BORO (H) MATCH REPORT- STRENGTH IN DEPTH?

I don't normally go to EFL cup games, especially in the early rounds, but the optimism we can sense around the club changed my mind. The signing of Sigurdsson, after the "media reported" problems for Slavisa regarding transfer policy, made me feel even more optimistic. 
The normal couple of beers and it was off to the Cottage, via Bishop's Park, in what must have been one of the warmest evenings of the year. Surprisingly there seemed to be a lot of Boro' fans for the long journey south, but I have a feeling that many of them were "Smoggy's" who had relocated to the south.

Let's get to the match. The gaffer selected what amounted to a reserve side, even though Tunners, Ream, Stearman, LVC and Woodrow may disagree. Forgive me for this lads, but so far they have not been first choices. Edun and Adeniran got their chance again, and Malone was the only starter who could count himself as more of a first choice. When I saw Malone, it struck me that the gaffer will start with Sessegnon against Blackburn. Boro' for their part were giving a debut to new signing Fabio, and with Downing and Nugent also starting, we cannot say it was that weak a line up. Guzan in goal was the big surprise as I am a big fan of Konstantopoulos, and the excellent Greek must be wondering where his future lies. Boro' started brightly and for the first 15 minutes we were being pegged back, although they seemed to have little goal threat. Grimmer was given a squad number before the match, but his performance did nothing to suggest he will get many chances, as he was constantly being outplayed. The lads slowly came into the game, and we looked the more threatening with Edun growing in confidence. LVC, for his part, looked much more lively, and confident, on the back of his extended contract deal. But it was Boro' who took the lead through a well placed Nugent header. 

I don't know what the gaffer said at half time, but we flew out of the blocks, forcing a string of corners, and Jozabed's quality from set pieces was excellent. After 10-15 minutes of sustained pressure Boro' started to play keep ball, without really going anywhere. Then, the excellent, Scott Malone fired in a loose ball from the edge of the box, and although it was credited as an o.g., it was going in anyway. Kavanagh replaced the hapless Grimmer and Smith came on for Woodrow, Some our football was pure class with one touch football threatening, but not quite happening, to open them up. Jozabed grew in confidence , and some of his touches showed his massive potential. But the half wound down, and we were left to face extra time. 

De La Torre, replaced the tiring Jozabed and the boy is certainly talented, taking on, and beating, players at will. With penalties looming, an excellent move down the left saw a low cross turned in by LVC who was in the right place. And that was that, on to a home tie with Bristol City.

Summary-

An excellent performance with some outstanding performances from Edun, Malone, Ream, Stearman, De La Torre and Jozabed.

MOM- Although Malone won the official vote, I want to give it to Jozabed. Once he got going, he showed he has something different and was always looking to try things, and showed he wanted to get forward often. I believe that on this showing, once he has properly settled in, he will become a star.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST

COYWs

© Nic Smith

Facebook group- https://www.facebook.com/groups/FFC.Ambition/?ref=bookmarks

Twitter- @FulhamfcLadoce

WHY STATS SHOULDN'T MATTER.

With the media blowing out of proportion some comments made by Slavisa Jokanovic, we should look at what is really going on. Slavisa said he couldn't get some of the players he wanted, because they were vetoed by a certain Mr. Kline, a friend of Shahid Khan's son. Kline, apparently, works on maths and statistical analysis to assess if a player is good enough, even though the gaffer thinks the player is good enough, and is the right player for his football philosophy and style. Should Slavisa have gone public, or was he sending a subtle message? Those things are for speculation, and we will probably never know the truth. 

So, how much importance should be placed upon stats when assessing a new player? The reason why football is so popular is because of it's fluidity, it is free flowing, it is transient and the slightest bounce of the ball, or missed pass, can change the flow of the game. It is probably the most unpredictable sport on the planet, with so much complex interaction of players, coupled with the tactics and interactions of the opposing team. Naturally the more technically skilled, or organized teams will have the percentage chance of winning, but bad luck, a minute of lack of concentration, a bad refereeing decision etc. is what makes it the most beautiful and unpredictable game there is. When a manager sits down and chooses his particular philosophy, or style of play, he has to think which player will compliment each other player on the pitch. It is no good having 10 Lionel Messis and Manuel Neuer, in goal, and thinking that will be enough to win a football match. 

Let's look at statistics. Take a midfielder for example. He may have a 90% pass completion ratio, but does that mean he is the best passer in the team, in terms of effectiveness? Maybe the majority of his passes are short passes to team mates, rather than defence- splitting through balls, Maybe, he is playing in front of the back four, where the opposition are not pressing him when he is on the ball. Or take, a goalkeeper. Behind a well organized back four, he is likely to face more long range shots, and therefore may have a high save percentage. Whereas, a goalkeeper playing behind a defence like Fulham's, of last season, will be more exposed, and therefore have a lower save percentage. It would not necessarily make him a worse goalkeeper. A winger or creative midfielder is likely to have a higher assist record than a defender, but does that make him more important? And let's face it, if Sergio Aguero scores a wonder goal, the player who made the previous assist will still be credited, even if Aguero did all the skilled work, by himself. 

When it comes to stats in American sports, we are talking about sports that are much less interactive. Baseball is like cricket, and a good run scorer will always be a good run scorer because he is effectively doing it without any team interaction. If Kline had any clue or culture of football, he would know that whilst stats may help in Baseball, or Grid iron, they are not the same cultures as football. 

The main considerations when signing a footballer, after a manager has identified him as a target, should be those of a fitness and medical nature. Every professional club has physios, and doctors to assess the fitness and injury proneness of a player, and his medical history is the only stat worth looking at, in this respect. The running machines, heart rate monitors etc, in the club gym can tell all that is needed to be known about his stamina and current fitness status. 

Stats are all very well, and interesting, when reading the Sunday papers on the day after the match, and the statto nerds will pour over them for ages. Last season Middlesborough won the Championship with a top scorer of 8 goals. If we took the stat that an 8 goal top scorer would surely never be good enough for a team to win a Championship, then Boro' must have been guilty of match fixing. 

Sorry, Kline, but you should stick to US sports if you want to have a veto on who a coach signs, or better still, talk to some real football (soccer to you) coaches who will tell you "Sorry mate, it just don't work like that".

I, for one, would trust Slavisa all day long over some wet behind the ears yank, who only got the job through Shahid Khan's nepotism.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST.

COYWs

© Nic Smith

BACKING SLAV. CARDIFF REPORT

So, there I am, sitting on the bus as it reaches the top of Putney High Street, full of hope, after a great start to the season. I expect to see many Taffs, walking around like they own the place, but only one or two seem to be around. Maybe it is the school holidays, or something, but their numbers seem down on last year. But, for us, the Fulham faithful, we have high expectations of a win and 10 pts. on the board after four games. Slavisa has given us new optimism, and his brand of football is exactly what we know and love. A couple of beers later and we are off to the match. If anybody can tell me a better walk to a stadium than through Bishop's Park, "BY THE RIVER", then I challenge them. Still not many mouthy Taffs, maybe the "Soul Crew" are at a festival. 

The game kicks off and it seems very cagey, with Cardiff intent on placing two banks of four, on the edge of the penalty box. There seemed to be lots of Fulham possession without really going anywhere, and a few of the fans around me were getting impatient. Neither keeper was tested at all, until in the last few minutes Sone Aluko went on a mazy, and excellent run, in their box, before slipping the ball to "wonderkid", Sessegnon, to slot home. Nobody could see Cardiff coming back from that as we milled about behind the Hammersmith end, at half time. The second half was a transformation as Cardiff came at us with more ambition. It didn't take long before a cleared cross was expertly hammered past Button for the equalizer. But, questions need to be asked why he wasn't closed down. And it didn't seem long before their winger cut in, on a dribble, before firing another past Button. We can argue that they were two excellent strikes, and on another day, they wouldn't have hit the target, but it is what it is. With big Matty Smith up front we looked much better and we were causing them problems. With the clock ticking down, and after much pressure, Kevin McDonald fired in from the edge of the box, and thereafter Cardiff hung on for the draw they had come for. All in all it was a disappointing day, when we expected to win, but maybe we expected too much after our excellent start to the season. 4 league games unbeaten speaks for itself, and it is good that we score late in the game, and show fighting spirit.

After a couple of more beers, I come home to see that Slavisa has gone public about the recruitment policy, and the interference of Khan's son's best mate Kline. Does Kline coach the team? NO. Does a yank know anything about English football ? NO. Kline's remit seems ti be to look at statistic after statistic. and then decide if Slavisa can have his man. This writer, has never heard such nonsense. Statistics only count when applied to less interactive, and less fluid, sports, like baseball. Football (not soccer), is a totally interactive team game, constantly changing, and statistics are less important than how each player combines, and interacts, with those around him. If Messi only touches the ball twice and scores two goals, is he a bad player? NO. Slavisa knows which players will compliment his team, and footballing philosophy, and he must be given total control over which players pull on the famous white shirt. 

Below is a link to a petition where we can get Slavisa total backing, if Khan is prepared to listen.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST.
COYWs

© Nic Smith

Our facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/groups/FFC.Ambition/

The petition- https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/back-slavisa-jokanovic?source=facebook-share-button&time=1471780828

CARDIFF CITY (H)- MATCH PREVIEW

It seems like an age since the Whites put Newcastle in their place at the Cottage, but tomorrow we "welcome" the mouthy Cardiff fans to our home. In this fixture last year their fans spent most of the match goading us singing songs about "the English", and how they were going to "sort us out" in France. I don't have anything against the Welsh, but for some unknown reason Cardiff fans hate the English, and for that reason alone this match takes on extra significance for me. 

It's been a great start for our lads, and despite some disappointment with the late equalizer by Leeds, we couldn't have wished for a better start. Now, as Slavisa knows, we need to make it "fortress Cottage" again, and tomorrow should provide us with the perfect opportunity to get another 3 points on the board. Cardiff lost their first two games, and beat Blackburn with the help of two o.g.s from Duffy. That would suggest that they have a problem with scoring as they are yet to find the net via one of their own players. But, it is early days, so I doubt our lads will be too complacent about that fact.

Cardiff City-

It is difficult to predict what we will get from Cardiff, with Paul Trollope still trying to put his own style on the team. As with Wales, we can expect a high work ethic, with them trying to pressure us in midfield. On paper they have a solid midfield with Immers, Pilkington, Whittingham, and Noone who can be a tricky player. Most people know about Marshall in goal who is a solid and consistent performer. Defensively they don't have so many household names, and up front there is nobody well known. Trollope may decide to go 1 up front, which will suit Fulham, but we will have to watch out for Noone, who on his day has the skill to beat most defenders. I can't see Cardiff storming forward, as Trollope will probably want his team to try an nullify our slick midfield passing.

Fulham-

Slavisa has finally got one of his conundrums in place with the signing of Jozabed. It gives him options in midfield, but I would expect the gaffer to go with the same midfield as against Leeds, with Jozabed making an appearance from the bench. It would be unfair to drop any of Aluko, Ayite, or Cairney after their impressive appearances so far. McDonald is becoming a shoe-in, and with the rejuvenated Parker being subbed at Leeds, he will probably start over Tunners. Sessegnon may get the nod over Malone, but with Malone's knowledge of Cardiff, he may be a second half option. I see no reason why Betts will take over from Button, just yet, in goal. Upfront, we will probably go with big Matt Smith again, with Woodrow making a second half appearance to give us some pace against tiring legs. Kalas, Madl and Odoi, are the easiest to predict as certain starters.

Match prediction- 

I can see Cardiff sitting back and trying to hit us on the break. At times in the Leeds game our midfield tore them to strips, and I would think that is what Slav will want again, forcing them deeper and deeper, and allowing Sess, Ayite and Aluko to make runs into the box.  Cardiff may try and hit balls into the box hoping to force errors from our defenders, but I doubt any of our defenders will be as generous as Duffy was when they played Blackburn. On current form this has "home win" written all over it.

Score prediction-

Fulham to win 2-0, but with a good early goal 3-0.

COYWs. In Slavisa we trust.

© Nic Smith

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BIG JOHN'S LEEDS TRIP. AUGUST 16th

So, yesterday was a rare midweek away trip for me, but with my Leeds supporting cousin (originally from that hotbed of Leeds fans - Worcester Park!) coming over from Manchester, where he currently lives, we decided to meet up and watch the game together (1 of 2 Leeds fans I became aware of in our end last night!). Anyway, checked into the Jury's Inn, we caught up over a few very nice pints of Black Sheep in the hotel, including debating the merits of our teams' starts to the season. We may moan about recent seasons under Shahid Khan's stewardship, but Leeds fans probably have as much to complain about the way in which their own club is run, but I think I probably felt the more positive of the 2 of us going into this game. Would like to know how many Fulham were there last night, but I would hazard a guess at around 400 - not bad for us on a midweek game, although I guess that Leeds on a warm August night is far preferable to Burton in February. 

We started off well, and looked the sharper of the 2 teams, with Sessegnon and Aluko having noticeable joy down the left hand side. Aluko was a real threat all first half, hitting the post and being unlucky (from my distant view from the Fulham end) not to have a penalty after getting taken out by Green. That said, Leeds had a few chances too, including a one on one where their centre forward should have at least got it on target, and forced several corners as the half came to a close. The second half saw us starting brightly again, and we came close again with a header from Smith which once again hit the post. Smith himself was eventually substituted for Woodrow, and he got a good ovation from the home support ("You're Leeds and you know you are"). It's fair to say that I'm more of a Cauley supporter, but I'm happy to say that Smith has earnt his place so far this season. That said, a new striker has to be a priority for us. Anyway, onto the main action, and a sublime strike from Tom Cairney which deserved to win us the game. It's been a while since we've seen one of these from Tom, but it was a beaut, receiving the ball on the right hand side of the box, dummying the defender, and curling it into the left hand corner! Even my Leeds supporting cousin stood and clapped as the ex Leeds youth player lapped up the deserved applause - ain't nobody like Tom Cairney, we were certainly happy he made us feel that way! That should have been it, and we looked fairly solid for the most of the remaining 15 minutes apart from one good Leeds chance, although to be fair, they did start creating more pressure than they had all game. Our new £3.4m signing, Jozabed, came on for the last couple of minutes of the game, so not possible to have an opinion on him yet, and just as we were ready to celebrate the continuing 100% record, up pops Wood with an unconvincing bicycle kick, which Button manages to fumble into our net for the equaliser. Such a shame, I felt on balance we edged the game, and should have come away with the 3 points. That said, we are looking so much stronger this season and, with the addition of Jozabed and another striker, we have the makings of a decent squad, one that will compete in the top 10. Sessegnon looks full of potential, Madl and Kalas will be amongst the best centre back pairings in the division, especially with the added protection from McDonald and the revitalised Scott Parker. Cairney is class and if we can get someone like Bamford in up front, all will be well down at the Cottage! Anyway, the match was followed by a superb curry at Akbars - go there whenever in Leeds, and a couple of pints of Black Sheep back at the hotel - all in all, a cracking day out!

COYWs

© John Scanlon

LEEDS AWAY PREVIEW

Who would have thought it, three games in and we are 100% win perfect. But, it is not time to get carried away. The Championship is notoriously unpredictable, and we can look forwards to some upsets for and against. Slavisa still has, by his own admission, much squad building left to do, and although at times we look excellent, there are still periods where it is obvious we are not quite gelling. A great win at Preston, is followed closely by this second trip up north in 4 days. How the fixture computer manages to give us two long away trips in such a short of time is beyond me, but it is what it is. Whatever we think of professionals having to make two long journeys, it is still taxing. The hope is that so early in the season, the travelling will have little or no effect. Leeds is always a difficult place to go, and with their hostile fans it is important to silence them early on. These are volatile times at Elland Road, and the fans could quite easily turn on the team and the board. I am certain Slav and the team know this, and will look to deny them space and attacking opportunities.

Leeds United- 
Difficult to predict what to expect from them, as Garry Monk seems to be trying to build his own side. I,personally, have doubts about Monk's managerial quality. He took over at Swansea, using the team that Martinez built, and Swansea seemed to go backwards. He was a Swansea man through and through, and I have to wonder whether he will not be a carbon copy of Tim Sherwood. Only time will tell whether he can show his managerial quality away from the Liberty Stadium. There are rumours that their main striker Chris Wood may be dropped, but these are only rumours. They are likely to try and use width with Sako and Roofe both capable of causing problems. There aren't many household names in the rest of the Leeds team, and I , for one, will be glad if Stuart Dallas does not play as is predicted. Rob Green in goal is probably past his best and has always been prone to the odd calamity. I would expect to see Leeds start on the front foot, but we can hit them on the break with the pace of Aluko and Ayite.

Fulham-
Slav is likely to name an almost unchanged team, but don't be surprised to see Tunnicliffe start instead of Scotty Parker. He will probably stick with Smith up front, and depending on how the game pans out, Jozabed may get a debut from the bench. Don't be surprised to see the gaffer go with the same tactics as in the first two league games, playing 5 in midfield to take control allowing Aluko to join in upfront when he can. 

Prediction-
Leeds will probably come at us early on, but if we can take control of the midfield we can silence the crowd and instill some doubt in the Leeds players, who may be short on confidence after two straight league defeats. Leeds need a win, and even a draw may not be enough to please their fans. That can play into the whites' hands, as long as we stay calm and stick to our game. An early goal and we may see the Leeds team fall apart. The longer they go without scoring will only make them more nervous. If we play like we did in the first half at Preston, then I don't see Leeds winning this one. 

Score- 1-1, but with an early goal, 3-0 to Fulham.

In Slavisa we trust. COYWs. 

© Nic Smith

Gary's view- Preston trip August 13th

Match day 2, our first away game in the championship this season and it's Preston another ground to tick off my list  ive not done before, met up with Richard breeze at Euston  a proper legend fan he finished his night shift at  5am and off to the football  with me, loads of fulhamfc fans  on the 08:30 train going up was really hoping we put in a performance as good as last friday when we beat the geordies, had a chat with some Blackpool fans on the train believe it or not they travel from Kent and Portsmouth to follow their club.

So onto Preston and into the Old Vic pub opposite the station for a few beers where we met up with Sam whatley we then walked through Preston town centre to Deepdale the home of Preston North End and into the St Gregorys  Catholic social club  were we met Kevin Eston who had been there before you put a pound in the pot and they make you more than welcome was a great crack in there with the locals.

Let's get onto the game now  the gaffer picked the same team as per the Newcastle game other than bringing in  Super Scottty  Parker for Tunicliife which I personally think was a good shout, it's fair to say we dominated play and looked sharp and also solid at the back, and deservedly went into the lead just after the half hour with a scrambled effort from Aluko but who cares they all count, we almost doubled our lead just before half time with a Matt Smith header which was disallowed for a push.

Preston came out  in the second half on the front foot and for the first fifteen minutes gave our back four a lot to contend with , having said that we were coping well and in the 67th minute Tom  Cairney went on a mazy run and Matt Smith finished the move off with our second goal  2 nil Fulham, Preston did get a goal back just a few minutes later and  had a goal disallowed near the end but we deservedly held on for the points.

My man of the match for us would be between Kalas and Cairney both were standout in my opinion, we got back to Preston station for our  train back and it was a bonus to see the team were also on it for the journey back to London, all in all was a very enjoyable day out finishing the day level top of the championship on 6 points and looking much more organised than last season. ...onwards and upwards COYW.

© Gary Ware

UP NEXT: PRESTON. PREVIEW

Another Saturday, two wins, and the Fulham faithful beginning to believe in Slavisa. It all sounds positive and optimistic, but let's not get carried away yet. These are the bread and butter games of the Championship, games against mid table sides, where anything can happen. Preston showed last season that they are not just cannon fodder and nothing suggests that they will be cannon fodder this time round. Jozabed has finally signed for the whites, and all in all he appears to be the type of player Slavisa needs. Creative, energetic and ambitious, he will definitely give 110% for us.

Preston North End-
Grayson is a wily old coach and knows his way around this league. Don't expect tiki taka football from a Grayson team however. Preston are likely to have a high work rate in a team that will be defensively and midfieldwise well organized. Last season they were difficult to beat, and this season should be more of the same. The only household names are Beckford, Pringle and Lindergard. Beckford is the nearly man, after a brilliant early career he didn't cut it in the Prem., and now finds himself as not much more than an average Championship striker. But, we shouldn't be fooled by that, as he is still capable of being in the right place at the right time, and he is still an excellent finisher. FFC fans will hope that Pringle does not show his best form otherwise we may be ruing selling him. Overall, i would expect Preston to try and wear us down with their organization, and we will need to be wary of set pieces as this is how many of their goals arrive.

Fulham-
Slavisa knows how he wants us to play, and the players seem to understand his system. It is unlikely that new signing Jozabed will start, but with Slavisa anything is possible. Realistically, we can expect to see the same team who turned out against Newcastle, with the only possible change coming up front. Preston's back four is not the quickest, so I would expect Woodrow or Aluko to be used to test their lack of pace at some time. Whether Slavisa starts with Smith or Woodrow is the only possible surprise, in my opinion. I doubt Slavisa will ask the team to be too cautious as it won't suit his style of play. I expect the same ratio of caution and adventure that we showed against Newcastle. 

Prediction-
This is not going to be a very high scoring game, and I expect a midfield battle in the first half. If Fulham score early on, then I can see the boys playing on the break and going on to win the game. If Preston score early on, then they will defend and it will be up to Fulham to break them down. If Preston have not scored in the first half, I can't see them winning the game, as it is not natural for them to press forward and leave gaps at the back for Ayite and Aluko to exploit with their pace.
Predicted score: 1-1, or a possible 2-0 win for Fulham if they score in the first half. 

In Slavisa we trust. COYWs.

© Nic Smith

SLAV'S PROJECT, OR NECESSITY?

Two games into the season and the FFC faithful are buzzing. But what can we all make of this start to the season? Friday's excellent win over the Geordies, saw a solid and composed performance from the team. There are so many positives to take from that performance against what is essentially a team full of Premier league players. And last night a totally different team beating Orient, to take us into the next round of the League Cup. This writer was not at last night's game and had to listen to the radio commentary. But, by all accounts it was a good first 65 minutes from the youngsters, helped by 3 or 4 senior players. If you look on social media there are still some moaners,  saying things like "same old Fulham, letting in goals near the end" etc. I, for one, can't agree with that, as we should remember that these days this competition is not important for teams from the top two divisions. The money on offer in the Prem. is too big a carrot, for clubs with the ambition of FFC, and risking first team players in this cup, is a risk not worth taking. We should also remember that in pre season Slavisa used many of these youngsters to blood them. Slav, clearly, has a system that he wants to instil right throughout the club, and watching these youngsters in a competitive match, will not only help him, but it will help the youngsters to learn the system. Some of these youngsters will break through at some stage, so for Sessegnon, Edun, Adeniran, and even Woodrow, it is good to give them much needed game time. They were bound to tire near the end, and the experience of having to hold out for a win, should be a good lesson to be learned. Strolling, impressively, into a 3-0 lead, against one of the favourites for the 2nd division title, should be the positive to take from this game.
Back to social media, and we see fans bemoaning the lack of signings, despite Slavisa's assurances that players are lined up, and signings are very close. I very much doubt that such a meticulous coach as Slavisa, is going to sign players for the sake of it. He will place strict criteria on the type of player he wants, and that takes time. We should also realize that just because we think a certain player should be at FFC, that player may choose another option. The perfectionist Serbian says he needs 4 or 5 players to make his side competitive in the marathon of the Championship, and we should be in no doubt that come the end of August he will get what he wants. At the moment we have 15 or 16 players who have the experience, plus some very promising youngsters, so we can probably afford to be a little patient until the season really kicks in. Slavisa has his project and I have total faith in this man to take us forward. Don't be surprised to see some signings in the next couple of weeks, don't be surprised if we haven't heard of them, and don't be surprised if they are very shrewd acquisitions who will become our favourites. After all, many of us were saying "Ayite, who?", "Odoi, who?". 
In Slavisa we trust.

© Nic Smith

FFC 1 NUFC 0. PERFECT

You can feel the adrenaline inside your body as match day arrives at the start of the season. Especially when you are playing the favourites and nobody gives you a  cat in hell's chance. We all share the same thoughts "will the defence hold strong?", "what about the new boys? how will they adapt?", "was pre-season a false dawn?, and so on, and so on. That is the feeling us long suffering Fulham fans feel, and for all of that, it brings us closer together, as a family. 
Jumping off the bus in Putney, I see the black and white striped clad Geordies, walking around like they own the place. So what if there are 7000 of them, and so what if they think it is going to be a walk in the park? 
First stop is the Railway, a couple of beers and chats with a few strangers wearing our badge with pride. Sadly, a few arrogant Geordies ruin the atmosphere with their tuneless, monotonous singing. So, time to leave and head to the Golden Lion where I know there will be no Geordies. One beer later, and mood improved, time to get to the Cottage. Wonderful to see the masses again, reminding us of the Prem. era. You could feel the sense of anticipation in the air, and even some optimism as "Slavisa's black and white army" took to the field. The FFC faithful were magnificent, getting behind the lads from the off. To be fair, it was a cagey affair to begin with, with typical Rafa tactics of trying to play keep ball. But, that was all it was, keep ball without really going anywhere. But, let's not take away anything from our boys, they kept their shape, and fought for everything. McDonald and Tunners protecting the back four, and McDonald looking to turn defence into attack at every opportunity. "Big Kev" looked impressive and composed, whilst Tunners did the donkey work getting everywhere. Newcastle's only outlet seemed to be, to play over the top and use the pace of Gayle and Perez. The imperious Kalas and Madl were too solid and apart from Odoi getting caught out of position, a couple of times, there was no real threat. A penalty appeal against Tunners, for handball, was debatable, but hey, luck evens itself out, and we were due some luck. At the other end we looked sharp moving the ball quickly and using width. Cairney, Ayite and Aluko were given the freedom to roam and it looks like with a few more games we are going to cause big problems in that area. Cairney as always was phenomenal with Ayite not far behind. The goal came at the end of the first half, and what an expertly placed header it was from Smith when a lot of players would have gone for power. The fact that Newcastle's defence may have well as been in the dressing room shouldn't detract from Smith's technique. 
The second half was much of the same, until the last 25 minutes when Benitez decided to be a bit more positive. Ritchie came more into the game, but one shot which Button judged well, as the ball swerved wickedly, was the only real open chance they had. At the other end Fulham were still rotating and Cairney seemed to be everywhere. It looked like we were getting arrogant, as perfectly epitomized by Odoi with his audacious piece of skill, turning his back on the ball to flick it over the defender with his shoulder. With a little bit of luck, we may have nicked another, but when the final whistle blew, a well deserved standing ovation greeted our heroes.
MOM- Cairney, but only just from 10 others.
Moment of the match- Odoi's audacious flick.

So that was it, as we left the ground on a high, and we headed off back to the Fox and Hounds for a couple of celebratory drinks. Strange now that the Geordies were silent and it was the FFC faithful who were displaying a little arrogance, and why not? And just to top the evening off we were asked to leave the Railway, by the "Big Bad Wolves" (bouncers) for singing "We are top of the league". A brilliant start to the new season. COYWs.

© Nic Smith

FULHAM V NEWCASTLE UTD. PREVIEW

Finally the much awaited first game of the season has arrived. So what can we expect? The favourites coming to the Cottage expecting to romp through the Championship, steamrollering all in their path? I, for one, don't think so. So, let's look at Newcastle. Granted, they have kept many of their squad from last season, but so did Hull and they sneaked into the automatic promotion spot. It should be remembered that for most of last season, they were awful, with many critics saying that they had too many good players to go down. But, the plain fact is that they did go down. There was some improvement when Benitez came in, but they still went down. Whether Benitez knows enough about the Championship is open to debate, but nobody can deny his acumen as a coach. His main problem may be in how he adapts his style of football to the rough and tumble of this league. 
Newcastle United-
Most pundits suggest that there may be some defensive problems with Newcastle, although the acquisition of Kieran Clarke may alleviate some of those frailties. Whether Clarke plays tonight, or not, we should remember that he was part of an awful Aston Villa side last season. Janmaat is probably their most experienced defender, and he likes to get forward, so it may be a case of keeping him busy defensively which should be the job of Ayite. Midfield is where the Geordies look strongest, with Anita and Shelvey expected to do much of the hard work. Shelvey has undoubted quality on his day, but Liverpool didn't fancy him, and he hardly set the world alight at Swansea. Ahead of these two are likely to be Perez, Ritchie and Aarons. Perez is a conundrum, as he can either be brilliant or totally anonymous, but he could be the game changer tonight. Ritchie signed from Bournemouth, could also be a game changer, but I always worry about players who overachieved under one manager, as he did with Bournemouth. My point here is, that Howe built a team at Bournemouth and did so excellently, but are some of those players as good when taken out of that team? Time will tell, if Ritchie has the quality to transfer his quality to a new system. Up front will be Gayle, who has undoubted talent. My worry, if I was Toon fan, would be the amount of playing time he got last season under Pardew at Palace. Talent doesn't disappear, but it may take him some time to get up and running. Although the Geordie fans will expect their team to go flying forward, i would expect a more cautious approach from Benitez, as can be seen from his time at Liverpool. 

Fulham-
If Button is recovered we should expect him to start in goal, especially with Betts injured. The defence will likely be Odoi, Madl, Kalas, and Sessignon, but Jokanovic may just go with Stearman above Sessegnon, purely for experience. This defence looks much better, and more positionally aware than last season, so I would not expect too much Keystone Kops' defending. Midfield is where the battle needs to be won, so we can probably expect Parker and McDonald to sit, with McDonald's passing ability running the midfield. Cairney, Ayite and Aluko will be expected to join the attack where possible with Aluko becoming an occasional striker. Whether Jokanovic goes with Smith or Woodrow, could be decisive. I would go with Smith to bully the defence allowing Aluko, Cairney and Ayite to pick up the scraps. Although, there is talk that Slavia may go with both Cauley and Smith, I think he will prefer to win the midfield with 5 men in it. Fulham need to start of the front foot and hustle the Magpies, disrupting any game plan Benitez has put in place.

Prediciton-
I think we are likely to see a tactical first half, almost like a game of chess, as Benitez is not known for throwing caution to the wind. This is where Fulham need to keep their shape, win the midfield, and push on when opportunities arrive. Kalas and Madl will need to keep a close eye on Gayle, as if we push to far forward, Newcastle are likely to look to use Gayle's pace. If it is 0-0 at half time, I would expect much of the same in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Much will depend on whether Benitez is going to be happy coming away with a draw or whether he goes for it in the last half hour. Slavisa knows what he expects and may just be a little more adventurous, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go two up front in the second half. If Fulham get an early goal we are likely to see an open game, but if Newcastle score early on, we can expect them to try and hit us on the counter attack. Playing Newcastle early on is a godsend for Fulham and we may just surprise the bookies, and the pundits. Probably 1-1 is the best bet, but 2-1 to the Whites is also likely, in my opinion.
Whatever happens the Whites' fans need to get behind the team, as this is only one of 46 games. COYWs. IN SLAVISA WE TRUST.

© Nic Smith

CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW- FULHAM

With the season only one day away, it is time to have an objective look at where FFC are. What can the long suffering Fulham fans expect this coming season? With Ross McC finally sold, the pessimism amongst some fans has already surfaced. How long before some of our fans turn on Slavisa? I don't think that Slavisa will get too much criticism from the average fan, but there will always be that small minority who would moan if we didn't win the Champions League every year. The bigger reality is that the fans will start blaming Khan and the board, but that will be mainly on social media, as for all the rebellious talk our fans don't do protests in the manner of Leeds fans. 
So, what can we expect? Slavisa is the man for this club and given the right backing he will take the club forward. In the summer there had to be a clear out, and with 10 or 11 players gone, we should have expected to see a minimum of 12 replacements. So far there has been 7, but, with a month left in the transfer window, expect at least 4 new arrivals. The late arrivals will need time to bed in, so for the start of the season we can expect the current squad to make up team selection. The defence looks much more solid with Madl being clearly a class act, and Kalas guaranteed to be a Premier league star in the future. In front of the defence there is likely to be two holding midfield players and I would expect that to be McDonald and one of Parker or Tunnicliffe. Ayite will give us pace and width, with Cairney and Aluko alternating in the number 10 role although I would expect Aluko to be further forward. The problem lies up front with Smith being a target man at best. Surely it must be time for Woodrow to be given a decent run of games, and the high regard with which he is thought of in the England set up suggests that his day will come. Humphries is one for the future and may get some game time this season. The next week will let us know if we have a new CF in place, so guessing who will be our main striker is a lottery.
In three weeks time we will know where FFC stand with regards to the coming season. A tough 4 opening games means that we will either be fearing another relegation battle, or getting carried away. Newcastle are the favourites and getting this game out of the way nice and early may just be a blessing in disguise. They may not be in their full stride and we may just get a win. Preston away is always difficult and their improvement last term means they will be difficult to beat. Then comes the conundrum that is Leeds. We don't know what we will get, and Gary Monk may have been a Swan through and through, but he could be another Tim Sherwood, who has the passion for his own club but cannot transfer coaching skills to another club. Cardiff at home completes this sequence, and their ambition means they will be tough to beat. Much will depend on these 4 games as far as confidence goes. 
Pre-season showed that FFC were preparing for life without Ross McC, and there were many positives to take from those games. At home against a near full strength Palace showed that there is much more organization and shape to the team, so we should not see the amount of goals conceded being anywhere near as high as last year. Goals for may be a bigger problem, however Middlesborough showed last season that you don't need to have the leading scorer to do well in the Championship. I expect Aluko to be the star, and depending on who we sign, expect goals from midfielders. Realistically a mid table finish will be what we should be expecting, but I have a funny feeling that Slavisa will take us to just outside the play-offs.

© Nic Smith