[Archived] Fulham On Saturday 27Th August

[Al]

Difficult to see a start for Guthrie on the back of a cameo against tired league two opposition. Another substitute appearance to see if he is up to it in (and fit enough for) the Championship.

That said, Akpan has been terrible.

Did you see him Stuart? Tired opposition or not he was better than any other centre mids I've seen this season. Not saying much but we have to get Akpan off the pitch.

[Stuart]

Did you see him Stuart? Tired opposition or not he was better than any other centre mids I've seen this season. Not saying much but we have to get Akpan off the pitch.

Not seen him against Championship opposition recently Al.

Last time I did he was anonymous. Perhaps he was "tallest dwarf" as far as our midfield was concerned on Tuesday but I'll reserve judgement.

[ABBEY]

I'm travelling down from Glasgow and will be meeting my new lady friend for a pre match drink and a bite to eat.

Really looking forward to it. Wonder whether we'll actually bother going to the game or not

ah so you've pulled then? amazing what I missed when I was banned.

[Al]

Not seen him against Championship opposition recently Al.

Last time I did he was anonymous. Perhaps he was "tallest dwarf" as far as our midfield was concerned on Tuesday but I'll reserve judgement.

That's not what I asked. Did you see him on Tuesday? If you didn't your "tallest dwarf" crack doesn't hold water but let's not fall out over it.

[oldjamfan1]

ah so you've pulled then? amazing what I missed when I was banned.

Its probably one of your ex wives bud, they usually have a 'type'

[Ribble Rover]

I'm travelling down from Glasgow and will be meeting my new lady friend for a pre match drink and a bite to eat.

Really looking forward to it. Wonder whether we'll actually bother going to the game or not [/quote

Taker her up the Manxman

[Stuart]

That's not what I asked. Did you see him on Tuesday? If you didn't your "tallest dwarf" crack doesn't hold water but let's not fall out over it.

I thought I'd made it clear over several posts - including a micro-match report that, yes, I did go on Tuesday, Al (albeit against my better judgement and mainly because my lad wanted to go and he was £2). Sorry if this wasn't clear.

So, yes, I saw Guthrie's with my own eyes. If you're comparing him to Akpan, in current form, then he will look good. But Byrne who Guthrie replaced looked just as good. The more telling moment IMO was when we took Lowe off and put Marshall at right back, which finally woke Duffy out of his apathy But still, this was Crewe.

From what I've seen of both players Byrne would start before Guthrie against Fulham, even based on Tuesday. That may change in future but if we are using Tuesday as a benchmark then Wharton would also be a starter - yet he conceded three against League Two opposition.

[J*B]

I'm travelling down from Glasgow and will be meeting my new lady friend for a pre match drink and a bite to eat.

Really looking forward to it. Wonder whether we'll actually bother going to the game or not

Bloody hell its a @#/? love story!

[oldjamfan1]

Bloody hell its a @#/? love story!

Steady on J*B lol

[G Somerset Rover]

The more telling moment IMO was when we took Lowe off and put Marshall at right back, which finally woke Duffy out of his apathy But still, this was Crewe.

It does my head in that Coyle will not just start Marshall at RB. It's the ONLY position where he will put in a shift and he's head and shoulders above any other player that we have there. But of course he will not drop Captain Fantastic nor shift him because in CM he'd get even more exposed than he is right now.

[West Yorks Rover]

It does my head in that Coyle will not just start Marshall at RB. It's the ONLY position where he will put in a shift and he's head and shoulders above any other player that we have there. But of course he will not drop Captain Fantastic nor shift him because in CM he'd get even more exposed than he is right now.

Oh for a niggly injury !

Nothing serious of course.

[Stuart]

Oh for a niggly injury !

Nothing serious of course.

Someone last season told me that Lowe's career was all but finished with the most recent injury. Seems to have shaken that off.

[eddy11d]

But Byrne who Guthrie replaced looked just as good. The more telling moment IMO was when we took Lowe off and put Marshall at right back, which finally woke Duffy out of his apathy But still, this was Crewe.

From what I've seen of both players Byrne would start before Guthrie against Fulham, even based on Tuesday.

Were we watching the same game? Really not sure you can have gone to the game on Tuesday and thought Byrne and Guthrie looked as good as each other. I thought Guthrie was streets ahead.

[Stuart]

Were we watching the same game? Really not sure you can have gone to the game on Tuesday and thought Byrne and Guthrie looked as good as each other. I thought Guthrie was streets ahead.

All about opinions.

Football is a team sport and it's as much about the collective as about individuals. Byrne with Lowe (passing backwards / sideways AGAIN) or Guthrie with Marshall (looking to get forward).

Marshall for Lowe was the catalyst for a change in the way we were playing. Marshall and Byrne would have worked equally well in my view.

[eddy11d]

All about opinions.

Football is a team sport and it's as much about the collective as about individuals. Byrne with Lowe (passing backwards / sideways AGAIN) or Guthrie with Marshall (looking to get forward).

Marshall for Lowe was the catalyst for a change in the way we were playing. Marshall and Byrne would have worked equally well in my view.

At least we both agree that Lowe shouldn't be near the side and Marshall should be right back. If Marshall wants to play in the Prem his only chance would be to become a full time fullback, he's got all the attributes.

[Al]

I thought I'd made it clear over several posts - including a micro-match report that, yes, I did go on Tuesday, Al (albeit against my better judgement and mainly because my lad wanted to go and he was £2). Sorry if this wasn't clear.

So, yes, I saw Guthrie's with my own eyes. If you're comparing him to Akpan, in current form, then he will look good. But Byrne who Guthrie replaced looked just as good. The more telling moment IMO was when we took Lowe off and put Marshall at right back, which finally woke Duffy out of his apathy But still, this was Crewe.

From what I've seen of both players Byrne would start before Guthrie against Fulham, even based on Tuesday. That may change in future but if we are using Tuesday as a benchmark then Wharton would also be a starter - yet he conceded three against League Two opposition.

We will have to agree to differ Stuart. Guthrie was the best centre midfield I have seen this season if he can stay fit. I agree about Marshall

[roversfan99]

Marshall right back, Lowe dropped, Samuelsen and Conway wide, Guthrie starting, Stokes over Gallagher instead of Graham as a 10.

[den]

All about opinions.

Football is a team sport and it's as much about the collective as about individuals.

Well blow me.

[Stuart]

Well blow me.

Yeah except you den.

And I always championed a better team to support Rhodes. I'm not greedy, Graham and Gomez would have done.

[tomphil]

We will have to agree to differ Stuart. Guthrie was the best centre midfield I have seen this season if he can stay fit. I agree about Marshall

That's it with Guthrie he's always been a decent technical player but made of glass and goes missing when the going gets tough. Get a run of games out of him and he might be a plus point.

Akpan gets forward on the odd occasion and pinches a goal but I'd prefer him as a DM infront of our weak centre back pairings. A bit like a watered down version of the axe because he can get a foot in more than the likes of Lowe etc.

[Fraserkirky]

Raya

Marshall Duffy Greer Hendrie

Byrne Guthrie

Conway Stokes Samuelsen

Gallacher

[JBiz]

Opinions indeed! The idea of Marshall as a CM to me sounds crazy, lad never has his head up and doesn't work hard enough consistently for that role. We've tried him as a number ten, whilst id agree that he has the technical element for that, he just doesn't perform there. Decision making, vision etc - lacking.

If we can keep Marshall - play him at right back. It forces his head up becahse the game is played in front of him, and he's performed well there last season - I think him and Conway would make a good right flank.

We will never be organised under Coyle so why not play attacking fullbacks?

The Samuelson signing says Coyle has figured out that Marshall is our best right back (despite many of us being able to tell him that before) or he's on his way out - I can't say I'd be too upset, he's never developed like he should've.

I can see him getting better with age though, so the best thing is to keep potential like this! A more confident, devoted, grounded and basically mature player with Ben's technique would be top flight.

[tomphil]

Agree, if he stays get him nailing that right back spot and get the defence as strong as It can be with what they have and build from there.

No point keep messing about now and RB is the only real place Marshall has shown any type of consistency and looked genuinely comfortable.

[Tom]

Marshall right back, Lowe dropped, Samuelsen and Conway wide, Guthrie starting, Stokes over Gallagher instead of Graham as a 10.

Works for me

[Ribble Rover]

Samuelson is a number 10 really. I'm not sure playing him out wide with a job to track back will suit him. Need to try and give him a freer role behind the forward.