Thoughts from the game

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Only just got back so quick thoughts.

We look a lot more solid and balanced. We got beaten by two worldies the first of which we lost the ball for so Meslier was out of position.

Fulham and very solid with decent players in every position and we matched them and didn’t deserve to lose 2-0.

Firpo looked good going forward. Harrison played wide left can play the game. Aaronson made a big difference.

Koch played well too as did Ayling.

Like the look of McKennie more and more and Adams had a better second half that first.

Problem is the obvious one of scoring but not sure how we didn’t score at least one tonight:

Eddie Gray was watching the game with his wife close to the press area and spoke briefly to Phil Hay who was looking very dapper.

Fulham players must get slightly frustrated with how quiet the home crowd is.

Definitely look better without the ball with clearer structure.

Summerville, Gnonto and Rutter was a very young forward line and at times looked a bit naive with positions off the ball.

Bamford was hash when he came on.

Love Fulham as a club and their ground has an old school charm to it.

Slightly more confident about the rest of the season as you can see that Garcia is definitely making changes that are starting to have an effect.

[Monaco_Totty]

Thank you Hopey.

Got up early and watched full 90 mins of match. As you say two great bending goal strikes from Fulham yet we seemed better in possession & more comfortable on the ball.

Just read match thread & I agree with Oz particularly on Rutter who always tried to get on the ball & showed great movement in a tough role of playing the one up front which does't really allow him to to run at the ball with his pace to be fair.

Cannot accept the criticism dished out by some of his performance in only his 4th game & at 20 years old thought he did well making a chance for Gnonto, then hitting the post with a header that wasn't easy to connect to, then he had that goal ruled out.

Fulham play their game plan well & did just enough with Mitrovic always lurking if not at his best on the night - I thought we played well, so encouraging signs but Roca for me can be lightweight in some battles & it showed last night as our weakness.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

On Rutter he just needs time (which we don’t have) wasn’t scared to get stuck in either. He didn’t get the best of service at times and was often left up front isolated and Fulham are good defensively.

Their left back was exceptional in both defence and attack.

[spaldy]

I watched the game at the local pub and was confused at the postings during the match. we look so much better than we did the last month. Even the casual observers thought we were the better of the two teams. 2 could not believe we were in a relegation battle. Adams made a big mistake but he's a constant defensive threat and unlike the player before him does not tend to foul as often. He also gets back to help on breaks. we needed that with the back 4 we had. He had the turnover that cause the first goal but that was a world class strike from 30 years out. We had that shot all day if we could take it and hit the net.

Roca is weak link as is Kristenson.
Bamford's over the hill. Rodrigos arrival will put him third on the striker list
Summerville is selfish but if he hits those shots he's a star.
Rutter causes the defense to stay back. Without them, the defense cheats up
Gnonto and Summerville also cause the mids to stay home more
Firpo causes defenses fits. No one draws up a defensive plan to cover him when he does his marauding runs. Improving
Mckennie and Adams are physical and it's a game changer for us prior to having that aspect. They will be key in the chelsea game
Meslier has been average to below average by prem standards the last month. Our opponents keepers have been better the last 3 games.
Harrison has the yips. we really could us Sinisterra
Koch and Ayling have been good
Wober is outstanding. Best defender is a long time for us
Our coach has done wonders. we look and feel a different team. He's a steadying influence.
Our traveling supporters are incredible. You could hear them the entire match. much louder than Fulhams

Silva should be a lock for coach of the year but they'll give it to the bald headed scum gaffer.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Agree with all of that. I was in the Fulham main stand and even the one eyed Fulham fans were saying they were saying they were a little lucky to win 2-0. They couldn’t understand why we were so close to the bottom.

I can predict from a brief conversation with him (I was sat very close to where he was in the press box) what Phil Hay will say in his podcast on Friday.

Gracia in his short time with the club has already made a difference. We look more solid and less likely to give up goals. The goals against Fulham were unstoppable but not really due to glaring defensive frailties.

We have more pattern and a system is evolving when we have the ball which is more balanced and uses more width. Gracia hasn’t worked out the best combinations yet but if he can get us scoring we will move further away from
danger.

Lots and lots of positives.

[Billyni]

Just thought Rutter was lightweight, lazy and uninterested in getting it up em.
Thought i could mark him meself.
Could be wrong though, its happened before.

[norfolk white]

Funny how we all see games differently, I thought rutter was pants first half but better second half. Mckennie, roca and Adams were all poor, all to lightweight in challenges, awful passing, awful control, awful desiscion making, a very poor midfield. Kristenssen looked lost and Bamford also. On the plus side Koch was very good, ayling and surprisingly firpo as well. Harrison when he came on was lively, gnonto and summerville tried to do a bit to much at times, on another day it might pay off for them. Fulham looked composed and in control mainly throughout, although it took 2 worldies to score, something we sadly never looked like doing....again, we all see games and players differently.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Just thought Rutter was lightweight, lazy and uninterested in getting it up em.
Thought i could mark him meself.
Could be wrong though, its happened before.

From pitch side he was getting stuck in but think he tired as the game wore on and Ream and Adarabiayo started marking him more closely and using their strength.

[Billyni]

From pitch side he was getting stuck in but think he tired as the game wore on and Ream and Adarabiayo started marking him more closely and using their strength.

He was bullied and fell over a lot.
Needs a good kick up the hole.

[whitestomper45]

A mixed bag, agree mostly with Hopey and Norfolk.

I felt we looked more like a PL team (albeit with not much bite) but better defensively., always a good sign of a good manager's early impact. Rutter's header was brilliant as was a run in penalty box, It's not his fault re price tag or the fact we bought someone who isnt an out and out CF (Orta?). Yes midfield hit and miss. with poor distribution, something Firpo suffers with too (although he is starting to improve slowly)
We missed Wober, who looks a good CB.

Not sure what the coach can do upfront apart from playing 2 upfront or 4-4-1-1 Bamford has looked a spent force.