Fofana - we are down to 10 men !

[filham]

Our midfield was over run for most of the game yesterday, we have a problem and perhaps we need a new signing to help solve that problem.

[Ordar]

I thought he looked better yesterday when he was moved into the centre in the second half. He cannot play wide.

I would assume we'd extend his loan. Realistically he's never ever going to get into the City team. I wonder if he'd consider moving here, depending on what sort of fee City would want. I dont think that Kit really knows where to play him in the system we're playing. Personally I think we should be playing a flat 442 with proper wide players. Have LVC and one of Parker, Tunnicliffe and Fofana alongside, with Kaca and Williams/Roberts/Staf/Kav  out wide

[cmg]

I thought he looked better yesterday when he was moved into the centre in the second half. He cannot play wide.

I would assume we'd extend his loan. Realistically he's never ever going to get into the City team. I wonder if he'd consider moving here, depending on what sort of fee City would want. I dont think that Kit really knows where to play him in the system we're playing. Personally I think we should be playing a flat 442 with proper wide players. Have LVC and one of Parker, Tunnicliffe and Fofana alongside, with Kaca and Williams/Roberts/Staf/Kav  out wide

I agree with everything you say...except for the bit about him never going to get into the City side. I think he might become a very, very fine player. Lots to learn but lots of material to work on.
Doubt if he'd ever be interested in joining permanently (nor would City allow it at this time) but it raises an interesting question about the City/Chelsea stockpile of players. Watching Bertrand Traore playing for Burkina Faso raises the question of whether he'd be better off anywhere else except for Chelsea. What (apart from the money!) did Lukaku get out of his time with Chelsea?

The question of our midfield balance is a good one, too. To my mind Parker, Fofana, Tunnicliffe, Kaca is too defensive whatever formation is used. As you have pointed out there are many combinations and you haven't included David or Hyndman in the equation (or Ryan Williams!).

[Humbled]

He is a very good player.
I wouldn't play him on the right tho!!!

[Lighthouse]

Only going on what I see on the full match replay but he is not a wide player and better up the centre. His first touch continues to be shocking but he isn't as bad as many make out. Would I extent the loan. Yes unless we can find a better player.

[Humbled]

Only going on what I see on the full match replay but he is not a wide player and better up the centre. His first touch continues to be shocking but he isn't as bad as many make out. Would I extent the loan. Yes unless we can find a better player.

Agreed. We seem to have a lot of players that have an erratic first touch.

[cmg]

Agreed. We seem to have a lot of players that have an erratic first touch.

Aye. but, when it comes to first touch, we've probably been spoiled by watching the 'velvet, velcro, viagra' man.

But he's been airbrushed from our history.

[fulhamben]

Only going on what I see on the full match replay but he is not a wide player and better up the centre. His first touch continues to be shocking but he isn't as bad as many make out. Would I extent the loan. Yes unless we can find a better player.

if we can't find better than an 18 year old with a shocking touch and a hand full of games under his belt, then we might as well just wrap it all up and apply for the conference

[MJG]

He did have the third best pass completion yesterday after Bodrouv and Parker. And I still maintain his physical presence which we saw more of in the second half is what he gives us that no one else available/fit can do.

[Putney]

He did have the third best pass completion yesterday after Bodrouv and Parker. And I still maintain his physical presence which we saw more of in the second half is what he gives us that no one else available/fit can do.

Having watched Symons' Fulham pass completion can be rather misleading.

[Riverside]

For me he was lost wide in the right in the 1st half .
Much better playing more centrally in the second half .
And provided Grimmer good defensive cover .

I would be happy if was with us for the rest of the season .


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[Twig]

At least two people on this board have stated categorically that Kit has to play him as a condition of his loan agreement.  Can anyone confirm whether that is informed fact or mere speculation?

[fulhamben]

At least two people on this board have stated categorically that Kit has to play him as a condition of his loan agreement.  Can anyone confirm whether that is informed fact or mere speculation?

i cant confirm it, but kit said before he even kicked a ball that he hasnt come here to warm the bench. plus he has had a couple of stinkers and didnt even get subbed let alone dropped. and why else would he play him down the right over a better wide option. either kit doesnt know what he is doing or as i suspect, he has a playing clause in his contract. not sure which is worse but we should no more when lvc is fit

[MJG]

At least two people on this board have stated categorically that Kit has to play him as a condition of his loan agreement.  Can anyone confirm whether that is informed fact or mere speculation?

For about the 5th time on here you cannot in a contract state playing conditions.. Such as has to play.
But just as when we loan players to clubs and we loan players in,  the expectation is that they will play and get game time.

[cmg]

Yes we had all this junk going back at least as far as Schwarzer. There is no practical way you can guarantee a player a starting spot irrespective of form.
It may be possible to have an informal agreement to start a loan player as soon as he arrives (subject to match fitness). In any case there's not much point in borrowing a player unless you intend using him.

On a personal note, I would say that Fofana has easily justified his inclusion.

[leonffc]

a) I see him as a centre midfielder, although I've stated before, I'm not a great fan of him.
b) the whole game we were losing in the midfield area. Kaca, Tunny, Fofana weren't stepping up to the plate (in my opinion). I really thought we wear poor in that area

[Scrumpy]

Personally I like him. However, if LVC and Ruiz are both fit, I would drop Fofana to the bench. If Kit likes to play narrow, then Tunnicliffe, Parker, Ruiz and LVC would be my first choice midfield. If he prefers more width, then find room for Kaca at the expense of Tunnicliffe.

It's amazing how we all see things differently.

[Black, White and Fred]

Fofana did some good work when he was played in position, as he is clearly not a winger. When the line-up announced I assumed and posted on the match day thread that we must be playing a 4-3-1-2 which is the formation we switched to in the second half, when we did his game improved along with the rest of the teams. Can't blame the lad.

[Twig]

At least two people on this board have stated categorically that Kit has to play him as a condition of his loan agreement.  Can anyone confirm whether that is informed fact or mere speculation?

i cant confirm it, but kit said before he even kicked a ball that he hasnt come here to warm the bench. plus he has had a couple of stinkers and didnt even get subbed let alone dropped. and why else would he play him down the right over a better wide option. either kit doesnt know what he is doing or as i suspect, he has a playing clause in his contract. not sure which is worse but we should no more when lvc is fit

Hmmm but there are ways around a playing clause.  Bring him on as a late sub?

[Twig]

OK so general consensus is that there may be gentlemen's agreements but no such thing as a formal playing clause.  Thanks all for clearing that up.