Let’s go! I love how this season just kicked off and we’re already in high gear with three matches in seven days. 

A quick correction on my original post... O'Nien was only responsible for the first goal. It was Alderete for the second. Both are on the bench for Sunderland today.

For Fulham it is an unchanged lineup from Chelsea except that Andersen has come in for Cuenca. After a great showing in the cup, Zepa gets a place on the bench.

I saw Zepa on the bench as well. I wonder what this says about Kusi-Asare and the 7 million Fulham paid for him.

I’m hoping to see a little more progress from the squad as a unit. It may take a few more weeks, but I can’t wait to see how well they gel. 

COYW!!!

I realize it’s only 100 minutes into the campaign but I hope Palacios isn’t as featherweight as he’e projecting in my mind ..:

Are we sure there’s a new manager at Fulham? I was having flashbacks to last year. Boring. Boring. Boring. Couldn’t beat the press. Couldn’t win the second ball when they went long. Couldn’t create any chances against a tough defense. 

Arbeloa's tactics, just like Silva's, don't seem to work against patient mid-block and low-block teams. If the other team is happy to sit back without the ball and counter, we don't seem to have any ideas on offense. And without Wilson, there isn't anyone willing to take a shot from outside of the box. We had not a single shot on target in the full 94+ minutes. Garcia is fast and can run behind the defense, but against Sunderland, there was no space behind the defense. Against Palace it'll be the same. We'll need Muniz, who can post up, play with his back to the goal, but I wonder if Arbeloa will be pragmatic and flexible enough to change tactics after two matches.

The goal we gave up and the one we almost gave up (post) were mirror images. A fullback caught out of position, Andersen playing their wide player on side (on the goal), nice cross, boom. I've seen rumors that Tete is leaving for Everton before tomorrow, and if that's true, it makes me sad. If we sign a new RB, it needs to be a flyer, someone faster than Castagne. 

I was shocked when I checked the stats and saw that Andersen committed only 3 fouls. My subjective impression was that any time he made a challenge, he barreled into the Sunderland player. His defending looked lazy. I hope de Fougerolles isn't too badly hurt and that Cuenca can shake off his poor outing against Chelsea. If Andersen doesn't shape up, we'll need someone else to step in.

I'm not panicking yet, but based on the low sample size of two Prem matches, it appears that we've been figured out, and unless Arbeloa can serve up some tactical surprises, teams will know how to play against us to give themselves the best chance of getting a good result. If we mindlessly ram our heads against the wall that will be Crystal Palace and Arbeloa doesn't adjust, then I'll start panicking. I don't think that'll be too early.

This was very disappointing - and it wasn't the result or the scoreline, it was the way it happened. As mentioned, zero shots on target and a defense that can clearly be carved open. Then there were the head-scratching substitutions. I thought Castagne was one of the best players out there, but he was pulled for Sessegnon? I also thought Berge was playing well, but then he was substituted for Kevin. I was all for Kevin coming on, but it should have been earlier and for Palacios. I was most disappointed in Iwobi, despite being responsible for generating Fulham's best opportunity, he generally was very ineffective but still lasted the whole match. Berge showed what was needed to break down Sunderland - a willingness to carry the ball, pull in defenders, and open up space for a decisive pass. Iwobi and Palacios were too hesitant or weak to make that happen.

For me this all points to a manager who is not ready for this level. All the more concerning then was this from the BBC:

A furious Arbeloa, after only his third competitive match in charge of Fulham, said he "didn't like the attitude of my team" and added: "We didn't even fight, we didn't run, poor technical level. We were not in the game."

Sorry bub, you were the one who set Fulham up in a way that was too easily cracked open at the back and you were the one who had the wrong players on the pitch. The players certainly deserve some criticism, but any furry is best directed at him. This kind of deflection from him is very worrying.

If there are any positives to be had, the defense wasn't as bad as last week. However, I don't see improvements happening fact enough to get a win in the next three matches. No reason to panic yet, it is very early in the season, but if I were Tony I'd make sure I knew exactly who I'd approach next as a manager. 

Zero shots on goal.  I know b/c I watched all of those non-threatening minutes and agree it played out like Silva was still there...except Silva would've put Muniz on in the 86th minute. 😀

I believe the defense wasn't as "bad" because they weren't facing Pedro, Palmer, Rogers, et al. Any striker with real pace will hurt Fulham until changes are made. When Sunderland made their changes, those subs were designed to attack that soft center.  And it worked instantly. Simply, Fulham need to upgrade their pace (maybe the players are already in the squad, not necessarily to purchase) at three positions (CB, FB, CDM) to make this spread formation less viscous through the center of the pitch.

And to those comments by Arbeloa, I don't enjoy reading them.

Way too early for stern judgments, but Palace is a peer and let's see if anything changes for that match.

COYW