It looks like Charlton are going to be bringing a full-strength side, rather than saving their best players for the promotion race. What does everyone think we should do? Personally, I think we should rest one or two, but play a more or less full strength team. I think Murphy could do with a week off (which would also save him from the ire of Charlton fans: apparently there is some ill-will towards the way he is perceived to have behaved behind the scenes in his time there). There is a case for giving Briggs a game in place of Riise, and Frei a start in place of either Dempsey or Dembele. Other than that, I'd like a strong line up. Bobby should certainly start, giving him a chance to build on his improved display against Arsenal. Stockdale Kelly Senderos Hangeland Briggs Sidwell Baird Ruiz Dembele or Dempsey Frei Zamora There's a case for starting with Dickson ahead of either Sidwell or Baird, but I think I'd go for the above. Like Bobby, Sidwell needs games rather than rest at this stage, and it's always good to see Bairdinho back in the side. I wouldn't pick him at right back ahead of Kelly though. Charlton are likely to include two players I know fairly well from their Bournemouth days (which only ended this summer): Danny Hollands, a central midfielder, and Rhoys Wiggins, the left back I was touting as an option for us. Hopefully Ruiz and Kelly will cause Wiggins so many problems that none of you trust my judgement on possible signings ever again!
Believe it or not but our reserve players aren't half bad, and I think should be used against Charlton. I would go with Stockdale Baird Hughes Hangeland Briggs Frei Dempsey Kasami Gecov Etuhu Sa/Zamora (depending on fitness) Would love to see Gecov and Kasami get a run out. I think that team is strong enough to win us the game.
Ethridge Kelly Hughes Hangeland Briggs Frei Kasami Dembele Ruiz Sa Zamora Youth and experienced mixed, and with Dembele and Ruiz playing we have two people who should be able to pull them apart. Zamora in to try get him scoring. Ethridge as he won't have many more chances to play for a while, with Stockdale back from loan
I would be hugely disappointed if Gecov doesn't start or at least feature in some capacity. The guy has really impressed me when he has played and COULD be the replacement when Murphy retires. Not sure about Zamora starting, if he gets injured he won't be playing and he won't be moving, but then again I'm not sure Sa has it in his locker to put Charlton to the sword.
Sorry to disagree, but Charlton are a good side - far above the typical league one standard. If the Jol masterplan really is starting to come together, then winning the FA Cup can be a genuine target for us this season. If we were still in Europe I'd say use the game to give experience, but I think we should pick as strong a team as possible, only resting players who genuinely need a rest (like Murphy) and picking mostly the first eleven. If we are going to take the cup seriously this season - as we surely should - we have to take Charlton very seriously.
Captain The thing is we are at home, on a high after a fantastic win and lets not forget that although Charlton may be above League One standard, that's where they currently are. I'm not suggesting we completely change the team, only bring in a few who are on the fringes (Gecov, Briggs, Kasami etc)
Would like to see our regular starting line up with a few youngsters included (Frei, Kasami, Briggs, Gecov). Bring Hughes back too if he's fit. If we show anywhere near the form we showed against Arsenal I'd be fairly confident.
I'd go with that lineup too Captain, Briggs is due another crack for sure! EDIT: I would like to see Gecov and Kasami start, they've looked good in the past and deserve a chance.
I'd like to see Kasami, Briggs and Frei start. Maybe Baird and Hughes in for Kelly and Senderos as well just to freshen things up but without really weakening the team. Unfortunately what I saw of Gecov against Odense suggests he simply isn't premier league class and may never be. I hope I'm wrong as I want to see anyone who wears a fulham shirt do well, but while I've seen enough from Briggs and Kasami to suggest they'll make it at some point, I would hardly be surprised if Gecov doesn't. Also if he's fit then hopefully Davies will get a game too.
You think? The Odense game is a harsh example, the whole team didn't look PL -class in the second half. In the other games I've seen him in he's shown promise.
Stockdale Kelly Senderos Hangeland Briggs Ruiz Sidwell Etuhu Frei Dembele Zamora (or Sa if Zamora's still hurting) point is, give Dempsey, Murphy and Riise a rest. Dempsey doesn't play well in non-competitive games. Riise and Murphy can use the rest.
I think we should give Hangeland a rest too. Been playing all games from the start. I would like to see Gecov given another game. He started well in the first half against Odense but then faded together with the rest of the team. We need to take this game seriously. Don't think that Charlton will be worse than Odense.
How tired do central defenders get during games though? I would have suggested putting Halliche in for Hangeland but apparently he's in talks with Celtic and Palace regarding a loan move.
Everyone seems to be including him in their Fulham team of the future, don't know why we haven't seen anything of him really.
Possibly because he's only 19 and he plays in the position where we are, arguably, best catered for with senior options - Hangeland, Senderos, Baird, Hughes (my preferred order, by the way - I'm sure others will disagree). Briggs was originally a centre back too, and may well end up playing there. With no midweek game between Charlton and the following weekend, there's no need to make wholesale changes, just rest the older or more weary-looking players. Letting the defensive unit build on recent performances will have more value than resting a centre back. As Bandy suggests, it's the outfield position that is least demanding physically in terms of the effect of playing lots of matches, due to requiring relatively less running than anywhere else.
Apparently Jol has said in his press conference today that he will field a full strength team which I assume means pretty much the same one as played (and spectacularly beat as I like to remind myself several times a day) Arsenal. I'm pleased about this because it means a. he is taking Charlton seriously which they certainly deserve and b. he is taking the FA cup seriously, which we certainly deserve. PS. Simon Davies is expected to be playing in the reserves next week so we won't see him tomorrow
I'm all for taking the FA Cup seriously, but that doesn't mean we can't rest one or two to avoid injuries. It's not like we would be fielding our under 18's, this disappoints me somewhat.
I agree with Bandit, that fielding players like Kasami, Briggs and Gecov wouldn't be like playing a reserve side. They deserve a chance as they're good players in their own right and this game is going to be our best opportunity this season. Having said that, I've no real qualms about fielding a full-strength side.
