Seems to me tonight is one of those nights when the manager can make some choices. At 3-0 up, I think Jol should rest the starters (Zamora, Dempsey, Johnson, Murphy, Duff, etc.) and perhaps play the kind of team we'd put out for a Carling Cup match, saving the legs of our stars for the Newcastle. I'd put out: Schwartzer Kelly, Sendros, Baird, Briggs B Riise Sidwell Etuhu Kasami Dembele and ??? If we're still way up at the break, then sub out Sidwell for one of the kids.
Fulham will be without striker Bobby Zamora on Thursday night but Jol is confident US star Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele will play a telling role in securing the Club a place in the Europa League Group Stages. “Bobby’s not available so we have to find a solution for that position,” said Jol. “Of course last week Clint scored two goals and it’s not all about Bobby. Of course he’s a good target man but we have to come up with another solution up front. Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/August/fcdniproawaypreview.aspx#ixzz1W1ZvCTjY
I'd make the defence a bit more experienced, including Hangeland alonside either Senderos or Hughes in the centre. I'm easy between Kelly and Baird at full-back - it would be good for Baird to get a game, if only to reassure him and us that there's no vendetta as some seem to think. Briggs is a good shout at left back. I like the idea of resting Murphy and letting Sidwell and Etuhu run the midfield, although I'm tempted to say let's see what Gecov can do, possibly alongside Sidwell. I'd put Dempsey up front, as our best stand-in targetman unless Jol feels that one of the youngsters (Peniket, perhaps?) is ready to do a job. We wouldn't need him to be a danger in front of goal, just to stand strong and provide someone to bring the ball under control and lay it off as we build around him. That leaves the two wide positions and the second striker. I think that Riise the Younger is still injured, otherwise he'd be a decent choice on the right. How about some combination of Dembele, Frei and Kasami? I'm not sure which of the three should be second striker - there's a case to be made for each of them - and who slots in on the left and right. Maybe the three of them could rotate and switch throughout to confuse the opposition? It would be worth having Duff and Murphy on the bench, just in case we need to bring on a bit of wisdom and experience to see us through a tight finish So, that leaves us looking something like this: -----------------------Schwarzer--------------------------- Kelly or Baird; Senderos or Hughes; Hangeland; Briggs ---------------Sidwell; Etuhu or Gecov-------------------- ---------------Dembele; Kasami; Frei--------------------- ------Dempsey (or, at a push, Peniket or Trotta)-------- NB the above formation isn't necessarily saying we should be a 4-2-3-1, more a reflection that I don't know the best way of allocating LW, RW and F between the three!
I agree with Captain that an experienced defence is a must. I can't see Dnipro getting 4 goals past us but we must make sure it doesn't happen. I'd also like to see what Gecov can do and would be interested to see some of the youngsters.
morning all, captains team looks good, for me demps needs games, he had a late start to the prem season and we still need at least 1 away goal to guarentee the result: schwarzer ja riisefahrian hangeland senderos kelly gecov kasami duff right side briggs left side dembele demps this is potentially our fittest and most attacking team for the future. Coyw
