The Tanner Report: Reading 0 Fulham 7
Fulham’s season was emphatically back on track with this win.
We had slipped out of the two automatic places largely because our last game was on December 15th and those after that were postponed.
True, our last 5 games produced 4 draws and a home defeat to Sheffield United so it was necessary to get back to winning ways.
And boy – we did that !
This was the second 7-0 away victory this season as we had beat Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park by that score too.
Reading were emphatically put to the sword with Harry Wilson outstanding, contributing 2 goals and 5 assists.
When new owner Shahid Khan took over the club in 2013 his initial managerial appointments did not go well.
After Martin Jol, whom he inherited, came Rene Meulensteen – who did not last too long – to be replaced by Felix Magath.
Relegation.
Magath was kind enough to say he would stay on in the Championship but – with just 1 point and the boys at the bottom of the Championship – he went, to be replaced by Kit Symons, first temporarily, then permanently.
Kit is an absolute gent, a former player and youth team coach but lacked the necessary attributes to turn us round.
Slav Jokatovic did so with a fine late run and an unforgettable day at Wembley to win the play-off against Aston Villa on May 2018.
Promotion but then relegation.
Jokatovic left and Claudio Raniari could not replicate his Leicester form.
Another relegation.
Another appointment.
Another ex-player appointed in Scott Parker.
Another play-off promotion, followed by another relegation.
The latest appointment – Marco Silva – has brought immediate success.
We sit second with a game in hand over Bournemouth.
It’s not easy – though a vital – requirement of the Chairman to make the right appointment.
Former owner Mohammed al Fayed was adept at it in appointing Jean Tigana, Chris Coleman and Roy Hodgson.
Look at Antonio Conte, whose reign at Chelsea commenced with the Premier title but finished in acrimonious litigation.
Still too early to judge Marco Silva, but it looks like the owner has got it right.
