Newcastle 2–1 Fulham. A fourth consecutive loss for Marco Silva’s Fulham. A good display is yet again thrown away. The same issues persist, but Fulham look likely to be 17th going to November — that’s a wake up call. Here are six things we learnt from Newcastle 2–1 Fulham.
**Bad Teams Throw Away Good Performances: Fulham Do It Time and Time Again**
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Fulham deserved more today. We were resolute defensively, dangerous on the break, the adding attacking spark we are seeing from Sasa Lukic — fantastic, but the truth is this:
Good teams throw away positive performances; Fulham do that time and time again. That’s a hallmark of a team in a relegation battle.
Fulham are in the bottom five going into November for a reason. Our top scorer is own goals, and we have spent the second-least time in winning positions in the Premier League (13.1%).
Alarm bells are ringing.
Bassey Costs Fulham The Game: Justice for Jorge Cuenca
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Let’s be honest: Calvin Bassey cost Fulham the game today. Calvin’s not been at the top of his game to begin this season.
Lapses in concentration against Man United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and now, Newcastle (twice) prove why Bassey is at Fulham and not yet at a ‘top side’. With his left-footed counterpart, Jorge Cuenca, looking like the complete centre half in every appearance the Spaniard gets, you have to ask:
Why did Calvin Bassey start today? What more has Jorge Cuenca got to do to start?
Silva Partly to Blame: Bassey Starting and Convervatism Late-on Cost Fulham
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Some of today’s blame has to be laid at the feet of Marco Silva — Bassey shouldn’t of started the game. But Fulham in the last half an hour, what was Marco Silva thinking?
It felt inevitable Newcastle were going to score. Instead of continuing to press forward, play on the break — where Fulham looked dangerous — Marco Silva allowed his team to aimlessly kick the ball away at the first opportunity.
That shows a lack of leadership.
We went into our shell, we didn’t need to. That’s on the manager. Calvin Bassey cost Fulham the game. That’s on the manager — Calvin shouldn’t of started.
**Adama Traore: Doing What He Does Best**
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I’ve made it no secret that I don’t think we have seen the best of Adama Traore this campaign, but Newcastle away? Easily Adama’s best this season.
Fulham let Traore isolate Burn; we let Adama get to the byline — that’s what he does best. Add to that countless hopeful balls into the channel that Adama turned into useful crosses for Marco’s men, it’s almost like when Fulham deploy the La Masia graduate the right way, he will impress.
Sasa Lukic: Superb
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Sometimes you don’t realise how good something is till it’s gone. Sasa Lukic’s return coincided with Fulham’s best midfield display in three weeks.
Lukic not only provided a goal — something Silva’s side have been crying out for from deeper midfield — but Lukic contributed three passes into the final third — something he has been doing all season, with Lukic in top three progressive carriers in the league pre-injury.
In a summer were Fulham refused to bring in creative help from deep, Sasa Lukic has helped fill the void — and then some.
Kevin On & Iwobi Centrally Changed the Game
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Marco Silva’s quotes of not knowing where fans’ cries for Iwobi centrally were a bluff. Soon as Kevin came on, and Iwobi went centrally — that changed the game for Fulham.
Alex and Kevin linked up seamlessly numerous times.
Iwobi overlapped Kevin for Fulham’s equaliser, creating a 1v1 for the 22 year old — the Brazilian’s strong point. The Nigerian’s presence allowed Fulham to continue to isolate Newcatsle’s full backs to great affect.
Fulham may well of found our best attacking lineup, but that should take away from Kevin’s display.
Kev’ added end quality and dynamism in what was a flat Fulham attack in the first half of football.
His wicked cross into the box deserved the full acclaim of a proper assist, Kevin’s, game-high, two completed dribbles helped unlock many a counter attacking opportunity for London’s Original, but that’s not all.
Kevin clearly heard Marco Silva criticising his defensive work in his pre match presser, and Kevin responded with five recoveries and three tackles and interceptions — a complete Kevin display.
Iwobi central and Kevin out wide is the way forward for FFC.
Wolves at Home: A Season Defining Fixture
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I don’t care that it’s October — in no uncertain terms, Wolves at home is a six pointer.
People point to excuses for four losses in a row towards a tough run of games. Understandable? Perhaps. But it’s the long-standing issues not being addressed that worry me going forward for Fulham.
Losing to Wolves would cement Fulham’s place in a relegation dog fight. Fulham are staring down the barrel of a very long season.
We’ve got close, but a Marco Silva has never been this close to the precipice. If we can’t beat a winless Wolves, we deserve to be right in the mix.
**_If you want a short broadcast version of my take on things — click below:_**