Thursday, 28 May 2009

Final Update of the Season

Well the season is over, which means this will be the last football blog that you will have to endure before this denigrates into accounts of baby poo and vomit! The last game was played last Sunday, May 24th, and their were concerns that I would miss . . . . . the birth (because clearly football is too important). Fortunately it wasn't an issue and as I type this Krystle remains 'with baby' and not in the holding him in your arms type of way. So I'm taking this opportunity to cover the last games of the season in an abbreviated fashion.

We last left the fortunes of Fulham FC after their narrow loss against Liverpool. Eight days later they come up against the world's richest club in Manchester City. Fulham, bouyed by their first away victory of the season a month earlier against Bolton, accounted easily for Man City winning 3-1. After a slow start to the season improved results had seen City become a rival for Fulham's top 7 position and a place in European competition next season.


Clint Dempsey

Captain Danny Murphy leds the way

Saturday the 18th of April saw another away game as Fulham travelled to relagation threatened Middlesborough. A battling 0-0 draw ensured Fulham walked away with another point on the road while a 1-0 win the following weekend, an 'Anzac' victory against Stoke, left the club in prime position for their best finish ever.


Defensive stalwart Brede Hangeland stands tall


Simon Davies burst through the Boro defence, later
he complains his knee hurts and he is ruled out for
the rest of the season


Picture perfect header


Dempsey slide tackle


Neveland goes for goal


and celebrates

Fulham's 2-2 draw against Chelsea in late December had been a highlight of the season so far. Geographically Fulham's nearest rivals, they are the more successful big brother that Fulham love to beat. Much had changed since just after Christmas, including a change in Chelsea manager with Brazilian Luis Felipe Scolari having being replaced by footballing mecenary (have job, will travel, no task too small) 'Aussie' Guus Hiddink. Hiddink had been tempted to manage Chelsea until the end of the season, but no further as his full time job is to get Russia to the World Cup next year. Questions were asked on his appointment as to whether he cold concentrate on two jobs, but he has form having guided Australia to the 2006 World Cup while still managing club side PSV Eindhoven. Hiddink's side prevailed in this encounter after an explosive start to the game, Chelsea 2-1 up after 10 minutes, finshed out the game 3-1. Results elsewhere ensured Fulham stayed in 9th position.


Simon says 'Lie Down on the ground'


Blocking


Frank Lampard


Brushes the Chelsea player aside

The 9th of May saw a visit to 'Fortress' Craven Cottage from Aston Villa, who prior to Christmas were flying high and threatening to break into the top 4. A poor run in the New Year ensured they had come back to the field but they still stood above Fulham in the table. A 3-1 victory ensured they left knowing that Fulham are a side capable of beating anyone on the day. The highlight of the game occurred during the second half when a call went out for the crowd to 'Stand up if you love Roy Hodgson'. Normally the cheer is something like 'Stand up if you love Fulham/hate Chelsea' and a variety of people stand, but this time the crowd to a person stood to acknowledged the man responsible for turning the club away from the shadow of relaation and on course for their best ever finish.


Kamara's Kontrol is inKredible


One of these players is a cheat, can you pick which one?


Kamara's sKill requires Konfidence (I Know it's the same joKe)


Simon Davies watches from the cottage

A 1-0 victory at St James' Park made a 7th position finish a real possibility. In fact, until the 86th minute when Tottenham were drawing 1-1 with Manchester City, 7th place was secured with a margin of 4 pts. A late Robbie Keane penalty brought the margin back to 2 pts and ensured results would go down to the final day.

The final day saw a visit to the cottage from Everton, the side most likely to break into the top 4 . . . . . . . . eventually. Despite a bright start, a goal just before half time saw the boys go to the break down 1-0. A second goal late ensured that a nervous wait for results from other grounds was needed before the club knew their final league position. A cheer went around the ground as news of Tottenham's 3-1 loss at Anfield came through and the side did a lap of honour as the fans celebrated and acknowledged the clubs best ever Premier League season and their highest ever finish.


The crowd arrives at the game eager for a victory


Try as they might, the boys couldn't find
a way past the Everton defence


One day Roy, when you are as rich as me, you too can
wear silly shirts


Roy gets confused with where Fulham finished in the table

The success of the season was built around a defensive formation that was the meanest outside of the top 3 clubs. Goals were a little harder to come by and with a chance in Europe next season another striker may be needed. The squad will overall need some buffing out as a good run in Europe could see an extra 19 games played and injuries may leave the side struggling in the domestic competitions and working to avoid relegation next season.

As it was, Manchester United won the title again, clear of an improved Liverpool side. Manchester Utd won their 3 trophy of the season by winning the Premier League, but were outplayed in the Champions League Final losing 2-0 to Barcelona. Everton's David Moyes won the Manager of the Season award, having taken Everton from 5th position last week to the dizzying highs of . . . . . . . . . 5th! Compare this to Roy who had taken Fulham from a fortunate 17th last season, one place from relegation, up to a best ever finish of 7th. You can draw your own conclusions, but unless you decide that Hodgson was ripped off by whoever decides these awards, then you are wrong!



Monday, 4 May 2009

Fulham FC coming to a country near you!

Just thought I would let people know that they now have the chance to live the dream, and finally see what the fuss is about. The chance to experience the wonder of Fulham FC is now at the fingertips of every Australian, it is your duty not to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. You don't really know what I'm talking about, do you? Guess swine flu scare-mongering has taken precedence over the real important stories. All I can do then is link you to the story of the century, do with it what you like.
Here
and
Here

See, I told you that you'd be excited! Don't delay, and if there is enough support my dream that Fulham will play all their home Premier League games out of Australia may come true.

Saturday, 11 April 2009

Pregarama 09

Just thought I'd give a quick update on the pregnancy. Things are progressing well and the time has gone pretty fast. Currently we are at 32 and a half weeks. Major issues have been morning sickness that lasts all day, some randomly appearing hives that come and go with no discernible pattern apparent and a hospitalisation for dehydration that lasted 2 nights. Other than that smooth travelling!

Here are some pics of Krystle at 32 weeks


I call this portrait 'Sun shines on Mother with Child'


Looking radiant


Here Krystle shows of her battle scars

Craven Cottage

I have tried to give some idea of the atmosphere of a game, both before and during. Here are some pictures that illustrate what the trip to Craven Cottage is like.


I usually arrive by club helicopter, I wish. This is the view of the ground from the air looking towards Hammersmith (top right corner). The Thames is on the left and the park in front of the ground is Bishops Park


This is a night view of the lights of the ground from across the river


I catch the train to Putney Bridge on the district line. Here is the bridge that was named after the station. To get from the station to the ground you actually walk under this bridge through a tunnel. Too cold to swim.


People coming off the bridge or from under the bridge heading to the ground


Walking through Bishops Park


It's a long walk so it is dark by the time you reach it. Actually the ground just looks cool in the darkness of the night with the lights illuminating the night sky.



Walking along Stevenage Rd towards the ground


You can also walk from Hammersmith station, no park to walk
through though. This is from the other end of Stevenage Rd


This view is from the Hammersmith End walking along the
Thames path. This way is a good exit from the ground if you
are walking back to Hammersmith


Queuing to get into the ground


Walking underneath the Hammersmith Stand


When you reach your seat the clappers may be waiting for you


Unless it's Flag Day, then you get flags


Waiting for the main event, the crowd are reasonably subdued


Billy the Badger gees up the crowd in anticipation


But once the match starts the crowd come alive. The bloke in the
bottom right seems particularly angry that his favourite player
scored and then took off his shirt.


And the fans walk back to Putney Bridge, Fortress Craven
Cottage remains secure and all is good with the world!

The Meaning of Life revealed

I know it seems like all I ever talk about is football and snow, but there is a reason for this. In order to fully convey what it is to live in England I need to immerse you in the culture and way of life. What I'm actually giving you here is a sociological thesis on the English condition, by writing about the football and the weather. It doesn't get more English then that.

So as the snow of winter has been banished and replaced by a strange sort of daily glow that burns your eyes and hurts your head (I looked it up on Wikipedia, apparently its called the sun) We have hit the last 8 games of the Premier League season. Having become the best team in the world by virtue of beating the winners of the FIFA Club World Cup in the previous home game, Fulham looked forward to a visit from a rampaging Liverpool whose last three games had all been big wins againt quality opponents: 4-1 v Real Madrid in the Champions League, 4-1 v Man Utd at Old Trafford and 5-0 against Aston Villa, until recently placed 4th in the Premier League. Liverpool's form and Man Utd's two losses in a row has also reignited the Premier League season by closing their lead over Liverpool to 1 pt (albeit with a game in hand) and in fact if Liverpool beat Fulham they would, at least temporarily be back on top of the Premier League table.



Liverpool warming up


Xabi Alonso shoots and hits the bar


Dickson Etuhu and Xabi Alonso


Torres tackled


Stevie G gets to the ball first. Fulham captain Danny Murphy was a
Liverpool player until Stevie G emerged to take his place.



Stevie G too good again


Schwarzer denies Liverpool again


While Pepe Reina toches the ball for the first time


Rafa watches AJ sit on Kuyts face


And the celebrations begin

As a life long Liverpool supporter . . . . . What? sorry, didn't you realise that my new found love of Fulham FC has basically begun this season. They will forever be etched in my mind and heart as my second favourite team, consolation prize I know but its the best they can hope for compared to over 20 years of waiting for Monday's paper to deliver me scores 36 hours old (the old media), staying to listen to games on the radio then finally being able to watch games at 2 o'clock on a Sunday morning. I'd put in the hard yards supporting my team. And my main motivation for becoming a season ticket holder was to see Liverpool play. Strangely though, a season watching a side play also builds up quite a bond, so I had strangely mixed feelings watching my sides battle it out. Of course I was sitting in the Fulham home supporters section, so had to hide my Liverpool allegiance, but I was actually happy to cheer and sing in all the right places. Liverpool dominated the game, could have been 4-0 up at half time if not for the goal posts, but the game reached injury time after 90 minutes with the game still locked at 0-0. Then 2nd half sub Yossi Benayoun scored with barely seconds to go and I hide my delight from the crestfallen Fulham fans around me. Most could admit though that they had been beaten by a better team on the day. I was just happy that Liverpool were back on top of the table.