Things here will go dark until the trip to Brum in a week and a half.

Until then, feel free to visit my tumblr if you want to keep up with whatever I am posting.

Cheers!

Sure, the Europa League is basically the NIT and doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. But as Frank Drebbn once said, “But this is our hill. And these are our beans!”

More tabling goodness: Thursday isn’t necessarily make or break for our chances on advancing, but will sure push us into one category (happy) or another (sad).

With news of CSKA Sofia’s manager suspending basically his entire squad, and already with just one point and one goal — against us, natch — I think its fair to write off The Pigs before they travel to Basel. And yes, “The Pigs” is one of their nicknames. After Thursday they travel to the Cottage and then host Roma.

So, for Thursday, worst case scenario is Basel getting three points and we lose. They’ll be on 9 points and we’ll have 5, 2 behind Roma on 7. After us, Roma host Basel before traveling to Sofia.

Second worst case scenario is Basel winning and us drawing. They’ll be on 9, we’ll be on 6 and Roma on 5. Basel travel to Roma before hosting us. There’s a chance that a Bebbi loss in Rome and then a win by us at the Cottage could eliminate their chances of advancing, but thats wayy too much conjecture.

Best case scenario is us winning in Rome, and Basel winning. That will create a gap of four points for Roma to overcome. Even if we defeat CSKA and then draw or lose in Basel, Roma will have to win out to have a sniff of advancing.

So yeah — we really can’t afford lose on Thursday.

Which is why one of the reasons why I enjoy footy so much is because one shot, one goal, one save, one anything can have such huge after effects. This bitter truth is what made shows like “The Wire” so fascinating. Sure, its bleak realism was a welcome relief from the mindlessly fantastic CSI, NCIS or other American law/order shows. And it was about my new home, Baltimore. But it’s depth came from how what someone said or did in one episode would come to pass with positive or negative — mostly the latter — consequences. You really had to pay attention.

Roma’s late equalizer could royally screw our chances to advance. But, essentially, it was just one goal in the third game of a six-game competition. Is that tough luck, or life?

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The rosters then were about the same size, but the lack of substitutes created a larger margin for error. So stalwarts like Carlos Bocanegra and Moritz Volz played practically the entire defense and midfield positions while at Fulham. And although not very successful at either role, Tomasz Radzinski could play up front or out wide.

Yet those three and others were sold in exchange for players like Stephen Kelly and John Painstil (up until last night anyways) who only play right back, or someone like Damien Duff who often stays on the left side of midfield.

Now, granted a footballer has their favored position. But Roy’s stressing on systemic tactics and role-playing that leaves little for generality, makes it ever more difficult for any remaining “jack of all trades, master of none” to see ample field time (see: Seol Ki-Hyeon).

But then there is Chris Baird.

Baird was a center back while captain at Southampton. Under Lawrie Sanchez he played at right back to mixed results, but still earned the “Player We Hate of the Year” by the fans. Roy Hodgson used him once, as a center back, in the second half of 2007-08. For 2008-09 he was used sporadically as a center mid, right back, and center back in predominately cameo roles, but he always made the bench.

So far this season he has started and been substituted to be both a center back and a center mid, performing admirably in both in three different competitions. Although we’re just nearing the end of October, no other player has seen such time in two different roles.

Assuming that Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu are the bona fide starting midfielders, Baird has to be the #3 center-mid based on the number of appearances alone. That puts him over Jonathan Greening, The Evidence and Andranik (remember him?).

Excluding the promising but still green Chris Smalling, Roy appears to have so much faith in him that he is really the only substitute center back on the roster. (Think about that for a second – under Cookie we used what, 5 center backs? Sanchez utilized at least 4? Now we have three, plus the young Smalling and the oft-injured Kallio. Although it’s good to have some continuity, is anyone else a little bit concerned about this?!?)

We could chalk up Baird’s deputizing toward our involvement in the Europa League, the solo Carling Cup match, and a hopeful FA Cup run. But there are other players, specific-role players, that are not seeing time that Baird is.

Perhaps Roy just really rates him (he did sock Jimmy Bullard in the jaw after all). Or maybe he proves that there is always an exception.

At least he’s playing well.

Sure, there are only three players on loan and all will be back by the end of the month. But why not see how our lads are doing outside SW6?

Adam Watts joined Fulham alumnus Ian Pearce at Lincoln City on Friday, October 2 and went straight into the starting lineup on Saturday, playing 90 minutes in the Imps’ 1-0 win over Aldershot Town.

Fredrik Stoor started and played 90 minutes in Derby County’s 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. Stoor’s performance on Saturday was much better than Derby’s 6-1 drubbing at Cardiff City on Tuesday.

Wayne Brown started and played 90 minutes in Turun Palloseura’s disappointing 0-0 draw with lowly Jyväskylän Jalkapalloklubi. Brown’s third-placed TPS have one match remaining against second-placed FC Honka. Both TPS and FC Honka are three points off first place HJK Helsinki, who face midtable FF Jaro. October 17 should be a big day for Wayne Brown, and Finnish football.

Yesterday’s 1-0 win over FC Basle wasn’t anything pretty, or even memorable. But it was a victory; a Roy Hodgson-esque victory.

One that took us top, even after two games!

Ah, beautiful ain’t it?

West Ham on Sunday. I really, really loathe this club. Not just because they are our bogey team. But for the reason’s HatterDon succinctly posted on the Friends of Fulham message board regarding pre-match questions. I’ve copied and pasted below:

1. The Tevez affair resulting in no point deductions,
2. The dodgy dealings and instability of the Icelandic Bank ownership resulting in no point deductions, AND
3. Three pitch invasions during the CC match against Millwall resulting in neither an abandoned match nor expulsion from the competition.

How does it feel to support a team that’s exempt from FA/FL/FIFA regulations and guidelines?

People seem to love this club, even President Obama. Based on these pretenses — small club from London’s grittiest area that is forever blowing bubbles with a really cool nickname and charismatic manager — I can see why. They’re sort of a pseudo-Chicago White Sox.

But two films about hooliganism (well, two plus a future remake) and everything concerning the 2006-07 season is just appalling. It’s Serie A nonsense. And why they aren’t rightly held accountable boggles my mind.

Maybe it’s just a personal vendetta, but am I wrong?

Olivier Dacourt signed for Standard Liège last week as replacement for the injured Steven Dafour. He penned a one year deal but has yet to feature for the club. Like when he first arrived at Fulham, he probably needs some time to get match fit.

Elliot Omosuzi, who Wikipedia still lists in Fulham’s reserve squad, had an unsuccessful trial with Coca-Cola Championship side Sheffield United. In Sky’s article, Blades’ gaffer Kevin Blackwell lambasts several agents. No word on whether Elliot’s was one of them.

Julian Gray, the “most head scratching-signing” of the 2008-09 season (I just made that award up) signed for Barnsley in mid-September on a monthly contract. He was newly appointed Tykes’ manager Mark Robins first signing.

And Ian Pearce retired from football on Sunday, after signing with Kingstonian F.C. of the Isthmian League Premier Division in late August. That same day he joined Chris Sutton’s staff at Lincoln City and is currently an assistant manager. Best of luck, Ian.

Basle on Thursday. Should be a tough one, as the club are already ten points off the top of the Swiss Super League and will probably be focusing on the Europa League to salvage their season. More on Thursday.

My favorite part:

Thank goodness, then, that Fulham have such a clever manager guiding them. I first came across Hodgson during his stint at Blackburn more than a decade ago, and subsequent encounters at major tournaments, where he dissects matches for UEFA’s Technical Committee, only confirmed the initial impression that here is a man apart. Someone with whom you can discuss any topic. He has a view on Freud as well as Ferguson and can appreciate the art of Matisse as easily as that of Murphy.

So KG’s middle name is ‘Evidence’. Considering how his first and last names are utterly unpronounceable and I’m pretty sure Kevin Garnett will trademark “KG” sooner or later (similar to Rick Reilly becoming Rick Reilly®), I hereby proclaim his nickname as “The Evidence”.

Plus, there can be lots of puns. And who doesn’t love puns? “Oops, looks like The Evidence went missing again,” or “the jury is still out regarding The Evidence,” or “The Evidence convicts the defense again.” Feel free to add your own.

Time for another strange music video, no?

Exclamation Points!

Wow. Really cannot complain about that one. Our reserves (valued at roughly 25 million quid) took ManCity’s first team squad (valued at over 400 million quid) into extra time, at Eastlands.

And Fulham even scored a goal, as much maligned Zoltan Gera rocketed a shot (was it half volley?) into the net. I don’t think I heard Gentleman Jim mention Davies or Seol more than once or twice, but Riise, Greening, and even EJ and KG seemed to play well. Good day.

The only troubling aspect of the match were the two goals let up from set pieces. Last season we hardly gave those up, but so far this year we’ve conceded five. We need to solve that, as it can be a major achilles heel for any team but can easily unravel our strong defensive work.

Speaking of, I think GJ mentioned Smalling’s name several dozen times, and Baird’s a few times as well. Good to know our backups are able and ready, unlike in years past (Stefanovic, Knight, Queudrue, Pearce [at times]).

So we’re out of this (minor) competition. Probably a good thing considering our involvement in Europe, and my suspicion that many more teams want it this year more so than others. Hughes, er, I mean, ManCity need silverware to placate the board. Villa, Everton and Tottenham simply want a trophy. Meanwhile Chelsea may be distracted with the Premier League and Champions League, but Fergie likes to win all the time and Wenger hasn’t won anything for four straight seasons.

And who knows what Rafa is thinking.

Big, big, BIG match on Saturday against Arsenal. And I’ll be able to watch it on tv! Best of both worlds indeed.

I can’t comment on the match too much, other than what’s seen in these highlights, but it appeared we were unfortunate to go down thanks to a good strike from Michel Platini (no joke) and sort of lucky to draw even thanks to CSKA’s goalie playing hero and leaving his box.

But the main talking point about the match is the lineup and bench. And looking at it will shed some light on why no substitutes were used, and why EJ, Seol, KG and others did not make the trip.

After the jump, I’ll go into the nuts and bolts of how the roster works.

To save space here, Dan at hammyend.com has the initial international roster. So check that out. The players with an asterisk mean they are on “Player List B”.

What does that mean? Well lets get all technical and consult the Europa League rulebook, found here.

Starting on page 24, Article 18 discusses player eligibility. Examining §18.08 on down, it details the requirements of “Player List A”.

18.08 No club may have more than 25 players on List A during the season. As a minimum, places 18 to 25 on List A (eight places) are reserved exclusively for “locally trained players” and no club may have more than four “association-trained players” listed in places 18 to 25 on List A. List A must specify the eight players who qualify as being “locally trained”, as well as whether they are “club-trained” or “association-trained”. The possible combinations that enable clubs to comply with the List A requirements are set out in Annex VIII.

18.09 A “locally trained player” is either a “club-trained player” or an “association trained
player”.

18.10 A “club-trained player” is a player who, between the age of 15 (or the start of the season during which he turns 15) and 21 (or the end of the season during which he turns 21), and irrespective of his nationality and age, has been registered with his current club for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons (i.e. a period starting with the first official match of the relevant national championship and ending with the last official match of that relevant
national championship) or of 36 months.

18.11 An “association-trained player” is a player who, between the age of 15 (or the start of the season during which the player turns 15) and 21 (or the end of the season during which the player turns 21), and irrespective of his nationality and age, has been registered with a club or with other clubs affiliated to the same national association as that of his current club for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or of 36 months.

18.12 If a club has fewer than eight locally trained players in its squad (i.e. in places 18 to 25 on List A), then the maximum number of players on List A is reduced accordingly. Furthermore, if a club lists a player in places 18 to 25 on List A who does not fulfil the conditions set out in this article, that player is not eligible to participate for the club in the UEFA club competition(s) in question and the club is unable to replace him on List A.

I want to point out §18.12, particularly the reduction of List A if it has less than 8 locally trained players. Fulham’s “A List” only has 21 players. Meaning that we only have 4 locally trained players.
So bummer for EJ, who I was hoping would get some time in this competition.

Now onto our “Player List B”, which contains practically our academy and not the likes of Elm, Stoor, Andranik, Kallio and the other fringe players. The criteria is explained by §18.15-.16, and be sure to note the date of birth requirement.

18.15 Each club is entitled to register an unlimited number of players on List B during the season. The list must be submitted by no later than 24.00 CET on the day before the match in question.

18.16 A player may be registered on List B if he is born on or after 1 January 1988 and has been eligible to play for the club concerned for any uninterrupted period of two years since his 15th birthday by the time he is registered with UEFA. Players aged 16 may be registered on List B if they have been registered with the participating club for the previous two years without interruption.

Viola! Anyone over the age of 21 isn’t eligible. Shame.

Lastly, why Pascal Zuberbuhler was able to dress for this match but left off the initial roster is answered in §18.20. Basically he swapped in for Schwarzer, who is still injured.

If a club cannot count on the services of at least two goalkeepers registered on List A because of long-term injury or illness, the club concerned may temporarily replace the goalkeeper concerned and register a new goalkeeper at any time during the season and complete the official registration list A with a goalkeeper fit to be fielded. If the replaced goalkeeper was registered as a locally trained player, the new goalkeeper does not need to be a locally trained player. The club must provide UEFA with the necessary medical evidence. UEFA may require further medical examination of the goalkeeper by an expert appointed by UEFA at the cost of the club. Once the injured or ill goalkeeper is fit to be fielded again he can resume his position in place of his nominated substitute. The change must be announced to the UEFA administration 24 hours before the next match in which the goalkeeper is due
to play.

The rule book is an interesting read, and hopefully I answered any thoughts or questions you may have had. Feel free to ask any questions or point out where I am wrong.