Fulham 3 - 0 Derby County

comment by Spart-Derby really are the best says red dog. (U4603)
posted less than a minute ago
Fulham are just starting to realise the potential of some of their expensive signings. I expect them to force there way in to the automatic promotion places before long. We were beaten by a better team with better individual players. They will beat a lot of teams by a bigger margin than this before the season ends.
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Phil said they were the best we've faced this season.

How much were Keogh and Tomori protecting Roos at the end of last season. Now we are down to playing a full back as a central defender who hasn't played for over a year and an ageing central defender who also hasn't played for a year he is being exposed. With that central defender cover it would be difficult for most goal keepers never mind one who doesn't command his area and has Teflon coated gloves.

I stand by my first half description of our #1

............... although he's more like a #2.

I have just quickly scanned all our fans' comments and what comes out very clearly is a lot of negativity and a streak of solid positive opinion from Vidal which has an element of realism about it. I prefer his views to the more negative ones. We are not that bad. We just came to London with no energy and no fight and a very poor goalkeeper. The lad needs a rest - bring on Hamer!

Fulham would have broken down most teams last night and the fact that we missed 2 or 3 golden chances simply emphasised the gap in quality. This is a transition season. Do not despair.

The finishing is letting us down.
Our new finishing coach Wayne Rooney should help with that.
Waghorn gets into some great positions with the ball at his feet and the goal beckoning but his conversion rate is poor. But he does get into those positions and is regularly found by his team mates. So that is good. If we weren't creating good opportunities I'd be worried but we are and from all over the pitch.
It's not just Waghorn. Lawrence, Holmes and Bogle could all do better. I've left Martin out because his conversion rate is ok and it's him who is usually the provider, so I'll let him off. Similarly Marriott I'm convinced would have done better if it was he who had been set up. But for some reason he's not getting a proper run in the team.
Come January, with the chances being created and with Rooney on the field we'll be converting more and getting more consistent.
Roos though is a liabilty.
His main attribute, and the one that got him in front of Carson was his ability to play it out from the back and Both Lampard and Cocu prefer to play that way.
Carson's distribution was is poor so I can't see him returning.
Hamer? A bit of an unknown but we have to do something because the defence no longer trust the dutch stopper.

In the mean time Wayne, earn your money as a coach and get our goals per shot ratio up.

Good stuff. Although "stopper" was presumably a misprint!

He's ok at saving shots Heb. Perhaps not as good as Carson but still decent.

A good rugby full back knows he's going to get clattered in the process of catching an up and under but has to nerve to keep his eye on the ball.
A good keeper also needs a bit of that courage and it's looking like Roos is left wanting in that area.

Hamer may be the same. I haven't seen enough of him to make a judgement but as has been said by many on here and backed up by the thousands who cheer when Roos catches one at PP then now is the time for a change.

Great summing up Rameses

On the rugby theme, have our forwards been watching Jonny Wilkinson DVD's?