That Play-Off Position Looks a Long Way Off - Notes for Fulham Tuesday, 15th Dec 2015 05:00 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Tuesday night’s game at Craven Cottage by delving into their forums. “We have not won since we sacked Kit Symons over a month ago”, “I cannot believe some are still thinking about the play-offs or the top 10. Put the anchor down and hang on for 15th”, “We look every inch a team likely to go into free fall. It is now six games since we beat Bristol City.” “Nearer to safety, a seven-point cushion from the bottom three now.” Saturday’s 2-2 home draw in the Cottagers’ derby against Brentford took their winless run to six games. With a defence conceding 15 goals in six matches and no manager appointed for the last four, alarm bells have been ringing. “Milton Keynes played some nice football against us but yes, everybody does. It doesn’t seem to be very difficult to do”, “When you hear the names on our teamsheet you would think we have the talent to be running away with this yet week in, week out it seems a struggle.” “The honest truth is that our players are not the best in league. We have seen in a number of games how they have been outplayed on a one-to-one basis, particularly in the air, physically and often for pace”, “Looking at results and our current position, I would settle for 10th this season.” “We didn’t do anything this summer other than sign Championship level players and combine them with an inexperienced, uninspiring and predictable manager. How [owner] Shahid Khan can expect anything other than mid-table at best is beyond me”, “What hurts me most is that we haven’t tried.” Shahid Khan“Well done to the Fulham FC management for ruining another season again”, “People expect them to show a level of competence and appoint a new manager. Not to have done so four weeks after Kit Symons left is a disgraceful state of affairs”, “The only flaw I see is in the way the club is run.”  “We are a mid-table second division team run by an owner who has no plan”, “My days of backing Shahid Khan are numbered.” While the owner is personally liked by fans, a series of unsuccessful management appointments in quick succession have left many questioning his judgement. “The club is so poorly run from top to bottom that I cannot see any way out under Khan’s ownership. Whatever we do or whoever we employ, the balance doesn’t seem right”, “There must be good managers out there, young or old. We need another Roy Hodgson. There must be one somewhere.” Stuart Gray“Gray’s appointment in his current position is a good thing. He will hopefully help get the defence sorted and stop the leaking goals. He will give the owners time to continue their search for the right person”, “He’s a respected coach who can organise a defence and he will strengthen the first team.”  The appointment last week of the former Sheffield Wednesday boss to the post of senior coach has been welcomed by the vast majority of Cottagers. “The owners are capable of making far worse decisions than this. I like this appointment and it could be a good thing bringing in Stuart Gray.” “A bit of organisation and some leadership at the back will be a solid start”, “Gray has a track record to back up his comments and is known as a defending coach. This is our main problem, so let’s give him more than a few games to see what he can do”, “It is difficult not to improve our defending.” “Patience needs to be the order of the day”, “Here’s hoping but there is only so much even the best coach can drill into players in five days”, “He talked about defending set-pieces better and for that I am thankful.” Formation“All of our Europa League squad knew what it was to play as a team. Each had a role and knew it well and even our fringe players followed the set-up. Without each player doing their part in a well-oiled machine we will perform moderately. It is down to implementing a system and following it.” While the Cottagers’ defence has been heavily criticised, many are quick to acknowledge that the team has not functioned as a unit. “I can see a clear gulf between watching us and watching the teams in the top five places. They look better managed and better structured with evident synergy.” “It takes longer than five days to sort out a defence. I really hope Gray can find a holding midfielder to sit in front of the back four. We also need more height in the side to be able to defend set pieces”, “We need a whole new midfield. The opposition just walk through ours.” LonerganRichardsGarbuttStearmanReamParkerO'HaraFredericksCairneyDembeleMcCormack (c)
Saturday’s team for the Brentford derby (above) kept with the 4-4-2 formation which has been most used this season, although fans have been happy to see the back of the diamond favoured by former manager Kit Symons. “Why oh why do all of the coaching staff think diamonds are a good idea?” “Our midfield is so attack-oriented as are our full-backs that our centre-backs are exposed an awful lot”, “Under Kit it looked like no work was done on our team shape or defensive structure. It was a case of people gambling on what they had learned beforehand in their careers.” The midfield squad is very unbalanced and has offered little by way of width or protection to the defence. The lack of options in this area has not been helped with the news that former Town loan player Ryan Tunnicliffe is out for up to 10 weeks having undergone surgery on a hamstring injury. Fulham 2 — 2 BrentfordIn what was seen as an entertaining derby, Alan Judge opened the scoring for the visitors from the penalty spot on 18 minutes after a poor challenge by recalled right-back Jazz Richards. “It doesn’t matter what coach you are. You can’t coach Richards to defend”, “He’s always good for a penalty.” The game was turned around when James Tarkowski headed an own goal five minutes before the break and a Moussa Dembele strike on 64 minutes put the hosts ahead. Jack O’Connell earned a point for the Bees turning in a flick from a corner on 71 minutes. “Set pieces are a chronic malady.” LonerganRichardsGarbuttStearmanReamSmithO'HaraWoodrowKacaniklicDembeleMcCormack (c)
While Stuart Gray is seen by Cottagers as a solid defensive coach, they were impressed with the attacking substitutions (above) which he made after O’Connell’s equaliser, playing four strikers including Cauley Woodrow out wide and going for a win with a late cavalry charge. “Have a team ever been so bad a defending corners?”, “Surely there is someone out there who can work with this bunch of players and teach them how to defend set pieces.” While there were familiar grumbles about set-piece defending, several fans spotted some green shoots emerging. “Overall I saw signs of a better defensive display. We defended and closed down from the front and the work-rate was much better. We defended in numbers and were hard to break down for big periods.” Nottingham Forest 3 — 0 Fulham“That was truly terrible. We had more possession, attacks and shots on target in the first half. Then we conceded from a corner so we had to chase the game. A second goes in and it was game over”, “I just signed in to see the score, same old stuff, eh? Corners? You can write the script these days.” Forest enjoyed a comfortable win courtesy of two Matt Mills goals, both from corners just before the break and on 78 minutes and scored either side of a poached Chris O’Grady effort on 52 minutes. Mills was denied a hat-trick by the woodwork late in the game from another Forest corner kick. “The first Forest corner equals a goal”, “What a shock, when will we ever learn?”, “Does no one in the coaching team see what a shambles we are defending corners?”, “Shall we just get George Graham in for a few months to sort out the defence?”, “Not a bad idea.” The manner of this defeat left several Cottagers feeling very concerned. “I wish there was some light at the end of a very long, looming tunnel but I for one can’t see any. That wasn’t far short of humiliating”, “If we don’t sort out a coaching team we will be relegated.” Fulham 1 — 1 Preston“First day of the new manager — eight hours of corners”, “Preston score 12 goals in 17 games and it only takes them 11 minutes to score against us”, “Another wonderful Saturday afternoon on the cards, what a complete waste of time as usual”, “Behind from a corner? What a state we are.” Ross McCormack rescued a point for Fulham with a freekick on 77 minutes after the Lilywhites had opened the scoring from a Joe Garner header following a short corner after 11 minutes. The poor defending for the Preston opener was met with a weary resignation by Cottagers. “Only one point, we have to start winning games like this”, “Maybe our players aren’t as talented as we think they are”, “There is no maybe about it”, “The ship is all over the place without a captain at the helm”, “It will take a long time to fix the mess Kit left us with.” Goalkeeper and Defenders“We have missed Andy Lonergan’s presence on the pitch.” The 32-year-old former Bolton keeper replaced Cardiff loan signing Joe Lewis against Brentford after missing five games with a hamstring injury. “He made one late save from a shot which looked destined for the corner of the net.”  “Welcome back Andy!”, “Lonergan is easily our best keeper”, “Some of his saves against Brentford were first class”, “Our back four needs his vast experience”, “He is less error-prone than Lewis, who runs around the penalty box like a headless chicken, “He has to do better to get ahead of Lonergan.” Cottagers were less happy with the return of 24-year-old former Swansea right-back Jazz Richards. “Another Richards’ penalty, the guy is a complete liability. I hope he never plays for Fulham again”, “His lunge was disappointing and seems to be a bit of a habit”, “He’s starting where he left off.” “If Ryan Fredericks was not fast he would probably be another pointless player, certainly pointless on the wing anyway. He is reluctant to sprint forward and never makes a run.” The 23-year-old right-back played for Middlesbrough on loan last season from Spurs. “He is a handful and a great outlet.” “Lightning quick”, Fredericks played further forward against Brentford but fans think he is a more effective full-back. “He is the one player in the team with winning pace but where was he? He needs to find space in a wide position and we need to find him with early balls so he can run at the defence.” “Can I just say that the Brentford game was Luke Garbutt’s best?”, “I thought he had a great game.” The 22-year-old on-loan Everton left-back “showed good determination. He made mistakes like everyone else but recovered well”, “He hasn’t played a lot of football so isn’t very match sharp.” “Tim Ream isn’t a centre-half. He’s a left-back and can’t head the ball well enough.” The 28-year-old ex-Bolton man “is very flimsy and probably an outer centre-back in a defensive three. At full-back he doesn’t support attacks sufficiently”, “He lacks a physical aggressive edge. He seems a nice player.” “I would not mind seeing Ream start at the base of midfield because he is steady on the ball and fairly mobile. I feel he’s almost too nice”, “Richard Stearman and Ream like the ball at their feet and try to play it out themselves”, “We probably need a less skilful traditional defender at centre-half.” “Dan Burn is indeed great in certain situations, principally those that involve an aerial bombardment and a tall centre forward. That happened to be fairly frequently in the Championship.” The 23-year-old ex-Darlington centre-half “is as commanding as you would expect but he can lapse in concentration”. “Although Burn is good in the air, his weaknesses on the deck make him a liability”, “He’s good in the air but turns like an oil tanker”, “He can’t run but is good in the air and to be honest that is what we need”, “Milton Keynes exposed his weak side by keeping the ball on the ground and pressing him.” Richard Stearman“I like Stearman but he needs to play alongside a commanding centre-back.” The 28-year-old ex-Wolves man “is decent but physically not the strongest”, “He is a good Championship player but he needs the right partner and I am not sure Ream is that”, “He is strong but not so good in the air.”  The former Town loan signing “makes thunderous challenges” and “crunching tackles”, “Stearman is a vocal defender. You can hear him from the stands. If he stays solid he’s an option as captain”, “I thought he and Ream would be solid but they now look error-prone and short of confidence.” Central Midfielders“We have not had a true holding midfielder all season. We have had some playing further back than the others but basically all our central players are attacking players by inclination. We are too open down the middle. The defence would look stronger with a true ball-winner sitting in front of them.” Scott Parker“Old, slow and ineffective”, “The fact that the Brentford game changed completely in our favour when Scott was taken off speaks for itself”, “He is very backwards and sideways playing alongside O’Hara”, “There were obvious signs of rustiness as he looked to play his usual short passing game.”  “To play in central midfield you need to be at least one and ideally two of the following: shield, recycler or playmaker. Against Brentford Parker was none of them. He was very poor particularly when we were in possession. He simply hid and did not make himself available for the ball.” “Are we missing Scott Parker? No.” The 35-year-old former Spurs and West Ham player “has been in decline for a few years now. No matter what he has accomplished, it is all in the past”, “He is in the dwindling of his career”, “As good a player as he has been it is time for Scotty to turn it in.” Jamie O’Hara“If O’Hara’s passion was translated to talent or shared among his team-mates we might not be in such a pickle.” The former Wolves man “was such an underwhelming signing at the time but he has been absolutely brilliant for us”, “One of the few shining lights in this up-and-down season.”  The 29-year-old has been criticised for his defensive work. “Defensively O’Hara is pretty poor unless the game is at his toes. Players run past him with ease. He takes up poor positions and can be picked apart or run around easily”, “We suffer defensively due to his lack of athleticism and movement.” His drive and work on the ball have nevertheless been praised. “He has more leadership qualities than Ross McCormack and should be our captain”, “He is normally the go-to player when someone needs a pass while also taking our play forward. I hate to think where we would be without him.” Wide Midfielders“Ben Pringle was the worst man on the pitch against Forest and it is not the first time I thought that. He shouldn’t be anywhere near a respectable Championship side. He offers absolutely nothing.” The 26-year-old ex-Miller “is lightweight, can’t beat his man, won’t get stuck in and gives up too easily”. “We have the foundations of a good team and Pringle was brought in to be a part of that”, “He’s slow, weak and one out of every 10 is a great cross while the other nine go wayward. He has no skill, desire or confidence to take on a full-back”, “His high-energy harrying is like an old man shuffling.” “Alexander Kacaniklic’s inconsistency drives me mad. It is odd that a player who promises so much is never given a chance by so many different managers.” The 24-year-old Sweden left winger “is hot and cold, but mainly cold”, “He seems best when starting deeper and not hugging the touchline.” “Kacaniklic is not strong enough and doesn’t defend, so exposing our full-backs on the side he is playing. Often they end up trying to cope with two players running at them”, “He is weak physically and so over-reliant on his left foot it is embarrassing”, “His finishing and final ball needs refinement.” Tom Cairney“The wide left needs an outstanding player with pace but Cairney is no wideman”, “I don’t see him as a player naturally covering for an overlapping full-back.” The 24-year-old ex-Blackburn man “was guilty of abandoning his defensive duties against Forest, leaving Mills and O’Grady on their own”.  “Playing Tom Cairney in a central position after the break against Preston allowed him to be creative and take the reins in the final third, a role in which he flourished”, “He showed the ability to move the ball quickly and effectively through the middle. He adds a dash of verve. More of this please.” Strikers“The most pleasing aspect of the season is that we are top scorers. That is a foundation if ever there was one.” The Cottagers have a balanced attacking quartet with Moussa Dembele using strength and athleticism balancing Ross McCormack and Cauley Woodrow’s movement and technique. “Cauley Woodrow’s problem isn’t Dembele or even that he is McCormack’s under study. His main problem is that Ross doesn’t get injured or suspended.” The 21-year-old youth product “is a very talented lad and his time will surely come”, “He does seem to be getting the short straw.” Matt Smith“A unique option off the bench”, “Matt Smith always gives defenders something different to worry about and it is good to see us winning things in the air.” The 26-year-old ex-Oldham and Leeds target man “is a useful Plan Z”, “He quite clearly causes teams problems when he comes off the bench.”  Smith has his critics. “He has scored goals with his feet but his all-round play is sluggish. He lacks the pace, mobility and urgency Dembele provides when the ball is played”, “He cannot run in behind the opposition and his releasing of the ball is incredibly slow, making him an ineffective play-off point.” Some Cottagers worry that the team’s playing style alters when he appears on the pitch. “Tall players bring out the instinct in footballers to knock it long and that is what we have done”, “Smith is more than a target man. He’s a goal poacher, taking the tap-ins but also capable of a rasping drive.” Moussa Dembele“Pace and anticipation, these are what Michael Owen had. Moussa is not at that level but he has both of these”, “Moussa’s biggest strength is his anticipation of the play. We have seen him get in the right place at the right time to poke in goals alongside McCormack in the penalty area.”  “To have that much poise, confidence and composure is a fantastic asset. He could easily be the next Louis Saha”, “He has massive potential but does goes missing in games. He does not work opposition defences and lacks vision in the final third to link up or feed colleagues”, “He is still very raw.” The 19-year-old France U20 international “is a decent finisher and he adds pace, arguably the best weapon in the Championship. He has formed a decent partnership with McCormack especially as it is in the early days”, “He has pace and power but has now added the composure which was lacking.” Ross McCormack“My love for Ross knows no bounds”, “Our best player by a mile”, “I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves. Like it or not, we would be in League One without him. In many games he’s the only player on either team who can create things”, “What a partnership him and Dembele are forming.”  The 29-year-old former Cardiff and Leeds man “likes to roam and get on the ball but is just as good in the box”, “His work rate is exemplary, his finishing is of the highest class and he creates any number of chances for the rest of the team”, “His off-the-ball movement and passing are immense.” “I would not have Ross as captain”, “He is not the combative and fiery type to get the troops worked up when the need arises”, “He shows no leadership, gives no encouragement and can be negative”, “I would rather he had the freedom to play his game and completely focus on himself.” “If McCormack is up to his old trick of dropping deep, then he is not that striker we need in the box and leading the line”, “He wants the ball and drops deep to get it. I would prefer he did not, but stayed pressed up against the last defender. He is absolutely our most talented player”, “A beauty.” Cottagers’ Views on ITFC and the Game“I have not got too much faith in us against Ipswich on Tuesday.” As is normal for a midweek game, there has been little discussion about us or the game over the weekend. I will up- the forum on Tuesday afternoon if there is sufficient comment and link this on my Twitter feed. That said, Cottagers did pick up on one comment - “Mick McCarthy likes to hit the forwards a bit early” - made by Stuart Gray and it prompted one brief conversation. “It’s too early to tell about the football, but Mr Gray does a decent line in wry understatement.” “The ball will be coming down with snow on it. I hope the defence doesn't freeze”, “It’s plain to see however that Gray knows the division and good to hear him already talk straight away about the next game”, “It proves he is looking at how the opposition set up and play. “It will be a busy night for Dan Burn ahead”, “After falling out of favour for the last few matches will be interesting to see if Gray actually uses Dan Burn in defence or even Matt Smith up front from the start to add height to our starting line-up.” “Ipswich will be a tough game. They are direct, well-organised, hard to break down and physical. Last couple of times I've seen them on TV they've not been spectacular but when they get a chance, they take it. We’ll have to be on top of our game and defensively sound to get anything out of this one.” WebsitesThe busiest Fulham message board is the well informed and courteous Friends of Fulham.
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loving your work. 