With all 3 teams up at the same time this weekend, Felix will surely have to focus on his main group for this game. He will of course still be without three of the World Cup lot with Taggart being the only one to join the camp at Motspur Park â Ruiz is touting himself across Europe, Mitroglou is tanning himself in Mykonos and Dejagah is somewhere else. I guess Felix will still treat this as a âgetting fitâ match but with only the American fixture after this (bet the Club wishes they hadnât firmed up on that so early) he needs to start thinking tactically. And Crawley shouldnât be undestimated; having banged a bucket full of goals in their friendlies so far. Heâll probally show his hand by selecting his preferred back three â Voser, Hutchinson and Stafylidis. In defensive midfield there is only Parker and Tunnicliffe. Not at all sure what combinations he has in mind for wing half and forward but, as said, he ought to start giving them game time together. Iâm going for a starting line-up of: . .........................Stockdale.................. .........Voser........Hutchinson......Stafylidis.... .....Zverotic.............Parker................David.... ...........Mesca.......McCormack....Kaca.. ................................Taggart......
Surely we are going to have a home friendly on the 2nd August??? As mentioned before thought you had to have at least 1 home friendly to gain a safety certificate for the up coming season??? Anyway really looking forward to Crawley it's not far from me and can't wait to see the new signings also good to see a couple of old boys turning out for Crawley! I fancy McCormack to score think he will play the full 90 as he needs a bit of fitness
Don't think so Cookie. Although the way I've shown the formation is probably wrong. I see it as: Hutchison holding CB and the two full backs pushing forward (when they can!!); Zverotic and Parker holding midfield with David in front of them - believe he's best as attacking CM - alongside McCormack; Mesca and Kaca playing wide; and Taggart the front man cum poacher.
Crawley Town 0 Fulham 2 (Friendly) The team was : Joronen (Bettinelli 46'); Hoogland, Hutchinson, Burgess, Stafylidis; David (Roberts 71'), Parker (Kacaniklic 46'), Christensen, Ryan Williams (Zverotic 54'); Rodallega (Dembele 46'), Woodrow (Taggart 46') Unused substitutes: Stockdale, Amorebieta, Burn, Grimmer, George Williams, Hyndman Club report: "Fulham controlled possession in the opening stages but the home side were keeping their shape well and the first attempt on goal was a speculative one from Rodallega four minutes in, but his effort from 25 yards sailed wide. Crawley won a free-kick in a wide position three minutes later following a meaty Tim Hoogland challenge on Gwion Edwards, and Jesse Joronen had to be on hand to palm away Jimmy Smith’s subsequent set-piece. The best chance of the game so far fell the way of the energetic Rodallega on 17 minutes. Having collected a square ball from Lasse Vigen Christensen in the box, the striker dummied to shoot to beat his man and move the ball onto his left foot, but the shot that followed lacked control and whistled beyond the angle of crossbar and post. Shortly after, the Colombian went even closer. Ryan Williams caught Joe Walsh in possession and fed Cauley Woodrow, who spotted Rodallega in space to his left but, after steadying himself, the frontman saw his powerful low effort pushed behind by Brian Jensen. In what was an entertaining game, Crawley were next to try their luck and perhaps should have broken the deadlock when Izale McLeod escaped his marker but nodded wide from eight yards. After a water break on 25 minutes owing to the humid conditions, Fulham upped the tempo and Jensen was soon forced to make another good stop, this time getting down to repel Christensen’s bending effort. The breakthrough that the Whites had been threatening arrived just after the half hour mark. Rodallega slipped a ball between two defenders to the unmarked Kostas Stafylidis who rifled a brilliant shot beyond Jensen and inside the far post for his second goal in as many pre-season games. The Greek youngster had shown plenty of attacking prowess in his performances to date, and he was involved again moments later as the Whites doubled their lead, squaring a low ball for Hugo Rodallega who slammed beyond the exposed Jensen. It then looked as though Williams had made it three, but his wicked left-footer from range just missed the target with Jensen beaten. After holding their own for so long, Crawley now looked unable to cope with Fulham, although they did find some respite a minute before half-time with some time spent in the visiting penalty area. First, Conor Henderson lofted an effort over, before a McLeod penalty shout fell on deaf ears following a tumble with Cameron Burgess. The same man then called Joronen into a rare save, but the Finland international comfortably held his strike. Felix Magath made a raft of changes at half-time, among them the introduction of Adam Taggart for his first Fulham appearance. Four minutes after the restart McLeod drew a smart low stop from Marcus Bettinelli – one of four half-time changes – although if it had gone in the referee could have claimed the assist after deflecting the ball kindly into the striker’s path. Direct running from Williams then culminated in him finding substitute Dembélé in the area. The young Frenchman drove in a vicious shot which was deflected over, before glancing wide his header from the resultant corner. A slick Alexander Kačaniklić pass on 58 minutes found the intelligent run of Taggart but the young striker’s effort flashed across the face of goal. On the hour mark a familiar face entered the field of play, with former Whites forward Collins John – currently on trial with the Reds – taking the place of McLeod. It was another Crawley substitute who almost got them back in the game, though, with Bobson Bawling’s scrambled effort deflecting an inch wide of the post. David’s deliveries have caused plenty of issues for opposition sides so far this pre-season and he almost claimed another assist on 65 minutes when his corner was met by Shaun Hutchinson, only for the attempt to fly just over the bar. Dembélé came so close to adding his name to the scoresheet on 69 minutes when he met Kačaniklić’s cutback first time, only to be denied by the crossbar. Patrick Roberts came on for David two minutes later and caused problems almost immediately – robbing Smith and then drawing a foul from the former Chelsea man. A John header with three minutes remaining following a corner caused some concern in the Fulham penalty area, but Elsad Zverotić was able to boot away the danger from near the line, before Emmett O’Connor just cleared Bettinelli’s crossbar with a firm strike minutes later."
Thought I would put my take on today's game for those who did not attend and for those who did to debate, agree, disagree.... First of all it was great to see almost 2000 away supporters for a friendly slightly outnumbering the home fans at there own stadium, the atmosphere was relaxed and the weather held off and turned into a nice sunny day. My over all thoughts were mainly positive we had a young team out with only 3 players over 23 years old in the starting line up. The official report is quite spot on Fulham controlled possession generally well passed it about nicely and were quite clearly the better team, I was going to say without really having a cutting edge but we did score twice, hit the bar from Dembele and Jensen made two good saves from Hugo in the first half, also Dembele and Hutchinson both headed just wide from second have set pieces both from about only 6 yards out. we also should of had a pen on Taggert but having said that so should they. We kept another clean sheet and Crawley didn't really work the keeper but did cause problems a few times from set pieces. All in all a good work out, we played well passed it about well and I felt we were playing within ourselves. So mainly positives but a few negatives as well, well actually more concerns rather than negatives Positives We started four or five youngsters who are clearly good enough for the championship, wether good enough for promotion is still up for debate but we were playing a mid table side from the division below and if you put any of our players into that team they would be head and shoulders above I really think we need to go with this youth Policy even if we do just miss out on promotion. Parker is good enough to play the holding midfield role, I was slightly concerned but I think he will be fine having seen him lay. Stafylidis, what can I say looks solid gets forwards assist and a goal today possibly found ourselves a gem at the age of 20. Chris David, thought he had a great game and could save us money on a creative midfielder, looked to open up a Crawley team who stayed very disciplined shape wise, some great touches and most of all a consistently dangerous dead ball both Dembele and Hutchinson should have scored from his set pieces from around 6 yards out. Taggert I thought looked lively when he came on and did well if the 200k reported fee is true then well done Fulham will be a very decent back up this season. My Two Concerns..... Burgess and Hutchinson at the back, both were solid and good on the ball and individually no issues with either but my one concern is although neither is slow ( as you shouldn't be at there ages) you wouldn't describe either as quick and a few times we were almost undone by pace. Felix seems to like both of them they have started the last two games. The Right Side..... We played Hoogland and R Williams there today and both gave away possession to easily one of my pet hates is professional footballers who to often do the hard bit, control the ball, beat a man, make a yard of space to only then pass the ball straight back to the other team which they both did a lot today. Made me feel it's important to keep Dejagah. Also I haven't seen Voser play yet but I'm hoping he is better than Hoogland at right back though obviously this is based on one game. In all very pleased and if we kept Dejagah adding him and McCormack to today's team. I would be confident of a decent season, how decent is yet to be seen.
Here are video highlights, courtesy of Crawley Town: [video=youtube;zzQmICz3z3I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUrwlqnvsA3klqlHZwcDzQDg&v=zzQmICz3z3I&feature=player_detailpage[/video] Some good blocking tackles....but....! Accepted that these are edited highlights, however they equally highlighted some disturbing defensive deficiencies. Ominously short time to get it sorted.
I did not see this match but the 2 full back positions have always concerned me going back a couple of seasons, we need to put some serious cash on the table, as there are several full backs coming on the market in the 4/6mil bracket, we have got to hit the ground running if comes next Easter we want to be up there in the 1st 3 places
