Fulham (A) - Tue 2nd Dec, 19:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[Yue Wollongong]

The City team is lacking stability. A lot of people don’t understand what is stability and don’t rate its importance. They like direct game plays, like in the second half with Leeds. The problem is that your opponent will get a lot of chances too. Stabilising the game is not a mind set but combination of experience and skills. I expect the team will have a roller coaster game with Fulham again.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Gvardiol at LB with Ait Nouri LW. Khusanov at RB with Nunes RW. Stones next to Dias. O'Reilly in central midfield for a bit of bite next to Foden. 2-1 City, Sorted.

 

[simon23]

Donnarumma
Khusanov--Stones--Dias--O’Reilly
Gonazalez--Silva
Cherki--Foden--Doku
Haaland

Badly need Rodri & Kovacic in the first team squad.

Isnt Kova basically out for the season?

 

[lionheart]

Gvardiol at LB with Ait Nouri RW. Khusanov at RB with Nunes RW. Stones next to Dias. O'Reilly in central midfield for a bit of bite next to Foden. 2-1 City, Sorted.

Presumably you mean Ait Nouri at LW. We definitely need the pace of Khusanov as Fulham have speed in their transitions.

 

[simon23]

I like the idea of trying Nico OReilly in midfield at some point but not now. His decision making is too slow and he delays too much. Id also like to see more aggression from the lad before sticking him in there.

I do think our options to change anything about how badly we are playing are very limted at present.

Khusonov at right back adds pace and defensive solidity but his general build up play isnt as good as Nunes so we also lose something playing him at right back - could he play centre half instead of Gvardiol (move Dias to the left centre back role)? - yes but does that change anything...we also lose our build up play from the back with this.

RAN adds attacking play BUT is defensively weak and is spineless so a definite no from me to be anywhere near the starting 11

In central mid we have to have Nico...and Bernardo is the best option next to him - probably the only option - Reijnders is wank and defensively negligent so cannt play that deeper role (shouldnt be on the pitch at all for me) and foden isnt as effective there.

Left side has to be Doku - we dont have anyone else.

Right side is just again limited in options- its either Cherki or Foden - or more likely those two switching between that role during the game. Marmoush is wasted outwide and aint a wide player and isnt good enough for the 10 role either. Sav shouldnt be anywhere near the pitch as he is getting worse (if that is possible)

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Presumably you mean Ait Nouri at LW. We definitely need the pace of Khusanov as Fulham have speed in their transitions.

Yes. He needs to play and is better in attack than defence. I'd bench Doku because he will benefit from a rest. Bring him on second half if we need to. I'd also bench Bernado.

 

[richards30]

Donnarumma
Khusanov
Stones
Dias
O”Reilly
Gonzalez
Bernardo Silva
Foden
Doku
Marmoush
Haaland

 

[Gumzy97]

We lack physicality and control in the middle I’d love us to try

Nico G , Nico O’reilly , Reijnders as a midfield.

Nico G and O’Reilly are duel winners , physical and can defend well as well as play under pressure

That lets Reijnders play like he did at Milan and just care about getting into the opposition box and taking shot at goal.

 

[deano ou812]

We lack physicality and control in the middle I’d love us to try

Nico G , Nico O’reilly , Reijnders as a midfield.

Nico G and O’Reilly are duel winners , physical and can defend well as well as play under pressure

That lets Reijnders play like he did at Milan and just care about getting into the opposition box and taking shot at goal.

I will get pelters for this stick Lewis in midfield instead of Reijenders ..

 

[alexmcity]

Rodri couldn't come back soon enough. Hopefully vs Sunderland.

Play the team vs Liverpool and Newcastle. Will be good enough to win (if the referees/VAR allow it)

 

[Roachy]

I will get pelters for this stick Lewis in midfield instead of Reijenders ..

There's not much between them atm mate. Lewis lacks quality but can be a bundle of energy on his day. Reijenders is not doing anything of note in a key position in a Pep team though and really needs to up his game.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

I will get pelters for this stick Lewis in midfield instead of Reijenders ..

Has it really come to this?

 

[Gabriel]

I will get pelters for this stick Lewis in midfield instead of Reijenders ..

 

[HorlocksWalk]

I would like to see us leave Haaland and Doku on the half way line if they get a corner and go for the quick break, providing they don't score, oh shite I have just remembered our defending yesterday. Forget I spoke.

 

[Legal Alien]

That team would get absolutely dominated in midfield. Nico G needs more help in midfield and Reijnders isn’t the guy up do it - he’s good going forward, but tackling and screening the defence, tracking runners etc are his weaknesses not his strengths

I agree that Reijnders needs to improve, but with Rodri out, and Kovacic to an extent, we're always going to be light in centre midfield.

We're compounding this by only playing two natural defenders and teams are causing us problems when they play more strikers and stretch our defence.

That's why i'd play Stones, he makes our defence stronger and looks the most comfortable of our players stepping up into midfield.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

I would like to see us leave Haaland and Doku on the half way line if they get a corner and go for the quick break, providing they don't score, oh shite I have just remembered our defending yesterday. Forget I spoke.

It was interesting to see a 10 man Chelsea do that today. We used to do it years ago.

Haaland is too important defensively for him to stay up but the likes of Doku should with maybe one other.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Gvardiol should be dropped as a kick up the arse.

Initially, I thought that read as “Guardiola should be dropped as a kick up the arse”. And I thought, yeah…

 

[thomas1307]

We lack physicality and control in the middle I’d love us to try

Nico G , Nico O’reilly , Reijnders as a midfield.

Nico G and O’Reilly are duel winners , physical and can defend well as well as play under pressure

That lets Reijnders play like he did at Milan and just care about getting into the opposition box and taking shot at goal.

i'm desperate to try nico o'reilly in the middle but maybe not at this moment in time he's doing a great job at left back, there's isn't any room to make a mistake in the middle

 

[Stelea]

Big problem this game. We need to rotate but of the players who were on the bench yesterday, only Stones, Ake and Cherki I would trust to come in.
Therefore
Donnarumma
Nunes
Stones
Dias
Ake
Gonzalez
Bernie
Foden
Cherki (or Marmoush)
Haaland
Doku

Such a limited weak squad due to poor recruitment

 

[the blue panther]

Here's something left field. Rest Foden till late on - if needed.
Haaland up front, of course.
Doku with a free role behind him, with orders to terrorise; dribble as often as possible, as Messi would in his hey-day.
No Savinho or Bobb - we have plenty who can play full/wing back.
Strongest midfield and back four as we can muster - plenty available to juggle.
The Don in nets, of course.