Reply With QuoteUnited – The late goals and fight back was good but in truth United were given a bit of a spanking at times tonight. We never had control of the game from start to finish and with and without the ball that is the poorest we have been for a long time.
Fulham were the best side we have seen all year at the Lane and rivalled Cardiff for best team we have played but we given a great deal of help. They gave some stupid goals away (keeper at fault twice) and then two late ones but attacking wise they tore us apart at times. The lad Sessengon was superb. He scored three and was a threat all night. Fulham did what QPR did and played 3 up top with two wingers and a roving striker moving in between the lines. They closed us down all game and made sure the defence had to go back rather than forward. We made so many mistakes but credit to them. They controlled midfield for long periods and for the first half saw so much of the ball. I felt at both 1-0 and then also 2-2 we were a tad fortunate as they had gone behind us a few times but equally they gave us time on the ball too.
Too many players were off the game. The basic defensive mistakes all over such as the giveaway for the first and then sitting back letting them run at us. I felt we barely put a tackle in first half and they had a lot of time but they also broke well. They had so many quick players in the front positions and then also overlapping full backs. It looked like us in reverse but with pace.
People will talk about Coutts and sure we missed him a lot. Lundstram is so slow and gives it away a lot. He does not carry the ball and takes an age to do basic things. He also cannot do the defensive stuff as players run off him. He looks out of shape to me and is carrying too much weight. I am not sure he is the answer, short term or long and I think even though Carruthers has his faults he would offer more. Lundstram does not get into the last third but does not protect our third. His main job seemed to be to pick it off the back and then either give it back or fire it aimless long. However, rather than scapegoating him, you have to say Stevens, O’Connell, Wright, Duffy, Sharp all had their worst games for a long time – maybe all season. Carter Vickers had a nightmate. Every shot went in past the keeper although only one I questioned him on. Basham was very average and that leaves maybe Fleck and Clarke as only two who kept up standards. The subs gave us a bit of life but they then broke away as we tried to send men forward. The late comeback was great and nearly saw us get something but probably masks quite a poor performance where Fulham deserved the win. We were sloppy on and off the ball, made mistakes and looked a million miles off the side that we have seen this season. Maybe Fulham take some credit for the way they set up and some good performances but the table suggests they are not that good. I felt we got picked off too easily and allowed their players to dictate. We looked a bit of a soft touch tonight but looked painfully slow in comparison to them. I felt for Fleck who was playing 3 players on his own due to the contribution of his midfield teammates and Norwood, McDonald and the outstanding Cairney bossed things until the final stages.
It was a weird night as like I said you don’t expect so many mistakes and so many poor individual performances but it was odd to see team lacking confidence even at start of game some looked lethargic. Just hope psychologically the injury has not affected us but the whole team tonight seemed to go in their shell a bit and it was odd to see an away side impose themselves. We did keep plugging away and did not have much run of the ball tonight (two deflected goals either way) but we looked a tired group which again was strange after we had an extra day off. I think he needs to freshen it up for Saturday and I would bring Brooks in for Sharp, hopefully Baldock might be back and Basham into the centre. Stearman may also get a chance instead of Carter Vickers who had a stinker tonight.
It is a big game Saturday as we need to bounce back. If we dip again then people will say the bubble has burst and momentum has gone. We need to be bang at it but you would hope several players may respond to poor games and we will not make as many mistakes. I also think credit to Fulham and the manager as they got tactics, shape and how they went about us correct. They are a side that should be ashamed to play like that compared to many other results this season.
Fulham – Made the playoffs last year. They lost a few players but kept some mainstays in the likes of Johannsen, McDonald, Cairney etc and have a lot of real talent throughout the side. The fact they are nearer the bottom than top is a real surprise and they showed that tonight. They have pace, skill and some really good players. The lad Ojo is a threat and Norwood a clever player. Cairney showed some supreme skill and you can see why he is so highly rated.
Jokanovic has been about a bit but did well at Watford and then left there and did well at Maccabi Tel Aviv taking them into the Champions League. He has steadily taken Fulham up the league and got them to the playoffs and close to the Premier League last year but this year has seen a surprising drop off. I picked them as 4th and felt confident they would be around the top 6 so they have some work to do still but I expect them to move up the leagues.
They are better away with counter attacking and pace than they are at home where teams will sit in. Do expect them around the top 6 and probably will have money to spend.
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Opposition Man of the Match: Session scored three and a real threat but they had numerous other stand outs. Tom Cairney was very good. A real talent that could play Premier League easily. McDonald did some good things but some poor things too. He is a good Championship player but no more. He is not quick enough nor consistent enough. Despite his time wasting and theatrics with Sharp; Frederick is a good player too. They have such pace and if they attack teams could do really well but they must have not played like that much!
Opposition Weak link: Button. Two poor errors and did not look convincing all night. The rest of the team did ok. I felt Odoi was clumsy and could have had more than a booking. Indeed, the biggest criticism I give them is for all the good skills and pace; they did feign injury, timewaste and try every trick in the book. No need when they have decent players. The ref was so weak and let them get away with it so they kept doing it.
Originally Posted by RonnieWaldock
One thing i dint agree wi DB abart is the crowd i thought we stayed behind the players even at 5-2.UTCB
