Fulham @ Arsenal

I’d pay to see that show HD!!! Let’s see, Arse scores goals for fun. While the goal could be doubled in size with no opposing GK and I still think we wouldn’t score....Fulhamish Time!!!

 

I don’t have anything insightful to say about this match. Newcastle has pretty much put the potential drama to bed. They and all the other teams just above the relegation zone are strapping on their boots and forcing results while Fulham are intent on maintaining possession and playing short comfortable passes. But I’ll be watching and hoping for at least a fun and interesting game.

 

Throwing up seems like the most appropriate reaction....

 

What. A. Nut. Punch. 7 minutes of added time? Really!?

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What heartbreak. It seems like there were so many close matches this year that Fulham just consistently found themselves on the wrong side.

 

The attack has not been good enough all season. There is no reason for me to believe it will change this season.

 

We got a point. We should be thrilled all things considered. When Areola had his 'Injury' before stoppage time, I remarked to the wife these extra three minutes will come back to bite us. They did. Never deserved three, but to come so close made it hurt......overall still happy with a point.

I still don't get this VAR. We were on the right side, but it just doesn't help the game.

 

At the end of the day, I just think Scott prefers a style of play that is too conservative for this level. As Herm Edwards once famously said, you play to win the game. For the most part, under this manager, we've played not to lose. The results speak for themselves. And I truly don't understand clinging to playing out from the back when half of the opposition are practically breathing down your jockstrap in YOUR box. All this, and yet we were still in a great position to win. Joka talked a lot about being "brave" with the ball. We seem to spend as much time passing it backwards as forwards. And when we do manage to get it close enough to the opponent's goal, we give it away quickly and cheaply. The difference in the away wins at Leicester, Everton and Liverpool was more aggressive, energetic, proactive defense, which we've failed to replicate most of the rest of the season. That and the sheer ineptitude offensively means that, although we've still got enough points available to make a run at 17th, I don't see us doing it. Away to Chelsea, Southampton and ManUre, home against Burnley and Newcastle, none of whom we've beaten this season. We simply don't score enough to have a chance.

 

To follow on Jump's coattail, I was shocked to see how many times Fulham got possession with a chance to break on a counter attack only to hold up the second or third pass and allow the defense to get back into position. There was absolutely no aggression with the ball.

 

Comparing Arsenal's passing to off-ball movement/space to Fulham passing directly to stationary players gave me whiplash yesterday. We're two calendar years into Parker's reign and I still don't understand how such a simple aspect of any sport: off-ball movement and passing to space, is so verboten.

As such the equalizing goal was so obviously coming well before Parker went 7 at the back. Thankfully Arsenal were quite poor and didn't exploit our gaps to the extend they could have.