The View from South Texas -- Norwich City v. Fulham FC

[HatterDon]

[sorry for the LONG delay in getting this written. The match was tape delayed and my band had an early evening gig. I hope the wait is worth it]

Torture: Excruciating and Slow

In Roy Hodgson's day, Fulham would approach a league match at an inferior opponent's ground with the idea of stationing 10 players in their own half and going for the 0-0. This was usually a successful tactic  and only resulted in a few suicides by bored home supporters. Things are different now that Fulham are playing Martin Jol Sexy Football. Now we do our sideways and backwards passing further up the field. Instead of overtly playing negatively as under Hodgson, Fulham now appear to want to make attacking forays, but find it incapable of stringing more that three passes together. Under Hodgson, we had a well-drilled unit where everyone on the pitch knew his role and those of his teammates – all the better to execute the away boredom efficiently. Martin Jol Sexy Football differs as his Fulham have as little interaction among defense, midfield, and attack as possible. Furthermore, it is necessary for the team to appear to be composed of eleven highly skilled players who first met earlier that day.

And so Fulham traveled to Carrow Road to play a dispirited and ragged Norwich City. If there is a team more ripe for the taking on the road, I have no idea who it might be. Lacking two legitimate goal scoring threats, and fielding a defense that is easier to rip apart than a lovesick teenager's heart, Norwich were almost begging to be trampled underfoot. Fulham, not satisfied with disappointing its own fans, also ruined Norwich's date with destiny. Instead, Fulham dropped two points and handed Norwich one they never came close to deserving.

Fulham's lineup featured three changes from their spirited and ill-deserved loss to Manchester United the previous weekend. Coming back from injury was the enigmatic Dimitar Berbatov, and with him two of our January loanees – Stanislav Manolev and Emmanuel Frimpong. The latter was rushed into action just hours after receiving his work permit due to the illness of our ever-present season-long loanee Sascha Riether. Frimpong replaced The Ancient Greek and looked to create a strong midfield partnership with Steve Sidwell.

The match started interestingly. Berbatov was kicked in the face after only 70 seconds. There was no yellow card, naturally, since the game was less than 15 minutes old. It took a few minutes to stanch the bleeding and give the Bulgarian striker a few stitches. It was only 3 minutes later when Mark Schwarzer was called into action FOR HIS ONLY SAVE OF THE MATCH. The strike was from Norwich's January transfer Luciano Becchio. The Argentine striker obviously had been taking extension courses in platform diving at Leeds University, and could not wait to demonstrate how well he learned this craft to his new teammates and supporters. How he escaped a yellow for "simulation" is a mystery. He dived more often than a panicky U-boat skipper.

Fulham began the sideways and backwards passing drills they've perfected almost immediately. So successful were they in showing no aggression towards the Canaries' shell-shocked defense, that it wasn't until the 19th minute that Damian Duff took Fulham's first shot.

Other highlights of the first half was a weak yellow for Frimpong and, in the 42nd minute, the sight of Berbatov actually chasing after one of his errant passes. I can't remember seeing him do this since Christmas.

Steve Sidwell was enjoying having a strong center mid partner and "put himself about" all over the park. He looked every inch the box-to-box midfielder he can at times be. In the 48th minute it was Fulham's only English player who took the first shot on goal. It was an easy save for Mark Bunn, but still it was on target, and there was still 42 more minutes left for Fulham to have a second SOG. Two minutes later, Bryan Ruiz let loose a pile driver of a shot that completely clocked Sebastian Bassong. The Norwich defender is a tough geezer, but he was seriously shaken by the event. The first really attractive multi-pass move from Fulham occurred in the 67th minute. Of course, it came to naught, but it was nice to see guys – you know – passing the ball upfield to teammates.

Norwich, getting into the spirit of MJSF, managed their second shot on goal in the 70th minute. There was some activity in both penalty areas as the minutes dwindled down to a tiresome few, but it was obvious that if there was any justice in the world, this match would end 0-0. Neither side was able to come up with the coherent play required to make a serious attack on goal.

And, so, I was left with looking for oddities:
1.   The television announcer saying of Hangeland, "His long legs were tangled in the heels of Snodgrass," which left me wondering if this was the original first line to "The Sound Of Music."
2.   A classy turn by substitute Urby Emanuelson. I believe it was the singular highlight of the second half.
3.   Simeon Jackson raising himself on his tiptoes to grab on to Hangeland's shoulders.

So, yeah, it was a dire display by both teams, but we gained a point when pretty much all the strugglers lost – except for Southampton and Norwich of course. We moved up a position in the standings, and we're a game closer to the end of the season. We also now have logged a grand total of THREE wins in our last eighteen league matches. We're still not giving a team display anywhere near as good as the quality of the individual players. We're still refusing to take hold of our own destiny, never mind 90 minutes on a Saturday – except on very rare occasions.

Who looked good? Sidwell excelled, Frimpong looked strong and – with his partner – faced up to Norwich's attack and stifled it. Nobody Norwich sent to challenge our back four got any change out of Riise and Manolev. Senderos' 100th league match was very strong, and Hangeland looked as dominating as we've seen him for a long while. The thing is, as easily as Fulham contained Norwich threat after Norwich threat, as dispirited as The Canaries and their fans were, it is almost inexcusable that Fulham didn't come away with a win, and that's the rub. That's the reason for the negative review of a point gained on the road.

HatterDon's Man of the Match award goes to Stanislav Manolev. Yes, Sidwell and Hangeland had better individual matches, but this guy has played a total of ONE league match for PSV Eindhoven this season and, still gutted out 90+ minutes with a bunch of guys he barely knows. It was a hell of a Premier League debut, regardless of the result.

Next Up? A weekend off to watch Luton Town play Millwall in the FA Cup. We play our next league match against Stoke City Wrestling Club on February 23rd at the Cottage. COYW

[RidgeRider]

 :54:

[west kowloon white]

Excellent summary as always-ER and the "negatives"won't be pleased though with MOM-but then they will never have one.....nice to read stuff from a true supporter rather than bile.

[FC Silver Fox]

Brilliantly entertaining and fair report.  "He dived more often than a panicky U-boat skipper."   064.gif

One of the reasons there was little passing was that when a Fulham player had the ball he had no options. Nobody got into a position to receive the ball. You watch a team like Arsenal and when a player has the ball, there are 3 players in space wanting it. Why do our players content themselves with being static, standing close to opponents (its not their marking). This is basic football that you teach to kids.

[bulgariawhite]

Good report excellent read, better than the newspapers.

[ffc73]

Spot on HD.  Your articulate review sums up my feelings about the tortuous 90 or so minutes between the enjoyable time I had reading my book on the coach to and from Norwich yesterday.

[Lighthouse]

 :005:

The most entertaining part of the match experience as always.

[Fulham1959]

Superb prose.

I wrote in another thread yesterday (or Friday?) that this was a season-defining match.  I had hoped that Fulham had finally turned the corner in their approach to matches  -  but they haven't.  

I blame the manager / coaching staff entirely and I wish Berbatov had never come.  The latter comment is subjective and reactive to the comments and reports of others as I don't get to see players' performances very often.  But I stand by it.

I don't want another managerial change but Martin Jol is uninspiring and our dismal ratio of wins quoted by HD would elsewhere be a sacking offence.

[Snibbo]

Thanks HD.

Being picky:

re: Stanislav Manolev and Emmanuel Frimpong.

"The latter was rushed into action just hours after receiving his work permit due to the illness of our ever-present season-long loanee Sascha Riether."

Should read:

"The former was rushed into action just hours after receiving his work permit due to the illness of our ever-present season-long loanee Sascha Riether."

[Burt]

It may not have been pretty, but it was a point, and well done Mr HD for "capturing the essence", and to all you battle-hardened folk who still muster up the courage to go see us away despite the lack of return...

I read the Sunday Times report, and it pretty much reflected Mr HD's sentiments. The only point of difference was their man of the match - that went to a certain Mr Sidwell.

[LBNo11]

...sexy football that makes you consider celibacy...

[Berserker]

...sexy football that makes you consider celibacy...

Well you can't use the excuse about it being English men in our team either can you  064.gif

[Me-ate-Live, innit??]

...sexy football that makes you consider celibacy...

Well you can't use the excuse about it being English men in our team either can you  064.gif

.........or young men  064.gif 064.gif

[cmg]

Thanks, excellent stuff.

Special Award for getting 'Luton v Millwall' and 'The Sound Of Music' into the same report. Two entertainment offerings from seemingly opposite ends of the spectrum, but which, on closer inspection, have a great deal in common.

[aconnecticutyankee]

HD your best effort so far, you are building momentum and scoring points.

[jarv]

Excellent, spot on.

Berbatov, I like him as much as the next supporter but after his disgraceful, petulant, lazy performance yesterday he should be dropped. I wuldn't care if it was for good.

[Texas White]

I just don't get the tactics. Going away used to be such fun. Clearly its not sexy on the pitch.
I hope we are better against stoke.
the formation is wrong for the team..

Berba needs to play behind two strikers. Give hime some freedom to pull the strings. A new role that will suit the team better. If his pass goes astray he can wave his arms at himself.

We lack the vision and creativity from midfield. Berba needs to become the new murphy.
Ruiz needs to be an impact sub

Just my view and not negative. I am proud of  how far we have come. It used to be Brentford and Chester, now its Spuds and Liverpool.

[nickmuir]

The mom hast to be the fans  and if I was to pick out one fan would have to be Micky

[HatterDon]

Thanks HD.

Being picky:

re: Stanislav Manolev and Emmanuel Frimpong.

"The latter was rushed into action just hours after receiving his work permit due to the illness of our ever-present season-long loanee Sascha Riether."

Should read:

"The former was rushed into action just hours after receiving his work permit due to the illness of our ever-present season-long loanee Sascha Riether."

Thanks for the correction. That's what happens when 3 hours of rock 'n roll and more than one libation comes between the viewer and the reporter.

I appreciate all the favorable comments.

[timmyg]

Good stuff Don.

I found this match to be all too predictable. Both clubs are *near* the drop zone, but not in it, so what to do? LOSS AVERSION!

Heading into the game, it was clear both would benefit from a draw rather than the prospect of going for three yet getting zero points, so both set up to play for the draw...now both teams are 8 points off the drop. Sure, the 1 additional point might seem irrelevant, but we're not football managers.

And so we got yesterday's crap.

Oh well.