Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa Play Off Final Post Match Thread

[Zouch Villa]

It was comfortably the highest attendance for a Championship play off final for some time.  About the only empty seats were the ones deliberately kept empty for segregation purposes.

I could see a few clusters of empty seats in the Fulham seating, which is where I presume the 5 tickets per season ticket holder policy encouraged the odd chancer to try to cash in.  Hopefully they were left with an expensive waste.

[supertom]

I think the game highlighted shortcomings we couldn't afford to take with us into the Premiership. On balance, Fulham deserved it. On merit Fulham and Wolves are the two best sides in this division and the ones most equipped to make a good fist of survival next year. They both have fairly young squads, whilst they've bought sensibly where they've had to spend a bit more. Wolves big spending succeeded where ours failed. 

While we were slow, leggy and a bit one dimensional, they had energy. That pitch is big and it's one that will highlight sides which lack pace and we badly lacked pace.

'Experience' doesn't necessarily have to mean being 30 plus either. I would say Hourihane is a player with both youth on his side and experience. The kind we need to begin building our squad around. I think we can lose Jedinak, Whelan etc. It's now time to promote more of the U23 side and show more faith in them. Inject our side with some youth, energy and pace.

[tomd2103]

I think the game highlighted shortcomings we couldn't afford to take with us into the Premiership. On balance, Fulham deserved it. On merit Fulham and Wolves are the two best sides in this division and the ones most equipped to make a good fist of survival next year. They both have fairly young squads, whilst they've bought sensibly where they've had to spend a bit more. Wolves big spending succeeded where ours failed. 

While we were slow, leggy and a bit one dimensional, they had energy. That pitch is big and it's one that will highlight sides which lack pace and we badly lacked pace.

'Experience' doesn't necessarily have to mean being 30 plus either. I would say Hourihane is a player with both youth on his side and experience. The kind we need to begin building our squad around. I think we can lose Jedinak, Whelan etc. It's now time to promote more of the U23 side and show more faith in them. Inject our side with some youth, energy and pace.

Both Fulham and Wolves had clear way of playing and stuck with it.  I remember Fulham taking huge risks passing the ball around at the back at Villa Park earlier in the season, but the manager obviously believed that was the way to play and they stuck with it.  Our way of playing seemed to revolve around getting the ball to Grealish and Snodgrass and hoping they could produce something special.  The latter had a pretty poor end to the season so that option became less effective.

I have to disagree about Hourihane.  He has scored goals this season, but isn’t good enough to be a regular starter and Onomah should have been playing ahead of him in the final games of the season.  We need someone in midfield with a bit more drive and dynamism, although I think Hourihane would be a decent option coming off the bench.

[PeterWithesShin]

Any empty seats in the Fulham end won't affect the attendance as it's tickets sold and they sold their full allocation. We were the ones that may not have sold out due to those late staff returns, although that would only be a couple of dozen or so. The unsold seats will be segregation, corporate etc.

[ChicagoLion]

I think the game highlighted shortcomings we couldn't afford to take with us into the Premiership. On balance, Fulham deserved it. On merit Fulham and Wolves are the two best sides in this division and the ones most equipped to make a good fist of survival next year. They both have fairly young squads, whilst they've bought sensibly where they've had to spend a bit more. Wolves big spending succeeded where ours failed. 

While we were slow, leggy and a bit one dimensional, they had energy. That pitch is big and it's one that will highlight sides which lack pace and we badly lacked pace.

'Experience' doesn't necessarily have to mean being 30 plus either. I would say Hourihane is a player with both youth on his side and experience. The kind we need to begin building our squad around. I think we can lose Jedinak, Whelan etc. It's now time to promote more of the U23 side and show more faith in them. Inject our side with some youth, energy and pace.

Both Fulham and Wolves had clear way of playing and stuck with it.  I remember Fulham taking huge risks passing the ball around at the back at Villa Park earlier in the season, but the manager obviously believed that was the way to play and they stuck with it.  Our way of playing seemed to revolve around getting the ball to Grealish and Snodgrass and hoping they could produce something special.  The latter had a pretty poor end to the season so that option became less effective.

I have to disagree about Hourihane.  He has scored goals this season, but isn’t good enough to be a regular starter and Onomah should have been playing ahead of him in the final games of the season.  We need someone in midfield with a bit more drive and dynamism, although I think Hourihane would be a decent option coming off the bench.

Completely agree about Hourihane, he has been a passenger and we really could not afford that against Fulham.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think the game highlighted shortcomings we couldn't afford to take with us into the Premiership. On balance, Fulham deserved it. On merit Fulham and Wolves are the two best sides in this division and the ones most equipped to make a good fist of survival next year. They both have fairly young squads, whilst they've bought sensibly where they've had to spend a bit more. Wolves big spending succeeded where ours failed. 

While we were slow, leggy and a bit one dimensional, they had energy. That pitch is big and it's one that will highlight sides which lack pace and we badly lacked pace.

'Experience' doesn't necessarily have to mean being 30 plus either. I would say Hourihane is a player with both youth on his side and experience. The kind we need to begin building our squad around. I think we can lose Jedinak, Whelan etc. It's now time to promote more of the U23 side and show more faith in them. Inject our side with some youth, energy and pace.

Both Fulham and Wolves had clear way of playing and stuck with it.  I remember Fulham taking huge risks passing the ball around at the back at Villa Park earlier in the season, but the manager obviously believed that was the way to play and they stuck with it.  Our way of playing seemed to revolve around getting the ball to Grealish and Snodgrass and hoping they could produce something special.  The latter had a pretty poor end to the season so that option became less effective.

I have to disagree about Hourihane.  He has scored goals this season, but isn’t good enough to be a regular starter and Onomah should have been playing ahead of him in the final games of the season.  We need someone in midfield with a bit more drive and dynamism, although I think Hourihane would be a decent option coming off the bench.

Completely agree about Hourihane, he has been a passenger and we really could not afford that against Fulham.

I thought the substitution that really stood out, as early as the first half, was Onomah for Hourihane. He would have given us a bit more pace and drive. Hourihane, of whom I am generally a fan, had a nightmare and contributed nothing.

[Bad English]

I attend corporates at the Catalan Dragons (at least they beat the reigning champions, Leeds Rhinos at the weekend) now and again and I am amazed at the number of sponsors' tables that remain empty* (and therefore the corresponding seats in the posh bit of the ground).

*This allows me to nick their bubbly, nibbles and gift bags. Plus there are less queues up the free bar.

[Pat McMahon]

Any empty seats in the Fulham end won't affect the attendance as it's tickets sold and they sold their full allocation. We were the ones that may not have sold out due to those late staff returns, although that would only be a couple of dozen or so. The unsold seats will be segregation, corporate etc.

There were a few empty seats near me in block 542- May have been no shows, may have been nicked. Everybody standing in that section ( except for a teenage lad who at one point was sitting down playing a racing game on his phone in the second half) which does make it easier to go and stand alongside your mates and leave your own seat empty.

[villabear]

Went out with my wife for a drink this afternoon. Sitting outside a couple passed comments about the good nature of our two dogs. All very nice it was too. They were joined by another couple and we left them to their company and conversation.

The couple that joined then couldn’t wait to tell them they joy about Saturdays result and even punched the air when telling how their son had phoned them to tell them Fulham were one nil up.

Obsessed? This is one of the main reasons I so wish we weren’t in this league.

It wouldn’t have been so bad but I’m guessing they were probably a couple in their sixties.

Small time f*****s

[TonyD]

I think the game highlighted shortcomings we couldn't afford to take with us into the Premiership. On balance, Fulham deserved it. On merit Fulham and Wolves are the two best sides in this division and the ones most equipped to make a good fist of survival next year. They both have fairly young squads, whilst they've bought sensibly where they've had to spend a bit more. Wolves big spending succeeded where ours failed. 

While we were slow, leggy and a bit one dimensional, they had energy. That pitch is big and it's one that will highlight sides which lack pace and we badly lacked pace.

'Experience' doesn't necessarily have to mean being 30 plus either. I would say Hourihane is a player with both youth on his side and experience. The kind we need to begin building our squad around. I think we can lose Jedinak, Whelan etc. It's now time to promote more of the U23 side and show more faith in them. Inject our side with some youth, energy and pace.

Both Fulham and Wolves had clear way of playing and stuck with it.  I remember Fulham taking huge risks passing the ball around at the back at Villa Park earlier in the season, but the manager obviously believed that was the way to play and they stuck with it.  Our way of playing seemed to revolve around getting the ball to Grealish and Snodgrass and hoping they could produce something special.  The latter had a pretty poor end to the season so that option became less effective.

I have to disagree about Hourihane.  He has scored goals this season, but isn’t good enough to be a regular starter and Onomah should have been playing ahead of him in the final games of the season.  We need someone in midfield with a bit more drive and dynamism, although I think Hourihane would be a decent option coming off the bench.

Completely agree about Hourihane, he has been a passenger and we really could not afford that against Fulham.

Was he on the pitch yesterday?

[pooligan]

Still feeling down and depressed 48 hours later .As soon as it was confirmed it would be Fulham in the final i feared this would be the outcome. Away from home against the top six we have lost to Cardiff ,Wolves,Derby and Fulham without even scoring Evey game Bruce approached the game with the intent not to lose not with the intent to win. To approach a one off match winner takes all with the same approach is the last straw for me .He is a decent bloke but i hope he is not our manager next season

[tomd2103]

I think the game highlighted shortcomings we couldn't afford to take with us into the Premiership. On balance, Fulham deserved it. On merit Fulham and Wolves are the two best sides in this division and the ones most equipped to make a good fist of survival next year. They both have fairly young squads, whilst they've bought sensibly where they've had to spend a bit more. Wolves big spending succeeded where ours failed. 

While we were slow, leggy and a bit one dimensional, they had energy. That pitch is big and it's one that will highlight sides which lack pace and we badly lacked pace.

'Experience' doesn't necessarily have to mean being 30 plus either. I would say Hourihane is a player with both youth on his side and experience. The kind we need to begin building our squad around. I think we can lose Jedinak, Whelan etc. It's now time to promote more of the U23 side and show more faith in them. Inject our side with some youth, energy and pace.

Both Fulham and Wolves had clear way of playing and stuck with it.  I remember Fulham taking huge risks passing the ball around at the back at Villa Park earlier in the season, but the manager obviously believed that was the way to play and they stuck with it.  Our way of playing seemed to revolve around getting the ball to Grealish and Snodgrass and hoping they could produce something special.  The latter had a pretty poor end to the season so that option became less effective.

I have to disagree about Hourihane.  He has scored goals this season, but isn’t good enough to be a regular starter and Onomah should have been playing ahead of him in the final games of the season.  We need someone in midfield with a bit more drive and dynamism, although I think Hourihane would be a decent option coming off the bench.

Completely agree about Hourihane, he has been a passenger and we really could not afford that against Fulham.

I thought the substitution that really stood out, as early as the first half, was Onomah for Hourihane. He would have given us a bit more pace and drive. Hourihane, of whom I am generally a fan, had a nightmare and contributed nothing.

Kodjia should have come on for Adomah early on in the second half.  Grealish was starting to pop up on the left quite often and we were getting some joy on that side.  Adomah was having a poor game and either Kodjia or Grabban should have gone out there.  I still am a bit puzzled why he left it so long to change things. 

[Chico Hamilton III]

Drinking in the Black Lion in Kilburn before the game with the London lions, all was fine and relaxed, though plenty of nerves. There was a big England flag outside with Villa Youth and the Football Lads Alliance badge which surprised me, as the group with the flag were not all white.

Chatted to Fulham fans on the tube - they were convinced they would not turn up. No Tarquinius, just normL fans who had never seen their team at Wembley. The only trouble I saw was on Wembley way where 2 Fulham twats were throwing first beer and then beer cans down at some Villa fans. Two went up to remonstrate and just as the Fulham fans were about to take a pasting  the police intervened.

After the game back in Kilburn we shared a few drinks with Fulham fans as well as the hordes in the pub watching the Other Final. Again, all fine and dandy, with positive comments about our support. For the fans we met it was the best day of their life.

I got off the tube and got absolutely drowned walking home  - torrential rain, thunder, lightning forks every 15 seconds. Summed up the bleeding day.

Oh, I hope we never play another London club at Wembley- Chelsea twice, Arsenal and now Fulham. 4defeats and not a goal scored.

I was in the black lion in Kilburn. That flag was the Democratic football alliance. It's not the racist bigots. They oppose them. The badge actually says "against all forms of extremism" Had my picture took in front of it with my pal who happens to be a black lad. Put the picture on our WhatsApp page and my brother (who Is a blue nose) got straight onto it and wanted to know why I was drinking with a load of bigots. I told him to look closely at the badge which he did and apologized to me straight away. Anyway onto the match ...... We were fucking crap. The End.

Am I looking at another Democratic Football Alliance’s twitter account then? The bunch of pricks who run this account are retweeting requests for a “ free Tommy Robinson “ chant, retweeting  Farage posts and posting right wing shit. And they have a picture of their “ against all predjudice” flag too. You sure about this, The Edge? I was also standing outside the Black Lion

[Chris Jameson]

There must a completely different DFLA to the one I keep seeing mentioned on Twitter etc, they seem to think Tommy Robinson is some sort of folk hero.

[dave.woodhall]

There must a completely different DFLA to the one I keep seeing mentioned on Twitter etc, they seem to think Tommy Robinson is some sort of folk hero.

They also have a strange idea of extremism. For some reason they're opposed to the democratically-elected Labour Mayor of London. Any idea why that might be?