Fulham v Stoke, Match thread for the Leg-breakers

[jumpkutz]

Glad we hung on. Badly needed 3 points. How close was Clint's shot at the end?

[MisterF]

Glad we hung on. Badly needed 3 points. How close was Clint's shot at the end?

Inches off with the goalie already beaten. Probably should have scored. Kinda pulled a Torres

[sfm]

Pogrebynak was bustling throughout. He looks fit and has a powerful left foot; in fact looks he sort of chap who would be prototypically Stoke like. The fortnight interval will hopefully be enough to sort out his ankle. He walked off the pitch reasonably well from what I saw on Final Score.

Stoke were off colour in the first half; Wilkinson was no Delap on set pieces by any measure. Fuller's substitution of Kenwyne Jones brought much more energy and I feared the final ten minutes. I told the wife it felt like Odense again, albeit with more experience on the pitch than before the Fall in December.

Riise played well as did the Thames barrier and Dembele was at the heart of both goals. The Belgian's ball winning is fundamental to our Christmas tree formation. The Sorensen OG reminded me of Digger's strike against Scott Carson last season.

Stoke are a pikey lot. Bullies only repsond to strength and it was they who remonstrated at every half challenge whilst making a few crafty .elbows in the back on Bryan and Pogrebnyak. I can picture them actually practicing obstruction on the training pitch Wednesday morning. One day they will be relegated and I shall be delighted. Schadenfreude is a dangerous emotion and most un becoming but I shall be delighted nonetheless for I see them as the Premier League's embodiment of Gill**g*am and there is no need for any of that.

Nine points clear, job done and back to W12 in a fortnight. My boss is unable to see me Friday so I will stay here and watch it here in the States on the subscription streaming site or on the box if she is on. Those seats in the South Africa Stand...

[HatterDon]

glad you made it over, sir!

[Clevelandmo]

Stoke are a pikey lot. Bullies only repsond to strength and it was they who remonstrated at every half challenge whilst making a few crafty .elbows in the back on Bryan and Pogrebnyak. I can picture them actually practicing obstruction on the training pitch Wednesday morning. One day they will be relegated and I shall be delighted. Schadenfreude is a dangerous emotion and most un becoming but I shall be delighted nonetheless for I see them as the Premier League's embodiment of Gill**g*am and there is no need for any of that.
.

Perfectly stated as usual sfm.

Great win. Jol brought the full ham rather than the half ham we see too often. Bad joke but it is true. It's made me wonder about Jol's english.

I thought everyone had a good match today. Schwarzer punched the balls with authority, Riise was very confident on defense, the Thames barrier was back, Kelly was rock solid, Dembele was essential at controling the ball, Dempsey was dangerous, Ruiz was active and constantly looking, Pog got us going and he should only get better as he gets more accustomed, Murphy was class and didnt give the ball away, Duff was active and impactful, and all the subs did their job. Especially Etuhu. Yea Fulham

My MOM, Pog. ---- He will fit in nicely

[DCHeather]

AggieMatt's View from South Texas:

http://www.fulhamusa.com/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=57

[HatterDon]

Good match, and good match report.

Next weekend we're not playing. I hope this means that Progrebnyak will have a chance to heal, and that we can continue our tour of crap opponents and get the 9 more points that will make us certainly safe.

[DCHeather]

Good match, and good match report.

Next weekend we're not playing. I hope this means that Progrebnyak will have a chance to heal, and that we can continue our tour of crap opponents and get the 9 more points that will make us certainly safe.

Hear, Hear!!!

[CarolinaTim]

I'm pretty sure it was Mikey and the boys singin' at the top of their lungs..."There's only one Clint Dempsey, only one.....

That's how we bring it!! Way to go boys!

[Kevsmyth23]

Good match, and good match report.

Next weekend we're not playing. I hope this means that Progrebnyak will have a chance to heal, and that we can continue our tour of crap opponents and get the 9 more points that will make us certainly safe.

Hear, Hear!!!

Safety? Is there still a glimmer of hope for 8th in the table and possible european spot next year? Guess I may be too optomistic. Safety is the number one priority.

[SoCalJoe]

Many thanks to Uncle Matt for the great match report. Really didn't know what to expect from the squad after Bobby leaving, but they responded (hope Pogo is okay to go in 2 weeks). As Jol said after this was a true 6-pointer. A win and back up to 12th and in that group from 8th to 15th, a loss and would have been wwwaaayyy to close to group fighting for their Prem lives.

[DCHeather]

I think 8th place might be pushing the upper limits of this team potential. I say the team will end up somewhere between 9-14th place.

[Clevelandmo]

Good match, and good match report.

Next weekend we're not playing. I hope this means that Progrebnyak will have a chance to heal, and that we can continue our tour of crap opponents and get the 9 more points that will make us certainly safe.

Agree, enjoyed reading Uncle Ag's match report. However, someone else did a pretty fine match preview if I recall. Especially this.

Given SOME fulcrum in the forward line for Dempsey, Ruiz, and Dembélé to feed off, Fulham should run out victors by the score of 2-1.

[MisterF]

I think 8th place might be pushing the upper limits of this team potential. I say the team will end up somewhere between 9-14th place.

Yea I'd agree with that too. Probably closer to 14th unless this team can find some consistency.

[DCHeather]

Some good news, Pog is not worried about his injury:

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7521438/?

Fulham new boy Pavel Pogrebnyak has played down fears over a foot injury he suffered on his debut against Stoke.

The Russia international marked his debut with a goal in the win against Stoke before being substituted with the foot problem.

Pogrebnyak understood why Fulham boss Martin Jol refused to take any risks with his fitness and he is confident he will be back to fitness soon.

"I twisted my foot a little bit. I wanted to go back but I understood that I can't be useful 100 per cent for my team," Pogrebnyak told Sports-express.ru.

"(In Germany) my same foot was injured but this time nothing serious happened. My foot swelled a bit but I'm sure it will be alright."

Pogrebnyak was delighted with the reception he got from the Fulham fans on his debut at Craven Cottage.

"I felt great (after scoring)," added Pogrebnyak. "I got a warm welcome from the fans. When I was introduced before the game they clapped me. I saw Russian flags in the stadium which was a great feeling."