Games for the weekend 11/11

We’re off on our travels again, this week we’re off to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa for a 2 o’clock Sunday kick off

Aston Villa v Fulham

Once again we didn’t get what we deserved from the Man Utd game, or perhaps we did? Muniz did reasonably well but we really do need a Premier class striker.
With Muniz going off injured, I really felt for the lad, I’m assuming that he’ll not be available this weekend, I’d start Raul, hopefully spark a bit of Wolves Villa rivalry? I’d also rest Robinson and Pereira.

This is going to be another difficult game, aren’t they all?, as Villa are on a decent run of form, even if they did loose against Forest last game.

Our recent record against Villa is reasonably even with 10 wins, 8 losses and 4 draws.

I’m assuming that Muniz will be unavailable and Diop, Traore, Tosin and Tete will be unavailable, my team would be

team to face Villa

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Saturday 11th
Wolves v Spurs
Arsenal v Burnley
Palace v Everton

Sunday 12th
Villa v Fulham
Liverpool v Brentford
West Ham v Nottingham
Chelsea v Man City


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Games for the weekend 04/11

After 3 successive away games we get to welcome Man Utd to the Cottage for a 12:30 kick off

Fulham v Man Utd

After a hard fought draw against Brighton, the second half was so much better than the first, and an impressive cup game I’m sure Marco will have his work cut out deciding the team to start against Man Utd.
Muniz added a different dimension when he came on against Brighton and had a really good game against Ipswich, not only getting a goal but generally causing a nuisance to the Ipswich defenders. Having said that I wouldn’t start him against Man Utd, at least not as a “lone striker”, perhaps part of a “two” with either Raul or Vinicius but I can’t see Marco playing a 4 4 2?
I’d start Pereira, I always think a player has a good game against one of his previous teams, also he was another who had a good game against Ipswich.

Man Utd are having a, for them, difficult season, loosing their last two games, Man City & Newcastle (in the Cup), 3-0, I’m sure they’ll be targeting this game as a “definite 3 points”.

our recent record against Man Utd is dire with only 2 wins, 16 losses and 3 draws

Fulham Supporters Trust in conjunction with the Fulham Lillies have organised a joint ticket price protest, on the 18 minute mark fans are encouraged to hold up a yellow card with the legend “PLEASE DON’T PRICE US OUT”.
With luck, providing most supporters in the ground, participate the resulting publicity will give the club food for thought.

My team, assuming both Diop and Vinicius are available…

squad to face Man Utd

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Saturday 4th
Fulham v Man Utd
Brentford v West Ham
Burnley v Palace
Newcastle v Arsenal

Sunday 5th
Forest v Villa

Monday 6th
Spurs v Chelsea


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Carabao Cup game 01/11

We travel to Portman Road to take on Ipswich in this 4th round tie

Ipswich v Fulham

Winning this game, no replay so penalties if needed, will see either Fulham or Ipswich progress to the last 8 of the competition.

I’m sure that Marco will put out a “strong” Fulham team, as Vinicius didn’t travel with the squad to Brighton, I’m assuming that he’ll not be available?
Apparently Diop was in contention for Brighton however as he didn’t make the squad either I think he’ll be rested until the Man Utd game at the weekend.
Could this be the game that Raúl gets his goal?, I think Iwobi could link-up well with him and when Adama Traoré regains his fitness then they could continue their successful partnership from Wolves.

Ipswich, having been promoted to the Championship, are having a really good season and if they keep it up they’ll be looking for another promotion , their currently in 2nd place 9 points above 3rd and 5 points behind Leicester, this won’t be an easy game.

Although this is a cup game, and therefor a “one off”, our recent record against Ipswich is 5 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw

my team would be…

team to face Ipswich in the Carabao Cup

COYW’s

Cup Games…

Tuesday 31st
Mansfield Town v Port Vale
Exeter City v Middlesbrough

Wednesday 1st
West Ham v Arsenal
Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers
Bournemouth v Liverpool
Everton v Burnley
Ipswich Town v Fulham
Man Utd v Newcastle


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Games for the weekend 28/10

Another away game, this time we travel to the South Coast to face Brighton at the Amex

Brighton v Fulham

Well the game against Spurs didn’t go quite to plan, it was a derby after all, but apart from a couple of mistakes I think the “team” played reasonably well. I feel for Calvin Bassey, he was playing out of position and appears to be as “one footed” as Tom Cairney.
We (Marco) still haven’t worked out how to play with either Raul or Vinicius to our best advantage, neither are Mitro! having said that, apart from the first two games, when Mitro was banned for the eight games last season Vinicius came good.

The best news we’ve had for a while was Marco signing his new contract, hopefully there will be additional funds for the January transfer window and I’m sure having a “stable” situation at the club can only help with recruitment?

Last season’s away win at the Amex was a “smash and grab”, more of the same would be very welcome.

Brighton are having another good season, they’ve not been out of the top 10 so far. They lost their last game away to Man City, drew the previous one, home to Liverpool and suffered a heavy away defeat to Villa, 6-1 at the end of September.
They’ll be looking to getting back to winning ways and will look at us as an “easy” 3 points?

Our recent record against against Brighton is even with 4 wins, 5 losses and 3 draws.

my team would be…

team to face Brighton

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Friday 27th
Palace v Spurs

Saturday 28th
Chelsea v Brentford
Arsenal v Sheff Utd

Sunday 29th
West Ham v Everton
Brighton v Fulham
Liverpool v Forest


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Games for the weekend 21/10

We travel to North London to take on Spurs for a Monday evening game

Spurs v Fulham

The game against Sheffield Utd, doesn’t it seem a long time ago?, was probably the best we’ve played so far this season.
Willian was back to his last season best. Harry, when he came on, looked really hungry, and Tom, that was his goal not an own goal!, really pulled the strings from midfield.

Diop going off injured was really the only bad news, for us, Chris Basham’s was far worse, hopefully both will be back in the not too distant future.

Harry, on his 50th appearance for his country, was the “player” of the Wales v Croatia game, scoring two and being compared, by some, to Gareth Bale!
Saša Lukić also had a “man of the match” performance for Serbia in their 3-1 win over Montenegro.
Timothy Castagne’s Belgium v Sweden match was abandoned at half time following the terrible fatal shooting of two Swedish supporters in Brussels, our thoughts are with their friends and families.
Both Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey came on as substitutes in Nigeria’s 3-2 win against Mozambique.
Leno,  Rodák, Tim Ream, Raúl Jiménez, Ballo-Touré and João Palhinha were all unused substitutes for their respective countries.

Our recent record against Spurs is very one sided with only 3 wins, 15 losses and 3 draws.

Assuming no additional injuries my team would be

team to face Spurs

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Saturday 21st
Brentford v Burnley
Newcastle v Palace
Chelsea v Arsenal

Sunday 22nd
Villa v West Ham

Monday 23rd
Spurs v Fulham


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Games for the weekend 07/10

We welcome another of the promoted teams, Sheffield Utd to the Cottage for a 3 o’clock kick off

Fulham v Sheff Utd

A very disappointing result against Chelsea, we just didn’t turn up for what for most? fans would have been “the” game we wanted to win this season.
The one player who had a decent game was Iwobi, he’s got to start the next game. Raúl is still struggling, after 7 games I’m sure he’d want to have gotten on the score sheet, I’m sure he’ll come good eventually, but I’d start Vinicius and bring Raúl on later in the game if needed.
Castagne was really good going forward but I don’t think he’s quite as good as Tete in defence.
Tim made a mistake for their first goal, if fit I think Bassey should start as he’s going to be our long term option.

Sheffield are currently bottom with only one point , they lost at home to Newcastle 0-8, but had a creditable 1-2 to Man City, their not as bad as the 0-8 would make them appear.

Marco is one win away from his 50th Premier League win (D28, L63), it would have been nice if it had come against Chelsea, but it wasn’t to be, perhaps this weekend will be the one.

Our recent record against the blades is fairly even with 4 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws.

Assuming no further injuries my team would be

team to face Sheff Utd

COYW’s

Other Games of Interest…

Saturday 7th
Luton v Spurs
Burnley v Chelsea
Fulham v Sheff Utd
Man Utd v Brentford
Palace v Forest

Sunday 8th
West Ham v Newcastle
Arsenal v Man City


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Games for the weekend 30/09

We get to welcome Chelsea to the Cottage for a Monday evening 8 o’clock kickoff

So after a couple of good results, I think we played really well in both games and were unlucky not to score more?
This is the game that I look forward to most, even though, apart from last season, we rarely got the result we deserved we’ve always “been up” for the game.
Iwobi played really well against Luton, I was very tempted to start him rather than Willian however, giving a player a chance to play against one of their previous teams nearly always seams to give them a boost.
Hopefully Bassey’s injury isn’t too bad and he’ll be on the bench, I’ve an idea that we’ll see more of him towards the end of the season as he’ll be Tim’s “long term” replacement.
Raul, Vinicius or Muniz is a bit of a conundrum, Vinicius has scored a couple and I’m sure he’d like to repeat last season, Raul I’m sure will “come good”, hopefully once he gets a goal the flood gates will open, and Muniz is the future? there must be a reason why he wasn’t sent out on loan again?

Chelsea have their own issues, don’t laugh, having spent millions/billions on their squad they’re still struggling. I’m sure they’ll turn their league form around, I just hope it doesn’t start with this game.

Our recent record against Chelsea, apart from last season, is dreadful with only 2 wins, 13 losses and 5 draws

my team would be…

squad to face Chelsea

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Saturday 30th
Bournemouth v Arsenal
Man Utd v Palace
West Ham v Sheff Utd
Spurs v Liverpool

Sunday 1st
Forest v Brentford

Monday 2nd
Fulham v Chelsea


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Games for mid-week 27/09

We welcome Norwich for a Wednesday evening kickoff League (Carabao) Cup tie, 19:45 kickoff

Fulham v Norwich

After a tricky game against Palace at the weekend, its time to turn our attention to a cup run?
The winner of this game will be into the last 16, and with Brentford playing Arsenal, Man Utd playing Palace, Newcastle playing Man City, Villa playing Everton some of the “big boys” will go out this round, it could get very interesting.
After a successful season, no thought of yo-yos, we look like a comfortable mid-table team even with no Mitro, 6 points from 8 games isn’t a bad return. The League Cup could provide a route to playing European football again, that could be instrumental in keeping players and attracting new ones.
With next Monday’s Chelsea game in mind, I’d rest some players and give game time to others, I’d start Vinicius and, if fit, Adama, Iwobi and Lukić, Ballo-Touré would get his debut. I’d give Palhinha the night off, he’s too important to risk?

Norwich fared worse then uas as they lost their game at the weekend 6-2 to Plymouth Argyle so will be looking to bounce back against us.

my team would be

team to face Norwich

COYW’s


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Games for the weekend 23/08

We travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace for a 3 o’clock kickoff

Crystal Palace v Fulham

I was really pleased for Vinicius, to come on as a sub against Luton and get a goal, you can’t ask much more of him, I think he’ll start against Palace.
Iwobi also had a very good game, could he end up our star signing this season?
Ream was back to his best, Bassey will have to go some to displace him, either player would be a good partner for Diop.
Overall João, once again, had a fantastic game the best player on the pitch by a country mile, no sign of sulking or petulance, with both him and Reed signing new contracts a welcome bit of news. I still expect he’ll go next summer if not January but lets enjoy him in a Fulham shirt while we can.

Palace have reported that Roy is back from a short bought of illness at the weekend, hopefully he won’t get 3 points as a “tonic” this week, stay well Mr Hodgson.

our recent record against Palace is reasonably even with 2 wins, 3 losses and 4 draws

Assuming no further injuries, my team would be

team to face Palace

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Saturday 23rd
Chelsea v Villa
Palace v Fulham
Brentford v Everton

Sunday 24th
Arsenal v Spurs
Liverpool v West Ham


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Games for the weekend 16/09

We get to welcome Luton Town to the Cottage for a 3 o’clock kickoff

Fulham v Luton

One of our dear departed friends, Don Hymel (HatterDon), would have loved this fixture, Don was an American who started his love for football while he was based in the UK serving in the USAF. He started going to Luton home games, hence “Hatter”, but came to Fulham because of the American players.
Don helped found fulhamusa.com and was a regular contributor to FoF in the “early days” and he is much missed on both forums, whatever the result this games for you Don.

Our players who were away on international duty had decent games, Raúl scored a couple in Mexico’s 3-3 draw with Uzbekistan. Bobby De Cordova-Reid scored a penalty for Jamaica against Haiti. Harry Wilson had an impressive game for Wales against Latvia winning a penalty and a last ditch assist for a 2-0 win. New boy, for us anyway, Timothy Castagne was involved in both Belgium games against Azerbaijan and Estonia. João Palhinha played in Portugal’s 0-1 over Slovakia and was an unused sub in their 9-0 win over Luxembourg.

our recent record against Luton is 2 wins (one of them 7-0), 0 losses and 2 draws

Assuming no injuries or late returns from international duties, my team would be…

Fulham v Luton Town

COYW’s

Games of Interest…

Saturday 16th
Villa v Palace
Fulham v Luton
Spurs v Sheff Utd
West Ham v Man City
Everton v Arsenal

Sunday 17th
Bournemouth v Chelsea
Newcastle v Brentford

Monday 18th
Forest v Burnley


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