Once again Fulham started strongly, looking like they were on a mission to score goals. After just a couple of minutes, Babel was put clean through with just the West Ham goalkeeper to beat, waited for him to move yet managed to lob the ball at his head and the attempt was cleared. Two minutes later Babel made up for his miss when he fired a shot past the keeper following a cross from Sessegnon to put the Cottagers one up.
For the first ten to fifteen minutes any neutral supporter must have been thinking if this was the transformation of this Fulham team, at last, looking comfortable on the ball and completely dominating affairs. This, however, as all loyal Fulham fans have come to expect, was not going to last.
West Ham took control of the game, Fulham getting deeper in defence by the minute. As usual, it didn’t take too long before Hernandez ‘dived’ for a header and pushed the ball into the net with his hand. Where was VAR when we needed it? This followed another pathetic attempt at a punch away of the cross by Fulham keeper Rico, who only managed to push it up in the air and further into the danger area. All Fulham defenders just stood around looking bewildered and hardly managed a word with referee Lee Mason to dispute the clear handball. Only Ranieri on the touchline protested.
Rico was yet again to blame when another poor punch led to Diop towering above the Fulham defence to head in a second for West Ham after 40 minutes.
Fulham manager Ranieri was slated by the fans in the last home game when he neglected bringing on the young Ryan Sessegnon at half time. So he tried to make amends and please the supporters by starting him and captain Tom Cairney from the start. He has said that Sessegnon, although still a young player, had to get more physical for this tough league, and tonight those words were shown to be true. Sessegnon looks a gifted and neat player going forward, but he totally neglected all his defensive duties allowing the West Ham veteran Zabaleta to constantly break unmarked down the right touchline. It was one of these breaks that led to a goal by the home side.
Two substitutions at the beginning of the second half failed to bring any further attacking joy to Fulham, as West Ham casually cut out every attack the away side could muster. With time running out for Fulham, they passed the ball around getting nowhere, before another defensive shambles of marking players by three defenders gave Antonio a simple header to win the game.
Who is to really to blame for this embarrassing first (and last) season return to the Premier League?
1 – Jokanovic? 1 win in his 12 league matches. He tried to get the team playing the style of football that won us promotion from the Championship. He was not given a squad of players that could do it in this league.
2 – Ranieri? 3 wins in 15 so far, but 1 win and 6 defeats in the 7 played this year. He ditched the possession style of last season and tried to make the team harder to beat by playing on the break. Had he actually seen what players he had at his disposal when he started? Hardly a defensive-minded squad here!
3 – The Players? Well, they are the only ones that can make a difference when they are picked to play. Too many have looked out of their depth. Players that looked brilliant in the lower division, or in their respective home countries, but not in the EPL.
4 – The Khan’s and scouting team? YES, I would say, are ultimately responsible for the failure this season. They have brought in far too many players that lacked Premier League experience. With the exception of Chambers (from Arsenal) and Mawson (from Swansea) who started looking like a quality player before his injury, there hasn’t really been anyone else that came in last summer who has looked worthy of a place in this highly competitive league?
Going forward, back into the Championship next season, we are likely to lose:
Ryan Sessegnon, Tom Cairney and Mitrovic to Premier League teams. They will be a sad loss. As for the new signings and loanees, most will leave Craven Cottage. We shouldn’t be too bothered as they haven’t lived up to the expectations the owners and the media suggested.
A new manager will be necessary next season. Preferably one that has experience and had success in this division before. A manager THAT MUST BE ALLOWED A SAY IN WHICH PLAYERS COME AND GO.
How really can Jokanovic or Ranieri be blamed for the poor recruitment this season?
Let’s look forward to a new start, with a new Riverside stadium being built, and a new team/manager.
BRING ON 2019/2020 ………….. COYW …………………
Previous contribution by Brian Gower
Fulham Lacked Strength, Aggression, Leadership, Ideas And Most Importantly Passion