Marco Silva was bitterly disappointed after a rampant Wolves came from behind to thrash Fulham at a wet Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The Portuguese head coach was particularly disappointed with the way that the Whites conceded an equaliser to Matheus Cunha after Alex Iwobi had curled in a splendid opening goal.
Silva told his post-match press conference after the 4-1 defeat.
Not just one thing went wrong today. Of course, if you just look at the result it’s a difficult one to take, but in my opinion the score doesn’t reflect what happened throughout the game. It was a strange game in the way it went and, of course, the big moment that made us play with ten men – [Joachim] Andersen’s injury after we made all of our changes.
“I think we started the game like we should, on the front foot, trying to command like we normally do. We created some chances even before the great goal we scored. The way we conceded the first goal made a big impact on the game because we were controlling. Three passes and great movement from Cunha, who is a great, great player, but we should have defended much better.
We started the second half with two chances but we conceded, and after Joachim had to come off it was much more difficult for us and they scored two more.”
The Fulham boss felt he could have been less adventurous with his substitutions after Andersen’s injury meant his side played the final quarter of the contest with ten men – and were duly punished in the closing stages. He told Match of the Day:
“I wanted to bring fresh players, with Kenny Tete on a yellow card. I probably should have kept that one in my pocket, but the yellow card probably rushed my decision to bring on Timo [Castagne] as well.”
No excuses néed a number 9 and play Harry 90 minutes he knows where the goal is.
I think Marco that’s an understatement even when Andersen went off we were underperforming Did ESR play today because I never saw him Iwobis goal was brilliant but it seemed to galvanise Wolves does anybody know where Berge was why he was not in the squad Abysmal display not acceptable especiaiily the ones who went missing very worrying
Sometimes you just have to accept you were beaten by a better team.
Oh dear! It doesn’t take much for the wheels to come off, does it?
Just a couple of days ago, we were dreaming and talking of Europe.
If United beat Ipswich, we could end the weekend in 11th spot.
Leaving aside the fact that, like it or not, these stupid International breaks, for a meaningless Nations League tournament, have totally messed up the Premiership because very few teams are able to come together again cohesively when most of their teammates have been away with their national teams. It takes a game or two to get back in the groove.
The travel that some players have to undertake cannot help but that does not excuse the lacklustre form of those who did not travel. Players like Smith-Rowe and Nelson let us down badly today. Compare these players to the likes of Jedi who, arguably, had one of the furthest trips yet still managed lung busting runs for 90 minutes, and it’s really hard to understand.
However, I maintain that, despite a promising start to the season, we have TWO huge flaws in Silva’s setup.
Firstly, we lack an outfield captain; somebody who can see where things are going wrong and make the necessary adjustments. Somebody who barks orders, offers encouragement; the embodiment of the manager -only ON the pitch.
Instead, for some unfathomable reason, Marco Silva persists in Bernd Leno as our skipper. Why? Before a game, he high fives the mascots. Brilliant! He shows his character – that of a nice guy. I have NEVER -not even once -seen him geeing players up before a game or during the match. Even at defensive set pieces, it is Andersen and Bassey who control our box. Further forward, what influence does Leno have on our midfield and attack? None!
Yet Marco Silva seems not to understand the importance of the captain’s role.
Even worse is flaw number two: the continued lionisation of Andreas Pereira. Before the Palace game, even the most diehard Pereira fans were calling for him to be dropped and my voice was the loudest of all. Yet, at Selhurst Park, he had a half decent game and I was the first to say so. But, against Wolves, he was back to his bewildering worst:-mis-hit passes, poor first touch etc. What the hell does Silva see in this guy?
We are the ONLY team in the Premiership not to have scored from a set piece. Yet, game after game, he is our designated set piece taker. When will the penny drop with Silva that this guy is not actually very good -at anything?
Until we fix these fundamental flaws in our makeup, we may well flatter to deceive and flirt with higher positions, yo-yoing the table, but we will never truly achieve anything.
Echo the comments of Charles two very important points Firstly TC is the club captain this is OK but TC was given the armband way back under Silva it stayed as that but that’s now that’s got to change give Anderson the Armband permanently he always telling others where to go he captains his country TC will have perhaps one more season loyalty is not a factor here it’s the team that matters Anderson and Robinson have been linked with various clubs by the Media which pxxxxs me off so now Marco do the right thing give JA the armband before we lose another player Secondlly the dire abysmal team performance other than Robinson where did that come from Leno has Ben found out he is No good on anything high or crosses check thru previous matches this has to be addressed Marco finally Perreira what can say I can only think he’s a long lost relative of Marco Silva that’s why he’s plays every game takes corners and free kicks etc Berge was missing does anybody know why changes required Wilson a must start drop ESR to the bench Nelson as well why Has Sessignon not got a start l
Love reading Charles’ comments, which I always agree with. Only thing that I would add is that we also need an upgrade at no 9. Jimenez is a great guy and a decent back-uo, but not quite a first choice. Muniz just look lost and disoriented when he came on. Wolves said that they had back four problems but Toti was superb, and Lemina was excellent, making Jimenez and Muniz look utterly ineffective. How did Lemina transform from the clumsy midfielder misplacing passes that played for us?
From a game we were totally on top of we contrived to hand it to Wolves on a plate. The turning point was the equaliser. Pereira was standing next to Cunha and let him run. Andersen was taken out by the quality of the cross, Leno too slow to leave his line. Tete could see everything unfolding from his position and couldn’t be bothered to run 10 yards to supply cover. From then onwards only one team seemed to want it more.
Need to learn from this and move on . We have a difficult run of games coming up.
Europe!!!! The only way we will be going to Europe is as comscripts when WWIII starts.
Been saying for yonks that we should dump the functionally useless Pereira: whatever his good points are supposed to be, his bad more than make up for them! Also, we been bellowing for ages that we should go in for Lemina – can’t understand the negative comment above. I thought he was fine under Parker but he’s bloomed wonderful since!
The Wheels came off we were awful the best team won. In my opinion the only players that came out with any credit were Lukic (nice to see him back), Iwobi and Robinson. Bassey and Tete were just about Okay, Anderson had his worse match n a Fulham shirt and at best was partially responsible for the first two goals. Emile Smith-Rowe was anonymous, Nelson and Jiminez did nothing and as for Pereira why does Silva continually pick him. Leno possibly could have done more and I am against a goalkeeper being captain. Although Traore does not have an end product he terrifies defenders and can two out of the game . Wilson maybe deserves a start. I would like to see Lukic and Berge ( why was he not in the squad yesterday) as the ideal midfield partnership
Lot of common sense in Charles post. My big gripe and I’ve voiced it to many times, but one last fling…..Peirera should NOT start, and when he’s on the pitch, he should NOT be taking set pieces and definitely NOT penalties. Also agree with the general view that we need a proactive Captain and Andersen would appear the best candidate. Guaranteed started, right position to read a game, organised and capable of encouraging others. What more could you want in a captain.
Moore and Beckenbauer , Van Dyke and many others have controlled games from the back. How the hell can a goalie be an influential player during a game. In the bar afterwards maybe.
In answer to my own and a lot of others’ question, apparently Berge was not in the squad through illness. It would be good to see a midfield two of Lukic and Berge, at least against the top teams. Agree that Perreira failed to track the run of Cunha for the equaliser. If he was dropped who would take the set pieces if Cairney and Wilson are not playing?
Do we have a set piece specialist coach? It would be nice to score the occasional goal from a corner or free kick if only for the novelty value.
I hope after this lacklustre performance it is only a blip. It was good to Lukic back he was one of the few players who I can give a positive. EMR has all the talents but for several matches this season he has contributed little. We need a physical presence up front. Muniz after his purple patch last season has shown nothing. I concur that Leno should be captain. Finally as everyone except Marco is thinking why is Periera in the team. Also Rumours that Nelson wishes to cut short his loan spell. Is this a good or bad thing I am sitting on the fence. It would nice if King was given a little match time from the substitutes bench
Correction. Leno should NOT be captain
You threw me there for a moment???? A pity if Nelson wants out, hope there isn’t an underlying problem there. Had completely about King, good call.
Charles summed up what we are all thinking so now it’s up to you Marco, start making the changes and not excuses.
I had a dream. Berge and Lukic played together in midfield. Pereira was dropped and ask for a transfer. King comes on as a 76th minute substitute and scores in the 85th minute. Add that to my New Year wish. Fulham sign a solid target man and allow Vinicius and Muniz to be transferred out for a decent fee. I think I must
wake up now!