Official Matchday Thread: Fulham vs Nottingham Forest - Weds 6th December

[belefonte]

MGW as the lone striker, is it worth a shout? Wouldn't be as physical as awoniyi but would definitely keep defenders on their toes

It'd be ok if he could shoot!

I'd rest him for a couple of games. I think he needs it. He is wasted on the wing and I think we look better with a midfield 3.

I'd play a kid, with CHO and Elanga

 

[MASE]

Turner
Aina Felipe Murillo Toffolo
Yates Mangala
CHO Dominguez Elanga
MGW

Risky but f*** it.

Im up for MGW up top, Wood is awful & Origi doesnt look interested.

 

[Haych]

I can only see a loss in this one unless things have dramatically changed since Saturday.

I’ll accept losing if we try and play a bit and show some fight like we had last season.

If it was up to me I’d try MGW as a ‘false 9’ with Elanga and CHO on either side of him, I could be wrong (wouldn’t be the first time) but I think Sheff U played him in a similar role when he played for them and he scored a decent amount.

 

[Far have we travelled]

One of the best fixtures to play after the current ineptitude and it will be nice to play away from the City Ground for 2 reasons. 1st our away performances have justified more points return than attributed, whereas, conversely, our home performances have gained more points than deserved. 2nd, we can go back to counter attack breaking with pace without the pressure of having to dominate the ball at home.

Vlad
Aurier Niahkate Murillo Aina
Sangare Mangala Dominguez
MGW
Elanga CHO

Or 5 at the back with:

Vlad
Aina Felipe Niahkate Murillo Toffolo
Sangare Mangala/Dom
MGW
CHO Elanga

I prefer 5 at the back, but Palhinha is quality and their dangerman so 3 CMs may be required.

Your second option is interesting. May well be a case of "needs must".

 

[PynchonForest]

I can't see how we can beat Fulham, at this moment. They played well against Liverpool and know they barely lost away to a top side. The only benefit going in is they have one less day of rest.

 

[Far have we travelled]

I'd be inclined to return to three at the back as well, return to the pattern at the start of the season and the formation that got us our best result of the season thus far - Chelsea away. Open games suit Fulham, who have struggled to score goals this season (up until the last two), so we need a compact and fluid shape here with lots of work rate - players willing to press a 36 year old Ream and a busy midfield that squeezes Paulinha out of the game. And with Niakhate, Murillo and Felipe all available it's hard to argue that those three should not all be on the pitch at the same time. That's an outrageous back three. So I'd go with 3-4-2-1

Turner
Murillo Felipe Niakhate
Aina Mangala Sangare Toffolo
MGW Dominquez
Wood
​

Elanga probably deserves a rest and he'll be a great option to bring on in any scenario - whether we are chasing or need a pacey outlet to relieve the pressure if we're holding onto a lead. Likewise with CHO. Wood gets one more chance for me - just one more, over Origi who I don't think is in the shape yet to be starting games. I also think having Sangare, Mangala and Dominguez back on the pitch at the same time is important, as they were just starting to work really well together. Aurier I sense feels like he has done his job here and has checked out a bit, sadly. Aina always first choice for me now. Toffolo done nothing to warrant losing his shirt.

Just think its time to batten down the hatches a little bit and get back to basics, a la the Villa game. No point persisting with 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 when its painfully obvious we just can't operate it without Taiwo, and the players just don't look comfortable in it at the moment.

I really think we can win this.

I know that I can be easily pleased but that has cheered me up!

 

[Haych]

I can't see how we can beat Fulham, at this moment. They played well against Liverpool and know they barely lost away to a top side. The only benefit going in is they have one less day of rest.

I read a Fulham fan on Saturday evening saying they can’t score goals so we as Forest fans have nothing to worry about, clearly he’s either a massive liar or Fulham have magically turned a corner just in time to play us.

 

[Listen 'ere young man]

This game will tell a lot about the player's mentality re. Cooper, will they rally for him with a good performance or just go through the motions.

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[Captain Sinister]

This game will tell a lot about the player's mentality re. Cooper, will they rally for him with a good performance or just go through the motions.

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I reckon we are in for a right tonking.
But the lads may prove me wrong, and keep it to a close 1-0 to Fulham.

 

[Omar Devone Little]

We could do with a real back-to-basics, shithouse of a result. A draw would do just to stop the rot.

-----------------Vlachodimos-------------------

Aina------Boly---Felipe----Murillo----Toffolo

------Danilo-----Sangare----Dominguez----

---------------MGW------------------------------------
-------------------------------Elanga-----------------

Tough choice for keeper as they're both shite. Five at the back is self-explanatory and the three in midfield have high energy and can play too.

It'll probably still not be enough but if we go there and play as we have been recently it could be a hammering.

 

[garibaldi]

This game will tell a lot about the player's mentality re. Cooper, will they rally for him with a good performance or just go through the motions.

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They had Brighton take the piss at FT with their Champions League win and a week later some northern dweeb stuck it to the Trent End after scoring. Neither invoked a reaction. :|

 

[YellowBelly Red]

Would take a "last seasons 0-0 away at Brighton" for this one.

Fulham have some good ball players and we need to be at our very best. Not only do we need a reaction from the players, they also need to be playing the correct system.

 

[Captain Sinister]

Would take a "last seasons 0-0 away at Brighton" for this one.

Fulham have some good ball players and we need to be at our very best. Not only do we need a reaction from the players, they also need to be playing the correct system.

You reckon we have the goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet?
We certainly have the attack to deliver one.

 

[YellowBelly Red]

Josh Smith is the man in black. Jared Gillett, hopefully keeping a better eye than Michael Oliver did, on the VAR.

 

[CSB]

This wont happen, but - back 3 with Murillo advancing into CDM territory so he only has to pass 10 metres instead of 30 and can sweep in front of the others, the midfield 3 that's made us look solid this season, Sangare has shown a good eye for a forward pass (or play Danilo) CHO and Elanga as wide(ish) forwards but not necessarily wingers (Elanga can finish according to Cooper, CHO can also play 10 apparently) and (waits for abuse) I think Montiel is an upgrade on Aurier going forwards with Aina left side providing width to feed CHO and Elanga, may as well go balls deep, we've tried everything else. MGW unfortunately has not earned the right to dictate our attacking play every game and needs a break. I know he's scapegoated but I don't want to see Wood up front again

GK (I have no idea, sorry)
Montiel-Niakhate-Felipe-Aina
-----------Murillo--------------
Mangala-Dominguez-Sangare
------CHO------Elanga--------

 

[Listen 'ere young man]

I reckon we are in for a right tonking.
But the lads may prove me wrong, and keep it to a close 1-0 to Fulham.

Sadly, if there is no serious upturn in performance or result in the next 2 and I very much doubt there will be, that will be that. 1 win in 12 and not looking convincing even when they get in front isn't helping the cause.

Even the after match interviews don't sound convincing or something you can hang your hat on for the future. It's very much hope over expectation.

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[Haych]

Seeing as everyone else is picking a team I’ll throw mine out.

Turner

Aina
Murillo
Felipe if fit enough, Niakhate if not
Toff

Sangare
Donimguez
Mangala

CHO
MGW (False 9)
Elanga

Give it a good go and leave with our heads held high.

 

[Monkman]

Seeing as everyone else is picking a team I’ll throw mine out.

Turner

Aina
Murillo
Felipe if fit enough, Niakhate if not
Toff

Sangare
Donimguez
Mangala

CHO
MGW (False 9)
Elanga

Give it a good go and leave with our heads held high.

Spot on. Get back to that midfield 3 that can at least hold onto the ball higher up the pitch.

 

[RichardKeysLovesLingard]

I sadly can't see how we will lay a glove on fulham who after putting the ball in the net three times were unlucky to come away from Anfield without a point.

We must revert back to the low block, drop wood and stop playing MGW out wide.

Even if the football isn't pretty it can yield results and that's all that matters.

 

[belefonte]

I sadly can't see how we will lay a glove on fulham who after putting the ball in the net three times were unlucky to come away from Anfield without a point.

We must revert back to the low block, drop wood and stop playing MGW out wide.

Even if the football isn't pretty it can yield results and that's all that matters.

Those tactics have not worked away for 18 months now

 

[Rzar]

A lot of defeatist drivel today IMO. We are matched with Fulham in every department & there is nothing to suggest we are going to get thumped and there is nothing to suggest we won't lay a glove on them either. It will be a tight game that could go either way which is pretty much every single game we have had apart from the Liverpool & Man City games.

 

[Monkman]

This might still qualify as defeatist, but it's at least looking on the bright side - the teams below us all have a pretty difficult next couple of fixtures.

COYR!

 

[Cloughie1975]

Can anyone remember the 1975 FA Cup 4th Round epic with Fulham (just after Brian Clough
had joined)?

1st game-postponed
Fulham 0 Forest 0
Replay-Forest 1 Fulham 1
2nd Replay Fulham 1 Forest 1
3rd Replay Forest 1 Fulham 2

Fulham went on to beat Everton at Goodison next and eventually reach the final whilst our
reward was a 2nd Division trip to York City on a Friday night.

I’d settle for a 0-0 on Wednesday.

 

[Steve B]

………..….Turner…………..
……Felipe…….Niakhate…..
Aina…………………….Murillo
……..Mangala……Yates……..
CHO…..Dominguez….Elanga
………..…..MGW……………..

I’m lining my team up to try and avoid the aimless hoofball. Get some ball players in, pass quickly and cleanly, stop panicking in possession, hit em on the break, lots of fluidity in midfield.

I’ll be there givin it some for Stevie C. URedz!

 

[trentside69]

MGW as the lone striker, is it worth a shout? Wouldn't be as physical as awoniyi but would definitely keep defenders on their toes

Is this a joke?
Mgw needs moving further back not further forward.
He's an attacking midfielder not a striker and he shouldn't be playing up front with anyone never mind as the lone striker.
He's my favourite player but he's never been a striker since school.