Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 291

Date: 5th December 2024

Opposition: Brighton and Hove Albion

Score: 3-1

Fulham goal scorers: Iwobi, OG (assist AP), Iwobi

Weather: Very wet

Atmosphere: Very good

MOTM: despite some strong performances (loud shout-out to Sander Berge in this respect) it’s impossible to see past one man. From the Moment he snatched his chance to score the first goal, through playing in nearly every position on the pitch to the Moment of strength and skill in which he confounded the opposition to score the third goal, Alex Iwobi imposed himself on the game with fearless determination. The Player of the Season vote is already looking like it will resemble an election result in a dictatorship.

Dinner: Wagamamas

It’s odd being another club’s bogey team, especially when that club is as well-run, well-managed and as generally likeable as Brighton, and especially when the bogey-ness is so persistent and absolute.

However, notwithstanding Fulham’s unbeaten run against the Seagulls and the decent point-but-it-could-have-been-more against Spurs at the weekend, we weren’t feeling confident on our way through the damp, lamp-lit streets of SW6 on Thursday night. Obviously, that’s partly because we’re Fulham fans and we don’t feel confident about anything but it was also because of a number of absences due to suspensions and injuries, particularly in the minefield (as the midfield is now known).

So the name of the game was Rotation, Rotation, Rotation, especially with another London derby coming up at the weekend.

We’ve begun a lot of recent blogs saying that Fulham started the game well. These words are usually followed by a “but”. However, on Thursday, Fulham started the game really well! A press as strong as an industrial tortilla maker was led by Rodrigo Muniz, driven by Alex Iwobi and embellished by Harry Wilson and it delivered results almost immediately by forcing a miscommunication between the Brighton goalie and his defenders. Iwobi’s interception was great; his calm, drilled finish was even better.

But this where the “but” comes in. We didn’t build on that excellent start. This is partly due to the fact that Brighton are a very good side who have their own impressive press and who use the width of the pitch extremely well. It’s also because Fulham kept making mistakes. We were in a constant cycle of giving the ball away, winning it back and giving it away again. This happened at a frantic pace and the wet and slippery pitch only exacerbated the problem.

In terms of personnel, Harry made the most of his start while Muniz demonstrated everything he’s learned from Raúl, Willian and…..another Fulham number 9 and was in beast mode, grappling with the centre backs, winning long balls, getting free in the box and playing some fantastic long passes of his own. We’ve already mentioned how good Iwobi and Berge were but that isn’t going to stop us mentioning it again.

But the same cannot be said of Reiss Lightning (whose nickname is going to have to change soon) or ESR who has gone from plateauing to tumbling downhill. On Thursday’s showing you’d say he’s good at dribbling when he’s got the ball but what does he do, and where does he go, the rest of the time?

Meanwhile, the defence were standing firm against Brighton’s fast but erratic attack. We are so, so blessed to have Issa Diop who can replace Andersen, give or take a long diagonal pass or four, and Timothy Castagne who can step in for Kenny Tete. Low Countries; very high standards. The best Moments of the first half (other than the goal obviously) was yet another save of the season contender from Super Bernd Leno and a triple block where everyone took it turns to throw themselves between the ball and the goal.

Our only negative comment about the defence is the fact that the faffing around at the back which transferred itself to faffing around at the front last season has now transmuted to faffing around with goal kicks. What was the Bassey/Leno short pass and dangerous hesitation all about? And how did it not get us into serious trouble???

Things both improved and got worse in the second half (and we don’t just mean the contrary weather). Obviously Brighton scored which was a blow but, as we are Fulham, not an unexpected one. But then Fulham’s football got better. And grittier. And suddenly Brighton were the ones making all the mistakes….

A word now on Andreas Pereira who gave an interview in Portuguese which might or might not have been mistranslated into suggesting he wanted to leave Fulham. Andreas was MIA for Spurs but was back with a vengeance for Brighton, being subbed on to boos which were rapidly drowned out by cheers. This was going to be a Game of Redemption or proof that nothing got lost in translation at all…

Following the Corner of Redemption and the Samba of Redemption we know what it turned out to be.

So Fulham were on top, ahead and enjoying themselves. After Reiss missed a good chance by trying to draw a tackle and then being surprised when he was….tackled, and Brighton finally worked out how to keep Muniz quiet (two defenders throttling him instead of one), Marco made some more subs. And either Marco has noted our constructive criticism of his Subs Philosophy….or he actually knew better than us all along. Either way, he got his subs spot on. Adama made an impact, Raúl renewed the (tortilla) press and it was lovely to see Josh King make his Premier League debut. He’s small, neat and nimble and didn’t look at all out of place.

The third goal was eerily reminiscent of Tom’s goal against Spurs. Same place, same angle, same way the defenders could only stand and watch it go in. It was the Moment that sealed Iwobi’s MOTM performance but he stood out all game with his work rate, battling spirit and versatility.

This was (at least for a neutral) an entertaining game, if not a high-quality one. The unusual starting line-up and the mixed bag of subs worked better than anyone (except probably one person….) could have imagined. We weren’t at our best but we did enough to win. And that’s what successful teams do.

Random musings:-

- As usual, the light show was unspectacular. The ball boys and girls holding the flag flinched every time the fire canons went off

- The knee-sliding pitch invader was magnificent, and faster than everyone on the pitch (except Adama obviously)

- Antonee is growing into the captain’s role very rapidly. It seems to have made his crosses better. This is a controversial view, but maybe someone will get on the end of one of them one day

- We got not one but two celebrations in front of H7!

- The sound seemed to be switched off in the Hammy End at half time so we couldn’t hear the talk about domestic abuse

- Several players accessorised with gloves, but not our Brazilians

- Unfortunately (and Fulhamishly) the Corner of Redemption led to an own goal (but perhaps the fact it was scored by an ex-Fulham player makes it less Fulhamish….?)

- In publicly calling for fans to be louder, was Marco, who’s in front of the Riverside all match, actually asking the Club to look at ticket pricing? He is a Genius after all

- Raúl removed his shirt. He was wearing a vest.

This season has made us into a yo-yo club again - one week we’re in the European places, the next week we’re out of them again. This win has moved us up to 6th and the view from this dizzy height is very good indeed.

There is tough opposition ahead but we have nothing to fear. This Fulham team can match anyone on our day. And it feels like the best days are yet to come.