Fulham v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Clampy]

I reckon

                    Guzan
Bacuna.  Lowton.  Baker. Clark
                      Sylla
     Westwood. KEA.  Delph
                Gabby. Kozak

Benteket, Steer, Tonev, Albrighton, Weimann, Donacien, Gardner

Not overkeen on the idea of Clark at left back to be honest but otherwise it's not a bad looking line up.

[eastie]

               Guzan

Lowton   Baker. Clark. Bacuna

   Westwood kea.  Delph

Weimann. Benteke.  Gabby

[Kirf]

            Guzan

Bacuna   Lowton. Clark. Baker

   Westwood kea.  Delph

Weimann. Benteke.  Gabby

3-1 win i reckon

[danlanza]

I reckon

                    Guzan
Bacuna.  Lowton.  Baker. Clark
                      Sylla
     Westwood. KEA.  Delph
                Gabby. Kozak

Benteket, Steer, Tonev, Albrighton, Weimann, Donacien, Gardner

Not overkeen on the idea of Clark at left back to be honest but otherwise it's not a bad looking line up.

I would go with that clampy, always time to make a change or two for the last 20-30 mins.

[supertom]

I reckon

                    Guzan
Bacuna.  Lowton.  Baker. Clark
                      Sylla
     Westwood. KEA.  Delph
                Gabby. Kozak

Benteket, Steer, Tonev, Albrighton, Weimann, Donacien, Gardner

Not overkeen on the idea of Clark at left back to be honest but otherwise it's not a bad looking line up.

I would go with that clampy, always time to make a change or two for the last 20-30 mins.

I'm not sure. I think that's a 0-0 side to be honest. I'd be tempted to play Lowton and Bacuna as fullbacks so we can at least attack on both sides from FB. I'd also put Tonev, Weimann or Albrighton in for Sylla and go 3 up. They're really poor at fullback so I'd like to be attacking them wide too. Whipping some good crosses into Kozak.

[Pete3206]

Nice 4-0 win to take us above Man U would be nice

[Monty]

I'd like to see Albrighton start. He's probably in the best form of our wide attackers after his spell at Wigan.

[TonyD]

I would go 7 - 3 with Marco Gabby and Kojak up front.

[levico]

Really don't know how to call this. If there hadn't been a managerial change I think we would have been odds on for an away win. Now the media seem to expect Fulham to start the turnaround against us. So, maybe a draw.

[Uknowthescore]

2-1 villa. Gabbyx2

[dekko]

Gary Gardner ‏@22Gards 5h
Arrived in London happy to be back in the squad

[SoccerHQ]

We should be having a go at Fulham's back 4 really, Hangeland remains out, think they have doubts over Ponderous and Ambroiwhatshisfave aswell so they're struggling at centre half more than we are and even when they're all fit they still concede goals.

Get Weimann back in and Gabby alongside either Kozak or Benteke, I'll trust Lambert on whichever call he makes.

You can still have the 3 defensive midfielders behind to help out what will probably be our own makeshift back 4.

Have a feeling this will be 2-2 and very open.

[Hoppo]

Chuffed to see Gary Gardner back.

[ozzjim]

Great for Gardner, and if Lambert can get Delph into the player he has, he could do the same with Gardner.

I would not play Weiman Soccer. Too many really poor displays this season. Would sooner see Albrighton in an advanced forward role to be honest. Or Benteke Gabby and Kozak with Teke coming from wide.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I reckon

                    Guzan
Bacuna.  Lowton.  Baker. Clark
                      Sylla
     Westwood. KEA.  Delph
                Gabby. Kozak

Benteket, Steer, Tonev, Albrighton, Weimann, Donacien, Gardner

I bloody hope not. I'd like to see Donacien brought in at centre half, push Baker out to left back, Clark has done enough to show he's matured sufficiently to lead our central defence in the absence of Vlaar.

You're dreaming if you think for one minute Lambert is going to play Sylla in his natual position as a defensive midfielder, as you are if you think he'll go with only two strikers. He's still very much gung-ho so there's no way Benteke won't be playing, especially against a weak defence. If Weimann is fit he'll play, the front three will be his preferred choice. Midfield will be interesting, will he continue with KEA or replace him with Sylla? My guess is he'll go with KEA though I think Sylla is the better option.

Three points tomorrow will be massive, even against a very poor but slightly improving Fulham. We'll probably get outplayed as usual and continue to rely on Plan A of counter attacking. A draw would be the obvious prediction but I'm hoping there's a bit of confidence in the squad and Benteke will take advantage.

Heart says 3-1 Villa, head says 1-1.