please log in to view this image please log in to view this image VS please log in to view this image Wednesday, 21 December 2011 Fulham v Man Utd, 20:00 Live stream - http://www.firstrowsports.tv/ MATCH PREVIEW After 16 games last season, Manchester United topped the Premier League and were still unbeaten - staying that way until early February. They've not been as good this season though, have they? Well, perhaps surprisingly, in statistical terms, yes they have been better. United's 39 points from 16 matches is five more than last year's tally, with three more wins on the board and one more goal scored for good measure. Little wonder then, that Sir Alex Ferguson is not unduly worried about still being behind neighbours Manchester City in the title race. He said after Sunday's comfortable win at QPR that "the important thing is to be there on New Year's Day", before referencing his team's almost traditional second half of the season improvement. "We'll relish that" should be an innocent enough statement, but sounds menacing when delivered in deep Glaswegian! Fulham did of course have their own 2-0 win at the weekend, but following up with another victory is something that's been beyond them this season. In fact, they only managed back-to-back league wins once in the whole of last season too. One piece of recent history that IS on Fulham's side is that Manchester United have failed to win any of their last three games at Craven Cottage. I was there in March 2009 to see a 2-0 home win that involved red cards for Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney, and a fabulous display in goal from Mark Schwarzer. The big Aussie's absence through injury this time is a blow that's been softened by the return of England squad regular David Stockdale from a loan spell at Ipswich, and he is sure to have a busy night. It'll be a good night too. Craven Cottage comes alive with games like this, and even though I can't see United losing away for the first time in the league this season, they'll have to work hard for whatever they come away with. MATCH FACTS After being undefeated in their first seven visits to Fulham in the Premier League, Manchester United have not won any of their last three trips to Craven Cottage. Manchester United have won only two of their last five Premier League games against Fulham. This is the 76th meeting between the clubs. Manchester United have won 43 times, Fulham 14 and there have been 18 draws. Fulham Fulham have scored just 18 goals in 16 league matches this season - and six of those came in one match. They have conceded 18 league goals - only Liverpool and the two Manchester sides have let in fewer. Only Manchester United and Swansea have kept more clean sheets than Fulham's seven. Fulham have not conceded a penalty in their last 52 Premier League matches - the last time was in the 2-2 home match against Manchester United in August 2010 when Nani missed from the spot. The last penalty scored against the club was by Mikel Arteta for Everton in April 2010. Each of Fulham's four Premier League victories this season have included a goal from Clint Dempsey. Damien Duff could make his 400th career league appearance. Manchester United The Red Devils have conceded 79% of goals in the second half of matches - the highest proportion in the top flight. Against QPR, Wayne Rooney became the first player to score three Premier League goals in the first minute. He had previously scored in the opening 60 seconds against Wigan (2009) and Aston Villa (2011). United have only lost once in the Premier League this season, and have scored in each of their 16 matches. They have won six of their eight away matches so far this season. At this stage last year they had only won one of their eight away matches. PREVIOUS MEETING [video=youtube;YIiuTvb3iwQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIiuTvb3iwQ&feature=related[/video] Goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia helped United open a 10-point lead at the top with an efficient display of attacking endeavour at Old Trafford. Sir Alex, serving the final game of a five match touchline ban, made eight changes to the side which beat Chelsea in Europe and watched with delight as his men brushed aside the cottagers. Although it wasn’t all plain sailing for the boss; his horse What A Friend pulled up with two fences to go in the Grand National during the action. TEAM NEWS Fulham welcome back Bobby Zamora after he missed the win over Bolton. Midfielders Simon Davies and Steve Sidwell are still absent, along with defender Zdenek Grygera and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson may include Javier Hernandez, who has recovered quicker than expected from injury. United are without Anderson, Tom Cleverley, Darren Fletcher, Rafael, Michael Owen and Nemanja Vidic. Probable lineups FULHAM - Stockdale, Baird, Senderos, Hangeland, JA Riise, Ruiz, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Johnson, Dembele MANCHESTER UNITED - De Gea, Smalling, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Jones, Carrick, Nani, Rooney, Hernandez Odds Fulham 9/2 Draw 3/1 Man Utd 8/11 ----------------------------------- Premier League Table P/ GD/ PTS 1 Man City 16/ 35/ 41 2 Man Utd 16/ 23/ 39 3 Tottenham 15/ 13/ 34 4 Chelsea 16/ 15/ 32 5 Arsenal 16/ 7/ 29 6 Liverpool 16/ 7/ 29 7 Newcastle 16/ 2/ 27 8 Stoke 16/ -7/ 24 9 Norwich 17/ -4/ 21 10 Aston Villa 16/ -3/ 19 11 Fulham 16/ 0/ 18 12 Swansea 16/ -4/ 18 13 West Brom 16/ -8/ 18 14 Everton 15/ -3/ 17 15 QPR 16/ -13/ 16 16 Wolves 17/ -13/ 15 17 Sunderland 16/ -1/ 14 18 Wigan 16/ -15/ 13 19 Bolton 17/ -17/ 12 20 Blackburn 17/ -14/ 10 ----------------------------------- Other Premier League fixtures Wednesday, 21 December 2011 Aston Villa v Arsenal, 19:45 Man City v Stoke, 19:45 Newcastle v West Brom, 19:45 Everton v Swansea, 20:00 QPR v Sunderland, 20:00 Wigan v Liverpool, 20:00 Thursday, 22 December 2011 Tottenham v Chelsea, 20:00
More pertinant is our last few trips to Craven Cottage. 2-2 draw, 2-0 and 3-0 loss, it's not been a happy hunting ground in recent years and I don't think this year will be any different to be honest. Having said that, we have done pretty well away from home this season and already picked up 3 points at Goodison (where we hadn't won for a while, might have been 2008 with a Vidic header?) and a point at Anfield (where we hadn't picked up a point for a while, 2008 also, Tevez winner?). I've seen quite a bit of Fulham this season and the guy that has really impressed me is Dembele. Left footed, plays all along the pitch behind the striker, pacey, strong and great skill. Don't think he's scored lots of goals but he is capable of unlocking defences. Same can be said of Ruiz, plays on the right but is left footed, eye for a pass not the quickest however but talented. Very much a ball player, in fact Fulham are one of those teams that can be physical but technically very good at the same time which makes them dangerous. From a United point of view, I'm slightly more optimistic about tonight than in recent years purely because our away form is better. But I don't think we can afford to be as lacksidasical in front of goal tonight. Fulham are better than QPR and could punish us, so I'm a bit wary of Jones in midfield. Great going forward because he gives us something we miss from Anderson/Cleverley and Fletcher when he was fully fit and that is someone running beyond the ball and pushing from midfield. Far too often we rely so much on our wingers to produce crosses but there is only 1 or 2 attackers in the box. Against QPR, both Carrick and Jones pushed from midfield which meant that there was even more space for the wingers to play. Trouble is that Fulham probably won't give afford us that type of space, so I may be tempted to go with Giggs and Carrick in the centre.
We've also won away at Villa this season when we drew there last season. I'm expecting a tough game. Man City could only manage a draw there and I remember going to Fulham vs Man Utd a few seasons back when they thumped us 3 0. Hopefully we can keep up the form of our last few games but be more clinical.
I think this will be a big test for us. Fulham score plenty at home and rarely make it easy for the visitors. We're going to have to be clinical and take our chances if we're going to win, as Fulham will almost certainly score. If we take our chances well we'll probably come away with a 2-1 or even a 3-2 win. But if we don't then I think it's likely to be a draw or a loss.
This season we've scored plenty at home, as long as we're playing QPR. We've not scored the goals that our general play has deserved, which is a worry. As with recent seasons, we've got a decent chance against you, but I don't think anyone here is counting chickens. Our three attacking midfielders (Ruiz, Dembele and Dempsey) are starting to click though.
I think Man U should beware Fulham right now - that's what I told Arsenal fans two weeks ago and was right. We're oh so close to hitting our normal stride that big teams are nolonger safe assuming they'll get all three points. Lawro is predicting and 0-2 loss for us, but I'm thinking we'll get a draw or a win out of this, based on our current form and confidence. Aside from blunders against Odense and bad luck against Swansee, Fulham has played well for the last month and seem to be improving every game. Our 2-0 against Bolton should have been 5-0.
I was thinking more of the two you scored against City and the fact you scored against Liverpool, who have been defending very solidly this season apart from their match against Spurs. And even in games like Spurs and Everton, where you were pretty well beaten, you still gave them problems and scored goals. I don't reckon anyone at Utd will be counting chickens either to be honest.
We're both teams that are starting to click, but I think we'll have too much for Fulham on the day. If Nani and Valencia play like they've played in our last 2 games we'll score a couple goals. I'm thinking 3-1, going 2-0 up in the first half, with Fulham scoring early in the second, and Chicharito to score on a counter as Fulham pushes for an equalizer. Oh and nice thread Berb!
I think it will be a tough match because Fulham are a tough team to beat at their ground and we have dropped points in the past few seasons but we should still get the 3 points.
Great thread! I think we're definitely in with a chance, our side is starting to click and if we turn it on tonight we'll cause havoc. But at the end of the day (along with it being night) we won't be too downbeat if we lose. Should be a decent game.
I am a little more optomistic now than I was befroe the QPR game, I think we can go down there and pick up 3 points. We should have had 5 at Loftus road and although we might concede against a spirited Fulham side I think we will win. Prediction 3-1. Also predict City 1-Stoke 1
Tough one this. Saw Fulham against the Scousers and they were pretty well organised. I'm going for 1-0 to Utd
Man Utd lineup: Lindegaard, Evans, Jones, Evra, Smalling, Carrick, Valencia, Giggs, Nani, Welbeck, Rooney.
