We move on from our 1-0 away win at Coventry, and now focus on our EFL Cup game v Crystal Palace, Wednesday night, 7:45 kick off at the Cottage.
Gives us the chance to progress into the quarterfinals, but we all know how much of a bogey team Palace are, especially at home.
Like us, Crystal Palace are not enjoying the best of starts, sit 17th in the Premier League, lost 2-0 at home to Newcastle on Saturday, with pressure on Pierre Sage.
We expect changes for this one, especially with Aston Villa coming up on Saturday, so what do you think the lineup will be, along with the score.
Let us know below.
::scarf::
For some strange reason, we seem to struggle against Palace?
I can see them resting quite a few so hopefully Muniz will get a start.
3-1 .... and a decent quarter final draw please.... ::scarf::
COYW
I would like to see Macauley Zep involved in the squad. Muniz to get a start as well.
Lecomte
Tete affengruber cuenca robinson
Larsson cairney
Bobb king palacios
Muniz
Palaceos for King
Lecomte
Tete
Anderson
Cuenca
Robinson
Larsson
ESR (remember him!)
Palacios
Kevin
Muniz
Garcia
Good opportunity to see what Muniz can do (from the start)
And yes, why not Zepa?
I'd start the game with the same starting line up as Coventy. Understanding and sharpness is something gained in matches and difficult to replicate on the training ground.
If we were half way through a season I'd consider resting players. A good cup run would excite the players as well as fans.
Quote from: I Ronic on October 27, 2026, 12:22:38 AMI'd start the game with the same starting line up as Coventy. Understanding and sharpness is something gained in matches and difficult to replicate on the training ground.
If we were half way through a season I'd consider resting players. A good cup run would excite the players as well as fans.
There is a quarter final waiting for us and all that is standing between Fulham and the next round is Palace, pick your strongest team.
A real opportunity here as this is not the Palace team of Glasner. Our results against them at home though are shocking, even though we dominate a lot of those games!
I expect several changes and I wouldn't mind seeing TC start for this but for me, our recovery has been built around Affengruber coming in and the Shea/Berge partnership in CM so would be reluctant to drop any of those 3 at the moment as it risks halting our momentum.
For me I wouldn't mind seeing:
Lecomte
Tete Affengruber Cuenca Jedi
Charles Berge
Gonzalo TC/Palacios Kevin
Muniz
Muniz has to start for me - he's looking much fitter and sharper after a full pre season in his limited minutes so far and scored 2 in his 2 starts. Giving him game time is crucial to keep his sharpness and confidence up. Would also like to see how Gonzalo does on the right as he has played a lot of games there early in his career and his goal vs Wimbledon came from cutting in from the right hand side. Would be interesting to see him and Muniz play together with Muniz as more of a no.9 presence and Gonzalo not being the focal point but capable of grabbing a goal - plus IMO we don't have any natural players who like to play as a right forward if Bobb is out (Iwobi can do it mind you).
Saying all of that, I get a funny feeling though AA is dying to start Angel.
After a terrible couple of first involvements he eventually had a good cameo against Wet Spam but we collapsed after he was brought on vs Ipswich (not entirely his fault but Berge and Charles need to be on the pitch in that midfield together as much as possible for me atm while our recovery is still in a delicate early phase). He's clearly got good technical ability and a good footballing brain but he's just too lightweight for a CM against physical PL sides IMO so hard to see how he fits in.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Andersen come in and 2 of Angel, Larsson or TC in CM. Hopefully not the first 2 CMs together as starting such an inexperienced pairing is a huge dice roll.
Lecomte
Tete Andersen Cuenca Robinson
Larsson Angel
Kevin ESR Palacios
Muniz
Would prefer Kevin to play on the left but balance of team might dictate?
How about giving Kusi Asare a game
Quote from: Yamus on October 27, 2026, 07:19:33 AMHow about giving Kusi Asare a game
Yes, at least minutes off the bench
Jka came off injured on Friday? No idea what the injury is.
Quote from: Snibbo on October 27, 2026, 07:55:33 AMQuote from: Yamus on October 27, 2026, 07:19:33 AMHow about giving Kusi Asare a game
Yes, at least minutes off the bench
There's a place in the quarter-finals at stake. We should be playing the best possible team available with half an eye on the Villa game, so I'd expect some rotation and maybe not the full 90 minutes for a few regular starters.
Would love to see JKA involved, but he limped off in the last U21's game. I'm a huge fan of him, and think his ability is above the U21 level. His goal against Walsall was brilliant too if you see the full move. He also does something that I really like, which he stays central out of possession. 6'5 and still pretty quick at full speed.
I asked Jack Kelly to get Arbeloa's take on Jonah, but it looks like he's out of the picture for now:
11. AA on JKA's first team chances?: "Right now, I think we have a very good squad with very good players and I am focused to get the best out of them. So, I am really, really focused on the game and to try to use all my players and we will see in the future."
https://x.com/jackellyffc/status/2111125184681832898 (https://x.com/jackellyffc/status/2111125184681832898)
To be honest, I really can't get overly excited about this Cup game, as I'm much more concerned about FFC staying up this season in the Prem.
Methinks in this Cup game the following should get plenty of play time, assuming healthy:
Muniz
JKA
ESR
Kevin
Andersen
Cuenca
Palacios
Reed
Tete
Cairney
Angel
Lecomte
Plenty there to field a competitive team without reaching into the list of current starters. JMHO
I lean towards giving 60 minutes to Garcia with a view to playing Muniz at Villa. Of course if Gonzalo scores a hat-trick then everything changes...
Quote from: Colton F.C. on October 26, 2026, 09:44:20 PMLecomte
Tete
Anderson
Cuenca
Robinson
Larsson
ESR (remember him!)
Palacios
Kevin
Muniz
Garcia
I'll be surprised if this isn't the team bar I think Reed will start not ESR.
I would go full strength here. Need to take it seriously from now on.
Be interesting to see how many changes he makes.. Would like to see Palacios and Kevin get a run out.
Only thing guaranteed is that Muniz will start as he said this after Cov game - it could be a good game for Angel to get a run out too.
Cuenca and AR defense should never happen. Strongest team please
Given arsenal going out, and one of Liverpool/Chelsea, we must now go full strength!!!
So, if ESR is nowhere to be found, I'll assume that's a sign he's in the dog house or toast (or injured)... 😕
Quote from: WindyCity on October 27, 2026, 02:23:38 PMTo be honest, I really can't get overly excited about this Cup game
Quote from: KentFulham on October 27, 2026, 10:13:15 PMGiven arsenal going out, and one of Liverpool/Chelsea, we must now go full strength!!!
Precisely... we have a 1/4 chance of drawing Fleetwood or Bradford for a chance of a two legged semi final...
Assuming we don't hash it up tonight of course!
If you completely change the team and expect fireworks from the team that is on the pitch, then that is unlikely to happen. It's hard for any team to make wholesale changes and still play with the same sparkle. However I would expect to see all the players putting in maximum effort to prove a point.
We do need to make some changes but hope it isn't the complete B team.
Quote from: FFC007 on October 28, 2026, 09:09:35 AMQuote from: KentFulham on October 27, 2026, 10:13:15 PMGiven arsenal going out, and one of Liverpool/Chelsea, we must now go full strength!!!
Precisely... we have a 1/4 chance of drawing Fleetwood or Bradford for a chance of a two legged semi final...
Assuming we don't hash it up tonight of course!
Quote from: Marcus on October 28, 2026, 09:57:03 AMQuote from: FFC007 on October 28, 2026, 09:09:35 AMQuote from: KentFulham on October 27, 2026, 10:13:15 PMGiven arsenal going out, and one of Liverpool/Chelsea, we must now go full strength!!!
Precisely... we have a 1/4 chance of drawing Fleetwood or Bradford for a chance of a two legged semi final...
Assuming we don't hash it up tonight of course!
Chances better than one in 4. 2 in 7 - or 7/2.
Quote from: cwindsor on October 28, 2026, 12:58:05 AMQuote from: WindyCity on October 27, 2026, 02:23:38 PMTo be honest, I really can't get overly excited about this Cup game
Haha....ok
Still, regardless of the top teams who have dropped out, still nonplussed. (Of course I'd like to see FFC win, but want to see some of the bench get some play time, notably Kevin, Andersen and Muniz, among others.)
Despite the heroics last night of our goalscoring centre forward. The League Cup is still packed wirh Premier League glitterati. It makes sense to concentrate on the League and give as many little used players a run out.
I'm not sure that Palace are up for this one with their dodgy league form and away days in Europe. Time to pull the rug under Palace no matter what side we put out.
I'm going to predict Palace are going to lineup their 3rd team. There's no way they would any injuries to their main XI or secondary team given they're doing poorly in the league and Europe. They'll want to prioritise on that.
I think full strength is subjective. I would like to see Tete, Muniz, Kevin, Pacacios and Andersen start
Quote from: Colton F.C. on October 26, 2026, 09:44:20 PMLecomte
Tete
Anderson
Cuenca
Robinson
Larsson
ESR (remember him!)
Palacios
Kevin
Muniz
Garcia
if this is the eleven and we lose then get rid of ESR , Anderson and kevin .
I just want us to win, no
Matter what it takes.
Play a strong team, if they want to play fringe players play them in friendlys not
In a cup, it's a one off.
Quote from: hovewhite on October 28, 2026, 04:44:40 PMQuote from: Colton F.C. on October 26, 2026, 09:44:20 PMLecomte
Tete
Anderson
Cuenca
Robinson
Larsson
ESR (remember him!)
Palacios
Kevin
Muniz
Garcia
if this is the eleven and we lose then get rid of ESR , Anderson and kevin .
And to think Marco Silva spent just shy of £100 million on those three.
Quote from: Grassy Noel on October 27, 2026, 03:40:11 PMI lean towards giving 60 minutes to Garcia with a view to playing Muniz at Villa. Of course if Gonzalo scores a hat-trick then everything changes...
I think Muniz needs a proper run out tonight and then start against Villa.
Quote from: Fulham 442 on October 28, 2026, 05:43:26 PMQuote from: Grassy Noel on October 27, 2026, 03:40:11 PMI lean towards giving 60 minutes to Garcia with a view to playing Muniz at Villa. Of course if Gonzalo scores a hat-trick then everything changes...
I think Muniz needs a proper run out tonight and then start against Villa.
I'm sure Muniz will start tonight, the manager has said as much but seriously why are so many clamouring for him to get more game time. It would be great to see him succeed and be the number 9 we all want but all the evidence suggests the opposite.