….annnnnnnnd we’re back.
Well well well. Now that the World Cup is all said and done, we return to Selhurst on a (sure to be) cold Boxing Day afternoon.
Ahead of the game I caught up with bona fide super fan, football author, and Fulham season ticket holder Matt Walker. Hot off his most recent quest to ‘eat the world cup’, he discussed the prospects for the game, giving me the opposition viewpoint.
Q – So Matt, having experienced the World Cup in your own unique way, how are you feeling about the season so far for Fulham and how might the Qatar break play out?
MW – No one knows how the break will change anyone’s season, so obviously it’s difficult to know how Fulham will be affected. We had 6 players at the World Cup but only Palhinha went deep.
Overall, the season has felt positive, very different to how we’ve felt during the last few seasons we were in the Premier League. In part that was about how well we came into the league, winning the Championship and knowing we were up with a few games to go. In a way we’re a bit unlucky to be on 19 points, particularly as in the last 3 games against the Manchester teams and Everton, we could have picked up several more. But we are halfway to safety and you won’t find any Fulham fan complaining.
Q – You seem a very different proposition to when you were last in the league, is that down to the manager?
MW – One thing we’ve done well, which is very different to last time, is integrated new players with the strong core that was there already. Leno, Palhinha, Willian are big signings, but they are not treated in a more special way then say Bobby DeCardova-Reid, who has started every game and will definitely start against Palace. A lot of that is down to Marco Silva. He is a very good coach who has also improved individuals, Pereira is a really obvious example.
The one risk with Silva is that he does play a very attacking game, which can leave us open, but we’re in the top half of the league on merit.
Q – Who’s been the player of the season for you, so far?
MW – It’s a difficult question, which is good for the team as a whole. Palhinha has received a lot of plaudits, Mitrovic was electric until his injury which has hampered him a bit, I mentioned Pererira already. If I have to pick one, I’d go for Robinson at left back, who started for the USA in Qatar. He’s the player who I’m most convinced will go on to bigger things.
Q – Ok, the transfer window is reopening soon, if you had a magic lamp who’d be arriving at Craven Cottage in January?
MW – Defence is possibly our one weak spot. Tim Ream has been a great servant to the club, but to be a real Premier League force, we need to move on from him, so Gvardiol who, following Croatia’s success, would probably cost upwards of £80m. But as it’s a magic lamp … I’ll have him please.
Q- What’s your views on Palace this season?
MW – I’ve always had a soft spot for Palace, I live in south London, and like the style and vibes, especially from your forward players, Zaha, Olise and Eze. It’ll be a bit bittersweet to see Joachim Anderson in a Palace Shirt as it might be only the second time I’ve seen him live; most of the season he was with us it was the COVID season without fans.
Q – You’ve been to a LOT of stadiums – how does Selhurst Park compare?
MW – It’s quite a funny stadium as each stand is completely different. I visited a stadium in Egypt called The Alexandria Stadium home of Al Ittihad which Selhurst reminds me of, where the stadium is made from a number of completely different buildings, and so each stand has its own feel.
Q – Prediction for the game?
MW – I think in general for Boxing Day games, let alone after a 6 week break, it’s often very hard to predict. I’ll go for a 2-2 draw!
TEB – Cheers Matt, any final thoughts?
MW – It would be right to mention and give a moment’s pause for George Cohen. It will be our first game since his sad passing. Only 3 Fulham players have played more games for the club – and he remains Fulham’s only World Cup winner – born in Fulham and played his entire career for us, a genuine local hero – one of our own.
Thanks Matt, here’s to George, and a great game on Monday.
Matt’s excellent account of his quest to experience top-division league football in all 55 UEFA member countries in a single season would be a perfect early New Year present to yourself, or the superfan in your life – available HERE.
