Team at the Bridge

Jol, in his weekly 'chat' with the Ealing Gazette has given some clues about his selection policy for Wednesday's game against Chelsea -

'With a vital Premier League game at West Brom three days later, boss Jol admits he will rest some of his star names.
“We have 22 players now,” he said. “There is a lot of youngsters and I have to integrate them.
“Kasami has showed he can be a part of the squad. That's good for us.
“We can play with a different team on Wednesday. I can still sleep on it for a few days.”
Jol is hopeful that Aaron Hughes will be available again after missing Sunday's draw with Manchester City, while Dickson Etuhu (thigh) and Andy Johnson (ankle) are also on the treatment table.'

 

I'm going for:

--------------Etheridge---------------
Grygera---Hughes---Senderos----Briggs
Dempsey--Murphy----Sidwell---Kasami
--------Ruiz-------Orlando-----------

 

The local paper 'The Echo' reports -

"Fulham have a doubt over Algerian defender Rafik Halliche because of illness as manager Martin Jol prepares to freshen up his side for tomorrow night’s Carling Cup third-round clash at west London neighbours Chelsea.

Captain Danny Murphy and centre-back Brede Hangeland are among those likely to be rested following what has been a hectic start to the new season on the back of Europa League qualification.

Defender Bjorn Helge Riise (groin) remains sidelined, but Aaron Hughes (knee) could return for the weekend’s Barclays Premier League game against West Brom.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Halliche, Baird, Grygera, Senderos, Sa, Gecov, J A Riise, Briggs, Kasami, Sidwell, Duff, Dembele, Etheridge, Kelly, Ruiz, Zamora, Frei."

Yup, Halliche is still with us.

 

Halliche is still a fulham player?! One has to wonder why and only hope we can flog him in january

 

--------------Schwarzer--------------
Grygera----Baird---Senderos----Briggs
Dembele---Gecov----Sidwell---Kasami
--------Ruiz----------Sa-----------

With Kasami and Dembele cutting inside to assist Ruiz.

 

Robespierre ... Halliche's loan deal fell through, for which I'm grateful. Never found out why, but FIFA denied it and sent him back to us.

 

They didn't sign the docs in time and so the deadline passed. There was also some clearance issue

2 months obviously wasn't long enough for Fulham and Swansea to agree a deal

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14931176.stm

 

I hope Frei will get a run out tonight as he looked good in the europa game.

Surely Jol needs to let one of the other keepers have a chance?

 

If Hangeland is being rested (I'd play him), then I think Bidley's line up is spot on. I'd have them as more of a 4-2-3-1 than a 4-4-2, with Kasami, Ruiz and Dembele as the 3 attacking midfielders, but apart from that I agree. I'd like to see Frei on the bench, possibly making an appearance at some stage. And personally I wouldn't change the keepers unless there is an injury concern over Schwarzer.

This line up lets us rest the older outfield players who have already played most of our games, as well as giving those who have played less but done well recently another chance to build on that. It freshens things up while retaining a lot of strength and experience. Apparently Abramovic has 'ordered' Villas Boas to play the youngsters tonight, so if we send out a decent eleven, who knows what might happen? We should have quality - Zamora, Dempsey, Murphy, Duff, Riise the Elder - on the bench, just in case they're needed.