Team V Fulham

Nigel Pearson has said there will be changes for the game but not any major changes. David Nugent came off ill against Bournemouth so he might be rested to allow him to fully recover. Ritchie De Laet is still out but otherwise everybody else is fit and available, so here is what I would go with

Schmeichel

Moore
Wasilewski
Morgan
Konchesky

Knockaert
Hammond
James
Dyer

Wood
Vardy

Subs- Logan, St. Ledger, Drinkwater, King, Schlupp, Taylor-Fletcher, Nugent

 

Fulham should not be underestimated but are a 'mature' team - I'd be tempted to give Jeff Schlupp a run out up front and have him and Vardy run them ragged ... they'd be far more comfortable with Wood ...

 

Schlupp will cause problems because his pace but no other reason. He is very wasteful in front of goal which was proven today

Wood and Vardy should link up well together

 

Jeff may have missed a couple yesterday when coming on as a sub, but generally he is not as profligate as Nuge in front of goal, and he also has a history of notching braces in open play - something as yet unachieved by the first team this season ... I'd love to see the boy given a chance - he got considerable praise from the Spurs coach after our recent development squad draw against them so he's definitely knocking at the door for a chance...

 

Wood made a decent impact yesterday and set up Vardy's goal. He deserves the start much more then Schlupp

FF as a manager you need to pick the side with your head not your heart

 

thanks for the advice Pep Guardiola ... but Jeff has actually been notching for the development squad so if you really are going with head (current form) then he'd get a start ... but it's all about opinions ...

 

Wood needs game time to get his form back. We know Wood will score goals when he gets some form while there is still alot of question marks over Jeff Schlupp as a striker. I think he is best trying to become a winger and competing with Knockaert and Dyer aswell as covering Konchesky as Zoumana Bakoyogo seems like a complete waste of time now

 

Fulham fan in peace.

I'm absolutely convinced you'll turn us over tomorrow night - basically I'm looking for a bit of reassurance that you'll be fielding a decent team. I've already got stuck into you to win in 90mins at 11/8 (which seems a massive price given out contrasting forms and your home advantage).

As you're doing so well in the Championship and that most probably is your priority, is there any danger you'll make wholesale changes and field a weakened team on tues night?

If someone could rate your starting team and chances at 7pm ish when the team sheets are announced it would be greatly appreciated.

Finally, who is your danger man (or men) at set pieces? We can't defend a corner or win a header in the box for love or money! Could be a good guide for first scorer or anytime scorer bets.

 

I hope we dont change it too much, but i think some will have an eye on Saturday.

Rest those that need it, but let the rest play.

Pearsons not the sort to make wholesale changes, personally i think, even if we have a fair bit of possession and most of the chances, we'll still not score.

 

Manager says he will make changes - but to be honest any changes made should not really affect us that much - the squad is much of a muchness in terms of replacements ... we can be dangerous from set pieces - Knockaert has a wonderful left peg both for whipping the ball in and, indeed, having a direct go - young centre-back Liam Moore seems to be getting more and more dangerous at set pieces often spinning around to get on the back stick.

If Vardy plays up front he will run your defenders ragged ... and you'll have to defend a lot better than you did against Southampton (judging by MOTD) .. if you survive the first half hour without conceding your overall quality may show through ... but I do expect that we will have a 'right good go' at a brisk tempo from the off ...

 

The Southampton highlights flattered us, we were absolutely woeful for 90mins. We couldn't hold on to the ball and didn't bother pressing when the Saints had it. We had 0 shots on target throughout the whole game! Unfortunately this wasn't a one-off, we've been absolutely dire for the past couple of months. Hence, I can't see us getting anything from the game.

I'll definitely have a few quid on Liam Moore to score first (he's widely available at 33/1). Especially if Berbatov is marking him at the back stick!!

 

marking!? ... that could well be worth a shout!!

 

I think Fulham's quality will be too much for us but I expect us to give them a game

 

Schmeichel
SSL Moore Wasilewski Schlupp
James Drinkwater
Knockaert Nugent Dyer
Wood​

Think King, Morgan, Vardy and Konchesky will all be dropped.

What did you think to the latter? Know that Wet Spam fans liked him and Liverpool fans hated him. What did you make of him at the Cottage?

 

Konch (or Alien as we fondly named him) served us very well during his spell with us. He was a constant part of our back 4 that turned the Cottage into a fortress a few seasons ago. With Konch, you knew exactly what you were getting - he was never going to burst forward and leave the defence exposed. He could put in a decent cross and occasionally hit an absolute screamer. His only downfall was occasionally he'd make a silly late tackle or dodgy back pass that would gift the opposition a goal.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the Liverpool fans assessments - both him and Hodgson were as popular as a pedophile at a school sports day (and that's before they even set foot into Anfield)!

How's he been playing for you?

 

Pretty much the exact same.

But he does get forward a lot more for us, although i'd put that down to the league being more open and attack based.

 

That is exactly how i'd describe him for us.

As for our team i'd guess

Miquel or SStL in for Morgan or Wasil, whichever is more in need of resting, other on the bench.
Bakayogo to maybe get a start
Hammond and James in for DD and AK
GTF to get an appearence
Wood for Nugent with Schlupp or GTF replacing Vardy early

Schmeichel
Moore Miquel/SStL Morgan/Wasil Konchesky/Bakayogo
Hammond James
Knockeart - - - - - - -- - - - Dyer
Wood Vardy​

Logan, Miquel/SStL, Konchesky/Bakayogo, AK, DD, GTF, Schlupp

 

I think it will be

Schmeichel
Moore RB
Miquel CB
Morgan CB
Bakayogo LB
Knockaert RM
James CM
Hammond CM
Dyer LM
Wood CF
Schlupp CF

Wouldn't be surprised to see Gary Taylor Fletcher start either actually - but don't know what position

 

Can't believe I'm not there, this sounds a cracking game!