Games for the Week-end 31/12

For the final game of 2022 we welcome Southampton to the Cottage for a 3 o’clock kick-off

Fulham v Southampton

The first competitive game back at the Cottage since the World Cup and last of 2022 see’s us take on Southampton.
It was a surprise to see both Mitro and Robinson start against Palace, after Marco said he wasn’t sure either would be available, and how about Reeeeeeeeem getting his first Premier League goal!
I thought the wearing of the No.2 tracksuit tops was a nice touch and the minutes applause appeared to be participated by just about everyone in the ground, I wonder what the club will do on Saturday?

Surprisingly?, Southampton are currently sitting at the bottom of the league and with their 1-3 home derby defeat against Brighton on Boxing Day they need to start winning some games if they’re to survive this season.

Our record against Southampton is quite a poor one with only 1 win, 6 losses and 3 draws.

Assuming no injuries, my team would be…

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Friday 30th
West Ham v Brentford

Saturday 31st
Bournemouth v Palace
Fulham v Southampton
Brighton v Arsenal

Sunday 1st
Spurs v Villa
Forest v Chelsea

Monday 2nd
Brentford v Liverpool


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Games for Boxing Day 26/12

So we’re back after the break for the World Cup and our first game is against Palace at their place

Crystal Palace v Fulham

It looks as if all the players came back from the World Cup safe and sound and I’m sure they’ll all be raring to go? It’ll be interesting to see who settles into the game quickest?
Isn’t it strange re-starting the season at this time of year? I wonder if we’ll get used to it if a “winter break” is introduced?

Palace are on the same number of points as us, with a goal difference 1 less than ours, however they have played 1 game less.

Our recent record against Palace is 1 win, 3 losses and 3 draws.

Assuming no injuries and everyone available, this would be my team to face Palace.

team to play Palace away

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Monday 26th
Brentford v Spurs
Palace v Fulham
Arsenal v West Ham

Tuesday 27th
Chelsea v Bournemouth
Man Utd v Forest


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Games for the Week-end 23/10

This weekend we get to travel up to Leeds for a 14:00 Sunday kick-off

Leeds v Fulham

The game against Villa was one of our best performances, it really reminded me of how we played last season, we looked totally in control with each player knowing what was expected of him and playing for each other.
Willian was exceptional, if he keeps up this, very high, standard then he’ll give Marco a headache deciding between him and Harry Wilson.
Leno will be happy with a clean sheet, a few more would be nice especially with a “make shift” back four, Bobby D’Reid played really well even though he’s not a defender.
Harrison Reed looks as if he’s got a taste for goal, long may that continue, and wasn’t it a peach of a strike, the way he celebrated with Marco shows the “team spirit”
Congratulations to our latest academy graduate Luke Harris for getting his Premier League debut.

Leeds are coming off the back of a 2-0 loss to Leicester however our results against them is slightly in Leeds’ favour with 3 wins, 5 losses and 5 draws.

My team to face Leeds would be…

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Saturday 22nd
Forest v Liverpool
Everton v Palace
Chelsea v Man Utd

Sunday 23rd
Villa v Brentford
Leeds v Fulham
Southampton v Arsenal
Spurs v Newcastle

Monday 24th
West Ham v Bournemouth


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Games for the Week-end 12/11

We get to welcome the other Manchester team to the Cottage for a Sunday afternoon kick-off, the last game before the World Cup break

Fulham v Man Utd

Yet another dubious penalty given against us cost us a draw, would have been a very good result even if it was against 10 men!, in a game that I think “most” Fulham fans would have expected us to loose by more than a one goal margin?
Are City the best team in the world?, if they are, why do they have to cheat?, I’m sorry “be clever” (as Jemaine Jenas said).

Our record against Man Utd is nearly as bad as against City with 2 wins, 14 losses and 3 draws.

Harrison Reed and Tete will both be unavailable, they received their 5th yellow(s), and with the news that Kebano will be out for months?
Mitro will not be available, he may also miss the start of the World Cup, as an x-ray has revealed he has a couple of broken bones in his foot.
I can see a number of the “kids” being on the bench, perhaps one of them may get to be an “instant” fan favourite, I’m sure they’ll want to get some time against Utd.
So with suspensions and injuries my team would be…

team to play Man Utd

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Saturday 12th
Man City v Brentford
Bournemouth v Everton
Forest v Palace
Spurs v Leeds
West Ham v Leicester
Newcastle v Chelsea
Wolves v Arsenal

Sunday 13th
Fulham v Man Utd


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Games for the Week-end 05/11

Gird your loins chaps! we get to travel to Manchester to take on City at the Etihad

Man City v Fulham

According to Fat Frank, Mitro should have got a straight red, not that he’s biased?, at least the MotD pundits agree that it wasn’t deliberate, Mitro wouldn’t stamp on someone, he might punch them, but not stamp on them!
Willian had another exceptional game, I can’t see him being dropped at the moment, Harry Wilson would have been my automatic choice however currently Willian takes the spot.
Robinson also had an outstanding game, as did Harrison Reed is it too late for an Engerland call up?
Are Pereira and Palhinha the best two signings of recent years? both have slotted into the squad as if they’ve been there for years, Marco has found a way to get the very best out of the team and I’m really pleased that they’ve been able to carry on their form from last season.

City could, fingers crossed, be without Haaland, but proved last weekend that they are a team of exceptional talent in virtually every position unsurprisingly I’m expecting this to be our toughest game so far.

Our record against City isn’t wonderful 2 wins, remember the “Great Escape” season?, 15 losses and 4 draws.

I’m treating this game as a “free hit”, at this point I’d be over the moon with a draw however as long as we give a reasonable account of ourselves I’ll be happy with any result.

Assumining no injuries my team would be…

Fulham team against Man City away

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Saturday 5th
Leeds v Bournemouth
Man City v Fulham
Forest v Brentford

Sunday 6th
Chelsea v Arsenal
West Ham v Palace
Spurs v Liverpool


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Games for the Week-end 29/10

We welcome Everton to the Cottage for a late(ish) Saturday kick-off (17:30)

Fulham v Everton

Any away win is a good win, winning away at Leeds was both unexpected, I’d have been very happy with a draw, and shows how far we’ve come since our last time in the Premier League.
How we came back from being one goal down showed the exceptional team spirit we have, the team spirit really showed for our third, Willian’s goal, Mitro holding off a defender, back-healing the ball to Reed who danced around another defender before passing to an unmarked Willian, one of the best “team goals” I’ve seen from Fulham!

Our record against Everton isn’t that good, our record against them at Goodison is awful but not too bad at the Cottage, with 5 wins (all at the Cottage), 12 losses (mainly at Goodison) and 2 draws(at the Cottage).

Current Form
Fulham: LLDWW
Everton: WLLLW

Assuming no injuries, my team to face Everton would be…

Fulham team against Everton

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Saturday 29th
Bournemouth v Spurs
Brentford v Wolves
Brighton v Chelsea
Palace v Southampton
Fulham v Everton

Sunday 30th
Arsenal v Forest
Man Utd v West Ham


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Games for the mid-week 20/10

We welcome Aston Villa for a mid-week game under the lights at Craven Cottage

Fulham v Aston Villa

Well the draw against Bournemouth proved that we have the ability to fight back, it also proved, what we all knew, that our back four needs improving, how long until January?
Speaking of the back four, Diop replacing Tosin paid dividends with his headed goal from a corner, when was the last time we scored a goal like that?
Whilst I understand why Bobby played right back, Marco see’s them day in day out in training, surely Mbabu should have been first choice as he is a defender and Bobby is a midfielder? after all when we signed Mbabu Tony Khan said “Kevin is a player whom we’ve pursued for several years. He brings great physical tools to our Club in addition to his vast experience”
Tom and Willian really made a difference when they came on for the 2nd half, surely at least one of them will get a start against Villa?, and it was really good to see Wilson get some game time.

Villa will feel a little hard done by against Chelsea at the weekend, a couple of silly mistakes allowed Chelsea to score a couple of goals that didn’t look likely after Villa dominated the first half? Regardless of current league position Villa are a good side and will prove a stern test for us, if we can get a win it’ll set us up really nicely for Leeds at the weekend.

Our record against Villa is a quite good one with 10 wins, 7 losses and 5 draws.

Diop should keep his starting place, Harry Wilson also starts, as does Willian, Tom starts on the bench so my team would be…

Fulham team against Villa (Home)

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Tuesday 18th
Brighton v Forest

Wednesday 19th
Bournemouth v Southampton
Brentford v Chelsea
Liverpool v West Ham
Man Utd v Spurs

Thursday 20th
Fulham v Villa


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Games for the Week-end 15/10

Back to the Cottage for a 3 o’clock kick off, this time we welcome Bournemouth

Fulham v Bournemouth

I’m sure that nearly every football fan is certain that VAR goes against their team week in week out, but sometimes you do have to wonder why it happens with seemingly obvious hand to ball, offside, blatant diving etc. you have to ask yourself if the decision was given “for you” would you be happy? I don’t believe that they even out over the season, I do believe that these decisions can be the difference between survival and relegation.

Still no definitive news on Mitro’s injury, let’s hope that no news is good news? having Wilson back is really good news I can’t wait to see the interplay between him, Pereira and Mitro, should be exciting stuff!

Our record against Bournemouth is slightly in Bournemouth’s favour with only 1 win, 3 losses and 2 draws.

I’m assuming that Mitro, Robinson and Tete are fit, so my team would be…

team for Bournemouth (home)

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Friday 14th
Brentford v Brighton

Saturday 15th
Leicester v Palace
Fulham v Bournemouth
Wolves v Forest
Spurs v Everton

Sunday 16th
Villa v Chelsea
Leeds v Arsenal
Southampton v West Ham


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Games for the Week-end 08/10

Another derby game see’s us travel across town to the London Stadium to take on West Ham.

West Ham Utd v Fulham

Well the game against Newcastle didn’t go to plan did it?
Mitro going off due to injury is a worry, hopefully it was just a precaution as being down to 10 men and being 2 goals down, he wouldn’t really have much support or chances so Marco thought it better to save him?
Other injuries for Willian, from another behind closed doors game?, compound the longer term injuries for Solomon and Willson, is it me or are we having more injuries this season compared to last?
At least we’ll have Palahina back for this game, for me he’s our “new” Danny Murphy.

West Ham will be relieved to have got their second win of the season last weekend having 1 draw and 5 losses.

Our record against the Hammers is not very good with only 3 wins, 11 losses and 3 draws.

I’m assuming that Mitro won’t be fit for the game so my team would be…

West Ham v Fulham

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Saturday 8th
Bournemouth v Leicester
Chelsea v Wolves
Newcastle v Brentford
Brighton v Spurs

Sunday 9th
Palace v Leeds
West Ham v Fulham
Arsenal v Liverpool

Monday 10th
Forest v Villa


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Games for the Week-end 01/10

This weekend we get to welcome the Gordie boys to the Cottage for a 3 o’clock kick-off

Fulham v Newcastle United

Getting our first away win at Forest was important, as was the manner of the win coming from behind in that wonderful 6 minute spell, the only down side was letting them back into the game with their second goal, still for a make shift back four they didn’t do to bad.
The other good thing was that our three goals were scored by three different players, Tosin, Palhinha (early contender for goal of the season?) and Harrison Reed, really pleased for him. That proves that we’re not just a “one man” team, important as Mitro is, and let’s be honest he is very, very important, we have players throughout the team who can score. I’m looking forward to Andreas Pereira getting his first for us, perhaps from a set-piece?, and when Harry Wilson returns we’re going to be an exciting attacking prospect.

If you’ve not noticed Mitro’s on fire!, a hat-trick against Sweden and 1 against Norway take his “international” tally to 51, he’s now the leading goalscorer in the Nations League tournament. Mitro has scored 4 goals in his last 4 away games and scored 12 in his past 11 matches for club and country, that makes 58 in 65 since the start of last season. to date he’s not scored against Newcastle, his former team, I wouldn’t bet against him changing that this weekend.

Newcastle’s 1-1 with Bournemouth, was their fifth so far this season, they drew 3-3 with Man City (very creditable) and have beaten Forest 2-0 at St James’ Park so I’m sure they’ll be wanting to get a result against us.

Our record against Newcastle is another close affair with 8 wins, 6 losses and 3 draws.

With Palhinha picking up his 5th yellow, for celebrating his goal!, and therefor not available, I’m assuming that Robinson will be available, I’d have Wilson on the bench and with Kebano picking up an injury on international duty my team would be…

Fulham v Newscastle Utd

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Saturday 1st
Arsenal v Spurs
Bournemouth v Brentford
Palace v Chelsea
Fulham v Newcastle
West Ham v Wolves

Monday 3rd
Leicester v Forest


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