View from the Away End

[CuteMancs]

Now we have had the magic of the FA Cup last night, time to move on to a more serious business. The Cottagers are not too optimistic considering they are top of the league and scoring goals for fun this season. I think this has the making of good game of football and possibly a high scoring game. I am in the family stand for a change, so a different perspective for me. The only question that remains is how will calves out Jackie perform with short hair?

COME ON CITY!!!

Referee Jarred Gillett
Assistant Referees Lee Betts & Richard West
Fourth Official Martin Atkinson
VAR Lee Mason
AVAR Darren Cann

Team Selection

Gazzaniga
Williams
Tosin
Mawson
Robinson
Seri
Chalobah
Carvalho
Wilson
Mitro
Kebano

And the rest…

We know Man City like to pass, we need players who can break-up play for 90 minutes with 'bundles' of energy.

For us the climax of this match is at 2pm when the teams are announced, we then have an hour for meaningful speculation but then at 3pm it simply becomes a case of damage limitation with hope of a spectacular consolation goal by Stansfield to keep us happy until Tuesday night.

Promotion is the priority. The FA Cup is not. It’s that simple. Cup runs are great but they are also a distraction adding extra fixtures to an already congested schedule. It would be fantastic to beat City but the priority is Milwall at the Cottage on Tuesday. I’m certain Marco Silva recognises that and it will be reflected in tomorrow’s starting line up.

Play reserve squad players, accept defeat which is inevitable even if we played our best eleven and move on to Tuesday. City are the best team in the country so why risk players

But I seriously doubt that the City first eleven will start. Their reserves are still very good indeed but not at “best team in the country” level. Therefore I don’t just accept defeat. Give it a bloody good go I say!

The problem is that if we are in with a chance after 70 minutes Pep brings on De Bruyne etc and they win comfortably. 4-0 City

We've been playing two tough games a week while they've been in Dubai, 4-1 unfortunately.

Full strength, City is one of the strongest teams in football, we are on the way into the PL and this would be a great one match test of the team. I'd also like to see all substitutions at 60-70min to let the bench also face the strongest competition they will have done so to date.

We have some pacey players in the side, Man city's style will suit us, a passing side. We just need to get stuck in but beware they can punish mistakes. I'll go for a Fulham win.

I think the perspective may differ on whether you're attending the match and want to see Fulham give the best possible performance, or not attending and just want to limit injury, fatigue and red cards.

Middlesbro could equally argue play off places is the priority which it is. Doesn't mean one capitulates in all other competitions. I liked Chris Wilder's comment before the game, "We are not here to swap shirts!" There's no logical reason for Fulham to take tomorrow's game as an incumberance. We can win the Championship AND the FA Cup. Fulham are thrashing teams in this league and those teams are beating EPL clubs so why not respect the tournament and have a ruddy go? So long as we practise the pens and the management show the desire Wilding showed quite admirably

I am surprised that this is not a televised match in England. It will be shown here in the States via ESPN + so I would imagine there will be plenty of streams.

Everyone on the "team vs Man City" thread tells me that it's a forgone conclusion and that we may as well not bother turning up. On that basis I guess it's hardly the most interesting match up. At least the BBC will show all the goals but apparently, they'll all be against us!

The ingredients are there. The side top of the Premier v the side top of the Championship. The latter the highest goal scorers in the top two divisions throughout Europe with the top goal scorer throughout Europe in their line up...possibly.

Somebody in the cab said....there were game's on the bbc red button....but did not elaborate

[nottsblue]

Cheers CM

A full strength Fulham are no mugs, make no mistake. They are scoring goals for fun and top their table. Of course, we should progress but we cant take our eye off the ball and I suspect Pep will field a very strong side.

Any old win will do. Just be in the hat for the next round

[johnny crossan]

Cheers CM

A full strength Fulham are no mugs, make no mistake. They are scoring goals for fun and top their table. Of course, we should progress but we cant take our eye off the ball and I suspect Pep will field a very strong side.

Any old win will do. Just be in the hat for the next round

Thanks CM, I hope we watched the scum getting turned over last night - as NB says Fulham are twice as good as Boro and we need our strongest team firing on all cylinders - no room for Grealish or Foden or Jesus on current form (unless Mahrez is still recovering) and Ake, Fern, Zinch, Palmer et al should all be on bench. If it was up to me Steffen would be joining them after his last time out.

[CTID Hants]

Cheers CM,

As mentioned above by NB, Fulham are no mugs and will be in the Prem next season.

Interesting in our house today as the Missus is Fulham.

I will keep one eye on Adribayo to see how he's gone on

[Harry Dowd scored]

Cheers CM, hope you have a good day out, they seem a decent bunch no nasty slurs, hopefully a good game of football for the fans