A disappointed Marco Silva felt his Fulham side deserved more than to lose to a deflected late Lisandro Martinez strike at Craven Cottage this evening.
The Whites dominated a match that was low on quality against Manchester United but were once again beaten by a late goal – with this one coming after a massive deflection off the unlucky Sasa Lukic.
Silva told his post-match conference:
“I think it was cruel for us tonight. The result, their first shot on [goal] on 78 minutes, I think clearly we were the team that had more control. Our pressure was really good first half, we created enough chances probably to score a goal in the during the first half. We didn’t give anything for them. I don’t remember one dangerous moment from them during the first half.
Our second half was not as good. Unfortunately for us, a really lucky goal, deflection, they scored. After was the reaction from ourselves. They came with a low block, they had players around the box. We had a great chance with Andersen from a corner. I think the result is really unfair for us, it is not what we deserve from the game, but football is like that. The margins always play a big part in it, and they are very lucky to win tonight.
They tried to press in some moments but we were always able to make the ball arrive to Luki?, Emile or Sander. I think we had superiority in that area of the pitch, I think we did really well. Of course, wasn’t the best night from us in our attacking line at all. I think we had some very good moments that we should have taken more from and created even more clear chances. Definitely, in terms of our counter-attack, was not the best night at all.”
Why do they always do this to us. A deflected late goal from a bloke that shouldn’t have been on the pitch after his disgraceful two footed assault.
Why can’t we play against teams who come defend. A very poor United team that we should have buried
Same old story.Created far more than United but couldn’t take our chances. Frustrating night as they were there for the taking. Thought Berge and Lukic both played well again. Would have liked to have seen Pereira on sooner as yet again ESR faded out of the game.
Same old lame BS from Silva about how the better team didn’t win. How about doing something to address our abysmal home form?
We have been struggling to create openings at home for so long that it’s embarrassing. We were in raptures when late goals turned the Brentford game on its head, ignoring the fact that we had struggled to create anything of note prior to that.
The last time I can recall a decent home performance was when we beat Newcastle 3-1 and that was in SEPTEMBER!
Yes, we beat Brighton by the same score but we were not at our best and even that win was almost two months ago.
We have an imbalance in our team that is there for all to see. Harry Wilson, for all his endeavours, cannot take on a fullback on the outside and, with Castagne and his apparent fear of going forward, supposedly supporting him, we create nothing down the right hand side.
Any attacking threat comes from the left and, once again, without a wide player who is able to go past defenders on the outside, we are dependent on the shooting skills of Iwobi, whose efforts tonight were pathetically weak, or the crosses of Robinson whose efforts vs United were far from effective.
We have lost two players in Nelson and Tete that have caused this imbalance.
We can get away with it away from home where our play is very much a counter attacking philosophy.
Like it or not, when the away teams pull players so deep behind the ball, bar a defence splitting pass or the perfect cross, the only way to break them down is via the outside and it has been Silva’s policy to play with two wingers ever since he has been manager. It’s a policy that I haven’t always agreed with but one that he has adhered to rigidly-until Nelson was injured.
Earlier in the season, Traore was first choice on the right and, though I don’t think he is the answer, as he showed when he came on as a sub tonight, he likes to attack on the outside. When Wilson is first choice, and I’m not knocking him-just being honest, we can forget about any “wing play” on the right.
Although Silva has tried to rectify the situation on the left, even playing Robinson as a left winger from the kickoff in one game, he hasn’t succeeded.
To compound the lack of spark against a very poor United side, Silva chose to bring on a striker for a striker, even though the entire crowd could see that it was the creative department that needed changing.
He introduced Traore for the injured Wilson but played him on the left, switching Iwobi to the right and, in one fell swoop, nullifying any attacking threat from both wings.
The introduction of Pereira and Cairney in the 82nd minute was far too late and, for some strange reason, he instructed Traore and Iwobi to switch back at the same time.
I just don’t understand these tactics. Maybe somebody more qualified can explain them to me.
I half expected Silva to introduce Josh King in the 90th minute. It wouldn’t have been the first time.
BTW, nice haircut, Tom!
I think Charles has it dpot on. Its nice that we are sitting in midtable because unless things change we are going to drop down. Its the same as the West Ham match many teams take 60 to 70% of their chances we are lucky if we take 10%. Too slow in the build up and not enough movement off the ball.
Pretty football is OK if you scoring goals….we don’t score enough and concede too many ie apart from Villa we have the worst goal difference in the two half..
Home fortress is a laugh we have not won at home in the league since Brighton in early December.
Beginning to look more down than up again. If it wasn’t for the cup our season would be over.
Truth be told we lack quality. Castagne is doing his job but unfortunately his age is catching up with his body. We were not playing that bad but did nothing particularly well to merit the 3 points. Looking at the bench, apart from muscle man, who came in and did well, the other options were never going to change the game. If we want to progress as a club we need to invest in quality.
Why does not one shoot from outside the box but insist on tip tapping the ball and playing pretty football with no result. We hare conceded a number of goals . This isa match we should have won easily against a poor team We need urgently to sign a right full back even on loan in thus transfer window. At least when Traore came on we had a direct player on the field who was prepared to take the opposition on. Anderson has gone off the boil and I would be tempted to play Diop instead. Neither of our strikers really contributed. At least Berg and Lukic, who is my player of the season so far looked sound and formed a good midfield partnership. Maybe we should give Josh King a full 90 minutes
Same old words. Don’t think Silva even turns up post match, just sends over the script from last week.
Agree with Simon we just don’t have the quality to turn it on each week. It’s as if virtually every players has massive gaps in their game and no one is the finished article. That and they appear to be content with a lower mid table finish. They are very unlikely to finish in the top 10. I don’t know enough to talk tactics and who should play where, but I can repeat, the modern game relies very much on the use of substitutions, a discipline Marco has yet to master.
The malaise has obviously got to Andersen, very poor game by his standards. Has the rot set in?
In training can someone show Robinson how to cross a ball. That part of his game really let’s him down.
Marco keeps using the lame old saying the better team lost well that is rubbish we couldn’t even score 1 goal and we are far too slow moving forward infact we pass the ball backwards more than we do forwards . We need a striker who can hit the target Jimenez and Muniz aren’t good enough Muniz keeps blasting the ball over the crossbar he would be better playing rugby. We need a right back a right winger and a midfielder who can score some goals and why doesn’t Silva play King for 90 minutes he can’t be any worse than the one’s he keeps playing, we can forget about Europe as we are heading in the wrong direction, most of the teams below us managed to beat United yet we couldn’t we will never get a better chance we were toothless and boring.
We have stagnated. At home will are like the wolf trying to blow down the house made of brick. We huff and puff to no effect. The players on the pitch change but the tactics don’t. I don’t agree with most of you who clamour for a new striker. We have 2 proven goalscorers who WILL score given decent chances. The problem is creating the chances. We constantly find ourselves with our striker in the box with 5 or 6 defenders around him. Harry Wilson is wasted on the wing, he should be playing alongside the striker. We have ESR, Wilson and Awobi in midfield who see the penalty as a no go area. We have no penetration. The build up is slow, ponderous and easy to defend against. We need to get in behind them. Robinson can do it but his crossing is awful, Adama does it and defenders hate being taken on. We have player that can get in behind and pass the ball Josh King. Give him a chance Marco, don’t be frightened of change. The games is not all about possession.It’s what you do with it!!! A decent start to the season which could be so much better. COYW
Where did that performance come from more Negatives than positives
Castagne not good enough afraid to cross the half way line what’s happened to Anderson at the start of the season he looked a class above but not anymore he looks not interested ESR will fans see the true player in there I don’t know our wingers must try and take people on shame Nelson got the Hamstring injury and the the strikers oh dear Jimenez and Muniz both i am afraid not good enough just for this game Silva could have played the Joker in his pack which was Vinicius which Moan Utd would not of expected I bet he would have scored and like some have already said play Josh King mix it it up a bit,what annoyed me
We did not get in there faces like I hope we would we showed them to much respect why they were there for the taking but we did not do it also Fulham were not allowed to touch them they were protected by an inferior referee who was frightened to book there players why no pressure was put on Maguire who had an easy game lastly great to see Spurs in such a lowly position what a shame Ahh
Maybe not playing Josh King until he signs a 5 year contract otherwise he will get kidnapped by Liverpool .
ESR – I was really hoping he would shine and score but Nop . Some good moves in first half and then turned into the invisible man in second half.
Nunez and Jimenez – Laurel and Hardy.
Robinson – all that effort up and down the left no end product .
At this rate 10th is best we can expect and Europe only through FA Cup but after Wigan maybe better we get tough top 6 opposition .
Reading all 12 postings, I left mine out, we appear to be of one mind with our observations of the current team and recent performances. This is not a normal occurrence, therefore, based on the consensus of some experienced supporters , I feel your/our observations should be taken seriously and not just brushed aside as the ramblings of a disgruntled individual.
I only hope that someone up there is listening and will take our collective thoughts on board.
I have a wry smile on my face:))
I don’t know, but I think losing Luis Boa Morte has had a bigger effect on the team than was expected . He was the only coach who recognised as a Fulham person, Silva, Gray and co aren’t.
Again I agree. I thought BM handled our substitutions. Could be wrong but the 90 minute sub appeared when he departed. With 5 subs it gets more like American Football where subs play such a big part in the game.
Wow… . What a set of comments.
I do believe with you all on the same wavelength. Yes we are struggling with scoring goals especially against teams who shut up shop with 10 at the back. The lack of quality is there gor all to see. Both strikers and Adama can score but too often miss and the lack of goals from midfield and defence only adds to the problems.
For a long time I’ve said that this club should give minutes to the youngsters not all at the same time but too ease them in slowly in the league. I expect that to happen again at Wigan but players who do well in these natches don’t get a fair crack of the win in the league.
Our current strategy is NOT working
Marco needs to change things around.
Must also say that over the last few years we must have spent almost the lowest budget in the PL as we have sold our best players which means are actual overall spend is low. That said Marco has done well to get us where we are with what we’ve got.