Fulham v. Man Utd. [R]

GBFC, hope you don't mind, but I cut and pasted your last post on that other thread (the name of which we shall no longer speak):

It always takes a while for new players to bed in. Right now I do not think Coleman knows his best team. He is scared to play Dempsey and the midfield looks horribly unbalanced.

Our reserve keepers are not good enough, without Niemi we look all at sea in a controlling position. Keepers win matches by their husbandry of the defence, Jan and Warner are not confident enought of their own game to worry about anyone elses.

Volz is a better all round player than Liam, but Roz is the better defender. Boca and Christanval have an understanding and are really begining to work. Que is the only option on the right.

There is a lack of pace and skill in the middle and even worse, the work rate has been poor and defensive duties negelected.

No place for HH on the bench - rather have the pace of John.

Starting with Dempsey over Diop because I really want to watch this guy from the beining of a game and see if he is a good as some of the glimpses he has shown. Having said that, when the 3rd goal went in against spurs he was milling around in no-mans land with his head down. I assume he was just gutted.

Wherever possible I would always play Montella and McBride together. They contrast in style and both are thinking players - the second goal against stoke showed that they could soon have an understanding.

Baring injury/suspension this would be my staring lineup and bench.

---------------Niemi--------------

--Liam---Christanval---Boca---Que--

---Wayne---Brown---Dempsey---Radz

------------McBride----Montella------------

Subs:
Jan
Volz
Peace
Diop
John

With the currently available players :

----------------Jan---------------

--Liam---Christanval---Boca---Que--

---Wayne---Brown---Dempsey---Radz

------------McBride----John------------

Subs:
Warner
Volz
Peace
Diop
HH

Win or lose against Man U - I want to feel proud of my team after the game. Right now I am not and that hurts.

_________________
There's only one Gary Barnett!

 

RE: Fulham v. Man-who?

My response:

Great post, first. Queudrue plays on the left, not right (as you noted). So does McBride, so I'd switch the strikers accordingly in your line-up.

The problem with the midfield is that Radz is our best left footed crosser (that we know of) and if Cookie doesn't let him start, it is because he is giving the nod to his mate, Davies. The best midfielders, on their best days, are Routledge, Diop, Dempsey, and for now, I guess Brown. So that leaves one of those guys out. I'd pick Brown to sit right now if he weren't Captain and such a proven motivator. So unfortunately, I think Dempsey is relegated to bench warmer, even though he shouldn't be. And, now he's got to fight through two Premiership veterans (one Welsh) to find a starting spot. I can imagine the frustration.

I think McBride and Montella are our proven strikers, but what's Montella's status for Man-who? after the red card? And don't get me started on John again for the umpteenth time. The kid loves getting everyone's hopes up and dashing them against the rocks. One decent game back, in which he didn't even score, does not rightly put him anywhere near the starting line-up in my book. But Fulham's not reading from my book, so what does it matter.

Here's my line-up, as I see it, not as I would like it:

-------------------------------- LastVodka/SuperHero --------------------------------

-------- Rosenior --------- Christanval --------- Boca ----------- Queudrue -------

----- Routledge ---------- Brown ------------------- Diop ------------ Davies ------

------------------ Montella/John ------------------------- McBride -------------------

Bench:
Dempsey
Smertin
Knight
Volz
Back-up Keeper

The numbers don't add up, so there will be an odd man (or odd men) out. As GBFC said, Cookie does not know his strongest line-up, and may not until nearly the end of the season, or in the off-season. This is why coaches get paid big bucks. The hard decisions not only must be made, but must be made correctly and definitively. Sort it out, Coleman.

 

RE: Fulham v. Man-who?

I believe Montella will be out for three matches. The FA is very quick with these suspensions and such. I would expect to hear officially tomorrow if Montella is going to appeal the suspension.

I have never been all that impressed with Simon Davies. And for that matter Alexei Smertin as well. Perhaps they provide the team with something in the midfield, but I am waiting to see it. I think Papa is rubbish and in all honesty I would rather see Volz in midfield busting his tail than one of these three 'natural' midfielders.

If I were Cookie I would put a team out on Saturday that will work their socks off no matter what. They have nothing to lose in this one. The team needs to play with pride on Saturday. My lineup would be as follows:

Lastuvka (the worst keeper in the Premiership)
Liam Christanval Boca Franck
Wayne Volz Brown Radz
McBride Helguson

I think this team will give it all they have and to me that is all that is important. I am guessing a win will be tough to come by but lets at least hope the team shows up and plays with passion and heart unlike this past weekend.

 

RE: Fulham v. Man-who?

Chances are we are going to lose, plain and simple truth but if we lose with a fight than none of us complain and thats all we always look for in Fulham. A fight.

And quite honestly, this team has fought more for points than an team in recent history and I believe they can do it this weekend.

As for line up, I'm going with Toms although I didn't think Bouba did all that terribly against spurs thus I'll put Volz at RB, put Liam on the bench and keep Diop in the middle:

Lastuvka (the worst keeper in the Premiership)
Volz Christanval Boca Franck
Wayne Diop Brown Radz
McBride Helguson

Now come on Fulham, show us what you got!

 

Re: Fulham v. Man-who?

Apparently, Cookie has a problem with how many touches Dempsey has needed with the ball - the Premiership is ,obviously, a lot quicker than MLS and players have to be much sharper - and is trying to iron this trait out of his game.

If Clint is as talented as some people think he is, making the adjustment won't be a problem.

 

RE: Re: Fulham v. Man-who?

i am not going to comment on this coming match, as i dont want to be forced to think about it.

but, this past week since the cottage debacle made me so happy to be a fulham fan. think about it, our squad didnt incite a uefa investigation of their fan base, and take a controversial free kick which made a (ninny of a) french coach to command his players to leave the pitch. nor did one of our players go beserk at a karaoke club with a golf club (although that is a bit amusing)

so, COYW! (just stay away from bellamy when he's singing, and set up your walls in time, okay?)

 

Re: Fulham v. Man-who?

Valid points, however after the recent lack of spark it couldn't hurt starting him in this weekends game. From what I've seen his confidence and athleticism can be good for overall morale.

Questions...

When is Niemi likely to be back?
What about Claus?

 

RE: Re: Fulham v. Man-who?

Yo_, I agree this team could use a spark and I think "Clinton" is just the man.
It might be good that I live on the left coast and will be asleep during this game...
MK

 

Re: Fulham v. Man-who?

I think Niemi is back soon although I do not think this weekend. As for Jensen, he has a permanent seat in the physio's room. He will likely be back in a few weeks for a game or two before he gets hurt again. He is quality when he is on the pitch, but what is use in paying a guy who plays less than ten games a season over the past two years? I think his time at Fulham is coming to an end.

 

RE: Re: Fulham v. Man-who?

I have a feeling about this one. Given our recent trouncing by Spurs and our thrashing at Old Trafford at the start of the season, I think we'll come out and play well. Most likely, we'll still lose but who knows, we could surprise everyone.

 

I like your optimism BC and maybe if Sir Alex shows his side the tapes of the first game this season and this last weekend's debacle the Devils will come in flat. However, after seeing the replay of the game it's hard to be upbeat when the defense gives up acres and the GK plays like the NAVY ('it's not a job, it's an adventure').

 

I know Lustuvka will start this but god damn why?? He's such a terrible keeper!! Put Warner in there, he's proven himself decent in the past.

My ideal line-up
---------Warner----------
Liam--Boca--Val---QQQ
-----------Diop------------
-Duce---Brown-----Volz
--------McBride--------
---------John----------

In the end Roooooon, Ronaldo, Saha, & co. will simply be to much for our lame excuse of a backline to stop. 2-1 Man U

 

I really do believe we will not only win, but play our best football all season against Man Utd. we have shown that we can compete against big clubs at home and I think we will win this game and start a nice little winning streak.

Strating lineup

Lastuvka

Liam-Christanval-Boca-Queudrue

Dempsey-Diop-Brown-Routledge

John-Mcbride

I would play somewhat an attacking lineup and go at United and try and score early to put pressure on them and then play counter attacking football. This win would be huge and we need this win and I think we do win the game. 3-1

 

I don't feel this one will end well. We really need superhero Niemi back. I just hope they don't score any goals in the first 15 min. If we go behind I don't feel the team will be able to fight back level.

....ok I have now set myself up to be really surprised if a win is pulled off.

 

Can we change the name of the article on the main page. From what I've read we gave Manchester United quite a scare and played rather well. I mean we went into the break level and it took a DEFLECTION for them to win the game, which I see is unlucky on our part. We deserved a draw to arguably the best team in the league. Even Ronaldo admitted that Fulham were the better team on the day. I hope the boys take some pride in this and steamroll Villa and Wigan.

 

Gutted. That's all I can say. They played well and still lost. I'd like to blame the defense for that last goal, but it was all Ronaldo. That's why he is who he is.

 

I am quite proud of the team. They put in a great effort and like I said before gave them a scare. This wasn't even a lack luster United team we played. Even though we lost I hope Cookie harps on the good of the match and focuses on the upcoming fixtures.

 

I don't want to say too much about the game but..., I thought we were superb and desrved better. The good news is that CC started Boca and Christanval at the back. I think he now knows this is the best centre back pairing at the club. The understanding was there and neither goal was the fault of the centre backs.

Being harsh, Volz was to blame for both goals. The first one is evident, the second when he dived in to a challenge with Ronaldo and got no where near him. Either take the ball or the man! Dempsey then repeated the error. By that point he was driving hard at Christanval and the CB stood his ground.

Just as harsh - Radz header should have been a second goal for us and we should have had a pen.

McBride was excelent all game (my man of the match), and I though Collins John did well when he came on. He held up the ball well and at other times drove at the defence. The shape of the midfield was really good and the same players that looked woeful seemed to click more with the diamond.

Brown controlled the midfield (nearly my man of the match), Davies looked much better, Diop was strong (although lucky not to be sent off).

I have mixed feeling of happiness and disappointment. Unlike last week, I feel proud of my club tonight.

COYW.

 

Man Utd

For all you new Fulham fans today highlights what it means to be a Fulham fan, after so so performances we turn in a great performance against the leaders in the prem, we played well enough to win, but we are Fulham so we lose. Why did we lose, good question, great teams and champions can have an off day but somehow win, they get the calls and the ball bounces for them, Fulham in all the years i have followed them have never been a championship side, yes they won the championship but to get to the heady heights of the top 4 no, we at Fulham will never. What makes this loss so hard to take, is that Fulham did what any Fulham fans know they can do so well, they flattered us with just the hint that just maybe today was going to be their day, but I knew I just knew it was all a figament of my imagination and before the final whistle was blown order would be restored to the universe and so it was. On a day like this it is very mean indeed to try and find asnwers to why we lost a game we should have so obviously have won, well the big difference in the game was the fact that we should have been winning 3-1 after 60 minutes, a score that even the great Man u would have found very hard indeed to have recovered from on this particualr day, but instead of Radz keeping his eyes open and just letting the ball hit his head, for some strange reason for a professional football player he ducked and let the ball hit him on the top of his head, then Davies who had a very good game, does the hard part and then drills the ball as hard as he can, but puts it in the air and gives VDS a chance to save it, when Renaldo gets the chance he hits it low far post just like McBride did with hs goal. As I say it is very mean to blame anyone with a performance like that, because to give such a good account of themselves these players and the rest of them worked very hard and contained for very long periods a very good team. But after suporting Fulham for over 50 years days like this are very hard to be a Fulham fan, and i am a lucky one I was at the cottage 43 years ago when we last beat them there.

 

As gutted as I was by the last-minute Ronaldo goal, I have to echo what GBFC said above: I'm proud of how the team played for the whole 90+ minutes.

It's heartbreaking to lose, but if the team that fought the hardest won, we would have had it sewn up from the get-go. There will always be errors and mishits and balls off the crossbar, but every effort forward, every well-strung set of passes, every tackle and clearance was hard-fought and passionate, and they played a tough, aggressive game. There's no shame in losing under those circumstances.

It's when the guys look like they've never been introduced, much less played together, that really hurts.

And today, they gave the Cottage a show. It sucked that they lost, and my heart rate was totally ridiculous the last 15 minutes of the game, but I still feel like I can't complain too much.

Upwards and onwards. We have a pretty tough rest of the season, but if our goal is top 10, we can still get there.

COYW!!!