Fulham (H) | PL | Post-Match Thread

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

We slung corners right into the box for once today, not exceptionally well but its a start.

 

[Salford in the City]

Other teams will have a dip, and we're still up there with them.

Get Phil and Kev firing, and we'll keep up with things.

 

[chickaroon]

It’s Rodri not being there. He’s so important to stopping counters. He’s the only midfielder we have that can cut out passing lanes. Also miss his physicality.

Yes, Rodris physicality is missed along with his heading ability, positional sense, goal threat and passing. It is a lot to replace. I personally think we need to buy a quality replacement in January if one becomes available in that window. Someone who can eventually play along side Rodri. Whoever that is will not be of Rodris class but would certainly help Kova in the central area. As much as I like Bernardo, he does not have the physical strength to play the Rodri role.

 

[adelaideblue]

Don’t feel confident to see Kovacic n Gundo together, would rather Silva in there and then Savhino or Doku on the wing

 

[youngbob]

Don't think we were that bad today, Fulham are just a really good outfit. Them and Brentford aren't the teams we've faced in the past, they've progressed each year under their current managers. The quality of the established teams in this league has gone up loads since the Centurions season in particular and days like today will be more and more frequent. I don't think people understand just how tactically astute 75% of the PL is at the moment.

We definitely had problems behind the midfield when Akanji went off (hope he's not injured? otherwise a very weird change) and Traore saved his one good performance of the season for us again, but overall I thought we just about had the balance of it. Fulham are just a good side and it seems to be a weird shock to the system for some of our fans when the opposition knows what they're doing instead of rolling over after 20 mins, but we had the quality where it mattered at both ends and the goals we scored in the second half were top, top quality.

I'd like to see both Jack and Bernardo in the middle more often from now on, just because our game seems to be progressing beyond what they bring on the wings - and because we could benefit from their workrate and stamina with Rodri out. We need to move the ball a bit quicker as well. But this is the part of the season where Pep works out whether we're good enough for a push from February onwards. We've been here before. I don't understand the stressing. Pep has watched the same game as us and he'll have a solution like always.

One thing I will say that disappointed me today - the attitude of some fans around me. Four Premier League titles on the bounce, a European treble, Fourmidables, Centurions, domestic treble winners - you name it, we've done it. And yet, one slightly iffy performance early in the season and there were people behind me tearing their hair out and calling Doku, Grealish, even Bernardo, all sorts of names and insults. Ungrateful little sods. These are halcyon days and they won't last forever; it's better to look back knowing you appreciated what you had.

 

[Frank the Yank]

Don’t feel confident to see Kovacic n Gundo together, would rather Silva in there and then Savhino or Doku on the wing

I would be a total idiot to diminish Bernardo’s quality as a player. He has been fantastic BUT doku/Savinho offer totally different things and pose a different threat out wide. With gundogans poor form I just think Bernardo is an alternative in the middle.

 

[surprisedbygrass]

Nervy finish ...Being generous it's going to take Pep several games to figure out his best midfield without Rodri . He's the axle and pacemaker of the team and makes all the other cogs click . We deserved the win today, just, but it was far from our usual imperious performance and when Fulham came out of the low block in the second half our midfield looked done . We win our games in midfield and that's the second week we've lost the territory : Newcastle's muscle and Fulham's energy .Happy to see Doku finally score with his signature effort when he comes inside . All that said we have played a lot of teams in the top half of the league and remain unbeaten . Very happy that Kevin is missing international duties and Ake will improve our defence when he returns.

 

[Kippax77]

Ederson won us the game, fact
But but he's only good at kicking the ball!

 

[mscenterh750]

We’re doing just fine especially with missing KDB, Rodri, Ake and Bobb. Take those 4 calibre of players out of the dippers and tarquins they’d be fucked and be moaning like fuck. 3 points is 3 points no matter what the performance was.

 

[Frank the Yank]

Don't think we were that bad today, Fulham are just a really good outfit. Them and Brentford aren't the teams we've faced in the past, they've progressed each year under their current managers. The quality of the established teams in this league has gone up loads since the Centurions season in particular and days like today will be more and more frequent. I don't think people understand just how tactically astute 75% of the PL is at the moment.

We definitely had problems behind the midfield when Akanji went off (hope he's not injured? otherwise a very weird change) and Traore saved his one good performance of the season for us again, but overall I thought we just about had the balance of it. Fulham are just a good side and it seems to be a weird shock to the system for some of our fans when the opposition knows what they're doing instead of rolling over after 20 mins, but we had the quality where it mattered at both ends and the goals we scored in the second half were top, top quality.

I'd like to see both Jack and Bernardo in the middle more often from now on, just because our game seems to be progressing beyond what they bring on the wings - and because we could benefit from their workrate and stamina with Rodri out. We need to move the ball a bit quicker as well. But this is the part of the season where Pep works out whether we're good enough for a push from February onwards. We've been here before. I don't understand the stressing. Pep has watched the same game as us and he'll have a solution like always.

One thing I will say that disappointed me today - the attitude of some fans around me. Four Premier League titles on the bounce, a European treble, Fourmidables, Centurions, domestic treble winners - you name it, we've done it. And yet, one slightly iffy performance early in the season and there were people behind me tearing their hair out and calling Doku, Grealish, even Bernardo, all sorts of names and insults. Ungrateful little sods. These are halcyon days and they won't last forever; it's better to look back knowing you appreciated what you had.

The people calling out the players like that are bang out of order. They are probably post 2013 supporters. I don’t take anything for granted and I am really enjoying this ride. As a City for 45 years, it’s all gravy.

However would love to win the champions league again!!