Team v Cardiff

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Oldsparkey said:
I can see why you saw it that way, but then again I know the poster that wrote it and he ain't like that. <ok>

Good game indeed. I've said on our board that this game is actually far more important to us than our Spurs game last week - you know the reason why.
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Fair enough mate.

And yes, the feeling is the same here. Lots of pressure on Big Mart and the team to get three points, these are the games we need to be winning. Good luck for the rest of the season (except against us!)!
 
I think the plan Malky has adopted is to try to get at least a point away from home from targeted clubs, and then to take them all at home from those same clubs.

All due respect, but Fulham must be one of those in the frame. We've done it at Hull - went there and got the point, now all we have to do is beat them at home. <laugh>

Any points at all picked up from say the top 8 teams will be regarded as a bonus. That plan coming off will see us playing in the Prem next season because it would be more or less a certainty that at least three of those "targeted" clubs would finish below us.

First season up here for us and we knew it would be tough. If you have a plan, you've got half a chance - if you think you can go gung ho in this league and get away with it, you're likely to get your arse slapped. We've avoided that up till now - hope today isn't going to change things. <ok>
 
This going to be a great battle in midfield. We've kept Medel, Gunnarsson, Kimbo and Whittingham in there for all games so far, and have replaced Bellamy with Odemwingie for this start.

Keeping Fraizer Campbell up front with Odem now in support would indicate a more attacking approach for this game.

Both benches look strong. With Bellamy, Maynard, Noone and Jordan Mutch on ours, Malky will not be short of options for a change up front.
 
Suberb goal from sub Bryan Ruiz. But the woeful defending - never seen so much lack of communication. The pity was Parker going off so early
 
i dont think i am in any mood to be nice today,

should Jol be sacked? not yet... but if he dont sort something out soon he have 2. no disrespect to cardiff but these are the teams we need to beat to stay in this division, its gonna be a long season i think. if we dont start picking up points very soon we are gonna be too far behind and playing catch up all season.

im gonna go have a beer and cool off.
 
why dont he ever take berbatov off. he was having a bad game.

darren bent is a goalscorer. he should be left on
 
At least we were better in the second half. Tempted to leave it at that and follow Craven and Bidley.

However I cannot go without getting the substitutions off my chest first. Okay it was unfortunate that Parker had to go off but we were already struggling in midfield and to bring on a player who scuttles around (Kara) to play alongside a headless chicken (Sidwell) was plain silly. Zverotic should have come on.

Jol was correct to sub Kaca, who was unbelievably poor, as early as he did and fine Bryan got us back into the game with a super goal. But he was not the player to bring on while we clearly were still being over-run in the middle. Again should have been Zverotic or take off Richardson and bring on Senderos moving Amorebieta to left back. The latter would have been my preference because Hangeland was having a mare (out of position?) alongside Amore at CB.

The final substitution was the worst though. What on earth was the point of bringing on Taarabt 5 minutes from the end, with all the adjustments that entailed. And not least because when Richardson crossed right across the goal immediately before they scored, the only player who was there was Riether. Unfortunately his little legs couldn't quite stretch enough to get the ball. Where were the forwards though? What are the chances of Bent having been there if he hadn't been taken off??
 
Well, I am trying to find where to begin... There is no beginning, middle and end to this team... So will give it some more thought. The figure of Jol with his head in his hands summed it up for me... If he is not finished this weekend it is pretty close.

A glass of wine is due to bring some optimism...
 
Right, after composing myself and looking at the rest of the results here are my thoughts of today's game:

Stockdale: Not comfortable at all. The guy likes confidence and he can't command his area. Now I understand why Hull would not pay for him.

Defense: Two left footed CBs? It didn't work very well although no damage but was obvious that Hangeland was out of usual position. Richardson could not play with Kaca. Similar pushing Kasami to the right to accommodate Berba and Bent was the wrong move.

Midfield: Parker's early exit was a disaster. Kara came on and Sidwell just dropped... Probably Zverotic should have come on. Bryan, oh Bryan. He indeed scored a marvelous goal. Lovely to watch... That was all... If Jol goes that will be the end of him. Absolutely useless during the rest of the game. Otherwise, Kasami was good. He could have passed the ball a cpl of time to others in the box but his work-rate was great. Sidwell not much.

Forward: Berba and Bent out of sync. This had to do that there was no creativity from the midfield.

Overall: Cardiff could easily have been 2, 3 up by half-time. Similar to Everton but we were lucky. Luckier with Everton than Cardiff. Everton could have won the game on Tuesday if they were not so wasteful.

Subs: Why on earth bring Taarabt with 5 mins left? We are trying to win the game.

The big questions for me: Does Jol know what is he doing? I doubt. Do the players know what are they doing? I doubt. Do I think that serious work is done at the training ground? I doubt. Can anybody explain why the other teams look fresher while we seem to be slower than slow? I doubt.

I am not saying Jol out yet but his last chance is the next game if he is still around. There are two away games that give any manager the chance to experiment as there will not be so much pressure from the supporters.

Btw, based on the results we are too early to make any sense but teams around us are moving away...
 
I have been acused of being anti jol for some time now,but a catalogue of disasters of his own
making that have built up leading to the i have not got a clue situation he as got us in to
Over 2 years tenure as manager nothing acheived.
I will reduce the playing age,well when MS went it automaticly was lowered.
Generally bad signings Berbs ok but only spasmodically.
Ruiz 11 million,not worth half of that.
Rodelega, not even a good championship quality player.
Riiesa much to old and slow.
Richardson,another has been.
There is tallent there no doubt,but a game plan,non existant,his technical ability must now be questionable.
players being played out of position,bringing on subs with what 5 min to go
Wanting fisty cuffs,with supporters when criticism was raised ( ok later apologised)
Latest rift with acadamy management, coaching team (unconfirmed he wanted full control of playing staff)

And part of todays after match comments.
I think we will be ok,we have to win these games,but we didnt,we have been down here before.

Then comes the clasic bit
We have amassed more points than Swansea over the past seasons people dont appreciate that <doh>
Remember "Jean Tigana "the greatest thing since sliced bread,is this managerial senario going the same way.
 
You are now the new chairman of Fulham Football Club, a debt free historic team based in a great part of London. The end of the previous season saw your club win one game out of their final 8 games and draw 1, the other 6 were losses. Your manager is a likeable man who has the respect of many fans and football people alike. His history speaks of solid services for team he has managed. The new season is 7 games old, 3 victories , 1 draw and 3 losses. The fans are on your managers back what do you do ?

The last 16 competitive games have resulted in 3 wins, 3 draws and 10 losses. We have scored 13 goals and conceded 26. The stats do not lie, Jol and the club as a whole have a serious situation on their hands. Whilst there is a slight improvement in results compared to the end of last season, the performances still lack quality. What do you do ?

There are plenty of managers out there, would they improve the situation .? What do you do ?

This I so hard to figure out, the stats say that undoubtably Jol is not the man, the performances say our coaching staff are the not right. However, had we not conceded late goals in games we would be a very different situation. If Stoke and Newcastle lose this week we will still only be 1 win away from a possible 12 th spot.

I think Jol deserves the next 3 games, stoke, palace, Southampton. A minimum of 5 or 6 points or time to start looking for a new man. I want Jol and ultimately the team to succeed but boy does he need to earn his money.

Coyw
 
Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately!) I'm out the country at the minute so missed the game and can't comment on the performance.

Just picking up on previous comment about Hange looking uncomfortable at RCB with Amo going into LCB. This about sums up Jol for me. We needed a new centre back and he brings in the wrong person. No doubt a decent player, but wrong for what we need. Hange is our captain and at the later stages of his career, does he really think he will adapt to a new position having playing LCB the entire time he has been at Fulham.

We need a new CM, someone that can pass- but over the summer he brings in Sidwell mark 2 in Parker, a better player but a very similar player and because he is technically more skilled is being asked to play a holding and creative position.

On to Darren Bent, having failed to secure a passing midfielder we then buy a striker who plays on the shoulder and feeds off early balls which put him in behind.

We have an abundance of wide midfielders and we end up getting Taraabt, a maverick who doesn't defend, despite us already carrying two luxury players, one who is untouchable and the other our highest value signing.

I get no sense of Jol having a vision, other than using Fulham to promote his own managerial credentials. He wanted to live in London again, thats why he came to us. For me its too late, I wouldn't sack him just yet because what manager could improve results given the squad. He knows what our weaknesses are, he's mentioned it in interviews following the window, yet he did nothing to address them.

There is no point having quality players if you are going to use them in the wrong way, you are better with average players playing in the right position.
 
silkship said:
There is no point having quality players if you are going to use them in the wrong way, you are better with average players playing in the right position.
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Absolutely. Look at Cardiff or Hull. No superstars but all playing where, and in a way, that they are comfortable. Even Southampton could be included, although they do have a few bigger names in the side.

We are paying the penalty for not investing in the team over the summer. We have gone backwards under Jol, that can't really be denied but at the moment I can't see another manager on the market who would do better.

How I envy Swansea. If only we had players like them, playing with their style and with a clued up progressive manager.
 
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