Reading @ Fulham -- Sat. 11/3/07 -- Pre/During/Post [R]

[rms5555]

I'm feeling pretty good about this one. Fulham havn't won in any competition since August 28th v Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup and havn't won in the prem since their home opener against Bolton, and we have seen how well they are playing. They couldn't score against Derby at home! That along with how well we played against Newcastle and I think we are gonna take this one 1-0.

[whipsmart13]

I would be thrilled to pick up three points but one game against Newcastle at home hasn't quite won me over just yet on our ability to score. The thing that concerns me is that while Newcastle seemed to be weak in the midfield, Fulham appears to be a bit stronger and could cause us problems if we do not score early enough to sit back and counter. I think its going to be 1-1

[mschofield]

What does make me feel really good about the Newc win is that we did it despite one unbelievable flub by lita, and another should have scored (on the first touch, no idea why he took that wide). And that lita is a good goal-scorer.
My new worries: Doyle is not the ideal right wing, imo, unless we bring in another very good striker, and Long is not an ideal late sub, his inexperience shows, and he needs polishing somewhere where he can play and star every week. And kitson is going down soon enough, we know that.

But the concerns of earlier this year were partially addressed with the addition and rounding into form of sonko, who once again is going to be super soon. I think we may see a sonko-bikey partnership, they're our two best overall players at central defender, both can do so much. Bikey needs a guide, though, and someone to cover for him.
But for the weekend, an unchanged winning team. Doyle is not a long term fix, but he is a handful, where-ever he plays. And the width he provided simply proves how badly this team has missed a right wing.

One question, in the special reserve match, in which convey created the goal and got some praise, we didn't suit bikey or Fae. Is there a split? on the team? God, I hope they're both patient. Also, a week of questioning the team int he press, marcus on the lack of a new contract (which management says automatically extends for another year) and Roisenoir on hoping to become the right back (time is on his side).

[T_Rock]

Here is the Marcus story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/reading/7071595.stm

I must say, he is theoretically under contract through '09 if he continues to play regularly. After that, he will be 37. I don't think there is any problem with Reading deciding to wait until next season to decide if they want to keep him. I might be missing something, but unless he loses his starting role, he will be under contract for the rest of the year, plus next year. I hope they get this issue worked out, however. A disgruntled goalkeeper is never a good thing.

[lestat2x]

We've got a decent chance at taking all three points. What worries me is Fulham's penchant this season for tying the game up even when 2 goals down. The rest of the matches for the unfortunates below us should give a nice margin if we do manage a win.

[Derrida]

I've been watching a lot of Fulham this year, mostly because Dempsey is my favorite player, and frankly they scare me a little bit. I think they're quite a bit better than their record shows and could very easily make life very difficult, particularly if the boys underestimate them.

This year we've got points off a) Man U, Everton, and Newcastle in games they were clearly amped for and b) Derby and Wigan in games they clearly understood were against inferior competition that we absolutely HAD to beat. I worry about them going out there thinking a draw wouldn't be a terrible result and then quickly going down a goal or two.

All that said, we've looked far better recently and Fulham has looked weak compared to their first few weeks (and should be even worse tomorrow without Bocanegra who has been one of their best players this year).

I like Doyle out wide, not as a permanent position, but I think it made a real difference having someone on the wings who could pose a serious threat. And that will be even more important tomorrow since Fulham will have a couple youngsters on the back line. I think they key will be to pressure them early and often.

[lestat2x]

Well that was bad. Coppell needs to refine his tactics a little bit because the long ball game doesn't suit us well at all. Someone also needs to poke a stick in Lita's eye to get him a little fired up. About the largest positive in that match was that it was really a 2-1 win for Fulham but of course in the dying moments had too many players thrown forward in attack and let in the nail in the coffin goal. And Dempsey's goal once they got the cross off would never be stopped, he was a few inches in front of the net.

Doyle of course could have been playing goalkeeper and he would've still looked a credible threat to Fulham's goal.

[Pablo Chicago]

Thought I recognized some guys from last season last week against Newcastle. Harldy recognized anyone today, with the possible exception of Doyle.

Agree with mschofield. Gotta get off the right and up top where he belongs.

It was nice to see Convey make an appearance, but he can't get game fit fast enough. Would like to see a few of his laser guided crosses each match...with Doyle or Lita on the end of them of course.

[whipsmart13]

The problem isn't just the individuals and their performance, it's the balance in the midfield. When Gunnarson and Hunt both play , we lack a creative blend. Gunnarson has shown that he's not quite up to the job at the moment though and yet, he continues to get a shot from Coppell week in/week out. My only hope is that when Cisse is healthy, we give him a shot and allow Harps to go forward more. However, to be honest, Cisse didn't really impress me all that much when we was on the field earlier this year. He seemed to be a step slow in the midfield and did too much lunging at balls trying to make a tackle.

It all comes down to the lack of quality signings we bought in over the summer. It's a shame that the players we actually spent money on in the summer just haven't made an impact and don't look quite up to it. Halford sold, Fae not in the squad, ditto Cisse when he was fit, Rosenior can't get a game at right-back despite Murty's poor form. It is ironic that it is our worst recent signing (Duberry) seems to be able to command a regular place in the 1st team, despite there being 3 better centre-backs in the squad.

IMO Murty, Duberry, Gunnasson, Hunt, Ivar would not start at any other half decent Premiership side because they are not good enough. We did nothing other than signing Rosignor in the off-season to provide the team with an upgrade in those positions.

[lestat2x]

Gunners in one week. Does not really matter that its at home. Although next two matches could give us vital points, both Manchester City and Middlesbrough aren't exactly playing top notch football.

[RichardL]

Gunners in one week. Does not really matter that its at home. Although next two matches could give us vital points, both Manchester City and Middlesbrough aren't exactly playing top notch football.
City have won seven out of seven at home though, and only let in two goals, which doesn't make them obvious candidates to drop points to a team who have 1 point from a possible 18 away and have let in 19 goals.

Oddly only 3 teams have scored more away goals than us. We've actually scored more away than at home, where we've won 4 times.