Fulham @ West Ham

Guess I'll be the one to kick this off. It's telling that the match threads are popping up later and later each week. West Ham @ Upton Park have been a bogey club for us since I've followed Fulham. Last year, we were downright dismal there. Spam have been hit hard by injuries, but I don't think it matters. With our putrid shot totals on the road (4.5/1.8 per match for, 22.5/6.8 per match against), I don't see us getting a result. Rumor is Berbatov won't play due to illness. Rumor is I won't watch for fear of illness. Oh, who am I kidding...I'll be probably go in the chat room and flagellate myself with the rest of you masochists.

 

After finishing laughing at Matt's preview, and having as much optimism as he has going into this one, I had to go find VonBilly's youtube video on the one time I can remember winning at Upton Park. One of 'ol Ironhead's best goals (and who doesn't love that Puma kit?) in a Fulham uniform.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taAZLTaZr50

 

Oy...time is tight, already.

And given the recent history, notwithstanding the great clip posted by SCJ, I can't see much coming from this one.

But, headed into the new year, Jol has to have some impetus to keep his job.

COYW!!!

 

What the heck...I'll predict a win similar to our opening day effort over Sunderland. It'll be interesting to see, if indeed he is a scratch, how we fare without Berba. I'd predict probably better, especially if Bent and Taraabt get starts.

 

Team Sheet:

Stek
Richardson Hughes LoveBite Zverotic
Kasami Sidders Parker Taarbat
Bent

Subs:
Stockers, Ruiz, Senderos, Kara, Kaca, Boateng, Moussa Part Deux Dembele

Won't bother with Spam other than one omission from their starters: No Carlton Cole. That dude always finds the back of the net (sometimes more than once) against Fulham. Thank You Fat Sam.

Not going to lie, I would take a 0-0, worst match of the day, snoozefest... :confusion-helpsos:

 

Heartless, gutless, clueless, emotionless, useless and any other 'less' you can think of. :angry-cussingblack:

 

Well, guys... from my perch on a hill far away, I see that as a statement match.

Dont need to know much.
#18 three win FFC goes to #17 two win Wet Spam and gets trounced 3-0.
Look at the standings.. It's the win column that's the key.
So the thought that it may be too late is simply wrong. The loss {actually, lack of a point earned} says manager needs to go, the score says: 'NOW'!

 

Surely this is the end of Jol's run at Fulham. I'm worried that it's too late. There are so many bad habits ingrained in the players, starting with the absence of effort and heart. I think it's going to require not just a new manager, but a bit of a clear out of some players in January and some new blood brought in. The big question is if we can offload some of our garbage.

Heaven help us if Jol is still in charge come Monday morning.

 

Spot on. If we could sign two more Scott Parker's, get Bred back, and find a way to get a few shots actually on goal, 10(0) today, we might even stand a chance of staying up.

 

This is more than rock bottom. We hit rock bottom in 2008 vs Sunderland during the great escape. This is sickening. There is almost nothing likeable about this team. Everyone likes Scott Parker's effort and skill, but I feel so sorry for him being on this abysmal team that I cant even watch. It's like watching someone be tortured. :sad-roulette:

 

If you combine Matt's post and Mo's post you pretty much have my feelings on Fulham. I wholly agree with Matt that manager change without some player turnover in January may not be enough to right the ship.

 

Has a football manager ever lost 5 straight (6 if you include the League Cup) and *not* been fired?

Will only add an excerpt of CCN's latest:

 

Timmy, I can think of one time a manager lost 5 straight and wasn't fired; Martin Jol last season :shock:

 

That is true. Though, that run *did* include Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, and at Everton. Nonetheless my question was answered!