Saturday Fulham Stuff - 18/07/20...

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Results

Friday
Huddersfield	2-1	West Brom

[WhiteJC]

Two that got away?: The multi-million-pound pair set for Sheffield Wednesday reunion on Saturday

Sheffield Wednesday can expect to face two of their former players against Fulham on Saturday.

Close friends Michael Hector and Josh Onomah spent the whole of last season on loan at Wednesday.

And both were linked with permanent returns to Hillsborough ahead of the current campaign.

As it transpired, the pair instead ended up at Craven Cottage, with Onomah thrown in as a makeweight in Ryan Sessegnon's £25 million transfer to Tottenham Hotspur and Hector following in a £5.3m move from Chelsea ahead of the January transfer window.

Up until recently, it was the latter player – voted Sheffield Wednesday's best last term – who had made by far the biggest impact on Scott Parker's team. In his 18 – consecutive – Championship starts, Hector has recorded 10 wins, as many clean sheets and just three defeats, helping to cement Fulham's place in the play-off positions.

But Onomah, too, is finding his feet for the Cottagers. Having scored or assisted just two goals in his first 24 league outings, the 23-year-old has directly contributed to three in his last five now.

And his form leaves Wednesday with something else to think about in a game they might yet need to win to survive relegation – the outcome of the EFL's case against them pending.

Without such worries at Hillsborough, Onomah, and indeed Hector, may be lining up on the opposite side.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/07/16/two-that-got-away-the-multi-million-pound-pair-set-for-sheffield-wednesday-reunion-on-saturday/

[WhiteJC]

Sheffield United set to sign ex-Fulham and Swindon Town goalkeeper

Sheffield United are set to sign ex-Fulham and Swindon Town goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

The Blades are bringing him to the club on a free transfer as back-up.

Foderingham, who is 29 years old, is a free agent after being released by Rangers at the end of the past campaign and is getting a Premier League move to Bramall Lane.

The ex-England Under-19 international started his career at Fulham and had a loan spell away from Craven Cottage at Bromley as a youngster before Crystal Palace signed him in 2010.

Foderingham never made a senior appearance for Palace but had loan stints at Boreham Wood, Histon and Swindon Town.

Swindon signed him permanently in 2012 and he went onto become a key player for the Robins, making 191 appearances.

Rangers then lured him up to Scotland five years ago and he helped the Glasgow giants with the Scottish Championship title in his first season at the club.

Foderingham played 143 games for the Ibrox club but lost his place between the sticks in the last campaign to Allan McGregor, hence why Steven Gerrard's side have parted company with him now.

Sheffield United would be a great move for him if they can get the deal over the line. He will bring some decent competition to their goalkeeping department.

It is still yet to be known whether Dean Henderson will be going back there for a third spell from Manchester United.



https://the72.co.uk/180637/sheffield-united-set-to-sign-ex-fulham-and-swindon-town-goalkeeper/

[WhiteJC]

Ireland international Cyrus Christie wins Championship Goal of the Month award
The 27-year-old right-back scored with a long-range effort during Fulham's win against QPR in June.

CYRUS CHRISTIE IS the Championship Goal of the Month award winner for June.

The Republic of Ireland international has been recognised for scoring with a long-range effort for Fulham against Queens Park Rangers.

The 75th-minute strike proved to be the winner as Scott Parker's side maintained their promotion push by recording a 2-1 victory at Loftus Road.

It was just the eighth goal scored at club level by the 27-year-old right-back, who has accumulated 326 appearances. Christie has also scored twice in 24 caps for Ireland.

"I probably won't ever hit another one as clean," he said today. "I do it quite a lot in training, I'm always working on it, so it was nice that it came off for once.

"It was nice to get on the scoresheet, especially as it was the winner in a West London derby. It would have been nice if there were some fans there, though!

"That's the end the away fans would have been at as well so it would have been good, but it was more important to win the game."

Christie received 49% of the public vote, beating off competition from Luton Town's Harry Cornick and Middlesbrough's Marcus Tavernier to win the award.

He'll hope to end the season by sealing a return to the Premier League. Although Fulham are five points adrift of the automatic promotion places with just two games to play, they're already guaranteed the consolation of a play-off spot.

They'll host Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow, before concluding the regular season with a trip to Wigan Athletic on Wednesday evening.



https://www.the42.ie/ireland-international-cyrus-christie-wins-championship-goal-of-the-month-award-5152851-Jul2020/

[WhiteJC]

Andre Schurrle retires at 29 just six years after winning World Cup

Former Chelsea and Fulham star Andre Schurrle has announced his surprise retirement from football at the age of 29 after cancelling his contract with Borussia Dortmund

World Cup winner Andre Schurrle has announced his shock retirement from football aged just 29.

The ex-Chelsea star left Borussia Dortmund after cancelling his contract on Wednesday and was expected to look for a new club.

But the 57-cap Germany international, who helped them to World Cup glory just six years ago in Brazil, has opted to hang up his boots.

Schurrle told Der Spiegel : "The decision matured in me for a long time" before saying that: "the depths became deeper and the highlights less and less".

"I don't need the applause anymore," he added in a lengthy interview.

"You always have to play a certain role in order to survive in the business, otherwise you will lose your job and you will not get a new one."

Schurrle still had one year left on his contract with Dortmund when the deal was cancelled this week.


Andre Schurrle has announced his shock retirement from football aged just 29 (Image: PA Images)

He was linked with moves to China, Turkey or elsewhere before the left-field announcement he has given up the sport.

"Looking back, it's been a time with a lot of ups and downs, and a valuable experience, both in the sporting sense but also privately," Schurrle said in a statement on the club's official website.

"I'd like to thank the club's bosses and wish the club and its special fans all the best for the future."

The playmaker came through the ranks at Mainz before making his major breakthrough at Bayer Leverkusen.

He was snapped up by Chelsea for £18million in 2013 and tipped for big things at Stamford Bridge.

It was during his time with the Blues that he became a World Cup winner, helping Germany demolish Brazil in the semi-finals of the World Cup as he scored the final two goals.

He set up Mario Gotze's historic winner in extra-time in the final with a pinpoint cross.

After scoring 14 goals in 65 games for Chelsea, he headed back to Germany with Wolfsburg in 2015 and joined Borussia Dortmund at the end of an impressive season.

But he failed to make his mark with the club and struggled during a loan spell with Fulham as they were relegated last season.

He has spent this season at Spartak Moscow but his deal was not extended due to injury before his decision to retire.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-andre-schurrle-retires-29-22372301

[WhiteJC]

Beauty or the Beast? Positioning Fulham for long-term success

Eamon dives deeper into the 'Parker in' versus 'Parker out' debate, takes a moment to acknowledge Onomah's recent displays and questions some fan behavior.

"You play to win the game!"

Fulham's 1-0 win over Nottingham Forrest last Tuesday, and countless games before it this season, have certainly held up that famous statement uttered by the NFL coach Herm Edwards at a press conference 18 years ago in the middle of a losing season. Edwards' notorious line, while sitting in front of reporters, was aimed at his players as a plea to continue to fight every game, regardless of the apparent hopelessness of the season.

Parker's phrasing may be different, but the message still applies. He doesn't care whether we supporters are entertained, his players have only one job: they play to win the game. The way he implements this philosophy has created much debate: you're either Parker in or Parker out.

Parker's teachings have been on full display in the first seven games back from football's quarantine slumber. The Whites have struggled to score, warranting legitimate criticism, but have also proved a disciplined and sturdy side against even the best offense in the league, holding Brentford scoreless for 88 minutes. With the attacking players at Parker's disposal, criticism of his philosophy isn't without merit, but he's also positioned his side well if they are able to make the leap back to the Premier League.

Parker's defense-focused philosophy this season is the correct move to make, but his vision isn't complete, leaving the team weak in the final third. This philosophy offers a better chance of staying in the Premier League, but with a lesser chance of getting there due to our softer attack.

Parker's bigger picture
These first seven games back have been a microcosm of Fulham's season. Our record against the clubs at the very top of the table has been average this year – bar a 2-1 win over Leeds in December. Defeats against Brentford and Leeds after the restart showed us why. We struggled to create chances, mainly because we don't allocate resources to the offensive side of the game. Parker would rather his side play more conservatively, holding back his full-backs instead of allowing them to get forward and playing possession-focused midfielders who are less likely to break through opposing defensive lines.

This style of play is boring, uninspiring, and with the players we have, at times infuriating. However, it's pragmatic. And pragmatic is exactly what Scott Parker is. It's even how he operated as a player. Parker has an older, classically English, idea of how to play the game: stay disciplined, play hard, and get the job done.

Parker's headstrong philosophy is the correct path for Fulham to take, but the execution this season has been poor. Parker appears to believe that football is a zero-sum game – that there are only so many resources a side can spend, and they must choose to spend those resources on either attacking or defending. The more you choose to attack, the worse your defense will be – or in Fulham's case, the fewer players that gallop forward, the fewer goals you'll concede.

But this is not how the game works. Players adjust to in-game situations. If Knockaert has the ball up the pitch and Cyrus Christie overlaps around him – as he should – then its Bryan's job as the left-back to slide over centrally, making sure there's a solid defense prepared for a possible counterattack.

The "battle" between offense and defense is not a zero-sum game; the two complement each other to create a balance such that there should never be a weakness in any area of the field.

Despite this lack of execution, conservative play has been the right thing for the team. Our open and expansive play under Jokanovic was beautiful and entertaining, but ultimately didn't finish the job. Yes, we reached the Premier League, but that isn't the end of the line – staying there is the ultimate task. If we had simply recreated Jokanovic's system, we might have gone up, but then we would have come straight back down – we know that because it happened.

Forward passes!
Josh Onomah was oddly left out of the matchday squad in Fulham's first game back against Brentford. Furthermore, he was omitted from the starting XI for three more games before forcing his way into the squad with a last-minute winner against Birmingham City. His performances off the bench prior, and his outings since, have been nothing less than game-changing, as Ben's already covered.

Onomah's energy and attacking directness have been a breath of fresh air from Cairney's possession-based play. His willingness to drive vertically up-field or play a forward pass is distinctly different from Cairney's constant swiveling and regressive ball movement. On the defensive side of the ball, Onomah is just as progressive, pressuring the opposition often in line with the front three. His defensive effort only increases the energy of the team and encourages the side to press up the pitch rather than sit back and defend. We saw a direct result of that energy against Cardiff on Friday night – a two goal lead!

"Back the boys!"
Questioning and criticizing the manager is pro-Fulham. Parker has been a polarizing figure among the supporter's ranks this season and as the campaign draws closer to its end the Parker in/Parker out debate rages on. If you've read any of my previous pieces you know that I stand on the Parker out line.

Many seem to think that those who identify errors, criticize, and question the manager or the team's poor play are in the wrong – "back the boys!" But to not question the manager's tactics is to be content. They lack the desire to be better. I cannot understand why a supporter of Fulham would not want our team to be better, regardless of the heights we reach. You know who else doesn't want Fulham to be better? QPR and Brentford supporters. And I'm definitely not one of them.

Whether Parker really made an astute tactical decision to place Onomah as a lone 10 is in question. He deserves the credit as the manager but if Cairney had been fit to play, would we have seen the same?

Parker's tactical knowledge is limited. But perhaps the credit he deserves should be more than folks (and I) are giving him. He has set up his team for long-term success if they achieve promotion. Our attack may be underwhelming, but if the defense and midfield aren't sturdy, the offense is irrelevant. Survival in the Premier League, as we've seen, is hopeless without a sturdy defense and competent midfield.

Onomah's resurgence in the team has allowed Parker's desire for a defensively disciplined side to remain while adding some bite and energy, especially in the final third. As we enter the final push, its looking likely that the whites will have to battle it out in the play-offs to make the jump back to the top division. If so, a solid defense will be key, as the play-offs often present cagey affairs in which teams must take their limited chances. Luckily for us, we've been doing that all season.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2020-07-17-beauty-or-the-beast-positioning-fulham-for-long-term-success/

[WhiteJC]

Ralph Hasenhuttl gives update on Harrison Reed's Southampton future after impressing with Fulham

Harrison Reed has been in fine form for Fulham this season, impressing on loan with Scott Parker's side in the Championship during a loan spell from Southampton


Harrison Reed has impressed on loan at Fulham from Southampton. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Ralph Hasenhuttl has a decision to make when it comes to Harrison Reed and his Southampton future.

The 25-year-old is currently on loan at Fulham and has impressed in the Championship with Scott Parker's side, featuring 24 times this season for the Whites as they push for promotion back to the Premier League.

He has been a key figure for Parker's men in recent weeks since the return of football last month following a three-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And Reed's form has led to questions over whether he could return to Southampton next season and play a key part for Hasenhuttl and Southampton, amid uncertainty over the future of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who has been linked with Everton and Tottenham, among others.

But Hasenhuttl insists that no decisions have yet been made, with Southampton having several players who have been out on loan in the 2019/20 season, including Mario Lemina, Fraser Forster and Guido Carrillo.

"In general we always have a look on every loan player, how he does, what we need, what we do on what positions," Hasenhuttl said, when asked about what the future holds for Reed.

"It's fantastic that he makes a good job in the Championship and we will discuss this personality internally and we will see what we do.

"There's still a few ways to go and I think they [Fulham] have a chance to be promoted, I don't know. I wish him all the best and good games."

Following the three-month break in the season, Reed extended his loan spell until the end of the campaign and, fitness permitting, should be available to feature for Fulham in the end of season play-offs, with Parker's men now looking set to finish in the top six but likely to miss out on automatic promotion.

Fulham currently sit fourth in the Championship, but are five points behind West Bromwich Albion in second.

Parker's side host Sheffield Wednesday at Craven Cottage tomorrow, before travelling to face Wigan Athletic in their final game of the league season on Wednesday.



https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/hasenhuttl-update-reed-southampton-fulham-4338590

[WhiteJC]

A NEW View From South Texas

Discussion in 'Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International' started by HatterDon

The View From South Texas – how the game is played

I watch a LOT of football – Championship, Bundesliga, Premier League – and I'm learning more about the game all the time. What follows finally kicked in when I watched Borussia Dortmund host Bayern Munich after the season re-start. What I finally realized watching that match, got me looking elsewhere to find similarities – and I found them.

Dortmund had a slight chance of overtaking Bayern before the match was played. Had they taken all three points at home, they'd have been only 1 point behind in second place. Bayern won and the gap expanded to 7 and that was that. Now, you could say that Bayern are the better team – and they are. You could say that Marco Reus' injury hurt Dortmund – and it certainly did. You might even say that the lost wasn't a rollover because they held Bayern to only one goal. You'd be right about that. I told myself at the time that had Lewandowski been injured and Reus been healthy, Dortmund might have won easily.

However ... however. What really happened is this. Dortmund has incredibly fast wide players. They live on the fast counter-attack; that's how they roll. It's also why, unless they change their philosophy, they'll never overtake Bayern. Dortmund invites their opponents to attack – lots of ball control, especially in their own half. If an opponent screws up an attack, they're off to the races and score. The opponent goes after the equalizer, and they're down two goals, and then three, and then ... .

Bayern, on the other hand, take control of a match from the first minute. They force Dortmund to play THEIR game. Each of their players is accomplished in applying pressure.

That's it. Bayern wins because, regardless of the opponent, they wind up playing THEIR game. They are in control for the full 90 minutes match after match. The Dortmund I watched 30 some times this season – so cool, so calm, so confident in their method – begins making fundamental mistakes, forgets how to attack smoothly, and is lost. It's worth saying this again, REGARDLESS OF THEIR OPPONENT OR VENUE, THEY FORCE YOU TO PLAY THEIR GAME.

The choir stopped singing, and I found the Premier League. Funny thing, watch Liverpool before the rewind and ... damn ... they do the same thing. They force their opponents to play the game the way Liverpool wants to play it. Citeh? Yeah, there also. But here was the surprise for me: Sheffield United. Yes, the United we passed going in the other direction when we were relegated. At it was Sheffield United that convinced me.

This is a side stocked with League 1 and Championship players. Their two first choice strikers hardly score, and their most skilled player is their on-loan goalkeeper. But, watch their matches – ignore the one they just played – and you'll realize that it doesn't matter who the opponent is, the Blades make you play their game. And their game is FUN. I was watching one of their matches, where their opponent lost possession just inside their own half, when United went immediately into attack mode. It ended in a shot parried away, but here's the cool bit, the shot on goal was taken by a defensive mid who received the cross from the center back – all within 7 or 8 seconds of change of possession. How do you coach you team to deal with an attack like that?

They're relentless. They're fun to watch. They're challenging for European competition while their fellow promotees hold down the bottom two position in the league standings.

I haven't seen a lot of this in the Championship, but I did see it when we played Brentford most recently. They took control and we didn't have any kind of way to take it back. We played their game, and – what a surprise – they're better at their game than we are. Oh, and speaking of "we" – the last time I remember us controlling the match was when we beat Villa to get promoted the last time. If we go up, we can't be the passive/reactive Fulham again.

So, here's my hypothesis: you can have better coaching, you can have superior personnel, you can have a rabid screaming crowd urging you on, but if you don't force your opponent to play YOUR game, well ... you know.



http://fulhamusa.com/threads/a-new-view-from-south-texas.10055/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham v Sheffield Wednesday – Smart-thinking will allow Garry Monk to plan for Owls' future better
AFTER spending valuable family time with his loved ones in high summer last year, Garry Monk is not being afforded that precious luxury this time around.

Football's truncated calendar following its hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic means that the regular Championship season will not finish until nine days before the start of August – traditionally the month when a new campaign would start.

It is unprecedented times for the game and for managers across the country, leisure and relaxation will be in short supply, despite the absence of games next month. More especially for Monk, whose in-tray is full.

It is a far cry from last year's school holidays. Monk – between jobs after being sacked by Birmingham in June 2019 – took time out to recharge, but the pangs for a return to management following a sunshine holiday with his family soon resurfaced.

By his own admission, the Owls chief soon started get under the feet of his wife Lexy after finding himself out of football for the first time in close to half a century.

Upon being unveiled at Hillsborough last September, Monk quipped that after being 'the best dad in the world' for three to four weeks, his thoughts soon turned to when his children would be going back to school.

There may be no competitive matches in August this year, but Monk will probably be as busy as he has ever been as he attempts to start overhauling Wednesday's squad and fitting in a pre-season as he plans for the brave new world in 2020-21.

It is a challenge which he remains firmly up for and a time when he feels he can truly start to build a squad in his own image.

Monk observed: "There is a lot of work to be done and I have a good idea of what needs to be done and how I can do it.

"It will be a short turnaround and there has been discussion about certain dates, but nothing is concrete.

"The work will be under way as soon as that last ball is kicked. I am not expecting this transition to be done in this summer window. But if we can work smartly, we can get some good bits of business done and help the squad.

"There have been chats about (next season starting) dates which are flying around, some are earlier and some later and we are trying to prepare if it is a shorter date or a later date.

"We are trying to put that in place so we are organised. So there will not be any holiday for me and it will be straight to work, but if you want to make a success of it and do well, you must have that work ethic, so it is no problem whatsoever."

In what has been a troubled and transitional year for the Owls, Monk has detected signs of some toughness amid adversity, especially after football's return and it is something that he knows that his squad will need more of in the months ahead.

He added: "We have come back stronger within.

"There is a different attitude with in the group now and we will hopefully improve that in the summer with the transition and strengthen that mentality and have a fresh approach for next season."



https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/fulham-v-sheffield-wednesday-smart-thinking-will-allow-garry-monk-plan-owls-future-better-2917401

[WhiteJC]

Robert Snodgrass and Premier League coach send messages to Leeds, Fulham join in

Chelsea assistant head coach Jody Morris, West Ham United winger Robert Snodgrass and Fulham have congratulated Leeds United on Twitter on winning promotion to the Premier League.

Leeds have secured automatic promotion to the Premier League for the 2020-21 campaign.

West Bromwich Albion's defeat to Huddersfield Town on Friday evening means that Marcelo Bielsa's side will end up in top two of the Championship table this season.

Fulham, who are also aiming for promotion from the Championship, has congratulated Leeds on their achievement.

Former Leeds midfielder Jody Morris, who is now the assistant head coach of Premier League club Chelsea, has welcomed the Whites to the top flight of English football, while Snodgrass – who was on the books of the West Yorkshire outfit from 2008 until 2012 – believes that it is "fully deserved" for Bielsa's side.

Great occasion

Leeds are one of the biggest clubs in England, and it has been 16 years since they were last in the Premier League.

The top flight of English football will be a better division with the Whites in it.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/07/18/roberto-snodgrass-and-premier-league-coach-send-messages-to-leeds-fulham-join-in/

[WhiteJC]

Exclusive: Leicester City, Fulham & Brighton ambush £5m bid to sign 15/goal assist star

Leicester City, Brighton and Fulham are trying to hijack Bright Osayi-Samuel's transfer from QPR to Club Brugge after Leeds United pulled out of the race, Football Insider can reveal.

The Londoners have accepted a £5million bid from Brugge for the forward, 22, and are ready to give the go-ahead for him to discuss personal terms.

A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Premier League duo Leicester and Brighton and Championship promotion chasers Fulham are now attempting to ambush the deal.

They are all willing to match the £5m offer from Brugge for the wide forward after being impressed by his dazzling season in the English second tiers.

Osayi-Samuel's other previous suitors Leeds and Southampton, who expressed their interest during the January window, are no longer in the running.

QPR knocked back enquiries for Osayi-Samuel earlier in the year and triggered an option to extend his contract by 12 months in February.

But that deal expires in the summer of 2021 and the cash-strapped second-tier side are now set to cash in.

Club Brugge will compete in the Champions League next season after being declared Belgian champions in early April when the country's professional league season was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But Leicester and Brighton can offer Premier League football and fourth-placed Fulham are still in the promotion race.

Osayi-Samuel has had an outstanding season for Rangers after establishing himself as a key member of Mark Warburton's side.

The ex-Blackpool star has scored six goals and provided nine assists from 39 matches in all competitions.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/leicester-city-fulham-brighton-ambush-bid-to-sign-leeds-united-target-after-fee-agreed/

[WhiteJC]

team in...

[YankeeJim]

A NEW View From South Texas

Discussion in 'Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International' started by HatterDon

The View From South Texas – how the game is played

I watch a LOT of football – Championship, Bundesliga, Premier League – and I'm learning more about the game all the time. What follows finally kicked in when I watched Borussia Dortmund host Bayern Munich after the season re-start. What I finally realized watching that match, got me looking elsewhere to find similarities – and I found them.

Dortmund had a slight chance of overtaking Bayern before the match was played. Had they taken all three points at home, they'd have been only 1 point behind in second place. Bayern won and the gap expanded to 7 and that was that. Now, you could say that Bayern are the better team – and they are. You could say that Marco Reus' injury hurt Dortmund – and it certainly did. You might even say that the lost wasn't a rollover because they held Bayern to only one goal. You'd be right about that. I told myself at the time that had Lewandowski been injured and Reus been healthy, Dortmund might have won easily.

However ... however. What really happened is this. Dortmund has incredibly fast wide players. They live on the fast counter-attack; that's how they roll. It's also why, unless they change their philosophy, they'll never overtake Bayern. Dortmund invites their opponents to attack – lots of ball control, especially in their own half. If an opponent screws up an attack, they're off to the races and score. The opponent goes after the equalizer, and they're down two goals, and then three, and then ... .

Bayern, on the other hand, take control of a match from the first minute. They force Dortmund to play THEIR game. Each of their players is accomplished in applying pressure.

That's it. Bayern wins because, regardless of the opponent, they wind up playing THEIR game. They are in control for the full 90 minutes match after match. The Dortmund I watched 30 some times this season – so cool, so calm, so confident in their method – begins making fundamental mistakes, forgets how to attack smoothly, and is lost. It's worth saying this again, REGARDLESS OF THEIR OPPONENT OR VENUE, THEY FORCE YOU TO PLAY THEIR GAME.

The choir stopped singing, and I found the Premier League. Funny thing, watch Liverpool before the rewind and ... damn ... they do the same thing. They force their opponents to play the game the way Liverpool wants to play it. Citeh? Yeah, there also. But here was the surprise for me: Sheffield United. Yes, the United we passed going in the other direction when we were relegated. At it was Sheffield United that convinced me.

This is a side stocked with League 1 and Championship players. Their two first choice strikers hardly score, and their most skilled player is their on-loan goalkeeper. But, watch their matches – ignore the one they just played – and you'll realize that it doesn't matter who the opponent is, the Blades make you play their game. And their game is FUN. I was watching one of their matches, where their opponent lost possession just inside their own half, when United went immediately into attack mode. It ended in a shot parried away, but here's the cool bit, the shot on goal was taken by a defensive mid who received the cross from the center back – all within 7 or 8 seconds of change of possession. How do you coach you team to deal with an attack like that?

They're relentless. They're fun to watch. They're challenging for European competition while their fellow promotees hold down the bottom two position in the league standings.

I haven't seen a lot of this in the Championship, but I did see it when we played Brentford most recently. They took control and we didn't have any kind of way to take it back. We played their game, and – what a surprise – they're better at their game than we are. Oh, and speaking of "we" – the last time I remember us controlling the match was when we beat Villa to get promoted the last time. If we go up, we can't be the passive/reactive Fulham again.

So, here's my hypothesis: you can have better coaching, you can have superior personnel, you can have a rabid screaming crowd urging you on, but if you don't force your opponent to play YOUR game, well ... you know.



http://fulhamusa.com/threads/a-new-view-from-south-texas.10055/

I really miss Hatter Don's insights. Wish he'd rejoin us on this forum.