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Daily Fulham- One game from Wembley
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Gavin returns to preview Fulham's FA Cup quarter-final clash against Crystal Palace.
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Transcript
Introduction and FA Cup Excitement
00:00:01
Speaker
Every club. Every The Global Sports Podcast Network. work Hello, what's up everybody? Welcome back to the Daily Fulham Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network, bringing you dedicated daily coverage on all your Premier League sites as well as women's football too.
Player Health Post-International Duty
00:00:20
Speaker
My name is Gavin Ruffell and it's a pleasure to be back. We've had a little break from the podcast due to the international break, little pause in the season. But I'm happy, excited to be back, looking ahead, building up to the big game on the weekend as Fulham are in FA Cup action. They take on Crystal Palace in the big quarterfinal game.
00:00:38
Speaker
But I did mention the international break and that's where we'll start before we come on to the Palace game.
Key Players' International Performances
00:00:43
Speaker
And I think first and foremost, Marco Silva will be absolutely delighted that all his players came back from international duty with a clean bill of health.
00:00:51
Speaker
And then there's nothing to worry about. We saw earlier in the season to me that Sasalukic sustained an injury away with Serbia. but But luckily there's none of that. And it's an important couple of months now left in the season. Less than a couple of months.
00:01:02
Speaker
No more international breaks. So it's full steam ahead for us on the FA Cup and then the Premier League. But as far as the international... Break this concern give you a little bit of a roundup from some of the we have to start with rale hyne's because he made a really big impact for mexico away on international duty he scored a brace in both games which helped them secure their nation's league winning as far as the kke goes And those goals for Mexico just further solidifies and strengthens the season he's had. He scored double-figure goals in the Premier League.
00:01:32
Speaker
We know the problems he's had in the past, how things ended at Wolves with that bad head injury and not scoring so many goals. And this has been a real renaissance for Real Jimenez this season for club and country. And I think the interesting thing to take away from that is...
00:01:46
Speaker
I think he's scored at least one goal in every calendar year for Mexico since 2013, which just shows his consistency and how much of a talismanic figure he is, he has been for them at least. And it's interesting with certain players, isn't it? They go away on international duty and maybe they don't look quite the same player as they do when they're playing for their club.
00:02:06
Speaker
Jimenez goes away on international duty and he almost seems twice the player because he's even scoring three kicks. I think he scored one earlier in the season, didn't he, for Mexico as well and He scored a beauty the other day. It just makes you think, why is he never over three kicks for Fulham?
00:02:20
Speaker
Fulham don't have a particularly good record at scoring from three kicks, direct or indirect. Maybe having Raul Jimenez standing over three kicks could be an option going forward. But so yeah, good to see him continue the form he's been in, scoring a few goals there away from Mexico. Hopefully he can take that confidence into the weekend's game if he does indeed start.
00:02:36
Speaker
The USA were also playing in those Nations League CONCACAF games, but one player who wasn't involved was Anthony Robinson. I think Marco Silva will be delighted that Anthony Robinson was not away with USA, given a little bit of a rest there, and he's needed a rest. He's been pillar of consistency for Fulham this season in a position where they don't really have any backup. So the fact that he wasn't away with America on international duty, the fact that he could get a rest in will hopefully stand him in good stead for the rest of the season.
Optimism for FA Cup Quarterfinal
00:03:05
Speaker
Because maybe his performances of late have been a little bit...
00:03:08
Speaker
under par but maybe just under par compared to what we've seen in the past um his assists have slightly dried up maybe hasn't had that attacking output that we might have expected but hopefully this rest of doom a world of good and he can get back raring to go um starting on the weekend as far as the other players in europe is concerned well timothy castani was also involved in nations league action playing for belgium it's interesting and i talk about anthony robinson at left back there well timothy castani was actually playing this left back for belgium and i think kenny tetty's soon to return i don't think he's quite ready yet but we might see him in the near future so it's always good to have options isn't it because castagna and robinson have kind of been fulham's only two fully fit fullbacks at the minute so the fact that he was playing at left back maybe that's an option if he does intend to arrest anthony robinson for a game or two that timothy castagna can fulfill that role if kenny tete does come back very swiftly joachim anderson also involved he played for denmark in their nation's league games
00:04:06
Speaker
Sasa Lukic was also involved as well. Sasa Lukic is someone who actually has had a bit of a break with his suspension recently, missing the last two games. So maybe the game he played for Serbia would work out well for Fulham, just the fact that he has had some match action, which which has been limited in recent times due to that ah due to that suspension for having the 10 yellow cards.
00:04:24
Speaker
The final player involved in games as far as European side is concerned is Sander Berge. He played the full 90 minutes for Norway in their World Cup qualifying game. Elsewhere, likes of Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassi They play for Nigeria in their World Cup qualifiers bit further afield in Africa. But they've come back.
00:04:40
Speaker
ah They've reported to duty and they're fine. They're ready to go as well. So, yeah, as I said, that's all positives as far as the weekend goes. It seems there's no niggles, no injuries and everyone is available.
Importance of the FA Cup for Fulham and Crystal Palace
00:04:50
Speaker
They went away.
00:04:51
Speaker
So just throwing it forward to the weekend's game. It's a massive game, isn't it? We come back after the international break and it's ah it's a huge game in terms of the... the rest of the season and how that's likely to go It's an opportunity for both sides. When the draw got made, I said at the time I felt this was a decent opportunity. Both sides would have been happy with the draw.
00:05:10
Speaker
Crystal Palace obviously winning the most recent fixture at Craven Cottage. Fulham winning earlier in the season at Selhurst Park. So it's a massive opportunity for both sides. They're in a position in the league where they're comfortable.
00:05:21
Speaker
There's no concerns about relegation. Both sides will have targets set. Fulham, Europe, Crystal Palace possibly finishing the top half. But there's no doubt that this game is the priority. It's a chance for both clubs to lift their first piece of major silverware.
00:05:34
Speaker
In fact, if you look at the quarterfinal line-up, half of the clubs are all looking for their first piece of major silverware, which is why I think it's a really exciting quarterfinal line-up. Probably the most exciting line-up we've had in the number of seasons because...
00:05:45
Speaker
A lot of the big sides have been eliminated already. know Manchester City, the only one of those so-called big sides, you would say, still in the competition. And even then, their form has been a bit up and down. So you wouldn't say they're sure five favourites to go on and lift the trophy, would you? They've got a tough game themselves away to Bournemouth.
00:06:01
Speaker
And all of the teams, maybe with the exception of Preston, will genuinely feel that they have an opportunity to at least get to Wembley and potentially lift the lift the FA Cup. If Fulham are to progress...
00:06:12
Speaker
and get to the semi-finals, it'll be the first time they've reached that stage since the 2001-02 season, where they narrowly lost out to Chelsea, that game was actually at Villa Park, Some classic Fulham names in that team. Much of the team that got promoted the season before that. So you've got the likes of Andy Melville, Sean Davis, John Collins, Steve Finan, Rufus Brevitt all involved in that semi-final.
00:06:34
Speaker
Interestingly enough, their former manager, Slavicia Kanovic, he came on as a substitute. On the opposing side, he came on for Chelsea. In the next part, we'll look ahead further to this game by talking about Crystal Palace. But before then, let me tell you a little bit about our sponsors.
00:06:51
Speaker
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00:07:08
Speaker
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Crystal Palace's Preparations for the Match
00:07:11
Speaker
to learn more about Zencastr. What's interesting for Crystal Palace is that they haven't actually played a competitive game since the 8th of March, which was that 1-0 league victory against Ipswich, and Yes, granted players have been a away on international duty, but for a lot of the other players that will be involved in the game, they've just been restricted to training sessions and that doesn't quite bring about the same feeling. You can't replicate playing games, having that match fitness.
00:07:37
Speaker
I know they have been away. I think they spent some time in Marbella. They did play ah ah friendly fixture, but that wouldn't have had the same intensity, the same competitive edge as you would get when you're playing match. a league game or an FA Cup game. So it's a big game to come back to when you haven't been involved in action.
00:07:52
Speaker
For a little while, players would have been away. I know Eze was away with England. He scored, didn't he? But you just wonder if that could be a telling factor at the end of the day, particularly if the game goes into extra time. Maybe that they don't have that required level of match fitness that you would normally have in the middle of the season. But I'm sure Oliver Glasner would not want to use that as an excuse if things don't go to plan.
00:08:13
Speaker
Big positive for them is that they will have Jean-Philippe Mettete back. In fact, the little break in the season for them worked out quite well. The fact that they only played that one game since his absence. Obviously, suffering that injury, that horrific injury she being stretched off in the last round against Millwall.
00:08:30
Speaker
I was at the UFC in London last week and then that was a challenge more akin to something you'd like to see in Octagon, not something you'd see on the football pitch. So, yeah, after an incident like that, you all wish the player well. And it's it's probably been a quicker recovery than anyone could have imagined.
00:08:44
Speaker
Even the diehard Crystal Palace fans to see him come back missing just that one game against Ipswich. He'd be massive to have him back because he's been... Really instrumental recently, hasn't he? I think he scored 15 goals in his last 33 games after a slightly slow start to season, but that goes for all the Crystal Palace players and it was a slow start for them in general for the first 10 or 12 games, but they've really hit their hit their stride, haven't they, in recent times and so much so that they're not that far off Fulham as far as the league goes. and Whilst I think Europe is out out of the question for them from a league standpoint, they can certainly eye the top half and they're in a really good run of form at the minute, as is Jean-Philippe Mateta and he was particularly instrumental in that victory they had ah just a few weeks ago, their last ah away game. In fact, he played a pivotal role in Crystal Palace securing a 2-0 victory, which was just a continuation of their excellent away form. If you look at their away form, they've just lost the one game on the road since October and that was to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals.
00:09:42
Speaker
Maybe a cup defeat in the quarterfinals against a London side is a good omen, but Marco Silva will be fully aware of the challenge that Palace present, even more so after their most recent meeting at Craven Cottage towards the end of February.
00:09:55
Speaker
It was a well-deserved victory, wasn't it? I don't think Fulham had a... a shot on target and that was largely in thanks to Crystal Palace's organisation and they had obviously studied what Fulham had done well and how they could nullify them as a threat and they were fully worthy of that victory and obviously Fulham fans you won't want to see a repeat performance like that hopefully you'll be able to see something a bit more inspiring to get you off the seat and hopefully the atmosphere at Craven Cottage for the weekend will play a ah big factor as well I think the ticket sales have been very good have been in a lot more affordable i think that's been a hot topic of debate hasn't it recently about ah ticket prices at Craven Cottage but they've been put down and
00:10:28
Speaker
Hopefully we see a good atmosphere, which is going to be required of Fulham to get a positive the result in this one because there's no doubt it's going to be a tough game given Crystal Palace away from. it Also, it will be Crystal Palace's toughest challenge, at least on paper in this competition.
00:10:41
Speaker
They've had victories against low league
Fulham's Strategy and Team Rotation
00:10:43
Speaker
sides, against Stockport. Doncaster and Millwall but I think Glasner has played a strong team in all of those games which has just signalled his intent I think he played strong team in the League Cup he's not one of those managers that looks at cup competitions and sees them as a distraction he probably thinks if we can go on a cup run then that'll maybe go a long way to helping us with our league form and I think that's pretty evident isn't it in the way that they have been going along in their league form and it's certainly not been a distraction the FA Cup and uh Yeah, it is their biggest challenge, but they'll be buoyed by that away form. They'll come into this game feeling really confident, won't they? And i think Eze as well.
00:11:17
Speaker
Spoken about Eze before and how maybe it's been a little bit of an up and down season for him, but he'll go into this confident after the goal in midweek. And he was a another player. You watch that game at Craven Cottage and he was just allowed to do as he wanted, really. had that interesting little match-up with Joachim Andersen at one time in that game, but I thought he was superb in that game. It was really tough for the Fulham players, Fulham defenders in particular, to live with him. So he's another one you've got to be wary of.
00:11:41
Speaker
And just looking on at me and they just look so well organised, didn't they? And they haven't conceded many goals recently. In fact, in the last five trips away from them, they haven't conceded a goal. So Fulham are going to have to be at their absolute best to beat them. And that organisation has gone a long way to lifting them to position of safety in the league to the point where they are.
00:12:02
Speaker
not on the beach because they will have their eyes set on back-to-back top half finishes, which would be a great feat for Crystal Palace because whilst they have been an established force in the Premier League for the last decade or so, maybe just less than that, they have always hovered around 13th, 14th, 15th. So if they can go back-to-back top half finishes, then that will be superb for them and their fans and just shows the good work that Oliver Glasner has done because there may have been question marks about him at the start of the season and I had one or two questions as well, because I felt towards the second half the season, maybe some of the Crystal Palace players were playing above themselves and they would just hit a purple patch.
00:12:38
Speaker
But no, they've shown that they are actually good players and that they are a good team and they are where they deserve to be. Top half slash mid-table Premier League side. And yeah, they've not won a major trophy. As I said, they yeah got a taste of the final a few years ago under Alan Pardew. So they'll be desperate to get back there again, won't they? And, uh,
00:12:55
Speaker
There'll certainly be a formidable test for Fulham this weekend. So that's just a look at things from the Palace side. That concludes part two. In the final part, I will continue to build up to the tie and round things off with a prediction for the game itself.
00:13:12
Speaker
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00:13:32
Speaker
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00:13:43
Speaker
Don't settle for off-the-shelf solutions made for just anybody. Get what's right for you, right now. We know Fulham's home form recently has been a little bit sketchy, but they come into this one off the back of that 2-0 success in the last outing against Spurs.
00:13:57
Speaker
I think the pleasing thing from that outing is that they managed to keep a clean sheet and were very comfortable in doing so. Bernd Leno only had to make a couple of saves in the entire 90 minutes. I mean does that say more about Spurs' attack or does it say more about Fulham's defence? Well, I want to give credit to Fulham's defence in that game, that the way they shut out Spurs and were able to nullify their threat.
00:14:15
Speaker
So hopefully they can take something from that into this game gay And no doubt Marco Silva would have watched some tape. I'm sure he would have. He would have got his analysts and and his coaching staff to have a look at the game, the previous meeting against Crystal Palace, what they were able to do so successfully and why Fulham couldn't really lay a glove on them. As I said, not having a single shot on target.
00:14:36
Speaker
in the whole 90 minutes would have been eye-opening but they've got a chance to rectify that and I'm sure given all the available
Potential Tactical Adjustments by Marco Silva
00:14:43
Speaker
footage you'll try and come up with a game plan to ensure that Lightning doesn't strike twice but you also have to remember that Fulham did have success earlier in the season against Crystal Palace granted Crystal Palace were a slightly different stage at that point in the season they were struggling to win games they were low on confidence players weren't quite set in the world like the likes of Jean-Philippe Mateta he wasn't shown the form that he's showing now So I do feel like it is a 50-50 game.
00:15:06
Speaker
What we did see in the Spurs game was we saw Willian start. Adama Traore, if he was fully match fit, I'm sure he would have started that game, but we saw him restricted to 20 minutes so off the bench. So Willian made his first start since his return to Fulham. It looked like he'd never been away. Despite being 36 years of age, he still showed the classy touches.
00:15:24
Speaker
Just that experience and nous and overall quality on the ball and maybe that reassuring presence that he gives other players as well. Whilst the didn't score, he was very close to scoring a goal. It was a very commendable performance. and He'll be wanting to keep his place in the team. It's a busy week for Fulham, isn't it? With the league game against Arsenal on Tuesday. But there's no doubt this is obviously the priority. This is their main focus.
00:15:48
Speaker
The yeah next game is always the biggest game as far as I'm concerned. The following game will take care of itself. But you do wonder if Marco Silva will look at rotation. I think Willian probably deserves to start again off the back of that game against Spurs. And he probably won't see him start in midweek.
00:16:06
Speaker
Which will mean Adama Torre on the bench. And of course, Adama Torre is always a good option to have off the bench, isn't he? If you're chasing a goal or even if you're looking to hang on to a lead with what he can bring to the table. and And the impact he has on the opposition, even if he isn't necessarily causing a threat.
00:16:21
Speaker
Raul Jimenez, as I've already mentioned, was away with Mexico. He's racked up the air miles, playing two games in quick succession. So you wonder, although he's been back for a while, you wonder if Marco Silva will plunge him straight into this one when he's got a ready-made replacement in Rodrigo Manez.
00:16:37
Speaker
So just factoring that in, I think Munez will probably get the nod and Raul will start in the league game against the Arsenal. And if Munez does indeed get the chance to start, then it's a further opportunity for him to try and make that jersey his own.
00:16:50
Speaker
We know the success he's had this season at coming off the bench, but he wants a bit more than that. and he wants the chance to show the manager that I am the number one striker, despite Raul Jimenez's success with Mexico and the goals he has scored for Fulham this season.
00:17:03
Speaker
I think the other thing Fulham might look to do, I think, Emile Smith-Rowe, I've defended him for the majority the season when his performances have been a bit under par, underwhelming.
00:17:14
Speaker
But I feel now he has to make way. Andreas Pereira's performances in recent times have been really good. I thought he was one of the best players on the pitch against Spurs and he most certainly deserves the start.
00:17:27
Speaker
He's been better than Emil Smith-Rowe. Looks like the Boo Boys, his critics have been silenced, at least for the time being. So I'd like to see Andreas Pereira keep his place in the team because we know Sasa Lukic will come back in for this game. So you think Sasa Lukic will partner Sander Berger.
00:17:41
Speaker
So then I would like to see Andreas Pereira keep his place on the team and Emil Smith-Rowe. He just has to do more. It's as simple as that. I mean don't care if you have a £35 million pounds signing, you feel like you should be starting every game. If you don't put the performances in on a consistent basis, you don't have a divine right to say you should be in the team, you should be in the starting 11 every week. You need to show more. And I feel like at times he's not done that.
00:18:01
Speaker
I feel like you want to see him as that central attack on the field. So many times he doesn't feel involved in the game. He tries to drop back into a deeper position where he's less likely to have such a significant impact on
Predictions for the Fulham vs. Crystal Palace Match
00:18:11
Speaker
the game. So the penny needs to drop for him now. And we need to see that play that we were starting to see in the early part of the season. but For me, he doesn't get in this team.
00:18:21
Speaker
I was relieved to see Marco Silva go back to four at the back for the game against Spurs, and I just hope that's something he continues to do now. The reason they didn't get the result in the last outing against Crystal Palace isn't because they played four at the back, it's because they weren't good enough on the ball.
00:18:36
Speaker
So that's the thing that needs to change from the last game, is they need to be better on the ball to give them the best chance of getting a result in this game. On the Crystal Palace side, well, their threat... We know what their threats are. Jean-Philippe Mateta, as i said in that recent meeting, he was really influential.
00:18:51
Speaker
They'll be buzzing to have him back. Eze, got to find a way of stopping Eze. And Will Hughes as well. will Will Hughes is actually back from suspension. He served a ban for 10 yellow cards. So he's a bit of an unsung hero in the middle park for Crystal Palace. And he was very energetic. He had an assist, didn't he, for the corner, for the first goal. So he's someone you've got keep an on as well. And Munoz, their right wing back, I think he's been one of better...
00:19:14
Speaker
One better right-backs slash right-wing-backs across the league this season. So he's someone youve got to be wary of, of course. He scored the second goal on that Crystal Palace breakaway, didn't he? So there's certainly players you've got to keep an eye on as far as the Crystal Palace side. What type of game am I expecting?
00:19:27
Speaker
To be honest, I'm expecting quite a cagey affair. I don't expect to see a glut of goals in this game. We know Crystal Palace's form away from home has been built on having a strong defence in their organisation.
00:19:39
Speaker
And I feel like the first goal could be really important in this game. And with a lot on the line, with a chance to play at Wembley in a semi-final, a lot of these players aren't used to playing in games with such big stakes.
00:19:50
Speaker
So factoring that in, I think it could be quite a cagey, nervy affair. A day where patience is going to be required. So I'm not expecting a glut of goals. I'm not expecting a glut of goal mouth action.
00:20:01
Speaker
How do I see it going? I feel like there's going to be one goal in it either way. I can't see either side running away with it, which is interesting because both sides have run away with the two corresponding games this season. They've been comfortable victories.
00:20:15
Speaker
I don't see that being the case. It could be a long afternoon. It could be penalties It could be extra time, which you wouldn't want after the nerves of the last round at Old Trafford. I'm sure, course, you want to win whichever way possible. You want to do it in 90 minutes, ideally. But it is going to be a tricky game. It is a 50-50 contest, but I'm just going to lean towards Fulham. I think it could be a 1-0 victory in extra time.
00:20:41
Speaker
I'm hoping, maybe bit of wishful thinking here, that the fact that Crystal Palace haven't had that competitive football for three weeks might be a factor in this game. And the longer it goes on, then hopefully that could give Fulham a bit of an edge.
00:20:53
Speaker
So I'm going to go for Fulham to sneak it 1-0 in extra time, thanks to Raul Jimenez, who will come off the bench to score the winner, ah which will take them into their first FA Cup semi-final for the best part of 25 years since that 2001-2002 season. So that's something to look forward to.
00:21:08
Speaker
on the weekend that'll just about wrap things up for today's preview good to be back as i said after a little hiatus and then next time i will be back i will be recapping all of the key events and discussing the major takeaways from the game itself so please do join me for that i'll catch you all next time every club every day the global sports podcast network work