The Tanner Report

I have already written now amazed and disturbed I am by the degree of fan dislike of Bryan Ruiz. Clearly a sensitive flower, it scarcely helps to raise his game if he has to  hear constant criticism from  his own fans. The transfer never really worked out and  joins the list of £10m plus forwards who never justified their tag: Marlet, Johnson Mitroglou. I do not include McCormack though disappointed by his goal tally as he works hard for the team and is a goal provider .

Bryan’s  injury time header won the game for us yesterday after 3 straight defeats in which he did not feature so the stats answer the critique. His contract is up at the end of the season and no doubt the money men wants his wages off the bill as soon as possible. His agent will probably advise  him to stay out his contract and negotiate best terms on what Joe Kinnear used to call a  Bosnian. Personally I will miss him as  he is class act and one of the few players that you would pay to watch.

We are now pretty close to  safety which after one point in the first seven games under Magath is some relief. However  taking one step back, we have  the parachute payment, a wealthy chairman, a core of players who have international honours and played at a higher level and a productive Academy. Aside from the win the most satisfying part was that seven of the  starting players yesterday were 24 or younger. Yet every time we have come up against a top six team we have been beaten , in  some games  significantly so. Bournemouth, Brentford and Watford all play better football than us. If you think should they get promoted they would struggle in  the premier this marks and charts the decline of Fulham who were a mid table top flight side who reached a Europa Final.