Fulhamish contributor on the airwaves and the web. Heads up the Stats Show. Has had work published by the Italian FA, Evening Standard and Fulham FC. Loves Spanish football.
There was a time when the inclusion of Josh Onomah on the team-sheet bought figurative groans to Twitter, and anguish to Craven Cottage. But, eleven months on from his arrival the midfielders inclusion on the team-sheet is met with unanimous approval from all areas.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed society. It's also exposed the shortcomings in our infrastructure, not least in our National Health Service. Thousands of front-line key workers have been exposed to the virus through a severe shortage of PPE (personal protective equipment).
I remember reading through a passage in a book a few years ago that analysed the great Porto team that won the Champions League in 2004 under José Mourinho. That section of text opened my eyes to a new football. Well, a new phrase. The "transition". It was big, it was shiny and it was certainly new in the early years of José. It was modern football before football was, well, modern.
Must admit that when I set off on a chilly, wet morning with a half Christmas hangover and the glory of winning the traditional family Monopoly, I thought Kenilworth Road on Boxing Day would be a nice jaunt. Little did I know that the weather would be dreadful, Fulham would be arguably worse and the 90 minutes of scintillating festive feast of football that I had imagined would actually turn in a topsy-turvy game of elation and excruciating pain.
Take the ball, pass the ball. Take the ball, pass the ball. Take the ball, pass the ball. Some of the eagle eyed among you may recognise this phrase as the title of the Barcelona documentary, focusing on the best team of modern times.
This week Fulham left-back Joe Bryan published a particularly poignant post giving an insight in to the toughest period of his life. He is a modern day role model.
Well, there you have it. It's finally over; 106 days, 16 matches and 3 wins the tenure of Claudio Ranieri has come to an end.
The January transfer window slammed shut on Fulham, and a period that promised so much with the public backing of the owner to Claudio Ranieri and the Director of Football promising to work "tirelessly" to provide multiple signings. Unfortunately neither were delivered.
Fulham were dumped out of the FA Cup by Oldham Athletic in a season that has been tough for the Whites, the Fulhamish team give their opinion of the season so far.