What we have learnt

[Apprentice to the Maestro]

What we have learnt from the Derby game is that the problem, or at least the majority of it, wasn't the diamond system or individual players such as Hugo, Staf or Williams or the need for the return of players such as Tunnicliffe, Kaka or Smith but that the team as a whole needed to produce a decent collective performance for 90 minutes.

That is not to say that some of changes suggested wouldn't help improve matters but that they didn't address the fundamental flaw. Hopefully all including Kit have now realised that to be competitive, particularly in this league, requires some real effort and teamwork rather than just 'nice football'.

[leonffc]

Let's not think that the problems that we all thought were there have now gone because of one result against Derby. Freak results happen - we can just hope that Saturday wasn't one and we have turned the corner.

[Apprentice to the Maestro]

Let's not think that the problems that we all thought were there have now gone because of one result against Derby. Freak results happen - we can just hope that Saturday wasn't one and we have turned the corner.

I don't think it was a freak result in the sense of a level of performance that we are unlikely to see again but you are right in the sense that we should not expect to see it every week and will inevitably have some dips.

It showed what we are capable of. The task now is to produce closer to that level of performance every game.

[TrexFFC]

I would like to see more of that pressing that we used against Derby instead of sitting back for miles like we normally do.

[VicHalomsLovechild]

When teams come with a plan to play their way, it allows us to play as we did on Saturday. However when their plan is just to stop us playing our game? That as yet, we don't have the confidence to deal with as players or fans.

[snarks]

To a point you're right, part of the issue this season is that the team have not played at the same level for 90 minutes (unless poor counts as a level). They did on Saturday, that is partially down to the players avaialble and in that team ie Kav in front of Staff, Tunni in front of Richards, Bryan just behind Ross and Cauley.

However, it is also the way Derby play, 1 winger (ince) and a solitary striker, means that it was 2 against 4 with no wide men pushing forward, rather than the 3 or 4 the back 4 often play against.

McClaren said it was for his full backs to push on with the way Fulham play and they didn't, which gave Fulham control. Watford play with 2 wide and Deany through the middle with Vyadra (sp?) supporting him. A much more difficult formation to cope with, and that is where Fulham have struggled. So it's not just the players it's the opposition too.

[Jamie88]

To me the thing that was by far the most noticeable was that we pressed them from the off, never gave them any time on the ball and dictated the play.

Never understand why all clubs don't play like this. Why do teams decide its a good idea to give an opposing player time to think when they're on the ball?

[Nick Bateman]

We have learnt to play a pressing game (100mph) not allowing the opposition to slowly build from the back, and when we get it to pass incisively through the midfield (Ruiz) not 'lump' the ball long to Hugo Rod Laver who is hopeless at playing that style and more often will lose possession.

[Apprentice to the Maestro]

All the points about Derby underperforming and other teams will make it harder for us are true but, as has also been said, we have too often played too deep, sideways, too slowly and allowed teams to come on to us without the defensive solidity of a Hodgson team.

There are a lot of aspects of our team structure and choice of players to work on.

I am not convinced about the diamond (or any other rigid system for that matter) even though we supposedly used it on Saturday (although it looked more like 4-3-2-1 to me). It depends more on having the right style of player particularly for the players at the front and back of the diamond rather than for say a simple 4-4-2.

Then there is the player selection for the midfield. Beyond LVC and Parker (although he is beginning to look like a 60-70 minute player as Murphy was in his last year or so) with Ruiz likely to leave and Fofana a loan it's looking a bit thin. Tunnicliffe and Kacaniklic have not done enough to claim a regular place. There is an opportunity for Kavanagh, Hyndman or others to put in a strong claim. Plenty there for the manager to think about.

[Mince n Tatties]

JUST LEARN TO DEFEND CORNERS AND FREE KICKS.
HOW MANY IS THAT NOW...AAAAAAAARGH

[Apprentice to the Maestro]

JUST LEARN TO DEFEND CORNERS AND FREE KICKS.
HOW MANY IS THAT NOW...AAAAAAAARGH

You are right there.

One problem is that our defenders, and whole team actually, are rather short and not imposing. I think we were better at defending set pieces when Burn, Amorebieta and Hoogland were in the defence. All our midfielders are short and McCormack and Rodallega are not great headers so we are often out jumped. We have to be better organised to counteract this.