Going to be a tough game, to be honest can't see us getting much more than a draw. Hopefully I'm wrong. It's difficult to know how to approach this one, people just assume Bolton will play like Stoke, but I think they pass it around a bit too. With Muamba on the mend they should be up for it. Not a game for Ruiz probably, if we are down at half-time I'd like to see Frei and Kaka brought on, just to see how they cope and if they can work together.
We seem to do rather well at the Reebok, dare I say it we are their bogey team. If Pog isn't fit then I can see Dempsey starting up front on his own, with either Kaka or Frei replacing him on the left. Schwarzer Kelly Hughes Hangeland Riise Murphy Diarra Dembele Kaka/Frei Duff Dempsey I'll stick my neck out and say 2-1 to FFC.
I wouldn't be so quick to drop Ruiz - I thought he was much better on Saturday. What we've seen in the last couple of games (Man Utd & Norwich) is that to get the best out of Bryan he needs the ball in the final third in positions he can do some damage from. His pass to Murphy at Old Trafford should have led to a goal, he created the first one on Saturday, and if the defence splitting ball that found Kelly in the 2nd half against Norwich had been to anyone else he'd probably have created another. So, he's set up three clear goalscoring opportunities in two games. Also remember he scored one and made the other against Bolton at home.
I don't dispute his technical ability, but away from home we need to put the away team under pressure and harry the defence. The game will be frantic, given what Bolton have at stake - I'm not sure it will suit him. He needs time and space, I see him as a luxury player at the minute.
Schwarzer Kelly Hughes Hangeland Riise the Elder Murphy DemPele Kacaniklic Ruiz or Duff (both have strong cases to be made for them on completely different criteria to the other) Dempsey Pog if fit, Trotta otherwise And I think we'll win (as long as Pog is fit or Trotta manages the step up)
I know this makes me a bad guy, but I do kinda want Wigan/Bolton/Blackburn to go down. If Southampton/Reading come up, that's two away games I can easily attend which is not the case with the Lancastrian games. Anyways, Bolton are going to be up for this game and are going to fight hard. They will see this as a game where they can get vital points and we will need to play well to deny them. That said, Dempsey up front on his own is a bad move. Saturday showed that Dempsey does not have the skillset to do that and if we sit back and allow Bolton to come onto us with no outlet up front... we will suffer much the same fate as the second half of the Norwich game. We need someone up front to hold on to the ball, even if that is the inexperienced Trotta.
I only went for Dempsey because I don't see Jol throwing Trotta straight in at the deep end, he has afterall been reluctant to even get him off the bench. Even though I agree that Dempsey cannot play the lone striker role.
Gents I don't like to be negative (I generally a positive guy) but away we have won 2 out of 15 away. That combined with the fact Bolton are fighting for their lives makes me think we will get a point at best. I hope big Mart gives the youth a chance but don't see us getting much from the game.
Schwarzer Kelly Hughes Hangeland Riise Dembele Murphy Frei Ruiz Dempsey Trotta It's very tough to pick a 3 and leaving out Duff and Kaca is a very tough decision. Any of those 5 would deserve a starting spot imo. Even Kasami deserves a recall.
Btw I left out Pog to keep him fresh for Monday. He isn't 100% and I think we'd be better off using him against Chelsea.
Well we're all agreed on the back four plus Murphy and Dembele. So far as the rest are concerned, Jol's pre-match 'review' usually has the clue - http:/www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/April/TeamNews.aspx Aj is definitely out and I think we can take it that the Pog is also. My reading of his comments is that Jol will not start with Dempsey up front (which I and others would agree with) and it's between Trotta and Sa. Because it will be quite a robust game, I believe Trotta will get the nod. Also I believe AK will start. Thefore I'm going for the same selection as the Captain's above - with Trotta instead of the Pog obviously. In another thread the Cap and I had a wee debate of whether Ruiz or Duff where I sided on Ruiz because I believed playing him centrally would give Trotta more support. Ruiz did get one goal (that quirky chip) plus one assist when we played them at home but Duffers usually does well against his old side so its really in the balance which to go for.
I hate to be a pedant, but Duff has never played for Bolton - you're probably thinking of Blackburn C58 me ol' mucker.
I cannot argue with the proposed back-five Murphy/Dembele/Dempsey. Play Trotta up-front to start, then the rest is how MJ feels about Kaca, Frei, Ruiz, Duff, or anyone else. A draw will do given the lack of Pog/AJ.
Any away day for us is a tough game, but add into the equation the fact Bolton have won their last 3 premiership games and are fighting for their lives and the whole play for Fabrice mentality and this is even more tough. That said we are playing with confidence now and a belief that our football is effective and good. Just looking at their last game against Wolves, our first 11 should cause them some problems. Defensively they are not very good and if we can control the ball in the centre of the park then we will create chances. I would start with Kaca and Duff on the wings and gamble on Trotta up front. He needs game time and putting him in against a Bolton defence makes more sense than someone like Stoke. If we play Dempsey just behind him then a bit of experience will benefit Trotta. I am going to stick my neck out and say that we will win 0 - 3. Rock solid at the back and Dembele and Murph's running things in the centre of the park. COYW
Bolton were very fortunate to beat Wolves last week, had that penalty not been given, Wolves would have won the game at a canter as they were by far the better side. We should know all too well that a run of three victories does not automatically mean the fourth game is signed sealed and delivered...
Indeed - and Bolton's other two wins came against Blackburn and QPR, matches they had to win to have a chance of staying up. The words 'Fulham at home' are hardly going to strike fear into the hearts of any Premier League side but we should get a point at least.
I think it will either be Duff/Dempsey/Ruiz & Trotta, or Duff/Dempsey/Kaca & Sa. Bolton away would be a tough place to blood both Trotta and Kaca. I think given Trotta's relative inexperience, it makes sense to go with Ruiz.
Hello, BredeRules, nice to see a new name on the board, particularly one who seems to be talking sense! As Cottager says, we debated Duff or Ruiz, and I keep vascilating between the two. It feels harsh to drop Duff after a goalscoring performance against Norwich, and he provides a better workrate and work ethic. But then Ruiz is capable of those flashes of genius to create something out of nothing. It's a nice problem to have, anyway. I'll be surprised if Frei starts, and agree that reading between the lines of Jol's pre-match comments suggests either Trotta or Sa rather than Pog. I still fancy us for the win, if only to frustrate Bandy with my relentless optimism.
