Strangely enough I saw Chris David after the game just as someone asked him why he was not playing. He grunted in an unhappy manner "as the manager" I thought he was injured but perhaps not.
I knew he wasn't injured as he played against Cardiff in the friendly during the international break. He must have done something to upset Kit lately because he used to play consistently for him for the U21s. Strange really. In think it's clear that Ruiz is his favourite for the CAM position, followed by G. Williams, then Roberts. It's possible that Kit thinks he's not fit enough and refuses to play him until he drops a few pounds maybe. Pure guesswork of course.
And, Ruiz made two defensive clearances from inside our box with his head. Now that has to be a first!
3 welcome points cannot be sniffed at, and Kit has managed to gel together the team he has inherited, and all credit to what he has achieved so far, but there were moments today where we rode our luck, so I still feel that in the Jan window we could do with a versatile experienced full back. Re :: Criss David at training sessions he appears a little overweight could that be on Kits mind to. What do you think Cottager having seen him when training.
Great result! What a confidence boost that will be!! I wonder why Smith is not used. Had a good gAme against Cardiff. Come on Fulham!!!
Not sure rosc. He’s always looked a shade overweight but I think it’s lack of stamina rather than fitness that’s his problem. Funnily enough something came to me during today’s game. I had always thought it was choice between Ruiz and David - as you’ll see from my team selection in the original post to the thread. However watching how Kit has set up the team and how he changes things with subs (for instance when Dembele came on), I’ve changed that view. I now think it’s him or McCormack. And there’s no way Kit’s going to drop McCormack.
Sorry have to disagree he didn't make two clearances, he made seven clearances with his head from corners, 4 in the first half and 3 in the second. Thought he played well defending corners, some good passes and some bad passes. But what I am most annoyed about today is our throw-ins, about 90% of them ended up with a Norwich player, one of the most simple things to do in football is take a throw, is this some new tactic I am unaware of!!! give the ball back to opposition at every opportunity!!!! by lauching an aimless ball from a throw-in. Overall our passing was poor, we got lucky, but the standard of the Ref was a joke.
I stand corrected SuperBri. Makes it a triple first for Bryan. Agreed. Too often our players hide behind one of the opposition rather than make a run into space. However another reason is we're so slow in taking the throw and something that I've never understood is - why do have to wait while the full back trots 20, 30, 40 yards to take it? Gives the other side time to re-group in numbers. It stood out, especially in the second half, how, to the contrary, Norwich were successful with theirs.
Funny you mention that because I was wondering how professional footballers managed to take a foul throw - twice, as Norwich did today. You don't see that very often.
Unless your name is Amorebieta. So far as the Norwich two today go - personally didn't see anything wrong with either. And for the first the ref seemed confused by his original decision to give them the throw in.
Just seen the reason for the penalty - very lightweight. Anyway, we won and it's about time we had a bit of luck. Agreed - Ref was crap from both sides point of view I suspect.
Didn't make it to the game and have just watched the football league show... A few points 1. kit spot on for our goal McCormack made a fantastic run to make it for Kavanagh 2. the pen was a joke not in a million years 3. The shot that hit the bar, Betts looked like he got his fingertips on it, amazing save
The referee was an absolute joke. One thing that sticks in my mind was when one of the Norwich players was offside and Bettinelli was about to take the clearing free kick, only for the referee to stop him, run half the length of the pitch to have a 5 second talk with him and then run back. Whole thing took a minute or two for no apparent reason or purpose. In fact, the referee came across as a massive diva. I strongly dislike referees who have to make it all about them.
We even made it to page 3 on Times!! Amazing stuff!! Think Kit needs to start using more of the squad although the argument against might be that we are settling down to 11 starters. Bryan was good yesterday, especially defending corners. But frustrating at times by slowing down the game. Hugo is playing well but long bAlls to him don't work. Smith might help... The season is long so more players will feature. I am in the opinion that you need to keep 8-9 players as the bias and change depending on the opponent.
Would you adam and eve it! We only went and got 3 points. We are to Norwichnas West Ham are to us. Norwich had a touch of the Fulhams yesterday. So much possession but no end product. They are a good side though and will be there or there abouts come the end of April. Which makes the redult even better for me. COYW
I was surprised he brought Dembele on when the pressure was building, although if he'd taken his chance it would have seemed a masterstroke. Assume it was because he wanted him to offer an outlet and hold it up, we resorted to long ball after that. Having Roberts on at the end and keeping him on the halfway line for counter attacks might have helped ease the pressure - we got the points regardless though. It was a gritty second half performance and Budorov stood out for me, although all the defensive players were strong. Kavanagh took his goal well, I didn't realise he could play in midfield thought he was a left back. Staf, kav and hoog have all played a similar role in midfield now, along with games at full back - all very Philip lahm.
