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The Tanner Report

Alan Tanner is still in despair

One of the problems of an ageing team is fatigue. It can be no coincidence that goals are conceded and games lost in the last 10 minutes. In the golden age of Jean Tigana, when we took the championship by storm, we were not just superior in technique but in fitness – blowing teams apart in the final 20 minutes.

Thus it was we got back into the game with 20 minutes to go when Berbatov equalised ,the draw  could not be defended. Everton went into overdrive and scored 3 more. One of our most dynamic players who has youthful exuberance is Kasami but he does not start under the new regime. He did come on but too late to change the flow.

Next week we entertain Manchester City at the Cottage. It’s easy to predict a cricket score but things do not always go to plan or form. I would expect City to win 2-0 in another brave but pointless performance. In response to my fears that Fulham will be relegated, some say we are too good but that is precisely the problem. There is usually one team relegated which is unexpected and this season it looks like Fulham is that team.

Coach Meulensteen is rumoured to want as his assistant Mike Phelan, his Manchester United colleague. However, we are not Manchester United, we are Fulham. One of the difficulties is that the owner Shahid Khan and Rene Meulensteen do not understand our club. It would be far better if legend Danny Murphy, whose header saved us in 2008 from relegation, is brought in and quickly.

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About Alan Tanner

After a distinguished military service in the Catering Corps, Alan Tanner did well in mufti with his chamois as a window cleaner. Sadly he had to retire after falling from the fifth floor of Danny Murphy's mock Tudor home. He spends his retirement watching and writing about his beloved Fulham whom he has supported for over 50 years. The Alan Tanner Report is sponsored by Tanner Crystal Clear Ltd, Window Cleaners to the Gentry. More Posts