1. Fulham hiring Roy Hodgson
Okay, so it happened in 2008, but his first game in charge wasn’t until the New Years day fixture against Chelsea. And as I’ve written here before, his hiring was quite questionable at the time. But it’s really only recently that we’ve begun to see the board’s acumen in his hiring, and Roy’s quality as a tactician, motivator, manager, coach, general manager, and probably even mentor.
Some pundits are currently pointing toward the job Steve Bruce has done at Wigan as the best turnaround story – and credit should be given to the man. But did Wigan go from 5 points from safety with three games left to surviving? And remember, it took almost a month after Roy’s hiring before the club even got a single point. Or has Wigan shutout Arsenal, and held Liverpool and Aston Villa scoreless at their home park in back to back weeks? I didn’t think so.
There’s still a lot of footy left to play, but I expect Fulham to maintain their standing. And its all thanks to one man.

2. The ManCity Miracle
Maybe I list this because I stumbled upon the Match of the Day highlights the other night, but does anyone remember that game? I mean like, really remember it?
After defeating Reading at their park two weeks prior and winning our first away game since the Republicans controlled Congress, there was a sense that maybe we could survive. Then Liverpool came to the Cottage and, well, crapped all over that notion.
So, five points from safety, many good things needed to happen. But within 10 minutes or so into the game against Sven’s Citizen Army (speaking of, remember him??) we were mathematically relegated. Ten minutes after that we were not just mathematically relegated but were actually swimming with the fishes.
Then, miraculously, Kamara nutmegs Joe Hart. Nevland is brought down, and Murphy converts a missed penalty. “What?!?” we thought, “A draw?!?” Then Nevland sets up Kamara beautifully to score his second goal and Fulham’s third. Within the last twenty minutes the club walks away victors. Two weeks later, they survive.

3. Dempsey’s equalizer against Pompey
Before Dempsey’s goal at Fratton Park in late October, Fulham hadn’t scored from open play in almost a month. In fact, I’m pretty sure we were in the relegation zone at the time.
Yet he was the likeliest of scorers. Which is pretty odd considering he hadn’t been playing much at all up until that point – just one start – and was speaking his mind to the press about it.
Everyone remembers him shouting “I’m back!” after scoring, and he was right. Since his goal, he’s scored three other times and is tied with AJ as leading scorer. This has translated to Fulham playing 11 games, scoring 12 times, and losing just once. Coincidence? I think not.
Oh, and Tony Adams still has only won one game since then, his first in charge.

4. Bobby Zamora and John Pantsil only costing 6 million quid
Deemed surplus requirements by former West Hooligan-Cheaters United boss Alan Curbishley, this double-deal sent two different pillars to the club: one up front and one in the back.
Zamora has played in every league game, and even a Carling Cup match to boot. He’s only scored one goal, but anyone to even think he could be considered a bust either isn’t paying attention or is mental. Refer to the award I gave him for further information.
For as long as I’ve been a fan, it seemed like the Right Back position was a revolving door. I could be wrong, but last year at least 4 different players started in the position. The year before that, it seemed Volzy and Rosenior had a deal where they would play every other game. Thankfully, Pantsil has stopped all that. So much so that he hasn’t missed a league match, and has only rode the pine twice, against Leicester City in the Carling Cup and today against Sheffield Wednesday. Dive at the Brittania aside, there’s not much to complain about this guy.

5. McGod bids adieu
This isn’t a particular happy moment. But it was a fitting and expected one.
In any sport, some players tend to carry themselves in such a way that their ethos becomes intertwined with the teams – for better or worse. Johnny Unitas was the old Baltimore Colts. Derek Jeter was the New York Yankees of the late 1990s. Terrell Owens is the current Dallas Cowboys.
Luckily, Brian McBride represented all that was classy and respectable about Fulham. His selflessness preceded him as he always put club, country, and family above all else. Whether he was on or off the pitch, you noticed. If you haven’t the seen the tribute video on the offal, I highly recommend you go google it and watch it.
It was sad and sudden the day he announced his departure. But like the end of a good book, you knew it was coming, and glad for the experiences.

Lastly, I’ll write something up over today’s FA Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday sometime tomorrow. Once I find photos and video. Gotta love the FA Cup…

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…

No, honestly, what has transpired the past 5 weeks is Hollywood blockbuster fodder. Stuff you learn in middle school, only to find out isn’t true past high school. Narrative’s that our post post-modern society all but got rid of.

But somehow, those lads from SW6 turned around a season of despair. A season that every sane fan wrote off two months ago. A season where the manager(s), players, and owner were routinely slammed in the British and American media.

I was at a pub in Baltimore, watching the game with about six other Fulham fans in a tiny room on the second floor. There were some other people casually watching too but only to witness the spectacle, not to root for the Whites. “This game is where its at” said one man in a Hibs uniform. One Chelsea fan came up, obviously disgusted with his squads performance. Finally, we were being respected.

Although Pompey never looked like they were going to win, the updates from the Madjeski and St. Andrews were grave. How foolish of us to think that Derby, DERBY could come through for us. Or that a disinterested Blackburn could get a result. A tepid first half left us all quite nervous. I knew we weren’t going to lose, but a draw just wouldn’t be good enough if the results stayed the way they did.

The entire two hours were so entrancing. Several times the bartender asked me what I wanted, how I was doing, etc etc, and each time I responded as if awaking from a day dream: “Oh, Uhm, Uh… nothing, I’m all set thanks.”

The only respite and laughter we had was the constant scoring at the Riverside. 4-0. 5-0. 6-0. 7-0, etc etc. When I heard a Citizen was red carded, I thought briefly: “if Fulham were relegated, could we still sneak into Europe via the fairplay?” before snapping back into reality.

In the second half the lads picked up the performance. I wish I could get a copy of Woy’s half-time speeches because they seem to do the trick. Little Danny Murphy — who we’d been slagging all game — headed a corner directly into Ashdown’s chilling embrace. Later, a succession of headers around the net was eventually cleared by the Pompey line. We could feel it, the imminent goal that would lead us to survival. But being a Fulham fan taught us to always be wary, as the bottom could fall out at any moment.

And then it happened. Again little Danny Murphy with a header. But this time it tickled the twine and Fulham were up 1-0. What was once “We are winning away, we are winning away, you must be shiite because we are winning away!” became “We are Fulham, Super Fulham, We are Fulham, PREMIERSHIP!”

I don’t recall seeing the goal celebration as the room went into frenzy. Us Fulham fans jumped from their stools and cheered boisterously. Hugs, high fives, and fist pumps were thrown around like we had just won a trophy. The casual observers were even congratulating us, pleased that us Fulham fans who had not just been at the brink of despair, but in it as we resigned ourselves to the tragic inevitability months prior now had reason to celebrate.

The final fifteen minutes were agonizing, but we knew it was to be Fulham’s day. Each Pompey attack was thwarted by a brave tackle by Hanglehand, Davies, Bullard, et al. And then the whistle blew. Premier League status for another year.

But, sadly, it was suddenly over. This season of agony that turned to jubilation at the very end (finally?) expired. Yet unlike last summer, I believe in the manager and am ready for a productive off-season.

Come On You Whites!

Some vids/media:

Woy’s Interview
Gentleman Jim Counting Down the Final Minutes
SoccerNet (finally) loves us
Danny Murphy Interview

Fulham Offside Podcast 5/8/08

[Also, if you'd be willing to download this (and other past and future podcasts) I would really appreciate it. The hosting I use is free, but require an x amount of downloads in order to stay online past thirty days. Hopefully I'll figure out hosting or iTunes in the near future. Thanks!]

After winning two roads games in a row, and now shutting out fellow-strugglers Birmingham 2-0, it is fitting that the club is out of the relegation zone — albeit barely.

Brian McBride threw his body around like he was 23-years old again (and, sadly, perhaps his last at the Cottage). Simon Davies had a vintage performance. Kamara has come from nowhere to be a premier striker, and Nevland is officially our Jonathan Papelbon/Mariano Rivera. And I didn’t think any of us thought Stalteri was such a diver…but we’ll let that slide.

Next weekend’s match at Fratton Park is monumental. A victory and we’re (essentially) clear. A draw or loss and its up to the The Fates’ threads. Its amazing and chilling to think that despite this incredible run, we’re still not safe.

MOTD highlights:

And then there’s the other matches where the squad could not keep the momentum, and negated whatever points they acquired the previous week. Bolton, who have been dire all season, are now out of the relegation zone simply because they managed to attain two consecutive victories.

And now Liverpool, who were the culmination of both aforementioned aspects. They fielded a B-squad yet still cruised to a 2-goal clean sheet victory at our ground, in a match that Fulham should have theoretically won.

Yet I suppose its better this way, rather than continuing the agony for a few more weeks. Woy may be distraught, but its been a tragic inevitability since February.

So with three matches left and our fate all but sealed, I for one am looking forward to the summer. I’ll still tune in to see Davies, Bullard, Dempsey, and McBride wear the FFC badge before they go to their respected destinations. But I’ve resigned myself to the doom.

If you’re unfamiliar, my name’s Jacob and i’m currently the residing bag of hot air over at the Reading blog. I’ll be doing double duty for a while, helping out here with the blog for Team USA FC, or as it is better known, Fulham.

Now, while relegation is almost certain for Fulham this year, that man pictured above gave Cottagers fans around the globe hope with his goal today, his usual fare, a header, throwing himself in harm’s way to give Fulham three desperately needed points. The win (over Everton and fellow U.S. International Tim Howard, no less) puts Fulham on 23 points, two points behind still-sinking Bolton.

God, it’s great to see Fulham actually celebrating a win again. Now, as I said, i’m not going to stick my neck out and say this team’s going to suddenly salvage the season now. Fulham are, as they have been since time immemorial, utterly hapless on the road. Moreover, as much as I want to get behind the U.S. Internationals on the team, Clint’s been spotty at best this year, Carlos Bocanegra’s apparently been taking night classes at the Titus Bramble school of kamikaze defending (okay, that’s harsh), and thus far, Eddie Johnson has been like Aaron Lennon, but without the bad crosses (perennially running at exceptionally high speeds into cul-de-sacs).

Our defense is still pourous, our attack seems to revolve entirely around hoping that either Jimmy Bullard or McBride will somehow get the ball into the net, and i’m not sure if Danny Murphy is entirely aware of where he is sometimes.

But I believe, I do. Sure, staying up this year wouldn’t really solve anything, since Fulham have spent almost all of the past three years barely staying up. And the team really needs to get shot of Al-Fayed. Not to mention getting rid of just about anyone even loosely associated with the mistake that was Lawrie Sanchez.

But you know what? Newcastle is next week. They’re playing a six-pointer with Birmingham on Monday, and by god, if they lose, I think they’re there for the taking, even if we’re traveling to St. James’s park, which, as previously stated, is generally a death warrant for Fulham. But Newcastle have been a team with no heart, no drive, no anything since King Kevin arrived, and, god willing, Fulham will finally have gotten a fire lit under their behinds, and will play their legs off. It’s a relegation dogfight for god’s sake, so let’s start scrapping.

I believe. I may be an idiot, but I do.

Hodgson has told the world not to put the pressure of saving the team from the Hell of Relegation on McBridge or Bullard’s shoulders.

“However, what we have got to be careful of is that we do not put too much pressure on Brian, and also Jimmy Bullard, by glamorising their returns.

“They are players the crowd have really taken too, recent greats if you like.

“Everyone went down when Fulham lost them, and having them back is a great boost.

and…

Hodgson maintained: “We must not put the responsibility for relegation or the retention of Premier League status on those two players.

“They have got to do their job and if they are in a good team, then I am certain it will be easier for them to play their part, but if they are in a bad team, then I don’t think they will be able to do anything much.”

That’s all well and good, Skip. But have you seen this team without Bullard? And McBride is the real deal, and will help this team out immediately. If we have any hope of escaping the suck, it’ll be these two guys carrying the team on their heavenly backs.