Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 76

[Friendsoffulham]

Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 76
Date: 17th March 2018

Opposition: QPR

Score: 2-2

Weather: the meteorological Beast From the East returned to Craven Cottage with a vengeance on Saturday even if his striker namesake was more frustrated than flammable

Atmosphere: shades of earlier in the season

Opposition fans: whilst largely silent during the match, the QPR fans observed the minute's applause for the late Stan Brown with great respect

Opposition kit: it was like 10 Dennis the Menaces were let loose on the Cottage pitch

MOTM (football): Marcus Bettinelli kept a cool head when all around him were losing theirs and kept us in the game. We also appreciated his Irish green kit on St Patrick's day which contrasted strikingly with the QPR keeper who had come dressed as a giant carrot

MOTM (non-football): it was good to see Matt Smith back at the Cottage especially after he revealed this week that Tom Cairney's coffee of choice is a vanilla latte. Somehow, this is not surprising

Pub: we sought refuge from the freezing conditions in Bills for a late lunch

Fulham Football Club, London's oldest and best, is 139 years old. Before Saturday, in various leagues, under a lot of managers and a number of owners, with thousands of players and myriad fans, the club's record of consecutive unbeaten games stood at 15. To better that impressive total in the Championship in 2018 means Slavisa Jokanovic, Tony Khan and their group of committed, ambitious players will not be forgotten and those of us who were there to see the feat achieved will be envied by future generations of Fulham fans even if they are supporting our beloved club in a different, better league.

That is the context in which the QPR result sits. That, and the fact that our spot in the playoffs has been consolidated even if second place is slipping out of reach. In other words it is reasonable to be disappointed with a draw with our niggly neighbours but it is an over reaction to be angry or heartbroken.

We began the day feeling both hopeFUL and fearFUL. We knew QPR would come to the Cottage feeling vengeFUL after their loss to us at what passes for their stadium earlier in the season. Following our demolition of the teams above and around us over the last few weeks we knew our tendency for Fulhamishness could return at any moment when we started playing mid table sides.

During the first half we thought we were wrong to have worried. For 44 minutes we were treated to the beautiFUL football we have become used to - masterFUL passing, patient build up, indomitable possession and 2 superb goals. In hindsight, the team was wasteFUL at times and we were back to there being too many passes in and around the box when a direct strike would have been more useFUL but even after QPR scored from their well worked free kick we felt confident that Fulham goals would be plentiFUL in the second half and were shivering but not suffering at half time.

We have written often in the past about Fulham matches being the archetypal games of two halves. We fanciFULly thought we'd seen the end of this annoying habit before Christmas but as the second half started on Saturday all Fulham's organisation and endeavour began to unravel. QPR came at us snapping and snarling, they fought for every ball and more often than not they won. They were forceFUL and determined while Fulham were simply woeFUL. After the Premier League football we played against Wolves and Villa our hoofing and scrambling wouldn't have looked out of place in League 1. Yes, the surface was very slippery as the sleety snow continued to fall, and yes, 15 games of consummate football have tired the players but at times they were simply dreadFUL and, unfortunately, the QPR players wanted the ball and the points more than ours did.

Slav didn't help matters. We have praised his substitutions recently but on Saturday they were awFUL. Bringing on Ayite is one thing but Fonte for Tom when Norwood was on the bench? And Ojo when anyone else was on the bench? We like Fonte, but we all know that his graceFUL, thoughtFUL football isn't what's needed in a fight (although to be fair, when there actually was a fight or at least a wrestling match on the pitch Fonte was quick to dive in and help break it up). All in all the second half was reminiscent of many others Slav has overseen - when Plan A goes awry there is no Plan B to fall back on.

The hapless Dennis Odoi has come in for criticism for facilitating the equaliser but this was a poor performance from the team as a whole. Only Marcus was at anything like his usual level although both Ttargetttt and Stefjo worked very hard. There were issues of leadership in the second half. Kevin McDonald may give the team talks in the huddle and be captain in all but name but even he couldn't stop things descending into chaos and panic as the formation became questionable after the double substitution.

But there are reasons to be cheerFUL: a draw against QPR is regretFUL but not disgraceFUL, the international break is upon us and we can look forward to more fruitFUL games to come. 16 games unbeaten. The longest current run in England and one of the longest in Europe behind the inimitable Barcelona. That is the sort of company we are in on this most wonderFUL of journeys.

Random musings:-

- as Glovegate continues we noted that one outfield player on each side started the game in gloves. There were also plenty of short sleeves on show. In the second half, mindFUL of the plummeting temperature all the whites were wearing long sleeve undergarments except McDonald who comes from the frozen north and Aleksandar Mitrovic who is so tough he would survive a new ice age

- Clappergate: following the damp clappers at the Derby game in November Saturday's clappers actually had snow in the folds

- Hairgate: was that a quiff we spotted on our Man of the Match????

- we quite admired the tuneFULness of QPR's new song: "you're going to lose in the playoffs". It has a Fulhamish ring to it.....

- did they have to grab Targett's replacement, unnumbered shirt, from the shop?

We have said it before, but there is something fateFUL about this season: following Aston Villa's loss we have somehow climbed to third place in the table despite the worst half of football we have played for many months. It's helpFUL to remember that had we drawn 1-1 with Preston and beaten QPR 2-1 we would all be feeling happier but such is the nature of football and Fulhamishness.

It's that time of year again and the club are promoting next year's season tickets using lots of words with a certain 3 letters in them. Like almost everyone else, we will be renewing with alacrity. There is no easier decision. 139 years and supporting FULham just gets better and better. But the best is yet to come.

https://werdsmith.com/p/haDHtk4XkS

[alfie]

The only thing I would mention is a large group of ha's tried to sing over the minutes tribute