Fulham vs. Man City

The only way we stay in this one is if City tries to mail it in. They may be tempted without Aguero available, but I wouldn't bet on it. And with the way we've been defending this season, this could get ugly quickly (see their recent onslaughts against Spurs and Arsenal). The good news? We're overdue for a scorefest ourselves, and this could be the chance to have one. Joe Hart's been benched in favor of the Romanian Costel Pantilimon.
But they've only allowed 18 goals this season and have 6 clean sheets, and they're the only club in the forties (47), 8 more than scousers, in goals scored. They're a juggernaut. They don't play them on paper, but this one looks like an incredible mismatch. Which is why I'm expecting a Fulhamish result...3-2 Whites!

COYW!

 

Citeh is in form and on fire in the goal scoring department. I expect this to be a hard match for Fulham fans to watch.

 

Gotta side with the sentiments of the gentlemen from San Antonio and Indiana. Citeh is on a roll, the whooping they put on Arse last weekend was impressive. They did have to play Tues. at Leicester City in the League Cup (winning 1-3), but they are so deep I just can't see anything but a loss. A couple of things Fulham does have is the Mancs have been perfect at home, but only have only 2 wins and 2 draws from 8 away matches. Add in this is a classic 'trap' game (Citeh played Arse and plays Liverpool next Thurs.) maybe they'll be flat to start and we can get a goal early to get our teeth into it. COYW!!!!

 

Before last weekend I thought Arsenal was the real deal, and MC bullied them near off the pitch. Like the other deep-pocketed top sides, they've got national team players struggling to make the game-day squad. Hoping for a competitive performance from the Whites, but anticipating a spanking. Ouch!

 

Joe's giving me some reasons for optimism! Which I'm sure will be dashed very quickly tomorrow morning. It's the annual day when I question the company I keep, as I'll be watching this one with a City-supporter friend. Hopefully he'll be the one left scratching his head.

 

Oh deary me - this is going to be ugly.
- Debbie Downer

 

City lose Aguero, but they've gained Silva and he's made an immediate impact since coming back from injury. Sounds like Dzeko will get the start up top. Zabaleta is out so there's some room to expose them deep on the wing, but that presumes we'll see enough of the ball to do so. I figure we'll manage to exploit that once but it won't be near enough. Due to the trap nature of the match and the fact that City have struggled on the road (although they seem to be turning that around), I'll go with a 3-1 loss. Hopefully it's not a lot worse than that.

 

Aguero is out, yes. But I can't see Dzeko not being motivated to make his case for more playing time.

We need a fast start and maybe we can get one past them. I'm not confident that we'd be able to hold on though. It may be our second straight 1-4 loss.

 

BREAKING NEWS!!!

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/21/manchester-city-joe-hart-first-premier-league

 

That'll be the trick indeed, Senator. Looking at their defense, Kompany is healthy, and they did give up 3 last time out, albeit to Arsenal who, fair to say, has just a few more attacking options than do we.

 

Looks like Berba is out for some reason. Not even on the bench.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/match-centre/2013_2014/league/home/manchester-city#lineup

 

Hope the lads can beat the odds today. Who can forget these crazy 90 minutes, from down and out to pure euphoria;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YM7TD2un1Q

 

The effort is there, but we just don't look to have enough quality across the pitch. I get that we've had a tough stretch for RM's debut, but we can't keep shipping 4 goals, even against top 5 sides. And especially when we put out such a defensive lineup. The next 4 games should give us a better read of where we are.

As for this match, Toure's goal from an ill-gained free kick was offset by Kompany's bizarre own goal. The Richardson and Milner goals on the break offset. So where did we lose the game? Stek getting five holed from a rather poor angle and yet another break down in set pc defense.

There are positives to be had. We're getting into attack better, we just lack finishing. If we can keep Berbatov and get Dempsey into form, that should help. We're defending better higher up the pitch. Hopefully we can get a healthy Brede back soon.

I'm starting to develop serious concerns about Stek though. There have been a token few who have raised questions, and people have been quick to rush to his defense, but I find myself thinking there might be something there. On the back of this match, I wouldn't mind seeing Stockdale get a run out. He's due for a match anyway.

 

Hard to disagree with Matt on this, so I won't. I share his concerns about Stek, who comes up with big saves and muffs ones most keepers would make. Our back 4 struggled after Senderos went off - there's a sentence I'm somewhat amazed to have written - but Hughes seems frayed at the edges and Love Bite fails to impress.

The thing is, it's so difficult to compete against a team with superior players that, once you've drawn even, it's horrifying to concede two soft ones. Right now we look like a Championship side, as befits our 19th place standing in the table. We lack quality and depth, but we have lots of experience (a midfield 3 that totals nearly 100 years of age, as the nbcsn commentator pointed out). Before Rene has a chance in the January window, we could lose touch with the top 15.

 

Yeah, it was a tough chance, but a PL keeper's gotta stop that shot at 2-2. Still might've given up a rebound or something, but no five holes. Our form is undeniably much better since Herr Jol's departure, and City are an elite side, but the improvement's got to lead to some points soon, or all is lost.