With 12 games left to play we are in desperate need of wins and momentum. Every time Fulham play there are periods and moments of real quality, but in order to translate the top performance level to points the team must find a way to raise the lowest level for 90 minutes at a time.
I played in the Premier League for nine seasons and every season there was a time when relegation threatened, and so I am well versed in the situation we are in. In times like these, players can really feel the weight of the pressure. It is the first thing you think about in the morning and the last thought of the day before you go to sleep. Your surroundings give you constant reminders of the position in the league, and everyone will have an opinion about all the things that are wrong. In this psychological environment it is perfectly natural to start thinking about yourself rather than your team. You get lost in the past or the future, thinking about what went wrong in the past or what might happen at the end of the season.
All of these ways of thinking are, of course, very unhelpful. A relegation battle is a mental struggle more than anything, a challenge you must face every day; can you manage to deal with what is in front of you and forget about the rest?
I remember very clearly all the years we didn’t get relegated, and these seasons were characterised by an adequate number of players managing to win their individual mental battle and decide to remain team players. In 2014, when we eventually got relegated from the Premier League, too many players had lost the faith and we paid the price. So the league table matters, the noise surrounding the players matters, but what matters the most is your individual ability to keep going for the team.
When wins are absolutely essential, you can look at any game in the Premier League and feel a bit sorry for yourself. Such is the case with away games at West Ham and Southampton. Playing away from home, against good teams who are dealing with pressure in their own world. But rather than focusing on what makes it difficult, there is always a much more helpful approach; there is a way to win these games.
I went to London Stadium for West Ham-Liverpool recently, and of course they are a good team. West Ham are a solid defensive unit, the back four well protected by Mark Noble and the impressive Declan Rice. They are quick on the counter and profit from keeping a good shape and attacking with speed and intent. Their strength lies in soaking up pressure and breaking the other way. On the flip side, they are not so impressive if they are made to force the game. Inviting West Ham to put players in advanced positions could work really well for Fulham in this game, playing their game to beat them seems to be the best tactic.
By focusing on specific tasks rather than future scenarios the players should be able to stay in the moment of the game. A game of football is a series of moments, each of which could prove to be absolutely vital for the outcome of the match. Of course Fulham can beat West Ham and Southampton, firstly by winning the internal battle and secondly by showing it on the pitch.
The above thoughts got me thinking about Chris Baird, who recently announced his retirement from the professional game. Bairdinho was exactly the type of character who would go about his business regardless of the situation or the position in the league. The kind of quiet and strong mind you’d like in the person sitting next to you in the changing room or lining up alongside you on the pitch. I will never forget his brace away to Stoke in 2010. We were in a bad place, and Chris scored two wonder-goals to win us the game, a performance that encapsulated him perfectly.
Baird was not too different from our new signing Håvard Nordtveit. I know Håvard well from our time together in the national team, and I know he is very keen to prove his worth in the Premier League. He is a stable character with very good ability on the ball, and he has both the mental and physical strength that’s required in this part of the season.
But most importantly, in times like these, remember to keep a sense of perspective. It is possible Fulham get relegated from the Premier League this season. Be that as it may, you are still free to play football, cheer for the team and enjoy that wonderful bond between people who love the Club and the game.
The news that Zara Harrison had passed away was so difficult to take. Zara was a dedicated, positive and valued member of staff for many years, and she personified all that is Fulham. My thoughts go to Mark and their young son Oska, who I hope will receive love and support from the entire Fulham family in the time ahead.