Lecomte
Castagne Andersen Cuenca Sess
Lukic Reed
Chukwueze ESR Bobb
Muniz
Lecomte to continue starting cup games.
I'm not a fan of Andersen Cuenca pairing as it is too slow, but Bassey and Diop played 2 full 90 matches in a short period of time and need rest. Tete also needs rest, as I don't want him to get injured again, and overplaying him could do that. I also thought Castagne was decent in his cameo against West Ham. Robinson was very poor vs West Ham and I'd start Sess.
Lukic needs some minutes since he's just got back from injury, so I'll start him here, but sub him at some point in the second half. Reed to start in the cup like he usually does when we play lower league opponents. ESR in front of them. King seems to be struggling with physicality of the game since he came back from injury. He looks quite lightweight, even more so than at the beginning of the season, so I'd start ESR.
Chukwueze and Bobb on the wings. I don't know if Wilson will be back or not, but I wouldn't start him even if he is back, we need him and we can't risk aggravating his injury. Kevin is obviously out, and Iwobi needs rest. I'd start Chukwueze on the right and Bobb on the left. Bobb looked great on the left vs Spurs, and although he had some good games on the left too, Chukwueze is better on the right.
Muniz, like Lukic, needs minutes to get match sharp, while Raul could use some rest. If it isn't working, bring Raul on.
We should play our best available team. Maybe things would turned have out different if we'd done that tonight.
Quote from: Whitestone on March 04, 2026, 11:56:42 PMWe should play our best available team. Maybe things would turned have out different if we'd done that tonight.
"Best available team" is very relative. For example, Bassey is probably in our "best available team", but is Bassey who played two successive full 90 minute games in quick succession really better than Cuenca who is completely fresh. Same goes for Iwobi, or Tete or countless other examples.
Best available team is surely not only the best team in terms of individual skill level, but also the team that is fit enough to play at their best level.
Caveat: ESR was pants tonight. Good player skilled but sometimes needs a rocket where the sun doesn't shine to get his attitude and energy to the right level.
Quote from: SerbianLad on March 04, 2026, 11:10:53 PMLecomte
Castagne Andersen Cuenca Sess
Lukic Reed
Chukwueze ESR Bobb
Muniz
Lecomte to continue starting cup games.
I'm not a fan of Andersen Cuenca pairing as it is too slow, but Bassey and Diop played 2 full 90 matches in a short period of time and need rest. Tete also needs rest, as I don't want him to get injured again, and overplaying him could do that. I also thought Castagne was decent in his cameo against West Ham. Robinson was very poor vs West Ham and I'd start Sess.
Lukic needs some minutes since he's just got back from injury, so I'll start him here, but sub him at some point in the second half. Reed to start in the cup like he usually does when we play lower league opponents. ESR in front of them. King seems to be struggling with physicality of the game since he came back from injury. He looks quite lightweight, even more so than at the beginning of the season, so I'd start ESR.
Chukwueze and Bobb on the wings. I don't know if Wilson will be back or not, but I wouldn't start him even if he is back, we need him and we can't risk aggravating his injury. Kevin is obviously out, and Iwobi needs rest. I'd start Chukwueze on the right and Bobb on the left. Bobb looked great on the left vs Spurs, and although he had some good games on the left too, Chukwueze is better on the right.
Muniz, like Lukic, needs minutes to get match sharp, while Raul could use some rest. If it isn't working, bring Raul on.
Think Robinson needs to get more match fit, so would start him. King should start too, he'll never develop if we barely play him and he does offer something with his dribbling and intelligent off the ball runs.
Not so sure about playing both Reed and Lukic, where's the creativity coming from? It's one or the other with Cairney alongside in my view.
Quote from: Whitestone on March 04, 2026, 11:56:42 PMWe should play our best available team. Maybe things would turned have out different if we'd done that tonight.
We have plenty of quality in the team, enough to rest some starters so they're fresh for the next Premier League game. We're still very much in the race for Europe.
Quote from: Bassey the warrior on March 05, 2026, 01:23:38 AMQuote from: Whitestone on March 04, 2026, 11:56:42 PMWe should play our best available team. Maybe things would turned have out different if we'd done that tonight.
We have plenty of quality in the team, enough to rest some starters so they're fresh for the next Premier League game. We're still very much in the race for Europe.
We may have plenty of quality but they didn't show enough of it against a poor West Ham team last night.
We have a whole week between the Southampton game and the Forest game. We're playing for a place in the quarter finals of the FA Cup and as you say we are still in the race for Europe. There is absolutely no reason for Silva not to select his best starting eleven in both of those matches. He made too many changes to the starting eleven last night and it cost us IMO. Only one of those changes was enforced through injury.
Lecomte
Castagne
Andersen
Cuenca
Robinson
Lukic
Reed
King
Cairney/ESR
Bobb
Muniz
Lecomte
Castagne
Robinson
Andersen
Cuenca
Lukic
TC/Reed
Bobb
Chuk
ESR
Muniz
A few players need a rest others need some minutes (Robinson etc)
Also see how Lecomte gets on and tell him pre game that if he plays well enough he'll have a chance in the league.
Quote from: Whitestone on March 05, 2026, 08:29:08 AMQuote from: Bassey the warrior on March 05, 2026, 01:23:38 AMQuote from: Whitestone on March 04, 2026, 11:56:42 PMWe should play our best available team. Maybe things would turned have out different if we'd done that tonight.
We have plenty of quality in the team, enough to rest some starters so they're fresh for the next Premier League game. We're still very much in the race for Europe.
We may have plenty of quality but they didn't show enough of it against a poor West Ham team last night.
We have a whole week between the Southampton game and the Forest game. We're playing for a place in the quarter finals of the FA Cup and as you say we are still in the race for Europe. There is absolutely no reason for Silva not to select his best starting eleven in both of those matches. He made too many changes to the starting eleven last night and it cost us IMO. Only one of those changes was enforced through injury.
That's highly speculative, we've been in this situation many times before, just remember when we lost 3-2 last year with a strong team. Leno and Pereira made a much worse error on that day and West Ham were far far worse than last night.
Bottom of the table teams often do well against us, regardless of who we start.
If Silva keeps same side and we lose ESR/Bobb to injury and don't get the win, I can only imagine the uproar.
::bump::
Lecomte
Castagne diop Cuenca sess
Reed Iwobi
Chuk ESR Bobb
Raul
Subs: Cairney, Muniz, King, Lukic, Robinson
disrespect and we will lose they are on a run at the moment
Quote from: SerbianLad on March 04, 2026, 11:10:53 PMLecomte
Castagne Andersen Cuenca Sess
Lukic Reed
Chukwueze ESR Bobb
Muniz
Lecomte to continue starting cup games.
I'm not a fan of Andersen Cuenca pairing as it is too slow, but Bassey and Diop played 2 full 90 matches in a short period of time and need rest. Tete also needs rest, as I don't want him to get injured again, and overplaying him could do that. I also thought Castagne was decent in his cameo against West Ham. Robinson was very poor vs West Ham and I'd start Sess.
Lukic needs some minutes since he's just got back from injury, so I'll start him here, but sub him at some point in the second half. Reed to start in the cup like he usually does when we play lower league opponents. ESR in front of them. King seems to be struggling with physicality of the game since he came back from injury. He looks quite lightweight, even more so than at the beginning of the season, so I'd start ESR.
Chukwueze and Bobb on the wings. I don't know if Wilson will be back or not, but I wouldn't start him even if he is back, we need him and we can't risk aggravating his injury. Kevin is obviously out, and Iwobi needs rest. I'd start Chukwueze on the right and Bobb on the left. Bobb looked great on the left vs Spurs, and although he had some good games on the left too, Chukwueze is better on the right.
Muniz, like Lukic, needs minutes to get match sharp, while Raul could use some rest. If it isn't working, bring Raul on.
Think that team looks about right though would prefer to get more games in to Robinson. The only other possible slight tweaks is whether ESR starts in cup over Cairney and whether Sess plays wide left winger and Bobb goes to the right wing?
Lecomte
Castagne Anderson Cuenca Robinson
Lukic Carney
Chukwueze King Bobb
Muniz or me
I think my time has come
Quote from: Nero on March 06, 2026, 09:12:32 AMdisrespect and we will lose they are on a run at the moment
I very much doubt they will be too bothered about this game, the Play offs are there priority, they are picking up a game in hand this weekend they won't want another,
In the previous round they made wholesale changes and packed the bench with youth players, and on Wednesday night they've got West Brom so I'm expecting lots of changes again.
Has to be our strongest team, would rather rest players for league matches, we are safe and will finish mid-table come what may. Southampton are in good form and we are only 3 matches away from playing in a FA Cup Final.
Leno
Tete Andersen Bassey Sessegnon
Iwobi Lukic
Wilson/Bobb ESR Chukwueze
Raul
Lecomte
Tete Andersen Bassey Robinson
Lukic Berge
Wilson SR Iwobi
Jiminez
Leaves a strong bench available to choose from Cuenca Diop Castagne Cairney Chuk Bobb Muniz King Sess Leno and Reed etc.
Serbian Lad - I like your line up with 2 exceptions. I would start Robinson over Sess. He was so bad against West Ham so I am assuming he is not match fit. He didn't suddenly become a bad player. I would also start Cairney instead of Reed. We need some creativity in midfield.
Quote from: Whitestone on March 06, 2026, 12:10:35 PMLeno
Tete Andersen Bassey Sessegnon
Iwobi Lukic
Wilson/Bobb ESR Chukwueze
Raul
Like this...I'm surprised so many have opted for Castagne. I really think he's a very poor defender. It would be one of the first positions I would target over the summer. Tete for me every time if we want to progress
Southampton are undefeated in their last 5 games. I think Marco has to take this one very seriously. This is the "next game" that will be judged probably a lot more than the West Ham one. There is a lot at stake.
With that said, I think we have to get an immediate response from the first team, and hope they can setup a winning position for the subs to finish off.
Edit: Chi_FFC linked Marco about Wilson not being available
Leno
Tete Andersen Cuenca Sess
Berge Iwobi
Chuk ESR Bobb
Raul
Marco says Wilson is unlikely to be available.
https://x.com/jackellyffc/status/2029589964925608189?s=20
Ross Stewart recalled for Southampton, on his last visit to the Cottage he tore his ACL.
The team changes for West Ham I think was a sign that we will play a strong team on Sunday.
I think we need a strong team as it is not going to be as easy as some people think it will be
I'm not sure how strong the Southampton lineup will be given they've got a good shout for the playoffs.
They're on a nice run of five wins & a draw out of the last six games but important games against WBA & Coventry coming up later this week?
Quote from: Whitestone on March 04, 2026, 11:56:42 PMWe should play our best available team. Maybe things would turned have out different if we'd done that tonight.
Absolutely correct, play our strongest side, Its a one off Cup match, no second chance.
Yes It has to be our strongest line up. Resting players is for the birds, Fulham are not running a holiday camp.
Players can rest at the end of the season when they holiday in Mauritius or Rhodes.
This match is massive for Fulham, Southampton are standing between us and a quarter final of the FA Cup, play our strongest available lineup or otherwise jeopardise our Cup Prospects, and any
Manager that does not pick the best team we have, is failing the supporters and the club.
Players want to win Silverware and have something to show for their football career.
If Fulham have any ambition at all they must play their strongest available team from the kick off.