Sacked in the morning?

QPR Oslo · Oct 22, 2015

Kilburn said: ↑

Could the following sentiment possibly apply to Chris Ramsey? Of course we duly obliged him with that drubbing at Craven Cottage (Why always us?).

Time to Say Goodbye?

On September 4th I posted a case comparing Kit to Swansea's Garry Monk and suggesting that giving him some time to bring the squad together wouldn't be the worst idea. Just under 50 days later, we've played seven games in the Championship. There have been two wins, emphatic ones as well - a dominant first half against Blackburn, and the QPR mauling where we were dynamite.

We've lost to Sheffield Wednesday and Wolves, conceding three in both games, and we've had three draws - a good away point at Middlesbrough, a gutting two points dropped at Charlton and last night's woeful performance against Leeds. That's not the worst record in the world, but I genuinely feel that the way Fulham have been playing, especially at home, mean that it might be time to admit we're not moving forwards.

Interestingly, to touch on the Monk analogy one last time, since the same article was published, Swansea have not won a game, losing three, drawing two and being knocked out of the cup by Hull, and as such, Monk is now second favourite in the 'next Premiership manager to be sacked' odds, trailing only struggling Villa's Tim Sherwood.

The long and short of it is that Fulham have a side which should be challenging at the right end of the Championship. O'Hara, Ream and Stearman are all signings which have paid off so far and look like continuing to do so. Jazz Richards is an international standard right-back. Luke Garbutt and James Husband are both left-backs swimming in talent and tipped for greatness. In Bettinelli, Lonergan and now Lewis (on last night's performance at least), we have three goalkeepers who are safe pairs of hands in net.

Tunnicliffe is a warrior who never stops running and allows the technical ability of others to flourish. Tom Cairney is one of the most exciting players in the Championship, LVC is a fan favourite who is capable of producing magic, and Ben Pringle was one of the most consistent performers in this league last year. Up front we have arguably the Championship's most exciting prospect, Moussa Dembele, and Ross McCormack, who over the course of the last five years has been the best player in this league hands down.

That's not even considering the fact that Cauley Woodrow is a stalwart in the England youth set up, George Williams is tipped to be Wales' next star man and Alex Kačaniklić is a 24-year-old with 19 caps and 3 goals for Sweden. I haven't even mentioned Matt Smith or Scott Parker. No-one can suggest that this squad hasn't got talent or depth - the things it is hopelessly lacking are passion, inspiration and drive.

Ultimately, the buck for these has to stop at the manager's door. Why can Fulham not produce performances as scintillating as the one against QPR on a week by week basis. Ross McCormack, the ultimate consistent performer, looks like the captain's armband has withered his ability to produce the magic which lit up the darkness of the last campaign. His mesmerising feint to score against Charlton proves the talent is still there, but yesterday's lacklustre showing against his old club shows a man struggling for form when he should be at the peak of his powers.

Kit doesn't seem to have the tactical flair or personal nous to inspire the players to their best, and I can't for the life of me understand why - this is his club and his passion should be infectious. Instead, a lack of clarity and drive is holding this Fulham team back when, with the players we have brought in, we should be flying. We need to get playing possession football, with a strategy that suits our creative players, in order to get things moving again - games like QPR and Blackburn came about because we went about things in our own way, playing good football on the floor and utilising our best players at the things they are good at - getting the ball out wide for Pringle to deliver and getting Ross in behind the back four, for example.

One thing I would argue that this means, is that there is no place at the club for a Sam Allardyce-esque figure (I know he's at Sunderland now but his name was being touted for a while). We need a tactical figurehead who likes to play good football and can utilise the strengths of the club to our own advantage. It's optimistic to suggest it, but we need a manager in the mould of Brendan Rodgers, whose footballing philosophy revolved around a strong passing game and an acute awareness of how to use creative players. Optimistic it may be, but Rodgers came from Swansea, whom he brought up from the Championship by playing good, attacking football. For a man looking to repair his reputation, there are worse places he could go than the Cottage, a universally liked club looking to restore its own glory days.

It would be a statement of intent from the chairman, as well, that Fulham are an upwardly mobile club looking to recruit the best. In today's Metro, Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley stated that "our owner Shad Khan is unbelievable to work for as he has a great vision for the future. His backing and understanding is immense and really helps us in our development." His backing for this Fulham squad has been similar, putting his money where his mouth is and securing the funds needed to supply this team with the influx of talent that it has had this season. He needs to understand that the fans are losing not their love for the Welshman at the helm, but their confidence that he is the the right man for the job.

Kit has shown that, despite all his good intentions, he lacks what this Fulham team needs in order to succeed. I have no doubt that Symons will come into his own as a manager at some level, but I feel like Fulham do not have the time to offer him that room to grow - we need a positive upward trajectory to push the side back into play-off contention, else our best young players like Dembele and LVC are going to leave for higher pastures. As a Fulham man who understands the club and can see the struggle for passion and flair that we can see from the terraces, he must understand that it is time for him to pass the helm to a more tactically aware mind. Fulham would wish him all the best, but the experiment is falling flat and it seems like the time is right to say goodbye.
@jackjcollins

- See more at: http://www.vivaelfulham.co.uk/articles/time-to-say-goodbye-7-664.html#sthash.UUhnUBK1.dpuf
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No. They have got far more quality than us, especially at the back.

TWGWTDT · Oct 22, 2015

Won 9-4 against some Chelsea lovers 54 minutes of beauty until one of the youth meat heads took the top of my knee off

None shall pass
Nothing better than beating Chelsea fans and watch them chase shadows
Move that ball forwards backwards side wides anything to always keep it
The chances and spaces will appear on their own

I am not sure the youth know to play the game it's easy

Another game tomorrow but tougher

Get your boots on lads nothing like it

UTRs · Oct 24, 2015

So being Chris is still in charge can someone be more specific on which morning he's fired on?

Monday morning? Wednesday in three weeks...?

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Sooperhoop · Oct 24, 2015

If my old memory is right, wasn't Warnock sacked after the MK Dons match? It would be richly ironic if he were re-appointed manager after Saturday's match...

factamondo · Oct 24, 2015

I actually mentioned this to a mate in the week...plus I'm having Chinese for tea tonite.....same as after the mkdons first cup game!

QPR Oslo · Oct 24, 2015

Sooperhoop said: ↑

If my old memory is right, wasn't Warnock sacked after the MK Dons match? It would be richly ironic if he were re-appointed manager after Saturday's match...
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Or maybe fired again!

Busy Being Headhunted · Oct 24, 2015

factamondo said: ↑

I actually mentioned this to a mate in the week...plus I'm having Chinese for tea tonite.....same as after the mkdons first cup game!
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Did you mean tonight

Star of David Bardsley · Oct 24, 2015

If we lose today with the axis of doom in midfield then he should be sacked and probably shot

Busy Being Headhunted · Oct 24, 2015

Watford_R said: ↑

If we lose today with the axis of doom in midfield then he should be sacked and probably shot
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I think hung drawn and quartered

Eamon Holmes · Oct 24, 2015

No sackings likely at LR this week ... or then again, maybe ... you never know.

Busy Being Headhunted · Oct 24, 2015

Eamon Holmes said: ↑

No sackings likely at LR this week ... or then again, maybe ... you never know.
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Hopefully at the Bridge instead

Sooperhoop · Oct 24, 2015

Busy Being Headhunted said: ↑

Hopefully at the Bridge instead
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He'll be gone before Christmas, Abramovich doesn't do patience, even with the 'Special One'...

Busy Being Headhunted · Oct 24, 2015

Charlton sack boss Guy Luzon
They bloody beat us though

Sooperhoop · Oct 24, 2015

No surprise to see Charlton's Guy Luzon sacked after 3-0 loss to Brentford, with a name like Luzon it was inevitable...

Star of David Bardsley · Oct 24, 2015

Brentford in great form to play us

Sacked in the morning?

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