Pining For Putney!
Oct 6th, 2018 by 'holic
I’m jealous, I don’t mind admitting it. The first thing I did when Fulham won promotion back in May was to text a mate pleading for a ticket to Craven Cottage, simply the best away-day there is. Sadly I won’t be able to make it. Those of you who can, have an absolute blast.
I suppose that will largely be decided by whether or not we can notch up consecutive win number nine in all competitions. Fulham have not started the season as many expected having spent £100m on new players in the summer. Had Newcastle held on to win at Old Trafford this evening the West London club would have dropped into the relegation places. It’s early days and I’m sure they will start getting results soon. After the coming international break would be ideal!
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan return to the squad after missing the plane to Baku in the week. It seems likely that Unai Emery has worked out his preferred starting eleven in recent weeks. Bernd Leno will keep his place in goal in the absence of Petr Cech. The most interesting selection poser for the manager is Rob Holding or Skhodran Mustafi to partner Sokratis Papastathopoulos between Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal.
Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira will probably start behind Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, and Aubameyang. If Rambo’s wife goes into labour then Mkhitaryan will be his likely replacement. Alexandre Lacazette should play up top. Much has been made of the fact we are still trying to get that attacking midfield functioning efficiently, but eight wins on the bounce says we are doing something right.
Fulham have lost both full-backs to injury from last week’s 3-0 defeat at Everton but the experienced Mawson may be fit to return to the defence. Their main threat will be the former Anderlecht and Newcastle striker, Mitrović, a prolific Fantasy League pick this season. Their one victory in the League was 4-2 at home to Burnley. They also drew with Watford and at Brighton.
The ‘holic pound
One week, hopefully soon, we will click for ninety minutes and someone will take a serious beating. I’m not sure that will be at the Cottage. London derbies can be tense, close affairs. I’m on the favourite, 2-1 to The Arsenal, which can be found at 17/2 if you shop around.
That’s it for this evening. If you are going do treat yourself to a pint or two in the Bricklayers Arms in Putney after the early kick-off. That is the part of the day I will miss most. Good ale in a proper old pub.
Have a great one, ‘holics.
51 Responses to “Pining For Putney!”
Thanks Holic but I’m saying 3-0 to the good guys.
UTA
Evening H
Hope Mrs H is in early recovery mode and due back into full training about the same time as AMN is for the Arse,and hopefully not the same time as LK. !!
Fulham have been leaking goals like a sieve so far this season,so cannot see us not scoring at least a couple,which should be enough to see us back across the river with the 3 pts.
Strange times in Europe,with Real Madrid losing again,and Bayern humiliated at home losing 3 nil.
Both Clubs with new managers, who so far don’t seem to be up to the task of managing all the big player egos,and that seems to be an ever more important part of the job these days.
Cheers Noosa.
You are welcome back at any time cba. I would love to know what drives you.
Hello Clive, great to see you here.
Good ale in a proper old pub. I’m all for it.
Best for fast recovery for the management, and for the ‘holic pound to reap rewards, despite the nervousness such a final score suggests will be our fate along the way.
Holic,
I did exactly the same when Fulham’s promotion was confirmed and my mate obliged with three tickets. The last game we played there was on a day like today has been. Zelalem was on the bench, Santi ran the game and Podolski got two. The following week we signed Mesut Ozil.
It’s nice to have them back. Sessegnon, Seri and Mitrovic will trouble us but I take us to prevail 3-1 . I do hope he realises Ozil and Ramsey can’t play in this system and uses Iwobi on the wing
Thanks Guvnor for the preview.
I’d fancy us to win well today but
after the midweek trip to Azer any
win will do.
I wonder if Calum will play – we
should know all about his weaknesses.
Hopefully, Auba will be more in the
game this time, they don’t have the
best defence and he and Laca might
fill their boots with a bit of luck.
I’d drop Aaron too but I don’t
think UE will. I’d drop Mus too.
But on the back of 5 PL wins in
a row I can understand UE not
wanting to change much.
Not sure why we’d sign Almiron
in January – could it be a sign
we’re confident we can unload
Ramsey?
If not Almiron will simply be a
3rd or 4th choice option at No 10.
I’ve never watched but anyone
out there know the standard in
MLS?
Personally, I’d rather have a CB
in January.
Hate noon kick offs as we don’t play well so early. Three pm or later start would be ideal. Looking forward to this one and the one against Leicester and we will really find out where we stand after we play Liverpool and Wolves in early November. Watford (already played once), Wolves and Bournemouth are the three teams outside the top six who could pose real problems for us and our results against them and the other top five teams would decide whether we finish top four or not.
Fine preview Guvna. I recall you saying previously that Craven Cottage is an excellent day out. I’ve never had the opportunity to watch us there but the setting of that ground on the riverbank looks quite delightful and I have a lot of respect for the club of Johnny Haynes.
I hope it proves an excellent day out for the players we field today and that they can tear themselves away from the delights of the Bricklayer’s Arms in time for kick off!
COYG
A few surprises in the line up
today. Hope it works.
Ozil obviously not fancying the arduous coach journey across London. 🙂
I’m at the Cottage but Özil is not with me! Do we know why?
Ozil is injured.
Auba, Sokratis and Ramsey
benched.
I just realized Calum can’t play
for Fulham. I’d forgotten that rule.
I hope Iwobi can continue his
return to form and Laca has his
shooting boots on this week
COYGs!!
Let’s Rock!
COYG!
Mesut is in his cups in the corner of the Bricklayer’s Arms lounge bar.
Mesut has back spasms actually.
Ozil out with back spasms according to BT Sport
Ozil fancied an extra week off, so he went for the back spasm option rather than the heavy cold. He’s pushed the illness routine a bit too much so he’s picked the “I will be fit for the next game” injury option this time.
Back spasms are bastards though, in all seriousness, so if he does have one, he has my sympathy.
Where the hell did we get that
kit?
Back to the giving away early chances
routine.
sitting in john bull pub in cascais watching this. we might’ve found a keeper in leno. not convinced in any way how we started today, though.
But Mus did well there
shortened because of retyping, for today.
xhaka needs too much time to turn. terrible dispossession, repeat offender.
dunno what iwobi is having for breakfast lately but he is sharp.
there we go, great move.
Get in Laca!!
sixpence turn
Where the hell did we get that kit?
And why is Leno being allowed to wear one that is so similar to the outfielders?
Decent goal by Laca.
what the hell is nacho doing there? fuck.
Sloppy by Nacho
Hopefully we can produce a
better 2nd half again
Watching at a pub in Oxford. I’m off the beer right now, so drinking red wine. It feels all wrong
After Laca’s opener I’ll win £40 on my 50p stake if we win 4-1. There’s the silver lining to the equalizer.
in the black stuff here, gsd. i hope your stake pays off!
on the way, gsd, from nothing. laca!
Nice start to the 2nd half
🙂
hope we kick on. Torreira has
been good today
inspired subbing!!!
holy crap, aaron!
Fuck a duck what a goal ???????
come on, gsd!
gsdddddd!!
GSD! Hope it stays 4-1. Nice turn and shot by Auba.
That goal, if it stays this way, puts us above Middlesex.
Dino pound still on!
@41
I was just thinking that happy thought
C100 🙂
Our best performance this season?
Good pressing by us today, everyone is putting in a shift; Torreira especially who has run himself into the ground but still smiling.
Sorry, GSD. Auba makes it 5-1.
sorry, gsd, but i’ll take 5-1. wow.
Fulham are too open and the result is not surprising. Can’t give someone like Auba so much time and space to shoot.
Never gonna complain about a 5th Arsenal goal. I reckon Auba owes me £40 though!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Arsenal not switched off after going ahead by more than two goals? How revolutionary.
OM@21: https://arsenaldirect.arsenal.com/Football-Shirts-and-Kit/Away/c/away-kit
Fulham were poor, especially in the second half, but everyone in the red-and-blue-heather-marl-fleck shorts put in a shift. Special mention for Torriera and Mustaphi, who Emery is starting to make look like an international centre half. And for Laca and Auba. Shows what a difference having top-class strikers makes.