The Tanner Report: Fulham 0 Manchester City 2
Where do Fulham go from here with relegation inevitable? “Go from here” are the operative words as we are going to lose our loanees – Rico, Fosu-Mensah, Chambers, Nordveidt, Markovic, Babel, Vietto – and in all likelihood also Alex Mitrovic and possibly Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon.
There have been some better performances under Scott Parker but it’s now 8 consecutive defeats and the customary 2 goals gifted by the defence every game.
The case for a new manager for a new team is compelling. If I were Parker, I would now play as many of the team that got us promoted so that next season we already have the core of a settled side.
The great Hungarian side of the 1950s that demolished England 6-3 and 7-1 used to play factory sides and that level of superiority was achieved in a first half yesterday in which City might have scored six not two.
Both goals were gifted by Fosu-Mensah and Joe Bryan, but as the Citizens swept forward with breathtaking passing moves they might have scored without any help from a defence that has broken the record with 71 goals conceded.
In the absence of Mitrovic Fulham did not manage one shot at goal. City are arguably the best team in Europe and can afford to leave Gabriel Jesus, Sane, Mihraz and Fernandinho on the bench. One of the few areas of hope for Fulham is on the left flank with Bryan and Sessegnon causing Kyle Walker problems.
The Khans have come in for much flak.
If I were them I would have a look at Watford or Bournemouth to see how they recruit. Watford are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, the top half of the Premiership and brought in Delcore and Payrera who have made a huge impact for far less than the £30m Fulham lavished on Anguissa.
The whole recruitment structure needs overhauling and we need a new manager to say it does not work – he cannot work with it – and a better system needs establishing and implementing.
