Roy “October Manager of the Month” sure caused many to scratch their heads by excluding Seol, EJ, Elm, or any other fit striker on the bench for Sunday’s match. If that isn’t waving the white flag of draw, I don’t know what is.

Additionally he started Erik Nevland who early on looked quite dangerous and had several chances just go wide or hit the post. Then disappeared until he was subbed off.

Taking his place was Zoltan Gera, which caused me to think that maybe Clint would be pushed up top and pair with Zamora? Nope; 4-5-1 to see out the last 15 or so minutes.

According to Elm’s blog he and EJ were training (and both late) on Sunday for today’s reserve game against Chelsea. So maybe Roy thought it better they play 90 on Monday against a good reserve opponent rather than 10 (if that) against a mediocre side?

YET AGAIN A FULHAM BEAT REPORTER WOULD BE NICE!

Questions aside Mark Schwarzer played out of this world as Fulham were out-shot 21 to 11. How did he fall on our laps on a free? Hallelujah.

And remember last week the chalkboards showed how well Fulham pushed Liverpool’s passing from back to front, to side to side? Well, rinse and repeat!

Okay, pardon my questioning of Woy. All hail indeed.

There was an odd sense of confidence heading into this match that normally doesn’t accompany visits from the Big Four.

Liverpool were having a terrible season up until last weekend when they defeated rivals United and Torres scored and although they were without Gerrard Fergie screwed up the tactics and so all is right in the world and Liverpool were set to march up the table.

Sorry, but that was ridiculous then as it is now.

Although still without Gerrard (and Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio, Daniel Aggard) and today lacking prized offseason acquisitions Johnson and Aquilani, Liverpool’s bench looked like so: Andrea Dossena, Ryan Babel, Damien Plessis, Peter Gulacsi, Jay Spearing, Nathan Eccleston and Daniel Sanchez Ayala.

Uhm, who?

I’m not having a go at Liverpool, but how does anyone expect them to place even in the top 5 with a bench like that. Maybe I’m revealing my own ignorance, but that is the point — who are most of these people?

Oh right, back to the match.

Up until the Degen and Carragher red cards I was fully expecting referee Lee Mason to rip off his uniform and reveal a red Liverpool shirt once they notched the winning goal. But things turned on a dime once Torres was subbed off. Although tied and victory conceivably within their grasp, Rafa threw in the towel. Good for us, despicable for Liverpool.

Nevland scores, Degen sent off, Carragher sent off, Kuyt subbed out, Dempsey scores. I want to relive the second half of today’s match like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day.

It’s the next day and all the stories are focusing on Rafa Benitez. This makes sense, but greatly overshadows the efforts Roy and the players put forth.

Look at this chalkboard and think whether was it Rafa’s or Roy’s tactics that resulted in the side passing. I’m thinking the latter.

 by Guardian Chalkboards

Better yet, lets compare the total passes of both clubs.

I don’t like to swear in writing, but holy shit! It was obvious that Fulham was playing on the counter — as evidenced through the first goal — but not to the extent that the chalkboard shows. Liverpool completed 90 percent of their passes and lost; if you look at each Fulham player’s chalkboard, particularly in midfield, none look particularly noteworthy.

I’m beginning to wonder if yesterday was luck, or deserved. This is probably one (of many) reasons why statistics don’t always blend with footy.

On a tangential ending note, of the 7 goals Erik Nevland has scored for Fulham, 5 have come in the second half. Has any other striker had such a proportional second-half success?

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?

I honestly cannot remember. But the football gods will smile upon us, I hope.

Dan and Rich summarized the match quite well, as always.

But Vito Mannone and Zoltan Gera should both receive MOM. Mannone came out of nowhere to pull off a blinder, whereas Gera rose from the dead to put forth his best performance in the shirt. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dempsey start on the bench next week against West Ham as a result of his performance.

What I found can be so maddening about Gera is his penchant to constantly get stuck in. And sometimes his desire to touch the ball on defense results in freak deflections straight to the opposition. And when these deflections are on the edge of our box, its beyond maddening. But yesterday Gera made several crucial tackles on defense and apt crosses on offense.

Speaking of, anyone else notice Fulham continually attempt to cross the ball into the box towards the end of the match? And also notice it never worked? It was quite a depressing sight from an otherwise uplifting defeat.

But if anything, I am excited for the match at the Emirates on season’s end. Fulham have conceded just one goal in the last 3 matches against the free-wheeling, high-scoring, beautiful football of the Gunners. And I don’t see that changing.

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?

Well, looking at these two charts that is only sort of true.

Against Villa Paul Konchesky and John Painstil had almost double the amount of passes than against Everton. Not only that, but both had way more incomplete passes against Everton than Villa.Yet Fulham beat the Toffees and lost to the Villans.

The ball is round, no?

The obvious differences between the charts is the average location of each pass. Painstil was a threat on the wing against Everton — easy prediction alert: he’s going to score this season — and the stats show. Konch looks to be in the same position in both matches, but the direction of the passes were forward instead of sideways or backwards, and not a hive below the half line.

But there was so much more in this victory than the defeat two weeks ago. AJ and Zamora’s pairing should be canonized. Murphy is the catalyst to defense and offense. And Duff proves he still has it.

The lads are off to Sofia on Thursday to start the Europa League group stages.

Can’t really explain why, but I’ve always wanted to travel to Bulgaria. Luckily, my girlfriend was able to when she was studying abroad recently. She said it was quite filthy and decrepit — and that’s coming from someone living in Baltimore — with stray dogs running amok. To her, it was more remiscent of her time in South Africa than what is considered “Europe”. Which is maybe why I am fascinated by the nation, and the rest of Eastern Europe.

Hopefully the lads, and the fans, leave with a better impression. I’ll still be jealous. Or on second thought maybe not?

PFC CSKA Sofia (obviously, they’re the army team) is currently leading the Bulgarian A PFG (Professional Football Group) with four wins and a draw. Oh, and they’ve yet to concede a goal, while scoring 14. Nil-Nil written all over it.

Lastly, can’t stop listening to the new dirty projectors. Here’s their hit, but not best, song:

Mission accomplished? Well, sort of…

Roy did add several new faces, but are they the class that the media and fans were wanting?

Former Brummie Stephen Kelly was Fulham’s only defensive signing, coming in on a free. To date, he has 14 caps for the squad. Not a whole lot, but we know how much national team caps depend on politics more so than skill (e.g. Brian Ching with 42 caps for the USA). So the initial reaction jury is out in my mind.

The center of the park saw an entire midfield core arrive. Bjørn Helge Riise of Norway, Damien Duff of Chelsea and Newcastle, and Kagisho Dikgacoi of South Africa all signed for undisclosed amounts while Jonathan Greening of West Brom penned a year-long loan deal. Excluding Greening, those are all stalwarts on their national teams. And if we were to count the return of Simon Davies from injury (been nearing 5 months) we have a substitute, and another stalwart, to boot.

In recent weeks, the need for a striker has overshadowed the demand for more midfielders and overall depth. But despite many reported attempts for another striker that reached double digits, only the nameless Swede David Elm and his 6’3” frame came to SW6. Roy sure loves his Scandinavians.

With no one else coming in, and no one else leaving – the big surprise of the entire window – many fans started their temper tantrums against the board and MAF and our endeavor; everything short of us being relegated was being said.

But just because there’s little headlines to show for it, that doesn’t mean he didn’t try. (Oh boy, I sound like an elementary school teacher. Let me explain…)

Al-Fayed doesn’t splash the cash. Roy doesn’t make panic buys. We all know he is methodical with training and preparation and systematic in play. And the same goes for his transfer policy.

Excluding the untested crop of players’ now arriving, name one panic buy or bust Roy made.
Litmanen? He was on a pay-as-you-play so I wonder if he even made it on the payroll. EJ? I inexplicably think he’ll come good, and also believe he was lined up outside of Roy’s auspices. Gera? I’ll bite, but he was free.

This summer Roy targeted numerous strikers he felt could cut it, but not a single one panned out. In fact, it reminded me of playing FIFA 07 or 08 when the computer just won’t let you purchase anyone short of a 10 million quid fee and 60,000 quid a week salary. Only with this we can’t throw our controller onto the ground and press reset.

Instead, not a single player was loaned out or sold before the deadline. And Schwarzer, Dempsey, and Murphy were all locked up in long term deals. Instead of rebuilding, or even reloading, Roy decided to reinvest.

But this season won’t be about who we did or do not sign, I’m afraid.

The clubs that finished directly below us last year are going to finish directly above us this year. City has spent too much money not to be below seventh, again. Tottenham appear to have finally found its guy in ‘Arry; that is before he leaves Spurs bankrupt and jets off to Anfield whenever Rafa leaves. And a financially-settled West Ham team is bound to give us problems, especially considering they’re our bogey team.

So short of Roy making panic buys on overpriced and overhyped players, which would be akin to him shaving his head and quoting Sham 69 lyrics at press conferences, the season just cannot be like last. And I’m okay with that.

So, by my count, that means a 10th place finish, and Roy is a good Cup manager so hopefully we’ll get a good run in. Not a bad finish by any means.

Dempsey’s deflected shot off Zamora was enough for Fulham to win 1-0 over Pompey in a rather uneventful, if not typical away, match. Standard Hodgson.

Portsmouth occasionally threatened, attempting to stretch our defense with crosses from the wings but Schwarzer gobbled them up while Hangeland and Hughes smacked them away.

The only jaw dropping moment came when Pompey defender Marc Wilson whiffed on a header leaving little AJ a clear chance on goal. Either misjudging the bounce or hitting too hard, the gift sailed wide right.

For those wondering why I didn’t preview the team and season before today, I did it on purpose. I’m going to write a season preview once the transfer windows ends. Sure, it may be cheating as we’ll have played three matches — all against good opposition — and may be in or out of Europe by then.

But its sort of silly to write season previews before the window closes. Why? Because everything could be completely dated as of September 1. Look back at ManCity previews last year, or even Tottenhams — they were old news within a week. Not because they were over/underrated, but the actors changed.

Although I don’t see mountains moving for us before September 1, Duff is reportedly coming to town, KG is still stuck in a tribunal — I think — and may not be able to sign for us, and Arsenal could lodge a successful 15 million quid bid for Hangeland. Or Dempsey may even receive a similar deal from Everton. There’s just too many variables to be accurate or lasting.

No midweek Prem action, as the lads host Perm in the Europa League. Derby next weekend — should be a good one.

But yeah, Fulham won away and I’m not completely stunned. Strange days, indeed.

Brings a smile to your face, no?

Despite the pouring rain, Dickson Etuhu walked into the header that led to Fulham’s first goal and series icing. I missed the second goal, but am told Dempsey had a nice cross to AJ. Later, EJ received a pass from Dempsey and dribbled down to a few feet before the goal line and found AJ for a sitter. Romp over.

The draw for the (official) Play-Off Round is tomorrow. We’re seeded, so luckily (if I’m correct) we’ll be avoiding some tough opponents like Bremen, Shakthar, Roma and Valencia to name a few. But even being ranked 34th (of 76) via coefficient, the next round is going to be a bit tricky.

For a complete list of coefficients, Bert Kassies is again on point. Although I’ll post rankings tomorrow, here’s the breakdown:

Esteemed and storied company, eh?

Moyes’ has yet to announce whether he’ll mail it in on Sunday, which makes me a bit worried. There’s all this talk about teams pulling a Liverpool and field reserve sides, and how unsporting that is. Look at all the (non)news with Fergie over the past week.

Yet I still don’t see what Moyes’ stands to gain by playing a full strength squad. I’m not saying he should throw the match (well, the fan in me is…) but why risk perhaps ruining an opportunity to win some silverware? And beat Chelsea!

But here were almost are: season’s end. I’m hoping to release two podcasts to commemorate this special season. And a season’s end award silliness.

But I’m still looking to define the club’s identity. Several pundits say its our lack of injuries this term, and others its because we have a settled squad. But to me there’s some missing link.

Club’s do well through their identity, be it tactical or ethos (Bolton, Blackburn and now Stoke’s direct, muscular football has guided them to safety each year; United are always the inevitable victor; Chelsea spending money).

And without an identity (Is City built on offense through Ireland, Robinho, and whatever 19 year old forward they have, or are they defensive with a bedrock of Bridge, Dunne, Richards, and Given?) or a major flaw to your identity (West Brom playing “nice” football but defending like a youth team) you cannot succeed.

So what are we? I wasn’t around for Tigana, but it seemed to buy high and underachieve on the field. Under Cookie, we did what Wigan currently are: buy low, sell high, get by. LS: Overpay for rubbish, struggle under the long ball.

Roy has obviously proven his transfer acumen, with the only “flops” (Litmanen and Barnes) being so because of injuries, not lack of skill. And the football is pretty, but also compact and defensive.

But I think there needs to be more. Suggestions? Or is this a fool’s errand, as compact, tidy, and organized footy is an identity in of itself?