This week it's the occasional format of head medico, Marco Cesarini, giving a team update ahead of the Gaffer's press conference. Two months after signing, Rafa Soares, who had his first full game in the friendly against Southampton, is in the match day squad. As is Floyd Ayite, having recovered from his hamstring problem. Abou Kamara is "working hard" but "won't be rushed back". The headline news was, naturally, all about Tom Cairney however. Tom trained yesterday - the clip on the website shows him with a strap round his right knee. Cesarini says "it's a delicate situation", maintaining that the problem is inflammation of the knee, and "we'll see if there's been any reaction". His overall prognosis is that Tom will be back "sooon" ! PNE have started the season going great guns under Alex Neil. He'll be well pleased to have three key players back from injury/illness. Except ... defender Tommy Spurr is out and more significantly, regular right back Darnell Fisher is suspended. An opportunity for our left sided attackers perchance? For us, there's only one position really under debate - right sided forward attacker. Will it be Kebano or the re-called Ayite? Reckon we'll start: ............................Button.............. ...Fredericks..Kalas.....Reame....Soares... .........................McDonald........ ..........Johansen...........Norwood..... .....Kebano.........Fonte.........Sessegnon...
C58 I think you've got our strongest lineup there to start if Soares is ready to show us what he's got. I'll be looking at his defensive qualities and see if he can build a partnership with Sessegnon down the left.
Coming to play attacking football plenty of spare full backs to cope with the loss of Fisher who until I read this thread had not realised was suspended. 2000 coming by car, coach, train and the cruise down the Thames is on again. Think your lads are just starting to tick should be a decent game
Yup, 5 yellows already ! The whole team are building up a tidy haul of yellows in fact and just love Ben Pearson for his 3 yellows and 1 red in 4 games - no wonder he's been out with a dead leg. Great that your coming down en masse though maclad. You were terrific last year with your 'Gentry Day'. Enjoy the Thames.
The man in the middle today is Darren England. please log in to view this image The Barnsley lad out of Leeds University has never been near the Cottage before, the nearest he has come this year is Barnet. Nor have we ever seen him at any of our away games. Mind not many have seen him, he's that new. That hasn't stopped him getting into the swing of things though; in 6 Championship games this season he's booked 24 and shown 1 red. One of those games was Preston's 0-0 draw away to Middlesbrough back in August when he booked 3, 2 from Preston. Since so little is known about him, I'll leave Mr England to portray his own image; "I set myself high personal and professional standards and expect the same from those I work with. I am exceptionally conscientious and methodical but I have learnt to adapt my approach when faced with the unexpected." Holding my breath ... !
Will write more when I get home but for now: Preston came with a cynical gameplan which they executed well in the first half, but they had no answer for Cairney. I'll take a point after the aberration that was the first half hour and we definitely deserved it.
Preston are a big, hard as nails side and their gamesmanship was more than helped by an accommodating Mr England. However, Cairney was undoubtedly the game changer. McDonald was immense in that second half - a true captain - but it was Tom who made the difference. His skill lies in doing the simple things well; staying calm and picking a pass. Also though, it's the space he creates for others and brings out the best in the team as a whole. Unlike the first half, everyone seemed to understand their role in the second.
Felt like a defeat to me, Cairney changed game but losing Barkuizen and Pearson caused us problems, irony you play passing footie but the equaliser came from an old fashioned punt into the area
Good to see Cairney back. What a difference he made. Can see why Preston are up where they are. They break quickly and and dangerous on the break. I think we well deserved the equaliser, it was constant pressure which finally paid off. I wasn't keen on all the time wasting from Preston, I thought they let themselves down there and 6 mins was the least that should have been added on. They were dead on their feet at the end. It did feel like a win though when we equalised. I think we missed AK47 and Fredericks (do we know what his injury is ? Young Sess had a tough time but MacDonald was just excellent.
Inrespects of time wasting, your lads did the same at our place season before last, everybody does but you are right we were out on our legs but we als missed some great chances to kill the game off ant c'est la vie as the Welsh say, enjoy the season and see you at Deepdale best of look booking river cruises down the Ribble but get rid of those clappers they are annoying.
Good to see a bit of fight from the boys to come back from 2-0 down, and great to see Cairney back and making a difference already. Re Fredericks, I read yesterday he could be out for 6 weeks? No idea how accurate or reliable that could be, it was from someone on twitter after all. Hopefully we'll see him back a lot sooner than that. If it comes to the worst then thankfully we have Odoi to cover. Been a bad start to the season injury wise for us, dont think we've had a fully fit squad to choose from since the season started! Done well to keep in touch with the play offs in that time. Key players returning now so hopefully we can keep moving up the table.
JG was saying that it was a toe injury, hopefully not Lineker like. Toes crossed he will be flying down the wing again very soon.
Pretty much what the Gaffer said to the local paper; "He [Fredericks] has a foot problem and we expect him to be available soon, if not for for the next game then probably for when we play against Bolton at home." Of as much, if not more concern, is Cairney. He sat down on the pitch at the end of the game rubbing his leg and then limped off. Conjecture on my part, but it's distinctly possible he yet again had to have an injection allowing him to play - why he was late out for the half time warm up? Worrying ... !
More on the Cairney injury - from the man himself - “I’m just hoping one day I’ll wake up soon and it’ll be gone." In an interview with the local paper he went on to explain, "It`s a constant pain that I can`t get rid of. We`re working hard behind the scenes to sort it out but it`s difficult." The impression remains that the medics just don't know what the problem is and as said, worrying ! Full interview: http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/spor...ws/fulham-captain-tom-cairney-admits-13764204
