The Tanner Report : Fulham 1 Arsenal 5

Fulham have now conceded 21 goals, 8 in the last 2 games, 7 in the second half of them. Once again new personnel and a new system of 3-5-2 which left a huge gap for Arsenal to exploit on our right.

This was pretty much obvious but it took some time for the head coach Slavisa Jokanovic to do any thing about it.

In  the second half Arsenal ran riot and played some pacy powerful football which blew us away.

Ok, we had both full backs injured but equally with £100m spent in  the summer – only Liverpoool and Manchester City paid out more – we should have the resources to cope.

Round me and on the fan websites Angoissa was singled out for criticism. I heard one fan say as we left the stadium: “How much did we we pay  for him … Twenty two million?” but he contributed to the Fulham equaliser whereas Cyrus Christie was perpetually at sea as a wing back.

This difference of fan opinion always interests and confuses me too. My neighbour thought Dennis Odoi had a good game in defence, I would not have singled him out. At 1-1 at half time we we’re still very much in the game but some odd substitutions, including the only defender that did look assured Tim Ream, upset the whole balance of the team. Full credit to Arsenal though.

I took Bob Tickler’s godson Jamie who is rapidly being  educated in the emotional carousel of being a Fulham supporter with its travails.

That hot day in Wembley in May when we beat Aston Villa seems a long time ago, and its looking like a brutal winter.

I also bought a ticket for his mum. This cost £70 and had a restricted view. Three programmes cost over a tenner and a baseball cap £23. At the outlet I heard another fan quoted £55 for a shirt. A quick tot up revealed me shelling £100 plus for the experience of a Fulham thrashing.

We had lunch with a good Arsenal mate afterwards. He was not triumphal, we were gracious in defeat. We have had enough practice at being so  over the years.