Whatever the result between Reading and Chelsea tonight, one of them will overtake us at the top of the table. Shame that a quirk of the fixture list should prematurely end our reign as masters of all we survey. Wouldn't it be lovely to hand over to Reading (who have to win to go top) rather than our nearest and not-so-dearest?
Every time I signed a Fulham striker last season, they stopped scoring or got injured. It didn't happen with any other position, only our strikers - I signed and sold Zamora three times and then the Pog cost me the title in my other league. This season I've barred myself from signing Petric. Good job that Riise and Kacaniklic did the business for me this week.
At the beginning of the era - almost exactly 10 years ago to the day - we were also at the top of the league - http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2002-2003/table/2002-08-17 It only lasted 2 days then before we handed over to Newcastle, so whatever we're doing better this time round. For what it's worth we finished that season (2002/03) in 14th position.
There was me thinking I was the jinx against signing Fulham players last season, mine wasn't only strikers
Have a look at Fulham Flashback on the new website - us beating Man Utd at Old Trafford 3-1 - the only sad bit was Saha was so good Utd came along and brought him!
DON'T PANIC - We're still in the Champions League places. Maybe the league is a little too far for us anyway!
Just wait, we'll line up with 0 midfielders this season. We'll play with an attacking 6 of Rooney, Kagawa, RVP, Welbeck, Nani, and Hernandez. Be afraid, very afraid.
If only Fergie was going to go for that line up - with no midfield to compete with Diarra and Dembele, your attacking sextet would get no service and we'd romp to (another) famous victory against United. Be afraid, be very afraid.
Sure I'll regret this, tempting fate and all- but a small knock to Dembele that appears to be long-term but then heals the day after the window closes would be nice. I think we're in for an onslaught, confident the team will stand up and fight- can't see a win for us, draw unlikely - I think we'll lose by 2 goals- but you never know- we have a bit of pace on the counter now so we could be more dangerous away from home this season. Big bonus is that UTD don't appear to have a defence or midfield at the minute.
Unfortunately I agree. They've got a patchwork defence but I think we'll still be up against it - when was the last Time United lost their first two games of the season?
This is the problem with football, people think in club terms, "When was the last time {club} did this?" You need to forget the club, and concentrate on the 11 players you face. and these 11 man u players are there for the taking. For years Fergie has given little thought about his defence, and works on having a strong attack, and a fear of the brand. If you stop fearing the brand, the team is not close to being one of the best in this league, and as long as you defend well, you could get another 5-0. You will always be mid-table mediocrity if you fear the big names.
Makes no difference what I think - another sad truth of football! You're right, all the signs are good and the chances of us going there and winning are higher than usual, but more than anything I don't want to be posting all over here "we're going to thrash Man United at the weekend" then lose comprehensively. That's what being a fan is about, knowing when to give it the big'un (QPR fans take note) and when to be conservative. On the 'fear' thing, I think clubs like us fear the big boys much less than yourselves or the top 6. If we lose, nothing changes - we're expected to lose, and it's unlikely to have a bearing on our final league placing. It's against clubs like United that the teams vying for the honours and high league placings are defined, therefore much more is at stake.
I'm not sure that Fergie has 'given little thought about his defence', having spend decent sums on the likes of Smalling, Jones and De Gea in recent years. But United are definitely weakened in that department by a spate of injuries, which improves our chances. Even if they were full strength, I'd like to see us have a go at them. As for mid-table mediocrity, that's a phrase I would have thought Liverpool fans should be careful about bandying around right now: it could come back to haunt you.
