Hard to be annoyed at the lads today. Gave absolutely everything but it just wasn't enough. You can't really argue with the result either, Fulham are a good side and completely outclassed us tbh. Still a hard one to take of course. I knew what was gonna happen as soon as Fernandes went off. The frustrating thing is if we'd played like that all season we'd have comfortably picked up more points against worse teams. Just proves to me what fans have been saying all season. When you massively lack quality you don't try and play some high level complicated football. You stick two DM's in, FB's on their right side and get the ****ing basics nailed down. Have a bit of grit about you and with some luck you'll pick up a fair few results against the bottom 6/8.
Another game where the strength (or lack of) of the respective benches told. Fulham got better with their subs, whereas we got worse. There was one point, quite early in the game, where we had four subs all go and warm up together, and I couldn't help but think "I don't want any of you guys to come on". The move to five subs is yet another recent factor which plays into the hands of most of the top 17. Good luck next year Leeds and Burnley.
Not going to grumble about the result. Defensively I thought the 3 CBs were quite solid and worked well to cover each other, although THB might have allowed himself to be drawn out of position for the equaliser. The biggest issue is that we don’t have a cohesive unit up front that can keep hold of the ball to give our defenders a rest or create chances. Being pushed back all game should have been an opportunity for Sulemana to push up on the last defender and for us to hit balls into the space, but we don’t seem to know how to do that. Tyler made the wrong decision for the winner. He could have played the ball to Manning who was in a a little bit of space, enough to have been able to hit a clearance but he turned into an opponent and lost the ball a little too easily. Turning with the ball, like that, is something he does quite often and sometimes it comes off, but hopefully he will learn that there’s a right time and a right place to do it. On the edge of Fulham’s box it’s not a problem. Still at least we didn’t have the open top bus parade organised.
A follow-on from my 5 at the back issue. I appreciate Fulham have better quality players but when they stepped up their intensity 2nd half, we looked like we were playing with 10 men & that’s what 5 at the back does. It negates midfield or offensive play or both. I was praying we’d hold out for the draw but really their winner was inevitable.
Got to be honest I know I am an Eeyore, my wife says so, but the Prediction League is the only thing that's kept me going and smiling this season. Thank goodness for all the good folk who play and especially @jacksk1 for putting the work in.
It doesn't help when Archer comes on to play as a lone striker for a lot of the second half. That by itself is effectively us playing with 10 men. (Not that I'm criticising subbing Stewart off. I appreciate that an hour was probably all he could manage,)
Good effort from saints. We're much better since Rusk and lallana have taken the reigns. Does anyone think Sean Dyche would be ideal for next season as I think he'd be perfect
Today I feel we really saw which players are willing to actually put the effort in for us and which ones are coasting along for their payslip. Stephens may not be PL quality but he worked his nuts off today. Downes and Ugochukwu have come along leaps and bounds as a partnership considering where they were at points. One of KWPs better games. Stewart and Archer both worked hard, they just aren’t at the level. Sulemana was all Mr shrugging shoulders and walking back after losing the ball. I don’t want to be too heavy on Dibling, he has been poor since RM left but he is really young and clearly has talent. Really smacks of a player that needs a strong leader to come along and put an arm round when needed but also tell him when to shape up, maybe we don’t have the characters for that. Think it’s all about the Leicester game for that golden 12th point.
11 pages …. jeez. Soooo sad. Blame whoever but it’s really sad. Right, I’m off for some fun, politics page Os is my saviour!
Gutted after the result yesterday. Thought Chucky and KWP were are best players. Underwhelmed by Ross Stewart. Not mucj netter than Tall Paul and forgot he was in the pitch mosy of his 65 mins. Dibling was poor and needs a better coach to bring out his quality. I don't think he will improve at Saints .
Still trying to figure out why Dibling was played on the left. I actually think that Fernandes plays better on the left side of midfield (when playing in a narrow position) than he does on the right, so I was looking forward to seeing a bit more from him when Sully went off, but putting Dibling on the left just puzzled me.
Have to admit to spitting out a few ****ety **** ****s when they scored then heading out for loads more Kings day beer. The dull ache behind my eyes should respond to another dose of paracetamol or, more likely, having the first beer of the day when Mrs Jab comes back with some home cooked Indonesian food for lunch.
I think I read yesterday someone saying maybe give the job to Rusk and Lallana permanently. Well hopefully this result knocks that one on the head as I don't want to return to the days of Wigley and Stuart Gray thanks. It very rarely works promoting from within the club.
Probably because it's Fernandes' position that Tyler hasn't been tried as the central 10 yet, I believe that is his best and most natural position personally.
Agreed, I think playing five at the back is a bit pointless now unless we are trying to grind out a draw, better to try and give the oppo some problems especially as we have a solid DM double pivot now. The extra man forward would see more creativity I believe in a 4231 or even 4222. It still feels like we are shoehorning Jack in right now.
I just don’t see the benefits of 5 at the back, 2 CDM’s are much more versatile. Fullbacks should be able to contribute to attack anyway, even with a back 4.
Agree because I don't think it lends to anything in the way we play and trade off is that we lose one in Midfield which ultimately becomes detrimental to us defensively anyway because it increases the amount the defence has to deal with.
