I’ve put together a set of fantasy Fulham kits for the forthcoming 13/14 season.

It looks like FxPro won’t be on our shirts this time as theres a rumour that Marathon Bet will be our shirt sponsor next season so I’ve used their logo, I have no idea if they will be our sponsor?

I’ve tried to give each shirt a “retro” look echoing some of our previous shirts:

echo’s of the 94-96 shirt

pure white with highlights in red and black

remember Danny at Portsmouth?

back to 2001-02

back to the early 90′s

simple (nearly) all black, reflections of the 05-06 Puma kit

All of these are pure fantasy and I have no “inside”, or otherwise, info on what the new seasons kit will look like, probably nothing like these, these are all my own designs based on Adidas tempaltes

Fortress Fulham is No More

Today, Fulham played the least talented side in the Premier League and lost to them 2-4. Questionable team selection, early lethargy, late disorganization, and the abject failure of fan favorite players to play well all contributed to Reading winning only its second road match of the season, and its first three points anywhere in at least three months.

Fulham began brightly with Damien Duff giving Reading LB Stephen Kelly a quick lesson in how to play out of position. Twice within the first 90 seconds, Duff mastered the Reading left side and, on the second occasion, whipped in a cross that Bryan Ruiz met with a hard volley. It was well saved by Reading’s 23 year old Irish keeper McCarthy – a continuing theme throughout the day. Immediately after, Jol had Duff swap wings with Emanuelson and Fulham’s early pressure was relieved.

For the next 10 minutes or so, Fulham did their best imitation of 11 guys strolling around on a green expanse with little or no understanding why. At that point John Arne Riise attempted a routine clearance which, instead, only cleared the ankle of Hal Robson-Kanu. Robson-Kanu – who we’ve been told repeatedly is not good enough to play for Fulham – coolly converted as Reading assumed a lead it would never relinquish. Fulham seemed content with that lead and continued to loll around in the almost summer almost sunshine.

Until Martin Jol made a significant change in the 26th minute, that is. On came Hugo Rodallega at the expense of Giorgos Karagounis, who had been doing a fine imitation of a statue on loan from the Parthenon. Immediately, Fulham began to gel and, for the rest of the half showed their superiority in both talent and tactical nous. Unfortunately, Reading was the only side to have come out of the dressing room and were soon bossing the ball. In the 62nd minute, Robson-Kanu scored again.

And then the match became fun to watch – for a neutral observer. Fulham gained control and Ruiz scored to reduce the deficit to 1-2. Then substitute Adam Le Fondre made it 1-3. Some superb attacking play by Fulham resulted in a sweet cross from the right by substitute Alex Kacaniklic that resulted in a headed [?] goal by Fulham’s Costa Rican barely two minutes later. At this point, it was 2-3 and Fulham looked the side most likely. There were a few chances by each side before Rodallega nearly shattered the crossbar with as clean a connection as you’ll see in a long time.

The game was in the balance when Brede Hangeland nodded the ball to Reading midfielder Jem Karacan, who immediately slotted home his first ever Premier League goal. Some more excitement followed, but that was that. Fulham demonstrated once again that they can be easily unsettled by teams that press on defense and attack wide … even teams as weak as Reading … even at the Cottage.

And now the inevitable comments. I thought that the match day squad was a bit strange. Special K had played Fulham’s best football at Everton but was relegated to the bench. Kerim Frei didn’t even make the bench. Whatever Jol was thinking at the time was a mystery, but it must be said that the substitutions of Rodallega and Kacaniklic contributed mightily to Fulham’s attack.

As for the players, thank you very much Mr. Emanuelson. I sincerely hope we don’t see you in a Fulham kit again. Mr. Enoh, today’s performance made me wish not only for Emmanuel Frimpong, but also for Dickson Etuhu. Mr. Karagounis, feel free to start your summer holidays Sunday morning. And, Mr. Schwarzer? Well, you deserve your own paragraph.

On the day when Fulham’s on loan keeper David Stockdale saw his now [and future?] club Hull promoted to the Premier League, Tha Big Aussie showed us all why Stockers should have  been Fulham’s #1 all season. Not content with just distributing poorly and slowing down our counter-attacks – something we’ve seen all this season, and most of last – Schwarzer showed no positioning sense, collided with his own players, flapped his arms for no apparent reason more than even Dimitar Berbatov, and unsettled his back four to the point where mistakes were inevitable. There’s no way to sugar coat it from my point of view. Schwarzer was god awful today, and the lack of quality in his performance was highlighted by the calm, sure performance of the opposing goalkeeper in his first top-flight season at nearly half our Australian’s age.

On the bright side, I think we saw what Hugo Rodallega can do when paired with Berbatov today. He was great. He laid off the ball well, ran into and created space, passed accurately and wasn’t afraid to take a crack at goal. He could easily have had three goals today. Once the disappearance of Karagounis allowed Ruiz to take up the attacking center mid role, he performed well. He was much more of an attacking presence in this position than he has been most of the season playing just off Berbatov’s shoulder. And, to be fair, Jol’s substitutions and tactical adjustments made the match more entertaining and close. Because, face it, any Premier League side whose best striker is NOT Pavel Pogrebnyak would have toasted us today.

That’s all I’m going to say positive about our gaffer, though. Regardless of what we do against Liverpool next week, we have lost more matches at the Cottage this season than at any time since we began a season with Lawrie Sanchez as our manager. We’re still abysmal at erasing leads, and – after two full seasons – I still can’t figure out what Martin Jol’s preferred playing style is. One thing is for certain: the days of Fortress Fulham are over. Our “hard to beat at home” performances that have kept us in the Prem are becoming a faint memory. While some believe that this is all down to the presence of Philippe Senderos on the pitch, some of us believe that the boss has to take some responsibility somewhere.

So, we’re now 12th, and I expect that victories by AstonVilla and Wigan are going to make some folks even more concerned that Fulham aren’t safe on 40 points. I still firmly believe that no team will be relegated with as many as 39 points. If there’s anyone around to challenge Wigan for 18th, it’s certainly Newcastle, Sunderland, or Norwich.

Finally, I don’t usually award a Man of the Match when we lose by two goals at home, but I’m going to make an exception forHugo Rodallega. He had a hell of a match today and almost turned Fulham around enough to gain points.

COYW

In a Fulham season of unfilled voids, back-to-back red cards and mercurial star players, there has been one shining light. Sascha Riether, brought in on loan from Cologne in the summer, has exceeded all expectations and put himself in contention for signing of the season.

When news broke of the German international joining the club in July, it’s fair to say that the reaction towards him was somewhat nugatory. Riether’s parent club had just been relegated from the Bundesliga without a whimper, and he’d spent most of the season playing as a makeshift holding-midfielder.  On paper, he may not have looked like the solution to Fulham’s right-back problems. ‘Problems’ may be a harsh choice of words as the hardworking Stephen Kelly proved solid enough, but he was still arguably the weak link in the starting XI. The team was crying out for a similar full-back to Riise — someone who would get up and support their winger, whilst being more than competent defensively.

Ever since the opening game of the current season, which saw Fulham crush Norwich five goals to nil, the type of player the Cottagers had on their hands in Riether was evidently clear. The Lahr-born defender is a rare balance of attacking potency and defensive reliability. One moment he’ll be on the overlap, preparing to put a cross in the box; the next, he’ll be nicking the ball away from his man near his own penalty-area and setting off on another attack. It’s this trait that has made Riether one of Fulham’s most reliable performers. His engine is incredible, and Matthew Etherington felt the full effects of it. Despite clearly carrying a knock, he was knackered after 20 minutes during the Stoke home fixture in February.

One of the high-profile incidents in Manchester United’s title-winning effort was Sir Alex hauling off Rafael before half-time against Reading. He’d had one of those games where he’d been run ragged, picked up a silly booking early on, and  looked like getting sent off. You’d struggle to find a match remotely similar concerning Riether. He may not be a match-winner like the Brazilian, but he’ll always contain the opposition threat on his side. The German’s most impressive performance actually came against the Reds earlier in the year, when United’s left-flank was completely nullified. From a neutral perspective Riether versus Nani will always sway towards the latter; however, the right-back just shut him out. It was a surprisingly dominant showing. He was first to every lofted pass and won the continuing jostling competition. He of course still made himself an asset down the other end of the pitch, supplying some fine crosses to Hugo Rodallega and linking up well with Ashkan Dejagah; making sure he got back to put a damper on Nani.

The aforementioned partnership of Ashkan Dejagah and Riether is an exciting prospect. The duo were just as vital to Wolfsburg’s Bundesliga title win in 2009 as the headline grabbers, Edin Dzeko and Grafite. The Iranian arrived in the Premier League off the back of a respectable top-half finish with the Saxony club, racking up a respectable three goals and seven assists over the course of the season. At first he looked lightweight, slower than many remembered from his time in Germany, and weak defensively, but from West Brom away onwards, he’s been a revelation. The linkup play between Dejagah and Riether truly came (back) to fruition at White Hart Lane in March, where their neat exchanges led to Dimitar Berbatov’s only goal of the game.

It’s a shame that there weren’t many people talking up the idea of Riether getting a spot in the PFA Team of the Year. The last Fulham player to feature was, funnily enough, another right-back in Steve Finnan eleven years ago. With the two favourites Pablo Zabaleta and Rafael coming from the two Manchester clubs occupying first and second place in the League, it was always going to be a tough ask — especially as Fulham have had very limited TV coverage this campaign. Dimitar Berbatov’s popularity is another reason for the German’s exploits slipping under the radar. The closing comment for every Fulham highlights slot and match report is usually something along the lines of, ” it was the Bulgarian Berbatov who stole the show”. Sure, he does all the flicks, outrageous first touches, and garners all the plaudits, but consistency has evaded him this term.  The Whites would be in a dire situation without his goals and mainly positive contribution, but Sascha Riether has been the main man; the epitome of consistency. Whatever the fee, the powers that be at Craven Cottage would be mad not to sign him on a permanent deal.

Brave, Strong, Resilient, and Defeated

On the whole, I’d rather we played poorly and got the three points, but an undermanned Fulham showed Arsenal and much of the football world how to play for 80 minutes with only 10 men. I can’t remember a time this season when I have been more proud of the mighty Whites. The final score was 0-1, but this was a million miles away from a boring match.

If there was any doubt who would come out on top when the opening whistle sounded, the mystery essentially ended in the 12th minute when Steve Sidwell, fresh from a three match suspension for a straight red card, earned another with a reckless, two-footed, over-the-ball tackle. There were chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing” aimed at referee Andre Marriner from the Hammersmith End, but if there ever was a clear red, this was it. It’s a shame that Sidwell will end his very best season in the Black and White with only 12 minutes of play sandwiched between six days of suspension.

Despite the fact that Arsenal were in complete control of the ball inside the first 10 minutes, Fulham could have actually been ahead well before Sidwell left the field of play. After some very good work on the right wing by makeshift RB Stanislav Manolev, Urby Emanuelson missed a clear opportunity to play in a wide open Dimitar Berbatov for what would have been his easiest goal of the season.

To get the details out of the way, Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker got the only goal of the match when Bryan Ruiz fell asleep while marking Lauren Koscielny on a free kick. Arsenal had two other shots on target, and Berbatov, Emanuelson, Ruiz, and Kieran Richardson all had creditable efforts repelled. Arsenal found themselves down to 10 men in the 90th minute when Olivier Giroud autographed Manolev’s ankle.

Okay, Hatter, what exactly was it that made you so proud in losing the match? Didn’t you notice that Arsenal had more than ¾ of possession? Yes, I did notice that. I also noticed that we counter-attacked with gusto – and, for perhaps the first time this season – with pace from the wings. Kacaniklic started on the left and ran at and turned defenders with aplomb. Emanuelson played on the right wing and bedeviled Arsenal’s Monreal the entire match. Richardson was put in to counter the pace of Arsenal’s right-sided attack and did well, while still managing to get forward on occasion. Manolev had the most difficult job on the pitch, that of replacing Fulham’s player of the season, Sascha Riether. Not only was his defense excellent, but he slipped into Riether’s role of primary attacker quite seamlessly. He even put the ball into the net late in the match, but he was one of two players who were in offsides position at the time.

As the match went on, Fulham became more aggressive in their counter-attacks using both wings and excessive speed – all this while maintaining good defensive shape and organization. Arsenal’s defense was not happy, and resorted to fouling to slow Fulham down as they continued to wonder why they couldn’t score against what should have been a depleted and dispirited team. When Martin Jol finally got around to resting his exhausted warriors, the two substitutions – Mladen Petrić and Kerim Frei – didn’t miss a beat in pressuring the Gunners. And the spirit! For me, Fulham’s attitude was exemplified by the much maligned Philippe Senderos in the right winger’s position[!], crossing into the penalty area and winning a corner, and then taking up his attacking position with a roar and a pump of that giant left fist.

I have a few moans, but none of them were the cause of anything that determined the points distribution. Once Sidwell left his mark on Mikel Arteta and the match, the points were essentially decided. If there was one player who disappointed me it was Berbatov. If he expended as much effort in moving his legs as he did waving his arms in disgust at his teammates, he might not have been caught offsides so much. At times it looked as if he wanted to be known as the Bulgarian Collins John.

On the plus side, I really am warming to Eyong Enoh. He was lucky not to get a yellow early in the first half for repeated fouling, but he looks like he’s going to become an excellent central midfielder. I don’t know his contract status, but I think he’s one we should hold on to with a contract longer than one year. Emanuelson also looked very good, but he’s only got four more matches left in our colors. Richardson looked a natural left back today and played with a lot of spirit and heart. As I said before, Manolev played a great game. I hope we keep him as well. Senderos was strong in central defense and partnered well with the man whose name I heard more even than Arsene Wenger’s: Brede Hangeland. His brief two-match slump is over.

The gaffer selected a good squad and starting XI, and the lads did a great job of work today. With special mention to our giant Norwegian Texan, HatterDon’s Man of the Match goes to Martin Emanuelson Manolev Enoh Kacaniklic.

COYW!

Tame Fulham Surrender Meekly to The Undead

Today, Fulham hosted a match-weary Chelsea at The Cottage and, before a nearly packed house allowed the visitors to stroll to the easy victory they sorely needed in their drive to finish in the top four. Three goals by Chelsea’s two central defenders – only one of them from a set piece – did the trick, and with the loss, Fulham have now garnered one point from their last three matches. The Whites are the Premier League’s form team no longer.

Ah, but it might have been so different. For the first 20-25 minutes of the match, Chelsea looked toothless – little cohesion between defense and attack, and giving the ball away all too easily. They looked listless and cautious. By contrast, Fulham were spraying the ball all over the park and creating chances. Ruiz, Berbatov, and Karagounis scorned full or half chances, but Fulham looked to be in an attacking mood, with the always impressive Sascha Riether the most potent force up the right wing. One could have found himself wondering what Fulham could do in this mood with Ashkan Dejagah prowling the right in cahoots with Riether. But then … .

Totally against the run of play, Fulham found themselves behind. David Luiz, certainly the most interesting central defender in the league, looked to be no danger to a well-organized Fulham midfield and defense when on the half hour he launched a screamer from fully 40 yards into the upper right corner of Mark Schwarzer’s net. Nobody was at fault with the goal. You kind of hope that opposing central defenders will decide to shoot from that range. And Fulham were behind 0-1.

When a few spirited attempts for a quick equalizer suddenly petered out, Fulham fell back to playing ball control. Facing a side that had played 12 matches in six weeks [while Fulham had played 5], Fulham became content to string pass after pass along the midfield and then check back and let the central defenders play a one-two before going back to the same routine. When Chelsea screwed up a corner just before half time, John Terry remained in the Fulham penalty area. Instead of moving quickly to take advantage of Chelsea’s aging, slowing captain being so far out of position, Fulham instead began their agonizingly slow and steady progression up the field. When the ball was finally lost, Terry was right where he stood when his side took the corner. One quick pass and Terry left Riether for dead, sneaked behind Senderos and scored with a well-taken header. 0-2 just before the half. If there was anyone in the park that didn’t believe that the three points were gone for good, he must have been deluding himself.

Terry added a third in the second half, leaping between Senderos and Riether – the latter was ready to clear Fernando Torres shot off the line – to head home from about 6 inches. Schwarzer didn’t stand a chance with any of the goals. Fulham? Fulham made a few forays up the field as Chelsea contented themselves to inviting attack and then quickly countering. Senderos should have pulled one back but for a heroic goal-line block by his teammate, Mladen Petrić. And that was it.

Chelsea, who hadn’t won a league match on the road for three months, walked [and I do mean WALKED] away with the easiest three points they’ll have in a long time. And, yes, I know the difference in the cost between the two match day squads, but the truth is that Fulham drew their last four matches with the other team in Fulham – two and perhaps three of those matches could easily have been Chelsea defeats. They were exhausted from their efforts in three different competitions, and are desperately trying to fight off efforts by Arsenal and Tottenham to deprive them of eligibility to participate in the Champions League. They were nervous, slow-witted, and fully at sixes and sevens, and … .

An attacking team that counts on speed and width could easily have dominated the Chelsea of the first 25 minutes of the match. Attacks up the wing, simple running of the channels could have spread their defense and made them more easy to turn – more apt to make critical mistakes. Chelsea was there to be taken by a team that pushes up wide and quickly, that stretches the defense, that drives to the dead ball line. But Martin Jol Sexy Football © doesn’t allow for that. No, in order to play MJSF, you must move upfield carefully and, at the first sight of a defender stop short. Instead of putting that defender under pressure, you must check back and pass sideways or – preferably backwards . In MJSF, the traditional “slow, slow, quick-quick, slow” football interpretive dance must be performed as “slow, slow, slower-slower, slowest.” It is a prayer come true for tired, jaded defenders and midfielders and especially for aging, half-speed central defenders.

So, we lost, and if we play like that against Arsenal – just as hungry for points and not nearly so tired, we’ll get smashed by them as well.

Quick snapshots department.
1.   This was Hangeland’s second sub-standard match in a row. Was his dramatic return to form just a short good patch of play? Is the poor play we saw so much of in late 2012 now the norm?
2.   I absolutely hate the fact that the Petrić that I’ve been calling for to get a chance was nothing short of horrid on the day.
3.   Why was our first substitution made at the expense of our most sure footed defender? Riise was excellent today. I hope not to hear any more calls for him to be rested.
4.   Somewhat related, I immediately understood why Jol converted Emanuelson from a left back to a midfielder.
5.   It was cruel to bring on Frei so late and have him run the left wing. We could have used his pace and his natural attacking instinct on the right wing and from the very beginning.

Things I am tired of seeing over and over that I saw again today:
1.   Berbatov STANDING 10 yards from a loose ball and making not the slightest move to win it.
2.   Karagounis auditioning for RADA. I know that everybody loves his all out effort, and the Ancient Greek does take a good free kick/corner, but his histrionics, his constant wailing and moaning, AND his diving should be an embarrassment to Fulham and its supporters. You’ve got game, dammit; play football like a man.

Oh, and there is no Man of the Match when we lose 0-3 to The Undead.

Grumble, grumble.

Fulham So Close to Stealing a Point at St. James’s

If there is a team that Fulham can feel confident playing away, it’s Newcastle United. If there’s a team that Newcastle do NOT want to play with relegation in the conversation, it’s Fulham. Add these two sentences to one pointing out that Fulham are in the best form in three seasons, and you figure that the Barcodes are going to be in for long day. And they were.

Fulham started calmly and efficiently – challenging everywhere on the pitch and stringing together passes in the double digits. Berbatov, who has been in choice form himself, had Fulham’s and the game’s first opportunity to score after 5 minutes. He slapped a shot with the outside of his right boot that beat the keeper but not the cross bar. Fulham had a couple of other “almost” chances for a goal, both involving Berbatov. The first came from a cross from Riether that only a single toe of an extended boot stopped from rolling to our unmarked striker. Another chance came with a cross from Duff that looked to be cleared by a Newcastle defender. Berbatov saw this and moved quickly to challenge for the second ball, only to see the defender miss it and the ball fall exactly where he’d been standing.

And then there was the goalmouth scramble that resulted in a close-in save from a stabbed effort by Manolev. Mostly, though, and especially in the second half, the story was about wasted opportunity after wasted opportunity for Newcastle. Cisse and Gouffran were especially profligate. Eventually, 3 or so minutes into 5 minutes of injury time, Cisse finally converted from close range and the match was settled. Fulham’s unbeaten run is over.

Fulham’s run of good play is NOT over. The team in Godawful Orange dominated the midfield and played the more stylish football. From the beginning of the match, Newcastle were the more physical side. Cisse had no fewer than four fouls called for “clattering a Fulham player from behind” in the first 10 minutes, and committed at least three more fouls before finally getting a yellow card – for leaping into a crowd of happy Geordies.

What Newcastle did not do well was to capitalize on occasional lapses from Fulham’s midfield and defense. The final shot total was 28-5 in favor of The Barcodes, with the shot-on-target total reading 5-2. On another day, Berbatov converts all of his chances and Fulham win 0-3. On another day, Schwarzer, Hangeland, Riise, and the woodwork DON’T combine to keep Newcastle scoreless for 93 minutes. It was a fair result, and there was nothing in Fulham’s play that should upset any of their supporters – but you KNOW that there will be plenty of fingers pointed in the cyber world.

Fulham began the match with two new starters – Stanislav Manolev, who the announcer kept saying was making his league debut [ignoring the fact that he’d already done that down the road a piece] and Eyong (Brian) Enoh. Manolev did fairly well on the right side of midfield, but he was replacing Fulham’s most improved AND improving player, Ashkan Dejagah, and so looked substandard by comparison. He did NOT hurt the team at all, but his play wasn’t of as high a level as that of  Enoh who was replacing the suspended Steve Sidwell. He was an excellent contributor to Fulham’s first half domination and anchored the midfield well. He left with an injury five minutes into the second half, and Fulham never got control of the match thereafter. Emmanuel Frimpong came on to replace him and played well enough, but he didn’t have Enoh’s bite. I hope his injury isn’t so severe that we don’t see him again. Fulham’s other substitute, Hugo Rodallega, might have stolen the match for The Whites in Orange shortly after he came on, but he was wasteful of a brilliant pass from Berbatov, showing the same hesitation and confusion that every attacker in black and white stripes showed the entire match … until minute 93.

So, we didn’t win and, in the process, gave up points to several other sides near us. But there should be no shame in this. You can’t win them all, and Fulham really didn’t deserve a point, never mind three.

Hatter Don’s Man of the Match is Captain Brede Hangeland. Yes, Tha Big Aussie had some great saves. Yes Riise shut Newcastle’s attacks down the right time and again. Yes, Berbatov was by many miles the classiest player on the pitch, and yes, Ruiz really has added strength to his game. But the one phrase I kept hearing over and over again today was, “and Hangeland clears.” He was little short of awesome today. It was a good enough shift to compare to any he’s turned in since Roy Hodgson brought him here.

Next up? Aston [gulp] Villa at Villa Park. As Watt used to say, “Oh well, what the hell.”

Fulham Steady, Tottenham Unready

Fulham made the short trek to North London today to face the Tottenham side who had demolished them 0-3 earlier in the season. There was little hope that the Southwest London side could get anything from the return fixture. Spurs were at home, in the top four, and their best player – Gareth Bale – did not participate in their midweek Europa League tie. Add to that the fact that Fulham have been a woeful eyesore on the road this season, and the match promised to be the Tottenham walkover that most pundits, including the South Texan writing this report, predicted.

But funny things happen on the way to the final whistle, and many of them occurred at White Hart Lane today. In the first half, Fulham displayed the football that has driven so many of their supporters nuts this season. Each possession featured multiple sideways and backwards passing until, eventually, the ball was surrendered to the team in white. It’s hard to moan about these losses of possession. If your [apparent] game plan is to get from your penalty area to the opponent’s penalty area in no fewer than 27 passes, chances are at least one will go awry. And so it was that Steve Sidwell took Fulham’s first shot in the 41st minute, and arced it a good 40 yards above the crossbar.

While Fulham’s “attack” was sputtering along going nowhere, their defense looked solid almost from the start. Spurs decided to rest Defoe and Lennon – who had niggling injuries – and persist with Adebayor up front despite season-long indifferent form. Bale looked a bit the worse for wear after a challenge, and Assou-Ekotto looked more than out of place in midfield. Dembélé was excellent, but the pieces that made up the Spurs XI didn’t seem to fit. Much of this was down to the consistency of Fulham’s defense. After twice conceding possession in dangerous positions within the first 70 seconds – Karagounis and Riise the culprits – Fulham’s back four settled down well, and were mightily assisted by Karagounis and Sidwell.

It didn’t take the White Hart Lane faithful long to express their frustration. EVERY Spurs pass that went sideways or backwards was greeted by growls of disapproval. I have to wonder how they’d like watching Fulham every week. They’d all be hoarse inside 30 minutes.

The second half looked like more of the same until the always-dangerous Ashkan Dejagah won possession in his own half, managed to slip past Dembélé and then feed Sascha Riether wide on the right. From deep midfield, Dimitar Berbatov streaked upfield with pace I didn’t know he possessed. Cross, calm conversion, and 0-1. Our 3rd shot in the match was our 1st shot on goal and a goal – all in minute 52. Not too shabby. For the next 20 or so minutes, Fulham dominated the pitch. Far from being gored into fighting back, Tottenham had their hands full keeping Fulham from a second. Hangeland, playing on the left wing [!] won a corner and then was presented with a clear header with half the goal to aim at. Somehow, he put it wide, and increased the acid content in my stomach exponentially.

How much were Fulham in charge? Clint Dempsey, who was subbed on at half time – first affected the play guarding Senderos in a succession of Fulham corners about 15 minutes later. Adebayor, despite working very hard, was mastered all day by his man-marker Philippe Senderos. Riether and Riise were tidy on the wings and Hangeland took care of everything else from his goal line to the center circle.

Tottenham did make some inroads, most especially when Jermain Defoe came on after the hour mark, but one brilliant Mark Schwarzer save aside, everything Defoe, Dempsey, Adebayor, and Bale threw at Fulham was meat and drink for an extremely well-organized and disciplined defense. I’ve seen Spurs play many times this season, and I’ve never seen them create so few clear chances.

Do I have quibbles about today’s performance? Of course. It is beginning to appear as if Karagounis actually came to us from the Royal Shakespeare Company. I haven’t witnessed such serial anguish since I saw King Lear. But mostly, I think there’s some kudos to pass along. Dejagah, who can be forgiven for not getting Fulham’s second late in the match, was a massive pain in the ass for everyone in white today. Riether was excellent. Duff did a fine job – especially in defense – and Schwarzer’s late save from Defoe was amazing when you consider how little he had been called upon to do.

HatterDon’s Man of the Match is Philippe Senderos. Part of this award is in recognition of dozens of cool and efficient decisions he made in his own penalty area in pressure situations. Part is in recognition of him marking Adebayor out of the match. And, of course, part is to piss off the huge cohort of Senderos haters who, each week, have less and less reason to despise him so.

Great result today and, given today’s other outcomes, we just might be clean and clear. Well done the lads and, if nobody gets hurt during the international break, it might be fun against QPR in a fortnight’s time.

COYW

Lost in the Sunshine

If J.M. Barrie were reincarnated as a sports journalist, he might be tempted to refer to AFC Sunderland players in today’s match as “The Lost Boys.” Time after time throughout this very entertaining match, the players in red and white demonstrated their basic inability to accomplish routine football tasks. Thankfully, for them, the very organized and smoothly efficient team they were facing were Fulham FC, and so they paid very little for their sins. As usual, Fulham were calm, passed well, played passable defense, and only dropped by The Black Cats penalty area every now and again to make sure it was still there.

There were goals, though, by gum. Each team received and converted a penalty, courtesy of Mark Halsey. In my judgment, each incident was a foul in the penalty area. In my experience, on most days, with pretty much all other referees, neither of them is called. Fulham scored first. Set free by the endlessly creative Bryan Ruiz, Ashkan Dejagah was busily tying Craig Gardner into a knot, when the frustrated number 8 kicked him in both shins. Dejagah’s over-elaborate fall made it look as if he were diving, but he actually was fouled. Berbatov executed a passable military two step before rolling the ball into the net as Simon Mignolet looked as if he didn’t know whether to go blind or do the alternative. Fulham had scored in the 16th minute and they were still quite a while away from their first actual shot on goal.

That first shot on goal came in the 34th minute courtesy of Dejagah who was set free on a quick break away by a long accurate clearance from Mark Schwarzer [yes, Don, you really just typed that]. Fulham broke upfield rapidly while Sunderland did not. As a matter of fact, the only defender who raced to the Sunderland penalty area was Sascha Riether. As Dejagah pulled the trigger, Mignolet made an excellent save but could only parry the ball to the German RB, now playing left winger! Our very best player all season scored his first goal and either waved to God or to the Fulham supporters who were seated just a few yards below Him.

0-2 on the road … against a team that had lost three in a row … who didn’t look like they could attack an unmanned taco stand. What could possibly go wrong enough to erode that lead? Well, two Sunderland goals for a start. First came the penalty decision – which was NOT in my old but lovely blue eyes payback. Phil Senderos was examining the stitching on Danny Graham’s jersey just a little too closely for the referee’s liking and that was that. Gardner hammered the ball home and it was 1-2, and if there was a Fulham fan anywhere who wasn’t immediately filled with impending gloom, then I guarantee he was nowhere near South Texas nor was he or she in the FulhamUSA.com chatroom.

The final goal was an interesting mirror of the second. Bryan Ruiz lofted a beautiful ball into Berbatov’s stride, the Bulgarian’s quick shot was deflected by Mignolet, and off went Sessegnon haring towards Fulham’s goal. Where just a few minutes earlier a Senderos deflection caused Graham to miss a chance on goal, this time a Senderos deflection enabled Sessegnon to eualize.

The rest of the match was fun to watch – especially for me since I had heard the result on the radio many hours before. Since there was no tension, I could enjoy the end-to-end action – regardless of the ineptitude of the play at times. There was also some enjoyment from the international broadcast feed of the match. The first was the graphic when Fulham’s number 5, Brede Hangeland, received his yellow. The card, we were told, went to #2, Stephen Kelly. I immediately remembered the time that the Europa League “ref behind the goal” couldn’t tell Hangeland from Bjorn Helge Riise, but at least Riise Minor was (a) on the pitch at the time and (b) playing for Fulham.

Another fun moment was when Berbatov dramatically pouted at a misplaced pass from Hangeland [is “Berbatov” Bulgarian for “flounce” I wonder]. Anyhow, the color announcer said, “He’s complaining that Hangeland’s 40 yard pass landed a few inches from where he wanted it. What does he expect, the man’s a center half.”

So we got a point on the road and, somehow, that was enough to get us into 10th. I see no way we’ll make up the seven points necessary to get into 9th, but it could have been worse. And speaking of worse, I wonder what is in store for Sunderland. Their defending was a shambles at times and, despite having two hard working and talented strikers in Fletcher and Graham, and two talented wide attackers in Sessegnon and Johnson, the four can’t seem to support each other. The look a dispirited lot, all in all, and this is not a great time of the season to go into a funk.

Sunderland’s fans are no help either. Despite the fact that the best bet you could get would be that the 5th goal – if it came – would be scored by the team in red and white, their “supporters” started pouring out of the stadium with what turned out to be 10 minutes of football left. In the very apt words of one of the denizens of that chatroom I mentioned earlier, The Stadium of Light looked like Dodger Stadium in the seventh inning.

I’m typing this about 20 minutes after watching the match, but a good 6.5 hours after listening to it, so most of my outrage at – once again – giving up points from a winning position [something we’re top of the league at this season] has abated. I am more positive of what I saw.

I like Dejagah’s growth from game to game. I was impressed with Frimpong and even more so with Emanuelson. I was pleased to see that Demitar Flounce spent more time at the front of our attack than behind it. Although both Hangeland’s and Senderos’s performances weren’t up to the standard of their last two, things were passable, and I am really beginning to warm to Karagounis. Riether continues to be an ongoing joy, but HatterDon’s Man of the Match is, by a huge margin, Bryan Ruiz. Of all the boys playing in the Northeastern sunshine, he was the least lost.

[sorry for the LONG delay in getting this written. The match was tape delayed and my band had an early evening gig. I hope the wait is worth it]

Torture: Excruciating and Slow

In Roy Hodgson’s day, Fulham would approach a league match at an inferior opponent’s ground with the idea of stationing 10 players in their own half and going for the 0-0. This was usually a successful tactic  and only resulted in a few suicides by bored home supporters. Things are different now that Fulham are playing Martin Jol Sexy Football. Now we do our sideways and backwards passing further up the field. Instead of overtly playing negatively as under Hodgson, Fulham now appear to want to make attacking forays, but find it incapable of stringing more that three passes together. Under Hodgson, we had a well-drilled unit where everyone on the pitch knew his role and those of his teammates – all the better to execute the away boredom efficiently. Martin Jol Sexy Football differs as his Fulham have as little interaction among defense, midfield, and attack as possible. Furthermore, it is necessary for the team to appear to be composed of eleven highly skilled players who first met earlier that day.

And so Fulham traveled to Carrow Road to play a dispirited and ragged Norwich City. If there is a team more ripe for the taking on the road, I have no idea who it might be. Lacking two legitimate goal scoring threats, and fielding a defense that is easier to rip apart than a lovesick teenager’s heart, Norwich were almost begging to be trampled underfoot. Fulham, not satisfied with disappointing its own fans, also ruined Norwich’s date with destiny. Instead, Fulham dropped two points and handed Norwich one they never came close to deserving.

Fulham’s lineup featured three changes from their spirited and ill-deserved loss to Manchester United the previous weekend. Coming back from injury was the enigmatic Dimitar Berbatov, and with him two of our January loanees – Stanislav Manolev and Emmanuel Frimpong. The latter was rushed into action just hours after receiving his work permit due to the illness of our ever-present season-long loanee Sascha Riether. Frimpong replaced The Ancient Greek and looked to create a strong midfield partnership with Steve Sidwell.

The match started interestingly. Berbatov was kicked in the face after only 70 seconds. There was no yellow card, naturally, since the game was less than 15 minutes old. It took a few minutes to stanch the bleeding and give the Bulgarian striker a few stitches. It was only 3 minutes later when Mark Schwarzer was called into action FOR HIS ONLY SAVE OF THE MATCH. The strike was from Norwich’s January transfer Luciano Becchio. The Argentine striker obviously had been taking extension courses in platform diving at Leeds University, and could not wait to demonstrate how well he learned this craft to his new teammates and supporters. How he escaped a yellow for “simulation” is a mystery. He dived more often than a panicky U-boat skipper.

Fulham began the sideways and backwards passing drills they’ve perfected almost immediately. So successful were they in showing no aggression towards the Canaries’ shell-shocked defense, that it wasn’t until the 19th minute that Damian Duff took Fulham’s first shot.

Other highlights of the first half was a weak yellow for Frimpong and, in the 42nd minute, the sight of Berbatov actually chasing after one of his errant passes. I can’t remember seeing him do this since Christmas.

Steve Sidwell was enjoying having a strong center mid partner and “put himself about” all over the park. He looked every inch the box-to-box midfielder he can at times be. In the 48th minute it was Fulham’s only English player who took the first shot on goal. It was an easy save for Mark Bunn, but still it was on target, and there was still 42 more minutes left for Fulham to have a second SOG. Two minutes later, Bryan Ruiz let loose a pile driver of a shot that completely clocked Sebastian Bassong. The Norwich defender is a tough geezer, but he was seriously shaken by the event. The first really attractive multi-pass move from Fulham occurred in the 67th minute. Of course, it came to naught, but it was nice to see guys – you know – passing the ball upfield to teammates.

Norwich, getting into the spirit of MJSF, managed their second shot on goal in the 70th minute. There was some activity in both penalty areas as the minutes dwindled down to a tiresome few, but it was obvious that if there was any justice in the world, this match would end 0-0. Neither side was able to come up with the coherent play required to make a serious attack on goal.

And, so, I was left with looking for oddities:
1.   The television announcer saying of Hangeland, “His long legs were tangled in the heels of Snodgrass,” which left me wondering if this was the original first line to “The Sound Of Music.”
2.   A classy turn by substitute Urby Emanuelson. I believe it was the singular highlight of the second half.
3.   Simeon Jackson raising himself on his tiptoes to grab on to Hangeland’s shoulders.

So, yeah, it was a dire display by both teams, but we gained a point when pretty much all the strugglers lost – except for Southampton and Norwich of course. We moved up a position in the standings, and we’re a game closer to the end of the season. We also now have logged a grand total of THREE wins in our last eighteen league matches. We’re still not giving a team display anywhere near as good as the quality of the individual players. We’re still refusing to take hold of our own destiny, never mind 90 minutes on a Saturday – except on very rare occasions.

Who looked good? Sidwell excelled, Frimpong looked strong and – with his partner – faced up to Norwich’s attack and stifled it. Nobody Norwich sent to challenge our back four got any change out of Riise and Manolev. Senderos’ 100th league match was very strong, and Hangeland looked as dominating as we’ve seen him for a long while. The thing is, as easily as Fulham contained Norwich threat after Norwich threat, as dispirited as The Canaries and their fans were, it is almost inexcusable that Fulham didn’t come away with a win, and that’s the rub. That’s the reason for the negative review of a point gained on the road.

HatterDon’s Man of the Match award goes to Stanislav Manolev. Yes, Sidwell and Hangeland had better individual matches, but this guy has played a total of ONE league match for PSV Eindhoven this season and, still gutted out 90+ minutes with a bunch of guys he barely knows. It was a hell of a Premier League debut, regardless of the result.

Next Up? A weekend off to watch Luton Town play Millwall in the FA Cup. We play our next league match against Stoke City Wrestling Club on February 23rd at the Cottage. COYW

Fulham picked up three vital points at the Cottage today at the expense of fellow strugglers West Ham United. With Norwich City, these two London sides are suffering through the worst form in the league. Today put an end to that – hopefully for a long period of time. And it wasn’t a matter of “we sucked less than they did.” West Ham came in ready to fight and fight they did. Jarvis, Joe Cole, Diame, and Demel were everywhere. They attacked strongly and defended weakly. So did we.

It was nice to see an attacking formation and an attacking attitude. Why it has taken three managers the better part of four seasons to start Damian Duff on the left wing is a continuing mystery to me, but he started there today and he was the main difference maker. It was also nice to see Dimitar Berbatov so active in front of goal. After the team managed a total of one shot on goal over our last two matches, Bryan Ruiz announced that things would be different with a screamer in the 8th minute. Two minutes later Berbatov celebrated his birthday by being the THIRD Fulham player who might have converted Duff’s tasty free kick. I don’t think he realized that he’d scored on a header from the narrowest of angles, but there it was.

The rest of the half was back and forth relentlessly. Brede Hangeland had, perhaps, his best half all season, commanding the air almost unchallenged and supporting the attack effectively. Hugo Rodallega ran and ran and ran. It was refreshing to see a Fulham player spring into the penalty area when we had just SURRENDERED possession. The Columbian doesn’t have a great touch, isn’t a particularly adept passer, and is not possessed of a good shot, but he is strong, resolute, and tough as nails. He may have also had his best match.

Fulham should have scored a second and perhaps a third, but Berbatov and Rodallega both shot fractions of inches wide. And so it was that we came out for the second half with the barest of one-goal leads. West Ham put on the pressure and, three minutes into the second 45, Nolan and Jarvis got the better of Sacha Riether and Philippe Senderos, and Nolan equalized from as narrow an angle as Berbatov had. Two years ago, Mark Schwarzer handles this one with ease. Today, he just had a great view of it.

And then, something miraculous happened. For the first time since early Fall, Fulham reacted to conceding a goal by charging up the field with venom. Duff received a long clearance upfield, drove to the dead ball line, and fired in a strong left footed cross. Ignoring the three West Ham defenders who looked capable of clearing it, Rodallega steamed in and headed home. West Ham’s parity lasted 33 seconds. Fulham retook the lead. More to the point, Fulham REACTED – something we’ve not seen in a very long time.

The rest of the match was a series of interesting battles – Diame and Steve Sidwell, Jarvis and Riether, Carlton Cole and Hangeland. West Ham had their chances – substitute Andy Carroll took two snap shots either of which could have been a second equalizer.

Fulham’s third goal came after a series of timely interceptions and accurate passes from distance from, of all people, Philippe Senderos. Ashkan Dejagah – who looked excellent coming on in the second half – looked to be hugging the sideline killing time as the match slipped into stoppage time. He flicked the ball to Riether who obviously didn’t understand that Fulham were trying to run out the clock. The German cut into the penalty area and let loose a shot that was parried into the path of Mladen Petrić. Once again, a goal resulted from the narrowest of angles left of the goalmouth. Petrić’s effort was fumbled over the line by West Ham’s O’Brian, and that was that.

I really enjoyed this match. It had many things we’ve been missing. First, there was a clear game plan designed to exploit an opponent’s weakness. Second, the team played creative attacking football. Third, we reacted to adversity not by pouting or rolling into a ball, but with purpose and aggression. Fourth, the substitutes enhanced the play by taking off players who were weakening and replacing them with stength. Dejagah and Chris Baird impressed mightily in their short stints.

Big Sam is going to complain about handballs that didn’t get called and the hint of offside with Fulham’s first goal, but I don’t really care what that fat, ugly geezer has to say. The better team won on the day. The two goal margin did not flatter us, and if we play with that kind of spirit the rest of the season, I think we’ll all be happy.

The only major concern on the day was Berbatov’s limping off the field at the end – a sore hamstring perhaps? I wouldn’t object if they rested him for the United massacre on Saturday. A nice 4-4-2 with Duff on the left, Dejagah on the right, and Petrić and Rodallega leading the attack would work just fine with me.

I haven’t had a look at the table, but I know we move up above West Ham. It’s been a while since we’ve created some distance between us and the bottom ruck. Nice going.

HatterDon’s Man of the Match: With strong performances, by Berbatov, Rodallega, Sidwell, Hangeland, Riether, and Schwarzer, it was tough, but for me the best player on the pitch today was the ageless Irishman. Damian Duff had two assists and ruled the left wing like he has done for so much of his career.

Well played, Fulham. COYW