Fulham – Villa; Oh dear, oh dear

It just goes from bad to worse, doesn’t it?
On top of Mings and Buendia being out for the season with serious knee injuries, we now have Kamara, with a similar injury, Konsa with a knee sprain and out for maybe another month and Jhon Duran with a Hamstring injury that will probably keep him out until April.
Now add on Diego Carlos, who has suffered a Hamstring injury in training and will be out for around a month.
What makes things worse, is that Kamara is not expected to return until september or even October, meaning he’ll have missed all the pre-season and take an age to get into proper shape.
All in all, it means we’re now beyond bare bones and likely to see the consequences of not giving the kids enough minutes in the first team.
It’s a fact that many of us have called for Tim Iroegbunam to play, for example, to no avail. Well, now it looks like we have no choice but to play him.

I remember quite a few players getting serious injuries, particularly around this time of year in the seventies and eighties, but it was usually attributed to the state of the pitches, where feet would dig in to the really heavy, muddy going. Nowadays, pitches are often smoother than a baby’s proverbial, meaning things should be vastly better?
Yet they don’t seem to be and I think it can only be due to modern methods of training.

Whatever, the footballing gods are definitely not looking down on us favourably, which is about usual and it all means we could be in for a torrid and massively disappointing end to the season, which begins today in my estimation.
There is a little bit of good news, which is that Pau Torres and Lucas Digne should be good to play.

Fulham manager, Roy Hodgson was taken ill during training and had to be rushed to hospital. I’m sure we all wish him well and a good recovery, but the timing wasn’t very convenient for the club, as rumours suggest he was on the verge of being sacked. That thought will obviously have gone out of the window now.
The question for us is how will that affect the Fulham team? and it tends to be that players often try harder in these sorts of situations.
As though things already didn’t bode well for us.

Fulham’s squad news is that Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi are back from AFCON. Tosin Adarabioyo and Kenny Tete are available again too, but Raul Jimenez remains out, while Harry Wilson (shoulder) and Issa Diop (hamstring) are both doubtful.
It sounds like they’re in a lot better nick than us.

So how do I see this one going?
Poorly, is the simple answer to that.
I’ve commented for a while now that I didn’t think we’re a very good side of late and we’re now seeing the results that back this up.
I think many of us knew at the back of our minds that we wouldn’t be able to sustain our fantastic play of the first half of the season, but doesn’t it hurt to see that thought coming to fruition?

Our poor run of form continues then and I see goals. I’d expect us to get one, but I’d also expect Fulham to get more, with no doubt Jordan Ayew getting one, if he plays.

It has to be a 1-3 loss I reckon.

UTV!

40 Comments

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  1. The Ron Saunders Stand
    The Ron Saunders Stand February 17, 2024 at 4:31 pm . Reply

    No pen?
    So var only works for man city – Liverpool etc?

    1. The Ron Saunders Stand
      The Ron Saunders Stand February 17, 2024 at 5:04 pm . Reply

      Wolves have done us a right favour…
      Go Dingles go 😁

  2. The Ron Saunders Stand
    The Ron Saunders Stand February 17, 2024 at 5:01 pm . Reply

    We made hard work of that but well done the lads 😁

  3. Sidforever
    Sidforever February 17, 2024 at 5:01 pm . Reply

    I went for the win and we did it. Great effort. Everyone gave it their all.

    Even better Spurs lost!

  4. Holte
    Holte February 17, 2024 at 5:07 pm . Reply

    I didn’t see much of the second half with wi-fi issues. I did think when they scored we might draw or lose but Martinez excellent save and some grit saw us over the line. Great news that Spurs lost too!

  5. 1874 was a good year
    1874 was a good year February 17, 2024 at 5:08 pm . Reply

    Back in fourth spot after Spurs get done at home by Wolves. Great away win and this roller coaster of a season continues. Lots of surprises to come, I’m sure, but being in a Champions League spot with exactly two thirds of the season gone isn’t too shabby, is it?

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 February 17, 2024 at 5:14 pm . Reply

      Certainly isn’t.

      I might even watch MoTD tonight – well the Villa bit anyway although if I blink I’ll probably miss it πŸ™‚

  6. Bum Bum the Coward
    Bum Bum the Coward February 17, 2024 at 5:25 pm . Reply

    I took the cowards way out and went to the pub ignoring the football.
    Just seen the results for us and Spuds.
    😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

    1. Bill Pearson
      Bill Pearson February 17, 2024 at 5:45 pm . Reply

      You’ll have to do the same next week , the only gripe from me was Uni should have pulled Teilmann off earlier, he did an assist but flagged after , yes great result and looking good for the run in .utv

  7. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum February 17, 2024 at 5:56 pm . Reply

    Forest next. Revenge?

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 February 17, 2024 at 6:10 pm . Reply

      Be a different prospect under Nunes but we do need to get our home form back on track.

      Having said that I wouldn’t be surprised at a draw.

      1. Bum Bum
        Bum Bum February 17, 2024 at 8:26 pm . Reply

        Hitch, i think the Boss (not Bruce Springsteen), will be sharp enough to adapt to our needs. I’m weirdly optimistic about the rest of the season. We’ll win some, lose some but I still think we have a good shout out for 4th place.
        How did Tim do today???

  8. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 February 17, 2024 at 7:39 pm . Reply

    Just watched the highlights on Sky – how was that not a penalty when Watkinsxwas brought down in the area.

    Coupled with the dubious offside decision against Moreno what actually is the purpose of VAR? If VAR was a player it would be banned for bringing the game into disrepute!

    1. BFR
      BFR February 17, 2024 at 7:59 pm . Reply

      What is the purpose of VAR? Is that a rhetorical question, Hitch? Or should I go off on a rant…

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