HammyEnd.com. He gives his views on the
game, Martin Jol, Zoltan Gera and much more. You can also find Chris on
Twitter at @ChrisGilbertson
You’ve had a mixed start to
the new season, how have performances been?
On the whole pretty poor. We won at
Sunderland on the opening day
thanks largely to their ineffectiveness up front than any tactical mastery on
our part. We laboured to a win on penalties at League 2 Burton in the league cup
and put in toothless performances versus Arsenal and Newcastle.
Are you happy with how the
club’s transfer dealings went during the summer?
Not especially. While certain individuals signed are good
players, we failed to address gaping holes in the squad left after last summer’s
losses of Murphy, Dempsey and Dembele. We have nobody who can pass from central
midfield and left back remains a problem. Fans are excited about Maarten
Stekelenburg and Fernando Amorebieta, but the rest of our business was all very
short term, with older players (Parker, Boateng) and loans (Bent, Taarabt) used
when other teams around us were spending on players in their prime. Hopefully
new owner Shahid Khan will open his chequebook in January.
You finished 12th last season,
were the fans satisfied?
Yes and no. I think everyone was glad when the season
finished. Had Norwich
not got points at Man City on the final day we would have finished 11th, but we
were not mathematically safe until the penultimate day.
Any low point of last season, a
match or moment you would rather forget?
The 1-3 loss at home to
Sunderland in November. Brede
Hangeland was somewhat harshly sent off and Bryan Ruiz and Alex Kacaniklic both
got injured. Our season went downhill from there.
Hero of last season?
Sascha Riether. Came from nowhere to be our best right back
since Steve Finnan.
Villain of last season?
Clint Dempsey. The manner in which he carried himself and the
way in which he dragged out his departure put us in a downward spiral from
August deadline day. Steve Sidwell’s back to back red cards at the end of the
season and Hugo Rodallega’s general play deserve honourable mentions.
Happy with Martin Jol? Anything
he needs to do better?
No. Fulham led the Premier League in long balls last season.
Tactically we’ve been all at sea for nearly a year and everything seems to go by
the mantra “give it to Berbatov and hope for the best”.
Most amusing ‘terrace chant’
heard last season?
“We’re on the p*ss with Karagounis”
You signed former
Albion loanee
Kieran Richardson last season, How’s he done?
Claimed the starting left back slot but has unfortunately
spent too much time on the treatment table.
Thoughts on Zoltan Gera?
An absolute Fulham legend. Scored the goal that got us to the
Europa League Final in 2010. I’ve never forgiven Mark Hughes for releasing him.
Player to watch this season?
Dimitar Berbatov. Like it or not, how good Fulham will be
depends on Berbatov being motivated and in tune with his teammates. How he gels
with Taarabt, Bryan, Bent and Dejagah will be the key to our season.
Prediction for Fulham’s season?
Lower mid table.
Prediction for
Albion’s season?
Seem a good side but you seem to have played centre forward
bingo in an attempt to replace Lukaku. Mid-table seems a reasonable expectation.
Premier League Champions?
Chelsea.
Relegated?
Palace,
Hull
and Sunderland.
Prediction for Saturday’s game?
2-1 (despite my above negativity I live in hope that our home
form will return)
