Jack and Loz Not at the Cottage - Blog 146

Date: 18th October 2020

Opposition: Sheffield United

Score: 1-1

Fulham goal scorer: Lookman

MOTM: regular readers will know that we are already fans of Ademola Lookman’s dancer’s feet, sprinter’s pace and footballer’s brain. On Sunday he used a politician’s guile and a magician’s trickery to weave into the box and smash home his first Fulham goal. The first of many, we have no doubt.

Snacks: Jack - smoked salmon bagel; Loz- endless cups of tea

An international break in a condensed season whilst a global pandemic is raging is a hard concept to understand never mind defend but Scott Parker made good use of the time off bedding in the new recruits whilst Tony Khan took to the virtual negotiating table again to re-secure the services of Terence Kongolo, this time on a permanent basis.

Kongolo didn’t make the line up for Sunday’s match against fellow Premier League strugglers Sheffield United and nor did Joachim Andersen who, in a worryingly Mawsonesque way, is already injured.

However, the starting 11 on Sunday was unrecognisable from the team which played against Arsenal 5 games ago in more ways that one. Not only have Antoneeee and Lookman quick dry cemented their places in the side but RLC and Tosin Adarabioyo have been parachuted in bringing Premier League credentials and lengthy surnames to the Club. Reuben looks like he might be something of a slow burner but we were hugely impressed with Tosin - an attack minded Centre Back who is tall, strong, assured, and confident. And ours.

But it wasn’t just a case of a few new faces. There was a new dynamism and, at times, a new way of playing - a strong, disciplined high line at the back, counter attacking pace through the middle and an attack which is no longer the repetitive and ineffective cross-and-hope-for-the-best. In the second half in particular we managed to look dangerous going forward and solid at the back AT THE SAME TIME! United were lucky their goalie had a good game and they were lucky with both penalties too.

Old timers Ream and Cairney didn’t look outclassed by their new teammates but raised their game to fit in. Both were excellent - Tom was passing and shooting like his old self and continuing to develop an understanding with Frank. As for Tim, we know his days are numbered but the combination of his wisdom and experience and Tosin’s energy and ability make for a very effective partnership.

What we are really saying here is that his was an excellent team performance. What Scott has done, which seemed to be beyond Slav, is to take his old and new components - his acquisitions and his loans, his big reputations and potentially big egos, those with something to prove and those with a lot to learn, those to whom we owe a debt and those on whom we are taking a chance - and get them to play together for him, for each other, for us.

That high line - so high that most of the United team were off side in every attack - worked because the defenders trusted each other and listened to each other. We looked threatening when we attacked because each player was trying (too hard at times) to set up the best chance to score not to grab the glory for himself.

Within that cohesive team there were other good individual performances - Areola showed his class again; Frank dominated both on and off the ball; Lemina looked much better than his previous precarious performance and Aina proved good at making space for himself and equally good at using it.

Of course, it’s not all sweetness and light - you could see sometimes why these teams are at the bottom of the table: United with their wild shooting and even Wilder crossing, Fulham giving the ball away too easily and conceding too many free kicks. Both Frank and Tom were too casual at times and the decision making going forward was erratic. Cav saw a lot of the ball but didn’t do much with it; even the much improved defence still looked chaotic at times. And of course, there is a darkly bearded, exotically tattooed and menacing looking elephant in the room.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was the key to both our recent promotions. He gives 100% every game. In many ways he is the perfect striker - he doesn’t just provide an expert finish, he holds the ball up and brings others into the game, he assists as well as scores and he celebrates every goal as if he scored it whether he was involved or not. He is a passionate team player who loves to play to the crowd but who can perform in a empty stadium. He is entitled to an off day. Unfortunately on Sunday he had one of the most Fulhamishly off days ever (everything which could go wrong did go wrong; a draw was snatched from the jaws of victory) and the irony isn’t lost on us that he scored a penalty for Serbia 4 days previously. But Mitro’s mistakes at both ends of the pitch came out of him trying too hard and getting too desperate. On Sunday he wasn’t flammable, more like singed around the edges but he is Mitro and he will come back stronger like he always does.

Random musings:-

- it was nice to see Ollie Norwood again and his gesture to the inured Lookman was kind

- Scott Parker turned 40 this week and we have to say he suddenly looks it. Premier League manager must be one of the most high pressured jobs in the world. There are higher stakes in bomb disposal but a lot less money....

- Tosin’s reaction when he thought he had scored an Own Goal - approximately half an hour into his Fulham career - says a lot about him. Is it too early to say we might have found a future Fulham captain?

PPV musings:-

- is £14.95 too much to pay (on top of your usual subscription) to watch a Premier League match? Yes. Did we both pay it? Yes

- the Scottish commentator had a nice voice, was balanced throughout and even complimentary at times. Like his brethren though he couldn’t pronounce Cairney.

- this would have been a good game for a neutral but no one is going to pay to watch a match in which their team isn’t playing

- compared to a normal match day (remember them?) which involves match ticket, train ticket, tube ticket, at least 2 cappuccinos (each), wine, food and possibly more wine £14.95 is quite cheap

- and yes we know the experience isn’t the same but being able to watch Fulham on TV is something to cling onto in this endless nightmare of lockdowns and circuit breakers and tiers and tears

So Fulham have a point on the board and the fact that we are genuinely disappointed that we don’t have 3 is actually another positive about this match. It’s come a few games late but we have a foundation to build on and a group of players who don’t look like a relegation team. They will only get better the more they play together just as Scott’s management is getting better all the time (while his hair silvers and his worry lines deepen).

33 games to go. All to play for. And a table to climb.