I'm not even going to guess. My only wish is for Bettinelli to start. I'm feb up with bloody tracksuit bottoms and the fact we've let in more goals in 2 games than the others combined.
We'll have a better idea after the U21s game tonight. The youngsters that aren't used tonight could be used tomorrow and the ones that are used tonight haven't a chance of playing tomorrow.
In his first press conference at lunchtime the new Boss said, "No-one understands the fabric of this football club better than me. I understand what the fans want". And, yes he wants the job full time. Other quotes of optimism from Kit: “I’ve got full confidence in the way I coach and manage. These players will love it.” “ If we’re prepared and coached and ready, we’ll be in a good place.” "Our squad is better than our league position suggests. It's down to me now to pick the right team for the right game." So turning to tomorrow’s game, he’s spoken to all the players and specifically to Bryan Ruiz, who he “is keen to train with“. Well Bryan made his debut for us against Blackburn but I suspect from that comment he won’t actually start tomorrow. Another I'm not sure about is Scotty Parker. As FI says we'll know a little more after tonight's U21 game. In previous U21 matches Kit has played diffferent systems, presumably to react to the opposition but he does seem to prefer 4-3-3 when in attcking mode which I think we'll see against Blackburn. And my gut reaction line-up is: ......................Bettinelli................... ..Hoogland.....Bodurov..Burn...Stafylidis.... ............Hyndman......Williams(R) .......... .....................David............... .............Hugo.......McCormack....
Kit sounds like he's got the stones. Looking forward to tomorrow even more now! I'm sure we'll have a bit more pump going into the game tomorrow C58, but is only fielding 10 really necessary?
The missing one was to keep you guessing. No, it was the "Ooops-factor" after I deleted Parker, forgot to put his replacement in. Here we go - ......................Bettinelli.................. . ..Hoogland.....Bodurov..Burn...Stafylidis.... .......Chihi.....Hyndman......Williams(R) .......... .....................David............... .............Hugo.......McCormack....
Just as an aside on this game, my son has a piece in the Fulham programme tomorrow. Have a look out for it. It's titled "A Love Supreme' but they may have been subbed by someone on the Comms team. Basically it is about us beating Blackburn the last time we were both in this division. You may remember the game.
For those interested, tonight's U21s side: Rodà k, Passley, Grimmer, Arthurworrey, Evans, Na Bangna, Sambou, Della Verde, Richards, Plumain, Trotta Subs: Norman, Buatu, Baba, O’Halloran, De La Torre
I'd like to see; Same back 5; Parker (in the holding role - win it and pass it ala Dixon Etuhu) --------Hyndman - David Roberts-------------McCormack (he is a winger really) -----Whichever of our strikers is looking sharp in training----
Ruiz starts!! Bettinelli, Hoogland, Hutchinson, Burn, Amorebieta, Stafylidis, Parker, Christensen, Ruiz, McCormack, Rodallega. Subs: Kiraly, Bodurov, Kavanagh, Hyndman, Roberts, G. Williams, Dembelé Not sure how we'll line up but that selection suits a 5-3-2 with: ----------------------Bettinelli-------------------------- ---------Hutch-------Burn-----------Amorebieta------ Hoogland----------------------------------Stafylidis--- ----------------Parker-------LVC--------------------- -----------------------Ruiz------------------------------ -------------Rodallega------McCormack-------------- I like it..... a lot!
Like the look of the team and feeling good about today, first time in a while I've been able to say that!
I'm hoping that It's David, Eisfeld and Woodrow who have knocks and that's why they aren't involved. Possibly Joronen and Voser too.
Hutchinson has been given a straight red for a horrific challenge on Williamson. Fully deserved red. Just hope the Blackburn lad is ok. He needed an oxygen mask and all.
I've not been impressed by Hutchinson this season and that tackle was bad. Hopefully he smartens up but for now he is not worth a place.
My take on todays game was that there was some improvement, but if there was ever a game where we needed and should have got points was today. Before giving my personal analysis, an apology to the Blackburn supporters for witnessing Hutchinsons needless horrific challenge. A couple of team selections had me somewhat perplexed, but I suppose Kit has to select as he sees it Goalkeeper Bettinelli Not happy with him between the sticks, has no command of his area c/w poor positional sense, kicks well 2 full backs Stafylidis & Hoogland Had a fairly solid game Hoogland made some good wing runs Defensive Midfield Burn Allways in the thick of it,but must learn to control his headers. Hutchinson Apart fom the sending off was not very impressive Amorebieta The worst performance I have seen in a long time with a man wearing a number 5 shirt USELESS Parker very steady some good patches, but slows down as game progresses. Ruiz A great choice in playing him, calm moved around the pitch well tired at the end but for me M.O.T.M Rodallega A good game but alone in the middle, had a couple of fine efforts thwarted Mc Cormack Had a fair game no real qualms about his performance Christensen Contributed absolutely nothing should have been subbed both he and Amorebieta were barracked constantly both have very limited ability What baffled me and others around was Mc C on wing he is not fast enough should be in the middle wth Hugo with Roberts out there, when he came on he split the Blackburn defence time and time again. And where was Hyndman his rating this season when played is 7 star. Williams as fresh legs played well for the time we saw him.
Well I thought the team looked the best set-up this season, despite some weakneses. Pity this eleven hadn't payed before. Hugo put in a heck of a shift! I just wish McCormack could have stepped up his game. Really good to see Bryan Ruiz (yes that's what I said) - sometimes he and Parker were a class apart from a mediocre Blackburn team. And a positive word about Dan Burn - Always there. It's going to be a long old season, but this a platform to work from, better than anything else I've seen from our team this season. And at least AliMac has scotched the thought of Malkey Mackay at Fulham - which would have been a black mark for today. Onward and upward - COYW
Just got back and have been seething with rage the whole journey so this post might be a bit vitriolic. Thought the performance was abject and I am surprised some of you guys think it was okay. This is the first match I have seen live at the cottage this season so God knows what the others were like if this was a step up in performance. It was the worst I have seen in years. 2 shots on target all match and only 5 in total. No attacking intent, just passed the ball sideways and backwards. Summed up for me by us winning a throw in level with their penalty area. Within 2 touches by our players it was back in our own half - what are we doing? Sort of reminded me of the Sanchez long ball rubbish. If this is the style of football and the tactics we will get under Kit we really don't need him as our full time manager. The only reason we didn't get 4 or 5 put past us was Blackburn weren't that much better than us on the day. And as for Hutchinson's "tackle" it was appalling and fully deserved a straight red. If we can't keep 11 players on the park we will never win a match and 2 red cards - with almost identical "tackles" - in three games is too many. It's not like they can even blame the player for being pumped up, the team had all the energy and fizz of a flat glass of lemonade. Good to see Ruiz play and he did okay and so did Betinelli, who I much prefer to the bloke in the pyjama bottoms. Amorebietta was lucky not to get sent off. He punched Rhodes in the head quite clearly when jumping for a ball but fortunately the ref never saw it or we would have been down to nine. Hugo ran around a bit but no end product, Parker did his usual pass sideways and backwards game. Dan Burn was responsible for the goal. Hutchinson was a clown. McCormack did okay but had no end product. Christensen was poor, kept losing the ball or misplacing his pass. As did Stafylidis. Sorry, but that was crap.
