No idea if there will be a formal press conference tomorrow since the Club are dribbling out bits and pieces about Saturday’s game earlier than normal – some on the Official site, some in the local ‘exclusive’ paper. One certainty is that the ‘Caretaker Head Coach’ will once again be Peter Grant. And yes, that is now his Official title! At the sharp end there is an unusual number of doubts; Stearman, O’Hara, Tunnicliffe, Cairney and McCormack are all struggling to make the team. Add to that list Jazz Richards, who is definitely sidelined for at least another fortnight. Surprisingly no news of Fredericks - although with him leaving last week’s game so early on and in his first match back, he’s got to be iffy. The good news among that little lot of course is that James Husband will be back from suspension. What is weird is Grant’s constant reference to ‘clean sheets’ in his article when three quarters of his defence could be missing. Either he’s on another planet or it’s all a smoke screen. For once the team sheet is a blank canvas at the moment, apart from: …………………………Lewis……………….. ..
Yup, no press conference today. Instead there's a piece from Peter Grant that goes somewhat contrary to yesterday's "clean sheet" opus. Today his message is that the team will entertain the fans playing with "passion and purpose". Adding that, “I’ll always say that if you give your fans 100 per cent commitment to try and do the right things, they’ll forgive you a multitude of sins.” Hope that doesn't come back and bite him on the proverbial. Nothing really on the team front, although Ream is also a wee bit uncertain following the illness he had after his International stint and kept him out last weekend. The Club have been pushing out stuff by Matilla and Burn however, so you can put the down on the team sheet as like as not. Slowly getting there then: .........................Lewis............ ................................Burn................. .......................Matilla........................
Seeing as our coaching 'Team' doesn't have a scooby, and if injures persist I'd put out the following .................Lewis............... .Grimmer..... Ream ....Burn .......Husband..... ..............Mattila...........Hyndman............ ......Williams.......Dembele.... Pringle.... .........................Smith.............. Not sure if Hyndman is fit, so if not Parker Obviously O'Hara if OK. Same for Cairney in for Pringle
Think you're close SuperBri. Hyndman has been back in training for over a week now so could/should be in contention. Grimmer has to be a doubt though - he's been training with the U21s but don't think he's match fit yet. Probably Voser at RB then.
12 Lewis 07 Fredericks 05 Stearman 13 Ream 40 Husband 32 Kavanagh 23 O'Hara 10 Cairney 08 Parker 25 Dembele 44 McCormack
Unfortunately they didn't match up to their looks Tosh, and gosh knows what system they were playing. It was good to see Steve Wigley, fresh from his Motspur Park success earlier, working with the defence in the warm up. Less good was said defence's marking for PNE's first headed goal of the season and after only 11 minutes. The best that can be said for the next 35 minutes was that we stumbled through to half time. Peter Grant also took part in the pre-match warm up (don't know why managers never seem to do that) and he clearly had seen the 'flaws' in his first half team. So, fair play to him, he not only made a change but he made the correct one. I don't simply mean him replacing the hapless Kavanagh but correct because by bringing on Hutchinson allowed him to change the format to 3-4-1-2. And at last we had shape and pace on the outside. Credit also to Grant in timing and selection in his second substitution - Smith for Parker. Pause for a mention of the palpably poor officials and especially Mr Horwood in the middle. The frequent adverse decisions in the second half had two quite significant outcomes; first to galvanise the team and second, just as important at the moment, they turned the crowd from a fairly 'hostile' one into one that got right behind the team. Finally the lads were tackling, winning 50/50s and actually looking as though they wanted the ball. After that first half a point wasn't a bad result and with a tad better fortune it might have been all three. The current situation is clearly affecting the players, and the low level of confidence across the board was plain to see. But there were enough glimpses of quality today to suggest it's a fine dividing line between being an average outfit and a good one.
Sorry for IT ineptitude folks. Responding to C58 first para.....I was optimistic about the defence....but clearly Dan Burn was needed.....though that may not have been obvious from PNE 's form..................ah well. Still unhappy about Rigg.....I agree with most here that he is not part of the solution...ergo.... Grant........doing ok under impossible circumstances Wiggy.....needs to be protected and retained for the long term Overall....worried
Hutchinson had a really good game when he came on. Just read 'Grant Reaction' on the Official site where our coach says Matilla (who would have played instead of Parker but for some fluke injury just before kick off ) would have been marking the PNE guy who headed in. In the article explains his take on quite a few issues and, for me anyway, it comes over as an extremely professional, clear and honest account. Better stop there or I'll end up recommending him for the job permanently! It's too long to post in full, so here's a link and you all can decide - http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/november/28/grant-reaction
The first thing I want to find out is if the corner Preston scored from, was a corner, Lewis just seemed to let it run out of play for a goalkick, which is what I thought it was. The Ref all game was poor, I didn't know if Fulham players were allowed to tackle but he gave them a few freekicks for the sort of tackle he was allowing them to get away with. Sorry but I thought we were poor, same old slow possession build up allowing the opposition to get back and defend in number and hit us on the break, first half our passing was pathetic, went 5 at the back in 2nd but the fullbacks hardly got forward. Only when Smith came on did they start to panic as pressure was put on them. Lewis distribution is dire, when is Lonergan back? Cairney and Parker were the only two who I thought had good games.
We were good in the first half average in the second until you scored then we looked more like winning it. Can't comment on your penalties as my seat was so far left it was almost in the river
Good on you to acknowledge we had penalty claims, maclad. There were two definite shouts - the first (Husband) was one of those you see given but just as often not; the second (Fredericks) was nailed on, and arguably your guy was the last man. In case you've not made it back for the CH5 Football League show here's a link to the highlight - blob:https%3A//vine.co/37ea46a5-78c8-4e25-81b0-65c76e7b32ff
Seen the show this morning, good strike by McCormack, will do my totally unbiased match report!!!!!!!!!!!!!fairly shortly will be on my part of the site. Always a good day at the Cottage, traditional football ground with fans who are always decent to get on.
There were some "Rigg out" chants from the hammer smith (definitely) and Haynes (not 100%), it was a poor game to watch with not a great deal to report on. Lovely free kick from McC, Kavanagh should never have started and in the case that he did, should have played behind Husband in defence. Hutch looked composed in the air in the second half. Parker shouldn't be starting in my opinion, thought he was poor. Dembele didn't have a great game either. For all the positives we can try pick out. Preston were not a good team and remember one that's hardly scored this season. Maybe it can be turned around but I think dropping these kind of points will cost us in the end.
