Marco Silva was left ruing another slow start as Fulham fell to a frustrating defeat at Aston Villa this afternoon.
The Whites were beaten by Youri Tielemans’ twelfth-minute header from John McGinn’s corner – as they showed Unai Emery’s outfit far too much respect in a timid first half. Silva told his post-match press conference at Villa Park:
“It was a difficult first half [for us]. We had to deal better in that period and they scored from a set piece. It is always very difficult for us to take, but as I said, we need to deal better [with the situation from John McGinn’s corner]. Even so, there were not many chances for them [in the first half]. Our reaction in the last ten minutes [of the first half] was a little bit better. We started to be much more aggressive.
Our second half reaction was very good. We knew we had to go and try to press a bit more, man for man, all over the pitch. Harry Wilson has a great chance for us to equalise. Of course, after that, they had some chances to score, but the game was completely balanced. The team showed great spirit again, great attitude and some moments of quality too. Unfortunately, we didn’t score and we lost the game. It is a sad moment for us.”
Silva insisted that Fulham will fight until the end of the season to try and reach a European position.
We have to keep looking to the next one. Today was a final and our next final is against Everton. It is very important for us to get the three points next week. We have to keep fighting.”
There are two reasons we are not a top six side…
1. Every player we buy has to be an instant hit because our squad is short of quality individuals.
2. We have no truly exceptional forward or midfielder who can make something out of nothing like Eberechi Eze, a player we could and should have had from QPR.
Nothing, of course, a £90 million Summer spend couldn’t fix! Baz.
Forget Europe we are nowhere near good enough we have to bring in some fresh young players with Quality, why can’t we score from corners and free kicks like other teams do, I don’t know why Silva took Sess off he was our only player who looked like scoring,as for his other subs they just aren’t good enough.
Talk, talk, talk.
How about addressing the very obvious issues in our playing philosophy, Marco?
How can a manager praise our second half because “we knew we had to go and try to press a bit more, man for man, all over the pitch”.
Didn’t we know that BEFORE the game?
Does he realise how pathetic his excuses are starting to sound?
Week after week, the same players let us down yet continue to be selected.
I look at Iwobi who, apart from one great pass, today, had another dire performance, and I understand completely why Everton fans were glad to see the back of him.
He cost us, with add ons, THIRTY FOUR MILLION QUID!!!
At the same time, Antoine Semenyo cost Bournemouth just TEN MILLION.
We beat Bristol City 6-2 in our promotion year and the best two goals of the game were Semenyo’s.
Yet, somehow, Silva did not think he was worth signing and preferred to pay an additional 24 million for a player he knew frustrated Everton fans, week in and week out.
I know who I’d prefer
Firstly totally inept performance all round I travelled again to Villa Park wish I gone shopping with the Wife instead,can somebody please tell me why Jedi has lost the captaincy this is becoming a lottery it’s seems nobody wants it,we have six players on renewal of contract, that must be sorted out of who’s going and who god forbid is staying please Silva give Anderson the captains armband for next season he is the only one capable Lastly a decent back goalie instead of Benda
I will only criticise if I see my team not trying. I’ve not seen that at all this season.
I think sometimes we need to credit the opposition for playing better than us. Let’s face it they should do with the riches they possess. With what we have we have over achieved yet again this season. We are very unlikely to make Europe this season, but that’s a blessing as we are not ready. Let’s hope we can pick up some class players in the window because we are perhaps 3 players short of being a top 6 side.
I’m not willing to moan about Marco because he knows the players and their strenghts and weaknesses. He’s the one who’s at training everyday. Maybe with a larger budget he will take us further
you obviously were not at the Southampton game first half. Absolute dire trash from every player. Sounds the same at Villa. CUP FINALs???? my a***.
Wish Silva didn’t call the next games ‘finals’. Don’t we always lose finals?
I’ve been to every game except 2 this season. Why? Because I enjoy it! Even the away to Preston. Obviously I’ve come away from some games feeling disappointed but never by a lack of commitment shown by the players. The players now seem to be showing a bit of burn out due to the toughness of playing in the best league in the world with a squad that is thin on the ground.
I love match days, the travel, the anticipation, the crowd (especially away) and the fact I can watch the best players in the country. We’ve performed above our level in a lot of games and below in a few. This is football. We are not going to win every game and sometimes you should give credit to the opposition for stopping us playing. There a 2 teams on the pitch
our position in the league that recently showed a sniff of Europe is largely down to Spurs and Manu being so poor this season. With them in their usual position we would now be 13th.
And if my Autie was a man she would be my uncle
C.B Take another look at the family album.