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Match review Monday: Silva fumes as the draws keep coming
0 Playsin 4 hours
Gavin recaps another eventful afternoon at the Cottage as Fulham had to come from behind twice to earn a point against a spirited Ipswich side.
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Transcript
Introduction and Fulham's Unbeaten Run
00:00:05
Speaker
sports podcast network work Welcome back to the Daily Fulham Podcast. It's January, it's cold, it's snowy and it's Monday. And you know what that means. Yes, it's Match Review Monday. My name is Gavin Ruffle and I'm here once again to look back on the events of the weekend. Another draw, another Desmond, more late drama.
00:00:26
Speaker
and the unbeaten run extends to 8. There's a lot to unpack, so let's dive right in. And let's start with the 11s for this one. So Fulham opted to remain with that back 5, with the 3 center halves. I'll come on to that a little bit later on in the episode because I have my feelings on the the back 5 and what should happen in
Lineup Changes and Key Performances
00:00:46
Speaker
the future. The only change that actually occurred for Fulham from that 2-2 draw against Bournemouth is that we saw Tom Kearney coming for this one he replaced Andreas Pereira for Ipswich after that fantastic result against Chelsea that 2-0 win their first three points at Portland Road this season they were forced into a couple of changes though with Amari Hutchinson one of the goal scorers in that game he was out with a groin injury
00:01:09
Speaker
and Wes Burns was the other player replaced in the 11. Ben Johnson came in as well as Sammy Smodix and for Fulham one of the players they would have to be wary of who caused them all sorts of problems in the game at Portland Road was Liam Delappe who scored his first goal in a little while in that game against Chelsea albeit a penalty. This was actually the first meeting in between these two sides in the Premier League at Craven Cottage since A 1-1 draw back in the 2001-2002 season, where a Barry Hale's goal was cancelled out by a Jermaine Wright equaliser. Lewis Baumorte was also sent off in that game.
00:01:49
Speaker
and coming on to the action it was a very noticeable early pattern of play how we would expect this game to develop and that was for them having quite a lot of the ball and Ipswich content just to sit in I think what we've seen in the last couple of games albeit against teams of a high caliber high up in the league was Ipswich prepared to show a bit more defensive solidarity not commit too many players forward so that looked like that it was the game plan here and then when they got the ball up to Liam De La it was can they get enough support for him going forward so they can cause a threat of their own
00:02:27
Speaker
coming into this game just looking back at some of the past
Game Dynamics and Early Setbacks
00:02:30
Speaker
encounters Fulham have had with teams towards the bottom end of the table where they've lacked that urgency and that intensity right from kickoff I do think we did see them playing at a a higher tempo maybe Marco Silva got the word across that in these games that they need to be at it from the start and not be complacent not just expect things to happen to make things happen however despite that early possession Ipswich did show threat in the early minutes with Leif Davis the talented Leif Davis at left back who had a very eventful game himself he put in a beautiful cross which Sammy Smardix couldn't quite get on the end of so just enough of a threat there to show Fulham that they weren't just content to sit back for the whole 90 minutes and that they could cause a problem themselves
00:03:14
Speaker
We know how Fulham liked to build the attacks Alex will be playing the majority of the season on the left hand side combining with Anthony Robinson But it was slightly different this time got the two wing backs Robinson and Kristania they pushed high upfield and it was actually Kristania who was seeing a lot of the ball early on getting in crosses as Fulham like to do and Fulham's first Chance does come from across comes from a free kick the referee which will come on to win this game He seemed very trigger happy for the first 10 15 minutes There was a couple of 50 50s and he was he was blowing his whistle very very hastily in my opinion rather than letting the game flow So this comes from a free kick, which as I said, I'm not sure it was a free kick this
00:03:57
Speaker
it seemed like Tom K and he'd lost his footing but anyway nothing came with the free kick but the ball comes out to Tom K and he whips a delightful ball in and there's Isid Diop and Jimenez in the box competing for it goes over Isid Diop's head but Jimenez rises high and he heads it down low but it's straight at Walton who gets a strong hand to it and then a real flashpoint moment in this game comes when Harry Wilson who was drifting inside a lot the whip was coming from those fullbacks converted to wingbacks. So Harry Wilson was playing, operating in a slightly more central role and they will be tasked with that as well at times. So he plays a 1-2 with Raoul Jimenez and he drives through the middle. Leif Davis comes across him, makes a deliberate foul but the referee deems it not to be a red card, he just gives a yellow card. There is a little check but the on field decision stands.
00:04:53
Speaker
the game remains 11 v 11. Marco Silva apoplectic on the touchline. Very similar situation to the one a few weeks back with Harry Wilson as well where it's Andy Robertson sent off but I think the difference there is that slightly higher up the pitch. This one I think if it's a couple yards further forward then it probably would be deemed a red card but Ipswich get away with it just the yellow card and Ipswich are the team that go in front we know Fulham they have a tendency to score the first goal in so many games this season not that that guarantees them three points but they actually fall behind in this one and this is such a disappointing goal to give away much like the Bournemouth equalizer in the 89th minute last week this comes from Fulham's own undoing First of all, it's good initial hold at play from Liam Delappe. The ball comes to Nathan Broadhead. He he puts in a cross into the box and there's Ben Johnson competing with Anthony Robinson. I think it comes off Anthony Robinson. I think it might come off his shoulder and it goes onto the bar and then the ball comes out to Calvin Bassley. He just hooks a foot, a lazy foot.
00:05:59
Speaker
just careless lazy defending he's got more time than he thinks he has and he just panics hooks his foot at it and then he just all he can do is divert it into the paths of Sami Smardic and Sami Smardic to his credit is probably easy for players in this position when they're not expecting the ball to come to them just to thrash at it and rush things but he just measures it takes his time of it and just makes sure he can get a shot on target he does that and I think it comes off Calvin Bassi's arm in the end and It's just an awful goal to give away, and full of them don't keep clean sheets at home, do they? Only that one clean sheet in the game against Southampton. And you can see why when they're giving away goals like this one, and this was worse than the Isidiope one, because at least with the Isidiope one against Bournemouth, Bournemouth still had a bit of work to do for that goal. You've got to give credit to the attacking players there, initially Semenya, and then Utara.
00:06:48
Speaker
ah with a death finish for that equalizer, but for this one, he just literally puts it on a plate for Smodix. As I said, he has got a little bit of work to do, but if he hits a target, 99% chance of this a goal. It's a goal for the neutral perspective, probably not the outcome you would want, because Ipswich to this point, we're just content to sit back, soak up the pressure. Crosses were coming in, and Ipswich had got big centre-offs, they were just heading it away, they were happy, quite content to do that.
00:07:14
Speaker
and had a good shape to them so with them having a goal lead there's just give them even more reason just to to sit off and attacks counter attacks would come sparingly. I thought Harry Wilson was Fulham's bright spark I felt he was combining well good link up play with Raoul Himmers thought of Wobi was looking decent as well but it was again another game at home against the ah team towards the bottom end of the table and it was ah it was a real struggle and but you know maybe being behind this isn't a bad thing as i've mentioned when they've gone and scored the first goal that hasn't led to three points and there was only there's only been one time this season where they've conceded the first goal and ultimately lost and that was all the way back on the opening day of the season against Manchester United but
00:07:55
Speaker
Yeah, another game ah against a team that were content to sit back and play in that low block and Fulham were finding it hard to break them down. Could they do that in the second half? What could Marco Silva do to change things?
Tactical Adjustments and Penalty Drama
00:08:07
Speaker
We'll come on to that in just a moment, but before we look at the second half and analyze it, let's just hear a word or two about our sponsors.
00:08:17
Speaker
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00:08:36
Speaker
If you're ready to tell your story check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. Before coming out for the second half we could see that Marco Silva was visibly frustrated, not happy with the referee, he was seen remonstrating with him in the tunnel, not happy about that leaf Davis challenge that he decided to give a yellow card for which he thought a red card should have been brandished and there was an immediate change which saw Emile Smithrow come on for Isiah Deop and Fulham went to a back four and to be quite honest they should have started the game with a back four. The back five it worked well for that game against Chelsea he probably felt with the Chelsea result why change it but
00:09:16
Speaker
Looking at it in now I wasn't entirely comfortable with the lineup that was put out on the part playing three center halves at home against Ipswich Knowing you're the team that's gonna have the majority of possession Especially as well if you're having an extra center half and you just give a goal away anyway Why'd you need three center halves if you're just gonna gift them one? so don't have a problem with trying to be flexible and looking at the opposition and seeing what's right for that game and But the first time we saw him play three center halves, well that I can remember was in that game against Chelsea So why is he now decided that that's the way to go? I think for the foreseeable future that's something that needs to be binned He needs to go back to his back four and look it might be harsh on one of the defenders Given the goals that have been given away in the last two games by Bassey and Diop I don't think it's harsh at all You got to pick your best team, you got to pick your best formation and I think that's four at the back It's not five at the back, not three center halves at home to Ipswich
00:10:10
Speaker
in a game you should be getting on the front foot and looking to win. And I spoke about this the other day, the problem they seem to have when they come out for the second half, they just they just start second half, so flat, and this was the same again. Ipsips who didn't forage forward too often in the first half, in the first five minutes of the second half, they had more attacks than they did in the whole 45.
00:10:28
Speaker
I can't believe this is still happening. Why are they so slow to get out the trap for the second half? There was another big opportunity this one. He comes from Leif Davis again down the left side. He pulls the ball back for Sami Smonex. He's about 14 yards out and he's under a little bit of pressure from Calvin Bassi but he's not able to make clean enough contact and it's an escape for Fulham there and it was clear that throughout the game that Leif Davis, you know a lot of Fulham fans obviously don't think he should have been on the pitch at this time but It was clear that he was their outlet for them. He's a guy that provided a lot of assists for them in the championship last season, okay? It's ah it's more of a step up in the Premier League. He was never going to replicate those sort of numbers. But he's still a player that if you give him time on the ball, he can put a pass out, he can pick a cross out.
00:11:12
Speaker
to his intended target and cause problems. Sassalukic, I thought he had a poor game here. I think by and large he's had a very positive season but he was giving away a lot of fouls and as I said in the first half the referee was quick to blow up a lot of times. The only surprise was that he didn't get a yellow card because let's be honest it's rare that he does come through a game without getting a a yellow card so a second suspension of the season only seems like it's around the corner.
00:11:37
Speaker
Fulham did have a chance where Iwobi, he gets in a bit of space, Emile Smith row, he's arriving at the back stick. Good chance, not far out, but he doesn't manage to get ahead on here, I think he actually comes off his shoulder and goes wide. And there's an opportunity for Ipswich not long after that to go into a two goal lead. It's a long ball, punt upfield, the lap, again was causing a nuisance for Fulham defenders.
00:12:04
Speaker
and the ball comes to Broadhead on the half ollie, he smacks it really well on the half ollie but Leno's able to make a crucial save to keep the game at 1-0. Couple of changes for Fulham to no surprise, KNE who wasn't having an effective game was a bit slow on the ball at times getting put out in possession, one or two sloppy passes, well I think it was expected he came off. Pereira was the one that replaced him and Fulham we We don't see this, do we? If Muniz comes on, it's normally for Jimenez or vice versa. So he actually he changed his shape again. So we went from five at the back to start the game to a four at the back at halftime. And now he's opted for two up top, which would see Fulham take a bit more of a direct approach.
00:12:46
Speaker
And I was actually surprised that a Wobi came off. A Wobi, I thought, was looking bright as as well as Harry Wilson. So that was one that surprised me, to be honest. But it was just clear and evident that a Wobi was the one to make way for full them to get that extra forward on. If I was going to make a change at that time, the way I would have seen it, I would probably would have dropped that Alex a Wobi back into midfield, played him alongside Lukacs, and that Triore was the one i would have I would have brought on. But Marco Silva, he clearly saw it differently.
00:13:11
Speaker
and Fulham did get their equalising goal as Harry Wilson is fouled in the box. Incredibly the referee Darren Bond didn't give this at the time which enraged the Fulham players. like Harry Wilson had a few choice words to say to him and Marco Silva was absolutely steaming on the touchline. I'm not sure if his views blocked or what's happened here but it's a blatant stowal penalty as VAR confirms. Sam Morse he just rakes him on the back of his ankle he's given a yellow card and Fulham are rewarded that penalty the initial decision is overturned there was a moment of worry here seeing Andreas Pereira on the pitch that he was going to be the one to step forward with the ball in his hands to take the penalty but it was Raoul Jimenez who you feel a bit more comfortable has a really good penalty record so he steps forward for this penalty stuttering the run up and he puts it away not in the corner
00:14:07
Speaker
Quite central, I don't know if that was his intention but the goalkeeper's a bit late to react and it's 1-1 and you think from this point forward Fulham can look to do what they've done against Brentford and against Chelsea and overturn the one goal deficit and turn it into a win at Craven Cottage, a much needed win in a period of time when they've been drawing a lot of games, games where they'll feel they should have won. But no, what happened next was that Fulham gave away a penalty of their own. They talk about shooting yourselves in the foot Yes, so incredibly Raul Jimenez's equalizer was timed at 68 minutes and 13 seconds and then a minute and two seconds later Ipswich are at the other end and have a penalty of their own it's a ball this lump forward because Stan is there with Diop and he kicks his foot and You get back in the game and then as I said, you just shoot yourselves in the foot
00:14:58
Speaker
gives away a penalty, Liam Delapp again causing problems for Fulham. He's down for a few seconds, but he soon steps up to take the penalty. And with the authority of Luke Lathrow on a dart at double ten, he absolutely smashes this into the back of the net, an Ipswitcher 2 and up.
00:15:16
Speaker
and it's back to the drawing board again isn't it. Moments later Fulham do have a chance to equalise, Harry Wilson has a free kick out on the left, Jimenez makes first contact with it, he's about 12 yards out but he guides his header wide, visibly frustrated he felt he could and he should have done better with that attempt.
00:15:36
Speaker
More substitutions as we see Adamatroyal rate come on for Lukic and from the Ipswich side of things, Liam Dallap came off, which I'm sure the Fulham centre arsed. We're absolutely delighted because he made a real impact again in this game, just like the one earlier in the season back in August at Portman Road.
00:15:54
Speaker
and the final decisive moment in the game almost sees Ipswich go 3-1 up which would have secured the three points much needed three points in their fight for survival but Jack Clarke who's failed to score since joining the club from Sunderland here it's a low drive from about 20 just a bit more than 20 yards out hits the base of the post I wasn't sure at the time watching it live whether it had hit one of the advertising boards or and it had hit the post but it added a post, comes out full and break, ball comes to Emil Smith row and then with the outside of his right foot he guides a ball forward to Raoul Jimenez who's drifted outside onto the right and there's full and players in the middle, I think Moniz is in the middle, Adama Troi is in the middle so you think the easy thing thing he should be doing is going
00:16:43
Speaker
across the six yard box to play into an area, not necessarily to pick someone out, but hoping that one of those Fulham players will get on the end of it. But instead he has other ideas and he's up against Leaf Davis. He cuts inside and then he goes back on the outside. Leaf Davis dangles a leg out and Jimenez is felled. And Fulham get their second penalty of the game. Darren Bond, he awards the third penalty of the game.
00:17:11
Speaker
And once again, it's Raoul Jimenez who steps up. You do have the confidence in Raoul Jimenez. He is a full-on penalty taker that does score penalties, unlike many we've seen in ah in the last few years, likes of Mitrovich. Obviously, Pimereira missed that one against Aston Villa. But, cool as you like, he steps up again, stutter and run up, and the keeper goes the wrong way. It's 2-2.
Unbeaten Streak vs. Winning Challenges
00:17:35
Speaker
more late drama and as I preempted it I think it was on the crossover show with Fulham games never leave early never switch the TV off early because you know one way or another there's going to be a late goal in it at this stage is seven minutes added on so you're still thinking at this time there's chance possibly of one of the teams going on to win it but no ultimately it does finish 2-2 for the second home game in a row Fulham have to settle for a point here Little bit different rules reversed. Last time out against Bournemouth. They were unable to hang on to that lead. Defensive mistake means it finishes 2-2 this time. They are able to come from behind. But it's another one you look back on and it's a disappointment, isn't it? Self-inflicted damage, the nature of the goals.
00:18:25
Speaker
defensive mistakes that lead to both of Ipswich's goals and it's another game where Fulmer played one of the teams towards the bottom of the table and they failed to come away with the three points which is going to have a bigger impact I feel towards the end of the season what impact that does have maybe I might just come on to that in a moment but before I do that let me tell you about GSPN The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasts. With dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football and a daily Premier League wrap-up broadcast, in five different languages, it's your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts.
00:19:09
Speaker
so let's look at the bigger picture then and it does extend Fulham's unbeaten run to eight games which is great however six of those have been draws and yes some of those uh creditable draws against the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool But some of those are disappointing. The Southampton game at home, drawing 0-0 against a team that's got hammered again on the weekend. They look like they might struggle to overhaul Derby's 11 points. So that is a very disappointing result. The Bournemouth game, Bournemouth are a good side. That's illustrated by their position in the league and Bournemouth played well on the day. But again, it was another game where Fulham were leading until later on and then there was a defensive error that cost them two points there. And in this game,
00:19:53
Speaker
against hips which you are wary because of the form against some of those teams towards the bottom but you're just hoping you're just hoping and Fulham can put in that that performance to get the three points and keep pace with some of the other teams because if you look at the results over this weekend if the teams in and around them have all had decent results Aston Villa winning Bournemouth winning Brighton getting a decent point coming from behind against Arsenal so it was up to Fulham to keep pace with them and on paper this was a game probably neutrals would have expected for them to win despite the fact that Ipswich have been better recently getting that result against Chelsea and that they had won two of the last four coming into this game.
00:20:33
Speaker
But it's just these setbacks now that are kind of stopping Fulham in their tracks because draws don't really make great headway. You're almost better off losing your game and then just stringing a couple of wins together. What Fulham seems to struggle to do is when they do win a game, they don't follow on from out and I think this is what's going to cost them Europe. You look at the table, it's still tight at the minute, but I think the recurring theme here of the inability to beat these teams towards the bottom at home combined with some of the defensive mistakes, lapses and concentration we're seeing, not being and able to hold onto the lead, starting second-half
Critique and Future Outlook
00:21:09
Speaker
flat. If you just combine all of these factors together, I think, unfortunately, it's probably going to be to Fulham's downfall at the end of the season. It's another game here where you you're thinking, if we play how we can, if we play to our capability, if we play the way we play,
00:21:26
Speaker
against some of the better teams in the league then it should result in three points and Fulham have to find a way to overcome teams that set up with the approach that Ipswich was which was to get men behind the ball to be compact hold a good shape and Fulham it's up to them to find ways to be able to break that down whilst also Eradicating these defensive errors and mistakes that we've seen over the last couple of games Because they cost you dearly and as I said the Calvin Bassey one was an awful one much worse than that He said the up one last week because okay. He said the op passes it straight to Semenyo, but they've still got work to do. This is just lazy lazy defending and it's unforgivable and I think Marco Silva was really upset in his post-match interview after the game with some of the defensive mistakes he's seen in his teammate and in the last couple of games he was also pretty angry about the referee Darren Bond he was uh well he was definitely shaken and stirred by Bond's performance he went as far as to say that he wasn't fit to referee at this level he wasn't a Premier League level referee which i'm sure comments like that will come with their repercussions he did cut a frustrated figure this entire game mark himself not happy with the decisions made by the referee but also it's a combination of the fact that he's probably seen is sent there off, kick a ball straight to an Ipswich attacker to lead to a goal and that's not how it matters as well, is it? so Yeah, I think at the minute they're just dropping a few too many points against teams that they should. I'm not saying yo you have a divine right to beat any teams because I always say it, every win in the Premier League should be appreciated, it should be so should be celebrated because you have to work hard for it and so you should.
00:23:12
Speaker
But it's just annoying knowing how full them have done, how full them have fared against some of the so-called bigger teams and then not been able to replicate it in the games. As I said earlier on, I do feel they showed a bit more as far as intensity and urgency goes in this one compared to Southampton. But it comes down to that being able to just have that cutting edge and being able to unlock that defense when it's when it's tight in games.
00:23:41
Speaker
Yeah, was it to be once again? Was it full and stay ninth in the table? Onto the f FA Cup little break from the Premier League action. Watford in the FA Cup on Thursday, Strange Day, to have an FA Cup game, and then midweek action as they go to West Ham. Yeah, I mentioned Raoul Jimenez's record from penalties. That actually puts him third on the list for Premier League players to have 100% record, only behind Cole Palm and Yaya Torre.
00:24:12
Speaker
that's 10 out of 10 now for Raul Jimenez who outright goes to the number one position for goals in the Premier League by a Mexican player and i thought his all-around contribution was very good and people still have their doubts i still talked about myself about Fulham's center forward that is that is that a position they can look at but they do have two decent strikers on their books and we saw them didn't we for the last 20-25 minutes which is not something we've seen really at all, them both playing at the same time, so maybe that's another option Marco Silva can look to in the future, not just the one-off in this game that if they are chasing a goal, then he's content enough to play them both. That takes him on to eight eight goals in the Premier League now for Al Jimenez, and every chance now he can get into double figures.
00:24:56
Speaker
As far as Ipswich are concerned, they'll have disappointments of their own, conceding a goal late on, but they are accumulating some points now after a tricky spell where it took them a long time to win, and they can certainly compete at this level, and in a centre-forward like Liam Delapp, who's now got on the score sheet, okay a couple of penalties again.
00:25:16
Speaker
But a goal's a goal, isn't it? And again, we talk about Raoul Jimenez getting double figures. There's every chance Liam Delappe does the same for Ipswich. I just feel he could do with a little help just speaking to the daily Ipswich team on the crossover. Talking about transfer targets, maybe that may be an area where they look to strengthening because he has scored the majority of their goals, nearly half of their goals have come from Liam Delappe. So they just, they need some whether it's someone from a wider position or or a ah supplementary striker that can help and take a bit of the pressure off. or
00:25:47
Speaker
if he needs to be rested for certain games then you're content enough to bring someone else and and back them to score score as well but far as Ipswich are concerned doesn't quite take them out of the bottom three they're within touching distance now aren't they and Everton having lost over the weekend they're within sights Crystal Palace not quite safe at the minute not quite feeling so comfortable so yeah Ipswich fans there's plenty of hope yet that your side can stay in the league as the Fulham ate and beat them but more draws than IKEA
00:26:27
Speaker
That'll do it for today's match review Monday. Not the result most of you would have wanted, but the games keep coming thick and fast. As I said, a little bit of break from Premier League action. Watford at home in the cup on Thursday. Thank you all for listening. Today, we'll catch you all on the next one.