Can Fulham’s new dynamism deliver Cup success?
Fulham have been one of the busiest clubs in the January Sales, and today will be an interesting test of the changes being pushed through at the Club.
With Premiership football at stake, and the TV revenues from next season’s enhanced Sky/Setanta deal, Chris Coleman has addressed the lack of depth in the Fulham squad, and the makeshift nature of the midfield in particular.
New signings Simon Davies (from Everton), Clint Dempsey (the US national player) and probably Alexei Smertin (from Dinamo Moscow), will bolster a midfield left without its lynch-pin early in the season, when Jimmy Bullard was injured at St. James’s Park.
Although Moritz Volz and Carlos Bocanegra have done well as stand-ins, the midfield needed to be strengthened to give more protection to the back four, and to support the forwards.
The decision by Papa Bouba Diop to stay with Fulham and fight for his space, rather than join Wigan, adds further to the sense that Chris Coleman and the rest of the management team are doing all the right things.
Meanwhile, up front, Chris Coleman will hope that Vincenzo Montella (on loan from AS Roma) will add some spark to an attack which has flattered to deceive at times.
Heidar Helguson in particular has looked out of form this season, and with Helguson suspended for a red card against Spurs last Saturday (which upset Fulham’s momentum while on top), Montella will probably begin, and hopefully repeat his great performance against Leicester two weeks ago.
Fulham haven’t enjoyed a Cup run for several seasons, but with a new sense of energy at the Club, and shrewd dealings in the Sales, there must be a better prospect of progression.
Stoke, of course, won’t be easy to beat, and will no doubt have been buoyed by Leicester’s efforts across two legs, but if Montella gets the service he should, Fulham should justify their position as odds-on favourites.
Vital Quotes:
Fulham Team News:
Vincenzo Montella likely to start, Zat Knight back from injury
Player to watch: Vincenzo Montella
Stoke Team News:
Lee Martin, on-loan from Manchester United, should make his debut
Player to watch: Lee Martin
Match Facts & Stats
Match Prediction:
Fulham 3 Stoke 1
