Fulham v Juve (18th Mar)

Well, the Whites are probably a bit shell shocked after the last two matches being beaten by an aggregate of 6 - 1. No rest for the weary as the Italians are coming to the Cottage on Thursday and Man City await in the wings (and then away to the Spurs).

I am convinced the team is bit run down, combined with the injury riddled season, is taking a bit of a toll (I think going back to the first Juve game thru to Tots, that will be five games in 14 days?) As mentioned on other threads, that won't be an excuse much longer as our injured are returning and should, barring knocking off some rust, inject some needed fresh blood.

My head tells me we get a 1-0 win or a 1-1 draw and our run ends at the Cottage (if it does, I am glad it will end here as we can give the boys a proper ovation).

My heart tells me we are in for a dramatic 3 nil victory with the winner from the nogin of Demps off a Duff corner, 91st minute.

I'll be at Cottage with a kitchen pass in hand from the big boss. I went to Basel thinking I was catching our final Europa match so I hope the Whites keep up their streak in proving me wrong!

 

For those of us here in the States, there will be live coverage on GolTV:

http://www.goltv.tv/index_en.php?date=2 ... tz=eastern

 

It's Daylight Saving Time, Donny. No 's'.

Also, I'm not surprised the lads are completely knackered -- every other team is too. Fulham have played more games than any other team yet, despite all the injuries, Roy hasn't really mixed things up a lot. Just compare us to a team like Sunderland.

Which brings me to Thursday -- I think we can win it, I just don't know if we will. Juve just drew with bottom-dwellers Siena, are one point from 4th spot, and are away to Sampdoria on Sunday (who are one point behind them). So there's a possibility they may not focus 100-percent on this match, whereas we will (or should?) because our league position is all but locked up.

COYW

 

2-0

End of.

 

I thought we were done against Basel, then went to the pub and watched us win. I thought we were done again when we drew Shakhtar, then went to the pub for both legs and watched us win on aggregate. Now Juve.

This really should be the end of the road. That said, I'll be watching at the pub yet again, so hopefully I'll be proven wrong for the third time. If not, it's been a great run.

 

This should be Fulham's Boyz II Men game ("End of the Road" baby!!) - but I'm in Ag's boat and the club's resilience this season in all competitions has been incredible and I won't count them out.

Now, excuse me, I'm off to wash out my mouth and fingers for the Boyz II Men reference...

 

JUVE BLOWS

Now, we have an excellent chance. Juve somehow managed to blow a 3-0 lead, at home, to the bottom dwellers in Italy, Siena, esterday.

HOW THE HELL DO YOU BLOW A 3-0 LEAD?!?!?!?!?!?!

TO THE WORST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE?

That, and they're cheating bastards; aside from Our Dear Neighbors, they are my least favorite footy team in the world.

No prediction, aside from these two:

a) Woy will send out two strikers, and the Greening/ Etuhu paring will not happen again -- too much defense, not enough going forward. Maybe Woy will try to coax one bit of excellence from Danny, he's looking like he's tired now though. Whatever happens, I expect to see a more offensive lineup than last week.

b) If the Ws do come up short, I'll still love them. They did so much better in this cup than I was expecting, I still feel like I am playing with house money.

Come on FULHAM!!

 

Pretty sure Danny and Greening are unavailable for this one (red and accumulated yellows, respectively). If so, unless Roy trots out someone we haven't seen play that role this year, it's going to be defensive.

I'd bet on Zamora and Dempsey up top. Gera, Baird, Etuhu & Duff in the middle. And then Kelly, Konch, Hughes and either Hangeland (if healthy) or Smalling in the back. Mark in net, as always.

I'd like to see Davies in for Baird or Etuhu but Roy doesn't do unconventional very often (outside of that time he put Smalling in at striker....kinda).

 

Does a red carry an automatic multiple-match ban? I thought Murphy was only out for the road leg last week.

 

I was always more of a "on bended knee" fan, but the video for "end of the road" was wayyy less ridiculous.

THAT'S RIGHT, I KNOW EVERY WORD TO BOTH SONGS.

 

I have good news and bad news:

Good news: Juve are in the midst of a serious keeper crisis 1) Buffon injured 2) Back up keeper Manninger 3) Chimenti (3rd choice) is 40 years old and let in three, count them three, goals in one half against the last placed team in Seria A.

SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

Bad news: It's still Juventus.

 

My lineup prediction:

..................Aussie.............
..Baird..Hughes..Smalling..Konch
...Duff...Etuhu.....Gera.....Davies
........Dempsey...Zamora

 

Now, it's a big question mark on what both teams do. What type a game does Juve play? Can't imagine they'll close shop, but instead look early for the kill shot.

I'm hoping there isn't a Baird/Ehutu pairing in the middle. Also, I can't imagine Brede will be a go.

 

I thought Manninger looked good against us. Or were you saying he's injured as well? Hope they choose to go with Chimenti.

 

We're going on a European Tour

Lithuania
Russia
Bulgaria
Italy
Switzerland
Ukraine
Italy

I wouldn't mind to see another country added to the list
Germany
Spain
Portugal
France

We win and move on- 2 nil

 

Team News

Hangeland trained today but will face a fitness test tomorrow. Riise also trained today for the first time since falling ill before the match in Turin (symptoms make it sound like flu or food poisoning). Johnson, Paintsil, Elm long-term injured. (When did that happen to Elm?) Murphy and Greening suspended. Okaka, Andranik, Shorey, Milsom, Brown, Stoor, Briggs ineligible.

So what we're left with is: Schwarzer, Zuberbuhler; Kelly, Konchesky, Hangeland (?), Baird, Hughes, Smalling; Gera, Duff, Riise (?), Etuhu, Dempsey, Davies, Dikgacoi; Zamora, Nevland. That's 17 guys, but Roy said 18 in that article, so I'm trying to figure out who I'm leaving out. Presumably it's 17-year-old Keanu Marsh-Brown, who rode the bench in Torino and for both legs against Shakhtar, but I have to imagine Roy would prefer not to give him his first action in a match like this.

Also, here's a couple of articles from UEFA.org:

Juve lose another keeper to injury
Juve wary of Fulham's fortress

 

Fulham can do this. I believe.