POST MATCH: Fulham 4-5 Man City

[bill taylors apprentice]

Some strange posts on this thread IMO. Citeh were, for much of the game, very good.  Their movement was excellent, they pressed us very well and when we went forward they were well organised. Their first 5 shots gave them 4 goals and one against the post. They were incisive and clinical That said, even when we were 2 goals down (2 nil, 3 1, 5 3) I still thought we were in with a chance, and so it proved. I don't think our back line was very much at fault, more that we were so open in midfield and gave the ball away so much.   And I struggle to think which of their goals Leno 'should' really have stopped.

This sums it up for me.
When they are at their best City are very easy on the eye even when they do the hard stuff and they put us under immense pressure every time we had the ball in the first half.

It could easily have been 1-5 at half time but after the 2 early second half goals they backed off.

I don't put any blame on Leno but I would have hoped a top PL keeper would have done better with the punch and Foden's second!
This allowed us the freedom to play and Iwobi's goal changed the game and they were stuck defending deep.

Physically and mentally no team can press and play like they did for 90 mins so it was inevitable that they would sit on their 1-5 lead.

We still had to lift our game and take advantage and we did, it was just a bit too far to achieve a deserved draw.

I don't attach any blame on Leno foor the result but I would hope a top PL keeper does better with the punch and even Foden's 2nd goal.


 

[SerbianLad]

I know Chukwueze grabbed all the headlines and he was really impressive and deserves all the praise he's getting, but I would still vote for ESR as MOTM. When everyone was bellow par, he was having an incredible performance. Without him, I don't think anything that happened lated would be possible. His goal late in the first half was also incredibly important and gave us a glimmer of hope in what was a pretty depressing half.

He is someone who is scapegoated every single week pretty much and that's probably something that takes a toll on him too, but he showed incredible character today, especially when a lot of players were struggling, he drove us forward and was creating problems for them throughout his time on the pitch.

Hats off to Emile, and hopefully this performance will silence some of his critics.

[hopper]

I know Chukwueze grabbed all the headlines and he was really impressive and deserves all the praise he's getting, but I would still vote for ESR as MOTM. When everyone was bellow par, he was having an incredible performance. Without him, I don't think anything that happened lated would be possible. His goal late in the first half was also incredibly important and gave us a glimmer of hope in what was a pretty depressing half.

He is someone who is scapegoated every single week pretty much and that's probably something that takes a toll on him too, but he showed incredible character today, especially when a lot of players were struggling, he drove us forward and was creating problems for them throughout his time on the pitch.

Hats off to Emile, and hopefully this performance will silence some of his critics.

Ever since the Wolves game he's been doing well. The Sunderland one really turned the needle for me, and he's backed that up with two more great performances.

I'm really pleased, he's showing the quality we all know he has - but he seems to be getting into games and fighting for the cause now.

[SerbianLad]

Ever since the Wolves game he's been doing well. The Sunderland one really turned the needle for me, and he's backed that up with two more great performances.

I'm really pleased, he's showing the quality we all know he has - but he seems to be getting into games and fighting for the cause now.

I personally think he's been quite good all season. He's unlucky that King had a great start of the season too, and they can't reeplay together at the moment (I think once King bulks up they will be able to play together in the 8 and 10 roles respectively). Often overhated by fans (mostly on twitter, but sometimes here too).

[bog]

After the final whistle I switched to Radio 5 live to hear what they were saying. They were full of our comeback with one pundit saying how the wonderful old Craven Cattage was buzzing. He then said it was Craven Cottage where he experienced his most memorable atmosphere EVER at a final whistle. This when Fulham beat Juventus 4-1 in the Europa Cup run. Nice to know.       

[hopper]

Ever since the Wolves game he's been doing well. The Sunderland one really turned the needle for me, and he's backed that up with two more great performances.

I'm really pleased, he's showing the quality we all know he has - but he seems to be getting into games and fighting for the cause now.

I personally think he's been quite good all season. He's unlucky that King had a great start of the season too, and they can't reeplay together at the moment (I think once King bulks up they will be able to play together in the 8 and 10 roles respectively). Often overhated by fans (mostly on twitter, but sometimes here too).

I was resistant to idea of King and ESR together in 8 and 10 because of physicality, but seeing how much better we are front footed with Iwobi in there - I think I'd like to try it. We look so much better when front footed.

[alfie]

Was only able to watch intermittently. Was there a primary culprit for our leaky defense?

Andersen imo. But to be fair to him, once we scored the 4th he looked good.

Bassey was almost as terrible. Sess less so but still poor. Tete was poor for the first. Castagne looked poor in the second half.

That's interesting with Bassey, there are some people giving him MOTM, just goes to show that we all see things in different ways.

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

Was only able to watch intermittently. Was there a primary culprit for our leaky defense?

Andersen imo. But to be fair to him, once we scored the 4th he looked good.

Bassey was almost as terrible. Sess less so but still poor. Tete was poor for the first. Castagne looked poor in the second half.

That's interesting with Bassey, there are some people giving him MOTM, just goes to show that we all see things in different ways.

In my opinion a defender who has conceded 5 goals in a game can't be MOTM.

[SerbianLad]

Was only able to watch intermittently. Was there a primary culprit for our leaky defense?

Andersen imo. But to be fair to him, once we scored the 4th he looked good.

Bassey was almost as terrible. Sess less so but still poor. Tete was poor for the first. Castagne looked poor in the second half.

That's interesting with Bassey, there are some people giving him MOTM, just goes to show that we all see things in different ways.

I thought Bassey improved slightly in the second half(or at least more so than Andersen), but I can't see how someone would vote him as a MOTM. We conceded 5 goals and honestly could have conceded even more. They hit the woodwork in both halves and also they had a great chance with Gvardiol late on in the game. Some other half chances as well. Defence was largely terrible. I think all of the 5 defenders that played yesterday (4 starters + Castagne) had very poor games.

[WindyCity]

Was only able to watch intermittently. Was there a primary culprit for our leaky defense?

Hmm Leno biggest culprit imo!

Yep, sadly, that's the story.  Not gonna say he should have been better on all the goals against, but certainly should have been much better on at least two or three of them.

What a terrific comeback!  Well done to the lads!  A tough loss, not to get anything out of that game.  When down by one, I really expected to see an equalizer at the least, but wasn't for lack of trying.  Too bad King couldn't put just a bit more power in that outside of boot attempt at the death.  Always don't like to see a loss, especially at CC, but this is one I can be somewhat pleased about, the lads never quit.  Should be a big confidence boost, tough game coming up v Palace.

[WindyCity]

Some have mentioned we were too defensive in our starting setup.  And there might be some truth to that.  Sometimes I think we give way too much credit/respect to our opponents, even the top teams.  I think a good lesson learned in this game, that we can compete with anyone and we shouldn't be afraid to be more aggressive. 

[FFC1987]

I don't know how many more times we need to find out Lukic and Berge just don't compliment each other in the 6/8 roles.

[iansthailand]

On the plus side we stopped our goal difference taking a proper hammering. Absolutely baffling why we started the game with the XI and tactics we did, Coty are so porous this season and we basically sat there and let them dictate the game. Lo and behold as soon as we get at them they folded like they did the weekend against Leeds, who'd have thought it...

You can't take the end result and say we started with the tactics wrong. It's not that easy. If we went more attacking early, Man City would have picked us apart. They were top notch in the 1H. We really opened up when Man City when defensive.

First half tactics may have worked if Lukic had played to his usual standard but he had what was probably his worst game in a Fulham shirt. Bassey at fault first goal, left Sess with 2 to mark and Leno the third, a woeful punch on what was an easy catch. Pat Jennings would have caught it one-handed.

[General]

Also credit to ESR - earned his start and was the only danger in the first half. Now our joint top league goal scorer with OG!

He's not the creative ball carrier I thought he'd be but he's good at arriving in the box and gets on the end of things. Can beat a player in certain situations but much more often tends to try and beat players with movements and quick 1-2 passing with team mates. Not what I thought he'd be but definitely a good player when his confidence is up. I think his mentality is the key as to whether he kicks on or not but there is definitely a capable and clever player in there.

Think this has gone under the radar a bit and need acknowledging more. For the minutes he's had this season, he's done very well and arguably deserves more airtime. He's got three goals this season, and has played key roles in others in the build up to them. I think fans are too harsh on him, expecting him to be a specific player they have in their minds, when he's actually been one of our most effective attacking players and not being played, despite our goal drought.

[sarnian]

On the plus side we stopped our goal difference taking a proper hammering. Absolutely baffling why we started the game with the XI and tactics we did, Coty are so porous this season and we basically sat there and let them dictate the game. Lo and behold as soon as we get at them they folded like they did the weekend against Leeds, who'd have thought it...

You can't take the end result and say we started with the tactics wrong. It's not that easy. If we went more attacking early, Man City would have picked us apart. They were top notch in the 1H. We really opened up when Man City when defensive.

First half tactics may have worked if Lukic had played to his usual standard but he had what was probably his worst game in a Fulham shirt. Bassey at fault first goal, left Sess with 2 to mark and Leno the third, a woeful punch on what was an easy catch. Pat Jennings would have caught it one-handed.

Can't understand the Leno comments, yes his punch out went straight to Foden but then again Dunnarumma did exactly the same punching the ball straight to Chuk.

[AnotherVicHalomLoveChild]

Having (only) been able to watch the highlights, dreadfully poor defending conceding 5 goals. How many of those could & should have been prevented? Plus Harland hit the post twice!
A marvellous & spirited fightback (where oh where did that come from? Who orchestrated it?) To get within a sniff of a 5 -5 draw, so frustrating.
Based on their performance, Man City clearly aren't impossible to beat. PEP looked mighty relieved @ the end. Huge disappointment for us. We deserved a point & had the game gone on much longer...
So now (as always) it's about the response when we play Palace. Tidy our lines, defend sensibly, play together, release the hounds to attack Palace & score freely as we did against City.
But then again, it's Fulham....
So COYW!!   

[alfie]

Was only able to watch intermittently. Was there a primary culprit for our leaky defense?

Andersen imo. But to be fair to him, once we scored the 4th he looked good.

Bassey was almost as terrible. Sess less so but still poor. Tete was poor for the first. Castagne looked poor in the second half.

That's interesting with Bassey, there are some people giving him MOTM, just goes to show that we all see things in different ways.

In my opinion a defender who has conceded 5 goals in a game can't be MOTM.

Can a striker that doesn't score come into that category

[Hatch007]

Can't understand the Leno comments, yes his punch out went straight to Foden but then again Dunnarumma did exactly the same punching the ball straight to Chuk.

For which Donnarumma was rightly criticised by many.

I think both GKs were guilty of weak punches for those respective goals

[Peabody]

Why do we have culprits?

[v]

I know Chukwueze grabbed all the headlines and he was really impressive and deserves all the praise he's getting, but I would still vote for ESR as MOTM. When everyone was bellow par, he was having an incredible performance. Without him, I don't think anything that happened lated would be possible. His goal late in the first half was also incredibly important and gave us a glimmer of hope in what was a pretty depressing half.

He is someone who is scapegoated every single week pretty much and that's probably something that takes a toll on him too, but he showed incredible character today, especially when a lot of players were struggling, he drove us forward and was creating problems for them throughout his time on the pitch.

Hats off to Emile, and hopefully this performance will silence some of his critics.

Absolutely ! 
ESR made so many little runs behind City's defence in the second half but was never played through.
When he did get the ball he made things happen and was involved here there and everywhere.
So well played ESR !