Hello everyone, this is my first post. I have been following Fulham since the 66/67 season. I was an enthusiastic eleven-year-old, who'd just seen England win the world cup, when I first went along to the Cottage. Fulham, of course, were in a relegation spot in the old division one at the time. I since checked back and they were coming off a 6-1 drubbing at West Ham.
We beat Villa 5-1 that day, jumped out of the relegation zone, and I was hooked. From then, to the end of the season, I managed to make it to ten further home fixtures. Each time I saw them, we either won handsomely or held the likes of Utd and Liverpool to draws. Fortress Fulham! The last game of the season saw us face Nottingham Forest. That Forrest team finished runners-up, behind Utd, in the league and semi-finalists in the FA Cup. I believe it was Bobby Robson's last game for Fulham, but I can't be sure. We lost a close game by 3-2. By then I was already hooked.
The point is, I counted Fulham's position in the league from the bottom up and not the top down! So, after my third of fourth game, we were fifth from bottom and so on. We reached the giddy heights of tenth from bottom at one point. I was used to seeing Fulham fighting relegation from day one. The recent years have been like a dream for me. To see Fulham playing in a European final was unbelievable.
But, I fear, the bad old days are back at the Cottage. I was lucky enough to visit the UK last year and made a trip to the Cottage for the first time in over 25 years. I managed to make it to the pre-season friendly against Parma. Afterwards, I told my father that I was scared for Fulham this season. It seemed that every time the Italian team ran at the FFC defense they backed off and backed off and never tackled, they lost their shape and inevitably Parma got a shot in. It seemed all a bit panic-stricken. I don't profess in any way to be an expert but anybody could see the problem. If a low-key Parma could create that many chances and win at the cottage, what would a Prem team do to them?
In 2010 we lost the Europa League final to Athletico Madrid in a close-fought match. What has happened since then? What might have happened if we had won that day?
Ath. Madrid sit proudly atop La Liga tonight as we sit humbly at the bottom of the Premier League. Both teams deserve to be in their respective positions. It's been a steady improvement for them as they built on their success and a steady decline for us.
Nevertheless, based on my first season watching Fulham, I know we can do this. We MUST turn the Cottage back into a fortress. Fulham survived relegation by three places in 66/67 by winning their home fixtures and picking up the odd result on the road.
I fear that we won't escape this year. It is reminiscent of many a losing season that followed my first. There seems to be a mood among the supporters and an air around the club that portends disaster. For a while, after Renee took over, it seemed as though things would improve. But, the arrival of Butch and Curbs seems to have thrown things into reverse. We should have kept the statue and not employed them.
What different route do you think the club would have taken had we won the Final in 2010?
Sorry to ramble on all over the place. Just a little disillusioned right now.
Quote from: white in exile on February 03, 2014, 12:43:15 AM
Hello everyone, this is my first post. I have been following Fulham since the 66/67 season. I was an enthusiastic eleven-year-old, who'd just seen England win the world cup, when I first went along to the Cottage. Fulham, of course, were in a relegation spot in the old division one at the time. I since checked back and they were coming off a 6-1 drubbing at West Ham.
We beat Villa 5-1 that day, jumped out of the relegation zone, and I was hooked. From then, to the end of the season, I managed to make it to ten further home fixtures. Each time I saw them, we either won handsomely or held the likes of Utd and Liverpool to draws. Fortress Fulham! The last game of the season saw us face Nottingham Forest. That Forrest team finished runners-up, behind Utd, in the league and semi-finalists in the FA Cup. I believe it was Bobby Robson's last game for Fulham, but I can't be sure. We lost a close game by 3-2. By then I was already hooked.
The point is, I counted Fulham's position in the league from the bottom up and not the top down! So, after my third of fourth game, we were fifth from bottom and so on. We reached the giddy heights of tenth from bottom at one point. I was used to seeing Fulham fighting relegation from day one. The recent years have been like a dream for me. To see Fulham playing in a European final was unbelievable.
But, I fear, the bad old days are back at the Cottage. I was lucky enough to visit the UK last year and made a trip to the Cottage for the first time in over 25 years. I managed to make it to the pre-season friendly against Parma. Afterwards, I told my father that I was scared for Fulham this season. It seemed that every time the Italian team ran at the FFC defense they backed off and backed off and never tackled, they lost their shape and inevitably Parma got a shot in. It seemed all a bit panic-stricken. I don't profess in any way to be an expert but anybody could see the problem. If a low-key Parma could create that many chances and win at the cottage, what would a Prem team do to them?
In 2010 we lost the Europa League final to Athletico Madrid in a close-fought match. What has happened since then? What might have happened if we had won that day?
Ath. Madrid sit proudly atop La Liga tonight as we sit humbly at the bottom of the Premier League. Both teams deserve to be in their respective positions. It's been a steady improvement for them as they built on their success and a steady decline for us.
Nevertheless, based on my first season watching Fulham, I know we can do this. We MUST turn the Cottage back into a fortress. Fulham survived relegation by three places in 66/67 by winning their home fixtures and picking up the odd result on the road.
I fear that we won't escape this year. It is reminiscent of many a losing season that followed my first. There seems to be a mood among the supporters and an air around the club that portends disaster. For a while, after Renee took over, it seemed as though things would improve. But, the arrival of Butch and Curbs seems to have thrown things into reverse. We should have kept the statue and not employed them.
What different route do you think the club would have taken had we won the Final in 2010?
Sorry to ramble on all over the place. Just a little disillusioned right now.
Firstly welcome here :) and regarding to your question had we won in 2010, its hard to say, Hodgson got us there, but we would still have lost him, and Jol would most likely end up here anyways, but if our transfer policy would still be the same I sure wouldnt hope, we would have been in the same situation then I would believe, so hard to say what would happen if that would happen. Cus we will never know,
Good read and welcome. Many of us feel the rebuild should have started on the way back from the airport but there it is.