This is spot on. Pulis seems to do this a lot, contain the opposition first half then go at them when they are tiring. Maybe on this occasion we gave a bit too much possession though, it got pretty scary.

Also, if we play that way we will often go a goal down but not sure we have the firepower to pull it back. But it's probably the best we can do until we catch up on overall quality with other prem teams.

I reckon Joniesta could help when he gets back, put a dynamo into midfield to give the opposition less time. Shame not to see either Bannan or Guedioura.

He did exactly the same for WBA's goal

Nail on head on the last para - when we play teams who we are more 'competitive' against on paper we really should give them more to think about and we will only do that by fronting them up - not giving them carte blanche to knock the ball around and not get a challenge on unless its 20 yards from our goal

We need to offer more threat and can do that by hitting their midfield higher up the pitch

As far as the rules go, it's a website not a democracy - Hambo 3/6/2014

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The Voice of Reason In An Otherwise Mediocre World

Glen Murray.One of the few in our squad with a footballing brain,and we looked a different team when he came on,should have gone on to win but i guess we would of took 1-1 at kick off.

Because of the work he's done since he left Stoke in learning other formations etc by spending time in Spanish and German acadamies. he simply hasnt had the time to develop anything yet and instead was given the task of making us harder to beat by reverting to what he knows works. WBA have gone for the more expansive style of play and that's not getting them anywhere as it takes a while to implement and a brave Board to have the patience.

I agree with your thoughts on the likes of Cham, Yannick, Puncheon and Ince...which is why I think that now the squad have had the 'organisation' ingrained in them that we can push one of the def midfielders foward freeing the wingers a little more.

The Voice of Reason In An Otherwise Mediocre World

Don't want to sound too negative and dour but I'm so there you go. We have a back six that is pretty much the same as the one that started the 2012-13 seasons as one of the favourites to go down. We conceded more goals than any other team in the top half last season. We did not go up because of our defensive strength.
Pulis has changed this by dropping off given possession and territory to support the defence. We have concede 14 goals in 13 games since he took over in that same time, Fulham have concede 38 in 15 matches, with what you would say on paper should be a better back 4.
We did well today taking the game to Swansea and I think we did hit them when they were tired but we did well given up possession against Hull and Villa those six points are vital.
Dislike Pulis on aesthetic grounds, fair enough but you can't criticise his effectiveness. Playing deep and sitting back away from home will be the only way we are going to stay up.
I pray that the last day of the season does not come down to Fulham needing a win and Palace a point because that will be hell.

One supporter of hacking argued that without it "you will do away with the courage and pluck of the game, and I will be bound to bring over a lot of Frenchmen who would beat you with a week's practice -Blackheath secretary at first meeting of the F.A