Our Team today is...... AND GJ IS COMMENTATING!! Fulham (4-3-3) 1Marcus Bettinelli 2Ryan Fredericks 26Tomas Kalas 13Tim Ream 3Ryan Sessegnon 44Ibrahima Cissé 16Oliver Norwood 8Stefan Johansen 20Lucas Piazon 24Sone Aluko 11Floyd Ayité Substitutes 33Matt O'Riley 46Magnus Norman 27David Button 4Denis Odoi 23Marcelo Djalo 14Cauley Woodrow
Not sure what to say, given it was a friendly. We were very lopsided - on the right - especially in the first half. Don't know why Piazon was playing over there and in fact after 5 minutes forgot he was even playing. Johansen as a 'false 9' didn't work. Holding my peace on Norwood but not impressed by Cisse's positional play. 'Friendly' was a a bit of a misnomer on at least two occasions and we could easily have had to play the second half with 9 men; Norwood and Johansen the culprits. The big concern though is the Bettinelli injury - seemed to be a thigh problem, which worryingly is what has kept him out of so much of the pre-season preparation. Button has completely lost his confidence; hugely responsible for their first goal and if you weren't at the game you can easily guess the rest. So, not a good day at the office!
The gaffer said that hes hopeful Bettinelli will be fit for next week. He also had a bit to say on the possible sale of Sone Aluko and the clubs transfer policy. Fair to say he ain't happy!
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has warned the club not to sell in-demand forward Sone Aluko – and says his list of transfer targets has been “ignored”. Several bids have been rejected for Aluko, who arrived as a free agent last summer and impressed as the Whites reached the play-offs. West London Sport understands the club want to keep Aluko and could offer him a contract extension, but accept his value has increased following his displays last term. Speaking after his side’s 3-0 loss to Wolfsburg in their final pre-season friendly, Jokanovic said: “I have to fight for Sone Aluko, because around me is some news that we are thinking about selling him. “If we do this, it will be a big mistake for my team. “If we want to be better, we need to bring quality people into our squad. At this moment, I don’t observe my team as at the highest level, as we were last season. “In the future, we are going to need some quality players in different positions – at centre-back and striker and we didn’t replace Scott Malone, who was a really important player for us. “My list is completely ignored. In this moment, we decide to follow one way [in which] I didn’t find so much sense. “I don’t feel any responsibility for the recruitment process. But I am going to show my ambition for working with the team on the pitch and show respect to my players, to supporters and my family to push hard to do everything to be successful.” Jokanovic said he expected goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, who limped off against Wolfsburg, to be fit for Saturday’s Championship opener against Norwich. Tom Cairney, Kevin McDonald and Neeskens Kebano all missed the game with slight injuries, but should also be available.
Went to this game with high hopes,what a disappointment there did not seem to be any tactical game plan ,resulting in what appeared to be go out and do what you want. Those around me reiterated what we have all been saying on this forum a GK & a CF. A fit Betts is not the answer, and who will score goals ? On todays performance i cannot see us as real promotion challengers ." But fingers crossed it will all become right on the night"
Any team that has serious ambition of promotion simply cannot be entertaining bids for their best players a week before the season starts, it worries me that the gaffer seems to think Aluko leaving is a real possibility. I already make us around 3 first team players short of where we need to be, we can't start selling players now.
There wasn't too much right about today's performance except for a bright start in the first 10 minutes. For me midfield was disjointed, and Piazon, Norwood, Ayite and Cisse didn't really get in the game. Wolfsburg started off sluggish and Aluko was lively up front. It proved again we can't defend set pieces as their scorer had a free header for their first goal. It seems every coach now knows how to counter act our passing out from the back and in the second half Wolfsburg pressed onto the back four and again we started making passing mistakes and their two goals came from that. On today's play I think we missed Cairney and McDonald as only Johansen showed well in midfield even if some of his tackling was reckless at times, Cisse had a lot of industry but not a lot of control. Norwood just didn't contribute a lot and you could see hadn't had time to gel. None of the Subs really made a mark when they came on which was a bit disappointing.
