Very Early Team News for Saturday..

[mrska]

Fulham FC Official
FFC Team News: Aaron Hughes and Philippe Senderos are fit and available for Saturday's game against Sunderland. Steve Sidwell faces a fitness test on Friday after undergoing a hernia operation during the international break. Stephen Kelly is injured but will return to training next week as will Simon Davies. Zdenek Grygera is the only long term injury and is not expected to return until May 2012.

[LBNo11]

...hopefully Ruiz will not be jet-lagged and play at Sunderland, his improvement is obvious and if he can link with Dembele their pace could swing the game in our favour...


WATW!

[mrska]

So glad that Digger is going to start training.. we miss his direct style..

[sipwell]

I am glad that none of the attackers is injured. Those we need the most! Wouldn't Zamora make a good central defender? We can have an "all attacking" side then :)

[BalDrick]

'...if he can link with Dembele...'

Will be interesting to see Dembele, if he plays. Might just be the volume of media coverage but I am no longer expecting to see him in the new year and am wondering whether he'll be 'rested', or worse go through the motions making damned sure whatever else happens, he doesn't pick up an injury.

[TonyGilroy]

If he wants a move he needs to impress.

As for Spurs I can't see him walking into their team even at his best.

[BalDrick]

If he wants a move he needs to impress.

As for Spurs I can't see him walking into their team even at his best.

I'd certainly agree with your latter point Tony, albeit think there could be a bench, late sub type role for him there. The (probable) doubling of his wages will no doubt go some way towards assuaging the lack of playing time.

As for your first point, that pre-supposes a deal hasn't already been agreed between player/agent and buying club - they did try to buy him in the summer don't forget so it's not like he's just sent his CV in and is nervously awaiting his first interview - they already know he can do it (unlike me, who still hasn't decided whether he's a luxury player, a very annoying player or a legend in the making).

[Mr Fulham]

I can't see Dembele leaving Fulham this January. I don't know why everyone else has him down as a dead-cert departure. Definitely not. Spurs are in fpr Leandardo Damiao, but at the moment certainly not for Moussa Dembele.

He's really not as important as you think! :dft012:

[MJG]

So looks like Jol will go:(With Sidwell out, otherwise Etuhu on the bench and Frei drops out.)
Schwarzer
Baird-Hughes-Hangeland-Riise
Dembele-Murphy-Etuhu-Dempsey
Johnson-Zamora
Subs: Etheridge-Senderos-Briggs-Kasami-Frei-Duff-Ruiz

[jarv]

I suspect an attacking line up. No doubt will start slowly as usual but press on later in the game. Sunderland letting in goals at home??? No doubt they are leaving gaps, attacking to keep the fans pleased. Something for Fulham to exploit. score???  1-0 Fulham or 6-5, don't care. 3 points needed. 082.gif

[horse1031]

Sidwell had a hernia OP?  What?!  where have i been!  didnt know he was struggling at all when i watched him play.  Fair play to him if he was hurting cause he never shy'd away from a challenge.

[BalDrick]

Sidwell had a hernia OP?  What?!  where have i been!  didnt know he was struggling at all when i watched him play.  Fair play to him if he was hurting cause he never shy'd away from a challenge.

Carrying all those yellows which could have been red!

I can't see Dembele leaving Fulham this January. I don't know why everyone else has him down as a dead-cert departure. Definitely not. Spurs are in fpr Leandardo Damiao, but at the moment certainly not for Moussa Dembele.

He's really not as important as you think! :dft012:

I don't think he is that important actually. Don't want to sound like a pre-empted never liked him anyway but he is incredibly frustrating at times, with not nearly as much end product as a player of his skill ought to provide - have a feeling he'd prosper more in a league where he was protected more, but he'd need to be playing for a Barca or Real to get that protection and he's not good enough for them.

As for his leaving in January, there's been an awful lot of rumours, as I have stated before IMO plenty of which have been FFC-planted. Assuming he's not going to extend - and I can't see him doing that - the longer he stays, the less we'll get for him. Wouldn't be at all surprised if Jol had been told sell him in Jan if you expect any cash for new blood. We shall see.

[aussierod]

Assuming he's not going to extend - and I can't see him doing that - the longer he stays, the less we'll get for him. Wouldn't be at all surprised if Jol had been told sell him in Jan if you expect any cash for new blood.
Completely agree with that, I think Dembele will get high praise up until January as we look to drive his price up, then look to pass him off as Tottenham look for a Van Der Vaart replacement. I'd like someone like Krancjar as a replacement or perhaps get cash plus that young Carroll fella we've been linked to, if he's any good that is.

With regards to the line up on the weekend, think we'll maintain the CB pairing of Baird and Hangers so Hughes will play on the right, Sidwell will play through the pain if given the opportunity, but Etuhu wont be too bad as I dont seem to think Sunderland press the midfield too much (but havent seen much of them this season) which will allow Murphy more space to work in. I'd also play 4-4-2 so we've got an outlet to play to upfront when getting pressured as we're away. So

              Schwartzer
Hughes - Baird - Hangerland - Riise
Dembele - Murphy - Sidwell - Dempsey
         Johnson - Zamora

[Mr Fulham]

The official denial clearly shows that the rumours were not FFC-planted IMHO.

[bigalffc]

I can't see Dembele leaving Fulham this January. I don't know why everyone else has him down as a dead-cert departure. Definitely not. Spurs are in fpr Leandardo Damiao, but at the moment certainly not for Moussa Dembele.

He's really not as important as you think! :dft012:

He's not as important as he thinks! 063.gif

[FatFreddysCat]

If Sidders had the umbilical hernia op i'd be amazed if he's fit for Sunderland, i was bedridden for three weeks after my op. Then again he would be seeing the best and not the butcher who has fecked up my belly button and i'm still not convinced it's 100% sorted  :014:  :035:

[Admin]

If Sidders had the umbilical hernia op i'd be amazed if he's fit for Sunderland, i was bedridden for three weeks after my op. Then again he would be seeing the best and not the butcher who has fecked up my belly button and i'm still not convinced it's 100% sorted  :014:  :035:

Lets be honest, I think the surgeon that you had, had a heck of a lot more to do on your belly than the other did on Sidwells  :dft011:

[FatFreddysCat]

If Sidders had the umbilical hernia op i'd be amazed if he's fit for Sunderland, i was bedridden for three weeks after my op. Then again he would be seeing the best and not the butcher who has fecked up my belly button and i'm still not convinced it's 100% sorted  :014:  :035:

Lets be honest, I think the surgeon that you had, had a heck of a lot more to do on your belly than the other did on Sidwells  :dft011:

ouch   :011:

[Travers Barney]

My favourite away but I won't be there...ruptured achilles and torn calf playing vets...48 I should know better...fortunately I'll still be making Enchede due to the legend that is Scrumpy...only concern is if a Northolter attempts to half inch the MP Flag.

We are the whites

[VicHalomsLovechild]

If Dembele went forward and not across the pitch, it wouldn't just be Spurs interested. I don't think it's all his fault it's the way he fits in to the current team.  We have players who don't gel together that well. Under Roy people had a roll which didn't always fit their style but it was Roy's way. I think MJ is trying to move it on to rolls for players who also play that way, we just don't have all the right players.
As for Freds hernia the fact his navel is now over his left buttock would suggest he didn't get the NHS's top dog, hernia specialist.