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Match review Monday: Van Nistelrooy given 'ruud' awakening
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Gavin looks back on all the key moments from Fulham's win at the King Power Stadium.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Daily Fulham Podcast
00:00:01
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. Hello and welcome along to the Daily Fulham Podcast.
Reflecting on Fulham's Recent Win
00:00:12
Speaker
This is your home of all things Fulham. It's the start of a new week and as ever on a Monday we're looking back on the weekend's game. My name is Gavin Ruffle and I'm pleased to be able to talk to you guys after a Fulham wins. Just the one winning fact in the last seven league games coming into this fixture. And believe it or not this was actually Fulham's first game on a Saturday since the 14th of December. And we know coming into it there was a lot of negativity
00:00:39
Speaker
after the result in midweek, maybe less so the performance, more of an emphasis on the individual mistakes that cost them points there against West Ham But this a much more positive, and much more comfortable afternoon for Fulham.
Team Changes and Player Milestones
00:00:53
Speaker
Before we get into all of the action and where this leaves Fulham, let's start from the beginning and that is the team news. And it was a delight, no doubt, for many Fulham fans to see the name Sander Berger back in the team sheet. First appearance since going off in that goal of straw at home to Southampton. He has been a loss. So that was the only one change from the West Ham defeat. He came in for Andreas Pereira.
00:01:17
Speaker
Andres Pereira paying the price for his costly error in that game. I think now for Marco Silva, what he wants in his team is players he can trust, players he can rely on and unfortunately for Andres Pereira, as much as I have tried to defend him and stick up for him because I felt he has not been playing in the role that's best suited to him.
00:01:39
Speaker
but his performance level is just too up and down. When he does have a good game, it's generally followed by a bad game. So I feel like Sander Berger straight back into the team was probably needs must at this stage. I think ideally he wouldn't have wanted him to come straight back in to the start in 11, given the fact that he hasn't played in a few weeks, he probably would have wanted him to maybe come off the bench for 20 minutes here and there, but I think he was absolutely the right decision for Sander Berger to come straight back into the team.
First Half: Leicester Starts Strong
00:02:05
Speaker
As for Leicester, just the one change for them after their defeat in midweek to Crystal Palace, they brought in Jordan Ayu, not Andre Ayu as I said on the preview show. He came in for Buenanotta. It was a record appearance for Jamie Vardy as well. This was his 400th start for Leicester. Other noteworthy news was Timothy Castagna of course was coming up against his old club for the first time here and Emil Smith wrote this was his 100th Premier League appearance.
00:02:32
Speaker
So on to the action then, and it was actually less that they made the brightest start of the two teams. Jordan Iu is presented with the first real opportunity. It comes from a bit of a scramble in the box. Jordan Iu, who's almost collapsing as he takes a bit of a snapshot, takes a little bit of a deflection off Calvin Bassi. Bert Leno's able to smother.
00:02:51
Speaker
Soon after that, Ayu's involved again, a shot from distance, but it's always rising, going over the bar, and he's further involved. This all in the space of the first 10 minutes, he links up well with Jamie Vardy. Jamie Vardy gets in front of Joachim Anderson, puts a cross into the back stick, and there's almost a bit of embarrassment for Timothy Kestanya, the worst case scenario, where he almost diverts the ball into his own net against his old side. But Leno having to be sharp, clawing the ball away from his net to avoid Fulham going 1-0 down early
Fulham's Dominance and First Half Analysis
00:03:20
Speaker
on.
00:03:20
Speaker
So for the first 10 minutes it was Leicester that were making all the running but importantly for Fulham they were able to keep them at bay and they were able to quieten the home fans and they started to take control of the game. They slowly worked their way into the game and will start to dominate possession. There was a chance for Emil Smithrow, a patient build-up. Smithrow plays a 1-2 with Harry Wilson, he gets a sign of goal but an effort goes wide and the pressure from Wout Vass.
00:03:46
Speaker
And as we've seen typically with Fulham, most of their attacks came from the left side. I think, statistically, they're only behind Leicester, funnily enough, in terms of percentage attacks coming from the left side. So we've become accustomed, haven't we, to Owobi and Robertson linking up down that side. And that was an evidence here. In fact, for the first 20, 30 minutes, Harry Wilson probably struggled to get into the game to make much of an impact. But despite Fulham's pressure, Leicester did have another opportunity with Kristensen the left back driving forward he evades a few Fulham defenders opens up for his shots on his weaker side on his right foot but he slashes it wide despite Fulham starting to get some control of the game and dominating possession and and having decent amount of the ball in the Leicester half the game was clearly lacking in quality which is probably indicative of both sides recent form they did hit the woodwork for the third time
00:04:43
Speaker
in the space of two games there's actually a world view it's the crossbar from an attempted cross so he almost ended up scoring his third goal in two games despite despite none of those attempts being an actual attempt. Slowly but surely the attempts were starting to rack up for Fulham. Build-up play was patient, quite deliberate. Chance for Calvin Bassi from just outside the box. A couple of Fulham players within range, a chance to shoot but they opt elsewhere. Borger comes out to Calvin Bassi. He drills a left footed shot past the post.
00:05:14
Speaker
and Robinson also has a snapshot from outside the box. It looked like a Woebe was going to have a chance after the good build at play Emil Smith Rowe is inside the box, opens up for a shot from him, he so he decides to slide in a Woebe but it's intercepted by Wout Fass, comes out to Robinson and again just like Bassey shot it's a low drive but he puts it past the other post. I spoke in my preview about the errors that Leno had made in midweek and maybe Leicester identifying that and trying to apply some pressure on him and I was surprised when Leno did have the ball at his feet the Leicester just sat off and didn't put any pressure on him at all and I think that's something I certainly would have targeted I would have at least had a word to my forward Jamie Vardy
00:05:56
Speaker
to apply that pressure to Leno, he would have had that in mind in those in those situations. I'm guessing Marco Silva or someone from the staff would have had a word with Leno just to be a bit more assertive in those situations to avoid those mistakes from happening. Yes, managers want you to play play out, don't they? But you don't want to keep repeating.
00:06:14
Speaker
the same mistakes over and over again. Emil Smith Rose, a player who's attracted criticism in recent times and you know we haven't seen the best of him recently but I i do feel he looked sharper in his first half, he was combining well with a whoa, he had some nice touches.
00:06:29
Speaker
but it it was looking like an afternoon where patience was required. It was low quality but Fulham just needed to up the tempo a bit and they could definitely get a positive result in this one. All in all it wasn't a great half from both sides but Fulham were looking the better after that initial bright start for Leicester. Leicester fans were starting to just get a little bit touchy. There was a moment that towards the end of half when Vestergaard kind of dally took his time on the ball stood on the ball and they wanted him to get it forward wasn't to be and obviously fans you know becoming impatient and frustrated with the results recently so the fact that they were playing a second game at home in a short space time against a team where they they feel maybe they could have got points I think the fans just wanted to see a bit extra urgency but you know both teams going into half time
00:07:16
Speaker
With mixed feelings for Fulham, I think it was just a case of needing to raise the tempo a bit, keep asking questions of Leicester's defence, which I feel like if you can do that, then you can get success. Whereas Leicester, they would have felt happy at half-time, the fact that they had kept it level, but they needed to show a bit more quality and ask questions of Fulham as well, because we know Fulham have been prone to making errors as well in recent times.
Halftime Changes and Second Half Momentum
00:07:40
Speaker
So keeping it tight and it going in all half-time, I don't think was the worst outcome.
00:07:44
Speaker
On to the second half shortly, but before then a few words about our sponsors. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and r's, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:08:13
Speaker
Now Fulham made a substitute at half time and this was very surprising. Adama Trove was the player coming on and Alex Owobi was bright in that first half. It was a real surprise at the time to see him come off so it just led to a bit of a conjecture what had gone on there. It can't have been something tactical because he did look Fulham's most threatening player and obviously off the back of two goals, albeit maybe somewhat fortuitous goals in the week, you would have been feeling confident heading into this one.
00:08:38
Speaker
So that was a surprise, but we know the reason why that was after the game, which I'll ah i'll come onto to a little bit later on. But yeah, a diamond tryer coming on, he would have been eager to put things right and to make a talent contribution in the second half year that could lead to a Fulham win. And Fulham, just like in the second half against West Ham, when they scored, I think, five minutes after the break, they did exactly the same here. In fact, this one coming even sooner than Iwobi's first goal against West Ham, and it comes for Emil Smith-Rowe, a much-needed goal for him, as we said.
00:09:11
Speaker
He's been a little bit quiet, underwhelming recently, so this is an important goal for him. Comes from an initial throw in, Robinson into Raul Jimenez, who's gone out wide. He whips across into the back post
Fulham Leads with Goals from Smith Rowe and Traoré
00:09:25
Speaker
area, where Harry Wilson is. His first touch comes off his chest. Not the best first touch, but then his second touch is a lot better. He hooks in a cross goal. It's Sassa Lucas there, who's with Vestergaard.
00:09:37
Speaker
and Sasolukic is able to make some contact goes to his left and there's Smithrow right place at the right time brave stoops low for a header bundles the ball into the net and Fulham go 1-0 in front it was a very important goal for Emil Smithrow just to quieten the doubters soon after that Lester had claims for penalty Samari drives into the box he's fended off by Anderson but there's absolutely nothing there despite Ruvan Nissoroi's protestations them have a chance to double the lead from a corner it's him and his header that goes wide actually takes a deflection off one of the Leicester defenders but it's not spotted by the ref Sasa Lukic who in this game has taken up a more advanced role at times given that freedom to roam forwards with Sander Berger as that shield that protector next to him no surprise he gets another booking in this game and I think that's his ninth booking of the season so another suspension isn't going to be too far away probably
00:10:33
Speaker
probably after another yellow card in the next game, no doubt. With Leicester going a goal down, obviously there was more of a necessity and need to commit players forward. which could play into Fulham's hands now with Adama Troari on the pitch. Also it is notable how Adama Troari switched from the left to the right, Harry Wilson going over to the left, Adama struggled to make much of an impact I feel when he has played from the left so going over to the right is more of a suited position for him. Leicester have a chance, it's a stinging effort from Mavadidi, tries to beat Leno at his near post,
00:11:05
Speaker
but the German keeper gets a strong hand to it, goes out for a corner. There's a wink shot from outside the bot, but there's a comfortable save again for Leno. And there are signs of life for Leicester. The crowd are up, all of a sudden urging their team on. There are signs of encouragement. Jimenez, who had a quiet first half, I thought he was linking to play well in the second half, having more of an impact on the game. And it was a much better feel to the game since the goal, at least from a neutral's point of view.
00:11:33
Speaker
It's a big moment actually as Rude Van Nysory makes his first substitutions and it's Elkanous who's subbed off and the less the fans, they're not happy with this one at all. As chance if you don't know what you're doing, re-verberate around the King Power Stadium. They certainly weren't happy with Elkanous coming off and they weren't happy with the substitutes that were brought on. Oliver Skip being one of them.
00:11:56
Speaker
The game started to get a little bit scrappy which probably would have suited Fulham with Leicester obviously having a greater need to score the next goal but it is Fulham who scored the next goal and make it 2-0. I've spoken in the past how Fulham have quite often scored the first goal but then if I'd struggle to extend that lead build on it and make it a comfortable game Well they're able to do this, it's Luke Hitcher who as I said in this game has got a little bit more freedom to go forward. He drives forward, he isn't closed down, eventually plays the ball out to Emil Smith-Roe, he shifts it to his left where Wilson is, having switched with Adama Troiore. He stabs a cross up, fought Adama Troiore.
00:12:34
Speaker
who Seifert volleys it into the bottom corner of the net, unlike his chance in midweek where he lacked
Fulham's Strategic Control and Victory
00:12:40
Speaker
all sorts of composure. This is anything but, this is calmness personified, and it's a great finisher for Adama Troy, and this is in fact his first goal since the 31st of August, much needed for him. It's a comfortable position for Fulham at 2-0, and it's just about game management, seeing the game out, not gifting a goal to the opposition like we have seen them do in the past few games.
00:13:02
Speaker
And obviously it would be a critical three points. There is a chance for them to extend that lead, make it through, you know. Moneys at this point has come on for Jimenez. Obviously there's a bit of transfer speculation surrounding Jimenez. Links have emerged with other clubs. I think West Ham being one of them. Marco Silva's quick to downplay that in his pre-match press conference.
00:13:19
Speaker
He has a chance, another cross that comes in. He should be making it 3-0, but he doesn't. And more substitutions for Leicester. Ironic cheers this time as Buena Notta comes on for IU around the 70-minute mark. A little bit worrying for Ruud van Nisroy because it seems like the crowd are starting to turn against him if they hadn't already turned before this match.
00:13:42
Speaker
Fulham, their attacks were predominantly coming from the left in the first half, but it was notable how in the second half that changed. and It was just about controlled possession, keeping the ball, taking the sting out of the game, not giving Leicester a lifeline.
00:13:59
Speaker
and being able to secure that three points that you're so desperate for and they were able to do that pretty comfortably in the end after a bright initial start from leicester in the first ten minutes this was a very comfortable afternoon for fullham once again scoring two goals this time being able to see out the game and getting three points much needed first time they've got free points since boxing day Some final thoughts to come, but before then,
00:14:22
Speaker
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00:14:49
Speaker
Maybe half time people weren't so happy with the performance, what they'd seen in the first 45 minutes. I think Marco Silva as well, he said it in his post-match press conference that they needed to up the tempo, play a little bit quicker. And if they were able to do that, then there was a good chance and that they could get a positive result in this one. I'm particularly delighted for the two goal scores who, as I've touched on, I've taken criticism in recent times and it's just the nature of football and social media, isn't it? That if you have a bad result, then there's often people that end up being the scapegoat and Adam Matrari is certainly one of those players people latching onto his miss in midweek as I said it's not the worst miss I've ever seen and before that he had a good outing in the cup against Watford's was heavily involved there in in film getting a 4-1 win so I don't think he's been that bad recently not not deserving of the criticism just based on that one miss but certainly what's been questioned of him throughout his career is that is his end product and
00:15:45
Speaker
It's nice to see him pop up here, get himself on the score sheet for the second time this season and he took it ever so well, didn't he? I mean, the way he finished this, it's not befitting of a guy that doesn't have end product because he took it so well. And Emil Smith row again. I think people just expect probably a ah lot of him given he's come from Arsenal and the price tag and he did start the season pretty well. But I think Marco Silva touched upon it in his post-match press conference that he's probably been lacking confidence recently because he has had that injury.
00:16:14
Speaker
and obviously he was beset by injuries and in in his time at Arsenal, maybe he's just just got that in mind, we haven't seen the best of him as a result of that. But I felt his general all-round play in this game was a lot better, he looked a lot sharper, he was getting involved more. So yeah, hopefully now that can be ah the lift he needs and we'll start seeing that Emile Smith row that we were we were seeing in
Leicester's Struggles Under van Nistelrooy
00:16:35
Speaker
the early part of the season.
00:16:37
Speaker
I think rather than match for me he has to go to Sander Berger, he's just become such an important player than that now, after some initial early doubts how he was going to fit into the team, how the Fulham system was going to look like with him in there, with him in Sasolukic, but I think he's just a reassuring presence now and and that calming influence he has on other players I think can't be underestimated. In this game he was just able to control the tempo, the pace of the game, slowed it down when it needed to be slowed down. He slotted back in like he's never been away and it was just a really big performance for him and allowed Sassa Lukic at times to far a forwards and for me Sander Berger now going forwards, hopefully that injury's behind him now, he he has to be one of the first names on that team sheet.
00:17:22
Speaker
However he's playing alongside whoever's in front of him, Sanderberg has to be in that team now. It's unfortunate for Andreas Pereira, but ultimately Andreas Pereira's performances just haven't been consistently good enough. Marco Silva was adamant that he's not going to go this month.
00:17:37
Speaker
But you never know, you probably haven't heard the last of that situation. If another team, Palmeiras from Brazil or whoever comes in with a substantial bid, then you have to genuinely consider it. And I feel like Marko Silva, I feel like in games against opposition like Leicester, he wants to play Andres Pereira, he wants to play Andres Pereira with Smith Rowe.
00:17:56
Speaker
but I just think he hasn't put in convincing enough performances on a regular basis that he can be trusted. So I think this is the blueprint for Fulham now going forward and it can change. Of course, you know, if Fulham are to lose the next game, lose the next couple of games with this system, then questions are going to be asked again and then he might have a role to play again. But I think for the time being, what we saw, the makeup of that Fulham team, ah that's what we should be seeing now going forward for the next few games at least.
00:18:23
Speaker
ah Alex Woebe, who I spoke about going off a half time, they would have been concerned, some worry from Fulham fans what the situation was there. It can't have been performance based because he was looking lively in that first half. But the positive news is it's not injury. Marco Silva confirming after the game that he'd been suffering with a bit of flu before the game and then He came off because he wasn't feeling well. So that that's encouragement. Obviously hope he gets well soon. He's on the men soon. That's not gonna hold him back. Yeah, considering many people would have been thinking, is there is there an injury here? That's definitely positive news.
00:18:56
Speaker
It was nice to have a game wasn't it where there was no harem, scarerem, kami cars, eat errors at the back ah where Fulham just give the opposition a goal. There was none of that. They were a lot more assured and probably helped out by the opposition, lest they're lacking in a bit of quality and this was a difficult afternoon for them, difficult afternoon for their fans.
00:19:12
Speaker
starting to turn on the manager, that's seven defeats in a row for them now and they just look a team devoid of any quality. Got a manager who's very inexperienced, I question that at the time, I question that even more now. I said in the preview that it wouldn't surprise you if you get to a stage where Ru Vanister always under pressure for his job despite positive signs early on in his time there.
Fulham's Positive Outlook and Future Matches
00:19:35
Speaker
The only saving grace for Leicester at the minute is they aren't detached and despite seven defeats in a row You could easily be in that situation, but such has been the form of some of the teams in and around them where they haven't been picking up wins. They are still within a few points and a win on Saturday would have lifted them out of the relegation zone. So they're not far away in terms of points, but they look far away in terms of quality. They were at least scoring under Steve Cooper.
00:20:03
Speaker
But the goals are dried up, which is concerning and obviously you've ruled Van Nissenroyd being a striker, being that fox in the book. You would have hoped from a Leicester persuasion that goals would not be so hard to come by, but that was their fifth blank in seven games. And two games where they found at least Crystal Palace home and Fulham at home, they would have fancied their chances of getting at least one win, possibly four points, which would put them in a half decent position to get themselves get themselves out of it and yeah the mood from the fans boos run around king power at the end and it's always a tough environment as a manager when your own fans are questioning you and it was eye-opening to see that reaction after el canoose came off and the chance of you don't know what you're doing i think it's impossible for the manager there to block out the noisy jobs he knows he knows what's being chanted and that puts him in a a difficult unenviable situation and
00:20:55
Speaker
i do worry for them with an in inexperienced manager and i i don't think e they have the quality in their squad but just add things were full Heading into this game, it was just one win in the last seven league games. They had been very difficult to beat prior to midweek. It's frustrating seeing some of the errors they have been making recently, but this was much better to get a I win over a team in the bottom half, get do a win over a team in the bottom worry three, for them with which they've struggled to do. And it's onwards an inexperienced manager and and upwards now, isn't I don't it, in what could have think they have the quality in their squad. been a very challenging, tough week.
00:21:28
Speaker
ah With two games, they've ended it on a positive note and then they head into the next game now, hopefully buoyed by the result here. They've consolidated their place in the top half of the league and now hopefully they can push on and and start racking up a few more wins now going forward. But to conclude Fulham were ah certainly worthy winners in this one. At 2-0, the game was done and dusted as long as they didn't do anything stupid and and shoot themselves in the foot and thankfully this time they were able to do that.
00:21:54
Speaker
We can all look forward now to ah Manchester United next Sunday. We kick off time at seven o'clock. But before then, I will be back with you on Wednesday. Got a fun one lined up. It is January, which means the transfer window is open. So with that in mind, I've got something related to that for your World Card Wednesday episode. So look forward to bringing that to you.
00:22:19
Speaker
but that'll do it for today's match review Monday. A good one for all you Fulham fans. The positive vibes are back. Hope to catch you all on Wednesday. See you then.