Several posters who have had doubts about Parker's ability to get the best out of this squad have been shouted down and abused on this forum since the start of the season. Perhaps now they will finally realise that things are not right and hold up their hands ...
Gone if we get zero points next week...
Well I hope we were all Parker supporters at the beginning of the season and will continue to be as long as he is our manager. I certainly am as I am sure he is doing his best.
Just wish he would change his tactics to give us a more direct style, surely he must see that if we continue in this manner there will be more teams that are going to achieve just what Hull managed today.
I was taken to task earlier in the season for suggesting that the club coaching ethos seems to be "Just keep possession, and all will come good".
It so won't!!
Quote from: howitis on November 02, 2019, 10:26:14 PM
Several posters who have had doubts about Parker's ability to get the best out of this squad have been shouted down and abused on this forum since the start of the season. Perhaps now they will finally realise that things are not right and hold up their hands ...
I supported his appointment following the train wreck of last season and continùe to do so with three key caveats. The owner wanted it, the Club apparently needed it after being broken for the second time in five years and we were never going to set this league alight this time round, we are not good enough yet, so why not go for a rebuild with proper foundations. I have never shouted anybody down or thrown out any abuse, in truth I feel the Parker out brigade are more likely to do that but I do agree getting the best out of this squad is taking longer than I thought it would.
What a load of tosh. When fans have differing opinions then other fans will disagree. I think as far as abuse and being shouted down is concerned. Every time I have made a comment which wasn't popular with the clique then posters gang up and want to have their say. It is just par for the coarse. If you are scared of being shouted down or want to wave your opinion about hating a player or coach every time we lose. Good luck to you. But when we win some clown will say the Parker Haters are quiet tonight.
Too many of our fans want to sack everybody and have a go when things go wrong. It's football and it happens. But after every bad display we just end up wanting to sack the manager. As if that is the answer to everything.
Quote from: ScalleysDad on November 02, 2019, 10:48:55 PM
we were never going to set this league alight this time round, we are not good enough yet, so why not go for a rebuild with proper foundations
No idea how anyone can hold this view with all due respect
Our entire front 4 are probably among the 10-20 best players to have graced the division in the last decade. You could reasonably claim a good seven or so of our starting XI are the best in the division in their respective positions. We were the second favourites for promotion this year, and I suspect would have been the favourites were it not for Leeds having a more highly-regarded manager and more settled team. On paper, Championship teams do not come much, if any, better than what we have this season.
It is absolutely 100% guaranteed that we will not be any better, or even this good, next season, or any other season in the near future once FFP kicks in and our parachute payments stop.
Quote from: Statto on November 02, 2019, 11:13:50 PM
Quote from: ScalleysDad on November 02, 2019, 10:48:55 PM
we were never going to set this league alight this time round, we are not good enough yet, so why not go for a rebuild with proper foundations
No idea how anyone can hold this view with all due respect
Our entire front 4 are probably among the 10-20 best players to have graced the division in the last decade. You could reasonably claim a good seven or so of our starting XI are the best in the division in their respective positions. We were the second favourites for promotion this year, and I suspect would have been the favourites were it not for Leeds having a more highly-regarded manager and more settled team. On paper, Championship teams do not come much, if any, better than what we have this season.
It is absolutely 100% guaranteed that we will not be any better, or even this good, next season, or any other season in the near future once FFP kicks in and our parachute payments stop.
Well I do. The numbers have been rolled out before, at least twice I think, and 'on paper' does'nt count, being hailed as favourites by bookies and punters before a ball is kicked also does' nt count and seven of the best positional players now and four of the best strikers over the last decade is surely a tad optimistic. I will hold onto my view, a consistent one, until I am convinced otherwise which got off to a poor start as I could'nt get to seven and had three better players than Cairney on current averages.
Quote from: Statto on November 02, 2019, 11:13:50 PM
Quote from: ScalleysDad on November 02, 2019, 10:48:55 PM
we were never going to set this league alight this time round, we are not good enough yet, so why not go for a rebuild with proper foundations
No idea how anyone can hold this view with all due respect
Our entire front 4 are probably among the 10-20 best players to have graced the division in the last decade. You could reasonably claim a good seven or so of our starting XI are the best in the division in their respective positions. We were the second favourites for promotion this year, and I suspect would have been the favourites were it not for Leeds having a more highly-regarded manager and more settled team. On paper, Championship teams do not come much, if any, better than what we have this season.
It is absolutely 100% guaranteed that we will not be any better, or even this good, next season, or any other season in the near future once FFP kicks in and our parachute payments stop.
Bang on the money. Highest wage bill and one of the most talented squads in the division being horribly mis-managed by Parker
Cairney would walk into the starting 11 of every single team in this league, as would Mitro, Cav, and Knockaert.
Quote from: Statto on November 02, 2019, 11:13:50 PM
Quote from: ScalleysDad on November 02, 2019, 10:48:55 PM
we were never going to set this league alight this time round, we are not good enough yet, so why not go for a rebuild with proper foundations
No idea how anyone can hold this view with all due respect
Our entire front 4 are probably among the 10-20 best players to have graced the division in the last decade. You could reasonably claim a good seven or so of our starting XI are the best in the division in their respective positions. We were the second favourites for promotion this year, and I suspect would have been the favourites were it not for Leeds having a more highly-regarded manager and more settled team. On paper, Championship teams do not come much, if any, better than what we have this season.
It is absolutely 100% guaranteed that we will not be any better, or even this good, next season, or any other season in the near future once FFP kicks in and our parachute payments stop.
+1 +1
Quote from: Lighthouse on November 02, 2019, 11:11:15 PM
What a load of tosh. When fans have differing opinions then other fans will disagree. I think as far as abuse and being shouted down is concerned. Every time I have made a comment which wasn't popular with the clique then posters gang up and want to have their say. It is just par for the coarse. If you are scared of being shouted down or want to wave your opinion about hating a player or coach every time we lose. Good luck to you. But when we win some clown will say the Parker Haters are quiet tonight.
Too many of our fans want to sack everybody and have a go when things go wrong. It's football and it happens. But after every bad display we just end up wanting to sack the manager. As if that is the answer to everything.
0001.jpeg
Parker is our manager: a new , young manager, so should be supported, like any Fulham manager, but that doesn't mean he is faultless. But these days, there seems to be no room for any kind of fallibility - but everyone is fallible and was weaknesses, and strengths.
I don't think to sack the manager now would necessarily solve anything, in fact, on past experience, things could get worse.
But everyone's entitled to their point of view - that's what debate is about isn't it? discussing different the pro's and con's of differing points of view.
Or are we now unable to accept that someone else's view might be different from ours, or that most things aren't black and white, but shades of grey. :016:
Quote from: ScalleysDad on November 02, 2019, 11:31:42 PM
Well I do. The numbers have been rolled out before, at least twice I think, and 'on paper' does'nt count, being hailed as favourites by bookies and punters before a ball is kicked also does' nt count and seven of the best positional players now and four of the best strikers over the last decade is surely a tad optimistic. I will hold onto my view, a consistent one, until I am convinced otherwise which got off to a poor start as I could'nt get to seven and had three better players than Cairney on current averages.
You are of course entitled to your own view but it should be noted that you are effectively saying you are right and the national body of sports fans, experts, pundits etc. are all wrong
A bit like climate change denial
I Was labelled a few times as exaggerating, and belittled for suggesting Parker wasn't the one, but always said I'd support him at the helm. I don't think its helpful to rub the noses in though as, at the end of the day, we're all hurting, left frustrated and clearly want whats best for the club. I gave him the benefit of the doubt but surely, even for the most optimistic, between the appointment of Parker and the rich squad he's inherited, we can all agree he's so far proven to be not up to the task. He needs to go before we're so far removed from the pack. Just so we're clear, after the following fixtures, Hull (Home below mid table) , Boro (Away, bottom 3) Luton, (Home, bottom 4) Stoke (Away, bottom) and Charlton (Home, mid table) we now find ourselves increasingly behind in 8th with 5 points behind top 2 and 2 points from playoffs in a large pack, playing some really lacklustre frustrating football with on paper, much tougher fixtures ahead.
Long story short, sorry Parker, you need to learn your trade elsewhere before stepping up to this league. Its not your fault, its the people who gambled on you in the first place.
Parker is rightly getting criticised after a very poor performance ,but that doesnt mean I agree with some people spouting out post after negative post when all they achieve is to illuminate their own poor understanding of the game. I want parker to succeed as he is manager of our great club. Some people want him to fail because they dont like him and then can say "i told you so ".
Quote from: Sgt Fulham on November 02, 2019, 11:45:56 PM
Cairney would walk into the starting 11 of every single team in this league, as would Mitro, Cav, and Knockaert.
Knock? Really. Then how come he's still a journeyman?
I supported the Parker appointment but accepted his inexperience was a risk. But so too can be appointing an experienced manager (I'll never forget Madgath). I also respect those who felt it was the wrong appointment. Both legitimate views.
Where I am puzzled is when I keep reading that Parker is failing to get the best out of such a very fine squad. Our back four is weak, we need a top keeper, we have too many loan players, we have no cover and no alternative to Mitro up front, Sess has not stepped up the way we hoped, etc. And yet I keep being told what a wonderful squad we have. Yes it's a decent squad but it's unbalanced, certainly not good enough to expect to be automatic top four.
Parker's tactics are questionable and some of his selection decisions have on occasion been poor, plus he doesn't seem to be adapting fast enough. All of which are legitimate criticisms but if the squad is as good as some people insist then they should be taking a long hard look at themselves. But I think we look at this squad through slightly rose tinted specs.
good post Twig
Parker in! Still confident and enjoying our possession play. Topic starter - Good attempt to start a flamewar although.
A squad is a squad. Turning it into a team that wins leagues is something else entirely. Teams play for one another and supporters enjoy the appearance of camaraderie on the pitch and off of it. There is no need to criticise a team that may not win every game but does at least promise that it is working towards doing just that. This squad isn't winning games (one in last five) and I don't see answers to the question 'why is that the case' on this forum or anywhere else, only statements alluding to the fact that owning the football doesn't matter much when a opponent can see it for twenty minutes or so and put enough goals beyond you to conclusively win a game. I see the problem as being both the coaching team and the playing squad and what bothers me is the resolution of both those issues is hard to see in the current climate within the Club.
Quote from: Statto on November 03, 2019, 12:03:17 AM
Quote from: ScalleysDad on November 02, 2019, 11:31:42 PM
Well I do. The numbers have been rolled out before, at least twice I think, and 'on paper' does'nt count, being hailed as favourites by bookies and punters before a ball is kicked also does' nt count and seven of the best positional players now and four of the best strikers over the last decade is surely a tad optimistic. I will hold onto my view, a consistent one, until I am convinced otherwise which got off to a poor start as I could'nt get to seven and had three better players than Cairney on current averages.
You are of course entitled to your own view but it should be noted that you are effectively saying you are right and the national body of sports fans, experts, pundits etc. are all wrong
A bit like climate change denial
On the first point yes on the second no. We recycle everything and upcycle everything we can't recycle.
Cairney and Mitrovic are good players at this level.......in the right team and with a system that suits them. Neither are up to much in teams sitting back and playing on the break. So to make generalisations about players in isolation doesnt really say much. They are excellent players in a team playing the way we do . In fact we are set up get Cairney with the ball at his feet as high up the pitch as possible ,and to play the ball into Mitros feet in open play and find him in the box from crosses etc.
Not an out and out Parker fan, and yesterday was bad but we're still in touching distance of the playoffs and automatic promotion, if you remember the start we had in the two playoff runs were in a better position than then, I think Parker on thin ice at moment if we have another month of these results I think he'll be gone, I just think the confidence seems a bit shot, they seems to be no leaders on the pitch maybe they missing Arter, our captain seems to go missing when things go wrong, same as mitrovic I even thing Kevin Macdonald might get a game, he was the captain without the armband in our playoff run, but they would make our midfield even slower!! Looking back over the season so far, with a little bit more luck and slightly better finishing we could have about 6 points better off, what I am trying to say 2/3 of season to go anything could happen you can't through a 46 game season without a few crap results, it's seems a very up and down league at the moment,
Quote from: ScalleysDad on November 03, 2019, 09:56:50 AM
Quote from: Statto on November 03, 2019, 12:03:17 AM
Quote from: ScalleysDad on November 02, 2019, 11:31:42 PM
Well I do. The numbers have been rolled out before, at least twice I think, and 'on paper' does'nt count, being hailed as favourites by bookies and punters before a ball is kicked also does' nt count and seven of the best positional players now and four of the best strikers over the last decade is surely a tad optimistic. I will hold onto my view, a consistent one, until I am convinced otherwise which got off to a poor start as I could'nt get to seven and had three better players than Cairney on current averages.
You are of course entitled to your own view but it should be noted that you are effectively saying you are right and the national body of sports fans, experts, pundits etc. are all wrong
A bit like climate change denial
On the first point yes on the second no. We recycle everything and upcycle everything we can't recycle.
Fair reply
:54: 082.gif
Quote from: Twig on November 03, 2019, 09:38:13 AM
Knock? Really. Then how come he's still a journeyman?
...
Where I am puzzled is when I keep reading that Parker is failing to get the best out of such a very fine squad. Our back four is weak, we need a top keeper, we have too many loan players, we have no cover and no alternative to Mitro up front, Sess has not stepped up the way we hoped, etc. And yet I keep being told what a wonderful squad we have. Yes it's a decent squad but it's unbalanced, certainly not good enough to expect to be automatic top four.
What is your definition of the term "journeyman"? Any definition broad enough to capture Knockaert would probably capture 50% of players, so I'm intrigued by that comment.
Our back four comprises one of the best LBs in the division in the last few years, our PotY from a promotion season, a £15m player, and several solid options at right-back. In a couple of months we'll have another of the best CBs in the Championship, Hector.
I agree with you that Bettinelli is crap compared to the rest of the team but even he is an average Championship GK.
Some people seem to think that a top Championship squad means having the two best players in the league in every single position FFS
I accept Parker has some legitimate excuses, like the squad having been put together only recently, but let's not start with absurd posts denying the fact (yes, fact) that we have the best squad in the division.
It's one game and Scotty will know he's under pressure it's the nature of his job.continuation is the key now season has started.
Quote from: Lighthouse on November 02, 2019, 11:11:15 PM
What a load of tosh. When fans have differing opinions then other fans will disagree. I think as far as abuse and being shouted down is concerned. Every time I have made a comment which wasn't popular with the clique then posters gang up and want to have their say. It is just par for the coarse. If you are scared of being shouted down or want to wave your opinion about hating a player or coach every time we lose. Good luck to you. But when we win some clown will say the Parker Haters are quiet tonight.
Too many of our fans want to sack everybody and have a go when things go wrong. It's football and it happens. But after every bad display we just end up wanting to sack the manager. As if that is the answer to everything.
Have to agree with this. We lost yesterday and did not play well but in my opinion that is down to poor finishing not bad play, we didn't manage a decent shot on target but we were the better side. If memory serves me right they didn't get a corner to the second half and while we lost and deserved to the result rather flatters Hull who were on often playing with ten men behind the ball and frequently 6/7 in their penalty area. It is the sort of football clubs pay against Liverpool and Man City but they have rather better players than we do to deal with it.
So what does Scotty has to do is work out a strategy for when this happens which it is on a regular basis and we need the early goal to get teams to play against us not just nullify the game and hope for a quick break.
Quote from: Statto on November 02, 2019, 11:13:50 PM
Quote from: ScalleysDad on November 02, 2019, 10:48:55 PM
we were never going to set this league alight this time round, we are not good enough yet, so why not go for a rebuild with proper foundations
No idea how anyone can hold this view with all due respect
Our entire front 4 are probably among the 10-20 best players to have graced the division in the last decade. You could reasonably claim a good seven or so of our starting XI are the best in the division in their respective positions. We were the second favourites for promotion this year, and I suspect would have been the favourites were it not for Leeds having a more highly-regarded manager and more settled team. On paper, Championship teams do not come much, if any, better than what we have this season.
It is absolutely 100% guaranteed that we will not be any better, or even this good, next season, or any other season in the near future once FFP kicks in and our parachute payments stop.
1000% spot on, next season we will lose half our team again because our budget will reduce and we will have another young team (using it the way Parker does to meaning new to Fulham). And the year after that, the same thing will happen again until our budget stabilizes to less than half what we have now.
Fulham doesn't have time, and Parker needs time, so we are a terrible partnership. If we keep Parker he will improve and in 5 years, he will get us into the playoff final and lose (like Lampard) which will be considered so impressive given our budget, he will be offerred a job coaching Tottenham and he will take it. Parker has never been a loyal player, he goes wherever the best opportunity and he has to start someone, but I don't see any advantage to Fulham that he starts here.
As for all these posts similar to "we were never going to set this league alight this time round, we are not good enough", i find a bit of irony as last year most people were blaming recruitment for our problems last season. For me, both seasons we recruited players that were excellent for other teams (Fabri, Anguissa, Seri, Schullre vs Rodak, Arter, Reid, Knockaert) that are poor in a Fulham shirt, blaming recruitment was just masking the real problems.
Last season, we recruited a bunch of foreign players that had played very well in European Leagues and then played terribly in premier league for Fulham. This season, we recruited a bunch of players that had played very well in the Championship and now are playing poorly for Fulham. SAME, SAME. Good players under performing.
Understandably, most Fulham's fan opinion of Fabri was that "he was not good enough" and this was based on his Fulham's performances alone, but like Reid and Knockaert he has been voted into his leagues team of the year when at another team. For me, Fulham Fans saying "we are not doing well because Fabri, Anguissa and Seri are crap" is no different to Fulham Fans saying "we are not doing well because Rodak, Reid and Knockaert are crap", because all these players are crap for Fulham and clearly very good players for other teams.
The club has behaved as if last season problem was the recruitment and sort to recify the recruitment by getting proven championship players, this hasn't help because the players coming to Fulham are still clearly not playing as well as they did for their previous clubs (e.g. Fabri who conceded 60 league goals in his last 68 league games before Crystal Palace, great statistics, regarded by their fans as more valuable than Babel and turkish keeper of the year x2).
FFC wrongly diagnosing the problems of 2018 as relating to recruitment; means the actually underlining other problems still remain. One such problem last season was Fulham was a new squad, but offloading Fabri, Seri and Anguiissa to get other players only makes that problem worse as the new players are even newer. Fulham repeats its mistakes, the most obvious mistake is changing the squad too much and that results in a poor start each season. I also know Fulham's training ground needs to be upgraded to be world class, And i'm sure there are a few problems that i don't know of too.
Part of the problem seems to be that we sign players with good stats elsewhere but they're either not suitable for our tactics/formation (like Anguissa) or they're not playing in the positions we need the most (like failing to strengthen our poor defence). To me that's just as poor recruitment as actually signing poor players.
Also we keep relying on short term solutions that will require rebuilding the squad every season, signing half the squad on deadline day and starting the season unprepared. This is also a recruitment issue IMO.
Parker may be part of the problem but I don't think a new manager will solve anything at the moment.
Quote from: RaySmith on November 02, 2019, 11:57:03 PM
Quote from: Lighthouse on November 02, 2019, 11:11:15 PM
What a load of tosh. When fans have differing opinions then other fans will disagree. I think as far as abuse and being shouted down is concerned. Every time I have made a comment which wasn't popular with the clique then posters gang up and want to have their say. It is just par for the coarse. If you are scared of being shouted down or want to wave your opinion about hating a player or coach every time we lose. Good luck to you. But when we win some clown will say the Parker Haters are quiet tonight.
Too many of our fans want to sack everybody and have a go when things go wrong. It's football and it happens. But after every bad display we just end up wanting to sack the manager. As if that is the answer to everything.
0001.jpeg
Parker is our manager: a new , young manager, so should be supported, like any Fulham manager, but that doesn't mean he is faultless. But these days, there seems to be no room for any kind of fallibility - but everyone is fallible and was weaknesses, and strengths.
I don't think to sack the manager now would necessarily solve anything, in fact, on past experience, things could get worse.
But everyone's entitled to their point of view - that's what debate is about isn't it? discussing different the pro's and con's of differing points of view.
Or are we now unable to accept that someone else's view might be different from ours, or that most things aren't black and white, but shades of grey. :016:
0001.jpeg agree with both points
Quote from: S.F.Sorrow on November 03, 2019, 12:23:46 PM
Part of the problem seems to be that we sign players with good stats elsewhere but they're either not suitable for our tactics/formation (like Anguissa) or they're not playing in the positions we need the most (like failing to strengthen our poor defence). To me that's just as poor recruitment as actually signing poor players.
Also we keep relying on short term solutions that will require rebuilding the squad every season, signing half the squad on deadline day and starting the season unprepared. This is also a recruitment issue IMO.
Parker may be part of the problem but I don't think a new manager will solve anything at the moment.
Great example, last season Fulham Fans blamed recruitment as Anguissa had never played in a 4-3-3 single pivot (which is true), and then fans went on to say "Anguissa couldn't play in a 4-3-3 single pivot" (which has been proven untrue). The idea that Anguissa couldn't play in a single pivot was highly unlikely, because Marcelo Bielsa recruited Anguissa specifically at Marseille for a single pivot DM for the 4-1-4-1 and 3-3-1-3 formations. More importantly, even if Anguissa couldn't play in single pivot, he has clearly learnt quickly at Villarreal CF to play in a 4-3-3 single pivot, such as against Real Betis where they won 5-1. Add to that KMac was a single pivot specialist, so Anguissa could either play DM when a double pivot was required or in a box-to-box role, while he mastered the single pivot role that he hadn't ever played.
Fulham Management blaming Anguissa being unable to play in a single pivot is not only false, identifying false problems masks the real problems at the club. Unsurprisingly, fixing something that isn't the core problem (like recruiting from overseas leagues), means any other problems not addressed will remain. One thing your were spot on about is Parker may be part of the problem, but I really doubt he is the core problem. I think FFC will do better when the money runs out, and managers know there is no more money for new players so they just concentrate on getting the best out of what we have, rather baling recruitment.
Quote from: The Rational Fan on November 03, 2019, 12:50:05 PM
Quote from: S.F.Sorrow on November 03, 2019, 12:23:46 PM
Part of the problem seems to be that we sign players with good stats elsewhere but they're either not suitable for our tactics/formation (like Anguissa) or they're not playing in the positions we need the most (like failing to strengthen our poor defence). To me that's just as poor recruitment as actually signing poor players.
Also we keep relying on short term solutions that will require rebuilding the squad every season, signing half the squad on deadline day and starting the season unprepared. This is also a recruitment issue IMO.
Parker may be part of the problem but I don't think a new manager will solve anything at the moment.
Great example, last season Fulham Fans blamed recruitment as Anguissa had never played in a 4-3-3 single pivot (which is true), and then fans went on to say "Anguissa couldn't play in a 4-3-3 single pivot". The idea that Anguissa couldn't play in a single pivot was highly unlikely, because Marcelo Bielsa recruited Anguissa specifically at Marseille for a single pivot DM for the 4-1-4-1 and 3-3-1-3 formations. More importantly, even if Anguissa couldn't play in single pivot, he has clearly learnt quickly at Villarreal CF to play in a 4-3-3 single pivot, such as against Real Betis where they won 5-1.
Fulham Management blaming Anguissa being unable to play in a single pivot is not only false, identifying false problems masks the real problems at the club. Unsurprisingly, fixing something that isn't the core problem (like recruiting from overseas leagues), means any other problems not addressed will remain.
But Anguissa never actually played as a lone DM at Marseille. Bielsa was sacked before Anguissa even made his debut there. Whatever intentions Bielsa had for Anguissa and whether it would work is pure speculation.
Whether Anguissa could LEARN to play as a lone DM when give some time is of course another matter. As for Anguissa "learning quickly" at Villareal... Well, he had an entire season with us to learn that role and was actually starting to look good near the end of the season.
My point is that WHEN WE SIGNED HIM he was clearly not suitable for that role. Paying 30M for a future prospect when we desperately needed players that would instantly strenghten our starting eleven, and then sending him out on loan after one season when he's actually starting to improve.... We will probably end up selling him at a loss. That's shockingly poor recruitment for me!
Sometimes it feels like the person responsible for our recruitment knows nothing about football and just picks the players with the highest numbers on his computer screen. 086.gif
Quote from: Statto on November 03, 2019, 11:14:24 AM
Quote from: Twig on November 03, 2019, 09:38:13 AM
Knock? Really. Then how come he's still a journeyman?
...
Where I am puzzled is when I keep reading that Parker is failing to get the best out of such a very fine squad. Our back four is weak, we need a top keeper, we have too many loan players, we have no cover and no alternative to Mitro up front, Sess has not stepped up the way we hoped, etc. And yet I keep being told what a wonderful squad we have. Yes it's a decent squad but it's unbalanced, certainly not good enough to expect to be automatic top four.
What is your definition of the term "journeyman"? Any definition broad enough to capture Knockaert would probably capture 50% of players, so I'm intrigued by that comment.
Our back four comprises one of the best LBs in the division in the last few years, our PotY from a promotion season, a £15m player, and several solid options at right-back. In a couple of months we'll have another of the best CBs in the Championship, Hector.
I agree with you that Bettinelli is crap compared to the rest of the team but even he is an average Championship GK.
Some people seem to think that a top Championship squad means having the two best players in the league in every single position FFS
I accept Parker has some legitimate excuses, like the squad having been put together only recently, but let's not start with absurd posts denying the fact (yes, fact) that we have the best squad in the division.
Sorry Statto but we will have to agree to disagree. I don't regard my post as absurd but certainly think that your contention that we have the best squad in the division as ludicrous.
I have been supporting all of our managers in the time they were hired by Fulham.
I did post something after the match and before this thread, so I'm not sure what do you mean by Parker's supporter going quiet?
We just remain positive and talked about things that can be improved.
Quote from: Twig on November 03, 2019, 01:08:33 PM
Sorry Statto but we will have to agree to disagree. I don't regard my post as absurd but certainly think that your contention that we have the best squad in the division as ludicrous.
Well I think your position is absurd and you think mine is ludicrous so I agree, let's leave it.
However you could at least explain the Knockaert "journeyman" comment because that is rather less subjective. He has had the same number of clubs as Mitrovic and Cavaleiro, despite being older than them, so I'm genuinely intrigued as to how/why you (and another poster over the weekend) have decided he's a "journeyman"?
Quote from: S.F.Sorrow on November 03, 2019, 01:08:15 PM
Quote from: The Rational Fan on November 03, 2019, 12:50:05 PM
Quote from: S.F.Sorrow on November 03, 2019, 12:23:46 PM
Part of the problem seems to be that we sign players with good stats elsewhere but they're either not suitable for our tactics/formation (like Anguissa) or they're not playing in the positions we need the most (like failing to strengthen our poor defence). To me that's just as poor recruitment as actually signing poor players.
Also we keep relying on short term solutions that will require rebuilding the squad every season, signing half the squad on deadline day and starting the season unprepared. This is also a recruitment issue IMO.
Parker may be part of the problem but I don't think a new manager will solve anything at the moment.
Great example, last season Fulham Fans blamed recruitment as Anguissa had never played in a 4-3-3 single pivot (which is true), and then fans went on to say "Anguissa couldn't play in a 4-3-3 single pivot". The idea that Anguissa couldn't play in a single pivot was highly unlikely, because Marcelo Bielsa recruited Anguissa specifically at Marseille for a single pivot DM for the 4-1-4-1 and 3-3-1-3 formations. More importantly, even if Anguissa couldn't play in single pivot, he has clearly learnt quickly at Villarreal CF to play in a 4-3-3 single pivot, such as against Real Betis where they won 5-1.
Fulham Management blaming Anguissa being unable to play in a single pivot is not only false, identifying false problems masks the real problems at the club. Unsurprisingly, fixing something that isn't the core problem (like recruiting from overseas leagues), means any other problems not addressed will remain.
But Anguissa never actually played as a lone DM at Marseille. Bielsa was sacked before Anguissa even made his debut there. Whatever intentions Bielsa had for Anguissa and whether it would work is pure speculation.
Whether Anguissa could LEARN to play as a lone DM when give some time is of course another matter. As for Anguissa "learning quickly" at Villareal... Well, he had an entire season with us to learn that role and was actually starting to look good near the end of the season.
My point is that WHEN WE SIGNED HIM he was clearly not suitable for that role. Paying 30M for a future prospect when we desperately needed players that would instantly strenghten our starting eleven, and then sending him out on loan after one season when he's actually starting to improve.... We will probably end up selling him at a loss. That's shockingly poor recruitment for me!
Sometimes it feels like the person responsible for our recruitment knows nothing about football and just picks the players with the highest numbers on his computer screen. 086.gif
Recruitment is not perfect, but blaming recruitment is hiding that we should be doing better with the players we do have.
