Fulham v Wigan on Friday

This is a match that should see 3 points, but forgive me if I'm not exactly brimming with confidence. The last 3 home fixtures: 1-5, 0-3, 1-4….will give anyone pause. That said, I'm going with a hard fought 2-1 win over a squad that will be scratching and clawing for 90 minutes. One huge disappointing stat that will have to be corrected next season if there is any chance for a playoff push is our home form. 9 home losses is frankly piss poor. The teams at the top of the table have 3 or 4 home losses, 5 or 6 draws, and a whole mess of wins. More losses than wins (8-3-9 so far) at the Cottage is unacceptable, with home matches against Wigan, Rotherham, and Middlesbrough the goal should be 2 wins and a draw. Here's hoping the season ticket holders get a winning performance, because it's been a rough last month or so.

 

This is likely the most important game of our remaining 5. A win at home on Friday and we've got a comfortable lead, a loss and things look discouragingly narrow.

When last we faced Wigan we were in the heart of what was probably our best form of the season - a six game streak with no losses in the Championship. It was a wild see-saw match with a late red card foul on Rodallega giving Ruiz the chance to get a late goal on a PK.

Things don't look as bright for us now, but this could be defining. Are we worthy of even being in the Championship? Can we beat Wigan and make a statement that we are not of their low quality? Do we take this moment to proclaim "We are Fulham and we are made of better stuff!!"

I say... eh... its complicated. I see another draw in our future.

 

Jinx! Sorry about writing a duplicate Wigan post as you were finishing yours.

 

Oops, you know what they say about great minds Micah. Hopefully Heather will combine the 2.

 

I'm not sure what to expect for a line-up since I'm getting the same feeling lately that I had at the beginning of the season with Magath. You know...the feeling that the manager is either pulling names from a hat or throwing darts at pictures on the wall.

Wigan have 6 away wins (vs only 2 home wins). Our current home form, as Joe mentioned, is atrocious. I'm not sure what that means in the end, but simply because I remain optimistic, I say we win 2-1.

 

And to add another twist (that I forgot in my previous post), Wigan just sacked their manager a few days ago. Will they get a interim managerial boost sort of like we did when Kit took over as caretaker? Who knows. I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

 

I don't know what to expect any more, and I'm going to stop making predictions. I am glad to see Dan Burn and Bryan Ruiz back on the pitch. I think we're better with them out there, even with Burn's obvious limitations and Bryan's I really don't want to be here attitude.

 

2 wins in January, 1 in February and 1 in March so we are due for 1 win soon, I hope.

 

In these next two, a point taken is 2 pts a team below us can't get. 1 win should see us safe but a point from each of the next two likely does the same.

 

I'm still not sure the new loaners should be starting. They haven't exactly distinguished themselves as far as getting results. Then again, who has? Glad to see Burn back in, but not sure if he's the best choice with Husband and Turner. Would prefer to see Kavanagh back and Ruiz in there. Maybe sooner than later, if we hold true to form. 3 points would ease my mind insofar as relegation worries are concerned.

 

Got the impression Guthrie was our most creative & effective passing midfielder last match. Surprised he's out. Injured?

 

Yeah, calf problem.

 

how... curling... in the... um... wow.

 

A point is a point but man 3 points would have been great

 

That's so suh-WEET! Not too many keepers I've seen gonna keep that one OUT!

 

The highlights:


I like Kit and hope he will be around next season, but if there was a game that he needed to win to keep his job, I think this was it. I didn't understand his substitutions and some of the starting line-up. Those choices reflected badly on him in this draw.