What a gutless performance in the first half. I know many feel that KMac and StefJo are not PL quality but at least they would work hard and make some tackles. Seri and Anguissa are poor fits for the PL.
The team seem to have decided this was unwinnable...
And are not bothered.
That was utterly embarrassing.
This is a good example for those who keep putting Zambo in their team lineup predictions on here. Proof is in the pudding, or pie, pastry. Lethargic, unfocused, lazy and lacks basic fundamentals. At fault for the first and second goals by simply not trying to make up for the amount of space, we need to cover.
Also the term "Not PL quality" needs to be removed from everyone's vocabulary for years. It got us in this mess from the very beginning. You don't play your squad off of potential cost valuation, you play based on who is familiar. Our 3 midfielders from last year were 100% fit, and had the best chemistry, yet we choose to disrupt that dynamic completely. Slav's fault, I know.
Regardless, uphill battle for this match. I still feel as a whole we are fine, but this will be a tough 2nd half to watch if we don't make drastic changes. I say up the aggression for a full on press, and force United to beat us by slick passing. Mawson has been a rock, and Ream not bad. Odoi is Odoi, while Seri has been stuck in, but not without his defensive faults (not tracking back on the 2nd goal).
I say bring in StefJo for Zambo, run a 4-4-2, Kamara for Schurrle and maybe Christie on at some point.
I really expect to see the Johansen for Anguissa change.
Mitro and Cairney out? Vietto and Kamara in. We must be going for pace. Yikes...let's see what happens.
Quote from: Asotosyios on December 08, 2018, 04:02:51 PM
I really expect to see the Johansen for Anguissa change.
Ranieri had other plans - let's see.
Matt10, I always like your player insights. But I don't know how you can say Seri has been "stuck in" given his pathetic jogging around midfield, exemplified by his effort defending on their 2nd goal. He just doesn't work hard enough in my opinion.
Quote from: FulhamKC on December 08, 2018, 04:06:45 PM
Matt10, I always like your player insights. But I don't know how you can say Seri has been "stuck in" given his pathetic jogging around midfield, exemplified by his effort defending on their 2nd goal. He just doesn't work hard enough in my opinion.
I don't judge by just one time he didn't track back. He got caught once, but you're right it was really bad. I don't buy into this one and done deal that a lot of people love to narrate with. He's shown many times how much effort he's put into tackles in this match. Can't deny him of that fact just because screwed up once.
Better high press already. I think Sess may need a break though as he's looking a bit frustrated and giving up early. Kebano time or Christie me thinks.
the second goal was staggeringly bad . it was the kind of thing you would expect to see in a kids game when they are already 6-0 down with just a minute to play .
Unfortunate for Zambo. Lost his head, but that was no where near a foul. To be fair, he did not play terribly in the 2nd half.
That's never a yellow, not even a foul. Mind you it wasn't a penalty.
That was never a yellow card - Rashford should have gotten one instead.
Technically, this should be 2-1, because Mata was offsides on their 3rd. Although we can argue that Herrera's challenge wasn't a penalty, although he did go through Kamara. Eitherway, spirited performance in the second half that should not be forgotten. High press is key.
Let's face it, Zambo is dreadfully under developed for this level, or the next level down.
He should never have been in the side from the start. CR should have known better.
We've pulled a goal back and Anguissa has gone. I would class that as two pieces of good news.
Quote from: Luka on December 08, 2018, 04:32:46 PM
Let's face it, Zambo is dreadfully under developed for this level, or the next level down.
He should never have been in the side from the start. CR should have known better.
I'm a critic of his, but his second-half performance is a sign of somewhat positivity. Too bad it didn't last. However, I think he being part of a team that created chances against Man United will stick with him first, versus the poor first half. As a player, he needs to recall the good plays, which were few, but recall them nonetheless. I think he needs a lot more match time, but the struggle with that is he's such a liability for the team. It's a risk/reward situation.
Agree with Statto on Anguissa, better players to be found in the ryman league. Lazy and weak.
Rashford Oscar worthy performance got Anguissa sent off. But with all the changes I did fear another gutless, confused performance and was right. Shame as we have reverted back. Shamefully predictable but for a few minutes in the second half when we looked like we cared.
I don't have the heart to abandon them, but I'd honestly prefer the Championship. It was at least competitive for us.
Well tactically it was poor first half and did we really think with our defence we could sit back and not concede. Second half was better. Yes the penalty was soft but this referee is appalling and do give a second booking for a tackle as soft as that just spoils the game. Rashford scores after his jumping and reaction got our player sent off and even Rico fluffed his lines for it.
Oh well at least we expected nothing less.
Quote from: Matt10 on December 08, 2018, 04:11:21 PM
Quote from: FulhamKC on December 08, 2018, 04:06:45 PM
Matt10, I always like your player insights. But I don't know how you can say Seri has been "stuck in" given his pathetic jogging around midfield, exemplified by his effort defending on their 2nd goal. He just doesn't work hard enough in my opinion.
I don't judge by just one time he didn't track back. He got caught once, but you're right it was really bad. I don't buy into this one and done deal that a lot of people love to narrate with. He's shown many times how much effort he's put into tackles in this match. Can't deny him of that fact just because screwed up once.
You're right in not writing him off for one mistake.
Thing is though...his 1 mistake per game have happened in the past 4 games he started.
And in other games he's simply been average to below average..at times not being better than the opposing teams worst midfielder.
Seri needs help in the midfield if he's going to play. Today I saw effort that showed me he can play in this league if he has two better midfielders around him. Unfortunately, He doesn't have the two better midfielders currently.It's like if Manchester United had signed Juan Mata and played him every game as a straight box to box midfielder. Juan Mata would get exposed defensively in the EPL if he had box to box duties, and Seri is a poor man's Juan Mata.
Fulham better get in a better version of Chambers in the transfer window or the goals will continue to be scored against them.
Who thinks we played better and were more versatile up front without Mitro when we had 11 on the pitch? I thought we were making more runs and passing better instead playing route 1 up to Mitro.
Quote from: Statto on December 08, 2018, 04:34:20 PM
We've pulled a goal back and Anguissa has gone. I would class that as two pieces of good news.
Pity he don't get a 3 month ban.
Worst piece of player Valuation and spent on one that I can remember...
Is Khan jnr taken in so easily by these agents selling dross from the French leagues.
I was initially excited by the signing of Anguissa although I didn't know much about him. But someone in the Silly Season Transfer thread said that they had seen that a Marseilles fan had said he would drive Anguissa to London (or the airport, don't remember which) if we were willing to pay so much for him. That always stuck with me and now I understand the opinion.
Just out of the ground and that has to be one of the most pathetic and gutless games we have played this season, including Huddersfield and I was there too. Anguissa is white colour blind, he cannot pass to our players, what Schurrle offers is a lack of pace, no tracking back and getting caught out of position. We cannot go forward with these two in our team. Seri shows glimpses, but we need to have fighters who have passion and skill. I am gutted that we have slipped back to old ways so quickly. Wake up lads and start battling for those that spend their hard earnt cash supporting you away from home and away!
Maybe Ranieri has a fairly good idea of his best 11, which was the team that started against Leicester. His job is survival, so points not valiant defeats, are what matter and,maybe, he just writes these games off. Certainly looked like that today.
Quote from: andyk on December 08, 2018, 05:19:58 PM
Maybe Ranieri has a fairly good idea of his best 11, which was the team that started against Leicester. His job is survival, so points not valiant defeats, are what matter and,maybe, he just writes these games off. Certainly looked like that today.
If that's the case, I wish he would tell us so we don't travel to watch!!!!