One thing I have always almost perversely prided myself upon is that as either as a player or a supporter I have never really, deep down minded too much about losing to a better team. Defeat still rankles but sometimes you just have to take it on the chin, as I did on Friday.
As Fulham went through the gears, upped the ante and turned the screw (pick your favourite cliché) we simply could not match them. Simple as. The commitment was there, nobody gave up (as three bookings in the last few minutes ably illustrated) but the fact remains that they had three chances and greedily gobbled up two of them. In fairness, it should have been all three, but Christoph Zimmermann’s heroics prevented that.
Was it a bad performance? No, not really. But are we still like a car stuck in third or fourth when we need to find fifth? Yes. And Fulham certainly managed to apply the handbrake to James Maddison.
With all respect to the ever-likeable Daniel Farke, when his post-match comments include this little gem I start to worry.
“Fulham were there with more possession without creating any real chances.
“Then after that, we were not just on the same level for me, we were the better side. Look at all the statistics, we won more duels. We had more shots on target, more chances”
No Daniel that is not my abiding memory of the game I watched. Afraid not.
Fulham were tougher, harder and, most importantly, quicker than us when it really mattered.
I’ll single out three of ours for mentions in despatches. Harrison Reed was excellent and showed his versatility yet again when he was pushed into a wider role. Alex Tettey did his stuff too – I’ll miss him. Then there’s Mr Murphy. What was an enigma is now becoming a bit of a liability.
I was singularly unimpressed even if I didn’t resort to giving Josh verbal which I’m afraid several members of the Upper Barclay community did. How’s that going to help, guys?
We are simply too ponderous going forward. This will be the vital issue to address over the summer.
Gary’s article yesterday pointed out that Farke and Stuart Webber are trying to operate with one hand tied behind their collective back. While I agree with that assessment, I will add that they knew what they were walking into and have chosen to come on board and attempt to deal with it.
But anyone who thinks there is a bottomless pit of talent derived from the Bundesliga second and third tiers and an academy (maybe Todd Cantwell apart) with not much currently to offer is living in dreamland. I don’t envy Farke and Webber: I can see next season as extremely problematic already.
In the old days, legend had it that if the English cricket selectors needed a fast bowler they would shout down a Nottinghamshire mineshaft and at least two would pop up – the days of Harold Larwood for aficionados of the cork and willow.
Football simply isn’t like that as we will doubtless soon discover.
So, it’s on to the second portion of a West London Easter double-header against Jolly Olly and his boys. I guess we all have our own opinion on Ian Holloway in that he is either a West Country charmer with a unique line in quotes or a complete —-. I know, MFW doesn’t use words like that.
I’m firmly in the latter camp in that I simply don’t like him. He’s below Colin and way under the newly unemployed MickMac in my estimation. Unlike the Fulham contingent, I don’t find their supporters sociable. I don’t like their ground, don’t like their financial mismanagement and thoroughly hope we beat them.
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If I’m in the city I always get my newspapers down at our local roundabout – the newsagent has a season ticket. We were talking about the Fulham game and she said: “Well, Maddison, Tettey, Reed and Angus won’t be here next season – what will we be like then?”
Before I could reply some old boy at the back of the shop piped up with: “Delia will still be there. And that’s why I don’t go any more.”
We found it hard to argue with his logic.
An excellent article Martin and I have to agree re you disagreeing with DF’s post match comments. I actually enjoyed the match on Friday and thought we created some good chances, but just failed to find that ‘killer touch’ to actually score (seems to happen at least a couple of times in most games lately). If we think our strikers are bad, how about Benteke at Palace and his two howlers yesterday only highlighted how bad he is – and how many £Ms did he cost????
So we renew our rivalry with Koo P Arrgh tomorrow and they appear to be in a considerably worse position than us despite the £Ms Fernandez handed them and I’m really hopeful that we take all three points.and then prepare for the visit of high-flying Villa. Hopefully, Leitner, Hernandez and Hanley will all be fit for that test.
I’d just like to add that IMO the time has come for Josh to have some time on the bench
Thanks Ed.
You make a very interesting point about Benteke. Solid rumour has it he was top of the Lambert shopping list immediately before he walked out on us for Villa.
And that would have been when he was red hot, not the shadow of himself you quite rightly say appeared for Palace against Liverpool.
I understand PL wanted Michu as well at the same time and Delia’s double refusal drove him into the arms of the Villains. None of that ended well for anybody.
From what I can gather, Onel Hernandez might not be back in time for Villa – hamstrings are funny old things.
A good comment and thank you.
Good piece as per Martin. I have said a few times on here that the cook in the box is one of the main reasons, I gave up my ticket. Have I missed going. darn right I have, but have I missed the football darn right I haven’t . Since I called a halt on my 50 ish years of going to Carra, there has been a heck of a lot of dross served up, with the bright spot of promotion, but somehow in the back of of my heart I knew it was going to end in tears. But perhaps I did not see the total picture we are looking at now.
I cannot see see a 2nd season of the Farke/Webber partnership being anything different, we are no Huddersfield, we have no DEAN HOYLE running the show, who by the way is the 100% owner of Huddersfield Town, a man who loves his club, not scared to invest , looks after their supporters. with season ticket prices at £249, while under 18s can get to see Premiership football if they stay up or championship football , if they don’t for £129. You could nearly get 2 adult season tickets at the John Smith stadium for the price of one adult at Carrow Rd.
There will be no revolution here as someone upstair of the Main Stand, is hoping for, by ordering the headhunting of Webber.
I know managers and professionals perhaps see games different to us mere mortals. but I have been around longer enough to know, stats do not win points. So Is Farke may be trying to convince himself that we are better than we actually are or trying to bluff us into believing that too. I have read and listened to his comments before and not for the first time has this line been rolled out.
I think football is the same in the lower leagues of Germany, it is putting the round thing in the net, that counts for everything in a game. Not that we won more of this or more of that over the pitch, creating and TAKING those chances is what counts . I may be a tad old fashioned, I do not like this American idea of giving stats that importance when looking back at a game., it may work in their over complicated idea of playing a form of Rugby. But in real football, Chances and Goals are what really counts.
So I will not be falling for that one. Mr Farke, despite you being a nice man
Thanks Lad.
Stats mean little to me either, but Farke is certainly not a fool. It is next season when he will have to truly prove himself. Most of us have stuck by him and will continue to do so for a while yet but I look at it like this:
If you give your grandchildren a set of Lego and expect them to build stuff with it, great. But if you remove certain key pieces from that set in the darkness of the night they cannot develop their building.skills without the missing pieces the next morning.
Dean Hoyle seems to be a good character but it looks as if his PL stay will prove to be a brief one.
If I could pick a Chairman it would be Steve Gibson from Boro. Unlike (sorry, I mean it, unlike) Delia he is a proper fan. Folks like him are like Hens’ teeth.
I doubt the professionals see football in any other way to the rest of us – it’s just that for them there is incoming money involved, which will always influence their publically-given thoughts.
I don’t go anymore because of the dire football on show,that maybe have something to do with Delia?But until money is pumped into the playing squad I can not see much changing,unless we find another Lambert.I think with the position we are in now on and off the field an experienced championship coach might have been a much better option.Farke came in with no understanding of the league and faced a giant hurdle before a ball was kicked in august.He might well turn it around next season but will have to change the style of play and he will probably be without a few of his best players come the summer so that’s another hurdle in the way.How much of Maddisons fee he will get to strengthen the team is another factor,it all looks like like an uphill battle for him at the momentLastly I maybe in the minority but I wont miss Reed as much as some.
Thanks Tony
I’ll start with Harry Reed – as a loanee prepared to play anywhere he has been a terrific asset to us this season. Will I miss him when he leaves? Probably like you, not that very much, but I’ll always have fond memories of him. He simply doesn’t possess the physicality for the Championship, although by the Good Lord he’s got some guts.
Farke’s hurdles will become higher and higher.
As for the Maddison money I would guess £20 million in for the player and £2 million spent on the squad as a result. That’s self-financing for you and the crunch will come when we’ve nothing left to sell. That situation will probably transpire as early as the January 2019 transfer window.
A good comment and thanks again.
Just to mention that we’re in a period where spending has to fall in line with falling income. That period isn’t indefinite; it ends this summer. If we’re on an even keel by the end of the summer transfer window, we can start building again.
Tougher, harder, quicker, you’ve summed up Friday’s performance very accurately. Unfortunately this applies not only to Fulham but several of the visiting teams this season.
The old boy at the back of the shop has the correct approach.
As long as Delia holds sway with her limited investment we will get weaker, softer and slower.
Weaker, softer and slower? That reminds me of myself on my lengthy walk to the ground in my 61st year!
Easter is possibly an appropriate time to mention that while there are those who still like to touch “the hem of the dress” Delia will remain immovable. And her greatest supporters have an awful lot more money and influence than I do. Well, ostensibly, anyway.
I would be so much happier all round if I’d never read that Times interview.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Hi Martin
Another enjoyable read and I fully agree with your sentiments.
From all the reports I have read, City had their chances to win the game before Fulham decided to play. Not being there, that is all I have to go on.
The EDP in-game report was clouded again by moaners not at the game and reading the same comments as myself and saying Team Farke out, Webber can’t find a player if he had loads of money to spend or words to that effect.
Over the years I can remember many dreadful games that City have both won and lost and you think how did that happen – it is football and nothing surprises me.
I just read on Vital that the Family Area has people with season tickets using foul language where kids are – well they should be reported and moved to more appropriate location within the ground – but other say it is an adult game and you can’t shelter them all their lives and they hear the same at school and on the streets. This will never be settled in everyone’s eyes.
Transfers Out
Maddison signed a new contract last summer so is happy at City – he has said he will only move on when it suits him and the club. He just might decide another season will help his development, but City needs the money.
Gunn is on a season loan and has done better than anyone could have hoped for – if Man City are pleased with his progress and he is happy then another season could be had but this will slow down Remi’s Mathews progress. A decision has to be made.
Wes could do another season if he is willing to take a large drop in money, no club will pay him a high salary due to his age. Might go back to Ireland or the States.
Oliveria has proved to me a one-season wonder with a suspect attitude, doesn’t like authority and goes missing in games. He will be sold to the highest bidder.
Klose the best CB at the club on high wages – he will be looking to Europe for a new challenge this summer and will go with my thanks and best wishes. Just disappointed he was injured at the start of the season – we might have been higher up the table.
Murphy – sorry sell him to Newcastle. He has had his chance to prove himself and is a fair weather player
Reed – similar to Gunn. Depends on where Southampton finish.
Leitner – would love him to stay. He just might start to show all the potential that he showed at Dortmund. His value is £750k to £1.5m – would be a good buy.
Tettey – would like another season from him.
Transfers In
We have signed a young striker from Dag&Red – not ready for first team?????
Another defender linked from Germany on a free.
Mclean to join from Aberdeen.
Rumours are we might try and sign either Hylton from Luton or his old side-kick Marriott from Peterborough. Both would be good but might be out of City’s price range.
Returning Players
Remi Mathews – having a great run at Plymouth; a few clean sheets ready for City if Gunn or another isn’t signed.
Cantwell – needs to kick on from this loan and prove he can do it for City.
Godfrey – rave notices for Shrewsbury, lots of potential and lots of clubs looking at him.
Morris – unsure if he will make the grade at City but needs a chance.
Phillips – at Cambridge. Under last manager played every game new manager not picked him – this has backfired a little.
Wildshut, Naismith, Jones, Diallang Jaiyesimi could all return but I think they have gone.
Cricket – Larwood
The daughter of a famous cricketer has backed calls to have a Blackpool park named in his honour.
Enid Todd’s father, Harold Larwood ran a sweet shop on Caunce Street, central Blackpool, between 1946 and 1950.
Thanks Alex – phew!
I guess if you’re living in Blackpool the Archant live thing is a bit of an information lifeline. Michael Bailey is particularly good on it, can’t really speak for the others.
I’d ignore the moaners as in reality there was precious little to moan about.
As for the foul language we’re all pretty sensible in the Upper Barclay and the youngsters always seem to find it very amusing when there is an occasional outbreak of the good old verbals. No snowflakes anywhere near me in D Block.
I largely agree with your player assessments: two comments only: we have no chance of getting Angus back and I doubt we’ll be able to retain Moritz Leitner which is a real shame.
Welcome to Deliaworld:-)
I sometimes wonder what the expectations of supporters are nowadays. I agree we aren’t up to Fulham’s standards yet, but to be honest we weren’t far off them until the first goal went in, and considering where we were when they played us off the park last season surely there is cause for optimism?
Fulham are a team that arguably should have gone up last season. They have added to a good squad, and have been rebuilding for the past three seasons. Meanwhile we have undergone a severe cull of experienced, high salaried players and replaced them with hungry, keen youngsters.
Who is to say there is an inexhaustible supply of second tier German players? However that is irrelevant. What is the important thing is how players develop. Zimmermann has come on leaps and bounds, Vrancic is finding his feet and Farke obviously knows him better than we do. Trybull and Leitner look quality, and have played at the top level. Hernandez looks miles better than Murphy in my opinion, more of a team player and an intelligent footballer. Srbeny hasn’t had time to develop yet, and whilst the jury may be out on him he has shown glimpses of ability in the past couple of games. Give me these players any day over Martin, Bassong, Naismith, Lafferty, Jerome etc who were “proven” players, mostly internationals who didn’t come from the pits of the German lower tiers.
Nobody knows what will happen with Tettey, stranger things have happened than a big club buying Madders and loaning him back, Gunny is a star but we have always had good keepers etc. And even losing those players wouldn’t mean half the same rebuild as last season required.
I just wish people would stop moaning and expecting instant success. I for one am enjoying this season, some of the football is excellent, but more importantly it is improving. Farke has unbelievably transformed the defence in relatively no time at all, and we would all agree the midfield has a lot of positivity and again is getting better. Farke isn’t stupid and will be trying to address the forward line, which hasn’t been helped by the petulant attitude of Oliveira.
There were so many calls for patience at the start of the season. We can’t be judged on this season, but even so we have had some superb results, especially away from home where we have had more freedom to play. I cannot recall a drawn game at home that we were second best in, and whilst frustrating, I doubt that we will draw anywhere near as many next year.
Confidence breeds success as Fulham are showing. They had the look of a team that is on a roll. People should take a step back and enjoy the direction we’re moving in rather than finding the negatives all the time.
Excellent comment Pete – thank you.
Most of us – including me – retain the patience you quite rightly crave.
My nagging doubt concerns the immovable presence of the night hag from Norse mythology (the mare) who sits on the chests of sleepers in order to restrict their breathing with a will to cause distress and death. That’s where the English word “nightmare” comes from.
I realise that’s unusually and unexpectedly intellectual for me but in this case I feel justified as the myth relates to NCFC in a way I at least can relate to.
The “mare” is not restricted to the lyrics of heavy metal bands. Sometimes I almost believe the concept of it to be real. Especially when I cast a glance at the Directors’ Box.
Thank you @Pete B – the voice of common sense.
I doubt that even Klopp or Guardiola could have achieved much more with the massive changes to our squad this season and it’s taken both managers a season to get their teams playing the way they now are, Though Liverpool’s defence is still suspect for me.
You mention the obvious improvement in both Zimmerman and Vrancic which I was able to witness first hand on Friday and I really hope that both Leitner and Hernandez fit for the visit of Villa.
Your last sentence is excellent!!!!
Pete from Milton Keynes,
The negativity is not called for from some of the above comments. There are signs of progress with better football at times and some youngsters breaking through which we have not had for a long time [Maddidon, Lewis, probably Godfrey]. Next season we can judge the new coach. My main worry is that he seems to be a very defensive tactician and this may be his undoing. So often when space is available players hold their position and fail to break into space. This is presumably the system??
Daniel Farke must allow players to play with more freedom and the autonomy to make choices in the context of the game. Whoever is signed or whatever the squad if we continue to see so few runs forward in wide areas [particularly on the right] and no-one available in and around the box when we press forward quickly the goalscoring problem will continue. Football is a game of chance at times we are simply too conservative particularly at home.
I have no idea if next year things will improve but until then we should retain a balanced optimism…..
OTBC