please log in to view this image Manchester City will aim to get back to winning ways as they visit Fulham on Sunday. City's 100 per cent start to the new campaign came to a halt on Wednesday night when they were held 1-1 at home by Napoli. Both clubs were making their UEFA Champions League debut and the long-suffering City fans had hoped the Blues would take their sparkling domestic form onto the top European stage. The Italian outfit proved a much tougher nut to crack than City's Premier League opponents so far this season, but City remain optimistic they can reach the knock-out stage and stay in title contention. City's star-studded squad have turned on the style in their opening four games, scoring 15 goals and conceding three to top the Premier League table with neighbours United. Fulham were also in European action on Thursday night, hence the fixture being shifted to Sunday, and the Cottagers were held to a 1-1 draw at home against Dutch side FC Twente in the Europa League. That means Martin Jol's men have drawn their last three home games, after previously being held by Aston Villa and last week Blackburn. Having lost away to Newcastle and Wolves, Fulham have picked up just two points so far this season and go into Sunday's game third-bottom. They will also be mindful of City's visit last November, when they led 3-0 after 35 minutes, ultimately winning 4-1 - and Roberto Mancini has since signed Edin Dzeko, Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri, while playmaker David Silva has hit top form this season. Team news Fulham are expected to make changes after resting several players in midweek. Bobby Zamora should return up front while new signing Bryan Ruiz is available again after being cup-tied against former club Twente, although Moussa Dembele and Andy Johnson are also in contention. Defender Aaron Hughes was ruled out in midweek with a knock he suffered against Blackburn while midfielder Simon Davies (knee) is a long-term absentee. Mancini could recall full-backs Micah Richards and Gael Clichy after Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov were surprisingly brought in against Napoli, with limited success. The Blues boss has many attacking options but could stick with his regulars for another game before resting them and keeping his fringe players happy by making widescale changes against Birmingham next week. Defender Kolo Toure is yet to appear since the end of his drugs ban but should return in Wednesday's Carling Cup tie rather than at Fulham. James Milner has been ruled out after a clash of heads in last week's 3-0 win over Wigan while fellow midfielder Nigel de Jong (foot) remains out. Possible starting XIs: Fulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise, Duff, Sidwell, Murphy, Dempsey, Dembele, Zamora. Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Barry, Y Toure, Nasri, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko. http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/519983440?-1808
On one hand, I want Fulham to win. On the other hand, I've got Kompany and Aguero in my fantasy team, so I'm torn. Deep in my heart I'm hoping for a Fulham win, but I'd be surprised since Fulham boys haven't found their stride. If we were up to our regular form, Man City's rampaging run through the league would almost certainly come to a halt Sunday.
The main man for Fulham on Sunday has to be Mark Schwarzer, he needs to be rock solid. Riise, Hangeland, Senderos and Kelly? (not sure Grygera up to pace of Prem yet). If Hughes is fit, lets hope the RB experiment is over. Not sure Jol will use the same 3 up front against City, who are strong in midfield. So maybe an introduction of Baird, Sidwell and Murphy all holding with Zamora, Dempsey and Johnson hitting on the break. Will Ruiz get another start, I doubt it, probably on the bench. Normally Dempsey has a good game against Manchester City. Lets hope that continues.
Quite agree S B Mc,the back 3 on the day have to be rock solid, Senderos no way,I also think we will be exposed by the lack of pace Murphy is showing. But i believe City will be to strong in all positions,and if they score early heads will drop and then who knows (a drubbing ? )
I really don't get why so many people are down on Senderos. I like him and I'm happy to see him partnering Hangeland. I'd like Grygera to start again and Ruiz too. Our season won't live or die on what we do against the Champions League clubs; it'll be what we do against the weaker teams and the other mid-table teams. Any points from this game are a bonus, so we've got this one and the Chelsea game to bed in players before the next game that really matters. I don't say that lightly, because a game against Chelsea always matters, but realistically the league cup isn't the top priority this season. With all the extra European games, it wouldn't be a disaster to have a few extra free midweeks. Again, that's not to say we shouldn't aim to win both games - on our day, we can be a match for anyone, as the last couple of years have shown - but let's not wring our hands in despair if they go against us. So, two matches for the new boys to start and get used to the pace, giving them every chance of being up to speed for the West Brom game, which is the next game where the result really is going to matter. And DR, I've got Man City players in my fantasy league team too, but I'd be nothing but delighted if they got me nothing and Fulham dug out a result!
Head-to-head City have not lost any of their last five visits to Craven Cottage (W3, D2) and are looking for a third consecutive win there. Both Fulham and Manchester City have scored in each of the last 15 meetings in all competitions. The last time either failed to score came in a 0-0 draw at City in March 2004. Fulham Fulham have scored just two league goals this season - Manchester City strikers Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero have 12 betweeen them. They have not won any of their last four Premier League home matches. If they fail to beat Manchester City, it will equal their previous worst record of five home matches without a victory, set on four previous occasions - most recently from November to December 2010. Martin Jol has a 100% winning record against Manchester City - winning all six previous matches. Man City City have won both their away games in this season's Premier League but are yet to keep a clean sheet away from home. They have scored 15 goals in just four league matches. City's best ever top-flight winning sequence was nine games between April and September 1912.
Jol's preferred team is - ---------------------Schwartzer-------------------- ---Kelly---------Hughes--Hangeland--------Riise-- ---------Duff---Etuhu----Murphy----Dempsey---- -------------Zamora----Johnson-------------------- However, Hughes, Etuhu and Riise are doubtful. Kasami has a back injury. While Senderos is still suffering from a virus and Briggs carrying a 'knock', they should be fit enough. The likely line up then is - -----------------------Schwartzer-------------------- ----Grygera--------Senderos---Hangeland-----Briggs-- -----Duff------Sidwell------Murphy-----Dempsey---- -------------------Zamora----Johnson----- Yet again Baird will be sidelined despite cracking performances in our last two european games.
I expect there will be some changes from the team that played on Wednesday against Napoli, most probably M. Richards and G. Clichy coming in for A. Kolarov and P. Zabaleta.
I hope Clichy plays from the start if Dzeko gets on before Tevez or Balotelli, he gets a lot of crosses in and we have seen how good Dzeko is with his head.
Martin Jol, the Fulham manager, has pledged to fight fire with fire when Manchester City visit Craven Cottage on Sunday. The west London club have struggled so far this season in the Premier League, whereas City have started in scintillating form. Fulham have only two points after four matches and Jol said in the week that his side need to start turning draws into wins. The Cottagers have drawn three of their past four home games and the Dutchman believes the best way to change their fortunes against City will be to press from the offset. "I plan for us to attack," Jol said. "They play attacking football but still with two defensive midfielders and four players at the back. They don't take a lot of initiative but they've got four quality players that try to get behind your midfield. They have a lot of quality. We have to come up with something to stop that and still get goals. If we would have won the first two home games [against Aston Villa and Blackburn] we would have six points and this game would be a different matter. Now you have to gain your own spirit, your own confidence for the game." Manchester City come into the match off the back of their Champions League debut, which ended in a 1-1 draw against Napoli at the Etihad Stadium. Fulham also had European exertions to contend with in midweek, drawing 1-1 with Jol's former club FC Twente at Craven Cottage. The Dutchman highlighted in his programme notes his belief that the competition could act as an important platform to build confidence, and he thinks it is paying dividends already despite Thursday's frustrating result. "I felt the first half we played very good football," he said. "One-touch, two-touch football with five or six different players and we did well. In the second half it is always the same – if you try to force something you give away space. But I couldn't gamble on a draw against Twente as I need to get everybody back in shape. If you see Thursday, for example – it is a different matter to last Sunday [against Blackburn]. "Bright points were Pajtim Kasami at 19 years of age who played well and I thought Chris Baird too did well, playing for the first time in the centre. Of course he has done that before in his career but it was a little bit of a gamble and he did well." Baird could again feature for Jol's side on Sunday with Aaron Hughes struggling with a knee injury and new signing Zdenek Grygera still bedding in.
I hope we go out and show that we are not afraid to mix it up against the top teams. There is no doubting that City have an amazing attacking team but they are able to be got at at the back. Shame to hear that Kasami has a back injury, would love him to get a spot on the wing instead of Duff, he was electric. I worry that Senderos will play. I think he has played some solid football but he pushes too far out of defence and gives away too many needless fouls. If he does not stay deep we will be torn to pieces. Big game for us, as has been said we are work in progress, so the league position should not taken too seriously.
Couldn't agree more, Froggy. Although I'd also prefer Kasami to play, Duff has been in decent form for us so far this season. I think he'll do alright. I'll be happy if we make a good account of ourselves. I'm pleased Jol has decided to attack - I don't think we'll be able to soak up pressure for 90 minutes against City, so we have a better chance if we go for goal.
Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Yaya, Barry, Silva, Nasri, Aguero, Dzeko Subs - Zabaleta, Kolo, A Johnson, Balotelli, Kolarov, Tevez, Pantilimon please log in to view this image
Credit where it is due, we got the early goal in the second half and took our foot off the gas and you did exactly the opposite, RM's decision to take Silva off then admit he fecked up by putting Tevez on minutes later was beyond me. Guts, determination and perhaps a little bit of luck meant Fulham became the first side to take a point off Manchester City this season. Steve Sidwell provided the former, with an industrious performance in the heart of midfield, while Danny Murphy’s deflected equaliser provided the latter. The White’s second half showing overshadowed that of Sergio Aguero’s whose double had put the visitors in a commanding position before Bobby Zamora got one back 10 minutes into the second half. In the first City were by far the classier outfit and their movement epitomised this, while Fulham’s that of a team who have struggled to create chances all season in the Premier League. Sergio Aguero and David Silva were typically impressive and showed that maybe, money can buy you happiness. City fans were certainly smiling, well for the first 55 minutes at least. All that changed in the second half as Fulham played their most impressive half of football so far this season. Both teams were sluggish at the start, as City’s vast attacking talents were blunted by Fulham, who flooded the midfield as the visitors looked short of ideas. It took 18 minutes for the Citizens to get going and when they did, they were lethal. Gareth Barry picked up a typically marauding David Silva and the Spaniard played a through ball to Aguero who finished well past Mark Schwarzer. City were in full flow and it was almost two after 27 minutes as once again Silva was not tracked and the Spaniard played a neat ball inside to Dzeko, whose powerful effort was tipped over by Schwarzer. What little of the ball the Whites had in the first half they largely wasted. They were too slow in possession and there were not enough options for man with the ball. And while the visitors were slow out of the blocks in the first half, the same could not be said at the start of the second. Less than 20 seconds were played at the start of the second half when a diagonal ball was won by Dzecko to Aguero who from outside the edge of the area hit an unstoppable shot past Schwarzer. Fulham reduced the arrears after 55 minutes when Zamora powered from the left edge of the box. Mousa Dembele, who was probably the White’s most creative outlet, did well through the middle before playing a ball to the England international, whose right footed thunderbolt flew into Joe Hart’s top left hand corner, giving the stopper no chance. Fulham were quicker in possession and more direct. They were in control. Dembele was now a major force and after 62 minutes forced a good save from Hart, the England stopper pushing his low drive around the post. The England goalkeeper had to make another smart save two minutes later to push Clint Dempsey’s goal bound header over the bar. Fulham’s dominance worried Roberto Mancini to the extent that he brought off Silva for Pablo Zabaleta, clearly concerned that the Whites were creating too many opportunities. It didn’t work and with 15 minutes left Murphy’s effort from the edge of the area deflected off Kompany and past Hart as Fulham claimed an unlikely point. Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Riise, Hangeland, Baird, Duff (Kasami 61), Murphy, Sidwell, Dempsey, Dembele (Ruiz 87), Zamora. Subs: Etheridge, Sa, Ruiz, Senderos, Gecov, Grygera. Manchester City: Hart, Richards, Clichy, Kompany, Lescott, Barry, Nasri (Johnson 81), Yaya Toure, Silva (Zabaleta 69), Aguero (Tevez 83), Dzeko. Subs: Pantilimon, Kolorov, Kolo Toure, Balotelli.
