FA Cup Round 3, @ Norwich

Good post Don. I'm usually psyched for the FA Cup for the same reasons you state, but the relegation battle has me only thinking about league games at the moment. To me this match was a distraction, but you have set me straight. No surrender, Fulham needs to go in guns blazing! COYW

I can at least drop in the chat. See you all there hopefully

 

Norwich won't be putting out their best side either, so both teams are in the same boat. That said, I think the best result we can expect is a draw and a replay. Incredibly difficult to beat the same team twice in a span of several weeks on the road (not that that circumstance happens very often). I love the FA Cup, and while Europe is great, I would like more to see the team play at Wembley just once ray: . However, the squad is razor thin, has old legs, and an extended run in this competition could be detrimental to survival. Throw the youngsters into the breach mixed with some of the veterans (Karagounis, Bent, Clint) and go for the win, and don't be too fussed if we lose.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing a battle of the "benches" of two top flight clubs. Any youngster that gets a shot in this match will be hungry and it should make for an entertaining display. While my hopes are not high for Fulham to pull out a victory - I would not want a draw at this point. Win or lose, but please don't add another match for the current squad (although, I will 180 on that statement if a few bodies are added in the window and a draw manages to happen).

I'll be ruining a perfectly good walk on Sat. morning, but will be checking the scoreline continuously. Enjoy the chat, all, and COYW!!!!!

Oh yeah, and despite my naysayer attitude towards #23's return, I will be happy to see him contribute in the match.

 

I agree with Sir Donald on this one. And here's the thing I keep coming back to. It's a line in our Wikipedia entry, "Fulham have never won a major honour..." While I generally agree that avoiding relegation should be the priority, it shouldn't be the ONLY priority. Since it's highly unlikely we'll ever sniff the Barclay's trophy, much less the top four, we should try to win this thing. The league cup obviously isn't as big a deal as this one, so why not go for it? The rules are the same for everybody at the start, so acquiring enough quality players to provide the depth to compete in multiple competitions is compulsory, correct? Two finals in the history of London's oldest established Premier League club is weak. We can and should do better, starting right now. I don't buy into excuses. Kid's, veterans, the water boy, who cares? They are ALL still in the Premier League, so if they're not up to the job, get somebody who is. This is big boy sport, so cinch up your jock strap and get on with it. Whether you like him or not, it still comes back to Herm Edwards famous sound bite..."YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME...HELLO." Lather, rinse, repeat. And yes, I just discovered that the semis at Wembley are the weekend we'll be in London! COYW!

 

Some news floating that Rene's willing to give Moussa Dembele a run this weekend in the FA Cup tie
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/footbal ... 36427.html

 

Looks like a number of youngsters may be included tomorrow.

 

Fulham are sitting on 19 points with 18 matches to go so getting some of the regular workhorses like Parker and Reither some rest after the recent run of matches would be a priority for me. I would prefer to see a mix younger bodies and non-regular veterans in the Cup match. Give me something like Stockdale, Zverotic, Senderos, Burn, A Leftback, Kasami, David, Boateng, Kacaniklic, Dempsey, Dembele and I will be happy win or lose.

 

Sadly the "A" stands for Ancient.

 

Deuce is in! Thought Rene might put Ruiz out with him, since they seemed to click a bit in the past.

Fulham Football Club ‏@FulhamFC 12m
#FFC starting XI v @NorwichCityFC: Stockdale; Zverotic, Burn, Hughes, Amorebieta; David, Boateng; Kačaniklić, Dempsey, Kasami; Bent.

 

Just got back home to hear GJ say a draw was about right for the match..Did any of the youngsters have a good game? What's the consensus on how CD played? Looks like he got 90 mins...

 

Great first hand review of the kids' performance by Masterhaynes on the 'All is forgiven' thread. Looks like the winner of the replay will play at Sheffield United in the 4th round.

 

Sounds to me like young Mr. Burn should be inserted into our back line, PRONTO!

 

Some highlights -> http://www.footytube.com/video/norwich- ... n04-249300