COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Fulham (a)

By Ken Buckley :  25/09/2010 :  Comments (24) :

Just the one point, to leave us bottom of the league, from a game that we should have won... but, once again, the deficiency in that final third did for us. Make no mistake; this was a better display than of late but, all over the pitch, players with great experience failed to make a breakthrough against a team where one goal would have been enough.

We started brightly from the off and had Fulham on the back foot but without really testing their keeper and chances were few and far between for either side. Eventually an unfit-looking Cahill with heavy strapping to his knee chested a ball to the feet of Pienaar but his effort was best described as token. Coleman, despite all the clamour, was making his debut starting appearance and, although full of endeavour, failed to make some of his forays count for much at the business end. 

Pienaar made a good decoy run which dragged a couple of Fulham players with him and allowed Baines the chance to get in the box but, with one thought in his mind, shot and had it blocked. It was mostly the Blues going forward and it took until the half-hour mark for Fulham to fashion a chance when Gera put in a cross-cum-shot that saw one-time Everton target Etuhu head powerfully but straight at Howard.

Really it wasn?t until the stroke of half-time that the game almost turned a Blue way when Arteta had a shot that looked to be dipping in only for the keeper to get across and fingertip away.

Half-time and most of the chat was of a positive nature as we had most of the attacking play and a goal was not out of the question. 

Second half and Fulham started the better, with Howard at last called into action, albeit fielding powder-puff stuff.  We were now under some pressure and Jagielka's method of clearing, with nothing more than a big boot, ensured Fulham came right back at us.  This almost paid off when Danny Murphy found a super pass to Dempsey and, but for a great save by Howard and a foul-up by Duff on the follow-up, we could have been behind.

It was mostly Fulham now but we did have the odd break and, from a Coleman foray forward, his final ball just eluded the Yak as he closed in.  Dempsey then had a deflected shot that Howard scrambling.  The Blues then pushed forward and, from some excellent play from Fellaini, who had overshadowed Arteta in the middle of the park all afternoon, saw shots coming in, although without a lot of conviction; we were on top.

In this period, the Yak produced a clever shot that the keeper pushed away at full stretch.  Then the Yak tested him again and this time he could only parry but a defender was on hand to hack away. Right on the death, Dempsey shot just wide and then the Yak had two chances; firstly, one that beat the keeper but also the post; and then, after powerfully working some space for himself, his effort across the keeper was powder-puff.

Overall, I thought that, although this result leaves us bottom of the table, we showed that it?s only goal-getting that is hindering us. We played some good stuff today but got only a point when, on another day, the ball would have bounced that bit different and we would have run out easy winners.

The positives I took from the game were the attempts to get into the opposition and fashion chances; they didn?t come off today but every player was trying and no-one hiding.  On a negative note, I can?t understand why Jags has to make so many 50-odd-yard passes that fail time after time and give the ball back to the opposition. 

On a positive note, I was pleased to see the manager show some guts and put Heitinga on the bench as his displays have not lived up to the ?World Cup Finalist? tag.  Hopefully this shows to all the players, you have to earn your place.  Today, I thought the balance of the team seemed better with Coleman on the right, he didn?t show much at all except endeavour but just being there seemed to give other players more of a focus on their own roles.

I could not understand when Cahill was finally subbed, he seemed to be left on too long for my liking, as he was clearly playing for the cause rather than the games ahead; why Osman was put wide left and Pienaar in the hole, it seemed to break up the productive Arteta - Baines - Pienaar triangle and Osman is just as likely to snatch one as is Pienaar; still, I am not qualified to be in charge, so it might have worked.

When it comes to MotM today, I would offer Fellaini, back in his proper position, and head and shoulders above anything else on the park.  Where do we go from here?  Well, the only way is up but, after what I saw today, I think we are capable of doing that once we start to believe in our own ability.

I have read on this site the anti-Moyes reaction and, like any fan, I react toward this manager or any other over the years as results come and go... but I would say at the moment Moyes still enjoys the support of most, but not all of match-going fans. 

In my view, the time for saying Moyes has to go will be when those match-going fans go public at games with the cry of ?Moyes Out?.  I am not saying that non-match goers can?t join the debate but, believe me, the time to take notice is when the ?Red Tops? show the pictures of banners and reports of chants from Goodison and away grounds that say his time is over ? we have previous in this direction.

Until then, let?s hope he and the players can arrest this storm and move on up the table and ensure we as a club can challenge despite the obvious investment that is needed but seems worlds away. Birmingham next, could that be our first win?  Hell I hope so.  See you there.
UP THE BLUES

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