Jack and Loz Not at the Cottage - Blog 152

Date: 5th December 2020

Opposition: Manchester City

Score: 2-0

Men of the Match: it is tempting to give the MOTM award solely to Areola who once again had an excellent game, making at least 4 spectacular saves to deny Man City’s world class attack and keep Fulham in the match but Alphonse was not a lone bastion, he was part of a six man fortification which combined to repel far more than 4 attacks. Against his former team, Tosin Adarabioyo stood out with his calm head and committed, comprehensive defending

Snacks: Loz - Haribo teddy bears; Jack - triple chocolate cookie

On Saturday afternoon, when Scott Parker named the same team which started at Leicester on Monday no Fulham fan was naive enough (or optimistic enough) to expect the same result. We were, however, hoping for two things - that the Leicester performance wasn’t a one off and, more prosaically, that we wouldn’t get thrashed.

Fears of the latter were justified. Man City beat Burnley 5-0 last week and of course they have some excellent players: Robbie Savage’s inamorata KDB, Jesus himself and the Welsh international, Rhodri. It is fair to say as well that the City team Canceloed out Fulham’s counter attacking threat very effectively. City started the game as they meant to go on - with scintillating pace, pin point accurate passes and a ceaseless assault on the Fulham goal. They were so proficient that it often looked like they had an extra man. They had acres of space, we had none. When any Fulham player was going forwards, City managed to get not one or two, but three men on him meaning however fast we ran we were running down blind alleys.

They were confident enough to shoot on sight - accurately and often, they made very few mistakes and if they lost the ball they would race and tussle and scrap until they won it back. City are very fast, very skilful and very good.

As for Fulham, this was always going to be a tough game but a potentially interesting one: a match were never expected to win but, with Premier League giant killing in our recent history, it was another chance to show some progress. We looked untidy compared to City but not slow and rarely disorganised. We made mistakes but they were forced by City’s dominance on the ball.

Plan A was presumably to defend assertively and counter attack where possible but this went out of the window in the 5th minute. But, once again, Scott and Joachim’s team showed tenacity and resilience. We didn’t concede in open play after that because we defended very well. When we said City started as they meant to go on that’s just it - they wanted to go on the rampage but Fulham didn’t let them. Yes, they had it sewn up at 2-0 but whilst they controlled the game they couldn’t control the score. They wanted more goals but they didn’t get them.

As losses go, this was a respectable one. The entire defence’s discipline and endeavour can’t be criticised. Frank was again a powerful force in midfield but he didn’t influence play the way he did against Leicester. Harrison Reed worked very hard as did Lookman. Cav had a difficult afternoon but was always trying to get free and make something happen.

Which leaves our eternal weak link. We want to like Ruben Loftus-Cheek. We want him to succeed at Fulham and play for England and have a great career. We saw a glimmer of what he can do against Everton but it was a will-o-the-wisp in the winter dark. Of course we have had doubts about players before and been proved wrong, Josh Onomah being a recent example, but RLC looked dazed and despondent on the Etihad pitch and, Frankly, we would have either started TC or at the very least brought him on at half time to give him 45 minutes to create something rather than 10.

Scott’s other subs were dubious too. Lemina played ok but Reed was playing better and we would have preferred to see Mitro over AK. As it was, AK did very little while Mitro sat in the stand looking like a bad tempered bandit.

This is a game to put behind us and learn from. We didn’t crumble under pressure, we stood up to an exceptionally good side and we played a strong second half. This was a credible performance from a team which is still improving but while Fulham once again looked like we belong in the Premier League team City, at times, were a world away.

Random musings:-

- the rainbow captain armbands looked great and especially vivid on the yellow away kit

- on the subject of that armband, TC didn’t take it from Andersen when he came on. Which was interesting

- Cav has some nice go faster stripes in his hair

- Antoneeee got a friendly hug from Pep when he took a throw-in by the technical area

- Raheem Sterling is a good player but must dread the snow coming - just one flake is sure to knock him over.

- even Manchester City can’t make short corners work.

Our fate won’t be decided by matches against title contenders where we have nothing to lose but our goal difference. Against another team the lack of bite up front would be concerning but instead we should focus on a defensive solidity which would have been unimaginable at the start of the season.

We went up against one of the best in the business and whilst we didn’t leave unscathed we walked away with our pride intact. There will be more important battles to come, and it looks like we will be ready for them.