I don't remember Sidwell being quite this ill-disciplined last year. Most concerning - nearly every game, it's only a matter of time until he sees red.
Well done Mark Schwarzer ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! It would have been unfair to come away with nothing. C O Y W
Oh my ****ing god, I'm shaking! Brilliant game, which we could have won. Terrible at the back at times, Sidwell's constant passing back to Schwarzer was bad and Mark's dreaful distribution were still prevalent, but we look fantastic going forward. Schwarzer made a couple of brilliant saves, not to mention the penalty, which was a bit of a joke, but then Sidders should've been off. Great result, and the fact I'm disappointed is a great sign.
Just about got my breath back Us fans are going to have to realise that having two attacking full backs is going to leave us much more open at the back, which Walcott fully exploited in the first half, but it will inevitably result is much more goals. In the past we have been solid at the back with players like Baird, Kelly and Konchesky at full back but we struggled to score. If Hangeland was playing to the level we know he can then we would be much more solid, but I'm willing to risk a few less clean sheets for much more attacking football, which was breathtaking at times today. The front four of Dejagah, Kaca, Ruiz and Berbatov was scintillating. This is the way we need to line up in future, with Duffers and Rodallega coming off the bench to test defences with tired legs. I was a little relieved to see Richardson be taken off, as Kaca and Duffers were both better options for his position. I wouldn't wish an injury on a FFC player but he's not good enough to start over Kaca or Duffers. Like Bidley, I'm slightly disappointed with just a point, but would have taken that for sure at the start of the day. Apart from the two Manchester clubs, only West Ham have managed to take three points from us this season. Exciting times ahead for us this season.
Interesting fact on the BBC match report page, we've scored the second most goals in the league this season (24), only second to Manchester United's world class strike duo, so the extra pressure on our central defence is a worthwhile sacrifice I think. Also worth noting we've scored 12 home and 12 away, so this whole "Poor away form" thing the pundits like to go on about (one of only two things they know about Fulham) might finally stop. Amazing performance today, I'll leave analysis to others but I have to say every minute I see Dejagah play I like him more.
Agree with Bidley and Bandit - that's three away games on the trot that we could have won. I'll start though with MOTM Bryan's dreadful pass in the last minute, not because it nearly cost us a point (and well done Mark Schwarzer) but because it underlined why we didn't win. Too often in the second half we played the ball back when a attacking option was there. Sidwell and to a lesser extent Baird were overly guilty. The team as a whole were terrific though and for large parts controlled the game. Especially in the first half when it really was a shock to be 2-0 down - their first was an excellent corner kick but poor marking by (I think) Chris Baird to let the man get in front of him and the second was just awful marking (and loss of concentration). In the second after we went 3-2 up we could easily have sown it up a) if Dejagah had shot and b) if Kaca had not. Both had good games though and the Kaca/Berba linking was back. Schwartzer was cofident in his area and had good saves apart from the penalty. As Bidley said, his kicking was better than against Everton but only just. Riether had another huge game and JAR was okay (his crossing let him down). Hangeland was solid but got caught out a few times trying to cover for others, especially Hughes who didn't have his best game. Like Bandit I was more than pleased when Richardson had to go off; he looked way short. My comments in an earlier post about Baird (poor defensively) and Sidwell (indisciplined) hold up but in fairness neither could be criticized for commitment. Which leaves the two main men - Bryan and Berba. Just class, both of them. Bryan was outstanding however; he was really strong, riding tackles, constantly looking for the ball and creating space. Two Norwegians were sitting beside us (from their cheering obviously just to see Hangeland) and one asked, "who is your No. 11 ?" adding, "best player on pitch". Great support by the Fulham fans and well done the predictable Cottage Chickens. But most of all well done the Team. COYW
Not that I would wish injury on anyone- but was very happy to see Richardson pull up- shouldn't even start in the small games. We need to bring someone in ahead of Sidwell- don't mind him coming on late for some energy, but he is not at the right level for what we are trying to achieve.
Thanks Bidders, Badders & Cotters! I could not go, but the second half 5-Live plus your comments gave a good feel for the match. We've still a goal difference of +5 having scored 24. OK, we are leaking too many goals and our midfield is not tight enough, but this is great - Although the downside of avoiding 0-0 away draws is that it will soon be necessary for heart monitors for travelling regulars! C O Y W
It's not such a big deal for me because when Diarra is fit, Sidwell won't be starting. I still think we need another CM in January, but apart from that I think we are doing just fine. Both Sidwell and Baird I'm not sure are good enough to start, but both are great players to have come off the bench for tired legs. In my opinion, Richardson should be behind both Baird and Sidwell, throw Karagounis and Kasami into the mix, and on the same playing field as Tavares (what a wasted signing) Both Baird and Sidwell always look to pass either backwards or sideways because neither are attacking minded players. Much of our attacks came from the wings today with Kaca and Dejagah on fire, but we do need some central input in the form of Diarra. Come January and of Southampton look doomed, it may be wise to go in for either Ramirez or Lallana to play alongside Diarra as CM.
I didn't get to the game today, so I can only really comment on the home games. However, the passing back to Schwarzer happens much too often for it not to be a tactic. I think we'll all agree it's one that needs to be reconsidered. I also think quite a few of our defensive problems come from the lack of a regular partner for Diarra. We all love Bairdinho, but he's just filling in until January. The absence of a settled two in the middle really causes us problems when we are being pushed back. I very much hope that we have identified a few suitable CM signings for January all ready - someone like Boateng would be good, but I trust in Jol. And I would love to sign Lallana in January, but there's as much chance of that as us signing a player like Dimitar Berbatov or signing two players called Moussa Dembele... oh. (But seriously, no chance we'll be able to sign him).
Ruiz outstanding and my MOTM with Berba right behind him. How good it is to see the two of them linking up play. Kaka was good to watch and took his goal superbly, us in the away end had no idea it was actually a goal! Sidwell should have gone, no doubt in my mind and i'm a little suprised Wenger didn't have a moan about that. I think the Ramsey booking in the same sequence took some pressure off Dowd sending him off. I actually like Sidwell he gets stuck in in my view. I'd suggest we must look at the CB pairing. It looks shakey to me and it could be time for Hughes to miss out as I feel Hangeland is the better defender.
It took a few seconds to sink in that we had scored the second goal, as it was down the other end, I thought the keeper had saved it, only seen the Fulham players celebrating did I and those round me realise we'd scored. Again with their penalty didn't realise the Ref had given it. A really good game that could have gone either way, enjoyed it would have been gutted if we'd lost it again in the last minute. Walking back to Finsbury Park with the Arsenal fans moaning about their defending, not giving much praise to Fulham, then got home to watch Wenger on BBC report, no praise again for us. What were the commentators like on the media, did we get some praise, as I thought we played really well although I'd have to moan about the defending from Hughes and Riise for their goals.
Amazingly we're on second - the top game must have been a corker! Will put my 5p however on the analysis being about poor defending and not the brilliance of Bryan. For anybody too impatient (and for them, who like me, didn't realise at first that our second had gone in) here are the goals - http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/arsenal-3-fulham-3/
I followed the game with a mixture of commentary on Radio 5Live and BBC1's Final Score. In both cases the message that came through was that both sides were playing good football and that we were well deserving of anything we got from the game. I often find we get fair credit when a match is in play, but not necessarily in the pre-match build up and the focus of the post-match analysis.
Sometimes you get soaked up in the atmosphere of a game and think it's been better than it was, and it's nice to hear reports from (mostly) unbiased views. I'm waiting to see if Hanson is on MOTD, he will have a field day about the defenses today.
