Fulham 22-11-08 home - build-up

[Tee]

Right, internationals over I hope we have been ok with players returning injury free from the midweek games.

A win against Fulham is a must if we want to keep up the pressure on Chelsea and retain our gap over the others.

I expect Gerrard will miss the game so I would go for the following line-up:

Reina, Arbeloa, Carra, Agger, Aurelio, Mascher, Xabi, Kuyt, Riera, Keane and Torres.

I am assuming Arbeloa is back from suspension and that Aurelio is fit again.

Fulham have been very indifferent and can cause us some problems but I fully expect 3 points out of this one.

[The Birdman]

3 points quite comfortably I would hope given our recent form.
Gerrard and Keane will both play after recovering from their 'injuries' Torres up top to get a hat trick after scoring twice for Spain last night.

[Craig_H]

I'd be surprised if Gerrard is out.

Either way, we MUST win. Fulham are doing alright, but most of their points have come at home. They've not won away and only managed one draw, with four defeats. We have to make it 5 defeats. With Man Utd facing a hard away game against Villa, and Chelsea playing at Arsenal next weeked, we have to take 6 points out of Fulham and West Ham at anfield.

[bobbyfallon]

I'd be surprised if Gerrard is out.

Either way, we MUST win. Fulham are doing alright, but most of their points have come at home. They've not won away and only managed one draw, with four defeats. We have to make it 5 defeats. With Man Utd facing a hard away game against Villa, and Chelsea playing at Arsenal next weeked, we have to take 6 points out of Fulham and West Ham at anfield.

and we should too in all fairness - torres scored kuyt scored their confidence must be sky high. lets hope we thump them saturday

[Parm]

we got to win and must put in a big win. The GD with Chelski is rather worrying and we need to take more of our chances. Last week was pretty poor in wasted chances, ok we won, but should have won by more.

[Tee]

we got to win and must put in a big win. The GD with Chelski is rather worrying and we need to take more of our chances. Last week was pretty poor in wasted chances, ok we won, but should have won by more.

Very good point - considering how the league is shaping up goal differnce could be important this season.

As mentioned on another thread, someone is going to get it really bad when we start taking more of our chances.

Maybe it is time to give a hungry young reserve striker a chance in the games we are winning comfortably. Get them on for the last 10 or 20 minutes and see if we can add more goals.

[Parm]

Very good point - considering how the league is shaping up goal differnce could be important this season.

As mentioned on another thread, someone is going to get it really bad when we start taking more of our chances.

Maybe it is time to give a hungry young reserve striker a chance in the games we are winning comfortably. Get them on for the last 10 or 20 minutes and see if we can add more goals.

but Nemeth is injured and N'gog leaves a lot to be desired. In the circumstances, I'd rather he let Keane play the whole 90 mins, at least it would give him a bit of a boost.

[Reece]

Plus we haven't exactly had many games this season where we have been in a position which you could describe as "winning comfortably"

[cled the red]

I'd be surprised if Gerrard is out.

Either way, we MUST win. Fulham are doing alright, but most of their points have come at home. They've not won away and only managed one draw, with four defeats. We have to make it 5 defeats. With Man Utd facing a hard away game against Villa, and Chelsea playing at Arsenal next weeked, we have to take 6 points out of Fulham and West Ham at anfield.

don't think he'll play.

[Craig_H]

and we should too in all fairness - torres scored kuyt scored their confidence must be sky high. lets hope we thump them saturday

Yeah this is true, but if Fulham are organised and defend well, we might find it hard to score and the confidence wont be so high if we reach the hour mark at 0-0. The fans will be getting anxious too.

[Craig_H]

Very good point - considering how the league is shaping up goal differnce could be important this season.

As mentioned on another thread, someone is going to get it really bad when we start taking more of our chances.

Maybe it is time to give a hungry young reserve striker a chance in the games we are winning comfortably. Get them on for the last 10 or 20 minutes and see if we can add more goals.

I dont think it'll go to goal difference. If we're in the situation where all we lost out on was GD, that'd be both amazing and devestating.

[bobbyfallon]

Yeah this is true, but if Fulham are organised and defend well, we might find it hard to score and the confidence wont be so high if we reach the hour mark at 0-0. The fans will be getting anxious too.

torres only needs a sniff though and if we can get one early on the flood doors could open and god knows what score we could run up a big score.

if we win 17-0 and chelsea only win by one we go top

[Tee]

torres only needs a sniff though and if we can get one early on the flood doors could open and god knows what score we could run up a big score.

if we win 17-0 and chelsea only win by one we go top

ees a possibiliteee no?

[Tee]

My concern is that Fulham wil have all their players behind the ball and we become frustrated at not being able to get through. Fingers crossed an early goal will force them out to play and the floodgates could open as you said boobyfallon.

[bobbyfallon]

My concern is that Fulham wil have all their players behind the ball and we become frustrated at not being able to get through. Fingers crossed an early goal will force them out to play and the floodgates could open as you said boobyfallon.

you startin