Three league games and three league defeats. It’s been a less than ideal start to the Alvaro Arbeloa reign in SW6. Still, it’s the start of a new project, a new way of playing and there were always going to be teething problems.
That is my very rational take six days on from a disastrous second half defensive collapse against Crystal Palace which saw Fulham let a promising 2-1 lead slip, losing 2-3 and finishing the weekend in 19th place with zero points on the board.
I’ve taken my medicine - I’ve moved on. However, you take a gander at the fixture list and I can’t help but have the song Panic by the Smiths ringing around my head. Let’s hope Liverpool fans are singing “Panic on the streets of Merseyside” at 17:30 after Fulham romp the Reds 0-3 at Anfield.
There of course were some silly social media antics after the game from some of the Fulham players. Unhelpful, concerning and the last thing Arbeloa would have wanted just three weeks into the new season, in a new job.
Here’s what Arbeloa had to say on the matter:
“I think you can learn more from a lot of the group after a defeat than after a win. and I saw them work during the week with a very positive attitude. For sure, when you are a player and you are not playing, you can be happy”, he said.
“It’s what I explained to the players that they are not playing. I want them to show me that they are not happy during the training session.
“For me this is the most important thing and obviously when you are not winning games and you are not helping your team, I think you have more desire to play games and to help the teammates. But all of them they have been working so hard and I have a very good attitude.”
Perhaps the atmosphere at full-time played it’s part into what happened on Saturday evening. Boos, some jeering from some, again all unhelpful and toxic, but fans also have the right to express their opinions.
Here’s how Arbeloa responded to a question regarding the fan reation afte Palace:
“Well, I came here because I wanted to improve this football club and I think we are in this way and that is where I put all my energy. Of course, we are a very strong team when our fans are behind us and we want to win for them. We want to give everything on the pitch and win games for our fans”, said the Fulham boss.
Arbeloa is much more direct in his answers than Marco Silva and won’t shy away from answering every question put to him. Sometimes Silva would opt not to comment on certain topics - mainly transfers. But Arbeloa is fronting up to everything and it makes for a compelling listen.
He insists he’s happy with the attitude of the players.
“Well, I think for me, on my part, I think I came here because I knew that this club and the history and their fans are so important. I play here against Fulham and I knew how difficult is at Craven Cottage. And now for me it’s really important that our fans are behind us.
“And I’m happy with the attitude of my players for sure. We need to improve and we will do it. We are working on it and yes I think the most important thing for us is that we need to win games.”
Kenny Tete wasn’t involved in last week’s defeat. But Arbeloa highlighted the right-back’s importance in the squad.
“He’s a player with a lot of experience and he’s very important for us. I told you, two weeks ago, when the transfer window was over. He’s going to be so important for us. But we have 25 players and only 11 can start every game. So all the players that are not playing they need to keep working as they are doing and be patient and help them during the training session. I’m sure the opportunities will come for everyone.”
The head coach was asked about whether he will adapt his system to help prevent the leaking of goals.
Arbeloa: “I think we are playing in a way that we create chances enough to win games. We are not winning games and both things are true.
“But I think we know why we are not winning games and what we need to adjust for us and for me. We have been working on that from the first day when we have the ball. Our first thought is not about what we are going to do to score.
“It’s more what we are going to do when we lose the ball. We need to be ready to control the transition. For me, that is very clear and that’s the gap that we need to improve, control better the transition and when we lose the ball we need to be more compact and choose better when we are going to press high.
“But yes, I think this is very clear. We have been working on it and I’m sure that if we can adjust and control better the transition of our opponents, we will win games.”
Finally, he was asked about whether it’s possible to maintain the system while tightening up at the back.
“Well, I think balance is the key. We are in that pressure, but we need to be able to defend in a low block sometimes, in a medium block. So it’s not about what you want to do, it’s about to be a complete team.
“So that is very important for anything. You need to control the ball, but defending well, and I think it’s very important.”
In terms of team news - everyone is ready to play apart from TC who is still out. There was a final training session this morning, which hopefully everyone got through okay.
There are more quotes to come from 17:00 this evening across my X and Patreon pages.
Safe trip up to Anfield tomorrow - COYW!
Lovely stuff Jack.
Lots of promising noises from Alvaro. Sounds like he is adjusting and learning. We really are not that far away from playing well. The boo boys will start to look very silly if he turns this around though I'm sure this will be lost on them. I fancy us to get something from the next two games. Get the pink gins ready.
The 3 players that are moaning don’t have much to moan about as none of them have shown much when they are in the team, if they are not happy then they should move on we don’t need them disrupting the dressing room, we have only played 3 games and we need to get behind the manager and prove you deserve to be in the team and quite frankly those 3 players don’t deserve to be in the team from what I have seen.