Fulham @ Stoke City, 11/24

Hope your right, Hatter, but I don't see us salvaging anything from this one. OUr defense has been a sieve away from the Cottage this season, and there's no reason to think it won't be here, especially w/o Brede (although we were pretty bad with him in there).

I see it 3-1 bad guys. And I hope I'm dead wrong.

COYW!

 

Doubt we win or draw. Probably lose by a goal.

 

Seems like there is a new lineup every week, just too little continuity to think that there will be a good performance against the Neanderthals. Doesn't mean the boys can't get a result, but not banking on it.

 

I am so sorry I have not been active, had personal problems. Is there a link for the game and how come is no one in the chat.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!!

 

Schwarzer, Riether, Senderos, Hughes, Riise, Dejagah, Karagounis, Baird, Sidwell, Petric, Berbatov. Here is the lineup I think Berbatov is captain

 

Never going to score with that lineup. It got better when Duff came on, but the only time Begovic was in real danger was the Berbatov shot that every keeper would save. This was terrible to watch and I'm not sure what Jol could have done when we need Duff for an even tougher trip away to Chelsea in midweek. This team had to be one of our worst teams in terms of attacking talent in awhile.

 

That was piss poor even by the diminished squad's standards. Jol looked for a nil-nil then went full boat the last 15 - I'm confused by the squad and tactics but Stoke away has proven to be a shitstorm so a loss wasn't a surprise. Haven't read the vfst yet but looking forward to it.

 

Left early to get to Pasadena for a great day out, so mercifully missed the match. However, saw the score and wasn't surprised in the least. Fantastic write-up as always HD (Man, are Stoke supporters a wee bit defensive or what? :roll: ), spot on about Mark this season, father time might be creeping in. Also great point about Senderos, the guy has been out for months, will get sharper with pitch time, but is the whipping boy de jour.

Glad to see your back emiusaberbo, hope you've got everything sorted out.

Dragged back into the middle of the pack :cry: However, short turn around to Chelski on Wed. and Spurs on Sat. so lads better be ready to go.

 

Even though we got what we deserved, would have still liked to see us somehow steal a point in that situation. If we continue to drop points in situations like this, we're gonna be in relegation trouble real soon...unless everybody gets and stays healthy and performs up to their individual capabilities. A tall order for a small club like us, but it CAN be done!

Gotta start Wednesday with a scum side in trouble, then the return of the prodigal son(s)to the Cottage. BTW, did they make a statement today against wet spam? Looks to me like AVB and Deuce have figured something out.

 

Pretty much sums up my thoughts on the match. Last week was disasterous, this week was just dismal. There's something about Martin Jol's Fulham that I'm struggling with. We don't seem to come out and play with max effort every time. There are a good 3 or 4 matches this year that, to me, look like we mailed it in. Granted we played hard in the last 15 min, but the effort for the other 75 was questionable at best. I don't mind playing poorly and I don't mind losing, but I hate watching a team that looks disinterested. In fairness, it's hard to argue with results and we've had success under Jol's guidance. That was our first loss on the road in 5 matches. But I've rarely missed watching a Fulham match or turned one off early and I've already done both this year just 13 games in.

 

With Berba spending so much time trying to help in midfield, and everyone else afraid to attack the net when we did have a chance, scoring a goal in this game was a pipe dream...very disappointing effort.

 

I hate to sound like a broken record but I am going to state the central midfield is Fulham's glaring problem. All Stoke had to do was get back in numbers and wait for Fulham to give the ball back to them. Baird and Sidwell function well as defensive sidekicks but they are pedestrian when it comes to initiating the attack. Berba had to come back way too far to receive the ball and I cannot overstate how badly Ruiz's creativity was missed. Right now Ruiz is the cog that turns the Fulham wheels and without him it looks like we are stuck in neutral.

 

Nice review Don...Here's my question...Who can we realistically pick up in Jan. to help our midfield "situation"?