Fulham (H) Build Up

[Cabrone]

This is going to be a tough one.

 

Fulham will park the bus and look to sting us on the break. With players like Berbatov they have the quality to do it too.

 

The smart money is on a tight win but I wouldn't be atall surprised if Fulham leave with a point.

 

It's games like this that test your credentials, if we are real about top 6 then Fulham need to be beat.

[Sour Mash]

I do love the lazy "Fulham are an old side" post

 

Team that played CP -

 

01 Stekelenburg = 31

27 Riether = 30

15 Richardson = 29

07 Sidwell = 30

04 Senderos = 28

05 Hangeland = 32

10 Ruiz = 28

28 Parker = 33

39 Bent = 29

09 Berbatov = 32

08 Kasami = 21

 

Average age 29.36

That is an old side. Find an older one in the Prem.

[Batman]

would like to think we can cause their defence problems. Hangeland is always injured and senderos is no way good

 

its berbatov and bent that will cause us problems. I guess Kasami is the man of the moment now

[LGTL]

That is an old side. Find an older one in the Prem.

 

Also worth noting that Kasami, at 21, will bring that average age down significantly.

[Professor]

Few goals scored could be due to the 10 outfield players consisting of 6 defenders, leaving only 4 to get the goals in open play. Has paid dividends in getting us into the top 6 but leaving us short on chances in the opponents area. Two top quality strikers but few strikes between them because possession and pressure too often breaks down before we get in range of goal. The two available spots in midfield are crucial, of which one rightly goes to Lallana, leaving one place for Davis/JWP/Rodriguez/Ramires. MP has tried dropping Rickie to have Rodriguez on but its so hard to leave out Davis or JWP that Ramires isn't getting used at all. Fact is, whatever midfield combination is used we are staying strong in defence but not scoring enough goals. Maybe the Fulham game is the one to give Ramires his chance in the Davis/JWP slot to see if a moment of flair can make the difference. Even Fulham have managed to score 4 goals in a game. We should be able to do the same to show we are worthy of being a top 6 side.

[eelpie]

I hope that the only wonder goals will be from us.

 

2-1 Saints

[Y41den]

2-0 Wanyama with a wonder volley and Shaw runing past 3 defenders and side footing it home after beating the keeper...

[saintalan]

From Twitter

 

Soton Solent Uni ‏@solentofficial 7m

Fancy seeing some Premier League action @SouthamptonFC plus a free meal deal this weekend?! http://bitly.com/1bhXeKk* pic.twitter.com/CagQeFrAL0

[Graffito]

For comparison -

 

31 Boruc = 33

02 Clyne = 22

23 Shaw = 18

12 Wanyama = 22

06 Fonte = 29

05 Lovren = 24

20 Lallana = 25

04 Schneiderlin = 23

17 Osvaldo = 27

08 Davis = 28

09 Rodriguez = 24

 

Average age 25.0

 

7 of our team are 25 or under. 6 of their's are 30 or older. Stats eh.

[fez]

We have no known injuries or illness at the moment. I don't want to jinx us but it's amazing how well we'll done so far this season avoiding injuries - best record in the league.

 

They have Briggs out and Ruiz and Hangeland doubtful.

[lickierambert]

I do love the lazy "Fulham are an old side" post

 

Team that played CP -

 

01 Stekelenburg = 31

27 Riether = 30

15 Richardson = 29

07 Sidwell = 30

04 Senderos = 28

05 Hangeland = 32

10 Ruiz = 28

28 Parker = 33

39 Bent = 29

09 Berbatov = 32

08 Kasami = 21

 

Average age 29.36

 

http://http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/premier-league/altersschnitt/wettbewerb_GB1.html

 

Fulham have the five oldest individual sides put out this season, so yes I'd say they were an old side.

[Olallana]

http://http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/premier-league/altersschnitt/wettbewerb_GB1.html

 

Fulham have the five oldest individual sides put out this season, so yes I'd say they were an old side.

 

And look at last year

That they got rid of Schwarzer made their average age go down by almost a year...

The last time Fulham did NOT have the oldest team put out during a PL season was 09-10 when them with the bestest fans put out their team under Avram Grant.

 

It is an old team with and older fashion of style. Does that mean that they will roll over?

Of course not.

 

But it is a game we should win if we want to show that we belong on the upper half and the same can be said of the following two games, anything between 6-9 points out of these three and we´re in it for real.

Edited 24 October, 2013 by Olallana

[Saint Garrett]

Davis possibly injured for the weekend....Lambert in, 2 up front with J-Rod out wide, or Gaston/Guly in?!

[Batman]

Davis possibly injured for the weekend....Lambert in, 2 up front with J-Rod out wide, or Gaston/Guly in?!

 

can only see lambert coming in

[Saint-Armstrong]

Mauricio Pochettino's key comments:

 

 

"The mood here is very calm. The players are very relaxed after a positive result at Old Trafford."

 

"We have a footballing philosophy of defending high up the pitch and taking lots of risks to keep the ball far from our goal."

 

“I’m very proud of the players’ performances. They are the protagonists in this team.” - (when asked about Gary Neville's comments on MP's coaching)

 

"Fulham are a side with very talented players. Their position in the league is not reflective of how they are playing."

 

"We know they will make things tough for us, so we’ll have to work hard to get a positive result from this game."

 

"Statistics are just statistics. They're there at the end of the season as well but they really mean nothing."

 

"One of the main reasons I signed for Southampton was because I realised how well they value their academy system."

 

"I am glad both our ways of doing things have come together so well."

 

"Steven Davis had a slight problem in training. We still need to evaluate how he is doing. We will make a decision tomorrow."

 

"Dejan Lovren is a great defender. He is playing very well, and so is Jose. However, Maya and Jos are also good defenders."

 

"We are glad to have four good central defenders, we will need them all."

 

"I can't really speak about the scenario with Ian Holloway. I can only really express my sympathy."

 

"No one likes to see a colleague get sacked. I send him my best wishes and hope that we meet again and can say hello again."

[Shroppie]

can only see lambert coming in

 

Or JWP?

[Batman]

Or JWP?

 

good point

probably davis and rodriguez out

for lambert and JWP in

[Jack]

good point

probably davis and rodriguez out

for lambert and JWP in

 

That's what I'd like to see. With JWP's set peice ability Lambert will surely have some chances. It's a bit championship but plenty of balls to the back stick if we're struggling to play through them, I don't really rate their back 4.

[Gemmel]

MP comes across as a really decent bloke

[Saint Charlie]

MP comes across as a really decent bloke

 

I thought watching his interview that he is just so in control of everything. No silly phrases or pointless catchphrases. No antagonism of other Managers, pretty much everything he says is spot on.

 

And playing with a proper philosophy. Wouldnt swap him for any other PL Manager.

[mcbendy]

I thought watching his interview that he is just so in control of everything. No silly phrases or pointless catchphrases. No antagonism of other Managers, pretty much everything he says is spot on.

 

And playing with a proper philosophy. Wouldnt swap him for any other PL Manager.

 

this

[ericofarabia]

It's a great tactic having the translator as well - I'm pretty sure he understands most of the questions before they are translated, but it gives him an extra few seconds to formulate his answers, less chance of foot in mouth syndrome - especially at the end of games when things could still be a bit heated!!

[Matthew Le God]

[Dig Dig]

I thought watching his interview that he is just so in control of everything. No silly phrases or pointless catchphrases. No antagonism of other Managers, pretty much everything he says is spot on.

 

And playing with a proper philosophy. Wouldnt swap him for any other PL Manager.

 

You said the same about Adkins pal?

[Olallana]

You said the same about Adkins pal?

 

And we didn´t swap him for some other PL manager

[Saint Charlie]

You said the same about Adkins pal?

 

Probably without the part about silly catchphrases.

[mcbendy]

Probably without the part about silly catchphrases.

 

Fair enough. But we've analysed the Adkin's chapter of the club's history, drawn a blue line under it and moved on...

[Dig Dig]

Probably without the part about silly catchphrases.

 

"We have been working very very hard, the players are on the bus ready for the game, we have a winning mentality which we will take into the game because we are at home and we will have our fanastic fans behind us who we want to send home with smiles on their faces"- Mauricio Pochettino 24/10/13

 

Guess you missed that bit of the presser mate?

[Window Cleaner]

Fair enough. But we've analysed the Adkin's chapter of the club's history, drawn a blue line under it and moved on...

 

as he's no longer in the building.

[OttawaSaint]

 

Sounds a bit like Steve McLaren...

[Batman]

"We have been working very very hard, the players are on the bus ready for the game, we have a winning mentality which we will take into the game because we are at home and we will have our fanastic fans behind us who we want to send home with smiles on their faces"- Mauricio Pochettino 24/10/13

 

Guess you missed that bit of the presser mate?

 

He also mentioned that we are playing in the BARCLAYS premier league

[Toadhall Saint]

would like to think we can cause their defence problems. Hangeland is always injured and senderos is no way good

 

its berbatov and bent that will cause us problems. I guess Kasami is the man of the moment now

 

Just depends if he can be bothered.

[orchardsaint]

Just depends if he can be bothered.

 

why does it depend on if they are bothered or not? i have seen some games where the opponents really try hard, but we are better than then them, and we win. surely, as our manager knows, you can only affect our performances and not wait on what other people do. unless reacting to mistakes, but then again, that is our readiness again.

[Saint Charlie]

From a quick scan of the videos and gallery I couldn't see Osvaldo?

 

Got a nasty kick on his foot last week...

[RonManager]

From a quick scan of the videos and gallery I couldn't see Osvaldo?

 

Got a nasty kick on his foot last week...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrCWvcXGX1U

[egg]

This will be a difficult game. Fulham are no mugs and Berbatov in the hole will be a test for the cb's and Wanyama.

 

I think we'll scrape a 2-1 win. Perhaps Gaston from the bench with a late winner.

[Colinjb]

Fulham will be on the crest of a wave after monday, Jol will have to ensure they are not complacent. I believe that we are in a prime position to utterly savage them, equally we will be in confident mood but still with something to prove after riding our luck a little v Man Utd.

 

Saints 3-0 Fulham.

 

Osvaldo to open the scoring with Wanyama getting one from a set piece. Either Rickie or Gaston will then wrap it up in the closing stages. Wanyama/Lovren/Fonte will keep the Fulham attack quiet

[Saint Charlie]

Atmosphere destined to be rubbish tomorrow.

 

Always is when fans turn up expecting to win. Dangerous match for us.

[Junior Mullet]

This will be a difficult game. Fulham are no mugs and Berbatov in the hole will be a test for the cb's and Wanyama.

 

I think we'll scrape a 2-1 win. Perhaps Gaston from the bench with a late winner.

 

Chill the heck out!! Our CB's and FB's have been immense and we have the best combative deep midfield pairing in the Prem with Wanyama and Morgan.

 

I watched the Fulham Palace game on Monday - Palace were really bad and Fulham really weren't great in large spells. We will get plenty of chances tomorrow and I think we'll take them. I don't expect Fulham to offer much going forward. We won't let them come at us like Palace did.

[Saint Garrett]

Atmosphere destined to be rubbish tomorrow.

 

Always is when fans turn up expecting to win. Dangerous match for us.

 

Although I do agree, hopefully the fact it's an evening game will improve the atmosphere.

[The Cat]

The atmosphere will be buzzing once Ramirez comes off the bench and scores a goal just like this to win us the game.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlL3DavlTWE

[pingwing]

3-1 to us, bent first goal, first attack we won't be 100% switched on and then they will have 90 odd mins of us smashing down the back doors, painting it white on the way out

[Georgie]

From a quick scan of the videos and gallery I couldn't see Osvaldo?

 

Got a nasty kick on his foot last week...

 

Neither could I. Anyone know if he's injured? Surely MP would have said yesterday if he was?

[trousers]

 

Reporter: "Are Southampton a good blueprint because of the young teams they're bringing through"

 

Jol: "Same as us, same as us...they've got a few youngsters but they don't play them all the time"

[hypochondriac]

Reporter: "Are Southampton a good blueprint because of the young teams they're bringing through"

 

Jol: "Same as us, same as us...they've got a few youngsters but they don't play them all the time"

 

Other than that comment was very knowledgeable about us. I think he is an excellent manager and an interesting man.

[Gemmel]

Reporter: "Are Southampton a good blueprint because of the young teams they're bringing through"

 

Jol: "Same as us, same as us...they've got a few youngsters but they don't play them all the time"

 

He certainly knows his stuff about us.

[jasonb]

Reporter: "Are Southampton a good blueprint because of the young teams they're bringing through"

 

Jol: "Same as us, same as us...they've got a few youngsters but they don't play them all the time"

 

Yeah apart from that odd comment about us not playing our youth all the time he seems very clued up (as you would expect him to be). They will try and go wide with Kasami on the left (as Jol alluded to in that interview). Clyne will have a busy day and as mentioned previously Wanyama and Schneiderlin will have to crush Berbatov into the ground and keep him quiet.

 

I see this as a tight game with them trying to counter us and us huffing and puffing up front with no space to play. Pace will be key to both teams. An early goal for us would set things up nicely.

 

I'm going with a very close 2-0 with the score flattering us by way of a late goal to wrap up the points. However, I would not be at all surprised with a score draw either.

[Batman]

Yeah apart from that odd comment about us not playing our youth all the time he seems very clued up (as you would expect him to be). They will try and go wide with Kasami on the left (as Jol alluded to in that interview). Clyne will have a busy day and as mentioned previously Wanyama and Schneiderlin will have to crush Berbatov into the ground and keep him quiet.

 

I see this as a tight game with them trying to counter us and us huffing and puffing up front with no space to play. Pace will be key to both teams. An early goal for us would set things up nicely.

 

I'm going with a very close 2-0 with the score flattering us by way of a late goal to wrap up the points. However, I would not be at all surprised with a score draw either.

 

but we dont though, do we

[The9]

but we dont though, do we

 

Quite, Jol knows what he's talking about. Shaw plays most of the time and seems to be remarkably susceptible to undetectable absences on a single game basis, and JWP plays every so often but is by no means a regular starter.

 

Lallana and Schnederlin are not kids any more, Clyne came to the club as a fully-formed full-back and is now 22, and Chambers hasn't played much since Clyne was fit. The other kids get a league cup game if they're lucky.

 

We don't play our youth all the time, Jol is spot on.

[trousers]

Quite, Jol knows what he's talking about. Shaw plays most of the time and seems to be remarkably susceptible to undetectable absences on a single game basis, and JWP plays every so often but is by no means a regular starter.

 

Lallana and Schnederlin are not kids any more, Clyne came to the club as a fully-formed full-back and is now 22, and Chambers hasn't played much since Clyne was fit. The other kids get a league cup game if they're lucky.

 

We don't play our youth all the time, Jol is spot on.

 

Fair enough, but how come there's no media love-in with Fulham's youth policy (as there constantly is with ours) if, as Jol says, they are "the same as us" is this regard? Perception over reality I suppose.