Fulham Post Match Thread

[Lecter]

Ref, and linesman, were reasonably ****. But they usually are in the premiership. For us and for other clubs too.

For me Adam was a defensive liability all day and when Spearing was red carded I was praying Adam got subbed as no way would Henderson be able to carry him even with a dumptruck. As it happens he wasn't subbed and our midfield became so open that even Ruiz looked like a half decent player (even through my grandma is better than him).

Armchair management is great, and I know Kenny's job is not easy. But them's the decisions a manager lives by.

I thought all our midfield was **** barring Henderson

He covered loads of ground but was a headless chicken at times

The thing about Lucas is the amount of second balls he wins, hes also good in the air (which Spearing isnt)

For me its about combinations

Today we were too open

[Lecter]

We perform better against better teams though.

Thats nothing new

[Chazza]

Some Kenny quotes in this article about the incident

Suarez facing new FA rap over 'finger'

Luis Suarez could be in more hot water over a crude gesture after luckless Liverpool saw red at Craven Cottage.

Already in the dock at the Football Association over alleged racist remarks aimed Manchester United's Patrice Evra, the Kop's darling now faces another charge after giving Fulham fans a one-fingered send-off.

Livewire Suarez had a goal disallowed in a borderline offside call, was denied a penalty and was bated throughout by cries of "cheat" from the home support.

To cap manager Kenny Dalglish's misery, midfielder Jay Spearing was sent off after 72 minutes for a reckless tackle on Moussa Dembele before keeper Pepe Reina's blunder gifted Clint Dempsey the winner five minutes from time.

Dalglish, as ever, was supportive of Suarez afterwards.

"I haven't seen the pictures and I'm not taking anybody's word for it," he said. "If you show me the picture and what you're saying is true, then I've got a decision to make."

Asked what he thought of Fulham fans branding Suarez a "cheat", Dalglish hissed: "Scandalous. We'll look after Luis as best we can, and I think it's about time he got a bit of protection from some people.

"His integrity is impeccable, he can look in the mirror, go to bed at night and sleep soundly."

While Suarez faces an anxious wait to discover if FA hawks call him account for his sign language, Spearing - making his first start in the Premier League this season after midfield anchorman Lucas Leiva was crocked at Chelsea last week - was distraught after referee Kevin Friend showed him a straight red card.

Although he won the ball, he followed through with both feet off the ground and showing a full set of studs, catching Dembele on the ankle.

Dalglish said: "Jay never had another thought in his mind but to win the ball, and he did win it. I think you need to ask referees what their level of acceptance is - as long as they are consistent, it's not a problem.

"Sometimes you see those things resulting in a red card, other times you get away with it.

"But I don't think we were going to get anything [tonight], were we? The goal Luis scored, we could have had a penalty... we played well enough to have won the game and we certainly deserved to get something out of it.

"I'm sure we've had the rub of the green in previous games, but not tonight. We've just got to dust ourselves down and not feel too sorry for ourselves."

Liverpool's defeat leaves them 15 points behind leaders Manchester City - and five off the Champions League places.

It also robbed Dalglish of equalling a club record seventh consecutive away win, which would have made him the best Day Tripper from Merseyside since the Beatles hit.

Fulham manager Martin Jol, celebrating his first win against Liverpool in seven attempts as a manager, said: "Maybe when I was playing in England it was a great tackle, but you have to be honest about it.

"I've seen it from three angles and it was a bad one. I think it was a sending-off - it could have broken his ankle.

"Obviously the sending-off helped us because it gave us more space, but it was a much-needed win for us."

Match-winner Dempsey said: "We had more space and time on the ball, we opened them up a bit and we got the goal, which is great because it's been frustrating for us recently."

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news...cle839544.html

[Chris]

Also, who says Fulham are cannon fodder? Drawn with Arsenal and City so far.

Now Wigan, they are cannon fodder.

Yeah as usual theres a bit of disrespect, last year was a bit of a freak and they regularly stop the top teams at their place. They are a decent team and we were well in control of that second half until the referee intervened.

[BigChief]

I thought all our midfield was **** barring Henderson

He covered loads of ground but was a headless chicken at times

The thing about Lucas is the amount of second balls he wins, hes also good in the air (which Spearing isnt)

For me its about combinations

Today we were too open

Had Adam been sent off and not Spearing we would not have been as open and I will further argue Spearing would have been helping out GJ against Murphy. But its all hindsight I suppose.

[Rabiosa]

Without Lucas,Stevie,Spearing and Suarez for out next game.. great

[Chazza]

Had Adam been sent off and not Spearing we would not have been as open and I will further argue Spearing would have been helping out GJ against Murphy. But its all hindsight I suppose.

That was pretty poor from Johnson, only one way Murphy was going to go and that was inside

[Shaggy]

Yep should've shown him onto his left foot. I like Johnson but that was shoddy.

[Craig_H]

Error from Johnson but the goal was Pepe's fault all day long.

[BigChief]

That was pretty poor from Johnson, only one way Murphy was going to go and that was inside

Clear as day Murphy was never going to outpace him down the wing. But only a poor defender makes poor decisions and we all know GJ is that. However, he makes it up with his advance play more times than he makes mistakes so he's not the real problem in the team.

[Chazza]

Suarez flips! Race-row striker loses cool over taunts by Fulham fans

Luis Suarez - who is already facing a racism charge - could find himself in more hot water with the FA after making an obscene gesture towards Fulham supporters after Liverpool's 1-0 defeat.

The Anfield striker was given a torrid time by the home support throughout the clash at Craven Cottage as he was subjected to chants of 'cheat' for what Fulham supporters perceived to be his constant diving.

And Suarez cracked after the final whistle by making an explicit hand gesture towards Cottagers fans. Wembley disciplinary chiefs will decide on Tuesday whether to investigate the incident further.



Suarez has already been charged by the FA for making racist remarks towards Manchester United defender Patrice Evra during the 1-1 draw at Anfield earlier this season.

And Reds manager Kenny Dalglish admitted he could be forced to talk to Suarez about his conduct after the latest controversy to hit the Uruguay international.

'I haven't seen the picture and I'm not taking anybody's word for it,' said Dalglish.

'If you show me the picture and I'm convinced that what you're saying is true, then I've got a decision to make.'

In response to Fulham fans branding Suarez a 'cheat', Dalglish added: 'That's scandalous. We'll look after Luis as best we can, and I think it's about time he got a bit of protection from some people.



'His integrity is impeccable. He can look in the mirror and go to bed at night and sleep soundly.'

Liverpool's misery was compounded by Jay Spearing's debatable sending off - the latest incident in a controversial weekend of refereeing decisions.

The Liverpool midfielder clearly made contact with the ball in his challenge with Moussa Dembele - but was given his marching orders by Kevin Friend after catching the Fulham forward with his follow through.

And Dalglish felt his midfielder was harshly sent off: 'I think, you need to ask the referee what their interpretation is? What the level of acceptance is? 'Jay never had another thought in his mind but to win the ball, and he did win it.



'As long as the officials are consistent, it's not a problem. But I don't think we were going to get anything tonight, were we?

'The (offside) goal that Luis scored, Charlie [Adam] could have had a penalty. We played well enough to have won the game.'

Fulham boss Martin Jol added: 'Was it a red card? I think it was a bad tackle. 'If you see from another angle, you saw his ankle up there and I think it was a sending off.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo....html?ITO=1490

[Craig_H]

Suarez is going to get nailed for that, big time.

I wouldnt be surprised if the authorities drive him out of english football within the next year or two.

[Rabiosa]

If Suarez is banned i excpect the club to make a complaint against Frimpong and Raul Meireles

[Chazza]

Clear as day Murphy was never going to outpace him down the wing. But only a poor defender makes poor decisions and we all know GJ is that. However, he makes it up with his advance play more times than he makes mistakes so he's not the real problem in the team.

I like Johnson and think he has been playing well recently just that was a poor decision from him

[TheElephantMan]

Enjoyed the game until the sending off, it wasn't even a foul. Referees who show leniency early in games tend to become mentally challenged at some point in the game. Completely ruined the game and gave the incentive to the weaker side. Well done ref. The result hinged on one moment in the game and the referee got it wrong.