With Bryan likely to be out (again) some of Jol's selection dilema should be removed. I reckon the main question is whether Frei plays from the start instead of kaca. Frei is fresh and raring to go, if his performance for the U21s a week or so ago is anything to go by, whereas Kaca played really well for Sweden the other night. And of course Richardson is in that equation. I suspect Villa will play deep trying to hit on the break through Abonlahor and Benteke (who looked good for Belgium), so we ought to go for a mix of skill and width. My selection to start the game would be - ..................Schwarzer................... Riether......Hughes...Hangeland.....Riise.. .................Baird............ ..Duff.............Frei......Richardson... ............Berbatov.... ................Petric............
For the first time in some time I have absolutely no idea who will play against Villa. Will Berbs and Petric be back? Kaca tired from international duty? Frei raring to go? I think Ruiz was taken off as a precaution so it may not be bad enough to keep him out. I'll go with Schwarzer Riether Hangeland Hughes Riise Sidwell Baird Kaca Duff Berbatov Petric Ruiz, Frei, Senderos, Dejagah, Stockdale, Rodallega and Richardson on the bench. Which actually looks decent for once.
It'll be two from Baird, Sidwell and Karagounnis in the centre of midfield. I suspect Frei will have to start from the bench unless Jol gives him a run in Ruiz's position behind the main striker, but I'm not sure whether Kaca or Richardson is more likely to start on the left. Assuming Berbatov is fit, it could be any one from Petric, Rodallega or Frei alongside/just behind him. The defence picks itself at the moment.
I am right up for this one. I am demanding 3 points from the boys! Haven't yet worked out how to get this demand through to the team yet.
I think Lister would play in the middle in C58's position. Jol will want to use Frei or Kaca on the wing and he's said before he sees Lister as a CM. By the way, I'm calling Richardson "Lister" now because somebody (I forget who, regretfully!) mentioned his likeness to Craig Charles.
The Cottage Chiickens have sided with "Bollocks Lawro" and predicted a Fulham win - http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/october/19/chicks-predict-aston-villa
Have a look at Lawro's alternative table which is the table if all his predictions were right. We are 7 positions below where we actually are - only WBA are worse at 8 places and QPR are 11 - yes 11 - places higher than where they actually are. Ironically Liverpool are only 2 places higher than they are - so another conspiracy theory is crushed.
Jol has today confirmed that Diarra is fully fit for the Villa match! Unbelievable! Ruiz has also been listed as a doubt after an international duty injury. I still wouldn't start Diarra in place of either Baird or Sidwell.
In his lunch time press conference today, Jol confirmed that Berbatov will play. And everybody else except Bryan is fit. Incredibly that includes Diarra. http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/october/19/team-news
Apparently, according to Lawro (yes, really!!!): "Martin Jol's side are ticking over nicely in mid-table and I get the feeling that they are going to stay there for the foreseeable future." Does this mean we're a proper team at last? C O Y W
As is natural Jol says a bit more in his in-house interviews than the general press ones. In this week's, as well as moaning about the break for Internationals, he talks about his left wing options (toss-up between Kaca, Frie and Richardson) and his striker options (sounds like he's going to start with Berbatov and Petric). He doesn't say anything about mid field, except that the 'miracle cure' man will be involved (probably on the bench). Dejagah will also be involved - co-incidence he's on the front cover of tomorrow's match day programme ? Anyway, he sounded pretty up beat. http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/october/19/video-preview
To put you in the mood for today's game here's a video clip of a previous Villa match, posted by the Club. It's worth a watch just to hear Gentleman Jim and see Ray Lew's face at the end. http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/october/18/aston-villa-flashback By co-incidence it's the same ref today.
Schwarzer, Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise, Sidwell, Baird, Richardson, Rodallega, Berbatov, Petric. Subs: Stockdale, Senderos, Kasami, Karagounis, Diarra, Dejagah, Kacaniklic Good to see Petric again and Baird & Sidley keep their places. Looks like Hugo is on the right (which I'm not sure about) and Lister starts, presumably because he scored in the last game. Glaring lack of strikers on the bench but some great midfield options. COYW
