In his press conference today Kit said that Kaca was the only real injury doubt. The big question most fans will be asking is whether he will start the show with”Matt and Mac”. Pretty sure he’ll play them against Leeds next Wednesday so this would certainly be a good opportunity to get them back to being used to playing together. However, I suspect Kit won’t see it that way. Rather, he’ll revert to what (wrongly in my view) he sees as the correct away formula; hold possession and catch them on the break. So Hugo or Cauley who are faster and , very arguably, more mobile than Smith will get the nod. Do not be surprised when the team sheet shows Hugo! At the back Richards will come in, as will Stafylidis with Nando ruled out (thankfully, since he is just not fit). Bodurov has got 50 or so games already under his belt this season and his legs are beginning to show it. Will Kit rest him? Possibly if the alleged newcomer is up and ready. Doubt either will be the case however and old ‘Boddy’ will be there again. Tunnicliffe has been plain awful for a number of games now. Will Kit drop him? Nope! Parker didn’t look fit against Bournemouth. He’s had a week to rest up (mostly not at Motspur Park) but ..still not convinced he’s got the legs for so many games. Will Kit save him for the Leeds home game and bring in Hoogland? Nope! So the likely starting line-up is: ………………….Bettinelli……………. ..Richards....Bodurov…Hutchinson…Stafylidis… …..Tunnicliffe…..Parker….Kavanagh… …….Ruiz…………………..McCormack.. ……………….Hugo…………
Kit also mentioned that Lasse Vigen Christensen is currently in Germany having treatment and is "nowhere close, ready to play". That's a bummer!
Judging by Kit's comments on the pitch being unsuitable for a passing game I think we'll see Smith start up top and we'll be lumping balls in to him for 90 minutes in the hope that something sticks. Turner is eligible and could well play, not sure when he last played or who he'd replace if he does come in. My guess is that we'll go: ------------------------Bettinelli------------------------ Richards-----Hutch----------Turner-----Stafylidis ------------------------Parker--------------------------- -------Tunnicliffe-----------------Kavanagh--------- ------------------------Ruiz----------------------------- ----------------Smith--------McCormack------------
I like to see a bit of an experiment ……………….Bettinelli……………. ..Richards....Bodurov….Burn....Hutchinson…Stafylidis… …..Hoogland…...Ruiz.........….Kavanagh.... …………Dembele…….Smith………… To go from a 5-3-2 to a 3-5-2 use attacking fullbacks for crosses for Smith and Dembele, or quick long ball forward to Smith for Dembele to use his speed and strength or Ruiz to gather the ball. We need to attack teams quicker. Bring McCormack and Woodrow on later to run at a tiring defense.
Turner's last game for Norwich was on 4th February, shortly after their new manager joined. Debatable how match fit he is therefore
Well Burn's last game was at the start of December so if the Hutchinson - Bodurov partnership is to be broken then Turner would be my choice. I think Hutchinson could flourish with a commanding centre back partner.
Surely Kit has to give Smith a start after his goal last Friday. One of my Bournemouth friends who was at the game said that once he came on he looked like our best player. I agree with Cottager that Kit is likely to stick with his tried and trusted players rather than drop a few. I think Turner will start, but I'm not sure whether he'll replace Bodurov or Hutchinson. Below is what I'm hoping for, rather than what I expect: .........................................Bettinelli.................................. Richards or Grimmer......Turner......Hutchinson....Stafylidis ..........................................Hoogland................................ .............................Fofana................Kavanagh.................. ..............................................Ruiz..................................... ..............................McCormack.......Smith......................... I hesitated over Fofana, as I'd prefer a fit and raring to go Scott Parker. If he's up to another display like the one against Derby, then pick him. If he isn't then rest him so that when he comes back in he's ready to play like that again.
I think my mum should pick the team. She'll use the same method Kit does. Erm, there is no method. A bit harsh but I'm bored of seeing the same ol' tosh (no offence Tosh) week in week out. Not to mention the same reasons for losing the game. If he doesn't drop Hugo, continues to play the stupid diamond formation plus play people in the wrong positions I'm going to.......well I don't know what I'm going to do but it will be pretty drastic!
Well, this suggests there might be more than you're mum's input now Craving - ”Kit Symons freely admits Alan Curbishley will have a finger in each and every Fulham pie. Symons reckons he will use Curbs as a ‘sounding board’ in all aspects of coaching, selection and tactics as Fulham hope to edge away from the bottom four starting at Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow. “He’ll be a great sounding board for me,” said the gaffer. “He brings advice and experience in abundance and I’ll be tapping into him for everything.” Even when it comes to deciding if this player is better than that one for the next game? “I’ll talk to him about everything in relation to the football club,” Symons answered. “I’m constantly asking his advice. Why would I not when you’ve got that experience. I intend to tap into it every way I can.” The rumour mill had it Curbishley and Wilkins were incadescent after lasting just eight weeks as Fulham got through the coaches in a desperate attempt to come up with a winning formula. But Symons insisted no arms were twisted to force a return. “He was really keen to come in and he’s been excellent,” added the manager.” Source: http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-coach-say-team-selection-8832914 Hopefully the Curbs input will at least (at best?) result in a shift away from the so-called “Diamond” system that we have been stubbornly playing?
I think the result against Bournemouth really hurt him and made him realise that something had to change somewhere, It's likely to be personnel changes though rather than the shape of the team. Apart from a wing back system we don't have the players to play with any width so we may have to see out the season with the dreaded diamond.
Think today was a good point all things considered, only bad thing being that Wigan won again so cut the gap to 6. We've got a big week coming up now with 2 very winnable games. We've had a rotten run of fixtures recently, playing a lot of the top teams but it's a good time to start picking up the points now. 2 wins against Leeds and Huddersfield in the coming week and we'll be looking good.
Sounded like a scrappy game on a scrappy pitch. At least we changed the system and the 4-4-2 set up .....Richards...Turner..Hutchinson..Stafylidis.. ......Hoogland..Tunnicliffe.Parker.Kavanagh.. ...........................Smith..McCormack.. suggests we went not to concede. And when we did, from a corner (yet again), fair play to the lads for fighting back and getting the point. Indeed from what I could gather in the commentary we had the better of the last 15 minutes and could have nicked it - especially if Fofana hadn't "done an Allardyce", staying on his feet after being fouled in the box. As Fab says, pity about Wigan but that points bounces us above Rotherham on goal difference. So there's always a silver lining. PS Where the heck was Bryan - not even on the bench ??
Did we stick to this formation or switch to the diamond when Woodrow and Fofana came on around 70 mins?
As I understood GJ, we broadly did - certainly McCormack went deep and Woodrow went up with Smith. Kind of: ....................Tunnicliffe........Parker.......... ...Fofana..................................................McCormack... ........................Smith........Woodrow.....
Thanks 2Whites. Our bench yet again underlines how weak the squad is in his position and midfield in general. Do you reckon we planned to play 4-4-2 or was it a case of 'no option' ?
