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For some bizarre reason the latest away loss continues to irritate in a way other inevitable defeats at places like Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs wash over me. Let's exorcise the demons.
Eighteen trips to Goodison Park since 1959 and eighteen straight defeats. It defies logic. Even more galling, how many of those in Premiership years have only been by the odd goal? A highly debatable penalty decided the issue in 2010, a late on Saha header in 2009 after both Gera and Zamora had struck the woodwork. I'm sick of it. Why? Because I don't happen to rate Everton sides over the past ten years particularly highly. Looking at the bigger picture, it's time to admit our club has a serious complex when it comes to approaching away games.
Paying supporters had plenty of grumbles at numerous away trips under Hodgson where the sum total of our ambition was to come away with a 0-0 draw. With reasonable home form we could afford this luxury of a miserly points haul on the road, but continuing with this philosophy is a recipe for ultimate failure. When the home form dries up as it did first for Coleman, then Sanchez, and pre-Christmas for Hughes, the club is quickly put in trouble.
Forgive me if I've got it wrong, but I'm sure Hughes arrived saying he wanted a more expressive approach from Fulham playing away. Looking back now to last summer, that thrust from midfield and finish by Etuhu at Blackpool, then Dembele's double v Wolves proved very much to be a false dawn. Coming into Christmas the manager was starting to testily dismiss the year plus long wait for an away win, as 'something that was just around the corner.' Hughes said he wasn't concerned by it. Well, the aberration of a misty day at Stoke two days after the West Ham misery apart, when Bairdinho got lucky, we steadfastly remain the 'Men Who Cannot Win' once the team bus motors up the Fulham Palace Road.
One reason for re-opening this wound and returning to Saturday's loss at Everton, is my mailbag over the last few days. Many of you are clearly as frustrated as myself. And for the first time perhaps over the course of this season, cogent doubts have been expressed at Hughes ability to prepare the team, and significant comments made about his selections. Kamara's loan switch to Leicester looks very much a one-way ticket after Dio criticised his place in the pecking order at Fulham. He could be the first Whites player in history to be discarded after scoring a hat-trick on his last full appearance (started at Wigan but subbed off). How about that?
As we've a while to build up to the Blackpool game and regain our optimism, we'll play the formation game. My team for the run in would revert to Roy's 4-5-1 from last season's exhilerating Europa Cup nights. To start building for the future Stockdale gets my vote over Schwarzer - though I don't have issues with either. What unnerves me is the chance of seeing young David poached away to another club with the promise of starting regularly.The back four is Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland and Salcido (for now, but Briggs must be knocking on the door).
The 5 in midfield are Baird, Sidwell, Gera, Dempsey, Kakuta, with Bobby up top.
You think that too radical? Look at the positives. Clint is far and away our top scorer, now with the accolade of being the first American to register 10 goals in a Premiership campaign. His tally stands comparison with Andy Cole when he gave us one season. When our midfield struggles Clint is over-burdened trying to close down the opposition while still getting forward to offer a threat. The guy's been running through treacle all season for us, and where would we now be had he been sidelined for a few weeks? An extra man in midfield gives Demps the chance to work the keeper much more regularly.
The Zamora and Gera combination is given another chance to shine. For obvious reasons we've seen little of that this season. It wasn't broken, so be a big man Mr. Hughes and restore it. Kakuta is a major star in the making, and we've only got him temporarily. Let's have him on from the start please - you have the obvious options of pace on the flanks from Duff, AJ and Moussa if the full-back has his number. Were Duff to get the nod over Gael from some of you I wouldn't argue strongly on that one.
Bobby leads the line as only he can. At the back end of last season he was the best exponent in the league at playing up top on his own. He'd developed a lovely touch in laying the ball off for others and re-discovered his shooting boots.
There's my side to shake things up. If we are a club looking forward it's time to dispense with Davies (should never have been given another long contract - totally weird), Etuhu and Murphy. The last decision is going to take some guts. Plus he's been awarded another year on his contract. But for the sake of the club it needs to be made. Baird is your ball winner in midfield, Sidwell your man from box to box.
We're not writing off the likes of AJ and Dembele by any means. Currently they seem to be automatic picks under Hughes because the boss has staked his reputation on them coming good. I'm sorrry, but they have to earn the right to play, and for too long now they haven't been doing that in my book.
Anyone care to disagree before I slip my starting eleven under Mark's office door? Oh, a quick PS - I am flattered and grateful for the kind comments tweeted this week re my blog efforts. Thank you guys!
Twitter@fulhamphil
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Comments
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Posted by Nate on 03/23/2011
I like this 11 for away matches. Gives us a different look, and I don't mind Pantsil's free running (and occasional muck ups) as much because he'll be more positive moving forward.
For home matches, I'd replace Pantsil with Baird, throw Danny back in the midfield and hope Sidwell can cover for him. Small points, but mostly you're right on.
Gera was our Player of the Year last year. I don't care that he doesn't play the pretty little passes Sparky likes. He's gotten it done on every level. Free Zolly!
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Posted by Bobert on 03/23/2011
This has to be one of the fairest analyses I have read anywhere. It's hard hearing, let alone speaking, negatively about your club but it's only by acknowledging our club's faults, that we can hope one day to remedy them. I definitely agree that we don’t seem to have that attacking flair that we desire and that’s primarily due to a problem in the midfield. We don’t seem to have enough support when it comes to attack.
Hughes needs to wake up and examine the club’s past trends and successes and capitalize on that knowledge to create an effective starting 11. He can’t be throwing in AJ or Demebele just because he’s staked his reputation on them. If our club ends up getting relegated, then I’d really love to see that post match interview of Hughes as he tries to justify what went wrong.
Instead of just posting your starting 11 underneath Hughes’ door Phil, why don’t you just walk in and tell him you’re taking over. Mison for manager anyone?
Blog Central: Congratulations, you've just won the 'post of the year' award! I'm on my way over to the ground now...
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Posted by Vital_Teddy_KGB on 03/23/2011
Gera was great on our European adventure, but usually ineffective in the Prem. The only regular role for him is as a replacement for Bobby or Clint late in matches when his tireless work effort can just pester defenders into making mistakes. Pantsil's performance has been inexplicably poor this season. I can't blame Hughes for not using him. He's simply a liability. Baird is a poor RB, but a decent defensive mid. Etuhu's not effective in Hughes' system because he's asked to provide more in attack and support of Murphy, which is not his strong suit. Roy just asked him to cover the back 4. In that role, he's better than Baird. I'm troubled by the fact that we haven't found Murphy's replacement yet. He's clearly past it (and has been for a while) and has become so stationary in possession that he's far too easy to close down. Plus, his free kicks are awful, now. Surely, O'Hara or Salihović would be an ideal replacement and should be available this summer for a reasonable fee.
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Posted by Jeff on 03/23/2011
I like how you started, but would even entertain a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 with Eidur or Dembele up front with Zamora. Middies can be Dempsey, Duff, Sidwell, and Gera. Back four includes Hangeland, Salcido, Hughes, and Baird. Seems to give flexibility, ball movement, experience, and provides skill off the bench in Eidur/Dembele, Kakuta, Murphy, etc.
I understand the want to see more Kakuta, but I doubt he'll stick around so why not prefer the guys that will stay here next season. Lots of new faces this year to build chemistry around for Europa or better next year!
As for Mark Hughes, he has made some puzzling choices along the way, but should be fine as the team heals and is solidified over the summer.
p.s. if the team is struggling forward, like in Everton, then make moves at 60 minutes to get a new flow started with time to recover =)
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Posted by Vital_Teddy_KGB on 03/23/2011
Salcido has been exposed defensively; not the long-term solution at LB. I think we need new blood at RB, as well. I'd like to see us get Nathaniel Clyne this summer. Dembele is a winger masquerading as a forward. He's great on the ball moving forward, but tends to come back too far to receive the ball with his back to goal. Watching Dembele just re-enforces how good Zamora is at holding off a defender to receive the ball. He never gives an inch and thus is in a better position to supply the others. Perfect example was Dempsey's goal v. Everton. Zamora created that.
My lineup would be:
Zamora leading the line with Dempsey slighly withdrawn.
Dembele and Kakuta on the wings. Let's try some real pace and on-ball skill for a change.
Sidwell and Murphy in central midfield. Neither are ideal, but seem to be the most effective combination.
Baird at LB (out of position, I know) and (gulp) Pantsil at RB.
And of course, the stalwarts Hangeland and Hughes in central defense.
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Posted by zonth on 03/23/2011
Hasnt been much talk of Duff in last few threads regarding potential lineups. Surpising since he has actually netted a few in the last weeks. Hard to say considering his recent goals but I would agree and start Kakuta over Duff to give the kid a good go.
Not much talk of Davies too. He can still contribute IMHO
All my coments are midfield issues, with the realization that we are not short of options in the midfield. Our sustained pressure in the offense therefore must be lacking with the guys up front--BZ,AJ.
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Posted by W.Lynch on 03/24/2011
Hughes doesnt care about Fulham, he only has his job because Hodgson left him with a decent side.
Salcido is so bad, if you watch the goals we concede most of the them come down our left flank and he is to blaime most of the time. Player of the season Gera has been frozen out of the side for who.. the amazing 10 Million pound man Aj, who scores so many goals!.. i wish, now bobby is back, he should play gera with him, we all now that the combo was leathal in europe last year. Mark Hughes has made no progress this year, his "edge" hasnt worked, if bolton and sunderland can compete for europe then this side we have can surely do the same, at the moment we may be 12th but we are only 3 points off the drop !! get it sorted hughes and forget about man city, al-fayed needs to be realitic if we want to push on from last year, we need a true expeirenced manager, bring in Jol or O'Neil, they wont be cheap but its time al-fayed put more money into the squad and team
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Posted by Ian on 03/24/2011
Regarding Dio Kamara: "He could be the first Whites player in history to be discarded after scoring a hat-trick on his last full appearance"
If memory serves, this distinction probably belongs to Paul Moody who scored a hat-trick in the 3-0 victory over Preston on the last day of the 98/99 season, which was also Kevin Keegan's last game in charge of us.
Blog Central: A few people who know their stats have pointed this out. Well done all. I was in fact at that game, naturally, where we were presented with the trophy for going up into the 2nd division. Paul was slated to leave over that close season as we brought in better players en route to the top, whereas Dio has been more brusquely offloaded after his effort v P'boro (actually not a bad side).
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Posted by Vital_Teddy_KGB on 03/24/2011
Davies is the only true winger we have. Hughes (like Roy) deploys left-footed Duff on the right and right-footed Dempsey on the left. It pays dividends as it puts both players in a better shooting position, but it also hurts our width as Dempsey tends to drift to a central position and Duff often retreats en lieu of taking the ball into the corner.
I still don't understand everyone's facination with Gera. He works hard and is a solid professional, but he's only scored 5 Prem goals in three seasons. Yes, he was great in Europe, but we're not in Europe this season.
Like many, I'm not overly pleased with Hughes, but he got the job late and didn't really have time to shape the team to suit his style. Still, I think his tactics have been poor.
Fulham have one of the oldest squads in the Prem. We desperately need new, younger talent, but I suspect Al Fayed's strict wage structure causes us to miss-out on some signings and forces us to rely on veterans who are somewhat past it.
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Posted by Michael in Laramie on 03/24/2011
W.Lynch posted that we need more money in the team. Thinking about this post on why the lack of improvement, I wonder if it is indeed that we just don't have the talent. Our players are good and solid, and we have made progress in recent years. However, do we have those extras to improve? Do we have the players with that extra something to win when our backs are too the wall? Maybe Zamora has it. Dempsey has the drive, but overall quality? AJ doesn't seem to. Moussa is creative enough, but lacks that something extra. Murhpy? Davies? Pantsil? Its hard to say they do. Duff? At times, but very inconsistent. I could go on, but when I look at the team, these are very solid players but aren't intimidating. They lack something. Brede is a great defender, and about the only one I am confident in saying is a force. But he's a defender and is not likely to change a game offensively, which is where we need the most help.
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Posted by Tom on 03/25/2011
I think its funny to see postings in which people question Dempsey's quality. He has ten goals in the premiership this season. 10. Look at the list of people who have scored 10 goals in the league this year. Its not a long list and the other players on that list are all very talented people. He is in fairly exclusive company this season. I'm just saying that perhaps Hangeland isn't really the only "force" on the Fulham side.
As to the topic at hand, I like the lineup discussed in the original post. Fulham did not look like they went to Everton to win. Hughes needs to do something to make the team feel like it has a chance to win every time they step on the pitch. Home or away.
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Posted by Vital_Teddy_KGB on 03/25/2011
I think Dempsey's finally taken that "next step." In Zamora's absense, Dempsey shouldered the goal scoring load and did quite well. I think he'll do even better now that Zamora has returned.
For me, the only real issue with Dempsey is where to play him. I don't think he's particularly good at leading the line, but saddling him with the defensive responsiblities of a midfielder tends to stiffle his creativity. He's most effective playing in the hole behind the forwards, but that would require more of a 4-3-3 setup and might expose our weak central midfield and fullbacks.
Seems to me the solution would be to send AJ to the bench and allow Dempsey to play behind Zamora in a 4-4-1-1 setup. Let Kakuta take his place on the wing.
My two cents.
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Posted by Michael in Laramie on 03/25/2011
Tom-- I love Dempsey and he's done wonderful things this year. He's been a beast, but I am still not sure he has the quality to be considered a top tier player or one that brings fear to an opposing team. His work ethic and opportunism are fantastic, but does a team react against him as they would against Carroll?
It is this lack of a player the other team is afraid of that keeps us from improving. OK, it may not be the only reason, but I think it is a significant one. Do I think we need one 'extreme' player to do that? No. I think a couple who will be more of a concern for the other team will suffice. Dempsey fits that role now, but we need more. No one else is there now, at least consistently.
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Posted by 'Sota Dan on 03/29/2011
Phil, good post. This year has been frustrating for me as a relatively new supporter. And, I've really enjoyed reading the other posts by the veteran supporters who've got a lot more skin in the game than me, so to speak. I like your line-up b/c it encourages a bit more of aggressive play. The line-ups that Hughes has been using seem more of a counter-attack style. For me, as much as Dembele has been a bit of a disappointment, Sidwell, when healthy, has been great. Not only is he committed to going forward, but he seems to track back as well.
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Posted by Drago on 03/29/2011
Vital_Teddy_KGB: What is our fascination with Gera? He scored two goals for Hungary today against Netherlands, one of the best sides in the world. I loved reading that he turned down Hughes' contract offer. Good for Zolly.
That said, I totally agree with you on Dempsey. The closer he is to goal, the better he is. He doesn't have the pace you'd ideally want in a wing player, so Kukuta would be an ideal replacement.
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Phil Mison is a lifelong follower of Fulham FC. As a broadcaster, writer and sports producer he has supplied past club videos and numerous articles on FFC. LBC Radio's Fulham correspondent 1988-1993 and Sky Sports’ reporter for the 1996-97 promotion season. Professionally Phil delivers football content to the highest level both overseas and across the UK via TV, radio and mobile.
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