Team for Palace

[alfie]

Nothing like givin

Leno

Tete Andersen Bassey Sess

    Lukic Iwobi

  Chuk ESR Kevin

      Raul

Please explain how Lukic gets ahead of Berge ...

Berge is a lamppost, a crab who passes sideways, slow, hardly tackles, takes lots of breathers by putting himself in a position where he can't receive the ball, has helped get two teams relegated and in his Fulham career has no goals, no assists and one own goal.  That was an easy question to answer!

Nothing like giving your players a bit of support and confidence .

[SerbianLad]

Berge is a lamppost, a crab who passes sideways, slow, hardly tackles, takes lots of breathers by putting himself in a position where he can't receive the ball, has helped get two teams relegated and in his Fulham career has no goals, no assists and one own goal.  That was an easy question to answer!

I think that's really harsh on Berge. He had a slow start to the season last year and same again this year, but in both years he improved significantly after that and earned his place in the starting 11 by merit. This season, it happened after the last international break, probably because he got a confidence boost during that international break. He was very good in both the Sunderland game and the Spurs game. I don't think he was at his best vs Manchester City in that first half and thr beginning of the second, but who apart from ESR was? Even Chukwueze struggled in the beginning of the second half and then after Iwobi scored, the whole team improved significantly.

[FFC In Oz]

I agree with claims to play Diop and Cuenca, as they always perform well when given a chance. It won't happen though unfortunately, but it would also give the option to rest Sess and play Bassey at LB.

Leno
Tete - Diop - Cuenca - Bassey
Berge - Iwobi
Wilson - Smith Rowe - Chukwueze
Raúl

Agree with this except I'd have Andersen next to Cuenca

[HV71]

I'm a huge fan of Cuenca - and would have started him on more occasions than we have done. However to risk him just before AFCON would be risky. Imagine if he played today and sustained an injury - where would that leave us?

[akf]

I'm a huge fan of Cuenca - and would have started him on more occasions than we have done. However to risk him just before AFCON would be risky. Imagine if he played today and sustained an injury - where would that leave us?

A counter argument would be to put him in to get confidence and momentum before the AFCON break.

[SerbianLad]

I'm a huge fan of Cuenca - and would have started him on more occasions than we have done. However to risk him just before AFCON would be risky. Imagine if he played today and sustained an injury - where would that leave us?

Unless it's a serious injury, we could play Andersen and Diop. Diop has shown multiple times that he can play in both centreback positions. It would of course be far from ideal and we'd be spread very thin, but it still wouldn't be the end of the world.

[Fulham 1879]

Nothing like givin

Leno

Tete Andersen Bassey Sess

    Lukic Iwobi

  Chuk ESR Kevin

      Raul

Please explain how Lukic gets ahead of Berge ...

Berge is a lamppost, a crab who passes sideways, slow, hardly tackles, takes lots of breathers by putting himself in a position where he can't receive the ball, has helped get two teams relegated and in his Fulham career has no goals, no assists and one own goal.  That was an easy question to answer!

Nothing like giving your players a bit of support and confidence .

Unlike some people on this forum I continued to watch even when 5-1 down against City and will always support the team when there's a match to the final whistle. However, we all have had players who just perpetually frustrate us. I'll admit to a dislike of ball recyclers. For example, Trollope used to do my head in.

[SP]

Rail replacement service running between Clapham Junction & Putney today.

[Eton White]

I'm a huge fan of Cuenca - and would have started him on more occasions than we have done. However to risk him just before AFCON would be risky. Imagine if he played today and sustained an injury - where would that leave us?

Players can get injured at any time. Whether he plays and gets injured today or at any time during AFCON, we'll be in the same position.

It's surely better to give him a chance to integrate with the team sooner rather than later?

[H4usuallysitting]

I'm a huge fan of Cuenca - and would have started him on more occasions than we have done. However to risk him just before AFCON would be risky. Imagine if he played today and sustained an injury - where would that leave us?

Players can get injured at any time. Whether he plays and gets injured today or at any time during AFCON, we'll be in the same position.

It's surely better to give him a chance to integrate with the team sooner rather than later?

He'll be integrated at every training session.... I'd only put him in if Bassey got injured...no point in mucking about with the back 4 .... Cuenca has proved more than capable when called on...he always looks ready & able

[LittleErn]

I don't know if I got this right, but I seem to remember reading that CP are one of the tallest teams in the Prem. If that is right we may need Diop's height to defend crosses.

[The Old Count]

Leno

Tete Andersen Bassey Sess

    Lukic Iwobi

  Chuk ESR Kevin

      Raul

Please explain how Lukic gets ahead of Berge ...

Berge is a lamppost, a crab who passes sideways, slow, hardly tackles, takes lots of breathers by putting himself in a position where he can't receive the ball, has helped get two teams relegated and in his Fulham career has no goals, no assists and one own goal.  That was an easy question to answer!

I thought I'd seen George Formby leaning on him.

[Grassy Noel]

Leno

Tete Andersen Bassey Sess

    Lukic Iwobi

  Chuk ESR Kevin

      Raul

Please explain how Lukic gets ahead of Berge ...

Berge is a lamppost, a crab who passes sideways, slow, hardly tackles, takes lots of breathers by putting himself in a position where he can't receive the ball, has helped get two teams relegated and in his Fulham career has no goals, no assists and one own goal.  That was an easy question to answer!

I thought I'd seen George Formby leaning on him.

Ah yes. An early song about stalking. Not for sensitive ears.
 

[LittleErn]

I don't know if I got this right, but I seem to remember reading that CP are one of the tallest teams in the Prem. If that is right we may need Diop's height to defend crosses.

Told you.