Fulham AT Aston Villa

Roberto DiMatteo has already been replaced by Steve Bruce, and our erstwhile striker, Mr. McCormack, has TWO goals. His line shows eleven appearances, but I don't know how many have been starts. With a new manager, he may be "surplus to requirements." (I love that phrase). They've got some pacy young players in Kodjia and Jordan Ayew who have been scoring regularly in recent matches, so we'll have our work cut out for us defensively. We really need to start scoring first. That would be lovely.

 

McCormack started most of the games until recently (Bruce's call?). He started one of the past three and only played a half in the game her started before those. He did come on as a sub in the games he did not start so the odds are good that we'll see him play.

Yes to scoring first! Fun fact: the earliest goal we've scored this season was the 33'rd minute (the second match against Preston). Let's score in the first 30 minutes for once.

 

I have modified the thread title to more accurately reflect the fact that this fixture is, in fact, at Villa Park in Birmingham, not Craven Cottage in SW London. It would make an interesting case study for some bored sociologists to investigate why certain athletic teams perform better and win more away from "home." That's the reality we find ourselves in at the moment.

 

Feeling a little leary about the 'new manager bounce' w/the very competent Steve Bruce in charge for his second match.

 

Agreed, although I believe this will actually be his third match in charge. But yeah, 'new manager bounce' still very much in play. They drew at Wolves in his first match in charge and beat Reading at home Tuesday night.

 

Fulham - 6 draws
Villa - 8 draws
My take: draw.

COYW

 

staying positive and going 3-1 good guys. Bruce Smuce, doesn't matter who's in charge! COYW

 

McCormack is on the bench as a sub.

Our starting XI:
Button
Odoi, Sigurdsson, Madl, Sessegnon
Parker, McDonald
Aluko, Johansen, Piazon
Martin

Subs: Bettinelli, Ream, Cairney, Ayite, Malone, Fredericks, Smith

Madl takes Ream's place and Sessegnon comes in for Malone, but otherwise the same as vs Norwich.

 

Bettinelli. Now.

 

Highlights that probably aren't long for this world. WTF BUTTON?!

 

Well, there's always still the FREE highlights on our competitor's (some of them, at least) youtube channel...

 

That was a very easy ball for Button to handle and he totally muffed it - there was a similar situation with West Brom's goalie on Saturday but at least in that case it was a difficult ball to handle. Button has made a number of mistakes with the ball at his feet this season. I agree with the sentiment that Bettinelli should be given an opportunity to start.

However, I still think that our bigger problem is a lack of scoring, so you won't get any disagreement from me on that front. No matter how good you play as a goalie, the team can't win if they don't score.