Friends of Fulham

Not trying to fish here, and I know it may be biased by the recent disappointment but when answering please try and think about the season as a whole so far. I know some people enjoy the competitiveness of the Championship regardless of where we finish and some want nothing but the Premier League. I want to know how the average Fulham fan feels about this season so far.

Feel free to discuss your vote and reasoning.

I put no. I feel we're underachieving, play uninspiring football and don't utilise the attacking talent and squad we have well enough. I don't like to play like Sunday league, but watching our players pass sideways and backwards for the majority of the match and not really create much is frustrating and not really enjoyable. Love possession football with a purpose and you can see an end game, but sadly, too many times, we haven't seen that.

Too many underacheiving performances
Scott has not worked it out yet

Nope, our football for the most part is dire to watch

No. All of the above.

Tough time to post this, but yeah I'm enjoying this season. We have a new manager, who has us playing good football at times. We're 3rd in the table, when some struggled to think Top 6. We have players who experienced so much losing last season, and to see them experience this type of season is empowering. We have players that started slow this season and are proving doubters wrong, which is probably even more empowering and motivating as a player. We've got a defender in Michael Hector that is answering questions in which "Was he worth the wait" - and for once, we can say that he is. We've got one of the best strikers in the world that is wanting to prove his worth and is committed to the club.

The positives, to me, outweigh the negatives. Can't wait for the next match and see what we do against Man City.

Yes! It's always interesting. Felt Prem was dire. EFL is much more fun.

As has already been said, the positives outweigh the negatives and with 17 games to go I am optimistic, and why shouldn't I be. The last time I looked we were still in third place, maybe not in the driving seat, but only two teams out of 24, can say that. Football is a funny old game, and a week in Football is a long time. So I am still enjoying this season and why shouldn't I.
Because if I am not with my team in third place, then Football is in dire straits.

Quote from: Milo on January 22, 2020, 10:59:53 PM
Yes! It's always interesting. Felt Prem was dire. EFL is much more fun.

Always wish we were doing better, but, overall The Championship is far more competitive and better in two important ways.
1. No VAR.
2. Any given season we are practically guaranteed to lose 36 points both home and away to the top six.
That is not the case in The Championship, we are never sure if we will win, lose or draw.
Unless you can put together an outstanding team whilst winning The Championship you are always favourites to come straight back down (I know....... Sheffield United???).

Remember long ago a treasured poster on here, Tony Gilroy, carried out a survey of our time in football since our inception.
Our overall average position has been upper half of second division (The Championship).
So currently we are doing a little better than we should be!

No.
Expected better.

Yes I think a lot of us were expecting and hoping for even better, but Football does not work like that. Now the choice is that a club can be knee jerk and panic and think the grass is always greener on the other side.
Or a club can think to themselves stability is the key and we build on it and keep it ticking over with a huge heart beat, the bigger the heartbeat the better the team, but keep moving in small steps because otherwise you raise too many expectations. Last season in the Premier Division we had no heartbeat and it took its toll.

Yes.   Squad is better than the 17/18 squad (and we have 2 more wins right now than they had at this time of the season)... owners are buying good players...games are competitive...and we've kept 3 clean sheets.   Kept Mitro, Cairney and Stefjo...

And even though he's inexperienced I love Scott Parker as a manager.   If we were mid table I'd feel differently, but we're not.  I think he's learning and will be a much better manager for the squad next season.


The only problem I have is consistency...but some of that has to do with the injuries to the squad...and people (including the owners) overrating Mawson as a FB.

Quote from: AnOldBrownie on January 23, 2020, 02:18:33 AM
Yes.   Squad is better than the 17/18 squad (and we have 2 more wins right now than they had at this time of the season)... owners are buying good players...games are competitive...and we've kept 3 clean sheets.   Kept Mitro, Cairney and Stefjo...

And even though he's inexperienced I love Scott Parker as a manager.   If we were mid table I'd feel differently, but we're not.  I think he's learning and will be a much better manager for the squad next season.


The only problem I have is consistency...but some of that has to do with the injuries to the squad...and people (including the owners) overrating Mawson as a FB.

+1

Quote from: Statto on January 23, 2020, 12:00:40 AM
No. Expected better.

Rodak, Odoi, Hector and Mitrovoic have been much better than I expected, but the rest of the team have been disappointing. Many of the games that we have won the other team has played poorly, and when the other team played reasonable well like Charlton we failed to break them down. I think the Championship is very weak this season especially some parachute payment teams (eg. Swansea, Cardiff, Huddersfield, Stoke and League One's Sunderland). Next season, I think we will have some parachute payment clubs (e.g. West Ham or Aston Villa) that will absolutely kill us in the transfer market and if that converts to on-pitch performance they will get 90-100 points..

No,even if we win on Saturday and gain promotion at the end of the season Parker's style of football is not suitable for Fulham.We have become predictable and so boring to watch.

I am enjoying the season - we are in third, and have a good chance of at least getting a play- off place, playing sublime football at times, with quality now running  right through the team.

Things could have been so much worse after relegation. How are Cardiff and Huddersfield doing?

Actually, a bit of a hard to answer  question re supporting a team and 'enjoyment.'

I always  look forward to games, even when we aren't doing so well, and went to many games home and away last season, spending a lot of money, always hoping we would get a result, but only witnessed one  win -  a great performance home to Brighton.

Throughout my Fulham supporting career, since the early 60's, I've probably seen us lose more times than we've won, and we  haven't actually won much in terms of trophies, even when we've made cup finals - 'the Intertoto, we've won it one time.'

Yet, I'm still filled with anticipation fpr the next game, want to come on here and read the discussion, though recently it's become particularly toxic.

I used to go an see us in the Fourth Division, when you could sit on the terraces, there were  so few  fans to witness often dire games. But I still went, still looked forward to the next game, hoped we'd win.

Now though, we are doing very well, with an ambitious , rich owner, and ambitious  young manager,  and i go to games with a sense of anticipation not only that we're get a decent result, but that we are going to achieve something this season, when the opposite could have happened after relegation.

What's not to enjoy about following Fulham at the moment - I don't get it.

YES....We're 3rd top,not 3rd bottom.

I feel like you need a middle option on this but the fact that I'm not NOT enjoying the season means I have voted yes.

Not really. So many matches moved to Friday or Saturday lunchtime which with children, who play football Saturday mornings, are difficult for me to attend. I also think we do not have the right manager but that's not an unusual view.

I am enjoying this season as I find it more enjoyable than the PL as it is a more level playing field.

Quote from: Wolf on January 23, 2020, 08:15:41 AM
Not really. So many matches moved to Friday or Saturday lunchtime which with children, who play football Saturday mornings, are difficult for me to attend. I also think we do not have the right manager but that's not an unusual view.

Yes that's a bug.
I see apart from TV games the premier midweek kick offs are now 7-30 instead if 7-45.

No.

In the 17/18 season we were the most enjoyable team to watch in England. Now we're boring and predictable.
I don't want to get promoted under Parker because with his inexperience and our shocking recruitment, we'll get the sh*t kicked out of us and come tumbling back down. Again.

Strange as it may seem I enjoyed life under Jokanovic better than the trite excuse for being better equipped we are currently seeing.  He offered an optimism about how his football would eventually become so easy on the eye and so effective.  Parker's style seems hackneyed and mundane by comparison and even promotion will not float my boat as Jokanovic did.  Give me the Serbian way of doing things any day of the week.

Yes.....3rd place now and expected top 6 finish.

Consistency could be better and new players can take longer than you think to gel, but with more defensive options "Hector" we appear to be in a better state than 6 matches back.

SP needs time to develop also, He's no Sanchez, The Mad German or Tinker man thanks God!!!

I'm enjoying it - compared to the premiership - because it's very difficult to predict results. I'm not enjoying it as much as the last time in the championship.

Under Joka we were served up a la Carte  football with lobster and steak regularly on the menu.

This season is like being invited to Mary Berry's for supper only to find you are  having a takeaway

Obviously asking this straight after "dropping points" is going to lead to skewed results.

That being said Im slightly enjoying it overall.

It's too stop-start at the moment though. The games we win are predominately close affairs with us sitting deep and passing it around for 80+ minutes. The games we lose / draw see us failing to breakdown a team for 80+ minutes with the same passing it around the back.

That being said we are 3rd and have experienced a few great games.

Well it is better than last season. But the older I get the less of a drug it becomes. I am enjoying the season but I am not really invested in it. People who are optimists are disappointed. Those of us who looked at our squad and didn't see us walking the league as a few seem to have thought. Are naturally happier.

Enjoying it but hasn't captured the imagination. It is worth watching but only when there isn't much else to do.

I'm not doom and gloom, but am I enjoying it? No, I wouldn't say so. But then I've just logged in to see if tickets for Milwall are for sale yet, so it isn't making me stay away either.

I've felt much better in January over any other month this season. Since Hector signed I've felt more confident in the team and with Kongolo coming in and rumours of Gibson I sense that those in charge are finally addressing things (big stress on finally!) that have bothered me for a long time, so it's a case of taking the positives moving forwards.

Yes/No, Well not as much as I had hoped for. I think Parker has been struggling to find his best team, we have suffered with a shaky defence and are now having difficulty scoring goals because of an overreliance on the injured Mitro.

However with the introduction of Hector and the return of Mitro I think things will soon improve and I am looking forward to an enjoyable second half of the season that could climax in another visit to Wembley.

i have to say, a great big YES
there are the ups and the downs of the championship that we love. the great football we play one game is met with frustration in the next. its a rollercoaster of emotions and i absolutely love it
there is the obvious case of winning more than you loose but also feel closer to the club when were in a league like this

i understand we all want to be in the premier league and we all want to be playing football again like we did under Slav, but until those days where we can do a wolves come, im happy to be a yo-yo club and build build build

i do like and always have liked the khans and think the more we do under their tenier, the better TK will become. we can all see he has made leaps and bounds in the last year with recruitment, turning the tide of opinion etc

bring on the next game and lets get that second spot!

if we come down again, so be it. for me, it is literally a case of every cloud has a silver lining :-)

all the above is said from my perspective as the eternal optimist

Nope, not enjoying Parkers brand of turgid, unimaginative and predictabley dull football.
Yes we are third but its not the results,  its the manner of the results win, loose or draw that Im finding so dull.
I am certainly not being entertained for 90 minutes and for me the only excitement being delivered is during the final 10 minutes as we desperatley cling onto whatever point(s) are on offer!!
Do I want the top division yes, do I want to watch Parker take us there?.........100% No.

Quote from: The Enclosurite on January 23, 2020, 08:11:07 AM
I feel like you need a middle option on this but the fact that I'm not NOT enjoying the season means I have voted yes.

Took some time to decide but remembered the many walks through the park be it win lose or draw saying how boring it was. So went for NO. Until recently we were getting worse every week. Hopefully the new players will improve things, I have yet to see Hector play.

Wait until next season if we go up and we are getting battered by Liverpool 6-0

I am enjoying it, but I don't like it.

That should make sense to most.

Quote from: Statto on January 23, 2020, 12:00:40 AM
No.
Expected better.

Me too.  The caveat was always 'what will they do about the defence' and until Jan 1st, the answer was nothing.  Our DoF has made some very good moves at times and he's not slow in reminding us.  But he has made some shockers as well, not just with purchasing over priced, under skilled players but in his timing and forward planning. 

I still feel he is being totally let down by the scouting team as I've said on here many times because, at the end of the day I'm sure he and the old man have their heart in the right place along with the cheque book.  But they are not football men.  MAF was similar.  He recruited KK and Wilkins who in turn did the master stroke of getting Arthur Cox on board.  A football man.  Knew everyone, old sweat, recognised talent.

It's a battle this division and while I'm hopeful that the Jan defensive signings will prove worthwhile, some of our key players are loanees.  Dangerous if we get promoted.  Will we sign them? Are they good enough for Prem life. In many respects a (Potentially) nice problem to have but we got it very wrong last time.

Still, we have to get there first.  COYW

Decent post Mike .

Im still enjoying the season. I think  development has/is taking place. People seem to think you can just throw a group of good players together and that makes you have an automatic right to win . You havent . and things take time build. Parker has the makings of a manager  nad that will also take time. I still think we are going to go up and we can make the top 2.

I would have to say a mild 'no'.  There have been some things to smile about, but, on balance, this team has failed to perform to expectations and with any kind of 'consistency'.  From game to game you just never know what you're gonna get.  Everyone in this forum keeps "waiting" for the club to turn good.  And we still wait.

How can this team look so good and dominating and getting chances, albeit scoring only once, v Boro last week, and then the very next game, v a very weak Charlton side and look so poor, even though having the usual possession advantage.  It almost looked as if FFC was playing for a draw.  I don't get it.  That was 3 points for the taking, failed.

For many here in this thread the fact we sit 3rd brings solace and comfort.  I would point out we only sit 4 points clear of 7th and no promotion chance.  This team has largely underperformed this season.  Still waiting for FFC to show some consistency and some solid wins.  We can't keep hoping against hope that other teams we fight with will lose, FFC has to win games and prove they are justified to be a team worthy of promotion.

Quote from: MikeW on January 23, 2020, 05:13:28 PM

Quote from: Statto on January 23, 2020, 12:00:40 AM
No.
Expected better.

Me too.  The caveat was always 'what will they do about the defence' and until Jan 1st, the answer was nothing.  Our DoF has made some very good moves at times and he's not slow in reminding us.  But he has made some shockers as well, not just with purchasing over priced, under skilled players but in his timing and forward planning. 

I still feel he is being totally let down by the scouting team as I've said on here many times because, at the end of the day I'm sure he and the old man have their heart in the right place along with the cheque book.  But they are not football men.  MAF was similar.  He recruited KK and Wilkins who in turn did the master stroke of getting Arthur Cox on board.  A football man.  Knew everyone, old sweat, recognised talent.

It's a battle this division and while I'm hopeful that the Jan defensive signings will prove worthwhile, some of our key players are loanees.  Dangerous if we get promoted.  Will we sign them? Are they good enough for Prem life. In many respects a (Potentially) nice problem to have but we got it very wrong last time.

Still, we have to get there first.  COYW

Not sure Jacksonville fans would say the same about 'heart in the right place'. I think we should watch the Khan's moves carefully - SK maybe moreso than TK.

Just waiting for him to revisit the Wembley purchase personally.

I agree with many of your other points however.

I very much enjoy it when we win.   Lose and on ocassion such as last night some draws. Them I'm thouroughly p****d off till the next win. 


Also the referees have been appalling!  We're not a great team to watch so much now, but by God are we still a heck of a lot better than a vast majority.  Charlton the latest bore fest., sure we may have contributed but playing for a draw at home, wasting time. EF ME you bunch of smack heads.

Yes.  Championship more enjoyable than Premier League. Almost every game fiercely contested.  Most of all because football, any football, is fun.

But I'll readily admit it's not quite as much fun as Surrey Youth League. 

Just about a "Yes, I am Enjoying it" overrall, but we seem to look good for 2 games then go really flat again for a game or two.... Very up and down.

Quote from: H3Matt on January 23, 2020, 08:23:40 AM
No.

In the 17/18 season we were the most enjoyable team to watch in England. Now we're boring and predictable.
I don't want to get promoted under Parker because with his inexperience and our shocking recruitment, we'll get the sh*t kicked out of us and come tumbling back down. Again.

I know this is your opinion...but as a fan of Fulham, it's sounds to me like you want the team to fail this year.

I'd argue that the first half of last week was enjoyable to watch. That tells me that this team and this manager can present Fulham fans with attractive football.

So...you'd prefer not to get promoted?

Sent from my BND-L34 using Tapatalk

Yep, first season in a looong time I have a season ticket again, but now with the added bonus of bringing my 7 year old son. I LOVE IT. The train journey with him, the chats, the walk to the ground, meeting my family for a pint before, watching a game with him like I did with my dad and grandad, then journey home chatting about it all. 🙌🏻

Quote from: joef on January 23, 2020, 07:48:04 PM
Yep, first season in a looong time I have a season ticket again, but now with the added bonus of bringing my 7 year old son. I LOVE IT. The train journey with him, the chats, the walk to the ground, meeting my family for a pint before, watching a game with him like I did with my dad and grandad, then journey home chatting about it all. 🙌🏻

My son is 8 months old and I must admit, I can't wait till he's old enough for this experience. Results are a bonus at that stage.

Quote from: FFC1987 on January 23, 2020, 07:49:00 PM

Quote from: joef on January 23, 2020, 07:48:04 PM
Yep, first season in a looong time I have a season ticket again, but now with the added bonus of bringing my 7 year old son. I LOVE IT. The train journey with him, the chats, the walk to the ground, meeting my family for a pint before, watching a game with him like I did with my dad and grandad, then journey home chatting about it all. 🙌🏻

My son is 8 months old and I must admit, I can't wait till he's old enough for this experience. Results are a bonus at that stage.

That's what's great about watching it with a kid. Brutal honestly, then onto the next thing, no dwelling, they don't want to when there's Mates and sweets and crisps and music and fizzy drinks and computer games and many more things they are yet to experience fully

Quote from: joef on January 23, 2020, 07:52:04 PM

Quote from: FFC1987 on January 23, 2020, 07:49:00 PM

Quote from: joef on January 23, 2020, 07:48:04 PM
Yep, first season in a looong time I have a season ticket again, but now with the added bonus of bringing my 7 year old son. I LOVE IT. The train journey with him, the chats, the walk to the ground, meeting my family for a pint before, watching a game with him like I did with my dad and grandad, then journey home chatting about it all. 🙌🏻

My son is 8 months old and I must admit, I can't wait till he's old enough for this experience. Results are a bonus at that stage.

That's what's great about watching it with a kid. Brutal honestly, then onto the next thing, no dwelling, they don't want to when there's Mates and sweets and crisps and music and fizzy drinks and computer games and many more things they are yet to experience fully

Yep, hopefully it mellows me out a bit! Very jealous.

I voted no , reasons :-
I had what I thought was probably one of the best seats in the riverside 7 seats off halfway line and now in the Putney end , only plus is I got the same gang around me. ( can't wait to get back there )
The football has been boring to a degree , the constant slow build ups .
Some , not all of course of parkers substitutions have left me aghast.
There's more minuses than pluses for me this time round, yes we're third which is great but we can't go up with what we have right now . Not least some loners will go back.
Sorry if it appears a very negative post but I'm being as honest as I can.
FFC pretty much been my first love since uni started going 1958 and I'll be there till I can't be.

Quote from: Steeeeeeeeeed on January 23, 2020, 06:19:42 PM
Just about a "Yes, I am Enjoying it" overrall, but we seem to look good for 2 games then go really flat again for a game or two.... Very up and down.

:plus one:

This is a season of so many frustrations with our results. I think the play-offs is easily achievable but we have failed to turn up to games when we needed to which would have us easily top 2. I know the same can be said for all teams (Leeds and WBA seem to be doing their best to let us in) but we do seem to be more likely to slip up. But onwards and, hopefully, upwards.

I'm absolutely loving watching the Riverside development progress week by week.

Quite a majority voting for 'yes'. It is really interesting how people can perceive something so differently. Plenty of good reasons on both sides and really this season has been a very mixed bag. Personally I voted for no. I think expectation has ruined the season by changing the goalposts. Usually I would be ecstatic at third place, but with our roster it's an underachievement. You get nothing for finishing 3rd apart from a shot at the playoffs, in which anything can happen. I firmly believe we shouldn't have to take such a risk with the players we have. I also think the style of play we have is so restrictive based on the talent (I believe) we have. Maybe I rate us too highly? Who knows. Having said all that I think I will look back on this season positively. Another entertaining year in the Championship, and it could be a lot worse than being third and winning more than we lose.

Quote from: Sgt Fulham on January 24, 2020, 06:00:29 PM
Quite a majority voting for 'yes'. It is really interesting how people can perceive something so differently. Plenty of good reasons on both sides and really this season has been a very mixed bag. Personally I voted for no. I think expectation has ruined the season by changing the goalposts. Usually I would be ecstatic at third place, but with our roster it's an underachievement. You get nothing for finishing 3rd apart from a shot at the playoffs, in which anything can happen. I firmly believe we shouldn't have to take such a risk with the players we have. I also think the style of play we have is so restrictive based on the talent (I believe) we have. Maybe I rate us too highly? Who knows. Having said all that I think I will look back on this season positively. Another entertaining year in the Championship, and it could be a lot worse than being third and winning more than we lose.

I purposefully went into the season not ASSUMING anything.   I hoped the team would play well (which I've seen), I'd hoped Michael Hector would be an improvement on Mawson (which he is) and I'd hoped Scott Parker would have a successful debut season in the championship.  (imo, comparable to Slav...he has)


That's why I voted yes.    My hopes have been met so far.    I didn't start the season with expectations.

I personally don't think Fulham FC is at a level where expecting anything is helpful.   Wanting things, sure.   Expecting things...imo is a stretch.   Especially in the Championship.

I mean, there is only one Chris Wilder out there.   I'm just hoping Scott can be half as good as him. (while being backed by the Khan's checkbook)

I suppose it depends heavily on what you've experienced as a Fulham fan. I can empathise with the majority of views. Mine is happy but having sealed promotion recently at Wembley it brings an added measured element to any euphoria as the prize of promotion versus remaining and possibly losing players is so stark given the financial weight.

I'm enjoying the season. I didn't share the views of those who argued we have easily the best squad in the division and should walk automatic promotion. For me we are about on target as per my expectations.  I occasionally get frustrated when we play walking football but I also find some of our stuff exhilarating and there's enough of the latter to give m e hope for the rest of the season.  At least we always try to play football not some tedious Neanderthal rubbish.  I love that we are giving a young British manager a chance and I'll cut him a bit of slack for that reason.  Seeing our new stand being developed is also a big plus.

Quote from: Statto on January 23, 2020, 12:00:40 AM
No.
Expected better.

Agree. We played more exciting football under Slavisa.