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Monday, January 20, 10:38:52pm [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4 ]

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Date Posted: Monday, December 30, 11:39:54am
Author: Jungle J
Author Host/IP: cpc124440-croy27-2-0-cust52.19-2.cable.virginm.net / 77.101.86.53
Subject: Opportunity knocking, are we answering?

In part a reply to the post "why the angst?" below, and part a new thread...
For sure we have gone through what looks like a great run, 7 unbeaten against 6 good teams and Southampton - a famous away win at the Bridge, a point away at Anfield. We are having an influence on the title race which was something we weren't always doing in previous years. 11 points from 7 games is solid form (but just shy of Euro qualification pace). And we have had some tough injuries and suspensions. So that's all good stuff and not to be sniffed at *BUT*

1 - in that run we have dropped 4 points from late equalisers and failed to muster much of any threat against the worst team in the division. Converting even 4 of those 6 points would have us in fifth.
2 - at the start of December we were 10th but only 4 points behind the 3rd placed team. Now we are 8th (but could drop as low as 9th after Monday) but at least 6 and as many as 8 behind the 4th position. All around us teams have fared better over the same period (Bournemouth 15 from 7, Forest 18!! from 7, Newcastle 11 from 6) and the key reason is that they are *winning* games not drawing (we actually have the equal most draws in the PL)

This is one of the crazier PL seasons, there is so much vulnerability in the top sides and the usual aspirants (Man U, Spurs, Newcastle, Villa) - there is a real opportunity to make some noise and really compete for a European place, but we are not grabbing hold of it.

How can Fulham prevent this from becoming a "what might have been" season? For one, the FA Cup should be taken very seriously, because we are seeing that we are a match for basically anyone from week to week, so a long run is possible. Second, ahead is an arguably "softer" part of the schedule and we need to drastically improve our form against lower opposition (just 6 points from the bottom 5 so far). Third, we need to develop the ruthlessness of a top side, the ability to lock it down late on in a game - to think that just three lapses in concentration (WHU, Everton, Bournemouth) leave us sitting outside the top 5 is frustrating. There is plenty of scope for discussion about where the squad needs strengthening, but I reckon each of these three things starts with the coach (FWIW I think Silva does take the Cup seriously).

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