Nobody likes to lose

[Roygbiv]

But if you are going to lose then do it like that. We now go into Saturday on the biggest high possible following a defeat.

Basic errors tonight cost us. Nothing to with system. Nothing to do with Coutts. Nothing to do with being found out.

 

[coolhandluke]

I still can't believe their first two !

Oh well , go again lads .

 

[Iceybabey]

We needed that come back to keep the death eaters under their rocks. Bet a few of the usual negativity pouncers were ready to come out of their lonely slumber.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

At the end there were lots of Blades and Fulham players all laid flat out on the turf. Bravo to both teams for giving it all. Best game I've seen for a long time.

 

[thehet]

Basic errors as well as doing things we don't normally do.

Now forgetting the fact that Lundstram is in for Coutts, he likes his long passes, which we don't normally do. Billy struggles to know what to do once he's held the ball up. We also played a lot of sideways stuff across the back which is out if character.

Overall though, its 1-0 defeat and gives us some goals scored. Need to rectify it on Saturday.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

I'd rather lose 5 4 than grind out a 0 0.

 

[wavy-blade]

But if you are going to lose then do it like that. We now go into Saturday on the biggest high possible following a defeat.

Basic errors tonight cost us. Nothing to with system. Nothing to do with Coutts. Nothing to do with being found out.

Keep saying nothing to do with Coutts and you might start to believe it , but I am sorry I disagree , the form that man was in and the way he linked up with Fleck and Duff WE MISSED HIM , and anyone who says we didn't is kidding themselves .

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Keep saying nothing to do with Coutts and you might start to believe it , but I am sorry I disagree , the form that man was in and the way he linked up with Fleck and Duff WE MISSED HIM , and anyone who says we didn't is kidding themselves .

We'd better stop missing him and quick then...

 

[zablade]

The annoying thing is the game was still salvageable at 2-3 but we lost our heads and shape & I have to say made the wrong subs, if we had been patient and brought Brooks on for Billy after 55 minutes we could have saved the game & even looked to win But we threw everything forwards at times like headless chickens,

Entertaining but unprofessional.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

But if you are going to lose then do it like that. We now go into Saturday on the biggest high possible following a defeat.

Basic errors tonight cost us. Nothing to with system. Nothing to do with Coutts. Nothing to do with being found out.

Why aren’t you on the Fulham forums?

 

[Wards]

Some fans so quick to turn on their own side around me. Utter pricks.

Be reyt won’t it

 

[shrubbery]

Coutts' ball retention and ability to pick out the right pass was definitely missed as Lundstram gave it away far too much attempting aimless long balls. Billy is also really struggling to hold on to the ball and should have been replaced by Brooks much earlier.

Enjoyable end to end game with individual errors costing us. Hopefully the defence will be back to its resolute best by the weekend.

 

[GuangzhouBlade]

Hopefully everyone's used up some of their mistakes for a while CCV has had a few near misses recently with slips. Maybe it's best he got them out of his system all at once. The bizarre thing is I feel better after losing tonight than I did on Friday having Won. Fulham credit to them knocked ball about well first half and took their chances but my God they make us look solid defensively. Just a freak game I've no doubt we will win Satdi. UTB

 

[Pedro's Winger]

We missed Coutts massively and were well beaten in reality - the couple of late goals put a bit of gloss on it.
Wilder has a lot of thinking to do as Lundstram can't do the same job and it's hard to see what the answer is in the current squad.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I'd rather lose 5 4 than grind out a 0 0.

Why?

 

[bromtom]

Their first goal was a bad mistake, one was just good, one had a deflection around Blackman so I feel bad for him, but our defence just seemed off today for me.

Not Lundstram bashing but he moves out of position a lot and I think it unsettled the back 3, there were less passes available which meant passing it backwards and sideways a lot more than we usually do.

I said that Lundstram is technically good but needs to work on his vision and not losing possession before the game and I'd still stand by that, and add in a bit of positioning for the benefit of Fleck and the back 3 but overall I wouldn't say he was any more to blame than anyone else for letting 5 in.

We need Baldock back pretty sharpish though.

 

[Carlton Blade]

What a weird game. For 15 minutes they were fantastic. Passed us to death. Pressed us really well. Then they dropped their levels and scored 5 on 6 shots. Not sure what to say. I thought Fleck was outstanding, Carruthers and Brooks did well. O Connell great except the 3rd goal. Ho hum on to Brum

 

[Stretch]

Keep saying nothing to do with Coutts and you might start to believe it , but I am sorry I disagree , the form that man was in and the way he linked up with Fleck and Duff WE MISSED HIM , and anyone who says we didn't is kidding themselves .

Huge blunders for the first two but give Fulham some credit, they countered with pace and purpose and when they had a sight of goal they took a shot. One took a deflection (as did our 3rd) and the defence generally looked panicked.

Not sure we can pin all of this on Coutts' absence but yes it was clear we missed his control.

 

[Rob86]

But if you are going to lose then do it like that. We now go into Saturday on the biggest high possible following a defeat.

Basic errors tonight cost us. Nothing to with system. Nothing to do with Coutts. Nothing to do with being found out.

Totally correct. 2 errors and a decent goal to go to 3-2 like, but forget that, a deflected 4th, not sure about the 5th, decent goal and then proper character to get back to 5-4.

2 centre halves off for 2 attacking players to WIN. I'll have that any day !!

Whoever hasn't had there money's worth tonight needs to not go again. Pure entertainment and on the wrong end of the scoreline. Ah well

 

[BLADES1988]

I'm trying to be annoyed at that. It's not working! Crazy game! UTB

 

[Bladesman]

Basic errors plus our lack of pace at the back is exposed against a side like Fulham. Much like how we got done for pace against Cardiff and Boro.

That said we could have drawn or even won tonight. The ref as usual avoiding making the big decisions and would rather be sure a throw in is taken in the correct place.

 

[PokerBlade]

First half, at one nil up, they went to take a goal kick and we had seven, yes, seven, Blades shirts in their half. It's a dangerous game to play but we do it without fear.

Calamity error by CCV, but that's what happens sometimes when you have inexperienced defenders. Thought Cairney and McDonald were absolutely phenomenal for them. The first midfield pairing to do to us what we do to other sides.

Look, dodgy defending put us 3-2 down, but the actual performance was okay. But here's the thing, everyone says "You might as well lose 5-2 as 3-2", and that's exactly the attitude the manager took. We threw everything forward and gambled on getting the next goal. It backfired because we were getting caught on the break and they went 4-2 up. And so what do we do? We go even more attacking and let in another one.

I'm so glad we pulled it back to 5-4 because, while I don't think we deserved to win that game, we certainly didn't deserve to get battered.

We're a newly promoted side, missing our two first choice full backs, missing our first choice midfielder, and we didn't for a second hesitate about going all out. No trying to make it a tight affair. No trying to nick one and draw it 3-3. Even at 3-2 down we want to win the game even if it risks a landslide.

And look at the end of the game. About four Fulham players fall to the floor gasping for air. They've scored five and it's probably been the toughest game they've had all season.

I hate losing. I hate seeing us give away cheap goals. But I absolutely love this side and I won't have a go at them for that performance.

 

[metalblade]

You can't blame Lundstrum for poor defending CCV had a mare tonight I don't think him and Basham knew who they were supposed to be picking up both were all over the place. We did struggle with Fulhams pace tonight once again all the opposition team did was knock balls over the top and break with pace which made more chances than all their neat passing.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Basic errors plus our lack of pace at the back is exposed against a side like Fulham. Much like how we got done for pace against Cardiff and Boro.

That said we could have drawn or even won tonight. The ref as usual avoiding making the big decisions and would rather be sure a throw in is taken in the correct place.

At one point the ref blew the whistle to make Stevens move back for a throw in before he'd even picked the ball up. I hated him

 

[Bladepicker]

Of course we missed Coutts - we knew we would - and given Fulhams pace and high pressing game it was probably the worse game straight up after losing him.

We didn't retain possesion well enough and that allowed them to press us more which led to errors. Fleck was outstanding though.

Lundstrum made a great tackle and I have seen people try to defend him which is fair enough - he's young and it's only his 3rd start I think - but he's simply not good enough in that role. I'd rather play Samir.

We will be ok - but desperately need at the very least Leonard in January to help plug that gap.

 

[awblade]

You can't blame Lundstrum for poor defending CCV had a mare tonight I don't think him and Basham knew who they were supposed to be picking up both were all over the place. We did struggle with Fulhams pace tonight once again all the opposition team did was knock balls over the top and break with pace which made more chances than all their neat passing.

I liken their knocking ball over the top to a typical game of fifa, using fast players to get into end of the ball

 

[georgebernardshaw]

At the end there were lots of Blades and Fulham players all laid flat out on the turf. Bravo to both teams for giving it all. Best game I've seen for a long time.

Agreed, better side won it for me, they were always ready to break quickly, and their midfield did their jobs

Fleck MOM

 

[Bladesman]

At one point the ref blew the whistle to make Stevens move back for a throw in before he'd even picked the ball up. I hated him

One thing is for sure he wasn't giving any big decisions tonight.

 

[I should coco]

At the end there were lots of Blades and Fulham players all laid flat out on the turf.

More of theirs than ours and none of ours were fully laid out. They matched our pressing but when it came to the football they were better players. Having given everything it wouldn't surprise me if they now lose in Saturday. If they'd played like that all season they'd be top. Either some of their players are frauds or their manager is useless.

Too many of our lads off their game in the first half. Massive credit to all of them though for effort, heart and work rate in the second half.

As for poor old Fleck, he plays out of his skin and Leon still wins MoM with another hatrick.

We pick ourselves up and go again. No inquests or blame under CW.

 

[PokerBlade]

You can't blame Lundstrum for poor defending CCV had a mare tonight I don't think him and Basham knew who they were supposed to be picking up both were all over the place. We did struggle with Fulhams pace tonight once again all the opposition team did was knock balls over the top and break with pace which made more chances than all their neat passing.

Lundstram was a mixed bag. Struggled early on, but put in a cracking challenge to turn over possession for our second goal. He's obviously got some talent but he needs to play the simple balls more. Certainly not the reason for tonight's result and absolutely deserves time.