Does anyone know how he is? Nothing from the club. Very strange.
they said a few days after the injury that he is out for 6 to 8 weeks with a knee ligament knock
Get fit soon, we need you.
Quote from: The Swan on September 01, 2015, 10:03:59 AM
Get fit soon, we need you.
personally think we have looked a better football team since he has been out, we have won 2 and seemed quite fluid in the way we play.
But yes get fit soon good option off the bench or to start in certain games
I don't believe it is his fault but certainly we have stopped playing 'hoof-ball' since his injury - so may be something of a blessing in disguise. However, I still maintain that he is a goal-scorer & not just a target man, so it is important that he remains in our armoury.
Quote from: Bracken White on September 01, 2015, 10:11:45 AM
I don't believe it is his fault but certainly we have stopped playing 'hoof-ball' since his injury - so may be something of a blessing in disguise. However, I still maintain that he is a goal-scorer & not just a target man, so it is important that he remains in our armoury.
yes not his fault but sometimes things fall into place form injury, think he is a good option as I say off the bench or against certain teams
When will you people accept that there is more to Matts game than heading, we still play the long ball to Dembele so what has changed? we played nthe long ball to Zamora, was that Hoof it ball? lastly Matt Smith hobbled into the cottage for the Cup game last Tuesday strapped up so he has shown that he is a Fulham man
Quote from: epsomraver on September 01, 2015, 10:55:42 AM
When will you people accept that there is more to Matts game than heading, we still play the long ball to Dembele so what has changed? we played nthe long ball to Zamora, was that Hoof it ball? lastly Matt Smith hobbled into the cottage for the Cup game last Tuesday strapped up so he has shown that he is a Fulham man
ill except it when you except we look better when he doesn't play
Quote from: epsomraver on September 01, 2015, 10:55:42 AM
When will you people accept that there is more to Matts game than heading, we still play the long ball to Dembele so what has changed? we played nthe long ball to Zamora, was that Hoof it ball? lastly Matt Smith hobbled into the cottage for the Cup game last Tuesday strapped up so he has shown that he is a Fulham man
I didn't say anything against what your saying, just we have played better without him in the team, no one can dispute that
Sorry but that is pure conjecture to say we played better without him. I know that we would have been out of sight of Sheffield las Tuesday if he had had the chances that Dembele had.why do people always need to have a Fulham scapegoat?
Quote from: epsomraver on September 01, 2015, 11:21:32 AM
Sorry but that is pure conjecture to say we played better without him. I know that we would have been out of sight of Sheffield las Tuesday if he had had the chances that Dembele had.why do people always need to have a Fulham scapegoat?
i've not made him a scape goat, just saying I think we have been better in the last two games and got 2 wins, that's just my opinion.
It would also be conjecture to say that Smith would have scored any chances he got no one will know as he didn't play, but then we could say that Dembele would have score din the other games but again that would be conjecture
Quote from: epsomraver on September 01, 2015, 11:21:32 AM
Sorry but that is pure conjecture to say we played better without him. I know that we would have been out of sight of Sheffield las Tuesday if he had had the chances that Dembele had.why do people always need to have a Fulham scapegoat?
you know that because he missed more chances than anyone in the league before he got injured. why does he have to be a scape goat? why cant it be that we just simply play a more attractive and effective type of football when someone else goes up top. its all about balance, and we do look better with a more mobile striker. we are stretching teams and forcing them onto the back foot. defenders love to be goal side facing the ball. dembele gets them turning and running towards there own goal
Quote from: epsomraver on September 01, 2015, 11:21:32 AM
Sorry but that is pure conjecture to say we played better without him. I know that we would have been out of sight of Sheffield las Tuesday if he had had the chances that Dembele had.why do people always need to have a Fulham scapegoat?
All clubs need one, it's fairly random who it is. We've had Senderos, Berbatov, Ruiz and Hutchinson, over the last few seasons alone. Unusual for it to be a forward though, especially one who has scored goals.
Quote from: snarks on September 01, 2015, 11:28:21 AM
Quote from: epsomraver on September 01, 2015, 11:21:32 AM
Sorry but that is pure conjecture to say we played better without him. I know that we would have been out of sight of Sheffield las Tuesday if he had had the chances that Dembele had.why do people always need to have a Fulham scapegoat?
All clubs need one, it's fairly random who it is. We've had Senderos, Berbatov, Ruiz and Hutchinson, over the last few seasons alone. Unusual for it to be a forward though, especially one who has scored goals.
why does it have to be a scape goat? why cant it be that some just think we have better options. we have 30 odd players and only 11 can play. are the other 20 odd all scape goats or just not the best option
Quote from: epsomraver on September 01, 2015, 10:55:42 AM
When will you people accept that there is more to Matts game than heading, we still play the long ball to Dembele so what has changed? we played nthe long ball to Zamora, was that Hoof it ball? lastly Matt Smith hobbled into the cottage for the Cup game last Tuesday strapped up so he has shown that he is a Fulham man
:plus one:
I like Matt Smith , and as you say we play long balls up to Dembele if that's not not hoofball then nor is it to Smith.
Quote from: fulhamben on September 01, 2015, 11:37:17 AM
Quote from: snarks on September 01, 2015, 11:28:21 AM
Quote from: epsomraver on September 01, 2015, 11:21:32 AM
Sorry but that is pure conjecture to say we played better without him. I know that we would have been out of sight of Sheffield las Tuesday if he had had the chances that Dembele had.why do people always need to have a Fulham scapegoat?
All clubs need one, it's fairly random who it is. We've had Senderos, Berbatov, Ruiz and Hutchinson, over the last few seasons alone. Unusual for it to be a forward though, especially one who has scored goals.
why does it have to be a scape goat? why cant it be that some just think we have better options. we have 30 oThank you for a reasoned reply.I called for Jol and Felix to go but only after they had had a reasonable time with their team and their players,Kit has had 2 games and has not even finished buying in this window and people are calling for his head that is unreasonable and that is why there are no must win games yet dd players and only 11 can play. are the other 20 odd all scape goats or just not the best option
Because it is not inferred that we played better without the other players but for some reason Smith is singled out.we have won and had a penalty saved so goodbye to Marcus then ?
Quote from: epsomraver on September 01, 2015, 12:01:39 PM
Quote from: fulhamben on September 01, 2015, 11:37:17 AM
Quote from: snarks on September 01, 2015, 11:28:21 AM
Quote from: epsomraver on September 01, 2015, 11:21:32 AM
Sorry but that is pure conjecture to say we played better without him. I know that we would have been out of sight of Sheffield las Tuesday if he had had the chances that Dembele had.why do people always need to have a Fulham scapegoat?
All clubs need one, it's fairly random who it is. We've had Senderos, Berbatov, Ruiz and Hutchinson, over the last few seasons alone. Unusual for it to be a forward though, especially one who has scored goals.
why does it have to be a scape goat? why cant it be that some just think we have better options. we have 30 oThank you for a reasoned reply.I called for Jol and Felix to go but only after they had had a reasonable time with their team and their players,Kit has had 2 games and has not even finished buying in this window and people are calling for his head that is unreasonable and that is why there are no must win games yet dd players and only 11 can play. are the other 20 odd all scape goats or just not the best option
Because it is not inferred that we played better without the other players but for some reason Smith is singled out.we have won and had a penalty saved so goodbye to Marcus then ?
singled out on a specific smith post. if it was a parker post then most would go on it and say ohara is the better option.
Quote from: fulhamben on September 01, 2015, 11:37:17 AM
Quote from: snarks on September 01, 2015, 11:28:21 AM
Quote from: epsomraver on September 01, 2015, 11:21:32 AM
Sorry but that is pure conjecture to say we played better without him. I know that we would have been out of sight of Sheffield las Tuesday if he had had the chances that Dembele had.why do people always need to have a Fulham scapegoat?
All clubs need one, it's fairly random who it is. We've had Senderos, Berbatov, Ruiz and Hutchinson, over the last few seasons alone. Unusual for it to be a forward though, especially one who has scored goals.
why does it have to be a scape goat? why cant it be that some just think we have better options. we have 30 odd players and only 11 can play. are the other 20 odd all scape goats or just not the best option
Ben, to be honest I have no idea why, but it's always the case at clubs. There is usually 1 player that plays regularly and that most fans don't like or rate. I agree with you that there is no reason or logic for it. (Although when Ruiz's name appeared on the teamsheet in the prem I used to inwardly groan).
Hutchinson was the target last season for the back 4 woes, although I rate him more highly than Bod. Ruiz was everyones scapegoat for not justifying his large fee. Baird and Murphy were both scapegoats for a time, before turning it around.
Having a preference isn't making someone a scapegoat. If Smith was being blamed for all of our ills then fair enough, but if someone prefers us playing Dembele, for whatever reason, that's not making Smith a scapegoat.
the name of the game is competion because with it players realise they have to be at there game if you add to that smith is injured so unlikely to move away anytime soon.
I think Smith is the scapegoaty for the clubs purported "hoof ball" style in this particular instance.
It's a problem Peter Crouch has had, when your "main" striker is tall and good in the air, the defence have a tendancy to play long balls up to him for him to win. It becomes a fixation. I find it difficult to correlatre this with Smith alone, the style was very direct with Hugo up front, and he won virtually nothing in the air.
no one, well not me, is making him a scape goat, my point is we have played better in the last 2 games, where Dembeles pace has helped us with his running wide and in behind, so it is a different use of the longer ball and that has helped us
I do think long balls are an issue, the players we have a much, much better than that. And I think it's a tad unfair to suggest that Matt Smith doesn't have more ability than that in the air, however, his mobility is so detrimental to the way we may and attack. I don't think Matt Smith can hold the ball up either - that's the difference between he and Bobby Zamora, when the ball when up - Zamora made it stick and held it until supporting players came up, Smith does not, it gets flicked on to nobody. Even Moussa Dembele, he's a battering ram, anything he doesn't win, his pace and power can help him to retrieve, as well as being a threat in behind.
With a Hooper up top, I'd hope that encourages us to keep it on the floor - players like Jamie O'Hara, Tom Cairney, Ben Pringle and Ross McCormack will want the ball at their feet. Even our defenders are technically comfortable, our full backs, Tim Ream and Richard Stearman are all comfortable with the ball at their feet.
If Sam Allardyce was here, and we could be properly coached to a long ball game - then great. But Matt Smith is more of a detriment to us as a starting striker than a positive.
Quote from: The Swan on September 01, 2015, 10:03:59 AM
Get fit soon, we need you.
we got 6 goals without him in two games.... not saying he is good or bad just noting 6 goals in the two games without him.
Quote from: nose on September 01, 2015, 01:35:47 PM
Quote from: The Swan on September 01, 2015, 10:03:59 AM
Get fit soon, we need you.
we got 6 goals without him in two games.... not saying he is good or bad just noting 6 goals in the two games without him.
Against the bottom team and a Sheffield United team which had something like 10 changes. As Epsom has pointed out there's more to his game than just being a tall target.
Quote from: VicHalomsLovechild on September 01, 2015, 02:13:32 PM
Quote from: nose on September 01, 2015, 01:35:47 PM
Quote from: The Swan on September 01, 2015, 10:03:59 AM
Get fit soon, we need you.
we got 6 goals without him in two games.... not saying he is good or bad just noting 6 goals in the two games without him.
Against the bottom team and a Sheffield United team which had something like 10 changes. As Epsom has pointed out there's more to his game than just being a tall target.
Nothing says we would not have scored 2 a game with Dembele starting the season and nothing a says we would not have scored 3 a game with Smith in the last 2 games, however for me the movement up front is a lot better of late
I don't think anyone on here and that includes me, doubts he has more to his game. BUT when he plays and either by plan or not we end up going long. Its the simple easy option for simple players. It's not Smiths fault at all, it's just the way it is.
Quote from: MJG on September 01, 2015, 02:39:44 PM
I don't think anyone on here and that includes me, doubts he has more to his game. BUT when he plays and either by plan or not we end up going long. Its the simple easy option for simple players. It's not Smiths fault at all, it's just the way it is.
We haven't been playing the ball to dembele's feet much either from the games I've gone to. While I agree it's a simple option for simple players it hasn't got to be the way it is. What are the coaches doing all week if on the pitch we lump it long to an isolated smith then blame him?
We lump the ball forward to Dembele in exactly the way that we did to Matt Smith. We spent the entire Huddersfield game biffing the ball forward until finally it broke for us in the area and Cauley scored. In fact the differences over the past couple of games are that other players are getting forward to support which is, surprise surprise, creating more chances and we have one or two better defenders which inevitably makes us a bit more fluid. Personally, I prefer Smith over Dembele but let's see if anybody comes in to make the options better.
We have a habit of overplaying around the half way line, which puts everyone under pressure, so they end up just knocking it long to get rid of it. We need to be more incisive in our build up play. It's ok to go long now and again, but our best players are midfielders, plus Ross, so it's not playing to our strengths.
Smith gets a lot of unfair criticism in my opinion.
Quote from: westcliff white on September 01, 2015, 02:20:29 PM
Quote from: VicHalomsLovechild on September 01, 2015, 02:13:32 PM
Quote from: nose on September 01, 2015, 01:35:47 PM
Quote from: The Swan on September 01, 2015, 10:03:59 AM
Get fit soon, we need you.
we got 6 goals without him in two games.... not saying he is good or bad just noting 6 goals in the two games without him.
Against the bottom team and a Sheffield United team which had something like 10 changes. As Epsom has pointed out there's more to his game than just being a tall target.
Nothing says we would not have scored 2 a game with Dembele starting the season and nothing a says we would not have scored 3 a game with Smith in the last 2 games, however for me the movement up front is a lot better of late
i respoded to get fit quick we need you, and never mind who the opposition is we scored six goals in two games... i am accused often of being negative i thought that was a a rather positive view point... I actually like smith and think he brings plenty to the party... he is much better than I expected.... however we do tend to overplay the long ball when he is thre .. that is the team not him... i think he is an asset but actually having a pool of players is what it is all about especially if they have to compete for places... that is part of whjat made saha/hales/boa so good... they were fighting with each other for selectioon, there were no automatic forst choices...i will be pleased to see smith available
Judging players in or out the the side seems a bit premature at the moment, we've just beat two poor sides will Dembele and Woodrow play better than Smith against decent teams, best keeping our options open for now the more plan b's and c's the better after weve found plan A of course.
Sadly one of the reasons we play it long is that we are totally incapable of getting the ball to the by line and pulling it back ( either in the air or on the deck ) . This problem is exsasperated by the fact that we invariably play with either wide player cutting inside onto their natural foot thus narrowing our play even further. Smith and Dembele would both benefit from ball pulled back causing the defenders to turn and making it easier for them to run onto.
Overall though you can't help but get the impression that lots of people on here blame Smith for long ball tactics when I'm afraid you have to point to the manager and not the players when voicing such criticism.
I'm exacerbated by all this criticism but I do think that HV71 speaks a lot of sense and sensibility.
Nogood "fare's fair, isit" Boyo
Quote from: HV71 on September 01, 2015, 03:46:20 PM
Sadly one of the reasons we play it long is that we are totally incapable of getting the ball to the by line and pulling it back ( either in the air or on the deck ) . This problem is exsasperated by the fact that we invariably play with either wide player cutting inside onto their natural foot thus narrowing our play even further. Smith and Dembele would both benefit from ball pulled back causing the defenders to turn and making it easier for them to run onto.
Overall though you can't help but get the impression that lots of people on here blame Smith for long ball tactics when I'm afraid you have to point to the manager and not the players when voicing such criticism.
I don't blame smith for anything, I just think we have better options.
Smith is a "Goliath" but it is Kit Symons' laziness to apply long ball tactics when he plays. Smith scored numerous goals and assisted a few others never getting 90 minutes ONCE! Dembele is frankly, a joke, so Fulham are the worser without the big man who the Northern defences FEAR.
As I remarked before, we needed genuine width like Kacanicklic and not Ben Pringle out-of-position offering little service. Sadly Smith's cynical critics will deluide themselves while our brave striker lies recovering having given his all for the club.