Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Fulham a role model for Albion boss
Friday 22nd October 2010, 11:59AM BST.
Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo has hailed next opponents Fulham as role models for the Baggies’ big chance to nail down their Premier League place.
The team take on Mark Hughes’ men at the Hawthorns tomorrow with the Cottagers in their 10th straight season of top-flight football.
And, while admitting chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed’s investment has helped the West Londoners prosper, Di Matteo believes they are still an example for Albion.
He said: “Generally as a squad and a team, Fulham have been generally competitive and very good in the Premier League in the last two seasons.
“They made the Europa League final last season, they have been very solid and they are probably a club that you aspire to copy, because they have been in the Premier League now for many years.
“They have slowly built on their success in the past and it is probably a similar size of club to ours. Al Fayed was a big influence when he first took over and he invested heavily in the club and the playing squad.
“But, away from the financial aspect, I am talking about the technical side of the team.”
Albion will begin tomorrow’s match sixth in the table and unbeaten in five Premier League matches.
But Di Matteo believes his team must still improve defensively while maintaining their attacking form.
He said: “We have improved defensively. We look more solid but we can still do better.”
Striker Peter Odemwingie is not expected to shake off a knee injury in time to play tomorrow, but Jerome Thomas could be recalled to the starting line-up after injury.
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I admit I panicked to hear P.O was out last week but I was glad to see we don’t have a ‘one man team’ mentality and to ehar he is out of this weekends fixture pleases me somewhat thaty Fortune can try to compete and that we aren’t rushing back any players that can influence out season for the better.
I might whack on a few golden nuggets on Marc to bag a goal tomoz! Whose with me?!
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I’m confident tomorrow although a draw could be on the cards. I don’t think we need to worry about greening or Kamara but if Gera plays then that will be interesting to see.
2-2 me thinks, 2-1 me hopes
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I have always liked Fulham, Bobby Robson, Johnny Haynes, George Cohen, come to mind. Al Fayed has for years been loyal to them. Now They have Zoltan Gera, Johnny Greening, Diomansy Kamara in their squad (I’m sure the will get an arousing cheer Saturday). Yes great club. Having said that we shall be waiting for them, Whoever is in our team.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Astleistheking
I’ve just read that Andy Johnson from the Blues is fit for them tomorrow as well. This game’s got ghosts of the past written all over it. Gera’s aerial threat will be a worry.
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Fulham are the perfect example of what can be achieved if you have the RIGHT manager for the club…. this is not necessarily the BEST manager out there but someone who understands what the club can achieve and how to do it – and i think Hodgson was perfect for fulham in much the same way Robbie is for us.
I don’t think Woy will be half as effective at L’pool or Hughes will be at Fulham – its just the right man at the right time.
Megson was the right man at the right time for us and so is RDM.
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3 Jack.
I think it’s probably a thing with those of us who are of the 1960′s vintage. I said last season that I’d love to see Blackpool come up with us as I remember them as a good club with the likes of Jimmy Armfield, Tony Waiters, Alan Ball and Emlyn Hughes. It’s nice to see the tangerine shirts again.
It’s a similar thing with Fulham, I’d add Graham Leggett to your list but I always remember their fans as being a generally friendly lot, a credit to the club (I don’t if their new PL fans are keeping up the standards.)
Let’s give Jonno and Zoltan a good cheer, I wasn’t a big Kamara fan, good player poor attitude. Then let’s go on and thump them.
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