I did one of these earlier in the season - I'm now only one list away from being able to use the iconic title (younger readers: ask your Dad). - Our fate in Europe is still in our own hands, which is more than can be said for Spurs, Birmingham, Chelsea or Manchester City. - Odense isn't even a must-win, it's a 'must-do-as-well-as-Wisla'. - We're in a better position than we were at this stage two years ago - we had to win our last two matches to go through then, this time we could plausibly still qualify if we lose both of them. - Odense have nothing to play for (admittedly, neither do Twente). - Those who believe in history repeating itself will be encouraged by the similarities with two years ago: multiple sendings off - some harsh - and points dropped because of them (I'm thinking more of Dembele than AJ on that one). - Even if we do go out against Odense, most of us - pro or anti Jol - have been saying that Europe is a bonus. There's a plus side to being able to concentrate on the league if it comes to that. - We've got an extra extra rest day before the Liverpool game, so the cost of playing senior players like Murphy and Zamora isn't as bad as on other European weeks - Ruiz is finding his feet and is fresh and available for the Liverpool game - Liverpool have just lost Lucas, who has been quietly infuential for them all season. They'll have to put someone unfamiliar into his anchoring role in midfield, and that may unbalance them. Us on Monday night is the first game they have since his injury, so they won't have tested whatever solution they come up with in a competitive environment. - I've got the day off work today. Admittedly, that last one is more of a reason for me to be cheerful than the rest of you, but I thought I'd put it in. The future is bright, the future is Jol-shaped (er, round and pudgy).
Morning Cappy I'd like to if I may, counter all points you have made - Can't count Chelsea and City, both teams have far more difficult groups in a far more difficult competition. Tottenham have played their under 19s in Europe, we have played our first team. They also have top four to aim for, what do we have to aim for? Birmingham like Tottenham have promotion on their minds. - Isn't a must win? Is this what you want to players to be thinking? I don't want to see another 10 men behind the ball performance and hope that Wisla don't beat Twente, although after last night I can see Twente wanting us to go through with them. - We only have one match left? - After last night we cannot assume that teams that have no chance of qualifying or have already qualified will take the game lightly. - Coincidence, not fate - We should be incredibly unhappy if we go out to Odense. Europe is a bonus yes, but we don't have anything to reach for in the league, so the Europa is realistically our only chance of actually achieving something. Our group is incredibly easy on paper. Twente were the lowest ranked top seeds, we were the highest second seeds, and Odense and Wisla have little quality. - The two players you mentioned have severely under performed this season. Zamora just doesn't look interested. This is probably due to Jol getting his tactics wrong by playing him up front on his own. - Have there been any serious signs of encouragement from Ruiz? I like you was excited when we signed him. I was under the impression he was a striker (top scorer for Twente with something like 25 goals one season) but he isn't and Jol has already said it will be at least a season before he adapts. - So we have to rely on other teams getting injuries now? We could just give them Etuhu for the game, would be a home banker then. I'm not saying everything under Jol is doom and gloom, but it could and probably should be going a whole lot better than it is.
Yes you can. Their European season is notin their own hands. The "more difficult group" thing doesn't stand up either, both (especially City) have far superior squads to us and should be through by now. Again, we still don't have to win, just equal Karakow's result. And I fancy our chances more than theirs. We wouldn't go out to Odense. We'd go out to Twente and Krakow, Odense would go out too. And Europe is a bonus, not an excuse to bash Jol. Um, have you watched many of our games this season? Zamora has been best up front on his own with someone supporting him. He's been anonymous when played with AJ. Murphy hasn't been his best but he's still playing those crucial passes. Yep, he's been getting more and more confident and shown his quality since his first game. It definitely sounds like it.
Bidley I think we should just agree to disagree. You have your way of thinking and I have mine, neither of us are going to change our minds before the Liverpool game.
Just got back from holland, had a brilliant time although was obviously very disappointed last night, so thanks captain for cheering me up! Agree with most of your points, although I should add that although odense might not be 'must win' but if were to be taken seriously in europe then it really is. Also we've had a much easier group than last time, even twente weren't anything special yesterday and the other 2 are only marginally better than those part timers we've played in the qualifiers. Also you forgot to mention frei's appearance yesterday, already looks different class to some of our 1st teamers and need more game time. We should be building the team around him in the next 2/3 years. Enjoy your day off as well! COYW!!!
If anything, we can be cheerful that that arrogant sod Hughes is still going to be jobless, even after he gracefully decreed that "Sunderland had met his ambitions".
Not just 3 points against liverpool, but smash odense, make the second round and with a generous draw another run to the final! COYW!!!!!
Actually Robes, you are understanding my wishes. 3 points in Swansea next weekend is on my agenda also!
In my agenda are 3 points from one or all of the Man U, Liverpool and/or Chelsky and 6 from Swansea and Bolton!
Afternoon, Bandit. Other have countered most of your counters to my original points, so I won't repeat what they've said on everything. I'll just clear up a few: '- We only have one match left?' Yes, but last time we had to win both of the last two games to have any chance, this time we had the possibility of going through without winning either. I was gutted that we didn't sow it up at the first time of asking away to Twente, but we still need potentially less from our one remaining game than we did from our last two combined last time. '- Coincidence, not fate' Quite right. This was just light-hearted morale raising. I don't think this one makes any difference to anything, but it was a good way of reminding everyone how unlikely the Europa final looked at this stage two years ago. '- So we have to rely on other teams getting injuries now? We could just give them Etuhu for the game, would be a home banker then.' We certainly don't rely on it, but the fact that it's happened is potentially a bonus for us. As for Etuhu, others have commented on how well he's been playing lately. He's been much criticised - rightly, in my mind, earlier in the season - but those criticisms don't necessarily reflect how he's done in his last handful of games. As you say to Bidley, we seem to have very different perspectives on all this. We all want the same thing - wins for Fulham. I just prefer to enjoy the ride rather than be miserable while I wait to find out what's going to happen. COYW!
Bandit - is your much trumpeted "Masters" another journalism course? If so, I presume that your return here with deliberately contrary and provacative statements is a repeat assignment, like the one from your first degree. Good luck with your studies, I hope they keep you sufficiently busy that we miss the benefit of your "wisdom".
