Fulham v. Arsenal

It's Monday and we forget about the disappointment of the past weekend and look towards this weekend's fixture at the cottage.

My lineup:

Aussie

Pantsil, Kallio, Hangeland, Konchesky

Gera (or Dempsey), Andreasen, Bullard, Davies

Zamora, AJ

Will be estatic if Fulham manages a result against Arsenal. They didn't look that great this past weekend so hopefully that carries over to this weekend.

 

I think I've come up with a lineup to address everybody's complaints about the Hull game (3-5-2):

GK: Schwarzer
RCB: Stoor (because Pantsil is pants lolololol)
CB: Hangeland
LCB: Baird (Hughes is too short)
RM: Davies (player of the year gets a free pass)
CM: Andreasen (why not?)
CM: Bullard or Murphy (but not both, because clearly they are not capable of playing together ever [ignoring all of the games we won late last season in which they both started])
CM: Andranik (looked great against Hyundai Motors FC)
LM: Konchesky (Gera is worthless on the left, Konchesky can't defend)
F: John (AJ not match fit, Seol is crap, Healy is a championship player)
F: E Johnson (Zamora is crap, Nevland is only a super-sub)

In seriousness, I'd go similar lineup to last week with a few changes. Andreasen or Dempsey in the central midfield, F5 for Seol if he's ready to go, and Baird or Kallio at CB if Hughes is unavailable.

We'll probably lose, but stealing a point would be awesome. A win would be Fulhamish.

 

Hughes is actually taller than Baird by 3 inches. (Hughes is 6'0" and Baird is 5'9"). Many have blamed Hughes in ability to win a header based on his height. I believe it comes down to his positioning and lack aggression. If you are looking for size, look no further than Kallio (6'3") and a versatile defender. Lets see what he has to offer.

 

BZZZZZZZZZZT!

I'm sorry, you've pressed the Baird button and that will send you directly to jail. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

 

Re: RE: Fulham v. Arsenal

According to the club website, the difference in height is actually 4 centimeters in Hughes's favor. I agree with you that the issue is not height* but rather positioning and the like. Kallio is an interesting idea and I'd even give the young Aussie a look (but not against Arsenal). I think the thing is, against Arsenal is just the wrong time to make wholesale changes and have the guys trying to play a new formation and/or with teammates they're unfamiliar with.

* I mean, height is still a factor, sure. For instance, Zat Knight also lacked great positioning instincts and didn't really get himself all that far off the ground all that often, but he was so tall that he did a decent job in the air nonetheless. Hughes doesn't have height to fall back on, but as I've said before, you don't NEED to be a giant to be a decent center back.

 

Re: RE: Fulham v. Arsenal

But replacing a too-short Hughes with Kallio wouldn't be as absurd! I agree though, I would like to see what Bonecrusher can do.

 

RE: Re: RE: Fulham v. Arsenal

I am hoping that we at least get to see Kallio feature in some prominent matches this year. Hughes is making some Boca like mistakes on defense. (Pains me to say it, Boca was the man) Boca made up for his lapses in defense though on set pieces, 50/50 opportunities and aggression. All of which Hughes seems to go missing on. Lets see what Kallio's got.

 

RE: Re: RE: Fulham v. Arsenal

---------------------Schwarzer ----------------------
Stoor ---- Hangeland ---- Hughes ---- Konchesky
-----Davies -- Bullard -- Murphy -- Seol----------
----------------- Dempsey ---------------------------
----------------- Zamora ----------------------------

Since when did anyone start calling Zamora, Z-bird?

 

Re: RE: Re: RE: Fulham v. Arsenal

I'm intrigued by the idea of Dempsey playing behind a single striker and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

 

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fulham v. Arsenal

So I need to do another podcast this week. If anyone is interested, and can chat for a whole 15 minutes, email me at timmyintransit@gmail.com and we'll work something out.

My prediction will be in that.

 

Re: RE: Re: RE: Fulham v. Arsenal

I had posted a lineup similar to this in the lead-up to the Hull game and I still like it, although they'll definitely need their defenseive heads in the game come this weekend ...

..............Schwarzer.............
Stoor ... Hang ... Hughes ... Konch
...Davies........Bullard...Gera....
............Dempsey...............
....Nevland............Zamora

I'd like to see Dempsey play behind two strikers ...

 

I have a good feeling about this game. Arsenal wasn't very impressive against West Brom, and I think our boys will urn it around sooner than later.

Schwarzer
Pantsil - Hangeland - Hughes - Konchesky
Davies - Bullard - Gera - Andreassen
Dempsey
Zamora

subs: Seol, AJ, Murph

 

I believe Fulham has quite a few players out on international duty this week, so we could see some very tired legs vs. Arsenal, or possibly a very different lineup from this past Saturday. I would imagine Arsenal is in the same boat, if not worse-off though.

 

------------Aussie-----------
Pants--Hughes--Hangman--The Alien
Davies--Bullard--Murph--Dempsey
--------Gera----------------
---------------Z-bird-------


Gera withdrawn from Z-bird. Brin on F-5 at the half for Murph, switch to a normal 4-4-2 with Gera dropping back into Murph's spot.

 

Hughes is out for the Northern Ireland friendly. That might just be by request from us, but there's a possibility he may not be available against Arsenal.

 

F5 = andy johnson? if so, someone bring me up to speed here.

 

I never want to see Baird in the line up again. I have always liked Dempsey in the middle of the field, he doesn't have the speed or crossing ability to play wide and he is not a natural striker. So I would go 4-5-1. With the midfiled looking like:

Stoor---Hangeland---Hughes---Konchesky

Davies---Bullard---Andreasen---Dempsey---Gera

Zamora