If only the R's put in the effort I did.
I was at work today and wrote this game off as untenable. I finish at eight and getting to the game was unlikely, so gave my two tickets away. My niece works in the Fulham box office and said Uncle Chi if you get an early relief I'll get you a ticket for the game. Mission accepted. I called in a favour from a bloke off of the Green Watch who said he could get in for 6:30. I didn't pick up the proverbial 'shout' that usually coincides with an early relief. A quick change of clothes and headed on down to the station. A couple of good connections and I'd get there for kick-off.
I got out at Putney Bridge at 7:30 and had to sprint through Bishops Park to ensure I got there to see the teams take the pitch. I met up with my mate Steve and his lad and sat behind the goal in the Putney end, I rubbed my hands together and said quietly to myself .. '' Let's ****ing have this.''
My last outing at Craven Cottage was the six nil drubbing in our first season back in the Prem under Warnock. It was also the game where I tried to introduce one of my daughters into following the R's, surprisingly she and the other mini nines has stuck with it. Although mini-nines no.2's first game was on the glorious 23rd v Chelsea. A day that she'll never ever forget.
It had crossed my mind during the day about that 6-0 defeat. But I kept shrugging it from my subconsciousness. Nah, not this time, not ever in my lifetime again. Surely. All my in-laws are Fulham fans. My wife, her parents (RIP) my brother and sister in law ( She's the head of FFC security, my niece ( as mentioned ) works in the box office, the cousins, second couisins etc ... the lot of 'em.
Anyway, what was to fear? There was 4,000+ Rangers faithful to my left in full voice, and the rather weird neutral stand seemed to be full of Rangers. The Rupert's must of been somewhat perturbed by this weird tribal gathering as they remained markedly silent. There was about 4,500 - 5,000 R's in full voice.
And then the game kicked off.
We had the kick off, but in no time at all Fulham had worked the ball down our left a cross came in ... Green flapped ... the ball was played back in and some young bloke named Dembele rose unchallenged and our net bustled and the Rupert's came to life. The faithful raised their voices.... We can get this back. They scored a second ... and a third and we were floundering. We were a complete and utter shambolic ****ing mess.
I spent the half time break fending off all the texts etc from Fulham family and friends having been unfortunate to have grown up there.
Half time break, and I saw Fer warming up and had a seriously ****ed up and weird fantasy that we were going to do a Newcastle kinda thing and come-back and win 4-3. As soon as I realised that Fer was bizarrely on for the sub Mackie I knew the game was up. The fourth went in and I did something I hadn't done before. I got up off my seat said my goodbye's and left. I've seen some terrible things in my lifetime, some things that no person should ever see. But with no disrespect to the people that had happened to in line with my job, this was more personal. This was pure carnage and a real car-crash of a performance. Not one single player can come out of that with a positive. 68 mins on the clock ... I was heading back through Bishops Park. I even took a picture of All Saints Church at the the Putney End, the place I got married to my lovely wife, the Fulham fan, 23 years ago. It was comforting.
Every single player and member of staff were complicit in serving us up this complete and utter ****. Long gone are the days where I held our players in some kinda demi-god status. Although I think that comes with maturity. Green, he can go **** himself. As can Onuoha, ( Captain my arse. He never uttered one fecking word throughout the game. And he was completely **** and clueless as he has been all season!) Faurlin was woeful, I've yet to see him play otherwise. Austin couldn't give a **** and neither could Phillips. Chery was non existent and don't get why everyone gave him a standing ovation as he ****ed off in an Adel style when subbed. I never clapped him and neither did I boo or sing about how **** we were. I just sat there with an indifference. None of them deserve any reaction. It's the best policy. Angella was awful, I've heard so much about his excellent technique and distribution, none of that on display whatsoever. The absolute opposite if the truth be known. Any way, I could go on but you get the picture. No one came away from that game with a single positive from Ramsey down to the kit man.
Tonight was hell. It can't get any worse than this ... Can it?
It was painful to watch on a stream. I feel sorry for those that made such an effort to get to the game like you nines.
