By any standards our away form has been poor this season. As has our consistency - one decent game seems to be automatically followed by one bad one. Opininion, on other threads, about the reason for this has fluctuated between player attitude and tactics. Can we expect anything better against Norwich tomorrow? It looks as though Jol will stick with same XI starting as against Chelsea - a) because he always does after one good performance ; and b) he 'may' have no choice - BZ, AJ, and Duff are (said) to still be injured Jol himself this afternoon said - "Of course the only thing you can say is hopefully they (BZ and AJ) will be back, but I don't think there is a big chance," Jol told Fulham TV. "We have got a few worries but we have got attacking options available." The Dutchman concedes he will have to tweak his tactics against the 11th-placed Canaries - but not his personnel Whatever the lineup or the tactics, the key will be how we perform at CB. Norwich have scored more goals (11) with headers than any other prem team this season. We are at the other extreme in that department, so what chance Hangeland gets the winner with a header ?
If AJ and Zamora are actually both carrying knocks, I would imagine Jol won't play them to not risk further injury and so put off suitors in January. With Hangeland and Senderos at centre back I would be confident about us being able to handle Norwich's threat in the air.
I would personally play 4-2-3-1 and use the versatility of the front 4 to make it a busy afternoon for Norwich. Ruiz, Dembele, Dempsey and Frei all switching places up front. Etuhu and Murphy to close down Norwich's diamond formation and stamp their authority on the centre of the park. Same back 4 from the chelsea game.
Today features a team which finds it hard to score (us) versus a team which finds it hard to keep clean sheets. I agree that 4-2-3-1 is the way to go, but I don't think the 1 should be part of the interchanging of personel that the next row of 3 can (and should) do. Frei might be able to play that role, but if Bobby and AJ are still unavailable, I'd give Orlando Sa another run in that position. He's not looked ideal so far, but I think he's probably the best we've got available. I think Frei might do better as one of the three (although I wouldn't pick him ahead of Ruiz, Dembele or Dempsey at the moment) or coming off the bench to face tiring defences. Hopefully by the next time we play, we'll have a shiny new centre-forward itching to prove he's worth whatever fee we've paid for him.
Probably the same team as Chelsky with the only difference having Etuhu at the back In place of Frei unless he will be rested for Monday against Arsenal. Jol will have to gamble and see where he can get more points. Getting something against Norwich probably a safer bet than Arsenal. Although we can potentially get 6!
I like your thinking Madness. 6 points would propel us into the top half of the table and relaunch our season. And be generally amazing. However, we are fulham and I would be happy with 3 points and ecstatic with 4
Need to put the Norwich goalkeeper under pressure, and put a lot of shots in. Early pressure needed instead of containment in the first 20 minutes. I guess Stockdale will take some stick for his Ipswich link. Not letting in a early goal might be key to us getting a point or 3, we don't seem to do well chasing a game. Think Etuhu might come in for Frie
We tend not to apply pressure early enough when playing away, in the hope of containment, and I see the same again today. Hopefully, Brede can keep Holt quiet today. Goals from midfield look a fair possibility, with Demps most likely to pop shots at them. Sa is still a concern, but if we're not ahead by 60m, I hope MJ will make changes. Having seen Norwich v Spurs, I think 3 points maybe possible rather than the hoped-for draw. C O Y W
What I had always wished we had played and now what looks improbable with Jols fallout with our two best strikers is a 4-1-3-2, with Stockdale Kelly Hughes Hangeland Riise Murphy/etuhu/sidwell Ruiz dembele Dempsey (with further option of Frei) AJ Zamora Attacking wise, that is a mouth watering prospect- I still feel Zamora and AJ are born partners. That front five have the capability to rip most teams to threads.
I was pleased that my concerns about slowness out of the blocks and the effectiveness of Sa both proved to be unfounded. It sounds as if could have we could have gone 2-up, but a point will do, no matter how disappointing the late equaliser was.
sadly Gera, you wouldn't say the same if you'd seen the gulf in class between our 1st and 2d half performance. I don't know what happened at halftime, but we were lucky to get a point- we were completely dominated second half, and looked as if we had no intention of attacking.
