Team vs Leeds

[Ara's bacon crisps]

I reckon we might see 10 or 20 minutes of Kevin and Chukwueze against Leeds if we're lucky and then hopefully Marco will release them in full beast mode the following week to give FC Hounslow the battering they so richly deserve.

[Jim©]

Lots of "Marco won't change this, or won't do that" whereas we've seen a different formation for some games already this season.
I'd like to see the new guys getting minutes quickly, at least 30 mins v Leeds.
I'd like to see how we adapt to low block teams that come to the cottage to frustrate. We did really badly against them last season, the difference between Europe and not.

[Lordedmundo]

Leno
Tete-Anderson-Bassey-Robinson
Berge-Lukic
ESR
Wilson-Muniz-Kevin

Personally, I think Marco will start Kevin. He will have had 2 weeks of training with the squad, so you could argue he is in better prepared to start than players coming back from international duty.

For the same reason, I would also put in ESR from the start - with King to get minutes coming off the bench.

Chuk would have hardly trained with the squad, but could get some minutes off the bench also.

I think the only other consideration is whether to put Iwobi in as the 8 ahead of Lukic for a home game where we really need to take the initiative.

[FFC007]

I'd laugh if Michael Salisbury is the ref for this game....

[FFC007]

Fulham v Leeds United
Premier League   
Referee: Pawson, Craig
Assistant Referee: Betts, Lee
Assistant Referee: Scholes, Mark
Fourth Official: Smith, Josh
Video Assistant Referee: Tierney, Paul
Additional Video Assistant Referee: Antrobus, Blake

Pawson is a safe pair of hands, one of the better officials .

[KentFulham]

Leno
Tete-Anderson-Bassey-Robinson
Berge-Lukic
ESR
Wilson-Muniz-Kevin

Personally, I think Marco will start Kevin. He will have had 2 weeks of training with the squad, so you could argue he is in better prepared to start than players coming back from international duty.

For the same reason, I would also put in ESR from the start - with King to get minutes coming off the bench.

Chuk would have hardly trained with the squad, but could get some minutes off the bench also.

I think the only other consideration is whether to put Iwobi in as the 8 ahead of Lukic for a home game where we really need to take the initiative.

King has done nothing to warrant being dropped. ESR should start on the bench

[Hatch007]

I'll be seriously disappointed if Marco selects Berge AND Lukic in the starting XI.

As Lord states above, we need to be more adventurous at home against the (on-paper, at least) lesser teams

[ffcthereligion]

So that's the end of the international break. Any injuries?

[Hatch007]

I read in another thread that Raul had ice on his knee after being subbed off but hopefully nothing serious

[jayffc]

I read in another thread that Raul had ice on his knee after being subbed off but hopefully nothing serious

Seen walking albeit a little stiffly after the game... Just a knock hopefully. Probably will be a little uncomfortable and doubt flying will help the swelling but hopefully he's ok for saturday.... If not...First citing of Jonah? Hasn't trained with squad yet so probably too soon.

[Lordedmundo]

Leno
Tete-Anderson-Bassey-Robinson
Berge-Lukic
ESR
Wilson-Muniz-Kevin

Personally, I think Marco will start Kevin. He will have had 2 weeks of training with the squad, so you could argue he is in better prepared to start than players coming back from international duty.

For the same reason, I would also put in ESR from the start - with King to get minutes coming off the bench.

Chuk would have hardly trained with the squad, but could get some minutes off the bench also.

I think the only other consideration is whether to put Iwobi in as the 8 ahead of Lukic for a home game where we really need to take the initiative.

King has done nothing to warrant being dropped. ESR should start on the bench

Rested - not dropped! In my view an 18 year old should not start every game. He has also been away on international duty with the under 19s. I expected him to play twice, but it seems he was sub for the second match yesterday, so maybe he will start Saturday.

[StuinSalop]

I did think ESR may start this one with King on the bench.  King need to be carefully managed.  He is going to be a big player for us.  I think we will see King and ESR together at some point and I agree Iwobi will at some point be given the no 8 role.

Bottom line is Marco has choices all over the pitch, choices that don't ecessarioy weaken us.  I wonder who plays left back, Robinson or Sess?

[KentFulham]

Yet Sess isnt a LB, why would we play him out of position when he is more a threat going forward, he also is better at crossing than Robinson. If King has the energy and desire to play we should let him, agree he will be a big player one day, but it wont be for us, he will be a big player elsewhere

[Deeping_white]

In a training video the club put out a few days ago, Kevin put Tete on his arse when he tried to tackle him, something I have never seen in all the years Tete's been playing for us. I reckon he gets significant mins on saturday because I don't think Leeds have the defence capable of stopping him. I'd also be tempted to play Iwobi in the 8 with King/ESR in front of Iwobi & Berge/Lukic because Leeds are short of CM's due to injury so it's one area of the pitch we need to take control of early doors to dictate the game

[JimmyConway]

Tend to think it's a game where Silva might gamble more. King possibly dropping in to more box to box position and ESR playing as the No10. Would not surprise me if Kevin starts. Hopefully Robinson back as well. Up front they have looked lively but not sure there the strongest especially defensively. Good time to get first win but an air of caution Leeds will also target this game as winnable?

[Sting of the North]

Yet Sess isnt a LB, why would we play him out of position when he is more a threat going forward, he also is better at crossing than Robinson. If King has the energy and desire to play we should let him, agree he will be a big player one day, but it wont be for us, he will be a big player elsewhere

Just because you keep claiming Sess isn't a left back, it doesn't come true. He was signed as a left back, Marco uses him as a left back (and also as a winger), he has played left back a lot in his career. And frankly, he hasn't looked out of place once at left back since he came back.

[Twig]

Yet Sess isnt a LB, why would we play him out of position when he is more a threat going forward, he also is better at crossing than Robinson. If King has the energy and desire to play we should let him, agree he will be a big player one day, but it wont be for us, he will be a big player elsewhere

Just because you keep claiming Sess isn't a left back, it doesn't come true. He was signed as a left back, Marco uses him as a left back (and also as a winger), he has played left back a lot in his career. And frankly, he hasn't looked out of place once at left back since he came back.

It's a difficult one isn't it. It's great to have Sess' versatility and quite a lot of us prefer him at LW but I agree he has also done well recently at LB. Trouble is there always seems to be someone ahead of him in both positions which is frustrating for those of us who enjoy watching him.

[Jim©]

Personally I think Sess's best position is left wing back. Means that he's not 100% defending, which he's way better at, now he has got a lot stronger and he's getting forward more, which is great as he's got a fantastic delivery.

[Bronaldinho]

Personally I think Sess's best position is left wing back. Means that he's not 100% defending, which he's way better at how he has got a lot stronger and he's getting forward more, which is great as he's got a fantastic delivery.

He's so much better in the final third, when he's asked to go backwards it's always a shame.

His positioning in the final third, getting in front of his man is his best ability, it's instinct for him. It's why he's scored so many one touch finishes or tap-ins

[bobbo]

Leno
Tete Andersen Bassey Robinson
Berge Lukic
Chukuweze King Iwobi
Muniz

Wouldn't throw Kevin into the deep end just yet, but Chukuweze is more experienced and a lower profile signing, so will feel less pressure on him, I reckon

Isnt chukuweze on duty in nigeria and iwobi ?