At the start of every season, following the transfer window, I look at the signings and am buoyed with optimism. This largely because I have no idea who the signings are, nor how good or bad they are. However, working on the simple premis that the powers that be know what they are doing I am optimistic. Then I start to read the comments of all our home grown experts and I revert to mild depression.
I so wish that all the crazy assumptions and tactical predictions remained in the originators head.
I’m all for wondering , even mild speculation, but the in depth analysis, critiques and tactical advice to the Manager are a bit thick.
I’d love, just for once, that the tone could be one of, well the manager knows more than we do, let’s give everyone the benefit of the doubt and see what happens. We can all crow when the whole think goes t*ts up, as this sometimes seems, for many, the best outcome. I told you so! being the preferred mantra.
Good to see that a few old faces like Keetch and Californian are still supporting, reading and like many other only occasional posters.
I know how you feel.
Replies
Football game of opinions we are all experts on ffc
posted by Ipitombi (Guest) - Thursday 03rd September 2026, 10:34 AM
Remembering who we can afford, our window purchases look good. The squad was getting very old and needed an injection of younger players. The limits of our buying players means we get young unproved players, older players, player who frequently get injured, and players who cause trouble. Silver went for older players, many of who are now too old, our new manager likes young players who he believes will become great.
posted by The Time Is Now - Thursday 03rd September 2026, 12:23 PM
Great comment Ipitombi; thanks for reminding us that we are all experts on ffc, that was a mensa score of 100 comment. I think Marco got the balance right in our older players to younger players ratio. It's the same old same ole, in that players like Muniz, Smith Rowe, Kevin etc havn't hit the heights as yet and thats why we have these long in the tooth debates on here. I get the positivity message and i agree we should be patient and wait but for pete's sake, we are only human. We all want to win every game which is not possible and when you get results like that against Sunderland who are not Man City or Arsenal who we have yet to play, sometimes you question the meaning of the universe and stuff like that. But mild depression Mortlake? I nearly had a nose-bleed when i saw a plastic dinosaur at the Eden Project last week.
posted by OWEN - Thursday 03rd September 2026, 1:14 PM
I have a desire to read well reasoned and authoritative analysis of how the team/ players are actually performing, rather than crackpot and ill informed speculation from the unqualified on what the manager and players should be doing but aren’t. It’s all just dross and isn’t even slightly interesting.
Wading through the rubbish to find the nuggets is necessary but so unnecessary, if you get my meaning Owen.
I guess I’ll have to go back to Hammy End and Craven Corner for sensible comment.
posted by Mortlake (Guest) - Thursday 03rd September 2026, 2:11 PM
I should also have made clear Owen, that I have no problem whatsoever with everyone giving their views on performances both good and bad. It’s good to know some will agree with your own analysis and others will see things very differently, it all helps to see if you personally were possibly accurate in your assessment . What I was moaning about is those tactical geniuses endlessly telling the manager where he went wrong and what he should do to put it right. I can understand that, but the real bummer is those of us who criticise new players before they’ve even kicked a ball and constantly predict the future with all the conviction of Mystic Meg.
I only comment , occasionally, on what I see, although that said I can be dragged, momentarily, into the gloom and doom sector. I try to resist and keep those speculations to myself.
posted by Mortlake (Guest) - Thursday 03rd September 2026, 2:26 PM
Maybe a slightly bigger football would help us this season. Not that I am an authority on the game. just offering my opinion.
posted by kelvin kline (Guest) - Thursday 03rd September 2026, 3:55 PM
Mortlake, i have no problem with your post whatsoever. and great respect to you and your thoughts. I think our reactions and criticisms come from losing to Sunderland and the answer to that one is to 'get over it' and i will be the first to say that. I also think that Arbeola's reaction and comments about the team not trying enough was a red flag to a bull and we reacted badly again. Of course, you are so right in saying, it is too early to write us off and the manager after two games, it is so unlike fans to react so strongly about results after two games; that's all i can say. We have an influx of youth going back to Marco Silva and it takes time for them to really shine through and again we throw arrows at performances from our two Spaniards which is an easy thing to do right now but that doesn't make it right. again i can only apologise and get behind the team. Goodness knows, they need our support now more than ever.
posted by OWEN - Thursday 03rd September 2026, 3:55 PM
I think, despite the loss, we were all delighted with our performance against Chelsea, which one might have reasonably judged promised good things. However, the absolute dire performance against Sunderland brought us all crashing to earth. I have to confess that in to many years to mention, yet again, I have never turned a Fulham match off, or left early, but turn it off I did. At halftime I couldn’t see anything improving, so took, some would say I the cowards way out. I’m far too old to endure those levels of frustration.
Anyway, water under the bridge, I’m sure we are as one in hoping for improvements. Onwards and upwards:))
posted by Mortlake (Guest) - Thursday 03rd September 2026, 4:08 PM