Well it's a sell out and has the makings of a cracking game. There's no word about the Pog although AJ is apparently up and about again - mind I can't see him featuring. Assuming Pog is okay he should play which leaves Jol with some nice choices. Murphy and Diarra again? Kaca or Frei? Duff? I'm sure given the extra rest, if everyone is fit, he will put out his strongest team and push on for as many points as possible. Not least because every place up the table is worth just under £1m extra in performance money (more in his transfer kitty?). So the question is, what is our strongest team at the moment and taking into account that Wigan are fighting for their lives? I'd go for a starting line up of - ------------Schwarzer------------- Kelly------Hughes--Hangeland-----Riise ---------Dembele----Murphy----- ---Duff----Dempsey-----Kaca -------------Pog------- Footnote: We lost our record of the only prem club not to have given away a penalty against Utd (swizzle!) but still hold the record of the only one not to have a red card. Just have a negative sense towards Mr Probert and a premonition about that going this week.
Can't improve much on that line up. The one thing I would like to see Jol try is Frei on the right and Kaca on the left. Frei is cutting in far too often I think it could become predictable.
C58 - I have to agree with your choice. Hopefully, the The Pog is fit. And Diarra can stay on the bench - Sorry, I can't be too generous towards him yet. It should be a good match. 3-1 would be nice. C O Y W
It will be 58's line-up unless Pog is injured and in that case it will be Dempsey up top, Dembele slots into Dempsey's AM role and Diarra replaces Dembele beside Murphy. I also think Frei might get the nod ahead of Kaka after his performance against Chelsea. Would be harsh to drop him after a MoM performance.
Its nice to see that all tickets were sold out on Wednesday, very good news. Do other members think that if ,when, we increase our capacity to 30thous, plus,we can constantly fill to capacity.
Our average attendance in regards to stadium capacity must surely be around the 95% mark, for me, I think we would be able to fill CC for most weeks, especially with the likes of Reading, Southampton and possibly West Ham coming up, all of which are located not too far away from CC. And with the likes of Wolves, Blackburn etc dropping out I can only see the attendances improving to be honest. Does anyone have any further information regarding the stadium expansion plans?
I haven't seen this weeks prediction from him but does it go something along the lines of 'Wigan are in fantastic form, but Fulham are very good at home, therefore score draw?'
Largely agree on the team, I'd favour Frei over Kaca just to reward him for his showing against chelsea but would be content with either. Alternatively I'd be tempted to play murphy and diarra and start with the same line up as chelsea, with Dempsey leading the line particularly if the Pog isn't fully fit yet. Also should we be in a comfortable winning position at half time (and no I'm not taking anything for granted) it would be great to see Kasami and/or Trotta get some game time. Maybe Trotta for the Pog if he's not up to full match fitness. What a blessing it is to have such a wealth of options. Will be a very tough game though and I sense a high scoring one, maybe us edging it 3-2 perhaps. Very difficult to predict though given Wigan's recent run.
It's great that it is once again a sell out. It reminded me of a funny post you can see on the QPR forum today about our poor away support at Sunderland with photo evidence. The thread goes on about how poor Fulham away support is and how good QPRs is - until a Sunderland fan posts a photo of the poor away support of QPR at Sunderland. Damn we've been rumbled, let slag of Leeds instead it continues with. Very funny I thought - so wanted to Post !
Noticed in several of to days sporting gossip columns,that Mark Hughes is reported to want "Murph" to join him at the Rangers, as part of his motivational coaching staff. I would have thought that it would be sensible to keep him at the Cottage,to learn his managerial craft, who knows, could be in some years hence, our future manager. We threw Criss Coleman in at the deep end,but I am sure that "Murph" reads ,and understands the game, far better than CC. What are the views of others.
I'd agree with C58 line-up barring injuries. Wonder if Jol will put a few more of the youngsters in the up coming teams ? But I suspect there is pressure on him to finish as High as possible to get more cash. On Murphy going to QPR as a coach, can see the logic, but doesn't Hughes already have more coaching staff than players. Could just be agent talk to up the new contract talks. Looking forward to an open game against Wigan, just hope we don't do our usual last 10-15 minute 1-0 up and soak up the pressure, my nerves can't take it any more.
If Murphy has to go somewhere to start his managerial career (and I hope he stays right where he is for the forseeable future), then I'd rather see him fill Bournemouth's vacancy in the summer. I think he'll do better being his own man at a smaller club and learning that way, before coming back to Fulham in five to ten years time. As I say, most of all I hope he stays with us and plays another season.
Agreed with the Captain. The sentimental side of me would love him to be assistant at the Cottage for a few seasons then take over the hot seat, but it would be better for all parties if he cut his teeth as No1 elsewhere then came back.
I can see Wigan doing a QPR, in the sense that they raise their games for the big boys, yet fail to deliver when they come up against the teams they really ought to beat. Gonna be a high scoring one this, I'll be brave and say 3-2 to us. On the Murphy topic, I really can't see him going to QPR as a coach. For one thing, they may not even be in the PL next season, another being that he could become part of the coaching team here with a few other players who may be looking at going into coaching (Hangeland, Hughes, Schwarzer, Davies etc). I think if he was to leave us to be a coach anywhere it would have to be under King Kenny at Liverpool.
Good news and bad news fellas Both AJ and Pogrebnyak available for selection tomorrow but Kelly misses out with a wrist injury. Suspect Baird will fill in for him, would rather that than Hughes switch to right back and Senderos comes in *shudder*
Ease up on Senderos! Good as Hughes has been in the centre these last few games, I'd be more worried about him at right back if your nightmare scenario came to pass.
It looks as though we are on target to beat last year's 97.8 capacity figure. On the expansion plans, it is at the "Pending Consideration" stage. The "expiry date" for all consultation was 11th April and the Council planning people are, presumably, putting together papers currently. The next meeting of the Planning Committee is on 15th May but don't know if we will be on the agenda (it's not published until the week before). Hopefully we are or at the very latest the June one if the intended start before next season is to go ahead. The fact the it has all gone quiet is not a bad sign - the opposition would certainly be trumpeting in the press if there were any cracks showing. Fingers crossed.
NEWS : Kelly out with a wrist injury. Pog is fit to play. So who at left back? Or does Jol go for the 'old' option of Hughes plus Senderos and Hangeland in the middle - I hope not.
