Jerseybean Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 Good day ‘long-suffering fans’ (as NP termed us this week) everywhere, Fulham this afternoon, however, before getting to that here’s an interesting comparison regarding our form: Last eight games of 20/21: W0 D2 L6 F7 A18 Points = 2 First eight games of 21/22: W3 D3 L2 F10 A9 Points = 12 First eight games of last season, which everyone was raving about: W4 D2 L2 F11 A6 Points = 14 On to today. Very intense ex-manager Scott Parker had this to say when they were relegated from the Premiership last season, ‘I’m hurt, I’m gutted. There’s been disappointment this year, and we need to put our hands up, we need to get around a table, we need to understand where we want to go as a club, what we need to do.’ Shortly afterwards Parker decided where he wanted to go as he departed for Bournemouth and Marco Silva was appointed their head coach, on a three year deal, following his sacking by Watford. They are one of the favorites for promotion and have made a solid start, currently sitting in 4th place on 16 points. Their two defeats to date being against Blackpool and last time out against Reading. Fulham have dominated every time they have played - even the couple of matches they have lost. They have the most shots on target in the league with 53 and look really threatening in attack. We have, so far, had just 26 shots on target. We will certainly have to be clinical in attack (as we were at QPR) and take full advantage of the chances we create against a Fulham defence who have been very well drilled. As a team they are looking to bounce back from losing two out of their last three games. Famous names like Johnny Haynes, Bobby Moore, Rodney Marsh and George Best have been part of the team through the years. Today there are of course a couple of familiar faces in their squad, Joe Bryan and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, two of our best academy players from recent times. Joe has recently clocked up his100th appearance for the Cottagers and scored twice in extra time in the play-off final victory against Brentford. They also have Mitrovic who is one of the best strikers in the Championship he won the Championship's golden boot the season they gained promotion and Mitro is their top scorer this campaign, the striker recently signed a new five-year contract. Fulham are the league’s top scorers with 18. Our head-to-head record against them is lost 25, won 22 and drawn 16. We’ve only lost once in the last eight games against them. The last time we met at Ashton Gate it finished 1-1 a game in which they had 19 shots on goal, it was a game they probably should’ve won. Tom Cairney equalized in the 84th minute after Nahki Wells had put us ahead in front of a crowd of 23,796, which turned out to be the last game at AG with fans pre-lockdown. We’ve had a week to regroup following our remarkable victory at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium while on Tuesday they drew 0-0 with Leeds in the EFL Cup with Leeds winning on penalties. Following the day-light robbery in West London last Saturday our starting line-up will be interesting, will NP start with Wells, the manager recently said: ‘It is really good to have healthy competition. For someone like Nahki it will be a big debate this week in whether he gets a start. It is a great problem to have.’ Another debate is whether Tanner and Bakinson will retain their places. NP has said that Andy King and Nathan Baker could be in contention. Fulham will be without Fabio Carvalh. Today an attendance of 18,000 + is anticipated, Fulham have been allocated 2,300 tickets. Here’s a link to the match day programme: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/read-the-online-matchday-programme-city-v-fulham/ A few Fulham facts: Fulham’s original nickname was the Saints as when they were originally formed by a group of worshipers from a church in West Kensington they were known as Fulham St Andrew’s Church Sunday School FC. England World Cup winner George Cohen made the last of his 459 appearances for Fulham against us at Ashton Gate on 1st March 1969, in league division 2, a game that we won 6-0! To jog memories here’s the match programme and here’s a bit more about that game: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-flashback-one-englands-3920542 Founded in 1879 Fulham are the oldest professional football club in London. Fulham’s principle owner Shahid Khan is also the owner of NFL franchise the Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as the 2019 wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling. Craven Cottage was a venue for several football games during the 1948 Olympic Games held in London. Hugh Grant and Richard Osman are two of their best known fans, this week Osman was pictured at Storysmith Books in Bedminster so maybe he’ll be at the game World Mobile, a telecoms network that uses blockchain technology, is their new principal commercial partner. To end here’s NP’s pre-match thoughts: ‘It would be a really good day if we can beat them. We know what they are, they are a side that passes the ball, they are quite expansive in possession, they like to play attractive, attacking football. What we have got to do is make it difficult for them to do that. They will be expecting this to be a tough game as well. It would be a great game to win but they all are, I don't care who I am playing against. It is about giving the opposition the respect they deserve but ultimately, as I always say, we judge ourselves against ourselves. That is the most important thing. When you have periods in a season of inconsistency, that is the most frustrating times when we can't replicate good performances, that is a frustration but I think generally thinking we have been more positive. And hopefully, for the players and our long-suffering fans we get a home win.’ 9 3 1 Quote Link to comment
deadredfred Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 A real test of our defence today, Atkinson in particular. Be interested to see if Wells gets a start after QPR. Would take a point given current home form, as long as we’re competitive and challenging. Expect Fulham to be right up there come end of season. Quote Link to comment
Robbored Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 Hmmm…….reading that I’m not so optimistic as I was………… Quote Link to comment
CyderInACan Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 I’ll forever remember Fulham (h) as the last game of our old normal. The same result today would do me just fine. COYR. 2 Quote Link to comment
exAtyeoMax Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 I’m thinking of trying the beef or halloumi burrito. I’m always strangely optimistic when we play Fulham. Let’s see what we can do…COYRs ️ 1 Quote Link to comment
CyderInACan Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 4 minutes ago, exAtyeoMax said: I’m thinking of trying the beef or halloumi burrito. I’m always strangely optimistic when we play Fulham. Let’s see what we can do…COYRs ️ One Pound Pies at full time are the Holy Grail Max. Enjoy the day. COYR. 1 Quote Link to comment
Major Isewater Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 4 minutes ago, CyderInACan said: One Pound Pies at full time are the Holy Grail Max. Enjoy the day. COYR. One pound pies are a bit too heavy for my liking. 4 Quote Link to comment
One Team Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 I wonder how much the attendance will be impacted by the fuel situation? 1 Quote Link to comment
Robin101 Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 Realistically a point wouldn’t be a bad result, even if it does stretch the winless streak to 15 (fifteen) matches. Almost feel a performance is more important than a result today. We have played very poorly in our last two, maybe three games. A return of 5 points from the last three games flatters us big time if you ask me. Quote Link to comment
Bob Taylor is GOD Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 2 minutes ago, One Team said: I wonder how much the attendance will be impacted by the fuel situation? You don't get out of it that easy 2 2 Quote Link to comment
ExiledAjax Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 I think the result could be any of the three. The performance is likely to be similar to the QPR game though. I expect Fulham to dominate, particularly in terms of chances, shots, and with much of the game played in our half. Fulham have taken 139 shots in just 8 games, with 54 hitting the target. Those are some very impressive figures and we will have to work incredibly hard to keep a clean sheet today. If Bentley is on form and we take one or two of the few chances we get - well then a result is possible, as we saw in the last game. However, if we go behind early then I fear a 3-0 loss could be on the cards. I feel like today that first goal is more important than it ever is. 1 Quote Link to comment
One Team Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 2 minutes ago, Bob Taylor is GOD said: You don't get out of it that easy Brilliant! Quote Link to comment
exAtyeoMax Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 13 minutes ago, CyderInACan said: One Pound Pies at full time are the Holy Grail Max. Enjoy the day. COYR. I’ve been put off the pies since they changed supplier Quote Link to comment
cityloyal473 Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 Could be a long afternoon of us hanging on. I'll take a draw right now. 1 Quote Link to comment
redsince1994 Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 If league position is anything to go by we should batter 'em 8 Quote Link to comment
Red Army 75 Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 Another tough game. No expectations from me today. COYR Quote Link to comment
Port Said Red Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 No one can reasonably expect us to turn round our home form today. But it is the Championship and it would be yet another of "those results" if we did. 2 Quote Link to comment
Engvall’s Splinter Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 19 minutes ago, One Team said: I wonder how much the attendance will be impacted by the fuel situation? Or the pay on the day cost. 1 Quote Link to comment
FNQ Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 40 minutes ago, Jerseybean said: Good day ‘long-suffering fans’ (as NP termed us this week) everywhere, Fulham this afternoon, however, before getting to that here’s an interesting comparison regarding our form: Last eight games of 20/21: W0 D2 L6 F7 A18 Points = 2 First eight games of 21/22: W3 D3 L2 F10 A9 Points = 12 First eight games of last season, which everyone was raving about: W4 D2 L2 F11 A6 Points = 14 On to today. Very intense ex-manager Scott Parker had this to say when they were relegated from the Premiership last season, ‘I’m hurt, I’m gutted. There’s been disappointment this year, and we need to put our hands up, we need to get around a table, we need to understand where we want to go as a club, what we need to do.’ Shortly afterwards Parker decided where he wanted to go as he departed for Bournemouth and Marco Silva was appointed their head coach, on a three year deal, following his sacking by Watford. They are one of the favorites for promotion and have made a solid start, currently sitting in 4th place on 16 points. Their two defeats to date being against Blackpool and last time out against Reading. Fulham have dominated every time they have played - even the couple of matches they have lost. They have the most shots on target in the league with 53 and look really threatening in attack. We have, so far, had just 26 shots on target. We will certainly have to be clinical in attack (as we were at QPR) and take full advantage of the chances we create against a Fulham defence who have been very well drilled. As a team they are looking to bounce back from losing two out of their last three games. Famous names like Johnny Haynes, Bobby Moore, Rodney Marsh and George Best have been part of the team through the years. Today there are of course a couple of familiar faces in their squad, Joe Bryan and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, two of our best academy players from recent times. Joe has recently clocked up his100th appearance for the Cottagers and scored twice in extra time in the play-off final victory against Brentford. They also have Mitrovic who is one of the best strikers in the Championship he won the Championship's golden boot the season they gained promotion and Mitro is their top scorer this campaign, the striker recently signed a new five-year contract. Fulham are the league’s top scorers with 18. Our head-to-head record against them is lost 25, won 22 and drawn 16. We’ve only lost once in the last eight games against them. The last time we met at Ashton Gate it finished 1-1 a game in which they had 19 shots on goal, it was a game they probably should’ve won. Tom Cairney equalized in the 84th minute after Nahki Wells had put us ahead in front of a crowd of 23,796, which turned out to be the last game at AG with fans pre-lockdown. We’ve had a week to regroup following our remarkable victory at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium while on Tuesday they drew 0-0 with Leeds in the EFL Cup with Leeds winning on penalties. Following the day-light robbery in West London last Saturday our starting line-up will be interesting, will NP start with Wells, the manager recently said: ‘It is really good to have healthy competition. For someone like Nahki it will be a big debate this week in whether he gets a start. It is a great problem to have.’ Another debate is whether Tanner and Bakinson will retain their places. NP has said that Andy King and Nathan Baker could be in contention. Fulham will be without Fabio Carvalh. Today an attendance of 18,000 + is anticipated, Fulham have been allocated 2,300 tickets. Here’s a link to the match day programme: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/read-the-online-matchday-programme-city-v-fulham/ A few Fulham facts: Fulham’s original nickname was the Saints as when they were originally formed by a group of worshipers from a church in West Kensington they were known as Fulham St Andrew’s Church Sunday School FC. England World Cup winner George Cohen made the last of his 459 appearances for Fulham against us at Ashton Gate on 1st March 1969, in league division 2, a game that we won 6-0! To jog memories here’s the match programme and here’s a bit more about that game: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-flashback-one-englands-3920542 Founded in 1879 Fulham are the oldest professional football club in London. Fulham’s principle owner Shahid Khan is also the owner of NFL franchise the Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as the 2019 wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling. Craven Cottage was a venue for several football games during the 1948 Olympic Games held in London. Hugh Grant and Richard Osman are two of their best known fans, this week Osman was pictured at Storysmith Books in Bedminster so maybe he’ll be at the game World Mobile, a telecoms network that uses blockchain technology, is their new principal commercial partner. To end here’s NP’s pre-match thoughts: ‘It would be a really good day if we can beat them. We know what they are, they are a side that passes the ball, they are quite expansive in possession, they like to play attractive, attacking football. What we have got to do is make it difficult for them to do that. They will be expecting this to be a tough game as well. It would be a great game to win but they all are, I don't care who I am playing against. It is about giving the opposition the respect they deserve but ultimately, as I always say, we judge ourselves against ourselves. That is the most important thing. When you have periods in a season of inconsistency, that is the most frustrating times when we can't replicate good performances, that is a frustration but I think generally thinking we have been more positive. And hopefully, for the players and our long-suffering fans we get a home win.’ Great post JB… that 68/69 program brought back some memories… it was the first game as a young lad that I ever attended. My ol man told me before the game, “just watch Johnnie Haynes he’s class.. forget every one else.”.. Johnnie Haynes didn’t touch the ball and we won 6-0… 1 Quote Link to comment
Calculus Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 Really excellent write up by Jerseybean. Hava-esque. Thanks.. 1 1 Quote Link to comment
HitchinRed Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 Brilliant, if somewhat depressing intro. Thanks JB. 1 Quote Link to comment
weepywall Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 City to win and HNM to score anytime is 40/1...what could possibly go wrong 1 Quote Link to comment
Sturny Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 That looks like the best form we've had in a long long time 1 Quote Link to comment
ExiledAjax Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 22 minutes ago, redsince1994 said: If league position is anything to go by we should batter 'em Up the ******* media team. 3 Quote Link to comment
Robbored Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 5 minutes ago, weepywall said: City to win and HNM to score anytime is 40/1...what could possibly go wrong HNM is due a goal……. Might be worth a tenner………… 2 Quote Link to comment
Davefevs Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 5 minutes ago, JonDolman said: Wonder if Pearson goes back to 4411/442. Some interesting choices to make with who starts too. Not sure Baker will make it, was only putting weight on it on Wednesday according to Nige. So back to back 4 possibly. Quote Link to comment
shelts Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 Thanks for the write up. We’ve gotta win one at home sooner or later and why not today Gonna be tough and Fulham will dominate the ball. We need to stay switched on . Would like to see Wells start . COYR Quote Link to comment
Garland-sweden Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 Fulham are good, we are underdogs, suits us well. We got good players and can beat them. COYR!!! Quote Link to comment
Leveller Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 “a couple of familiar faces in their squad” That Mawson chap was soon forgotten then! 1 Quote Link to comment
Alan Dicks Posted September 25, 2021 Report Share Posted September 25, 2021 We will see our first home win today 1 Quote Link to comment
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