The Tanner Report: Fulham 0 Barnsley 3
Fulhamish was the old telegram address of Fulham FC but has passed into lore to mean typical, inconsistent and capricious.
The word was used before the Millwall game when a friend emailed a group of us fans saying it would be so Fulhamish to lose this one.
In fact we drew despite a linesman who, deprived of VAR, which does not exist in the Championship, failed to see the obvious offside of the Millwall equaliser.
However yesterday’s abject defeat to bottom of the table Barnsley was proper Fulhamish.
The setback of not overhauling Leeds in second and automatic place was compounded by two of the goals being scored by an ex-Cottager Cauley Woodrow who successive coaches adjudged not good enough.
Talking of forwards, there was a pre-kick off farewell to Jimmy Conway who passed away in the week .
The little fleet-of-foot winger was bought from Irish club Bohemians in May 1966 and soon established himself as a fans’ favourite.
Jimmy played in over 350 games in 3 divisions for the Whites, scoring 23 goals in 1969-70.
Known for his pace, when he began to lose that he played more in midfield. He played in the Cup Final in 1975 and after that joined Manchester City and Portland Timbers.
In recent years he suffered from dementia.
Still on forwards of the sixties, in that decade Fulham sold Rodney Marsh, Malcolm Macdonald and Allan Clarke – all to be England internationals – and Stevie Earle to Leicester City.
I only hope Cauley Woodrow does not join that distinguished list of those who fared much better away from the Cottage.
Another concern of the defeat was the keeping of Marek Rodak. Normally Rodak is a redoubtable last line of defence but yesterday he was severely at fault with two of the goals conceded.
This is a test above all for Scott Parker to get his Fulham team back on track.
He tends to like changes : 4 were made yesterday.
Tom Cairney was subbed again for the more defensive Harry Arter. So we can expect yet more changes for Friday’s game at Derby. Scott Parker was right not to blame his young keeper who has made some result winning saves but he must look to himself, Tom Cairney ‘s goal scoring record for Fulham is one every four games, He can thread a lethal pass from the edge of penally area so why was he subbed especially as Mitrovic was getting little service from the wings?
This said, I would not be at all surprised if Fulham got all 3 points at Pride Park. How Fulhamish that would be.
