For any Fulham fan, the Chelsea game proved to produced a performance of typical Fulham fashion. A strong first-half showing which ultimately should have seen us go into the break 1-0 up, was followed by a "performance" that well, left much to be desired.
So going into the Capital One third-round cup clash against an in-form Everton side, doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. Our recent record against the Toffees isn't great (one home win in our last five; drawing two and losing two*) - however there needs to be a massive rallying call from the management and the squad for this game, hell we may even require Scott Parker to pull out one of his famous team talks...
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| Image courtesy of metro.co.uk; no copyright intended. |
Going into the Chelsea game, I was more than optimistic; I thought the players would be more than up for it and could sense that a tight first 20 minutes and Chelsea may well have been there for the taking. So as Pajtim Kasami slid Darren Bent through on goal with a perfectly timed ball and run to boot, given the latter's reputation I leant forward off of my seat with the anticipation that Petr Cech's net was about to ripple and a stunned silence engulf Stamford Bridge.
Alas, as I'm sure you're all aware, that was not the case; Darren Bent shot straight at Cech and the ball was cleared to safety. The lack of finish from Bent, I put down to a lack of match practice but I'm sure as it has for myself, the question of "would Berbatov have tucked it away?", will have been racking the brains of many a Fulham fan.
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| Image courtesy of bleacherreport.com; no copyright intended. |
Yet the first-half performance was more than pleasing; in particular, the way Steve Sidwell and Scott Parker had marshalled the midfield and provided a worthy screen for our relatively new, back four. They had no doubt done, all of what Martin Jol had asked of them - harass the Chelsea midfield and not give them a moment's peace.
Nevertheless, the second half came and with it a lot of holding-head-in-hands. Instead of upping the tempo and doing much of the same, with a little added attacking intent, all of the good work put in just disappeared and after going a goal down, it highlighted some worrying signs (and albeit small positives). I'm going to start with the bad, so hopefully the good that follows might cheer us all up!
Firstly, as well as Parker and Sidwell did in the first-half, they just don't work as a partnership. With neither, appearing to know which one was to hold and who was to go, it just went to prove the age-old adage that two players cut from the same cloth just don't function well enough together.
If Scott Parker is as Martin Jol stated "his number four" then there are a number of options that would see our midfield look a lot more balanced: firstly as I mentioned in my "Summer Signings" article, Giorgos Karagounis would be my preferred choice; whenever the swashbuckling Greek plays he looks to get either the ball or himself forward and that quality has been something that has been lacking in the Whites' games so far this season. Other options could see Derek Boateng come in or as I more recently suggested, nurturing Pajtim Kasami into the role that saw Mousa Dembele flourish.
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| Image courtesy of uk.eurosport.yahoo.com; no copyright intended |
Tonight though, I would like to see Derek Boateng given a chance; with Boateng in the team it would give license to Scott Parker to use the ball effectively like we all know he can. I can also see the big Ghanaian giving Everton's young star, Ross Barkley all manner of problems and in doing that disrupting Everton's style of play this season under Roberto Martinez.
The most worrying aspect to come out of the Chelsea game was the percieved lack of passion. Now when it comes to a SW6 derby, as a fan, you're expecting the players to give everything for the cause and after going 1-0 down it did honestly look like, they didn't want to score. Startling as it is, this lack of passion emanated from the bench.
Like most Fulham fans, I'm realistic; one that has seen us rise from, the old Division Two to the Premier League, so I am less inclined to slate the team or management (apart from Lawrie Sanchez!). I am also fully aware that Martin Jol is a laid-back Dutchman who has never been one for prancing up and down his technical area, barking orders - but even he after we conceded didn't look in the slightest bit bothered.
Should his man-management skills be called into question? I'm not so sure. However it is fair to say that, for the number of players that have "got on with him", there are a number of high-profile personnel that haven't (Bobby Zamora, Danny Murphy, John Arne Riise it seems...) Although, I am still of the opinion that he doesn't quite know his best team yet and that the team still needs another five, say, games to really gel together. This is why, tonight's upcoming game with Everton, should be seen as an opportunity to really get things back on track.
Of the small positives to take out of the game, I thought Fernando Amorebeita's full debut was, for the majority, excellent. Apart from almost conceding a penalty, he showed everything that you'd want to see from a player playing in a local derby; he competed for every ball and showed the passion, grit and determination that sadly not enough of his fellow team-mates shown. Again Pajtim Kasami, had a solid game; the Swiss youngster really seems to be thriving at the moment and long may it continue:
But finally, to the game at hand, Everton in the Capital One Cup.
Now, unlike my father, who couldn't give the preverbial rats' about the Capital One Cup, I really see the competition as a fairly realistic chance to win some silverware; all you have to do is look at what it's done for Swansea City (who need I remind we beat 3-0... AWAY!). I also think that it's being taken seriously by Martin Jol - you only have to take a look at the squad that he took to League Two, Burton Albion.
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| Image courtesy of sport.co.uk; no copyright intended. Is Jol walking on a ever-thinning tightrope? |
The most worrying aspect to come out of the Chelsea game was the percieved lack of passion. Now when it comes to a SW6 derby, as a fan, you're expecting the players to give everything for the cause and after going 1-0 down it did honestly look like, they didn't want to score. Startling as it is, this lack of passion emanated from the bench.
Like most Fulham fans, I'm realistic; one that has seen us rise from, the old Division Two to the Premier League, so I am less inclined to slate the team or management (apart from Lawrie Sanchez!). I am also fully aware that Martin Jol is a laid-back Dutchman who has never been one for prancing up and down his technical area, barking orders - but even he after we conceded didn't look in the slightest bit bothered.
Should his man-management skills be called into question? I'm not so sure. However it is fair to say that, for the number of players that have "got on with him", there are a number of high-profile personnel that haven't (Bobby Zamora, Danny Murphy, John Arne Riise it seems...) Although, I am still of the opinion that he doesn't quite know his best team yet and that the team still needs another five, say, games to really gel together. This is why, tonight's upcoming game with Everton, should be seen as an opportunity to really get things back on track.
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| Image courtesy of homes.yahoo.com; no copyright intended. |
Of the small positives to take out of the game, I thought Fernando Amorebeita's full debut was, for the majority, excellent. Apart from almost conceding a penalty, he showed everything that you'd want to see from a player playing in a local derby; he competed for every ball and showed the passion, grit and determination that sadly not enough of his fellow team-mates shown. Again Pajtim Kasami, had a solid game; the Swiss youngster really seems to be thriving at the moment and long may it continue:
But finally, to the game at hand, Everton in the Capital One Cup.
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| Image courtesy of zimbio.com; no copyright intended. Hugo only just gave us a fighting chance last time out... |
Now, unlike my father, who couldn't give the preverbial rats' about the Capital One Cup, I really see the competition as a fairly realistic chance to win some silverware; all you have to do is look at what it's done for Swansea City (who need I remind we beat 3-0... AWAY!). I also think that it's being taken seriously by Martin Jol - you only have to take a look at the squad that he took to League Two, Burton Albion.
However, Everton represent a very real challenge. It seems now, that the days of a guaranteed home win against the Toffees, are gone. After losing Marouane Fellaini to the red half of Manchester, they have strengthed considerably and are currently the only unbeaten team in the Premier League. It is hard to tell if Roberto Martinez will rest some of his key players but either way, Everton have got an enviable squad to choose from.
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| Image courtesy of zimbio.com; no copyright intended. |
In our last home game against Everton, we fought back to earn a resilient 2-2 draw; that kind of resiliency will have to be shown tonight, especially after the way things have been going. The boys need to stand up and be counted tonight and give the fans a performance where, regardless of result this evening, they can say "they gave it everything".
However, similar to a recent article I read, fans going to the game need to support the team and manager. Booing and shouting "Jol Out" doesn't help anyone, least of all the players. Hark back to the European nights of Hamburg and Juventus or Manchester City away in "the Great Escape" run; we were down and out in those games and look what our support did for the team in said games.
On the other hand, the next three games our crucial. Cardiff and Stoke at the Cottage, then Crystal Palace away; if we don't come out with at the very least four points from those fixtures, I can see a very dark cloud looming over Martin Jol.
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