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Forecast Friday: Who will take bragging rights in the West London derby? image

Forecast Friday: Who will take bragging rights in the West London derby?

S2425 E52 · Daily Fulham
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The guys take a deep dive on all things Brentford before previewing the match between the local rivals. 

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Transcript

Setting the Stage: Fulham vs Brentford Rivalry

00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back everybody to the Daily Fulham Podcast. This is your home of all things Fulham. Today is Forecast Friday and we're continuing our build-up with the game on Monday as Fulham go head-to-head with their West London rivals Brentford.

Post-Everton Match Frustrations

00:00:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm Gavin Ruffle and I'm joined by Jack Kelly. Jack, you were a bit frustrated last time we spoke about that result last weekend against Everton. How are you feeling now? Are you over the disappointment?
00:00:34
Jack Kelly
Yeah, that's fine. it's It's over and done with. There's not much you can do about it now. I think now it's it's a case of can we bounce back at home? You know, we lost our last home game. We drew our last away game in the last minute. So can we bounce back with a win against a team that would would mean a lot to the fans if we were to beat?
00:00:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. I mentioned this is a game between two West London

Rivalries with Brentford and Chelsea

00:00:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
rivals. how do you How do you view the rivalry between these two clubs just as ah as an outsider looking in? Is this one of is this the rivalry for Fulham or do they see Chelsea as as their big rival?
00:01:09
Jack Kelly
it's It's a difficult one because I think there's been a lot of closeness between Brentford and QPR. I'm full of them over the last few years in terms of we've been in the Championship together, we're now in the Premier League together. and They've got one on over us a few times at the Cottage and and then we've we've beaten them at Griffin Park a couple of times or what was Griffin Park and haven't actually won at their new stadium yet. I think the one with Chelsea is a bit more like we really hate them they don't really care like they don't really care about us so there's more of a mutual hatred between Fulham and Brentford and obviously like Fulham and QPR as well but I think this one from both sides means more whereas that the Fulham one is with Chelsea is much more Fulham hating Chelsea basically.
00:01:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Have you noticed a difference in atmosphere since they've moved to their new ground?
00:02:02
Jack Kelly
In terms of their atmosphere I mean not really I mean um I wasn't too blown away with, i I don't really, okay, I understand when Brentford played in their opening night against Arsenal back in you know the first Premier League game they had and they beat Arsenal 2-0 and Carragher was going on about how the atmosphere was so special. I don't think it's that special at all. I i think it's pretty bog standard really. On any other three o'clock game you'll see between Brentford and like Wolves or Ipswich who they played recently, I wouldn't expect ah a cauldron of an atmosphere.
00:02:36
Jack Kelly
maybe when the big boys turned up and and went full and come to town as well. But um yeah, I don't really notice anything special.
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well this is a fixture that Brentford have held their own in recent seasons and enjoyed some reasonable success but the biggest meeting would have been that. Play a final in back in 2020, what are your memories of that?

Reflecting on Fulham's 2020 Playoff Win

00:02:52
Jack Kelly
Well, I mean, that was, it's it's almost a forgettable occasion because it was obviously in lockdown. um I was at the pub watching it with a few friends ah near to the cottage and when we won, which was a fantastic feeling, we went down to the Craving Cottage. and probably rather at the time, irresponsibly, celebrated with hundreds of other Fulham fans. But um yeah, that was a really good memory and obviously great to get one over them in terms of, genuinely, when you asked me that first question, I didn't even think of the playoff final. So that's how sort of, I wouldn't say irrelevant it is, but um how forgettable it was, even though it is quite a memorable memory of of many Fulham fans. Joe Bryan's free kick will forever live long in the memory. um I think it's just because of what happened afterwards in terms of a terrible Premier League campaign.
00:03:37
Jack Kelly
is what sort of just doesn't really make it right now that relevant for for me personally. But obviously, Brentford doing what Villa did when we beat them in the playoff final, we get relegated the previous season and then they win the playoffs the previous, the next season, sorry.
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and I guess there must have been some bittersweet about it as well, the fact that Fulmer winning the playoff on Wembley and won't no fans in the in the stadium, no fans for the majority, if not all of the games throughout the course of the next season as well due to Covid.
00:04:01
Jack Kelly
Yeah.
00:04:07
Jack Kelly
Absolutely, yeah. um There was only two games we could attend that season and I luckily went to both of them or rather unluckily went to both of them. The one against Liverpool was pretty good. The one all draw but the the loss to Newcastle on the last day was pretty grim. We'd already been relegated. But yeah, the win against Brentford obviously would have loved to have been there, would have been some atmosphere atmosphere if what had happened on the pitch had happened in front of 90,000 people. You know, we'd have that over them forever and we'd probably still talk about it to this day.
00:04:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep. We will speak a bit more in depth about Brentford just a moment, but I want to switch gears for the time being. ah It was the Ballon d'Or this week. Did you watch it at all? I mean, I didn't. What did you make of the the result?
00:04:49
Jack Kelly
it The Ballon d'Or doesn't really necessarily interest me whatsoever. um I don't think that the caliber of players, albeit they're very good players, are not of what it was when it was Messi versus Ronaldo or Luka Modric or players of of that ilk.
00:05:07
Jack Kelly
I think there was one year during COVID where I think Robert Lewandowski should have won it, but there wasn't ah an awards ceremony, so it felt a bit bad for Lewandowski because i I saw a picture of his numbers yesterday at all the clubs he's been at.
00:05:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bye.
00:05:18
Jack Kelly
and it's truly remarkable um how he's never won the Ballon d'Or. But in terms of Rodry, obviously con congratulations to him, but i I genuinely care more about who won like yeah EFL Player of the Year than the Ballon d'Or.
00:05:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I'm absolutely in in agreement with you there. It's not something that I lose sleep about. It was a bit disappointing to see some of the reaction afterwards because Rodri is a worthy winner, in my opinion. Just as much as Vinicius would have been, so I'm not losing sleep about the result. The only reason I brought that up because is because an ex full-on player ranked highly, which was Adam Oler luck when he ranked 14th in the end.
00:05:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course he had an interest in time at Fulham, didn't he, in that relegation campaign. When you were watching him that season, did you imagine he would one day become the 14th ranked player on the Ballon d'Or list?
00:06:00
Jack Kelly
Not quite as specific as that, but I knew he was a player with with so much potential. I did think that at the time, You know, he's almost right now, I look at Adam and I look at Reese Nelson and it's almost like that sort of um player off the bench you can make who can get you off your seat. I'm not saying that this Fulham team is as bad as the one on the Parker, because it just is way better obviously. But um in that team where we struggle to score, we struggle to create, we struggle to win, Luckman was the player I would always look to if you pardon the pun, to actually put Sparkers into life. and
00:06:37
Jack Kelly
really good player again it's another like if we just stayed up we would have kept on on whole um we would have kept lookman anderson ariola we could have been in a different place but then again we'd have parkour's manager and and i don't think anyone would have wanted that um but yeah lookman outstanding player very very pleased for him to see him do so well and yeah i'm looking out for him and his career
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I was going to say, it's a shame for him that the one moment he is remembered from his time in Fulham is the Penangka penalty in the last minute of West Arm, wasn't it? Which is, yeah, which gets replayed a lot um and just an unfortunate moment. But people forget that actually he was a rare, bright spark in that Fulham team and he's a real presence and good attacking outlook for them during his time at the club.
00:07:19
Jack Kelly
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, he scored a really important goal against Sheffield United, both home and away that season. Such a forgettable season now and obviously being in lockdown. That penalty obviously is replayed in Premier League like blooper reels and stuff like that. But thank God his career is not defined by that moment. You know, everyone in their career has a bad moment and um you know to to go and Was he scored like a brace in the Europa League final last season or something? I mean, in terms of how he's turned it around or what he's doing now at Atlanta is is quite extraordinary. And, you know, he's he is a phenomenal player, honestly.
00:07:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here's indeed, as I said, we will come on to Brentford shortly, but before we do that, give me just a moment to thank our sponsors here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, and that is Zencaster. We spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all the ums and ours. It's super easy to start the podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.

Brentford's Mixed Start and Home Form

00:08:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
These two teams, there's a lot of parallels between the t between the two teams. They're both in the top half, ninth and 10th. What have you made to Brentford's start to season? and
00:08:38
Jack Kelly
Well, I think they've been fairly unlucky in terms of how the fixtures have fell. I mean, they've they've had four away games against Liverpool Spurs, Man United and a Manchester City, all of which they have actually competed in to some extent. They've scored in in three of the four, in fact, they've taken the lead in three or four of them and ended up losing them all. To have those away games back to back to back to back is just quite extraordinary for the fixture calendar. In terms of their home games, a 2-1 win over ah Crystal Palace, 1-1 draw to West Ham, 5-3 to um Wolves, 4-3 to Ipswich and a 3-1 win against Southampton, so they've actually got...
00:09:18
Jack Kelly
and they prove that their home form is very, very good. I'm beating at home and and yet to win away from home, um just snuck through into the EFL quarterfinal, EFL Cup quarterfinals as well. So they're going well and they have a good team. I wouldn't say they've got extraordinary squad depth, but they're getting the best out of their players. And that's what Thomas Frank has done during his time at Brentford, not only in the championship,

Star Players: Carvalho, Wissa, and Mbeumo

00:09:41
Jack Kelly
but in the Premier League. They are getting the best out of and every single player and and the addition of Fabio Carvalho obviously adds a bit of dynamism off the bench, a bit of creativity in that number 10 position. Goal scorers in Bohemu and Wissau have been on fantastic form. Shard is actually doing very well now. Lewis Potter playing well, and Jan Elks, Norgard, they've got very, very, very good players um who they've relied on all season and and for the last few years, you look at the likes of Nathan Collins, who's doing really well, Pinnock, who scored against Manchester United.
00:10:09
Jack Kelly
um yeah they're a well-oiled machine and obviously that's without their their new sort of signing Tiago who hasn't even played yet and obviously you wouldn't it's it's it's similar in terms of Fulham's position because you wouldn't necessarily say that Brentford have missed Ivan Tony or are missing Ivan Tony, you wouldn't necessarily say that the Fulham are missing Joplinja right now. um So um I've been impressed. Obviously, I'm not Brentford's biggest fan. I don't look at all their numbers and all their results. and but But obviously, for this game, I've had to you know do my research and into Brentford. And obviously, I've watched all their highlights this season as well you know each week. And they've been good. They've been fairly good. and And I think that well we will probably finish in a very similar position this season. and
00:10:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i mean I mean, the home and away form is something I addressed on the crossover episode. Yes, they couldn't be more stark with them collecting the most points along with Manchester City at home and then collecting absolutely nothing away from home with Southampton, the only team that hasn't got a point as well.
00:11:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it has been addressed that some of the away fixtures have been tough. haven an they um I think they've played the likes of Liverpool, Man City, Spurs. And on the flip side, their home home form, they've played some of the teams at the lower end of the table. So do you see that sort of evening and out as as the season goes on? Eventually, it'll be, you know, they will lose, they will have their fair share of losses home just as much as they have their fair share of wins away from home. Or is there something fundamentally wrong as to why the away form hasn't been so great? Or is it just simply the fact that the caliber of opposition they've played?
00:11:09
Jack Kelly
Yeah.
00:11:39
Jack Kelly
Yeah, I think it's just caliber of opposition. um I think that. like like i said they've been putting up a fight and it's not like they've rolled over and been thrashing every one of these games they've actually been competitive in probably three of the four that the game gets Liverpool i think they didn't have much in the game but um taking the lead and taking the lead early and in these games apart from obviously the the Man United game where they scored on the stroke of half time they've shown that they can be a competitive Premier League team you look at there are away fixtures coming up they've got ourselves and Everton and Aston Villa those will
00:12:12
Jack Kelly
And I think so maybe it's hard to judge Breakford season so far because they've beaten teams they should have beaten at home or or would have fancied to beaten at home and they've lost to teams that you'd fancy they'd lose to away. So when they actually do play, the likes of Fulham, the likes of Bournemouth, the likes of Everton, the likes of Leicester and Aston Villa, the next five games might give us a better indication of where they are this season. If they were to go to Goodison Park and lose, go to Aston Villa and lose,
00:12:37
Jack Kelly
albeit Villa are a very good team, I would say there's a fundamentally a problem with Brentford playing away from home. But then again, we've seen them pick up decent results away from home in previous years. What I will say is that at home, they can be very strong against the big teams as well. We've seen them pick up results against Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, all of the times they've been in the Premier League as well. I think it's just a matter of sort of wait and see when it comes to Brentford. now I think it'd be easy to judge them by Christmas time to see where they're at.
00:13:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
What they do have in their Arsenal is two forwards that are goal getters.
00:13:09
Jack Kelly
Mm hmm.
00:13:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Visser's got five in his six-prem appearances. He was out for a spell with an injury as well, and Wemo's only behind Erling Haaland in the scoring charts. And Wemo was someone as well that's hard to play second fiddle.
00:13:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's often been in the shadows of Ivan Toney, even going back in the championship, I was saying this yesterday that he was playing in the front three, wasn't he, with Ben Rama and Ollie Watkins. And he was probably the third guy of those three that take took the attention, took the acclaim. But what we've seen is a steady progression, someone that's got better each season. Do you think eventually, maybe sooner rather than later, and he will eventually move on to one of those so-called bigger clubs?
00:13:46
Jack Kelly
Yeah, I think it's it's come out in the last couple of days that that Newcastle hold a huge interest in Emboyamo's services and I think that brent what give credit for what they do very well is they is they progress players and and and they sell them on for for a decent profit and we've seen that obviously throughout the years. Ivan Tony being the latest one going for a high fee. I think Emboyamo is probably next on that list. I think Visser is performing at a very high level as well but Emboyamo has definitely stood out as the main goal threat this season. um He's been absolutely fantastic to be fair and and a player that I fear playing against or I fear watching or playing against Fulham on Monday just seems to have a really good knack for finishing inside the box, really good eye for goal and
00:14:32
Jack Kelly
great link up with his other teammates in the in the final third. He sets up goals, he scores goals and he's the perfect all-round forward that Brentford have but they've got to be wary that teams like I think a Newcastle, maybe an Aston Villa could come looking for him. I don't think he's quite like top six level but I think that Brentford sit in that sort of pocket of teams where who are trying to make it to the next step like a Fulham like a Brighton and we've seen Brighton playing European obviously recently but a team like Newcastle who are basically with the resources they've got the fact that they're trying to get up to the next level and consistently you know playing European football I think that Newcastle could be a good step up for him.
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
One player that will be making his return to Craven Cottage and you mentioned him there was Fabio Cavallio. He's a player I'm guessing you would have seen a lot first-hand of in his time at the Championship ah time in the championship with Fulham and i subsequently making that move to Liverpool. Are you surprised in his career trajectory that he's ended up at a club like Brentford? Did you think when he went to Liverpool he would have you would make more of an impression?
00:15:32
Jack Kelly
I thought that when he went to Liverpool, he would it would it would go as if, as how it did go, i.e. playing very, very sporadic minutes. He scored ah a very important goal against Newcastle in the Premier League, and which I thought maybe could spark his Liverpool career, but then you know sent out on loan to Leipzig, no goals, no assists, sent out on loan to Hull, and did very well. And I think championship level, no disrespect to him, is probably his level right now. And and then then he moves to Brentford for a fee that's pretty eye watering, to be fair, for a but for a player who hasn't really proved it at the Premier League level.
00:16:10
Jack Kelly
But he's had a steady start, um hasn't played loads of minutes, but but is is slowly sort of molding into the system that Brentford play. And he obviously is a dangerous player. we've We've seen that under silver. I think that he was very, very badly advised by the people around him. When Liverpool came calling in January, he wanted to go. It didn't go through. It collapsed on deadline day. And he had his heart set on it.
00:16:37
Jack Kelly
he He probably should have, and I said this to Charlie the other day and in one of the other podcasts we did about the Youth Academy, that he should have stayed, realized that he had a place in the Premier League team and under Marco Silva, would have played Premier League minutes. I don't know what that would have done in terms of Andres Pereira obviously being that replacement and being that, I would say, upgrade on on Fabio Carvalho, but I think there would have been a place in the squad for him. And now he's at Brentford, and and I feel like obviously Brentford and Fulham are very much on par in terms of ambitions and and where they are as as football clubs. but it's almost like he's gone full circle and not really made any progress and now he's he's he's he's annoyed at a fan base in full and by going to a rival quite in my eyes unnecessarily
00:17:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we can't talk about Brentford without ah mentioning the manager.

Thomas Frank vs Marco Silva: Coaching Futures

00:17:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course, the big managerial news this week is Erichton Hardsacken from Manchester United. It looks like at this time of recording that Anna Rims can assume be appointed, maybe not be in charge of the weekend, but probably the game after that. ah Thomas Frank is a manager that's name, his name has been mentioned in dispatches with those sort of clubs. Do you see him, like maybe in Buemo, making that step up to ah to a club higher up in the league table?
00:17:47
Jack Kelly
It's hard to say because the only, and and I put Marco Silva in these sort of brackets as well. Again, you know, I said this before, Marco Silva and Thomas Frank have done very similar things since they've been promoted to the to the Premier League. they've They've kept the club afloat. They've both finished in the top half and then the bottom half of tables um in the last two seasons, um since obviously Fulham have been up as well. And Frank has done a very, very good job. I'd argue Marcus Silva has done just as good as a job as as as Thomas Frank. And what I will say is that like
00:18:22
Jack Kelly
I don't see any other job being sort of apart from obviously Man United when Frank was maybe touted for it and now obviously he's not going to get that job. i The only other job I see him going for or him being interested in is Spurs, but then I'd also say that about Marco Silva as well I think that if Ang post a coglio and after you know, last night's very very good win against Manchester City in the EFL Cup I don't necessarily think and is on the brink of any sort of sacking or anything like that But that does make me nervous as a full-on family It might make Brentford fans nervous as Brentford fans that if Ang got the sack then maybe they would I don't see any other Premier League Club right now and
00:19:04
Jack Kelly
being in, I don't know, no, because everyone is fairly secure in their jobs, if you think about it.
00:19:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
you see you see You say that, but Chelsea do some daft things at times, so if Mareska ends up going three or four games, you'd better win.
00:19:14
Jack Kelly
But they've had a good season. Yeah, no, you're right. And I think that Silva would be on the Chelsea radar. And I think Frank would be on the Chelsea radar. But Maresca is turning it around to the point where Chelsea are looking like they could be back in the Champions League next season. So I genuinely don't think that, I think Brentford, Frank's a fantastic fit for Brentford. Silva's a great fit for Fulham.
00:19:34
Jack Kelly
Any other offer abroad, maybe Frank would would jump in it. Silver's already turned down jobs abroad as well. um And obviously they want to be in the Premier League and compete. it's hard It's hard to say, it's hard to say. no one's No one's guaranteed anything in the Premier League in terms of a job. um But it's, i going back to the original question, Frank's done very, very well. And he would deserve a bigger job in the Premier League, but I don't think there is one for him. And I think he'd be fine with that.
00:20:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I guess this final question can be but put to both sides really, because they're on a similar level. What do you think would constitute a successful season for both sides?

Season Success Benchmarks

00:20:13
Jack Kelly
just top half finish. you know I think the Premier League, I genuinely think that the opening nine games of this Premier League has been absolutely fascinating in terms of where teams are sitting and and who's progressing and who's not. um i I think the relegation battle is still quite open. I don't think there's necessarily, I think Southampton are in trouble, they're the team most in trouble, but I don't think there's a set three that I think that are going to be you know relegated by Christmas or whatever like that. I think there's a title race on. I think there's definitely a Champions League and European race on. I think a team like Fulham and like Brentford can push through Europe this season. We've seen the capabilities of both sides. um But I think that
00:20:53
Jack Kelly
You know, given Brighton under Hurst are doing incredibly well, Newcastle will want to bounce back. You know, Villa are going so well, even though they're in the Champions League and you've got all the other top six teams, it's going to be hard. So then you look at that and go, okay, well what's the next best thing? We're finishing in the top half. Both of those teams right now occupy those places. And I think they are better than Everton, Bournemouth, Wolves, you know, all the bottom half teams. I think Fulham and Brentford are better than those than those um than those teams.
00:21:18
Jack Kelly
So I think, yeah, I genuinely think that Fulham and Brentford could finish 8th and 9th, 9th or 10th, 10th or even 11th. And I think both fan base would be fairly okay with that.
00:21:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the other thing as well, which we've mentioned previously, is how both teams have had a tendency for throwing away to lead the lead this season. So despite the the fact that they are both in the top half of the table, they could even be sitting prettier. um So, ah no, I you agree with you. I always always think with the Premier League, you probably got the big six clubs and then you've got Aston Villa and Newcastle in the last couple of seasons and then. ah The aim for a lot of clubs is probably to be in that next next best position.
00:21:53
Jack Kelly
Mm.
00:21:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll have a look at the match itself, give you some team news and predictions. But before we do that, let me tell you all about the Global Sports Podcast Network. The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasts with dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football and the daily Premier League rapid broadcast in five different languages.
00:22:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcast. So coming on to team news, I guess the one we would definitely expect, at least one change we would expect is Anderson to come back in for Isid the Op. Do you see any other the changes?
00:22:30
Jack Kelly
I think that would be that. I think that would be probably the most realistic 11, one that we've seen a couple of times before this season.
00:22:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
so you So you still don't see ah Nelson forcing his way into that starting 11?
00:22:39
Jack Kelly
and
00:22:43
Jack Kelly
Yeah, I think that is that is the the next question, isn't it? And I do, I mean, I asked Silver this last week, I said, is is Nelson close? And he said, he's close to a start. And what we saw from him ah off the bench on Saturday against Everton was very, very promising. And it's not like you're like, oh, yeah, but if we start Nelson, then we're going to miss out hugely on having a Dharmachari. We'll just bring a Dharmachari with 20 minutes to go and running ah you know tired legs of of a Brentford defence, and then you'll get lots and lots of joy down the right hand side.
00:23:10
Jack Kelly
um So I personally could see Nelson start. I just don't know whether it's the right game for him to start, ah just because I don't know whether Marco feels it's a good idea or not. i From what I know and what I understand is that Nelson will start a game very, very soon, whether it be Brentwood, whether it be Palace, whether it be Wolves after the international break.
00:23:32
Jack Kelly
um I'm very excited to see him play 70 minutes. I think fans are very excited to see him play a long amount of time on the pitch. And again, like I said, ah bringing a diamond try of the bench is such a useful tool to have that it would scare any defense. If you know if you're 70 minutes in, and you're you're getting a little bit tired and you think, gosh, okay, only 20 minutes to go. And then you see a diamond try early oiling up and then ready to come on. you're just gonna You're just gonna be like, I can't believe I've got to put up for this for another 20, 25 minutes. so I would like to see Nelson start, and I think a lot of fans would. Then again, the Dharma has been very impressive from the start in games as well. But apart from that, there's no other sort of question marks. I think Pereira and Smithrow have ah performed at a decent level last week, and I think they've earned their start again for for for the game on Monday.
00:24:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes It's an interesting one actually because if you look at Brentford they often operate with four centre halves. They've got a really big defensive unit.
00:24:27
Jack Kelly
Hmm.
00:24:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah They're very strong from set pieces. Actually I've got some of the stats from set pieces I think. For them they're the only team not to have scored from a free kick or a corner this season and Brentford are the only team ah not to have conceded from a free kick or corner this season.
00:24:39
Jack Kelly
bri
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah expect a couple of full goals from corners and is that is that what we're expecting.
00:24:44
Jack Kelly
Yeah.
00:24:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so what I was going to say is is about their defence, the way they line up. I know they've got injuries to Rico, Henry and Aaron Hickey, haven't they? So they often operate with four centre-halves. Do you like think Silva might look at that and that might persuade them just to keep Traore in the team?
00:25:00
Jack Kelly
Yeah, no, definitely. I think i think he he can be got at, um ah he can get out that defence. Obviously Roslev is more of a a right back, left back sort of play, he can play on both sides. Vandenberg is obviously a centre back, as is Pinnock, as is Collins, as is Ben Mee. I think that that actually is something, I mean even if you started Nelson on one side or Robey, these are players who are quick and can beat a man. I just think Traore, if he can get in behind Or actually just take his man on. He probably has the beating of those sort of fullbacks. It is unlucky they're missing Hickey and Henry. And it's um something I didn't even really realise until I started looking into Brentford and what sort of season they've had so far. um But I'm confident
00:25:44
Jack Kelly
being at home we will take the game to Brentford and we'll cause them some issues. I know they like to start fast and if they get, I genuinely think that actually if they get kickoff that's quite a big deal. Whoever wins the toss is quite a big deal because if it's Brentford who win the toss we have to sort of be prepared for them to go all guns blazing because Thomas Frank said in an interview he said it like the opening minute of a game we just go for it which kind of leaves you exposed obviously if you lose the ball in transition or whatever and Fulham are quite good at picking up the ball in those areas.
00:26:15
Jack Kelly
But also, if they do kick off, they could just lump one forward, win a throw in, or you know just cause a bit of chaos. And that's how they basically got this incredible like start over the last few weeks where they've scored goals in the opening one, two minutes of the game. If fun and win the toss, I'm actually giving us a big old cheer, because that's going to nullify those sort of early threats, unless we, of course, give it away from kickoff. But I'm looking forward to this game quite a lot, for for many reasons, actually.
00:26:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
is Is there anyone else on the Brentford team apart from the obvious deluxe of wary of?
00:26:47
Jack Kelly
sort of wary of Lewis Potter because and obviously Carvalho as well just because he'll have that sort of chip on the shoulder and he'll want to impress at that Craven Cottage but Lewis Potter is a player who hasn't absolutely blown me away whenever I've watched it but he is a quite a tricky winger when he was at Hull he was definitely definitely a player who I thought could make the step up to the Premier League and Like I say, he doesn't score a ton of goals. He doesn't, um has hasn't impressed me that much. But any winger playing in that sort of system, when you've got Emboyment on one side, Whistle down the middle, they can they could swap either either side as well, just strikes fear into me a little bit.
00:27:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And just imagine a scenario where Fulham are a goal in front with 70 minutes gone. What do they need to do? What would you like to see them do better in order to make sure that they secure that

Fulham's Late-Game Strategies

00:27:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
win and not have have a late another late goal go against them?
00:27:34
Jack Kelly
ah
00:27:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because you you know nerves are going to kick in probably from probably from the fans and there's been a bit of anxiety and late on in the game if they are just you know a goal to the good.
00:27:47
Jack Kelly
No, yeah you're you're right. And I think that bringing on a fifth cent ah fifth defender or a third center back always sort of makes me nervous. It happened on Saturday. We ended up conceding. It doesn't happen every time. It doesn't mean we're inviting pressure on. It just means that we're trying to get an extra body in the box to defend our box. And it just so happened on Saturday. We didn't defend our box. But um I think that we've got to push and use either it would be try already or Nelson off the bench utilize that sort of pace we can have on the break as they try and grab an equalizer we can try and hit him on the break and a player like Nelson could stretch the defense or try already for sure.
00:28:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, as I said, and they're going to have to be on guard from set pieces because they've got the likes of Nathan Collins and Aya and Vandenberg and Pinnock. They're all six foot four plus, aren't they? So they can have to be very wary on every set piece delivery, make sure they defend well. So how do you see the game going then?
00:28:38
Jack Kelly
I was speaking to a Brentford fan earlier today and I'm going to just stick with

Match Predictions: Fulham vs Brentford

00:28:42
Jack Kelly
my prediction. I think Fulham are going to win 2-1. I think we'll win it in the second half. It might be like we go go down and come back or we we take the lead and they equalise. But i I think that Fulham will win the game and that's because I think that with a Wobi and then you think of Robinson and Smith throwing those little pockets and Pereira. I think we've got more quality in the final third and we'll bring we'll bring the game to them and they'll have to defend their box a little bit. I know they've got their threats on the break and they're going to have chances. I think it's going to be a very, very opening game. And actually as a neutral Monday Night Football, you look at that fiction thing, not sure about that. I genuinely think it's a very, very good fixture. And I think it'll be a good game. and I think we'll win 2-1.
00:29:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think it's going to be a good game as well. You look at Brentford, they've there's been 36 goals and then nine games, so there's an average of four goals every time Brentford get on the pitch and full of like to dominate, you like to get on the front foot at home.
00:29:29
Jack Kelly
It's ridiculous.
00:29:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i I gave the same prediction on a crossover yesterday. I fancy full into win two and go out to a two goal lead. And I can see Brentford pulling a goal back and then it being a very nervy last edgy last 20, 25 minutes with fans thinking, no, I'm not going to throw away another a lead here, especially a two goal lead.
00:29:49
Jack Kelly
Yeah.
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can see fun just hanging on for. It'd be an important three points when it getting back to winning ways after a few setbacks recently.
00:29:58
Jack Kelly
Oh, absolutely. I think the three points here would not only i would not over ah need take over Brentford in the table, but it would be bragging rights. um It would be, okay, we're back on we're back on form, we're back on home form, we're going to Crystal Palace, who obviously still haven't started the season magnificently, or albeit beating Spurs, and it gives us real confidence going into the international break for that final game to go.
00:30:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely a win here against their West London and rivals. We'll set things up nicely for the fixtures ahead. That'll do it for today, folks. Be sure to tune in next time for our review of Fulham Brentford, the game that kicks off Monday evening. We'll see you all for that.