My take on the night was that our team has no flow about it's play, the 3 sections just don't move as a unit. Midfield was woeful, it was like they were sleep walking, no tackles going in the first 5 minutes, they were just marking space. Watford were able to take their time and pick their passes, most of which were to turn our defenders to face their own goal and we obliged them. No one in the team could say they played well. Not that the Ref helped with his decision on the first freekick and allowing them to take it from 5 yards further back, and then the sending off which ruined the game.
Nothing much to add here apart from the condition I had on Kit's appointment has not been met and we see what we see... He is out of his depth and he needs an experienced assistant. Kit has only one mind, one plan which if it works ok, if not we loose. Simple. Either we get him some support or suck him and get an experienced manager in. I don't buy this is not his team and will sort it out later and all that.
I don't blame people for leaving. £35 to watch that @hite. Seriously, Watford were excellent. When Bettinelli was sent off it was game over. What disappointed me was that Watford played like the home team. We couldn't get the ball and when we did it went straight back them. As someone mentioned we were marking space and they played round us easily. What the hell went on with pregame tactics were not evident. We didn't close them down at all. We gave them space and time. One last point is I'm unconvinced about Burns credentials. I thought he had a poor game. Oh well. Leeds next. We'd better get a result otherwise I'll be absent from the board for a week or two.
It was a disappointing night. Right from the off we looked off the pace. They wanted it we didn't. At 2 nil we should have shut up shop at 3 we should have put everyone behind the ball. Defensively we're wall over the place and I include GK. We must have one of the worst defences in the division. Shocking if you think Symons was a CB. Ok he hasn't had a true window nor has he been backed in a transfer window. A difficult December coming up I'm afraid.
Yes the pricing structure is a joke. £35 to watch that dross, half empty stands all around where is the marketing. Same with Brighton at home later this month, they want £30 with no concession to seniors. Shocking.
You know, I was so excited about watching Fulham play live on TV last night ... how in the hell did that team I saw last night rack up such a good set of results?
Let's not kid ourselves we are truly in a relegation fight and though Kit deserves praise for picking up points and getting us above the drop zone we have not played particularly well, Brentford could of buried us, Huddersfield were the better team and our keeper kept us in it against Brighton, Blackpool who everyone beTs were two up at the Cottage and we didn't look like doing anything until they had a man sent off, Watford were miles better than us. Our attackers have got us out of trouble a lot but can't do this every week, we concede far to many and I can't see a clean sheet anytime soon This is not me have a bi polar episode, given the start we had the number if players turn around and a new manager it is going to take time , I m just trying to say any thoughts of play offs promotion need to be forgotten, we need to stay up concentrate on finishing mid table with a plan of looking towards next season we don't want another massive turn around next summer let's get the team settled and have a good crack next year.
The team for me is too spread out, we don't play as a team, we are easily isolated, there were times yesterday when you could see 4 to 5 Watford players surrounding 1 or 2 Fulham players, is was like a training exercise of 2 v 5, and Watford won them all the time. Watford moved up the field and back as a team, leaving very little space in between their 3 sections, we were just scattered all over the place in ones and twos. The sending off was critical,as was the non-freekick for their 1st, and after 2-0 Parker and the midfield went missing all game. One thing I noticed at Brighton I was seated near the front almost at players level and didn't really get a view of how the tactics were being played, normally from a higher level I can see how formations are changing, I wonder with Symons comments after the game if he can see at ground level what I am seeing in the stands, because he doesn't seem to react.
Kit is not managing the squad. He has 12-13 players and plays them. Shows no imagination to me. I would dare to play Smith and Hugo up front with McC behind them in place of Ruiz. Smith being a big lad would handle the hoofing balls and bring others in, but no... Why did Fofana play yesterday?? Try to play slightly wider maybe? In any case, let's give him the Jan window and see...
Cravingawin has a point about Burn, i know he is a big lad, which is what we want in central defence, but apart from being caught out time and time again he seems to be getting slower, i know Burgess may be raw but bringing him into the mix may be a future option.(reported 4m for DB for me yes) The new year must see us bringing in experience not a long term solution by any means but lets get this season over without continuing to look over our shoulder with the constant fear of relegation.
Some good articles on the Fulham message board, hard hitting but many a true point made well worth reading.
Smith is out on loan now - I assume we're paying a portion of his wages. Khan must be a good man to hang around as he seems not to mind pissing money up the wall, so long as it's a relatively small amount at any one time. Left us with a whole range of options, few of which are any good. Burn isn't a starter for me - his commitment cant be questioned, but his quality and positioning aren't good enough. We need someone senior to organise things. Along with his effort I liked the fact Grimmer's head was always swiveling, keeping an eye on play around him. It will be good to see how he develops. Fofana looked knackered after 30 mins last night and will take time to adjust to the fitness levels - he's probably used to being on of the big strong players, hopefully he can adapt but I'm not convinced it will be quick enough to make any impact with us. Hugo - not much more to add, will run his socks off and did well to create his one on one but he needs too many chances to score. After buying a ton of strikers we end up with Hugo as the almost guaranteed starter - sad times. We need to play with pace and width, both were missing yesterday. Roberts is still lightweight but he's hardly getting any game time - maybe there is a story there or kit just doesn't think he is ready - doesn't mean we should play without any wingers at all! Of our starting 11 I couldn't pick one player with good pace.
It's hard to read too much into this one, as it was effectively over when we lost Betinelli. That said, all five goals were to some extent self-inflicted. If the wall had stood its ground rather than jumping, the first never happens - I was watching the game with a former semi-pro keeper, and he was appalled at that. The penalty was an unnecessary foul from Betinelli - better to concede the goal rather than get sent off and hamstring ourselves for the next few games (does anyone know if he's suspended for one match or three?). Kiraly just didn't seem committed for three or four (though four was a great strike, to be fair). If the defenders had been tight to their men, five doesn't happen. As for Rodellega, I know he's our top scorer, but I still feel he's more of a problem than a plus. His finishing is far from clinical, and his movement is poor. A decent striker scores from that second half Christianson cut-back. Hopefully Smith will flourish at Bristol City and prompt Kit to recall him. Either that or Taggart gets fit very soon.
Captain, I had a half decent semi pro career as a centre half and in the case of jumping it is or should be predetermined, some coaches like the wall to jump some do not. Years ago all walls jumped but then players cottoned on and kept it low, I think Phillippe Albert later of Fulham was one if the first to regularly hit low free kicks. It's 50/50 if you jump and it goes under you look stupid but if you don't jump and it goes over the wall into the top corner fans and pundits will say why didn't they jump. My personal preference is not to jump but it certainly isn't a horrendous decision either way
Fair enough Cookie. My mate did say that he always tells his defenders not to jump, and that if it goes over them, they should leave it to him, which sounds like it backs up your line about personal preference. I was a humble striker (nowhere near semi-pro level!) so I bow to both yourself and my keeper mate when it comes to the dark arts of defence.
Cookie, Captain, I doubt there is that level of intelligence in our coaching stuff at the moment!!! Our defense is leaking and if it was not for Bettinelli we would be a laughing stock, oh sorry we already are...
So far as I'm aware he's out for 3 games. Is it still possible to get an "emergency loan" goalkeeper? Schwarzer??
I read today that Newcastle want to take Schwarzer on an emergency loan. Sentiment aside, it's hard to see Mark choosing us over the chance to play a few more games at Premier League level. That's if Chelsea are even willing to send him out; they weren't keen on the idea earlier in the season, if rumours are to be believed. I get the impression that Van Gaal doesn't rate Lindeberg at Man United, maybe he'd be worth a try. More positively, Swansea's keeper was sent off yesterday, and he only has a one match ban. Given that Betinelli's offence wasn't dangerous, perhaps he'll get the same. I haven't seen Match of the Day 2 yet, so I don't know the details of what Fabianski did to get a red. If Marcus is only out for one game, I'm not sure that we need a loanee. If he's out for three, we should definitely try to get someone in.
Whatever the suspension to Betinelli is I feel that Kit should go for another keeper, lonee possibly, as our stand in, in my opinion is worse than when we had Tony Warner.
