Tottenham’s goal right at the end on Sunday was incredibly hard to take. I can imagine the feeling in the dressing room afterwards, completely deflated after having left it all out there with nothing to show for it. Football can be cruel sometimes and Sunday was as bad as it gets.
I was at the Cottage doing commentary for Norwegian TV and having to remain somewhat neutral when they scored was bordering on impossible. Of course Tottenham pressed hard in the second half but the players should take belief from that performance. As always it is easy to point out the deciding factors in the key moments; runners should have been tracked, backline not pushing out of the box well enough before crosses, ‘keeper left to wonder whether he should stay on the line or come when the backline is deep. There is definitely room for improvement on the small details in defending that often end up making the big difference at this level. An opponent of Tottenham’s calibre will make the little errors count, but on another day this would have been a hard-fought and famous win for Fulham.
Judging from the first half of the game it is clear that the team have in no way given up hope. Fulham were hard-working, well-organised, and attacked with real intent. Ryan Babel was really positive, showing pace in behind as well as strength and composure when holding the ball up. Especially his direct running in behind added another dimension to the attacking play, making Fulham less predictable in attack. The levels from that first half will be enough to win many games between now and the end of the season, and hopefully the players and management are able to replicate that and even build on those performance levels.
You might accuse me of being too positive given the league table, but I honestly believe there is very little separating us from a being a solid Premier League team. And also, what else are we going to do other than remain positive? Stand up if you still believe!
When I arrived at Fulham in 2008 the situation was similar to what it is now, and we no doubt had a team with less talent than the current team. So of course it is possible, so long as you fight and believe and give everything. Clearly Fulham need to go on a run of good results at some point, but it is also very clear to me that when that vital win comes, it will spark something in the squad. There are winnable games in February, and so there is absolutely no reason to throw the towel in!
On that note, it was nice to see some familiar faces at the Cottage on Sunday. Fulham are very good at looking after former players, and I think it keeps that wonderful bond between club and ex-players nice and strong. So many people support Fulham in these difficult times, and the same goes for everyone, whether you are a current or former player, a supporter or an employee: You can either be part of the solution or part of the problem. Each individual must make a choice and hopefully decide to fight the good cause.
Brighton on Tuesday night is a massive game, it just cannot be underestimated. I’ve seen a lot of Brighton this year and credit to Chris Hughton for establishing them as a Premier League team. They are really well organised, a solid unit that plays from a plan that rarely changes, and the players know exactly what they are doing. They are predictable with a very clear identity, and in many ways an example of how the smaller clubs need to approach this league. That said, this is a game that must be won, and the levels from the first half against Tottenham will give three points. Doing the details in defending right, moving the ball quickly, opposite movement up front and maximum effort. Brighton are solid, but the right blend of intent and quality will break them down.
Rather than surrendering to pressure, now is the time to be the best version of yourself. Heroes are made in times like these.
Come on Fulham!