Fulham v Reading

Why isn't this the espn2 match of the week :roll: ?? Jokes aside, the lads aren't mathematically safe yet and this is by far the most winnable match left. There are still millions of pounds left to play for (roughly 800K per league table spot). The few talking points; what will Jol do w/Berba likely out? how will the fans react to Pog on his return (maybe no reaction at all), will a Fulham player actually score?? 2-1 (neither goals will be OGs :shock: ).

 

A goal scored by a Fulham player, in the oppositions' net, would be nice.

 

I don't know what to expect of this one. Reading looked resigned to their fate before they were mathematically eliminated. So how will they play now that it's a reality? While we looked interested for spells v Chelsea and Arsenal, we don't seem particularly motivated either. Throw in the injuries and Jol running out the usual suspects and a repeat of QPR/Reading from the w/e wouldn't surprise me.

I'll be disappointed if that's the case. Aside from pride, Reading players should be using these matches to put themselves in the shop window and Jol should be auditioning younger players who have something to prove. I've always thought this whole "nothing to play for after 40 pts" thing was bs, but it's looking the case for us this year. That or the more likely issue, that Jol (or his style of play) sucks at motivating players.

As for Pog, I don't rate him either so when he left I wasn't remotely upset by it. The club didn't seem to care either.

I'm with Nev, I just want to see a Fulham player score a goal. I'll add this. If we don't score (own goals don't count) against Reading, I'm done for the season. Won't watch either of the remaining Fulham matches.

 

I honestly don't know what to expect. I just hope we win, by whatever means necessary.
And yes, a goal by one of OUR players would be nice.

 

This match has all the appeal to me of repeatedly jabbing myself with a fork. Yes, I will probably still watch. Maybe that says more about me than it does about Fulham.

 

Probably not. It was a turn-on, shut-off kind of match. Long stretches of inept, directionless play, with the odd bit of actual quality. The optimist in me wants to point to the penalty that should have been and to Rodallega's strike that was mere inches away to suggest the match was closer than it would appear (in the interest of disclosure, I stopped watching after Reading notched their 4th, so not entirely sure how the last bit played out).

But for the first quarter of the match, and then again after halftime we completely shut off. And then when we did find ourselves picking up some steam, we seemed to forget that you still need to defend. It wasn't so much a matter of being opened up by desperately throwing men forward as only mustering the energy to do one thing at a time.

I don't know if Riether is still hobbled, but he had his worst match of the season. If there is a silver lining, it's that Ruiz netted twice which may help build some confidence (just in time, right?).

I honestly don't know if I've been this down on Fulham since the Sanchez days.

 

I think what upsets me the most about this lost is looking at the table and realizing that we are in fact NOT safe. We have two tough matches and can very well be in the Championship next year.

 

I'm usually a stay-till-the-bitter-end type, but I turned it off after the third Reading goal. Too bad I didn't see Ruiz' second, but it was too depressing to watch. It looks like they started their summer vacation about a month early.

 

From the sounds of it I guess there's no need to feel bad about missing this game.

 

Missed this one due to a cable box or dvr glitch and didn't feel remotely bothered by it. In fact, I've missed more matches this year than any 2 yrs combined. Seems I'm not alone in this.

I did catch the highlights. Good to see us score. Good to see Ruiz get a brace, but more importantly the manner in which he got them. Wish we'd see more pass and move, especially with a run into the box from him, as well as getting in deep to make himself a target for crosses. So the question continues, is this what he's capable of or just another flash ne'er to be seen again for another 4-6 mos?

 

Matt I have been claiming this is the real Ruiz for a long time. I may be right or I may be wrong but I think two things happened that helped Ruiz a lot.

1. Rodallega brought movement to the attacking third of the pitch.
2. Karagounis was removed from behind Ruiz and there was better movement off the ball behind him as well.

With movement around him I believe Ruiz will come to life. Things were not perfect but I really believe Rodallega and Kacaniklic need to be on the pitch.

 

Based on what we were seeing from Ruiz at the end of last season, before he got hurt, I'm inclined to agree with you. He and Dempsey played some really nice stuff together that resulted in goals. This year, we've lacked that catalyst(s) to get the best out of Ruiz.