This video interview with RH indicates that Johnson has only just arrived and joined the team today (Saturday), so that is why he is out. Leaving him back home to play a friendly would have been a poor move, particularly with McBride on the mend, Nevland (a player who has played with RH before) coming in, and Cousin still possibly joining the team. RH also says in regards to their poor recemt goal output that the team has been "limited in terms of personnel" and suggest that Dempsey "can come into an attacking midfield role" Also, McBride scored a goal in the recent friendly mentioned by El Steve in the initial post.
Re: CD, KK, CB, MCBRIDE: Fulham v. Aston Villa - 2/3 Ok, I'm one of those people that doesn't think Rossi should be considered a YA. So I'm going to complain and say that Brede should be counted as a YA since Rossi technically is. It's all about the technicalities. Add him.
Re: CD, KK, CB, MCBRIDE: Fulham v. Aston Villa - 2/3 Fulham and Reading are playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup? Wow, relegation is getting harsh.
Niemi, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Dempsey, Bullard, Andreasen, Murphy, Davies, Nevland. Subs: Keller, Bocanegra, Bouazza, Kamara, McBride
Still boggles my mind how a relatively straight-forward transfer could take so long to shake out. The fee was agreed on 1/18, the Home Office approval came on 1/23, and they guy is still not even settled in London in time for a match on 2/3.
I hope Routledge plays better for Villa than he does for Tottenham. We don't really have a true right sided mid so Routledge will probably go straight in the XI. Is the team sheet out yet for Villa?
Never mind he's not even in the team for today's match. Carson Mellberg Laursen Davies Bouma Petrov Barry ReoCoker Maloney Agbonlahor Carew
Deuce up high on the left wing... we'll see how Nevaland handles this... be interesting to see if we get any action from McBride. I'm ecstatic to see him on the bench.
Completely unsurprisingly, FSC fails to mention that Fulham has 5 Americans in the squad, including a majority of the bench. You know, something you would have noticed had you spend 2 seconds looking at the lineup in advance.
Dempsey earns a dangerous FK in on the top of the box... 25 yards out? Iffy call, Deuce did it by cutting in front of his marker... Bullard takes a shot, but it's deflected over. Corner. Cleared. Fulham keep posession, but their passing has been sloppy in the first couple minutes.
The FSC guy also mentions that Robbie Earle is the color guy. Had he bothered to listen to any of the pre-game they do, he would know he was wrong.
I'm trying, my network is screwed up. We're approaching 10 minutes in... Dempsey's been active in the midfield. Created a turnover, earned a dangerous FK and took a decent, though not very dangerous, shot from 25 out. Fulham's been trying to pass but the class hasn't been there... it's been a mash up... lots of bad turnovers. Just as I say that, bad turnover... bad pass from Murphy, Villa scorch into the Fulham box with the ball on the boot of Abgonalahor... but his cross finds Niemi's hands. 0-0 11th minute.
Close for Deuce... Fulham earn a corner and Dempsey gets on the end of it, heading the ball across goal. Not sure if it was on target, but Wilfred Bouma gets on the end of it and clears the ball. Foul called, I think, on Fulham... maybe? Whistle, one way or the other, and the Villans get the ball back. They're not holding possession much though. It looks as though they're just trying to catch the new possession-oriented Fulham on the counter... which seems like it could be a fruitful endeavor judging by how Fulham's looked holding the ball. 15th minute.
Good spell of pressure from Fulham -- curious that Dempsey's name wasn't mentioned in a long, long buildup. Finally cleared.
BTW, just an update on Deuce... he's on the right wing, Davies is on the left again. Not sure why, but that's how it's going. Figured it off the kickoff when I saw Davies close down on the left wing real fast. Fulham hold the ball deep in Villa territory for what seems like an hour... get a few crosses off but no really dangerous chances. The passing is still slice-and-dice, but it's looking better. Bullard AND Baird (the later punching the former in the face during training this week) both seem to be on their games right now. Fulham earns a free kick maybe... 30-35 out? Right side, Davies on the ball... maybe a little too wide, Nevaland gets his head on it, but it's nowhere near the net. 22nd minute.
Seeing a fit Bullard and a tenacious Dempsey in the midfield has really paid dividends... you wouldn't say Fulham are 19th and Villa are challenging for Europe judging by the on-field display thus far. "Dempsey earns another free kick." For all the possession and activity in midfield, Fulham need more chances. Bullard takes a nice FK, but no one gets on the end of it... Fulham retains possession... keep trying to get possession in the box, but nothing comes of it. Lots of quick throw ins and attempts on attack from there. Another corner... weak, cleared... Fulham take it back. Maloney gets posession and here comes Villa the other way. But they lose it in midfield again. FUlham needs to earn a clear cut chance with all of this possession. 29th minute.
Baird hams it up for the first time, tries to clear but Maloney blocks the attempt, turns him inside out about 37 times and takes a shot wide. Simon Davies just gets his best chance of the game... Dempsey passes it into the box, hard, for Nevaland who lays it off for Davies, but he mishits the volley and it bounces harmlessly to Carson. Fulham needs more help from the wide defenders while Villa needs to get more competitive in the middle of the park... they're creating the occasional turnover, but aren't getting too much time to work it in possession. Their attacks have looked slightly more dangerous, but where Fulham really looks weak are set pieces. You'd think Villa could put one in if they got their fair share.