Working from home today (allegedly) after coming back from Newcastle last night. I'm listening to Talksport - their fulham supporting host Richard Kaufman is practically devoting the whole show to Newcastle's 'useless' fans. It's giving all the tramps of the world (City fans etc) a great excuse to ring up and start quoting gate fiqures blah blah blah.

His argument is that the fans shouldn't have booed the team as we are in a false position in any event and should be happy to be where we are. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

It's getting me very angry and may feel inclined to phone in.

BTW - I've read everyone's comments on last night's debacle. I had a few questions to ask:

1. Why was Speed played when he's been out for weeks in front of JJ. 2. Does BR not know how to make tactical substitutions? 3. Is Cort a footballer? (Lad next to me joked that BR was bringing on Harper for Cort) 4. Have we blown it?

I don't know the answers but some of your comments have answered the questions. However I think I know the answer to question 4. :(

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

Answers

1. YBR said pre match that we needed Speed's experience at this stage of the season ... "just ask Sir Alex ...."

2. Not on last night's showing

3. Not on last night's showing

4. No, we need 12 points fomr 5 games to guarantee 4th place, if Man U win at Chelsea we'd need 9 points from those 5 games. Chelsea also have to go to Boro which could well be a draw, which would take us down to needing 7 points, Chelsea also have a semi on Sunday and Blackburn tomorrow night, a combination that has often frightened the 'better' Chelsea players into hiding in games, another draw would mean we only need 5 points. Leeds will lose at Villa leaving us needing 5 points to finish ahead of them too. We will win our last two home games to get 6 points. Maybe

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

'His argument is that the fans shouldn't have booed the team as we are in a false position in any event and should be happy to be where we are. '

It seems to be what a lot of people here are inferring, so why do we get upset when an outsider thinks the same? Either the manager/players are sh@t and 4th place is a fluke, or we've got a good manager and squad of players that are challenging for a Champions League place. We can't have it both ways. The team deserves our support.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

Bring on Harper for Cort....hehe, kinda liked that one.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

Not quite as daft as it sounds, Harper can play as a striker.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

Pete I think what is upsetting is that we could have 4th place and should have had it sewn up by now. The usual cliche about 'if you were offered 6th place at the start of the season' bollix does not stand up in our case. We were in with a shout of the league FFS! Since beating the SMB we've been on a shocking run and our form and style of play appears to detiorate in every game. THAT'S what is frustrating - that and knowing we're throwing it away.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

It's the crushing arrogance that hurts, the way they switched off after scoring in the last 2 games as though the job were done. We've been surrendering this season by inches. Top of the League at the turn of the year with some tough games to face up to which might have allowed us to build on that position. Next thing you know it's, "We're missing Bellamy." "It's no disgrace to lose to Arsenal." "Or Liverpool." "A draw away from home is a good result." "The important thing is not to lose." Load of garbage. This is the cloying, shitey, debilitating attitude which has seen us surrender the end of seasons because we were still in the cup or stop trying because we were safe. If we really want to be in the Champions League then we ought to have been bursting our lungs trying to get an automatic spot, not shuffling around to take it to the last kick of the season (Southampton away for f*ck's sake!). What hope have these jokers got in a play-off? Sturm Graz must be pissing themselves.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

We've got ourselves all worked up, thinking we're going to be able to go the whole way, only for the team to suddenly start playing hot and cold. We better not get too nervous and start having second thoughts, otherwise there'll be no chance of us performing. It might be taking a bit longer than it should have, but we've got to stick in there and ride the ups and downs. Hmm. Perhaps I should do that questionnaire on the other thread?

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

If it wasn't for our unexpectedly good results over December and January I think we would be nearer Leeds' position. So in a way, with injuries too, we have been fortunate. But you make your own luck so that tosspot can f**k off ;-)

In answer: 1. Don't know, other than respecting the senior professional (who should have played better), 2. He trusts his judgement in 'match winners' i.e. Robert, Dyer, Shearer, even if they warrant an early bath, 3. I'm going to get a set of Cort Support t-shirts made up - he's an easy target (what with being so tall!) but also a scapegoat for the team's failings, 4. Blown the league or the Chumps League spot? Certainly the first (but we never really believed it, did we?), but 4th / 3rd place is well within out reach. Keep singing and supporting (but you can keep the booing for the schoolyard, thanks).

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

The booing was unacceptable, but understandable coming as it does from the predictable morons after such a thoroughly inept performance. However, I don't think the fans can be in any way blamed for the performance. In fact, I thought the atmosphere at kick off was pretty good - unfortunately, our heroes managed to choke off the shouts in the majority of throats well before HT.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

Bobby did you see the game last night ?

I've not had a go at Cort cos he is coming back from injury. I wasn't impressed with him as a player before he was injured but, as with others, I bow to Robson's view. Cort played okay at Liverpool, but really really he'd have been cricified if he played like he has done and he wasn't playing himself back to fitness. Last night was too much though. Now it may not be Cort's fault, as Robson picks the side, but EVRYONE could see how bad he was last night and it's gone on too long.

Without screaming "Cort off" it is difficult to try and influence the manager. It is no where near as bad as Barton but it could be. Cort is playing poorly, he isn't hiding from it, but that doesn't help the side. Cort did nothing last night to scare the opposition (he wasn't alone) and his manager should have noticed this as early as everyone else did (last week ?) and done something about it. Cort could end up being a joke figure if he's not careful, the kids around me in the Family Enclosure are starting to laugh at him.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

How the hell can we be in a false position after 33 games?

What a load of bollocks, I would have turned off there and then.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

I agree Paul. I haven't read anything other than the local crap in the Chronic etc, which tends to be less venomous than the rest. I don't want 'strangers' confirming what my heart doesn't want to believe but my head can't stop dwelling on.

It's sort of like having your body covered in scabs that you can't resist picking. :-{E}

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002