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Forecast Friday: Can Fulham continue their recent love affair with Goodison Park?
40 Plays1 month ago
The guys preview the weekend's fixture with an appraisal of Everton and contemplate if it's the right time for Marco Silva to change things up.
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Theme
00:00:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back to another edition of the Daily Fulham Podcast. This is of course your home of all things Fulham. Today is our forecast Friday episode where we will be previewing the game on a weekend as Marco Silva returns to his old stomping ground.
00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fulham go to Goodison Park to take on a resurgent Everton.
Marco Silva's Return to Goodison Park
00:00:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
My name is Gavin Ruffle and joining me once again is Charlie Pritchard.
00:00:29
Charlie
Hmm.
00:00:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Charlie, I said Marco Silva's returning to Everton. How do you feel Everton fans perceive Marco Silva? Because of course, it wasn't it wasn't ah necessarily the greatest time he had there, but I feel like obviously he's gone on to Fulham and had success.
00:00:45
Charlie
Yeah.
00:00:49
Charlie
Yeah.
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then even the other jobs he's had in England, I know he took hold down, but he kind of even enhanced his reputation in and Watford as well. So Everton's probably the one job he's had in this country where he didn't quite go to plan, did he?
00:01:02
Charlie
Yeah, um I don't know whether it was too much too soon for Marco at the time. I'm not really sure. Everyone would always say that he he just doesn't really stay at clubs for that long. That was the whole rumor. But then he's obviously broken that with us. I'm sure Everton fans are really annoyed. like I'd be really annoyed if a former manager who was, well, not that great for you.
00:01:22
Charlie
for you ends up turning into one of the most sought after managers well in Europe I'd like to say um I think he is so yeah um I'd be really annoyed as an Everton fan I mean I'm happy as a Fulham fan though
00:01:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, there probably is a hint of jealousy there from Everton fans, even if they might try and
Fulham's Recent Performance and Upcoming Games
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
deny it. um Let's just look at this game then. I mean, Fulham have lost the last two, of course they've played tough teams. Do you think this fixture adds further significance now, the fact that they have lost the last two?
00:01:53
Charlie
um Yeah, I mean, like probably mentally for the players, I would say it would. um for For me though, I always like to say these ones matter and I would like to say I expect to win, but it still is a difficult place to go. They're very, yeah as you said, resurgent at the moment. um We're coming off the back of two, but no, i I don't think it's going to change the shape of the game at all. um I don't think it makes it a must win. I think we're better We're in a better position in the league right now than, you know, perhaps a lot of people expected.
00:02:26
Charlie
So I think ah right now we're sitting about level. I think a win would be really nice.
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
But this does represent the first game of a crop of fixtures now. We're full of more fancy, their chances to pick up points. As I mentioned, they've had two really tough games against Champions League, caliber opposition.
00:02:37
Charlie
Yeah.
00:02:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you've got Everton here and then throwing things through and through. You've got the likes of Brentford, Christopher Parson, Waugh, so full of them all.
00:02:47
Charlie
Hmm.
00:02:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Be hoping, be expecting to take collect good points all from the next few games starting on the weekend.
00:02:55
Charlie
Yeah, I was I was talking about that with Jack and I mean, look, it's a possible 12, really, if you if you look at it based on players and and and how we're sitting in the league at the moment. But um I think I'd be very happy with nine. I think nine puts us in a really strong position. If we can make a draw as well and make it 10, that would be great. But yeah, you're right. This crop of fixtures is a perfect crop of fixtures to be getting points from. And I think that's exactly what we need to do. um I think one last hero there isn't going to spoil the party, but Yeah, be I think we should be looking at at least three wins. all from it I shouldn't have said that.
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I think nine points out of 12 would be a terrific, terrific return. And I think most Fulham fans would probably bite your hand off if you offer them that at this stage. It's actually a fixture Fulham have enjoyed some success in in recent times.
00:03:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
so I don't know if you remember the early days of the Premier League. Well, the early the early days Fulham were in the Premier League. This was a result. This was a fixture which is dominated by the home team, whether it be a crate and cottage, it was normally a guaranteed Fulham win if it was a good sort of park.
00:03:48
Charlie
Yeah.
00:03:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was a guaranteed Everton win, but fortunes have changed after Everton did enjoy a period of dominance.
00:03:53
Charlie
yeah
00:03:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fulham are actually unbeaten in the last six in all competitions and one and have won on the last three visit visits to Goodison
Fulham's Goodison Park Record
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Park. So what do you think has been the difference comparing the last three visits? Because there was one, one of them was in the relegation season as well.
00:04:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
So why have they suddenly been able to win at Goodison when they wait they couldn't um during the course of the early 2000s?
00:04:18
Charlie
Yeah, I mean, I think that's more on on Everton than it is on us, really. um I wouldn't I mean, I'd love to to say that we're suddenly just a ah far, far better team, but they do have some really good players in there. It's just Oh, Everton have just been a bit of a sad, sad story for the last couple couple of seasons. And I mean, hopefully it looks like it's going to get better for them with with the ah new ownership takeover or something like that. Mashiri's just sort of run them into the ground, basically. um And it's sad to see a club like that. But yeah, I mean, if you're looking at the head to head now, I think it's much more on Everton being a lot worse than they used to be with the likes of like Osman and Tim Cahill and Tim Howard, like some probably good
00:05:02
Charlie
Premier League players, it's just now the drop-off has been pretty dramatic.
00:05:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. I guess during the Everton's period of domination, they were often fighting for, if not Champions League, certainly in their higher reaches of the table, no not be maybe around 5th, 6th, 7th, often competing in any Europa League and trying to get their hands on silverware.
00:05:17
Charlie
Mm. Yep.
00:05:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now they seem quite far apart from that happening. ah Let's look at the outing from last season. Of course, it was on the opening day of the season and full of emerged 1-0 victors. What do you remember from the game?
00:05:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because it doesn't quite tell the whole story, does it?
00:05:37
Charlie
No, I mean, I don't really remember much of that game. It's something I like to eliminate. um From my memory, it was a very, very tricky afternoon. I mean, it was nice to scrape it, but not one I like to remember.
00:05:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, well, I think Burton Leno, was he man of the match? I know he made a lot of saves in that game and I think ah Neil Mulpeth, yeah, I think he missed some chances in in that game, didn't he?
00:06:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that was one of his...
00:06:01
Charlie
That's the revenge battle there, isn't it?
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, with that one of this was that one of his final games at Everton?
00:06:03
Charlie
Yeah.
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it wasn't the nicest farewell with him on that occasion.
Sponsor Highlight: Zencastr
00:06:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll talk a bit more about Everton in depth in just a moment. Before we do that, let's just say a word or two about our sponsors.
00:06:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:06:20
Charlie
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Everton's Recent Form and Key Players
00:06:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's talk a bit about Everton then and their form has certainly picked up recently. Do you feel it's a much tougher game now than it would have been say a month ago?
00:06:56
Charlie
Yeah, I mean, 100% it was. I mean, that their form at the beginning of the season didn't look great. I mean, I think but even running into the season, I don't think anyone was expecting much of them. I think I might have predicted them to go down, I think, in the in the original, but it doesn't look like that now.
00:07:11
Charlie
I mean, the way they've been playing recently has been really great. um Michael Keane's been playing fantastic, clean sheets. It's what you want to be doing. ah Pickford, for some reason, was playing terribly at the beginning of the season. I don't know what was going on. I think him sort of pulling it together as well has probably helped them a lot. I mean, he's a world-class keeper on his day. I mean, he really is. Still got the starting England job. but That's another question. um But also players like,
00:07:38
Charlie
um players like Dwight McNeil, who I chose in our Wild Cup Wednesday.
00:07:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
A great central midfielder Dwight McNeil.
00:07:45
Charlie
In fact, yeah, well, he's great. He is just great there, um I've heard. But yeah, no, I think McNeil's turned it around. He's got what, three goals now this season and three assists.
00:07:55
Charlie
So use' the he's been playing he's been playing really well. I mean, I think he's probably but their brightest spark at the minute.
00:08:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, quite possibly. If you look at their early foot form in the season, they were conceding three or four goals in every game and they had that disaster, didn't they? Back-to-back weeks where they were 2-0 up and ended up losing 3-2.
00:08:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very unlike Sean Dyche's size, you expect to be well organised, probably not scoring a great amount of goals, but not conceding the amount of goals.
00:08:13
Charlie
yeah
00:08:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, you can take that from last season, the fact that Everton kept more clean sheets um than any other team apart from Arsenal in the league. So they're back on form recently, having been unbeaten in the last four games, just conceded two goals, which shows how they strengthen at the back, even though Brantthwaite has been missing for most of the season.
00:08:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's just played the one game.
00:08:38
Charlie
Yep.
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
but the other thing that's important for them is you look at the results they've had ah draw away at Leicester wins against Crystal Palace and Ipswich and when you're in the mix for relegation it's always important to win have wins over with those teams around you because it's almost it's a double whammy then isn't it really.
00:08:40
Charlie
Yep.
00:08:55
Charlie
Yeah, um um I mean, I think Sean Dyche is the sort of the perfect manager you want for a team like this, really. um He is just going to pull you out over the line and he does have some really good players here, some far better players than he ever did when he was at Burnley, even though he's got some of those Burnley players with him.
00:09:12
Charlie
um And I think towards the end of the season, you saw how good he could be with them. um But I feel like he always needs to be around 17 to actually pull it out of the bag. otherwise I mean, apart from that one amazing finish he had with Burnley. um If you remember those great Burnley sides, they didn't concede much. And I think that' that's sort of where he's going to build on. And I think they've sort of showed that since they've come back is their defense improved. Much like ours is why we're playing so well this season. It's all about the defense.
00:09:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and you talk about Dwight MacNeil, of course he's a player he knows well from his time at Burnley. I guess at Burnley he was sort of pretty on the eye. One of their more flair players that they had at Burnley didn't have many, but I guess in recent times what he's improved on is has been his output, hasn't he? He's starting to score a few more goals recently.
00:10:00
Charlie
Well, yeah, I mean, is it three in the last two games or three in the last three? I mean, he's yeah, he's he's really picked up into scoring form, which is exactly what you want from him. um It's a shame, I don't know, Calvert-Lewin's got two, but he's so he's outscoring his striker and he's got two more assists than him. So um I think maybe the stats sort of flat as we see, but I think I think they probably just need more goals from him. but I think it's the rest of the team sort of around that in the midfield that's sort of lacking for them at the moment. Decora is not the player he used to be, I would say. um And I know they always seem to rely on goals, like little goals from Micalenko. You can't be relying on stuff like that. You need to actually score them with Calvert-Lewin, the main guy who's finally fit.
00:10:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think they are a bit light up top then? Because I know Calvert-Lewin has had a couple of seasons where he's got into double figures, but I would never call him a prolific clinic clinical goalscorer. You look at their ever option, they signed Brozier, of course, was on loan at Fulham last season, didn't get much of a run out. They signed him and he he's injured. Beto, big money signing, never really done anything for them. So is that is that an area of concern for them?
00:11:07
Charlie
I would say so, especially if you look at Calvert-Lewin's injury record, um it's not yeah it's not a pretty sight. ah they they need ah they They do need a backup striker. um it's They've obviously signed Brozier for that reason, but they seem to go for that same sort of style of center of um centre forward, which is sort of tall, bit quick, can jump quite high. um it's that That sort of model is what they've gone for all three of them. So they don't really have any ah other options going forward to sort of change it up but up there maybe. I mean, I'd like to see a different type of
Everton's Relegation Battle and Managerial Prospects
00:11:42
Charlie
striker up there as a different option rather than just the same Route 1 sort of thing.
00:11:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I know one player there happy that's come in this season, that's Sanjai, who was previously at Sheffield United, spent last season at Marseille. He scored a couple of goals recently, so it's important for someone like him as well to add to the goals, just to not rely on.
00:12:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jared Branthwaite. I don't know how much you've seen the Jared Branthwaite, but he's a player I rate really highly. I think he's got a high ceiling, and they're going to do well to hold on to him. And they've managed to do managed to do well in recent games without him.
00:12:11
Charlie
Yep.
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
but in terms of survival he's going to be a key player and get him back fit on the part on a regular basis.
00:12:21
Charlie
Yeah, no kidding. um I mean, it's a player that everyone thought was gonna go to United at the beginning of the season. Was it United or was it, I mean, everyone seemed to be in for him. um Yeah, he's obviously such a he's such a good player. I don't really know what the like where he sort of came from. Like all of a sudden, last season he was one of the best defenders in the league and you're like,
00:12:41
Charlie
Where have Everton been hiding him? So yeah, i if I was Everton, I'd try and try and cling on to him for all I can. I mean, really you you know good news for them, maybe good signs for the future that he did stay. um But the sort of as long as Everton turn it around, maybe he will. um But look, we've seen it happen before with John Stones. Everyone thinks he's going to stay at Everton and then boom, he's gone. So hopefully they keep him, but I doubt it.
00:13:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know a few weeks ago when we were given our season predictions, what we were expecting to happen. You you did have Everton to go down just a few weeks few weeks, a few games on from that.
00:13:16
Charlie
I thought so.
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you still think that's going to be the case?
00:13:22
Charlie
ah ah Probably not. I mean, I don't know that they can. They can really snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. So you can never really put it past them. I think it's too early to tell whether I'll change that. I'd like to see some more games played from them, especially against those in and around them. And then I'll maybe say.
00:13:45
Charlie
I'll change it, but I'm teetering on the edge of changing it, but I'll stick it for now.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I mean, of course, if they did go that down the season, it'd be an absolute disaster because we've been talking about the new stadium for the year seemingly.
00:13:55
Charlie
yeah Yeah, I mean that really would just be the cherry on top if they went down and had to move into that.
00:13:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if if they got relegated when they're due to move into that, I mean, it's it's catastrophic.
00:14:06
Charlie
God, the songs you hear on the terraces from the opposition fans would just be brilliant. It'd be worth it. It'd be worth the ticket anyway, just to hear what they say. um Yeah. Oh, God, I think I actually might change it. I think they've just got too much quality.
00:14:22
Charlie
And I think them them sort of not playing as well as they could, with the they will come good. Some of their parts are ah better than the way they're performing at the moment. I'm more worried about Ipswich if I'm going to say who's going to replace that spot than I am about Everton at this stage now.
00:14:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they just seem to be that team, Everton. They're top, they're loitering in and around the relegation, but they always seem to manage to pull themselves clear every season. And of course, you know, we talk about a team that under Martinez and Cooman and kuoman and david David Moyes, of course, David Moyes got them into the Champions League.
00:14:46
Charlie
yeah
00:14:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
they They don't want to be that team that's fighting relegation every every season so that Shaun Deutsches is going to have to do something to turn things around. Or do you think, do you feel like eventually to get back to where they want to be.
00:15:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
They need they need an upgrade ah ray in manager.
00:15:07
Charlie
ah wait
00:15:10
Charlie
ah ah i think i don't know I don't know if that's fair on Sean Dyche because I know he can. He he can he he can play good football.
00:15:21
Charlie
um But I think Everton need to get to the stage where they're in a good place before they start thinking about firing and hiring um because that never that never bodes well for the team.
00:15:36
Charlie
Um, I think, I think it's difficult to see how how long in the future you're going to plan with Sean Dyche though. Um, cause he's only really been known for being at one club and he was at that club for how long was he at Burnley? God, it feels like my whole life he was at Burnley. Um, so he's that sort of guy. So he's, I think he's only gonna fire or leave him, get fired or, you know, but I think that could happen with the new ownership. So it's, I think only time will tell.
00:16:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you you've you've always got to be careful. The temptation is when you're going into a new stadium, you have grand designs, grand ideas of where to take the club. And it doesn it doesn't always work out, doesn't it? So I think in Sean Dutch, they do have a safe pair of hands in the fact that you feel that they will so will survive.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Eventually, as time goes on, Everton fans, as I said, they want don't want to be in this position every single season.
00:16:21
Charlie
the
00:16:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
You always have an idea. progress and make that improvement. Before we talk about the game itself, look at some ah potential team news and give our score predictions, let me tell you all about the Global Sports Podcast Network.
Fulham's Lineup Changes Against Everton
00:16:37
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 a daily Premier League wrap-up broadcast in five different languages, it's your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcast.
00:16:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So when we do these preview episodes on a week-to-week basis it's normally pretty boring when I ask you about the team use because it's normally we expect the same thing to happen then to so pick the same team and there's been no reason to change the theme.
00:17:10
Charlie
Yep.
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think possibly this is the first time in the season there's maybe question marks about one or two players and Obviously Anderson's going to be missing the game, he's going to be a massive blow. We know Lukic has got a longish term injury, we don't know when he's coming back. um What other team changes might we see apart from the the one we would have predicted, which would be Diot to come in for Anderson?
00:17:34
Charlie
um Well, everyone's been clamoring to see a WOBI move. move into central midfield in place of, you know who? I don't know, it's, I think it's really interesting and quite fun. And I think why not? um Putting Reese Nelson up on the on the left, moving Iwobi midfield and then having Iwobi alongside Berger and dropping Andreas Pereira. That's never gonna happen. Like Marco's never gonna do that. It's such a nice idea.
00:18:07
Charlie
um I think it could could play really well because that's that's where you always see a Wobi do all his best work is cutting in off the left and driving through the midfield and laying off a pass. But that's not what we're going to see. Sorry. um Marco's not going to change it up. As much as that sounds really nice, I don't think he's going to change it up. I've come too used to it.
00:18:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
So when you were talking about Iwobi playing more inside, playing more central, you you would you personally, you would play him where Pereira has been playing?
00:18:39
Charlie
i i know i I would say drop Pereira for a game. Just drop him. I just think he needs to be dropped for a game. um that's that's my ah That's literally all all I'm saying with that. Otherwise, I'd play Wobi and Pereira and just make it really creative. But I think Pereira just needs to be dropped for a game.
00:19:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's funny, isn't it, with Lukic's absence and that center of the park just looks, you know, it just doesn't look as good that now, does it?
00:19:06
Charlie
bro
00:19:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, you wouldn't have thought that two or three months ago that Lukic being been out of the time for a significant period of time would have that much of an impact, but it is now, isn't it?
00:19:09
Charlie
no yeah yeah i was I was at the game I was at the game on the weekend and it so he just looks
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I guess that stems from the weekend performance and Sander Berger, a chance for him to have a run in the team, but I mean, he didn't really cover himself in glory on um on the weekend. Are you a bit concerned about him?
00:19:34
Charlie
Like almost a bit rabbit in their headlights, almost a bit. I mean, not, not entirely. I think he he did play a lot better in the second half. Um, but we just got overrun in that, in that 10 minutes that just everyone just didn't look good. I mean, Leno was our man of the match. So it was a bad, it was just a bad team day out. So I'm not going to pin it all on like one person, um, as much as everyone wants to.
00:19:58
Charlie
um pin it on one person. I think Andreas just had such a bad game and the penalty miss and the sort of spat that he had at Forest or the last penalty. It's sort of all just a bit like just he needs to be sat down for a bit.
00:20:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Could you see it could you see a scenario? I know Adama Troy, of course, he had that game against city where he's heavily involved, missed a lot of chances. And then on the weekend, possibly like Smith row as well was a bit an non anonymous.
00:20:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think there is an option? Maybe you said it will be to cut to come inside pay incentive mid mid. I think I've spoken to you previously that it will be
00:20:34
Charlie
and
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
predominantly played on the right didn't he last season when Willian was in team Willian would play on the left side.
00:20:39
Charlie
yeah yeah Yeah, it's possible.
00:20:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think there's an option maybe for Rhys Nelson to get his first Premier League start and possibly put a wall be over to the right.
00:20:49
Charlie
um I think Rhys Nelson has probably made the best case of any of our bench players of you know, sort of going for a start and having a starting role or at least earning one start. I think Reece Nelson's looked really, really, really good off the bench actually recently. I thought even when he came on against his Villa, I thought he looked really good and we're still trying to create chances. and ping the ball about. um It looked really bright and and progressive despite our situation at that point in the game. um So I was really impressed with that. um you know ah He's a kid that definitely wants to play. like He's come to Fulham for game time because he wasn't going to get a look in at Arsenal. i I do think the way he's been playing recently, he probably does deserve to start.
00:21:32
Charlie
Hence why I'm so enamored with this situation of dropping AP for a game. I think Iwobi also, I think he's played at Senzamid for Everton. So it wouldn't feel all that alien playing at Goodison Park at Senzamid. Anyway, so if you're going to do it for any game, why not this one?
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm a bit reluctant to play a well-being centre mid for the others. I've got some concerns about Sander Berger at the minute. Do you feel like Sander Berger has been given the instruction just to replicate the role of Sassilukic and I guess get the ball from the centre half, not drift too far away from the centre circle?
00:22:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because we have seen in the past in his time in the Premier League, he does like to take on those drive and runs forward.
00:22:06
Charlie
the
00:22:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think Silva, that's just dust is too risky with the sort of plays he's got in and around him to do that? not He's given the instruction just basically to do what Luke had just been doing.
00:22:24
Charlie
i mean we We've also got the option to potentially bring back like Harrison Reed. You know, we do have other midfield players. It's not just shove it woe be and then she won him in. I just think it sounds really fun. um But, you know, we've got other players that can do it. I don't think Tom Kenny can do it for a full 90. But I think you could just maybe try Tom Kenny for a game. I mean, he can still do it. we We've seen him come off the bench and still play well. I just don't know how long he can do it for.
00:22:56
Charlie
because I just haven't seen him seen him play like a proper full 90 in a while, especially in the Premier League. um But that's obviously still an option. ah Yeah, you're right. no Not having Lukic. Huda thought. Huda thought that we'd be in this diabolical situation going, how are we going to replace Sassa? Like, oh my God, it just was not even on my mind at the beginning. But he's proven how indispensable he is. And I saw some rumors that it was just going to be a month.
00:23:25
Charlie
ah like a month, you know, four to six weeks sort of thing um on Twitter. But, you know, who can trust that these days?
00:23:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And do you have concerns about Dioc coming back into the team? I know he started the season OK, he didn't do too bad. Probably didn't warrant being dropped, but when you bought in Anderson for that sort of money, Anderson was always going to be first choice.
00:23:43
Charlie
Yeah. Yeah.
00:23:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah He was shaky on the weekend when he came on, wasn't he? First contribution was putting the ball in his own net and I think he got booked shortly after that. ah Does that slightly worry you maybe be in the game against against Everton where he's you know he's going to come under pressure from but from balls in the box and or is that maybe a sort of a better a better game for him?
00:23:53
Charlie
Yeah.
Fulham's Defensive Strength
00:24:03
Charlie
um No, i I've got no worries about Isidio at all. I think his form early season was fantastic. He really didn't put a foot wrong. It was really actually, I think Basi probably made some more mistakes than he did earlier in the season, but Basi's a left-sided centre-back. If they were both right-footed, it would be a very interesting conversation at the beginning of the season anyway.
00:24:26
Charlie
um Yeah, look, it was a really tough day for Diop, like really tough. You know, you come on, literally first touch of the ball is to flick it past Leno. He was like, oh, it's just not his day. And the minute that happens, you just know. um And so, yeah, I've got absolutely no worries about him. I've got full faith in him. You know, the defense is one of the positions finally where we've actually got cover for pretty much everything and everyone's playing well at the same time.
00:24:58
Charlie
So, you know, we're in a really terrific spot with our defense. It's the one thing that I'm never worried about, really. um Yeah, let my long may that continue.
00:25:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
what kind What kind of game are you expecting on the weekend then?
Predictions for Fulham vs Everton
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because as you would expect from Sean Dye's teams, they do lead the way for long balls this season, so they have had that direct approach. They ranked bottom for possession. Calvert-Lewin has won the most aerial duels. How do you see the game sort of panning out?
00:25:24
Charlie
Um, yeah, I think there's going to be a lot of long balls. Um, but probably not as many from us. Uh, I don't know if they're going to try and play the same way. Maybe Bassey tries a few, but you know, with Anderson, we'd grown so accustomed to him pumping those long balls and he's not going to be there. So I'm not sure who's gonna, who's going to do it. If we do do it. Um, I think ever since I've probably just try root one and one it and score, but look we we've seen it recently with McNeil that.
00:25:53
Charlie
he's gonna try and be tricky. So we are gonna have to be on our on our A game. It's ah still a tough place to go, Goodison. No matter what predicament they seem to be in, the crowd's always there.
00:26:04
Charlie
um So I think it's gonna be pretty cagey. I think our our games with everything are always sort of quite cagey. ah I think it's this sort of screams a draw, really.
00:26:14
Charlie
It sort of screams a draw, um like one all or something.
00:26:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
so Is that what you're going for, is it?
00:26:20
Charlie
Yeah, I think so. Yeah, 1-0, that seems fair. I think we could, Nick at Raoul's been
Raul Jimenez's Recent Performance
00:26:25
Charlie
in great form. I feel like we haven't talked enough about Raoul Jimenez and how good he's been recently. That goal he scored against the weekend was fantastic.
00:26:32
Charlie
um I still sort of back us to keep a clean sheet even without Anderson. No, I don't actually. 2-1, I'm going to go 2-1 for them.
00:26:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, I thought you were going to commit to the draw then. I'm going to go for one, or I don't think Fulham are going to continue their winning streak at Goodison in the Premier League, but I think they'll come away with a point.
00:26:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, maybe maybe maybe a week or two ago, I might have given a different prediction if Lucas was fit.
00:26:52
Charlie
Yeah, I'm so close.
00:26:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
If Anderson was available for the game, he might have panned out differently. Efton's form has picked up, of course. They seem resurgent, um just just like the man you mentioned, Raoul Hymn, as you scored four and five.
00:27:04
Charlie
yeah
00:27:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
and the game he didn't score, he managed that assist against Man City. Did you see the goal the goal for Mexico as well? I mean, when did he start scoring free kicks?
00:27:16
Charlie
three kickcks yeah What is that about? An absolute screamer as well. like it's It's not like a little chip it over over the wall from 20 yards. It's an actual screamer.
00:27:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
what What do you think is going to happen if they get a penalty?
00:27:30
Charlie
I can't tell you how... how like the blood drained from my body the minute I saw Raul Jimenez walk away from that penalty. I was like, what are we doing? What are we doing? And also I had no faith in Andreas at all. Like I was with my brother, I told him, oh, don't worry, Raul, Raul's on this. And then he wasn't. And I went, oh, we're not scoring this. And I've been so annoyed to be right. But like, what are we doing? He's got to take it every time it's got to be Raul. If he's on the pitch, just give it to him.
00:28:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I felt really i think really bad for him after he missed that because he did he had a good game against Man City. People always want to talk about the negatives, but they don't focus on the ad.
00:28:07
Charlie
yeah He did.
00:28:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
He actually had a really good game against Manchester City, not just the goal itself. And he scored for Brazil. I mean, you talking about players away on international, he scored for Brazil. I mean, the fact that a fallen player, he's playing for Brazil. i mean he's not he's not He's not a poor player.
00:28:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay people People may not want him in the team in a minute and that's understandable.
00:28:21
Charlie
No.
00:28:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
You were at the games, weren't there a few boos or sarcastic cheers when he came off?
00:28:32
Charlie
Um, I wouldn't really say booze. Uh, I think maybe if there were booze, maybe it was annoyed at Marco for not, um, for not making a change soon enough after the red, but, um, I w I would like to say they weren't directed at him because that would be so stupid.
00:28:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
00:28:52
Charlie
Yeah.
00:28:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hopefully it wasn't the case. so I mean, I don't mind booing at a half time at full time because you're booing a collective group of players. when you When you start targeting one or two individuals, it gets pretty personal.
00:28:59
Charlie
yeah
00:29:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
there's not There's no place for that. I just don't see what that does to help the player in that situation.
00:29:07
Charlie
No.
00:29:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So whoever's out on the park, just get just get behind them, whether you think they should be in the team or not.
00:29:11
Charlie
Yeah.
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you're going for a 2-1 Fulham, is it?
00:29:14
Charlie
Exactly.
00:29:16
Charlie
Oh, yeah. I'm you know what? Yeah, I am. I've been so flip flop there. But yeah, I want to win. So.
00:29:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Charlie saying 2-1, I'm saying 1-1. Fulham go to a resurgent.
00:29:27
Charlie
Yeah.
00:29:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everton on the weekend. Can Fulham get back to winning ways? We'll soon find out.
00:29:34
Charlie
Hmm.
00:29:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Be sure to tune in next time as we recap the game in our match review Monday. We'll see you all for that.