The Tanner Teport : should SJ go or should he stay?

Fulham have now lost 4 games om the bounce and conceded 28 goals so at very least coach Slavisa Jokatovic must be feeling the heat. After another comprehensive home loss 0-3 to Bournemouth I now ask the question should he go or stay?

The arguments for dismissal are that he does not know his best team; makes too many changes of personnel and formation; too frequently he states the problem but has shown no ability to resolve it; if this continues Fulham will be cut adrift and go down.

The converse arguments are that loyalty should be shown to a coach that turned around Fulham’s fortunes, achieved promotion and – looking at that promotion season – he turned the season around in December 17. After a loss at Sunderland Fulham went on a 23 match sequence without loss. Older fans like me will remember gloomy autumns, desperate Xmases and then a run in the New Year achieving safety.

There is no obvious replacement . Neither David Moyes, Steve Bruce nor Sam Alladyce would be popular with the fans.

In the end the only view that matter is that of the owner Shahid Khan who publicly backed his coach in the match programme in an upbeat message to fans. The noose is tightening but he is not executed yet.

As for the game, I found it most instructive to watch the 30 minutes of highlights on Sky. After Alan Shearer ‘s attack on Cyrus Christie – from an analyst who relegated Newcastle as a manager – alongside his fellow pundits who have never managed I don’t bother any more with  Match of the Day.

The Sky highlights confirmed that it was a penalty when Fosu-Mensah shoved the Bournemouth player in the back. They also confirmed Abou Kamara dived.

New keeper Sergio Rico let the second goal go through his legs and for the third he left an inviting space at the near post.

Dennis Odoi’s daft sideways pass let in Dave Brooks of Bournemouth and Kevin McDonald took a red card for the team in bringing him down. It was the hapless type of defensive performance we have seen all season. Further, there was little evidence of the fluid play that was the hallmark of last season. Too often the ball was passed “to whom it may concern” and possession was lost.

All of us are shaking our heads as to where we go from here.

The short answer is to Huddersfield on Monday week. It’s a must win game and the Terriers must be feeling Fulham is one team they can beat.