More than 1 person to blame. Defensive Mistakes

[Bronaldinho]

As you all know, Twitter and Forums were a mess last night - and rightly so we were a shambles.

I'm not going to point the finger at one individual and say it's their fault, but it's a group of things.

- Players: People can easily say the players we have that just aren't good enough for this level, but it's not just that. They haven't even got the basics down for a defender. The things you learn when you are kid at Sunday League. Track your runners, don't let them get goalside, show them down the line and not inside. This is things it doesn't matter what level you play at, the defenders should be able to do without any coaching. But, the basics have gone.

That's on the players - yes, they may not be the best options in the league, but they need a hard look at themselves and wake up. You could see how shocked and distraught Hector was when he came off last night, and quite frankly they should all feel that way. There's no leaders across that backline, everyone pointing at one another and no one taking the leadership. No one willing to be strong, and win their duels.

Somethings, I agree can be coached by staff, but when the players flat out refuse to do the basics, or are willing to show some effort and commitment, there's deeper problems.

- Parker & Management: Yes, the first place for us to point is managers - we've all done it over the years when things go wrong. Some will applaud his starting formation last night, but in all honesty - it was more of a 3-4-3 than 5-2-3, and I think he got it wrong. The wing backs were pushed too far on at times. Watch West Ham v Wolves again, and look at how tight their back 5 is in defence. They sit deep, they form a bank of 5 and they become hard to break down. West Ham haven't got a beckenbauer defender in the backline, but it's basics again that have to be set out from the start.

Maybe it's a tactical decision, maybe it's one that goes back to the players - but the players are far too timid/kind out there. Grealish and co were given the keys to Craven Cottage last night, and every time they got the ball, everyone backed off. No one wiling to chase, hunt them down and break up play. Johansen is sadly past it, but one thing a lot of players could learn from his game is his work ethic, and willingness to get stuck in.

But, the harsh reality is - it doesn't matter who's Head Coach/Manager at the moment. Not even the best managers would be able to secure wins with the defending options we have right now.

Confidence is bred from the back - Hence why Schwarzer, Hughes and Hangeland had such an impact. The squad knew that those three at the back were dependable and reliable, which allowed the rest of the squad to focus on their own jobs. Natural leaders, warriors and characters that never shrunk out on the pitch. You need ruthlessness, warriors and players that don't get scared against anyone. It's 11 v 11, anything can happen. 

- TK: Stay off Social Media, completely agree with Carraghers comments. It doesn't help. Or install a PR guy to help you manage messages to fans. It's a risky business, and he's making more and more enemies over time.

I think it's fair to say that fans will appreciate the money his family have put into the club. The Stadium and training ground improvements, and most of all his Dad writing off the debt for each season. We're lucky to have that financial power, and even more so in these pandemic times.

But TK himself needs to make a decision. He's got 4 jobs - Fulham, AEW, TruMedia and Jaguars. All four jobs are incredibly stressful, demanding and location-wise impossible even for Superman to attend all the time. Let alone be a specialist in any of those.

It's not a dig at TK himself as no one could do 4 jobs at one time which are located all over - but it's a request to bring in assistance where needed. Pereira (however you want to read into that one) was assistant DoF, but at least there was someone there to support operations. He's left, and we've not got anyone else in, there's no rumours of us looking to bring in a new DoF. But we need people that know the football club.

I appreciate TK has the passion and wants to be involved - but for his fathers' investment sake, you need someone at the top knowing what they are doing with experience of being a Director of Football to make us a stable PL club again, to bring back that money for the Khans.

There's huge errors all over the club at the moment. I don't know where we start to fix them, but changing just one of them isn't going to be a solution.

All 3 areas have to be improved and touched upon.

[grandad]

Excellent analysis. Shad Khan has some big decisions to make. It is his vast investment he has to protect.

[Bronaldinho]

Excellent analysis. Shad Khan has some big decisions to make. It is his vast investment he has to protect.

Thank you.

It's a business at the end of the day, I appreciate the fact that profitability is hard in the football world, even more so now.

If all three areas aren't addressed, Shad will surely look to drop us from his portfolio of investments. There's only so much you can put in.

[Sting of the North]

How nice to see a balanced post for a change, good read. Largely agree with the bulk of it, especially that it is a combination of factors having lead us to this point.

[Bronaldinho]

How nice to see a balanced post for a change, good read. Largely agree with the bulk of it, especially that it is a combination of factors having lead us to this point.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

There's a lot to consider and it's not as easy as some suggest.

Everyone has played their part, and ultimately the decision is a mix of people. We need alignment and cohesion across the board.

[Bill2]

Very precise synopsis, agree with the complete absence of leaders in the back four and midfield. All of the goals last night and against Leeds were down to the back four and midfield. They are not marking, they leave players far too much room to run with the ball and ball watching.
Thoroughly disgusted with last nights performance, in fact so angry could not come on here.

[Twig]

Fair and balanced response. In other posts have come down most heavily against TK, because to my way of thinking it is hard to judge the head coach or the players until TK buys the right players to get the squad up to somewhere near Premiership standard. Even our better players are being dragged down by the lack of quality in some areas.

However I also agree that everyone needs to take a good look at themselves after that fiasco.

I would add that Shad is also culpable, as much as I appreciate his extensive investments he is the one who put his son into the DoF position. I'm sorry, but putting a rank amateur into the top job based on nepotism is just plain wrong. As loya,l long term supporters we deserve better than that. FFC should not be some rich kid's train set.

[Statto]

I agree with the OP about the other issues but IMO the reason the stick is concentrated on TK is the other issues, eg players playing poorly, are relatively easily fixed. Odoi could play a blinder next week (by his standards). Similarly, Parker's tactical choices last night were wrong, yes, but it's plausible he'll continue to improve over the coming months and years as a novice manager, and in any case we know from experience that both players and managers are relatively quickly replaced if they continue to underperform.

Whereas with TK, it is a multiyear problem, going back to 2014 and continuing indefinitely. Remember he's said he'll "die at this club".

Last night was only one game, but for me, and I think for a lot of people it was clearly derived from a level of toxicity and incompetence at the highest levels within the club (ie TK's level) that not only does it mean we'll get relegated this season, but under the current structure, we're never going to meet the huge challenges associated with staying at this level as a newly-promoted team.

[Andy S]

Yes all well written. Thank you.

[FFC In Oz]

Terrific post - I agree with all your points whole heartedly.

Ream and Odoi in particular are barely League One standard.  Hector is proving why he hasn't played at the top level in England yet as well.

I, like you, cannot fathom that we haven't heard anything about replacing Pereira's role yet.  TK needs to be a bit more "hands off" and hire some other professionals to help.  It's fine if he wants a final say or whatever, but he can't go on like this.  It's going to drive us (and the Jaguars) in to the ground