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Daily Fulham- Silva's supersubs sink Spurs
69 Plays14 days ago
Gavin reviews all the action from Fulham's game against Spurs. After a vital three points, he assesses how this latest win impacts the race for Europe.
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Transcript
00:00:01
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network.
Introduction and Match Recap
00:00:07
Speaker
work What's up everybody, welcome back to the Daily Fulham Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only place to bring you daily content on every Premier League side as well as women's football. My name is Gavin Ruffall and today is Monday and it's a very happy Monday for all you Fulham fans following that victory over Spurs by two goals to nil on Sunday and being a Monday I'm here to recap all of the key events to relive it all, discuss the major talking points.
00:00:34
Speaker
So
Tactical Shifts and Key Players
00:00:35
Speaker
we'll start from the very beginning. Obviously, Fulham coming into this game looking to make amends from last week's setback. That disappointing late goal going in at Brighton. So what would they do with their team to try and get the three points? Well, we saw one change and it was the change I was pleading for. Not necessarily to see Sidiop go out of the team, but just to see them revert back to that back four.
00:00:53
Speaker
Something they just look more suited to. Something they they're familiar with. They're familiar with that system, playing it over and over again. for several seasons now. When they've tinkered, when they've gone to the back five, hasn't quite looked right at times.
00:01:06
Speaker
Certain personnel have looked less comfortable, so I was happy from the start to see them go to a four at back. One slight surprise was Willian playing from the start. This was his first start since his return to full. i was probably expecting Adama Troire to get the nod. Did miss the last game with an injury, so we did see him back in the squad. He was on the bench.
00:01:24
Speaker
As for Spurs, I was anticipat anticipating multiple changes following their European exploits and multiple changes is indeed what we got. The big hitters, likes of Son and Maddison, were on the bench as well as their goal scorer, Audubere.
00:01:36
Speaker
Maybe the league's not so much of a priority now for Ange, all his eggs are in that Europa League basket, which is why we saw a lot of changes. It was still a decent side, a lot of experience, a lot Premier League appearances.
00:01:47
Speaker
from the 11 players in their side. And we saw Fulham with
Early Match Dynamics and Controversies
00:01:51
Speaker
Willian in the team. The set-up was very similar to what we saw last season there, with Awobi playing over on the right, Willian playing on the left, with Robinson playing in that favoured left-back position as opposed to the left wing-back.
00:02:03
Speaker
I thought it was important for Fulham to try and make a fast start in this game given Spurs' is European outing on Thursday so less recovery time for them. We know performances at Craven Cottages have sometimes been a bit flat recently so you just want to see them take it to Spurs right from the kick-off.
00:02:16
Speaker
Also a milestone game for Marco Silva. This was his 200th Premier League game in charge. That covers spells at Hull Watford Everton and his most successful one now at Fulham.
00:02:27
Speaker
I do feel also Fulham are less fearful going into games now against Spurs since Harry Kane's departure. He was a real thorn in their side. He was a thorn in the side of a lot Premier League teams, wasn't he? But since then, I think there's more of an even playing field between the two sides now when we know Spurs, the trials and tribulations they have in this season... and They're not where they want to be. So they certainly didn't hold any fear for Fulham coming into it.
00:02:46
Speaker
So yeah, as I said, I wanted them to make a fast start. was a bit of an opening in the first four or five minutes for Fulham. Spurs are high There's a misplaced pass. Fulham break through Raul Jimenez, who slides it out wide to Andres Pereira. He unleashes not quite a shot, not quite a cross, and it's Seas past Vicario's far post.
00:03:05
Speaker
But there's an early warning sign for Spurs. I talked about that fast start. But apart from that cross come shot from Pereira. It wasn't the fast start you would have been hoping for. It was kind of in keeping with some of the recent games at Craven Cottage. And similar sort of half an hour to the game we saw against Brighton last week. Before that opened up. First real threat from Spurs came through Tell. Who was playing on the left hand side.
00:03:27
Speaker
He skips by a couple of Fulham defenders, drives a low cross into the box, but there's no Spurs man following in at the back post. There were claims for a Fulham penalty. Fulham worked the ball out to Iwobi, who's right of central. He clips the ball into Raul Jimenez.
00:03:41
Speaker
Jimenez goes down after a push in the back from Spence. It's not deemed forceful enough for a pen, and it was quite a theatrical fall from Jimenez. So I think it was the right decision there. But there was some frustration from Marco Silva with the referee, as we've seen time and time again. I think it was just the inconsistency because I think there was a foul...
00:03:58
Speaker
On Willian by Romero, just outside the box, but nothing was given. A few minutes later, where there was a foul committed by Calvin Bassi, which is a similar sort of offence. So it's just that sort of thing inconsistency that upsets managers, doesn't it? And we were seeing that on show.
00:04:12
Speaker
Yet again, the biggest chance in the half falls for Timothy Castagna. Once again, it comes from in a Wolby cross into the box with the outside of his right foot.
00:04:23
Speaker
Bit of an aimless ball, to be honest. It looks like Vicario's just going to collect it. But Davis, he gets a foot to it, can't quite clear his lines and only guides it into the path of Castagna. It falls to him on his left foot. And it's a really weak effort straight at Vicario. Wrong man, right place.
00:04:37
Speaker
So it was a quiet this first half hour as I said but Fulham was suddenly starting to find their flow and ask a few more questions of the Spurs back line. Willian was becoming more of a danger as the half progressed.
00:04:49
Speaker
ah The corners were starting to pile up as well but could they make the most of them? He was noticeable how towards the end the half, Ange did make a tactical change. He just changed the full-backs over. We know Jed Spence has mainly operated at left-back this season.
00:05:01
Speaker
He started the game at right-back, but he just switched later on. So Adoghi went to right-back and Spence went over to the left side. So for the first... 25-30 minutes, I would say it was pretty poor
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00:05:11
Speaker
quality. Both sides were guilty of giving the ball away quite sloppily, quite needlessly. And then Fulham did start to control the possession from that point on. But not the greatest the first halves, to be honest. Spurs offered very little, but they did have options off the bench. They had Son, they had Maddison, they had the goal scorer for midweek, Odebeer, that could potentially come on and change the game. As for Fulham going into half-time...
00:05:32
Speaker
Yeah, the last 15 minutes of the half would brighten you just hoping they would be able to continue where they left off, pile a bit more pressure on, and then hopefully the demands of midweek would pay off and Fulham can get the result they're looking for. and I'll come on to the second half action shortly, but before I do that, let me just point you in the direction of our sponsors.
00:05:48
Speaker
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00:06:01
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Second Half Strategies and Fulham's Lead
00:06:12
Speaker
Well, Ange Postacoglu clearly wasn't happy about the first half display from Spurs as he made substitutions immediately. Son and Bergwald both coming on for Bissouma and Johnson.
00:06:21
Speaker
We know Brendan Johnson scored the goal in the game earlier in season, but he was ineffective really. Anthony Robinson was pushing him back in that first half, so we didn't see much from Brendan Johnson as far as an attacking Brett goes. Those changes did seem to have the galvanising effect that Ange and Spurs fans would have been hoping for.
00:06:37
Speaker
Forced a couple of corners early on. Passing was a bit more crisp and slicker. And the first real meaningful attempt on goal comes from Adam Solanke header, which goes wide after initial good play from Bergvold. He stands the ball up to the back stick, but Solanke can't quite get good enough contact to at least test Bernd Leno.
00:06:56
Speaker
But there's just more of a purpose now to Spurs. There's more of an initiative about them after the change. Things are happening quicker. I felt at times with Jimenez, although he was trying in this game, his work rate was there. I just felt at times with Fulham attacks, whenever he received the ball, he was he was slowing it down a little bit. He was drifting in out wide at times, frustrated he's not getting so many chances in the box.
00:07:16
Speaker
As the game was progressing, if they looked like there was going to be a winner, it looked like it was Spurs. The good play from Fulham in the last 15 minutes of the first half, we weren't seeing that carry on into the second half. So Marco Silva looked to his bench to make changes.
00:07:30
Speaker
So we saw Adama come on for Iwobi. Iwobi was really good in the game against Brighton. Stand-up player, I felt. But this was ah an an ineffective afternoon for him. And the straight swap of Rodrigo Munez coming on for him. As we know, Munez is always a threat when he comes off the bench.
00:07:44
Speaker
has often popped up with goals. To counter that, Ange made subs of his own. We saw Madison come on for Romero. Very attack and change there, which meant that Archie Gray went to centre-back, a position he's become familiar with this season.
00:07:58
Speaker
Some chances for Spurs. Tells out on the right. He cuts inside. Tries to bend one in the far post with his left foot. It's a comfortable save for Leno. However, he's not able to quite clear it and comes out to James Madison. Really good first touch, lays it off in a path for Solanke, but he lacks a bit of composure and fires over from very close range.
00:08:16
Speaker
We see Tom Kearney come on for the last 20 minutes. He replaced Emile Smith-Rowe. Tom Kearney, if you remember, back to the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It's a bit bit of a mixed bag for him, scoring the goal and then getting in sent off.
00:08:27
Speaker
But once again, Emile Smith-Rowe didn't make an impact on the game, did he? soon after that change Fulham almost going to a lead through Willian he's inches away from putting Fulham a goal ahead it comes from Pereira who's out on the right he crosses it and there's no real Fulham players ah attacking the ball so Vicario comes out like Superman can only punch it to Willian he's got a little bit of time he's about 20 yards out he tries to curl one into the far corner Vicario is sprawling he's beaten but it's just past the post head in hand to Willian he knows how close it was
00:09:00
Speaker
However, not long after that, Fulham find the goal they've been looking for. And it comes from one of those substitutes. It's initial good work from Robinson to dispossess.
00:09:10
Speaker
I can't remember if it was Spence or Tell, but he dispossesses one of those. Gets a crossing. Not cleared. Comes to Adama Traore. He lays it off to Pereira, who slips it to his left for Rodrigo Muniz. And he hits a first-time shot.
00:09:26
Speaker
It's a bit of a P-roller, to be honest. It seems to take an age to get to the goal. But it's measured to perfection from Maniz. He beats Vicario, who's at full stretch, but it goes into his bottom right corner. So the big question now is with that goal lead, can Fulham hold on to it?
00:09:40
Speaker
We know clean sheets have been hard to come by, especially at home. Can they just calm the nerves, control the game for the last ten fifteen minutes and get a much needed win? Soon after the goal, there are claims for a penalty, this time for Spurs for a foul on Bergvall.
00:09:56
Speaker
Bergvau is running into the box he slips the ball to the side of Bassey chases his own pass gets in front of Bassey there is contact on the player but I feel like it is partly initiated by the Spurs man so I don't think it is a foul and neither does the referee no penalty given Willian comes off to a standing ovation Didn't quite get the goal he was looking for but still showed in moments.
00:10:19
Speaker
He still has that silky touch and just football intelligence. And he's shown Marco Silva that he can offer a little bit more than just the fifteen twenty minute cameo off the bench. Coming on to replace him is Ryan Sessignon coming up against his former club, of course, who let him go in the summer.
00:10:34
Speaker
And he makes the most immediate of impacts, almost written in the stars. Leno has the ball at his feet, just hooves it long, diagonal, right to left. Ryan Sessegnon runs off Jed Spence. Jed Spence isn't alert to him. He doesn't track his run.
00:10:50
Speaker
And then he's fighting there. He's competing with Ben Davis. And he just out-muscles him. He out-strengths him. Out-wits him. Comes to him on his right foot. And he just bends when passed for Cario into the right corner of the net. No chance for the goalkeeper. It's super finish from Sessegnon on his weaker foot.
00:11:05
Speaker
And any nerves there might be about the last five minutes, Fulham hanging on to a lead, well, they're alleviated because at 2-0, that is truly game, set and match.
00:11:15
Speaker
And once again, Fulham subs come on to make the difference in a game. There is a late chance for Spurs to get a goal. Low strike in the box from Dom Solanke, but Leno saves comfortably to preserve his clean sheet. And that's full time. 2-0, up to eighth.
00:11:29
Speaker
Europe is still on. And in the final part, I will give my final thoughts on the outing. and what this does for Fulham's European chances. Your body is unique. And Global Sports Podcast Network has partnered with Bionique, the world's much personalized supplements.
00:11:46
Speaker
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00:12:08
Speaker
Don't settle for off-the-shelf solutions made for just anybody. Get what's right for you right now. Once again, Fulham have responded to defeat in the best possible way by winning the next game.
00:12:19
Speaker
The last four times they've suffered defeat, they've followed up with and winning the next game. And that's a testament to the character of the players because... No doubt the defeat that Brighton would have hurt given the circumstances, given the fact that they are a rival for Europe.
00:12:31
Speaker
But you've got to pick yourselves up after that and Fulham have done just that. It looked like it was a game that might not have gone their way in the second half, but they showed the character and fortitude to grab two late goals to get the three points.
00:12:44
Speaker
Was it a deserved win? I think it was, just about. You look at the stats, there probably wasn't much in it in terms of attempts on goal, in terms of XG, but I think it just came down to...
00:12:55
Speaker
At the end of the day, Fulham may be wanting it a bit more. Spurs, their ambition, their priorities for the rest of the season. They are with the Europa League. And we saw that with the changes that Ange made, which signalled his intent.
00:13:07
Speaker
He subsequently received criticism for his team selection against Fulham. A lot of people suggesting that he should have just kept the same team that won in Europe, given the fact that they don't play another game
Fulham's Bench Impact and Final Victory
00:13:16
Speaker
for 17 or 18 days. So I think it was just the fact that there was more riding on the game for Fulham.
00:13:21
Speaker
They wanted it just a little bit more, which is why they came up with the three points. and it And it shows the importance of having subs that can come off the bench and make an impact. And we've seen that again for Fulham. We've seen that so many times this season, haven't we?
00:13:34
Speaker
That's 13 goals now that Fulham substitutes have contributed. And a large number of those goals would have resulted in Fulham wins. And Rodrigo Moniz would have been the heart that. He would have scored quite a good number of goals from the bench. And as i said before, he doesn't want to earn that reputation of being a sub.
00:13:50
Speaker
a super sub because it means you're not starting games but when he came on he had the impact that marco silver would have wanted raul jimenez was a bit frustrated at times maybe wasn't getting the service didn't have any clear-cut opportunities but you know with rodrigo meniz he's a havoc he's a nuisance for defenders to deal with and he took his goal extremely well didn't he And Ryan Session on as well. I mean, what a sweet moment that have been for Ryan Session on.
00:14:13
Speaker
Obviously coming through, he is a youngster at Fulham and then getting his move to Spurs and it just didn't quite work out for him, did it? I just felt maybe at times during the Spurs career, he lacked a bit of belief in himself. You lose confidence with so many injuries and Spurs fans certainly didn't see the best of him. So seeing him come on and within seconds scoring a second goal, which clinched the game, was ah was a great moment. it was ah It was quite funny as well to see the meltdown from Spurs fans once that goal went in online um on social media. Yeah, it was quite amusing. did i have a little chuckle to myself. but Yeah, it was potentially a game that could have gone the other way. We've seen so many times with Fulham this season, home games against bottom half clubs. And I was preparing to put out that Mick McCarthy meme slash gif on social media. It can't go on like this, can it?
00:14:55
Speaker
It can. Thankfully, Fulham got those late goals, which meant they got the three points in a game where they probably were expected to win coming into this game. Probably a good time to play Spurs. And if they wanted to keep pace with some of the other sides around them, I think as well with Fulham games, you know, late goals are a theme in a lot of the games. I think with Spurs as well, the two teams in Premier League, there's a lot of late goals in the last 15 minutes, which just again emphasises the fact that how substitutes can come off the bench and make a difference. And, you know, they fight to the bitter end, don't they?
00:15:25
Speaker
I also think one of the subs that didn't come on to score, Adama Troy, made an impact, not necessarily in his play, because it almost looked like watching him, he was playing with ah steel boots because his first touch got so far in front of him, but I just feel the effect it had on Spurs then, because Adagi was bombing on in that second half.
00:15:42
Speaker
But then all of a sudden Traore coming off the bench with his blistering pace, it just asked another question. It forced Adagie to go back because if he commits himself too far forward, then he just leaves himself exposed with Adama's electric pace. so although Adama, yeah, he looked a li he looked a little bit rusty, I mean, which is weird because he's only missed one game. but His touch was all over the place. So he did have an an impact, a so subtle sort of impact.
00:16:05
Speaker
I think you've got also got to give credit to Andreas Pereira, the much maligned Andreas Pereira. He's been criticised from pillar to post, hasn't he, for the last... year or so it seems like but I thought he was I thought he was superb I certainly feel like he was one of Fulham's best ah attacking players a lot of energy closing down well trying to create and you can't underestimate the role he plays in the first goal as well can you just to have the wherewithal about him to just calmly slide the ball across for Moniz to slot in I think another player that's received a bit of criticism recently probably fairly he's been a little bit up and down in consistent performances is Joachim Andersen but I thought this was a
00:16:41
Speaker
a much better display for him, confidently striding out of defence, utilising that long diagonal which we used to see and and the defensive work he had to do, I felt he did well with Calvin Bassi, who continues to be that consistent defender they have. And and Fulham have struggled to keep clean sheets at home as well, haven't they? And so, Bernd Leno didn't have much to do really. I think I can remember a couple of saves, one from Tal and one from Solanke.
00:17:03
Speaker
think his kicking wasn't great, but The work he had to do with his hands, ah he did pretty well and his Fulham defence ah in front of him did well to limit the clear-cut chances for Spurs.
Spurs' Struggles and Europa League Focus
00:17:14
Speaker
As for Spurs, well, pressure continues to mount on Ange. 15 defeats in 29 league games, which is quite incredible, isn't it? Because you expect them to be challenging towards the top end of the table, maybe not competing for titles, but certainly being in the European chase, looking at those Champions League places. So the the fact that they've lost more than half of their games, it's staggering really. And you can understand why the pressure's starting to mount on them or continuing to mount on them.
00:17:39
Speaker
Despite the result in Europe in midweek, I don't think anything's going to happen now until the end of the season. and They have got that lifeline, which is the Europa League, so they can potentially qualify for the Champions League. And the team he selected indicates that is...
00:17:54
Speaker
his priority as much as he might come out and say the league is still as much of a priority as Europa League is subconsciously i think he knows it's all about the Europa League this season which can turn a disastrous season into ah good season and bringing that silverware to Spurs which has been it's been a long time coming but it's certainly a tough time for him think saw that as well I think there was a an incident after the game it was either at half time or after the game where he was having a bit of a An argument with one or two fans, which food highlights the pressure he's under because you shouldn't be responding to a bit of fan criticism at the ground like that, in my in my personal opinion.
Fulham's European Aspirations and Relegation Safety
00:18:30
Speaker
Just throwing things back to Fulham. They're back in the mix again now, heading into the international break. Long break between the next Premier League game. Of course, the FA Cup is the next game on the horizon. And they're back in the hunt for Europe. Where are all those people, by the way, who said that the season was over after the Brighton defeat?
00:18:44
Speaker
i mean, they're three points off Manchester City and three points off qualifying for the Champions League. I also think was an important win because it looks like there's some traffic coming from behind them. So Brentford got a positive result, didn't they, against Bournemouth. So they're not even secure of finishing the top half. So it just shows how close it is in that sort of ah area in the table. that meant No teams pulling away from each other. The top three look clear, but after that, there's ah a whole bunch of clubs and...
00:19:07
Speaker
Yeah, if Fulham didn't get a positive result, then they might be looking at oh over their shoulder at Crystal Palace and Brentford and not even finishing in the top half. and now They've got the dream, the European dream is alive, the Champions League dream is alive. They're still in the mix, aren't they?
00:19:20
Speaker
How do I see it going? I think probably Champions League is just going to be too much for them, to be honest, even if it does go down to five. They've got some tough games coming up now against Arsenal and Liverpool, so that'll be a real test for them. But then again, they've shown in those games against the teams higher up in the league that they can hold their own, and they've often been a lot better in those games, in the fixtures that you don't expect them to do so well in. Certainly you go into those games and you attack them with positivity now coming off of off a win rather than back-to-back defeats.
00:19:46
Speaker
But I think in the terms of the Champions League race, I'll give a prediction. I think Nottingham Forest, they look like they've turned the corner now. Because I did worry for them a few weeks ago after their back-to-back defeats. But i think they've taken seven points out the last three games now.
00:19:58
Speaker
Big win for them against Man City, followed up with a win against Ipswich. I think they'll be absolutely fine now, which will just cap off an incredible season. for them to hold on to their Champions League spot. I think Manchester City will get there. Form for them has been inconsistent, not how they would like it to be, but I just think they'll have enough in the end. The team i'm concerned I'd be concerned for is Chelsea, lost again on the weekend.
00:20:20
Speaker
You know, they've been fortunate in a couple of home games recently playing against Southampton and Leicester, which have been just, give me three points, basically, the way those two teams are playing. But I'd be concerned for them. They're the team I i think actually might slip out. i think I think Newcastle will finish in the top five. So I don't think it's quite going to be Champions League football for Fulham next season as much as that would be amazing. But you never stop dreaming. And until you're mathematically out of it, then...
00:20:45
Speaker
Why not think there's a possibility? There is certainly a possibility of Europe, whether that's Europa League or Europe Conference And what we do know after the results of the weekend is they will be playing Premier League football next season. Leicester and Ipswich, they cannot catch them. So, yeah, Fulham safe with nine games to go, which is ah amazing, isn't it? The fact that they are safe with nine games to go and mathematically can still win the league. So it shows they're heading in the right direction, doesn't it?
00:21:08
Speaker
So, yeah, we head into the end of March, April time now. Not long left in terms of the football season, but still a lot to play for. Still involved in the FA Cup and still involved in that hunt for Europe.
00:21:21
Speaker
So a lot to look forward to, a lot to get excited about. That'll draw things to a close for this recap of the Spurs game. ah little break now with the international break, so the podcast will take a brief hiatus, but I will soon be back looking forward to Fulham's FA Cup tie against the Crystal Palace, so do join me for that.
00:21:42
Speaker
All that's left for me to say is thank you all once again for listening. I've been Gavin Ruffell, your host as always, and do join me next time on the Daily Fulham Podcast. Every club.
00:21:55
Speaker
Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network.