The boys have been on the Algarve for a break from winter. Let's hope they return with a considerable upturn in performance levels for the tricky trip to Eastlands.

The week has been flat after the disappointing fashion in which we limply exited the FA Cup last Sunday. For the first time this season I've been scratching my head for something to blog, seeing no point in dwelling on the Bolton loss. Nice though a run to the final would have been, Premiership survival is paramount, and there's still work to be done. A glance at the remaining fixtures - especially if we can't find another win on the road, shows little margin for error.

Previewing the cup tie, I failed to account for the absence of Kakuta and Gudjohnsen, assuming both would be available. Once Duff was deemed unfit we quickly went back to our pre-Christmas profile of having no width and a rather nondescript bench. That underlines how fine a line we are treading. Sunday was then compounded by a number of regulars collectively deciding to have an off day. We're all up in arms for the club to hold on to Gera, then he turns in a stinker. I see the knives have quickly come out again for AJ - I have to say he's starting to run out of time to begin paying back the record transfer fee the club laid out for him.

As predicted, we did finally get the chance to welcome back big Bobby. The worry going forward, again a theme I have already blogged, is how will the return of the target man impact our tactical approach, and will we only be mounting expectations on his shoulders for an instant goal return? In other words, do we get the BZ of last year's vintage, or the flat plonk of two season ago?

Hughes vision for Fulham going forward remains a work in progress. The rush to panic buy last month was resisted, but there are still too many ageing legs in the side. I've never been a huge Davies fan and was staggered to see him offered a long contract extension last summer. Duff's poor form this season has been a major handicap in attack, and Danny is ever closer to running out of gas. If Salcido's forays up the flank have been reigned back we are seriously lacking the guile to get behind sides who come to the Cottage intent on defending and niggle. Bolton set out their stall perfectly, and with weakness from ref Attwell, got their reward. Let's make certain we put that right in the league fixture.

As for the Eastlands trip. I've not factored in a point from this one, so anything but a loss will be a major bonus. City are not invincible and won't win the title, while Mancini reckons he only has 16 fit players. Trouble is, Tevez so loves scoring against us he could play us on his own. We have very fond memories of this fixture, but I think another blank awayday is on the cards. I will be very interested to see how the team is set up. According to the physio room update as of this weekend Fulham have NO injured players in their ranks - but Sky are reporting doubts over Sidwell and Zamora for Sunday.

In a slow week for news I must mention how awful Man U's Champions League tie in Marseille was - as dire as the previous week's entertainment at Arsenal was scintillating. In a very average season for the 'best league in the world,' how apt that a rather ordinary (by their standards) United are going to take the title. I recall being struck by how thin the English talent pool now is from the recent squad assembled for the Denmark game. It bodes ill for England's fortunes on the world stage, and is the inevitable payback for the imports that continue to flood our teams.

Consider this startling fact. In more than a decade of unlimited resources and the 'best of everything' over at Chelsea, the club's academy has failed to produce a single home grown player of note since John Terry, who debuted in 1999.

And on the theme of ills that continue to afflict the game, commiserations for all those inconvenienced by the crass decision to move the Blackpool fixture by 24 hours. How many of our overseas fans had long made their arrangements for this game? Yes, the financial logic brooks no argument. TV money for the live rights on the Sunday afternoon outweighs any losses at the gate, but it's the loyal fans who once again pay the price of seeing our game prostituted to the Sky moguls.

Well done to the Orient for cashing in big time with a replay against Arsenal. Great to see club owner Barry Hearn, who as a trained accountant has spent many miserable seasons sweating to keep the club solvent, loving his chance to big it up on TV. And honouring his pledge to fly the team out to Vegas as a reward! Maybe Fulham should have dangled the same carrot with their break to Portugal?

COYW! Twitter@fulhamphil

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