Best of 2008

By: timmyg | January 3rd, 2009

Okay so I’m a few days late on this. But seeing has how everyone under the sun had some sort of “Best of 2008” or top 5 or 10 lists, I figure I might as well hop on the bandwagon. So here are my Top 5 Fulham moments of 2008, except these are in no order whatsoever.

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…