Well, up to last Monday we were one of the form sides, then ran into a red brick wall. Yesterday's result showed that we are still playing well and we totally outclassed Birmingham. I find this optimistic in most respects except that it may confirm that the Premiership is divided into three fairly predictable groups of teams. Personally I was pleased as I have a family connection with Wigan and we did them a favour plus I had another of my little bets on the score - I'm on a run too Commodore! If MH stays the future looks bright to me.
One player made all the difference in the Liverpool game and that was Suarez (much like Tevez did in the man City game earlier in the season). He pulled Hangeland all over the place and disrupted the spine of our team single-handedly. We showed in the second half that if Liverpool hadn't started so quickly we could have matched them. I'd certainly be surprised if Hangeland & Hughes had such a poor showing that often. We are currently in the mini league of mid-tier clubs (e.g. Everton, Bolton, Stoke) and we are effectively second in that league. If we can manage a result against Arsenal we will most likely finish 8th and for a season where we lacked our best player for so long, that's a great season in my book. The ability to win away at bad teams like Sunderland and Birmingham is the key to a higher finish and the stability that leads to better cup runs. I think Hughes is really working on a gameplan to allow us to do that. Random point, any one else notice the transformation in Gudjohnsen when BZ came on? He is not a targetman, he is a supporting striker. I'm hoping Sparky noticed that and will plan accordingly next year.
Our form of late has been amazing. Since the end of January , 6-3-4 for 22 points. If we'd played like this all year, we would have been on 62 points, just below the top four. I hate to jinx it, but like Surfyc says, we've established ourselves in that second tier of EPL teams just below big boys, yet with a small budget and a stadium (for lack of a better word) that seats just 25k. If we can stay amongst teams like Everton and Tottenham for the next few seasons, I'll be very happy.
Agreed with Rocky- it may be smal=l and have a temporary feel- but its been there longer than any of us. Can't help but think, though, we perhaps should have moved to Stamford bridge when offered
Is it all money then? No history left? What happens to your identity? Look at Charlton, all those years away from the Valley, wandering like the lost tribes of Israel. I'm all for improvements but want to keep our soul.
True, true. I haven't been around for long enough to feel such attachment to the cottage, but i'm sure one day the time wil come
Well said, Rocky, I've always felt that more than most clubs, Fulham is Craven Cottage. Given the choice of moving to a bigger stadium with a bigger revenue flow and therefore getting to compete with the bigger boys, or staying at the Cottage and having a ceiling on our realistic ambition (which would be roughly where we are now), I'd take the ceiling and stay at the Cottage in a heartbeat.
I'd never disrespect the cottage, but if you're referring to it in general terms, what do you call it? ... Grounds? But it's not really a staduim because its not one unit, but rather a set of stands. If you're trying to say "The Cottage is one of the loveliest ..." in the EPL, what's the right word - facilities, grounds, arenas, stadiums?
I could never think of Craven Cottage as a Stadium, Arena etc - such names seem just too pretentious, no matter the developments over the years to become an all-seater 25k ground. "Ground" has always had the right feel for me, keeps the roots in playing in the lowest leagues - memories of the mid-90's. Yet can drive the atmosphere we saw on occasions last season. There are too many clubs in the lower half of the Prem and in the Championship (what a nonsense name for the 2nd league of football) rattling around in half-empty stadiums/arenas. Back to the point of the thread - Our years here in the Prem are now in double digits, and having dallied with relegation, the past 2 seasons have brought us to that mid-tier comfort zone - all of whom will have the worrying blip just occasionally. Sunderland away summed it up for me, especially after not having won at Wolves. Then we win more easily that we'd hoped yesterday. Onwards, and into Europe!
Craven Cottage is Fulham Football Club. Rocky is spot on, it is our home. It is one of the few places to watch football that retains both history and character. When we up the road to the dump in White City the atmosphere was never the same. As for the Birmingham result, I am so excited about next season now. Hughes has worked wonders with the way we approach away games and I really hope it continues into next season. Apparently Greening was brilliant on the left. Maybe he will be around next season.
I feel a certain nostalgia for craven cottage,and my reason is this. My first match 1949. My father used to watch Fulham with his brother in law in the 1930s. And my maternal grandfather worked for Leach the builders of the Jonny Haynes stand, I believe some time before the 1st world war. I still think that in this modern age there is room for an increase in capacity. one in the corners,and extending the riverside stand.then 30k could be achieved.
Blimey Valjing 1949! wow. My first game was Manchester City in the 59/60 season and I thought I was old
I'm guessing the "Loftus Road" years weren't amongst your favorites. BTW, Wikipedia calls the cottage a "stadium", and I didn't re-write the article this time.
I'm not trying to get at you dr, it's just you described the Cottage as a stadium (for lack of a better word) and I thought you were being a bit sarcastic. If I was wrong I apologise. I'm sure stadium was originally a Greek word and I presume it means a large sports arena with room for a good number of spectators. The only contentious word here is surely 'large', but that's relative of course; I've been to a few speedway meetings in my time and they're all called stadia, one of which Shielfield Park still doubles as a football ground/track I believe; nothing like the size of Barnet, let alone Craven Cottage!
Rocky, I can be sarcastic, but in this case I just couldn't think of a the word to describe what the cottage is. Temple works for me, but it wouldn't have fit the context of the sentence. I think "grounds" is the right word in this case. My point was, it's amazing the success of our team since we have a budget and grounds half the size of the big teams - yet here we are in the top half knocking on the Europa Cup door again. I'm hoping to get to the cottage sometime next season, but I'm excited about the prospect of seeing Fulham in the Euro Cup like I did last year.
I think Ground is the right word. I've spent today at the City of Manchester Stadium... and no, CC is not a stadium. I love CC though, whatever we call it!
