The former editor of TOOFIF, David Lloyd, reviews Fulham’s season in today’s Guardian. We’ve reproduced his words below – with the paper’s permission:
“With a game to go our heroes have taken a club-record haul of Premier League points, spent virtually the whole campaign in the top half (even flirting with the upper echelons) and will finish way above Manchester United and Spurs. Marco’s lads have demonstrated togetherness, quality and belief; they belonged. Got to be happy, right? Well, yes and no. Us fans traditionally yearn for the best but our expectations are generally tempered. However, given this topsy-turvy campaign, it could have been us “doing a Forest”. We’ve been consistently inconsistent, with more ups and downs than a yo-yo convention. Had we retained even a fraction of the 28 points dropped from winning positions, our passports wouldn’t be gathering dust on the top shelf. 7.5/10
Stars/flops It’s been more about the team than individuals, but, of the regular starters, Leno, Bassey and Robinson have excelled at times, whereas the talented Smith Rowe hasn’t quite got going.
What we need in the summer For Marco’s project to continue to thrive, he needs to stay (obviously!) and be backed, albeit sensibly. We’ll need a right-back if Tete isn’t retained, plus an attacking midfielder. A plan B to outwit defensive blocks would be useful too. Also, service to the main striker needs to improve. Easy, right?
Best/worst referee The standard of officiating is going down the pan, ruining the spectacle. Specifically, it’s the implementation and interpretation of the current regime, with the multimillion-pound VAR at its heart, that’s the issue. The only “clear and obvious” aspect of the whole footballing fiasco is that, in this country at least, it’s flawed and open to question. Forensically detailed one minute, shambolically inept the next. With spectators left in the dark, naturally. It’s a mess.
Moment that made me smile Beating Liverpool was euphoric, as was winning at the Bridge. Two come-from-behind wins over Brentford raised plenty of smiles, too, not least from Harry Wilson.”
