[Archived] Fulham Preview

[LeChuck]

Theno, IT WASNT A SCUFF BALL. MaCarthy deliberately kicked the ball the way he did. He tried something different, gambled, and it paid off. Good instinctive bit of play from Benni.

Hah, come on...you can't believe that.

McCarthy is an idiot if he tried that on purpose because we had no-one at the front post, it's only because a Fulham player sliced the ball that we got it. Had he got a clean connection I'm sure McCarthy would have had his arm up in immediate apology.

[JAL]

Hah, come on...you can't believe that.

McCarthy is an idiot if he tried that on purpose because we had no-one at the front post, it's only because a Fulham player sliced the ball that we got it. Had he got a clean connection I'm sure McCarthy would have had his arm up in immediate apology.

Was right in front of me. Even numpty Allardyce thinks he made a meal of his kick believe me or not, Benni DELIBERATELY HIT THE BALL INTO THAT AREA OF THE GOAL.

The mindset of a good player is to provide the unexpected and MaCarthy did here. Everyone (Fulham players) were looking for the cross, one or two Fulham players seemed to step forward a pace or two as he stepped up to kick the ball then the rest is historyas they say.

My point is, Benni MaCarthy DID NOT make a mistake in his excecution of the corner kick.

[Hughesy]

The young kids coming through will be really significant for us next year, this is a good policy by Sam, we just need to stay up this year. The right addition here and there in the close season and we could go places next season IMO.

Best player on the park by a country mile was Dempsey, well impressed, hope he isn't too badly injured.

Nelson was a different man to the one that played against Villa, why oh why can't he stay at that level every match. Respect where it's due Ryan you had a very good game.

1st part - agree totally - Hoilett (if we can keep him), Olsson, NZonzi & Kalinic are all young and all improving. Much better than signing 30+ year old who offers us nothing after a couple of years.

Dempsey - expected Cruicate Knee ligaments & possibly out of the world cup

Nelsen - Difference was that he wasnt against bags of pace. Him & Givet against pace are rubbish usually!

[braddock]

Positives

Result and 3 points - This puts us further up the table, further away from the relegation zone and further away from the dingles. And we took the lead!

Performance - Lots of effort, and at times controlled the game against a team who have been better than us for a couple of seasons. Added to this a clean sheet which was impressive given Fulham's spells of dominance and us actually putting away our chances for a change, and whilst they weren't beautiful goals they had to be scored, which has been the problem this season. It is important to note that was our third game in a week, and Fulham had had almost two weeks rest. Our effort meant this went unnoticed.

Change of formation - A more attacking setup at home was good to see. I was disappointed to see us at 4-5-1 in our home leg of a cup semi final. I feel we work better with 4-4-2, as there is less emphasis to use the big boot (though obviously this will still be used under sam) as an extra attacker is available to come deep to collect. I don't feel we were employing this in the 4-5-1, even though that is exactly what the player in the hole was supposed to be doing. We were always a little too central with that system.

Change of personnel - Olsson in for Pedo was a great move (though overdue). Pedersen does well defensively (apart from actually making a tackle) but so does Olsson, and he will get stuck in. He can go forward with pace and cause some problems for the full backs. Plus it looks like Reidy can take the long throw, just needs tuning up. Kalinic getting two consecutive starts. About time. I accept he shouldn't be rushed, but I can't help thinking Sam is being overcautious. At the start of the season he looked a little bit nervous but now he is our best striker, providing he can finish. Also nice to see Reid get another game. Looks as fit as the others and will hopefully only get better. Still good enough to start at the moment though with Dunn and Grella not fit.

Negatives

Booing Andrews - Tries his best but is limited. This is not his fault. Decent squad player who could learn a lot from the club, but i'm sure his motivation will wane if this carries on. It baffles me he gets more boos than Pedersen. I'm against booing, but at least make it proportional.

Benni McCarthy's work rate - I like Benni McCarthy, and he set up both goals yesterday, but other than that, before we went two up he was wandering around again. I am not suggesting he could be dropped since he is the best finisher, just venting my frustrations. Once we were 2-0 up he was playing fantastic creative football especially down the left - the kind of football he played in his first season at the club. If he did this more often he would be the main man at Ewood. It's a shame he is the player he is. I had my neutral mate sat with me for the game and he was laughing at how many times he would just wander around aimlessly and give up on balls.

[Gav]

I didn’t bother going down yesterday because I’m sick of watching complete and utter rubbish, but I did watch it on the internet.

The first half was again terrible, we couldn’t pass the ball and had 2 shots if memory serves me correctly. Fulham footballed us to death in parts and would have felt unlucky not be at least on level terms.

Samba was clearly extremely upset with someone in the stands when he scored, he ran off towards the Jack Walker mouthing some obscenities in the general direction. He didn’t look very happy at all.

The second half was better from us but still we looked poor in parts and again Fulham will feel unlucky not to have taken something from the game.

It was a very valuable 3 points in the grand scheme of things, but doesn’t really paper over any of the cracks for me. The manager is on borrowed time and needs a couple more wins against the likes of Hull and Wigan coming up or he’ll be out on his ear.

[Hughesy]

For those who don't know her, let me introduce you to Annabella Bottali

The sexy 22 year old has appeared in Zoo magazine, worked as a cage rage babe and has done promotion work for football AM. She is also the Blackburn Rovers soccerette on www.ukff.com

Pictures taken from link

Didnt read the original preview - must start doing - BEST PREVIEW so far!

[A cup of beans]

small notes from me. delighted with the win. our 2 set-piece goals were our only 2 clear cut chances, but we were due a bit of luck.

a point on the formation - we played more or less 4-5-1 again, well 4-4-1-1 unless my eyes were decieving me ???

it seemed different because we were a lot more compact as a unit and showed a lot more desire and energy than we have in recent months.

booing of andrews- very harsh... but i'm sure keith will get over it!

i've also been told that david dunn started remonstrating with the booers,from his seat on the bench.

[Gav]

Booing Andrews - Tries his best but is limited. This is not his fault. Decent squad player who could learn a lot from the club, but i'm sure his motivation will wane if this carries on. It baffles me he gets more boos than Pedersen. I'm against booing, but at least make it proportional.

Forgot to mention this, booing your own players is pathetic and counter productive.

We've unfortunately got a history is doing this kind of thing:

Wilcox

Ward

Atkins

Sherwood

And a few others you could add to the list. Andrews maybe cr@p, but the manager keeps picking him and he gives his all, its not his fault he’s not good enough.

[unluckymorton]

Forgot to mention this, booing your own players is pathetic and counter productive.

We've unfortunately got a history is doing this kind of thing:

Wilcox

Ward

Atkins

Sherwood

And a few others you could add to the list. Andrews maybe cr@p, but the manager keeps picking him and he gives his all, its not his fault he’s not good enough.

Good speech GAV.

[joey_big_nose]

Negatives

Benni McCarthy's work rate - I like Benni McCarthy, and he set up both goals yesterday, but other than that, before we went two up he was wandering around again. I am not suggesting he could be dropped since he is the best finisher, just venting my frustrations. Once we were 2-0 up he was playing fantastic creative football especially down the left - the kind of football he played in his first season at the club. If he did this more often he would be the main man at Ewood. It's a shame he is the player he is. I had my neutral mate sat with me for the game and he was laughing at how many times he would just wander around aimlessly and give up on balls.

Agree with most of your post. However I have a big issue with this. I thought McCarthy worked really hard, tracked back, tackled. Not quite the epic amount of ground Kalinic covered but a very decent effort and markedly different from his usual.

Put in sizably more yards than Dunn managed against Villa on thursday I thought.

[den]

Was right in front of me. Even numpty Allardyce thinks he made a meal of his kick believe me or not, Benni DELIBERATELY HIT THE BALL INTO THAT AREA OF THE GOAL.

Nah Jal. He was trying to hit the corner like he hits all of his corners - with pace, a bit of inswing and in the air. No-one hits corners along the floor to defender stood at the near post deliberately.

[den]

Kalinic not up to this league??

He was a managers dream today, defended so well from the front, a top striker only needs one chance and the turn he created that chnce with today was brilliant, just got fouled edge of the box to stop him shootin!!

His movement and touch were good too, he is a good little player!!

I would have given him 7, but at least I'm not on my own Kelbo.

[rebelmswar]

Thought I would add my points about the game.

It was great to get the win, finally. Two goals scored and a clean sheet, fantastic.

I watched this game twice now and think that we scored both goals against the run of play. This may be down to nerves and the players being a bit low on moral.

There can be no argument that their attacking plays where a direct threat to us, and seemed to put us all on edge. Reid did a great job of throwing the tackles in in midfield (something we have been sadly lacking in that area) and helped top negate that threat.

Olsson did a great job and tracked back well, two massive tackles there stopping balls being whipped into the box.

Nelsen and Samba seemed to get a piece on every ball that came in at them: a massive plus. Nelsens’ distribution (passing the ball to another player –not scoring--) was woeful, as was Sambas’.

It is a shame, however, that it took a job scare (fact or fiction) to make our manager change his tactics and some much needed changes.

Sam please keep it up and attack, attack, attack. Having those Fulham defenders have to stay back more really took pressure of our midfield and defense.

Board if you now feel that Sam is the one to take us forward, give him some money please.

I am so happy that we won, I hope we can pull on from this.

I would have given him 7, but at least I'm not on my own Kelbo.

I honestly do not think that they were at the game Den, they gave Hangeland a 7.

I think they make these numbers up using assumptions and past performances.

[JAL]

Nah Jal. He was trying to hit the corner like he hits all of his corners - with pace, a bit of inswing and in the air. No-one hits corners along the floor to defender stood at the near post deliberately.

We should ask Benni for his thoughts on the corner.

Every body action of Benni's pointed to him NOT making a mistake but deliberately putting the ball into THAT area.

Thought I would add my points about the game.

It was great to get the win, finally. Two goals scored and a clean sheet, fantastic.

I watched this game twice now and think that we scored both goals against the run of play. This may be down to nerves and the players being a bit low on moral.

There can be no argument that their attacking plays where a direct threat to us, and seemed to put us all on edge. Reid did a great job of throwing the tackles in in midfield (something we have been sadly lacking in that area) and helped top negate that threat.

Olsson did a great job and tracked back well, two massive tackles there stopping balls being whipped into the box.

Nelsen and Samba seemed to get a piece on every ball that came in at them: a massive plus. Nelsens’ distribution (passing the ball to another player –not scoring--) was woeful, as was Sambas’.

It is a shame, however, that it took a job scare (fact or fiction) to make our manager change his tactics and some much needed changes.

Sam please keep it up and attack, attack, attack. Having those Fulham defenders have to stay back more really took pressure of our midfield and defense.

Board if you now feel that Sam is the one to take us forward, give him some money please.

I am so happy that we won, I hope we can pull on from this.

I honestly do not think that they were at the game Den, they gave Hangeland a 7.

I think they make these numbers up using assumptions and past performances.

This is probably one of the poorest premiership teams, Rovers have ever had in the premier league rebelmswar. Absolutely nothing to do with nerves.

[rebelmswar]

This is probably one of the poorest premiership teams, Rovers have ever had in the premier league rebelmswar. Absolutely nothing to do with nerves.

While I agree that the team is weak in most areas: respectfully I must state that we are not the worst team in the league.

We have some very good players, many average players, and some damn right poor ones.

Saying that, managers have to be able to work with what they have and our manager seems unable to mould tactics to our players. One up front with the hopes of counter-attack is not suited to us - as our team is bereft of pace (besides Junior and Ollsen {both of who are inexperienced as hell.})

Our batch of players could be used well if set out the right way. With what we have we should be able to stay up with no problem.

Negativity has sapped a bunch of average players of any élan that could swing games in our favor.

Weak yes, relegation fodder: no.

[USABlue]

The attendance was so down thanks to the 150 or so Fulham fans, rather than the normal 3000 away fans we are used to!

Today - Benni showed why, he MUST NOT be sold

But he likely will be, I enjoyed most of Bennis play today.

Also Olsson showed why he should be given a chance on the left wing, rather than MGP.

And he won't I thought Hoilett and him were geat today and give me some optimism. Some individuality, just what we need.

Another thing is that Kalinic should now get a good run of games

Unlikely

[thenodrog]

I didnt bother going down yesterday because Im sick of watching complete and utter rubbish, but I did watch it on the internet.

Ludicrous statement Gav. The only difference is effort and/or money.

So basically you are

a. skint and not willing to admit it?

or

b. simply growing out of caring much for BRFC and preferring the comfort of your armchair... and not willing to admit it?

Which? And don't be shy I'm moving ever closer to '2' myself.

[Silencio]

Forgot to mention this, booing your own players is pathetic and counter productive.

We've unfortunately got a history is doing this kind of thing:

Wilcox

Ward

Atkins

Sherwood

And a few others you could add to the list. Andrews maybe cr@p, but the manager keeps picking him and he gives his all, its not his fault he’s not good enough.

I thought Ward deserved it at the time and in hindsight he definitely deserved it!

[thenodrog]

Forgot to mention this, booing your own players is pathetic and counter productive.

We've unfortunately got a history is doing this kind of thing:

Wilcox

Ward

Atkins

Sherwood

And a few others you could add to the list. Andrews maybe cr@p, but the manager keeps picking him and he gives his all, its not his fault he’s not good enough.

I rem Lee Carsley copped for it too. We could bloody do with him now too, if he could nick a stray tardis and lose a few years.

Rem though Gav at least the boo boys are actually there to do it!! I'd wager BRFC will prefer all of them to one internet trawler.

[Silencio]

I thought Carsley was a decent player. He always kept the ball and got stuck in. And you are right in saying we could do with him now.

[47er]

Quite agrre. We couldn't wait to give him away and he's played on for years at Everton and Brum. Under-rated as Atko was. But once some fans get a bee in their bonnet that's it, doesn't matter what they do on the field they are gone.