Reading various articles on the Newcastle thread they seem fairly cock a hoop about bouncing straight back, good luck to them for having so much confidence, but we shall see. With their massive support they will certainly increase the gate of whatever team they are playing, ours included. "what will the result be" ,my best prediction is a draw but i fear an away win. Hopefully we will have a strong ref, as several of their players can be somewhat over physical, but lets hope the outcome whatever ,proves to be an entertaining evening
When the fixtures came out I wrote off the Newcastle game but having seen the way we have performed pre season and the additions of full backs wide men and pace I have some hope we could pull off a shock. I just hope if Newcastle do win comfortably we don't all go mad Newcastle have kept most of there premiership squad have spent £30 odd million on three players and will be cheered on by massive crowds home and away, bookies don't just have them favourites to go up they are clear favourites by a country mile. If we got a result it would be a great start but it's not this game that will define our season it we be the next few afterwards against your Cardiffs, Leeds and Blackburns who will be the teams we are competing against for those top 10 places.
Think it will a few games for opposition managers to analyse how their opponents tactics and how new players are fitting in. I like that we seem to have a bit more speed up front to frightened defenders. A team who seem to have made a few changes and have gone un-noticed are Huddersfield Town and might be a bet for an outsider to do well. Just depends on how their players gel. Wolves get new owners that are splashing the cash for a new manager, will that work early in the season to the bed in?
With that in mind, a bit of amateur analysis. Benitez is still doing some wheeling and dealing in the transfer market. However, he seems to have settled on 4-3-3 with pace up front in Perez, Gayle and Ritchie. A worry for him is whether Mbemba at CB will be fit for Friday (ankle injury). He missed out on a friendly yesterday, although new signing Grant Hanley stepped in comfortably to partner the other CB Lascelles. Newcastle have been unbeaten in pre-season friendlies and won Saturday's game at St James against Vitesse Arnhem 3-2. The Wongas showed though that they are still vulnerable at the back - note especially to corners - losing two sloppy goals after being three nil up (and it wasn't because they slacked off). Here's a clip of the goals: Their team was: Sels, Janmaat (Sterry 73), Dummett, Lascelles, Hanley (Gamez 62), Hayden (Saivet 73), Colback (Shelvey 62), Anita (Gouffran 73), Perez (Armstrong 62), Gayle (Mitrovic 73), Ritchie (Aarons 62). Two other observations. One, Ritchie is incredibly dangerous with his crosses. Two, they are indeed a side full of big, hard b*****s, but not without a little skill.
I wouldn't say we feel confident about coming straight back up. I certainly am not! I see this match as a good indication of how we will do for the season. Personally, I'd take a point.
I love being the underdog. I do believe we have got a decent manager who has the ability to put together a decent side. I agree that this isn't the benchmark game for Fulham. It's a long ol' slog of a season. Point would be good. COYW
The odds are even QWOP. We love playing under floodlights at the Cottage; we hate being on live TV. If you're coming down for the game, enjoy the uniqueness of our ground.
I was at Craven Cottage last season to watch you guys play. Cracking stadium and loved every minute of it. Sadly I can't make it down to the match on Friday though.
I shall be at the first two home games this season thanks to a well timed family wedding. Looking forward to Friday immensely. Can't honestly remember the last match I saw under floodlights at the cottage which was not on a Saturday - possibly 10 years, maybe more.
I don't get excited about too much nowadays but I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas. Newcastle fans are confident, rightly so with their squad but we've improved our squad and had a good pre-season. I think we'll give it a real good go. Atmosphere should be great, there's going to be mistakes made from both sides and the pressure is on Newcastle to win. I'm thinking draw but really hoping we can get a morale boosting win to kick our season on. Last season our defence let us down massively and we've improved on that most which gives me hope - It's a great opener for the season.
First game of the season, kicking off a day before the rest of the league. Cagey, possibly dull game where both teams are scared of starting the season badly. I suspect both teams would settle for a draw to get the ball rolling for the season. If there's an early goal then it would be interesting but my money would be on 0-0 or maybe 1-0 either way, on a knife edge i reckon.
In his press conference today Slavi only made a passing reference to McCormack; he will be replaced. His concentration was on work ethic and the prize quote was probably: "The Championship is very exciting, it's very tough with lots of big names. We are one of those big names." Nothing said about tomorrow's team although the Club may well give out a few teasing comments later. No doubt though he has a few ponderables. With 3 keepers to chose from after Jesse Joronen's storming performance against Palace, it may come down to whether either of the other two have recovered from the bug (or the said niggly injury). All being well, he'll go for experience and give the job to Dave Button. Left back is the biggest decision for him. Scott Malone is clearly not match fit, whereas young Ryan Sessognon is sharp us a button and was completely unfazed by the Palace pedigree. Expect him to stick with the accomplshed Sessegnon. And who will partner Kevin MacDonald. Take your pick from captain Parker, industrious Tunnicliffe or cultured LVC. Simply because energy and grit will be required against the Newcastle midfield , expect Ryan Tunnicliffe to get the nod. The last question is the front man; Smith or Woodrow? One not very mobile but because of his prescence needs to be marked. The other runs around a lot but lacks guile. So far as taking chances go, it's pretty much hit and miss! Slavi could well spring a surprise here and play Sone Aluko in that spot. Another wee surprise could be Floyd Ayite rather than Tom Cairney at No.10. Reckon the starting line up could be: .............................Button................ ..Odoi.............Kalas......Madl.....Sessegnon..... ................Tunnicliffe...MacDonald.... .....LVC...............Ayite..........Cairney...... ....................Aluko...............
Oooooo Cottager you tease throwing a few curve balls in there, I was agreeing with your whole post until the last sentence when suddenly Aluko was up front and Ayite was in the whole. Think it will be the same team that beat Palace other than the goal keeper, maybe Woodrow for Smith but think he may go with Smith.
Thought long and hard about Smith, Cookie. Especially since the Club have allowed him to give a lot of 'air' time in the last couple of days, which can be a pointer. Here's a snippet of an interview with him and the BBC: "That could open the door for Smith, who has only started 13 league games in two seasons at Craven Cottage, "It has been a very stop-start period for me. I have been used to 40 to 45 games a season up until my time here," the former Leeds man said. "It has been tough. There have been managerial changes and injury has hindered me a little bit. I have scored goals in this division before and feel I can add goals to the side, as well as contributing a physical presence defensively. I know it is a big season for me." Story link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36965883 Pretty certain that Smith feature at some point in the game. However, have a hunch that Slavi will want us buzzing around their CBs early on; disrupting and forcing their midfielders to concentrate defensively. That's why I've gone for Aluko through the centre, with Cairney and Ayite being interchangeable behind him. We might even play 4-3-3 at the start; with Tunnicliffe and LVC running at them and MacDonald the playmaker.
Heard a whisper that Ryan Sessegnon may be carrying an injury. Marcus Bettinelli is definitely out with his injury.
The man in the middle tonight is Mr Simon Hooper please log in to view this image Newcastle have never seen him before but we certainly have. He ref'd our final game last season in March 2016 when we drew 2-2 against Reading in the Championship and he booked four players all from Fulham, Richards, Fredericks, McCormack and Tunnicliffe. Earlier in the season he also ref'd our 4-1 home win against Rotherham, no one was booked, and our 3-2 away defeat at Sheff Wed last season in which he booked three players two from Fulham, O'Hara and Burn. So in three games he booked one opposition player and six Fulham players. Thank goodness he's not biased or we would have been in big trouble. The 34yr old Mr Hooper began his Football League career as an assistant referee in 2006/07. At the same time he was a referee in non-league football. He was promoted to a Football League referee the following season. Last season he ref'd 42 games and dished out 100 yellows.
Oh, what the hell. Let's get the blind optimism going nice and early this season. 3-1 to Fulham, goals from Aluko, Ayite and Cairney. Sadly, I'm away on holiday just now - coming home tomorrow - otherwise I'd have tried to get tickets for this one. Hope it's a cracker for those of you who are going.
