It’s Fulham tonight and it’ll be interesting to see how we approach the game.
With two huge home games coming up against West Ham and Watford in the Premier League, I’d have expected Marcelo to go with a real young side at Fulham, but having seen the Under-23s line-up a couple of days against Liverpool I’m not sure.
The U23s were outstanding in that game – Joe Geldhart scored two absolute worldies – and beat Liverpool 4-0, which is some achievement.
Geldhart played the full 90 minutes which I would guess would mean he isn’t likely to start against Fulham which is a shame because it would have been a good opportunity to see how he stepped up, and coped with the more physical demands of coming up against a Championship side.
Charlie Cresswell and Sam Greenwood both played 45 minutes each so they could be in contention, and again they are two players who I would like to see step up in a first team game. Realistically, we’re not going to see them in a Premier League starting line-up just yet, but the Carabao Cup is an opportunity.
Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford have been ruled out and we know Jack Harrison is unavailable too so there will be opportunities for players in the game. I’m sure Fulham will make a few changes, but they’re no mugs. They have kept a Premier League squad together, and have quality to come in.
I said at the start of the season that the Carabao Cup offers a realistic chance of silverware for a club like ourselves, but equally there has to be that balance, and the biggest priority for me at the moment is getting that first Premier League win under our belts, and these two upcoming home games.