With relegation beckoning and nothing to look forward to, next season, other than Championship football, says the realist in me, did Claudio Ranieri, when he was appointed, walk into a no-win situation?
In order to survive in top-flight football, you just can’t afford to get off to a bad a start to the season as Fulham did, even more so when the realisation hits home that the purchases you made in the summer, buys that cost in excess of £100 million, were just not up to the task.
Following the latest defeat, Ranieri did his utmost to raise spirits, with the Italian, who many feel is out of his depth, trying to raise spirits with the following social media posting:
"We lost a match, we lost a battle, but not the war."
More from Claudio's post-#CRYFUL press conference: https://t.co/5WTKEmgHdd #COYW pic.twitter.com/I8fFOcD7kV
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 2, 2019
Ranieri’s unfortunate remarks, certainly drew a response from those who post on social networks with many rounding on the boss, something shown by the postings below:
Can't lose a battle if you don't turn up in the 1st place .
— Lewis Johnston (@LewisLew10) February 2, 2019
We have lost the war, we have only ourselves to blame from the playere to the management. Fighting once every 10 games is not enough and failing to shore up the defence is inexcusable. Time to start thinking about next season and how we can avoid back to back relegations.
— Wayne Page (@WPage14) February 2, 2019
Sometimes in war you need a different tactic. Sticking all your troops in the trenches hoping that’ll keep them out isn’t going to work for the entire war. Sometimes attack is the best form of defence.
— Mark Walker (@MarkJwalker) February 2, 2019
It is and when you think back to the game yesterday, our biggest failing is illustrated perfectly by the following views:
No shots on target in a season-defining game. Ranieri one of multiple awful mistakes in a terrible terrible season.
— Patrick Allen (@PatrickA023) February 2, 2019
ZERO SHOTS ON TARGET
— Nick (@Simmo_FFC) February 2, 2019
0 shots on target, 1 corner, 63% possession. Are we playing keep ball at the back again thinking that’ll get us goals?!
— AK (@Jags41) February 2, 2019
A damning statistic when you consider we were playing Crystal Palace and not one of the big six in the Premier League.
But, returning to Ranieri’s battle and war analogy, it really is all over:
No.. We lost the war also…
— Byron☻ (@HyperByron) February 2, 2019
Unfortunately, the battle you've lost is in the dressing room Claudio. The war is over.
— ToodlesMcToot (@SeaOtter68) February 2, 2019
And despite hoping otherwise, I fear they are right.
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