" STRENGTH "

[Woolly Mammoth]

Jok looked devastated, I felt for him, we did not deserve to be beaten that way.
But you measure a man and a team how they get up off the canvas, not how they go down.
We have to be strong.
Please remember....

" Strength does not come from winning "
" your troubles develop your strengths "
" when you go through hardships and decide not to surrender "
" THAT IS STRENGTH ".

[mitimo]

Totally agree.

[Carborundum]

Well said Woolly.  I can't wait to watch this team, bolstered by some new signings yes and one or two departures, but basically this team, take on the Championship next season.  A bit more steel will be needed, but we have so much to build upon.  They will do us proud next season.  As they have done this term.

COYW

[Woolly Mammoth]

Yes indeed, if we can keep this team/ squad together, especially the key players, as this team has come along way in a short space of time. The spirit is there, and it was no coincidence that we were consistently playing and passing very good teams off the park on there own grounds.
Hence the reason we found ourselves in the playoffs, and we won a lot of admirers on the way.
I am sure Jok would like to build on this, and he knows a little surgery needs to be done, and surely the Board realises that to challenge again, they must not only beef the squad up, which was small compared to others, but be as ambitious as our manager is, and support him to the hilt.
Reading between the lines on Joks post match interview, he clearly showed he is determined to build on this team, he also hinted in not so many words, that his aspirations must be matched by the club.
Let's us hope he gets the support he deserves.

[toshes mate]

You've said it all Woolly.  That defeat may just be the start of something really big.

[grandad]

We far exceeded our expectations & I feel that reaching the playoffs has come a season too early. Slavisa & the Board know now what is required for next season. It won´t be any easier as the clubs coming down will all have massive amounts to spend, far more than we will be able to invest.

[AlexW132]

We far exceeded our expectations & I feel that reaching the playoffs has come a season too early. Slavisa & the Board know now what is required for next season. It won´t be any easier as the clubs coming down will all have massive amounts to spend, far more than we will be able to invest.

I agree except for the last bit about the relegated teams. Boro are the only one to fear, as Short won't invest in Sunderland, who have an aging and overpaid squad with no Championship experience, and Hull, well it depends whether Silva stays or not, and whether they keep the majority of their squad.

[nose]

Well said Woolly.  I can't wait to watch this team, bolstered by some new signings yes and one or two departures, but basically this team, take on the Championship next season.  A bit more steel will be needed, but we have so much to build upon.  They will do us proud next season.  As they have done this term.

COYW

we said all that in November and december but got nobody the manager wanted.
Do you really think based on the owner's past performance he will open the cheque book and bringing sufficient players of the requisite quality, I think not. I suspect we face a miserable frustrating season.

Not denying your points but I am genuinely in a state of mega pessimism regarding the state of our leadership!

[Woolly Mammoth]

Well said Woolly.  I can't wait to watch this team, bolstered by some new signings yes and one or two departures, but basically this team, take on the Championship next season.  A bit more steel will be needed, but we have so much to build upon.  They will do us proud next season.  As they have done this term.

COYW

we said all that in November and december but got nobody the manager wanted.
Do you really think based on the owner's past performance he will open the cheque book and bringing sufficient players of the requisite quality, I think not. I suspect we face a miserable frustrating season.

Not denying your points but I am genuinely in a state of mega pessimism regarding the state of our leadership!

Well nose, I understand your concerns, and bearing in mind that it's less than 24 hours since the initial pain of losing a match we could and should have won.
Nevertheless, what happens in the next three months will no doubt show exactly what the intentions of the board are, and whether they match our managers desire to build on what he has achieved and go for automatic promotion next season.
I would like to think that being involved in the play offs this season, will give the Board the flavour to go one better next season.
They have no excuses now to say that any naivety or mistakes in the past will not be replicated.
Fulham Football Club is in a much better place than they were 12 months ago, and that in itself is a victory.

[Woolly Mammoth]

As I said in the above post, the club is in a much better place than 12 months ago after our last match of last season was completed.
If we all looked back at our posts and threads on that occasion, I would imagine what a difference to now.
I prefer to be positive now, I can't imagine how the manager and players are feeling.
I just hope that the pain of the way the team were beaten, will make everyone of them more determined to bounce back stronger and hungrier than ever. The structure is in place, we have become more consistent, and our away form and results have rocketed.
Who would have thought we would be joint top goalscorers. Lots to be pleased about despite last night. It will be intriguing to watch what happens over the coming weeks, I hope the board and the manager are on the same wave length.

[hopper]

Well said Woolly

[bobbo]

Spot on woolly. Rebember there are 3 clubs not gonna make it in these playoffs , do you think they are all getting rid of their players? I don't think so.

[Woolly Mammoth]

That's right bobbo, I think we have become a little Paranoid due to past experiences, I have been as guilty as the next man. But you are right, a classic example is Brighton, who made it this year after losing the play offs last year. Of course there will be issues and recruiting players to strengthen will be a interesting and a challenge. But if we can sign players as we have done when we were finishing in the lower reaches of the division, and last summer overal we recruited well. So I would like to think we have become more attractive to players, and if we can recruit good players, then it increases the chance of us keeping our better players, and vice versa. We have more chance of holding on to our key players if the club are showing ambition and are backing our manager.
So I would rather be optimistic as I am hoping the club and the owner have learnt what it takes to challenge for an automatic promotion place. ⚽️⚽️👍👍