn't think Clattenberg gave us any favours, thats the 5th game in a row we haven't won with him in charge. Remember Southampton away when he failed to give a foul against Karagounis but then gave them a freekick right after from which they scored, well same again for the Duff foul. Have to say that save from Schwarzer has gone into the Top 10 saves from Fulham keepers.
And here is a video clip of that goal line save. Unbelievable it is - unbelievably annoying that is : [video=youtube;tCzBI1KkNkA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCzBI1KkNkA&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Highlights now on the club's website: http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/january/14/wigan-highlights?utm_source=hoot&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=allsocialandre inclusive of the above last minute chance.
Rufus Brevett on current form: http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/january/15/the-rufus-brevett-column?utm_source=hoot&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=allsocialandre Two points that are crucial for me: " I think every team does go through a bad spell at some point in the season and it’s all about coming through it sooner rather than later. Hopefully that will be the case with Fulham because the longer it goes on, the harder it becomes to get out of that rut." This has lead team to be relegated while they started the season so well... "...it was another frustrating result against Wigan Athletic in the 1-1 draw. I think Fulham only had two shots on target and that was the most disappointing thing for me, especially at home. Earlier in the season in the final third, we’d looked really good but for some reason, it’s just not happening right now. We didn’t lose and that’s a positive,..." When a draw or don't lose becomes a positive it's time to start counting beans!!! Have to say that the great escape started against City... Can we reverse starting this week against Blackpool and then Man City! Come on you Whites.
You have to Believe [video=youtube;NOQYlANkyVw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=NOQYlANkyVw[/video]
Does a bad run really constitute 14-15 games though? I think what we're going through needs a new name.
