In his first pre-match press conference Slavi was bullish about not selling “my key players” and equally determined to find a way to overcome last weekend's defeat. And that was that folks; one of the shortest press conferences in history was over. With no reference to player availability or how he would set the team up. Suspect, while he did say this game and the Cup were important to the Club and fans alike, that he’ll use it as a mini-experiment to get a view as quickly as possible how as many as possible players perform in match conditions. Cairney was out injured last weekend and he should be back, so Slavi should have a full house to pick from. The big question is whether he will prefer a formation with players in their correct positions or whether he will swivel them around allowing new faces to come in? One thing I’m sure of is that he will try for more energy in midfield and higher up the pitch. A mixture would see this starting line-up: …………………………….Lonergan……………………….. …………Stearman……….Hutchinson……….Garbutt……….. ……………………….Matilla….....Parker………. ………LVC…………………Cairney………………Hyndman……. ……………….Dembele……………..McCormack……….
And here is the man himself later on with the delightful Sarah. Nothing different to be honest and full of rhetoric - for which you cannot blame him after only one week - but thought worth posting since it is his first 'internal interview'.
In the interview Slav keeps talking about getting balls to 'our quality players' probably meaning McC. But not sure to single out McCormack as it makes him a Berbatov type figure to the others. …………………………….Lonergan……………………….. …Fredericks……Stearman……….Burn………Garbutt……….. ……...........…Mattila……Hyndman…........ ......................Pringle….................. ........…Woodrow…...Cairney………………. ……………..…..Smith………. The idea of this line up is to have quick counter attacks. Have the back 4 defend. Have Smith latch onto their weakest Center Back and bully him, and have midfield contest second balls. Bannan was their best player so we need Pringle in midfield to shadow him, put him off his game.
While I like the logic SuperBri, Pringle doesn't tackle anybody and doubt if he's got the discipline or the legs to 'shadow'.
I think Pringle has been given a raw deal since signing. He has never been a winger, yet that was where he was played. He's more a central midfield, but we went and bought Cairney for the same position. One of my bugbears about modern football is that no one tackles any more, you only have to look at our clubs stats to find that even our own defenders put in about 2-3 tackles each per match. Is that because players have mastered the art of falling down and getting free-kicks at the first sign of a tackle ?
Call me cynical but I would drop Dembele and Hyndman. Give their places to someone who wants to play for the club. If Dembele wants to leave, he has a 4 year deal from us on the table I believe, then he should be in the U21's. He's not a match winner per se, so put Smith in or Woodrow, players that want to play for us. Same with Hyndman, whilst a big fan, if he's off in the summer for free then he shouldn't get a first team game in the vain hope he'll realise that actually Fulham is still a good place to be at. He'll leave anyway. I know I mentioned that Hyndman played well last weekend, and he did but I don't see the point if everyone else is fit. I do like Jokanvich and his posture. Fulhamish? Maybe a smidge, that part his game will improve if he reads Diddy Hamiltons book! COYW
Early days I know but first impressions of Jokanvich makes me believe he knows what he is talking about. Kit always seemed to be justifying himself and although I wanted him to do well he wasn't that convincing. I'm with Cravingawin and would drop Dembele and Hyndman if they are not here for the longterm. I think Dembele is a bit lazy in any case. I'd definitely play Woodrow this time. I think he should have played last week but hey ho. Would be good to have a good cup run in this miserable season. I'm taking the trip up norf so hoping for signs of improvement.
Cravingawin, you are a cynic, happy now? I prefer the Taxi version but each to their own. A senario would be; Miss World says "I will love you for only 6 months", what do you do, em. I'm liking Jokanvich too, he has confidence, a presence and appears so far, Fulhamish. .
Although born and bred in Surrey, we've never seen today's man in the middle Gavin Ward at Fulham. He doesn't waste any time in flourishing cards; having given out 69 yellow and 2 red already this season. After Wednesday getting away with blatant time wasting last weekend I was going to make some connected remark but no ... as we hang on for a return tie at the Cottage he, anyone, everybody can waste as much time as they like.
No Emerson Hyndman. Moussa Dembele on the bench. And a different CB pairing. .......................Lonergan................ ..Richards.. Hutchinson.. Burn.. Garbutt.. ..Cairney.... LVC.. ..O'Hara....Kaca ..........McCormack.. Woodrow.. Subs: Lewis, Stearman, Ream, Matilla, Pringle, Dembele and Smith Gone for that formation on premise that we want more people in midfield but you could perm them many ways - including the dreaded 'Diamond '.
Missed chances and Wednesday again allowed to waste time do for us - 2-1 to them! From what I can gather we were well on top, especially in the second half and the midfield working hard high up the field. Defending from the front. The stats certainly bear that out; nearly 60% of possession and 14 shots (to their 7) and 6 on target (to their 2). But as said, not clinical enough and both Dembele and Kaca missing point blank sitters.
Altogether there appeared from G Jim's commentary a much improved performance. We took out a couple of players running through early in the game, showing more aggression and professionalism, great to hear. We deserved much more and the signs are good, and I'm not deflated in defeat. Another couple of weeks and this looks likely to turn around.
Didn't get a chance to post yesterday - was an improved performance. Had good majority of possession and good chances. Kaca missed a sitter but there were good chances also from Ross and Dembele. Defence did better I thought though and kept them to only two shots on target - the ones that went in ! There were a couple of panicky moments in defence where the ball bobbled in front of our goal and we came off lucky but overall it was better. With no sign of the diamond we committed players forward. It almost felt like a home game. Lots of tippy tappy football sideways but it was further up the pitch. Signs for a time of trying to play the ball wide and cross in which I think we have lacked and from some of those we should have scored from. I don't think we deserved to lose this game and Wednesday fans I spoke to afterwards said they were lucky to win that, and of course said they did not play well. Good day out, glad I went, nice old stadium.
We were unlucky. A lot more endeavour, crossing of the ball in to the box. More scoring opportunities. Sad we didn't get what we deserved and we're beginning to look a bit more solid at the back.
