On the beach already?

[FFC007]

Given the rubbish served up yesterday and the results today, I think that's probably scuppered anything to play for for the remainder of the season

Some of the team yesterday were clearly on the beach already, and Silva didn't look his normal self.

Him and Wilson have clearly checked out IMO.

[demeant0r]

The squad has been on the beach since we reached 40 points. It's the same fking shite every season.

[JimOG]

The squad has been on the beach since we reached 40 points. It's the same fking shite every season.

Frm BBC:
"It carried all the hallmarks of the perfect opportunity to strike a wounded opponent and record a rare Anfield victory.

Instead, Fulham lacked urgency when it mattered, even when it was clear Liverpool's rearguard was vulnerable, with some opportunities to take the lead, or at least claw back the goal that might have had nerves jangling among players and fans alike, not taken.

Indeed, Fulham had 19 attempts in this defeat, the joint most Liverpool have faced in a Premier League game since records started in 2003/04.

Fulham will look back on this with regret because this was a clear chance to cause Liverpool trouble and it was missed.

[jayffc]

Its not over till its over as they say.

Very tight league and we cant afford many more toothless performances. But given it's 3 points that seperates us from 7th and 4 from 6th, if we can somehow win the games v Brentford and Bournemouth we'd likely be in and around it still. Big ask but we've certainly seen more miraculous things in our history.

Stand up if you still believe and all that folks. The likely scenario is of course currently that we miss out on europe but there's no reason for anyone to be "on the beach" in the squad at this stage with 18 points left to play for. Including the fans. Sure we'll be in fine voice away at their place, and gotta hope we show up and play the way we know we're capable of when on form.

[KentFulham]

Its not over till its over as they say.

Very tight league and we cant afford many more toothless performances. But given it's 3 points that seperates us from 7th and 4 from 6th, if we can somehow win the games v Brentford and Bournemouth we'd likely be in and around it still. Big ask but we've certainly seen more miraculous things in our history.

Stand up if you still believe and all that folks. The likely scenario is of course currently that we miss out on europe but there's no reason for anyone to be "on the beach" in the squad at this stage with 18 points left to play for. Including the fans. Sure we'll be in fine voice away at their place, and gotta hope we show up and play the way we know we're capable of when on form.

Not a chance. A sign fans are on the beach is being offered two Brentford tickets this week from people who cant be bothered to go now

[jayffc]

Its not over till its over as they say.

Very tight league and we cant afford many more toothless performances. But given it's 3 points that seperates us from 7th and 4 from 6th, if we can somehow win the games v Brentford and Bournemouth we'd likely be in and around it still. Big ask but we've certainly seen more miraculous things in our history.

Stand up if you still believe and all that folks. The likely scenario is of course currently that we miss out on europe but there's no reason for anyone to be "on the beach" in the squad at this stage with 18 points left to play for. Including the fans. Sure we'll be in fine voice away at their place, and gotta hope we show up and play the way we know we're capable of when on form.

Not a chance. A sign fans are on the beach is being offered two Brentford tickets this week from people who cant be bothered to go now

Wow 2 whole tickets
Entire fan base is in tatters.

Misery for all

[hopper]

Its not over till its over as they say.

Very tight league and we cant afford many more toothless performances. But given it's 3 points that seperates us from 7th and 4 from 6th, if we can somehow win the games v Brentford and Bournemouth we'd likely be in and around it still. Big ask but we've certainly seen more miraculous things in our history.

Stand up if you still believe and all that folks. The likely scenario is of course currently that we miss out on europe but there's no reason for anyone to be "on the beach" in the squad at this stage with 18 points left to play for. Including the fans. Sure we'll be in fine voice away at their place, and gotta hope we show up and play the way we know we're capable of when on form.

Thing is, there's not been anything rousing enough lately to stand up to still believe in.

I do think we have a tendency to be on the beach after safety is all but ensured unfortunately.

[JimmyConway]

Sometimes think that phrase of team "On The Beach" can hide to many excuses and thoughts are looking ahead to following season. It's a little bit that's the nature of the beast at this stage especially with players on World Cup duty and some knowing they won't be here next season let alone a managers contract uncertainty. We had the chance like we have had before of mounting an European challenge but though still an glimmer highly unlikely for a Fulham team who have found this season to be consistently inconsistent? Looking more like we have fluffed our lines yet again!

[Whitestone]

On the beach or just not good enough ?

[hopper]

Sometimes think that phrase of team "On The Beach" can hide to many excuses and thoughts are looking ahead to following season. It's a little bit that's the nature of the beast at this stage especially with players on World Cup duty and some knowing they won't be here next season let alone a managers contract uncertainty. We had the chance like we have had before of mounting an European challenge but though still an glimmer highly unlikely for a Fulham team who have found this season to be consistently inconsistent? Looking more like we have fluffed our lines yet again!

I think "on the beach" can be a mix of things - like as you say in this instance WC year (see Robinson particularly), late season fatigue, and just a continuation of consistency.

But I do think there is a pattern where our intensity tends to drop after getting safety. Sometimes quite tangibly.

[alfie]

On the beach or just not good enough ?

Agree, just it good enough.

[demeant0r]

Sometimes think that phrase of team "On The Beach" can hide to many excuses and thoughts are looking ahead to following season. It's a little bit that's the nature of the beast at this stage especially with players on World Cup duty and some knowing they won't be here next season let alone a managers contract uncertainty. We had the chance like we have had before of mounting an European challenge but though still an glimmer highly unlikely for a Fulham team who have found this season to be consistently inconsistent? Looking more like we have fluffed our lines yet again!

I think "on the beach" can be a mix of things - like as you say in this instance WC year (see Robinson particularly), late season fatigue, and just a continuation of consistency.

But I do think there is a pattern where our intensity tends to drop after getting safety. Sometimes quite tangibly.

It's almost like, contrary to what Marco is saying, the players don't actually want to be in Europe otherwise they would put up more fight, more intensity, more effort otherwise they wouldn't be losing to likes of West Ham and Southampton.

[hopper]

Sometimes think that phrase of team "On The Beach" can hide to many excuses and thoughts are looking ahead to following season. It's a little bit that's the nature of the beast at this stage especially with players on World Cup duty and some knowing they won't be here next season let alone a managers contract uncertainty. We had the chance like we have had before of mounting an European challenge but though still an glimmer highly unlikely for a Fulham team who have found this season to be consistently inconsistent? Looking more like we have fluffed our lines yet again!

I think "on the beach" can be a mix of things - like as you say in this instance WC year (see Robinson particularly), late season fatigue, and just a continuation of consistency.

But I do think there is a pattern where our intensity tends to drop after getting safety. Sometimes quite tangibly.

It's almost like, contrary to what Marco is saying, the players don't actually want to be in Europe otherwise they would put up more fight, more intensity, more effort otherwise they wouldn't be losing to likes of West Ham and Southampton.

Yeah, I do genuinely believe there is a motivational problem post survival with us.

That West Ham performance was a joke. I totally get you don't win all the games you're expected to, and there are off days - but we were missing 5 yard passes regularly, losing pretty much all the duels and just seemed completely off it.

Similarly this weekend, we didn't look like a team that wanted to turn up with desire and intensity after a break and against a Liverpool side that is really vulnerable atm.

[Arthur]

We had a four-game losing run in the league back in October alongside a turgid performance against third-tier Wycombe in the Cup. Having ended that with a win against Wolves, the players then turned in a lifeless, apathetic performance at Everton.

All the 'they're on the beach' comments now could have been posted then - other than that, of course, it was the wrong time of the season; irate supporters had to search for different explanations instead.

As a further example of how the phrase ropes in anything any supporter is dissatisfied with from March onwards, I even see the loss to Southampton being touted as 'on the beach'. Yet, on the day, the criticism was wholly focused on Marco's team selection.

In my opinion, it's our style of play that is responsible. In general, we're not a team that presses the opposition high up the pitch. And, in the first half of matches in particular, in possession, we typically choose the safer option that means we hold onto than ball rather than risk an attacking play that could just as likely see us give it away again. In a game such as last weekend's, in which our opponents do not readily concede possession against our low block while pressing high up the pitch themselves - causing us to struggle to get beyond the half-way line - we end up with an opening forty-five minutes like we saw.

If 'on the beach' is meant to describe players who are neither trying much nor care much about the result, I don't go along with this. When I hear Silva's post-match comments about the team needing to play in the first half the way we played in the second half, I think to myself, 'If this is what you want from the players, Marco, offer them some solutions.' He needs to coach the players to take a few more tactical risks in the opening stages of matches when time and space in the opposition half is that much harder to find. Yes, playing this way may lead to us taking the occasional defeat by four-or-five goals - something that doesn't tend to happen with our current 'safety first' approach - but it would also see us produce, throughout the season, fewer insipid performances of the sort that lead to the pretty much Pavlovian response of 'on the beach' whenever we reach the closing weeks.

[hopper]

We had a four-game losing run in the league back in October alongside a turgid performance against third-tier Wycombe in the Cup. Having ended that with a win against Wolves, the players then turned in a lifeless, apathetic performance at Everton.

All the 'they're on the beach' comments now could have been posted then - other than that, of course, it was the wrong time of the season; irate supporters had to search for different explanations instead.

As a further example of how the phrase ropes in anything any supporter is dissatisfied with from March onwards, I even see the loss to Southampton being touted as 'on the beach'. Yet, on the day, the criticism was wholly focused on Marco's team selection.

In my opinion, it's our style of play that is responsible. In general, we're not a team that presses the opposition high up the pitch. And, in the first half of matches in particular, in possession, we typically choose the safer option that means we hold onto than ball rather than risk an attacking play that could just as likely see us give it away again. In a game such as last weekend's, in which our opponents do not readily concede possession against our low block while pressing high up the pitch themselves - causing us to struggle to get beyond the half-way line - we end up with an opening forty-five minutes like we saw.

If 'on the beach' is meant to describe players who are neither trying much nor care much about the result, I don't go along with this. When I hear Silva's post-match comments about the team needing to play in the first half the way we played in the second half, I think to myself, 'If this is what you want from the players, Marco, offer them some solutions.' He needs to coach the players to take a few more tactical risks in the opening stages of matches when time and space in the opposition half is that much harder to find. Yes, playing this way may lead to us taking the occasional defeat by four-or-five goals - something that doesn't tend to happen with our current 'safety first' approach - but it would also see us produce, throughout the season, fewer insipid performances of the sort that lead to the pretty much Pavlovian response of 'on the beach' whenever we reach the closing weeks.

Our results in April and May are typically worse than other months across the last few previous seasons though. So I think it's wrong to dismiss it by citing the bad form around October.

[HV71]

I can't help but think that there is a feeling within the club ( conscious or not ) that once safety is achieved then that is basically " job done " . It is even the view of many on here - given our history and the size of club that we are. Obviously I have not one shred of evidence to support my view other than the fact that history keeps repeating itself - something that might also be nothing more than coincidental

The ceiling of ambition may just be survival and trying to do so within sustainable financial parameters. End of

[Southdowns White]

I started a thread when we reached 40 points https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=99576.0 same every year. We just don't seem to want to progress in case we accidently get into Europe.

[Woolly Mammoth]

The system of play Marco adopts is killing us.
Slow tempo, predictable and unambitious.

[Arthur]

Our results in April and May are typically worse than other months across the last few previous seasons though. So I think it's wrong to dismiss it by citing the bad form around October.

Firstly, if we are going to judge the players' attitude on our results in April and May, I think it's premature to draw the conclusion after the first game of seven between now and the end of the season.

Secondly, if you look who the opposition was in April and May these past three seasons, there is, in my opinion, no more than one result each season that could be looked upon as unexpectedly poor: a home defeat to West Ham in 2023; a defeat to Nottingham Forest in which we were overrun in the first half in 2024; conceding 3 goals in losing at home to Everton last season.

Of the other 25 matches we have played across April and May since gaining promotion, I don't think the result of any of them stands out as an indicator the outcome would have been different earlier in the season. Narrow losses at home to Newcastle and away to Bournemouth and Aston Villa alongside home draws with Crystal Palace may seem disappointing, but the reality is that, since our return, we've lost at home to Newcastle and Palace and away at Bournemouth and Villa eight times out of eight when the fixture hasn't been at the back end of the season.

As I argued in my original post, I think it's primarily to do with our style of play.

[bahay18]

I was wondering on another post why most teams seem to play well against us . Ie Arsenal and United turning in possibly their worst performances of the last couple of months this weekend and allowing teams from our level to beat them quite comfortably.But is it more that teams fancy playing us , which can be a function of ' on the beach ' . But if you look at our front 6 , who is actually going to press and make a tackle that might actually unsettle a team : Berge , king , iwobi , Wilson , Bobb , Muniz .

Certainly some skillful players but as a defender you would be thinking on a physical level this isn't going to be a tough afternoon and I fancy this .