But then, I feel like I’ve written posts like this before. Oh wait, I have.

Nonetheless Nevland, Seol, Wayne Brown and Julian Grey (remember him?) scored for the club in a match that the club wholly dominated. Sigh, if only the first team could do the same.

Here was Fulham’s lineup: Zuberbuhler, Cumber, Anderson, Leijer, Smalling, Milsom, Brown, Andranik (Saunders 20), Nevland (Smith 76), Seol (Hoesen 76), Gray
Subs not used: Foderingham, Laribi

On other another note, this report from the Independent is quite troubling considering all the hot-air UEFA is blowing in England’s direction about debt-laden clubs. According to this series, Fulham is up there in the debt category.

Because after tomorrow Fulham could, albeit unlikely, drop to 19th position.

Which is shocking reality considering the quality of play the club displayed at the opening gong. Nothing was to come of Hull City, I knew that. But Arsenal was no aberration. The comeback against Leicester was epic. Bolton was easily and rightfully swept aside.

Yet all this went out the window when Hodgson went catatonic two weeks ago, didn’t recover last week when AJ tried too hard,and then today where Woy actually woke up but the club took his place in the realm of unconsciousness.

So, for the first time ever, I think I am excited about the upcoming international break. Because, hopefully, the club will regroup and refocus themselves for the next extremely vital string of matches.

They simply have to.

After this string of misfortune, I want to see change. I want Murphy benched. I want Dempsey starting. I want Konchesky dropped. I want Davies to get out of his rut, and Gera to grow some balls. I want Hodgson trying new things and having them play with the same sense of urgency that saw the club rattle off three straight victories to close out last years campaign and survive.

I want this all because the club has not scored from open play in almost seven hours. Because the club is just hovering above the relegation zone, yet playing light-years ahead of what it was doing under Sanchez (who at this time last year had the team higher, and actually scoring).

Which is why I’m happy its October. Because there’s still time. There’s no reason the club shouldn’t be in the top half of the table come May.

Hodgson not using any subs? AJ proving to be a bust? Dempsey vindicated for wanting out? No goals from open play in over 5 hours of game time?

Lets start with AJ, because his stupidity caused this mess. When we was signed for 10 million pounds this past summer, I was extremely skeptical. Not because I didn’t think he wouldn’t produce (which I didn’t), but because when a club of this size makes an investment of that size, it just never works out. I figured unless AJ scores 15 goals this season he was going to be a bust — simple economics.

Well, he’s already well on his way to being bust-tastic. Four starts, no goals, one red card. Welcome back Steve Martlett!

Which brings us to Hodgson’s questionable tactics. There’s no doubt Fulham outplayed West Ham, and deserved at least a point. And Fulham had numerous chances to put four or five goals in the net. But when you go down to 10 men and its probable to claw your way back into the match, why don’t you make any subs??. I found this definition, that Woy I guess has forgotten in the past two matches, matches the club could have easily come away with something from:
substitute; n: a person or thing that takes or can take the place of another

So when everyone looks totally gassed does Dempsey, Nevland, Seol, Andreasen, or the other 30 subs that are on the bench this year not get any minutes? How does this make sense!?!? And I’m not buying his explanation, there’s no excuse to do this two matches in a row.

This month the club got three out of at minimum five points. I expect 8 next month, and for that to happen things need to change. Which includes people coming off the bench.

But hey, at least we’re not Newcastle!

[Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images Europe]

And I say this match is a big one not because its a relegation 6-pointer, but because it will be the best testament of what Woy had done with the squad. If we can get a result against ‘Spam, then the club should be safe in mid-table mediocrity. If they lose, then the club should be headed into another relegation dogfight (but what else is new?).

West Ham is probably one of the biggest Jekyl and Hyde clubs this season. Oddly, they should be both better and worse than they currently are. Just look at their results:

2-1 Win over Wigan
3-0 Loss at Man City
4-1 Win over Blackburn
3-2 Loss at West Brom
3-1 Win over Newcastle

Which West Ham will show up? I honestly haven’t a clue. But with their (albeit short) poor away record, and our good home record, I like our chances.

But if Woy decides to go napping again, then we may be in trouble. Expect the same lineup as the past several matches.

And also expect a West Ham goal after the 80th minute….

Of the four goals conceded this season, three have come from the 76th minute onwards. Last year that figure was 16, highest in the league.

And today, Burnley (of all clubs) dispatched Fulham from the Carling Cup with a goal in the 88th minute.

I don’t know why I haven’t expected this occurring in every match. I knew it, I said it, but it never fully registered. I had a feeling it was going to happen against Arsenal, not because of the club’s evident curse, but because they were Arsenal. Yet I didn’t expect it against Hull, Bolton, Blackburn, and now Burnley.

Well, for the upcoming match against West Ham I expect it. I expect goals to be scored and points to be dropped as soon as the 80th minute rolls around. Much like Cubs fans, Red Sox fans before 2004, and anyone from Cleveland, I know expect the bottom to fall from that moment on.

Which, after last season’s heroics, is a sad, sad testament.

Roy Hodgson is a quality manager who, despite some blips along the way, steered the club out of relegation and into the promised land. And then kept going with the summer acquisitions and the win over Arsenal.

Yet Saturday’s match at Blackburn was a step backwards. Here was a club coming off a 3 game winless streak, and a -7 goal differential in that stretch.

But Hodgson’s tactics against Blackburn’s awakening were inexcusable. Here are two things:

Why would the team continue to one-touch pass the ball through the middle when you’re playing Slidetackle FC? Kick it out wide, stretch the defense, and pepper the net with shots. Attempting to be Arsenal when you’re getting hacked, mugged, and practically stabbed is idiotic.

No subs? Was Woy napping or did he just not notice Zamora doing nothing for the last 35+ mins. Same with Murphy and Gera. When everyone is getting beaten to death, why wouldn’t you bring on some fresh legs/bodies?

I hope Woy learns from this debacle, because West Ham will make Fulham pay more than Blackburn did.

Now, granted, Bolton were quite woeful and were never going to win. And Fulham really should have won 4-0, if they had some luck and converted better.

And that is whats so weird — last time Fulham beat Bolton 2-1 at the Cottage every fan was at the edge of their seat, waiting to eventually lose. And this was when Little Sammy Lee was at the Toffee’s helm.

This year, the victory was predicted. And well deserved. AJ and Zamora were unbelievable, offering Fulham a strike force that I don’t believe the club has ever seen. McBride was renowned for giving defense fits, and his strike partner (John, Helguson, Healy, Kamara) were usually just moping around. Now, two strikers are giving defense fits. What a novel thought!

And with Blackburn up next, perhaps another 3 points are on the docket.

After all, Paul Robinson is their goalkeeper…

Listen to my takes about Hull, and Arsenal.

First, let’s not get carried away. We beat Arsenal, yes. But, this Arsenal had no Fabergas, Rosicky, or Eduardo. So, Fulham beat a offensively handicapped Arsenal. You know what? I’ll take it anyway. Fulham’s midfield controlled play, and shut down Arsenal entirely. Passing was good, and the defense played better than against Hull. Brede Hangeland scored a ninja goal, scoring with the bottom of his shoes on a Jimmy Bullard cross. After that, with the help of the post and Arsenal’s finishing issues, Fulham held on. Think about it, barring a stupid mistake by Konchesky (who was dropped from the team against Arsenal…coincidence?), Fulham would be sitting at 4 points, tied for third. To avoid the relegation scrap, Fulham needs to capitalize on its games against the Hull City, Stoke, and Leicester teams, and hope for a draw against these upper echelon teams. This weekend, Fulham got lucky and took three.

On the news front, Eddie Johnson, Mr. All Speed, No Finish, was loaned out to Cardiff City with an option to be brought back in January. I hope he gets a starting place with Cardiff, and can get some confidence. It’s not like Fulham is brimming with quality up top right now. (Here’s an interview with Eddie about the move.)

Andy Johnson is still out with a leg injury. David Healy is off to Sunderland. So, we’ve got Zamora and Neveland as the two top choice forwards. I’d still like to see Clint Dempsey in that mix, as he filled in admirably with 6 goals in place of Brian McBride.

Evidentally, we’re signing a guy named Kagiso Dikcacoi from South Africa. He scored two times in World Cup qualifiers, and plays for a club team in S.A. called Bafana Bafana. Welcome, Kagiso.

On Wednesday, Fulham has a Carling Cup match against Leicester City, a League One side currently sitting second in the table with a +4 goal difference. No one else has articles about the upcoming game, so I’ve got no information. Come back before game day…