Team for Fulham (h)

[Hound]

I'd like to see Danzell chase after Fredericks to try to injure him

[hughsies no.1]

Wouldn't be surprised to see these four players back in the team:

JVDB
Beerens
McCleary
Kelly

So would predict the team will be -

AAH

Gunter
Moore
Blackett
Obita (if fit)

JVDB
Kelly
William

Beerens
Kerm
McCleary

[biff]

Rewatching the extended highlights sober, McShane had an abysmal performance all round. We've been find without him up until now, dont think he'll be a great loss

[Z175]

I think we should bring Beerens and McCleary in if we can. This is the team that got us to 3rd with an incredible home record and I think we should just go for it.

Fulham may have a great away record but I think they're vulnerable at the back. I'm not convinced we can repeat the defensive performance from Saturday without McShane and Obita, but to me Van Den Berg is the most likely to hold his nerve and organise people - his speed shouldn't matter with 3 pacey players alongside him and Evans and Williams deep.

----------------Al Habsi
Gunter, Moore, VDB, Blackett
---Evans (Kelly if fit)-Williams
---------------Swift----------
McCleary---------------Beerens
----------Kermorgant-------------

Leave Grabban and Mendes as options to bring on if Plan A doesn't work, or Ilori to come on if Plan A has worked.....

Alternatively Stam might bring back the formation that beat Fulham 1-0 at home, but I have no idea what that was!

[Bob1871]

Is Oxford still at the club? If so could fill in at CB and push Blackett over if Obita is injured.

Other than that, Kelly for Swift and Mendes for Grabban

[Slater1993]

If Obita is fit:
Al Habsi
Gunter Moore Blackett Obita
Kelly
Williams Swift
McCleary Kermorgant Beerens

If not:
Al Habsi
Ilori Moore VDB
Gunter Blackett
Williams Kelly
McCleary Kermorgant Beerens

[Hound]

If Obita is fit:
Al Habsi
Gunter Moore Blackett Obita
Kelly
Williams Swift
McCleary Kermorgant Beerens

If not:
Al Habsi
Ilori Moore VDB
Gunter Blackett
Williams Kelly
McCleary Kermorgant Beerens

like this, but I think Evans is probably a shoe in for the DM role. Cairney is their star man, and he barely got a kick on Saturday - which I think was largely due to Evans' presence, and Williams all round excellence on the day

[jar95]

if fully fit..

AAH

Gunter
Ilori
Moore
Blackett
Obita

Kelly
Swift
Williams

Yann
McCleary

Jakkola, Oxford, Van den Berg, Evans, Beerens, Mendes, Grabban (subs a mixture of players to bring on if holding, as well as players to chuck on if chasing)

[The Cap]

jar95 wrote: if fully fit..

AAH

Gunter
Ilori
Moore
Blackett
Obita

Kelly
Swift
Williams

Yann
McCleary

Jakkola, Oxford, Van den Berg, Evans, Beerens, Mendes, Grabban (subs a mixture of players to bring on if holding, as well as players to chuck on if chasing)

Good shout mate. Plus, whilst some peeps are saying about Mendes being a bit of a battering ram, he is also an unknown quantity. Could just be the jack in the box that we require

[NewCorkSeth]

----------------------Al-Habsi------------------
------------Moore---JVDB---Ilori------------
Gunter-------------------------------Blackett
-------------Williams------Evans-------------
McCleary----------------------------Beerens
--------------------Kermorgant---------------

Jaakola, Watson, Oxford, Swift, Kelly, Meite, Mendes

If Obita is fit then him in for JVDB and shove Blackett back into the 3 man defense.
Keep it tight and play counter attacking football. Make Kermorgant the target for fast breaking long balls with Williams to rest behind looking for McCleary or Beerens to break down the flank. I presume Fulham will want to play the majority of their football in our half so would be the right time to keep an eye out for McCleary runs.

If it's not working and we need a goal, Kelly, Swift and Mendes on for JVDB(Evans dropping back), Williams and Beerens.

[Huckleberry Hound]

McCleary for Grabban, Kelly for Swift and Beerens for McShane for me - if Obita is fully fit that is.

If he isn't then I think we need to go 5 at the back and try to work out how we fill that LB position. It really is the one spot we can't adequately cover imo

Gunter comes across, and McCleary plays wing-back the other side?

Gunter on his wrong side against Fredericks is not something that feels me with optimism though. It might be what we have to do - else Blackett there again and maybe Joey in a back 5 - but again not really what I'd like to see

Just hoping if it is just a strain it can be patched up with a few painkillers to get Obita through

We proved on Saturday that the way to nullify Fredericks' attacking threat is to force him inside. Obita did an outstanding job at that on Saturday.

I don't have confidence that Blackett is disciplined enough to do the same for 90 minutes, but Gunter is - would also bring Fredericks onto Gunter's stronger foot.

Praying that Obita is fit though. Could be key.

[No Fixed Abode]

Free flags for tonight's game.

[PieEater]

It's a massive loss if Obita isn't fit, I really don't rate Blackett as a LB nor JVB.

We're really screwed in defence without him

[The Informant]

Kelly fit for tonight?

He would be a huge loss

[Hound]

agree on Kelly.

I am concerned we look like we may end up playing a half fit Obita, a half fit McCleary, Joey who has been out for months, Tiago who has not played much recently, an ill Kelly....Looks like being a very warm night as well

we've been a bit unlucky with injuries etc, and I wonder if there might be a couple of surprises in the line up due to that

[NewCorkSeth]

Perhaps he's keeping Kelly out of the spotlight as a major influence for the final or if we don't get there so nobody buys him this summer...

[mheholt]

NEVER play a right back at left back. Recipe for disaster - leave Gunter in his natural position. It will be a blow if Obita isn't fit but we mustn't rejig the whole back line as a result. We will have to trust Blackett at left back and make sure whoever plays left side of midfield helps him out by tracking back.