Not the result we hoped for on Saturday, sadly the game was a write off before hand with late transfer business undermining preparations and leaving us with a weakened team. Rene still made selection errors but the team needs to picks itself up and focus on getting points together. I'll be interested to see where Rene slots Heitinga in, Burn looks to be a great prospect but at the moment I'm not sure he should be starting. Aerially, and defensively, he is good, but in terms of distribution he played himself into trouble a few times (on one or two occasions Richardson's pass put him under pressure) and maybe it's not the best environment for a young player to develop. I'd thought Heitinga will fill in at left back but I suspect Richardson might retain the position, or Amo may start getting games there. I noticed Hangeland is on the right side when Burn plays, I think it will be the same for any of our other central options. By chance we seem to have all left sided ones. It's not the best really but they should hopefully cope. We've got a bit more competition in midfield now, it's in attack we're thin. Providing Mitro, Dejegah and Kaca stay fit and get picked we can create chances which the big Greek will hopefully put away. Looking at the upcoming fixtures the winnable ones, until later in the season, are away from home. Maybe it will help the players to play away from the pressure, the key there is not to go behind early because the crowd won't be there to rouse them and the team haven't shown themselves capable of responding so far. For us to stay up I think the home matches need to make up for stupid losses like Sunderland. I'd go as far to say that we can't lose again at home, which is a tough ask but it's a tough league and if we can't hold out under these circumstances then we deserve to go down.
I sign to that... The proof is on the results... Apart from the games agaisnt City and Chelsea all the rest we should be fighting for points. Even Utd is there for the taking.
At the very least the big games represent a chance for the players who would move on if we go down to show they deserve a place in the PL.
I think that's overstating the case, Silky. Six wins will probably see us stay up, so there is a little margin for error (but not much). That would put us on 37pts, which might be enough. It's highly unlikely that we won't draw at all between now and May, so that will lift us into 38+pts. With everyone taking points off each other, I'd be surprised to see anyone go down on 38pts this year. I agree with the broad thrust of your argument though: clearly, we need to be strong to have a chance. I can see us nicking a couple of away wins as well though, if fitness, form and formation are all better than they have been. I've just re-read that last sentence: that's a mighty big 'if' I've just finished on!
It's something to aim for at least- at this stage we can't afford to write off any games, picking up points where we don't expect to is crucial as it alleviates some pressure on the must win matches. 6 wins should be possible, worryingly it's the same amount we've won so far.
Exactly that and imagine getting a couple of points from the next 2? Spirit will change immediately and confidence will be restored.
The key will be getting a settled team, which for a variety of reasons we haven’t had all season. And making the right team selection, which in my view we haven’t done since, and including, the West Ham game. And also getting back to basics. Basics in the ‘simple football’ sense. Two prime examples: 1. In three of our last four games the opposition parked a player in the middle of our half and because we back off, back off he was left with acres of space. Shelvey in the Swansea game is the best illustration. When we realised what was happening, why on earth did one of ours not pick him up and just sit on him? If the players (the Captain?) on the day were not savvy enough, why on earth were there not instructions from the touchline or at half time? 2. There has been a lot of chat about the space Riether left in the Southampton game. Well, we had three midfielders in that game. One of them at least (and I’d say it was primarily Kvist’s job as the ‘holding’ midfielder) should have automatically slotted into any spaces Riether left. Simple football tactics really and again makes you wonder what the coaches are doing. Oh and something else that we might like to start doing, stop passing and then admiring (or flapping hands up in horror when it goes astray - and if you watch it isn’t (wasn’t) only Berbatov). How about some of the old "pass and move" like what we did in the Tigana days? Coaches……..!! [I could have made the last two parts part of this post in any one of three other recent threads but one rant a day and all that….]
Some positive news for us (maybe not for football in general) that Carroll will not have his red card rescinded.
Agreed it starts next Sunday. Captain, 6 wins I don't think will do it. We are 4 points from safety. But we play Cardiff, Hull, Palace, West Brom, Norwich and Stoke who are above us currently, Stoke being 6 points ahead of us. Winnable games for me are highlighted. Only 4! Depressed... Our home games are Liverpool Chelsea Newcastle Everton Norwich Hull Palace Away Games Man U Cardiff West Brom Man City Villa Spurs Stoke
The run ins for all of the bottom 6 teams is fairly similar. Cardiff home to Chelsea last West Ham play away to Man City West Brom home to Stoke Norwich home to Arsenal Sunderland home to Swansea Hull home to Everton Basically, we are playing one of our relegation contenders (currently) and the others playing teams competing for title and or Champs League. if it goes to the last game wold you prefer Palace or Arsenal/Chelsea/Man City?
If 6 wins (=37pts without any draws) won't do it, how many points do you think we need to stay up? The team finishing 18th (i.e. the best of the relegated sides) in the last 10 seasons have scored 36, 36, 39, 30(!), 34, 36, 38, 34, 33 and 33pts respectively. Granted, there were two occasions out of 10 where 37pts wouldn't have been enough, but the chances are that it will be. I'll admit that we've made it more difficult by being so porous at the back. Our goal difference means we have to assume that we need one extra point compared to everyone else, but 6 wins should do it. Of the home games you haven't marked as winnable, I think Newcastle will be a very different prospect without Cabaye than they with him, particularly as they failed to sign a replacement. Of the aways, West Brom could be a goal fest that goes either way, while Villa and Stoke shouldn't frighten us. And one thing I learned from 2008 is that it's entirely Fulhamish to lose the winnable games then pick up unexpected victories in the games that didn't seem to hold out much hope.
I think the difference between 2008 and now is that team was younger, up for it, led by an experienced manager, playing players in position rather than out of position, able to score a goal, able to defend. As I have said before, our goal difference will be what dooms us if we pick up form and win a few games. It means we need that extra point. Can't see any game being a goal fest - apart from us getting walloped 6 - 0 or so every other week. We can't score and I am not sure our Greek signing will help. Not saying he is a bad player before he has kicked a ball for us, but if he doesn't get any sort of service he can't score. Also he looked thoroughly pissed off last night so can't say he looks totally up for a scrap. He is probably wondering what the hell he is doing there and I can't say I blame him. Let's face it. We are the worst team in the Premiership, the table doesn't lie. We certainly look like the worst team and we probably deserve to go down, but to go down without a fight is what stings.
Some really interesting ideas here. I agree with silky that whilst some games may look hard on paper, we still have to consider there is something to got from them. The season truly does start on Sunday and if we rally together as a team anything is possible. As mentioned some points from the next 2 games would wonders for confidence. If as cottager points out we do the basics, hopefully the new players can make an impact. A lot rests on mitroglou and Holtby, they sound as though they are 2 game changers and we have lacked this for some time now. Continue believing.
But apart from those minor details... And if he'd been sat there laughing, we'd all be slaughtering him for not caring. Him hitting the ground running is by no means certain, but if he's worth the money we paid, he gives us a fighting chance. Let's at least see how Rene's side looks once he's had the chance to pick the players he chose to add in the window. It can't get any worse (can it?)
Hopefully the players who've been with us from the start are re-energised by the new recruits, rather the new recruits becoming quickly jaded. Sheff Utd game a disgrace but it was the team minus all our outgoing and incoming january transfers.
I have to say I might be wrong on some things blaming the management staff... Watching the performance of Kaca yesterday I understand why is he left out... Useless and lightweight. Not judging Dejagah as he was played out of position. But at least he tried...
I'm not his biggest fan either but I do think he is crucial to a 4-3-3 formation working. If he doesn't play we shouldn't use the system because he's the only left winger we've got now. If Duff gets the nod he needs to be playing a deeper role in a 4-4-1-1(/2) because his fitness isn't there to both attack and defend and our weakness at left back requires it. It's a bad situation, if Cole is able to play on the wing then maybe he could take over but, aside from Kaca, we don't have another quick left winger. Dempsey is just not an option on the left - when he was with us for his last season we accommodated his 'ghosting' but now we can't.
Actually we played well on 4-3-3 with Riise and Richardson as LB and winger. If this Cole person is a naturally left winger, get him in... I know Amo was awful last night but a combination of Amo and Richardson. Frankly I don't know as I am not one of the coaches but we need to try and re-shape...
Captain - goal fest? I do love your optimism, you're definitely Fulhamish. I am naturally a glass half full person (you'll have to take my word for it, but I am, honest) but our forwards would need a forward/offensive pass to them to get in to a scoring position. Currently that isn't our strong point. Passing backwards and sideways is not a problem, Fulham are masters at this but it won't help the boys who want to score unfortunately. Our wish for the holy messiah, commonly known as Kostas, to score a hatful, restoring confidence and pride in our wonderful club might/probably not be realised for a few weeks. Lets just assume he gets a knock (touching wood!), what happens?
I hadn't thought of Richardson as a left winger - might be worth a try, something has to stick! He's got a bit more nous about him than Kaca and, although I wouldn't want it to be permanent, it would give us a bit more protection. It's the wrong time to try it, and I'm not convinced he could do it, but Duff at left back might work? He played under Mourinho so should have a good sense of defensive positioning - it's a problem we didn't really solve, although maybe Heitinga will be playing left back.
