No yellow cards in last nights game at Fulham. Eleven fouls by us. I don't know what the stats are but anecdotally we seem to pick up very few yellows. The much vaunted Wednesday concede many more fouls and take many more yellows than we do, and despite what their supporters say it isn't all down to one player (Hutchinson). Nobody wants us to be a dirty side but are we a bit too nice and maybe a bit naive? For example it sounded like for one of Fulhams goals last night McCormack escaped two challenges around the half way line and they were straight at us with numbers advantage. At times we seem to let the pressure build when we could disrupt things more. Sometimes players have to be professional don't they and take one for the team with a trip or a shirt pull to get you time to reorganise and kill the momentum?
Obviously though it's a thin line and a judgement call which attacks to do the dirty on.
I think it's more a case of strength and power being available in the team. This last couple of seasons has seen the pace and power of teams at the top really shine.
Last season against Derby. 3-1 up and Maclaren chucks 3 subs on. We tried to namby pamby defend and it finished 3-3.
Me as manager. Put a bloke on with the specific instructions to stick to Blondie. When ball goes near Blondie kick ball. If cannot kick ball - kick Blondie.
We might have finished with 10 men but we would have held on.
