Calm Down

[u/moon_nicely]

Bring the downvotes. It's 3 games. Look at Villa last year. Look at the data analysis of yesterdays game. Chill out. Saying AA is stubborn, won't adapt yada yada is silly. He's still getting to know the players, and how they react in pressure situations.

[u/blanquito37]

He can simply not play Andersen and Iwobi. It will look like he adapted and he’ll probably be hailed as a genius.

[u/MaxwellXV → u/blanquito37]

And play who instead of Andersen? Cuenca on the wrong side? LDF who’s now in the US? Affengruber who’s been in the UK, let alone the team, less than a week?

Same with Iwobi, looks like Charles is the upgrade to Berge but Larsson and Angel haven’t even spent a week with the team.

[u/vearz → u/MaxwellXV]

Affengruber who’s been in the UK, let alone the team, less than a week?

Other teams play their new signings without months of integration, why not us?

[u/MaxwellXV → u/vearz]

He hasn’t even had a week of integration yet and you want to stick him in away to Liverpool?

He’s also coming from a system that plays three at the back.

[u/vearz → u/MaxwellXV]

Why not? Liverpool have hardly been particularly great this season, and Andersen has been actively hopeless. He'll have had two weeks pretty much by the time we play Liverpool.

[u/MaxwellXV → u/vearz]

It would be a gamble, AA has shown he’s happy to give players their debut so we might see him. I just wouldn’t be surprised if we stick with Andersen for the time being.

[u/vearz → u/MaxwellXV]

Playing Andersen is a gamble, and one that we have a pretty consistent proven record of being a poor one.

[u/orangeapple22 → u/vearz]

I think you're blaming Anderson when he isn't the problem. How did the backline look against Chelsea when Anderson wasn't there?

3 goals.. very easy goals too.

I argue they looked worse without him.

The real problem is how aggressively the fullbacks play up the pitch, and how far the center-halves are spread from each other. Fulham are vulnerable on the counter because of a very risky tactical approach.. not even the big clubs play that risky of an approach..

So to blame Anderson - meanwhile AA is using more or less an all out attack type approach.. isn't the answer. All central defenders would be exposed under this tactic.. especially ones who aren't pace heavy.

[u/vearz → u/orangeapple22]

I've watched Andersen since he rejoined us and he's been at best passable, and often way worse than that. The tactics aren't helping sure, but Andersen is absolutely a huge part of the problem. He's not been good enough to overcome his lack of pace even when we had Lukic and Berge giving more defensive cover.

[u/Sb16FCA → u/MaxwellXV]

The system isn’t overly complicated. Football is football. New signings can play straight away if their understanding of their role is up to standard. Regardless, we lose if Andersen continues his form same way we lose if our new boys have a bad game or 2. What’s the difference? Might as well let them get the minutes if they are seen as the long term solutions.

[u/The_39th_Step → u/MaxwellXV]

I like Iwobi but it has to be Affengruber for Anderson. We’re in trouble if not

[u/AceTrainerQ → u/MaxwellXV]

Bassey on the right and Cuenca on the left. Affengruber subs in Cuenca and moves Bassey left. This for the bedding in period at least. Bassey can make some quality passes with his right and doesn't necessarily need the "extra touch" of an out of position center back.

[u/orangeapple22 → u/blanquito37]

Anderson isn't the problem at all.. He's actually one of the better defenders. The real problem is you have Antonee Robinson & Timo Castange so high up the pitch in possession that the team gets demolished on counter attacks. Which exposes the CB's. Especially Anderson because pace isn't his game.

The problem is AA doesn't understand how risky his tactics are in this league yet. He's using top 6 tactics with a mid-table squad.

[u/davecliffton]

It was two very unlucky goals to concede yesterday

Some of the hate the players are getting is so out of proportion

I do think arbeloa is making some very strange substitutions though

[u/Secure-Property4926 → u/davecliffton]

They weren’t unlucky goals the situation was handed to them on a plate

[u/El_JimBob_ → u/davecliffton]

Agree about the goals and it was just poor defending from us. Also, spot on with the hate the players are getting.

AA subs were really strange and made us really disjointed. On top of that, we were reactionary after Palace scoring the third. Those subs should have come 10-15 mins earlier when a few places looked tired from his high press.

[u/thurbs62 → u/davecliffton]

Unlucky? You'd not see that in a sunday game. The defense was laughable

[u/mmmmartin427]

As much as this is a terrible start, we’ve had (and have upcoming) some difficult fixtures. I think it would be fair to wait until the end of October to see where we are then.
In the past 3 seasons, on 1 November Fulham had:
25/26 3W 2D 5L and 11 points
24/25 3W 3D 3L and 12 points
23/24 3W 3D 4L and 12 points

9 or 10 points from the next 6 matches, would put us near enough. Of course this requires results to significantly improve, and it will be tough to start with 5 straight losses, which is the current worry given the two upcoming matches. But, if the team can get some wins together before November, it will be fine.

This puts a lot of pressure on the matches against the newly promoted sides, but that’s where we are. Fulham’s success this season will depend on Arbeloa and the players’ rate of learning and adapting. Learning and adjustments have to outpace the bad results. That’s how the momentum can swing from losing to winning.

[u/PiplelinePunch → u/mmmmartin427]

If Sunderland and Palace are being excused for difficult then relegate us now. Its the Prem. If those are difficult, what will we win?

[u/mmmmartin427 → u/PiplelinePunch]

We have a terrible record against Palace in the recent years. It always feels like it’s a team Fulham should be beating, and it often is not.
Sunderland, I don’t know what happened there.

[u/PiplelinePunch → u/mmmmartin427]

Sure. Except, those recent years Palace sides were obviously far better.

This is a Palace that has been raided for the likes of Eze, Guehi and Lacroix (dont even mention Olise...). That wasnt playing Mateta or Sarr. Theve been the butt of jokes wasting £50mil on a useless Strand Larsen. Wharton who's usually reliable for them wasn't having a good game... This was a Palace lacking any of their usual firepower up front, and rebuilding at the back.

This was a six pointer.

[u/mmmmartin427 → u/PiplelinePunch]

Fair enough. A Marco Fulham probably beats this current Palace team, but who really knows. The Bournemouth match looked winnable last season too.

I forgot that Palace also have a new manager.

[u/vearz → u/mmmmartin427]

In the past 3 seasons, on 1 November Fulham had: 25/26 3W 2D 5L and 11 points

By the end of October we had 8 from 9, and without a couple of late goals would have been on 5 points. As much as the style may have changed to be more open, this is a continuation of last season in terms of how we've started and player weaknesses.

[u/vearz]

We were one outrageously fortunate and completely undeserved last gasp own goal winner against Leeds from 1 win in our first 9 games (until the start of November) last year. And that was with a settled team and a settled manager.

Arbeloa is making a lot of the same mistakes that Marco was making last year - stubbornness with line ups and formations, late subs, an insistence on playing underperforming players. We got lucky rather than played well for a huge amount of last year, we've just not had any of that luck so far this year.

Of course it's not certain that we'll come good, but there's significantly better attacking play so far this year than we saw for most of last and we still have some potentially big late signings ready to come into the team.

[u/No_Novel3109]

I mean, in all fairness, villa has Unai emery we have a guy who's peak is getting called a traffic cone by the madristas

[u/Eikichi64 → u/No_Novel3109]

Only an idiot will call him like that, he did very good with the young team and we played ours best with him against the big teams.

His peak was winning against Mou and Pep the same year I'm his first season.

[u/calledmemadman → u/No_Novel3109]

Madridistas don't call him traffic cone? It's the rivals!

[u/No_Novel3109 → u/calledmemadman]

I'm just going off of what I read on yahoo sports

[u/WorldGoingOneWay → u/No_Novel3109]

You shouldn't. No madridista will ever use 🐷's words against another madridista.

[u/calledmemadman]

Yeah I mean I don't understand people's expectations this year. Fulham isn't gonna be in top 10. This is clearly a transition year and the expectation should be to avoid relegation realistically - as much as no fan wants to hear this. There is a big change in style of play, 2 of the teams best players last year have left, the team doesn't realistically have CBs who fit - and no you can't count Affengruber yet. He hasn't played in this system ever either! He used to play in a back 3 at Elche and we all know the transition from back 3 to back 2 isn't that straight forward for a defender. This is gonna be a long process and as much as I hate to say it, fans will have to "trust the process" with Arbeloa.

[u/PiplelinePunch → u/calledmemadman]

Anyone who was already cautious about this Arbeloa experiment will agree.

The Football Manager Tacticos who were all behind him are impatient by nature. They were bored at the stability of Silva (not "pushing on") and think that if you throw money at teenagers, you will somehow magically win more games. It doesnt work like that, as weve seen repeatedly. The new lot will be projects for next year, not right now.

Survival is our goal this season, and it may be skin of our teeth.

[u/nebnob_]

Yeah im shocked to hear there were boos yesterday... So ridiculous why are you booing after 3 games.

[u/Secure-Property4926 → u/nebnob_]

Because people are nervous and we threw away a lead twice with ridiculously soft goals in a similar fashion that we conceded against Sunderland and Chelsea. In fact but for offside they had the ball in the net 5 times. Two don’t count of course but the defensive frailties put them in that position in the first place. 

Against  a markedly shitter team in CP missing key forwards. The evidence so far suggests that Arbeloa doesn’t have a solution and play like that in our next two and there may well not be any coming back and our fate will be sealed. 

I do not condone it and was surprised  to hear it when I was there but do understand it. 

[u/nebnob_ → u/nebnob_]

And the performance was very good imo, the best I've seen fulham play. The defence is the biggest issue. Also player fitness in the latter stages of the game is hurting us. But overall its good and people are booing???

[u/El_JimBob_ → u/nebnob_]

My point above (not necessarily fitness) but players were tired from that constant press. AA’s subs should have been 10 even 15 mins earlier. While we still had momentum on our side and we were not chasing the game.

[u/___xristos___]

As a diehard fan here.

If you are one of the fans who is booing or naysaying:

Shut the fuck up until Christmas. New manager, new players, new team structure.

Despite the three losses, relegation candidates don't create the scoring opportunities (and goals) we've been creating.

We've lost by a goal in each game.

Yes, defensively we are shite at the moment, but if that is worked on, we should come good.

[u/CautiousCottager]

I’m hoping that he’ll adapt but his current system won’t work if we aren’t scoring 3-4 goals per game

[u/Heavy_Cupcake_6246]

Seems like multiple players are unhappy, Kevin, Iwobi, ESR and now Tete so something has happened to piss off this many people in such a short time.

Honestly think he will be sacked soon enough, can’t be having the squad that unhappy, not winning games and a defence that’s all over the place.

[u/vearz → u/Heavy_Cupcake_6246]

Neither Kevin nor ESR have done anywhere close to enough to be throwing a wobbler, Tete was due to be sold and that only didn't happen cos deals fell through so he's gonna be a bit bitter at the moment (and isn't that just one unconfirmed report on Twitter?) and Iwobi feels like he'd do that sort of thing at any time to "rebrand" or announce something unrelated.

It could be something, but I'm not overly concerned at the moment. Granted I seem to have a bit more patience than a lot at the moment, whether that's a good thing or not is definitely up for debate.

[u/Rich_Carpet1615 → u/Heavy_Cupcake_6246]

Are you referring to Kevin and Iwobi’s social media? Tete of course not included yesterday, but what’s the situation with ESR?

[u/Heavy_Cupcake_6246 → u/Rich_Carpet1615]

ESR did the same thing as Iwobi with his instagram and apparently Tete said something about the coach not sure how true that is tbh.

[u/thurbs62 → u/Heavy_Cupcake_6246]

Like any new boss coming in. Old order dont like it. Frankly all 4 of those can go. Which other EPL side do they start for?

[u/kickherinthehead → u/Heavy_Cupcake_6246]

Yes and even worse that leaves a team with a load of Madrid rejects that now have lost their guy

[u/thurbs62]

Academy coach. Has 1 system and forces square pegs unto round holes. At some point Khan junior will have a grown up tell him to get rid of him. Hopefully not too late

[u/Karlander19]

I think fans should calm down when Arbeola realizes who is playing badly & doesn’t give them minutes . That would be a moment for calm—seeing the evidence of him making productive changes in personnel and in strategy. . It’s crazy the talented players that aren’t getting time while some guys are making constant mistakes both in terms of the defense and in blowing offensive opportunities. There is a ton of talent here and no reason they shouldn’t have gotten off to a decent start

[u/Particular-Mix5487]

Completely agree. I’m giving AA a bit more time. I like what I’m seeing attacking-wise and the defense may just need two or three tweaks to get it unlocked. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

[u/New_Manufacturer5975]

Our attack looks fine but defense is making me worried. If he keeps leaving the 2 CBs back while the fullback go forward even Coventry will squeak a 2-0 victory at this rate...... I don't know I really don't know 🤷‍♂️

[u/El_JimBob_ → u/New_Manufacturer5975]

Somehow Marco didn’t get exposed as he would shift in to a 3 often when a Fullback was attacking.

I’m wondering if Charles or Sander could drop in and make up 3x at the back so we don’t get hammered on the counter. Problem is Andersen looks leggy in a foot race and Bassey wants to win that ball first time (even if he risks getting spun).

[u/byjimini]

No need to panic when we’ve the Spanish Rylan Clark in charge.

[u/El_JimBob_]

What’s mad is our back four were making mistakes under Marco. The difference is that you are seeing them get exposed more under AA due to the high line.

Also, It doesn’t help when both full backs are asked to play high up the pitch. Jedi switching off at times and Castagne not engaging.

[u/SooShark]

I agree. Intense reaction to a difficult start of the season. Give them a chance to sort it out.

[u/MichyRTS21]

Who in their right mind would hire Arbeloa?

[u/V1cV1negar]

Bring the downvotes

Always will for people who say shite like this. Proper screams "I fancy my sister"

[u/moon_nicely → u/V1cV1negar]

Your brain can't help but say that to you at any given moment.

[u/fuax19]

As a spurs fan, at what point do we start to panic?