A game of 2 halves. Played well 1st half pressing high and creating chances but Slav did his usual tactical change as he often did for us and it worked I guess. We got sloppy and lost any real control - although still had some dangerous moment. Not sure we got the best out of our midfield apart from Capoue and they handled Deeney/Gray much better after the break. Defence was ok but could have done more maybe to stop the ball coming into the near post? Oh well - point better than nothing on the road.
Thanks for the compliment. I don't post it to win any argument, there are no arguments to win or lose on here, just opinions. Re the post count thing it's grounded in some truth, something I noticed early on about the the ones that fly off the hook & start swearing/insulting. & lastly, that Moog character is somewhat lovable, in all his iterations, but way past any help or redemption & frankly he knows it.
Capoue is finally looking like the player we'd all hoped we'd signed when we first got promoted but we'd only seen glimpses of previously. He is breaking up so many attacks, shrugging opponents off and dictating games. He's outshone Doucouré this season and seems to fit perfectly in this system (amazing that Silva tried to play him as a number 10 behind a lone striker, what was he thinking?). I can only see Chalobah getting back in if we switch formation to bring in another midfielder. And I can't see us doing that when the front two have got 5 in 6 between them. Having said that, I would've liked us to do that today to try to get some control back. Chalobah, Doucouré and Capoue would've given us a lot more protection from about an hour on.
I agree. Once Fulham had survived the first half, only being 1 down, it was predictable they would be a different proposition in the second half. Joka is excellent with tactical changes, and two new players at half time ensured a different approach from them and it was successful. We still created chances, but we faded the more the game went on. The thing is, it's all ifs and buts. Had Deeney scored that late chance, instead of squaring the ball, then we'd be talking about a great away win. Maybe Chalobah is not quite match ready yet and Gracia is managing his playing time? I would have no problem in bringing on Chalobah and sacrificing a forward player like Pereyra or Gray. We are winning the match and flooding the midfield with another quality player makes sense to me. At 1-0 with 15 minutes to go, we don't need another goal, we just need to manage the game and kill off their threat. But you have to admire his ambition, rather than tinker about, he's happy to swap like for like giving Fulham a physical problem up front to deal with. Sema for Pereyra and Success for Gray does just that. Didn't work, but the logic is just as good as the other option I put forward. You are judged favourably if it works and moaned at if it fails. Had the Mitroic header gone in instead of hitting the crossbar, I'm sure there would be daggers out for Gracia tonight. However, for me, Gracia has completely transformed the attitude of the entire team, beyond the levels I believed was possible from this particular group. That in itself is remarkable and is entirely responsible for the fact we are sitting in 4th place after 6 games, already with a third of the points needed to remain in the Premier league securely in the bag.
Life of a football fan eh? http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=67599.0 Despair at half time (or even after a minute!) then fairly happy in the 2nd half.
It was always a risk to expect Deeney and Gray to stay injury free, playing in every match until January. Okaka is still not fully fit so Success is the only viable option unless we change our shape and play one up front.
Draws can often feel a bit underwhelming but the longer you follow football, the more you realise they can still be valuable points when a season is done and dusted. Today is another point in the bank. Another point on the road, where for the second half of last season we were diabolical. Another away goal in a season that’s seen us score in every match so far. Lots of positives to take from today, despite a few,OMG that it could have been more.
It's true, I criticise Javi for poor subs today, but that's not just without praising him for the attributes which make this side look like they should be sweeping aside the likes of Fulham. Based on the last season and a half, I'll take drawing the occasional away game to a team assembled for a squillion by a mad American billionaire.
Decent game of football. Should have had a penalty and they should have had a red card. Both players involved in that incident should be applauded for their Twitter posts. Disappointing of course because we were in front for so long and probably should have been further in front but any point is decent. A third of the way to safety after just six games though is brilliant so the odd blip can be excused. I’m not a fan of berating players at the game or on social media but I really did not think Gray was good enough but this season he is proving me and many others wrong. Just looks a completely different player. Not sure about the substitutions today as felt the game was crying out for Chalobah. On a separate note I hope the fan taken ill that caused the Barnsley game to abandoned us ok. Football is sometimes not so important
Then I just move. Not gonna ruin their experience of the game and theres always a gap nearer the top.
That's impressive,although they say you break your toes four times in your lifetime without knowing it.However I don't suppose most people then kick a ball and challenge other big lads with plastic slippers on. Nails.
A change of formation with a midfield 3 of Capoue, Douc and Chalobah sounds dominating. When Chalobah and Delefeou returns the system could change to allow them both in
As an historical footnote, the Sky team reveal featured a rather animated, pointing to the badge Cathcart. In fact it was Britos.
I find the stand up sit down debate interesting. Personally I accept that if I go to an away game I’ll be standing up . I’m able bodied and it doesn’t bother me . However I sometimes feel for older people who might find it difficult to stand or young children who won’t be able to see much , as its not entirely fair on them . There seems to be a general opinion that your not as good a supporter if you’re sitting down and I dint really get this as for me I’m offering the same support whether sitting or standing.
At home or at the game? I used to be in the "stand up mate, its the football not King Lear" corner. But since going with my elderly father and young son and getting old enough to look forward to resting my weary legs, im now in the "sit down you selfish *****" brigade. Sitting down should be the norm with everyone standing up down up down as relevant and as often as appropriate. Theres always one who stays stood up in defiance when all others have reacquainted their butt with the seat already.
Not sure announcing that to the world was a good idea. Like it or not, opposition teams look for weaknesses and you can bet the contents of your wallet there will be some who'll look to take advantage of an opposing player who announces he is playing with broken toes.
Another positive that may have been overlooked today due to the disappointment in not winning - we scored away from home again. In both away games so far, it has taken us barely a couple of minutes to find the back of the net. Had our finishing been a little better today, we could have notched 3 goals in both away fixtures. After a shocking run of blanks last season, we appear to have put that rotten statistic to bed. Should we get beaten next week at the arse, I believe we can at least get on the score sheet and ensure our goal difference doesn't get wiped out like it so often has in the past when playing away at the top 6. That being said, if Troy's out injured we'll miss him badly as you'd expect the Gooners defence to not fancy playing him on current form (although according to Twitter he was seen at the boxing tonight, so maybe the medical boot was just precautionary).
Why does Gracia take Hughes off so early? There is a definite pattern (and last sesson too) where Hughes goes off and the opposition score.