Fulham vs. Stoke

Fulham hosts Stoke on Saturday. The match starts at 10am EDT (double checking, yes, I got it right this time), and will only be available through FFCTV.

Fulham and Stoke are tied on points with 10, but Fulham has +7 goal differential while Stoke is only +4. Stoke has gotten their wins against teams that were considered struggling coming into the season: Nottingham Forest (the only team without a point), Reading, and Swansea. It could also be said that Fulham haven't played what is considered some of the tougher competition in Hull and Huddersfield. This could be a chance to expose one of these teams as a pretender (hopefully Stoke).

I did not think that Wilson would be available for this match due to his three game ban from the red card at Huddersfield, however it appears that the Carabao Cup match counted toward the ban so he could be available. That would be helpful if Carvalho is not able to start due to the injury he picked up late against Hull. The status of Tete and Ream is also not clear to me, so the back line could be different for the first time in the league this season. Due to my concerns over how the back line will look I'm worried this one is going to end up as a draw.

EDIT: Fulham has announced that Tete will be unavailable, but Ream, Carvalho, Reed, and Wilson can play.

 

Perspective is a funny thing. I think it’s great that we’re worried that we might not win instead of being hopeful for a point.

Mawson has not been bad in his few appearances. The lack of reps with Tosin would be my only concern (well that and Mawson is quite fragile).

Will we see Decordova-Reid in Tete’s place?

I’m looking forward to seeing Reed out there. Seri and Onomah have been good but it’ll be nice to have a little extra coverage with the heavy schedule of the Championship (and the cup run for @HatterDon)

I’m on kid duty tomorrow so I’ll be living on updates and eventual highlights.

 

View from the first half...
It took so long to get my account set up and some technical issues resolved that I didn't get into the feed until just after Fulham's opening goal. So I've got nothing to offer there except that it happened too early for me! It has been a fun match to watch with both sides committing players forward on the attack. Stoke has looked dangerous on a couple long balls that Fulham was able to recover and defend against. Stoke is playing a high press and there have been a few heart stopping moments when it seemed Fulham would give up an easy goal working up from the back, but fortunately nothing like that so far. The Stoke keeper has made a number of good saves that Fulham put just within his reach. Fulham's best opportunity after the goal came from Ream who was on the end of a deflected corner just a yard or two out from the goal, but somehow he deflected it over the bar with his knee rather than sending it into the net. It is a marvel of physics that he was able to touch the ball and NOT get a goal out of it. Toward the end Fulham had Stoke was starting to commit more fouls as Fulham pressed and I wonder if they could get more than the one yellow as the game goes on. It feels like another goal from someone is inevitable as both teams are committed to the attack.

A footnote here, I noticed that Fulham hung a banner in honor of Tony Fisher just under the cottage next to where the players come out to the pitch.

 

First game of the season I missed. Stuck at a conference. Love the score, despite the late missed penalty. If we maintain this quality, we may lose an occasional game, but we will be fine. It would be amazing to go up automatically and have more time to prepare for the Prem. (Knocking on wood. Knocking again.)

 

I almost hate to say this for fear of jinxing us, but this might be the best we’ve looked since I became a fan. We’re crushing this division so far. All I can say is keep it going lads!

 

Update from the second half..
I'm not sure if Fulham deserved a clean sheet - Stoke missed some great opportunities late on - but Fulham certainly deserved the win. It wasn't that Stoke played poorly either, they just weren't good enough for Fulham. Which had me thinking the same thoughts as @daddude7 and @jumpkutz - this league is Fulham's for the taking. Where's that wood for me to knock?!

Fulham looked so good going forward. This was actually a pretty quite match for Carvalho, but Mitrovic, Wilson, and DeCordova-Reid all made that irrelevant. There is just so much potential on the scoring end it is hard for teams to defend. And I thought going into this season the thing to worry about the most was Fulham's offense! The speed that Wilson and Carvalho bring pairs well with Mitrovic's instincts in the box (just like the old days with Sessegnon). On Mitrovic's goal Reid had a perfect pass to Wilson, but someone without his speed and control likely would have not converted the assist to Mitrovic for a tap-in.

On the defensive side Ream look like the same player from the prior four matches - no sign he was less than 100%. Odoi played admirably in place of Tete. I didn't see any rash decision making that sometimes has me worried about him. It was also nice to see Reed back in toward the end of the game. I'd like to see him get more playing time, but Fulham is playing so well that it is hard to know who to take out. I'll gladly take that kind of depth.

I only have two complaints. There was some sloppy passing going on that was especially unnerving when playing up from the back. It was the kind of stuff that had me thinking "Fulham would get eaten up in the Premier League doing something like that." Then there was the missed penalty from Mitrovic at the end. It was a very weak shot that makes me think he's still lacking confidence from the spot. Someone else needs to be called on for PK's.

This is the most fun I've had in a while watching Fulham, maybe ever. I hope they keep it going.

Finally, it was also nice to hear Gentleman Jim again on the stream. I missed him dearly. It was classic GJ when he started talking about the wasp that was flying around in the booth and debating whether it was him or Jamie who feared the wasp the most.

 

The highlights!
(These are from Stoke's channel since they let them play while embedded)


The Fulham version of the highlights are available here if you like.They are exactly the same, but a little better video quality.

If anyone noticed Wilson go down after his assist on the third goal, fear not. He was okay shortly afterward and did a post-game interview where he was all smiles.

I wish they included this in the highlights, but there was a great shot looking at the Hammersmith End from the Putney End on the second goal where all the Fulham fans started standing in anticipation of Mitrovic's shot, and then they thought he scored, and then their shoulders slumped when he didn't, and then everyone went crazy when DeCordova-Reid slotted it home. It was just great seeing the fans again and seeing them enjoy a happy day at the Cottage.

In the late game West Brom got the only goal of the match at the death (nuts!) to avoid a draw with Peterborough, so Fulham are still tied on points but have a plus 10 vs. plus 7 goal differential.

 

I know we *shouldn't* be surprised at how well the team has played to start the season. I mean when you look at the players on this team, really look at the roster. Almost every player on this squad falls into one of two categories, guys who played real minutes on 2 promotion teams or guys who know they have the quality to play at the next level and have played well at that level(just not a full season of playing well).

We shouldn't be surprised. We shouldn't be surprised. But we are Fulham. We are trained to expect something to go wrong, for something Fulhamish to happen. For it to just never be easy.

I had a very familiar feeling after Middlesbough, a feeling that I had so so many times last year and prior years. "Played well, really should have won, wish we got a second and put the game to bed." I know it's only been 4 league games since then but I feel different. I knew coming in this team had the talent to to not only challenge promotion or get promoted but actually had the talent to win the league. But deep down I still felt like 3rd and up through the playoffs would be the way it would go if we got back. I honestly think this team is gonna finish top 2, knock on wood as you guys are saying, but I really believe that.

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