the club website is terrible when it comes to injuries god alone knows why.
As far as i'm aware Stockdale is still injured, but thats based on the news before the international break. I imagine Schwarzer will start. I don't know how accurate the report on what Scharzer is supposed to have said is. A) its from the mirror who often seem to just make BS up. B) i haven't seen any actual quotes from Schwarzer which are unprofesional. C) it just seems completly out of character.

I agree it would probably have been best if we could have let him go but Arsenal didn't change their offer until late in the window and then we couldn't land a good enough replacement, if we'd sold him anyway we'd be putting an untried academy boy in against Wolves or rushing stockdale back prematurely.
posted by fortressfulham (Guest) - Wednesday 08th September 2010, 5:09 PM

Wolf in Peace here guys!

What are your opinions on this weekends match?

I'm predicting a 1-1 draw, a goal in either half from each side, fulham scoring first!
posted by DerbyWolf (Guest) - Monday 06th September 2010, 2:06 PM Would be a great result for you if you do go away with a 1-1. I predict a 2-0 or 3-1 Fulham win.
posted by Fulhamweb - Monday 06th September 2010, 2:19 PM Think this will be tougher than a lot of Fulham fans think.

Would hope for a narrow Fulham win, but wouldnt be surprised if it is another draw
posted by Paul (Guest) - Monday 06th September 2010, 2:23 PM Thanks for your thoughts guys.

Paul, I'm glad you see that this will be a tough game. One thing about Wolves under McCarthy is that we won't just turn up for the other teams to have 11 to play against. We make things hard for other teams especially decent sides like Fulham.

I get sick of reading clubs forums for teams like Wigan, Bolton and even Newcastle who think that because they've been in the Premier league a few years they will just Automatically wipe the floor with teams who have been promoted/are in their second season.

Shame we only took the smaller allocation this weekend which means i missed out on my ticket =[
posted by DerbyWolf (Guest) - Monday 06th September 2010, 2:41 PM think it will be a tough game but cant see anything but a fulham win! last season when played you at home we had bigger fish to fry with europe! wolves are a good side but at home fulham are somthing special!
posted by cbffc (Guest) - Monday 06th September 2010, 5:38 PM i think it will definitly be a tough game. Wolves are very well organised team and we'll have to perform well and be patient to break them down. I still see a Fulham win, Dembele might well be the difference between Wolves holding us or us winning.
posted by fortressfulham (Guest) - Monday 06th September 2010, 8:45 PM CBFFC -I look forward to one day having your confidence in my teams home form!

I'm one of the few realistic Wolves fans you will find in the world. A lot of them are still clinging on to our "We'm a big club ya know" banner, and truth is, nowadays, we are small fry compared to some teams.

A point at the Cottage on Saturday would be another excellent result for us, but the fixtures start to get even more difficult for us after you lot with Spurs away and Villa at home, followed by Wigan away next. Never an easy day in the Premier league!

If we can take another 5 points from our next 4 games, i'll be happy enough. Some Wolves fans seem to think mid Table is a realistic aim for us this year. Personally, i think thats OPTIMISTIC. If you offered me 17th place now, I'd pull your arm off!


posted by DerbyWolf (Guest) - Tuesday 07th September 2010, 10:26 AM

Sadly there are only 11 places so someone has to miss out. And the point about Paintsil wasn't that he was no good, far from it, but that his body language suggests he may not be as favoured by the current manager as he was by Woy. I am sure he will be working very hard to change that and retain his place. But new managers have their own favourites and from what I have seen both Paintsil and Murphy have looked a little off colour.
posted by Hints (Guest) - Thursday 02nd September 2010, 10:07 PM Dempsey's played best for us recently on the left of midfield, Davies and Duff are perhaps ahead of him at the moment but he'll be rotated in and makes a good impact sub.
Gera has played brilliantly behind Zamora, Dembele has also looked good there but i here he's versatile so he mighe move to different places in midfield and Gera come in.

We had to sign Greening there was no way out of it. Perhaps if we all utter a brief pray before each match Greening will learn to pass forward.
posted by fortressfulham (Guest) - Saturday 04th September 2010, 9:22 AM

well it's too early to say that, it was unfortunate to have an own goal against Blackpool.....
posted by Revy (Guest) - Thursday 02nd September 2010, 7:58 PM

I agree - He has been great so far!
posted by JB (Guest) - Friday 03rd September 2010, 1:22 PM

I completly agree with you Hints. I was very excited about the possibility of Gudjohnson or Santa Cruz, especially Gudjohnson. It seems Fulham did not do a thing. Signing to average defenders, who won't make a difference. I wasn't to sad to see Konchesky go. He has an incredible left foot, but makes the most fundimental errors. Fulham needs another option at striker, although Dembele does look good. Hopefully A. Johnson can come back sooner than later to provide a speedy striker.
posted by caliyank (Guest) - Wednesday 01st September 2010, 1:10 AM i agrere with both of you about Konchesky, when he's playing well he can liven up a game but those moments are fleeting and ultimatily you end up viewing his failings more consistently than anything else. I suspect he'll start well with Liverpool but be found out towards the tail end of the season.

Quite happy with the window when put in perspective. Santa Cruz seems to be an injury liability and if we're going for an additional forward we can't take that risk.

I would have gone for Gudjonsen until i heard how much we were supposedly to make up for in his wage demands as part of the loan deal. It was just excessive and would have almost certainly unsettled other players.

If AJ can get fully fit he'll be perfectly to make a big impact on his return.
We also have Kamara, injured in preseason, and although i think he's too inconsistent to be a top forward in the Premiership if he returns he'll be more than capable of backing up forward line.

Dembele looks to be an exiting signing. We've got a solid back up for our starting centre-backs. Replaced Konch and looked to have made money and land two youngsters from Liverpool. My only gripe would be Murphy could do with a player to step in and replace him when he's feeling jaded. That said Hughed looks like he intends to keep pushing Etuhu further forward so perhaps we'll see a different dynamic in midfield which wont make rotating Murphy an issue.

I'd have taken this squad over last years and the one before that, as long as our new players bed in well we'll be fine and we have a large transfer budget for January when Hughes knows the squad better and other targets will be available.


posted by fortressfulham (Guest) - Wednesday 01st September 2010, 9:38 AM Fair points but I'm a little unsettled about Murphy's role this year. It seems he has been asked to hold back a little which sort of makes him the defensive midfielder in front of the back four. I'm not sure he is up to this at his age and with Etuhu getting forward more we could be a bit vulnerable. I think Hughes thinks Greening is a like for like replacement but I'm not convinced he is up to the creative role DM has had up to now. I like us up front. I think we have a lot of options and variations and will score more goals than last year. I like us at the back, and Mark Schwarzer is a true professional and will always give his best. It is in the midfield where I think we are a tad underdone. We'll see how it pans out. New managers come in and develop their favourites, and from what I have seen so far (and it's only from the TV and only two games) I get a sense that Murphy and Pantsil are a little on the outer, as indeed Gera might be as well. Don't crucify me they are all guesses and say nothing about their ability, it's just a gut feel.
posted by Hints (Guest) - Wednesday 01st September 2010, 10:23 AM Lauri dalla valle would grow into a good player for a club like us, I am gutted for not sigining Gudjohnsen, what is he doing going to a rugby club lie stoke anyways....santa cruz I am not too disappointed, we don't need another injury prone on our wage list. Look carefully, our strike force is more than enough, I am more worried about the fact that we have not enough defence cover, a team need at least 4 CBs and 2 sets of wingbacks....
posted by Revy (Guest) - Thursday 02nd September 2010, 7:56 PM

I agree with Duff, I have thought that for a while, but cannot agree about Davies who was in volved in everything good. Dembele looked sharp and had good control and will make a good foil for Zamora.
It is interesting that a team whose recent success was built on a solid defence has started the season gifting goals to the opposition. Pantsil had a shocker this week and is perhaps a reflection that he knows he is not Hughes first choice. When Salcido gets in the team I suspect Kelly, who was very good today apart from his final ball, with his wrong foot, will move into right back. I also get the sense that Murphy is on the outer and being used very differently, asked to stay deeper while Etuhu is being encouraged to get forward more, to good effect. Not only with his goal against Blackpool (great ball from Dembele) but also against Man Utd when he should have scored but a fingertip save from VDS denied him.
As someone else pointed out, Hughes has instilled a more fluid game in the final third, I have never seen so may Fulham shirts in the opposition half/box, something that has been missing for a while but if it is at the cost of more goals agianst it will be an interesting season.
I thought we looked good for the draw, we looked likely to score several times but gave away possession in the middle and in front of the CBs too often. That wouldn't have happened under Woy because everyone knew exactly where they had to be at any given time. Hughes look as though he is giving players more freedom and they haven't worked it out quite yet.
posted by Hints (Guest) - Sunday 29th August 2010, 12:15 AM I think Duff looked good against ManU when he was switched over to the right but looked largely ineffectual on the left. Davies still has alot to offer. Gera has looked best for us playing just behind Zamora, but hasnt had the same impact on the wings.Dempsey is a good player and i think if in a roation which allows Davies and Duff to stay fresh he'll have a good season. Dembele is looking like an exiting player, great ball against Blackpool. Murphy is getting older and i don't think he can play 38 games a season, bring in some youth so that he can be rested when needed and every time he plays we get the influential Murphy which has made him the captain.

Don't agree with you Hints about Paintsil. I think he will remain our number 1 right back, Kelly is a good backup for that posistion but gets found out too often when starting for more than two games in a row. Perhaps the problem is he's being asked to get further forward to support the attacks more and hasn't adjusted yet, with time he'll either adapt or the team will change style to accomodate him. Definitly one of our best players in last couple of seasons.

posted by WeWonItOneTime (Guest) - Sunday 29th August 2010, 2:32 PM Good posts. Have to agree that Dembele looks very sharp and a promising candidate for a few goals this season. As for Kelly replacing Paintsil, I can't see it myself. Kelly's not the best at back tracking and that was how Balckburn got their first goal yesterday. Paintsil will bounce back with a vengeance.
Any suggestion that Davies or Duff are looking 'past it' is laughable! As I said before, Hughes has injected a new level of fluidity into our play encouraging Davies and Etuhu forward. They'll score 5 or more goals each this season. I think we need to buy one more striker- a six yard tap in merchant would be ideal!

posted by scrawnee (Guest) - Sunday 29th August 2010, 9:19 PM I agree both Gera and Dempsey should start, but with Gera behind Zamora and Dempsey in for either Duff or Davies. Duff has been completely absent from a maority of the three matches. Davies has been alright, but he is going knowhere because he is Welsh, so you can forget about Hughes replacing him. I think having Dembele, who I am impressed with minus his first touch, or Gera behind Zamora will work out. Just substitute one for the other, depending on the oponent.








posted by caliyank (Guest) - Wednesday 01st September 2010, 1:18 AM

yeah u16's, but i dont think they'll have him
posted by FFC DDB (Guest) - Saturday 28th August 2010, 10:55 AM that man is an orange lunatic, what attributes would he bring to any role in the natonal setup. Saying that as shocking as he was sometimes he did a good job at Hull, they werent good enough to make it out of the Championship but somehow managed it, werent good enough to stay up first year but had a great start and only dropped off, massive drop that it was, when Boatang got injured. Second year i still think he should either have been sacked at christmas or left in charge, if he hadnt gone when he did Hull could still be in the Premiership and WestHam could be in the Championship.
posted by WeWonItOneTime (Guest) - Saturday 28th August 2010, 11:28 AM "what attributes would he bring to any role in the natonal setup?
He thinks he can sing. Would that help...?
posted by Hints (Guest) - Sunday 29th August 2010, 12:17 AM Cheers Hints ;)
posted by WeWonItOneTime (Guest) - Sunday 29th August 2010, 2:21 PM

sod off you only hate him cos he.s gay
posted by nora (Guest) - Friday 27th August 2010, 3:21 PM least it sounds like he'll cock up in a more interesting way than Konchesky. Every time Konch has the ball in our corner with an attacker pressuring him i'm waiting for him to clear the ball right into the middle of the pitch to an opposing player. Shame we didn't move for Shorey
posted by fortressfulham (Guest) - Friday 27th August 2010, 4:41 PM

Well we have to have "Sparky Hughes Black and white army"! Or if we want to get the perfect rhythm then "Leslie Mark Hughes black and white army", but I am not sure he likes his full name too much!
posted by scrawnee (Guest) - Friday 27th August 2010, 5:32 PM Sky News has it Schwarzer is staying with Fulham...

Nothing confirming Konch has gone yet though...

any news???
posted by FFC FAITHFUL (Guest) - Tuesday 31st August 2010, 2:37 PM

he did play Briggs though and maybe he intends to play others in later ties. Having just one youngster start with a full team around him has probably more impact on that player and develops him further than putting in two or three together.

Also Marsh-Brown is a defender and having two acadamy boys in the backline together would have been pretty dangerous. Do you remember what happened when Coleman player two youngsters at RB and RM, we got torn apart down that side until he subbeed one of them.
posted by fortressfulham (Guest) - Friday 27th August 2010, 4:38 PM Wow Variappli, you must have had some time on your hands to press that thumbs up button over 150 times!!
posted by scrawnee (Guest) - Friday 27th August 2010, 5:25 PM Completely agree with you Fortressfulham. When you look back at things logically putting them in 1 at a time is a better option for the team and the player.

And the bloodly keyboard got stuck....Imbarassing ah...
posted by variappli - Monday 30th August 2010, 10:57 AM

Aren't all the same!
Note you didn't mention who your manager is or team you support.
Is that cause he has some skeletons in his closet too?
posted by GUEST (Guest) - Thursday 26th August 2010, 1:01 PM i support everton mate always have and always will .and no ,there are no skeletons in our closet.
posted by bernie murray .mugsy1949@live.com (Guest) - Thursday 26th August 2010, 1:40 PM Yeah you are right... there aren't any skeletons in your closet... your performance enhancing drug taking that once made you champions was well and truly busted out in the open by the papers! Toffees? More like speed addicts!!
posted by scrawnee (Guest) - Friday 27th August 2010, 1:02 PM

You are having a laugh!! The exact opposite is the case with Schwarzer. Hughes can't stop him from leaving if the board decide that Arsenal have offered enough cash!
As for Konch, he may be good, but he is far from irreplaceable. Look at his performance stat indicators from last season and you'll see.
Gera going would be a kick in the teeth, but any move he would be offered would almost certainly be a sideways one. I doubt he would take it and I don't think Hughes would offload him. Rumours from the media exist by and large to sell papers. When you hear the rumour on Sky or BBC then it may have some credibility. If you read it in the paper, it's almost certainly journo trash.
posted by scrawnee (Guest) - Thursday 26th August 2010, 12:10 PM

who will replace him?we will need to spend all of his transfer fee to get a replacement who will probably be inferior. the club hierarchy are to blame for not renewing players contracts untill the last minute.we could have hung on to shorey but its too late now.
posted by 12345 (Guest) - Wednesday 25th August 2010, 4:54 PM

iniesta
messi
khadera

posted by jimjim (Guest) - Wednesday 25th August 2010, 6:38 PM Balazy Dzsudzsak from psv
posted by 420 (Guest) - Thursday 26th August 2010, 2:41 PM

Cracking match, always good to score 3 out of 4 goals in a game vs Man U!

They have to replace that kit though, we're entering the rainy season and the wet tshirt contest look isn't a good one. Im holding off buying a shirt for now.
posted by Rohan (Guest) - Tuesday 24th August 2010, 10:16 AM the shirts are terrible but if that proves to be our biggest gripe this season i'll be delighted.

Great game against united, anyone who left when they were awarded that penalty is probably kicking themselves and rightly so.

Stockdale's two performances have been terrific, couldn't have done anything about the two goals in my opinion. If Schwarzer goes i'd still like us to bring in a regular number 1 goalkeeper, otherwise the pressure might get to him, but i'd make it clear to whoever it was that he'd be directly keeping with Stockdale for a starting place

Dembele lookeed very promising, we haven't really had that kind of exiting fast player since Boa left.

I think i'd have settled for 2 points from the first 2 game considering the disruption in the squad which must have existed before we appointed Hughes
posted by fortressfulham (Guest) - Tuesday 24th August 2010, 12:35 PM

alot of action in the transfer window happens last minute, for instance if we were interested in Given we'd have to wait until Schwarz to Arsenal was a done deal. I'm sure Hughes is looking to stregthen and if he can wil. we've been linked with some good players but there are at least four or five clubs interested in strengthening the same areas as us
Can't see Okaka back, he didnt really make the most of his time with us under Hodgson so why would Hughes go for him?
posted by fortressfulham (Guest) - Tuesday 17th August 2010, 3:54 PM Can you post this again tomorrow, it would be nice to have another new signing by the end of the week ;)
posted by J (Guest) - Wednesday 18th August 2010, 4:26 PM

cash in a schwarzer?????

1 schwarzer is nearly 40 with 1 year on his contract there is not much money to be had out of him as nobody is willing to pay alot for him.

Arsenal have a significant transfer budghet and still not willing to up a £2 million bid.

Stockdale is a very promising young goalkeeper but would not take over permanently if schwarzer did go.

I have to be honest in that although he has had a good couple seasons with us i have no feelings either way if he goes because i don't think it would be too hard to find a keeper of equal quality.


posted by tot (Guest) - Friday 13th August 2010, 4:17 PM stockdale had a great game and deserves a run as no 1.although mark has been a great keeper i think he has lost the edge in the last year it only takes a half second of reflex time and that has gone.get a new keeper of course but as backup to stockdale. by the way ! why does no one even consider mr zuberbuhler as a starter?
posted by jimjim (Guest) - Saturday 14th August 2010, 11:18 PM zuberbuhler isnt considered a starter because he isn't good enough to play in the premiership on a regular basis. We have him because he is good when called on for one or two games in an emergency and cheap. Same situation as Denzil a few years back
posted by WeWonItOneTime (Guest) - Monday 16th August 2010, 12:49 PM what about shay given
posted by james williams (Guest) - Monday 16th August 2010, 5:53 PM

i agree,rh had promised not to pillage our club for the scousers.so far its only rumours but they are all mercenries in football and i wouldnt trust anyone.the only people in football who love the club are the people going through the turnstile
posted by norman jones (Guest) - Saturday 14th August 2010, 11:27 PM Al Fayed opened his big mouth and criticised Hodgson. They had a gentleman's agreement that Hodgson wouldn't poach Fulham players. Al Fayed hasn't behaved like a gentleman so Hodgson won't keep his side of the agreement, hence the interest in Konch (and watch next January's poach for Brede).

Hodgson has been our most successful manager. If he gets sacked from Liverpool(he'll be one of the bookies favourites for first sacking), and Hughes doesn't work out, we could have had Hodgson back, but Al Fayed has behaved like a spoilt child and burnt that bridge.
posted by scrawnee (Guest) - Thursday 26th August 2010, 12:21 PM

43.5 implies we will do enough to stay in the EPL comfortably as 40 is regarded as the saftey point (although this is not always the case WH went down on 42 while 34 has been sufficient to stay up as well). I guess the question to be asked is what is your risk/ reward? If you buy 43.5 what is you upside? Last season we finished with 50 points despite being in 3 competitions and tailing off towards the end but remember, the season before we finished 7th ( our best ever) and still only got 53. I think thats about the best you could expect. In the 9 nine season we have been in the EPL Fulham have ended up with an average points tally of 45.5 for a position of 12.5. Against this is the 10 year average of the EPL where 12 position has acheived an average of 46.5.
I guess it comes down to whether you think this an above average Fulham team or if you think we could stuggle.
Personally I think it's probably not a bad buy but I wouldn't be expecting too much out of it, perhaps 5 points 48/49 at the most, I don't see us challenging for Champion League spots this season, but I also don't expect us to in the relegation battle either so you downside should be limited to about the same 5 points 37/38. J
Just remember, bookies rarely get it wrong, that's why they are so rich.
Hope it helps, good luck!
posted by Hints (Guest) - Friday 13th August 2010, 11:24 PM