We welcome another of the promoted teams, Sheffield Utd to the Cottage for a 3 o’clock kick off
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
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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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…
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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We welcome Norwich for a Wednesday evening kickoff League (Carabao) Cup tie, 19:45 kickoff
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
COYW’s
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We travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace for a 3 o’clock kickoff
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
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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We get to welcome Luton Town to the Cottage for a 3 o’clock kickoff
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…
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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We get to visit Man City at their place for a 3 o’clock kickoff
Well after a hard fought draw against Arsenal, City away is an even bigger test? is this our toughest game of the season? The cup game against Spurs showed the teams resilience and “grit” winning on a penalty shoot out against a team that “most” of the pundits expected an “easy win” over Fulham, no real surprise about that opinion.
Marco will have a decision to make between Ream and Bassey, I’d go for Bassey however I think Marco will select Tim, its a difficult choice and arguments can be made for either. At the time of writing Palhinha is still a Fulham player, fingers crossed he still will be Saturday morning, but there are strong rumours that Bayern Munich are very, very keen. Wolves are trying to persuade Harrison Reed to join them, I’m not sure what the attraction would be, apart from, presumably, higher wages?
our record against Man City is awful with 1 win, 17 losses and 3 draws
will Castagne be in the squad?, assuming no injuries, departures or “new” players available, my team would be…
COYW’s
Games of Interest…
Friday 1st Luton v West Ham
Saturday 2nd Brentford v Bournemouth Burnley v Spurs Chelsea v Forest Man City v Fulham
Sunday 3rd Palace v Wolves Arsenal v Man Utd
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We welcome Spurs to the Cottage for a 19:45 Carabao Cup game under the lights
Spurs are the highest ranked team(?) in this round so we can be a little unlucky to draw them as apposed to some of the other teams such as Plymouth, Tranmere, Wycombe, Gillingham, Harrogate Town etc. I’m sure that Spurs probably think the same, Premier League teams will always be tougher opposition, having said that, this is the cup and “giant killings” happen every year.
I think this could be an opportunity to play some of the “second team” and younger players to give them some competitive game time.
my team would be…
COYW’s
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We get to travel to Arsenal for a 3 o’clock kick off
Lets forget about the Brentford game, just a really, really “bad day at the office”? as Gentleman Jim said for some reason Brentford appear to have “an Indian sign” over us, apart from the play off game they always appear to have the upper hand? Tim Ream getting sent off was the cherry on top, the red card means that he’s unavailable for this game, at least we’ve got Bassey.
Talking of unavailable, Mitro finally got his move to Saudi, personally I wish him well and thank him for the 5 1/2 seasons, now we have to face life without our talisman.
Last season’s fixture was an unlucky one for us, we really should have come away with something, perhaps we can pull off a surprise this time?
Our recent record against the Gunners is woeful with 2 wins, 11 losses and 5 draws
Will we get to see the shocking pink away kit for the first time?
assuming no more additions, departures or injuries my team would be…
COYW’s
Games of Interest…
Friday 25th Chelsea v Luton
Saturday 26th Bournemouth v Spurs Arsenal v Fulham Brentford v Palace Brighton v West Ham
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Our first home game of the season we face Brentford for a 3 o’clock kick off
Well that was a lucky win against Everton, I didn’t think we played that badly however if Everton had been more clinical then the result could have been very different? Leno was outstanding, easily MotM, what a signing he’s proved to be. I was a little surprised to see Tim Ream in the starting eleven, mainly due to him recovering from the broken arm but also because Bassey has such a good debut against Hoffenheim.
Over on the forum our stats guru Ludlow Richard pointed out… the stats show how difficult it has been for Fulham to win away on the first game of the season in the top flight. We have played 14 away games on the first day of the season in the top flight. WE have won just three of them, all by 1-0: Portsmouth in 2009, Sunderland in 2013 and Everton yesterday. In those 14 away games we have only scored more than 1 goal on two occasions (1965 v Blackpool: we drew; and 2001 v Man Utd: we lost). So what this goes to show is that whatever we thought of yesterday’s win, it was a rare occurrence and the team deserve plaudits for the win.
It was good to see Pereira coming on for a substitute appearance, hopefully Palhinha will be available for the Brentford game. There were photos of Mitro on crutches and with a protective boot on his left foot getting off the train at Euston, hopefully this was as a precaution? I’m still expecting him to go to Saudi, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see, I do hope he doesn’t leave on the last day of the window.
Brentford looked good against Spurs so I think we’ll need to perform at a better level than we did against Everton.
Our record against Brentford is 4 wins, 8 losses and 3 draws.
assuming no new signings, departures or injuries my squad would be…
COYW’s
Games of Interest…
Friday 18th Forest v Sheff Utd
Saturday 19th Fulham v Brentford Spurs v Man Utd
Sunday 20th West Ham v Chelsea
Monday 21st Palace v Arsenal
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We get to kick-off the new season with an away trip to Goodison Park to take on Everton
I’m writing this on Wednesday so “in theory” we could have some new team members, or lost some of the current squad?, however I’m going to assume that the squad is “as is” at least until after the weekend. Callum Hudson-Odoi saga has been ongoing, “rumour” has it that we’re haggling with Chelsea over the fee although “personal terms” have been agreed, it would be good to get him before Saturday. Demarai Gray, is another that appears to be very close, I don’t believe that Everton would release him before we play them this weekend, so perhaps he could sign next week? Fred is another one that has re-emerged, apparently we were put off by the initial asking price, I’m not sure what’s changed but the rumours about him joining Fulham have remerged.
As for players leaving, Tosin “wants” to go to Monaco, not Spurs, I’d imagine that we’d get a better price from Spurs? West Ham, Liverpool, Uncle Tom Cobley and all have been quoted as being interested in Palhinha, West Ham got really upset with our valuation (£90 million) and effectively wanted to swap him for some of last seasons unwanted track suits. Surprisingly Liverpool didn’t sound too put off by the price but his shoulder injury in the Stateside friendly games looks as if any interested has stopped for now? Willian has also been offered the chance to play in Saudi, what puzzles me is why didn’t they “go for him” before he signed for Fulham? Mitro, hmmm, Mitro, I find it hard to believe that Mitro said he’d never play for Fulham again, he has anyway even if it was a sub’ appearance in the pre-season friendly against Hoffenheim. I can believe he wants to earn £20 million a year, who wouldn’t? but would he really want to risk playing for his country and building on the number of goals he’s scored? With both the Willian, Mitro & Palhinha offers it makes a very refreshing change for the club to “stand their ground” and not appear to give in straight away, we may well still loose one or more of these players before the transfer window closes but for now their still our players.
Our two new boys, Raúl and Calvin Bassey, both scored in the Hoffenheim game, I wonder if two new signings have scored for Fulham on their debuts?
Everton struggled for most of last season, appointing Sean Dyche will have his work cut out if they don’t want to battle against relegation for a third season in a row? They’ve also, at tie of writing, only signed two players, Arnaut Danjuma, a forward signed on loan from Villarreal and Ashley Young on a free transfer from Villa.
Our record against Everton isn’t that good, especially at Goodison, we’ve 5 wins, 11 losses and 3 draws, having said that we’ve won the last 2 at their place.
I don’t think that Palhinha, Pereira or Ream will be fit enough to be starters, therefor my team for the season opener (assuming no new players or further departures) would be…
COYW’s
Games of Interest..
Friday 11 Burnley v Man City
Saturday 12 Arsenal v Forest Bournemouth v West Ham Everton v Fulham Sheff Utd v Palace
Sunday 13 Brentford v Spurs Chelsea v Liverpool
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