Fulham Game!

First of all can I start of by saying how impressed I was with Fulham in the second half yesterday. Good passing, quick interceptions and their closing down and hassling of our players was excellent. Well done and well done MJ too............................................................

Having said that I do believe that apart from the first half, we were never really at the races yesterday.

My performance ratings are as follows:

Friedel 9 Excellent game and kept us in it at times.

Walker 7 Looked good going forward but made some sloppy passes and will know he needs to improve. Lucky not to have given a penalty with his handball.

Kaboul 7.5 Unfortunate to have had handball given against him on edge of box. Steady if not spectacular game. Still lax at staying with his opponent in the box.

King 9 I was one of the ones who thought he should have retired ages ago, he defies description and logic. Doesn't train yet seemed to be everywhere yesterday. Some important blocks and unfortunate with their goal. If he did not have his injury record, he would have been captain of England for the past 5 years!

BAE 7 Again like Walker, not his most spectacular game, however he remains possibly the most consistent (with Scotty) performer in the team.

Lennon 7 Very good goal and a few flashes of the old Lennon, however I still think he needs to be more consistent.

Parker 8 A rare day, he was not our best player today. However he was in the thick of things and his level of commitment is a lesson to everyone. Should have had a penalty when Sidwell clearly barged him in the back, and players have ben sent off for what Sidwell did to Parker with his elbow in the first half.

Modric 5 Possibly the worst game I have seen him play, he was never in the game (apart from the goal line save) and looked out of sorts.

Bale 7.5 Did everything he could to get things going and although not his best game, still put in a good shift. Perfect ball into the goalmouth for his goal and if the player had left it, then it was still going in to the far side of the goal.

VDV 5 Like Modric, not at his best and I personally would have taken either him or Modric off at half time.

Adebayor 7 Although not scoring, his work rate is superb and he does bring others into the game, good ball for Defoe's goal.

Defoe 8 Got to mark him well, did what he was brought on to do........................score.

Sandro 7 Steady and looked sharp even though he does neeed matches to get back to full fitness.

As said by others, in the past we have lost these games and whilst Fulham deserve full credit, we have to also assess how much of their play and possession was down to us not playing to our potential?

This augurs well for us in the coming weeks..........................COYS