Fulham v Leicester - Pre-match thread (August 24th)

[volpeazzurro]

53 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

Same Fulham who battered us 5-3 we were in the PL in 22/23, we had a front 3 of Vardy, Barnes and Maddison that day, do you think the current front 3 are better? 

 

In 22/23 we won more games then Forest, and the same as Everton, we went down because we were a soft touch and lost to many games.

 

The other stayed up on the back of picking up draws.

 

Being tough to beat isn't a bad thing. 

 

 

Not the same Fulham team and not the same leicester team is it, we're arguably weaker of course. 

 

But it was precisely those sort of tactics by Rodgers and ridiculous team and formation selections that caused it . Slow starts, pissing around tippy tappy at the back and no penetrative. You've named three players and there were more that were well capable of causing damage to the opposition. We didn't even try!

[The Fosse Way]

Here's some pre-match reading if you fancy taking your mind off the actual game - looking at the first time Leicester won at Fulham and what was happening at the time including some links to the local area, World War One, Leicester Fosse players who fought in the war and how it all ties in to the UFS boat trip this Saturday:

 

https://www.thefosseway.net/viewpoint/leicester-city-oars-war-dying-day-fulham

[coolhandfox]

6 minutes ago, volpeazzurro said:

Not the same Fulham team and not the same leicester team is it, we're arguably weaker of course. 

 

But it was precisely those sort of tactics by Rodgers and ridiculous team and formation selections that caused it . Slow starts, pissing around tippy tappy at the back and no penetrative. You've named three players and there were more that were well capable of causing damage to the opposition. We didn't even try!

 

We scored 2 at Spur and Brighton and 3 at Fulham.

 

The issue was BR couldn't create a cohesive defence structure, we were woeful on the transition and too open. 

 

I think we can be defensive sound and also be on the front foot, we have the resource to play really well on the break. 

 

 

Edited 22 August 2024 by coolhandfox

[volpeazzurro]

41 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

 

We scored 2 at Spur and Brighton and 3 at Fulham.

 

The issue was BR couldn't create a cohesive defence structure, we were woeful on the transition and too open. 

 

I think we can be defensive sound and also be on the front foot, we have the resource to play really well on the break. 

 

 

Absolutely, I agree. Add another forward to cover Vardy and I think we could have a good go. The second half Spurs performance has to give them confidence. If we play and at least have a go like that but still go down because of points deduction then so be it, I'll be proud of them.

[sm1]

1 hour ago, coolhandfox said:

 

We scored 2 at Spur and Brighton and 3 at Fulham.

 

The issue was BR couldn't create a cohesive defence structure, we were woeful on the transition and too open. 

 

I think we can be defensive sound and also be on the front foot, we have the resource to play really well on the break. 

 

 

If we had anybody but Ward in goal, we would've survived. 

[BrummieFOX]

3 minutes ago, sm1 said:

If we had anybody but Ward in goal, we would've survived. 

Yeh as poor as we were, this was easily our biggest issue.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

Cooper’s press conference is at 1:30 right? 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

I think we probably lose this but would love to be wrong! 

[Jabfox]

5 minutes ago, DJ Barry Hammond said:

Cooper’s press conference is at 1:30 right? 

is indeed 👍

[pmcla26]

Same team as against Spurs. 

 

Skipp on for Buonanotte later in the game if we get a lead and Stephy on when Vardy slows up. 

[Bordersfox]

3 minutes ago, Jabfox said:

is indeed 👍

Weird I've heard Cooper is resigning at 4pm 

[DJ Barry Hammond]

10 minutes ago, pmcla26 said:

Same team as against Spurs. 

 

Skipp on for Buonanotte later in the game if we get a lead and Stephy on when Vardy slows up. 

Agreed, I don’t see how you change from the first 11 - there’s a game against Tranmere on the following Tuesday to do squad rotation.

[coolhandfox]

36 minutes ago, sm1 said:

If we had anybody but Ward in goal, we would've survived. 

He wasn't the only issue.

 

We conceded 5 to Fulham with Iversen in goal. 

 

in 12 games with Iversen in goal we conceded 22 goals, at average of 1.83 goals a game. 

 

The issue was deeper then just Ward. 

[moore_94]

 

[TheGoldenGod]

Don't know why they bother asking managers about transfers, you know what answers you're going to get and everyone understands that.

[moore_94]

Steve Cooper Pre-Match Press Conference vs Fulham

 

Injuries?

“The same. No changes. It was the first game of the season and there are still a lot of lads getting up to speed fitness-wise. There’s fatigue, but nothing else.”

 

Skipp ready to start?

“He’s definitely available. We’re looking to add more players too. When you bring players in, you want them to be pushing for places. The challenge will be embraced by the guys for starting positions. Everybody who’s fit will be under consideration.”

 

What Skipp brings?

“He’s got quite a lot of games under his belt. Now we have a nice variety of midfield options. The Premier League demands a lot of you, sometimes more than one thing in one game. Skippy brings a calming influence and that can support our game. The balance in midfield allows us to pick the right players for the right gameplan.”

 

Keeping Vardy fit?

“It’s important to keep every player fit. Jamie doesn’t need any special words from me about his capability. In terms of keeping him available and keeping him fresh, it’s going to be important. He’s an older player and he understands his body well. We have to work with him to do what’s right by him. In my experience of him, he really enjoys games and what it takes to get ready for a game. He understands I work and what’s required. We’re getting to know all the players to know what they require to be ready. It will be different because of the pre-season he’s had. He’s a game player. We need to keep him ready.”

 

Transfers?

“There’s no names to mention. We’re trying to strengthen the squad. The guys did an amazing job last year and we want to continue that, but we also have to strengthen.”

 

Attacking signings?

“It’s definitely an area. The same with the midfield, I want to have that in every area of the pitch. Every area we’d like to strengthen might not be done in this window. At the top end, with injuries, it’s something we’re looking at.”

 

Fulham?

“Marco has been there a few years now and has built a good team. They’ve added players recently. We need to be ready. They’re a well-coached team. But we learned that if we don’t do what we can do, the opponent is irrelevant. The other day was a great reminder that if we don’t look after ourselves, we can’t look after anything else.”

 

Lesson from first game?

“With it being the first game back, there were players making Premier League debuts and club debuts and maybe that showed in the first half. We allowed them too much of the ball and too much respect. We needed to be braver in the second half. That’s on all of us. We played with more intent. The lesson is believing ourselves and doing what we can do. A lot of confidence will be taken from the second half. We’re really excited about playing again. There’s been a really good vibe. It’s a fairly positive result, we want to be winning at home really. There’s been more talk about the first half in the game review. But there’s lots to be encouraged by. It’s a process of how we improve.”

 

Have you built rapport with fans?

“You’re probably asking the wrong guy. Once you commit to being part of something, you have to give everything to it. That’s what I intend to do. I want to do my very best for the club to succeed.”

 

Close to signings?

“I think we’re close, but we’ve been closer than we feel today. We’re really keen to get deals over the line. If it doesn’t happen, we’ve got maximum belief in these guys. I think we will, but if we don’t we’ll get on with it and commit to reaching our objectives. We’ve got a week left. Anybody that comes in will be adding to a fantastic spirit and a group of players who really enjoy being at the football club.”

 

What profiles do you want?

“I’d rather talk about that when deals are done. If it’s not done, I don’t want that to be seen as a negative."

 

No choice but to start Vardy?

“It’s just about working together. There’s so much work that goes in now to the daily operation of a player, from the tactical side and the physical side, from the data that’s recorded every day. But you have to listen to Jamie’s opinions as well. With an older player, you can talk about age and capabilities, but we’re really positive about his capabilities and I don’t mean the obvious around his goal-scoring, but about how fit he looks, how sharp he looks.”

 

Need to keep showing fight?

“We also need to show that we’re able to change things and not accept it if things are not going right. You can be second best and you can have some bad luck, but you have to show you can bounce back. You saw the atmosphere and the motivation in the team. On and off the pitch, we became a really good unit. We need to recreate that as often as we can.”

 

Attacking players most difficult to sign?

“I would say so in terms of how it’s played out so far. We’ve been very clear in terms of what would be good, but there’s not an order to it. I was close to being convinced we were adding two attacking players, but it didn’t play out as we hoped.”

 

Sven?

“On behalf of the current squad and staff, we send our best wishes and love to him. We hope he’s fighting as hard as he can. I’ve never met him but I spent time at the FA and I heard some really nice stories about how he was with people. You don’t get to the level he did without being a top coach.”

[Mickyblueeyes]

Goals change games but they also change seasons. The year we went down, two key moments: 1, the disallowed Tielemans goal v Leeds and the penalty miss by Maddison. If either stood, we potentially stay up.

 

Clutching at straws but the Vardy goal on Monday revitalised the team - for that first 60 mins, they were broken. As a fan I went from being angry, upset, demotivated to look forward to Fulham game. 

 

Run with the moment for as long as possible. 

[hejammy]

 "I was close to being convinced we were adding two attacking players, but it didn’t play out as we hoped.”

 

“I think we’re close, but we’ve been closer than we feel today"

 

These two lines make me very nervous - basically saying, until the fat lady sings, there's every possibility Rudders can F it up

[Richard]

Sounds like Vardy is at that Huth/Jonny Evans stage where they basically don't train all week to play on the Saturday

[Bryn]

Suspect Skipp goes straight in alongside Winks.

[indierich06]

Might not even sign a striker lads 

 

[indierich06]

[FoyleFox]

I'd desperately like some points from this as redemption for the debacle last time we visited Craveb Cottage. And to mitigate the pain I'm experiencing at paying out for seats in the Riverside stand! 

[OntarioFox]

3 hours ago, volpeazzurro said:

Not the same Fulham team and not the same leicester team is it, we're arguably weaker of course. 

 

But it was precisely those sort of tactics by Rodgers and ridiculous team and formation selections that caused it . Slow starts, pissing around tippy tappy at the back and no penetrative. You've named three players and there were more that were well capable of causing damage to the opposition. We didn't even try!

That Fulham game was the final nail in the coffin - after a bit of promise and improved performances, Smith took us there and decided to play peak Rodgersball against a team well-known for pace, pressing and overloads at the time. We got absolutely destroyed.

I'm hoping it will be very different this time - second half on Monday was definitely the blueprint. These are no mugs though, and will be looking to respond after performing well but coming out with nothing against a jammy Man Utd. side. We'll have to stay switched on and ride our luck a bit, then aim to play through their lines like we increasingly did against Spurs. I'd take another draw but this is winnable with the right application.

[volpeazzurro]

21 minutes ago, OntarioFox said:

That Fulham game was the final nail in the coffin - after a bit of promise and improved performances, Smith took us there and decided to play peak Rodgersball against a team well-known for pace, pressing and overloads at the time. We got absolutely destroyed.

I'm hoping it will be very different this time - second half on Monday was definitely the blueprint. These are no mugs though, and will be looking to respond after performing well but coming out with nothing against a jammy Man Utd. side. We'll have to stay switched on and ride our luck a bit, then aim to play through their lines like we increasingly did against Spurs. I'd take another draw but this is winnable with the right application.

Yes a draw away at Fulham would be a decent result. No need to over respect them though. I  too think that with the right application we could cause an upset.