Fulham v Arsenal

Well after that not so stellar display it's kind of hard to be optimistic about a team with the identical need for 3 points as Chelski (see Barry's line from a previous preview). WIth the run in of matches, just glad the club is sitting on 40 points (Arse, Reading, and Liverpool at home. Everton and Swansea away...3 or 4 points max. in my mind). Sidders will be back, so who will start in the midfield with him? Will Hugo get a chance to start and actually run at their defenders? Did the Kaca recall mean some playing time? All signs point to a long afternoon at the Cottage, but there is a thing called "Fulhamish" so let's see what happens.

Team News from MJ's interview: Reither with ankle issue, will be game time decision (Manolev will start if he can't go). Sidders will start for sure, and Kaca will feature one way or another.

 

I was optimistic going into Wednesday. Now, not so much. Maybe Berba will work some magic against his old North London rivals, but I'm fairly confidant I'll be regretting setting an early alarm to watch this one. Maybe Arsenal will score early enough that I can go back to bed.

 

Agree, no reason to be optimistic, hope Riether can go, really enjoy watching him play. Still, we're overdue for an upset, which might as well be NOW!
3-1 Fulham!

COYW!

 

I am starting to question Jol picking Senderos and Sidwell needs to start an anti-anger regiment. :twisted:

 

Strange match. If you had told me we'd only lose 1-0 after going 78 minutes with 10 men I would have taken it. But Arsenal did not play well. If Berba connects when he's through on goal and if Ruiz doesn't shut off on the one set piece we actually could have won the thing.

I suppose you can be happy with how the guys responded to a tough situation, but I'm still a little disappointed. And what in the world was Sidwell thinking?

 

It was an impressive 10 man performance with 2 moments when a lack of electrical impulses from the brain cost Fulham dearly. There is no explaining Sidwell's WWE stylized tackle other than to say the lights were out and nobody was home in the critical thinking department. As I watched the match unfold I couldn't help but think that had the match been played on an even footing that Arsenal was there for the taking. I hope Sidwell personally apologized to each and every one of his team mates after the match for his lack of composure.

Even with with Sidwell's mental meltdown Fulham gave the Gunner's fits and looked good to keep the match even going into the half until Bryan forgot he was supposed to actually look at the man he was supposed to mark as play resumed. Once again Fulham fell asleep at a set piece and was punished for it. Sadly, this has been too much of a recurring theme.

I did admire Fulham's fight in the second half. There was no lack of effort in pushing for the equalizer and that should be applauded.

As an aside, the more I see of Enoh the more I like him.
for

 

I feel like it was a good game. To be down 10 men and only lose 1-0 to a hot arsenal team.....not bad. A draw would have been great but hey, not in the relegation fight is good. Hopefully there is money to be spent this summer. I feel that Jol needs a number one striker and I'd like to see the midfield get updated. I feel he never replaced Dempsey or Dembele. I like Frei but is he ready for the starting ix? I don't know. What do you guys think of making a run at a player like Gary hooper from celtic. He has been a top striker putting up numbers that rival Falcao and Cavini.

 

After the match I walked up to David Hamilton and, as this was my last home match this season, thanked him for all his work as public address announcer and match day emcee. I said never year, I will see you up here with the rest of us supporters. However, Diddy corrected me, saying The Chairman has refused his resignation and wishes him to stay so long as he is Chairman, so he says definitively that he will return next season. "He thinks I am a young man!: said Diddy. Then we talked a bit about the match and agreed it had been a comprehensively better performance than against our SW London rivals. The news that David Hamilton will "go on and on" and from the source was the brightest part of a bitter day under pleasant skies atthe end of a disappointing week for Fulham and a sorrowful week for Britain.

 

Diddy back!! Yessssss!!!

Will his barking mad dog be around as well??

[See: Victoria Stillwell's "It's Me or the Dog" for the reference]