Fulham away to Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield W is an even 1-1-1 at home this league campaign with 4 goals for & against. Add that in their last 7 matches they've scored 1 goal 6 times and and are coming off a 0-0 draw v Bolton in the 7th, it's a good bet we won't see a goalfest. Certainly a fixture where the lads can go get at least 1 point. COYW!!

 

As far as I can tell (guestimate) we're in the top half of a league table since our day 1 win at Sunderland in 2013. Is that right?

 

That's probably correct given our slow starts the last 2 years.

Should be a winnable game except...we're on the road, so you never know.

 

Fulham should press the Wednesday because they are not a threat to knock in goals, so take the incentive. Ross and Moussa up top again, please.

COYW

 

I think Moussa and Ross could make a really good partnership given their playing styles. Ross loves to drop deep, pick up the ball, and look for runners ahead of him. Moussa is a powerful kid with good pace who's constantly looking to make runs into space. I think if the two can get into sync they could really start knocking in goals.

Moving forward, I'd like to see those two start together consistently, with Smith and Cauley as options off the bench. We can bring Smith on if we're chasing a game and need to shake things up, or Cauley if we're holding a lead and need someone with energy to defend from the front and keep the ball when we have possession.

We're developing some good options here, I just hope we can get Moussa signed up long term. I've seen rumors that we're preparing a four year deal to triple his wages. I hope that's the case.

 

I just hope Ross & Moose II get a run of games to develop the necessary chemistry. It seems that 1 or 2 unproductive matches and a change is made.

 

We got as high as 13th last year (after crushing our opponent this week, Sheffield Wednesday). Since we just missed out on being in the top half last year, it had been two years, but we were also #11 after our week 1 draw, so I don't know if you want to count that.

 

Hell Micah, I counted it when before the season started we were up there due to alphabetical order

 

would be nice to crack the top 10 with an away 3 pts.

 

Lineup:
Lonergan
Richards, Ream, Stearman, Husband
Cairney, Tunnicliffe, O'Hara, Pringle
McCormack, Dembélé

When was the last time we had the same starting XI two weeks in a row?!

EDIT: Not that long ago. We had the same lineup at Hull and Brighton. Just felt like a long time.

 

Aside from the return of the old set piece defense bugaboo, another trend seems to developing. Our forwards were missing in action, especially Ross. It seems an oversimplification, but it bears scrutiny...if #44 isn't scoring, we ain't winning.

 

What is this about?

Agree with the sarcasm about the other part. If you think this is a promotion team, I guess I get the angst. Otherwise, the result was not really unexpected. I wouldn't mind seeing a shake up in the coaching staff though. This set pc nonsense is ridiculous.

Only seen the stats and highlights, so aside from saying it looks like we took a slow attacking approach & generated little from it, I'll have to rely on others for analysis.

And what was with the ht sub? Did Husband move up to lm or did we play 5 defenders (3 cb's with 2 wb's)?

 

Just watched the highlights on the offal. Jazz Richards was outjumped by Forestieri on the first goal. Moussa was outjumped on the second goal. I can't tell who had the coverage on the last goal, but Ream and Stearman were both trailing Turner (i.e. not in position to defend). This definitely needs to be a focus again (unfortunately).

I will say that those who left the chat room missed out on an exciting finish. GJ had to have been out of his seat for the final ten minutes or so. I was glad that we didn't give up and pressed even after their third goal.

 

Looked like Burn to me on the last one, 'Stro. And you're spot on with the first two. Pretty lame from both Jazz and Moussa. Burn was there on the third, but just inches away from nicking it a bit from the scorer. Don't know if he would've changed the outcome had he managed it, but we need a "come to Jesus" meeting on set piece defense....and that right soon.

 

Highlights:


Full 90:

 

I listened to GJ from about 30' on while I cooked breakfast for the family. Considering the past transgressions of my entering the chat late, I stayed away...however, to no avail. Happy to have listened to what, I believe, was a bit of a fight back at the end.
COYW