Something like - How are we feeling?

[FPT]

The reasoning for the title of this post is, "How are we all feeling?" was the title of a post I knocked up in the week but never actually ended up clicking 'post.' The theme of the post was around the football club, our season, our future and chances for promotion. I don't blame you for not believing me, but in the post I was to mention how I feel our inability to kill games and scrap wins could cost us come May. Although we've picked up points and cut losses: games like QPR, Burton and Cardiff at home should have been wins and having what would have been six extra points would more than make up for poor performances like Birmingham at home, Villa away and Wigan away.

I'm very happy with the improvements that Slavisa has made; this is a team worth supporting unlike the tosh provided to us by Kit Symons and Felix Magath. Jokanovic's strong will and ideas of the game on top of promotion experience makes him an excellent candidate and worthy of a contract extension on the improvements in his time here alone. It's clear he's still after a competitive and alternative striking option at the very least to become really competitive, especially in a team where the focus is still on more of its offensive qualities.

I was working today so I've not gotten to seen the Brighton game, by all accounts we played well but left to rue missed opportunities. I do wonder whether we'd benefit from the presence of a 'wide striker' in the team as well as a competitor to Martin. We have a load of players specialising in the creating of goal scoring opportunities but with the presence of just one 'goal scorer' your odds on scoring seem to diminish, especially when you have 15 shots (such as today) and only one falling your striker. We don't necessarily have to change everything and play 442, but a Martial type who has poise in front of goal but doesn't mean that you lack exciting wing play - Clint Dempsey was excellent at playing off of the flank but picking up goals in and around the box. The arrival of more composure in front of goal would be welcome and I'm sure would help in the killing of football matches.

That last paragraph was just a theory, possibly some waffle, but our dominance needs to be rewarded and only us can earn rewards.

So, how are we all feeling about all things Fulham at the moment?

[The Road Less Travelled]

I'm feeling good.

We have a manager who has a plan, and has instilled a sense of direction that I feel we've been missing for years now.  We have a squad that is competitive, whilst not being complete.  But that's the case with most teams, and I'd wager fans of every club feel there are areas that needs obvious and vast improvement.  We largely have decent balance, we have significantly more fight than the last few years (the point last weekend, and games like Cardiff and Leeds would have likely been defeats in prior years).

We almost certainly have wriggle room in terms of transfer budget, and if we're in a decent position come mid/late-January I'd hope for sufficient backing from Khan to improve the areas we need to.

This is definitely the best we've been since... a long time ago, and honestly I can't see any way anyone can argue otherwise - no matter how much they may hate Khan or Jokanaovic, or AliMac or Rigg.  There are obvious points of improvement, and I'd like to think that at this point in the season they have been identified and various players have been looked at in order to fix those shortcomings.

We're good.  We're not great, but no one is - Newcastle lost to Blackburn, Norwich are on a downward spiral, Brighton barely beat the worst Fulham team ever ever everer, Leeds just scraped past a 10 man bottom of the table Rotherham.

[JoelH5]

Taking a step back.. pretty good.

We've been in free-fall over the last few years and have finally addressed that.

We're close to being a top 6 side but not there yet. This is also one of the strongest Championships I've ever seen.

If we can bring in a more clinical striking option and further improve the back, but equally importantly keep our current crop of players, next year we will be in a much better position. Hopefully Newcastle, Norwhich and Brighton/Villa will have been promoted too!

Watching today has further cemented my view that our wing backs are too attacking. Odoi I don't really rate but I do like Malone. The issue is, I think they've been chosen more for their ability to get forward than their defensive capabilities. We lost today because of Malone but we got a last minute goal last week because of him. At present, I think he's on balance and worth sticking with. Odoi not so much. I'd welcome a replacement who has a lot more strength about him and a lot more defensive ability. I guess it's partly how we're set up but you could see today he doesn't enjoy defending. How can we expect clean sheets with only two out and out defenders?

If we can get in a solid, defensive RB and a clinical striker, I think we'll be in a great position.

[peaty]

I'm feeling good.

We have a manager who has a plan, and has instilled a sense of direction that I feel we've been missing for years now.  We have a squad that is competitive, whilst not being complete.  But that's the case with most teams, and I'd wager fans of every club feel there are areas that needs obvious and vast improvement.  We largely have decent balance, we have significantly more fight than the last few years (the point last weekend, and games like Cardiff and Leeds would have likely been defeats in prior years).

Agree with this.

[davew]

I'm feeling good.

We have a manager who has a plan, and has instilled a sense of direction that I feel we've been missing for years now.  We have a squad that is competitive, whilst not being complete.  But that's the case with most teams, and I'd wager fans of every club feel there are areas that needs obvious and vast improvement.  We largely have decent balance, we have significantly more fight than the last few years (the point last weekend, and games like Cardiff and Leeds would have likely been defeats in prior years).

We almost certainly have wriggle room in terms of transfer budget, and if we're in a decent position come mid/late-January I'd hope for sufficient backing from Khan to improve the areas we need to.

This is definitely the best we've been since... a long time ago, and honestly I can't see any way anyone can argue otherwise - no matter how much they may hate Khan or Jokanaovic, or AliMac or Rigg.  There are obvious points of improvement, and I'd like to think that at this point in the season they have been identified and various players have been looked at in order to fix those shortcomings.

We're good.  We're not great, but no one is - Newcastle lost to Blackburn, Norwich are on a downward spiral, Brighton barely beat the worst Fulham team ever ever everer, Leeds just scraped past a 10 man bottom of the table Rotherham.

Sorry to pick up on another of your posts, nice to always try and retain some positives about what is going on and a good observation that Newcastle, Norwich and perhaps you should have added Huddersfield and Sheff Weds are no longer setting the league on fire, whilst Derby and Villa are now moving up the league!! FFC have now secured a squad which will probably and hopefully noyt be involved in relegation issues this season, but neither will be challenging for promotion!! Great to see we have a more secure defence, shame to see the lack of quality up front!! Can't have both I suppose, not if you want success!

[RaySmith]

Feel frustrated because we've promised so much lately, and dominated the first-half on Saturday, and should have got at least a draw against a team that looks certain of promotion.

But feel positive about the way the team is heading, but  it still rankles that we let leads slip and drop points.

Yes,  A positive from the way we've been since relegation, and how we performed at Brighto last season, but looks like we could be looking at another season in the Championship. Well, at least  we don't seem like relegation candidates, and the Ch. has a lot going for it.

But feeling frustrated at the moment.

[Horsfield_No9]

I feel positive. Starting to see a settled team for the first time in however many years. I enjoy going again and have a genuine optimism before each game. There is an organisation and dare I say "team spirit" and unity coming back. I think hoping for promotion this season was still a bit early for us. It took Boro, Shef Wed and Derby a few seasons to build those good cores which is why for the past few years they've always been in and around the top. Next year we will hopefully be one of those teams. Best thing we can do now is continue to stick to the plan by extending Slav's contract and hopefully the purchase of a decent striker in Jan and see where that takes us.

[Burt]

I feel positive.

Why?
- I think we have a manager who has a plan.
- I don't mind watching us play again. The last two seasons have been painful. We have turned a corner.
- We are only one signing of a 20-a-season goalscorer away from being top 6 material.
- The support is holding up well.

There are more reasons to be cheerful, than not.