Obviously there will be a number of changes during the game. However, believe Slavi will want to start with the same line-up and formation as for the first League game of the season - only 7 days away. [Blimey where has the time gone!] Anyway, regardless of his status at the Club McCormack is a million miles away from being fit, so he won't be there. Nor will Fredericks because of his injury. And LVC is likely to take a back seat since he's heading to Rio for the Olympics. Reckon this is it then: .........................Button................... ..Odoi.........Kalas.......Madl......Malone... ................MacDonald...Parker... .......Ayite.........Cairney........Aloku... ......................Woodrow....
I think you have it Cottager, not only that but it looks a good strong team. Lets hope they can perform to our expectations.
Those fullbacks are a little boom or bust, but I still like that lineup (aside from the lack of McCormack, of course). I really think that Cairney needs to be at the heart of our play in the middle of the pitch this season.
Didn't manage to see the game so no idea how we played but got to be happy with the result against premier league opposition. Good to see aluko and ayite get amongst the goals too. Anyone watch it or even attend who could tell us a bit more?
Good 1st half,1..0 up team playing well,but the 2 stand out players are Sessingnon, and Jeronin roll on 2nd half but there will be many changes
Well, well, well, Fulham 3 Crystal Palace 1; From listening to the FFC commentary we played well and deserved the win (Gentleman Jim back next week, thank the Lord). Don't appear to have missed Ross too much either. Very encouraging albeit a friendly, but against Prem opposition. COYW!
12 minutes of highlights from FFC site! http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/july/30/crystal-palace-match-action
Fulham 3 Crystal Palace 1 (Friendly) The team: Joronen; Odoi, Kalas, Madl, Sessegnon; McDonald, Tunnicliffe (Parker 64'); Cairney, Sone Aluko (Stearman 84'), Floyd Ayité; Matt Smith (Christensen 70') Unused sub: Rodák See the Club are reporting a number of niggling injuries and Malone trying to get match fit with a game for the U21s. However, word at the ground was there was a bug in the camp and that's why we could only field 15 players. Nonetheless most of the Xl that did start will surely be the regular core of the team and didn't they do well. They looked (especially in the first half) organised and played as a unit. What a difference MacDonald makes! His composure gives the team composure. He finds space, covers when others move forward, makes simple passes to break down threats, looks for telling forward passes when clear and, by reading the game, always seems to have that little bit of extra time. All of which means the side can maintain a balance and work without panic. Enough .. enough.. he wasn't my MOTM! Joronen did really well and his reaction save in the first hald was unbelievable. Sessegnon came out even steven with Townsend which is incredible for a 16 year old. Odoi arguably got the better of Zaha and overall was impressive. Kalas and Madl look a pair made for each other. That lot were my other picks. But my MOTM goes to Sone Aluko - sharp, great anticipating runs and a brilliantly taken goal. He gave the Palace backs trouble all day. The only player that disppointed was Cairney. Okay stuck out on the right mostly and (possibly under direction) playing deeper than desirable but he seemed disinterested in the main. And one thing I learned from today is do not - whether or not he's captain - let him take the free kicks and corners. We've now got Ayeti who has got a vicious shot and cross for these. Another potential lesson is that playing MacDonald and Parker together is questionable - not conclusive since the game was kind of dawdling when Parker came on but .. ? Last lesson is most definitely for the Club - don't bother to repair the sprinklers at the Hammy End; their dribble before the start and complete malfunction at half time only did us favours. All in all very encouraging..
\Agree Cottager Aluko had a great game but for me Sesegnon was my M O T M not at all nervous of Palaces big guns , great defensive composure + those wing bursts, and was also nice to see a keeper commanding his area..and distributing to one of ours. So comes the end of next season we should see a profit by selling them on for about 500k (cynical again ) Quite a good crowd for a friendly.
Nothing to do with todays match but didn't know where else to post this... I read somewhere that Fulham have refused LVC permission to represent Denmark at the olympics. Anyone know if there's any truth in this or if its been confirmed by the club? If true it would make me wonder about LVC's state of mind over it, we could have a rather unhappy player on our hands going into the new season. Again, this was just a rumour, it may be a load of rubbish so just looking to find out any more information.
He is - http://www.olympicsfootballlive.com/2016/06/denmark-team-squad.html Thought he looked really sharp when he came on today, despite being kind of out of position wide left. It's a real pity because I think this "midfield" (in a 4-1-4-1) would do us well - ...............MacDonald............ ...........LVC.....Cairney .....Aluko..................Ayite...
Good display but of course I do remember this time last year that we did equally as well against Palace. This time though it did seem more convincing and I'm looking forward to Friday now. Interesting to see McCormack in the stands cheering us on with his young lad - perhaps there is a twist in all this transfer talk.
A good morale boosting performance. Slight different tactics from last season, bit more speed to get at the opposition defence. I guess in the first six games of the season opposition managers will not have enough analysis to may be have seen our new players and system, so I'm hoping we get off to a good start. Obviously this works the opposite way that SJ may not have seen opposition new players. I noted he went to Palace's previous friendlie game at AFC Wimbledon. It's a shame we are on TV against Newcastle as it will give opposition managers a much more comprehensive insight to our new style and players. SJ is a bit of a tactical coach so let's hope he doesn't play all his cards at once.
