Here's what the Guardian has to say about us. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/aug/08/premier-league-preview-fulham Isn't it nice to read a pre-season preview that recognises where we've finished for the last few years and doesn't have us down as relegation contenders?
"There is nothing mediocre about mid-table these days, and everything to admire about the way this club tends to achieve its targets."
Think this season might boil down to if we can keep up our home form while getting more wins away from home than usual we might be able to push on and challenge to get higher than 10th. Can Jol turn around our woeful away record ?
A reasonable and and well balanced article by Dominic Fifield - could almost have been written by you Captain. Impressed by how well informed it was. I particularly liked the interview with fan Poalo Bandini. Haven't read comparable articles on any of the other teams, so could be barking up the wrong tree, but it was good to read (and listen) to something that wasn't fixated with the usual over-excited hyperbole normally associated with premier league journalists (and fans). The whole bit seemed to sum up Fulham of late - setting realistic goals (no pun intended) and going about achieving them in a professional controlled way.
I don't know if he's a Fulham supporter, but the recent in depth interviews with Frei, Kaka and Trotta were by Dominic Fifield, so he knows the club pretty well.
Very good article and, as others have said, the writer either knows the club well or has done his homework thoroughly because the first 2 paragraphs in particular sum up the club's methods and position very perceptively. And, yes, it is sooooooo nice reading predictions of a decent mid table finish. Looking forward to watching it happen!
Good article and agreed with 58, we will be alright but go about it in a professional way. Super Brian, you make an interesting point about our away record. When Jol arrived we had an aging squad that was very set it's ways. He has reduced the age of the squad to a certain degree and has us playing far more attacking football . This is the key to us winning away more frequently. Playing defensive football away from home leaves you wide open to wave after wave of attacking football from the home team buoyed by their fans. If we can get the likes of Kaka and Frei, and possibly Mesca, involved when we play away, then pace could give us an adge against the home team. If Big Mart can getting us winning away then it would amazing, a top ten finish would easily within our sights, if not more.
Interesting to compare this thoughtful and well informed piece with the front piece of the new 4-4-2 season starts here piece written, of all people, by Darren Anderton. He talks about Wigan and WBA both nervously looking over their shoulders this season and could find them selves near the bottom. The same goes for Fulham. Why doesn't the editor just have a word or actually do his job and edit uninformed comments like this?
I tried 4-4-2 a couple of times when it first came out and swiftly gave up on it. Apart from anything else, I picked up on factual errors in both copies that I saw. I'm more of a When Saturday Comes man, myself.
Yeah, I like that. A guy I work with is an occasional contributor. Did you ever read Morbo, by the way, Captain? Enjoy it?
Very much, Fulhaman, although it did make me realise that my understanding of Spanish history isn't as good as I thought it was. I suspect I'll need to find another book to bring me up to speed on that sometime! Who is your workmate? Would I recognise his name? I tried getting Humbled for a Season reviewed in WSC via a loose contact of mine who has contributed in the past, but nothing came of it. Ah well.
My mate is Gavin Barber. Ah, Spanish History - Read Paul Preston, he's an expert. Written a very good book on The Spanish Civil War. The animosity between Real Madrid and Barcelona needs to be set into a historical context to really undrstand it. I get the inside track from my nearest and dearest, of course.
Just the job - many thanks, Fulhaman. I thought Phil Ball had an interesting take on Barca and their place as figureheads of opposition to Franco - that far from trying to put Barca down, Franco was happy for them to do well as it channelled opposition to him into something harmless (football) rather than something more dangerous (outright revolt). But I've probably hopelessly misunderstood in my ignorance of Spanish history! I'll look out for Paul Preston. As for your nearest and dearest, Mrs Captain provides the same service for me when it comes to the Norwich City/Ipswich Town rivalry, but understanding that probably isn't such a great cultural leap!
Yes, it is an interesting take. If you ever get to visit the Camp Nou (well worth it and your boys would be in some kind of heaven, you get to go in the away changing rooms, all over and down on pitch side), then buy the official tour guide - it's €3. It gives a very different take to Mr Ball, although clearly very one sided.
