Good article by ZZTopFulham. There is an excellent current article in The Athletic on Fulham's problem : the EPL has become much more physical and set play oriented; lots of organized argy-bargy, especially in the area, and deadly corners--meanwhile Fulham still tries to play a finesse passing game.
One player who would inject physicality into our attack is Palhinha. I have never seen a satisfactory explanation of why Fulham did not get him when Bayern were unloading him. He certainly knows Marco's system, but why wasn't he pursued?
I think that the death of Marco Silva's career has been exaggerated by many of the Fulhamish Telegram group and this article takes a similar approach: we are losing games, Marco is in charge ergo Marco is failing and should be replaced. The reality is much more boring and muddy. We are on track still for 1 point per game and are likely to not drop much below 15th, nor much above 13th by the end of the season, we are 10 games in of a 38 game season. The team is struggling for the first time in 4 seasons in the Prem, yet it has some improved pieces, which some folks argue means the whole is better. Marco is a smart manager who develops and improves most if not all players that work with him. What aren't we pushing for Europe now we signed Kevin?
We are not because he is without key parts to his well drilled and mechanical machine: we have no out ball with an old CF in Raul who is barely fit enough to play, Muniz who is carrying a recurring hammy injury and an 18 year old kid who has played youth football in Germany. The midfield is bare bones as we sold Periera, Cairney is 34 and Reed is a Championship player. The fact that Dewsbury Hall, Silva's top midfield target, was missed out on as was his choice for third striker Tyrique George must have really stung at Everton, watching one smash through our midfield and the lack of the other meaning yet another forward pairing. Robinson, clearly one of our best players is absent, his loss has unstabilized Bassey, just as Tete's absence causes issues for Anderson. The team is disjointed because of this and the only new blood is Josh King and two expensive wingers, hardly a platform to build on, especially when the Premier League has now turned to long throws and goalie route 1 to a center forward. We miss Raul or Jimenez's defensive contribution on set pieces as much as we miss the outball.
The Board and Ali Mac is 100% responsible for the gaps, not enough cover in central mid, players signed too late to intergrate and the farce with George being asked to take a lower deal than agreed 6 hours earlier because they could not shift Wilson to Leeds at the right money so we end up with KSA is an embarrassment. That it happened last year, it happened in January (Willian again maybe this Jan?) and ridiculous as it sounds will no doubt happen again in this Jan, even tho 3 players will be either missing or knackered from AFCON.
I hope the two-week international break gives some tired legs time to rest but will be sadly accepting to read that Bassey, Raul, Iwobi, KSA, Anderson, Chukwezi will be instead running around playing for their nations instead.
Sess has been a surprise to me in how good he has been but he is not Jedi, hopefully he gets a crack at right wing sometimes or wing back. At the moment he is the only one on the team I trust to score!
Great points - I agree that the continued absence of Jedi is a big reason why Bassey is so much worse this season. Antonee - just as he had with Ream - provided him with the cover he needed. He can't come back - healthy - soon enough. No shade on Sessegnon though, he's great (just not Jedi).
It would be a real shame to move on from Silva on the back of a short period of poor luck (both the fitness of critical players and several inexplicable VAR decisions).
Multiple times the Khans put our gaffer on a Transfer window bus ride, talent level with the talent they did give him insufficient, and finally coach has to answer fans questions on why level of play versus what they have to pay per ticket.... insane. No one would question Silva for looking for better pastures so if we the fans want to keep our coach its time to make the KHANS feel it, hear it and see it.
Succession planning? I don’t even know who the assistant manager is! This club is run on a lamentable short term basis, and we are now reaping the rewards…
Good article by ZZTopFulham. There is an excellent current article in The Athletic on Fulham's problem : the EPL has become much more physical and set play oriented; lots of organized argy-bargy, especially in the area, and deadly corners--meanwhile Fulham still tries to play a finesse passing game.
One player who would inject physicality into our attack is Palhinha. I have never seen a satisfactory explanation of why Fulham did not get him when Bayern were unloading him. He certainly knows Marco's system, but why wasn't he pursued?
I think that the death of Marco Silva's career has been exaggerated by many of the Fulhamish Telegram group and this article takes a similar approach: we are losing games, Marco is in charge ergo Marco is failing and should be replaced. The reality is much more boring and muddy. We are on track still for 1 point per game and are likely to not drop much below 15th, nor much above 13th by the end of the season, we are 10 games in of a 38 game season. The team is struggling for the first time in 4 seasons in the Prem, yet it has some improved pieces, which some folks argue means the whole is better. Marco is a smart manager who develops and improves most if not all players that work with him. What aren't we pushing for Europe now we signed Kevin?
We are not because he is without key parts to his well drilled and mechanical machine: we have no out ball with an old CF in Raul who is barely fit enough to play, Muniz who is carrying a recurring hammy injury and an 18 year old kid who has played youth football in Germany. The midfield is bare bones as we sold Periera, Cairney is 34 and Reed is a Championship player. The fact that Dewsbury Hall, Silva's top midfield target, was missed out on as was his choice for third striker Tyrique George must have really stung at Everton, watching one smash through our midfield and the lack of the other meaning yet another forward pairing. Robinson, clearly one of our best players is absent, his loss has unstabilized Bassey, just as Tete's absence causes issues for Anderson. The team is disjointed because of this and the only new blood is Josh King and two expensive wingers, hardly a platform to build on, especially when the Premier League has now turned to long throws and goalie route 1 to a center forward. We miss Raul or Jimenez's defensive contribution on set pieces as much as we miss the outball.
The Board and Ali Mac is 100% responsible for the gaps, not enough cover in central mid, players signed too late to intergrate and the farce with George being asked to take a lower deal than agreed 6 hours earlier because they could not shift Wilson to Leeds at the right money so we end up with KSA is an embarrassment. That it happened last year, it happened in January (Willian again maybe this Jan?) and ridiculous as it sounds will no doubt happen again in this Jan, even tho 3 players will be either missing or knackered from AFCON.
I hope the two-week international break gives some tired legs time to rest but will be sadly accepting to read that Bassey, Raul, Iwobi, KSA, Anderson, Chukwezi will be instead running around playing for their nations instead.
Marco should be given time to turn it around. Hopefully he will do.
Sess has been a surprise to me in how good he has been but he is not Jedi, hopefully he gets a crack at right wing sometimes or wing back. At the moment he is the only one on the team I trust to score!
Great points - I agree that the continued absence of Jedi is a big reason why Bassey is so much worse this season. Antonee - just as he had with Ream - provided him with the cover he needed. He can't come back - healthy - soon enough. No shade on Sessegnon though, he's great (just not Jedi).
It would be a real shame to move on from Silva on the back of a short period of poor luck (both the fitness of critical players and several inexplicable VAR decisions).
This makes for some very somber reading. 😢
Multiple times the Khans put our gaffer on a Transfer window bus ride, talent level with the talent they did give him insufficient, and finally coach has to answer fans questions on why level of play versus what they have to pay per ticket.... insane. No one would question Silva for looking for better pastures so if we the fans want to keep our coach its time to make the KHANS feel it, hear it and see it.
Succession planning? I don’t even know who the assistant manager is! This club is run on a lamentable short term basis, and we are now reaping the rewards…