We're finally back after the International Break, and we're coming back with a very tough game of Reading at the Madejski Stadium. Reading have some injury problems, but the addition of Glenn Murray on Deadline Day is a very, very good acquisition for the Championship- and he could cause endless problems.
After Deadline Day the new buzz word when it comes to Fulham appears to be "options". We somehow managed to hold on to Rodallega, Amorebieta and Ruiz. This provides us with some squad depth which is vital over a 46 game Championship season. However Ruiz is still with Costa Rica for this game so we don't have him available to repeat what he did the last time he came to the Madejski with us. However with Rodallega especially I'm hoping we see him play a part.
Amorebieta is an interesting player in that we don't obviously need him. Bodurov and Burn played very well together against Cardiff, and I wouldn't like to drop either of them as especially in Bodurovs case they've looked very good this season. That would mean (if we are going to start him) Amorebieta playing Left-Back, or a change in formation neither of which I'd be in favour of as against Cardiff (especially in the first-half) the team looked settled and like a team.
I would hope Bettinelli done enough against Cardiff and Brentford to cement his place in the team, until he proves otherwise- however with Magath you never know. This is my first Fulham related blog since Magath done the interview about Kiraly coming in, and in retrospect not selling a senior goalkeeper. The way in which the article was written makes me think Kiraly is purely in the team to provide a senior head to Joronen and Bettinelli, which of course means he'll start tomorrow.
The Midfield is pretty straight forward for this game in my opinion. With the absence of Ruiz, there are three midfielders who are definitely in, in my opinion- Parker, David and Hoogland. I would play 4-3-3 tomorrow with these three as the midfield. Hoogland would remain in the enforcer role, Parker would be going box-to-box and David would be the creative one- and I would hope he sees Ruiz being here and tries to step his game up.
If we were to play a front three, I would play Rodallega-Smith-McCormack. This in my opinion provides a good balance between pace, physicality and experience. Rodallega and McCormack could obviously interchange on either side- and if they adapted to this system quickly and became adept at cutting in from the wing quickly we could be lethal in front of goal. You have to assume Rodallega was given some kind of assurances over his place in the first team given his tweet when he said he was going to stay. One problem that could arise is the crossing ability in the team. Smith has come into the team in Magaths words because he's good in the air, and a good header of the ball. The crossing against Cardiff from Voser in particular was woeful, this is where Ruiz would come in when he comes back- and McCormack and Rodallega, as well as Stafylidis should provide adequate service to Smith.
Team I would Play v Reading Tomorrow
Bettinelli
Voser Burn Bodurov Stafylidis
Hoogland
Parker David
Rodallega Smith McCormack
This team is the team I would use going forward with the exception of bringing Ruiz in for Chris David, although if David consistently performs well that opinion would change.
Thanks again for reading, We have to win eventually right?
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