Hopes that Fulham would carry momentum from last season’s miracle finish were squashed today. Opening their Premiership campaign at recently promoted Hull City, Fulham was without the urgency that saved them from relegation in May. Though the Cottagers got an eighth minute goal when Seol Ki-Hyeon put his head to the end of a Jimmy Bullard cross, Fulham was always behind the play. Phil Brown had his Tigers prepared for their debut, and they carried an intesity throughout the match that Fulham could not match.
Hyeon’s goal could have been enough to quell Hull’s opening day aspirations. The circumstances surrounding it were disheartening. Moments after a great Mark Schwarzer save kept a sharp Geovanni header from opening scoring in the Tigers’ favor, Bullard was given enough time on the right flank to pick his spot. His cross was nothing special, but - hard working Hyeon was able take advantage of a slightly out of position Michael Turner in the middle of Hull’s defense. Hyeon’s ball was not as strong as the one Geovanni had saved, but it was enough to give the Cottagers a lead.
Hull could have taken the goal as a sign that their best would not be good enough, even against the last team to stay in the Premiership. The Tigers, however, persisted, creating the better chances while preventing Fulham from building a consistent attack. Fulham’s few possessions were defined by attempts at long balls targeting Bobby Zamora, not the ideal target man. Hull, on the other hand, was creating quality chances.
The hosts finally broke through with a magnificent left-footed strike from Geovanni in the 22nd minute, the effects of which could be seen draped across the coach’s faces for the rest of the half. Hull manager Phil Brown remained composed in orchestrating a team which had been sharp and persistent from the get-go. Fulham’s Roy Hodgson, on the other hand, looked worried, knowing his team would need to improve if they were to keep pace. It was a sad commentary on the state of Fulham FC. Against a team playing their first-ever Premiership match, their manager was left worrying within the first thirty minutes.
Through the mid-point and into the second half, each team played with ambition, though Hull continued to have the better of the play. John Plantsil was a highlight at the back right for Hodgson’s team, providing a physical presence and some ambition. But the other Cottagers were unremarkable, especially in comparison to a series of Hull players who played as if determined to make history. Anthony Gardner, Nick Barmby, Ian Ashbee, George Boateng and Ricardo Garcia all distinguished themselves, continuing to stifle Fulham’s attack while giving Brede Hangeland all he could handle at Fulham’s back.
It was Geovanni, though, who starred. Though he failed to distinguish himself for Manchester City last season, Geovanni’s signing raised some eyebrows this summer, providing Hull was an unexpected injection of skill. Today, Geovanni cast doubt on why Manchester City let him go. Beyond the two excellent chances Geovanni created in the first quarter of the match, the Brazilian midfielder, who at the onset played as a kind of supporting striker for Marlon King, continued to threaten Fulham. He was the most dangerous player on the pitch, and until he assumed a slightly deeper role after Phil Brown brought in two new strikers, Geovanni was continuously in Fulham’s area.
The switch came in the 62nd minute when Brown brought offseason purchase Peter Halmosi in for Barmby. It was the first of three changes in Brown which continued to bring more attacking players on the pitch. His approach was the opposite of Hodgson’s, who seemed to be trying to make it to full time with the point his team was in position to earn. By the middle of the second half, Fulham was noticeably less ambitious, brought almost no attack to the match, yet Hodgson went without a change.
The coach’s inactivity would cost him shortly after he swapped Zamora for Clint Dempsey. A ball played at left back Paul Konchesky was botched by the defender. The Fulham back was moved off the ball by substitute Craig Fagan. With Konchesky haven fallen to his back, Fagan rolled a pass through the box for Caleb Folan (pictured). The final Hull City substitute side-footed the winner past a sprawling Fulham defender.
The cheer of the crowd at the final whistle will be a highlight of the weekend. The city which had never had a club in the top flight of English football realized the moment. Their club, having played the match as if to make history, had provided the memory.
Fulham was never able to match that intensity. As a result, the Cottagers will not only find themselves at the bottom of the table after one week, but they will have let slip away the chance to get some points away from home, an opportunity which they may come to rue if they end up battling Hull nine months from now.
Arsenal spent Saturday’s visit to Craven Cottage showing why so many were reluctant to pick their talented side to improve upon last year’s third place finish, because although they were playing without their best player (Cesc Fabregas), they still had by far the most talented side on the field when they took on Fulham in one of their London derbyies. Yet Arsenal were rendered impotent by what is expected to be a relegation-embattled club, rarely challenging Fulham goalie Mark Schwarzer and allowing a team that spent last week recovering from wounds inflicted by a promoted club to beat a team what is supposed to be one of the best and deepest sides in the world. If that sounds melodramatic, it is nowhere near as theatrical as these three words: Fulham beat Arsenal.
According to multiple sources out of MLS and England, Brian McBride is in advanced negotiations with the Chicago Fire and may join the team as early as July. The 35 year old Striker is a Illinois native, and has previously played for the Columbus Crew in MLS. McBride has spent the last 4 years at English Premiership side Fulham, scoring 32 goals.
