Fulham vs. Bolton - Game #1

It is finally here. We take on Bolton (and Stuart Holden) on the road.

We drew to Bolton twice last year (0-0 and 1-1), although one of our four road wins in league play over the last two seasons was at Bolton in 2008-09 (3-1 victory).

Looks like the game will be on Fox Soccer Channel on Saturday at 2:30 PM (Eastern).

Giddy up!

 

---------Schwarzer
Pantsil-Hughes-Hangeland-Konch
Duff-Murph-Etuhu-Davies
-------Deuce
-----------Zamora



How do we keep Gera off the field though? Tough choice for Sparky

 

Re: RE: Fulham vs. Bolton - Game #1

You dont. This is what I would do.

---------Schwarzer

Pants--Hughes--Hangeland---Konch

Duff---Murphy---Etuhu---Dempsey

------Gera-----

-----------------Bobby---------


Bring Davies on early in second half for Duff or Murphy and EJ at 75 min for Duff or Murphy.

However, I bet Mark will go with what he did on Saturday only Gera will start in place of Dempsey.

 

Each of the proposed lineups look solid, considering no real transfer activity.

Given the paucity of quality in the midfield as recently as a couple of years ago - having to choose from Davies, Duff, Dempsey, Etuhu, Murphy and Gera to fill 5 spots is pretty damn good for this club. One of them is going to be the odd man out each match, but I think they'll be enough minutes to go around. I go 'round and 'round with each of them: 'Demps is too good to not start...then I think, dang, Davies is too good..., etc.'

Fulham to start off the season with an away draw! Watching Bolton this year should be easier on the eyes than in the past, or so I hope.

COYW

(malware free since 2010!!)

 

I saw Hughes was scratched from Norn Ire's game due to injury (hamstring?). Hope is was just a precaution and he'll be good to go. It will be interesting to see who is the player that is left out of the starting XI. Hope springs eternal, and a new season is a chance to wash away past shortcomings. Only one prediction....an AWAY victory!!!!

 

Agree with Hatter...not sure about other Whites who are getting the call up for the plethora of ill timed Internationals over the next two days (other than Hughes as pointed out above). I will be in England at the beginning of match day and back home in Texas on my couch by kick off.

I think we may see an inspired victory one or two nil.

 

It's going to be nice not going into an away game expecting 0-0 (hypothetically), so I'll go with 1-0 Fulham. Can't wait for the new season as the Mighty Whites start the Hughes era (in so much as we can call 2-3 year stints eras). COYW!!!

 

Wow, the season is upon us -- no predictions, no lineups, ust an opportuinity to wear my FFC shirt and obsess about the Ws -- COYW!!

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/match ... 54,00.html

"Mark Hughes has three main injury worries ahead of his first game in charge.

Mark Schwarzer (back), Dickson Etuhu (illness) and Paul Konchesky (ankle) will all have fitness tests on Saturday morning before the game.

The other absentees from Hughes' squad are long-term injury victims Philippe Senderos (Achilles), Andy Johnson (knee) and Diomansy Kamara (foot).

Meanwhile, Fulham could also be without midfielder Damien Duff, who is reportedly struggling with a knee problem."

 

I don't Lawro would pick a Fulham victory even if the Whites were lining up against an all U-10 side. His predicition:
I reckon Bolton will have a steady campaign but Fulham will struggle to emulate their exploits of last season, when they reached the Europa League final.

Trotters boss Owen Coyle has signed one or two players over the summer which should help the team to pick up a few more points this season.

Fulham are now managed by Mark Hughes but he has not been in charge very long and it is still very much the side that did so well under Roy Hodgson last season.

I just wonder whether there might be one or two players in the Cottagers squad who have had their heads turned and are looking for a move away from the club.

Prediction: 2-1

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8908412.stm

 

Thought we should have taken the 3 points. Of course, anything on the road is nice, but with as many calls as we were fortunate to get, it's too bad we couldnt capitalize.

Dissappointed to see Dempsey on the bench, but the sub came at the right time. Of course, we looked more dangerous right when he came on, even if he misplayed a few easy passes.

Way too much passing around the top of the box, nobody has any urgency to make something happen, that's why i love Dempsey, for his creativity and bravery to try something, anything.

Hangeland was EPIC.

Congrats to Stockdale, a great game from his as well. I'll always have a soft spot for him, as the only other league game he started was the only Cottage game i've been to.