Sipping his usual cup of peppermint tea at today's lunchtime press conference, Felix confirmed that Mitroglou is still out (what is becoming the norm "he might be ready next week" the only status report), as is Parker. Karagounis is doubtful but Dejagah is back in the squad. A fair bit of time was given over to Diarra. Felix praised him to the rafters and especially the fact that "he likes to move the ball forward". He also touched on Holtby's external troubles saying "he seems to have got over that and is doing well in training". Stekelenburg he said will have to be patient! As for team selection? Well he's obviously going to have to change the back four again and his midfield options are also again limited. Frankly I don't have a clue but it could be: ...................Stockdale.............. ..Grimmer...Heitinga..Hangeland...Richardson... ......................Diarra........ .......Reither...................Sidwell.. ..Holtby.................................Kaca.. ..................Woodrow..........
I think it looks the most likely starting line but maybe Dejagah in place of Reither... I wonder what Bent is up to these days? Probably looking into the government's announcement about changes in pension plans!
Ah, Dan Burn is also still on the injury list according to Felix in his internal interview. So a possible scenario therefore could be Jack Grimmer on the bench giving cover for right back and centre half as Surly suggested in the other thread. Or he could throw him straight in at RB and re-shufffle if there's an injury or whatever. Pretty certain it will be Heitinga and Hangeland as the two CBs to start though. Diarra gets a big plug again and Dejagah a mention. As do the youngsters Pat Roberts and Cauley Woodrow but surprisingly no mention of Jack Grimmer or for that matter Pajtim Kasami. Just continuing with the youngsters, good to see Chris David and The Tank training with the squad in the various clips. Seems like Felix is being coy about who will start, to keep Everton and the rest of us guessing and I suspect he'll have another surprise (or two) up his sleeve. [video=youtube;Jc-PPq_zxBI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc-PPq_zxBI&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Felix has explained that he did indeed bring Jack Grimmer to provide cover and that he won’t be starting tomorrow: Magath insists the youngster may have to bide his time rather than be thrown in at the deep end against Everton this weekend. He said: “We have Dan Burn injured and now Fernando is out, so we are short of defenders. Therefore I called Jack back and, maybe not on Sunday but in the next few weeks, he may play for us." Whereas Cauley Woodrow almost definitely will play as Felix explains why he prefers him over Bent and Hugo: "The others are good strikers but there is nobody to protect the ball as good as Cauley does. I’m very happy because he has done very well in his games. He is a young player who is willing to get the ball and protect it." Source: http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/spor...fulham-boss-explains-recalled-grimmer-6891467
Two things for todays game. Looks like it's going to be a sunny day, meaning the linesman on the JH Stand might have the sun in his eyes all match. They will turn the sprinklers on after the players have done their warm up, and during the game players will slip over. As for the lineup who knows. Need to get at least 4 points in the next two games to make a dent in gaining ground on the other teams above us.
In charge today is Cheshire based Mr Taylor. please log in to view this image The only other time we've seen him this year was the away game against........Everton. Link to pic: http://www.thefootballsite.yolasite...eferee 2012-13.png.opt358x246o0,0s358x246.png
Interesting. Dembele starts and Woodrow on the bench with Roberts. I like what Felix is doing with the youngsters. Shame we are just not 5 places higher up the league then they probably wouldn't be quite so much of a gamble. With Bent and Dejagh on the bench as well we have quite an array of forwards and attacking wingers who could come on.
Well, that's that. Even when we play well, we have a lack of quality. We have something to build on next season, but MAF's departure after painting over the rust leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Yeah caught the second half, and when dj scored I thought we would take the 3 points. However, defensively we are not premiership quality at the moment and credit has to be given where it is due, evertons subs were outstanding. Naismith was very impressive. Cannot see any chance of us staying now, I just hope the team go out with a fight and make it hard for everyone else. Cannot blame McGath, he has been brave with his tactics but alas the players in the back 4 have not been upto the job.
Held out first half and I was pleased that Felix went for it in the second half. We had some chances up-front second half, some not helped by poor choices near the box. Players showed some fight today and the crowd was behind the team. We should still get a couple of home wins to lift the spirits (if not our league place - I don't want to be bottom) COYW!
I thought we played well today and were again undone by poor relegation type luck. We could easily have been 2 to the good at half time. An own goal meant we had to take more chances at the back which exposed the back 4. The equalized was more than deserved. It could just as easily been 3 - 1 to us, but that's what happens I guess. Another of their goals was 2 yards offside, and it is almost amusing that when we are level with the last defended, we get flagged. Unless our fortunes change we are not destined to survive. But you never know and I'm still hoping.
Disappointing! I think we played well and the first half especially is the best by far I have seen this season. The ref did us no favours and could easily have had a penalty for a hand ball... Still believe we can turn it but we need some luck.
I agree we were unlucky today but, on the other hand you can't blame luck when you make chances but don't take them. Yes, we should have scored more and a lot of the reason we didn't was because Howard was outstanding and yes, everton's 3rd goal was either hand ball or off side or both but they had fewer chances but scored more and our defence didn't stop them. Having said all that, I thought we played very well for the most part and if we keep playing like that we'll certainly give some other teams a run for their money. It doesn't help but has to be said of course that if we'd played like that more often this season we wouldn't be where we are now
Agree with 2whitestripes and FFC_Madness about not getting the rub of the green, GeraScores about fighting spirit and regrettably Surlyc on lack of quality. Another game of two halves. In the first we dominated, and snuffed out any threat from Berkley, Osman and Lukaku. However, possibly because of a lack of confidence or something else (which I’ll come back to) we fluffed numerous chances to go in at half time ahead. At least five players were guilty of shooting high and wide, and three from missing much simpler chances with only Howard to beat. Mr Taylor and his assistants didn’t help with every fifty/fifty decision going against us, and a stonewall hand ball by Distin in the penalty box. We really should have been at least one up at the turn. Martinez changed things at the beginning of the second half and unfortunately we had the inevitable rocky start. And bad luck - okay Stockdale was at fault coming for a ball he was never going to get but the ricochet off Kvist could have gone anywhere. Just sticking to how things never seem to go for you when you’re struggling, the second Everton one was also from a deflection and Baines was offside for their third. And after equalising bad luck struck at the other end when the deflections/scrambles and so on all went Everton’s way. That said, too often in the second half our crossing was either delayed or just plain poor. We also lost shape and any organisation that existed with the substitutions. Kasami, playing again wide and out of position, should have been pulled. That brings me to the ’something else’. There was whacks of endeavour but very few football brains out there today. For the first time in ages we frequently (especially in the first half) had 3, 4 sometimes 5 players inside their box but rarely had the player with the nous to find a telling pass to any of them. Also missing was the composure to keep it tight when it was 1-1 yet maintain pressure on them. The substitutions contributed in this, so I do 'blame' Felix at least a little bit.
Good entertaining game which we were a bit unlucky to lose. Can't complain about lack of effort that was 100% commitment and if we play like that in future we will be better off. Howard was on good form and needed to be. Real shame - I think we deserved something from the game.
My glass is definitely half full after today's performance. I've seen us play a lot worse and win (granted it hasn't been recent)! Another good performance and a point (or 3) at Villa will be the kick start to the Great Escape part 2 and another exciting finale to a season. COYW
Tell me this isn't a penalty! please log in to view this image Link to picture: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bj_38K0IYAEEC4t.jpg
Or this Offside! (Everton's 3rd goal) please log in to view this image Link to picture: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BkAKBPPIgAAD2l9.jpg
And now for a conspiracy theory. Why were the referee assistants changed? It was supposed to be Mr Garrat and Mr Wilkes with Mr Friend as 4th official. Instead it was Mr Friend and Mr Probert who ran the lines, badly! And here is a partially blind fan giving late stand-in Mr Probert some stick: [video]https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/78B73585C81062041443377557504_15f2055273f.4.8.4257 59349095607405.mp4?versionId=VX4uHVnSkflPd9p615GMs ZIkW2PaVHgs[/video]
