Fulham (A) - Sun 25th May, 16:00 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[Sheik Battle and Goal]

KDB's party was last night, hopefully it's not a repeat of the FA Cup Final last year...

Why couldn’t they hold the party in the evening after the game v Fulham?

 

[PinkFinal]

Those live TV choices are an utter embarrassment

 

[lionheart]

Those live TV choices are an utter embarrassment

Well one out of the three certainly is.

 

[69FACUPfinal]

They'll prob do a full afternoon of it and show the team leaving the hotel and travel on the coach like Cup finals years ago. Then there will be a reverential YNWA.

I like the fact you're correct imo in what you have very accurately predicted. However what I don't like is that this will actually happen. I hate the Dips winning the PL, it's not the natural order of the last 33 years!!

Was our final match at Brentford shown two years ago?

No. I listened to it on the app/R Manc. I was ironing at the time. I always watch the TV games and don't do anything else when we are on (apart from go on the matchday thread to complain about side to side back to side yada yada) at the time. I think we lost, Brentford did the double over us in the Treble winning season.

 

[coolcity]

I personally think we have enough for the CL already, but would be nice to finish with a win. Fulham won't put up much of a fight and the players will be desperate to sign off on a high. After a difficult season, 3rd would be a decent finish and ignoring the cup final our league form would be pretty good over the past couple of months.

Something to build on going into the CWC and new campaign.

Yes, I said a couple of weeks ago that 68 points would be enough. We're not quite there yet and anything can happen, for me it's always a bit of a concern when the other lot have nothing much to pay for but we should be too strong for them and Chelsea have a very tricky finish at Forest who won't want to finish the season with nothing.

 

[Gabriel]

Only top team to have beaten Fulham at home so far has been Chelsea, I think, so it won’t be easy. New stand will be open, too.

 

[69FACUPfinal]

Don't underestimate Fulham. Nothing to play for, one of those pesky annoying mid table teams. Their cup final as we are, until 6pm on Sunday still the current reigning Premier League Champions.

Oh next time we win it, I really would like it wrapped up early so we have a guard of honour for several games which would ideally include at least 2 or 3 out of the Hateful 8 Letter writing cartel.

 

[HypnoticBlue]

Oh no, a farewell event 5 days before a game where everyone was probably tee total

Gotta say Grealish looks cooked.

 

[Gabriel]

17 straight victories against Fulham, unbeaten in 23 since 2009. What could possibly go wrong?

 

[69FACUPfinal]

17 straight victories against Fulham, unbeaten in 23 since 2009. What could possibly go wrong?

What indeed.....??!

 

[Tevez City]

We need all the uncles to step up this game.


_________________________Ederson_______________________

Nunes_______Dias__________________Akanji___________Gvardiol

________________Gonzalez_______Gundogan_______________

Bernardo________________KDB__________________Doku

___________________Marmoush___________________

 

[jrb]

I've gone for a draw.

That will do for a CL place.

 

[Marvin.]

------------Ederson
Nunes-Dias-Akanji-Gvardiol
------Gonzalez-O'Reilly
------------Bernardo
--Marmoush-Haaland-Doku

Losing Kovacic is a big blow but perhaps he wouldn't have been available anyway due to his heel injury. I cant see Rodri starting based on 10 mins sub appearance in a game that was won.

 

[Gabriel]

------------Ederson
Nunes-Dias-Akanji-Gvardiol
------Gonzalez-O'Reilly
------------Bernardo
--Marmoush-Haaland-Doku

Losing Kovacic is a big blow but perhaps he wouldn't have been available anyway due to his heel injury. I cant see Rodri starting based on 10 mins sub appearance in a game that was won.

More likely to see Gundogan in midfield, no?

 

[Marvin.]

More likely to see Gundogan in midfield, no?

Gonzalez, Gundogan and Bernardo would be a slow midfield.

 

[Gabriel]

Gonzalez, Gundogan and Bernardo would be a slow midfield.

True, but for me a low-risk strategy is the key. Looking back on some of the sides fielded, when he's paired Gonzalez with Gundogan, he's used someone like Foden, Grealish, or de Bruyne ahead of them. However, de Bruyne now drops to walking around the 55 minute mark, Foden's start at Southampton was deflating, and Grealish hasn't started a League game since Leicester on April 2nd. All three might enter from the bench, I guess. It's a pity Kovacic is out, as he bagged a brace in the home game- I often think players do well against the same teams, so his absence will be sorely missed. In his stead, I think it will be Bernardo and Gundogan rotating around Gonzalez.

 

[the blue panther]

More likely to see Gundogan in midfield, no?

After a very long wait since his return to the club, we've seen some decent form from Gundo over the last month or so. I thought he had a very good game against Bournemouth so I'm a little easier about his inclusion these days.

Hoping for the best on Sunday. Fulham can be decent themselves and had a great win at Brentford last week. They're 10th and can only go up 1 place if they win, so nothing to play for really - let's hope they take an early holiday and we take all 3 points.

Fulham 1-3 City.

 

[cibaman]

I haven’t seen much of Fulham so don’t really know what their strengths and weaknesses are. Are they fast or big and strong, a passing team or more direct, do they play with width or narrow?

These days it seems that Pep’s team selection is hugely influenced by the shape and style of our opponents

 

[Gabriel]

After a very long wait since his return to the club, we've seen some decent form from Gundo over the last month or so. I thought he had a very good game against Bournemouth so I'm a little easier about his inclusion these days.

Hoping for the best on Sunday. Fulham can be decent themselves and had a great win at Brentford last week. They're 10th and can only go up 1 place if they win, so nothing to play for really - let's hope they take an early holiday and we take all 3 points.

Fulham 1-3 City.

Fulham were quite good in the Manchester game, and Traore again caused us problems. Quite a physically strong team, too, so I'm expecting the defence to be the same as what started midweek. Just hope everyone has an eye on the beach since even a draw would do.

 

[cibaman]

Fulham were quite good in the Manchester game, and Traore again caused us problems. Quite a physically strong team, too, so I'm expecting the defence to be the same as what started midweek. Just hope everyone has an eye on the beach since even a draw would do.

Teams are usually only on the beach for away matches. Most teams like to end the season with a win in front of their own fans regardless of their league position. And they particularly like to claim a big scalp. Fulham will be up for it