What a day for Fulham Football Club. We might have made it difficult for ourselves, but our win over Huddersfield alongside defeats for Leeds and Nottingham Forest means that we jump to third in the table, just three points off second. Before Christmas, the race for automatic promotion didn’t exist. Leeds and West Brom seemed too far away for anyone to really threaten, but now we stand here with 16 games to go and just SIX points separates West Brom in first and Bristol City in sixth. We really do have an extraordinary run in ahead of us, although I’m not sure if my heart can take it!
While we can be feeling very positive right now, I’m sure there were a few disappointed people amongst the fanbase given our unusually quiet transfer deadline day on Friday. I was hoping for a wing back in the door at Motspur Park, myself, but when we look at the business that we did get done, I think we can be happy enough. Making both Cavaleiro’s and De Cordova-Reid’s loan deals permanent is very good business while bringing in another centre back in Terence Kongolo, alongside finally being able to use Michael Hector, the core of our defence already looks far better. We have yet to see Kongolo and Hector together as our centre back pairing in the league, and I think once we do, we will start to see an improvement there. I am still concerned about our left back and right back spots, but hopefully Joe Bryan can start to regain some of the form that saw him become one of the best left backs in the league when he was at Bristol City. However, both him and Cyrus gained assists today, so going forward we have players who can contribute to the attack.
Going forward we are one of the strongest teams in the league and we showed that again today. I was worried when I saw that Mitrovic was in the starting line up as it doesn’t seem like that long ago that he gained his ankle injury in the first place, but thankfully he returned with a bang, netting his 19th league goal of the season and managing to play the full match. It’s great to see him back.
I like to split the season into months, and if there is any month that could push our promotion bid on, or completely derail it, it’s February. We have seven league games this month, including our win today. We are so used to hearing that the Christmas schedule is busy, but this is something else. Seven league games, two taking place midweek and three of them on the road. While we don’t face any of the teams in the top 6, we do have to take on four of the play-off chasers in Preston, Swansea, Millwall and Blackburn, so we aren’t in for an easy month.
Automatic promotion is still in our hands, but we absolutely must keep our head above the water. There will be twists and turns in the coming weeks, but we really can’t be dropping any silly points. We could easily finish outside the play-offs, even, that’s just how tight it is.
Bring it on.
#COYW
Fabulous first 35 minutes but then it all went wrong. Our defence once again looked very suspect. Odoi is not our first choice centre back he far too error prone. Our two full backs are good going forward but cannot really defend. Johansen should be in the team from the start as Keven Mac is now too slow as is most of our midfield. We constantly struggle against pace.I thought AK47 when he came on added an extra threat with his pace and power. I believe we have the right players at the club but would question the team selection. Certainly Mawson should have been on the bench today as back up for our centre back positions. However it was 3 points and we are third in the division, but I am worried about how we will fare at the moment against the better teams. Brentford are on fire and at the moment unfortunately look the best team in the championship #
Agree with the above was at the game I thought Bryan and Christie showed they are both improving and both had assists today
We are far from perfect but are certainly a very dangerous going forward
Special thanks to Rodak who gets my man of the match for superb goalkeeping in second half to secure 3 points
The 3 goals we scored were marvellous and premiership class so am fairly optimistic for the run in
Great going forward but our full backs need to focus on positional play. Inside passes cutting them open is not great. Odoi did a job today but isn’t a top centre back. Cairney needs to get back to his positive best. Got to a stage today where me and my mates were counting how many times TC passes the ball forward and how many backwards. Got to 3 out of 12 passes forward and 9 backwards before we gave up. Come on TC get us moving forward! Hector looks the pick of the back 4. We’re in the automatic race for sure…not that I want us to get promoted. Championship is far more exciting and unpredictable. Please keep winning but avoid promotion…not sure that makes any sense but….
Positives Rodak and Hector at the back . It was great to see Mitro back and Bobby D-Reed is a great footballer. AK47 for me adds the unexpected and he can terrify defences with his pace. When we play we are superb but we do put ourselves under pressure. Midfield is very pedestrian. Johansen should be in from the start Cairney needs to regain his form and relieving him from the captaincy might help. I concur Odoi is error prone and our full backs needs to stop,the crosses coming in by getting tighter on the wingers. I am still not convinced about the team selection. Unless Mawson was injured it was madness not having him on the bench today.
Scored some great goals but must learn from this could of let it slip. Rodak outstanding second halve. To answer the above Mawson been brave and playing with injury all season. I believe he has now had a op and unlikely to play again this season
Rodak was our saviour. Agtee about Hector being good. Rest of the defence was awful. Midfield no better but front 3 always looked dangerous. Johnson should start and concur Cairney can be excellent player but he is not a captain,
Only 3 shots on target will not get us far. Time to change formation and have 2 or 3 men up front. We were lucky not to lose today.
Joe Bryan, weak, vey poor defender even at this level. Positional awareness is shocking and responsible for many conceded goals. Christie probably the worse cart horse we have. Actually Josh is worse than Christie. Does nothing. How can you take off TC and Kmac and leave him on. Brings anxiety to the set up, that’s all he brings to our team!! Maybe he’s Parkers love child. Leaving Arter out the team along with Steph Jo, come on Scotty Ffs!