Considering Martin is ineligible, there will be at least 1 notable change.
Button
Fredericks Kalas Madl Malone
McDonald Cairney
Aluko Johansen Piazon
Ayite
Derby do play Baird at right back, so pace on the left wing isn't as necessary. Ayite has previously played upfront for Bastia, and the other options don't tempt at all. Aluko can't finish 80% of chances, and Smith and Woodrow are below average. Too early for Humphreys.
I spoke to my mate yesterday who is Derbyshire assistant manager.
They will come to give us a game , well that was before I told him teams that do that we do well against, so he's now worried.
We will need to be at our best to beat them as they are the infirm team in the Division
Quote from: Southfield White on December 15, 2016, 12:21:52 PM
I spoke to my mate yesterday who is Derbyshire assistant manager.
They will come to give us a game , well that was before I told him teams that do that we do well against, so he's now worried.
We will need to be at our best to beat them as they are the infirm team in the Division
The infirm team in the division does that mean they have lots of injury's? 064.gif
If they are "infirm" we shouldn't have much trouble with them lol.
Feel much more confident about this one than Tuesdays game.
Firstly, I'm going to be pedantic and say we're playing a 433 now. The 4231 went a while.
It's a really interesting game this one, perhaps the most interesting of the season for us. Derby are on terrific winning form, seven in a row including teams chasing promotion, beating Norwich and Sheffield Wednesday along the way. This is a team that can play on the ground or counter quickly. I do believe that Tom Ince is one of the few pure match winners in the division; on form, he can get you three points on a day where perhaps you don't deserve them. The battle between Ince and Malone going forward and back I think will be vital.
We'll likely match each other for shape, and although I think we have the better midfield trio, you just know that Steve McClaren will look to swarm Kevin McDonald and Tom Cairney at every opportunity.
Anyway, ignore the waffle. At first thought, it made sense to go striker-less and bring Lucas Piazon in, but I also see the logic and starting with Matt Smith to rough up the Derby centre halves for at least a half. He can help us in defending set pieces, which we will lose with Chris Martin. I wouldn't argue with having Smith start the match and use him purely as somebody to cross to - give Pearce and Keogh a battle in the air, then bring on a Piazon, push Ayite up top and start testing the feet with fizzed balls in much like Ayite's goal against Rotherham.
I'm expecting to see Piazon start but as I say, I have zero qualms with Matt Smith starting as a needs must even if only for a half.
Quote from: Southfield White on December 15, 2016, 12:21:52 PM
I spoke to my mate yesterday who is Derbyshire assistant manager.
They will come to give us a game , well that was before I told him teams that do that we do well against, so he's now worried.
We will need to be at our best to beat them as they are the infirm team in the Division
Ment in form and not sure Derbyshire is a football team more a cricket team
Button
Fredericks
Kalas
Madl
Malone
Johansen
McDonald
Piazon/Kebano
Cairney (C)
Aluko
Ayité
Button
Fredericks
Kalas
Madl
Malone
Johansen
McDonald
Piazon
Cairney (C)
Aluko
Ayité
With Kebano, Jozabed and Humphrys on the bench. One criticism I have of Slavisa is when he puts out a very defensive bench.
QPR we're dominant against them for most of the game yesterday so we shouldn't be too frightened. 2-1 or 2-0 for me their run will end just like Reading's, football is cyclical whether we like it or not. Cue Fulham losing 3-0 nah we'll win, I'm not schizophrenic, nor am I
My fear is this, Fulham are tailor made for Derby County, they will play a high line with Ince and Russell (who was rested against QPR) playing wide of Bent and giving our two full backs no time on the ball whatsoever, even with Rotherham doing that on Tuesday night we looked uncomfortable at times, and could /should have been one nil up inside the first two minutes,
That leaves two more battles that we must win, the first being their midfield lynchpin, Bradley Johnson, great player, his battle with McDonald could very well determine the match,
The second battle is how we deal with Will Hughes, he's been outstanding for them and we need to find a way to keep him quiet, if we do we've got a great chance,
Now for the good news, they can be got at, at the back, they've got Chris Baird playing at right back ! If he was still at Fulham he would be our third choice,
So I'm going for both teams to score and a scoreline of 2-1 but no idea who to !
Chris Baird seemed to be waning when I watched him last year. Wonderful for us but not now someone to fear. For Darren Bent half that analysis holds true. McLaren is on the BBC website pining for the same Chris Martin many in this forum seem to think we can pass on our option to buy. QPR held them for 85 minutes.
We can beat this lot comfortably.
A big test for us, win and we are knocking on the top six door but lose and we are back struggling to hold a mid table position.
We have good players but essential that Jocanovic adopts the correct tactics and ensures a solid team performance.
Quote from: filham on December 15, 2016, 10:23:00 PM
A big test for us, win and we are knocking on the top six door but lose and we are back struggling to hold a mid table position.
We have good players but essential that Jocanovic adopts the correct tactics and ensures a solid team performance.
Bar Preston winning and an 8 goal swing we won't drop a place from 10th so hardly struggling to contain a mid table position.
We know Ayite is on run of scoring form, and Aluko creates many scoring opportunities for himself, and I don't see why he shouldn't convert more with greater confidence and composure.
It doesn't look likely that Smith will play, not having had a run out, though Woodrow has recently. Smith could play a role you might think, as well as adding defensive height, as said. Maybe he will come on as a late sub, but hasn't even been on the bench lately.
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on December 15, 2016, 11:29:05 PM
One game will not effect our season, but lack of consistency will, that's why now it is so important to string a few wins together and go on a decent unbeaten run.
If we beat Derby we will go above them on goal difference.
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Agree with this. Want to see us being as consistent as possible from game to game. Especially in the defense. Again I was surprised not to see Ream in the line up given his recent performances.
Also agree with Carborundum that we can beat this lot.
Not sure I would change shape for this fixture. Would like to see Smith start up top and to receive better service then Martin has been getting. Other then that I would not make any starting changes to the starting XI.
Statto is quite right about games needed to catch a position. I say position because it does not matter who the teams are its the points you are chasing.
People look at us 3 pts behind Derby and think a win will take us into top 6th. Well it doesn't quite work like that as other teams are above us and in the end you are still trying to make up ground on others. Now it is totally within the realms of results we could be top six after the game but principle still stands.
As it stands we are averaging 1.52 pts per game across the 21 games.
Over last 10 we have played at 1.8 ppg.
6th place currently has an average of 1.67.
If we look to game 30 6th place will be on 50 points...give or take 1 point
If we continue with our season form we will have 46 pts.
If we play with our last ten game form we would have 48 pts
For us to be 6th at the end of game 30 we would need 18 pts from 9 games. As Statto says 2pts a game.
So form wise we need to be one of the top two teams over next 9 games to be in 6th place at the end of the Birmingham game.
because of those results after the first international break we have always been playing catch up and will do for rest of the season.
Quote from: MJG on December 16, 2016, 08:31:12 AM
Statto is quite right about games needed to catch a position. I say position because it does not matter who the teams are its the points you are chasing.
People look at us 3 pts behind Derby and think a win will take us into top 6th. Well it doesn't quite work like that as other teams are above us and in the end you are still trying to make up ground on others. Now it is totally within the realms of results we could be top six after the game but principle still stands.
As it stands we are averaging 1.52 pts per game across the 21 games.
Over last 10 we have played at 1.8 ppg.
6th place currently has an average of 1.67.
If we look to game 30 6th place will be on 50 points...give or take 1 point
If we continue with our season form we will have 46 pts.
If we play with our last ten game form we would have 48 pts
For us to be 6th at the end of game 30 we would need 18 pts from 9 games. As Statto says 2pts a game.
So form wise we need to be one of the top two teams over next 9 games to be in 6th place at the end of the Birmingham game.
because of those results after the first international break we have always been playing catch up and will do for rest of the season.
Helpful post that indulges my tendency to play around with numbers. Anyone who doesn't enjoy that sort of stuff might be advised to stop reading now.
The key stat for me is that we have got 18 points from the last 10 games. They haven't been a particularly easy set of games, so it's a fair reflection of where we are relative to others. If we stay at that level of point accumulation, then the 25 games ahead would bring 45 points. Taking us to 77. Good enough for top 6 most, but not all, seasons. But a very good season in any respect.
So if we improve relative to others we get play offs. If we deteriorate we won't. Not exactly a dazzling insight I know. Have we got improvement in this squad? Yes, I believe we have. Going to be gripping stuff finding out.
Quote from: Carborundum on December 16, 2016, 09:51:48 AM
Quote from: MJG on December 16, 2016, 08:31:12 AM
Statto is quite right about games needed to catch a position. I say position because it does not matter who the teams are its the points you are chasing.
People look at us 3 pts behind Derby and think a win will take us into top 6th. Well it doesn't quite work like that as other teams are above us and in the end you are still trying to make up ground on others. Now it is totally within the realms of results we could be top six after the game but principle still stands.
As it stands we are averaging 1.52 pts per game across the 21 games.
Over last 10 we have played at 1.8 ppg.
6th place currently has an average of 1.67.
If we look to game 30 6th place will be on 50 points...give or take 1 point
If we continue with our season form we will have 46 pts.
If we play with our last ten game form we would have 48 pts
For us to be 6th at the end of game 30 we would need 18 pts from 9 games. As Statto says 2pts a game.
So form wise we need to be one of the top two teams over next 9 games to be in 6th place at the end of the Birmingham game.
because of those results after the first international break we have always been playing catch up and will do for rest of the season.
Helpful post that indulges my tendency to play around with numbers. Anyone who doesn't enjoy that sort of stuff might be advised to stop reading now.
The key stat for me is that we have got 18 points from the last 10 games. They haven't been a particularly easy set of games, so it's a fair reflection of where we are relative to others. If we stay at that level of point accumulation, then the 25 games ahead would bring 45 points. Taking us to 77. Good enough for top 6 most, but not all, seasons. But a very good season in any respect.
So if we improve relative to others we get play offs. If we deteriorate we won't. Not exactly a dazzling insight I know. Have we got improvement in this squad? Yes, I believe we have. Going to be gripping stuff finding out.
Of course at the moment that would be a last game and in the play offs scenario...not sure my nerves will take it ;-)
As neither Smith, Woodrow nor Humphrys has got a look-in recently I can't see Jok starting with an out and out striker.
I think and, based on the circumstances, hope that this will be the lineup against Derby:
Button
Fredericks - Kalas - Madl - Malone
Cairney - McDonald - Johansen
Aluko - Piazon - Ayité
Subs: Betts, Sigurdsson, Odoi, Parker, Kebano, Humphrys, Smith
Quote from: twang on December 16, 2016, 11:12:31 AM
As neither Smith, Woodrow nor Humphrys has got a look-in recently I can't see Jok starting with an out and out striker.
I think and, based on the circumstances, hope that this will be the lineup against Derby:
Button
Fredericks - Kalas - Madl - Malone
Cairney - McDonald - Johansen
Aluko - Piazon - Ayité
Subs: Betts, Sigurdsson, Odoi, Parker, Kebano, Humphrys, Smith
This would be a good starting lineup. Humphrys is in the pictures of the training session at Motspur Park this morning so hopefully he'll make it into tomorrow's squad.
Wonder if SK is over in London doing some Christmas shopping given how good the rate for the dollar against the pound is at the moment. Hopefully someone is showing him some strikers?
Could the lad feature at some point?
"Stephen Humphrys @HumphrysStevie
Looking forward to the game tomorrow against derby at the cottage! Big, Big day! @FulhamFC #FFC #COYW "
Quote from: EastEndWhite on December 16, 2016, 01:45:43 PM
Quote from: twang on December 16, 2016, 11:12:31 AM
As neither Smith, Woodrow nor Humphrys has got a look-in recently I can't see Jok starting with an out and out striker.
I think and, based on the circumstances, hope that this will be the lineup against Derby:
Button
Fredericks - Kalas - Madl - Malone
Cairney - McDonald - Johansen
Aluko - Piazon - Ayité
Subs: Betts, Sigurdsson, Odoi, Parker, Kebano, Humphrys, Smith
This would be a good starting lineup. Humphrys is in the pictures of the training session at Motspur Park this morning so hopefully he'll make it into tomorrow's squad.
Wonder if SK is over in London doing some Christmas shopping given how good the rate for the dollar against the pound is at the moment. Hopefully someone is showing him some strikers?
Ok, I'm probably going to get some stick for this but.....I still wonder about Joka having an actual plan B. Or perhaps it is more like a plan C. Sure when we are sitting in a draw or up by one Joka has the option to bring in Scotty to shore up the mid-field, but I can't say I've really seen a true change in strategy for or during a game.
I just went back and looked at each of this seasons fixtures. Including the preseason Fulham have never played a 4-3-3. We've only played 4-4-2, 4-4-1-1 or what has now become or steady eddy 4-2-3-1. So I would be surprised if now Joka up and went with a 4-3-3.
Don't get me wrong I like the above line-up and think it could be exciting to watch as it has the potential to be very creative in the final third. I just don't see it happening. Instead I think Joka will either stay with a 4-2-3-1 or revert back to some sort of 4-4-2.
My guess is Joka will start with some resemblance of one of these two.
Button
Fredericks - Kalas - Madl - Malone
Johansen - McDonald
Aluko - Cairney - Ayité
Smith
Or
Button
Fredericks - Kalas - Madl - Malone
Aluko - Cairney - McDonald - Ayite
Piazon
Smith
Humphreys starts tomorrow.
Reading between the lines of what he has said on twitter,I think he has been told so..
Quote from: Statto on December 16, 2016, 06:54:10 PM
My prediction (and my own choice if were manager) would be an unchanged team except up front, and Sigurdsson in for Madl.
As for who plays up front I still have absolutely no idea whether it will be
Smith
or Piazon (possibly switching roles with Aluko or Ayite)
or, following today's events, Humphries...
but it would definitely be one of those three
Will be interesting to see at 2pm tomorrow!!!
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Why change (formation) that is working?
I agree also re Sigurdsson.
I also agree that I'm not sure who I would go with upfront!
I'm not sure what Derbys defence is like and so leave this to Slavisa, whom I trust to get it right.
The only thing I can add is...
It would be great to see the young man upfront but it would be typical
fulhamish for him to be a revelation only for Spuds to take him in Jan!!
Therefore, although it would be great to see the lad I would wait for after the window!
Quote from: Statto on December 16, 2016, 06:54:10 PM
My prediction (and my own choice if were manager) would be an unchanged team except up front, and Sigurdsson in for Madl.
As for who plays up front I still have absolutely no idea whether it will be
Smith
or Piazon (possibly switching roles with Aluko or Ayite)
or, following today's events, Humphries...
but it would definitely be one of those three
Will be interesting to see at 2pm tomorrow!!!
Malone must start at left back, no two ways about it.
