| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham 19:36 - Oct 10 with 1774 views | unstableblue |
Well well well my beautiful blue brothers and sisters! That is what watching top level football and supporting Town is all about. Here’s some musings for you:
1) Our manager said the international break was too long, and there was a risk of disrupting us as a team. And for me Town looked out of sorts for most of that first half. More so than Fulham - who showed positive shape and zipped the ball. So to come away from today with 3 points is invaluable to our survival chances.
2) I liked the line-up from what we had available - but worried about Maeda on the right. Yet his work rate was a highlight of a first half we definitely lost. Fulham were good for 5, we then grabbed the game for 10mins, had good moments, and I was thinking we looked Premier level. Then Fulham’s individual quality started to shine through. Plus their shape and desire was superior. It was a game of two halves. 36% possession for Town first half, 60% second.
3) For me Town were sub-par but were able to go deep effectively and soaked it up without too many issues, Fulham weren’t really going at the full backs and tended to go back inside. But for me it was the weak displays from Enciso, Florentino, Philogene and Davis that were causing us to be second best. To have 1 maybe 2 players second best can just about be accommodated at this level - but 4!! A real lack of composure, quality and belief from that quartet.
4) We started the second more brightly in part because those players improved - a great cross from Enciso which Emersonn (who had generally lost the battle with his centre back) headed onto the post. And Florentino getting more involved. But on 55 we got stretched and conceded a corner, then didn’t clear and a super strike from way out from ‘one of their own’ sessegnon. Too well hit and wide of Walton who was probably also unsighted.
5) Then on SIXTY THREE MINUTES - the game changed. As our best player PALACIOS entered the fray. He purred, dominated, linked and didn’t put a foot wrong. Crucially, for the first time we saw him gesturing and orchestrating play. Clarke was also introduced with our mega star, and he started doing what Philogene failed to do - stretch and concern the full back.
6) Fulham started to wobble and the game changed, they went deeper and deeper. But we weren’t yet carving true threat. Then GON waved his wand again with a move that McKenna lacked - two strikers closer together up front with Flemming and Akpom introduced for Emersonn and Enciso. And the pressure built further. Half chances started.
7) Then on 81 a sub that may go under the radar but was crucial - Egeli fresh from another Norwegian u21 successful mission. And what he did was that both his first two touches/moves were effective - one superb cross field pass. And the Fulham full back stayed off him. This meant we had them stretched on both wings. And that tipped the game.
8) Then on 88 the game finally flipped, yes Fulham had carved great chances (Bobb over the bar for one) and been the best team for the first half and parts of the second, but town had dominated for 25mins at the end and the pendulum had swung. Yet we needed a moment of magic to go into overdrive and fire the North. Ouatarra picked up a clearance, broke forward and sweetly struck a worldie - bedlam.
9) But more was to come, Town didn’t settle they ran back to the restart, blue players gestured to each other to go again and they did - Fulham were on the floor and strong work from our front two, led to a Jack Clarke wunder free kick - headed in by new dad and captain fantastic OShea. Wild scenes.
10) But wins like this come from a team effort, including the manager - and I wanted to call out Akpom, who was immense and fired up the north stand with his energy and pressing. And Walton - who’s save with his foot at the death, saved two points and boosted the season immeasurably.
This was massive. Enjoy it. [Post edited 10 Oct 20:02]
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| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 19:47 - Oct 10 with 1641 views | armchaircritic59 |
Lots of truth in there. For me one thing in particular swung the game, though not the sole cause. A substitute called Palacios came on and ran the show. Pure class. I go back to 1963 and he is without a shadow of doubt as far as I'm concerned, the best midfielder we've had here since the heady days of Muhren, Thijssen and Wark. We might have to thank his " chequered " injury record. £20M? Some joke surely, even if he only played 20 odd games. |  | | |
| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 20:05 - Oct 10 with 1525 views | unstableblue |
| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 19:47 - Oct 10 by armchaircritic59 |
Lots of truth in there. For me one thing in particular swung the game, though not the sole cause. A substitute called Palacios came on and ran the show. Pure class. I go back to 1963 and he is without a shadow of doubt as far as I'm concerned, the best midfielder we've had here since the heady days of Muhren, Thijssen and Wark. We might have to thank his " chequered " injury record. £20M? Some joke surely, even if he only played 20 odd games. |
Yes as per my point 5 - Palacios’ introduction was the turning point.
Did you also notice he was also directing players when on and off the ball?? I hadn’t seen that part of his game to date.
If we can keep him fit - and we’ve done that through an international break and 30 key minutes today - as you say £20m is a steal.
Note: I mentioned town players firing up after the equaliser to go for the winner in the remaining minutes. Diop was one of the most vocal, animated. Good on him. | |
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| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 20:07 - Oct 10 with 1503 views | N2_Blue |
| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 19:47 - Oct 10 by armchaircritic59 |
Lots of truth in there. For me one thing in particular swung the game, though not the sole cause. A substitute called Palacios came on and ran the show. Pure class. I go back to 1963 and he is without a shadow of doubt as far as I'm concerned, the best midfielder we've had here since the heady days of Muhren, Thijssen and Wark. We might have to thank his " chequered " injury record. £20M? Some joke surely, even if he only played 20 odd games. |
It’s a crazy that we signed him for 20million and other clubs didn’t come in. He absolutely makes us tick. I can’t see how he wouldn’t get in to at least half PL teams and 20 million isn’t actually a huge amount these days…when you look at some of transfer fees paid for pretty average players
Absolutely stunned he is playing for us… and loving it!! Scary thing is he can probably get better with time. [Post edited 10 Oct 20:08]
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| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 20:30 - Oct 10 with 1332 views | StochesStotasBlewe |
Excellent assessment of this afternoon’s proceedings 👍 |  |
| We have no village green, or a shop.
It's very, very quiet.
I can walk to the pub. |
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| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 21:06 - Oct 10 with 1219 views | Stourbridgeblue |
Agree with all of the above but don't discount Walton's save at the end. |  |
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| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 21:10 - Oct 10 with 1184 views | unstableblue |
| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 21:06 - Oct 10 by Stourbridgeblue |
Agree with all of the above but don't discount Walton's save at the end. |
Agreed. Point 10 of my musings included how crucial that save was in securing the 3 points.
A 3 points that pushes us clearer from the struggling clubs, and frankly pushes Fulham into some turmoil.
If we’d lost today, they’d be boosted, new manager lauded and our new players and manager questioned.
Moments like Walton’s boot saving a certain goal on seasons turn!!! | |
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| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 21:18 - Oct 10 with 1142 views | ottovonbismark |
Great summary, appreciate it  |  | | |
| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 21:36 - Oct 10 with 1058 views | Meadowlark |
Before their corner was kicked, I said to my pal what are Enciso and Philogene doing? They were stood on the edge of our area, not marking anyone.
If they're going to do that why not stand on the half-way line and drag the opponents' defenders back.
Had they done so in this instance, we probably would not have conceded.
Great afternnon in the end though! |  | | |
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| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 21:48 - Oct 10 with 973 views | unstableblue |
| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 21:36 - Oct 10 by Meadowlark |
Before their corner was kicked, I said to my pal what are Enciso and Philogene doing? They were stood on the edge of our area, not marking anyone.
If they're going to do that why not stand on the half-way line and drag the opponents' defenders back.
Had they done so in this instance, we probably would not have conceded.
Great afternnon in the end though! |
Think Enciso was more at fault on the goal. But it was a great strike, taken quite quickly.
Enciso and Philogene seemed to lack some belief and energy today. So below the level we know they can be. As stated Enciso did fire up a few times.
The good news is we have depth to cover blips in form.
I really liked Egeli in his cameo today. I like Maeda. Clarke is quality. And Fatawu is coming back. | |
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| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 21:55 - Oct 10 with 943 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 21:36 - Oct 10 by Meadowlark |
Before their corner was kicked, I said to my pal what are Enciso and Philogene doing? They were stood on the edge of our area, not marking anyone.
If they're going to do that why not stand on the half-way line and drag the opponents' defenders back.
Had they done so in this instance, we probably would not have conceded.
Great afternnon in the end though! |
I am a proponent of the "out ball to the nippy fella at the Half Way Line" at Corners, but contemporary Managers prefer sheer number of players in the box to block as many angles for shots as possible. Less players back means more space and time to pick a spot with a shot in the area, more players means more rushed half chances. | | | |
| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 09:42 - Oct 11 with 541 views | unstableblue |
| 10 quick thoughts on a MAHOOSIVE win and 3 points - ITFC 2-1 Fulham on 20:07 - Oct 10 by N2_Blue |
It’s a crazy that we signed him for 20million and other clubs didn’t come in. He absolutely makes us tick. I can’t see how he wouldn’t get in to at least half PL teams and 20 million isn’t actually a huge amount these days…when you look at some of transfer fees paid for pretty average players
Absolutely stunned he is playing for us… and loving it!! Scary thing is he can probably get better with time. [Post edited 10 Oct 20:08]
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Palacios is definitely improving for us as he settled into the club/area
Best form we’ve seen from him yesterday
I think clubs were probably put off by the injuries last season and perhaps wages
But he played I think 10 games solid for Leverkeusen end of last season; and at that level there’s no real hiding an injury issue or fragility.
Yes we carried a couple to players with niggles last season - Matusiwa - but that was Chamos level. | |
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