Fulham Away

[Salopian]

If we want Howson to play, and most seem to be of this opinion, then someone else in the midfield must lose out, be it Wes, BJ or Tettey. My own preference would be to give Johno a break. I don't think his tackling is as good as Tettey's, and he gets so far forward on a regular basis that we are left a little exposed.

The selection problem become even more acute if we play Vidas, who must be nearly fit by now. Who gives way? Pass!

Up front we seem to have a rejuvenated Lafferty, and also Grabban and Jerome. I feel that the last is the one most likely to convert chances into goals, and prefer him to Grabban, who is possibly the one who misses most chances.

NA has some agonising choices, but it's great to have so many options with a long season and perhaps injuries.

 

[Lake District Canary]

If we want Howson to play, and most seem to be of this opinion, then someone else in the midfield must lose out, be it Wes, BJ or Tettey. My own preference would be to give Johno a break. I don't think his tackling is as good as Tettey's, and he gets so far forward on a regular basis that we are left a little exposed.

The selection problem become even more acute if we play Vidas, who must be nearly fit by now. Who gives way? Pass!

Up front we seem to have a rejuvenated Lafferty, and also Grabban and Jerome. I feel that the last is the one most likely to convert chances into goals, and prefer him to Grabban, who is possibly the one who misses most chances.

NA has some agonising choices, but it's great to have so many options with a long season and perhaps injuries.

I would like to see -

                  Ruddy

Whittaker Martin Turner Olssen

           Tettey Howson

   Redmond  Wes    Lafferty

                Grabban

Vadis, Murphy and Jerome to come on later in game. 

 

[CJRV2014]

Be suprised to see Grabban getting picked ahead of Jerome as a lone striker now. Jerome has more pace, power, better finisher and in my eyes an all round better player.

 

[splutcho]

Interesting that a good chunk of people want a return to 4231, when last year the vast majority were screaming for two up front.

I'm inclined to agree however and would go:

Ruddy​

Martin Hooiveld Turner Olsson​

Tettey Howson​

Redmond Hoolahan Lafferty​

Jerome​

 ​

I would also quite like to see what Vadis Odjidja Ofoe can do at some point soon. I'm sure he has a bigger part to play than it has seemed so far.

 

[Lake District Canary]

Be suprised to see Grabban getting picked ahead of Jerome as a lone striker now. Jerome has more pace, power, better finisher and in my eyes an all round better player.

Jerome's finishing left a lot to be desired against Charlton and Rotherham.  He can hit a ball, but heading doesn't have the same conviction - tries to be too cute imo when a more solid headed ball would at least get the ball on target.  Grabban has more mobility and caused plenty of problems earlier in the season as lone striker and they have both scored goals so I would put them on a fairly equal footing.   Goals are the key.  If we go one striker, then if that striker doesn't deliver, get the other one in pronto - or Hooper. We can't afford too many games like Rotherham and Charlton.

 

[Din]

Interesting that a good chunk of people want a return to 4231, when last year the vast majority were screaming for two up front.

I'm inclined to agree however and would go:

Ruddy​

Martin Hooiveld Turner Olsson​

Tettey Howson​

Redmond Hoolahan Lafferty​

Jerome​

 ​

I would also quite like to see what Vadis Odjidja Ofoe can do at some point soon. I'm sure he has a bigger part to play than it has seemed so far.

I'd agree with that team. And yeah I'd like to see VOO sooner or later.

Assuming that Hooper is back for this, and that the team above is our starting team then our bench could be:

Rudd, Whittaker, Odjidja, Johnson, Murphy, Grabban, Hooper.

That's a ridiculously strong bench.

 

[Yellow Fever]

I'd also like to see Lafferty get a start with either Redmond or Grabban on the right:

Ruddy

Martin Turner Hooiveld  Olsson

Howson Tettey 

Redmond Hoolahan Lafferty

Jerome

Subs: Rudd, Whittaker, Johnson, O'Neil, Josh Murphy, Odjidja-Ofoe, Grabban

Hard on those who don't even make the bench!

 

[Paul Handscombe]

There is no way on earth that Jerome should be on the bench behind Grabban.

Grabban has been utter garbage the last two home games, I can see Hooper coming straight in for him and if not is should be Lafferty.

 

[GJP]

To be fair, Jerome hasn't really been any better. He's just living off what he did in the 3 or 4 games before the last couple.

I wouldn't like to write-off either but I'm also not sure it's got the makings of a great partnership either. To further complicate matters I'm not sure where Hooper fits in because he isn't as great as people like to think.

Does anyone really think that Hooper would have done any better than what CJ and LG have done for us so far this season?

 

[Safri15]

Sorry but I'm not a fan of Jerome or Grabban really and think a fully fit Hooper is much better. Both CJ and LG had great starts to this season but will both get found out, if they haven't already. Both need too many chances to hit the target let alone score. we would have beat Rotherham if either were as good as their start to the season made out. Luckily we make the chances required for them to score at this level and with NA's attacking mentality.

If Hooper for some reason still isn't fit I'd play Laffers up top against Fulham (scored in the international over the weekend) in a 4-2-3-1, with Tetty and Howson as the 2. Rest of the team picks itself at the moment really.

I however am a believer of bogey teams and think we will lose this one to the curse that is Fulham. I really hope not tho, about time this one was broken, and we don't have a better time to do it. Haven't we not beat them since 1985 or something ridiculous like that??

 

[Andy]

Jerome has to start for me, he's been brilliant away from home although, like the rest of them, has struggled to play against defensive set ups at home.

If everyone's fit I expect the same starting 11 as for Blackpool.

Ruddy; Martin ©, Turner, Hooiveld, Olsson; Redmond, Tettey, Johnson, Hoolahan; Jerome, Grabban.

I think we'll finally turn Fulham over but the real test will be Leeds at home - they seem to have put together a decent team without anyone noticing.

 

[Yellow Fever]

Hooper may well come good after is injury, but Jerome is our best man up front at the moment. time Lafferty has a chance supporting him though.

 

[E2 Canary]

I wouldn't mind seeing Jerome alone up front on Sat. As long as we stay solid and boss the midfield, I think we'll be OK. Last time I went to Fulham was the 0-5 on the opening day of Hughton's first season. Started brightly enough and then collapsed with what felt like a pretty soft centre and a central defensive pairing that were then a little stiff and slow.

This is one where I want a result more than a performance for sure.