THE VIEW FROM THE HAMMY END..AND AROUND

Speaking to fans in pubs, reading social media and talking with friends, it is clear that there is a sense of "disgruntlement", "confusion", "pessimism", "panic", or in some cases "realism" an quiet "optimism". The problem is, that this seems to be becoming a recurring theme, and is almost reaching the point of hysteria. 

What am I talking about? The "should Slav be sacked?", or "where's the plan B?" debates that seem to rage on ad nauseum. We, as fans, have the right to our opinion on our beloved FFC, and we should accept the opinions of others whether we agree with them or not. But this should all be put into perspective, rather than rushing around blaming "this person" or "that person". 
I, too, am probably becoming boring, as I have written about this before, but after watching the Barnsley win, it is becoming clearer where the problems lie.
I am one of Slav's biggest admirers, yet I find myself beginning to doubt some of his ideas. Whether this is because of the influence of social media or not, I cannot answer, but for the foreseeable future I am going to remain 100% behind the sullen Serb. Last season, in many fans eyes, he could have turned water into wine, as he led a small squad to achieving much more than we could have wished for. But, we would do well to remember that it was Leeds who threw it away. Granted, we had to go on that good run of form, but ultimately Leeds bottled it. There has been an argument that we cannot blame Kline because he was at the club last season also. What we don't know, is whether Kline's ego just got bigger and bigger and he started to exert more and more influence, as he got carried away with last season's success also. If Kline saw last season as a result of his methods, then he may have wanted more influence, but we will never know. Whether the "Slav out" camp like it or not, it is a fact that Kline unsettled the whole club. Do people really believe that once Khan had sacked Kline that stability would return overnight? It takes time to get a bad taste out of your mouth, and it will take time to get the club on a happier and more stable footing.
Watching the Barnsley game, it was too evident where many of our problems lie. Bettinelli is the fans favourite because he is an FFC man, rather than Button who is from the despised club up the road. Button would have to be twice as good as Betts before some fans would take to him. The problem is that both are good shot stoppers, but neither are great passers of the ball, and both look like they do not like high balls into the box. For me, Button is probably better at passing the ball out, because too often Betts kicks the ball out of play. Slav likes to play the ball out from the back, but does not have the keepers to do this, effectively. This also makes us more predictable, and teams know what to do against us. So, where's the plan B in this situation? Put simply......there isn't one, and there cannot be one when we do not have the correct personnel. If we go long, who  can hold the ball up, or flick it on? Fonte can't and it is not his natural game against the lumps of defenders who we find in the Championship. Kamara doesn't have the technical ability to control the ball well, and big Matty Smith was sold (probably by Kline). And, much as I loved the effort of big Matty, he was not that great on the floor, apart from not being the quickest. If we want this option, then we need a Jordan Rhodes type of player, who has good technical ability an is also up to the physical challenge. If we could mix it up more, when the keeper has the ball at his feet, then we would be more unpredictable, but Slav needs the personnel to do this. 
Another obvious thing is the form of Cairney. TC is our talisman and his obvious talent seems to have disappeared a little this season. Whether that is down to his injury, I do not know, but he seems to be playing a lot deeper in the last few games, trying to influence the game from the back. Last season he was almost playing in the number ten role where he was much more effective. My feeling is that Slav has given him a free role, and TC's natural instinct to run the show means he is dropping deeper. I, personally, would like to see him playing behind the striker/s where he can really hurt the opposition. 
It is also worth watching how Freddo is being doubled up on more often when he goes forward. Last season, we had Aluko, who was capable of holding the ball up, with his trickery, allowing Freddo more space to get forward. As excellent as Ojo has been, he does not compliment Freddo in the same way as Aluko did. 
It is also noticeable that the team are playing with a fear factor now, especially when taking the lead. I do not blame that on the coaching or the players, I blame it on the fact that we overachieved last season, and the players themselves are expecting too much of themselves, so that when we do go into the lead, there is a natural tendency to "get over the line" rather than go for the second goal which would give us a bigger cushion. Last season we could play without fear, because nobody was expecting us to reach the play-offs anyway. 
Of course, there are many other areas where we do not look as effective as we did last year, but as many people have said "selling Aluko and Malone has had a very negative effect". If we do not replace such players with similar players, rather than players who have good stats, then it stands to reason we will not be as effective in these positions. 
An excellent article in "Get West London" outlined a very good argument for sticking with Slavisa, using the example of Lee Johnson at Bristol City, who took them from flirting with relegation, last season, to where they are now. Knee jerk reactions very rarely work, and if the club have the right man for the job, then they need to give him time. And who is the alternative to Slav, anyway? We are not going to get Johnson down at the Cottage, and people who mentioned mangers like Pullis were living in cloud cuckoo land if they think he would come to us. We should also remember that the Kline business was well documented nationally, and how many respectable coaches would want to work under a system where they may have little say in who they can buy? Whether you are for the stats system or not, good coaches get a big say in the type of player they want, and I can see very few coaches who would want to put up with our current system, if it stays the same. Whether, you are in the "Slav out" camp, or in the "Slav in" camp, it is time to be realistic and understand that it is the Kline situation that has done most to ruin this season.
I sincerely believe that if Slav is given time and more influence we will be up there where it matters at the end of the 2018/19 season. For the moment I am sticking with Slav, and I urge every other fan to remember sometimes......"BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW"

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
FTID
COYWs

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© Nic Smith

QUESTION TIME.....MAKING SENSE OF FFC.

Sometimes it feels like "Groundhog day".......Another Fulham defeat and social media is awash with "Bring back Betts", "Slav out", "Kahn's out", etc. etc.
Maybe I should just make my life easier and stop reading social media. There are too many knee jerk reactions for my liking, and everybody is looking for somebody to blame. I am in no way defending the club, the players or the manager for our less than inspiring first half of the season, but there has to be a little rationality, rather than us all turning on our beloved club.

Maybe we should try and analyse this, calmly-
THE KHANS
Ever since Al Fayed left, the club seems, at times, like a headless chicken. I have never been impressed by Americans owning English football clubs, as they want the American model of becoming too involved in the playing side of things. You only have to look at what Lerner did to Villa, and the Glaziers at Man Utd. The stand out instance, is the appointment of Magath, who was apparently recruited by an American sports promotion company. I may be wrong on what type of company it was, but he was definitely recruited under a stats style system, and we all know what a disaster that was. Thankfully, the Khans seem to have realised that knee jerk sackings don't always work (see Rene Mulensteen's short tenure). Their insistence on sticking with the crazy transfer policy of Kline and Tony Khan is another prime example of their ineptness at running football clubs. Whether you are for the stats system or not, it is clear that making the stats system as the sole criteria for signing players has not worked. 
Even the new Riverside development looks like a joke. I would not pay to sit in a stand that looks like it is open to the elements. Why they did not stick with the original p;an is beyond me, but this is a side issue.
Where I will criticise them is for the "moneyballs" policy of not signing players over 28. Selling Aluko was an absolute joke leaving the team unbalanced and losing one of our more maverick players who can do the unpredictable. Because Aluko was 28, the board would not give him the contract length he wanted and they decided to cash in when they could. Slavisa also wanted Glen Murray, but wasn't allowed to look at him, because he was too old. I accept the idea of making FFC a sustainable business, but the "moneyballs" policy is sheer madness. The reason? We are in the Championship.....FFS, not the Premier league. If we are turning down players because they have no resale value, players who may just give us the extra to reach the Prem., then we may as well resign ourselves to Championship football for the foreseeable future. Promotion to the Prem. is worth £100 million plus, and even though I am not a business expert, even I can do the maths. Get Murray on loan, keep Aluko and lose 7 million, and maybe have a shot at promotion. Even I  can see that we would still be way in profit if we reached the promised land that is the Prem. We as fans have a choice, accept we will always be a selling club, bringing through youth to sell and staying in the Championship, or we can ditch the rigid "moneyballs" policy and sign some players who have the nous to take us up. 
Whatever the Khans are planning, and whatever their philosophy is, it doesn't seem to  be working.
SLAVISA
I have always been a fan of Slavisa, and I still think he is the right man for the job. But, even I start to question some of his decisions, and Slavisa lovers can only defend him for so long. Slav made no secret that he wanted to keep Aluko, and it is clear that he had little, or no, say over signings. He obviously doesn't fancy Kamara or Djallo, and even Fonte doesn't seem to be too high on Slav's guest list. For me, Kline was the man who has made Slav's team selection so difficult, but Slav must also start to step up now that the Yankee clown has left. I would like to see Slav given more say in January, and if we can get who he wants, then we can start to scrutinise his selections. And, in reality, who else is out there, who would be tempted to come to the Cottage if we are mid table come February? People can argue that there are good coaches out there, but we cannot force them to come to the Cottage. For the Slav knockers, "be careful for what you wish for", or "better the devil you know". 
In my, very humble, opinion, I would keep Slav and see who we can sign in January and next summer, and allow the unsmiling Serb a full season with HIS team, not Kline's team.
OUR DEFENCE
A debate that could rage forever. For too long we have had a porous defence, long before Slav, or Kit. I do not know if it the coaching staff, the manager, or our style of play, but something is amiss. Maybe it is just the mentality surrounding the whole club, maybe it is something deeper. Gus Poyet, said there was something deeply wrong with Sunderland, but he couldn't put his finger on what was wrong, and maybe it is the same with our defensive problems. It just may take some time to fix. Nobody can say Kalas is a bad player, even though he has not shone this season, and Ream and Odoi have improved. There is a definitely a problem, but if the professionals can't fix it, then I doubt us armchair coaches can fix it.
STRONGER DIVISION
We, as a team, overachieved last year, and rightly our expectations were greater, but it is clear this is a much stronger league than last year. The three defeated play-off teams, all sit mid table, us included. Wolves and Middlesbrough both spent big, even though the latter only sit 3 points clear of FFC. Villa spent money and already had a Premier league squad that wasn't dismantled. Virtually every club invested incoming money on players suited to the Championship. The big surprises at the top are Bristol City and Sheff Utd, but I don't expect either of them to maintain their high positions. FFC also spent some money on players like Fonte, but the majority of our signings do not know the Championship, let alone English football. Fonte is a flop, totally unsuited to English football, and Djallo looks out of his depth, not to mention some others like Kamara. We should have kept our squad (Aluko) intact, and strengthened with players who know English football, not players who tick the right boxes in the stats column. For this the blame lies firmly at Kline, and the Khan's door. Murray, or Abrahams, both wanted by Slavisa, should have been brought in to give us goals, but they weren't for various reasons. Blame Slav all you want, but he can only work with what he is given.
IN SUMMARY
Since the international break, we have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 1. Defeat at Brentford is hard to take, but it is not the end of the world. A good little run will put us on the edge of the play-offs, and remember it was this time last year we started our season. We may all be getting a little jittery, but it is not all doom and gloom just yet. I for one will be 100% behind Slavisa and the lads come Saturday.

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© Nic Smith

TIME FOR CHANGE? THE FULHAM DEBATE

After watching last night's flat performance against Wolves, it would have been easy to make a knee jerk reaction, calling for "Slav out", or "Khan out". Social media was awash with "who's to blame", "so and so is useless", "next manager?", and the obligatory "no plan B". We are all entitled to our views, and we all feel that we are possibly correct, and that everybody who does not agree with us are talking nonsense, or "they don't understand football". In reality, we are all correct, but on Monday I will return to my job which is not as a coach of a Championship football club, and everybody else, who complains on social media will go back to their jobs as plumbers, bankers, teachers etc. etc.

The point is, that while we are entitled to our view, we should remember that the coaching staff at FFC have much more knowledge and experience than any of us. Playing FM or FIFA does not make us good coaches, in fact it makes us worse coaches, because we are learning how the software can make our teams better, and the software does not take into account the intricate nature of human beings and their interaction with other human beings.

This morning I read an excellent article by Danny Fullbrook which can be found here- http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/11/slavisa-out-why-fulham-fans-should-keep-the-faith/. I

tI agree with Danny to a certain extent, especially in that we should keep faith in Slavisa and his methods. So please indulge me and allow me to share my "objective" views on why we should not rush into anything with regards to our club's dilemma. Anybody who has read my previous articles will know that I am a big fan of Slavisa, and I am certain that with the right personnel we could have pushed on from last season.

Signings-

The "who buys the players" debate will probably go on forever, but it was clear that Kline had too much say on who we bought. Slavisa bemoaned the fact that he had little say on transfers repeatedly, and I disagree with those people who said "he was just moaning". Why would Slav moan just for the sake of it? There is no logical argument for anybody to make that assertion. It is obvious that the coach was being overruled on any decisions regarding signings. That is something that needs to change, and now with Kline gone I am certain that Slav will be given much more say. Unfortunately, he only has the "difficult to buy anybody" January transfer window this season. If Slav stays until next summer, then I expect some much better signings.

Aluko and Malone-

The worst bit of business the club did in the summer was selling these two. Although Aluko was not a great goalscorer, he gave us something different and Ayite (who has gone backwards) will never replace him. Slav knew how integral Aluko was to the team and went public saying he did not want the club to sell him. Malone was a strange sale, because we had nobody to cover left-back. Whether we could have kept Malone, because of the lure of Prem. football, or not, is difficult to say, but he should have been replaced straight away, and by somebody who was fit. Fundamentally, these two players gave the team balance, and allowed Sessegnon to play in his natural role of left wing-back.

Strikers-

Put simply, we needed two strikers, one big striker and one box striker. What we got was Fonte and Kamara, neither of whom has stood out. £8 million for Fonte was a total waste of money. One good season with Braga, in the Portuguese league was never going to make him a good player in the much more physical Championship. Apart from one excellent finish at Ipswich he has done nothing of any significance. Kamara has no real pedigree, having played for Monaco B, and Amiens in the lower leagues of French football. Nobody can claim that outside of 5 or 6 clubs, most French clubs would not struggle in the First Division let alone the Championship. Kamara looks clumsy, slow and unable to hold up the ball. What the club needed to do was to buy proven players from the Championship or the First Division, who understood the physical demands of English football. Even keeping big Matty Smith would have given us an option to switch to "plan B".

Plan B and tactics-

"Plan B" now seems to be the only thing on FFC fans' lips, and rightly so. But let's look at the facts. Firstly, what is "Plan B"? It's all very well shouting for "Plan B", but we have to back it up with what our vision of "Plan B" is. Is it to go more direct? If so, we need a front man who is big enough to win the duels and hold the ball up. That is one luxury, Fulham FC do not have, so that option would just give the opposition the possession all of the time. We could go with our wingers in more advanced positions, draw teams on to us, and then release the wingers down the channels with balls over the top. The problem with that is, that Sess and Fredericks would have to play more defensively, as they could both be exposed with less cover. We could go 3 at the back- tried and failed against Bristol City. We could go 2 up front, which has been mooted by some fans, but we need complimentary strikers to do that, which we do not have. And, that option would leave us short in midfield, in a league where most teams play with 5 in midfield. The options for "Plan B" are endless, but we have to have the players who can compliment the tactics, and new tactics take a long time to instil and implement. Virtually every team presses us high up now, because they have worked us out, and we need a different option to stop this from happening, but Slav and his coaching team can only work with the materials (players) they have got at their disposal. I am certain that Slav and his team know exactly what we know, and they are working hard to do something about it. 

High expectations-

Last season we came from nowhere and suddenly, we all thought 'next season we will push on'. We were on a roll and we expected it to continue. Maybe, just maybe, we over-achieved last season. Maybe, we weren't as good as we thought. Maybe, we were too over-reliant on Tom Cairney who stayed fit. My prediction at the start of the season was 7th to 10th, with an outside chance of the play-offs. The summer signings had not inspired me to think we could finish top six, let alone top two. That does not make me some "expert after the fact", but I do think we all got carried away. After all, if Leeds hadn't messed up so badly, we wouldn't have made the play-offs at all.

Overall reflections-

The players look drained of confidence, but I do not think that is down to Slavisa "losing the dressing room" as some have suggested on social media. Maybe the players were, also, buzzing from last season, and when you are on a high and things don't go well it is easy to become incredibly despondent, and start to question yourself and you ability. It is obvious from press reports, that Kline was a very disruptive "human being", and he may have upset too many people around the club. Modern football teams are very close knit operations and if one person is p**sing everybody off, it can have a massive effect. The fact that Shahid Khan got rid of Kline should not be underestimated, as it shows he is behind the coaching staff, rather than his son's best mate. With Kline gone, and an international break, we have time to gain some stability inside the club. We would do well to remember, that it was this international break that was the catalyst for our excellent run last season. A couple of wins on the bounce and the confidence will come back. Now is not the time for knee-jerk reactions, and as fans need to back the coach, players and club. I, personally think Slavisa is the best man for the job, and bringing in a new coach will mean the season just drifts away as the new man would need a lot of time to instil new tactics.

*This article is meant as an opinion, and is not intended to deny the opinions of others*.

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© Nic Smith

THE TRIP TO VILLA AND REPORT

Was it worth it? It's always worth watching the Whites, and being a positive observer, I try to take some good memories, but losing is bad at any time, but in a hole like Birmingham it is pretty dismal.
We got the early train and even though it was the slower (and cheaper) option the journey wasn't that bad. Even met some Wolves fans travelling from Banbury, and they told us that Villa were pretty poor. We go to Birmingham Moor Street, and headed off to the Bullring. As with most away fans we googled the nearest Spoons, and found ourselves in the Square Peg. At 10.45 is was very busy and has probably the longest bar I have seen, at 85 feet app. The class of clientelle was fairly poor, and a few dodgy looking characters came and went, one even selling mobile phones (probably nicked from the night before). A few beers later and we headed off to New Street to find a drinking hole nearer the ground. Somebody told me that they had done up the Bullring, but it still looked pretty dismal to me. 
So, we got to Witton and headed to the Witton Arms, which apparently is the only away fans pub in the area. Even the Villa website "confirms" this. There were 3 big looking lads at the gate who decided to relieve of us of a £2 pound entry fee. Not sure why you have to pay 2 quid to get into a pub, but it is what it is. Inside there were a few Fulham lads, but this gaff made the pub in Shameless look like a gastro pub. It is impossible to describe how basic this pub was, but maybe the £2 entry was to buy some paint from the nearest Wickes. Add to that several IRA supporting flags, and you get the picture. It was a sh*thole, which is pretty much in keeping with the rest of the city. The Fulham lads were in good voice as the pub filled up more, but there must have been another pub where our lads were meeting.
After that it was off to the ground, which is pretty impressive, although a little sterile these days.

It was great to see Fredericks back, which should fill us with optimism, and with TC on the bench, again, we could at least dare to dream. To be honest, the first half was a pretty drab affair as Villa, like most teams this season, pressed us high up knowing we pass out from the back. There were a few half chances for both teams, but nothing of any substance. Then a free kick was floated into our box, and the "Pikie from Chelscum" got across the front of our defence and nodded past Button. To make matters worse, he thought it was fun to celebrate his goal in front of our fans. As the half was coming to a close, we won a free kick on the edge of the box which Johansen placed in the far corner.......1-1!!
The second half didn't start much better, but the Whites looked more up for it, and we started to take control. But a mistake from Ream gave them possession, and they scored from close in at the back post. When TC came on, you could see why we miss him so much, as he started to find space, and control the midfield. Ayite should have scored when presented with an easy chance in the middle of their goal, and with Fonte also missing, we knew it wasn't going to be our day. After that Villa just defended as we passed the ball around trying to walk the ball into the net. So, that was it, back to the centre, a quick pint and back to London. 
Player ratings
Button- Made a couple of good stops, and didn't do too much wrong. The only criticism is his passing out from defence, but if that is how he is asked to play, he will make mistakes.- 7
Fredericks- Although not fully match fit, he showed why we need him so much with his runs at the opposition defence. Tired near the end and looked like his knock was starting to trouble him, but still better than the alternatives- 8
Kalas- Although he lost the ball a couple of times when dribbling out, he was solid enough and gave his usual 120%- 7
Ream- Probably his worst game of the season. His excellent, recent, improvement was missing and he was at fault for their second goal- 5
Sessegnon- At the risk of upsetting his many admirers, I thought he was poor today. He is simply not a left back, and although he made a few good forward runs, maybe it is time to give him a rest- 6
Norwood- Played his usual game, but he doesn't have the movement or passing of TC. His early booking may have held him back a little, also, but overall looked pretty average- 6
McDonald- Didn't do anything wrong and had a solid game. Has played better, but it more effective when TC plays- 7
Johansen- Lost a little of his recent form, but he is still vital to the team. Scored a good free kick, but it was a shame to see him go off injured- 7
Fonte- Basically, the jury is still out on him. Didn't do anything to justify his price tag. Tried too many fancy flicks and was not strong enough to make any impression- 4
Ayite- Didn't really do too much to worry the opposition, and I would have preferred to see Kebano above him. Needed to take players on more, but reasonably solid enough performance- 6
Kamara- If you want to set yourself up for a fall, then name yourself AK47 before the season starts. He may have been a little isolated in this game, but didn't do anything of note- 5
Subs-
Cairney- He could come on at 50% fitness and he would still run the show. Looked effective all the way through, and you could see why Villa backed off, deeper and deeper. Another impressive performance from a man only half fit- 8
Kebano- Only had 11 minutes, and by then  Villa were defending the game- 6
Cisse- Put himself about, but not enough quality for me- 6

Overall
Whether it is the international break, or the opposition having sussed our short passing from the back, we looked, once again, like a one man team. We need to solve the left back problem and we need a proven "out and out" striker. Villa weren't that good, but they do have quality players. On our best day, and with TC fit, we would have won. But, we should be realistic as we were away at one of the favourites. We can play better but we need to stop being so predictable with our passing out from the back, as it means the opposition can press us high up. We find ourselves only 3 points off the play-offs with this setback, and with two winnable games coming up, this game will soon be forgotten.

Overall day out
It is always great to travel away with FFC, but Birmingham is a dump. 

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IN SLAVISA WE TRUST

*This is just a humble opinion from a loyal fan*

© Nic Smith

WHAT'S WRONG WITH FULHAM FC ?

The mixed reaction from White's fans, to this season's opening, raises a lot of questions. For those interested to read my objective (sort of) take on this, here are my opinions. 

FAN EXPECTATIONS
Have we the fans got carried away with last season's position, and expected a leap up to the next stage? I think every fan has the right to be optimistic, but we were the surprise team last season, coming from what looked like mid-table to snatch a play-off spot, playing the best football in the division. So, have we been over optimistic ? I don't think so. Every fan expects their team to push on from last season, and with the best coach in the division, those expectations should be realistic. But, we the fans, need to remember that it is a long, 46 game season, and we are only eight games in. The last thing we should do, is start getting on the players' backs. There is much more to this than, the players not performing, and the coach not having a plan B. 
So, let's look at this in depth.
The defence
This is one area where there seems to have been an improvement, considering our goals against column of last season. Kalas is, probably, the best CB in the division, and Ream has improved massively. Fredericks is a magnificent RB/RWB, and although he can be a little rash defensively, his attacking forays more than make up for that. Whatever Odoi's true position is, he has been immense when covering at CB. Where we look weak is at LB, because it is obvious, the hugely talented Sessegnon is not a LB. He is not good as a defender positionally, and maybe when he matures he will be, but we sorely miss Malone. Forget Aluko, selling Malone was the worst bit of business the board did all summer. We haven't replaced him, and Soares (on loan) is an unknown quantity, and he is injured as well. Even with Soares, we have little natural cover in that position. Djalo and Madl provide cover, but Djalo hasn't convinced so far. 
Midfield
Still the best midfield in the division. Norwood is quality even though he hasn't adapted to our style yet. Kevin Mc is class, and provides good cover along with his range of passing. Johansen hasn't started well, but I think he is excellent, which I will cover a little later. Kebano and Ayite (not a striker) both have enough about them to worry most defences. Ojo is difficult to judge so early, but he doesn't look like a starting player for me. Cisse is a lump, but I am not sure he can match Kevin Mc in the passing department. Mollo is a conundrum, looking powerful and tricky, but his over eagerness makes him look like a "red card waiting to happen". Jordan Graham is highly rated, and given some game time I think he may be the surprise star of the season. And then there is Tom Cairney, who I will cover in a separate section.
Strikers
I am tempted to say "strikers, what strikers?". Here I am talking about natural strikers, not Ojo, Ayite or Piazon. Fonte is clearly the best one, but he has just arrived and this is the Championship not the Portuguese league, where only 2 or 3 teams have realistic chances of winning the title. I think he has goals in him, but it may take a while before he gets used to English football. Kamara is our only other out and out striker, and he looks like he may have something about him, but he will also need time to acclimatise. So where is the cover? Do we play the small Ayite up front, or do we give Humphreys a chance? For me, we needed to buy a player who knows what the Championship is all about, if we are to make a serious attempt at automatic promotion.
The TOM CAIRNEY factor
This, surely, has to be our Achilles' heel, because without TC we only look half the side compared to when he is playing. Everything goes through TC, even when the ball is not played to him. He is the focal point, and the one that the opposition is watching, allowing more space on the flanks. He is so good at finding space, turning and linking up play, it causes massive headaches for the opposition. TC, naturally, finds the gaps between the opposition lines, drawing players to him, and leaving more space for our wingers to exploit. Not to mention the goals he adds to the team. Which brings me on to Johansen (see above). Johansen needs TC, because when TC receives the ball it opens up space for him to run into. Without TC the opposition don't get drawn out of position, leaving them time to pick up the runs of Johansen. If you think I am talking nonsense, then just watch how Johansen ghosts into positions when TC becomes the focal point. Put simply, he has more space when TC is playing. All of this is a problem, be cause the plain fact is that we have nobody who can try and play in the same style as TC. I am certain that Slavisa is working on this in training, but for the whole of last season we did not have to do without the main man. I hate to say it, but we are a one man team, or only half a team without him. 
Slavisa Jokanovic
Simply, the best coach we have had in a long while, and playing the "Fulham way". I am not going to bang on about how much I rate the man as a coach, and how I believe he can take us forward. People say he has no plan B, and that may be true, but I will defend him in saying we don't have the squad or players to change our style too much. 
The opposition
Basically, they have sussed us out. On our day, the opposition can do all the homework, on us, that they want, and we will still beat them. But, a lot of teams are pressing us higher now, and know what we are going to do, so when we are not at our best we become easier to play against. 
Transfer policy
I have discussed my opinion in an earlier blog, and I still believe that Slavisa should have more say on who he wants. Khan Jr. and Kline's obsession with stats is surely holding the coach back, and I am not a fan of so many loan signings (yes I do understand the bit about FFP). We need to sort the transfer policy out, or Slav will leave.
S0, what is wrong with Fulham FC?
After 8 games it is too early to panic. Our biggest problem is that we miss TC. We need a solution at LB. We need a proven Championship striker. We are no longer a surprise, as we are now a big threat. But let's not panic yet. TC will be back soon. Soares may stay injury free and be as good as is expected. Fonte, or Kamara, may prove to be stars and score bundles of goals. And, our mediocre start may make teams think about us as not so much of a threat. 
I, personally, think we will be alright and we will make the play-offs, but if not I will be there next season full of optimism and belief.

P.S. These are only my humble opinions
P.P.S. On a less serious note, me and my mate AS want Cyriac back.

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IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
COYWs

© Nic Smith

FFC 1 NCFC 1

Although there are many people analysing yesterday's performance and drawing conclusions, it is probably a little premature to start worrying too much about the coming season. It wasn't the result we wanted, but the first few weeks of the season are always going to be a lottery. New players, tactical tweaks and a lack of competitive action are always going to take time. But, yesterday's performance did highlight where Fulham are going to need to strengthen, if we are to mount a serious attempt at automatic promotion.

An excellent crowd witnessed Fulham control much of the first half, possession wise, without threatening the Norwich goal too often. Fredericks got forward well, but too often his final pass was not good enough (P.S. I am a big fan of Fredericks). Cairney looked nowhere near 100%, even though he still stood out. An own goal from Martin gave the Whites the lead, and had we got another before half time, it would probably have been done and dusted. From the stands it was clear that the Norwich number 8, Vrancic, was managing to find space and was dictating everything that they tried to do. In my, humble, opinion this should have been picked up on and his obvious threat should have been nullified. The second half saw Norwich start to take control, and the Whites started to drop deeper, with Vrancic being allowed way too much freedom just outside of our box. The fans around me, seemed to know the inevitable was coming, and sure enough it was Oliveira who nicked an equaliser, even though replays showed he was offside. A few late flurries suggested we might nick the lead again, but it wasn't to be, and overall a draw was a fair result.

Ratings
Button- Had a solid game and did not faff about with the ball at his feet- 7
Fredericks- Got forward well, especially on the overlap, but his final ball was poor, and played a little narrow defensively- 6
Kalas- Good solid game, and still looks Premier league class- 7
Ream- The best player in White. Has come on massively since the first half of last season, and looks comfortable at CB. Made some important challenges- 8
Sessegnon- Displayed his massive potential going forward, but looks like a rabbit caught in headlights, when it comes to defensive positioning. Not a left back for me, more of a wing back.- 6
Norwood- When involved he linked up play well, but does not look like he has the passing vision of Kevin McD. New to the team so unfair to criticise-7
Johansen- Seemed to disappear for periods of the game, but his engine cannot be questioned. Given more competitive game time, he will surely be more prominent- 6
Cairney- As always looked good on the ball, but not up to full game speed because of his injury. Still looked a class above most of the fit players-7
Ayite- A quieter game from Ayite, but still had something to offer-7
Kebano- Much the same as Ayite, showing some trickery, but only occasionally-7
Aluko- For me, probably one of his worst games in White. I couldn't work out where he was playing as sometimes he was in the middle, sometimes on the wing, and sometimes in defensive midfield. Didn't do enough to worry the opposition- 6
Odoi- Looked uncomfortable at left back, even though that is his old position-6
Cisse- Came on too late for me to form an opinion, but looked to want get involved- 6
Kamara- Much too early to tell as he has had only 4 training sessions with the club. Looked hungry, and not afraid to go for goal. On one occasion he had the option to lay it back, but went for goal, but he is a striker and they sometimes need to be greedy- 7

Overall-
It is clear that Sess is not a full back, and we need cover in that position since the departure of Malone. McDonald was clearly missed because of his excellent passing. It is hard to take too many lessons from this game, but there needs to be a few additions to the squad if we are going to challenge up the top.

MOM- Vrancic
FFC MOM- Ream

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COYWs

© Nic Smith.

STATS VS TRADITION

So, the argument rages on, or so it seems. What is the best method when it comes to deciding which players a club should sign, or in this case Fulham FC? It has been much reported that Slavisa Jokanovic is unhappy with his lack of input into who the club buy. What the real story is, only the club and coach know, but his quotes seem genuine enough. On social media, a whole debate has been going on as to whether the coach should decide or those in power, who hold the purse strings should decide. Both sides have a valid argument, in that Slavisa wants to build a promotion winning side, and the board want to make certain that the club is financially viable. I am certain that there are other fans, of other clubs, who are engaged in similar debates. 

Statistical approach coupled with moneyballs.
I do not claim to know how Kline uses the statistics or what algorithms he uses to reach a decision on whether a player should sing for FFC. It is probably much more complex than a lay person like me can imagine. However, it has been likened to the "Football Manager" computer game. The man takes the statistics for a multitude of aspects of a players game, and comes to his conclusion. I have played CM and FM, and I have had to remind myself it is a computer game and not the real thing. No computer game can replicate the complexity of tactics used in the real world, and the computer cannot replicate a players mood, or momentary lapse of concentration. And it cannot replicate the man management needed in the dressing room, where a player's character has to be handled in the correct way. I am not for one moment suggesting that Kline uses his stats in the same way as we may do when playing FM. I do however have to ask how these statistics are compiled and how much they truly reflect a player's performance. For example, a defensive midfielder may break up the game and play a lot of short passes to the nearest players. This could give him a pass success rate of 90%, but if they are mainly short passes, how effective is that 90% statistic? In other words, does it truly reflect the effectiveness of those passes. If Kevin McD attempts a lot of long, or telling passes, the chances of him having a 90% success rate are much slimmer, as they are much more difficult passes to execute and more likely to be cut out. On the other hand if Kevin McD makes two or three defence splitting passes during the game, his value to the result is much more important. A person could make this argument for many positions on the field, and for many scenarios.
The issue I, personally ,have is who is compiling these stats and how in depth are they going, before analysing every single pass, shot or tackle etc., and their overall effectiveness, in the grander scheme of things. And are the people analysing every players' performance, people who understand the deep complexities of football, or are they just number crunchers? In other words , are they just counting the number of passes without actually thinking about the effectiveness in relation to the overall picture?
The "moneyballs" argument makes some sense in that, with football clubs under more and more financial scrutiny, the club do not want to buy players who may have no resale value. Thus, a player will not be bought if he is over 28. I agree that buying too many ageing players is not a good idea, financially, but it should not be strictly adhered to, as seems the case with Kline. What is wrong with signing one excellent 30 year old if he is going to help the team reach it's goals more than a 23 year old who may offer a resale value but is not as good?

The traditional approach.
This needs little explanation. Every football coach has his own philosophy on how he wants his team to play, and he wants the players to compliment his philosophy, and the players best suited to carrying out his tactics. A good football coach should have a flexible philosophy, meaning that he can adapt to each game, and the different opposition the team is faced with. It does not matter how effective the philosophy is in getting results, there are too many other factors that affect a club's season (injuries, opposition tactics, player's mood etc.), and for that the coach must be flexible whilst still sticking to his philosophy somewhat. Ipswich away, last season, was a prime example of where Slavisa was flexible with his desired tactical philosophy. The coach must also man-manage, and that means having the player's with the right mentality for his character and for the style of football he wants to play. The argument may be that footballers are highly paid professionals, and they should be following the tactical orders to the best of their ability. This is nonsense, they are still human beings with moods, lives outside of football etc. and they are not robots. This is where the coach uses his man-management skills and can decided which players are in the right frame of mind, or need the right type of management to prepare them mentally for the game. 
When signing a player, the coach, under the traditional method, will be alerted to potential signings by his scouts and he will then study the player and decide whether that player will fit into his tactical philosophy, and also whether he is good enough to play at the level required. Although, there are many factors to be considered, this is the fundamental approach to signing players in the traditional way.

Conclusion (my personal opinion)
The traditional way is my preferred method, if there was a straight choice between the two methods. And before any readers shout that "I am a dinosaur", I am fully au fait with the modern methods and modern technology. Football coaches are the scapegoats if things go wrong, so it is unfair to blame them if they have had no responsibility in signing players. Football coaches know which players best suit their tactics and style of play, and it is impossible to continue with the philosophy if you are given the wrong types of players. There could be an argument, that the coach should alter the style of play, a little, to accommodate players he has had no say in signing. But, in my eyes, that makes the coach slightly redundant, and what would be the point in him having his own unique, tactical philosophy. If it was that easy, for a coach to adapt to players he does not want, then the club may as well just employ any Tom, Dick, or Harry, with the correct  coaching badges. I remember clearly when Abramovich insisted on signing Shevchenko against the wishes of Mourinho, and it wasn't long after that Mourinho left Chelsea. 
Maybe a compromise could be found to accommodate both methods. Slavisa could compile a list of possible signings, all players he thought were ideal for his tactical philosophy, and achieve his ambition of taking the club to the next level. He could, then, give that list to Kline and his mates, and then Kline could advise Slavisa on the players he thinks match his statistical requirements. Then they could sit down like adults, with the rest of the coaching staff, and make the correct decisions. But ultimately, the final decision must be given to the man who is responsible for getting results, and the man who will be sacked if he does not achieve those results. If Slavisa, genuinely, believes he is being ignored in this respect, then I know who I would sack.

*This article is the opinion of the contributors, and is not meant as anything more than an opinion*

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© Nic Smith

WHAT'S SLAV GOT TO DO WITH IT?

After yesterday's humbling defeat, and Slavisa's after match comments, once again there seems to be confusion as to what is going on at our beloved club. I am no more of an expert than the next person, but having played football at a reasonable level, and having tried my hand at coaching, there seems to be some obvious truths when it comes to who decides who plays for the team.

Whether Slavisa's words came out as he meant them, or he was simply venting some guarded frustration, the fact remains that the man responsible for getting results on the pitch, must have some say in what tools he uses to achieve the best result. Imagine a carpenter being told which saws to use, and then be told to build the best cabinet ever, even thought he knows the saws aren't the best ones for the job. Slavisa is rightly frustrated that he is "being ignored" when it comes to transfer policy. The man knows how he wants his team to play, and, at this level, fine details are of utmost importance. Every little tactical tweak, can mean the difference between winning and losing, and to make those tweaks, the manager has to have the players he knows are up to the task. Football coaches have ideas swirling around in their head, they have their own unique visions as to how to play every match, and, importantly, they have their own ideas as to which players can compliment their ideas and vision. To put it simply, you cannot give a person a jigsaw with odd pieces and expect them to put it together perfectly. The Fulham overseers think that they can just use stats and then hope that the players who best fit those stats will match Slavisa's vision.
I am certain, that Slavisa tells the board etc. how he wants to play, and what type of players he wants, but are the people he is telling knowledgeable enough about football to understand what he wants? Kline (who deserves no other title than Kline) was employed, basically, because he went to Uni with Tony Khan, the owner's son. I very much doubt he has even kicked a football, let alone be experienced enough to know how good a football player is. And this is the man who decides which players Slavisa can have. Shahid Khan's claim to sporting fame is that of owning the worst franchise in American football history. I won't knock the owner too much, because he has to run the club like a business and that means being prudent. What I will slate him for is his obvious nepotism in allowing his son and his son's best mate (Kline) too much say over transfer policy. 
Football is not like American sports, which are more robotic, and stats can be used more effectively. Football is fluid, meaning all the integral parts have to work together at all times. Attack helps defence, and defence helps attack, all intertwined with a midfield that links the two together. It may seem like the simplest sport in the world, but it is probably the most complex, given the need for all the parts to work in harmony. "Poor man's rugby", or American football, does not work in the same way, as when the attack breaks down, they simply change the athletes for a bunch of "meatheads" to stop the other team from scoring. It is much easier to use stats to pick the fast and trickiest athletes for attacking purposes, when you know those players don't have to combine to defend as well. Similarly this works for the defence. 
Then we come to the "moneyballs" policy. Apparently, this works by not buying anybody over 28, because they will not have a resale value. Granted, nobody wants a team of over 30's who are not going to be playing for many future seasons, but a football club is not a car boot sale, where everything must have a sell on value. If Leo Messi is 31, and wants to play for FFC, I would take him over any good youngster. If we sign three 30 year-olds who will get us up, and make us better then surely that is for the good of the club, and the extra revenue generated by playing at a higher level. 
Despite Slavisa's comments, yesterday, I think he loves the club and the supporters enough, that he will not walk away. He said he would love to stay here and build a ten year project, and I, for one, believe him. But, to build that project, he needs the tools that he decides are best to complete that project, not tools that are decided by stats and their resale value. What the chairman and the board need to realise is that we, the supporters, are 200% behind Slavisa, and if he walks, then it is quite feasible, that many of us will become disillusioned also. We have the best manager/coach in the Championship, and it is difficult to imagine whom we could entice to replace him. There is only one man to take this club back to where it belongs, and that man is not Khan, Kline or any of us, that man is SLAVISA JOKANOVIC. It is time the chairman and the board started listening to us and Slavisa.

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© Nic Smith

THE MOST IMPORTANT SIGNING.

The news that Tomas Kalas has returned on loan from Chelsea has been greeted with much excitement across social media. The club also seem very pleased with his acquisition. All Fulham fans know how good he is as a player, but Kalas brings so much more than being a good defender.

Any Whites' fan who saw him last season will be know that he is technically one of the best, if not the best, defenders in the Championship. He is brave strong, and will run until he falls over, all qualities needed in this league. With Cisse, in front of the back four (or three), there is a good physical presence around the defensive area of our team, something that is needed in what is often a physical division. The only down side with Kalas is that he is not so tall as some defenders, but if he lacks in that department, he more than makes up for it with his sheer willingness to fight for every ball. There were games last season where he looked a class apart from everybody else on the field. The one thing that Mr. Kalas has in abundance is heart, proving that some loan players will give more than 90%, he gives 150% every game. At times it was like watching a player who had been raised by FFC, as he wore the shirt with a pride that England players should do. He clearly loves the club, and I am certain that if we had been able to afford him, and his wages, then he would have signed for us at the drop of a hat. I, for one, genuinely believe that he would join us if he could, and I also believe having him on the pitch gives us two captains, along with TC.

His signing brings so much more, if we think about it tactically. He knows our system, he knows Madl, Ream and Sigurdsson. If he is paired with any of those three, then it will be a much more natural fit, having already spent a season, playing and training with them. It also allows Slavisa the luxury of having time to integrate Djalo into the club and system. Djalo has been criticised on sections of social media, but this is unfair, because it is based on a few friendlies. None of us know how good, or bad, Djalo is so he will need time to settle. The return of Kalas facilitates this. 
To put it quite simply, Kalas loves the club, he knows the team, he knows our system and he obviously loves working for the gaffer. With the best midfield in the division, and now possibly the best defender in the division, the pieces are all coming together. 3 or 4 more signings and we are "On our way". If the fans are buzzing about the signing of Kalas, then imagine what the squad is feeling. 

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WHICH FULHAM DWARF ARE YOU? HAPPY OR GRUMPY?

It has been an eventful week for the Whites, with the arrival of Oliver Norwood on loan, and the much awaited new kit launch. But, are the Fulham faithful happy or grumpy? It seems that no matter what our club does, there are some people who will never be satisfied.

Let's take a look at Oliver Norwood, first. Even thought the "Fulham moaners" are not criticising the player himself, it still does not seem to be enough for them. On social media there are moans about the lack of other signings, moans about it being "yet another loan deal", etc. etc. Norwood is 26, having played 33 times for Brighton in their promotion winning season, and he also has 43 caps for Northern Ireland. He is proven at this level and adds depth to an already strong midfield. It would have been nice if the moaners had just been content with signing Norwood, instead of looking for other ways to criticise the club. Things take time with transfers in the modern era, as there are agents looking for the best deals, or for unrealistic deals, meaning the clubs have to be cautious and not make knee jerk reactions that may not be in the best interests of the club. It is widely accepted that we need another centre back, a left back and 2 strikers. With the arrival of Kalas, highly likely, one of those requirements should be fulfilled. Left back can quite easily be filled by Sessegnon, even though he is better suited as a wing back, but Odoi is versatile enough to play in that position. Not ideal, but not all doom and gloom either. The striker position is the biggest worry, but there seems to be a dearth of good strikers available for the right money. Last season Fulham were joint top scorers without a proven striker for much of the season, and even though we need a striker the team are capable of scoring goals from anywhere. With more than a month until the window closes, I am certain we will have at least one striker, who suits our system, in place. We should be applauding the arrival of Oliver Norwood, not looking for ways to moan off of the back of good news.

Then we come to the new kit. In my opinion it is not a bad looking kit, probably not my choice, but nonetheless it is still a nice design. After all, we all have our own tastes and the club cannot keep everybody happy. The moaners are moaning about the sponsor being a casino and the message it sends out because "we are a family club". Do me a favour!!!! Many clubs are sponsored by casinos, online gambling etc. Maybe the club should have tried to be sponsored by "Soft and Cuddly Cushions" for £10 a season instead. Sponsors help to balance the books in respect of FFP, and it seems that the deal with Grosvenor Casinos is a lucrative one. I would like to ask the moaners if they are teetotal, because when little Johnny asks mummy "where daddy is", and mummy replies "down the pub with his FFC mates", what message is that sending out to his son? The biggest moaners are usually the biggest hypocrites. Drinking alcohol is a social thing, or at least that is how it starts out, whereas as gambling is usually a personal thing. I, genuinely, don't think that having a casino as a sponsor is going to drive hordes of FFC fans into the evil clutches of "Mr. Casino". And if those moaners took time to look on the FFC website, they will see that the child's shirts are not emblazoned with the sponsors name. Thus, I would think the club are being responsible rather than irresponsible. 

There is less than 2 weeks before the first competitive match, so we should ALL be getting behind the club 100%. But as Chas and Dave sang, for some people, "There ain't no pleasing you".

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST.

COYWs.

© Nic Smith

WE'RE DOOMED

Following on with the Dad's Army theme, after reading the multitude of negative comments on a certain facebook group page, I want to put a positive spin on all things Fulham.

Agreed, we all have little moans here and there, and the club can be frustrating, but we are the fans, the ones who should be getting behind every one of our players and management team. The Button hating is reaching new highs, or should that be "lows". Button was a good keeper at Brentford, and I can't believe he is still not a good keeper. Slavisa likes us to play out from the back, and Button is simply following tactical orders. It may not be Button's natural way to play this way, and in that I agree we need to find a keeper who can play that way, naturally. But, that does not mean it is Button's fault. Bettinelli's kicking left something to be desired, at times, at the end of last season, and much as I like Marcus, I don't think he is the finished article. Button is probably more agile, and neither looks comfortable on crosses. Guardiola had the same problem at Man City, wanting to find a keeper who could play out from the back, which Hart is not so good at, but on the other hand Hart was by far the best shot stopper City had. So what's the answer? There are very few keepers who have both talents, so the coaches must sacrifice one aspect of the keeper's game for another. We cannot play long from the back, and I doubt our supporters would enjoy that style of football, anyway. If Button had not come from Brentford, the constant "hating" of him would not exist. Slavisa is at Motspur Park, every training session, and he must see things in Button, that we as the best "armchair coaches" in the world do not. I think it is time we cut him some slack.
The other big moan is about the lack of players brought in. As mentioned in a previous article, only Malone has been sold from the regular squad, and with Djalo and Cisse brought in, it appears to be balanced in our favour, even though I think we need another left back. Edun is likely to get more first team action this season, and it is highly likely Kalas will return. We have the nucleus of the same team as last season. Fulham need a striker, and while it seems slow on that front, strikers are much easier to integrate into our system, and we have two weeks before the first game. We probably need two strikers, a centre back, a left back, and a keeper. Even if we don't fulfil all those needs by opening day, we are still strong enough to beat most teams. And, let us not forget that apart from Middlesborough, there has been very little activity from any of our rivals. It may be worrying about the lack of signings, but it is hardly the end of the world just yet.
Another moan is about the new kit. Really? Visit Florida want to reduce their sponsorship money, despite our excellent season. We, as fans, don't know the legal terms of any contract the club have with Visit Florida, and they may have first option, meaning we cannot just ditch them and find a new sponsor (if there are any willing takers). I agree, it is not a good situation for fans wanting the new shirt, but is it really the end of the world? Until we know the ins and outs of the deal with Visit Florida, we cannot blame the club for this situation.

The big complaint from me, would be over season tickets not being sent. When I renewed mine, I was told that my existing season ticket card would not be updated, and the club were issuing new cards for everybody. Apparently, the Visit Florida logo was either going to be on the card, or somebody else's logo would be on the card, so the old cards were going to be redundant. Given the situation regarding the new shirt, I can see where the problems may lie. But, for fans, this is the most pressing issue, as we will have to rely on the Royal Mail, or worse, when they are sent out. Why the club need somebody's logo on a card that is only going to be seen by me, is ridiculous. I can just imagine the chaos on opening match day if thousands of people have not received their cards by then. 
Finally, this is where I question the running of the club. All ST holders, and members, give their email addresses. The club are quite happy to send me generic emails trying to relieve me of some of my cash, so why can't they send out a generic email, every so often, informing us of the situation regarding shirts and season tickets. It would take somebody 30 minutes, at most, to tell people what is happening, and to allay any panic. And what is even more foolish is that the Club's phone lines will be inundated over the next two weeks from fans asking about their season tickets. That seems a useless waste of resources, considering there are probably people starting to think about buying tickets for the upcoming games. Do the club really want the phone lines blocked up by complaints, meaning other people cannot get through? Or maybe that is what they want considering how much we pay when ringing the club. Maybe the club see it as a way of making revenue by having us sit on the phone for ages waiting to get through. Or am I just being cynical?

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© Nic Smith

CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

It is probably a little early for an accurate prediction, as there is still plenty of activity in the transfer market to come, but here are some early thoughts.

Aston Villa- Were favourites for the league with some bookies, but I can't quite see how. Steve Bruce has a good track record, but something was clearly missing at Villa last season. There are no exciting signings, and although Terry will add experience, the Championship teams will be a new style for him, and his ageing legs may catch him out. If he can manage Grealish properly, and get McContract under control, then they may improve from last season. Realistically, without some new signings, Villa may improve on last season, but not top three material for me.
Prediction- 6th or 7th.

Barnsley- Probably surpassed expectations last year, but seem to be a selling club. Only two bought players from small Scottish clubs. It is difficult to see them do anything but struggle and may be on the end of a few thrashings.
Prediction- 22nd or 23rd.

Birmingham City- With Redknapp in charge they will be motivated, but there must be a question over whether Harry has still got the tactical nous to do much in this division. The owners are clearly crazy (Zola's appointment), and they may not hang around if Birmingham don't start well. Signings are nothing special, although Marc Roberts from Barnsley may prove to be a shrewd signing. It could be fun watching Harry's excuses if things go badly, but I don't think there is much here to worry the top seven or eight clubs.
Prediction- 13th to 16th.

Bolton Wanderers- There is a big gap between the 1st Division and the Championship, and Bolton seem cash strapped, although the freebies of Ameobi and Le Fondre aren't bad signings. Could cause a few upsets, but I can't see anything that suggests anything other than a struggle.
Prediction- Bottom four with relegation likely.

Brentford- The days of Warburton are long gone and the over-achievements of the last two seasons will be hard to repeat. No significant signings or outgoings, makes me think that they will be mid-tableish, but as witnessed last season, a bad run and they can lose confidence.
Prediction- 12th to 16th.

Bristol City- Over relied on Tammy Abraham lasts season, and it does not look like he is returning on loan. The signing of Diedhiou for 5 mill. looks like a gamble, but this outweighed by the sale of Tomlin. With no other signings it is impossible to see how they will not struggle without Abraham. Maybe even worse suffering for their fans than last season.
Prediction- 20th at best, but possible bottom three.

Burton Albion- Despite some impressive wins, Burton struggled for most of last season. They simply do not have the financial clout of the other clubs, and with such a small stadium there is little revenue. If Burton survive, it will be because of good management, but it will only be putting off their return to the lower divisions.
Prediction- Bottom three.

Cardiff City- They have a board who believe they should be in the Prem. but that seems like nothing more than wishful thinking when we consider they don't spend big. The signings of Tomlin and Danny Ward are good business, but are these two players going to make the difference between an average side and a good side? Neither came from top half clubs, so with Whittingham leaving there does not seem a lot of difference to Cardiff's team, and chances. I cannot see much more than bottom half for them.
Prediction- 13th to 17th.

Derby County- Last season saw Derby start a decline from top six material, and I expect that decline to continue. Rowett is very shrewd, but the loss of Tom Ince and Will Hughes may prove more significant than people think. The 13 million profit from transfers needs to be spent wisely, and soon. With the returning "Fat Bloke" up front they should be guaranteed a few goals from him, but I don't see Derby making the top six.
Prediction- 8th to 11th.

Fulham- I will write more about the Whites in a separate piece, but here is a summary. We have probably the best manager/coach in the league, and a statement of intent was sent out with the Cairney/Sessegnon/McDonald interest from other clubs. The squad looks thin  at the moment, although the signing of Cisse means Parker is replaced positionally. Malone needs to be replaced, and Kalas needs to come back or be replaced. Djalo is an unknown and it is not certain if he is going to be anywhere as near as good as Kalas. The Whites desperately need two strikers, even if one will be on the bench, in Slav's preferred 4-5-1. The continuity of only selling one regular in Malone, suggest an excellent season. If the right players are brought in, then top two is more than possible.
Prediction- 1st to 4th.

Hull City- Likely to do a Villa and struggle. They have virtually stripped their whole squad, and the signing of Fraizer Campbell is nothing to write home about. They need new signings, but losing most of the squad means rebuilding anyway. The manager is unproven at this level, so no immediate return for Hull.
Prediction- 10th to 14th, but possibly lower.

Ipswich Town- How much longer will they persist with McCarthy remains to be seen. Clearly a favourite with the board and fans, but Ipswich seem to go backwards every year, and if Sears blows cold, they lose much of their attacking intent. Guaranteed to be big and physical, and they will kick lumps out of footballing teams, but there is nothing to suggest they will do anything other than decline even further. I can even see them flirting with relegation.
Prediction- 18th to 22nd.

Leeds United- A new unknown manager, and a mass of new signings, means that Leeds are the unknown quantity in the division. The ever optimistic Leeds fans will be thinking all these new boys from different leagues in Europe mean that they will be top three. The reality is that "Rome wasn't built in a day", and bedding in new players to a new playing style under a new coach could cause problems. Losing Charlie Taylor to Burnley won't help, and their reliance on Woods for goals means he has to stay fit. The old players will also have to get used to the coach's new ideas, so it could go any way. There is a big chance that with all these changes, Leeds will look excellent one week, and look like a mess the next week. They will need another season and the patience of the board (fat chance of that), if they are to be top six material. 
Prediction 9th to 13th, and plenty of fans singing "Leeds, Leeds are falling apart again".

Middlesborough- Could conceivably win the division, as they have spent big. However, Karanka built a solid team, and the new coach may not be so defensively minded. Assombalonga will give them plenty of goals if he gets the service, and Howson is proven at this level. They have the squad and players to trouble most teams, so should be there or thereabouts. The one doubt is how the coach plays his football in this division. 
Prediction- 1st to 4th.

Millwall- To put it simply, Millwall have no money. They will be tough, and give 110% every game, but they are lacking in the talent needed to stay in this division. Nothing other than an immediate return to League 1 for me.
Prediction- 23rd or 24th.

Norwich- Failed to make top six last year, as they expected, and nothing suggests they won't fail again this year. Husband is a good signing, but losing Howson and Jacob Murphy far outweighs that. Norwich will play good footbal and will spank some teams, but are also likely to be on the wrong end of some spankings. It is difficult to make a case for Norwich doing anything other than mid-table, but they may surprise us.
Prediction- 9th to 13th.

Nottingham Forest- Warburton's success came at Brentford, and he hasn't set the world alight elsewhere. Forest struggled last season and without the goals of Assombalonga, they would have struggled even more. There have been no significant signings, as of yet, and without investment, they could really struggle. This may the year, an "old" big club goes into league 1.
Prediction- 19th to 23rd.

Preston North End- Preston are mid table, and probably will be mid table again. No major incomings or outgoings on the transfer front, so we should expect the same style of football and level of talent as last season. They will have a solid mix of defence and attack, and I would expect plenty of low scoring draws in games involving Preston.
Prediction= 11th to 15th.

Queens Park Rangers- Rangers seem to be a mess, on and off the field, and there seems to be no money to spend. They will try to play open football, and the tightness of Loftus Road may help them, but it is going to be a long season for their fans. Could face the same fate as Forest if they are not careful.
Prediction- 18th to 22nd, or worse.

Reading- Stam is tactically astute, and his team will play possession football, or waste time, when they can. They will be hard to beat, but I think the loss of the inspirational Al Habsi may be felt more than they know. It depends on who Stam can attract to Reading, and with one or two more signings, they should make top four again, as the experience of the play-offs should stand them in good stead. On the flip side, they may have over-achieved last season, but expect them to be in the top eight somewhere.
Prediction- 3rd to 7th.

Sheffield United- With their good support, will be the best of the promoted sides, despite the fact that Stearman is their most notable signing. One side always comes up and does well, and it will be probably Sheff Utd. They may not set the Championship alight, but should stay clear of trouble.
Prediction- 14th to 18th.

Sheffield Wednesday- For me, the team to fear. As with Brighton, they have been steadily improving, and are used to life at the top. The coach clearly has a plan that works and he is unlikely to change it. The signing of Rhodes means they don't have to worry about Forestieri if he starts having tantrums. George Boyd is an excellent addition to the squad, and given his experience with Burnley will be a valuable asset. Rhodes will score goals and that is probably where they failed last year. Wednesday could, quite conceivably, win the division with ease, if everything goes right. Realistically, they will be top four, if not automatic promotion.
Prediction- 1st to 4th.

Sunderland- As has been well documented, the club is rotten to the core. Losing Defoe and Pickford, means they have lost their two most valuable assets. Put simply, one scored the goals, the other stopped them. Looking at their squad, there is nothing to suggest they can make an immediate return to the Prem. Simon Grayson knows his way around the Championship, but he needs better talent. O'Shea is 36 and may find the physical aspect of this league too much, especially against pacier teams. It is difficult to see where the goals are going to come from, so expect outside of the play-offs or lower.
Predcition- 10 to 14th.

Wolverhampton Wanderers- Their fans will be expecting big things, given the big money signing of Ruben Neves, from Porto. But, he is only 20 and a defensive midfielder. Will he cope with the physicality of the division? Does he have the maturity? Their Portuguese coach seems intent on filling their team with Portuguese players, which may be a big mistake. There has been a lot written about how much Wolves have spent, but looking at their squad, I don't see much improvement on last season.
Prediction- 12th to 16th.

Overall prediction- 
Promoted- Any two from Middlesborough, Sheff Wed, Fulham or Reading.
Play-offs (not including the promoted predictions)- Any two from Villa, Derby, Leeds.
Relegated- Any three from Millwall, Bolton, Burton, Notts. Forest, QPR.

Please remember these are only my predictions and they are likely to be totally incorrect'

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST.
COYWs.

© Nic Smith.