Apologies for the late post but today is my birthday so I’ve been busy relaxing on what is a rather grim day in the capital. I decided against awarding myself the birthday treat of a trip up to Stoke this afternoon, although two of my friends (including Jack – who will be chiming in sometime tomorrow with a match report) have made the journey.
I thought we’d try something that one of the commenters called Scott suggested before the Villa game a couple of weeks ago and leave the comments box open for your thoughts during the game. Tell us what you think of Roy’s team selection, how the game’s progressing and what your feelings are and then we will have a read through them at the final whistle.
Kick off is nearly here – come on you Whites!
UPDATE: Some surprising late team news reaching us now. Bobby Zamora is out with a hip injury and is replaced by Zoltan Gera. Suspect we’ll line up with Johnson up front on his, Dempsey playing in the hole behind him and a four man midfield with Gera on the right.
UPDATE 2: The team in full is as follows –
Schwarzer
Pantsil —- Hangeland —- Hughes —- Konchesky
Gera ——– Bullard —— Murphy —– Davies
——————-Dempsey——————
——————A. Johnson——————
Subs: Zuberbuhler, Kallio, Gray, Andreasen, Nevland, Stoor, Etuhu.
I hadn’t heard about Zamora’s injury until just now so it is a bit of surprise to see him missing out. I guess it’s a chance for Gera to show us what he can do – if indeed he is playing on the right.
Like the look of Dempsey through the middle behind Johnson. He does deserve his continued place in the starting line-up and I’ve been saying for a while that in the hole is his best position. Remember he played well behind the central striker at West Brom.
COYW!
Hey there,
First time I’ve been on this site and you’ve given me the breaking news that Bobby’s out. Top stuff, I might have to stay around for a chat.
I’m pleased that Zoltan’s back in the side because I think he’s a really good player plus he’s pretty good looking (sorry, some really girly football commentary there!!!). Hope he can produce the goods today. I’ve heard that Delap (the guy with the really long throw) is playing – is that true?
Happy birthday! Let’s hope we can grab the three points on the road this afternoon.
I’m not terribly optimistic though, as we haven’t won away yet this season. Anyone else think that midfield looks a bit lightweight for a physical battle against Stoke?
My typing seems to have deserted me. Obviously my name’s Guy and not Gut 😉
Don’t know if you guys are watching it on a stream somewhere but we’ve started pretty well. Some crisp passing and a lovely ball by Gera. If he carries on like this you might be seeing a bit more of your man, Claire.
Excellent. Good to hear that Gera’s started well.
I’m listening to the game via the official site here:
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2008/December/StokeCoverage.aspx
Thanks for adding the thread guys. Makes it easier for us to follow the game when we’ve got a chance to discuss it with our fellow fans. Looks like people are making use of it already.
Sounds like we are playing well too. Gentleman Jim reckons we could have had two penalties in the first 20 minutes. AJ went down in the box and sounded angry about it and Jim thinks that a handball from Higginbotham in the box was ‘a stonebonking penalty’.
Nice to see so many people hanging out here. I don’t think the site’s ever really been this busy to be honest! I’m sure Nick will be along later to correct me if I’m wrong.
Sounds like Delap’s shoulder went when he wound up to take the first throw in, which could be a slice of luck, although they’ve got a couple of others who can hurl it a long way apparently.
All in all, seems like a decent start from the boys.
Hello Dan,
Listening at home from Northolt. Sounds like a lively game so far and I was surprised that Roy decided to go with what looks like a 4-4-1-1 instead of 4-4-2 with Nevland and Johnson up front. Does this mean he doesn’t rate Nevland? Or perhaps he is just characteristically cautious?
I’m not sure it’s all that simple to be honest Jamie.
Roy obviously rates Nevland pretty highly because we went through a real tug of war to get him back in January. Nick made an interesting point when I met him last month saying that he’d never actually seen Nevland play a full 90 minutes. Perhaps Roy just reckons he makes more of an impact off the bench, even if he doesn’t believe in impact players.
I’m happy for him to try something a little different to try and give Stoke something to think about (and at least Erik’s on the bench to bring on in the second half).
Sounds like the ref’s having a mare. Not popular with either set of fans at the moment.
The game sounds really scrappy, though, guess we have to hope that one moment of quality can come from us.
That’s interesting Dan thanks. Hope Nevland will get a chance to come off the bench in the second half.
Don’t think we’ve created anything of any real note in the first half. Seems like Stoke have had the best chances so maybe Roy will actually go to his substitutes bench in the second half?
Wish Konchesky would stop giving the ball away in stupid areas. Doesn’t do my heart any good.
Half time whistle’s just gone. 0-0. Scrappy and disjointed first half according to the club’s commentary.
Sounds like a terrible game to be honest.
Jim’s just called the referee ‘an absolute clown’. Agree with him and I can see somebody getting so frustrated that someone gets sent off eventually.
Jimmy Bullard upset about not getting a free kick.
If this continues, I wonder how long the highlights reel on MOTD is going to be tonight? I don’t think we’ll be featuring too high on the playlist.
Nearly an hour gone – don’t make the mistake of the past boys and give away a silly goal.
Looks like we’re beginning to have a bit more of the play now.
Pantsil, who was/wasn’t headbutted by Fuller (the replays I’ve seen seem to suggest that our legendary right back went down terribly easy), has headed straight at the keeper from a free-kick and AJ’s just had a shot turned over.
Come on boys let’s keep it going.
Time for a substitution, Roy? Nevland maybe?
Had a decent bit of pressure just now. Good spell of possession too. Had a few inaccurate shots at the moment. Just need a bit of luck in front of goal.
Stoke have made their three changes now.
It’s getting a bit lively over there now, isn’t it? Davies overhit a cross in a good position. Johnson’s shown a lot of heart up there on his own but he’s being fed off scraps at the moment.
10pts for the brilliant username Jimmy Bullard’s Unused Hair Straighteners. Hangeland has been outstanding, both he and Hughes have made massively important clearing headers in the past couple of minutes.
We’re on the attack again now.
Watching on Soccer Saturday. They haven’t devoted an awful lot of time to us today (understandable really given how poor the game sounds) but Alan McInally just described Bullard and Murphy as ‘top class’. Which was nice.
Cheers Dan. Stoke having a little bit of a go at us now. We need to stand firm here now.
Bear the fact that I’ve not watching the game when I’m writing this but listening to the commentary it looks like we’ve not got a way of linking the play between our strong midfield and a rather isolated AJ. But I think the most popular sub would be Nevland – we’ll see if Roy fancies throwing on another forward to win it.
Does seem as though we’re coming under a bit more pressure now.
Nice to hear the Fulham fans singing Hangeland’s name on the commentary.
Looks like Roy’s content enough to stick with the same players on the pitch.
We’ve had a couple of decent breaks as the game draws towards a close but haven’t really created any real chances.
Three minutes of added time. Another 0-0?
Oh, so close from Clint. Think that’s the last chance.
Yep. Full time. 0-0. I’ll take it.
Other scores:
Aston Villa 4-2 Bolton
Liverpool 2-2 Hull
Middlesbrough 1-1 Arsenal
Man City 0-1 Everton
Stoke 0-0 Fulham
Sunderland 4-0 West Brom
Wigan 3-0 Blackburn
Evening kick off:
Tottenham v Man Utd (5.30pm)
Right, I’m off. Thanks for the thread and the conversation Dan. Good stuff – another point to the tally. I’m sure some people will be moaning about us not going for it and the fact that we’ve not managed to beat any of the promoted sides, but I’ll take where we are now.
I think Roy’s done an excellent job and this result shows it. For me, it was the equivalent of giving to places like Sheffield United a couple of years ago. You know it’s going to be a horrible day and they are going to really rough and ready and physical. This was probably a game we would have thrown away last season (or maybe even earlier this season) but we’ve got a really good point.
Now, we’ll have to see if we can pick up some home points in the next couple of games.