SLAVISA'S TACTICAL ACUMEN

Yesterday saw the White's notch up their first post-Christmas win, in what is a tough period of games. A first away win at Ipswich for 53 years was an excellent way to begin this run of games, and in a manner where the home side had no shots on target, other than an own goal attempt by Tim Ream. We shouldn't underestimate the gaffer's role in this victory, even though Ipswich are hardly setting the division on fire. But we should applaud Slavisa's tactical changes.

So where did Slavisa change things? Two teams playing 4-5-1 could have meant a first half of cancelling each other out, but the fluidity of the Fulham players meant that we totally dominated possession in the first half, apart from a short spell at the end of the half. With Odoi and Malone pushing forward it meant that the two Ipswich wide men were being dragged back. At half time McCarthy made two changes, going with two up front, which meant that Odoi and Malone had to be more defensive. Within 10 minutes Slav subbed Aluko for Sigurdsson which could be seen as protecting the lead. But, in reality it was clever tactics from the Boss. It allowed us to switch to 3 at the back to combat their two strikers, which in turn allowed Odoi and Malone to play as wing backs, again dragging the two Ipswich wide men back. The tactic worked immediately and once again the Whites were in control of the game. 
There also seems to be another tactical change, whereby Cairney is dropping a little deeper to pick up the ball. This is down to the eternal stamina of Johansen who has blossomed into one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the Championship. With Cairney dropping deeper, at times, it not only allows Johansen to roam more freely, it means that Cairney is harder to pick up. This in turn drags the opposition's defensive midfielder out leaving gaps between the lines for Ayite, Aluko, and our two wing backs, to exploit. 
With no disrespect to Kit Symonds, we would not have seen so many little details being employed to combat changes made by the opposition. Slavisa has always said that we are a work in progress, but now the new players are bedding in, and blending, all those hours spent at Motspur Park, are starting to reap dividends. I am certain that Slavisa believes there is more work to do, but we can already see the vast improvement in the team. As the gaffer said after the game "But in the end we scored this goal to close the game out. We changed the system when we started to have some kind of problem, and it’s a great day for us." .This result is as much down to the tactical changes made by Slavisa as by the excellence, and intelligence shown by the lads on the pitch. Khan and co. need to tie up Slavisa to a long term contract soon , as I truly believe he is the best coach at the Cottage since Tigana.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
COYWs

© Nic Smith 

MARTIN'S XMAS GIFT- ROTHERHAM (H) PREVIEW

After the weird and wonderful at Wolves, the Whites should get back to winning ways at home to struggling Rotherham tonight. The game on Staurday was more than a rollercoaster, with Fulham 3-1 up at half time, before going behind and then Floyd Ayite nicking the late equalizer. Whether we were too complacent, or maybe too cocky, Lambert must have fired Wolves up for the second half. Maybe there was a hangover from the 5-0 thrashing of Reading, and we thought that at 3-1 we could go on and score more. We remember that the lads and Slav had been saying, after Brighton, that we need to push on when we lead by the odd goal, and that the second goal is all important. It is possible that, at 3-1, the lads wanted more. This comes down to game management, and we are still a work in progress, and that game management will come in time. The bottom line is that we stilled scored four, and with a poor history at Molineux, a point isn't that bad. 
Rotherham are a different kettle of fish, and we have every right to expect the Whites to get 3 points, but it will not be as easy as the table would suggest. 

Rotherham United- What a disastrous season they have had so far. The 1-0 win over QPR was a massive boost for them, but they were hanging on near the end, against a Rangers side in their own doldrums at the moment. Whether Warne can inspire Rotherham to put a decent run together, remains to be seen. Saturday's win may have restored a little confidence, but players look at tables, and it is hard to imagine that their dressing room is brimming with confidence. Looking through their squad there are no household names, apart from Peter Odemwingie, but he has only started 4 games and, at 35, he is near the end of his career. Ward has 8 goals which is impressive enough given where the team are in the table. An away record of W0 D1 L9 F9 A30,  hardly bodes well for a team who have to travel down to London midweek. With the Whites in fine scoring form, we can expect Rotherham to "park the bus", and hope for a break away or set piece goal. Having said that, they will work hard and be physical.

FFC- With Derby coming to the Cottage on Saturday, and after the craziness of last Saturday, we may see a couple of changes. No reason to change Button, despite some negative comments on social media. Fredericks and Kalas should continue, but Sigurdsson may replace Ream, and don;t be surprised to see Sessegnon given some game time, in order to rest Malone for Saturday. McDonald and Johansen will give the cover, and Cairney and Aluko will be partnered by Ayite. If Floyd hadn't scored 2 on Saturday, Piazon may have come in with the Derby game in the back of Slav's mind. allowing Ayite a rest and Piazon some game time. Chris Martin cannot play against Derby, so expect him to be fired up for this game, where he will be hoping to bag at least a brace. He has nothing to lose, knowing that he will have a good rest after tonight. 

Match prediction- Rotherham will defend, and given that we dominate every game possession wise, expect the ball to be at a Fulham player's feet for most of the game. In fact, we may dominate more than we did against Reading. The problem will be breaking them down, as they will sit deep, probably making us play out wide. Patience is the name of the game for FFC tonight, and we the fans have to show the same patience. An early goal and it could be a rout, but defending any set pieces Rotherham may get is of paramount importance. 

Score prediction- 4-0

Key Player- Chris Martin, to be fired up and give us all some early Christmas presents, with a couple of goals at least.

We must get behind the team from start to finish.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
COYWs

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© Nic Smith

BACKING THE TEAM- READING (H) PREVIEW

Yet another difficult game awaits us, as we recover from the Brighton defeat, and face, somewhat surprise team, Reading. Despite some of the negative comments on social media, there should be only positives to take from the performance against Brighton. Last season, we were thrashed at the Legoland (Amex) stadium, so losing by the odd goal against one of the promotion favourites is not a disaster. In the first half we could have been out of sight, but FFC old boy Stockdale made some amazing saves. And, let's not forget that Brighton have one of the meanest defences in the division. Our fans were excellent, and backed the team to the end. That is what we, the fans, must do this Saturday, cheer the team on and give it our all. Slav and the lads have been great in recognizing our support and we owe it to them to get behind them 150% to spur us on to victory against a good Reading side. 

Reading- The Royals are on a 5 game winning, league, run and have only conceded once in that sequence. All runs have to end somewhere, so what better if that run ends tomorrow. Stam has assembled a good footballing side, and if he sticks to his Dutch philosophy we can expect Reading to try and control possession, and it is hard to see them "parking the bus". Al Habsi is an experienced keeper, and although an agile shot stopper, he can be prone to mistakes. At the back, Gunter and McShane will provide solid defence. In midfield there are no real household names, but Obita is fast and tricky and Swift has chipped in with three goals. There is plenty of fire power up front with Kermorgant and top scorer McCleary, so Kalas and Sigurdsson will have to be on the top of their game. Reading are likely to start with Stam's preferred formation of 4-3-3, but in reality that will alter to a 4-3-2-1, or 4-5-1. It will be up to the Whites to dominate possession and force Reading deeper where they may be uncomfortable.

Fulham- Only Odoi is out through suspension so expect an unchanged team. Button will undoubtedly start as should Kalas, Sigurdsson, Fredericks and Malone. The only possible defensive change could be Sessegnon, but that is unlikely against high flying opposition, as Malone has much more experience. McDonald and Johansen should continue as the defensive shield, but I would expect, available again,Parker may get a run later on, if fresh legs are needed in that role. Aluko and Cairney are definite starters, and the only unpredictable is who starts out of Piazon and Ayite. Martin will play the lone striker role, and hopefully he will get back to his scoring ways. Slavisa will stick to his philosophy of controlling possession, and will be urging the midfield to shoot from the edge of the box. 

Match prediction- Expect much possession from both sides, with the first goal being crucial. 

Score- (Based on my dream last night). FFC to be 2-0 up after 25 minutes. After that I woke up, so in reality, I am going for 2-1 to the Whites.

Key man- Aluko to score and run at the Reading back four. 

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IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
COYWs

©Nic Smith

TOM TO BOOT SEAGULLS INTO TOUCH? BHAFC V FFC PREVIEW.

Tomorrow, without doubt, gives the Whites their biggest test of the season so far. Brighton have continued from where they left off last season and with only 2 defeats so far, they are the most difficult to beat. Can Fulham get an amazing result down on the south coast? We will need to be at our best to get something from this game. Last weeks home draw was a minor disappointment given the form of the two sides before the international break. We were flying and Wednesday were stuttering. International breaks seem to do us no favours when they come during excellent form. Although it could be argued that the previous international break was a god send, allowing us to regroup after a disastrous string of results. The positive we can take from the last game is that we didn't give up, and last season a home draw against Sheff Wed. would have been satisfactory. Slav and the boys won't be thinking about last week, and hopefully they will have worked hard, at Motspur Park, to get back to where we were before the international break. We should have nothing to fear by playing one of the two top teams in the league, and if the lads are brave then anything can happen. If we are at our best, and Brighton are below par, then anything is possible. Last week a few of our players had mediocre matches, including Kalas, McDonald and most notably the ineffective Cairney, who found little space in a congested midfield. Tom, on his day, is brilliant, and if he can produce his best form tomorrow then the Seagulls may be in for a good kicking.

Brighton- Undoubtedly a good solid team, all over the park, with a very mean defence. One of the criticisms aimed at them this season is that they are not so deadly upfront, but on their day they can whack anybody. Just ask Leeds or Norwich. We all know about Stockdale who is an excellent shot-stopper, and who, in my opinion, should never have been allowed to leave the Cottage. Defensively they are very sound, and although they may not be household names, FFC fans should know all about the impressive Dunk, who we tried to sign. Steve Sidwell will probably get stuck in on Tom and Sone, so we need to keep him occupied. Norwood and Knockaert will need close attention as they can both score goals from midfield, with the latter already netting 6 times this term. Glen Murray has already scored 10 this term, so Kalas and Sigurdsson will need to stay tight on him, but they should not forget about Hemed or Baldock either. The real danger man for me is Knockaert. 

Fulham- There are no injuries to report on, so i doubt the team will be changed much, if at all. The only change at the back, may come if Slav decides to give Sessegnon a run. Kalas had a poor game last week, but his class should mean that was only a temporary blip. Fredericks should keep his place and we need his pace and willingness to run at the opposition, but Odoi is an option. I can't see the much improved Johansen being dropped as we will need his stamina and energy. There is a possibility that Tunnicliffe may replace McDonald at some stage if we are losing the midfield, as it appears that Parker is suspended. Cairney is a shoe in, and should be back to his best. Aluko should also start, but I wouldn't be surprised if Slav gives Ayite a run ahead of Piazon. Martin will definitely start up front. From what we know of Slav, he will stick to his philosophy of possession football, so don't expect us to park the bus. Key men for FFC- Cairney and Kalas.

Prediction- Seeing as my recent predictions have been wrong because of my bias towards the Whites, i am going for 2-0, or 2-1 to Brighton.

Whatever happens tomorrow, we should remember that Brighton are a good team, and we need to be behind the lads until the final whistle, and keep the faith.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
COYWs

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© Nic Smith

BRIGHTON AWAY- OUR TRAVEL TIPS

I am certain that many readers know much more about travelling to the Amex than I do, but for those who have not been there before, below are a few tips. 

Travel by train- Fares vary greatly, so check your times and what train you are intending to get. Cheapest return to Brighton, from East Croydon is £10.50, but you must use a Thameslink service. There is not much difference in journey times, but if you want to save 10 minutes then pay another £8 plus for the return ticket. Many fans drink in Lewes, but the return fare is over £19. Trains from Brighton to Lewes are frequent and the journey time is only 15 minutes. There are many options, but it all depends on your budget and where you wish to drink before hand.

Drinking and eating- Naturally Brighton has a much greater variety than Lewes, so again depends on what you want. Be warned that, if you are drinking in Brighton, virtually every pub near the station is "home fans only", and there will be a filth presence to martial this. There are some smaller, chicer bars but they can be pricey, and pretentious. The Wetherspoons on West Street is "Fulham fans only", and is a nice roomy pub, which echoed to some good FFC songs last season. Sources told me that there was a large contingent of Whites' fans in the pub on the pier last season, but it is a bit of a trek given where the station is. Lewes also has several pubs, but eating may be limited compared to Brighton. Due to the hassle getting to the Amex, many people may think Falmer is a better bet. IT IS NOT. There is one pub in Falmer, and it is usually "home fans only". The only other option around Falmer are the bars around the outside of the ground, but it is pricey and the beer not great. 

Travelling to the Amex- If you are going from Brighton by train, make sure to leave plenty of time, and by plenty of time I mean an hour at least. Your ticket gives you free travel within Brighton on public transport, so every man and his dog go to the station. There is no segregation, just a mass of people heading to a couple of platforms, herded like sheep. I don't know about the buses, but they are free travel also. If there are a few of you, you can take a taxi, but be warned the taxi will not book a return fare. Lewes is a better bet, for getting to the Amex, but again leave some time if you are getting the train. After the game be prepared to stand in the masses waiting to get on  the two platform station. You may be standing there not moving for ages, so if it is cold wrap up well. 

My personal tip- Train to Brighton, then train to Lewes for beer, then train to the Amex, before heading back into Brighton for victory celebrations. 

Overall- Whoever planned this stadium, clearly did not take into consideration the infrastructure nightmare. Be prepared for mayhem on both journeys to Falmer. Also be prepared for the old style bouncers if you mistakenly go to a "home fans only" pub. Friendly security clearly hasn't reached Brighton yet.

Anybody with better travel tips, please comment below in the comments box.

Hope this helps some of you, and see you all at the Amex on Saturday.
IN SLAVISA WE TRUST.
COYWs

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© Nic Smith

TRUE LIES. 3 PLAYERS "LINKED" WITH FFC.

It seems like only last week that silly season was here, with rumours of which player was joining which club. Now, January approaches and the rumour mill is in full swing. Whether the rumours of players linked with a move to the Cottage are speculation, part truth, or simple bollocks, it is anybody's guess. But let's look at these 3 players.

1. Peter Crouch- Crouch struggles to get regular match time, and we need to ask how long it would take him to reach full match fitness, especially in the tough world of the championship. There is no way that Jokanovic would see him as a permanent signing, and therefore would only join on loan. And what could he bring to FFC and our style of play? Apart from the occasional moments of brilliance, he is basically a long person who is average in the air. Fulham don't play the style of football to suit his height, and we already have big Matty Smith for that, anyway. A non- starter for me.

2. Ross McCormack- Unlike Leeds fans, who nicknamed him Ross McContract, FFC fans seem to be a little more forgiving. No doubt, that Ross is an excellent Championship player, but he harbours delusions of being a Prem. league player. The reality is that he has never been snapped up by a top flight club, and his time is running out regarding that ambition. Another reality is, that he shows a lack of loyalty, which is all too common in modern football. On the plus side, he is an excellent goal scorer, although he is not an out-and-out striker. He clearly has a soft spot for the Whites (even buying his kid an FFC shirt after he joined Villa), but it is difficult to see where he would fit into the team. Slavisa likes a 4-2-3-1, and Ross can't play the loan striker role. Cairney is our man for the central, attacking, midfield role, and the two wide attacking midfielders need to be pacy, which Ross isn't. So where would he fit in? If Slavisa plays a 3-5-2, then Ross could play as the deeper of the "2". But is Slavisa going to change tactics, that we have worked on for so long, just to accommodate a player who clearly wanted to leave the club? It is also difficult to see Bruce loaning him to another Championship club.

3. Nahki Wells- With reports that Wells has refused to sign a new contract, he may well be looking for a move. However, Huddersfield are likely to put a price of £8 million plus on him, and whether Khan & co. would be willing to pay that is open to question. On the playing side, Wells is a proven scorer at this level, and he also possesses excellent technical skills. He is also very quick and could give a totally different option to Chris Martin. If I had my way, i would pick Wells above Martin every day, but I am not the manager. Wells could also slot perfectly into Slavisa's system, and out of the three would be the best buy (or loan). 

But, at the end of the day, these are all rumours and I doubt Slav is even thinking about this at the moment. Whatever happens, we have a good squad and it is Brighton up next. Let's worry about January in January.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST.
COYWs.

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© Nic Smith

FFC V SWFC- Match preview and prediction

It seems like an age since the Whites were busy beating our rivals just west of us. Internationals may stir up a little patriotism, but nothing compares to the intimacy shared between a club and it's fans. I am English and proud, but our national team will never come above FFC in terms of loyalty. Fulham come first every time, and as we "wise" old men grow older, we realize that through joy and pain our beloved Whites will always be there. So I, for one, am pleased to see the back of the international break, an international break that came when we were just building up a head of steam, and showing excellent form. Let's hope that Slav and the boys have been working hard to continue that form. After all we all know what happened after the first international break of the season......
The run up to Christmas, on paper, looks difficult, and next week's away game at Brighton is going to be our trickiest test yet. But first we face last season's surprise team in Sheffield Wednesday.

So far this season, the Owls have struggled to repeat their form of last season, although they are sniffing around just outside the play-offs, with the same points as us. Last season they had one of the meanest defences in the league, but the fact that they have conceded more goals than Fulham may go towards explaining some of their adverse form. Add into this, their problems with Forestieri, and Carvalhal may struggle to repeat last season's success. However, even though all does not seem perfect at Hillsborough, we should not take them lightly and we will need to be at the top of our game to get the three points we need in the bag before the trip to the South Coast. 
Sheffield Wednesday-
Last season, Wednesday built the foundations of a solid defence, and given their current, indifferent form, we should expect to see them tight at the back. Westwood in goal has been around a long time and is a good solid keeper. None of the defenders are household names, but that does not mean we should underestimate their defensive understanding. Abdi, Lee and Bannon, in midfield are all good performers at this level, but the real threat lies upfront where Hooper is making up for Forestieri's tantrums, by being leading scorer. If Forestieri has patched up his differences, then he may have a point to prove, so we should be wary of his threat. We should expect the Owls to be cautious, but if we allow them to build up any pressure then they have the fire power to score from midfield as well as up front. After all, who can forget the "worldie" they scored last year to beat us.
FULHAM
There are no major injuries or doubts for the visit of the Owls, so Slavisa should be able to pick his strongest squad. I would be very suprised if the boss doesn't stick with the same team who did magnificently against Huddersfield and Brentford. Although Slav understands the need for a deep squad in the slog of the Championship, he also knows that a settled team can build consistency. Button showed against Brentford that he is making decisions as to when to play short or kick long, and hopefully the rest of the team are realizing that although it is effective to retain possession, there has to be a mix to avoid the mistake we saw at Villa. The back four is looking solid, and Slav has singled out Kalas for praise this week. Kalas is too good for the Championship, and we can only hope he stays injury free as he starts to lead, and organize, the defence. Sigurdsson has replaced the impressive Madl, so we have strength in that position. Fredericks has come back well from injury, and Odoi, despite his impressive games, will likely miss out again. I would also expect Malone to keep his place above prodigy Sessegnon. Johansen seems to have settled in now, and is showing amazing stamina, proving that he can be an excellent box-to-box midfielder. McDonald has an excellent array of passing and with a little terrier next to him, it gives him the space to pick his passes. Aluko and Cairney, are virtual shoes-ins, and Piazon is showing the talent that should give him the nod above Ayite, and Kebano. Martin is looking leaner and fitter, and it is impossible to see big Matty Smith getting a start above him.

Match prediction-
Expect the Whites to have possession early on as Wednesday start off cagily. Fulham need an early goal to allow their possession football to frustrate the Owls, allowing Aluko to get forward on the break. If Wednesday score early on then we, the fans, will need patience as they will become more and more difficult to break down. This game looks like one where whoever scores first will dictate the rest of the game, so that early goal is even more important for Slav and the Lads. 

Score prediction-
I can't see this being high scoring, but the Whites may just have the edge. 2-1 or 2-0 to FFC.

Worth a punt-
Scott Malone to be first goalscorer. Odds of anywhere between 25/1 to 33/1 look good value given that Scott gets high up the pitch and isn't afraid to have a go at goal. Other than that, William Hill have Piazon at 10/1 to be first goal scorer, whereas Aluko at 7/1 (with some bookies) looks a little mean. 

Whatever happens on Saturday we need to get behind the boys.
IN SLAVISA WE TRUST.
COYWs

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© Nic Smith

HOME COMFORTS- FFC vs HTFC PREVIEW

As far as the Mighty Whites are concerned there is little comfort to be found at home at this moment in time. In a previous article, I suggested that the influx of new players was partly to blame for this, as they not only cope with team integration, but they also become accustomed to Craven Cottage with all of it's little quirks. Even as a big fan of Slavisa, I cannot keep using this excuse as to why our home form is so bad. The team should be bedding in now, so it is time we made the Cottage the fortress it should be. Although I would think that many teams would love to have our away record, history shows that teams with excellent home records are the most successful, and once teams visit with a little fear already in their mind, it can be the equivalent of being a goal up before a ball has been kicked. This Saturday, tomorrow, we see the visit of surprise team, of the season so far, Huddersfield. This is a must win game, not only for the three points on the board, but also for team confidence along with sending a message to our rivals that we are no longer weak at home.

The best stadium view in England

Huddersfield Town
The terriers have shocked everybody in the Championship and with 28 points safely in the bag, they can already feel safe from relegation. That is a big bonus as they can play with more freedom, and added to the fact that nobody expects them to continue their good form, they have nothing to lose. Wagner has built a good solid team, and Huddersfield will be very difficult to break down. Add to that, that skipper Hudson is likely to be available for the defence, and it could be a game of patience for Fulham. However, Huddersfield didn't get so many points from just a mean defence, and they are capable of good flowing football. Nahki Wells, is a proven Championship goalscorer and it would have been nice if FFC had tried to sign him. Given the profile of Wells, it would be easy to think of him as the main threat, but the Whites will need to be wary of Van La Parra, and current top goalscorer, Kachunga. It is anybody's guess how Wagner will approach this game, but he may just think that we are there for the taking, which could easily play into our hands.

Fulham
Many loyal Whites' fans are become disgruntled that our excellent start has disintegrated, and they have every right to feel that way. I, for one, will keep faith in Slavisa, and our squad that many other Championship coaches rate highly. The biggest headache for Slav tomorrow is what to do about the goalkeeping situation, with many fans calling for Button to be dropped. Slavisa, quite rightly, wants to show confidence in Button, and even after his howler against Villa, he will probably keep his place. Whatever we as fans think of players making cock-ups, no coach should publicly criticize his own players. Whether Button's "f..k up", was solely down to him, or whether it was down to tactics of always playing out from defence, I can see him keeping his place, but Bettinelli will be pushing him hard. The defence is likely to be missing the excellent Kalas yet again, so expect Sigurdsson and Madl to start. Odoi, should keep his place ahead of the fit again Fredericks, and Malone will probably replace Sess. The defensive midfield pairing virtually picks itself, so Tunnicliffe will have to be on the bench as Parker and McDonald continue. We should see fan's favourite Cairney return for this game, and hopefully he will be given a central role where he is more effective. Piazon should keep his place, but with Ayite fit again, he may miss out. Who else partners Cairney and Piazon is guess work. Aluko took a knock at Villa, Kebano seems to have fallen out of favour, and Johansen has yet to impress, although he looks much more effective when played further forward. Upfront it is hard to see Martin being dropped, so Smith will have to make do with the bench again. 
Predicted team- Button. Odoi, Madl, Sigurdsson, Malone. Parker, McDonald. Piazon, Cairney, Johansen. Martin.

Match prediction
Expect Huddersfield to be cautious but not as defensive as past visitors to the Cottage. They are likely to play quick passing football, hoping to get the ball to Wells before we have gotten back in shape. The Whites will try and play their possession football, but don't be surprised if there are a few longer balls played out from defence. The Whites need an early goal to draw them out, and if we can get that then I expect a FFC win.

Score- 3-1 to Fulham

MOM- Piazon

Travelling tip- Don't bother with McDonalds in Putney as the new system means you will have to wait app. 30 mins for some "fast" food.

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IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
COYWs

© Nic Smith

LET'S BACK SLAV AND THE BOYS.

After the disappointment of yesterday's reverse at Villa, I woke up to read the comments of the Whites' faithful on social media. If 50% of those comments are realistic then.......yes.....we are a club in crisis......a club going nowhere.......doomed to the depths of League 1 and below. People are posting comparisons between Slav's record and Kit's record, etc. etc. etc. It's bad enough thinking about our 4th league defeat in 14 games, let alone having to read all the doom and gloom merchants on Facebook etc. Well, I for one would rather be a FFC fan than a Rotherham or Wigan fan this morning. I make no apology that I am a big fan of Slavisa and I still believe he will get it right.

There seems to be a misplaced loyalty towards Kit Symonds amongst many FFC fans. Kit was a loyal servant to the club, but he was hardly Paolo Maldini, Ronald Koeman etc. as a defender. He was an average defender who gave 100% every game (by the way the much derided Dan Burn gave 100% every game). Kit had no managerial experience and his record in the transfer market was hardly inspiring. I, personally, have nothing against Kit, but he was taking the club nowhere fast. If every club changed manager after a poor sequence of results then 90% of clubs would have 3 or more managers every season. 
So, what has gone wrong? Or is Slavisa too stubborn, tactically, for his own good. Listening to TMOD and the poor Football league show on C5, some things start to make a little sense. As much as we like to slag off those pundits as "talking rubbish", we should also realize that these are guys who played professionally, training every day, at a level we can only dream about. From the comments made (not about FFC), it seems there is a tendency amongst many clubs to play on the counterattack. Sides are happy to concede possession, with an organized defence, waiting for the chance to break out quickly. This may explain why there were 3 0-0 results in the Prem. and 8 1-0 results in the championship. There are some very good players in the Championship now, and teams are much better organized. Lower down with less technically gifted players, there won't be so many low scoring games, as the teams are not so well organized, but the Championship has become Prem.2 with the prize for going up massive, and the prize for dropping down to League 1. equally devastating. There seems to be a fear factor creeping into every team, which means that it is better to sit and wait for one counterattack, rather than take risks by steaming forward.
So where does that leave Slav and his preferred possession football? There is absolutely nothing wrong with possession football, but it only works when a team is settled and the players know each other well. It also requires technically gifted players who can move the ball about quickly. The problem FFC have, in this respect, is that we have more than 11 new players who still don't know each others' game well enough. This all takes time, and 14 league games is not enough time for everything to gel. The other problem is that we have to question if our players are good enough to play fast, incisive possession football. When I was at school, the first thing we were taught was "pass and move", and every games day we would spend ages on practicing this, often being bollocked for not moving into space enough. It is the basic foundation of possession football. FFC do not have the players of the quality of Barcelona, so we can't expect ticky tacka football, but with good, fast, incisive possession football we can still cut teams open when they sit deep. Even Barcelona became predictable and teams would sit narrow, forcing them wide, knowing that they daren't cross the ball because they did not have a tall striker. Of course, Barcelona had players like Messi and Iniesta, but they were being shackled by placing 2 or 3 players on them. Barcelona solved their predictability when they signed Suarez. Suarez has the ability to be on his own upfront, with an excellent first touch, and the skill to turn in very tight spaces. That meant that Messi and Neymar were less marked as the other teams had Suarez to think about also. I am not comparing FFC to Barcelona, but the point is that possession football can work with the right personnel. Fulham, may have the personnel for this level (Kalas says we have a better squad than Boro last season), but, in my humble opinion, the team has not been together long enough for it to be effective, yet. 
I am certain that Slavisa, knows the same problems as I, and the rest of social media, know. It is his job to decided when, and if, his possession football needs altering or ditching altogether. I still believe that the biggest problem we face is the gelling of a lot of new players. One of the things they said on C5 last night was that less skilled teams seem to do well with a settled squad who have great camaraderie. Whilst, there are little cliques that are evident in the team, I wonder how well our players know each other on a personal level. It is all OK to go out and be professional on match day, but team sports need much more than "just doing your job". Partnerships and friendships have to be formed both on the pitch and off it. I can see players like Aluko being popular in the dressing room, and players like Scotty Parker will attract respect. It is just a matter of time and team bonding before the squad can have a good understanding and camaraderie. 
On a similar theme, I would suggest that our home form is also down to having a lot of new players. Every club that moves into a new stadium suffers from indifferent home form at first. As footballers, we all know that there are little things that we notice playing at home. It may be the length and width of the pitch, the lay out of the stands, the positioning of a stanchion etc. All of these things become second nature, over time, and help players to have a sixth sense of where they are on the pitch. When a player is accustomed to his surroundings it becomes so much easier to concentrate on the more important things. Again, this all takes time, as our new players don't have that luxury yet. 
We can all sit and analyze the team and the performances until the cows come home, and as paying fans we have that right, whatever our conflicting views. But, I for one, don't want to see a managerial merry-go-round a la Leeds or Notts. Forest. Come January or February, if things haven't improved much, then I may also be taking to social media to bemoan our lack of progression under Slavisa. But, for now, I will show patience, and still believe in the club and our players.
IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
COYWs

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© Nic Smith

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING- FFC2 NCFC2

A chant that the Whites' faithful have used too many times of late, but "the bloke in the black" last night was a disgrace. Yes, as loyal FFC fan I am biased, but even with my most objective head on, last night, the referee clearly did not have a clue. As a cynic, I would say it is the old story of the ref favouring the more fancied teams. But all of this should not take anything away from what was an excellent match, and probably the best FFC performance for a while. 
Norwich are a very good team with some experienced players, but they did not overwhelm us too much in the first half. Neil's team, clearly, came to win the game, and with the help of the ref they should have seen out a two goal half time lead. Apart from two glancing headers, where players were left unmarked, Button's goal was not really threatened. Ream nullified Cameron Jerome, who was either having an off day, or he was expertly isolated by our defence. In fact, the first half was fairly even, on the balance of play, but a soft penalty conceded by Malone gave them the lead. From the ref's position it looked like a pen. but contact was minimal, even though it was a penalty. The second penalty was a joke, as the Norwich player was attempting a diving header and Malone hardly touched him. If penalties are given for that then we will soon see scores of 10-10 every week. 2-0 down and it seemed there was no way back. As for FFC, Aluko looked much more effective in the first half, playing wide on the right. On this form, if he can keep it up for 90 minutes, he is going to cause weaker teams a lot of problems. 
Whatever Slavisa said at half time, we came flying out of the blocks, pressing Norwich high up and fighting for every ball. It wasn't long before Martin shot from about 15 yards, and although it was going wide, Johansen deflected it in, even though he did not know much about it. That small slice of luck, gave us confidence, and it wasn't long before Martin showed that he is a good box striker, firing past the keeper for 2-2. After that, we sat back a bit, maybe out of caution or maybe out of the tiredness of two matches in 4 days. But apart from one long shot that Button saved, it was FFC who looked more likely in the closing minutes. Then, the ref totally lost the plot. The Norwich no.3 fouled Martin by the corner flag, and then proceeded to block him off. The linesman saw this, but the ref was more interested in booking one of our players and totally ignoring the antics of their no.3 who continued arguing and refusing to retreat from the ball. For, me this incident summed up the ref's poor performance more than anything. But, overall it was probably a fair result, and shows that we can live with any team in this league. We are starting to look much more of a team, and I believe that come Christmas Slavisa's plans will reach fruition on a regular basis. 

Martin shooting for goal.

MOM- Martin for his sheer work rate, or the ever improving Piazon.

Next up is Villa and we can get a result there, but let's hope that McContract doesn't read the script and forgets to score against a former club.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
COYWs

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© Nic Smith

GREAT WIN, BUT BIGGER TESTS AWAIT.

As the club fall into line with League rules, some of us loyal fans are denied the chance to listen to Gentleman Jim when the team is playing away. Many can argue that we should all be following the Whites across the land, but not all people have the finances, or time, to get to away games. So what's the answer? Pay £2.99 pm for FFC TV? In my, humble, opinion that is no too much to ask, especially for those fans who rarely make home games, even. But, I feel reluctant to pay that fee, however small, when you realize what is on offer. GJ's commentary is good, but what else is there? Some video interviews? Coverage of U23 games? Let's face it, how many people actually watched the U23s when they were free? A bad camera angle where all of the action was too far away. So, why would anybody want to pay for it? Most of the video interviews are transcribed in online newspapers anyway, so what are we really getting for our £2.99 pm ? The only item most fans are going to miss is the GJ commentaries. As a paying season ticket holder, I don't see why I should pay this fee when it only gives me away commentaries, especially in March when there is one away game. I am certain that FFC could have offered the commentary free as part of the season ticket package, and maybe they will do that next season. They stopped giving us the season ticket holder pin-badges, so free FFC TV could be offered as an incentive instead. It is up to each fan to decide whether they pay for this service, and I am not advocating a boycott.
Yesterday saw the Whites return to winning ways, and from the stats, highlights and reports, by all accounts we were good value for that win. Just as the previous international break saw us go on a bad run, then this latest international break appears to have reversed our fortunes, and hopefully we can go on a winning run. The two Barnsley goals were through balls, where our defence was sliced open. I wonder if this would have happened if Kalas had been fit, but that is speculation. The worrying thing is that, you can excuse it once in a match, but twice and there appears to be a problem. I am guessing that Alex Neil, will certainly pick up on this and will be looking to exploit this on Tuesday evening. The more impressive aspects of the match were that we didn't give up. Too often in the past if we had drawn level after going behind, and then let in another, our heads would have dropped. Yesterday, there was fight and aggression that saw us equalize straight after their second goal, which probably knocked the stuffing out of a Barnsley team low on confidence. The possession stats are something we are getting used to, but Piazon seems to be a good alternative as a winger who likes to get in the box, as seen when you look at his position for the first equalizer. It was also encouraging to see Aluko breaking into the box to net the second, and hopefully he can go on a scoring run, towards the 12 or more that I predicted at the start of the season. Whether Malone meant his goal or not is irrelevant, as it came at the perfect time to give us control. And he deserved it for what must have been a MOM performance for his assists and support play over all. Martin was unmarked for his goal, but who cares anyway, as he still had to bury the header? Hopefully he too will go on a scoring run with a newly found confidence. Overall it was an excellent performance, but bigger tests await.

Aluko celebrating, sort of.

Next up is Norwich, a true test, and our biggest test since the opening game of the season. The Canaries are worthy front runners this season, and with a squad that has Prem. experience and some excellent Championship players, they are still my favourites for the title. How they set up against us is something that only Neil knows, but I would not expect them to be as defensive minded as the other teams who have visited the Cottage this season. If Norwich play a more open game then I feel that the Whites have every chance of nicking another win against one of the favourites. It is obvious that when teams get men behind the ball, our possession game is less effective. This, may explain our excellent away record where the home teams are obliged to come at us more. With their attacking options, I can see it being a high scoring match, as they also have a tendency to leak goals. After that we go to Villa, and who knows what effect Bruce may have had on them by then. We can but hope that they are still lacking confidence, as Wolves totally dominated them yesterday. Up after that is the real surprise package of the season, Huddersfield Town. Virtually every pundit in football has been surprised by their start, and only time will tell if it is a false dawn for the Terriers. If they have a couple of indifferent results before we play them, then it may be good news for the Cottage faithful. And last up, before the next international break is Brentford away. Our recent record against them isn't great, so we need a good run going into that game. Every single one of these next four fixtures is going to be tough for different reasons, and we need to realize this and get behind the lads every inch of the way. Let us hope that Tuesday evening is the continuation of another good run between international breaks.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST.
COYWs

© Nic Smith

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P.S. If anybody feels they can write an article from away games, or any other FFC related issues, then please contact me. 

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT.

We are all great armchair coaches, having played FM/CM/FIFA etc., but isn't that what being an ardent football fan is all about, dreaming of how we could solve tactical problems? The difference is that computer software can only use so many algorithms, and only so many factored in scenarios. In real life football, there is human error, mood, the opposition, the support of the crowd, confidence etc., and when you factor all of these many complexities into the equation, even the best planned tactics, can go wrong. These days there are people, at professional clubs, who spend their time assessing potential unforeseen circumstances, and every player will train at certain times to be prepared for these. We have all heard that teams practice for when they are down to ten men, or when they are playing against ten men. Not, personally, having 24/7/365 access to Motspur Park, we can only guess as to how many different scenarios Slavisa and his coaching staff prepare for. And we can only guess as to how much time is spent on this. Or do modern day teams focus too much on the incalculable, possible events of a match? In my opinion, you can have too many statistics and formulae, and sometimes it is just better to have faith in your tactical system, and trust in the players ability to make minor adjustments as difficulties appear. To partly quote Lineker "football is a simple game", and in many respects that is true. If the players are good enough, play to the best of their ability, in the correct positions and adhere to practiced tactics, then we as fans should expect nothing more than that. The transfer window is closed, and we FFC fans have to accept that the current squad is as good as it gets for the time being. 
Slavisa likes a 4-2-3-1 formation and it is probably the most used formation in modern day football. But, it is also a very difficult formation to implement and requires a lot of time spent on the training ground to implement it effectively on match day. As frustrating as it is, I, for one, will give the team, and Slavisa, time for the fruits of these labours to come to fruition. The whites don't have the highest possession rating in the league for nothing, it is just the end product that is missing. 4-2-3-1 works well if we can press high up the pitch and force the opposition into defending deep, although this makes the opposition box congested. This is where a team needs a good "box striker", who is mobile, crafty and pacy. That is the one area where FFC lack at the moment as neither Smith or Martin offer that option. To overcome this, the midfielders need to push forward as supplementary strikers, but only Aluko, Ayite or Kebano offer that. Cairney is not a false 9, and probably is not a natural 10, although under the present system, he is more suited as a central midfielder rather than the wide right role he is played in at the moment. 
Having watched every home game so far, I believe the main problem lies in midfield, too much possession without getting anywhere fast, although in some games it has looked like with a few more "huffs and puffs" we would blow teams away. From my, humble, viewpoint, we have looked so much more effective when McDonald plays. The simple reason- he is the only player who naturally looks for a long diagonal or telling through pass. 

Without McDonald

With McDonald

Without McDonald the ball is too often played short and side ways, allowing the opposition to get their shape with men behind the ball. The other problem with this, is that players are more likely to play a bad pass and overdo things which means, as we have pushed forward, we are vulnerable to a quick counterattack.  The McDonald option, means that as we push forward into their half, a diagonal out wide can catch the opposition out before they can regain their formation. It will also mean that their fullbacks are pulled out wide leaving more space in the middle. Or, if the opposition get wise to this, McDonald, then has the option of a longer through ball down the middle. The basic idea is that we are giving teams more to think about, whereas our short passing game without a McDonald-ish player, makes us too predictable. Parker, for all his work and excellent touch does not naturally play many long passes. The same can be said of Tunnicliffe and Johansen, although the latter has yet to show us what he can do. I am not the president of the McDonald fan club, but the options and variations he offers make us much more effective in possession. Jozabed is not the answer either as defensively he looks too weak to play part of the DM pair. The only other midfielder with the passing range of McDonald is Cairney, but playing wide on the right he can't do it effectively enough.  Maybe, the answer is that Cairney plays central and drops a little deeper, effectively meaning we play 4-2-1-2-1, but that would mean fewer options up front. Whatever the answer is, our short passing game is much too predictable and we need at least 2 McDonald-ish players in the centre of midfeield.

But, what do I know, as I am only an armchair manager.

© Nic Smith

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THE FFC ROLLER COASTER SO FAR.

Thank god for an international break. In my opinion, it is just what we needed. Time to regroup and rethink. Too many Whites' fans are already jumping on the bandwagon of slating the manager, the board and the team. England will be at the World Cup in Russia, so I, for one, couldn't care less about England internationals that we should win. I would much rather be heading down to the Cottage, or listening to GJ on the net, but if we all sit back and think, we should see this as a welcome break. Our form until the last international break was more than any of us could have dreamed of, so maybe this international break will be just the thing to turn around our fortunes after a dismal run between these two breaks. If I was superstitious, I would say that after this break we should be back to where we were before the last break. 

So what has gone wrong? The simple answer is nothing much. We had a great start to the season with, virtually, a new team. Anybody who thinks that a new team will simply gel, and keep gelling is living in cloud cuckoo land. Since the first day of the season, new signings have added to the squad, and those new signings have had to adapt to our system under the pressure of the Championship, rather than the other new signings who had pre-season friendlies without the competitive pressure. None of this is to say, that we, as paying fans, shouldn't be allowed to moan. But, there is a reality, that we should be more patient and see what our situation is at Christmas. We should also remember that a few injuries have kept key players like Kalas out. We could argue that we need to be prepared for injuries, but with a new team injuries will upset the status quo even more. It is clear where the most serious problem lies and that is in the striker position. Do we blame the system, the midfield supply line, or the strikers? It would be too easy to blame the strikers. Big Matty Smith is not the most mobile and he needs a pacy, small strike partner to be more effective. From what I have seen of Martin, he doesn't get nearly enough service to make him a decent "box striker". Woodrow, does not have the strength, or guile, to play as a "box striker" when he is heavily outnumbered by Championship defences that seem to be full of giants. Possibly, the only squad member who could play as lone "box striker" is Aluko, but that is not his natural game and his finishing leaves a little to be desired. That leaves Slavisa with a headache, as how can he play his preferred 4-5-1 when none of the striking options are suited to be a lone striker? Or does he switch to a conventional 4-4-2 and watch us get overrun in midfield. I suspect, that Slavisa wanted a natural "box striker", but the board and Kline would not sanction signing a player who didn't match their required statistics. Hopefully, come the January window, Slavisa will have had time to persuade the board that we need to have more upfront and they will sanction the signing of a Defoe type player. Our 4-5-1, or 4-2-3-1 formation will give us the vast share of possession, and, for me, it is the best formation in this division as we need to flood and control the midfield. This formation also allows our full backs to get forward with cover. One thing that stood out against QPR was that we were playing too many short passes, and getting nowhere fast. When McDonald is fit he gives us the option of playing longer passes out wide, where our full backs can push on, knowing they will get service. It also seems that Slavisa is trying to form defensive partnerships between Kalas and Madl, and Sigurdsson and Ream. Before Kalas was injured, we were much more solid at the back, and he is our biggest loss. Madl has also been excellent, but if I am correct, then Slav only sees him as being effective with Kalas by his side. Whether Madl trains with Sigurdsson as his partner, or whether Slavisa tries to pair Sigurdsson with Ream in training we can only speculate. But, I am certain that he is trying all partnerships out on the training ground. We should, again, remember that all of this takes time, and we as FFC fans should be patient and give the gaffer time to work with all of the new signings until we have a machine that is working in unison. 
From the games I have seen this season, 100% home, I can see the day where everything comes right and we thrash somebody. We have the players with the necessary skill, and, in my opinion, a dedicated manager who will work and work until we get it right. I have total faith in Slavisa, and I know that we will be comfortably, mid table or above come the end of the season. The international break is a god send as the team will have more work on the training ground, and more time to gel.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
COYWs

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© Nic Smith

QPR (H)- OUR BIGGEST RIVALRY?

Fulham hate QPR, and QPR hate Fulham. At least that is how it seems. Many whites fans see QPR as our biggest rivals, but for me it will always be the blue scum from down the Fulham Road. No matter, because at this rate FFC will not be playing the "neanderthals" for quite some time, so Rangers will have to do for now. This Saturday sees us host QPR for a lunch time kick off, and a chance to extend our excellent, recent record against them, not to mention getting back to winning ways. We shouldn't get carried away by thinking that the Jimmy Floyd allegations may affect them, because it probably won't. Hasselbank hasn't repeated his success with Burton, and QPR will also, like us, be thinking that they are underachieving this season. 

A much needed point at Forest, coupled with a promising performance, means that maybe we are on our way back towards our early season form. Slavisa seemed happy with the performance and Scotty Parker will, I am certain, be encouraging the lads to continue and progress. A visit by QPR should mean a terrific atmosphere, and we, the fans must be behind the team for the whole 90 minutes. It is too easy to look at the two excellent results against them last season, and to simply expect more of the same. QPR are no mugs, and with the likes of Washington, Bidwell, Onuoha, and Polter, they can cause us problems. Just like most of our strikers, Connor Washington is yet to get off the mark this season, but he is a proven goalscorer and will need watching closely. The Whites need to get at them early and start on the front foot. I still think that the way we play means we need an early goal in any game, because our possession football means we can draw teams on. Our style of play is much better suited to us if we are in the lead, rather than if we are chasing a game or trying to get a late winner where we leave ourselves open to a counterattack. McDonald is still missing, and Tunners had a good game against Forest and should continue alongside Parker. The excellent Tomas Kalas is also likely to be missing and we may see the return of Madl in place of Ream. Ayite and Fredericks are also missing, with the only slight doubt over Malone. It is getting more difficult to second guess Slavisa, but I expect us to line up something like this- Button- Odoi, Madl, Sigurdsson, Sessegnon- Parker, Tunnicliffe- Cairney, Aluko, Kebano or Piazon- Martin. 

Match prediction- Instead of some of the more cagey affairs we have witnessed lately, i would expect a much more open game, simply because of both sets of fans' enthusiasm. Hopefully, this will be the game where Martin finally gets off the mark, but I personally can see Aluko finding the net. Score- FFC 3 QPR 1.

Key player- Aluko

Let's beat these mugs and get our home form going.
IN SLAVISA WE TRUST.
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NO EXCUSES- FFC 0 vs BCFC 4

The day had all started so well, met a couple of old mates and a feeling of optimism about the game. I could sit here and write a long story of the game, but it would be a waste of time. The simple truth is that we were thrashed. The first half was promising with no real end product and once City had scored we were always chasing the game. The second half looked like we were taking the game to them, but after 10 minutes we faded into obscurity. 2-0 to City and it was all over. And when we went down to ten men, I couldn't fault the fans who started to leave in their droves. That is all there is worth saying about this performance, so let's rate the players.

Button- Had a solid enough game, although he mucked about with the ball too much, always looking for the short pass rather than just "getting rid".

Odoi- Looked good going forward , but was too often left exposed by the lack of midfield cover on the right wing.

Madl- Probably his worst game since signing last season, and looked out of position without Kalas by his side.

Sigurdsson- An average enough game, but still settling in.

Sessegnon- I don't know if the paper talk is getting to him, but has stopped taking players on, and found himself in no man's land too often when we gave the ball away. Maybe time to rest, and protect, him, as Malone has a much more mature footballing brain.

Parker- Not his best game. Dwelt on the ball too much in dangerous positions, and was lucky not to see a second yellow when he was clearly getting frustrated.

McDonald- Had a solid enough game, and was unlucky to get a straight red.

Cairney- Another anonymous game. Too often looked for the short easy pass, when earlier in the season he would have been looking to drive towards the opposition box.

Aluko- One of only two players who can take any credit from this game. Always looking to get towards the box, and was by far the MOM.

Kebano- Like Aluko, can be satisfied with his performance, but too often found himself covering for Sessegnon.

Martin- Largely inconsequential, and clearly finds it difficult as a lone striker.

Subs-

Smith- Did OK, but no point in him being fed high balls if he hasn't got a close striker to look for.

Jozabed- Has obvious quality, but is a luxury player who can't play a central midfield role in the rough and tumble of the Championship. Would mush prefer to see him playing as a "high number ten", or a "false 9".

Johansen- A total disaster. Kept giving the ball away, ad his passing was woeful. Nothing more to be said about his "zero points" performance.

Overall a very disappointing result, but the pub was good afterwards.

We need to put things right on Tuesday, or we will have an even bigger disappointment next Saturday lunch time.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST

COYWs

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© Nic Smith

MORE IMPORTANT MATTERS- BRISTOL C.(H)

Either our fans have very short memories or they are very fickle. On Wednesday evening their were boos at the final whistle. I accept that fans have every right to voice their opinions, but to boo the team doesn't help the squad or the manager. The EFL cup is not important, I repeat "NOT IMPORTANT". If you ask any of those boo boys "A win in the cup, or a win in the league?", they will take the three points all day long. The excellent Piazon was a debutante, and three others were youngsters. City's side was much stronger, although not all regulars, but still more of a first choice eleven. Fulham have lost once in the league, and now it is time to get back to winning ways. Slavisa will be urging the team to forget about Wednesday night, and we, as fans, should also do that and get behind the boys again.

The teams- Slavisa is without Ayite, Fredericks and Kalas, and Kalas must be seen as the biggest loss. Madl should come back to partner Sigurdsson in a back four with Odoi and Sessegnon the two full backs. I also expect to see Parker partner McDonald in front of the back four, with Kebano, Cairney and possibly Aluko further forward. Aluko is the only doubt, as although cleared as fit, only Slavisa knows if he is ready to be risked fully. Smith or Martin, should be the choice up front, as Cauley missed his chance to impress on Wednesday. But, the gaffer has promised changes and he may just surprise us with the inclusion of Jozabed or Piazon. City seem to be undecided on who starts in goal, so it could be one of three, with Lukic maybe getting the nod. Their back four looked a little one paced on Wednesday and new signing Magnusson is a doubt. Fulham need to get at the back four by players like Kebano and Sess running at them, as the big lump who played on Wednesday looked vulnerabke on the deck with the ball at his feet. Their midfield is hardly packed with household names, but Lee Tomlin should be the man to watch. Up front Tammy Abraham, the loanee from the "little club down the road", is classy and for a big lad has good ball control. Overall, City may line up 4-3-3 switching to a 4-5-1, but their midfield looks more set up for defence than attack.

The tactics- Don't be surprised to see our usual style of play with plenty of possession, although if the gaffer has done his homework, expect Kebano, Odoi and Sess to run at their defenders a little more. City's game plan on Wednesday seemed to be to hit long, diagonal balls out wide to the wings with the hope of their two wide players firing in crosses to the loan forward. I expect much of the same on Saturday, and I would expect Johnson to ask his team to be a little more cautious. Much will depend on if Sessegnon and Odoi can decide when it is safe to bomb forward whilst being aware of the City tactic of long balls to the wings. Odoi will need to read the game most as Cairney is not naturally atuned to covering for an attacking full back. An early FFC goal should open them up more, but if City score first, they will be difficult to break down and big Matty Smith maybe the answer.

Prediction- Fulham to win this 2-0.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
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© Nic Smith