Spyin' Kop - Fulham v Liverpool 05/12/11

Posted by Flon on December 4, 2011, 08:02:59 pm

Liverpool return to west London tomorrow where they have had a lot of joy this season with a 2-1 win over Chelsea in the Premiership and a 2-0 victory in the Carling Cup (just in case you needed reminding). This time the opponents are Fulham, currently 14th in the table. Last season Craven Cottage was the scene of possibly our best performance of the season with a dominant 5-2 win for Kenny's men; here's hoping for a repeat.

Thanks go to Stewart and Rob, who contributed to Spyin' Kop for this fixture last season as well.

How has the season been shaping up compared to your expectations at the start of the season?

Rob: Disappointing so far. It just hasn’t clicked yet, otherwise we are in trouble. We’ve had some positive moment such as 2-2 against man city but they have been too few and far between. I’m hoping Jol will come good.

Stewart: Not too well so far, but not very worrying either. We have lost a few games we could clearly have won, but were just beaten by better finishing – e.g the Spurs game where we played like Barcelona. So basically, I would say so far we’re perhaps slightly underachieving, but the way we’re playing shows we can pick it up in the second half of the season.

Another season, another manager; what are your thoughts on Martin Jol?

Rob: Same as above really. It just hasn’t clicked yet. Jol is a likeable man although I drift off when he speaks! He was the man we wanted before we got Hughes so I’m so sure Al-Fayed is happy to have got his man at last, I just hope it comes good.

Stewart: As above, I can understand why some fans may have murmurs of worry, but I think if we stick with him we’ll only improve. Fingers crossed he doesn’t pull a Hughes.

Who have been your outstanding performers this season? And your worst?

Rob: Best: Dembele – He just needs to add scoring to his game and he will be quality. He has good control and can run rings around most teams.

Worst: Zamora. He’s back to being a donkey. Lazy, useless and uninterested. Wouldn’t surprise me to see him go in January. How he gets into the England squad I will never know.

Stew: I don’t think there have been any stand out performers so far. No one has been consistent enough to merit “outstanding” but I cannot wait to see the back of Zamora. I have said it for the past two seasons when everyone has been raving about him, and I will say it again, he is not good enough.

Where's the best place for away fans to grab a drink near the ground?

Rob: Eight Bells is the usual place for away fans to drink. Golden Lion is the home pub. Can’t get in there on matchdays without proof of being a Fulham fan.

Stewart: Either the Boat House or maybe Wahoo on the Putney side of Putney Bridge, but all the pubs in Putney offer a good watering hole. Just steer clear of Golden Lion which is a Fulham pub.

Do you have any favourite/best chants and perhaps any that require an explanation?

Rob: After the Liverpool game last year which you won 5-2 we adopted your Maxi Rodriguez song for Moussa Dembele, which swaps your run down the wings bit for runs rings around your team. Original I know.

Stew: Duff, Duff will tear you apart, again (Joy Division).

What kind of line-up can we expect from Fulham?

Rob: 4-5-1 . Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise, Murphy, Sidwell, Ruiz, Dembele Dempsey, Zamora up top as a lone striker.

Stew: The same as every week, we only play different players because of injury. I know Duff is out so the usuals and whoever he chooses to start in his place. Hopefully Ruiz will start because he has only been bringing him on as a very very late sub (mostly 87th min) which is not good enough for a £10m player.

If you had to choose, which Liverpool player would you like to see most in your team?

Rob: Obvious answer would be Gerrard, but I’ll plump for Kuyt, we could do with someone who works as hard as he does.

Stew: Probably have to say Agger because Hughes is starting to underperform.

Finally, care to predict the score?

Rob: Probably a loss for Fulham, 3-1 to Liverpool.

Stew: We’re at home, so it wont be a walk, but you’ll win 2-1.

Thanks again to the lads for contributing, here's hoping they're right about the result.

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