To be unbeaten in our first two matches of the season is a terrific start. Listen, when you come up against Liverpool in your first game and you play the way we did and you’re disappointed not to get the three points, it shows how far we’ve come. I was impressed with our whole performance; the pressing high up, being brave, very organised, everyone knew their jobs. That was a very impressive start, and then any away draw in the Premier League is a great point. Yet again we were coming away thinking we should have won if we’d scored the penalty, but it’s another great point away from home, so I’ve been very happy with the start.
We’ve kept the nucleus of the team that got us promoted which I think is vital for team spirit and camaraderie. That said, the extra players who have been brought in have added some real quality. It’s good to see Tim Ream in and playing well because he’s been great for the Club and deserves his opportunity. I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the way the Club’s gone about things.
Things might have been going even better had we not lost Harry Wilson and Manor Solomon to injury. As a player, that’s the absolute worst. You work your socks off all pre-season to get fit, you put in the hard yards, and then to get injured just before the season is the most unlucky thing that can happen. They must be so frustrated, but when they get back fit it will feel like two new signings, which can only help the team. It’s also given Neeskens Kebano and Bobby De Cordova-Reid the opportunity to come in and perform well.
They’re both at an age where they’ll feel they’re at the peak of their careers. They both deserve their chance, they’ve been fantastic for the Club and are both capable of playing in the Premier League. They’re Premier League players because they’ve got that quality, and long may that continue. When I went on loan to Bristol City, Bobby was there as a young lad and you could tell he was going to go a long way. Obviously he had the technical ability and was already a good footballer with a good brain, but his energy and enthusiasm were fantastic as well.
Saturday will be the first time we’ve played Brentford in the top flight, so it’s going to be a great spectacle, a great London derby. There’s no love lost between us and them. The last time we met in a big game was when we beat them in the Play-Off Final. We went up during Covid when there were no crowds, then they came up when we went down, so it’s good to have this fixture now in the Premier League. It will be a great day, and a game that we stand a great chance of winning if we start right and on the front foot. Brentford have had two great results against Man United and Leicester so it’s going to be a tough game, but they’re all going to be tough games in the Premier League. I’m looking forward to it, I’m doing commentary for FFCtv as well which I can’t wait for as Gentleman Jim has no love for Brentford. He lives there so there’s even more riding on it for Jim as he’ll get a lot of stick if we lose!
Saturday is our designated PL30 fixture, celebrating 30 years of the Premier League. I’m actually old enough to remember the first ever goal, as I was watching the game when Brian Deane scored. There’s so many good memories of the Prem from over the years. I was always a big fan of the Newcastle-Liverpool games in the 90s, they were fantastic. I loved watching Gianfranco Zola, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Andy Cole, Ian Wright. There were a lot of great moments, but the best for me has to be – even though we lost – Fulham’s first Premier League game when we played Man U away. We came out of that one losing, but we knew we’d held our own and should have got something out of it against the Premier League Champions. That match, a newly promoted team against one of the best ever club sides, showed just why the Premier League is the best league in the world.
Our first goal wasn’t a bad one, either, was it? I got Louis Saha his move to United with that pass! He still hasn’t paid me back for that so hopefully the cheque is in the post. I always get asked who the best player I played with was, and hands down it’s Louis Saha. I read a column with Gary Neville saying Louis was one of the most underrated players the Prem had ever seen, and I would agree. It was a genuine pleasure playing with him, I enjoyed my time with him thoroughly.
I saw that the Club was getting fans to vote for their best Premier League Fulham XI on Twitter, so I thought I’d have a go: van der Sar; Finnan, Goma was a beast so I’ve got to go for him, I should put Melville as he was a big help to me in my career, but I’ve got to put Hangeland in, even though I didn’t play with him, Brevett; Malbranque, Davis, all day long, no brainer, Dembélé was unbelievable so I’m going to put him in, Boa, definitely; Berbatov, Saha. I wanted to put Bazza Hayles in, but I can’t ignore Berbatov!
