The Tanner Report

Shortly after Kit was appointed I had a conversation with one of the contenders whose windows I have cleaned for many years. He feared that there would be a bounce factor but we would then plateau into mid table. We always want Kit to succeed as he is Fulham through and through and passionate about the job, but these words of prophesy have stayed with me.

Last night we deservedly lost to lowly manager less Brighton. It was a dreary game but speaking to Ivan his view was the Seagulls merited their win. They played Ince and Holla as efficient holding midfielders and their two central defenders Halford and Dunk coped with everything – not too much – that we could offer.

The common view I noted amongst the Fulham faithful at Bournemouth was that the departure of Bran Ruiz would be no loss. Yesterday he did not play and corners and free kicks suffered from his precise delivery. I cannot remember one corner clearing the first man.

Some might say that to finish mid table after only one point in the first seven games, to blood in youngsters, the form of Christensen are the best we can ope for and a foundation for next season. My view is that the team needs both strengthening and freshening up and has the look of the Fulham second tier side of the mid 70s that finished with 42 points in old money and the same mid table position for three consecutive seasons.