The reasons we will be relegated

There are two of them: failing to invest in Chris Coleman...and then sacking him. Simple as that.

If Cookie had been given proper resources a couple of years back then there's no way we'd be staring relegation in the face. If any further proof was needed then you only have to look at who have been the best players for us this season. McBride (Coleman signing); Bullard (Coleman signing); Dempsey (Coleman signing); Niemi (Coleman signing); Davies (Coleman signing).

Cookie's critics accused him of running out of ideas. Oh right. I presume they mean the box of tricks that Sanchez and Hodgson have brought with them. Well, they have worked very well haven't they? If their goal was to bring Championship football to the Cottage then I've got to say that the master plan seems to be working. Well done guys.

Everyone forgets what Cookie brought to the table. He took Tigana's underperforming side and turned them into a classy outfit that clinched our best ever league finish in the first full year under his reign (9th). We then became a selling club...Saha, Van der Sar, Malbranque, etc, etc, and he wasn't given enough resources to bring in fresh blood to the team. He paid for this situation with his job.

Fulham v Liverpool: Player rankings

Here's how I scored the lads against Liverpool.

Keller - 5/10
Poor performance from the big man. Could have done better with both goals.

Konchesky - 5/10
Not one of his better days. Was skinned on numerous occasions.

Hughes - 6/10
The one bright spark in the back four. Solid and reliable throughout.

Hangeland - 5/10
Not a triumph for our giant. Culpable for letting Pennant squirm away for the opener.

Stalteri - 5/10
Not bad but caught out of position a few times - and skinned on other occasions.

Bullard - 6/10
An A for effort but too many passes went astray.

Murphy - 5/10
Shocking stuff. He's at least a yard slower than he was in his prime - and it shows.

Davies - 6/10
Tried hard but not one of his better performances.

Dempsey - 6/10
The usual battling display but his first touch let him down on a number of occasions. Came close with a second half header.

McBride - 6/10
Gave it his all. Was out on his feet by the time he was subbed late in the game.

Healy - 7/10
Scuffed a couple of shots but definitely our danger man. Battled relentlessly, won free kicks and illustrated his worth as a play maker. Unlucky to be taken off.

Substitutes

Nevland - 5/10
Failed to make any impression

Andreason - 6/10
A good shot late on.

Kamara - 5/10
Didn't have much time to make an impact. Should have been given longer.

Man of the Match: David Healy. His all-round performance and effort was top drawer.

Just not good enough...

What a difference a week makes. Last Saturday evening we were experiencing the most unbelievable high after taking all three away to Reading. Tonight we are staring relegation in the face once again. It wasn't for the lack of trying. We had plenty of chances to get something out of this match but a combination of poor finishing and defensive mistakes (the story of our season) meant we ended up with nothing. The atmosphere in the stadium after Pennant crashed home Liverpool's opener died instantly and never recovered. To be honest we didn't do enough to lift the players, but then again we didn't have a great deal to cheer about. All told a thorougly disappointing afternoon. We now travel to Man City with everything slipping away...

Song for Simon Davies

He's arguably the club's most under-rated player so it's high time that we had a song for Simon Davies, our Welsh wonder.

My preferred option would be: We've got Simon Davies; We've got Simon Davies: and repeat...used in recent years by the Gooners towards Denis Bergkamp.

What does everyone suggest? Any alternatives?

Reading v Fulham: FtF coverage

Here are the links to all our pieces on yesterday's match

Match report

Player rankings

Post mortem: Anecdotes from the game

Post mortem: Reading v Fulham

A few assorted things, events, comments, that either happened or came to mind during the trip to the Madejski...

1. Amusing pre-match moment: The Reading fans proudly passing the flag over their head - but failing to notice it was upside down. We serenaded them with: You don't know what you're doing!
2. The poor, tubby stewards who were told to climb up the 1001 steps to the top of the stadium to tell those at the back to sit down, only to find they were already sitting by the time they arrived. By the time they returned the fans were up and the process started all over again.

3. The same stewards failing to notice extra fans were squeezed two-on-a-seat so they could be at the very back. Either that or they chose to ignore it.

4. The stadium announcer who read the Fulham team out like he was at a funeral and then switched to a 'Smashy and Nicey' over-excited radio DJ voice when it came to the Reading names. Hilarious.

5. The chorus of "We can see you sneaking out!" as the Reading fans went off for their half time pie and pint.

6. Chant of the season: "We've hit it three times, that fu***ng crossbar, we've hit it three times". Full marks to whoever made that up.

7. Liam Rosenior. Great to see him and he clapped us when he sang his name. However, he played dreadfully. Surely he was better than that when he played for us?

8. Marcus Hahneman: Some nice comments about the club during the week from the big fella who made two outstanding saves to keep the score down.

9. Alan Mullery's outspoken comments about why our season has gone wrong so far. Guess he's not wanting to be friends with Joe Kamara...

10. Full credit to the players for coming over to applaud us at the end and for throwing their shirts into the crowd. Top stuff.

11. Very magnanimous comments from Steve Coppell at the end saying we deserved the win. Can you imagine Moyes, Curbishley, etc, saying anything similar?

Reading v Fulham: Player rankings

Here's how I scored our lads after the win away at Reading

Keller – 7/10
Solid as a rock throughout. Hugely reassuring having him at the back, and apart from a header that whistled just past his post, didn't look like getting beaten all day.

Konchesky – 610
The usual solid performance we've come to expect. Would still like to see him really tearing down the wing rather than checking back but it's a small complaint.

Hangeland – 7/10
That was more like it. Recovered from last week’s nightmares to put in a great performance and almost scored with a towering header.

Hughes – 6/10
A decent display and no repeat of last week’s horror show (thankfully)

Stalteri – 5/10
Dreadful first half but recovered for a decent display in the second 45.

Bullard – 7/10
Okay, so a few passes went astray but he was all over the field for the entire 90 minutes. Came very close to doubling our lead from a set piece.

Murphy – 6/10
A good game. Floated some great passes around the field and was always involved. Am warming to him...slowly.

Dempsey – 8/10
Outstanding. Gave us a glimpse of what we have been missing. Beautiful skills combined with a tireless work rate.

Davies – 7/10
Some excellent skills to set up both goals. Can be proud of his contribution.

Healy – 7/10
Fantastic work rate. Set up the opening goal and had a few attempts on goal himself.

McBride – 7/10
Not as mobile as he once was; nor wins as many headers, but he’s there when it matters. Scored the opener and came close to a second. Great stuff from the captain.

Substitutes

Nevland – 7/10
Did everything asked of him and scored a belting second to wrap up the points.

Bocanegra – 6/10
Added a bit of extra steel at the end.

Andreason – 6/10
Same as Boca, came in to provide the muscle effectively for the last few minutes.

Man of the match: Clint Dempsey. Any one of four players could have been given the nod but Deuce shades it for me due to his sheer work rate and outstanding skills.

Fulham win AWAY!!!

“Keep the Faith. FFC.” It was a simple message scrawled on the toilet wall at Reading’s Madejski Stadium, but it was enough to remind us that our season is not over...not yet at least.

This was a team that scrapped for every ball; refused to give in; and emerged worthy winners after 90 of the most gripping, nail biting minutes of the season.

So good was this performance; so polished was the passing and so clinical the finishing for the goals, it was hard to believe that we had not enjoyed a victory on the road for 19 months.

“We’re winning away, how shit must you be, we’re winning away”, baited the Fulham faithful after McGod crashed the opener home from a Simon Davies cross.

Funny as it was, this was actually harsh on our lads who had thoroughly deserved the lead. Non-stop running, non-stop attacking and full of heart. Terrific stuff.

We then had a string of chances to put the game out of Reading’s reach with Brian, Hangeland and Bully all going close with a shot, header and free kick, respectively.

“We’ve hit it three times, that f****ng crossbar, we’ve hit it three times” we sang, followed by: “The bar! We’re gonna hit the bar” after being awarded a free kick just outside the area.

The disbelief that referee Rob Stiles decided we needed four extra minutes – FOUR!!!! – was soon forgotten as Erik “the Viking” Nevland charged through and secured the three points.

“The Whites are staying up!” we sang, more in hope than expectation. Disappointingly news filtered through that Bolton had beaten the hammers but Brum’s draw with Everton gave us a lift.

We are now just four points from safety but while that’s great, the feeling still remains of what might have been. Wins against Derby and Sunderland and we’d be out of the relegation places. Agonising.

Guess what...

Litmanen is injured again...unbelievable...What a scandalous waste of money

It's all over - isn't it?

Well, here we go again. The day before yet another 'must win' match. I have lost count of the times that I have written those words this season. Most people, it seems, are pretty much resigned to the prospect of being relegated. There is still, however, a mathematical chance of survival and while that remains - almost as annoying as that is - I suppose we have to keep hoping for a miracle. Do I think it's possible? Not at all.

That said, we at FtF have the tickets to tomorrow's match and plan to make the most of what will be a sell-out away end atmosphere. At the very least, we can show the rest of the Premier League that we may be condemned to the Championship, we're as passionate as any fans in any part of the country. So those of you going tomorrow, sing up and sing loud. If we win then, who knows, but certainly don't hope for any more than a good day out.

Survival is NOT that difficult

Okay, bizarre as it might sound given our current league position, managing to survive in the Premier League isn't - or, at least, shouldn't be - a difficult task. We have only won four times all season, none of which have been away, yet we're still not completely out of the running.

Everyone goes on about how it is the hardest league in the world but I don't actually believe that is the case. As long as you have a half decent squad of players and an inspirational manager at the helm, making sure you stay in the top 17 positions should not pose much of a problem.

I hope we stay up but personally I don't believe we deserve to. You simply cannot lose at home to one of the league's weakest teams and only get a draw away against the team set to be officially crowned the worst in the division's history, and expect to stay up.

We had every chance to salvage the situation but have failed to do so. Whose fault is it? To be honest I really don't know. The malaise started long before Hodgson rolled up in SW6 but he certainly hasn't been able to turn things around in the short time he's been here.

For the past two weekends the team that has taken the field has been one devoid of any confidence. They are playing like a group which knows it is going down. The most honourable will be looking ahead to next season's promotion battle; the rest will be plotting their escape.

FtF campaign: Bring back BOCA!

Our defensive ineptitude against both Derby and Sunderland has, I fear, cost us any chance of salvaging what has been a truly woeful season. Hughes and Hangeland have been particularly culpable - the latter's worst period coming when he made THREE mistakes in the lead up to gifting Sunderland their third goal after Healy had given us a lifeline.

One thing is clear: Boca needs to be restored to the side. Yes I know he's got previous for giving away stupid fouls in dangerous positions but I think he'll add some steel to the side. But who should give way? Well, in hoping that Hangeland's Horror Show can be confined to last weekend (bearing in mind he was my man of the match against Everton) I think it should be Hughes.

Fulham V Sunderland: Player rankings

Here's how I scored the lads against Sunderland.

Keller – 6/10
Conceding three at home won’t go down as one of his better days, although he was left totally exposed by the ineptitude of the defence and did manage to pull off a couple of fine saves to keep the scoreline respectable.

Konchesky – 5/10
Frustrating. Every time he makes a run he checks back. Just run with the ball for f***’s sake.

Hangeland – 1/10
Woeful.

Hughes – 2/10
At fault for Sunderland’s second. I say it again – he needs to make way for Boca.

Stalteri – 5/10
Reasonably solid. Had to make way for Roy’s attacking changes late on.

Bullard – 7/10
An A for effort. Dynamic in the first half, ran out of puff in the second.

Murphy – 6/10
Not a bad game – for him. One great bit of skill followed by two dire passes but hey.

Andreason – 5/10
Totally ineffective.

Davies – 5/10
Tried but didn’t make much headway. The moment he did a complete 360 while in position of the ball – and then lost it – summed up his afternoon.

Kamara – 7/10
Full of running. Was one of the only players on the pitch to show desire.

McBride – 6/10
The spirit is willing; the body is weak. All I saw was an old pro out there today.

Substitutes

Dempsey – 5/10
Failed to make much of an impression

Healy – 7/10
Electric. Turned the game around with a wonder goal and full of passion.

Bouazza – 5/10
Okay. Nothing special.

Man of the match: David Healy. For making us believe...albeit for just a few minutes.

Shocking stuff

With the possible exception of being holed up in a five star luxury hotel with two Swedish nymphomaniacs (female, that is), I cannot usually think of a single place I would rather be on a Saturday afternoon than at the football.

Yesterday at 4.45pm I wanted to be anywhere but Craven Cottage. A soul-destroying, yet utterly predictable defeat that makes relegation a probability rather than a possibility sucked out my will to live. Miserable and gloomy, the weather mirrored my mood.

But it wasn’t just me that was feeling the strain.

The demoralising way in which we capitulated – yet again – also triggered a worrying step-change in the attitude of the crowd. Until now Roy’s Army have enjoyed pretty much 100% support on the terraces (oh, okay then, plastic seats) but people are now running out of patience.

The mood among those fans that remained in their seats to the bitter end – rather than joining the river of black and white heading for the exits - began to turn ugly. Tempers were well and truly frayed. It’s unpleasant to see fans turning on each other but perhaps understandable.

One fiercely contested debate – concerning the virtues or otherwise of Joe Kamara – kicked off right in front of me. It was purely a combination of frustration and disappointment but it was upsetting to see and symptomatic of our current plight.

My guess, or hope at least, is that the usual good humour for which Fulham fans are known will return by the time Liverpool pitch up in SW6, if only for the fact that by then the vast majority of us will be pretty much resigned to our fate.

The only way now, it seems, is down but I just hope we can take our final bow in the Premier League together rather than apart.

Sanchez better than Hodgson

No of course I don't believe this for a second but that is what the raw statistics comparing both managers' first 12 games in charge show. Shocking stuff eh?

Both managers had six home and six away games and came into the teams cold - Sanchez away at Reading and Hodgson at home to Chelsea. They also came up against a top four side on three occassions each so I think the analysis is fair.

Sanchez
Won: 2 (both home)
Lost: 6 (one home, five away)
Drew: 4 (three home, one away)
Goals scored: 16
Goals conceeded: 22
Points total: 10

Hodgson
Won: 2 (both home)
Lost: 7 (four home, three away)
Drew: 3 (all away)
Goals scored: 8
Goals conceeded: 18
Points total: 9

Derby v Fulham: Player rankings

Hi all...rather later than planned - due to building work at home - here are my player rankings for last Saturday's ultimately disappointing trip to Derby.

Keller - 7/10
Was not at fault for either goal - particularly the first - and kept us in it with a string of fine saves.

Hughes - 5/10
Played a major part in the disaster that let Derby back into the game. Strong case for him to be replaced by Boca going forward.

Hangeland - 5/10
No back four that conceedes two against the team's bottom club can expect much in the way of praise. Showed no signs of the command displayed against Man Utd recently.

Konchesky - 5/10
Okay. Looked slightly jaded.

Stalteri - 6/10
An okay performance. Nothing earth shattering but the best right back we have at the club.

Bouazza - 6/10
Lacked first team match sharpness but unfairly booed by some parts of the Fulham support. Even though his 'goal' was a deflection he was in the right place at the right time.

Bullard - 6/10
Not one of his better days. Anonymous for large parts of the match.

Andreason - 6/10
See above. Not a great day.

Davies - 7/10
Full of running. Kept things moving in midfield and fought his heart out.

Kamara - 7/10
A good performance and excellent goal to settle the nerves after Derby's opener.

McBride - 6/10
Average performance. Suffered from a lack of service.

Substitutes
Murphy - 6/10
Okay, nothing spectacular, although time on the pitch was limited.

Johnson - 6/10
Looked lively but not given enough time to impress.

Man of the match: Simon Davies. Gave it his all.