Our sixth game of this fledging Premier League season sees us host newly-promoted Fulham tomorrow at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, kick-off at 3 pm BST. This will mean that half of our fixtures so far this campaign will have been London derbies, having drawn away to Chelsea two weeks back and West Ham this week.
Being back at home will hopefully raise our game a level or two from Wednesday night, and our morale will be boosted further by the return of Romero and Bentancur to the squad ahead of tomorrow’s match, as confirmed by Antonio Conte via London World:
“Cuti (Romero) is ok, he had two training [sessions] with us and he is in the team, and Bentancur is ok.”
“Lucas is in the gym, but aside [from] that, we are ok and working well ahead of the game tomorrow.”
It is unclear whether Gil is fit enough to return to the squad, but, even if he is ruled out, Conte has enough options to rotate this weekend should he feel the need to do so, with the Champions League kicking off next week.
For now, all eyes will be on navigating a tricky fixture against opponents who have made a solid start to life back in the Premiership under Marco Silva.
Indeed, Fulham’s only defeat in five games so far came at the Emirates last weekend. The Cottagers have not had an easy opening set of fixtures either (if there is such a thing in this division), having beaten Brighton and Brentford at home, and held Liverpool and Wolves to accumulate a respectable 8 points from a possible 15.
Unlike us, Fulham were rather busy on deadline day, signing arch-nemesis Willian, Welsh speedster Dan James, experienced left-back Layvin Kurzawa, and of course, as some of you will have noticed, Spurs old boy Carlos Vinicius. This match probably comes too soon for any of the quartet to start, but the visitors have no new injury concerns going into the game. Only long-term absentees Harry Wilson and Manor Solomon are ruled out, with Shane Duffy able to rejoin the squad after being ineligible to face parent club Brighton in midweek.
Irrespective of Fulham’s sturdy start to the season, this is a match we have to win, especially after our dropped points in midweek, whichever way you saw the West Ham result. Our recent record against the Cottagers is remarkable, having lost just one of our last 13 top flight matches against our visitors – the match where Dimi Berbatov came back to haunt us in a 1-0 victory for the visitors at WHL back in March 2013.
Here’s hoping for an improved performance, where we maintain our concentration levels, keep the faffing about at the back with Lloris to a minimum, and do our thing on the break. As always, voice your grievances, score predictions, and preferred XIs, and keep positive (if you can!)…COYS!
Careful, Omar, you’re calling this a a match we have to win (you almost used the dangerous words “must win.” But I agree with you. If we can’t take all three points from a an opponent like this, we won’t be able to compete for the top of the table.
Fulham have performed above expectations so far this season, so let’s hope our lads play as though this is a match against Man U or some other unmentionable bunch.
Saddle the steeds and strap on those Spurs and put on a display tomorrow. Play with a swagger in the step, and show some class.
We should take the three points from this one, but I suspect our team will find a way to make it a bit more trouble than it ought to be.
Have to hand it to the newly promoted team that they’ve been taking more points than would have been expected. A couple of wins by them and a couple of draws for us and they’ll be passing us. Let’s make it difficult for them by increasing the forward velocity.
No team associated with the word “craven” should ever win at WHL. The fainthearted should feel a shudder in the belly when arriving to play a team wearing Spurs.
6 – 0 in a glorious romp.
Now that would be a result that would make all of us happy, Geof. Both those who are happy with wins alone, and those who are happy with glory alone. lol.
For those of us who want glorious wins, the gods will have smiled on us. 6 – 0 it is then. And united we are.
A couple of goals to Kane, A couple to Richarlison playing in place of Son. And a goal each to a couple of real surprises, perhaps Dier and Skippy, or Dier and Royal. Anyway 6 – 0 and glorious play will do well. Thank you.
I’m going for a dead boring 6-0 to the Spurs.
And if Son plays, I think it has to now be a must-score match for him.
Seriously, I was ok with Conte starting Son in the matches up until now. But I really think he should be benched now. I’d like to see Richarlison from the off. Perhaps Son just needs a rest. Or a kick up the arse from a bit of competition for his place.
Anyway, whether he starts today or comes on from the bench, I wish him luck and a goal or two. He surely can’t carry on his poor form and not scoring for much longer, can he?
Up the Son and Up the Spurs!
HT,
now this comment put a real smile on my face. a boring 6 goals with a clean sheet. hard to imagine what such a match might be like. 6 boring goals and a clean sheet.
I don’t know if Son simply needs a rest. He’s seems lacking in his usually ultra-hight level of energy, but would a simple rest cure this? I don’t know. I guess my sentiment about Son so far this season is that I miss him. The old Son hasn’t been there. If a short rest is all he needs, then Hurrah. Give the man a break for a few days. but something feels off in some way, as though he were nursing something physical.
0 – 6 per se doesn’t sound boring. Unless the six goals all are own goals by Fulham, but that at least would have humor value. Fulham would have to be a strange sort of creative do pull that off. lol
I didn’t copy you there Geof…. I only saw and read your post after posting mine.
So, 6-0 it has to be. We can’t both be wrong!
lol HT …. I didn’t think you copied me at all. I just thought we were both on the same page; not for the first time.
HT and Geof both say 0 – 6. My mother would have called that great minds thinking alike.
I’ll be satisfied by 1 – 2 if it’s a well played match. Movement, good defense, some spectacular goaltending at both ends of the pitch.
I’m just about tp watch the Matildas play Canada in, probably, a not-too-friendly game. Looking forward to seeing Sam Kerr, and the future of Australian women’s football19-year-old Mary Fowler (who just signed for Man City).
Gotta love football!
I knew you’d all be excited about that!! lol
We have a good chance to turn on the style today at WHL (it will always be WHL to me).
No back passing, sideways passing or faffing around in the box( keep the ball away from Lloris…distribution is appalling) and let’s have some decent crosses from the flanks. We need to go out to win not to defend a 1-1 draw.
Conte has bemoaned the fact that the big clubs have bought all the best players as usual ( Man C.,Man U., Chelsea). We started off well in the transfer window ( a rarity) but then faltered in the middle and the end when we obviously needed further strengthening. Was it because we couldn’t offload the unwanted or because Levy panicked at the thought of spending more cash?
We may be a work in progress but that means next season. We have no youngsters who are likely to suddenly light up the midfield or wings. So it’s the same old defensive midfield winning the ball and passing it back.
But today is another chance to show that we have players who can ignite the game…the Modric control and turn, the Hoddle pass, the Dele nutmeg and flick, the drive from Dembele, the glorious cross from Eriksen. We have been blessed with tremendous players that remain in the memory.
Now is the chance for our players to step up and turn on the style. Move the ball quicker. Pass it forward. Cross it accurately.
If its not working, sub at 60 minutes not 85.
Go out and win the game with goals. Three points not one.
Audere est facere.
WW …. Ditto to all of that.
Am up for 4-0 to the Mighty Spurs, but then again any bloody score will do as long as its a win to us and another 3pts.
Any which way but Lose lol! COYS
Todays lineup?
Lloris
Romero Dier Davies
Royal Hojbjerg Bentancur Sessegnon
Kulusevski Richarlison
Kane
I would like to see Lenglet in for Davies… But I can’t see Conte making that many changes as from the last few games. But he may well stick with Son and Perisic anyway… Who knows?!
Not long now before kick-off. And although I’ll be happy as long as we get the 3 points today, it would be nice to do it with some style. We’ll see…
Come On You Spurs!
Pool are stuck in sticky toffee at Goodison. Be nice if Pool drops points.
Lenglet is starting. So is Sess. Richarlison is in for Kulusevski and Son starts.
I’ll go with that Conte!
And Pool drop 2 points!
wentworth,
You spoke for me on this one. No muddling about for a draw today. No back passes to Lloris. Push the ball forward. Go for it!
Poo vs Toffees was an exciting scoreless draw. Wow. So many chances and no goals.
Richarlison should push some energy into things. Looking forward to this one. go for a resounding win. At home vs a craven lot. Leave them even more heartless.
Much better first half. Son lively and unlucky. Richarlison brings more energy to front line.
Shame our wing backs are both dreadful crossers. They take up good positions but not one decent cross.
Hojberg becoming a goalscorer..weird but good for him. Rarely misses a game.
Let’s go out second half, dominate and score. No back passing.
Someone has told Lloris to stop his suicidal distribution.
Should now win this comfortably.
And looking forward to seeing Lenglet. Don’t really know his game.