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Didn't want Europe anyway
0 Playsin 16 minutes
Gavin looks back on Fulham's defeat to Everton as any lingering hopes of a European push were well and truly ended.
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Transcript
Introduction to Global Sports Podcast Network
00:00:01
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. work Hello and welcome back to the Daily Fulham Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:00:14
Speaker
Your home for the latest news and views from across the Premier League.
Fulham's European Dream Ends
00:00:18
Speaker
My name is Gavin Ruffall and it looks like that's that. There may be two games left to go but the season is pretty much done and dusted from a full and perspective.
00:00:26
Speaker
After defeat at home to Everton, any hopes of Europe have well and truly ended. This was a must win game after the loss against Aston Villa and subsequent results going against
Analysis of Fulham's Recent Performances
00:00:37
Speaker
them. They couldn't afford a slip up.
00:00:38
Speaker
But boy, did they slip up. And I'll be honest, even going into this game, I wasn't overly confident of the result. You could look at it and think, Everton, well, they've not really got a lot to play for. Their season...
00:00:50
Speaker
It's just meandering to an end. They secured safety a long time ago and their focus now is on moving into that new stadium for next season. So it's always said, it's often said at this stage when there's not a lot to play for for teams, how they're on the beach and maybe they're just up sticks, but there's still an element of pride that comes into it. And also you've got a factor in that certain players of that club might be playing
Impact of Injuries on Fulham's Season
00:01:09
Speaker
for their future. So it's never as cut and dry as to think a team's on the beach so you're going to have an easy an easy time of things but I was more concerned about what I've seen from Fulham recently that was why I had such an air of negativity heading into the game because what I've seen in the last month a month and a half
00:01:24
Speaker
has not been good, really, apart from the Liverpool game, which was the biggest surprise. The fact that they were able to put in a good performance on that occasion and get a great result. But in and around that, it's been very underwhelming and there was no great degree of optimism heading into this one. They become a little bit of a soft touch and the season has kind of imploded, to put it bluntly.
00:01:48
Speaker
We did see a couple of changes from the previous fixture, one we knew about. It was confirmed in Marco Silva's press conference that Sasa Lukic would be missing out with injury. Nothing long-term, but enough to keep him out for this game. The other one was Anthony Robinson, who at the moment is a bit in-out, in-out, shake it all about, doody-okey-okey.
00:02:07
Speaker
um He seems like he's got a persistent ongoing problem there. He's not really come to terms with it. He's managing it as best as he can, but that seems like that's troubled him. for a number of months now. So, I mean, you wonder now, with him not starting the game against Everton, not featuring at all, you wonder, is there even a possibility that he might have even played his last game in a Fulham shirt? So that meant that Cessignon was back at left-back.
Fulham's Tactical Challenges Against Everton
00:02:29
Speaker
So we've seen the last three games, he's gone from left-back to right-wing, back to left-back.
00:02:33
Speaker
Andreas Pereira also came back into the side after missing the defeat against Aston Villa. Smith Rowe started this one and we saw Harry Wilson, he went back out wide after starting in that number 10 position.
00:02:44
Speaker
Last weekend, also worth noting that no Marco Silva on the touchline. Is that a hint to the future? Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. But he was serving the touchline ban, no doubt to the delight of the fourth official, who could enjoy ah more peaceful afternoon. So it was Stuart Gray who was in charge of things down there in the dugout.
00:03:05
Speaker
So there was a more attacking look to that team, that certainly the make-up in midfield. I was expecting Fulham to see a lot of the ball in this game.
Fulham vs. Everton: Match Highlights
00:03:14
Speaker
and then it's just what they could possibly do with it. On the Everton side, i was a little bit surprised to see McNeil left there. I know he's just come back from a long-term injury, scored last week against Ipswich, I was expecting him to start, but they opted for Jack Harrison.
00:03:28
Speaker
Instead... So early stages of this game, it was quite bitty. i think what was noticeable with Sander Berger, Sander Berger had a tough out in didn't against Aston Villa, I think it was noticeable watching him how he was more prepared to drive forward with the ball and play progressive passes, which we haven't necessarily seen.
00:03:47
Speaker
That was the player we saw at Sheffield United and a bit of Bernie, but... He's played a different role for Fulham this season, so it was notable to see how we' were in the early stage of the game, when whenever he got the chance to go forward, run into space, he took that opportunity. So that was nice to see something, as I said, we've we've not seen so much of.
00:04:03
Speaker
this season For the first 10 or so minutes, it was Fulham seeing the majority of the ball. But as i said, it was pretty scrappy. There was a couple of chances from long range, efforts from Harry Wilson and from Alex that will be.
00:04:16
Speaker
But they were straight at Jordan Pickford. But Fulham do go into the lead just past the quarter hour mark. Fulham initially worked the ball out wide to Ryan Sessegnon, who plays it in quickly to Emile Smith-Rowe.
00:04:27
Speaker
And he's just able to drift free of James Garner. And he stands up across, close to the byline, and there's Raul Jimenez, who buries his header emphatically. Very important goal for Raul Jimenez because he's cut a very frustrated figure recently, maybe...
00:04:42
Speaker
bemoaning his lack of service at times and it's an important last few weeks the season for him because his contract's soon to expire isn't it I don't think he'd scored a goal in his last seven prior to this one so that was much needed for him he can't complain about service there ball measured to perfection and Fulham go 1-0 in front from that point on I i just wanted Fulham to continue with that sort of momentum and strive for the second goal we've seen multiple times this season Fulham go into goal leads particularly at home and then they've not been able to secure that second goal they almost invite pressure from the opposition and we've seen them give up leads so many times so I was just kind of hoping for them to continue to pile on the pressure and and look for that second goal but
00:05:21
Speaker
Instead, they kind of just sat off, but at the same time, when they were still very comfortable. Everton weren't offering much of a threat, but i just felt Fulham were being a little bit too passive. It was also noticeable how after the goal, Sander Berger wasn't having such an influence, wasn't able to dictate things in the middle of the park.
00:05:38
Speaker
Everton they probably were aware David Moyes got the instruction across that in the first 10-15 minutes they were just allowing him to drift into Spraise to glide forward that changed after the goal then there was more pressure on him they were often doubling up on him not giving him the time to go forward it just became a bit scrappy and I felt that was probably to Everton's advantage despite the fact that they were a goal down and you think the onus is more on them to get to get the goal but I just felt Everton are quite good in those situations when the game is scrappy and It doesn't become a basketball game. I do feel with their style of play, it it plays into their hands.
00:06:12
Speaker
It's also notable how there was no hesitation from them in trying to get crosses in when they had the opportunity to do so or long throw-ins from James Garner. So for the majority of that first half, Fulham are comfortable without creating too much themselves. However, later on, there is another opportunity for Harry Wilson.
00:06:30
Speaker
It comes from an initial mistake from Everton at the back. Fulham pressed them. Andres Pereira picks up possession and it comes out to Harry Wilson. And he tries to get onto his favoured left side. He delays his shot, delays his shot, delays his shot. You think, oh, he's wasted his opportunity not to get shot off earlier. But he does get shot away eventually with his left foot. And Jordan Pickford, he's made a couple of saves early on in the game. Pretty comfortable. This time it's a better save.
00:06:54
Speaker
as Harry Wilson, his low driven shot, it looks like he's creeping into the bottom corner, but Jordan Pickford, he spools across to prevent it from doing so. There is still time left in the half for Everton to create their first clear-cut chance. Well, I say create their first clear-cut chance. It comes about from from Fulham, really. he's a bit sloppiness from Andres Pereira, who fails to win a tackle. He goes sliding in, which allows Alcraz possession inside the box.
00:07:17
Speaker
He gets a shot away, but Bert Leno stands tall, is able to thwart him. But Fulham can't deal with the next threat, which comes through another long throw from James Garner, which Fulham just aren't able to clear the lines from.
00:07:29
Speaker
It eventually comes to Mikalenko, who's just outside the box. Tries an effort, tries his luck. Not particularly menacing strike. Gets a bit of luck. If you don't shoot, you don't score. If you don't buy a ticket, you don't win a raffle.
00:07:41
Speaker
So he strikes and he takes a deflection off Andres Pereira. There's nothing Ben Leno can do. He's wrong-footed. and the teams go into the interval at 1-1. A bit of a strange half to assess. At 1-0, you would have been satisfied, but probably you would have wanted to see a little bit more purpose to get the second goal.
00:07:57
Speaker
While looking comfortable for the majority of the half, 1-0, it's always a dangerous scoreline. And once again, Fulham are not able to make more of their advantage. But having said that, maybe the goal and the timing of it, it could have done Fulham a favour in a weird sort of way. Almost give them a second wind and then encourage them to try and take a few more risks to be a bit braver in the second half.
00:08:18
Speaker
Players go in at half-time and they know the results elsewhere. They know that Brighton are winning. They know that Brentford are winning. So they feel we have to win this game. It's almost to this stage. Just leave it all out there. You have to win the game. There's still time to recover.
00:08:31
Speaker
It's better the equalising goal comes in stoppage time in the first half than comes in stoppage time in the second half. So you've got another 45 minutes now. You've got to win the game again. Be proactive. Get on the front foot and show more intent.
00:08:43
Speaker
The intent that they lacked after the first goal. If you lose the game trying to win it, then so be it. Everton, meanwhile, not got a lot to play for, so they can just have a go in the second half.
00:08:54
Speaker
And I'll come on to that second half shortly after a few words about our sponsors. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform.
00:09:05
Speaker
Zencastr came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:09:16
Speaker
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencastr. So on to the second half then. And Everton start it with more of
Fulham's Struggles in the Second Half
00:09:27
Speaker
a purpose. There is ah more of a threat to them, more of a liveliness to their play. But having said that, the chances do fall to Fulham.
00:09:34
Speaker
One for Sessignon, who's able to test Pickford after combining with Iwobi. And there's another one from Wilson. This is a really audacious effort, actually. Ball played in behind from Kenny Tetty.
00:09:45
Speaker
Jordan Pickford's a little bit indecisive, doesn't know whether to come or to stay on his line. He elects to stay, but he's already half committed himself. So he's retreating back to his goal. Wilson's obviously aware of this and he tries to lift it over his head to try and dink it over Pickford's head.
00:09:59
Speaker
But a goalkeeper is agile enough to just palm it over in time. Bit of a stoppage in play as he's down receiving treatment. Some positive changes for Everton. The aforementioned Dwight McNeil, who I said I was surprised to see him not start. He comes on.
00:10:13
Speaker
Illiman and Jai also comes on to signal their intent that they are on the hunt for for the win. They're not setting their stall out to come away with a ah point. they want to take three points back to merseyside as for full and we see troy or a come on for the last half an hour to replace emil smith rowe which means harry wilson goes a bit more central despite everton showing some threat on the counter in the first five or ten minutes of the second half they weren't creating any meaningful attempts well their first meaningful attempt leads to their second goal it's an in-swing corner
00:10:45
Speaker
Leno is slightly blocked off by Alcaraz. And Michael Keane arrives at the back post to put Everton into the lead. There is a slight pause. Check for offside. I think there was a check for an initial foul. Alcaraz blocking off Leno. That's cleared. There is a check for offside.
00:11:00
Speaker
You can argue, is he interfering with play anyway? Doesn't matter. Irrelevant. Sassanion's playing him onside. Everton go into lead 2-1. And Fulham, they've got a job on their hands to try and get something out of this game. Because even at this stage, a goal down...
00:11:15
Speaker
Even rescuing a point, it's not really what they're after in the grand scheme of things, is it? But before they have time to compose themselves and try and find a way of getting back into this game, trying to find a way of mustering a second goal, which could maybe lead to a third goal, absolute disaster strikes.
00:11:29
Speaker
Because within seconds, within a minute, well, maybe minutes plural after the check for VAR, but shortly after the second goal, Fulham 3-1 down, and this goal is absolutely Awful.
00:11:43
Speaker
Everton. Credit to them. They probably sense in blood at that stage. Fulham at sixes and sevens. They've not reset. They've not recomposed after that second goal. The midfield's out place. The defence is out of place.
00:11:55
Speaker
Alcaraz plays a ball in into Beto. who just hits one early, and Leno, I'm not sure what to say here, but he may as well not have been in goal, because it just goes through his hands, it's an easy regulation save, but he's probably still thinking about that second goal, I don't know if he's feeling sorry for himself, is he feeling he's been fouled, but he's just not got his head in the game, his mind's elsewhere, and before he knows it, he's picking the ball out of his net, as Everton go into a 3-1 lead, just an awful, awful goal to give away, from that point on,
00:12:27
Speaker
it's pretty much game over, isn't it? The belief has just gone out Fulham. They've seen their season in the space of two or three minutes, just go up in smoke basically. And it's obviously not their confidence. it's It's been a blow to the solar plexus.
00:12:42
Speaker
They can't recover from that. The ground's probably in shell shock ever to now. The task is just see the game out and don't allow Fulham back into the game. Don't make any sloppy mistakes and they should come away with the three points. And For the final 20-25 minutes of the game, Everton are pretty comfortable. There's substitutions. We see Willian and Kane come on.
00:13:00
Speaker
On the other end of the spectrum, we see the youngsters come on. We see Godot and Josh King come on. Maybe a sign of things to come for the next couple of games. We might see them involved a little bit more. But yeah, the belief is just drained out Fulham and there is a late check for a penalty.
00:13:15
Speaker
VAR, handball, Mikalenko. The referee's pulled over to the monitor to check for handball and normally when you see the referee directed to go to the pitch side monitor, you know what's coming next. You know he's going to change his decision and going to overturn it. But the fact that he stuck with his original decision of no penalty...
00:13:33
Speaker
Well, like that kind of summed things up from a Fulham perspective, didn't it?
Implications of Fulham's Season Collapse
00:13:37
Speaker
Pretty, pretty awful afternoon for Fulham, which has major consequences for the remainder of the season and beyond. And I will be giving some final thoughts after this quick message.
00:13:50
Speaker
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00:14:10
Speaker
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00:14:21
Speaker
Don't settle for off-the-shelf solutions made for just anybody. Get what's right for you right now. It's almost fitting in some way that Fulham's European hopes have gone up in smoke by failing to beat a bottom half side at Creighton Cottage and not being able to convert a match-winning position into three points.
00:14:38
Speaker
Two things that we've seen so many times and ultimately that's probably the main factor in why they're just going to fall short. Another case of scoring a first score and then just allowing the opposition a way back into the game without them having to do much.
00:14:52
Speaker
I've seen it so many times where Fulham have scored the first goal and then just put the handbrake on. and That's fine if you're Jose Mourinho, circa 2005. We saw that with his Chelsea side in the Premier League. that They'd score the first goal and it would be basically game over. They'd shut up shop from that point on. This Fulham side aren't good enough to do that.
00:15:11
Speaker
Defensively, they're not great. They make mistakes. They make clumsy errors. And they will always concede. So... I really feel they should have just gone for it after the first goal, try and get the second goal to pile bit more pressure on Everton.
00:15:26
Speaker
And the nature of Everton's goals, they're all easily avoidable. The first one's a deflection, and some will say that's bad luck. But look, they make a dog's dinner of clearing the throwing in the first place, don't they? So I don't know if people are thinking about half-time, waiting for the whistle to blow, but if you allow your mind to wander for a split second, then you get caught out, don't you? And...
00:15:45
Speaker
That's exactly what Fulham do. And they go in they go into the interval 1-1 with Everton. Not carrying much of a threat in the entirety that first half. Looking comfortable for out of 45 minutes. But if you don't try and put games to bed, if you don't try and put the game beyond the opposition, then there's always a way back in for them, isn't it?
00:16:01
Speaker
And the second goal, I believe that was Everton's first shot on target in the second half. and It's recurring problems again, isn't it? straight from a set piece. It's probably something that Everton have worked on and credit to Moyes and their coaching staff in the build-up if they have identified an area of weakness for Fulham and looked to exploit it.
00:16:19
Speaker
But it's another player with a free uncontested header from close range from a set piece and they've just got the simple task of heading into an empty net. Much like against Villa, much like against Svantham, so similar frailty, similar problems.
00:16:32
Speaker
you wonder what they work on training for them to just be conceding the same goal over and over again. And then the third goal is beyond bad, isn't it? It's just a catalogue of errors. They've not reset. They're still dwelling on the second goal. They're thinking, how how do we possibly get back in the game here?
00:16:48
Speaker
Is our season on the verge of collapse? They've not got their head screwed on. And yeah, Leno, he's probably thinking about the second goal, isn't he? And it's just, It's just awful all round.
00:17:00
Speaker
Any positives to take? Harry Wilson possibly the one positive. At least he was trying. i think he had eight or nine shots. Over the course of the 90 minutes, more than any other player on a pitch, comfortably more than any other player. Some on target, some not particularly threatening.
00:17:14
Speaker
But least he was trying, and at least it looked like he could make something happen. The other thing is, I know Fulham fans, they've been clamouring to see a bit more youth. With Fulham's injuries, we did get to see Godo and King.
00:17:25
Speaker
Didn't make much of an impression, to make much of an impact, but I don't see the harm now in giving them a bit more game time in the last two fixtures with nothing on the line. Throw them in, though. Throw them in for the last two games. See if they're equipped to cut it at a Premier League level. And then going into next season, if you need to call upon them, you're not too worried about them because you've seen firsthand what they are capable, possibly, of doing.
00:17:46
Speaker
And we are also in a stage in the last couple of games now, okay, there's nothing riding on it in terms of European qualification, which is a major disappointment. It's a huge disappointment, the fact that we have two games left to go and there's nothing to play for, given where Fulham were a couple of weeks ago. But They have fallen off a cliff. They have imploded just in the last knockings of the
Fulham's Tactical Errors and Squad Depth
00:18:05
Speaker
season. That's six defeats in eight now. and What do you put it down to? Is it the lack of squad depth? but i mean It's easy to say lack of squad depth, but then you bring up the statistic about them scoring more goals from substitutes. 15 goals from substitutes this season. So...
00:18:19
Speaker
I mean, have they almost become victims of their own success? Expectation has risen. The ambition has become greater. So not delivering on that now, um not matching where the ambition is.
00:18:31
Speaker
I don't think it can be black and white in the way you measure things that if you don't reach Europe, that's a failure. But think given the strong position Fulham have been in for the majority of the season, given the fact that they've been in the top half for...
00:18:43
Speaker
95%, more than 95% of the season to finish bottom half now. Well, we don't know for sure if they're going to finish bottom half, but there's a distinct possibility that they will. You've got to say that's a disappointment, isn't it? You know, it's been an interesting few days, speculation about the manager. I know he knocked back any claims, any suggestions that he might be on the move and any links.
00:19:02
Speaker
Any rumours about him moving elsewhere were were just that, rumours. He said he was committed to Fulham, that was where his future was. He's still got a year left on his contract, but after performances like that, and the way the season is going end, does he look at it now and think, have I taken this Fulham team as far as I can take them? Is there a new challenge for me on the horizon that if someone does come in for him with great money, that he might just think,
00:19:28
Speaker
Now is possibly the right time. Maybe he's looked at that Fulham squad and thought, another season? Can we achieve Europe? Am I going to get the backing? Am I going to get the funds?
00:19:38
Speaker
Maybe this is his last couple of games. We don't know. I don't think he knows. It's all speculation. It's all guessing. It's all rumours at this stage. Obviously, he wasn't on the touchline, normally ranting and raving. He did look a bit fed up in his position there probably wondering what the next step is for him, where his future lies. But...
00:19:57
Speaker
It certainly doesn't lie in Europe with this Fulham side for the next campaign. And somehow they've got to get themselves up for the last two games. I've talked about it for months, haven't I? About this record points tally and it looked a mere formality that they would achieve that.
00:20:12
Speaker
That they would get to 54 points. Now we're at the stage where you're not quite sure that's going to happen now. The Brentford game, I'm sure everyone was hoping to go into that game, with it possibly still being in their own hands. Well, not o it not in their own hands. Well, it's it's it's pretty much gone entirely, isn't it? And, you know, the worst possible scenario is for them miss out on Europe and Brentford get it at their expense. but Yeah, it's just been a disappointing end to the season, hasn't it, really, for Fulham after a season that promised a lot, a lot. And there was reason for people to get optimistic. And I don't think the end to the season should change things dramatically.
00:20:48
Speaker
i think a mid-table finish at the start, I think, would have been satisfactory. And I think it's what a lot of people would have predicted, any thought of a a European finish at the start of the campaign. Maybe just might have been a bit fancy for, but then seeing how it's unfolded,
00:21:05
Speaker
It became more than that, didn't it? So it is disappointing to fall at
Future of Manager Marco Silva
00:21:09
Speaker
this stage. I still think Marco Silva is the man to lead Fulham. It's just whether or not he wants to do it. and Any people suggesting that Fulham need to get rid of him before he moves, well, you need to give your head a wobble because you've obviously got a screw loose because what he's done for Fulham, he's worked absolute wonders in the time he's been there, getting them promoted at the first attempt, putting an end to this tag of being a yo-yo side, consolidation in the Premier League, mid-table,
00:21:33
Speaker
three seasons in a row. And as I said, maybe you get to a point where you're victims of your own success. You get mid-table and you just want a bit more. And therein lies the danger because when you want a bit more, sometimes you just lose sight of the main goal, the main focus, and you get caught out. And the grass isn't always greener.
00:21:49
Speaker
Don't want to talk as if Marco Silva is leaving, but they're big shoes to fill. And I know we've got two games left to go, but we can kind of draw a line under this season now. Fulham to achieve good things then in my opinion at least I'm more optimistic they can still do that with Marco Silva at the helm than I would with the possibility of a change and seeing someone else come in.
00:22:09
Speaker
As of right now yes I can completely understand everyone's frustrations because they've seen good work throughout the campaign undone at the end by Just a bit of a capitulation towards the end, which is going to result in the missing out on Europe and, as I said, potentially missing out on the top half altogether.
Conclusion and Season Reflection
00:22:25
Speaker
Everyone's disappointed now and you're allowed to be. I'm not going to tell you how you should be feeling, but all I'd say is, yes, it's fine to be ambitious, but there's also a bigger picture and that picture looks a heck of a lot brighter now than it did five years ago when they were yo-yoing between divisions or even a few years before then when they were languishing in the lower reaches of the championship.
00:22:47
Speaker
And look, if Fulham can beat Brentford next, then it might not save the season, but it might just burst the bees bubble and ruin theirs. But as for now, that'll draw things to a close. Not the outcome anyone wanted, but onwards and upwards.
00:23:00
Speaker
Thank you all for tuning in. That's your lot from another edition of the Daily Fulham Podcast. Try to enjoy your week and hope to chat soon. Take care. Every club.
00:23:10
Speaker
Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. work