Fulham v. Sunderland [FA Cup] 2023

We absolutely do not risk any injuries to key players here. If we win, that’s a bonus. If not, on to Forest and beyond. It ain’t over til it’s over.

 

I want a very strong squad. I hate getting bounced from cup competitions to weaker opponents.

 

We need to go all out and just try to win the damn thing.I think we are solid enough in the table to do so.

 

I can definitely talk from both sides of my mouth on this. Ambivalent. I suspect everyone will be assessed, and guys with nicks and knocks will sit this one out.

 

I think Fulham needs to go all out and field the best team available. What are they saving guys for? I supposed the best argument is for a run at the Europa Conference League with a 7th or 6th place finish. Because of games in hand, that will likely require Fulham to perform better than Liverpool, Chelsea, Brentford and Brighton over the remainder of the season. I just don't see that happening even with a healthy squad. However, win five more matches in the FA Cup and Fulham gets hardware and a Europa League birth. There are only four Premier League teams left in the tournament that Fulham hasn't beaten (and Manchester United and West Ham are playing each other next). If Fulham wants a shot at European football I think the FA Cup is the most likely route.

 

Well apparently when Marco Silva visits this forum he takes advice from @daddude7 and @jumpkutz but not me. I find this starting XI disappointing.
Rodak
Tete, Tosin, Duffy, Kurzawa
Harris (from U21), Palhinha
Wilson, Cairney, Solomon
Vinicius

Subs: Leno, Pereira, Robinson, James, Diop, Willian, DeCordova-Reid, Reed, Mitrovic

Based on that roster, I'm not expecting Fulham to make it to the next round.

 

I think the lineup is talented enough to win against Sunderland... whether or not they can gel and put forth the effort is yet to be seen.

 

@daddude7 ^^^ pretty spot on w/your lineup. Roberts in for Reed is the surprise. Certainly not a lineup that will scare anyone, I’m guessing that Sunderland w/them right in the fight for a playoff spot won’t be using their best eleven either.

 

Cue It!!!!!!

 

The highlights:


I'm very happy to have been wrong about the outcome although Fulham did make it far more exciting than necessary.

It isn't in the highlights, but I thought that Tosin did a nice job on defense. He perfectly timed stepping up to cut out passes and handled the ball well even when guys were all over him. Duffy made the one spectacular defensive play, but Tosin did a lot more over the course of the match. Rodak made one very good save on a ball that was deflected, but it didn't make the highlights either.

On to Leeds!

 

Was a tight one, fair play to Sunderland.Survive and advance is how you get through these Cup games and glad we got it done in the end.Marco said both Reed and Cairney got injured, fingers crossed not too bad for either one.

Fully expect to see Lukic starting on Saturday now, should be interesting.

 

From just watching the highlights, four plays stood out, two of them by Shane Duffy. The first was his clearance off of our goal line on what surely would have been a Sunderland goal…and who knows where the game goes if that one goes in. The other was his backward header that landed nicely for Kurzawa to volley home for what proved to be the game winner.
Mitro’s presence of mind to not sulk at getting stuffed by their keeper, yet staying with the rebound and side footing back into Pereira’s path for a relatively easy stab in. I’ll pass on saying we shouldn’t be conceding not one, but two comeback goals to the hosts and join some of you in asserting that perhaps we should go for it in the FA Cup given our relatively safe position in the Prem table. It’s the only way we’ll ever get a major trophy.

 

I know he got the late goal (that ended up being the winner), but I was absolutely not convinced by Kurzawa defensively yesterday. Sunderland's 2nd goal happened because he just...fell over...in the box. Even without that, there were so many times Sunderland just sort of skipped right by him. I think this really showed how much Jedi has improved this year - the dropoff from him to Kurzawa was pretty stark.

 

Fulham posted extended highlights. I found it interesting that of the 8 minutes of highlights, 6 minutes were from the second half.