Good points made. Berbatov made his frustrations known quite a lot during the match, especially to Riise when passes went astray or were not even attempted. I don't think it's unreasonable for the fans to boo Pogrebnyak. He came to FFC on the back of a torrid spell in Germany with Stuttgart, was out of the Russian team and suffering with a diminished reputation. His spell here got him back in the Russian team and revitalized his career. We made him, what I can only assume, was a very decent offer, which was thrown back at FFC after he chose to milk the Russians down the road. Without his spell here, he would still be rotting in the Stuttgart reserves. It's the way football is these days, absolutely no loyalty, but I don't see why fans should have to accept it. I wouldn't particularly boo Pogrebnyak, but definitely wouldn't cheer. I'd expect the same attitude to be taken from Swansea fans regarding Sigurdsson.
Berbatov was definitely getting frustrated with the service he was getting prior to Ruiz coming on. The creativity in Ruiz game is going to provide Berbatov with much needed service. He played really well today without his introduction we wouldn’t have got anything from the game. I still think it’s harsh on the Pog. He was only on loan with us and when his loan contract expired we made him an offer along with Reading (and possibly other clubs too I’m not sure). He chose to go to Reading. He was a free agent and chose a club that offered him a better contract… its human nature. He didn’t back out of a previously arranged deal as Sigurdsson done at Swansea. He wasn’t an automatic starter for Stuttgart but certainly wouldn’t have been rotting in the reserves had he not come to us on loan. He was in the Russian squad during the first half of last season while at Stuttgart and continued to be when he was with us from January onwards. He spell with us helped him keep his position in the Russian squad but it certainly didn’t revitalized his career, enhance it possibly. Personally I pleased he chose Reading as his performance petered off towards the end of last season. I wish him well though and thought it was harsh he got negative reception.
Just watched MOTD - and was surprised/disappointed with the boos. Fulham on MOTD? Just a blip given no higher profile matches. Normal service resumes next week (despite a win against Everton). C O Y W
Next week should see Ruiz starting behind Petric (assuming Berbatov is out to rest his rib). I've defended Ruiz & Hugo all season. To be honest, I'm starting to lose some conviction on Hugo. But I'm happy that those of us who defended Bryan seem to be being vindicated.
I thought Ruiz hadn't adapted to the PL and needed to be shipped out ASAP? (Been hearing that nearly 18 months, somebody buy a cake!) Rodallega wasn't great but neither was Petric in the last game - Hugo is our third choice striker and it shows, get over it.
I think TMHAF is referring to Rodallega with his comment, not me. To be fair, I am absolutely useless too, but I don't run around a lot! Thanks for remembering, Bandit.
Almost as good as Jol calling us 'blonde' - "We're like a blonde girl. Looked good from far but far from good. In second half we put the make up on and started again"
Ha ha, Cottager (and Jol) makes me pleased I'm not blonde! Like everyone else, I'm getting fed up with what seems to be becoming a habit of giving away leads in the last few minutes of games. On a positive note, at least we're drawing those games rather than losing them and at least we're scoring goals rather than drawing 0-0 as we often did in the Roy years As for players, again a positive is that Jol must have seen yesterday what his first choice attack should be ie. Ruiz and Berbatov (when fit). Im not one of the Richardson or Rodallega haters but both are inconsistent and need to improve on that pronto. I do feel that if the defence work harder on defending set pieces (which we've suddenly become inexplicably dire at) and Berbatov and Ruiz can combine like they did yesterday (with support from the likes of Duff, Dejagah and the ineffable Bairdinho) then we are looking at an exciting season and the possibility of our current 6th place being not too far above where we end up.
Bidley, I expected better from you. I think the majority of fans on here were willing to give Ruiz until Xmas at least to show his true potential which we all knew he had. he was frustrating last season, but even you have to say this season he has stepped it up quite a lot. This is not the same player we had last year. I haven't always liked Ruiz's performances (the hair is another matter) but am fine to say maybe I judged him a little too quickly. After all, I'd much rather swallow some pride and have one of our players playing brilliantly than be proven right and him have a mare. I said in my comment that it's not such a big deal that Rodallega is carp as we have other goalscorers. There's nothing to 'get over' I don't like it when people play the 'I told you so' card. We are all Fulham fans and all , in the end, want the same thing to happen. Those of us who misjudged Ruiz and possibly Rodallega all wanted them to come good, but just doubted it. I remember I was slammed for criticising the signing of Pogrebnyak last season after he smashed in 5 goals instantly for us. However, people were quick to shut up once he quickly tailed off with a record of one in his last 12 games. I didn't gloat and I wouldn't expect anyone else to.
Tough night, Bandit? For me the "I told you so" is a bit more tongue in cheek. I was very harsh on Dembele after a year in the Premiership, and it turned out I was absolutely wrong. After that, I felt Bryan deserved the same amount of time and he seems to be starting to adapt. I should have been more patient with Dembele, just as most of us need to be patient with Bryan. Bidley is right about Hugo. It's a bit tiring to hear how bad Hugo is all the time, when he is hardly a star player for us. He has become a focal point for criticism (and he has been poor), but we need to move on from that. Lastly, I agree about the hair. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to the hair!
Another thought occurred to me after going to both Southampton and now Reading - the chant "We're winning away, we're winning away, how ..... " should be banned from now on - at least until our defence is sorted.
Ruiz hasn’t adapted well to the Premier League anyone who watches us play can clearly see that. He was a star yesterday and the 30min or so he played he was very very good. But the opposition was Reading, and without putting them down too much they are not a very good side, probably the worst in the Premier League. Last season he was poor, pi55 poor and didn’t adapt at all well to the pace or physicality of the premier and it looked like we had flushed 11mil down toilet. Yesterday he played very well but I think it’s a bit premature so start waving the I told you so banner purely on the evidence of 30 min against Reading. I hope he does come good but am still not convinced he has what it takes physically as he is knocked of the ball far too easily. I hope I’m wrong and he proves to be a success but I think your clutching at straws if you think he has turned it around based on 30 min against the worst team in the league. Big Maart has started with Rodallega over Petric yesterday so I don’t think he seems him as a third striker. Regardless of whether he is a third striker or not it doesn’t take away from the fact that he is absolutely and officers very little.
To counter the negative boos directed at the Pog it was nice to see the reception positive reception Reading gave Sidwell got when he came on. I remember (I think ocrerecty) he left Reading at the end of his contact for nothing and went to Chelsea. Had he not wound down his contract they could have got a fair bit of money for him do I though he might be booed but got the opposite reception.
Really good posts, and I say that as an appreciative Reading fan. We're hardly setting the premier alight it's true, but it was a great game for the neutral at least. All the best lads, let's see if you can nudge into that 4th position slot, and I look forward to occasionally coming onto here with a few comments throughout the season ...
Indeed. We really must learn and stop giving away silly free kicks on the edge of the box in the last few minutes - Richardson against Southampton, Diarra and Riether (debatable one) yesterday all of which led to goals. Indeed, again. Despite those free kicks we ought to, as Jol said, "attack the ball" better.
I need to eat a bit of humble pie here, I posted that last night having just gotten home from the pub, very drunk and wearing a banana costume so I would read very little into that post, apologies to all! In fairness I was referring to TMHAF's post the last time Ruiz played, where he said he hadn't adapted to the PL and needed shipping out. He's bulked up this season and has struggled with injury, he's showing all the right signs. Why are you glossing over the brilliant performances he gave over the Christmas period (including against Man Utd) before he got injured? Then there are the great games at the beginning of this season. You just seem to really want him to be a bad player and for him to not do well for us. The last few games he's played where the whole team hasn't done well, the blame has been laid at his feet. He really is just one of those players, not like Baird or Duff or somebody, who never put a foot wrong in some people's eyes. If you think his 30mins yesterday was the only good performance he's put in, then you're seriously deluded. See above. You'll continue to write him off until he wins every single game for us single-handedly. And I hope I'm wrong in saying that.
No problem Bidley. I can see where both of you are coming from. Do you side with 'He's making improvements' or 'That was only one game against poor opposition' I've always been a fan of the 'the opposition are only as good as you make them' Games are rarely won through moments of individual or collective genius, there are always mistakes, be it from the referee, players or managers which contribute towards losses, wins and draws. Reading were poor defensively, but Ruiz, at least yesterday, was good enough to take full advantage. Ruiz has made improvements, that's clearly visible, based on his performances this season, probably not enough improvement to justify his £10 million price tag, but I don't believe he's done with his improvement. If we have seen all there is to see from him then that's disappointing but I have faith there is more to come. I think him and Berbatov need to link up in future, as Berbatov has the ability to bring out the best in the players around him.
Yup, that's a fair assessment. He's very inconsistent and he does tend to go missing a lot, but he's on an upward trajectory.
