Rich has been playing with the chalkboards again over at CCN.
His latest board is a pictorial demonstration what we lost when Chris Baird went off injured at half time this afternoon. I must admit I wasn’t expecting our replacement right-back to be quite so keen to get forward when I saw his name on the teamsheet. His passing was excellent and his emergence as more than a bit-part player this season – having been last term’s scapegoat – must owe quite a bit to Roy Hodgson’s coaching.
Stoor struggled when he came on after half time. Rich has highlighted his poor distribution and plenty have commented on the fact that they expected a Swedish international to be much better than he has been.
I’d make a few points in response. First, it is very difficult to pick up the pace of a game – particularly one as pulsating as the one at the Emirates this afternoon – when coming on as a substitute. Second, he didn’t make any defensive blunders and coped admirably with the threat of Arshavin on his flank.
Finally, Stoor’s first team experiences this season have mainly been watching John Panstil from the bench. He has had sporadic starts in the Cup competitions but, in order to reach the form that has seen him represent Sweden, he would probably need a run in the side.
In short, Frederik Stoor deserves a bit more time.
don’t disagree at all, Dan. If there’s one thing I’ve harped on about at CCN and TiFF it’s the importance of not leaping to rash judgements. My aim in highlighting the problem was partly to show that Baird did alright (as I believe he did for much of last season, despite what people thought) and partly to show that Stoor had a ‘mare with the ball.
I’ve seen enough there to show me that physically he can play, he *usually* looks quite competent with the ball, and I’m sure Roy can get him on board positionally. So it’ll just be a question of where he is mentally. I’ve seen him a few times this year, warming up, playing, whatever, and he doesn’t *look* happy. If he sticks at it he should be okay, although John Paintsil has been so good that he may still struggle to get a look in.
As I have said time and time again (and stopped saying on TIFF lately) is that every one who has seen Stoor play for Sweden will know what a quality player he is.
I think Stoor has a number of challenges out of his control such as getting a run of games, playing with the same guys around him when he do get to play and of course it doesn’t help when he gets the “Baird treatment” from the fans.
Another thing that will work against him is his personality, he has never (in the 11 years I have followed his career) been much of a charismatic “people person” and unless he puts on the charm people will think John Pantsil is the best thing since sliced bread.
Don’t get me wrong I like Pants. But I’m getting more and more anoyed with his “kiss ass antics”. The laps of honor, kissing the badge, running up to the fans after a game he wasn’t involved in is just a bit much for a player who hasn’t been at the club for more than 8-9 months. BUT people seems to be buying it… To me it’s just a bit much. Sure, if he would have come through the academy or been with the club for donkeys years, I would love it. Now it seems more like he’s acting. “They booed me at Wet Spam, this time I will win the hearts of the fans by some serious “sucking up” and not get them on my back.
Well John, don’t worry man, as long as it’s a charm contest, you will be ahead of Fredrik every day of the week. I actually had a friend interviewing Fredrik a few weeks back but his responses to the questions where so meaningless and boring that the paper considered not publishing the result. They did, but it wasn’t a particularly good read 😉
Oh well, this turned into such a long post, maybe it should have been a “article” on its own 🙂 Guess it’s time to get back to my movie and another glass of wine!
COYW!
Stoor is a very good player Nick, but Pantsil’s been doing better this season and as such deserves to keep the jersey.
I was just about to make the point to Rich about Stoor’s personality before I read your comment. It doesn’t help that he’s not the most outgoing or charismatic of guys, especially when compared to Pantsil.
Pantsil does seem to have a connection with the fans and that’s down to his quirky nature, his comments on the website and in interviews and the little things he does that make people smile. But mostly it’s because he’s been a lot better than most people thought he would be.
Also, the fans didn’t boo him at West Ham. They loved him, sung his name and admired his effort. He just wasn’t as good a defender as Lucas Neill and therefore didn’t get a regular game.
By your definition, none of our players would be justified in doing a lap of honour after the games because they haven’t been here long enough. Personally, I like the fact that one of the players comes around and claps the fans after the game. It doesn’t mask his poor performances and people are more than willing to point out when he makes a mistake – just as they were with Monica, who, by the end of his Fulham career, had a strong bond with the fans because of his post-match trek round the pitch.
Hmm, first of course Pantsil has been doing better, he’s the one who has been playing games. Simple as that! We will never be able to give the guys an even playing field to compare them on but I still claim that if Stoor had been given a run of games like Pants got at the start of the season Stoor would have been equally good (most likely better).
Well, I dont know that many Wet Spam fans in England, but most of the Swedish ones I know gave me so much stick when we bought him it was unbelivable. They surely didn’t rate the guy!
Well, laps of honour by an individual player is something I like to see when they have had an outstanding game or won an award, celebrates an even number of games/goals or something. A lap of showing gratitude to the fans is something I’d like to see the team do after every match (at least the ones we win). You have been to my team in Stockholm so you know what I mean.
Did you see Pants after the game away to Swansea? (Not sure if it was shown on telly). I felt sick to my stomach when he cleary came up to the fans looking for brownie points… (or maybe I’m just too cynic)
I know we are not likely to agree on this but it makes me very frustrated that a player like Gera has had so many chances this season and Stoor has not started one single game with the rest of the “most featured” players around him.
Fair points mate.
Agree with you about players and laps of honour. One of the great things about Hammarby is the togetherness between the fans and the players, but I don’t think the modern day English clubs have that connection. Fulham is probably the closest of the Premier League clubs but it still lacks something.
Pantsil does the lap of honour after every game. I don’t think he’s looking for brownie points, he’s very clear in this issue of Fultime that he wants to repay the fans for their support.
The point about Gera is a good one, but I just think Roy’s not keen on changing the defence, especially one that’s been doing so well. Actually thought Gera looked good today when he came on – Fredrik’s just got to be patient and take his chance to impress when it comes along.
Gera had the shirt and Roy gave him plenty of opportunity to prove that he was the best option. Dempsey got a look and took it, and that’s that for now.
Different at right back because Paintsil has been a revelation. I’m not interested in the personality (although I enjoy it), but on the pitch he has been very, very good. People still seem to overlook our defensive record this year, and Paintsil has been at fault for very little, while making several very important interventions. It’s hard to know how he could have done much better.
Stoor, in a sense, is unlucky, but Hodgson mentioned in an interview that the player is a little bit behind where he needs to be at the moment. No reason why he can’t get there, but it will be hard, as it should be if you’re trying to put together a half-decent team. He isn’t the first player not to make an impact in his first season, but the good thing is that he’s in the right place to learn and improve, if he wants to.
rich:
Well, I know we’ve been over this a few times. Although Pantsil has done a job for us I still feel worried very often when he gets under preasure. He has, on most occasions, sorted it out so fair play to him but I’m not sure if it is his playing style or that he’s very lucky but to me he doesn’t look solid. Still I realise that as long as he doesn’t “fuck up” he will be first choice.
Of course Stoor is unlucky. I’m quite sure he came to Fulham as first choice and that Pantsil was signed as a back up. I think the problem for Stoor (and us) is that if he doesn’t break into the team very soon he will look to go elsewhere. He’s one of these players that has to play and if he can’t do it for us he needs to move on. Especially now when he has lost his place in the Sweden squad. Should that happen we have made yet another poor piece of business.
Regarding Roys comment of Fredrik being a little bit behind I feel slightly confused. Not knowing what area he’s refeering to but wouldn’t you assume that a coach would have made sure that a player 9 months after signing is up to speed. Doesn’t sound like the Roy we know. I really wonder what it is that Roy is refeering to.
dan:
I know where you are coming from, but I think we will see Fredrik leaving in the summer because I don’t think he’s the kind of player “that will take the chance” when it comes. He will need some consistency and a run of games. At least that was the case in Hammarby and Rosenborg. That kind of situation wont araise unless (god forbid) Pantsil would get injured.
Personally if that’s the way Stoor feels that he’d be welcome to leave at the end of the season. He has to prove himself worthy of replacing Pantsil and earn a regular starting spot. He’s a long way off that at the moment.
On his recent performances, losing Stoor won’t be that big a deal. Baird can do a job at right back – he was excellent in the first half yesterday – and Omozusi could well be a contender by the start of next season.
Just found an interview with Fredrik Stoor in Swedish media where he says that he doesn’t want to quit Fulham, but would like to go out on loan if any decent opportunity arise.
He says that he is not a “quitter” but that he needs games to develop further.