Fulham play Arsenal away. This is a big match and they need a win. --------Volz-------------Knight-------------Rehman----------Boca-------- --------Boa Morte-------Pembridge--------Diop------------Malbranque----- ---------------------John-------------------Radzinski--------------------- John and Radzinski deserve to start a match.Cole and Mcbride should not play so they can play on Tuesday against Birmingham. Rosenior should be on the bench so should Pearce. Boca and Rehman have done very well on the left side. Arsenal should win this match by at least 2 goals since its at Arsenal but, Fulham have played well against some of the best teams in the Premiership so i say 2-2.
I didn't get to see the game today but a lot of people seem very unhappy with Pembridge. He is very slow and Arsenal is likely to take advantage of him. However, with Jensen out there is no one else and that's a problem. That lack of depth is definitely something that should be shored up in January. I don't think a win against Arsenal is realistic - one point would be excellent. It's Birmingham they need to beat.
You are right, Pembridge stinks right now. He has his moments, but last night he was ineffective to say the least. The entire midfield needs to pick it up. I personally think they should put Rosenior on the right wing and move Steed into the center with Diop and have Boa Morte on the left. I think Liam Rosenior can play in midfield personally. He is an attacking presence and he is fast. Perhaps I am way off, but something needs to be done. Leggy and Pembo were crap last night. This is gonna be a tough match. I would be happy with a point, but I expect a loss in all honesty.
Rosenior probably could play on the right side of the midfield but, Malbranque is better on the right and should stay on the right side. Plus you got Jensen who should be back in a week or 2.Fulham needs a couple midfielders and a forward plus a keeper and maybe a defender or 2 in January.
I'm not too confident about this one. Fulham played close for a while at the Cottage and thanks to a no call in teh box Arsenal were able to get some goals in the second half. Arsenal did not look to hot against Pompey, but neither did Fulham vs the Addicks. Van Der Saar can be a wall, like he was at Highbury last year. The only goal we scored against Fulham at Loftus Rd last year was a Reyes steal from Van Der Saar. I think it will be a close game, with Arsenal winning of course , 2-1 or 1-0
What are you smoking my friend??? John and Rad up front?!! Its either Cole and McBride or Cole and John in my opinion....maybe a slight chance of Cole and Boa. This is Arsenal we are playing not Nottingham forest.(no offense to you forest fans)
Fulhamfc3 might have a good point on this one Mike. If you take the position that 3 points against Birmingham are critical while anything at all against the Gunners is gravy, it's a reasonable strategy. Use Cole and McBride late against Arsenal if we are still in it - otherwise have them fresh for Birmingham.
I do not think we should leave both of these players out of the lineup though. I would like to see Cole and Collins John get the call up front.
I would like to see Radz on the wing Sunday morning as well. He has been effective the last two matches over there.
My point was this Cole and Mcbride are 33,and 32 and if you started them they would have to play 2 matches in 2 days. By the Birmingham match they would be tired. Arsenal is a maybe 1 point whereas Birmingham with the right team is 75% 3 points.They would be ready for Birmingham and it would be a good chance to get 3 points.
A preview from FulhamUSA.com: http://www.fulhamusa.com/modules.ph...le=article&sid=56&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
I think the game was in the balence until Pires scored again. From the grainy video on www.soccerstreams.com I was watching it looks like Radzinski could've scored on Almunia when Almunia came out, but Rad went over and Almunia jumped and caught it.