Fulham host Crystal Palace at 10am EDT on Saturday with coverage on Peacock.
It is just the third game of the season, but it feels huge. Fulham and Palace are two of the five teams without a point. That ends for at least one of them. Both teams have new managers, both teams have generally received poor marks for their summer transfer business, both teams are favorite picks for an "established" team to be relegated - so both teams go into this match with a strong desire to change the narrative.
I have no idea who will start for Fulham in a number of key positions. I'd be surprised if Andersen starts, but who goes in his place? Does Arbeloa drop in Affengruber within his first week at Fulham? If it was me, I'd start De Fougerolles, but I haven't gotten the sense that Arbeloa thinks he is ready. Then we've got the midfield. I'd pull Palacios and put Iwobi or Kevin on the left with a center trio of King/Charles/Berge. But I'm not the boss and I feel like he's unlikely to bench Palacios, however I won't be surprised if there are other changes for Iwobi and Berge. I also wonder if Zepa makes the bench again despite all the new additions. Could he possibly come on if Bobb continues to be ineffective?
You can't read too much into the pre-season result a few weeks ago - except to say that these teams are probably evenly matched. It should be a close and I think both teams are likely to push hard for a win, so I hope it will also be entertaining.
Regardless of the outcome, I will think back to Fulham at Selhurst Park in 2013 as a reminder to not put too much weight into the result. Fulham wasn't looking too good early in the season, but in October they trounced Palace 1-4 in a game that include possibly the single best goal, from a technical perspective, ever scored by Fulham. Kasami bounced the ball off his chest and volleyed it into the net all while on the run down the right side. I thought then that Fulham was certainly better than Palace so they had nothing to worry about when it came to relegation. Since then Fulham has been relegated three times and Palace have managed to stay firmly in the middle of the PL pack. That one game ended up not being an accurate reflection of how the rest of the season would go. It will be important to remember that either way come Saturday afternoon.
This is the true test...not a 500 million pound front line, and not away to a far northern outpost, just the club that Fulham has proven unable to beat at home during its premier league tenure. Looks like a job opportunity for Matt Foley...
De Fourgerolles should be the option, Anderson should not be, but maybe the new dude is dropped straight in.
The "Level of Worry" Derby for each club.
COYW
I'm seeing reports that we're shipping de Fougerolles on loan to MLS. Hope that's not true. He seems ready and should be above Andersen in the pecking order. On the other hand, Affengruber could come in and impress, and that would not be a bad problem to have.
I might be reading too much into the early-season decisions, but I'm afraid that there might be a division forming in the locker room into Arbeloas's favorites (the Spaniards) and the rest. The way to nip that in the bud would be to drop Palacios and start Kevin on the left, and to give Muniz a start, since he's good with his back to the goal. I agree that Bobb hasn't been effective, but I don't know what the better option is. Try to mold Sess into a Harry Wilson? Zepa is promising but green, so I don't think he's ready to start.
If we don't at least get a point, I'll start to worry.
I'm seeing reports that we're shipping de Fougerolles on loan to MLS. Hope that's not true.
I share your sentiment on that, but it does look like it is just a matter of time.
Arbeloa said none of the new signings will start, but they could be on the bench against Palace. So does Arbeloa roll the dice on Andersen and hope Palace didn't watch any game footage from the second half of the Sunderland match?
This went just about how I was afraid it would. The most realistic scenario has us at the bottom of the table with 0 points on Sep 20 after the ManU game before the long international window starts. After that, how much longer will Arbeloa get? I'm not asking for a Magath, just a little less naivete in our tactics
After that, how much longer will Arbeloa get?
He gets three matches at most since after the break it is the three promoted teams that Fulham will face.
Arbeloa really needs to work on communication within the team and understanding of how they will cover for each other. There were too many times where Fulham couldn't decide who was going to play the ball. And then when CB's found themselves out of position (after stepping forward or going out wide) there wasn't a clear understanding by Fulham of who was going to fill the hole. The the defense being stretched and confused contributed to all three goals.
Someone can make something with this team, I just don't think it is Arbeloa. King looked fantastic out there today until he got gassed in the second half. Charles made a few errors, but generally played well too. He cut out passes and then had his head up for offensive opportunities. In his cameo Larsson look promising.
The clock is ticking. Fulham will likely be bottom of the table when they face Ipswich on October 10. At that point Arbeloa and his squad will have five league matches under their belt and an international break. There will be no reason to keep Arbeloa if Fulham doesn't start racking up points in October.
I agree with Micah. This team is loaded with talent, and I include Garcia and Palacios. I feel really bad for Garcia -- his tracking back was heroic, and then the slapstick swing and the miss. Communication is the problem, but that's something a good coaching team should be able to address. I'm hoping that's Arbeloa's team, but if not, we can't afford to give him more than the three more matches Micah mentions.
It would be Fulhamish to the extreme if after this awful start to the season we got results against both Liverpool and ManU. Still hoping.
Arbeloa must change something defensively. The team is far too susceptible to through balls and then turn into the Keystone Cops once an opponent gets in behind the line.
I also feel for Garcia on Palace’s second goal. But honestly, I’m mad at the rest of the team. Why is the striker the only player tracking back? I may change my mind upon watching the replay, but where are the midfielders?
Speaking of midfielders, I was mostly impressed with Charles. He created the first goal by gathering the ball and driving up the pitch. He also had a few other good interceptions. I’m still on the fence about Palacios. He popped up at the right time to score and take a couple other shots, but was otherwise meh.
This team is certainly capable of competing against anyone. They just need to cut down on the opportunities that they’re providing for their opponents.
I feel really bad for Garcia -- his tracking back was heroic
Why is the striker the only player tracking back?
I had those same thoughts as well. I thought the commentators were harsh on Gonzalo when they said that he took it off the keeper. I thought it was a necessary intervention with a Palace player close to where the ball was headed. If the Palace player puts that in the net then they accuse him of ball watching.
Another thought on the commentary, the lead commentator couldn't seem to get Fulham players straight. King was called Robinson. Castagne was called both Palacios and Charles. It was a bit of a mess, but maybe that's how it goes when just about every Fulham player could be bombing forward.
One positive thought on the impact of the new rules. Can you imagine how many Palace players would have gone down with cramps or mysterious injuries in past seasons as they nursed a one goal lead? The new injury, throw-in, and goal kick rules have really made matches more enjoyable to watch.
Adapt.
That play deserved more than 2 goals. But therein lies another issue (aside from the defensive spacing), as Fulham aren’t known for exactly being punishing in front of net - the system is producing some chances that need to be put away (duh!!). To borrow from Scott Parker - this defensive shape combined with not finishing is the ‘finest of margins.’
35 to go and plenty of time to work this out with or without Arbeloa.
COYW