Posts

Posted on

Team against Millwall 25/09

over on the forum we’ve been discussing who will play against Millwall in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday…

whitejc

do we want a cup run? as fans I suspect we do, Slaviša may want to concentrate on the league however we all know that winning games brings confidence.

So will we go ‘full strength’ against a Millwall team who are having a tough time in the Championship but will be looking for revenge against last seasons result, or play the ‘2nd string’ or even give some of the youngsters a game?

I think it’ll be mainly the 2nd string players unless Tom and Tim are fit enough and need to gain some ‘match fitness’, so assuming those two aren’t quite ready here’s my selection…

Team against Millwall

I’m assuming that Kebano is fit enough to play

 

come over to the forum and give us your team…
http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=67623.0

Posted on

Millwall v Fulham – Carabao Cup

We travel the short tip across the river to the New Den for our next game in the Carabao Cup

Millwall v Fulham

If Tuesday nights game is half as good as last season then we’re in for a treat, last season we really enjoyed our trip to Millwall’s ground, what an atmosphere the Lions supporters generated! and what a result for us!

It’ll be interesting to see how many ‘first team’ players Slaviša will start against Millwall, will Tim Ream and Tom Cairney get any game time in their aim to get back to match fitness?

Millwall are having a bit of a tough time at the moment and I’m sure they want to get some sort of revenge for last season?, so this game could be a cracker!

come over to the forum and join in…
http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0

Posted on

Team against Watford 22/09

over on the forum we’ve been discussing who should be in the team against Watford, here are a couple…

whitejc

Fulham v Watford

subs: Rico, Fosu-Mensah, Chambers, StefJo, AK47, Vietto

until Ream is fit I think that the CBs will be Mawson and either MLM, Chambers or Odoi
when Tom is back, I think Saturday will be too soon?, then either Anguissa or KMac will make way
Sess didn’t disgrace himself against City but we all know he’s better playing up front

Lighthouse

Christie is the better player going forward. His final ball is poor but at least he dies get into the positions to cross. Would still play Odoi and Mawson in the middle with Bryan coming in on the left.

Midfield Seri and Zamb will start. Cairney I think will still be out which leaves Mac or Johanson. I don’t go along with the constant criticism of Johanson not being Prem Quality. He was awful against City but then that is hardly a fair comparison on one game.

Front three name themselves.

grandad

Team for Watford

I don´t think Cairney or Ream will feature. If Cairney is fit then he comes in for Zambo.

milo

team against Watford

Mawson will need practice at RCB as Ream is now likely to return next week in his usual LCB role. Then it’s either Odoi or MLM at LCB in the interim. MLM is the more natural LCB and has looked most comfortable playing in that position this season. Just as long as he keeps an eye on those passes out from the back!

In midfield I choose to give Johansen another run out. His form in League Cup and in Internationals earned him a call up last week but City away can hardly be the acid test for his season.

Sessegnon was one of the few to turn up last week and has earned a re-call in his favoured position. However, if we are lacking an attacking threat then I would have a low threshold to bring on Kamara at or around 60 minutes.

Watford have been in good form this season but we have to be competing with these teams if we are to survive this year (and more).

come and join in the debate over on the forum…
http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=67529.0

Posted on

Games for the Weekend 22/09

We’re back home at the cottage to face one of Slaviša’s pervious teams.

Fulham v Watford

After last weekend’s disappointing, although not too surprising, result we’re back at home to face a Watford team who will be looking to continue their stay towards the top of the table.

There have been some reports that Tom will be fit for the game, I don’t think he will be, more likely he’ll be back for the Everton game? Tim Ream has also started training, I think he’s also more likely to start the Everton game.

Watford have had an exceptional start to the season, 4 wins out of 5, only loosing to Man Utd, so far and currently their sitting 4th!, so this is likely to be another testing game.

Slaviša Jokanović was in charge of Watford when they gained promotion however, in their wisdom(?) they didn’t keep him as manager, so I’m sure he’ll want to get a result to show them what they’ve missed out on! I know he’ll have the lads fully ‘fired up’ for this encounter.

Remember this game is a 12:30 kick-off!

Games of interest…

Saturday 22nd
Fulham v Watford
Burnley v Bournemouth
Cardiff v Man City
Brighton v Spurs

Sunday 23rd
West Ham v Chelsea
Arsenal v Everton

COYWs

Posted on

Games for the Weekend 15/09

So this weekend we face what will be the sternest test so far with a trip to the Etihad Stadium to face last seasons run-away Premier League Champions Manchester City.

Man City v Fulham
With the ‘international break’ over hopefully the team will have had some constructive time to ‘gel’ and one or two of the injured players should be nearer match fitness.
Man City away will probably be one of the games that we don’t really expect to get anything from, I’m hoping that, at least, we give a good account of ourselves and really ‘have a go’ as Wolves did a few weeks ago, then you never know what can happen we may surprise all of the pundits?
With Tom Cairney out for the next few weeks it will be a chance for the ‘new boys’ Jean Michaël Seri and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa to show why their the club’s most expensive ever signings, wouldn’t it be something to see their value against ‘City?
Mitrović and Schürrle are being to work really well together and if young Ryan Sessegnon gets to start then I think this is a game where he can really shine.

other Games of Interest

Saturday 15th
Bournemouth v Leicester
Chelsea v Cardiff
Huddersfield v Crystal Palace
Newcastle v Arsenal

Sunday 16th
Wolves v Burnley
Everton v West Ham

Monday 17th
Southampton v Brighton

COYW

Posted on

Team against Man City 15/09

Over on the forum we’ve been discussing which team we’d choose to play against Man City this weekend, here are a couple of team selections…

whitejc

team against Man City

I think Betts hasn’t done anything that would cause him to be dropped, I know thats not a ‘ringing endorsement’ but I’m not sure there’s a lot of difference between all 3 goalies?

There’s been no word on Ream so I have to assume he’s still not fit, he needs to get game time ASAP as we need a consistent back 4.

I’ve selected KMac as Tom will still be out? Seri one of the first names on the team sheet and Anguissa has shown so really good touches

I’d put Ryan on from the start, Vietto hasn’t done much wrong (apart from giving away that pen) but I believe this game is one that Ryan can really shine. Mitro is the first name on the team sheet and Schurrle has shown  glimpses of how good he was/can be.

milo

team against Man City

Sessegnon to switch with Schurrle and provide cover for weaker flank depending on how City attack.

Notable inclusions:
Fosu-Mensah gets one more chance to keep his place after losing his man on a number of important occasions last weekend. Le Marchand however does lose his for giving the ball away for two goals in two subsequent weeks. Both Odoi and MLM seem to take up good positions and make intelligent interceptions, but are prone to errors that get punished at this level. The decision to play Odoi instead came down to the fact he hasn’t made one yet this season.

In midfield, Johansen fresh from two goals for Norway midweek and an assist against Exeter previously comes in to provide some box to box counter attacking threat. 

In attack, Sessegnon’s defending and his reputation (ie bizarrely as a fast paced winger hugging the touch lines) will be useful to peg back City’s full back on that side. Kamara to come on as we tire around 70 minutes. 

 

join in the conversation over on the message board…

http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=67472.0

Posted on

Team against Brighton 01/09

Over on the forum we’ve been discussing which team we’d choose to play against Burnley this weekend, here are a few team selections…

whitejc

Brighton v Fulhamsubs: Fabri, Odoi, Christie, Vietto, Stef Jo, KMac, AK47

We’ve now got an impressive squad with at least two players fighting for each starting place so I think Slav will rotate the team for most games in the early part of the season, once everyone has fully ‘clicked’ we may see less ’tinkering’ especially at the back where partnerships are invaluable, think of Aaron & Brede, “the Thames Barrier” they were far better together than apart!

Its very difficult to argue that anyone who played against Burnley should be dropped however I think for ‘tactical’ reasons that Chambers will get the nod over Odoi even though he had a good game last Sunday.
I also think that Anguissa will start as I don’t think Brighton are as ‘physical’ as Burnley.
For me Ryan gets the start ahead of Vietto, who had a really impressive game but I think our ‘boy wonder’  will show the premiership why he’s so highly regarded.

milo

Brighton v Fulham

Bettinelli now has the shirt to lose and despite one or two wayward long balls he did nothing wrong against Burnley. He did not stand a chance with either goal in my opinion. 

I think both full backs need upgrading if we are to really make the most of our style. Both Fosu-Mensah and Bryan are capable defenders and can make up the numbers while we are on the attack. However neither can bring what Fredericks brought last year and take it past the last defender and really make chances from nothing when we are struggling.

I felt Odoi was quite comfortable at the weekend. I actually thought he did as well as he could for the first goal and was rather unlucky. He continued to contribute to building the attack. I think Mawson will replace him long term so hopefully Odoi can avoid any massive clangers until then like at times last season. 

Up front Kamara replaces Vietto who for me was largely ineffective against Burnley despite popular opinion and had quite a few loose balls and touches. Burnley’s tired legs after 70 minutes flattered him. Kamara in the meantime got another brace midweek to add to his promotion-winning form last season and remains my hot tip to breakthrough this season.

 

join in the discussion over on the forum…

http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=67256.0

Posted on

Games for the Weekend 01/09

This weekend we travel down to the south coast for a visit to Brighton and Hove Albion

Brighton v Fulham

After the success’ on Sunday and Tuesday evening we now face Chris Hughton’s Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
Team selection will be interesting for this game, will Slaviša start with the same eleven as against Burnley, assuming that Tom’s fit enough? Slaviša hinted that he’d change the team to reflect the opposition so perhaps Anguissa will replace KMac, as Brighton isn’t as ‘physical’ a side? and perhaps Ryan will get the nod over  Luciano Vietto even though he had a good game on Sunday?

For Brighton its their second season in the Premiership and it wasn’t too long ago that we gave them a good game(s) in the Championship so we might be able to use this game as a measure of how far we have progressed?

Games of interest

Saturday 1st September
Brighton v Fulham
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Everton v Huddersfield
West Ham v Wolves

Sunday 2nd September
Cardiff v Arsenal

COYW

Posted on

Fulham v Exeter City – Carabao Cup

Tuesday evening see’s Fulham take on Exeter City in the Carabao Cup

Fulham v Exeter City - Carabao Cup

Survival in the Premiership is surly the top priority for Slaviša Jokanović however,  the Gaffer will almost certainly use this fixture to give ‘game time’ to some of the players who haven’t played so far this season.
The choice of goalkeeper will be interesting, perhaps we will get a look at Sergio Rico or will Fabri get another game between the sticks?
There’s a strong rumour that Alfie Mawson will feature, I doubt that he’ll get the full 90 minutes, getting him to full match fitness would certainly be a boost to the back four.
Others from the first team squad who may get a look in, if fit, are Tim Ream, Neeskens Kebano, Ibrahim Cisse and Rui Fonte. All of these guys played an important part in our promotion campaign and it makes sense to keep them ‘match fit’ in case their needed due to injury or suspension(s).
‘Youngsters’ who may also get a game include Steven Sessegnon, Marlon Fossey and Luca de la Torre. Any of these will be looking to show how their ready to make the step up to the first team squad and who knows maybe get their Premiership debut sometime this season?

Anyhow, whoever plays I hope they all have a great game and that maybe this will be the first game in a ‘cup run’ that would give us another successful day out at Wembley!

COYW

Posted on

Team against Burnley 26/08

Over on the forum we’ve been discussing which team we’d choose to play against Burnley this weekend, here are a few team selections…

whitejc

team against Burnleysubs: Rico, Fosu-Mensah, Chambers, McDonald, Johansen, Schurrle, Vietto
I thought Fabri did OK against Spurs so I think he’ll get the start
Christie & Ream(if fit) for Fosu-Mensah & Chambers
the midfield looked good, a bit harsh on KMac but you don’t pay £20-£30 million and leave Anguissa on the bench especially after his good performance against Spurs
I’d revert Sees back to the left side and keep AK on the right, Mitre must be the first name on the team sheet

love4ffc

team against Burnley*Agree with those who leave the back the same.  Including Fabri even though he is making me more and more nervous.  it’s just too soon to pass judgement on him.
*Bryan remains but Ak goes to the bench as we need someone to offer better cover down the left side. 
*Midfield remain the same from Spurs match but would like to see Sess back on the left and Shurrle on the right up top splitting Mitro. 
*Can understand people wanting to get away from the attack minded 4-3-3 formation but I just can’t see it.  Slav likes and believes in the possession game. If the team is able to gel more then I do believe over time the system will work.  Of course that means the players do need to start making quicker decisions and faster one touch passes, especially in the box.  

Like the idea of seeing some of Vietto.

milo

team against BurnleyI remain unconvinced by Fabri’s decision making coming off the line. For the second week in a row I am picking the consistent, safe goalkeeper who I still tip to get an England cap in the next 1-2 years (provided we play him!).
Le Marchand got a lot of praise for his performance last week. However, as Ream is hopefully now fit and having seen his faultless display in pre season he returns to LCB. MLM on the other hand showed us in the same pre season games that he struggles out of position, so Chambers gets the nod.
I think Christie really embraced the Fulham ethos by getting down the right flank and supporting the strikers. I felt that although his crossing of the ball in dangerous situations could’ve been improved, I do not think he deserved to be dropped last week.
Kamara did not quite hit his stride against Tottenham and the occasion got to him a bit. I think he will settle down and will prove to be one of our main threats. Sessegnon had a typical performance – seemingly out the game for long periods but was involved in the goal scoring move. I do not think Schurrle has done enough to replace him.

 

 

join in the discussion over on the forum…

http://bit.ly/2BM7i6T