Key occasions
5 min De Ligt goes lengthy to Dorgu, who can't preserve his cross in play. If his crossing ever matches his working, he'll be a very good participant.
4 min Such a robust begin from United. I'm not used to writing that.
3 min Cunha hits the put up! Some fast quick balls, a pleasant lay-off from Mount, and Cunha nearly passes it into the nook.
2 min United get the ball however don't get it underneath management, as Shaw's hoof leads to the arms of Leno… however then United win the ball again with their new-found press and Cunha tries a screamer, simply over.
1 min Fulham kick off and go lengthy down the left. Alex Iwobi tries a cross that goes flawed.
The groups are on the market. Fulham are in all white, like a Poundland Actual Madrid; United in purple shirts and black shorts, at all times the classiest of their change strips.
On the identical topic … “So,” says Roger Kirkby, “with most groups now having performed two video games, solely two have gained each and solely two have misplaced 'em. If the season carries on in the identical method, we're in for a deal with of a season.”
What's at stake (realistically). Man United are 18th within the desk with nul factors, to allow them to both keep there in the event that they lose at this time, go sixteenth or seventeenth in the event that they draw, or leap to someplace between fifth and ninth with a win. Fulham, at present 14th, can slip a spot or two in the event that they lose, keep 14th in the event that they draw, or soar to fifth with a win. All to play for!
Now, the view from Fulham. “I must be stuffed with optimism,” says Richard Hirst. “The primary residence sport of a brand new season, shiny new grass, shiny new equipment, shiny new gamers (ah, OK, higher scrub that one).” Ha. “Nevertheless it's Man Utd and, like The Nice Escape, we've all seen this film too many occasions and know the ending; spoiler alert, United win 1-0 with a deflected purpose within the third minute of stoppage time. However what's life for if you happen to can't dream, so COYW.”
An e-mail! “You made a very good level in your ideas* about United's defeat final week, Tim,” says Karen Asad, generously. “I actually can't fathom how Amorim can't discover a place for Mainoo. He's younger and has already confirmed top-class. Isn't it the coach's job to show gamers the best way to play in his system? Like what Liverpool did with Gravenberch final season. Prime coaches do it on a regular basis; it's a part of the job.
“Casemiro & Fernandes? Actually? No one severe thinks United will go locations with that midfield.
“If Amorim doesn't work out, United are in deep deep bother after investing a lot for his system.”
With you on the aged midfield, not so positive concerning the funding – Cunha and Mbeumo are adequate to fit into the 4-2-3-1 that the following supervisor will certainly usher in, Sesko is promising, and solely Dorgu could be a sq. peg. An even bigger fear could be who on earth would go on the left wing, which has borne the brunt of Amorim's purge.
*The piece was my try to make sense of the efficiency towards Arsenal, which appeared in United Writing, the Substack e-newsletter I based with Rob Smyth.
And in Everton's spanking new stadium … a convincing residence win! “Grealish,” says Tom Bassam, “was excellent.”
In the meantime, in South London … Palace and Forest have re-enacted their consequence from Could. Scott Murray has the small print.
Groups in full
Fulham (4-2-3-1) Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Castagne; Lukic, Berge; Sessegnon, King, Iwobi; Muniz.
Subs: Lecomte, Cuenca, Robinson, Reed, Cairney, Traore, Wilson, Smith Rowe, Jimenez.
Man United (3-4-3) Altay; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha, Mount.
Subs: Onana, Fredericson, Maguire, Heaven, Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo, Mount, Zirkzee, Sesko.
Groups briefly: three adjustments for Fulham
Marco Silva is extra proactive, although Fulham's first consequence was a good one (1-1 at Brighton). Rodrigo Muniz, who secured that time with a last-ditch equaliser after approaching as a sub, dislodges Raul Jimenez. Ryan Sessegnon replaces Harry Wilson on the best wing, and on the again Jorge Cuenca offers option to Timothy Castagne. The thrilling Josh King, solely 18, continues to edge out Emile Smith Rowe because the No 10.
Andreas Pereira is not noted of the squad, as is Rasmus Højlund (once more) for United, and probably for a similar purpose – they appear to be on their method out.
Groups briefly: Amorim digs in his heels
Ruben Amorim makes just one change to United's beginning XI, changing his proper wing-back, Diogo Dalot, with the extra attacking Amad. Meaning two surprises: Benjamin Sesko has to attend a bit longer for his first begin, as Amorim persists with a false 9 (in all probability Matheus Cunha); and Altay Bayindir is retained in purpose after his costly howler towards Arsenal, although André Onana has had one other week to regain full health.
Preamble
Afternoon everybody and welcome to a sport that must be a mismatch. A membership that has spent £200m this summer season is paying a go to to a membership that has spent £500,000. And but, on paper, it's too near name.
Fulham have continuity on their facet. Marco Silva, who took over as their supervisor in summer season 2021, is now the third longest-serving supervisor within the Premier League. (Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta are the one PL bosses to outlive from the BC period – earlier than Covid.)
Manchester United are extra about chaos. A swathe of redundancies, various gamers banned from squad coaching, a complete new ahead line, a complete new group of chief this and chief that, and a supervisor who has but to show himself in English soccer. Nonetheless, Ruben Amorim has found the key that has eluded everybody else: the best way to keep in a high job whereas dropping left, proper and centre.
“We're enjoying an important facet,” Silva mentioned on Friday. Is he positive about that? Amorim's United, nicely although they performed in dropping to Arsenal final Sunday, have been comically unhealthy at dealing with mid-table groups. In 14 league video games final season towards golf equipment that completed between seventh and seventeenth, they gained two, drew two and misplaced ten, making a grand complete of eight factors out of 42.
To be truthful, one of many wins did come at Craven Cottage – a jammy 1-0 conjured up by the persistence of Lisandro Martinez and a pleasant deflection. Fulham quickly took their revenge by going to Previous Trafford within the FA Cup and successful on penalties.
Opta's prediction machine offers Fulham a 30pc probability of successful at this time, United 44. The prediction pundits see it as nearer than that: Chris Sutton and Paul Merson have each gone for a 1-1 draw, whereas Harry Redknapp says 2-1 to United.
Kick-off is at 4.30pm (BST) and I'll be again quickly with the groups.
