Team for the weekend

[IranianCottager]

My line-up:
-----------------------Stekelenburg-----------------------
-Riether---------Heitinga---Hangeland----Richardson-
---------------------------Kvist----------------------------
-----------------Sidwell---------Holtby-------------------
-Dejagah----------------------------------------Kasami-
-------------------------Mitroglou------------------------

Bench:
Stockdale, Burn, Parker, Duff, Kacaniklic, Tankovic, Bent

I don't want to see Dempsey in the squad again, he has been poor in every single outing he has had for us this season. I think Karagounis should be slowly integrated back into the squad, we look so much better with him on the field and can actually string a few passes and have some possession. Sidwell over Parker for me because Parker has not been himself for the past month. And I feel harsh dropping Burn considering he has been better than Hangeland, but let's face it, our captain will not be benched, so I was just being realistic.

[Alan_C]

I'm beginning to get worried and think Rene actually takes tips from here and other message boards.

Ruiz, Taraabt and Berbatov gone, they can't fight and don't try. Like me many would have been at CC Saturday and seen on TV last nights debacle. I admit I was not a fan of Taraabt but the other two had bags of quality.

I don't thing scapegoating individuals is acceptable but in the cold light of day we are not crafting anything and Dejagah and Kaca are at the heart of this current deficiency

The left had side of our team is weaker than the rest.

I don't know what Tunniclife is like I have never seen. Home play, likewise Cole and have only seen Kvist the once. I do know that the game against Tottenham was board wring on one of our better performances. The two main reasons for me was Karagounis and Berbatov.

Karagounis and Holtby must play.
Richardson played well in from of Riise and if both fit would cover the left had side of the pitch. Parker or Sidwell (not both)

Sad thing is when you write it down it doesn't work!!

We need our best players to start age isn't a fact be it young or old. Replacing them at the right time is key.

Stek
Reither - Burn - Hangeland/Heitinger - Riise
Kvist
Parker - Karagounis - Richardson
Holtby
Bent / Kostas

Kasami / Dempsey to replace the tired Kargounis (probably meaning Holtby drops back)
Amore at LB if Riise is out. (Can Heitinger play LB?)

[Classic94]

I'm currently fed up with alot of first team regulars.

Kaca absolutely cannot play. He has been utterly awful this season, and was totally non existent last night. He's not going to get any better. He's 23 and cannot do even the simplest things.

Hangeland looks finished. He gets turned too easily and never seems to get off the floor when going for headers.

I've totally changed my mind about Parker, and feel that him constantly slowing the play down in the middle of the park is causing us problems. What exactly is his strengths? He doesnt tackle, doesnt create and doesnt score. He just does little pirouettes all the time and 5 yard passes left and right.

Amorebieta seems equally terrible at LB and CB.

Our full backs need to stop going forward in my opinion. I'd like to wager that 95% of goals we've conceded this season have come from a) set plays and b) counter attacks down the wings when the fullback is out of position.

Kasami runs about alot... but thats about it. He cant cross, rarely shoots on target and doesnt create chances.

Dempsey is utterly finished and should never play for us again

And infuriatingly NONE of our players can cross a ball

As it is impossible to play any worse than we have been I would shake the team up and put some players in that will actually try. My team for Man U would be:

---------Stekelenburg--------
Reither--Heitinga--Burn--Richardson
-------Tunnicliffe--Kvist-------
-------------Karagounis------
----Dejagah------------Holtby-----------
-------------Mitroglou----

Pretty much agree with everything.

It's not ideal having Holtby out wide but no one else is capable/worthy of filling that position. Parker looked terribly jaded both at the weekend and in the cup game so should be rested. Let's see what Tunnicliffe can do. I also like the idea of Karagounis playing in a more advanced/playmaker role - he should be given the armband. Hangeland has been god awful, so if any of our CB's should be dropped, it's him. Finally, I like Kaca but he needs to go back to basics. Either way, he shouldn't start after his diabolical performance yesterday though he was one of many.

[aaronmcguigan]

No one over the age of 25 vs United?! Is that a serious statement??

What a silly statement, everyone knows you dont win anything with kids

[aaronmcguigan]

if we played no one over 25, we would be playing Etheridge in nets, who will turn 24 by then and have played one game in 8 years for fulham

[FPT]

I'm going to go a bit out there...

-------------------------------------------Stekelenburg-----------------------------------------------
Riether-------------------Hangeland----------------------------Burn-------------------------------Riise
-----------------------------Kvist----------------------------Heitinga---------------------------------
Dejagah-------------------------------------Holtby------------------------------------------Richardson
-------------------------------------------Mitroglou---------------------------------------------------

Subs: Stockdale, Passley, Parker, Karagounis, Kacaniklic, Kasami, Rodallega.

Yep, I know it's 4231. Willy and Johnny sitting in front of the back four should provide defensive solidity AND the ability to play short passes, though with Hangeland and Burn's development into long ball players, I was tempted to shaft Heitinga into the back four.

Riise and Richardson was actually our left wing partnership when we last won... West Ham at home in case you had forgotten.

The aim is to return to quick, countering football and Dejagah, Holtby and Richardson should help provide Mitroglou with a couple of chances; United are not as solid as they have been, a chance should fall to Troggers.

The reason Kacaniklic doesn't play, is he was woeful against a League One full back, it's been really sad to see his downfall in form and quality. Maybe a year in the Championship will do him good.



Obviously, I don't think this will be the line up, and with Cole and Tunnicliffe's low squad numbers, it suggests they will be a part of the first team.

[@jolslover]

id like to see a 433
Stek
Riether Hangeland Heitinga Richardson
Tunnicliffe Parker Holtby
Dejagah Mitroglou Cole

the reason i suggest this team is because i believe tunnicliffe and cole will really give there all as they are playing against there old team

[copthornemike]

If I was going to guess the line up Rene will pick I would go

                     Stekelenburg
Riether Heitinga Hangeland Richardson
              Parker Sidwell Kvist
Duff                   Bent             Holtby

Subs - Stockdale, Burn, Kasami, Kacaniklic,  Tunnicliffe,  Dejagah, Mitraglou

Just have a feeling Mitraglou will start sub Sunday, Parker & Sidwell will always play

Unfortunately I think you are spot on.

What I would like to see however is a 4-3-3 with a mobile front six able to press the opposition and retain a team shape quickly when we lose possession as it is realistic to assume we will only have 30-40% possession.

Back four - keep Burns as he offers a genuine threat at set pieces and has been one of the better defensive players. Replace Reither with Heitinger. It will negate our normal attack as he is probably the best crosser of a ball in the team, but other teams have successful sussed him out and targeted cross field balls behind him when we lose possession and we do need more solidity away from home. Richardson at least has the pace to compete with Utd's wingers compared to Riise.

Midfield - Kvist, Holtby and Kasami. Parker was a real disappointment last night and I thought he slowed up too many attacks allowing Sheff utd tom form an organised defensive shape with ease. He seemed to do a couple of pirouettes before releasing the ball. So Kvist to be told to stay back and screen the defense like one of the Sheffield Utd players did so well last night so no-one was ever left 1 v 1. To be accompanied by Holtby and Kasami - they have the stamina to ensure the attack has support when we have the ball, and to get back quickly when we lose it and/or are not in possession. Both are tenacious and tackle - and I was impressed with Holtby's dead ball delivery vs Southampton.I would have Karagounis ready to come on later in the game as most of the team are quiet types whose heads go down at the moment - he at least shouts and looks like he relishes a fight (in the right way).

Attack: Degagah + Bent (with Mitroglou to come on ASAP depending on fitness) and a quick left winger. Unfortunately after last night's display Kaca is not that type of left winger, not quick or clever enough in attack and offers little when we do not have the ball.  Any suggestions? Tankovic, even Riise?

[Finnans Right Peg]

Just a thought but would it be worth switching Reither to left full it works for Chelsea and playing passley or heitinga right full 

[bill taylors apprentice]

All I ask is, pick a well balanced team and stick with it for the remaining games

Team selection has been a part of why things are so bad, not just on the match day but its bound to effect performance with so many players unsure of their place.

Those excluded wont like it but a smaller nucleolus might pull something out the hat
 

[MrProphet]

For me:
                   Stek

Riether Hangeland Burn Riise

                Kvist
       Parker  Holtby

Dejagh.                 Richardson
          Mitrogolu

Not sure Riise is fit? But Richardson is our only viable left winger at the moment with kaca non existent and duff slower then dot cotton. Holtby has to play in the middle with three we can dominant and awful centre midfield pairing at United.
Win the midfield battle and break quickly against a slow and clumsy evra and a rash poor defensively Rafael. Their defence and centre midfield is mid table at best

Attack with pace and conviction down the wings and give our new Greek gladiator a chance to show why he is worth the hype

[Julius Geezer]

---------Stekelenburg--------
Reither--Hangeland--Burn--Richardson
-------Parker--Kvist-------
-------------Holtby------
----Dejagah------------Cole-----------
-------------Mitroglou----

Subs - Stockdale, Heitinga, Riise, Kacaniklic, Sidwell, Kasami, Bent.

[Burt]

Stek
Riether
Heitinga
Hangers
Richardson
Kvist
Parker
Holtby
Dejagah
Kasami
Mitroglou

[PokerMatt]

We need a left winger on the left and a right winger on the right. An actual striker up front and complementary, not similar, central midfielders. Ideally three of them.

If we crowbar #10s on the flanks and play midfielders who are all toil and no technique we're beaten before we kick off.

[Humbled]

We need a left winger on the left and a right winger on the right. An actual striker up front and complementary, not similar, central midfielders. Ideally three of them.

If we crowbar #10s on the flanks and play midfielders who are all toil and no technique we're beaten before we kick off.

Agree

[Stueyd]

Stek, reither, burn, hangeland, amore,dejagah, kvist, sidwell, duff, holtby, mitrogol

Stockdale, heitenga, Richardson, Parker, Hugo, tankovic, karagounis

[Forever Fulham]

Start Kaca over Clint?  No way.  This is crunch time.  Step Up Big time.  My money is on Dempsey.  He played well with Holtby last year. 

[Bassey the warrior]

I'd go with:
Stek
Riether Hangeland Burn Richardson
Kvist
Parker Kasami
Dejagah Holtby
Mitroglou

Riether will need to be a bit more disciplined and not leave Hangeland so exposed.

[Fulham FC Fan]

Folks, we can sit here and draft up all the line up combinations possible, but it won't work.
The team's performance on the pitch is clearly a reflection that the club is in shambles off the pitch.

The team has hit rock bottom and as things are, after Manchester United and Liverpool it will be lights out. The players will pack it up for the season.
Players will naturally have nothing to play for, they will look after their bodies, avoid injuries and start thinking of life next year in a new club, city, country, league, etc.
This is a perfectly normal attitude to have when the ship has sunk.

René Meulensteen was the wrong man for the job, plain and simple. His coaching decisions have been so out of character. His present decisions may have been based on desperation or inexperience, but this we will never know.

Him laughing on the bench with Ray Wilkins in the 85 minute, was so poor in character and judgement, it was the icing on the cake. 

If I had not heard of this man before, I would doubt he had even had walked outside of Old Trafford, let alone work under Sir Alex Ferguson's coaching staff for several years.

This team does not need to play it self out of relegation, but rather fight its way out. Who does not like youth, we all do. Tunnicliffe, Tankovic are good young players that still require a nurturing environment. Throwing them in this situation will only stunt their development.

They have European champion, with over 100 Champions league appearances, and a player will will lead his country into his second World Cup, parked on the bench or off the 18 player list, for no reason at all.

Make Giorgos Karagounis team captain, and with his leadership, charisma, heart, fight and work ethic will hopefully inspire his team to follow suit. His energy is contagious. 

This my Fulham Friends is our only option at this time.  Hangeland is gentleman and a very fine man that I have had the chance to meet, but perhaps the strong silent type character may not suit the team present climate. 

Stek
Riether Hangeland Burn Richardson
Karagounis
Parker Dempsey
Dejagah Holtby
Mitroglou

[JackyFulham90]

I genuinely think we can get a result Sunday, I have seen a few reports saying Mitraglou won't be fit for Sundays game though, when is young Dembele back??