The Kettering Draw...

Just happy to leave with the W.

Gera looked awful today.

Dempsey looked decent.

 

What a day out...when I wake up a bit more I'll go through the whole day. The good, bad and ugly.

For now, here are the highlights.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/2007649/

 

We'll be waiting. Sounds juicy.

 

Hey remember the last time Fulham scored 4 goals away from home?

Thats right, November of 2004. Wow.

 

One quick observation I had: Stoor's crossing is a lot better than Paintsil's (or Konchesky's, but that's not as relevant a comparison).

 

I was on TiFF earlier and someone was really ripping the performance. Just win baby. Winning ugly is still winning.

Bring on Swansea!!!

 

Why was my post about Gera deleated from this thread , is this the way you operate ?
Everything is not rosy in the Fulham garden.

 

Well, Kettering is only an hour north of London (by train) so it wasn't an overly early morning. But as I left my house, the mailman cornered me to sign off on a package which was bizarre because he was earlier than normal. What I signed for was my birthday gift from the FFC faithful, my Fulham flag that will be coming away with me as I make my travels. What luck! Orm even got a nice photo of it from yesterday:



So with my flag in tow, I got on a train from Dorking to Wimbledon at around 8:30ish then the district line to Putney Bridge station and finally the 220 bus up to Lillie road in Fulham in order to meet up with Fletcher, Phil and Robin for a fry up...mmmm, eggs, beans, fried bread, tomatoes and a nice cuppa joe.

After we ate, we piled into Phil's car and off we went, up the M1 talking about what Kettering would have to offer. We received a few texts about where FFC fans were congregating in Kettering so we were looking forward to getting up there in good time. An hour and a half later, we found ourselves in Kettering which wasn't much really, a small Northern town that was quaint and quiet...until the all the football fans gathered in the center. Two pubs right next to each other were claimed by Fulham and so this is where we would spend the next 2 and a half hours. In them were Fulham, old and new...many faced I didn't recognize who were from the 'old school' that Phil, Fletch and Robin knew since they are much more seasoned Fulham fans that I probably ever will be.

Half an hour later the boys were in full voice as I'm sure you'll be finding on youtube in the next week or so.

Off to the ground and what a small, non-league, old-school type ground it is, as show by orm and his wonderful photos: http://www.voy.com/13865/1206241864.html

Won't go into the match but will say it was wierd to stand and watch it without a roof and in such a smal tight group...LOVED IT.

More later...

 

Mike, I saw your flag on TV and was wondering what Fulhamerican made it all the way to Kettering...NICE.

 

Well as I think Don will be able to confirm these FA Cup games against lower oppostion are the hardest games for most premiership and championship teams, that really is what the FA Cup is all about and there's nothing more exciting than being at one of those games, especially if you are the underdogs and you beat higher teams, it doesnt happen very often but when it does your on a high for weeks. I watched the game and thought Gera and Euthu were a disgrace to call themselves premiership players. I was pleased we won but not very impressed with the way we played but as i said that's what the FA Cup is all about.

Loved you day of events Mike sounded just like I rembered a day in the FA Cup should be...Thanks


Don you must have been to Kettering a few times after all it's only up the road from Luton....LOL

COYW's

 

Agree with others about Gera & Etuhu. Especially the latter. It looked like our guys quit passing to him and excluded him from the offensive buildup late in the 1st half up until he was subbed. I'm officially worried about the back 4 now with two uncharacteristic performances in a row. Especially with Hangeland and Schwarzer. They've been so solid, hopefully they can correct that quickly (say, by Tuesday).

But a win's a win and it was a fun match to watch for the most part. Good to see Bobby Z find the net again, hopefully that gets him back on track. Was happy to avoid the replay and while not optimistic about @ Swans, beats playing a big 4 side.

 

Oh, another observation from Saturday: Andreasen gets some zip on his shots. Didn't put them on frame I don't think, but didn't altogether sky them either. I'd like to see him and Murphy in central midfield tomorrow.

 

Nice, Mike!

Good to get a win, despite Mike Riley's best efforts, and even if it was absolutely nerve-wracking to watch. I agree with everyone about Gera. He was awful. I'm done with him. And I agree with Josh that Andreasen deserves another run out there.

 

Corky, I seriously doubt your post was deleted. In my experience, that's not the way things work 'round here.

I read a comment of yours about Gera in the transfer thread, though. Could it be you're looking in the wrong place?

 

I thoguht Gera and Etuhu were awful.

I thought Dempsey was MOM for the first half - he really enjoys that free roll behind a striker. Unfortunately, with Etuhu incapable of passing the ball to white shirts and Gera simply awful, he didn't get much service.

I thought Stoor was ok - I wouldn't be against using him as long as we're not facing a pacey left winger.

Andreason made a solid argument for taking Bullard's place in the middle. He's a box to box player who is better defensively than Bully and has a decent shot. Admitedly, the creativity will have to come from Murphy, but it would be the most balanced relationship that Murphy has seen at Fulham (with regards to offensive duties vs. offensive ones) - Murphy was 60/40 defense alongside Bully and had to be 30/70 alongside Etuhu; he could be 45/55 alongside Andreason, which is a good thing.

 

I was looking in the wrong place , take no notice of my comment , I probably had too much Guinness , in fact I definately had too much Guinness

 

I'm surprised to see all of the negative reviews of Gera. I thought he did alright, and only ran into trouble when he had 4 or 5 Kettering defenders all over him. Wasn't his greatest performance, but I thought he mostly looked like Bullard on a bad day.

 

I truly thought Gera was a giveaway waiting to happen every time he touched the ball.