Ok To all you soothsayers, and crystal ball watchers, what is going to be the score. I am sticking my neck out with a 2 :1 win for us.
Who are Ipswitch? On paper, you should win this one guys, but I've got McCarthy down for a good season this year - he could trouble teams like you and us more than we'd like to believe. Opening shot for us last night saw us battling for a point at Blackburn and we'll take that right now - this is not going to be an easy ride for the three relegated sides. The lack of true Prem quality is more than made up for by endeavour down here - we struggled for 10 years to get out of it last time and I can see it being no different now. I hope it isn't a culture shock for Magath for your sake. Good luck guys.
Thanks, Oldsparkey. Best of luck to you too, after today. We certainly won't be taking Ipswich (or Ipswitch) for granted today. I suspect that there won't be many easy games in this division, and we have the most transitional side I can remember. Our season could depend on how quickly the side gels, and how quickly the youngsters adapt to first team football. The potential is there for us to be very good, but potential counts for very little until people start fulfilling it. Having said all that, I'll say 3-1 to Fulham. It wouldn't do for me to let kunye be more optimistic than me.
Welcome to the Championship boys! I'm not here to gloat because clearly you were better than us as a footballing side but that alone isn't enough in this league. We showed more fight, energy and sheer desire to win as every Mick McCarthy side does! We ran out worthy winners although we were hanging on a little at the end. It will take time for you guys to acclimatise to the physical demands of this league and you must learn quickly that you will have to earn the right to play your neat fancy football. A much deserved win for us and I wish you well in the season ahead.
Like I said Captain Morgan and Warky's moustache, "hope it isn't a culture shock for Magath" - and it was. Fulham played some nice stuff, but Ipswich did the graft, and not without a little skill as well. That's what it takes to get out of this division, and I said this pre-season on your board if you remember Warky - I reckon McCarthy has got the balls to get you to the playoffs at least. Long road ahead, and we'll see who adapts the better of the three relegated teams, but for any of us to get an auto place, it's the established sides like Ipswich who know what it's all about down here who'll pose the biggest threat.
Ipswich was a good day out, nice pubs and company. The down side was the game and then having to get the replacement bus service to Manning Tree Station, though a Bar on the station compensated. The way I saw the game, was first 20 minutes Fulham controlled the game with out having any real threat. The first goal gave Ipswich a boost and confidence. It was poor defending in midfield that gave the ball away and put the defense in trouble. 1st half Fulham didn't have a worthwhile shot on goal, nor a corner kick or freekick on the edge of the area. Lots of possession but no pressure on the Ipswich back four. Magath seemed to want to play through the middle and no width. 2nd half the fullbacks got forward a lot more but their crosses were woeful. Another poor goal given away early on, it was only when Roberts came on at the end, that Fulham started to test the Ipswich defense. Both Dembele and McCormack were off the pace of the game, and Woodrow made a difference when he came on. I won't go into what I think of Magath's tactics, as you know I don't have that much confidence in his management skills, but it's early days yet, so let's hope he improves. Good vocal support for the team, 3 different songs for Moussa Dembele!!!. On the down side yesterday there were already a few fans starting to shout abuse at certain young players making mistakes.
Thanks for the live view SuperBri. It's often difficult see the full picture when watching on a stream, but is it fair to say that the side looked more balanced when Chris David went off at half time? Emmerson Hyndman seemed to get into the game properly and combine well with Tom Eisfield.
Early still but overall not good enough. McCormack looked so unfit, lacked service albeit. Parker I still question his ability even at lower level. Defensively Hutch struggled. I liked the look of Hyndman, looked confident on the ball. Does anyone know if Burgess played in that position in the youth set up? Thought he was a natural CB?
Oh and Joronen didn't look good. Struggled with his kicking throughout but did make a very good save touching over the header. I hope we get some experience in.
Joronen was having hid first competitive game for us and obviously had a few nerves. Both goals were not his fault. He improved with distribution in the latter stages where he rolled out to the CB's. The long clearances weren't accurate enough but had they of been, our players receiving them were not big enough. How do you get a young keeper will experience; by persevering and playing him. As for the rest, there is much to look forward too.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see a few more of these kind of games this season. We might be able to get into a playoff spot but it's a young team still gelling. Hopefully we can keep the academy players and new youngsters (Hyndman looked promising) together for a few seasons. We had good possession but Ipswich looked more likely to score. Hoogland offered pacy, direct running - a lot like Reither. I'm interested to see how Parker fares over the season - he's one of a few on a downward trajectory playing wise and he slowed up play with his insistence on doing the twist before passing.
I must be one of the few remaining fans who saw that goal scoring rampage at Christmas 1963 Fulham !0 Ipswich 1 Leggatt scored 4 Mullary, Haynes Cooke & Cohen. who else ? " Cottager help me out on this one" We scored 4 goals in under 5 min some record eh
Oh how we miss the days of Wor Jackie! If I remember rightly we beat you at Portman Road 4-2 just four days later!
Strangely, we don't talk about that one quite so much! Mind you, I'd settle for 12-6 aggregate this season: 11-4 should be quite a game at the Cottage.
Had to go back and refer to thread about "Craven Cottage" rosc. This is an extract: ”And then there was Fulham. Maurice Cook played at centre forward broken nose and all (from the Birmingham game). In the opening minutes Leggat broke down the right wing and sent over a ferocious cross. Both Cook and Haynes were well placed, but Haynes called to Cook to take it. Despite the injured nose Cook went for the ball without any hesitation and headed home. This illustrates Maurice Cook’s attitude and helps explain why he was such a popular player at Craven Cottage. Cook’s goal was the start of an avalanche, inspired by Graham Leggat who skimmed over the soggy surface. The paper cutting and banner headline included in the ‘Chapter for 1958/59’ gives all the details of his exploits in this game. Suffice to say here, that he scored 4 goals and had a hand in 3 others. Three of his goals were scored in as many minutes, which still stands as the fastest ever recorded hat trick in the top flight. His second was his 100th goal for Fulham. Bobby Howfield, a left winger signed earlier in the year also grabbed a hat trick. Bobby was an experienced player having been with Crewe, Aldershot and Watford in the lower divisions but never really made an impact at the Cottage - Mr Arlott may be more astute than given credit for, after all! Other goals were scored by Alan Mullery and Bobby Robson. The score was actually 8-1 with 72 minutes left but the faithful fans stayed in expection and two of the goals in the last 90 seconds saw Fulham romp in to a record breaking 10-1 victory. [The team had scored ten before - in 1931 - but the opposition that day scored twice and it was in a lower division, so arguably takes second place!] In the return game two days later, true to form, Ipswich won 4-2." As mentioned in that original post it was some Boxing day with 66 goals scored and seven players getting individual hat tricks. Here's a link to the Page in “Craven Cottage” thread for anybody who wants to see the rest of the story: http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/173357-Craven-Cottage/page4?highlight=Craven Cottage
