Fulham v Arsenal: Player rankings

Here's how I scored the lads against Arsenal.

Niemi - 6/10
Couldn't really be blamed for any of the goals as the lack of defence made saving them mission impossible. Nothing much to do apart from picking the ball out of the net.

Volz - 7/10
Has to share the blame for the defensive frailties as a member of the back four but made some nice runs and a few decent tackles.

Hughes - 5/10
Not a triumph for our centrebacks who allowed Adebayor to rise effectively unchallenged and left a gap as wide as the Dartford Tunnell for Rosicky to steal in for the third.

Stefanovich - 5/10
See the comments for Hughes...the same applies.

Bocanegra - 6/10
Had a decent game standing in for the suspended Konchesky although, once again, shipping three goals doesn't look good on the record of any of the back four.

Simon Davies - 5/10
Not one of his better games. Virtually anonymous for large parts of the game.

Steven Davis - 5/10
Thought he was unlucky to be subbed. A few good darting runs...despite the embarrassing spinning round with the ball (which ended up in Arsenal's possession and will no doubt feature on Soccer AM next Saturday)

Ki-Hyeon - 3/10
Showed a bit more effort than usual (although, of course, this wasn't hard) but when he stumbled and lost the ball after being put through by Murphy in the opening minutes you knew the writing was on the wall. The fact Hodgson pushed him up as a lone striker at one point was unbelievable.

Murphy - 7/10
Appeared to have put his shooting boots on the wrong feet but apart from that came closest to scoring and put some decent passes about. One of the only ones to emerge with much credit.

Smertin - 6/10
Pretty average performance. A few nice touches but 'out-muscled' much of the time as Big Ron would say. Good to see him back all the same.

Dempsey - 8/10
For sheer endeavour and fight you have to give him full marks again. Had a thankless task as the lone man up front but battled continuously...even with his bizarre tangerine boots! Also got the ball in the back of the net - even though it was ruled offside.

Substitutes:

Bullard - 7/10
Obviously lacked match fitness but was full of running and passion. Fantastic to have him back in the side.

Healy - 7/10
Should have been on from the start. Things start to open up when this lad is playing.

Kuqi - 6/10
His physical presence unsettled the Arsenal defence when he came on. If he'd been given longer he might have given us a bit of hope.

Man of the match: Clint Dempsey. For sheer grit and determination you can't fault this guy. Murphy and Volz were contenders.

Truly woeful

We got exactly what we deserved: nothing. Roy's team selection was - to put it bluntly - absolutely bizarre. The idea, it seems, was to pack the midfield and nullify Arsenal's flowing passing game and leave poor old Clint Dempsey on his own up front. This bloke must be biting his fists in frustration at being played out of position every game.

Needless to say this didn't work. Arsenal knocked the ball around with consumate ease. At times our players were just left watching them. It wasn't that they weren't prepared to put in the effort - they just had no idea what to do. And the ease with which Adebayor rose to head in his goals (unchallenged) was just totally embarrassing.

Instead of getting in their faces and going for the win (as ludicrous as that might sound) like Birmingham did so successfully last weekend, we played for a draw and got absolutely annihilated. The watching Hangeland must be wondering what the hell he has let himself in for by signing up although at the very least I guess he is assured of a starting position each week.

I will be back on later with some comments from Arsenal fans, my player rankings and a few comments about the odious Adebayor and his incitment of fans in the Hammy End.

Interview with Arsenal fans

We caught up with the lads from the Inside Arsenal blog to ask their thoughts ahead of our match with the Gunners. Our thanks to them for their help.

1. How do you feel your season is going so far?
Many pundits wrote us off and it did seem that it would be a tough season ahead after the departure of Thierry Henry. It was really dependent on how the team would cope without him. They have been freed and to be joint top in January is brilliant and higher than many Gooners expected.

2. What silverware do you expect to collect this year?
I would hope we can win at least one cup. The Premiership will still be a tough challenge. With so many big teams out of the FA Cup I would hope Wenger's success here could continue. If we beat Tottenham on Tuesday, I fancy us in the Carling Cup.

3. Who have been your star performers and why?
Bakary Sagna - He came in any many wondered why Wenger bought a new right back. He has made our defence more solid and is good going forward. Always gives 100%.
Cesc Fabregas - faded a little lately but at the start was amazing. The new leader after Henry left and has been the fulcrum for the team.
Kolo Toure & William Gallas - together they have formed an awesome partnership and been one reason we are where we are.
Emmanuel Adebayor - Flourished since Henry left and has worked hard alll season, even when alone up front.

4. Has anything disappointed you this year?
The form of Gilberto and Walcott - Gilberto has dipped so much lately. Last season he was awesome, now he gives the ball away and adds no fight to the midfield. Theo has not come along as fans would have hoped. He still has much to learn.

5. Who do you see as your main rivals now?
Manchester United and Chelsea right now but surely Liverpool will click into gear soon?

6. What’s your view of Fulham?
Under Roy Hodgson they might be rejuvenated and against Chelsea they were unlucky. Whether they can keep working that hard and score more goals than they concede, we will see.

7. Are you concerned about any of our players?
Marlon King will add potency to the attack and on his debut could cause problems. Niemi has hade many a good game against us in the past.

8. Who do you think will be relegated this year?
Derby, Sunderland, Boro

9. What’s your score prediction for this weekend?
Fulham 1-3 Arsenal

Match of the Day

You never know we may get an earlier billing than the usual five to midnight this weekend considering we're playing the Arse. Quite frankly unless we're playing one of the top four it's completely pointless any Fulham fan watching this outdated programme. Most weeks they don't even give us the courtesy of discussing our game...or the two and a half minutes shown.

The only time we've had coverage is on Match of the Day 2 (does anyone apart from me watch this?) with Adrian Chiles...and then it was a story about our poor support...yawn.

Things are looking up

Forget what's happening up in Tyneside (heck, I love Keegan and am pleased his back but the round-the-clock coverage on SSN is surely overkill?) things are finally starting to happen at Fulham with the signing of Brede Hangeland - a tough looking Norwegian centre-back - and the soon-to-be-confirmed arrival of Marlon King from Watford.

I haven't seen Brede play - although Roy used to be his manager so he's not a blind purchase - but he looks like he fits the bill very nicely and should come straight into the team. Who is best paired with him? Both Hughes and Stefanovich have been okay this season so I guess it will be down to which pair form the best partnership.

King has a good strike record although he is pretty much untested in the Premiership. The goals montage on CCN made for good viewing and if he bags a goal on his debut which could feasibly be tomorrow against the Gunners it could see the start of a very happy relationship. A bit sad to see Collins John leaving (albeit on loan initially) but he's failed to make the grade despite being given plenty of chances. Maybe a spell in the Championship will relight his fire so to speak.

Am trying to get an interview with a Gooner and if i do it will be posted up later....

Look who's back

Well I never....Philippe Christanval is back in training according to the official site. To be honest i'd completely forgotten he was still on the books. No news yet on Simon Elliot (remember him?) who is still at the club as far as i'm aware, although he hasn't been allocated a squad number. It really is quite bizarre. Coma victims have made speedier recoveries.

King Kevin returns

Well, our own Kevin Keegan has returned to Newcastle United and I, for one, want to wish him the very best of luck. I loved having him as our manager and although the nature of his departure left a bit of a sour taste in the mouth at the end of our promotion season, he did us proud.

I just hope it works out for him. Keegan is a passionate chap and I can see how he has accepted this job on a wave of Geordie euphoria but he is clearly someone who thinks with his heart first which explains his sudden departures in the past.

Either way it's good to have him back in the game. Newcastle are always a team that I've got a soft spot for and i would certainly like to see them back challenging the boring four.

In other news we're still waiting for confirmation about Eddie Johnson. It amazes me that the messageboard posters are already slagging him off before his plane has even landed at Heathrow. We need to have faith in Hodgson - as we did with Sanchez - and if he thinks he's worth a go then I'm prepared to go along with the decision.

Elsewhere, Chopper at the Hammy End Chronicle reports on the departure of Chris Coleman from Real Sociedad here.