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.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
COYWs

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

© 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. 

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
COYWs
Readers are welcome to join our facebook group- https://www.facebook.com/groups/FFC.Ambition/

© Nic Smith

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?

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
COYWs

© 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.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

After a long absence, I have decided to revive my blog. Computer problems meant I forgot my email account that activates my blog. Whether my ramblings interest anybody or not, they give me a little pleasure to read back over my thoughts. But, for what it's  worth, I am going to sharing my tenpenneth every now and then.

Looking on facebook a fair amount of panic is starting to set in, amongst our fans. I dismissed it at first, but now the season is only 2 and a half weeks away, I am also starting to wonder "what's going on?". It is clear the squad needs strengthening, but what have we got so far. Djalo, who is a bit of an unknown quantity, Cisse who is clearly a lump and looks like he may be a good buy, and the returning Piazon, who in my opinion was a bit hot and cold. The Rolan saga goes on and on, ad nauseum, and Kalas apparently wants to come back to FFC. Players sold are many, but only Malone was a regular. The worry is that we need a Kalas at the back, and two strikers, along with a keeper. The young lad from Portugal will only be an under 23 for the foreseeable future, so we only have Betts, and Reading want Button. 
Slavisa, rightly or wrongly, likes new signings to learn the system, so any new player will probably not get a look in for some time. In the case of a striker and GK it is easier to start them with less integration, where as a defender or midfielder needs time to learn our system. That is why, I believe, the Kalas rumours may be true , and he will return on loan. Kalas knows the system and therefore there will be a natural understanding. Fulham are fine in midfield and with Cisse already here, he is getting much valuable experience of how we play. If Button stays, I think we can cope with just him and Betts for the start of the season. Left back could be a worry if we don't find a replacement for Malone, as Sess is clearly much more suited to being a wing back or left midfield. Odoi can play there, but that would leave us short of cover at right back. The striker situation is the most worrying and we need a proven striker fast, and also another to back him up. Much as we all love Cauley, for me he isn't quite there yet, and Steven Humphries is too young. 
I am certain deals are on the table, but getting them across the line is appearing to be a problem. Even my patience is being tested by the club regarding new signings. The squad is way too thin on the ground, as one or two injuries and we will be fielding players with too little experience to give us a push for promotion. There is no Newcastle in  the Championship this year, so with a strong squad, this may be our best chance for years. As the man said "Don't panic, Mr, Fulham".
On a final note, Reading can do one and stop sniffing around our players, and let's hope we will be singing "Leeds, Leeds are falling apart again" on many occasions this season.

© Nic Smith