For this one I'd go with experience, strength in defence and a selection that keeps Berbatov up front - ............Schwarzer......... ...Riether..Hughes..Hangeland..Richardsom.. .....Kara.........Baird.....Sidwell.. ..Duff..................................Kaca.. ..................Berbatov... So no Bryan. Jol said he wasn't included at Blackpool because of a "slight hamstring", Bryan said he was "fit and being rested". Whichever of them was being accurate I'd leave him out of this game and save him for the Cup.
I'd have Kara a bit further up with Baird and Sidders in the holding roles, but other than that I'm with you.
Is it a 4-2-3-1 type formation you suggest? That would work well with Ruiz too as Baird and Sidwell will do all the clearing up.
If we played a more 4-2-3-1 type formation, I think Kara would be a better fit for this game in that central role. We have to make some attempt at holding onto the ball against teams like Man City and frankly we've seen that the Sidwell/Baird/Ruiz trio do not retain possession well.
Agree with that completely Surly. However in his lunch time press interview Jol pretty much said that Ruiz would play !! Fulham boss Martin Jol will welcome instrumental forwards Bryan Ruiz and Dimitar Berbatov back to his matchday squad for the trip to Manchester City on Saturday (3pm) after resting the pair in midweek. Steve Sidwell is also set to return after missing our last two matches through injury, although a couple of First Team regulars remain unfit. “Regarding injured players, the news is that [Mahamadou] Diarra is still out and Kerim Frei is still out, and that is probably it,” Jol explained in his press conference. “[Mladen] Petrić had a little problem but, hopefully, on Friday he will train with us and then go to Manchester.” Petric never seems to last more than one game before having three off, so we won't see anything from him on Saturday. Frei is a genuine worry though - that original injury doesn't seem to have mended and he's building up significant 'time out' this season.
Jol is great value in interviews I think. He does make sense though. I can't remember a time when we have been hit simultaneously with injuries and bad form. He thinks we are almost there in being a really good team. Do you agree? Plus we haven't had too much luck over the last couple of months. Maybe that wil change at the weekend.
I do. I'll probably get flamed for it though. We were looking a great team (albeit with a short dip over a couple of games) up until the Sunderland game, and we haven't looked quite the same since. We've not lost any players (I'm talking September - November), we just look like we've lost a bit of that swagger and confidence. A couple of additions and a bit of dutch courage (see what I did there?) and we can look up the table again. Right now though, we need to stabilise and get our mojo back.
The Club's flight from Gatwick to Manchester this lunch time has been cancelled and various arrangements are being made to t the team there by train. There are also reports that the game itself is in doubt - not because of the pitch because of H&S issues in the surrounding roads. If I remember correctly the conditions were similar last year and that game went ahead. Not that we enjoyed the outcome - that Johnson 'dive' and a 3-0 defeat (wonder if that's how Lawro came up with his prediction for this one?). On balance it might be good for us if it was postponed; a bit of R&R (rest and re-group) time for the team.
For selfish reasons I hope the game is on as I have train tickets all booked and going with 12 other Cottagers. We went last year and as you say it was snowing then. Remember well a chant that will be apt tomorrow - "We want to go home, we're f freezing we want to go home" Last year was a Sunday and got back only just for last tube home. Hope we're up for it - I'm not that optimistic and a draw would be good !
Bryan says he's 100% fit and any suggestion otherwise was "an error by the press". "It's important tomorrow's match against City. We know it will be tough. They are trying to catch up with Manchester United and play at home, but we have nothing to lose and everything to win, " said Bryan. "For the match against Blackpool gave me a break because I came from injury and played five games in two weeks. If there was a misunderstanding with the press. They put that had relapsed but not true, I'm 100% " he said. Here is the rest of the story on his website : http://www.bryanruizcr.com/es/noticia/bryan-ruiz-al-100-para-enfrentar-al-manchester-city/ Thought it was Jol that said he had a "slight hamstring". Not to worry looks like he's raring to go.
............Schwarzer......... ...Riether..Hughes..Hangeland..Richardson.. Duff....Karagounis...........Sidwell......Briggs .................Ruiz.................... .................Petric......... Yes I'd leave Berbatov out and bring him on in the 60th minute just to see how he reacts. Think we need to defend well and Duff and Briggs can help out there, whereas Kacaniklic is poor at defending. Ruiz for set pieces, Petric is better at pulling players out of position
No room for Berbatov? Surely some mistake, SuperBrian. Edit: Ah, I've actually read what you said now. I see you've explained the omission. Fair point, but I'd still start with him.
Petric says he's fit, but I wouldn't start with him. It's got to be Berba up top and okay Captain, I'll concede Bryan behind him. So we play a la the Arsenal game rather than the Chelsea one.
Actual starting XI: Schwarzer; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Richardson; Duff, Sidwell, Karagounis, Dejagah; Ruiz, Berbatov
Silva was head and shoulders above every other player on the pitch when we played City at the Cottage. He is City's best player and he seems to save the best moments for us...
We tried, controlled parts of the game but Silva is such a strong influence. Don't know what you guys think but I believe we are lacking presence in the final third. May be we need to go to a more 4-4-2 system. Today we controlled the game at parts of it but both Ruiz and Berba are coming too far out to get the ball. Especially Berba. Duff was not in he game today. Can't remember him passing Clichy. Other than that we need to get clinical. We were unlucky on Sidwell's header. COYW
Madness, 'unlucky' is not the word. If we had gotten anything from the game, it would have been a huge injustice. No shots on target. I won't say anything else on the defeat, which was fully expected, if only to avoid a telling off from Bids Onwards and upwards.
