Marco Silva admitted Fulham were well short of the level required as Sheffield United under their eleven match unbeaten run at Craven Cottage tonight.
The Whites were stunned by a superb solo goal from Iliman Ndiaye after just three minutes of the contest but struggled to create chances throughout. Silva was honest in his assessment of a desperately disappointing display, telling his post-match press conference:
“We didn’t perform at the level we should do, we only created one or two chance. They scored, and it was our fault because the balance wasn’t good enough. After that, we didn’t create. It was up to us to play with a different intensity, and this evening, we made unforced errors and seemed so nervous to play football. When it’s like this it’s difficult to perform well. If you’re anxious, you’re unable to do your job well. We’ve done so many good things so far, from the start until now.
It wasn’t a good game of football, in my opinion. I know what we should do to win, and that’s to perform better than our opponents and play in our way. This evening we didn’t perform in our way. The players have my feedback.”
Silva and Fulham will seek to return to winning ways against Birmingham City on Boxing Day.
“We’ll analyse more in the next few days and the things we should improve for the next game. Nobody wins or loses anything in the middle of the season. We had a really bad evening, but we’re more than capable to change the situation because we have the capability to do it.”
Silva says we have the capability to change the situation so why didn’t we tonight, we need action not talk we were all rubbish.
If the first choice players don’t perform, we just lack the quality to come on and make a difference.
IMO if Wilson has not been signed permanently please don’t splash the cash when the loan deal expires. He is a level up from Cavaleiro and Knockaert but blows hot and cold -more cold than hot, unfortunately. I can see why he he was shunted from club to club by Liverpool.
Seems crazy to say it but we really need a left back. On paper, Bryan and Robinson make us look strong in this department but, although I prefer Bryan, he has not exactly covered himself in glory when given opportunities this season. The less I say about Robinson the better.
I have said it before but, when your wide players are just not getting into the game, it is a luxury to keep them out wide and surrender the middle of the park.
For Decordova Reid to come on and then get stuck out on the right wing seems senseless to me. If Wilson can’t make any leeway down the outside, Decordova Reid certainly isn’t going to.
As for Muniz -he seems like a fish out of water when he comes on. I know he is injured by Jay Stansfield would offer more being a completely different type of player.
We are top of the league and I should be over the moon but, unfortunately, there are a lot of things that need fixing if we are to stay top.
Yes a couple of players didn’t perform but Utd. were set up to nullify us and worked hard in doing so. We had to something different and were unable to do it, whether that’s Silva’s inability to try and change “our way”. Well we better get used to it and try different ways because lots of teams will set up the same way as Utd. did. With them playing a 3 centre-backs we needed to pull their defence out of shape, maybe by pulling Mitro away from their back line and having runners, we have them – they are quick and skilful, from his lay-offs. We need to try something different.
With at least six mis-placed passes in the first 10 minutes I would have pulled Robinson off – sends a clear message. If we want to stay top the players have to earn their spot.
Points thrown away and with the pack closing in – now is not the time to get nervous – Silva has to be brave in his team selection and tactics when they are not working.