This Season Can’t End Soon Enough - Notes for Fulham Monday, 18th Apr 2016 11:00 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Tuesday’s game by delving into their forums. “Another disastrous season and another group of players have failed individually and collectively”, “We are not good enough but it does not matter. We are not going down but it kills me that next April we will be having the same conversation”, “It’s hard to get excited about Fulham any more.” “You can’t blame the defence if you haven’t got one.” With Championship survival seemingly having been assured with consecutive 2-1 wins over Milton Keynes, Preston and Cardiff, Fulham crashed to a 5-0 defeat at Brighton’s Amex Stadium on Friday night. “We came down to earth with a thump.” “It has been an utter shambles of a season”, “The scoreline at Brighton was disappointing but we have seen the same frailties all season”, “There is a culture of failure and complacency embedded in the club. Players, coaches and managers come and go but the toxic stink still permeates our club.” “Wholesale changes are needed for next season”, “The Brighton defeat was appalling but it was a true reflection of what this set of players really are”, “We need a near-on entire clear out”, “#ffs should be the club’s twitter hashtag. It’s equally as fitting as #ffc”, “We really are not that good.” Slavisa Jokanovic“Jokanovic has come into a right mess. He had a transfer embargo so couldn’t sign players that he wanted. He also inherited a squad which doesn’t work in any system, not just the ones he likes to implement”, “We need to stick with the manager, something we have failed to do in recent years.”  The 47-year-old Serbian guided Watford to the top flight last year and took over at Craven Cottage in December. “All of the club know Slavisa is just seeing out the season and he can build his team in the summer. He has referred many times to the lack of ability in the squad to suit his style of play.” “We have a good manager for the first time in five years.” Fans have been impressed with what he has achieved with little room for manoeuvre. His two January loan signings, defender Michael Madl and midfielder Rohan Ince have strengthened a defence which has let in 72 league goals this season. “The best manager we have had since Roy Hodgson bar none”, “In my eyes he has been an absolute genius, being able to get anything out of that load of claptrap and even reverting to ugly football to grind out results”, “There are plenty of concerns that need attention but the manager is not one.” An Unbalanced Flawed Squad“Individually these players are all more than capable and have every right to play at this level. Yet somehow, together, they become less than the sum of their parts more often than not”, “Good teams in this league have a strong spine. We simply don’t have that and it’s all rather disjointed.” With Fulham on their fourth manager since Martin Jol’s dismissal in December 2013, their squad has undergone a series of rebuilds as each regime has attempted to arrest the club’s steady decline. The legacy of this is an unbalanced squad who struggle now to work to any playing philosophy. “We have not had a settled back five for the past three seasons. This, mixed with a lack of speed, width and strength in midfield has been the constant. The defence is not drilled, sometimes they look like they have never played together before. We need a system of playing and to stick with it.” Cottagers have highlighted the squad’s lack of physicality both in midfield and across the back four. They feel that they are ill-equipped at full-back and on the wings. Leading striker Ross McCormack is most effective playing alongside a partner, but in a side which struggles with a two-man central midfield. “You have to be well-drilled and win the physical battles before you can show off your skill”, “The defensive problems continue when we have a short, slight and slow midfield. This has been one constant through the last three years. We get killed at set-pieces because this is a physical league.” The most repeated criticism concerns the side’s lack of mental strength. “At the risk of repeating myself, it’s a mentality thing. They have no guts when things go wrong”, “At Brighton, we gave up at 2-0”, “When it comes to application and commitment, there is a long way to go to arrest the slide.” Formation“The lack of quality in this squad is killing us at the moment.” The absence of three key players from the spine of Friday’s line-up (below) at Brighton played a key role in the side’s collapse. Fans hope that centre-half Michael Madl and midfielder Tom Cairney are fit for Portman Road, while another midfielder Rohan Ince is likely to return having been unavailable against the Seagulls, his parent club. BettinelliStearmanAmorebietaFredericksReamParkerTunnicliffeHyndmanO'HaraDembeleMcCormack
“We had no chance without Cairney, Ince and Madl.” Madl’s calm organisation was missed from a hesitant and error-prone defence, Scott Parker struggled to hold or create in midfield without Ince’s physicality and athleticism, while the wide midfielders lacked Cairney’s imagination and creativity. BettinelliFredericksAmorebietaMadlReamParkerInceCairneyTunnicliffeDembeleMcCormack
The starting XI for the win at Deepdale had more balance with Ince freeing Parker to support the attack and Cairney able to exploit free space on the inside right to link with the strikers. Although not physically powerful, Madl was widely praised for his marshalling of the defence in this game. Brighton 5 — 0 Fulham“How many of us expected this thrashing?”, “That Brighton game was the good, the bad and the ugly”, “Any credibility that was accrued over the last three matches has been flushed down the plug hole. No good come out of a defeat of that magnitude. It confirms what supporters already know.” Many Cottagers felt their team had played well until Tomer Hemed opened the scoring for the hosts with a spotkick on 29 minutes after Richard Stearman had pushed Albion’s James Wilson. The Israel international added a second five minutes later when heading home an Anthony Knockaert freekick. “Another set-piece. I give up with the whole defence.” Things went from bad to worse nine minutes after the break when Bruno scored following a corner and Hemed completed his hat-trick with a tap-in on 79 minutes. Knockaert added a fifth for the Gulls, firing home three minutes from time. “We looked quite comfortable for 30 minutes and then shot ourselves in the foot with two stupid mistakes”, “There is a match by match similarity, one half good, one half bad. We have little or no pace and no idea how to defend in our area or even in our own half. Teams just have to run at us.” Fulham 2 — 1 Cardiff“Game over, three wins in a row, happy days”, “A great second-half performance, we competed until the end and actually showed some character”, “At least we have something to build on and a reason to dream”, “Up to 17th, safe now”, “I can hardly believe I’m listening to today’s match.” Cardiff midfielder Lex Immers gave the Bluebirds the lead with an unmarked header four minutes before the interval but the hosts equalised immediately when Scott Parker fired home after a well-worked move. Emerson Hyndman scored a stoppage time winner as the hosts finished strongly. Preston 1 — 2 Fulham“Massive win”, “An absolute smash and grab but what a huge win”, “Just about everything went our way tonight”, “Well done Fulham, unconvincing, unexpected but nevertheless very welcome and we are probably destined now to stay up”, “A famous victory in the frozen north on a Tuesday night.” “Remember, we don’t do clean sheets. Leading 1-0 is never enough.” Ross McCormack opened the scoring, capitalising on poor Preston defending to round the keeper after five minutes and Marnijk Vermijl drew the hosts level after a solo run and some inept Fulham defending on 63 minutes. “Is anyone else finding this unbearable?” Moussa Dembele struck home the winner after Preston keeper Anders Lindegaard was unable to hold McCormack’s well taken freekick on 74 minutes and the visitors had to withstand a sustained spell of pressure to secure three precious points. “A massive win”, “It cannot be overstated how big this is”, “I can enjoy a gin and tonic tonight out of a glass instead of drinking out of a bottle”, “We have a 35-goal strike partnership and we are battling Milton Keynes to survive. You really can’t make it up but thank the deities we have this pair.” Goalkeepers and Defenders“I like Marcus Bettinelli and he’s a top Fulham lad but he’s so far from good enough at this level that it’s not even funny. He never communicates to his defence, never comes off his line at corners and he either smacks one of our defenders, drops it or messes it up completely when he does try.”  “I have not seen enough improvement in Bettinelli to believe he is the answer”, “He’s rubbish at coming out to catch balls.” The 23-year-old youth product “is not brave or commanding enough at the moment”, “was all over the place for Brighton’s goals”, “He lacks experience or authority.” “If we are to be serious contenders next season, a experienced commanding organiser between the sticks is required”, “Bettinelli hides behind groups of players at crosses and is nowhere near the ball every time”, “The number of Brighton attacks starting from his poor clearances was unacceptable.” “I like the option of Ryan Fredericks as a more attacking full-back. He lacks fitness so can’t go at that pace for 90 minutes and I don’t think he’s that good defensively at all.” The 23-year-old right-back was at Boro last season on loan from then-parent club Spurs. “He gives us an outlet from defence.” “Fredericks has all the attributes to be a top full-back. Speed in the modern game is something that cannot be taught and the boy is lightening”, “He is certainly worth keeping and working on”, “He is the fastest player we have and we have to make use of him, even if it is as an impact substitute.” Former Blues loanee Richard Stearman has covered both at right-back and in the centre of defence. “The 28-year-old “had a shocker at Brighton and it won’t be long before he has another”, “He gave away the penalty and was outmuscled for the second”, “It sounds as if he has gone to pieces”, “He’s a clown.”  “Stearman was very good in our winning run”, “His second half against Cardiff was his best game in a Fulham shirt. He always got a nick on the ball ahead of their striker”, “He’s not quick enough to be a full-back and can be too slow to react”, “He would be a great asset if he permanently found form.” “When Fernando Amorebieta is playing, anything can happen.” The 31-year-old ex-Athletic Bilbao centre-back “plays on the edge and is highly committed. His rashness can possibly lead to red cards but how many times has he been actually sent off?”, “He brings missing aggression to the defence.” “I’m not Amorebieta’s biggest fan but he had a blinder against Cardiff”, “He didn’t lose a header at Preston and more than capably dealt with Joe Garner”, “It was a five-star display and for once he was disciplined and determined, one of the reasons we held out”, “No silly challenges and fouls.” One time Darlington man Dan Burn has been used as a bench option in recent games. The 6ft 5in tall 23-year-old “was beaten by Michael Morrison in the air for Birmingham’s equaliser last month”, “I don’t rate Burn at all, he has no ball skills. He’s tall and that’s it”, “I wish we had someone more reliable.” “Tim Ream is more of a solid rather than attacking option at left-back.” The 28-year-old ex-Bolton man “struggled against Birmingham, a little flat-footed at times and he got turned inside-out by a couple of their players. He was a centre-back playing out of position and looked uncomfortable.” “Ream gave Knockaert too much space against Brighton, often being too high up the field”, “He gets caught out of position far too often”, “We have major problems in our full-back positions and using Ream and Stearman has been Jokanovic’s last throw of the dice to plug the holes in our defence.” “Luke Garbutt is useless. His man-marking is woeful and his crossing is beyond rubbish.” The 22-year-old left-back is on a season-long loan from Everton. “He doesn’t have the basics down to give me confidence he will improve”, “He is poor but provides width and pace and we really need that.”  “The real disappointment with Garbutt is that he has not been prepared to be brave in attack. He often stops dead and plays a simple ball inside to another player rather than push on and cross or attack the box. Opponents get back into formation and it encourages them to attack our left side.” Michael Madl“It will be interesting to see how the defence will cope against Brighton without Madl playing. Have they learned anything about corners, set-pieces and silly mistakes?” The 28-year-old Austrian arrived on loan from Sturm Graz in January and was a huge miss from Friday’s game with a calf injury. “With no Madl the script was written at Brighton as our defenders lacked cohesion and could not defend for 90 minutes without him”, “Without him at the back I fear our defence will always be in for a rough ride”, “Our most consistent defender has added some stability with his temperament.” “Madl has been great for us. He has occasional slip-ups but overall has been very good. He seems a strong leader and is an ideal person to have in the middle of our back four”, “He’s a clever reader of the game, far superior to physically taller and bulkier team-mates”, “He has carried us at the back.” Defensive Midfielders“When Chris Baird plays he sits in front of the back four and protects.” The 34-year-old is back on loan from the Rams at his former club. “He is a defender but is a disciplined and sensible option as a holding midfielder, sitting in front of the defence and using his experience to break up play.” “Ryan Tunnicliffe is good when he’s running with his head down but as soon as he looks up and has an opportunity to shoot, cross or pick a pass he goes to pieces.” The 23-year-old former Town loanee “adds energy and commitment but is being asked to do an unnatural job out wide on the left flank”. “Tunnicliffe is a natural replacement for Scott Parker and gives you more energy in the middle”, “Our form suffered when out for months with his hamstring injury”, “He may be too much of an action man to play the holding role. I want him to be more the patrolling guard dog behind the midfield.” Rohan Ince“Ince is very good at what he does and has exactly the qualities we need in this league, tackling and the legal exertion of physical presence of the highest order”, “He is so solid. Nothing gets by him”, “He’s the midfield giant we needed for a while and his presence gives Parker freedom to push on.” “A defensive midfielder doing a defensive midfielder’s job.” The 23-year-old arrived in February on loan from Brighton and was ineligible on Friday. “An absolute beast and you can’t fault him. He wins everything he goes for, starts good attacks and finds a white shirt near him.” Scott Parker“Parker has been very good in our recent winning run.” The 35-year-old ex-Spurs and West Ham man “never stops running, is class and makes so many good tackles. He battles so hard out there”, “He’s a warrior and took his goal against Cardiff well. He never stopped running, a workhorse.”  “Bravery, passion and commitment”, “We have seen how important Scott’s leadership has been in recent weeks”, “We lack leadership without Parker”, “The number of times he has genuinely hurt himself diving in front of the ball and giving everything is all you need to know about him.” “Parker helps with his grit and is great at releasing McCormack”, “I love Parker for his energy but ever since he has played in our midfield we get hammered at corners and set-pieces. With Ince’s height and power to balance him we have looked better but in a way I will be glad when he retires.” Creative and Attacking MidfieldersYouth product Lasse Vigen Christensen has made a couple of substitute appearances in recent games. The 21-year-old “had a really positive impact when coming on with his tenacity and fast footwork against Cardiff”, “He positively impacted the game on the left, an improvement on Tunnicliffe.” “Is it me or do we have a defensive problem when Jamie O’Hara plays? I sense the team just lacks space and confidence when he is in midfield.” The 29-year-old ex-Wolves and Blackpool midfielder “seems to slow down so many of our moves. His first inclination is to turn backwards and kill momentum”. “O’Hara plays the role of deep-lying playmaker”, “When he and Parker play together, moves often get bogged down in midfield”, “His style is very one dimensional at times and midfielders can run past him easily”, “He does give his all every time and is one of the few players who can claim that.” “Emerson Hyndman carries the ball well and passes forward with purpose. He knows how to use his body to compensate for his pack of physical presence and he always wants the ball.” The 20-year-old youth product “is remarkably good at evading a challenge and coming away with the ball.” “Hyndman as strong defending as Tunnicliffe but is superior from an attacking perspective”, “He has an eye for a telling pass”, “He will bulk up and become stronger but he’s a dynamo in midfield and always shows for the ball”, “He’s a player with the rare ability to create time for himself on the ball.” Tom Cairney“Cairney was the big miss for us at Brighton as we had no spark whatsoever.” The 25-year-old summer signing from Blackburn was absent with a dead leg. “Tom has been a star when we have played him in a three-man central midfield”, “He just drifts past players and goes on good runs.”  “Cairney can do everything. He can run with the ball and take people on. He can pass, create chances and score goals and doesn’t mind chipping in defensively”, “One of the most accurate passers in the division”, “With this season coming to nothing, I look forward to seeing what he does next year.” “Any team building next year should be around Cairney playing behind the strikers. He will be more important to how we do next season than McCormack”, “He has to learn to shoot with his right foot and learn that it’s not just for standing on”, “He can float into pockets of space and slip people in.” Strikers“Cauley Woodrow is better at holding the ball than Dembele and his work-rate is excellent.” The 21-year-old striker has featured recently as a substitute. “He is a workhorse, offers another goal scoring option and a nice wide target to hold the ball although he will never be in same class as Dembele.” “On the bright side, Matt Smith did not get on at Brighton.” The 26-year-old “is a nice guy but not a Jokanovic type of player”, “Immobile and literally useless with the ball at his feet. There’s a reason why every manager in the world - probably minus Tony Pulis - would play Dembele ahead of him.” “Smith isn’t capable of finishing like McCormack but can disrupt and unsettle defences.” The former Leeds man “is slow, ponderous and offers nothing unless the ball is played to his head”, “I would imagine he will drop down a league or join another Championship struggler to get first-team action.” Moussa Dembele“We lack pace in the team without Moussa”, “He is getting goals and his pace bothers defences so he deserves his regular place in the team”, “A fantastic player who has strength, speed and who can finish”, “Milton Keynes could not handle him, he was strong, fast and had some nice first touches.”  The 19-year-old French striker “has good ball control and drives at pace towards defences with clean, accurate and powerful shooting”, “He no longer enjoys the big physical advantages which he had in underage football. He has had to learn how to deal with thuggish Championship defenders.” “Dembele needs to work on his first touch, his attitude and his ability to play as a lone striker but he clearly has all the attributes and works hard”, “His first touch is clearly improving but he is prone to periods of lethargy in games”, “He doesn’t turn up in sometimes, but he has to play every game.” Ross McCormack“Goal, who else would it be? Super Ross”, “He is pivotal to everything we do on the pitch. He creates and scored”, “Considering we can’t get a consistent side, he has saved us on numerous occasions”, “He has been involved in 48 per cent of Fulham’s goals this season. My, oh my”, “No Ross, no goals.”  The 29-year-old one-time Leeds striker “is essential to us scoring goals both directly and with his build-up play. Any attempt to build a team without him would be suicidal and the start of the worst goal famine in our history”, “He was brought in to score goals and has kept his part of the bargain.” “Ross is unable to play as a lone striker because he lacks height or strength of a big forward or the speed and ball skills of a poacher. He doesn’t fit the mould of a second striker as he and Dembele don’t work in partnership. He plays more as a third attacking player given freedom of movement.” “My concern is that McCormack does not fit comfortably with any formation we can make with the other players we have in the squad”, “He leaves us tactically limited and I don’t see leadership in him”, “He’s short in stature and lacking in pace, so he is only really suited to a strike partnership.” Cottagers’ Views on ITFC and the Game“Who is going to Ipswich this Tuesday? It’s a good away trip and a shame it's not a Saturday. Okay, we never get anything against them but I will be there”, “I’m not expecting a result to be honest as we never do that well but we are due a Fulhamish [unexpectedly good] result.” “Ipswich have gone. We possibly couldn’t be playing them at a better time”, “They are going through a rough patch at the moment”, “I am looking for a huge reaction to the Brighton game at Portman Road on Tuesday. I wonder if Mick McCarthy will be licking his lips.” Cottagers have only just got their matchday threads up and running with the weekend having passed. I will update the forum on Tuesday afternoon and link this on my twitter feed if they have any interesting additional feedback ahead of the game. WebsitesThe busiest Fulham message-board is the polite and knowledgeable Friends of Fulham.
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