The problem with this comparison is that it's selective. After scoring on its first corner of the game, Fulham was in the driver's seat. West Ham needed to open up, and it became easy to string passes together ... until Fulham fell apart and was trailing by halftime. You can't talk about the first 30 minutes and trim out the last 15. After Fulham had gone behind, West Ham defended in numbers and was able to disrupt things more. In spite of that, Fulham did generate two excellent chances while EJ was in the game. AJ fluffed a breakaway and EJ forced a remarkable save. EJ's hold-up play led to some good crossing opportunities, but the service was terrible. I don't think he had a great game, but it's unfair to say that they never looked like scoring while he was on the field.
So you just spent three paragraphs saying essentially you agree that Fulham weren't "much better" with EJ on the field, right?
Agree on that, but you also claimed that Fulham's first 30 minutes were their "best by far" and that they were "toothless and unlikely to score" during EJ's run.
Well, I also thought they looked toothless in the first 30 (when they actually scored). Hell, I thought they looked toothless today.
I'll go you one better and say that they are toothless. They have a lot of older guys who couldn't afford to lose a step but did. So perhaps they're banking on Baird and Aaron Hughes to carry the offense from here on out?
How about this: After West Ham scored, Fulham looked better, and more likely to score, with EJ on the field than without him.
And, just as quickly, Fulham is back in the relegation zone and the management must be scrambling to find some offensive help.
Scrambling? That would suggest they only recently discovered they needed help in that department. I'm confident they've been working on this for some time.
ya, but just like in the summer windows, agents send out as many smoke signals as the teams. Yesterday, Santa Cruz, previously linked to Lazio, seemingly dismissed that move. And ManCity wants to dump wages and personnel in order to get Dzeko. So, Santa Cruz, Jo, Wright-Phillips, Adebayor and who know who else might be available. And who knows who will end up where.
Yes, all of this is true. Still, it was an odd comment, SFS. You seemed to suggest that today's results (which pushed Fulham back to 18th...but still only 3 points from 11th) somehow are going to change Fulham's position going into the transfer window. It's been blindingly obvious to everyone since Zamora went down that they need help up top. I'm sure Hughes has been working for quite a while trying to find forward help. Now whether he'll be able to get what he needs, that's a different question. If he hasn't signed anybody in 3 weeks...then you can start to talk about scrambling.
I put Santa in touch with Eddie's agent. Said something about bringing magic cleats back from the island of misfit toys. In all seriousness though, I'm pulling for the guy.
Well, none of them are likely to end up at Craven Cottage unless City changes its mind about carrying back some of the wages.
You don't think Fulham will eat half of Adebayor's $14M salary if it gives them a strong chance of escaping relegation? I am suggesting they are scrambling because, otherwise, they're in deep shit. And they know it. And, if Sparky thinks Jay Bothroyd will change his fortunes, he is far more optimistic than I am.
Again, bizarre comment SFS. They know they need a striker. They've known it for months. It's not surprising. I'm sure they've been working on addressing the problem for longer than you think. In short, I hope they're not scrambling, because scrambling leads to bad, rushed decisions, and desperate signings. And come on, you're better than believing goal.com/Daily Mail rumors...
You mean you don't think they've been working on signings for weeks, if not months (like many teams with such glaring weaknesses)? If not, you don't understand the first thing about how clubs approach transfer windows (and I'm beginning to think that's the case). I'm hopeful they already have a deal in the works, with only the formalities to be done in the first few days of the window.
Well, that's actually my point. City intends to sell, rather than loan, the fringe players. They don't plan to help the transferee clubs pay the high salaries of the outgoing players. Either way, I don't think you'll see Manu at Fulham. EJ probably won't be there long either.
Well after a no show today, I think EJ better start or I hope he has been looking for a move out of Fulham on loan to another team with the option to buy him. He didn't even get a starting nod against a weaker opposition. Any news for teams wanting this guy?
God I hope QPR is still interested. If he goes there it seems like a team where he could get plenty of playing time to prove himself. QPR has only scored 22 goals in their last 18 games and they have been shut out 7 times. That fast start definitely helped them, but they'll need some help unless they want to fade late like Cardiff did last season (am I remembering that right?) Still, even with their inability to score goals at times, they have the best goal differential in the Championship, by far. They have a defense that should help them move up and it'd be awesome to see EJ be a part of that.
Yea it would be, and EJ has been playing better in his sub role for Fulham also. I do hope he moves on this month a loan will be the most likely thing for him. With the style QPR plays he could do well for that team.
I hope EJ's looking to GTFO of Fulham, Dembele, Zamora & AJ are all gonna be healthy pretty soon & Fulham's probably gonna bring in another forward this window, it's just been eerily quiet regarding EJ loan/transfer news.