Fulham vs. Cardiff City

Fulham hosts Cardiff City on Saturday. Cardiff are 1-1-1 and yet three matches into the season they still haven't scored a goal in league play. Two own goals from Blackburn's Shane Duffy (who also ended the night on a red card) allowed them to win on Wednesday while still leaving all of their players with zero goals scored.

Jazz Richards didn't play on Wednesday and could be out for Saturday's match too, however Richard's replacement was also injured so they could be thin at right back.

Last season we drew (1-1) in the opener and defeated Cardiff (2-1) at home (Hyndman's famous birthday goal for the win at 93 minutes)

We should be full of confidence going into this match at home against a team that is struggling. Last year I would have worried that our defense would be just what Cardiff needed to get out of their goal scoring funk, but with the team I've seen this season I'm hoping for our second clean sheet and 10 points - IN AUGUST!

 

The friendly confines of the Cottage - come on home you Whites and continue playing like you deserve to win - yes, ignorance can be bliss, and if you don't know better than expecting to win, it's all good, baby (quoth Denzel). However, this squad looks the part so add 3 more points to the W column. COYW

 

I'm trying not to get too overconfident expecting points from every match. They're looking mighty fine thus far though. I keep myself in check by realizing that Newcastle, Preston, and Leeds combined results in matches not against Fulham are 1 win and 5 losses. So these teams aren't playing well against anyone. Time will eventually tell us the significance (or insignificance) of these results, but right now it looks as if we've gotten points from team that we should have gotten points from.

This Cardiff match falls right into line with the previous three. We're playing a team that is playing poorly. We should get (3) points. I'm very impressed with the defensive form so far. I hope it keeps up.

 

I hope our lads are PO'd enough about not getting the three points they deserved at Leeds to put the hammer down on a so so side on our first, true Saturday afternoon home match. As far as the lineup goes, if it ain't broke... COYW!

 

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

 

COYW!!!!

 

Starting XI:
Button
Odoi, Madl, Kalas, Malone
Parker, McDonald
Cairney, Ayite, Aluko
Woodrow

Subs: Joronen, Ream, Sessegnon, Christensen, Jozabed, Tunnicliffe, Smith

Woodrow finally gets his shot. I hope he makes an impression. And Old Man Parker plays his second match in a week.

COYW!!

And Jazz Richards will start for Cardiff.

 

Here ya' go Don. Woodrow.

 

I am digging this season. Need some more depth and I do think that the Khan's are willing to spend. But, then I have a short attention span and have a limited understanding...

Cheers,

Steve

 

Looks like you almost have to tip your cap to Cardiff City on both of their goals.

 

Official highlights back on YouTube:


I'm very happy that we are still undefeated, but in each match the opposition has challenged us more and more. I wish that we could have started the second half of this match with more possession of the ball. All of our matches have been close and I'd feel better if we were stronger at holding the ball. It also seems like we have trouble adjusting when subs come in, or maybe it is just that we still have trouble closing things out in the second half, but it seems like in almost every match the opposition has made a substitution and then put us on our heels.

But we're still near the top of the league, so I can't complain too much - yet. If we drop out of the playoff slots all bets are off!

 

Here is the Football on 5 Championship Review Show for this weekend. I will try to remember to post this each week (if I can find it online like I have the last couple weeks):

 

Only 2 -3 of us in the ol chat so far this season, but it has to pick up as the points keep accumulating. Probably should have had the win on this one, but hard to be upset with the results thus far.

 

Since I got my mom's login for NBC sports, I have a hard time sitting at the computer focusing on GJ when I know that I can watch the Premier League match of my choice on the big screen. I'll try to pop in on the chat next time though.

On the other hand... even when Cardiff challenged us and took the lead, I'm glad the guys didn't quit and were able to notch the equalizer. That's a good sign for the future.

 

The summer has been crazy busy for me, so I've been relegated to seeing the match highlights and am really happy to see the start that the club has been enjoying. From the little of what I've seen the giving up of easy goals has ceased, and the spirit of the squad looks good.