Confidence should be high but the legs tired so another game where the timing could be better. I’m assuming that the Club had no choice in agreeing to re-arrange the fixture for tomorrow night. And not least because the U21s also have a match the same night - against PSV Eindhoven in the PL International Cup. So Kit, want it or not, will probably have to rely on his regular group of players (excluding LVC and Sean Kavanagh). Even with the Cup game on Saturday the first question is likely to be about tiredness rather than priorities. Can Scotty Parker be expected to keep churning out two games a week? Can Ryan Tunnicliffe, who on his own admission had “sore legs” after the Reading game, recover in time? Then there is the question mark over the out of form Hugo and whether Bryan is better suited as an impact sub? Whatever his team selection, a more important decision for Kit though is the formation. Hopefully he has realised after the first half against Reading that playing people out of position - like Fofana for instance - is not working. And also that to get a result we need to press higher up the pitch, as we did in the second half of that game. I reckon he’ll risk Parker, banking on LVC and Kavanagh being ready for Saturday, and start with the same eleven that finished against Reading …. Bettinelli Grimmer Bodurov Hutchinson Stafylidis Tunnicliffe Fofana Ruiz Parker Woodrow McCormack ……… and in the same formation (broadly 4-1-3-2) with Tunnicliffe central holding defender and Ross up top.
Are Tunnicliffe and Kaca eligible for the cup game? If not then I think they will replace Parker and Ruiz in your suggested line up Cottager, with them swapping back again for the weekend (if Ruiz is still here).
I think they are eligible. They weren't registered in time for the first Wolves game, and the rules don't allow you to play anyone in a replay who wasn't registered for the first match, but for Sunderland we can play anyone who is registered by noon on Friday, including any new signings we might make this week (so long as they haven't played in the cup for another side this season). Sadly, that means Defoe is also eligible for them.
I hope, as you mentioned C58, that the formation from the Reading game stays the same. I'm baffled that we haven't had 2 consistently good halves in the same match. We've had some poor games where both halves have been poor. Will we find the consistency to put in 90 minutes ofvdecent stuff? Only if the formation is right, round pegs in round holes! Kit, you know what to do. Don't let us down. COYW
Despite Bryan galloping around like a young gazelle for 20 minutes on Saturday, I'd still start Kaca and keep Ruiz on the bench. Otherwise I'd go with your line up C58. Hugo seems to have lost form and Woodrow deserves his chance after 2 goals and an assist in 2 games.
I think we need a good first half against Forest and to go in a HT with a good lead, just to knock their confidence back. ...................Bettinelli.............. Grimmer......Bodurov....Hutchinson......Stafylidis ......Fofana..................Tunnicliffe..... .......................Parker.......... ....McCormack..........Ruiz............. ..................Rodallega...... I'd keep Hugo in, as he and McCormack did well against the Forest back 4 in the away game. Put Parker further forward to get in amongst their midfield while they are in their own half. Either Ruiz (Kacaniklic) to be the floater with McCormack and Hugo to keep their back 4 occupied. Not sure on the Ruiz situation, as it sounds he's still looking for a move in the transfer window.
The team selection tonight should tell it's own story - allegedly we have accepted an offer for him from Boca but Bryan is having difficulty agreeing terms with them.
Why the hell is he having difficulty agreeing terms. The weather is great, it's closer to his home, he speaks Spanish, the cost of living is lower - loverly jubbly! Happy days. Is being at Fulham really that great? Of course it is. We are a great club to be with!
I suppose a clean sheet was too much to ask for, frustrating to concede a goal so close to half time! Still a bit of work to be done in the 2nd half to secure the points...
McCormack hat-trick - does that mean he's playing further forward tonight? Either way, it seems to be working in front of goal. Let's hope the defence can get its act together again in the second half.
We've had our fair share of high scoring games this season, one being the last game against Forest which we also led 3-2 in....
Golden Balls in the first half, Brass Monkeys in the second. We started with intent, pace and not a little skill, going three up a la Ross (who was indeed playing 'high' up front) inside 30 minutes or so. The midfied - with Parker controlling things, Tunnicliffe and especially Fofana having their best games yet - were terrific. It was perhaps understandable that we eased off a bit and were content playing the ball around. Not that we didn’t make the odd silly mistake, which should have been a warning. Then of course Forest got one back just before the break. [It probably was a foul but I don’t see how Stafylidis could have got out of the way of a player going across him.] Forest changed their shape a little at the start of the second, pulling two into the midddle up front, and as you’d expect that late goal gave them a lift. Equally though, it should have been the incentive for us to assert our first half dominance. .. Not so unfortunately. We struggled to get close to players never mind the ball and I think Kit got the subs the wrong way round. He should have swapped Woodrow for Hugo (who was looking isolated and dis-spirited) on the hour. Instead, slightly earlier than that, he took off Parker. Okay we were still 3-1 up but the increasing feeling on the terraces was that we needed to keep tight for a bit longer and indeed get another goal to feel safe. Bryan came on for Parker, we went much flatter and, significantly, now had three midfielders (Ruiz, Kaca and Fofana) who couldn’t tackle. Inevitably we lost another goal and with it any composure that we’d held onto up to that stage. McCormack went deeper on the left and then on the right. In fact that epitomised our play - people all over the place and no shape. It was kick it anywhere time. And boy did it begin to feel cold - at least I think that’s why my knees were trembling! So grateful at the end for the 3 points but so wish the lads wouldn’t get them this way.
Slick and incisive in the first half with McC showing some great finishing. Before they scored on half time we were romping and looked to be heading for a big win. Insipid and nervous in the second, especially once Parker had gone off. It didn't feel like we had won when the whistle went, we only got the points because of some shocking finishing from Forest. They didn't even look good but had us under the cosh. I can't believe a team trained by a former academy coach could rely so heavily on long balls. Even worse was that Hugo was actually positioning himself on their tallest defender who must have won close to 15 headers. It wasn't a case of the guy following him, Hugo was jogging to stand next to him. For a player so reliant on confidence the ironic jeers when he finally won a header must have cut deep. He was woeful. But then kit should have seen that and taken him off earlier. They came out strong in the second and we never responded. It reminded me of the Cardiff game where we got the win but could have easily lost. Don't want to dwell on the performance too long, ultimately we won. A better team would have taken us apart. Hutchinson had a good game. Grimmer was solid in the tackle, headless in possession. Will we ever see a game where the team plays well for the full 90 mins?! I guess it's just a lack of experience in the squad and with the manager but we often don't seem to be able to capitalise on our advantage and end up backs to the wall sending endless punts down the field.
Must agree with most of the above comments. but it is so evident that we need an experienced midfielder and a good solid full back who can somewhat take control when we are on the back foot. Grimmer together with Hutchinson put in a solid display. Bettinell who pulls of some good saves still lacks positional sense, but is improving with every game, Bodrov & Stafylidis are not the answer if next season we want to push for promotion, my hope is we can consolidate tie down our best talented youngsters, and hopefully sign quality in the aforementioned positions. Three points great but boy did we ride our luck. Disappointed with our support as Forrest must have brought about 2/3 thousand with them
Best 45 mins I've seen us play. They gave McCormack space and he destroyed them. Then in the second half we went to pot. Parker going off injured did not help. We look very exposed without him. Not sure what Saturday will bring but if we defend like that we could get a battering- I sincerely hope not. Hutch was the pick of the defenders very solid in the air - best game I've seen him play. It's just down the flanks wingers always get in behind. The Greek for me is a liability and lacks pace - he's 23 it ain't going to improve. Replacement in my view needed badly.
Thanks for the insightful postings. I could not go, nor listen, but it sounds almost predictable. Still, I'll take the win, which means the team under Kit has delivered 33points moving us further up the table, and buys us time. COYW!
