Are we about to emulate Blackpool from the start of last season and struggle to field a side? please log in to view this image The post is tongue in cheek ... but not entirely. Not sure if you looked at the photo gallery on the official site yesterday of the squad's first training session at Fota Island, Cork but blimey, where was the first team? The pictures apart from Nando and Kavanagh, pretty much concentrated on Academy players. The one today (Day 2 etc. etc.) was a bit more focused on the senior players, but not a lot. Now maybe the Club have been selective to mask the infamous "A Trialist" (or two) who is (are) with us on the Irish trip? Or maybe they just want to highlight the promising youngsters and how integrated we are as a club? Or maybe they were being coy and don't want to draw attention to how few 'genuine' First Xl players we have? We all know Slavi was intent on having a clear out but did anybody, including him, really expect us to be down to the bare bones with only 4 weeks to go before the season starts? I find it hard to believe that could be the case for why schedule two matches this Saturday, the First Team v Cork and a Fulham Xl v Sutton? Note a Fulham Xl, not the U21s, against Sutton! And just on the U21s. Have you looked at their 'Player Profile' on the official site? There are 7 of them! And they are all 18/19 year olds except Larnel Cole, who is 23 for goodness sake! And staying here for a second, Cole is one of the players not in Ireland along with Matilla and Bodurov so presumably they'll make up the numbers for the Sutton game. Back to the main rant. This is the third year in sucession we've had a total clear out. Last year was arguably the worst because a number of 'key' players joined late or even after the season started. Is history going to repeat itself? Will we be beached just as Blackpool were because of mismanagement?
I know he had hi critics but when Mo first took over he came in with all guns blazing and certainly gave us some high street cred, but this con man ,in the time he has been here has done nothing to enthuse the majority of regular fans. yes we could well do a Blackpool or Portsmouth but at the time of their demise they did not have one of the 5 richest chairman in the football league.
Day 3 etc. etc. - at least McCormack in evidence! http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/july/07/day-3-training?
And ... straight from the manager's mouth "Pleased with the players' work in Ireland but we need new additions over the next few days to build a competitive squad for the season"
Although tongue in cheek, I feel this is terribly harsh even not including the couple of recent signings the following 11 could easily be a solid championship team with the correct system/management Betts Fredericks Madl Stearman ???? LVC Tunnicliffe Parker Woodrow Smith McCormack
That's the rub though Cookie. It's the same management so what miracle will turn those players, who failed last season, into a 'competent team'?
In the video interview after last night's game against Brighton, Slavi seems content with how we are playing. However he is not a happy bunny about how the transfers are going: You can interpret his words in different ways; he had players foisted on him OR he hasn't got players in the positions he wants OR ... ? You could even see it as a vague reference to Mr Khan not living up to his bold words at the end last season. You could even see it as a direct poke at Mike Rigg (wouldn't we all agree with that!). Whatever, his demeanour is one of disatisfaction.
