tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82647161391482019332024-03-13T04:08:39.032+00:00|WHITE LINES|Twice As Bitter As Saltsmfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-74114865142588067512011-02-21T08:14:00.000+00:002011-02-21T08:14:21.759+00:0090 Minutes Of MourningJust got back from a funeral. It was a sad day. The departed was the once beautiful game of football. The pall-bearers were Bolton Wanderers FC. The service was conducted by the Reverend Stuart Atwell.
Many of us witnessed the murder, watched the agonising death drawn-out over several seasons. The police may be getting involved. The F.A. are not helping them with their enquiries.smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-58389554534826168492010-04-26T08:34:00.002+01:002010-04-26T16:41:56.062+01:00Fulham's New Income Stream?
What mystery is this? Has Mr. Al Fayed, eager to find a new source of revenue, begun drilling for oil in the sedimentary rock deep beneath the London clay? Are barrels of 'Egyptian Crude' about to become a hot commodity on the international financial markets? Whatever the explanation, this curious rig has recently appeared a few metres west of Putney Bridge.smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-79393239924214598142010-04-20T07:18:00.001+01:002010-04-20T07:20:39.140+01:00A Howl Of Indifference: Fulham 0 Wolves 0Following a heartening aggregate victory over Wolfsburg in the Europa League, the lupine theme continued with the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers, two cities that are, unfortunately, not twinned with each other. A missed opportunity by the respective city’s elders, I fear.
The heat of the sun, and a common triumphing over relegation, engendered a suffocating ambience, with both teams slow to smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-82175709747500856182010-04-13T14:20:00.001+01:002010-04-14T10:09:03.719+01:00Defensive Zen: Liverpool 0 Fulham 0It is evident that Liverpool’s squad is superior to Fulham’s, in both ability and market value. No debate is required on this. However, at Anfield they were resolutely equal on goals scored, and points taken.
Statistically speaking, Liverpool dominated this game. They had 65% of the possession, compared to Fulham’s 35%, and a similar territorial dominance of 66% to 34%. They had 17 shots and 10 smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-86119382978017546522010-04-08T09:59:00.002+01:002010-04-08T10:51:44.862+01:00Saint Wayne: An X-Rated FeatureWhat a queer compote of the sacred and the profane ITV’s coverage of the Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich game served up last night.
It began with a hushed, awe-struck, announcement that not only had Mr. Wayne Rooney been delivered from physio purgatory into the squad, but - saints preserve us! - he would be starting the game. What trickery was this? What elusive, mystical manoeuvrings had smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-64222017124183439732010-04-05T11:05:00.002+01:002010-04-12T09:13:20.979+01:00Easter Resurrection: Fulham 2 Wigan 1This was a curiously airless encounter. One that began to peter out from the first whistle, and to leech from the memory soon after the final one.
Gulls hung above the Riverside stand, off-white against the grey clouds drifting through the sunshine. There was only sporadic chanting from the sub-capacity crowd, many of whom were more captivated by their smart phones. In the pockets of silence, smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-23274412315307357002010-03-22T17:46:00.001+00:002010-03-22T20:53:11.664+00:00Sky Blue Thinking: Fulham 1 Man City 2Sometimes, no matter how strong the desire, the body will not respond.
In an understandable slump between the climactic night of passion against Juventus last Thursday, and burgeoning mental preparations for Wednesday’s FA Cup Quarter-Final replay against Spurs, Fulham, trapped within a kind of footballing refractory period, could not perform here.
Only two changes were made (Murphy for Kelly; smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-30818264207470982762010-03-19T18:10:00.003+00:002010-03-22T17:47:21.296+00:00Fulham vs. Man City PreviewMr. Paul Doleman, proprietor of the Manchester City blog, Bert Trautmann's Neck, recently invited me to dilate on Fulham, and their imminent rendezvous with his beloved team.
Part One is here.
And Part Two is here.smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-86307860301764585732010-03-19T11:31:00.003+00:002010-03-19T13:48:17.227+00:00SW6 Post-Impressionism: Fulham 4 Juventus 1Just as the analysis of a joke kills it, robs it of its essence, and ultimately suffocates its humour, so I hesitate to dissect this extraordinary game.
I want to enshrine the totality of last night in my mind, to indemnify the texture of the events that infused the concrete details.
Multiple, dispassionate, play-by-play breakdowns are available out there, no doubt. But I don’t wish to lay thesmfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-88467456944094713592010-03-16T13:01:00.010+00:002010-03-22T15:11:51.521+00:00The Me-Me-Me MemeTactically, the constant search for an effective harmony between individuality and team ethics creates an engaging tension. Blending flair with pragmatism is an elusive alchemy.
This can be seen in the non-footballing elements of players' behaviour as well. They clearly want or need to be recognised as individuals, but are inescapably bound to their teammates. Hence, a player makes a personal smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-42588642208934551232009-10-15T22:46:00.014+01:002010-03-16T15:29:51.657+00:00We Live By The River
Craven Cottage, London. 13th October, 2009.smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-50549471465919990722009-09-30T09:16:00.006+01:002010-03-16T14:00:04.169+00:00A Season In HellIn his book, Sum, David Eagleman offers an array of different scenarios describing what might await us in the afterlife (should there be one).
In the first, he suggests that after death we might immediately begin to re-live the life that has just ended, but this time around all common activities would be grouped together and experienced in discrete blocks.
Hence, we would enjoy our entire smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-5779941310587831092009-09-24T12:26:00.005+01:002010-03-16T13:52:39.744+00:00Are We Sparta F.C.?Against Wolves last Sunday, Fulham contrived another depressingly anaemic performance.
Being organised is honourable, but at times the players displayed the desire of automatons. Roy’s robots. And, having been excused Europa League exertions, they were unable to blame Trans-Europe excess for the lack of both craft and work that they were guilty of.
It was heartening, at least, when Roy Hodgsonsmfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-19611950723611228162009-09-18T09:16:00.009+01:002010-03-21T19:11:10.888+00:00CSKA Sofia 1 Fulham 1With only 2 of the starters from Sunday’s Premiership victory over Everton lining up tonight, Hodgson’s approach to Fulham’s European “adventure” could be interpreted in one of two ways: it is a liability that, subverting form, has the potential to degrade the team’s Premier League status, and thus an early exit would not be mourned; or, it is an ideal opportunity to exercise squad and academy smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-45214760324606288652009-09-16T09:12:00.013+01:002010-03-16T14:05:29.364+00:00Fulham 2 Everton 1Fulham’s displays to date ensured that any expectations for this game were replaced by a curious ambivalence. With the demands of the Europa League already, apparently, exerting a deadening effect upon form, attempting predictions was a slippery pursuit. Should we anticipate another anaemic, under-powered display, the team lethargic and strangely lacking in belief or commitment? Or will the side smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-48719940744732500592009-09-10T07:38:00.010+01:002010-03-16T14:06:15.758+00:00"Nous Sommes Millwall..."
Seen on the platform of a train station on the outskirts of Paris. My only explanation is that it happened to be the East End of the city...smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-91732216935713849092009-06-25T10:09:00.011+01:002010-03-16T14:07:10.607+00:00Cottage Works
This is the facade of the Johnny Haynes Stand as of last Sunday, 21st June, enjoying a refreshing avocado face pack.
It's unclear if this the beginning of the proposed corporate boxes, or merely cosmetic work...smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-32788706383360425592009-06-25T09:57:00.005+01:002010-03-16T14:08:19.203+00:00Fulham Prints For SaleI currently have a selection of Fulham Prints (together with other themes) for sale, in a range of sizes, at my site:
www.photobox.co.uk/sm15
The images are also available as jigsaws, fridge magnets, t-shirts etc., ideal if you're after a small gift for a Fulham-following friend.
If you find nothing suitable at the moment, please return regularly as I will be adding new images all the time.
(smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-23499207831895768662009-06-23T16:39:00.005+01:002010-03-16T14:11:41.987+00:00Hodgson’s Choice: Fulham’s Season 2008-09Life is all about endings and beginnings; this is about two endings with a beginning in between.
In 2007-08, Fulham ended the season 17th in the Premier League with 36 points. They escaped 18th position via goal difference.
In 2008-09, Fulham ended the season 7th in the Premier League with 53 points. A number of club records were surpassed.
So, what spawned this revision? What elusive alchemy smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-45402795650816934672009-04-08T08:47:00.008+01:002010-03-16T14:13:04.992+00:00My Drink ProblemI have been drunk many times this season. More times than I had planned. Considering that last season I was virtually teetotal, it's a worrying trend.
Encouragingly though, I have yet to resort to drinking alone. I only indulge in company. Good company.
My mistake lies in continually underestimating the potency of the mixture before me.
Several times, supping nonchalantly from what I consider smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-75110360039093214432009-02-09T13:51:00.007+00:002010-03-16T14:14:00.768+00:00Confidence TrickScoring goals is an evanescent delight.
Most of the forward player’s playing time must therefore amount to something of a prolonged refractory period, begetting increasing frustration. When those interludes of enforced goal-scoring celibacy begin to stretch to games, and then tens of games, one can understand the impotent striker feeling like he’s gatecrashed a party and neglected to bring a smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-49759362512301480282008-12-14T11:04:00.004+00:002010-03-08T13:44:53.328+00:00Football Fire SaleAs the January transfer window approaches, many Fulham supporters are beginning to twitch as rumours that Jimmy Bullard and Brede Hangeland may be departing gradually increase. This momentum is illusory however, and merely results from a ‘story’ being cribbed by one journalist from another as it gets peddled around the various media outlets, morphing the details through rewrites like a game of smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-71653975178497348972008-11-13T09:08:00.006+00:002010-03-08T13:50:43.319+00:00Two Wits WooRoy Hodgson shares many traits with Arsene Wenger, and in recent weeks they’ve articulated remarkably similar footballing world-views.
They both suggest a scholarly erudition, a measured and methodological manner informed, one imagines, by daunting text books and technical seminars. Worldly-wise and reasoned, they could both be distinguished emeritus professors crafting one last thesis.
Wengersmfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-29414817707874646512008-10-31T18:54:00.006+00:002010-03-08T13:50:43.319+00:00Modesty AblazeWhen Fulham won three consecutive away games at the end of last season – the first, against Reading, breaking an 18-month run without a victory away from Craven Cottage – it looked as though that particular demon had been exquisitely skewered. However, with 4 away losses out of 4 this season, and an all-too-familiar infirmity being displayed, it was beginning to look as though this ghost of smfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264716139148201933.post-78909243138105989262008-10-14T09:10:00.002+01:002008-10-14T14:32:07.529+01:00Player For Sale – No Logic RequiredLike bluebottles buzzing around an appetising morsel, a swarm of articles about the prospective sale of Jimmy Bullard in January has emerged from between the pages of the recent press and no amount of batting away with irate backhands appears able to dispel them.All of these tales appear to be inspired by the fact the Roy Hodgson declined to renew Bullard’s contract at the start of the season.Butsmfifteenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468550163136140715noreply@blogger.com0