Even playing for us he loved playing against the red mancs! Should be interesting to see how both teams approach this game. We've not got a great away record, and have had issues getting a result after a large win this season. Both tendencies do not bode well for us coming into tomorrow's game. However, we're playing well (even some of our worse players), and look to be enjoying playing and competing for the ball. Which is always an encouraging sign.
You've started to raise my hopes now! Bookies have Liverpool as 4/9 favourites, we're at 7/1 with draw just outside 4/1. A point for us would be great, I think most Fulham fans had essentially written these two games off and 1 point from 6 from Man Utd and Liverpool is, in the context of our season, a result. We've had a few false dawns already, but if we can perform anything like to the standard we did against Utd and get the same kind of luck then maybe we can get something. Need to rely on you having trouble breaking us down and the forward players creating and taking one or two chances. Depending on how we line up and the first 5 mins, I'll either be happy for the game to finish with less than a 2 goal margin against us or excited to the point of arousal with 1+ points.
It's a game I'm worried about, we do well in the big games but seem less motivated against so called smaller clubs. We've done better than in recent years when we would lose these kind of games, this season we tend to get a point but if we are to look up the league we need all 3 points.
Tonight is all about the performance, rather than the result. Seeing the teams around us getting points off the big teams, I'm not sure we can afford to get beaten heavily again. If we can put in a good performance, that can build some momentum. Easier said than done though!
I agree with that. Think a defensive formation is on the cards to absorb pressure and counter attack. Anything we can get out of this game is a bonus. But because we are Fulham and Fulhamish performances are in our DNA, especially this season, I can't be asked to predict a result! I know one thing that I will be there cheering the boys! Come on Fulham!
I agree with everyone! Surly and others are right that the performance is probably more important than the result tonight, although if we can nick a result, that will pay massive dividends for the team's confidence. If Mitroglou is out, I'd still be tempted to play Karagounis in place of Tunnicliffe. That would probably be the only change I'd make, although Riise's lack of pace worries me when you think of the players he's likely to be up against. If we can keep Liverpool out and make the most of our chances, who knows? I'm feeling Fulhamishly optimistic about this one!
Nothing at all against him, I just think we've looked so much better this season when Karagounis has played. I don't think he'd make the midfield any less robust, but he'd add flair and the potential for an incisive pass. To get him in we'd have to drop one of Kvist, Sidwell or Tunnicliffe, and I felt Tunnicliffe was the one we could most afford to leave out. It's about getting Kara in rather than any need to get Tunnicliffe out!
Tunnicliffe played on the right against United, effectively as a right back. I can't see Kara doing this effectively. Also I'm not sure that the performance is more important than the result. I'd rather play awfully and get a point than play well and get nothing. We need all the points we can get at this stage.
I agree, but given the choice of playing awfully and losing and playing well and losing, I know which one I'd pick. It would take an act of God for us to play badly and get a result.
I take your point about the team play well with Kara in Captain. I'd be tempted to keep Tunnicliffe in for his energy and 90 minute work rate. Not knocking Kara though but after 60 minutes or even less against LFC he'll be cream crackered! I think the sentiment about performance and result was purely that Fulhamish thing FI knowing the chances of us getting anything are/were slim. This is, afterall, the rllercoaster of supporting FFC! I think everyone would have your arm off for a point!
One thing we need to do, is up our performances in the second half of a game. So far this season we have lost games in the second half, and either let in goals within minutes of each other or we let in late goals in the last ten minutes of games.
Here we go then, getting close to kick off now I hope it's a good game but one that we win. Once it's all done I wish you well for the rest of the season.
The man with the middle, sorry in the middle, tonight is Mr 'Chubby' Dowd. please log in to view this image He might not get around the pitch like he used to but he certainly isn't slow to hand out the cards - a whopping 98 in 23 matches this season so far. Strangely, this is the first time we've seen him and Liverpool only the once - their 3-3 draw away to Everton.
a worrying stat: We have lost 12 of our last 16 league games at Craven Cottage (W3, D1, L12). Lets make 12 out of 17 tonight.
Oh how I hate being stuck at work with only the BBC Live Text to go on. What a ****ing joke it is, they said nothing about the game (apart from the Toure OG) until Liverpool equalised, then they couldn't help themselves!
