HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday's opening game of the season by delving into their forums.

"The phoney war is now over. Days to go before battle properly commences", "This is always the most exciting part of the season, before the start of battle. Hopefully we will just show some resolve, spirit and ambition", "Everyone is excited at the prospect of having a very promising season."

A minority of Fulham fans think that they will walk the league with the quality of their squad. "I think we're as good as promoted. I can't see any team who will to the double over us or any team to fear. I know it's not possible due to dips in form, but I do think we'll win 30 games or more."

The majority of Whites know that this season will be anything but straightforward. Fulham have completely rebuilt their squad since relegation. This is a talented new team, but it has little experience of playing together, and no experience of Championship football with the exception of a few players.

"I think this season will be tougher than most think. There are plenty of teams who are more settled than us who just missed promotion, such as Reading, Brighton, Forest, Derby and Ipswich", "I think we'll do well this season with a top six finish. I just don't think we'll get promoted until next season."

A Complete Rebuild

"What a clear out we've had and what a change around. It needed to be done", "The team is a mixture of overseas players that we don't know, young academy players who have been close to the best in the country in recent seasons and the player who was the division's top man last season."

"Felix Magath has had to clear the decks and has done a superb job", "He has freshened up the squad no end with some excellent academy players and what appear to be astute signings", "Felix is a madman, and there is hopefully is method and reason to his madness which will see us promoted."

"We are in a massive transition period", "I have no idea who half the team are. I couldn't tell you who we will play and whether we will be top or bottom by the end of the year. It will be very difficult to get a team playing well together from the off given the number of changes we have made."

Undercooked

"The pre-season has been a bit of a shambles. We've played poor opposition. We don't have much of an idea how players will fare against half-decent opposition because of this." Fulham's pre-season opponents have included Rangers, Motherwell, Crawley Town, DC United and Turkish side Rizaspor.

Most Championship teams are fine-tuning their starting XIs, but most Fulham supporters believe that they are weeks away from doing this. While this is partly due to their influx of players, their manager has given them little confidence that he knows his best starting XI with his pre-season line-ups.

"We're not just undercooked, but totally raw. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm getting worried", "The team (against Ipswich) will almost certainly never have played together as a starting XI", "I just hope they have enough team understanding."

Felix Magath

"Are we in the hands of a mad professor or a miracle worker?", "Magath seems very motivated, has a reputation for being hard with players, demanding a high work-rate, fight, and very high levels of fitness", "I'm looking forward to seeing what Felix can do this year. We'll know soon enough."

Most supporters have appreciated their manager's efforts to improve the squad's fitness and team spirit, but they are struggling to read his intentions regarding squad selection and tactics. "Mad Magath seemed to stick pins in a list of names when selecting his teams."

The fear is that there simply may not be a plan. "I feel that we are in the dark until we see them play together with a structure and team framework", "I think we'll know soon enough if Felix is a cunning fox, a permanent unknown or an ostrich with his head in the ground looking for a clue."

"I hope I am wrong. I really do, but we may all rue the day Felix Magath entered the gates of Craven Cottage. He may turn out to be a breath of fresh air and a genius. However, we may realise we have an impostor on our hands sooner than we may have prepared for."

Departures

No fewer than 12 players have departed over the summer with nine finding new clubs, including former ITFC loan keeper David Stockdale (to Brighton), defenders Brede Hangeland (to Palace) and Sasha Riether (to Freiburg).

Midfielders Damien Duff (to Melbourne City), Steve Sidwell (to Stoke), Josh Pritchard (to Gillingham), Patjim Kasami (to Olympiakos), Kieran Richardson (to Villa) and Ashkan Dejagah (to Al Arabi in Qatar) have also moved elsewhere.

Damien Duff

Three former players, striker Giorgios Karagounis, midfielder Mahamadou Diarra and defender John Arne Riise are currently unattached.

Several established players on still on the books have not featured, including Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenberg and striker Marcello Trotta. Costa Rica midfielder Brian Ruiz and Greece striker Konstantinos Mitroglu are back training after the World Cup, but many Cottagers think that they may leave.

"Mitroglu still looks unfit", "He looks like a lazy Berbatov but without the first touch", "That's like saying he's the ‘poor man's Senderos'", "His movement has been poor in pre-season." The 26-year-old ex-Olympiakos man "won't start this weekend".

Ruiz spent the second half of last season on loan at PSV. He is seen as a viable playmaker, but has considerable baggage. "Fulham don't need a player who ran away from a relegation battle to concentrate on a World Cup", "He could have been a much loved player, but blew it."

Defence

"Felix has been banging on about clean sheets." Fulham have been solid at the back in pre-season, keeping four straight clean sheets going into Saturday's game. However, it is very likely that their goalkeeper and all four defenders will be making their competitive debuts on Saturday.

"I'm most amazed that we're heading into the season starting with Joronen or Bettinelli in goal. This may be promising, but I can't believe that is how things will be come September if we have any designs on promotion."

Jesse Joronen

"Jesse Joronen has looked good in friendlies." The 21-year-old joined the Fulham academy in 2009 and has one Finland cap. "He was a bit erratic at first (against Crawley) but he deserves the benefit of the doubt."

"I like Voser, but he may be the best in home games with his speed. He's much quicker than Hoogland." Two new right-backs have been signed, 27-year-old Switzerland U21 international Kay Voser (from Basel) and 29-year-old Tim Hoogland (from Schalke).

"Voser is a real breath of fresh air", "He is and will be a class act for us at right-back", "He looks good going forward but has been caught out defensively." Hoogland can play as a holding midfielder, but hasn't impressed there in pre-season. "I doubt he's going to be good enough for that position long-term."

"He's potentially a useful signing." There has been hardly any comment about recent signing Nikolay Bodurov, a 28-year-old Bulgaria international who has just arrived from Litex Lovech. Many Whites have put him straight into their proposed starting XI for Saturday based on his pedigree.

There is a small possibility that Fernando Amorbietta may play. "'Lovebite' was always going to leave when the next best thing came along." The 29-year-old former Athletic Bilbao man "is not wanted for the task of rebuilding", "It's be a pity if he leaves, but he was not that reliable."

Kostas Stafylidis

"We need to be promoted to keep this player. He seems to be a real attacking threat as well as being a decent defender", "Sign Stafylidis up now. The kid is the real deal, a proper left-back. He takes no nonsense in defence and gets forward when he needs to", "One of the best transfers we will do all year."

The 20-year-old left-back has arrived on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, and Fulham have an option to sign him permanently should they be promoted. He has played once for the Greece national team.

"We seem to have found a left-back who defends properly while also being able to get a few decent crosses in." There was one hint of inexperience: "The biggest concern I had in the DC United friendly was Kostas. He got forward a lot, but failed to get back a couple of times."

Shaun Hutchison

"If there's a guaranteed centre-back starter, it's Hutchison. He looks miles better than the rest. It seems that he is a fantastic signing." The 23-year-old joined from Motherwell this summer. "He makes simple no-nonsense clearances when needed and plays the ball smart and simple."

"Hutchison has established himself as our best centre-back so far and looks a right good signing", "He's very assured", "Seems like a classic English centre-back, a strong player who'll clear it out and isn't afraid to get stuck in."

Midfield

"We are setting up to play with a diamond in midfield, but quite narrow, using more tucked-in box-to-box players", "You could see that the diamond was working and the team shape was much better in the pre-season games."

Lilywhites are happy with the shape this system provides, but a lack of familiarity within the squad has created teething troubles. "There was absolutely no meaningful possession or creativity in midfield today (against Rizaspor), leading to zero chances for our forward players."

"We are very slow in our build-up play", "We're not doing enough attacking", "Two shots on target in the first half. Old habits die hard", "I didn't spot any control today. I'm not sure we can introduce McCormack, our flying Scot and just switch on a game plan to win at Ipswich."

"There's a question-mark over how solid Thomas Eisfeld is, but he'll prove an excellent signing", "It sound like Felix might have pulled off another transfer coup looking at Arsenal fans' twitter-feed", "He's a fantastic prospect and could be the sort of playmaker we need."

Thomas Eisfeld

The 21-year-old joined from the Gunners this summer and "is versatile. He can play alongside Parker at the back or further up field in a narrow diamond." Many fans put him on the right of the four. "He didn't progress through at Arsenal, and Serge Gnabry overtook him in the pecking order."

"Ryan Williams is being seriously looked at as a starter. He certainly has plenty of enthusiasm and a bit of steel." The 20-year-old Australian and ex-Pompey winger "is a very hard worker and good on the ball", "The two at the centre of the diamond play fairly narrow and are expected to track back."

Sweden international Alexander Kaciniklic is pencilled in many starting line-ups on the left of the diamond, but many Whites have their doubts about the 22-year-old. "He's an enigma", "I don't think he's lazy but he seems to lack confidence", "A decent player, but not quite there yet."

"So often a brilliant run ends with a short backwards pass", "He's not great at defending or winning the ball back", Alexander is a nifty player with good technique, but he fades in and out of games", "He's able to go wide and swing in a cross, which Ross McCormack could be lethal with."

Many fans think that this may be a season too soon for 17-year-old prodigy Patrick Roberts to play a full part. "He's the brightest talent at the club in years", "He has oodles of talent but bombed (at Crawley) when he came on", "It's too much to expect him to start games and take the league by storm."

Chris David

"Chris David is running midfield", "If there was one player on the field that controlled the match (against DC United) it was David. He showed why he is highly rated and has continued where he left off last season. He reads the game so well and is creative with his passes."

The 21-year-old Netherlands U21 international has played once for Fulham, in last season's FA Cup win over Norwich, and "our creative talent" is widely seen at the best choice for the playmaker role in the diamond. "When David went off (at Crawley), we seemed to lose control of the midfield."

Scott Parker

If Cottagers feel that there is a weak link in this Fulham team, it is at the base of the diamond. "My guess is that the most critical position in the new diamond formation is at the rear, in front of the back four. I'm not confident that Scott Parker can do the job", "He's the only natural choice to sit."

Scott Parker

The 33-year-old former Tottenham player and England international "is a dead duck in midfield. The opposition will jog past him to attack or press him into a mistake", "I don't want him to start for us. He will be shackled by players with more drive and better fitness."

"He creates space and angles. His passing keeps up our tempo", "Parker takes four touches when one would do. Our forward momentum came to a halt when he did his twirls, which didn't lose his man. He was caught in possession twice on the halfway line, which allowed Crawley to break."

"Tunnicliffe seems to have vanished." With Parker's form causing such concern, "the strangest player to go missing in pre-season is (former ITFC loan signing) Ryan Tunnicliffe. We could do with him, with so few central defensive midfielders."

Strikers

"We could set this division alight with the amount of fire power we have up front." Whites are least concerned about the quality of their frontmen.

"Cauley Woodrow should start. He's the kind of hard working player we need in the Championship. He works his socks off. He defends from the front, holds the ball up better and has a neat first touch", "He's been likened to Sheringham and will develop into everyone's favourite second striker."

Cauley Woodrow

"His strengths are setting up his partner, his intelligent passes and his clinical finishing." Not everyone is taken with the 19-year-old ex-Luton striker. "This won't make me popular, but I think that he will be a decent mid-table Championship striker. There's nothing that special about him."

Former Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega "appears to want to leave, and will not get any better". The 29-year-old Colombia international has been pencilled in to a good number of starting line-ups. "He makes an extraordinary effort on the pitch. His runs create space for his attacking partners."

"Moussa Dembele seized on a miscommunication, followed it with a second clinical poacher's goal and took his hat-trick (against DC United) breaking into free space and slotting the ball away coolly."

Moussa Dembele

The France U18 striker "has great composure", "He's 18, is raw and still has a lot to learn."

"Felix seems to like Dembele", "I would play him sooner rather than later." Many fans see Dembele as an impact substitute for Ross McCormack. He could replace Ross when the other team are tiring."

Ross McCormack

The 27-year-old moved from Leeds for £11 million in a much publicised transfer this summer, but interestingly has only featured in one pre-season game so far.

"He looks lean and well-chiselled compared to the flabby specimen who turned up at first", "He's a sensible bloke who looks to have shifted a few pounds and is raring to go."

"He was creating a lot out of nothing last season. With some decent service and a supporting cast of strikers, this could all be very exciting", "He's a leader who will drive the team. He makes things happen. I'm hoping for a Bullard with brains. Imagine that?"

Fulham Supporters' Views on ITFC and the Game

"I could name half a dozen line-ups, as Mick McCarthy is probably doing at this very moment, and still get it wrong", "This is part of Felix's plan. Give Ipswich absolutely no clue as to who they will face come next Saturday", "If we're confused, then our opponents must be even more so."

"I haven't a Scooby", "I just do not have a clue", "The big disadvantage we have is that no-one knows the starting XI, least of all probably Felix. We will be playing an (Ipswich) team in the truest sense of the word, as opposed to 11 (Fulham) players who are still getting to know each other."

This vacuum of knowledge has led to every conceivable forecast, from doom-mongers "honestly seeing us getting stuffed 5-0 against a well-organised team" to the ebullient "Is that really a set of players to be scared of?" The majority of Fulham fans though are not underestimating us.

"Make no mistake. Ipswich away is a huge step up from our pre-season friendlies", "We have no illusions about next week", "We don't have enough of an idea of how we'll perform, and Ipswich are a good team too", "I'd take a point in all honesty, a decent start away to a decent side."

One fan posted this before our draw at Orient: "I decided to look at Ipswich's pre-season matches to see if they were ‘undercooked'. They've haven't travelled far and played all games against teams that would give you a run for your money. Eleven goals for and one against — now I'm worried."

Websites

The busiest Fulham message board is the well informed and courteous Friends of Fulham.

Photo: Action Images

StuartBrett8 added 12:37 - Aug 8 Nice one Harry, let's smash them while they're 'undercooked' :)
1

bohslegend added 12:45 - Aug 8 Thanks Harry! Interesting. Away fans always seem to give our boys and the gaffer way more respect than some of our vocal minority. I sense that we are perceived as a good team, who play as a team, and as such deserve respect. I concur.
1

Tony added 12:48 - Aug 8 Thanks Harry - excellent preview. I'd take a point right now, that said there's obviously a concern within Fulham over their sense of teamship and whether that has any implications come Saturday. Really important we take something from this at home in whats a tough opening month.
3

Superblue95 added 12:49 - Aug 8 Seems a lot of confusion at Fulham, time for us to storm in and grab the 3 points. COYB
2

bluefeast added 12:50 - Aug 8 Brilliant as always Harry
1

bobbyramsey added 13:05 - Aug 8 Thanks Hazza, good read as always.
1

halsteadblue added 13:33 - Aug 8 Come on Town let`s all get behind the lads tomorrow and hit the ground running,can`t wait........COYB
3

Azzuromark added 13:34 - Aug 8 Nice early goal for us, before Fulham have a chance to get into their stride.
2

Bluebell added 13:55 - Aug 8 Thanks Harry. Great report. I had forgotten Tunnicliffe went there. No worry for us though. Ross McCormack has to be the danger man but with Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra we have no fears!
0

scottrock added 13:58 - Aug 8 Thanks again Harry. You've actually filled me with a bit more confidence about the game. I was thinking a point would be good but some of their fans are saying that about us! COYB!
1

pazelle added 14:50 - Aug 8 Happy with a point from this one. Cheers Harry!
1

Surco72 added 17:53 - Aug 8 Thanks Harry, it would appear the Fulham fans are as pessimistic as i am! ! Come on MM and TC prove me wrong and get the season off to a flier. Up the blues
1

Ebantiass added 21:02 - Aug 8 A very good write up as usual, like some its given me a little more confidence about tomorrows game and the fact that they are a new team in essence lets hope we can use this to our advantage.
1

RegencyBlue added 21:22 - Aug 8 Nice one Harry! I think this is a good time to play Fulham, before they have time to settle. 2-1 to the Town.
2

HarryfromBath added 22:06 - Aug 8 Many thanks everyone for chipping in with your thoughts. I think that it is a good time to play Fulham - their comment about the slow build-up play in midfield was echoed a few times, and I do wonder about their keeper. They could be much more of a problem in six weeks time. My one concern for tomorrow is the quality of their players, especially up front. The only fear I have is that they pull a moment of class out of the hat, a bit like Kranjcar did for QPR last year. That said, I honestly believe we will be stronger as a team this season than we were last year. We have developed partnerships and understandings on the pitch under Mick, born out of many hours of competitive game time. There is no reason why we cannot garner at least a point out of this game, and three are a distinct possibility if we can get a decent tempo into our game. A win would be a hell of a platform to build on!

3

Blogs 296 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls