Get in! 2-2. By the way, does anyone know why the BBC website - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/14869932.stm - has had the score at 1-3 to City for the last quarter of an hour?
Nice result. First team to take points off City this season - could only listen, via Gentleman Jim - but very exciting second half. Sounds like the boys put in a proper shift. Very Pleased.
I thought i was watching 2 matches with 2 different teams,the first half city tore us apart,Swartzer superb. City went in took a sleeping draught,as against Fulhams fortified tonic, and "wham" a change in fortune. Now is the time for Jol to install in the players that games are played over 90min. This should give the lads the boost required, and hopefully goals and results will come. In all a much improved display.
Great game. Really enjoyed and what a second half performance. Really deserved the point and we could have won it!! Come on Fulham. Only one way from this game. Up the league table.
This is a great result, so proud of the team. It sounds like the team are starting to believe the tactics being employed by Jol. Let's keep believing and hopefully we will start to win some games. Bring on QPR. COYW
Just got back from the game, the second half was honestly the best I think we've played since some of the european games under Hodgson. They controlled the 1st half without leads clear chances, although credit to Schwarzer and Hangeland for keeping us together at the back. Aguero's 2nd was very much blink and you'll miss it, but after that we really came into our own. They were struggling to deal with dembele and his distribution was noticeably better today. Zamora put in probably his best performance yet this season leading the line very well and sidwell also put in some proper tackles. Biggest mention could however go to Kasami, made such a difference to the game after coming on, as we actually starting to run at their defence rather than just keeping the ball then failing to get a shot away. His movement in tandem with dembele is definitely something to look out for in the next weeks if he gets a decent amount of game time.
That match was a prime example of why I will continue to love both fulham and football in the years to come. COYW!!!
I could not get to the game, so thanks all., especially Robespierre. Sounds like a cracking second half performance. COYW
Watching the game on TV right now ... that's definitely more like it. A strong game, particularly in the second half. Good all around performance by everyone. Murphy and Sidwell were very good. Dempsey and Zamora brought their usual quality. But the effort that caught my eye was Dembele, who hasn't put in a game like that since I can remember. I've never been so happy about a draw at home. Added Monday I think our second half performance could be the turning point for us. It was an inspired, brave effort that scared Mancini enough that he took of his best player (Silva) and brought in defensive help in Zabaleta. Hart was brilliant in goal, saving good shots from Dempsey and a screamer from Dembele. We could easily have won that game. I'm glad Baird was paired with Hangeland in central defense. Senderos is beginning to grow on me, but the one thing he lacks is pace, which Baird has. I thought Baird had an excellent game as a CB - better than that of Hangeland, who mis-timed a couple of tackles and let his man get passed him. Our best player Sunday (Dempsey) has been our best player all year, but Dembele showed a glimmer of the creativity and potential he has for the first time since I can remember. He's got a cannon for a left foot. I have no idea why he doesn't shoot more.
i agree DR, hopefully with the next few games we got in the EPL this could be the start of our season and belief that we can play attractive football and mix it up, Dembele was awesome i remember reading on here how most of us think that this is Dembeles season to show us what hes got and im happy with him so far, the ball just seems to stick to his feet.
We were absolutely awesome yesterday. I agree with Robes that that was some of the best football I've seen us play for some time. Against almost any other team we would have won. Man City just didn't have an answer to the way we played in the second half. For those not at the game don't believe any articles saying City played badly in the 2nd half because they didn't - the truth is that we played superbly and they couldn't keep up. It was actually funny watching Mancini on the side line waving his arms around and throwing on more and more of his big guns then seeing them flounder as they just couldn't cope with the way we were playing. Everyone played well and I'd agree with others praising MS, Dembele and Kasami but special mentions to Baird and Kelly who haven't played much recently but didn't look remotely outclassed by our "illustrious" opponents. As you can probably tell I'm still buzzing from the game and can't wait for the next one!
I was at the game yesterday and, fickle fan that I am, must admit that after 46 minutes I was beginning to wonder if Jol is the right man for the job after all. He changed the defence - again - fielding a back 4 that have never played as a unit before against one of the strongest forward lines in the league struck me as bizarre at the start. I also had my doubts about starting Dembele in a game when we knew we were going to be without the ball for long periods. Anyone know why AJ wasn't even on the bench? The second half, though, was fantastic. Zamora is starting to look like the player he was before his injury. Dembele had his best game of the season and someone looks to have had a word with him about holding onto the ball for too long. Kasami looks like he'll be challenging for a place in the starting line up before long. Baird/Hangeland will take time to gel as a partnership, but Baird looked assured at CB and his distribution is better than Senderos. Kelly's also starting to look like a Premier League player for the first time. What impressed me the most, though, was the fact that we didn't panic at 2-0. We didn't resort to desperate balls into the box, and got back into the game by playing good football and the sort that would have had the pundits frothing at the mouth if it had come from the opposition. Maybe we will have a decent season again . . .
Fulhamish, apparently AJ had an ankle injury. One thing I forgot to mention in my previous post was that Ruiz looked more effective in the 5 minutes he was on the pitch this week than in the 45 he played last week. Hopefully this means he is a fast learner!
I think Jol is getting our guys used to being a squad team now, rather than just a first 11 with competition for places. This is the way to deal with Europe and the domestic competitions and now we have a squad where the majority of the senior players and quite a few youngsters are genuine starting material.
Good point, Tosh. The most interesting selection dilemma is which three to play out of Dembele, Dempsey, Duff, Kasami and Ruiz. You can make a case for any three to start ahead of the other two. I hope that Kasami is given the chance to start again against Chelsea, and that Ruiz gets a longer run out given that it's a cup game where Jol is likely to indulge in a little rotation. Kasami deserves another chance to show what he can do, and Ruiz needs games. It's harsh to drop either Dempsey or Dembele on the basis of yesterday, but in the context of resting them for the more important league fixture I think that would be okay. I'd quite like Bobby to sit out the Chelsea game as well. We'd all like to get a first look at Orlando Sa, and the last thing we want now is for Bobby to pick up another injury. And finally, well done Bairdinho. Perhaps he's going to become a serious contender with Hughes and Senderos for the job of Hangeland's first-choice partner?
Yes, I say throw in the reserves against Chelsea on Wednesday. Pull Zamora, Dempsey, Hangeland and perhaps Murphy in exchange for some of the new people. I'd be tempted to leave Duff and Sidwell in there since players often play better against old teams, but beyond that let's save the legs and give the "B" team a vote of confidence. I don't know if anyone watched the ManU v Chelsea game yesterday, but Chelsea doesn't look as strong as they usually do. Man U had no trouble scoring against what's usually a very solid, disciplined defence. Point is the game Wednesday might be winable.
we must rest Murphy on Wed. He must struggle to do Thurs / Sun / Wed and Sun. How refreshing as well not to hear the tag - we are a tired team. Maybe that will come if we get turned over. 1st half we hardly touched the ball. I called for him to change Zamora and Dembele - how wrong was I. Then I called for Murphy to go off - again how wrong was I. if only it was like that every week. Zamora goal's was very nicely taken indeed. Murphy with a touch of luck - you always need luck against the top 4/5 teams so I'll take it. Football was much more positive 2nd half and it looked like we wanted it. Optimistic going to Chelsea but depends on the side Jol puts out considering an ever bigger game at West Brom lurks on Sunday.
