Team v Norwich

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Cottager58

Cottager58

Well-Known Member
May 2, 2011
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In today’s press conference Kit said that Scotty Parker is again doubtful.

Thought we might be one of the televised games but with the promotion and relegation places decided Sky have gone for a couple still vying for the play-offs - Derby v Reading and Blackburn v Ipswich. Nonetheless that situation also leaves ponderables about our team selection; with us being safe and Norwich guaranteed a play-off place the only thing really left to play for is Kit’s job. Bit of an exaggeration I know and what it boils down to is, will he play a team more likely to be with us next season or does he play one more likely to get a result? Given Kit’s mind set recently, I think the latter.

That still leaves things a bit open of course. At the back Turner isn’t eligible so does he bring in the ‘solid’ Bodurov or the ‘lanky’ Burn? Burn and Hutchinson I suspect is a step too far for the cautious Kit. With Stafylidis looking to be out the door anyway, Husband is a shooin at left back if he’s recovered from the knock that would have kept him out of the ‘Boro game despite being ineligible. Right back will probably (again wrongly in my view) go to Richards over Grimmer.

Elsewhere, Roberts and Dembele didn’t feature in the U21 game on Wednesday. Will they play? Nope - although Roberts will probably be on the bench. Bryan and Hugo were given their farewell swansongs at the Cottage last Saturday. Will they play again? Yup - and, despite what any of us think, Kit will resist playing Smith from the start.

[Indeed I’d go as far as to suggest it’s “watch this space” on Smith’s future]

Potentially Hoogland could be in contention for a midfield spot. Fofana certainly should be in place of Kavanagh. But nope - he’ll stick with his favourites. Reckon the starting line-up will be:

………………….Bettinelli………………
…Richards…Bodurov…Hutchinson…Husband..
…….Tunnicliffe…..Guthrie…..Kavanagh….
……….Ruiz…………………..McCormack..
………………..Hugo….
 
I'm hearing a note of sarcasm Cottager?
If I'm honest I can't wait for this season to finish. It's been a torrid 36 months really. But hey, that's Fulham! In truth I wouldn't have it any other way. Who wants guaranteed Premier league football or be finishing mid table every season or beat Man U every now and again. How boring is that!
 
I rather suspect that Kit's future has been decided, one way or the other, irrespective of what happens in this game. Hopefully that will encourage him to pick a team with one eye on next season, whether he's going to be around for that or not.

I think you're right that Smith could be on the way out, which is a shame. With Bristol City getting promoted, I'd be surprised if they don't at least make the attempt to sign him. If Smith doesn't start at Norwich, it's probably a sign that Kit (if staying) doesn't plan to keep him, but I'm not so sure that Hugo will start in his place. I think we'll see either Smith (if he's in next season's plans) or Woodrow alongside McCormack. Ruiz has more chance than Hugo of playing, if only because he has fewer challengers who bring what he brings to the team. I think you're right that Roberts will be on the bench, although I'd love him to get a start.

Here's my best guess (not necessarily what I'd choose):

............................Bettinelli..............................

Richards.....Bodoruv.....Hutchinson.....Husband

.........Guthrie.....Tunnicliffe.....Kavanagh.........

...............................Ruiz...................................

...............Woodrow......McCormack.....................

For my preferred line up, put in Hoogland for Tunnicliffe, Smith for Woodrow and (maybe) Roberts for Ruiz. I'm not sure about Kavanagh, but if the alternative is Fofana, there's little point in starting with him unless he's likely to be here next season. If Hyndman was fit (is he?) I'd play him in that place. As for the Grimmer/Richards debate, again, I think it all comes down to whether Richards is likely to join us permanently in the summer.

Here's a thought. How about playing Grimmer at centre back instead of Bodoruv? I seem to recall our under 21 watchers saying that's his best position. There's nothing at risk in this game, so why not give him his chance? I say there's nothing at risk, my brother-in-law is a Norwich fan and I'm going on holiday with him later in the month, so a win would be particularly handy for me.
 
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………………….Lee………………
…Bodurov…..Burn....Hutchinson…Husband..
…….….......Guthrie…..….
…..Roberts…Ruiz...McCormack...Woodrow.
………........…Smith…......

Not going to happen

It's been a slog all season, need to pick up knock downs and get second balls.

Just bored of getting the same old 'Kit Krap' that all opponent managers know how to counter.
 
FulhamIreland said:
Because if Kiraly got injured we would have to name Marek Rodak on the bench and with Norman out on loan that would leave only Soutter to cover U21s and U18s maybe?
Click to expand...


Thanks FI. Sound reasoning as always. Kind of underlines the pickle the Club have got themselves into over the last 18 months. Slightly mitigating I guess is the serious injury to Jesse Jorenen.

As an aside, Magnus Norman played for the U21s on Tuesday - I've never understood the Youth Loan system!
 
Why not Roberts 90 minutes? Also I don't get Richards over Grimmer in a game that has no meaning for us with Richards going back to swansea straight afterwards.

-------------------------- Betts ------------------------
Grimmer ----- Bodurov----- Burn--------- Husband
-------- Tunnicliffe ---- Guthrie ---- Kavanagh ------
--------------- Roberts ------------ McCormack
-------------------------- Dembele ------------------------
 
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Cottager58 said:
Thanks FI. Sound reasoning as always. Kind of underlines the pickle the Club have got themselves into over the last 18 months. Slightly mitigating I guess is the serious injury to Jesse Jorenen.

As an aside, Magnus Norman played for the U21s on Tuesday - I've never understood the Youth Loan system!
Click to expand...
Yeah not sure about that one either. When the U21s bet Liverpool a week ago, Jerome Sinclair started up front for them. He's currently on loan at Wigan.

For this game Kit said he wants to finish on a high (i.e. not experiment with the starting XI) so my guess is that we go:
-----------------------------Bettinelli----------------------------
Richards------Bodurov---------Hutchinson------Husband
----------Guthrie------Tunnicliffe--------Kavanagh---------
------------------------------Ruiz---------------------------------
-----------------Rodallega-------McCormack----------------

Pat on for Ruiz at about 70 mins, Fofana on for Kavanagh at 82 mins and Cauley for Hugo at 86ish.

My line up would be:
-----------------------------Bettinelli----------------------------
Grimmer---------Bodurov----------Burn---------Husband
------------------------------Hoogland-------------------------
-----------------Guthrie---------------Kavanagh-------------
---------Roberts--------Woodrow-------McCormack------

I think any one of Cauley, Smith or Hugo could play the centre forward role in that team with Pat and Ross playing as inside forwards/inverted wingers, cutting in onto their stronger side and feeding off the CF.
 
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I looked at our starting line up and just sighed. It's just so uninspiring, seeing the same players and tactics which have seen us limp over the line. Would not be surprised if 5 or 6 of the starters today are gone in two months time.

Cannot wait for this season to be over.
 
Surlyc said:
I looked at our starting line up and just sighed. It's just so uninspiring, seeing the same players and tactics which have seen us limp over the line. Would not be surprised if 5 or 6 of the starters today are gone in two months time.
Click to expand...


Seems as though they (and others) were packing their bags before the kick off. To quote Gentleman Jim, Fulham had “No Spark”, “No Method”, “Ad-hoc Stuff”.

We apparently perked up with the subs (and who would have predicted they would be made in the 61st minute!?) Smith and Roberts. However, with our usual defensive frailties, just not enough.
 
I love the fact we have a Fulham guy through and through at the helm. But he's not got what it takes really. He could have moulded a great team this season that could have done really well, despite the bad start. He didn't. Here's what he said post match:

“I was expecting a bit more from us today, a bit more creativity, but it didn’t really happen. But we also looked a bit flakey defensively which has been a curse of ours all season.

“For the first goal we had bodies back but it’s about getting to the ball and being responsible for your man.

“It was an end-of-season game. They’ve secured the place in the Play-Offs and we’re staying up. Norwich are a very good side. They have a good balance between creative players and pace. But I still expected more from us.

“We finished the season off well at home and we wanted to do it away from home as well. Our away support has been excellent this year and we wanted to give them something to cheer about but it wasn’t a great performance by any stretch.”

Well, expecting a bit more from us, more creativity and defending better are all down to Kit. Did we really finish off the season well at home. We finished it off very lucky IMO. He can't rely on the fact he inherited these players. You have what you have, he went in to the job with open eyes, he knew the players, he knew what they were capable of - or did he? I wanted Kit to better than this, I really did.

Total rubbish.

I'm relieved this season is over and, if I'm honest, I'm not looking forward to next season if he's in charge.

Rose tinted glasses springs to mind.
 
There were some poor end of season performances.
Both the players in midfield who were meant to back-up the fullbacks were missing in action.
Kavanagh looked like a schoolboy, not in the game at all, playing rushed passes even from short distances.
Tunnicliffe just didn't track back, the amount of times Burn and Hutchinson were pulled out to the help the full backs meant Norwich had an easy chance to score. Both these players didn't really contribute anything going forward either.
My choice in my above line-up of Bodurov at RB was missed placed when he came on for Hoogland as he seemed unfit.
Guthrie was just swamped in midfield with only Ruiz showing moments of skill but a lackluster performance from him too.
Rodallega missed a golden chance near HT to make it 2-1, and McCormack was falling back too deep to get the ball, trying to get involved. Smith gave their defenders something to worry about when he can on, before that Rodallega was just huffing and puffing against a brick wall.
Roberts came on and you could see he wanted to impress, but then he tries to take on too many, but he does cause panic running at defenses, given more experience and a bit more muscle to withstand a shove he should be given more game time next season.
 
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kunye said:
? will Roberts be with us next season
Click to expand...

The way agents seem to push youngsters to take a move and the cash these days he'll probably go, but obviously he's not really had the games to prove how good he can be, I've not seen anything but a work in progress in it's early stage. It may be easier for him to get a starting place next year if Ruiz leaves and a new manager gives him a start more often.
The bigger clubs want to buy these english based youngsters to be able to boost their quota, and few very rarely are given chances to break into their 1st teams.
 
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