Fulham vs Arsenal [R]

One forward might cut it if it's McBride or someone else who can win headers and supported by two attacking wings who can also put the ball away, but Dempsey supported by Seol and Davies playing on his wrong wing isn't going to scare anybody.

 

I know! As pettyfog and others can attest, I was livid at Niemi in the chatroom. His not even motioning for the ball sent a message throughout the rest of the stadium.

I cant remember the exact statements Christian Miles and his honcho said, but they were so factually incorrect it was appalling. Maybe FSC should just become "The Big Four Network" because they obviously don't do any research, or even focus really, on any other clubs.

 

I actually wasn't that disappointed with the performance today.

How many teams limit Arsenal to 11 shots, of which only 4 were on goal? We played decent defense against a great side. They're first two goals were not "Arsenal goals" but were "English goals" accomplished via a 6'5" striker who has NBA level "hops." Other than that, I felt we frustrated Arsenal's short passing game - in that respect, it was one of our best defensive efforts.

Yes, we were outclassed in the midfield, but I still prefer the build-up to longball that Sanchez played.

Use that same formation, with a fit Bullard in the middle, Brede at the back, King or McBride up top, Dempsey on the right, and Davies on the left, and we could have gotten something out of this game.

 

Speaking as one who joined the Fulham maddness after Jimmy's injury I saw signs of what looks like a talented player who suffered from a serious lack of pitch time. His first touch today was poor and his passing to be honest was awful but that did not phase me because the man has not played in eighteen months. Personally I watched his movement and the idea behind his passes and you can color me impressed. Vision is something you cannot teach and I can already tell Jimmy has it spades.

 

Amen, Hallelujah, and please let McGod return ASAP. Pleeeeeese. Clint supporting McBride I can get behind. And in reference to your earlier comment about trying McBride in a 4-5-1, Don, I agree 100%. The guy functions at his topmost with an intelligent strike partner, not as a solo artist, so get him back on the field, get a good quality striker that reads him well alongside, and let Dempsey do what he does best from the mid.

If wishes were nickels, I could buy myself a small coffee...

 

the word you used that stands out to me is "movement". Bullard's touch was off and his passing was horrendous, but he moves into open positions to aid under pressure teammates so they have an escape clause. Once he gets fully fit and regains his touch, everyone will see what a gem he is especially in a passing system. I'm excited Bullard is back. Let's get him out there for 65 minutes against Bristol Rovers (assuming it's on Tuesday...I don't know). also...time for Danny Murphy to pick splinters out of his arse from riding the pine. He's not good enough.

 

It'll make a world of difference, when #20 comes back. Hopefully, he'll back to his usual self and we'll have some one on the pitch for him to knock it down to. Maybe Healy will be able to find his form?

The game played out how I expected it to. RH tried to pack the MF to give the leaky back four some help, but it didn't work for long. Our hopes of a point were shot to hell, by Birm last week - when they stole a point. There was no way, there would be a let down from them yesterday.

I was debating to not shave until we won another game in PL, but my wife shot that down quickly. The poor thing, had heard me mumble our stats on the road the last 3 years, but she couldn't believe we'd only won twice this year. She does her best to act like she's listening / care.

 

I'd settle for Heidar Helguson at this point. I'm still disappointed that we sold him, though at the time we were supposed to be getting Ljuboja (btw-it appears that he's still available - woy, are you listening?).

I think the 4-5-1 helped to some degree, we did limit their chances. Stefanovic is hit or miss against big strikers - he mostly dominated Kenwyne Jones at Sunderland, but he hat lots of trouble with Adebayor (and Dean Ashton last week). Bocanegra might have fared better, but I wouldn't hold my breath. It did make me feel a little better knowing that Brede Hangeland is just the kind of player who could have prevented the two Adebayor goals.

 

That was the first time I saw Bullard play and I'm positive that you guys are right about him. But the point is that it will take a long time for him to get back into form. And then when McBride comes back I'm sure it will take him some time to get back into form. And both of them may never return to the form they were in before their injuries.

They will never be 100% of what they used to be...it is impossible. They are older and won't be able to make the plays with their body that their mind is telling them to or thinking they can. It's just how it works. That said.....I'd still take a 75% Brian McBride and Jimmy Bullard over anybody else on this team. I just hope that they both return to form and can contribute to the campaign before it is too late.

And can somebody please tell me how or why Seol is getting so much crap for his play today? I really wanna know if I am missing something glaring. This is th first time I saw him so I think I may be the only one without a bias perspective. For most of the first half he looked like our best threat on Arsenal's goal, cause God knows Murphy wasn't gonna give us anything, he had three shots at it and finished like my 12 year old sister.

Hopefully King and the Giant will be ready for Bristol on Tuesday so we can get a good lineup set for our match at Bolton. Huge game coming up on Tuesday and a monumental game a week from Tuesday.

 

Having watched the game against Arsenal this past weekend I think I can truly say this has got to be the worst performance by any Fulham side I have ever watched, to sum up quite easily, I think it’s fair to say there is No Passion No Commitment and No team work within this side, it also frustrates me when I hear commentators refer to certain players leaving if this team goes down to the Championship what commitment is that, getting Bullard and McBride back will make this side a better side but lets not kid ourselves here these two players wont be able to keep this side from relegation, the writings been on the wall for several season now and this year it will happen.

A friend of mine just sent me an email who like me was born and breed in Fulham, he states that the main reason this side is made up of Championship players is because Fulham wont pay Premiership wages and the only players attracted to the club is the fact that it’s is in the Premiership but pays Championship pay, how true that is I don’t know but it certainly makes sense to me.

For those of you giving Bullard a hard time, give him a chance the man has been away from the Premiership for some 16 months I think it is and now you want the old Bullard back, wait till McBride comes back you all think he’s going to score a hat-trick in he’s first game back, I hope you give him the same remarks as your giving Bullard if he don’t.

I have Fulham in my Veins and hope and pray we don’t go down but I’m thinking realistically here and know what I see aint good.

I would also like to add and I know it will upset some of you but If I picked the team Stefanovic and Boco wouldn't even make the reserves.

 

Did you watch the same game as me? you got to be Kidding me, Fulham was terrible, out played never fought and never competed for anything.

 

I thought we played OK, with a few exceptions, and possiblity to the best of our capabilities against one of the five best teams in the world. The new signee, Hangeland, will help in central defense. No one is capable of competing in the air in the central defense and it cost us two goals, taking us out of the game. Only Boca is good in the air, but he is too short to be our best. The 4-5-1 kept us in the game, until the second goal, but gave Dempsey no chance for success. At that point, do you throw caution to the wind and risk a 6-0, which could hurt confidence even more, or stick to the game plan.
Bullard instead of Davis from now on, assuming he can improve his fitness in short order. Volz is an improvement. Roy gave Soel a chance because he worked so hard last time out, but he reverted to his old form (second half especially). Neimi makes great saves, but he does not organize the Defense and stays rooted to the spot. Keller could be a short term solution if he is fit.
Hopefully, a win in the FA Cup at Bristol will give the team a lift. Also, Johnson's and/or King's pace will help up front, assuming Johnson gets his Permit on Wednesday and King passes the medical hurdles. A critical time coming up with Bolton and Boro on the road in the next three matches. MUST WINS. Come on Fulham!!!

 

Er, no reason or anything -- purely out of curiosity, of course -- but has anyone ever heard of a good way to dry the inside of a Sony flat-panel which hypothetically might have been subject to a soaking from some hypothetical tequila and perhaps a few shards of hypothetical flying glass? Purely hypothetically speaking, of course.

 

Blow-dryer?

 

There are those commercials for shammie cloths on FSC ... oh wait you would need the hypothetical flat screen to get the number.