No prediction on the team line up ..yet. Expect a more detailed assessment of the players in the press conference, probably tomorrow? This however is a taster from Kit, who looks as though he's only just got out of bed. Although he's very bubbly - I believe the in-word at Motspur Park is actually 'buzzing' - and good to hear at long last the benefit of practising corners at the Cottage, among other things -
This would probably be my choice too with the possible exception of Ream. He could still be jet lagged from his travels and as Kit said has never worked with Stearman before so it's probably a game too soon for the Stearman - Ream partnership. I'd be inclined to start Burn instead. His height is a big advantage against Rhodes too.
To be honest none of our centre halves have played with Stearman before, possibly a bit jet lagged but playing on Sunday will give him an extra days rest. I like Burn but if Rhodes is upfront just think Reams mobility will be better than Burns strengths.
Burn has trained with him throughout the international break and played the training game vs Crawley with him. I'm happy either way though.
Ooops a daisy ... "Ben Pringle and Jazz Richards will be assessed ahead of Sunday’s (12pm) clash with Blackburn Rovers at the Cottage. An accidental collision between the pair in training on Friday means Fulham’s medical staff will check on them prior to the televised fixture with Rovers. “Ben and Jazz had a little bit of a collision in training today but hopefully they should both be okay,” said Kit Symons. “It was just a coming together, Ben had a loose touch and they banged knees. It looked quite nasty at the time but we’re hopeful.” Otherwise, Fulham has no fresh worries on the injury front. Indeed, Scott Parker, George Williams and Luke Garbutt are all edging closer to fitness."
If Jazz is out, Fredericks starts. If Pringle is out, Kaca starts. I'm quite enjoying the ability we have at the moment to make like-for-like changes and not deplete the quality we have on the pitch. Kaca and Fredericks are more than capable replacements if needed.
The latest news on the duo training injury is that Pringle will probably be okay but Richards not. In that event we’ll obviously see Fredericks at right back. I’m not sure he wouldn’t have played anyway since Kit has been singing his praises in today’s press conference: “Ryan can play right-back, left-back, he can play pushed on down the right-hand side. He’s the quickest player we’ve got at the football club, he’s got electric pace, so I think he’s a great acquisition for us” There’s really only two other question marks – who plays CB and who CF? At CB there’s a case for keeping the Burn/Ream pairing from the Rotherham game but it’s fair to assume that Stearman will come in. Equally it’s pretty much a banker that the future CB duo will be him and Ream, but is this a game too early? Kit is oozing confidence in the pair and I reckon he’s content to risk starting them. Up front, Kit seems himself to be in two minds. In answer to a question, he told the press: “They’re two excellent young players, but we want there to be goals,” he explained. “Cauley’s come off the bench and scored a couple of goals; Moussa’s put in a lot of work, he’s had a vastly improved work rate, I’ve been really pleased with that, and he’s looked a real threat with his pace and power. But you want your strikers to start hitting the back of the net. They’ll get an opportunity now and that’s what any player, especially a young player, has to do – if you get a chance, take it, it’s your opportunity so grasp it with both hands.” In reality, I think that’s simply a veiled hint of warning to Dembele, who is the more natural goal scorer of the two anyway. He’ll start.
Hadn't realised that Danny Guthrie had signed on for Blackburn and is likely to be selected after returning from injury. please log in to view this image Game plan sorted!
Been looking forward to this game with it being live on sky, first chance I'll have had to see the team play so far this season. I really need to try get down to the Cottage this season, been a while.
Spot on with today's team. How much better does that defence look??? Night and day from last seasons shambles.
Fulham 24 Lonergan 02 Richards 05 Stearman 13 Ream 40 Husband 10 Cairney 19 Tunnicliffe 23 O'Hara 18 Pringle 44 McCormack 25 Dembele Substitutes 07 Fredericks 11 Kacaniklic 12 Lewis 14 Mattila 16 Woodrow 21 Christensen 33 Burn Looking a strong side this, COYW!
We seem to have slacked off a bit since going 2-0 up, Blackburn seeing a bit more of the ball and creating chances. Lonergan has pulled off some brilliant saves!! McCormack and Dembele looking good up front together, with more games together that could become a really good partnership for us this season.
I'm actually struggling for words to describe that performance. To go from being so good and in control in the 1st half to be so poor in the 2nd half, it was like watching a totally different team. We got the win but have to say we got away with one there, Blackburn probably deserved at least a point, if not all 3.
Charmed life in the second half and that’s not forgetting two cracking first half saves by my MOTM Andy Lonergan. Kit needs to look at that second half and reflect on, not only how Blackburn’s change of tactics (they put pressure on Ream and generally held a higher line) affected things but also how we failed to react. The midfield lost the plot and we fell into the old trap of backing off. As the confidence went, the long hoof prevailed. Kit, I think, made a good sub in bringing on Fredericks, who showed his pace but unfortunately was ignored a time too often by his colleagues. However, I also think he should have made at least one more midfield change at the same time and certainly 10/15 minutes later for a very tired O’Hara. Just on the more controversial incidents in that half – thought it was a dubious penalty and thought the ball had crossed the line in that later scramble. Even Steven you might say! All of that said, for the first half hour we played some exceptional football; were sharp on the move and in the tackle. Don’t know but perhaps complacency set in after that because we were so much on top. And the back four, with Stearman an absolute beast, were solid and above all confident. While, as said Lonergan gets my player of the game vote, Moussa Dembele deserves plaudits. Did all the things Kit eulogised over and got his assist and his goal as well. Just occasionally though he should have looked up for options instead of having a loose go himself. I’m sure that will come with more experience however. As will our overall, that is 90 minute, performance as the players get used to one another.
Can only assume Kit's half time team talk was "Good work, lads. Game's in the bag so let's just kick it around a bit and prepare for Sheffield Wednesday". Awful second half. We didn't really deserve a point, let alone all three. That said, nice to be on the other end of one of these results for once! Anyway, my analysis would be pretty similar to C58s. I think Stearman looks like the leader we needed in defence and I really liked the performance we saw from Moussa. Fredericks' pace was eye-opening to me; he could really cover the RW slot quite effectively if we implement a plan B at some point. We look very good going forward (although Pringle was quiet), but we need to be patient with our all new back five as they gel together. This match exposed a lack of tactical nous from Kit; hopefully Curbs or someone else can have a word with him about changing things up when the opposition adapt to our plan A.
That bit of 'Lady Luck' (among the other scrambles and Lonergan saves) - what do you reckon? please log in to view this image
Just back from the game and that is what supporting Fulham has been for the past number of years, first half played some great stuff pinged it about nicely, two nil up was going to to cruise it ice and easy..... Then second half get battered and hold on desperately for the points. I'm not going to analyse the game about why and how I think it went wrong, they deserved a point didn't get it, we had a bit of luck about time. The points I would like to make are 1... The Linesman on the Jonny Haynes side - every throw in in the first half that there left back came over to missile into the box was a foul throw with his foot over the line and he did not give one also I counted three goal kicks second half when there keeper had the ball out of the six yard box none given. 2. The longer time moved on second half they were going more and more direct, Dan Burn should have been brought on with 20 minutes to go not 4 minutes to go. 3. Forget the debate about why we were under so much pressure second half all I know is that same situation last season would have seen us collapse and probably lose
A key point Cookie. I could not go (12:00 Sundays are a joke), but are we persisting with the Diamond? Sounded more like 4-4-1-1 per the small bit of Gentleman Jim I heard.
