Fulham v Blackburn

My weekly post asking for a link to highlights?

Thanks.

 

20/20 Hindsight - Yes, you've got a bench full of players, but everything was pointing to a draw or maybe we could steal all three points...So Roy stuck with the starting 11 and it took a perfect combo to get the game winning goal for the Rovers. Their physical play really set the tone.
If the chip into the box was a foot shorter or longer....If the header didn't fall perfectly.....if, if, if. The defense was there, but everything on this play bounced their way and they capitalized. Let's get ready for WHam.

 

I hate to keep drawing parallels between the Crew and Fulham but I'm just seeing the result of following 'The light at the end of the Tunnel'.

It DOES take a little tinkering, guys. Let Roy have his time.

 

I agree with Don that Roy really wasn't into this one. He made no subs which made no sense and it seemed that the game plan was to go long to Andy Johnson and hope for the best. Rather than making adjustments at halftime in terms of tactics, it was more of the "play for the point, hope for 3" style instead of "play for 3, hope for points," if you know what I mean.

That said, the players on the field are also at fault for this one as a number of guys just didn't show that they wanted to be the guy who wanted make the difference. I felt the passing in the midfield was sloppy, with Gera, Murphy, and Davies (at times) making more poor decisions than good ones. Murphy in particular was poor and it's these kinds of games that make me wonder whether he's good enough to be a consistent starter in the EPL. I know he was a hero at times last season, but don't forget he wasn't a factor for those other times last season.

In the big scheme of the season, this loss won't kill the team or Roy. No need to panic. But the team and coaching was truly, in a word, lackluster. As pettyfog says, some tinkering is needed - that's all.

I should also point out that lackluster also describes the whole game - Blackburn was seemingly playing for the tie as well, as the goal surprised even the Blackburn supporter at Nevada's.

 

psand22, I can't agree with the assumption that Fulham looked likely to walk away with 3 points from Ewood Park. From the onset of the second half Fulham looked flat and lacked ideas. Samba had an answer to every Fulham attack and Roy didn't adjust accordingly to the obvious transition into all out attack from Ince.

Unfotunate result and hopefully Roy has learned a valuable lesson.

 

The one thing that is a bit worrying to me is that this game mirrored the Hull City match. Hull got physical and took away our midfield passing by halftime and Roy made no adjustments in the second half. I like the Bullard/Murphy pairing against a team that is going to sit back and give us room to pass the ball but not against a team that is going to be physical. My comment now is the same as after the Hull match that Roy is as much to blamed as the players on the pitch. Gera seemed to be completely missing from the first whistle. Johnson and especially Zamora had put in a good day’s work by the 60th against Samba yet we used no subs again for the second time in four league matches.

No panic on my part but if I was an opposing manager I would muscle up in the midfield until Fulham show they can manage against those tactics.

 

Problems to be addressed....

Konch seems to be our weakest point of defense and one of his strong points of the past, getting forward and providing a quality cross into the box, seems to be lacking. Either a kick in the butt from Roy or some time on the subs bench.

Murphy will eventually tire and pace becomes an issue against sides that will challenge him physically. Though, with Leon returning to the side from injury I don't see this has being an overwhelming issue.

When Fulham loses momentum in a match or even goes down a goal where is the adjustment in attack? Roy hasn't been utilizing his subs effectively this season and Seol is about the only player who opts for when he does. Surely he can find a place for Dempsey in the lineup or adjust the formation accordingly to get the ball forward.

Just some concerns of mine. Still, 2 wins out of 4 matches is not a bad start. Road form though... oh, road form.

 

I feel that any team with a physical and rough midfield will push around Fulham's midfield and limit any creativity coming from that area.

This is the chance that Roy has decided to take with opting to start Gera, Bullard, Murphy, and Davies. There is no clear ball-winning midfielder out of those four.

Ince chose to sub and aim for the win, while Roy opted to stay the course and hopefully come away with a point.

Once Villanueva was subbed on, I had a feeling our beaten and tired midfield would not be able to contain him. He was the eventual catalyst in Blackburn's go ahead goal and just about added one of his own late in the match.

It's a bit frustrating, since Blackburn was ripe for the taking, but I can't help but think if Johnson puts away his first early chance, does the sub situation even arise?

 

The odd part of this is that Roy implemented this same strategy to beat Arsenal. So knowing how to utilize it, and subsequently, knowing how that strategy is effective at stopping our preferred method of attack, you'd think we'd know how to counter it? Or at least have a leg up on the competition in that area.

 

No, No, No....TofMcB. Coming into the game, I thought we would take all 3 points, with the way the Rovers were giving up goals. But my comments after the game (even with the physical play) were that I thought we would get a draw or steal all 3 points.
I watched the second half and I realize our chances were few and far between and that we surely could of used the subs...but all it takes is one lapse or moment of brilliance to win the game. It's just that Blackburn made the most of their chance. AJ had a shot in the second half to put us ahead, but their keeper made a fine save getting down low and to the right.
If Roy felt comfortable with the team on the pitch, then I do also. It's way too early to be second guessing his plans for me. I'm sure he's looked over the film and he might not admit it...but he might wished he made some changes.

 

Agree to disagree then psand22. In my opinion, Fulham did not look likely to steal the three points throughout the second half. Ince's subs upped the tempo of the match and the physical defending from Samba and company eliminated any immediate threat. Granted, AJ got off a quality chance, but Blackburn definitely had the bulk of chances.

My assessment of Roy's tactics are not second guessing the managers tactics, but merely offering a novice's opinion. Take it or leave it, but a manager needs to adapt his strategies throughout the match to dictate the pace and play on the field.

 

I was as dismayed as everyone else not to see any subs come on, although not entirely surprised.
Once the midfield was fatigued our hopes of winning were practically gone. The quick, cleaver passing went away and the midfield turn overs started piling up.
Like most, I would have loved to see Andreasen inserted into the midfield to offer a little bit of punch coming from our side.
I could have stood to see Dempsey come in for Davies, Andreasen in for Murphy and Nevland in for Zamora.
Oh well ... it was a tough game away from home. Hopefully the boys will regain their form for the West Ham game and rebound with a win.
By no means is my faith in Roy shaken, but if I had to lay the blame at someone's feet it would be his.

 

TofMcBride....We're on the same page. We watched the same game and I just may be a little more optimistic about our chances in the game. No matter how few we did get. It must be my new rose colored glasses from Lenscrafter.
I totally agree that Blackburn out played us and had the majority of the chances. Ince's subs provided a big spark for them and yes, Roy has got to make better adjustments in the game.

 

TofM and psand22 --

It wasn't just the midfield who were getting hacked and Ince making changes that led to our demise. Zamora went completely missing after the 50th minute, and Johnson then chose to complain about everything.

How Woy can't see that and make changes is mind blogging, and downright inexcusable.

Paul Ince is not a good manager at this level. Blackburn is going to struggle, and should be further down than they are had Woy not been asleep at the wheel.