Ratings V Fulham

Missed most of the 2nd half except up yo fulhams goal and a minute before holtbys till the whistle. I would definitely say MOM was Lloris. Also eas impressed by Sandro, Walker and some of Lamela's play.

Defoe had 2 good plays, pass to lamela in the box in 1st and dribbling 10-15 yds then good shot 5 mon before. The rest were shocking to put it lightly. Had a great chance on a Lennon pass in the box but turned his back to the goal with the ball tp take a back heel shot which was weak as fuck. His touch was awful as usual. Theres a reason he is on his way to MLS, Andre....


I do have to say thanks to Lewis for making me a happy drunk tonight. Was gonna be a pissed one with a loss or draw. Im fucked up and amped right now because of that wonder strike. So special mention of him. Love ya, you german legend. 3rd to my guys Jurgen Klinsmann and Stefan Freund

Hugo - 9
Walker - 8
Dawson - 5
Vlad - 7.5
Verts - 6

Sandro - 7
Capoue - 6
Lamela - 7.5
Lennon - 7.5
Paulinho - 7

Defoe - 6.5

Holtby - 7.5

Dawson was the only player that was really poor. Everyone else played pretty well I thought to varying degrees. I think Lamela will come good soon, showed some class in this game.

Can someone explain the dawson mistake a little clearer. I was watching at 4am here in aus and my eyes were blurry.

Bus-Conductor said:

Defoe's as bad. His movement is atrocious. At one point Vertonghen had the ball attacking and Defoe just stood behind a player looking at him. Why not fucking move so he can pass to you, you stupid fuckwit ?

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Soldado does this almost every game, but he's never called a stupid fuckwit. Seriously, I fuckin dont see much difference between Defoe's fuckin contribution and that of Solfuckindado. Be fair.

Berbatov was left alone time after time,i lost the will to live screaming for us to get close to him, we certainly made him look better than he has been lately.

Our performance was poor,we looked what we are atm...a nervous team that is not sure who is playing where and why.

Berba 9.

Lloris - 9 - Some awesome saves throughout the game
Walker - 8 - I think Walker is having a very good season, another strong performance
Dawson - 5 - Don't know what he was doing for the goal, also not commanding enough in the air when they were punting balls up.
Chiriches - 7 - We looked vulnerable defensively all night I though but his goal was brilliant.
Verts - 5.5 - We are desperate for Rose to come back, Verts just doesn't seem happy their and his performance levels are dropping.
Sandro - 7 - Beast as always.
Capoue - 6.5 - He is quite slow but I thought he did well, winning challenges and moving the ball forward with purpose.
Lennon - 6.5 - Another good performance from Lennon, dangerous throughout.
Paulinho - 5 - Gets himself in to fantastic positions but his passing and finishing was woeful.
Lamela - 6.5 - A few loose passes but looked dangerous beat a few men on occasions and almost scored one or two.
Defoe - 6.5 - I thought he ran the channels well and held the ball up well, had one good effort but didn't create enough after that.

Subs:
Holtby - 7 - I thought his enthusiasm shone through but a lot of poor passes, great great goal though and very pleased for him.
Chadli - 6 - Didn't change much but gives us balance on the left.
Townsend - 6 - Not long on, always involved and keen to get on the ball. Poor decision making though at parts.

AVB - 7 - Two wonder goals saved us but I thought our attacking play was better and I think he's starting to gain an idea of our best team and how we are going to play.

That was an encouraging result against a Fulham team trying to impress a new manager...I was getting all manner of text messagers during the game...AVB out ! we're shit ! etc to adulation of joy, funny how football can have an affect on people.
I like to mention the man called Paulinho, read a few comments some can't see the point. I generally feel he needs a rest first and foremost he is inches away from being a goals machine I think...love how he gets into position effortlessly imo his a class act.

Lloris 8 good display
Walker 8 wouldn't swap him. He is actually so affective on the right side you wonder now the point of Lennon.
Dawson 5 squad player at best. I'm gonna refrain myself regarding Dawson because he really tries his best but it may still not be enough to justify continuous starts.
Chiriches 7 class act could play for Barcelona
Vertonghen 5 poor I thought was out of position on Fulham goal in fairness noot a specialist left back
Sandro 6 ok
Capoue 6 needs more game time
Lamela 7 in the makings has great potential
Lennon 6 ok
Defoe 6 not as bad as some make out.

mattdefoe said:

Can someone explain the dawson mistake a little clearer. I was watching at 4am here in aus and my eyes were blurry.

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He decided to run up the pitch, got to the half way line, seemed to freak out randomly slide in even though he didn't have to as there was no actual challenge (he was near a Fulham player but not enough to randomly fall over) and the ball went to a Fulham player. Counter attack suddenly on with him out of position and Verts thinking we were on the attack so no LB either.

Lloris ..........9..Masterclass. Welcome back the real Hugo Lloris. 3 worldies.
Walker .......7..Another sensible and responsible show. Terrible corner led directly to our equaliser. Assist?
Dawson ......6..OK. Apart from one unfortunate error.
Chiriches .....7..Like his positivity. Ridiculous shot that went in. So much for formations, tactics and game plans.
Vertonghen..6..If only he'd smile occasionally. Decent considering he doesn't want to play there.
Sandro.........6..Not quite a towering presence and some dud passes. But OK.
Capoue........6..Not making his mark yet. Will when he settle in...Probably.
Paulinho.......6..Made a sitter then missed it. Looked more comfortable further back.
Lennon........7..Lively again. One of keys key to unlock defences.
Lamela........6..Clearly talented but not making enough impact.
Defoe..........5..Lovely place Canada.

Subs
Holtby..........7..Impressive effort, liveliness and goal. Should start against Sunderland.
Chadli ..............Might be the answer to something when he settles
Townsend ........Busy going nowhere. Isn't it just a crime.We'd like to be.........

I thought Lamela actually had one of his best games in the pl. He was always looking for the ball and really tries to make things happen we just don't quite see the bigger picture at the moment. As soon as somebody starts to give him the ball back we will really see what he can do. I am convinced he is going to be a top, top player and that this period of struggle and transition will actually be good for him in the long run.

In terms of the performance I thought we were generally poor as usual. Too slow to move the ball, poor movement and all the stuff that we have become accustomed to under AVB. We only really saw what we could become in the last 20 minutes or so when we began to move the ball a bit quicker and started to put them under some pressure.

I'm afraid that the result will again paper over the cracks but at the same time perhaps we do just need some time.

Dawson was very poor and he just isn't able to deal with any kind of movement. Was also very poor in the air.

If we go on a run now and start picking up points we will still be in touch come the new year and I guess that should be seen as success.

Still worried though

I only saw the MOTD highlights but still have a few comments...

We can't keep relying on smashing home goals from 20+ yards, it's a point that with a lot of teams sitting deep against us that it's a useful tool to have - the ability to smash the ball in from range, but not a sustainable way of playing. Chance creation, patterns of play - we must see more. I also noticed our best chance came on the counter attack again like against United, now I'm a possession to control a match type of guy, but the more I look at our squad I see players more suited to a counter attack style of play. Not in the sense of a sit deep and occasionally break with 3 players type way, but more the Dortmund/Atleti model. Press the ball around halfway, and break in numbers and not all too fussed with having much more ball than the opposition, but being ruthlessly efficient when they have the ball.

Another thing I noticed, and this is becoming common now, is smart coaches are continually setting a trap for Dawson to continually walk into. Laudrup, Wenger and now Meulensteen - block off the other CB, close off Dawson's passing lines and allow him to progress up the pitch with the ball where he continues to play himself into trouble. Suddenly, our defence is entirely out of balance. Yesterday Verthongen was caught high up the pitch (probably too high up) and he didn't react well to the turnover in possession himself, Dawson is 45 yards from goal, and too slow to turn & recover. It was a classic, planned goal from a very good coach in Meulensteen - I bet they've worked on exploiting that this week. The sooner we can get 2 of Vert/Kaboul/Chiriches together at CB the better.

Some simple finishing would've meant an easier match

yusrisafri said:

Soldado does this almost every game, but he's never called a stupid fuckwit. Seriously, I fuckin dont see much difference between Defoe's fuckin contribution and that of Solfuckindado. Be fair.

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I'm not sure I entirely agree, but one major difference if it was true is that we've been watching Defoe do it for a fuck of a lot longer. Familiarity breeds a shit load of contempt etc etc. When we've watched Soldado do it for 6 years, he'll have earned the moniker "fuckwit".

ShelfSide18 said:

I only saw the MOTD highlights but still have a few comments...

We can't keep relying on smashing home goals from 20+ yards, it's a point that with a lot of teams sitting deep against us that it's a useful tool to have - the ability to smash the ball in from range, but not a sustainable way of playing. Chance creation, patterns of play - we must see more. I also noticed our best chance came on the counter attack again like against United, now I'm a possession to control a match type of guy, but the more I look at our squad I see players more suited to a counter attack style of play. Not in the sense of a sit deep and occasionally break with 3 players type way, but more the Dortmund/Atleti model. Press the ball around halfway, and break in numbers and not all too fussed with having much more ball than the opposition, but being ruthlessly efficient when they have the ball.

Another thing I noticed, and this is becoming common now, is smart coaches are continually setting a trap for Dawson to continually walk into. Laudrup, Wenger and now Meulensteen - block off the other CB, close off Dawson's passing lines and allow him to progress up the pitch with the ball where he continues to play himself into trouble. Suddenly, our defence is entirely out of balance. Yesterday Verthongen was caught high up the pitch (probably too high up) and he didn't react well to the turnover in possession himself, Dawson is 45 yards from goal, and too slow to turn & recover. It was a classic, planned goal from a very good coach in Meulensteen - I bet they've worked on exploiting that this week. The sooner we can get 2 of Vert/Kaboul/Chiriches together at CB the better.

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Motd didnt show lamelas miss and yes he should have scored.
Lamelas driving run and shoot, that got deflected and tipped over.
Defoes one on one that he missed badly.

EastLondonYid said:

Berbatov was left alone time after time,i lost the will to live screaming for us to get close to him, we certainly made him look better than he has been lately.

Our performance was poor,we looked what we are atm...a nervous team that is not sure who is playing where and why.

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We never mark a man anymore, we just flit around in a line at the back.

That's fine, sometimes - when you're up against two forwards, especially where they have quick or clever movement. But when the opposition are playing one up front, and that bloke spends his whole game moving within the same 10 square yards at 2 miles an hour, for feck's sake can we mark him with one CB and have the other covering please? It's not that difficult. Vlad should've been stuck to Berba like glue for most of the game.

That's not to mention the zonal nonsense from set-pieces either.

MOTD fucked us with their two minute package. We deserve better than that.

I think if I go through it all, it will just be going over very old ground, so don't see the point. All I can say is that if AVB wants us to play out from the back in a possession-based approach, then he needs to drum into the players the concept of 'pass and move', and if they are unwilling or unable to do this then he needs to ship them out and find some players that can.

I'll give one example to sum it up. First half Chiriches is bringing the ball out from the back. No options, so keeps coming. Lamela and Vertonghen are both within 15 yards of him, and both standing pinned to the touchline. All it takes to offer him a passing option is for Lamela to come inside, bringing his marker with him and then lay it off round the corner for Vertonghen to run onto the ball into the space vacated. Neither make a move. Ball gets pinged to feet in the tightest area imaginable and we lose the ball. Happened more than once down that side. All players are guilty though, there was one occasion where Dawson was bringing the ball out, was pleading for an option... there is a big space twenty yards up the pitch, all it takes is Lennon to make a run 10 yards inside to free himself and receive it in space. He stands on the spot.

No-one appreciates what they are meant to be doing and how we move up the pitch as a unit, with the ball. One of the worst examples is midway through the second half where all three of Sandro, Paulinho and Holtby come to get the ball off of Dawson. Absolutely amateur.

It simply has to get better.

EDIT: This tinkering with the team also has to stop. Lamela, Holtby, Chadli, Sigurdsson, Defoe, Kaboul and more all in and out over recent weeks. Players cant find form or the team develop an understanding if there are changes every week. Yes you might want to tweak the set-up for specific games, but not to the amount we are seeing. Decide a team and shape AVB and give it time to settle. No more scrabbling around using all possible combinations, time to make a choice.

Lloris - Three very good saves. A return to top form. Motm for me.

Walker - Good game.

Dawson - Oh dear. Responsible for the goal with a horrendously inept bit of play. That's just one mistake though, you can be most scathing about what should be his bread and butter at centre back... He gave Berbatov far too much time and space all game and was lucky nothing more came of it. Who gets carted off to the knackers yard first, him or Kaboul? We shall see.

Chiriches - Was guilty a few times of overplaying and giving the ball away in reasonably dangerous areas, an Ok performance though which was capped by the goal which got us back into the match.

Vertonghen - Average. Looks completely fucked off with life, which is concerning. Whilst Dawson is at fault for the goal, I have no idea why he was that far forward when the ball was being played out on the opposite side of the pitch. Having said all that, lets hope he isn't out for any significant amount of time.

Sandro - Ok. Not exactly bad, not exactly beastly either though.

Capoue - Ditto.

Lennon - A couple of bright moments that led to nothing, however Defoe did pinch a cross he fizzed in that Lamela was running onto in all fairness. Pretty Lennon-esque performance.

Paulinho - Gets himself up in support, but has been too wayward with his shooting this season and his passing isn't his strongest facet either. Is getting run into the ground, which isn't his fault. Needs to do better though.

Lamela - Is erratic but offers the few glimpses of real potential. Little give and go's, moving the ball quickly etc and getting away from a marker. I think he needs to play at No.10 position, simply so we can get him more involved in areas where he can have most impact.

Defoe - It wasn't his worst game ever, but we have seen it all before over 10 years and it isn't going to get any better. Wasted a couple of good opportunities too, which is what he is in the team to do. He also seems clueless about where to find space and what runs to make as a lone striker. Lets stop with this tinkering AVB, yeah?

Subs:

Holtby - Cracking goal, a good pass for Lennon down the line, an accurate cross onto Paulinho's head... Which will catch the eye of the majority... In between a lot of infuriating stuff. As I said last night, he is possibly our worst player for composure when we are chasing the game, I lost count of the amount of times he fizzed an overambitious pass towards a Spurs man or went all out for the hail mary pass. Enthusiasm needs to be channelled into something consistent, lets hope he can mature quickly because there is talent there.

Townsend - Didn't get into the game really, was handy to have him on to take the ball towards the corner flag late on I guess.

Chadli - Ummm...

LLoris- 10 MOTM This lad is the goods. Great reactions and earned us the 3 points almost by himself! World class keeper.
Walker- 9 Consistently good these last few weeks. Can hold his head up high as he has played his heart out when others have looked beaten. Good on you Kyle!
Dawson- 6 Shaky at times. Poor pass which lead to the goal. Lacking confidence at the moment. He has tremendous character, I expect him to get over this bad patch.
Chiriches- 7.6 A brilliantly taken goal. All round was the better of the two defenders even though we were shaky at times. His skill and ball control is phenomenal for a defender and he will get better with his distribution.
Vertonghen- 6 A frustrating afternoon and his limitations in the FB role shone through.
Sandro- 6.5 Solid but seemed off the pace.
Capoue- 6.5 Started poorly but improved as the game wore on. Neither he or Sandro really closed down Fulham though.
Paulinho- 6.5 He looked off the pace but shone at points and his quality was there to see. A bad miss and a wonderful header book ended his performance. I think the long international season is catching up with him.
Lennon- 8 He was a great offensive outlet for us when under pressure and ran himself into the ground. Looked lively again and created some chances. Well done Azza.
Lamela- 7 Had some bright spots and looks like the creative thinker we need. His team mates tend not to see his moves though. He still has some way to go to acclimatise but he cant do this unless he plays. Solid but not brilliant.
Defoe- 6 Was not as dangerous for us as Berbatov was for the opposition. He doesn't look comfortable as the sole spearhead and needs to play with another striker.

Holtby- 7.5 Ran out of steam and ideas at times but is always ready to try something. A well taken goal and showed he can take the initiative. Probably should have started.
Chadli- 5 A cameo that didn't really impress but then he didn't have a huge amount of time to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Townsend- 5 See above.

AVB 6 Good to see him experiment with Paulinho in the AM role and play more traditional wingers but we still look ponderous, slow and clueless. Substitutions half worked this time. Team is still playing like a bunch of strangers at times. Seems to have the happy knack of turning great players into robots.

Fulham 7 Impressed by the new coach's tactics and the spirit shown by the team. They played good open football and I was impressed with the energy of the players. On this performance they don't deserve to go down. In a better side Berbatov would still be a world beater!

Just watched the game as I could only listen to it last night and we were nowhere near as bad as some are making out!

I expect Fulham to get out of trouble now that Jol has gone and it was always going to be tough at a place where it's a new managers first game.

The main pictures don't do Vlad's strike justice when you see it from behind Vlad it is so beautifully struck, wonderful technique!