Match Day Thread Match Chat

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Following a great display against Liverpool where we were urged on by our fans, it's not too surprising we were a bit flat on energy and no fans to push us on.
I'm a little disappointed with RLC finishing, but a clean sheet and a draw was the fair result.
 
I was a little disappointed that Cairney didn't start, as we had more of the ball and seemed really uncomfortable with it. RLC was disappointing again, not sure if he's unfit or just not interested, and Cav's end product continues to be underwhelming. However the back 5 were well drilled and comfortable, which gives us the foundation to build on for the rest of the year.

We need to find a striker with pace in January if we want to continue playing this way (as well as shipping out Knockaert, McDonald, Johansen, Le Marchand, Seri & either Hector or Ream, just to get down to 25).
 
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2whitestripes said:
We need to consider Onomah coming back into the 25 man squad too.
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Absolutely. I now realise I deleted the bit where I said that, but that is the reason I said Le Marchand and either Hector or Ream - we need to create multiple spots in the squad.

We have a number of players on the periphery of the squad that need to be moved on to make room for the new guys. We have carried Kongolo in the squad all year, but I assume he and Onomah will come into contention in the remainder of the season.
 
Surlyc said:
We need to find a striker with pace in January if we want to continue playing this way (as well as shipping out Knockaert, McDonald, Johansen, Le Marchand, Seri & either Hector or Ream, just to get down to 25).
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I suspect a lot of those players mentioned will have had a Premier pay rise in their contracts last season so will be hard to find clubs willing to pay them the same at their age.
One of the best partnerships we've had up front in recent years was Ryan Sessegnon and Mitrovic, each fed off each other for their goals. It's fashionable to play with one striker but very few are prolific scorers at present on their own (may be Vardy & Calvet-Lewin). Our own false No9's are too predictable in front of goal at the moment.
 
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Super Brian McBride said:
I suspect a lot of those players mentioned will have had a Premier pay rise in their contracts last season so will be hard to find clubs willing to pay them the same at their age.
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Agreed. But many of them are not even in the 25, so it would make more sense to send them on loan whilst covering their wages than to have them sitting at home.

- Ream & KMac are out of contract at the end of the year. I suspect KMac will retire in the summer and Ream will go back to the US. If they miss out on the 25, why not just pay up their contracts and let them do what they want?
- StefJo & Le Marchand are under contract until 2022. These are the most difficult to shift given their wages & age, but I don't see either being in the 25 or playing for Fulham again. Honestly, selling them and continuing to meet the difference in their salary makes more sense than having them play with the U-23s. StefJo in particular has been a good servant of the club, so we should let him go wherever he wants to go.
- Seri & Hector are contracted until 2022, with an option of an extra year. I still think Hector can turn it around, but maybe he leaves on loan until the summer when we know what division we are in next year (and whether Andersen is staying), with Ream staying until the summer as 4th choice CB. Seri is never playing for Fulham again, so we need to just cut our losses and sell him wherever we can.
- Knockaert is under contract until 2023, so I suspect this will be a loan until the summer (like with Hector, his future may depend on whether we are relegated).

I understand the challenges of shifting overpaid players, but it really makes no sense to have 6 established players just cooling their heels with the U-23s.

NOTE: contract lengths are as per the last announcements from the club, I have no insider knowledge that these are the actual contracts.
 
Next up in the busy schedule is Newcastle at St James' Park, ko at 8pm and live on Sky.
A doubt with Bobby who has a slight strain in a quad, but nothing else reported.
With some fatigue acknowledged on Weds, we could see a couple of changes, perhaps Mitro gets a start at his old hunting ground. TC could also get a start to help us be better in possession tonight.
Newcastle like many teams are being inconsistent and the result with them will be a bit of a lottery, but I think it will be a close and hard fought encounter. A point or three tonight will be another step forward, I have confidence that will be the outcome.
Have a great Saturday.
 
Absolutely robbed by VAR. I don't know how they can possibly excuse the two big decisions both going Newcastle's way - what should have been a free kick (and a second yellow, so still a red) to Newcastle and a penalty to Fulham (the ball CLEARLY hit Clark's hand inside the 6 yard box), neither given.

I'm going to go and drink, because we were robbed by a dodgy match official.
 
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Good performance again tonight, much more energy than against Brighton and really should have won. Game overshadowed by the supposed penalty. We've been hard done by VAR recently. Does anyone know if it's a 3 or 1 match ban for Anderson ?

Our defence is looking so much better and Anderson is so pivotal to the team. When Hector came I have to say I was nervous. It shows I think how much we have moved on. We have a good team that can hold our own in this league but don't perhaps have the strength and depth. Anderson is fast becoming my new Fulham favourite.
 
It's one match for a professional foul. Its only three for serious/violent misconduct.

Although, based on how things are currently going, I wouldn't be surprised if the PL gives Andersen a three match ban by accident.
 
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Our season seems to be governed by penalties. Ones we missed, dodgy ones awarded against us, surefire ones for us not given. If all had gone our way we would be comfortably mid table. These things are meant to balance out over the season. We are in for some amazing luck soon then!
 
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Not sure if its been noticed or picked up anywhere else but just to show how much our defence has improved, in our last 4 matches we have only conceded 1 goal from open play, which was Man City’s first goal. The other Man City goal was a pen, Liverpool and Newcastle also scored pens and then the clean sheet with Brighton. If anything we are giving away far too many pens!!

The defence are doing their part, maybe our attacking players need to start taking more of these chances we are making. The overall improvement in the team is definitely there to see, getting more points on the board now, we're not a million miles away from where we want to be.
 
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Your right Fabio, funny how things change. I'm not as nervous nowadays when the ball is near of penalty area but I'm not so confident of us scoring. We're evolving though so interesting times ahead.
 
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Our forward line has been working reasonably well as it has pace but lacks in height and some muscle. We have Cav or Mitro being used, Cav has speed and agility, Mitro has the height and muscle, how I wish he had another yard of pace. I think we could be in the market for a CF in January but alternatively we could give AK a run in the team and try to get his confidence on an upward trend. AK has pace, muscle and agility, 3 of the 4 attributes needed, so could be an improvement.
With Andersen out for a 1 game ban we have a problem and I don't see Hector as the solution. If Aina stepped in to CB and Bryan or Odoi came in as RB we could be more solid, does anyone have other ideas? Ideally Tete or Kongolo could be fit and give better alternatives.
As for penalties conceded, we have been harshly dealt with so far, and I doubt this will change. What constitutes handball now is a mystery to me and more so to VAR.
We have improved all round this season, my worry is the quality of others in and around us to get moved away from the bottom 3, Arsenal, Burnley and even Sheff U will improve, the bar is set very high for survival.
 
Andersen Appeal Successful
By Fulham FC

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Following Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle United on Saturday, the Club appealed the decision by the referee to show Joachim Andersen a red card.

We are pleased to confirm that our claim of wrongful dismissal has been successful, and Andersen will now be available for selection for our Boxing Day fixture against Southampton.

Brilliant news
 
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Whilst good news, it is as you say damning on the referee especially when he went to VAR twice. He made some poor decisions throughout the game. Hope its a long time till we get him again. Have a great Christmas everyone !
 
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