I went to the Golden Lion on Thursday to watch the Second Leg with all the proper, hardcore Fulham fans, who were very welcoming with me. I didn’t actually have a reservation, but they managed to squeeze me in, so big up to the Golden Lion! (They’ll be buzzing to be in the column.) That game, I always thought it was a case of just getting the job done whichever way we have to. We had to grind it out a bit, but the lads have shown character all season. The Championship is a tough, tough, tough league, and the boys have been in the promotion fight until the end. This Fulham team ain’t no pushovers. I know we play good, controlled, possession football, but when the going gets tough we can dig in, we’ve shown that. Hopefully that, plus the experience of having been there and done it all before, will get us over the line at Wembley.
For me it was always going to be a Fulham-Brentford Final. Being a local derby, it makes it the best Final ever if we win, but the worst if… (I’m not actually going to say the words!) Brentford seem to be the media darlings at the moment, but it’s definitely going to be a 50/50 game. We finished on the same number of points, we both won our Semi-Finals 3-2 on aggregate. They do have players who, on their day, can hurt any team. But so have we. Plus I do think having that experience of the pressure of a Play-Off Final could be a key factor in the game. Brentford have had a fantastic season and would have gone up automatically if they hadn’t lost their last two, but – and I know I’m completely biased - I do just think we’ve got enough to come out on top.
The atmosphere at Wembley two years ago was insane, so you do feel so sorry for the fans that they can’t be there this time. Especially as it’s a local derby in the Final, it would have been an electric atmosphere. It’s such a shame as we would have packed our entire end out. That said, I think fans would be hurting more now had we not made it to Wembley in 2018. Hopefully the fact that most of them have been there and done it recently will mean that they’re not missing it quite as much as they would’ve done. For Brentford it will be a real kick in the teeth that they’re not there.
The form Josh Onomah has been in of late, I think he could be integral on Tuesday night. I remember seeing him when he was a young lad at Spurs and you could tell he was a special talent. He’s had a good run in the team now and he looks fitter, he looks sharper, and Fulham are reaping the benefits. The talent was always there, but now we’re starting to really see what he’s capable of. (His goal in the First Leg was a great example.) Scott Parker has so much belief in Josh, which makes the world of difference, it gives you a lot of confidence as a player. It was the same with myself and Jean Tigana, as soon as he came in he played me and had that trust in me. He played in a similar position so he was always on me with ways I could improve, and I’m sure Scott is the same with Josh.
I saw those quotes from the Brentford lad saying how Fulham would be afraid of them going into the Final. My message to our boys would be to eat those comments up, pin them up in the dressing room. I love stuff like that. Be the favourites if you want, the pressure’s all on you then, you’ve got to win the game now mate. I just feel it’s all talk really, it’s what some players do. I think we’re more a side who does their talking on the pitch.
There’s a massive incentive for all the boys going into this game; you score the goal that wins Fulham the Play-Off Final against Brentford, and you become a legend. No matter what you do for the rest of your life, the fans are going to forever recognise you and love you. You’d never have to pay for a drink in Fulham again!
I want to sign off with a word on the job Scott Parker has done. Scott knows the game inside out, and it’s not always the case that a great player will make a great manager, but I think he’s on course to be very successful. He’s played under some top managers where he will have learnt a lot and picked up stuff he can use himself. But for me the key thing is having the respect of the players and for them to buy into what you’re trying to do. You don’t get to the Play-Off Final if the players aren’t buying into the manager and what he’s doing. Not a lot of managers could have done what he’s done this season, and this is his first season in management, so I take my hat off to him. Again, I’m biased, because I like Scott, he’s a good guy and I’ve always got on with him. I just wish him nothing but success on Tuesday night and in the future with Fulham.
Fulham is our team. Let’s finish the job.