The View from South Texas -- FFC v. Bolton

[HatterDon]

Well, the contract I've been working ended a day early, so I got to watch this one "live." And, after 95 thoroughly enjoyable minutes of football, all I have to say is,

The Guys Who Watched Real Madrid v. Barcelona Missed Out On Some Brilliant Football!

I've only been following Fulham closely for about 8 seasons, so I'm sure that there are some with longer histories that can respond to the following with, "Oh yeah, well I can remember ... ." And you'd be correct I'm sure. But I'm here to say that I have never seen Fulham play more beautiful, breath-taking, and stunning football than I saw today -- especially during the first half. Yes, I saw both our recent wins v. Man United [Ag and I sat in a small sea of VERY quiet United fans for the second one] and yes, I've seen Norwich dismantled and us slam 4 past Tottenham in the Cup, but today was like nothing I've ever seen before from our team. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

Well, now that I've firmly established my credentials as a unbiased critical observer, I'll go on.

About Bolton. All day long the Trotters missed the key pass, missed the guy to pop up in the penalty area, missed the good corner taker, missed the guy to dispossess cleanly and start a counter attack. Yes, all day long Bolton missed Stuart Holden. To be fair, the guy I talked up the most prior to the match -- Lee [and why is it that we got the only crappy Korean????] -- had a horror of a first half, throwing away possession after possession with terrible passing. Robinson? As promised, he looked every bit the out-of-position not-up-to-the-top-flight defender. I'm sure as I type this, he's getting someone to tattoo "I am Simon Davies' bitch" across his ample ass. Bolton's most consistent performer was Jaaskelinen's woodwork, depriving both Gudjohnsen and Dembele of richly deserved goals. Bolton, people, FA Cup semi-finalists and 8th place Bolton, the same Bolton that slapped Arsenal around on the weekend, the Bolton that has won many converts with their attractive attacking play, THAT Bolton were taken apart by a Fulham side that could easily have won 7-0.

And we did it so majestically.

Who had his best match of the season? Well, Mark Schwarzer, for one. His command of the penalty area was brilliant. Plus, he didn't manage to pass to EVERY player in blue today, so he had that going for him which is nice. He was quick, decisive, and made a very nice save off Muamba when it was still 0-0 that might have been a very early match changer. Great stuff, Tha Big Aussie

Who else? Moussa Dembele -- Haysus Marimba, that boy can play some football. Class, class, and more class. He humiliated every defender he faced, crossed well from both wings, and should have had a brilliant goal, or perhaps two. Dembele has impressed us many times before, but I've NEVER seen him more effective, more attacking, more artistic than he was today.

Who else? Well, I was going to say Chris Baird, but then there's that brace at Stoke, but he was brilliant on defense and in attack. He and Salcido have joined with The Thames Barrier and Mark to give us a back 5 I'd not trade for Man United's. Baird made one mistake, then sprinted 20 yards to disposses the guy he gifted.

Who else? Eidur Gudjohnsen. Young people, that's what we saw when he was playing at the other end of Fulham Road several seasons ago. Majestic on the turn, Danny Murphy-like vision, able to find space for himself and deliver amazingly accurate and weighted passes. I don't know which was more lucious to behold, his flick that beat Jaaskeleinin [but not his post], or the gentle re-direction he provided that resulted in Clint's second goal. Wow! His first half was even better than Dembele's THAT's praise.

Dempsey was pretty good also. He was quicker to the chance than anyone, converted twice, scared the crap out of everyone in blue and, when the front two changed to BZ and AJ, he dropped back to do a job in defense. He and Sidwell obviously visited the same barber though, so at least he LOOKS less scruffy. I think Clint's market value is well into 8 figures on the basis of this season's and this day's work. I'm going to miss him, but I'm convinced we got everything he had every time he went out there in black and white.

There really wasn't anyone who looked poor or even average on the day. Sidwell disappeared from the camera's eye for long stretches, but that's because he was doing his job well fronting the defense. He needed to as well, since Etuhu looked brilliant and HUNGRY in his substitute role. Bobby Z and AJ didn't impress as much as they might have, but that's primarily because Fulham had been thriving on an attack orchestrated by Eidur and Dembele and executed by Danny, Dempsey, and Davies. When those two came on, that attack changed to a more conventional 4-4-2 and, really, it gave Bolton a bit of a rest.

The announcers for the international feed -- Taphouse and another Gary -- couldn't stop talking about how brilliantly Fulham play, how wonderful our football is, how our tenacity on defense and our ability to close down opponents blends so well with our attack. I couldn't agree more, and it was great to hear someone who ISN'T Fulham point out what so many of us who have embraced Mark Hughes's football have long felt is true. All of this was best summed up by what probably should have been a Bobby Zamora goal for 4-0. Because of quick tackling by Hangeland, good positioning, by Hughes, quick reactions by Baird and Sidwell, Fulham broke up a Bolton attack just on the edge of our penalty area. Rather than letting the ball go out of bounds on the right wing, Sidwell and Baird contrived to feed Simon Davies. Once again hammering the poor, poor Paul Robinson, Davies streaked up the wing and arched a pin-point pass to a penalty area inhabited by only Zamora, Cahill, and Jaaskeleinin. Zamora brought down the ball, swivelled [beating both Cahill and the keeper with the turn -- bad hip and all] and lashed it into the top of the net. The ref waved it off for handball by our #25, but it looked as much chest as upper arm to me. On a ball we could have let go out of play for a throw deep in our area, four Fulham players contrived to show the crowd something you'd really expect to see from Barcelona. Wonderful stuff.

Man of the match? Wow, what a toughie. As I said, everyone played well today. Dempsey is the easy one here with the two goals, but just as a reward for the smile that is still plastered on my face, I'm splitting the trophy between Dembele and Gudjohnsen. Well done all. And for what Steve Bruce is about to receive, may the lord make him truly thankful.

COYW!

[Jimpav]

Great, thanks HD.

BZ's effort surely takes disallowed goal of the season. We were celebrating wildly when that went in- even fooled the score board.

[Tom]

Great, thanks HD.

BZ's effort surely takes disallowed goal of the season. We were celebrating wildly when that went in- even fooled the score board.

BZ's goal should have counted! No if's or butt's about it.

[Senior Supporter]

A summary to warm the cockles of the heart Mr Hatter, but on one point I would disagree. I thought MS's distribution was as bad as ever again tonight.

[finnster01]

Great write-up as always Mr Hatter  :clap_hands: :045:

[Snibbo]

Thanks Mr. H. Agree with most of what you say. Dickson was like an unleashed hungry Rottweiller when he came on. A man possessed.  Bairdinho was class. Salcido again did well - a run of decent games for him.  Agree mostly with what you say about Moussa, but for Christ's sake, i just wish he could shoot. Even when he hit the woodwork, it was a mishit deflection.  He's class, no doubt, but i can't remember the last time I saw him really get hold of one.  Schwarzer's best game for a long time, we just have to accept that the occasional bad clearance is part of his game.  Gudjohnsen - if only we'd had him earlier in the season when Bobby got crocked.  H&H their usual strong performances. Davies superb, seems to have developed an extra yard of speed.  He oozes class.  Clint now officially a FFC legend.

[Jimbobob]

 :54:
Thanks HD!!!
Two things to say...I hate Fox Soccer Plus...don't get it and the game was on there toady so I couldn't record it!!!!
Second thanks to my Touch I got to see the text update of the first goal before I got on a plane back home and then saw we won THRRRRRREEEEEEEEEE-----------ZEROOOOOO!!!!!
What a fabulous result!!!!
COYW   :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

[nevzter]

Thanks again for the insight, HD.  I snuck a live-stream at work and caught the match off and on.  Fulham were brilliant.

[NogoodBoyo]

Where would I be without you, HD?  Umm, in Patterson, NY probably.  Scintillating read.
Nogood "thanks to the maestrodamus" Boyo

[sipwell]

Excellent review Mr. Hatter. It was an extremely pleasant game to watch... on a Wednesday evening. Would the boys have had a "it is almost Europa League day" feeling?

[Jack Fulham]

It's just like watching Brazil!

[BalDrick]

Top review, as ever. Many thanks.

One question though:

'I think Clint's market value is well into 8 figures on the basis of this season's and this day's work. I'm going to miss him...'

Have I missed something here? Or do you know something we don't? I think Hughes might just start recognising a little of himself in Clint, the first goal was vintage Sparky in his glory days for a start.

[Tom]

Top review, as ever. Many thanks.

One question though:

'I think Clint's market value is well into 8 figures on the basis of this season's and this day's work. I'm going to miss him...'

Have I missed something here? Or do you know something we don't? I think Hughes might just start recognising a little of himself in Clint, the first goal was vintage Sparky in his glory days for a start.

Clint isn't going anywhere.

[BalDrick]

Top review, as ever. Many thanks.

One question though:

'I think Clint's market value is well into 8 figures on the basis of this season's and this day's work. I'm going to miss him...'

Have I missed something here? Or do you know something we don't? I think Hughes might just start recognising a little of himself in Clint, the first goal was vintage Sparky in his glory days for a start.

Clint isn't going anywhere.

Certainly hope you're right Tom, but our South Texan is inferring he is and I was a tad concerned he knew something we didn't.

[finnster01]

Does anyone know who Clint's agent is?

[AlFayedsChequebook]

I think Mr.Hatter is of the belief that Liverpool will come in with a bid for him due to their US links.

[Tom]

I think Mr.Hatter is of the belief that Liverpool will come in with a bid for him due to their US links.

He can be under that belief but Mark is not going to let him go.

[AlFayedsChequebook]

Does anyone know who Clint's agent is?

James Grant Sports Management, the two listed agents are Craig Sharon and Lyle Yorks.

Shares an agent with Sally, Oguchi Onyewu, Jack Rodwell, John O'shea and a load of other americans

[BalDrick]

I think Mr.Hatter is of the belief that Liverpool will come in with a bid for him due to their US links.

He can be under that belief but Mark is not going to let him go.

Kind of depends on how much we're offered though? Really think we're on the cusp of building a really decent squad that can be regularly looking at top half finishes and good cup runs, with the odd European engagement thrown in. But equally suspect we're in for a summer of lots of our players being linked with a move elsewhere. And every player has his price doesn't he?

[Tom]

I think Mr.Hatter is of the belief that Liverpool will come in with a bid for him due to their US links.

He can be under that belief but Mark is not going to let him go.

And every player has his price doesn't he?

Not Clint, Bobby, Brede, Aaron or Mousa.