In his internal video interview Jol has confirmed the dreadful news about Bryan - happened in training apparently. Also doubts about Riether. Here is the interview - http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/december/06/manager-video Well no real clues on who will fill Bryan's spot, although in saying that Kara is the only likely candidate apart from the obvious Berba there are options. Jol did emphasise the need for goals and that Berba is his No. 9, so I'm going for : ..............Schwarzer............. ..Riether...Hughes..Hangeland..Riise.. .........Baird......Diarra.... ..Duff.....Kara............Kaca.. ...........Berbatov....... As jol said if Riether doesn't make it, Kelly will come in. I've included Baird because Jol has obviously been holding him on the bench as CB cover (rather than in midfield) while Hangeland has been out. [Small aside - Jol seemed a bit dismissive of Senderos in the interview, I thought]
Cottager58, Senderos' display Saturday was a catastrophe. I'd be surprised if Senderos ever plays again. I'd play everyone ahead of Senderos, including Berbatov, as CB before I'd put him on the pitch again. I hope Fulham can turn it around this week. We need a win badly, but I'm not confident. Newcastle looked good in their last game, with Ba and Cisse running wild against Wigan.
I wouldn't say Newcastle looked that good against Wigan. Like Sunderland they benefited greatly playing against 10 men. Having said that I too am not totally confident after the recent run of results and I am greatly disappointed that Ruiz is out till the New Year. Anyway, we have Hangleland and I presume Kaca back so we have a good a chance as any. I see they rested most of their team tonight but we have done well against Newcastle in recent years with a cracker last year. Hope it warms up though otherwise I'm going to look like the Michelin man on Monday !
The lads were training at Motspur Park this morning (24/7 stuff this football !) and the good news is that Kaca is fighting fit. The news on Sascha Riether is still uncertain but Mr Kelly was there, having got back from his Christmas shopping trip to Dublin.
This Newcastle Blog has a quite decent take on the team formation Jol will go for tonight - primalily Berba behind Petric - and why. It also has a good round up on last year's game. http://www.nufcblog.org/2012/12/craven-for-a-win-fulham-vs-newcastle-united-in-depth-match-preview/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=craven-for-a-win-fulham-vs-newcastle-united-in-depth-match-preview There's a lot of other opinions around that favour Berba in the deeper role and the vote seems to be split 50/50 whether Petric or Hugo should be up front (at least everyone seems clear that it's a waste of time putting Hugo out on the left). Personally I'm still going for Berba to be the front man, with Kara 'in the hole' behind him. PS When I saw the title of the Blog I thought at first it was from 'one of our own' !
Sounds like you can't. Move along... I'd favour putting Berbs up top too, C58. Not sure if Kara has the legs to play in the hole though...
Bold team selection, althought it's clear that we needed a shake-up of some sort I suppose. Schwarzer, Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise, Duff, Baird, Sidwell, Kacaniklic, Rodallega, Berbatov. Subs: Etheridge, Senderos, Petric, Karagounis, Richardson, Diarra, Dejagah
The radio 5 commentator has just observed that Berbatov is wearing tights, and likened him to Keith Weller at Leicester City in the 70s. For the benefit of younger readers, Weller wore his wife's tights for a winter game in the 70s, which happened to be on Match of the Day (they weren't all televised in those days). He played a blinder, as I recall. Let's hope it works out similarly for Berba tonight.
Half time. Judging from the radio, it sounds as if we deserve our lead, although Newcastle seem to be most dangerous at corners. I can't help but feel we might need a second goal before it's all over. Then again, I always think that.
2-1 now. Sounds like Schwarzer got his positioning all wrong for Newcastle's goal. Thank goodness for Rodellega (who would have thought we'd be saying that!).
Get in. Good game I think we deserved the win. Hugo played well lost the ball a few times but worked his socks off. Berba was a beast again I'm all for him playing in the hole he seems to work loads should of scored tho.
Good result from a match I was worried about. Newcastle have a good team. We should take some heart from that result.
Excellent result. At points I thought we were going to collapse but we managed to hold it together. 3 valuable points and a boost on psychology. Now we need to push ahead for another 3 points on Saturday. Sidwell and Hugo competing for man I the match for me!
