Beating South China 4-1
Aha! South China may not be the greatest side in the world, but 4-1 wins are to be taken wherever they can be found. Well done the lads.
It looks like Lawrie fielded a sort of reserve team, as you can see here. Boca and Smertin and Bouba might get more first team action than the rest, and Niemi is first choice of course, but nice for the rest of the lads to get a run out.
You’ll note that Liam was in midfield again. The merits of this have been debated to death on TFI with most coming out on the side of “Liam’s a good defender”, but I think this is a positive move. As you know, we did a book on last season and reading through my notes and match reports for that book it’s striking how often Liam is mentioned, and not for the right reasons. This is just my view of things, of course, but ignoring the distribution thing, I think he is positionally suspect and prone to lapses in concentration. He has great gifts athletically and seems to be a terrific lad with a future in the game, but he makes me nervous at right back. This is an argument that is without a solution, but that’s my take, for whatever it’s worth.
The point was that as a wide midfielder he could be quite good. He has the pace, the intelligence and with more passing options presumably he’ll be less hesitant on the ball. That was a problem last year, he’d get the ball on the touchline just inside his own half, nobody would be free, so the ball went to nobody. A more dynamic and free role in midfield could be just what he needs. Or it could be a trick by Sanchez to get him to concentrate more on his play in possession without having to worry about defending for a while. We won’t know until the team is announced for Arsenal.
Anyway. My mum and dad are up for the weekend so maybe no more posting until Monday (unless BQ’s back from his holiday). We’re going to the theatre this afternoon, coming back for a curry and then going to see the Barnes Wetlands tomorrow. Cool.
Oh, and Chopper’s sad to see Michael Brown go too. Pretty much my thoughts exactly.
Yes, well done the lads! Four goals are four goals, even against the might of South China. Nice to see David Healy score. It will help his confidence no end.
Can`t see Rosenior succeeding in midfield - his passing isn`t good enough. As a matter of interest, I believe he started his footballing career as a winger. When he first came into Fulham`s first XI, Rosenior looked an exciting prospect. However, like Knight and Volz, he has not gone on to the next level. He still looks like a rookie full-back; whereas, he is in fact now one of the most experienced players in terms of time in the Fulham team. I have no doubt that inadequate coaching is at least partly to blame in all three cases.
Anyway, Sanchez seems to be favouring Baird for right-back. Where does that leave Omozusi, I wonder, let alone Volz. And what about forgotten man Zakuani ?
Wing Half
28 Jul 07 at 4:14 pm