Fulham v Brighton (Tuesday)

Quick turnaround to a formidable Brighton side Tuesday. This is when it’s all about the physios getting the lads hydrated and ready to go. I have seen quite a bit of Brighton and this team can be that surprise team that goes from Mid-Table to a Top 6/7 contender. Graham Potter for me is the most underrated manager in the Prem. Trossard is incredibly dangerous and he makes them go on the wing. Every match he creates 2 or 3 point blank chances for Gross and Welbeck. The 2 CBs are old school big and physical, so Mitro will have his hands full. Hopefully Duffy is speaking up in film sessions and telling everyone about the nuances of things that trouble their back line. Would love 3 points, but a point wouldn’t be a disaster against these guys.

 

Agreed. They come without the fancy brand of a Liverpool or an Arsenal, but are almost, if not equally, as dangerous. I think they will end up around that 6/7 spot, and will not let the last of the top-4 relax. I'm hoping for a win, but it will be a hard-fought match.

From what Marco said, we have the same players available as against Arsenal. If Rodak, Bryan and Francois don't make the bench, we'll know the rumors are true and they are on their way out. Does this mean we're keeping Fossey (his contract is good for another year)? No idea.

If everyone's healthy, I think we come out with the same 11 as against Arsenal. It's an excellent 11, and there isn't really much room to maneuver beyond it.

 

I view this game with a little more importance. Coming off the first loss and a game where a point was warranted. I'm hoping to see some resiliency and not coming out flat and "fulhamish." New club, new manager, new season. I get it. Still worried. These are the games I think getting the 3 really matters.

 

Given Fulham's lack of depth and coming after the Arsenal match where Fulham gave it their all, I am worried about being competitive for the full 90. Fulham has given up just a single goal so far in the first 63 minutes of their matches. In the last 26 minutes they have given up 5 goals, so late let-downs have already been a thing this season. Four of those goals came from Liverpool and Arsenal so the competition was tough, but it is still a concerning trend.

I'm also concerned about Palhinha's three yellows in four matches. Two more before January 3 and he's gone for a game (that seems inevitable), seven more before the end of the season and he's gone for two. He's a destroyer in the middle of the pitch and Fulham desperately needs him to be competitive, but his style of play does come with risks.

Brighton has given up just one goal so far and is coming off of three straight clean sheets. They haven't been behind all season. At the start of the season I thought this looked like a place to pick up points sandwiched between trips to Arsenal and Tottenham, but at this point it looks at lot more challenging.

The match will be on Peacock once again. If you have to work you should be able to watch the replay whenever you want or even start the match from the beginning if it already started (just avert your eyes from the scoreline to not ruin the surprise).

 

I'll be doing my best to avoid the score. Looking forward to catching the replay.

 

@MicahMan is right. This is a game where the coach would look to rotate players, but we know our roster depth. Still, I won't be surprised if Mbabu and Stansfield get starts. Maybe Cairney, too.

I'm hoping for a win, but won't be too disappointed with a draw. They might have been in League 1 as recently as 2010, but this is not a Brighton of yore. Their technical director works there full-time, and it doesn't hurt that the latest one is David Weir.

I am working today, but I have a meeting in my Outlook between 2:30 and 4:30, without a subject, and there don't seem to be any other attendees.

 

Why wasn't I invited to this meeting?! Unacceptable!

 

I am also working and, unfortunately, Tuesdays are my one day of the week in the office. I too would like to avoid the score but have too many apps that like to keep me ultra current on everything Fulham.

I am apprehensive about the result for all the reasons already given - lack of squad depth, short week, Brighton's form. I'm looking at some set piece mastery for Fulham to put the pressure on Brighton. That and maybe some Cottage magic will hopefully result in points.

 

@jumpkutz You KNOW what to do!!!!!!!

 

COME ON FULHAM!!!

 

Very happy! And we won despite absolutely tragic refereeing. It was probably coincidental, but most of their bad calls went against us.

Mitro MOTM. What a player. His slow-speed sprints and serial dribbles were out of this world. Now on 5 goals.

On the not so positive side, we don’t have personnel to bring in late in games without a drop in quality. This may hurt us in the form of injuries and loss of form. Keeps fingers and toes crossed for the next 48 hrs.

 

What a result!

 

The highlights!


What a tense final half-hour! I did not think Fulham would hang on for the win after Brighton got their goal and then brought in three pretty good subs. Fulham just didn't have the bench to match their moves, but the guys hung on and got a well-deserved win.

Mitrovic gets another goal and showed his quality all over the pitch. He got Fulham out of a couple jams deep in their own half, connected well with his teammates, and showed you don't always need speed to run through a defense.

In the past two matches Fulham has pulled off some impressive accomplishments. They were the first team to stop Arsenal from scoring in the first half, the first team to take a lead on Arsenal, the first team to score against Brighton (the previous goal was an own goal), and the first team to get a win against Brighton. And check out that league table at the bottom of the page - 6th! I know there are more matches tomorrow, but still nice to see five games in.

DeCordova-Reid always seemed to be in the right place in this match but unfortunately after he got the ball he was missing passes and blowing scoring opportunities. I kept thinking how much more devastating Fulham's attack will be if Wilson is able to come back in his old form. Fulham probably would have scored another two if he'd been out there today.

On a technical note for those of you who may watch via Peacock, I started watching this about an hour after it started. I skipped half time and then in the 94th minute the feed cut out and I had to wait about an hour for the full replay to become available again to see the end. I'm not sure if that was a one time fluke or if there is a limit as to how long you can watch a delayed live feed.

 

The furthest Fulham will drop in the table over the next two days is 8th. That's still pretty fantastic. I thought earlier that I'm starting to feel like there very well could be a mid-table finish in the future - not scraping and clawing for 17th. Fulham need reinforcements though.

 

I avoided the score all day and was rewarded with a winner!