Iââ¬â¢m off to Sunderland tomorrow for the match on Saturday and reckon we might have a good chance of a point or maybe three. Weââ¬â¢ve had nine draws on-the-road this season, but I feel we ought to have converted some to wins without so many injuries. All weââ¬â¢ve had is Bairdyââ¬â¢s brace to win at Stoke. At least under Mark Hughes we are playing to win, as evidenced by the Molineux match last week when we went behind against the run of play, but pushed hard all match. Sunderland will be buoyed by their win last week, but are short on attackers, so it might be tight. My prediction: 1-1. But Iââ¬â¢m hopeful of a second away win 1-2! COYW
I think I agree with 1-2. In my opinion this is probably the toughest game we have left. I know we've got Liverpool and Arsenal at Home, but that's the point - they are at Home, where we haven't lost since Boxing Day (shudder).
Yes a draw, but allow me the hope of the win rf. All I've seen this away season is 2 losses and just one of our 9 draws - last week at Wolves. I haven't seen an away win since Basel - Wonderful night in the snow, but still 16 months ago!
The squad playing now for us is much much stronger than when we last played Sunderland. And they are missing a large number of the players when they played us at the cottage. However, it is away. So I don't want to get ahead of myself.
Sunderland are out of strikers ... they're all injured. Obviously, they can shift things around, but that has to effect their confidence. They're safe (41 points) and they're suffering a horrible run of form - 1 win in 10 games. I'm going for an away win for Fulham, 2 - 0.
Beat me to it, DR. 2-0 away win for me. My four-year-old son is tipping a 3-1 win to Fulham, but he's not what you would call an informed source. My seven-year-old football obsessive reckons 2-1. Having said that, I'm not sure that either of them has ever tipped Fulham to lose in their lives. Not sure how helpful their predictions are really (a bit like Lawro, then.)
As long as they are right Captain, does it really matter how informed they are? I would like to see some experimenting done. Is Duff back to full fitness? Dembele looked a bit knackered towards the end of the Bolton game. Maybe give a few key players a rest. Bring in AJ and Gudjohnsen maybe or Zamora and AJ. Or maybe even play around with the formation. Just I want to see some new things tested.
We're all talking as if we're safe, FFC4L. We almost certainly are, but it's not mathematically certain yet so maybe a little early for experimenting. If we do experiment though, I'd like to see Briggs (is he fit yet?) get a game in the centre of defence, or maybe Kacaniklic given a chance to show what he can do. Did I see that Senderos was on the bench against Bolton? Maybe he'll get a run out before the season ends.
Sunderland have been on an awful run but that win last week will have done them no end of good so I would take a draw tomorrow. Credit to hughes when we play away I expect us to give it a go and try and get a result though its so frustrating that we so rarely turn them into wins. Dempsey was asked about this in his post match interview the other day and literally couldn't think of an answer. I'd like to think we'll pick up 1 away win from either sunderland or birmingham before the end of the season though admittedly draws are more likely.
My guess at the Sunderland XI is: Mignolet, Elmohamady, Turner, Onuoha, Bardsley,Henderson, Cattermole, Colback, Muntari, Malbranque, Sessegnon In a 4-5-1 formation. We'll see if Duff is fit. Would be nice to see him back. Has been injured for a while now.
Well, that is the actual XI for Sunderland. No surprises, I guess. As against the Fulham team: Schwarzer, Salcido, Senderos, Hughes, Baird, Kakuta, Murphy, Sidwell, Davies, Zamora, Gudjohnsen. Hangeland and Dempsey rested (not on the bench) presumably ahead of Liverpool on the 9th May. I was supposed to be at this game, but my final exams got moved to this week and I couldn't go. Any one make the trip?
Whilst I hate to double post, I feel the need to say: 3-0 is a pretty comprehensive result. A very comprehensive way to confirm our place in the Premiership next year!
Would be nice to read the posts of anyone who made the trip. Interested to read comments on Senderos performance
Just had a Surprisingly good day in the sunshine. Simon Davies had another good game. Kakuta was a bit lost on the left, but took his goal well. He and Davies swopped sides at half time and we pushed on. Senderos played ok, having taken a while to get into the game, although the bit you miss is how much Hangeland brings the ball out of defence. We seemed to crowd out the Sunderland midfield. The only disappointment was the Stadium of Light starting to empty at 0-2 with half an hour to go.
I salute you Gerascores - one of the hardy 118 who made it to Sunderland. Here's hoping you make it back again.
Thanks Fulhaman - Apparently there were 516 of us. Definitely worth the trip, especially not having beaten Wolves last week. Rocky - enjoy the winnings!
Been out of things for a while but I'm back in the game. Great win today. Top effort GS and everyone else who went. The preverbial Fulham wheel barrow was full up for the trip up to Sunderland and for once the effort was repaid with a win. No yellow cards as well. Fair play winners?
