Fulham (H) | PL | Post Match Thread

i8rags said:
Seems to me we’re trying game management in the second half, the plan is clear but the action is not quite successful, it might be boring but if we play 20 more matches than most then there has to be some attempt to reduce the work load.
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Sadly you don't get away with it particularly in away games. Spurs take note. When you surrender the initiative things can spiral out of control. There has to be a balance which is just not there at the moment.
 
East Level 2 said:
Of course it's having an effect and it's drum I've been banging for ages regarding the lack of rest over the recent summer breaks.
Summer 2021 - Shortened due to Euro 2020 being delayed until after covid.
Summer 2022 - Shortened because the fuckwits at FIFA decided to have a mid-season World Cup.
Summer 2023 - See above, at least one of the Fs in FIFA stands for fuckwit. Still unsure? Istanbul was 10th June, two weeks after the usual date for the final, which is last weekend in May.
Summer 2024 - Euros
Summer 2025 - Club World Cup.
Players and coaches need proper breaks in the summer, not a few days off. serious thought needs to be given to reducing the number of teams that qualify for international tournaments and European club tournaments, but there's too much money being made from broadcasters.
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thinking theres a uefa meeting today guess vote will go for more games more friendlies and more tournaments = money
 
Gundoggin said:
It’s doesn’t really matter the game was won players need resting squad players need minutes. All about the big picture and fighting in 4 competitions, playing in 2nd gear for 45 minutes is a luxury deserved and earned at this stage of the season .
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As it reads, that is all true - but it assumes that we were comfortably controlling things in the the second half.

Posters worried about the second half aren't so much putting a damper on last night, more a case of being concerned looking ahead, as they were before the recent run against Sunderland, Chelsea, Brighton, United and Spurs that blew 11 points.

Before you look at the stats from last night's match, remind yourself of just how dominant we were in that first half. Seeing how the table below finished up, it's pretty obvious that there was no 'controlled easing off' in the second half:

Screenshot_20260212-114108.png
 
It was a comfy win with a controlled second half which although a difficult watch could pay dividends in the weeks to come and help us not burn out.

Weather terrible but, as I've now got a City friend we car share to games & who has access to a parking spot behind the SS (I can see the car from the ground) and it wasn't me driving in the spray either.

I no longer get pissed wet through walking a good mile down to & from Chapter St which is a big bonus on nights like last night.
 
Gundoggin said:
It’s doesn’t really matter the game was won players need resting squad players need minutes. All about the big picture and fighting in 4 competitions, playing in 2nd gear for 45 minutes is a luxury deserved and earned at this stage of the season .
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But we as fans are getting short changed on the entertainment front.
 
Blue Mist said:
Many times in the past Pep had the team controlling a game in the 2nd half. Usually the opposition were running after shadows as we conserved energy.
That did not happen today. We were far to casual, often asleep as passes went astray. Fulham had several chances to score and only excellent defending stopped them, that is not conserving energy. That is not controlling the game.
And yes when we did have the ball I was bored. It was lifeless. So yes, if you want to use the phrase cry arsing I'm doing it.
We have 3 threads that constantly mention lack of atmosphere, fans leaving early and empty seats. Last night answered all questions as to why.
To repeat, that was not a team in control of a game looking to conserve energy.
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super happy with the result but less so with the lack of improvement in the 2nd half of games. Pep said he knows whats wrong so if that's the case, why are we still shit from HT onward? We got away with (Another) one last night in that 2nd half...
 
maurizio said:
There's a hole in the roof above the seat next to me in the South stand and it was continually dripping all night. Kept blowing over to me. I had my big City Pellegrini type coat on but still got soaked. Tourist sat in Dave's seat next to me was more impractically dressed with no big coat and was soaked even before enduring the walk from the ground. I'm still glad I went, 3 good goals at our end. All the new players are adding to the performance. Until he joined us I had no idea how good Guehi was.
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Me and Mrs Purchase had to move seats because of this, we got an Uber to the match from the pub, so we wouldn’t sit there soaked wet all game , and then we got a constant drip all through the First half, so moved for the second, there weren’t a lot of spare seats either.
 
maurizio said:
There's a hole in the roof above the seat next to me in the South stand and it was continually dripping all night. Kept blowing over to me. I had my big City Pellegrini type coat on but still got soaked. Tourist sat in Dave's seat next to me was more impractically dressed with no big coat and was soaked even before enduring the walk from the ground. I'm still glad I went, 3 good goals at our end. All the new players are adding to the performance. Until he joined us I had no idea how good Guehi was.
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Same here, Guehi went completely under my radar. Very impressive again. He is the steady Eddie type we’ve been missing since Steve Redmond left
 
Blue Mist said:
Many times in the past Pep had the team controlling a game in the 2nd half. Usually the opposition were running after shadows as we conserved energy.
That did not happen today. We were far to casual, often asleep as passes went astray. Fulham had several chances to score and only excellent defending stopped them, that is not conserving energy. That is not controlling the game.
And yes when we did have the ball I was bored. It was lifeless. So yes, if you want to use the phrase cry arsing I'm doing it.
We have 3 threads that constantly mention lack of atmosphere, fans leaving early and empty seats. Last night answered all questions as to why.
To repeat, that was not a team in control of a game looking to conserve energy.
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Agree. I can live with the second half not being entertaining, we had a good first half and 3 points; but we shouldn't kid ourselves that was the game management of old. A better side would have punished us. In fairness it didn't look as panicky as it has in recent times so hopefully this group of players will get there but there's still some way to go before they are a team who get others not only chasing shadows but can also change the level of intensity and tempo at will. Until then there's a trade off between conserving energy and recognising that if we take our foot off the gas too much it comes with bigger risks than it used to.
 
Gundoggin said:
It’s doesn’t really matter the game was won players need resting squad players need minutes. All about the big picture and fighting in 4 competitions, playing in 2nd gear for 45 minutes is a luxury deserved and earned at this stage of the season .
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This is a pragmatic and realistic viewpoint. After last night we have the chance to rotate on Saturday, followed by a rare free midweek to recover and prep for Newcastle. The 2nd half last night wasn't particularly eye catching, but was adequate in the larger scheme of things.
 
Bit of a side note but does anyone else think if the weather was good yesterday we’d have scored 6?

It was cold and pissing down all night, ball was skidding around and that just isn’t particularly conducive to silky attacking football.
 
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Gray said:
But we as fans are getting short changed on the entertainment front.
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We are in fighting in 4 competitions
We won 3 nil
When has the club , UEFA , The Premier League and FIFA ever give a fuck about fans ?
 
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