At his lunch time press conference. Jol said that Brede is not ready to come back and will not resume training until next week at best. Hugo is also out and it sounds as though it might be lengthy - abductor injury. Matthew Briggs is still sidelined. Jol has again specifically mentioned Diarra, but said he is two/three weeks away from being fit. So, to the game: please log in to view this image I know all about the grumblings around forwards not tracking back to help the defence and so on. However, in my view there is another issue that Jol has/does not address. Sidwell as one of two in the midfield is a major problem. Don’t fault his energy. However it’s spent chasing the ball meaning he’s too often out of position, leaving huge gaps and/or players unmarked. If he plays, you need three in the middle. I’m not going to post my preferred team this week, since Jol will undoubtedly field his usual favoured eleven individuals.
I had a feeling this morning that our game might just be one of those games that ruins everyone's accumulators. Not sure why but I feel we may surprise everyone with a shock win. It is completely irrational, just a hunch. A lot will depend on whether we attempt to get our full backs forward early on in the game. If we let evra or Rafael get forward we will struggle again. Berbatov will have to do a job on carrick if he plays in the number 10 role. I have been unconvinced by united's wingers this season, but it cannot be denied that Rooney is on fire at the moment and if he gets a grip of the game he alone could destroy us. If Dejagah is fit I would love to see him play: Stekkers Riether Hughes Amorebieta Richardson Sidders Parker Kasami ( left ) Ruiz ( no 10 ) Dejagah ( right ) Berbatov As 58 said though, Jol will pick the team he favours which probably means bent up top with berbatov behind him. Let's hope we pull a rabbit from the hat and put in a really upbeat performance. COYW
@FulhamFC: Jol: "Tomorrow is a big game for us and if we can get a good result then the world will look different." #ffc #coyw I love Jol's positivity, but I could ambitiously say "if I pull Mila Kunis this weekend then the world will look different". I cannot see either of the above happening based on recent form, ability and low morale. If Kunis is coincidently in the UK, then I feel I've got a slightly better chance of getting a result!
Was feeling exactly the same last week. Feel the same this week. Although I will go for the following 4-3-2-1 formation: -------------- Stekelenburg ----------- -- Riether --- Hughes ---- Amorebieta ---- Richardson ---- ------ Boateng ---- Parker ---- Sidwell ---- ------ Kasami ---- Berba/Ruiz ----- ------- Bent ----- We can't play with 3 CBs as too slow and will get slaughtered. Also following his comments about 4 in defense and 4 forwards against Soton the midfield needs strengthening that we have all spotted. I think above addresses that... If that will not be the case then I will opt for a 4-4-2 -------------- Stekelenburg ----------- -- Riether --- Hughes ---- Amorebieta ---- Richardson ---- ---Dejagah ---- Parker ---- Sidwell ---- Kaca--- ------ Bent---- Berba/Ruiz ----- or 4-4-1-1 with the above take Ruiz and Bent out and add Kasami behind the striker. In all formations I have opted for one of Ruiz and Berba as they don't both fit in the same formation. As C58 I don't think Jol will change the team but hey... we can always try guessing! He is the manager after all. All what we can do is back the boys... Come on Fulham!!!
If we are going to continue using a slow build up -------------- Stekelenburg ----------- -- Riether --- Hughes ---- Amorebieta ---- Richardson ---- -------------------- Boateng ------------------ -------Kasami--------Parker ---------Sidwell--------- -------------------- Ruiz ----------- ---------------- Berbatov ----- Need Stekelenberg to show his class and be on the top of his game. To introduce some speed into the team and experiment a bit I'd go -------------- Stekelenburg ----------- --Riether --- Hughes ---- Amorebieta ---- Richardson ---- ---------------Parker----- Boateng ------------------ ----Dejagah ----------- ------------------BouMesca/Riise------ --------------------Kasami ----------- ---------------- Bent ----- Get the Riether/Dejagah partnership back, Riise defensively leaves gaps when attacking, so push him more forward, with less space to defend. or try Boumesca with his raw speed but not so accurate crosses.
I am normally one of the more optimistic posters on here but I fully expect nothing from Man U and Liverpool, anything would be a massive bonus.
Jol has a debate about player 'body language' in today's internal video interview: [video=youtube;QxE5ewgKH4w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxE5ewgKH4w&feature=player_embedded[/video] No doubt though that Berbatov will be up front, it seems.
I read his comments and listening that I believe either he is naive or he thinks that we are stupid. How can he compare Crystal Palace with Southampton? In any case lets get behind the team tomorrow and hope that we do it tomorrow! Come on Fulham
I would much rather see berbatov play up top than bent at the moment, if that is, he actually stays up top and offers us some options. If he drops deep then he will be ineffective. Put Ruiz behind him and we will create chances.
Even a shot on target would be a bonus at this stage. In regards to the team? Who cares. It will be the eleven best, not the best eleven. Again.
So Dejagah plays. Looking at the starting 11, there's enough for a win; just current form to overcome. Looking forward to the first shot on target!!
I guess Sascha Riether will get into a tad of retrospective trouble for the stramash at the end - I certainly saw a stamp and presume the cameras did even if Probert didn't. That said Mr Probert didn't see very much all game. He was Shocking. I'll only instance the trip on Parker before their second goal simply because I'd errupt reminding myself of all Probert's other moments of bias. But, this defeat wasn't down entirely to him. While we did perform so much better in the second half that's no good if you don't turn up when it matters. We were dreadful from minute 5 to minute 25. Yet again over run in midfield, not closing people down and awful marking. Yet again, I would question Jol's substitutions and also how Bryan justifies his place. The only good thing to take out of this game was Djagah's return.
I would question Jol's mind and his ability to take the p1$$ with his post match comments... We are not morons, and if you and some players think Fulham is a holiday club get the hell out. Same comments as after Soton. Does he expect a team that is 2-0 or 3-0 up at half time to fire in all cylinders? No absolutely no! Time for him to go and take Ruiz with him. Absolutely shocking performance.
The second half was only better because Man Utd had completely switched off. Moyes obviously felt comfortable with the possibility of having only 10 men on the park when making all three substitutions available to him at half time. At a point in the first half Jol was hidden away in his dug out with what looked like Karagounis out giving instructions. There were some opportunities to get a few goals but they wouldn't have come if we hadn't capitulated so early. If Utd had taken us seriously after that it could have been much worse. On one corner in the first half we had Richardson marking Rooney, who was placed right in the middle of the 6 yard box. Unsurprisingly Rooney found space and almost nodded it in. It was almost laughable. Who has come up with that plan? To have their most dangerous attacker marked by Richardson sums up Jol - clueless, players being asked to play out of position or in unfamiliar roles. Senderos at the back, come on now Jol - it's getting old. Was funny the first time, need some new material.
