Nope, been away a bit - didn't know the Krakow result until I got back yesterday. Splitting hairs over the home result - okay our second Premier League loss in a row. I really don't count the Europa League results into anything regardless of whether we win or lose. Transitional is fine, I can live with transitional. What is a problem is a transitional season between the Premier League and the Championship. Besides which - you can hardly come out and say sack the manager after he has won a match (unless you're a Blackburn fan). If he won ten games on the trot (as an example - not literally) then you wouldn't get me calling for Jol to go - but as that doesn't happen and we have only had two wins all season then I feel justified. In the Premier League, that is. Which is the one that counts.
Fulhaman Are you always this negative ? I can't remember a post from you that has ever had a positive word to say about the present team and manager What were you like last season when we were 17th and had just lost to West Ham 1-3 at home in December ? Did you shout for Hughes to be sacked ? Agree with Froggy point of view of the season, I wasn't expecting a top 8 finish.
Not normally, I am a pessimist by nature but that's different. I don't have a problem with the team at all, apart from one particular expensive benchwarmer - although I will concede that that may not be his fault entirely. Properly managed they are quite good enough for the top 10. The manager is different and no, I don't like him. At least I'm consistent and no hypocrite. I thought Sir Roy was fantastic, I liked Hughes, even with his "iffy" start and was perfectly happy to stick with him - but Jol, no thanks. And at present he is doing nothing to make me change my mind about him. I don't want us to keep losing or drawing in the Premier League to help hasten his exit, but it looks like it's all we are capable of doing at the moment. Incidentally I notice Jol is now 25/1 to get the sack down from 60/1 at the season's start - so it's not just me who is disappointed in what he's achieved.
So you consistently have a silly personal vendetta with Jol. That's fine, at least that explains why you're so negative.
While not calling for Jols head at the moment,we are sliding down the table,it no good some saying look at the positives from this or that game,we now need the points,I would like us to play more games like those at Wigan (lucky ok)and take the three points. Where is fortress Fulham, of yesteryear, lets be honest we have only met 2 top liners at the cottage so far this season. And who amongst those that regularly post,on this forum would have thought that (with no disrespect )in early November,we would see QPR, Norwich & Swansea above us.
Roscafe I understand your disappointment and feel the same, but it was the same last year with Blackpool above us, Hull a few years back etc. Will get there, the team played exceptionally well today. Unfortunate not to win but hey..
I find it difficult to level with people who can't take any positives from yesterday. Before the game I'm pretty sure all of you would've been over the moon to scrape a draw, being as we were playing against the PL's form team, and they'd rested their entire team midweek while most of ours was playing. Well we lost but we played as well as we have all season, and it was probably down to Jol's team talk. We're not "sliding down the table", we're in the same place we've been in for much of the season so far - which doesn't look encouraging, but we're making progress even if results don't show it. Yesterday wasn't even down to bad finishing, the ball just didn't want to go in the back of the net. I knew by the 70th minute at the back of my mind that it was just one of those games. COYW
Bidleywell said. In all fairness I was expecting us to get hammered yesterday and the quick goal almost drove me to that conclusion. But we threatened and we played well. Tottenham was threatening on the counter attack but nothing special. After the second goal I was about to give up on the second half (was watching in US and debating to go for shopping or see us loosing heavily). Heart won and watched a very good second half performance. Yesterday the team played really well. Played wide, played direct passing football but it was not meant to be. There was no sign of fatigue from Thursday. My only negative comment was Riise... I think Briggs needs to be given a chance now. But the break will be good and next game at Sunderland everything will be open... COYW
I got taken to task after the Everton game for suggesting that there were positives to be drawn. It sounds like we are playing well, at least in spells, in most matches now. I think, as Bidley says, we are making progress. We need to start turning performances into points very quickly, but I'm still positive about how thiings are with project Jol.
The most cogent of all the posts made, Bidley and I'm with you one hundred percent. I still worry about the weird substitutions and question Jol's apparent reluctance to give younsters like Kasami, Frei and Briggs (who must surely replace Riise) more time. I say that, not because others are playing badly (except Riise of course) but because we will need them as the season marches on (injuries, suspensions etc) and it would be unfair for them to start in crucial matches and be expected to immediately shine. However, there is definite progress. What will be essential is to keep the tempo going especially against the so-called lesser teams and most importantly away from home.
I think Kasami was given a chance and proved too inconsistant (taking this from other posters who've seen him more than me). He has looked a great signing from what I've seen, though. Frei I can understand Jol leaving out, he's only 17, but his pace is frightening and can cause problems. Briggs is returning from injury? Correct me if I'm wrong. In any case, I think Jol is getting his head around our best XI, which can only be good. The next step is getting the team to gel enough to be able to transition smoothly when players are rotated.
