The rise of Fulham
- Thread starter mask0991
- Start date
- Replies 1K
- Views 289K
View attachment 242569
Yacine Simon suffered an injury during the Norwich game. He'll be out for close to a month. Simon is not a player in my first choice XI but he is my back-up for two positions - striker and right wing. While it is not the biggest blow, it may change the bench situation a bit.
Yacine Simon suffered an injury during the Norwich game. He'll be out for close to a month. Simon is not a player in my first choice XI but he is my back-up for two positions - striker and right wing. While it is not the biggest blow, it may change the bench situation a bit.
Diakhaby vs. Lopes
After the Norwich game, Lopes approached me to have a chat. Here's how it turned out:
View attachment 242564
So far, Babacar Diakhaby has been my primary choice in goal except for the last two Europa League games, where Lopes got a start. And I was forced to substitute Lopes in the Norwich game due to an injury.
Lopes is not a bad keeper at all. He is a good shot stopper and he could walk into the first team of a lot of clubs. So, I thought he had a case. While I did convince him to drop the issue, I don't want to keeper of his quality warming the bench. So, I have decided to use the goalkeepers like how Barcelona did with ter Stegen and Bravo.
Diakhaby will continue as the goalkeeper for the league games. However, Lopes will start in goal for the cup competitions - all three of them. Unless one of them shows a huge rise (or dip) in form, I'll try to maintain this through out the season. After all, their attributes and performances so far indicate that there's not a whole lot to separate them (Diakhaby is better, but not by a whole lot).
View attachment 242563
After the Norwich game, Lopes approached me to have a chat. Here's how it turned out:
View attachment 242564
So far, Babacar Diakhaby has been my primary choice in goal except for the last two Europa League games, where Lopes got a start. And I was forced to substitute Lopes in the Norwich game due to an injury.
Lopes is not a bad keeper at all. He is a good shot stopper and he could walk into the first team of a lot of clubs. So, I thought he had a case. While I did convince him to drop the issue, I don't want to keeper of his quality warming the bench. So, I have decided to use the goalkeepers like how Barcelona did with ter Stegen and Bravo.
Diakhaby will continue as the goalkeeper for the league games. However, Lopes will start in goal for the cup competitions - all three of them. Unless one of them shows a huge rise (or dip) in form, I'll try to maintain this through out the season. After all, their attributes and performances so far indicate that there's not a whole lot to separate them (Diakhaby is better, but not by a whole lot).
View attachment 242563
Another top half team away! And we managed a victory after draws in similar fixtures before.
An early goal from right winger Fede Cartabia secured us the victory. A Bordeaux throw-in in our half was easily dealt by our defenders and we broke on the counter. When Claudio Marchisio finally passed to Cartabia near the half way line, Cartabia ran half the length of the field, cut into the box, went past two and slotted the ball into the corner. Top quality goal by the Argentinian.
After that, it was even-stevens for the first half. Both teams defended well to keep out the opposition. The second half was quite interesting as the momentum swung from one side to the other. Bordeaux dominated the initial moments of the second half but we slowly gained control as the match wore down.
In the 88th minute Ordets tripped a Bordeaux player inside our box. It was a penalty but luckily for us, the referee waved away their protests. We were very, very fortunate there. It must have been a penalty but we got away with it and got the 3 points in the end.
Cartabia's goal:
[video=dailymotion;x2ypll9]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ypll9_fm-15-cartabia-goal-vs-bordeaux_videogames[/video]
xJamieWilliams
Member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2013
- Messages
- 3,529
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Still loving this mate 
PatrickLFC
Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2015
- Messages
- 4,342
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 36
Huge win there, congrats!
Poor form Trotty! Try to show a bit more respect please
Trott respectfully criticizes others.
After 13 games
So, here's how the League Table looks after 13 games.
View attachment 241976Great start. Top of the table but Monaco could overtake us if they win their game in hand.
A different way to judge the season so far:
Unlike my Fulham days where I was familiar with the Premier League, the Ligue 1 is a new thing for me. I don't know which teams are expected to finish where. So, here are the media predictions of the different teams and how we've fared against them.
View attachment 241973
We've played 6 of the 10 clubs that are predicted to finish in the top half. We've had 3 wins and 3 draws. That's good, but could be better. The key statistic that pleases me is that 4 of those 6 have been played away. If I take that into consideration, we've done quite well against top half teams.
So, if we can keep our good home form through out the season, we can push for the title as we play a good number of title contenders at home in the second half of the season!!
So, here's how the League Table looks after 13 games.
View attachment 241976Great start. Top of the table but Monaco could overtake us if they win their game in hand.
- We haven't dropped a single point at home, which is excellent. In fact, a near perfect home form was the basis of my successful last two seasons at Fulham. And I'm glad we got off to a great start.
- Our away form is not bad but we need to convert the draws into victories. We've conceded way too many late goals and if we rectify that, we will automatically start winning more games away too.
A different way to judge the season so far:
Unlike my Fulham days where I was familiar with the Premier League, the Ligue 1 is a new thing for me. I don't know which teams are expected to finish where. So, here are the media predictions of the different teams and how we've fared against them.
View attachment 241973
We've played 6 of the 10 clubs that are predicted to finish in the top half. We've had 3 wins and 3 draws. That's good, but could be better. The key statistic that pleases me is that 4 of those 6 have been played away. If I take that into consideration, we've done quite well against top half teams.
So, if we can keep our good home form through out the season, we can push for the title as we play a good number of title contenders at home in the second half of the season!!
Statistics!
So far, we've scored 33 and conceded 11 in all competitions. And these charts highlight when we score and when we concede.
So far, we've scored 33 and conceded 11 in all competitions. And these charts highlight when we score and when we concede.
View attachment 241964
Pretty evenly spread, which is pleasing. However, we've scored 9 goals in the last 15 minutes and 4 of those were crucial in helping us win. We shouldn't wait that long to see games off. Something to improve upon.
View attachment 241963
This.....is concerning. 7 goals of the 11 conceded were in the last 15 minutes! One of two things is happening - we are crumbling under pressure from the opposition in the late stages OR the simple, yet dangerous case of complacency. 4 of these 7 goals were scored by the opposition when we were leading by a solitary goal! This needs to stop.
Pretty evenly spread, which is pleasing. However, we've scored 9 goals in the last 15 minutes and 4 of those were crucial in helping us win. We shouldn't wait that long to see games off. Something to improve upon.
View attachment 241963
This.....is concerning. 7 goals of the 11 conceded were in the last 15 minutes! One of two things is happening - we are crumbling under pressure from the opposition in the late stages OR the simple, yet dangerous case of complacency. 4 of these 7 goals were scored by the opposition when we were leading by a solitary goal! This needs to stop.
Cheers! Thought it might be a nice way to look at the defense and attack's performance.
Toulouse FC, on paper look a rather ordinary side but their attacking players co-ordinate so well that even the best defenses have trouble. Enter Samuel Umtiti!
Toulouse started with vigour and put severe pressure on us for the first 10 minutes. But they were up against Umtiti, who was quite simply, marvelous. At the other end, Loties and Correa made sure Umtiti's heroic defending didn't go to waste. Loties, playing the false nine did well to win a penalty in the 23rd minute, and Correa smashed it into the top corner to give us the lead.
As Toulouse were settling back in, we hit them again. Ivan Ordets' free kick was parried away by their goal keeper into a rushing Tello's path, who made no mistake in finding the net. 2-0. The remainder of the first half was rather dull though.
The second half began in a similar manner as the first, with one team exerting pressure. However, it was us. Our attacking trio forced their defense to commit mistakes and Correa took advantage of one of those to send us 3-0 ahead. A simple finish from about 10 yards.
We were making it look easy but we were hit on the break. Agnero's goal was beautiful. The forward went past two defenders, including Umtiti and slotted one past Diakhaby. Top goal. I sensed Toulouse going for another goal, and brought on Gace to shore up the defense. In the end, we got the victory we much deserved.
Last edited:
Contrasting news!
View attachment 241759
View attachment 241759
No surprises here. A fantastic hat-trick vs Stade de Reims and consistent top draw performances saw our left winger claim the player of the month award.
View attachment 241758
This was bad news!
Tello suffered a minor injury against Toulouse. I even subbed him immediately after but it didn't help the cause. Tello will miss the important Norwich game.
View attachment 241758
This was bad news!
Tello suffered a minor injury against Toulouse. I even subbed him immediately after but it didn't help the cause. Tello will miss the important Norwich game.
Other fixtures...
Elsewhere, Monaco hosted PSG for a huge clash and the result was perfect for us. A goalless draw meant both teams now trail us in the League Table. So, we finally get a lead at the top of the table. It's time to push forward!
View attachment 241756
Elsewhere, Monaco hosted PSG for a huge clash and the result was perfect for us. A goalless draw meant both teams now trail us in the League Table. So, we finally get a lead at the top of the table. It's time to push forward!
View attachment 241756
PatrickLFC
Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2015
- Messages
- 4,342
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 36
Title in the bag already!
xJamieWilliams
Member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2013
- Messages
- 3,529
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Makes you wonder sometimes what more can you do to pull away, you haven't lost in 14 games and have only drawn 3 yet you're still only 5 points clear while Monaco have a game in hand! Crazy.