Alright then. Even I was beginning to doubt whether the time is up for Big Mart. After a good nights sleep, some sledging and snowman making with the kids and good roast dinner down my neck, I've reflected on the game against City. Whilst I was obviously disappointed with the result and the 'pedestrian' pace of our play I think there were a number of positives to take back to the Cottage for the boys. First off, I can't blame Bairdinho at all. He got done by some pretty blatant cheating and was unlucky on the own goal. Other than that i thought he did well. Dembele, really had a good game. Very comfortable on the ball and caused their midfield a few problems. He was also great at tracking back and fast! We kept the ball well in the second half, admittedly with no end result, but the fact we didn't just hoof it forward was a good thing for me. We needed a target man upfront, someone comfortable with his back to goal. CD played well, got stuck in (had the dirtiest shirt I've ever seen him in after the game) caused a few problems but it's not his position really. So we had a number of players out of position and really I wasn't expecting anything to be honest. Three points against Stoke would be great though and someone with some pace up front too. It's not all doom and gloom I don't think. COYW
Definitely not pessimistic, probably slightly deflated, we are not that bad. We were playing against the leaders, away. Had we won against West Brom everyone would be happy with the 3-0 loss. It is the combination of Everton (FA Cup) and West Brom... I think you have summed it up very well. Against Stoke will be a different game where hopefully we can get back to 4-2-3-1 and winning ways.
Generally agree craving although I did think Baird was poor all round regardless of the misfortune of the OG and the cheating for the penalty. Can't blame him too much though, as he was at LB and in awful weather. Like to see Frei back in the team for stoke, as he can really get in behind their defence and supply our forwards with decent crosses. The way he has not been playing in recent weeks seems almost reminiscent of the way kasami has been frozen out the team since the infamous penalty miss at chelsea.
I watched the replay on TV and agree that Fulham put up a decent fight - Wednesday's game was the depressing one to watch. I'm very disappointed with some of the choices Fulham have made of late, including letting BZ go without having an inbound replacement - yes, we hired some injury-prone Russian from Stuttgart, but without checking on the whole work-permit issue first. To me, the team seems a little rudderless right now.
Did he really tweet about Ruiz being a waste of money? What did he say? I see his account has since been deleted. This better not spell the end for Frei at Fulham.
Good post Craving, watching us at the moment I really get the feeling that Martin Jol knows what he wants to achieve but perhaps does not have the players to make it happen. This is no offence to either Big Mart or to the team, it is just the way it appears. Under Roy, we worked with the players we had and generally speaking built the team around their qualities. I get the impression that MJ is trying to impliment a more attacking minded outlook and that unfortunately we are lacking a few key components. Obviously a natural goal scoring striker is needed, hopefully AJ will get a regular run. Pace, we need our full backs to cross over the wingers to make more space all over the park. Riise when he came on looked really good, he is getting used to the prem again, looks much fitter. A quick right back to get up and down will be a priority in the summer. Having this alone will stretch defences and create more space and time for our undoubtably quality creative players, Dembele, Ruiz and Demps. We played well in parts on saturday, our possesion stats were impressive. Compare this 3/4 seasons ago when we could barely string a pass together. There are many positives in this team, I look forward to seeing how we play next season when Jol has had a full summer with the squad and when hopefully some of the youngsters can make the step up regularly. COYW
Not sure what game it was after, think it might have been the 3-1 to Blackburn, but he re-tweeted something someone had posted to him which was to my recollection: Frei should have started that game instead of Ruiz #wasteofmoney.
So assume aj plays sat, means we switch to long ball stuff and stoke to mop up. I predict a draw right now. Jol to tinker again that's for sure. We continue to ship goals.
Out of curiosity, how many points do you feel would be satisfactory to take from the next four winnable games? And if that total isn't met, do you think Jol should stay?
Just read Craving's good post - I have to agree with the balanced view. No doubt, some short-termism will occur if we don't take 3 points from Stoke. C O Y W
Absolutely Craving - good post. As I said on the big six predictions post, we're inconsistent but - other than at the start of the season - we haven't had the sort of run of results that would suggest relegation is a genuine possibility. My expectation is that we'll carry on picking up points at the sort of rate we have been. I always thought on Saturday that to stand any chance we needed to keep the score at 0-0 until half-time. They would have started to get edgy and we might have been able to capitalise. As it was, a soft penalty and an unlucky own goal meant we were never really in the game. Stoke have lost their last three and won one in their last eight (Blackburn away). No doubt they'll see a trip to the Cottage as a chance to get back on track, but we've got nothing to fear from them. A point wouldn't be a disaster, but we're capable of getting all three.
I don't know about how many points are acceptable, but whatever the results Jol should stay. We gain nothing by changing manager yet again, and what we really need is to gear up for a season where we don't have a new man trying to impose yet another vision of how we should play. This is a transitional season and there are enough positive signs to suggest we should be patient. We should certainly wait to see what difference the new striker makes before getting apocalyptic.
Bandit, why the need to come up with figure for the next 4 games ? Surely you should be asking the question, how many points would be acceptable to finish the season on ? As Captain has just pointed out this is a transitional season for Fulham Football Club. There has been too much disruption over the last 3 seasons, both within the way the team is set up and the management team behind the scenes. Stability is what we need, within that comes the need to stay in the premiership. It would be acceptable to remain in the premiership this season. And yes Jol and his management team need to stay put.
Agree with what CM and frogman say here. Although we've finished 7th and 8th in recent seasons, we're really one of a group of teams that could conceivably finish anywhere between 8th and 15th in the league. Although we tend to think of mid-table respectability as 8-12 place, outside of the top 5 or 6 and bottom 5 everyone's really a mid-table team jossling for places in the middle of the field. We shouldn't underestamate how much the Europa League affected our preparations for the season and playing so many extra matches must take its toll eventually. As long as we keep picking up points as we have been and stay in the mid-table band of clubs, we'll have had an ok season on which to build next year when the manager's settled in properly and had a chance to shape his own team. The last thing we need is a fourth manager in three seasons.
Keep the faith... Jol is giving everybody a chance I think while he is showing us his vision which is attacking football and something like 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-2-1. Some of the players can't make it and is rather clear. Will potentially see a complete make-over in the summer with new arrivals in key positions. It is also natural as the current squad has almost reached its expiry date! This season is all about staying up and checking who is can follow the new era! Patience is advisable. Even in business transformation takes time especially when you are tight on resources! As to reply to the question the more points the merrier
