I knew Fulham were going through a pitch of a rough patch, but I've only just realised that they've won just one of their last ten games. They beat Villa 1-0 at home the game after the 2-2 draw down here, and their ten games since has just seen a 2-1 home win over Newcastle. Draws vs Reading, Everton, Arsenal, and Chelsea. Defeats vs Sunderland, Stoke, Spurs, QPR and Liverpool. Not the easiest set of fixtures, but not stupidly difficult either. Should have won more than one of them.
Good time to play them...but they could say the same about us. On the yellow card subject, if Shawcross or Wilkinson get booked against Liverpool they miss the Saints game.
There should be a warning on the BBC site. I opened the Fulham v Saints page and Jol's huge head leaped out at me. Wow, is he ugly!
Bryan Ruiz could return for Fulham’s Boxing Day clash against struggling Southampton. The 27-year-old has been out since coming off in the 3-1 defeat to Sunderland on November 18 with a hamstring injury, but is rated 50-50 by manager Martin Jol for a return. Mahamadou Diarra and Mladen Petric are doubts and Damien Duff is definitely out. Simon Davies (hip) is also unavailable, while Steve Sidwell returns from suspension. Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Stockdale, Riether, Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Senderos, Riise, Dejagah, Baird, Sidwell, Diarra, Karagounis, Kacaniklic, Richardson, Kasami, Duff, Ruiz, Rodallega, Petric, Berbatov.
Having been out of the PL for so long, I have no idea if these players are good, bad or indifferent. They haven't been doing brilliantly recently, so hope we can get an away win. I think we need to keep things ticking over as we have to play the top sides again soon enough...can't afford a gap to open.
Very true Fran. They have a few injuries and have been playing poorly. Let's hope they don't suddenly turn a corner!
According to Simon Peach, Jol has said Ruiz is 50/50, Sidwell is back, Petric and Diarra big doubts. Duff, Davies and Etheridge are out. Jol also said he rates Mayuka and Rodriguez and that he tried to buy them in the summer.
BBC Predictions Score Lawro Guy Marco BOXING DAY Everton v Wigan x-x 2-0 2-1 3-0 Fulham v Southampton x-x 2-0 2-0 3-1 Man Utd v Newcastle x-x 2-0 2-0 3-0 Norwich v Chelsea x-x 0-2 1-3 1-2 QPR v West Brom x-x 2-1 2-0 1-1 Reading v Swansea x-x 1-1 2-2 1-2 Sunderland v Man City x-x 0-2 0-2 1-1 Aston Villa v Tottenham x-x 1-1 1-1 0-2 Stoke v Liverpool x-x 1-1 0-1 0-0 Any thoughts?
Lawro's predictions look reasonable, except the Saints results obviously. Not sure QPR will get a win, but he could be right about Villa...they will be desperate to defend so it will be either a 0.0, 1.1 or a 1.0 win for either side...don't expect a big score.
