Hamburg turmoil not an issue
Thu Apr 29 09:40AM
The fact that Hamburg have sacked their manager is not overly important to the way we prepare for tonight's Europa League semi-final.
From their perspective, the club feel they should be higher up the league and the decision can work one of two ways. It can either have an adverse effect on the squad, who may now feel unsettled and their preparation disrupted, or a galvanizing effect in which the squad will come together and become a tighter unit.
A change of manager usually has a positive short-term effect on the team, and we know that we will face a strong line-up. Ultimately, it all comes down to the players on the pitch to do the business, and we know it is up to us to take the game to them.
They have proven their undoubted quality in a number of games so far in the competition. It will be an exciting fixture and, as always, we feel very confident at home at Craven Cottage.
Given we are at home in this leg, we will look to play with more adventure and attacking prowess as we need to score. Naturally, it was important for us to go to Hamburg and make sure that we had plenty to play for in the return leg. We are now in an excellent position to progress to the final, and we will continue to play the good football that has got us to this stage of the competition.
The Cottage has been a bit of a fortress for us this season especially in the Europa League, as we have picked up some crucial wins here. We will really look to utilise our home advantage and give the fans something to sing about.
The support of the fans has been fantastic this season. Every Premier League game and Europa League fixture, the stadium is full to capacity and the vocality is something that really does spur the lads on. I remember being in the stand in the Europa League tie against Juventus, and I was really able to appreciate how good the Fulham fans are.
Their contribution has been extremely valuable to the good season we have enjoyed, and I am sure the level of support will be apparent at tonight's fixture. They have become our 12th man throughout the course of the season, and their support certainly doesn't go unnoticed.
I hope they are more adventurous, watching them in Hamburg was like watching grass grow!! They have got to open up a bit more at home which should give HSV a bit more space to play in. Probably play 8 men behind the ball instead of the 11 on the pitch plus 4 subs!!!!! And has for the atmoshere at the Cottage? 1300 Hamburgers will outsing them, Come on the mighty HSV!!!! NUR DE HSV!!!
From johnfinneron on Thu Apr 29 10:14AMnasreeves you tool, muppet, buffoon, moron and díldo!
inter won on away goals!
From bin.sniffer on Thu Apr 29 10:21AMNo they didn't, they won 3-2 on aggregate. Jesus wept...
From ijrutter on Thu Apr 29 11:06AMErr, actually bin.sniffer, Inter won 3-2 on aggregate, away goals weren't a factor...
From ijrutter on Thu Apr 29 11:09AMLose but reach final stage is better than Win but cant get through...that was what Jose discribe as a sweetess defeat nasreeves A.K.A favreegas is it?
From triange_0 on Thu Apr 29 12:02PM2. EEERRRRRRR!!! nasreeves you pathetic flap of SKIN!! Zubizarreta WAS the keeper... when WILL you LEARN?! You kNOw nothin....EMBARRASSING!!! etc etc
From dmartinbaez on Thu Apr 29 12:24PMdmartinbaez. You're obviously looking to stir up some comments with that statement.
From grahamnpotter on Thu Apr 29 12:39PMFulham should get used to playing without Zamora - his loan spell from West Ham is almost at an end, and I can't see West Ham letting him stay at Fulham next season.
From lawrence43 on Thu Apr 29 01:12PMNice one Danny, i'm at the match tonight so home we can win! Would love to get to the final
From simon_rugg on Thu Apr 29 01:14PMnasreeves you muppet YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From pottersgirl65 on Thu Apr 29 01:40PMLol
From svp_39 on Thu Apr 29 02:08PMGood luck Murphy. I'm sure Liverpool will beat Hamburger.
From garethds on Thu Apr 29 02:43PMI'm there tonight too. Good luck!
From brittanydavies84 on Thu Apr 29 03:10PMummm.. im pretty sure he was celebrating because he just won the tie u idiot
From marco.serka on Thu Apr 29 03:31PMmourihno da best nasreeeves is @#$%
From ayodejiobisesan on Thu Apr 29 03:58PMNasreeves, are you serious? Are you really that bitter over losing to a better club? You sound stupid, considering that both legs count, and Inter won the tie fair and square.
From alexi_euro on Thu Apr 29 04:21PMfulham go and win the cup - good luck
From sidatmo on Thu Apr 29 05:22PM'lawrence43'. Fulham signed Zamora in 2008 from West Ham along with John Paintsil for a combined fee of 6.3 million.
From brooksie6870 on Thu Apr 29 05:31PMhope fulham win but hope this cuI\It murphey breaks his legs
From sam_longworth on Thu Apr 29 06:33PMGOOD LUCK DANNY. ive got a bet on you guys winning tonight so dont disappoint me!
From d.doescher on Thu Apr 29 06:52PMAieeeeee you were FANTASTIC tonight
Congratulations!!From brittanydavies84 on Fri Apr 30 01:40AMalmost cost us the match there Danny!
From adamjonesio on Fri Apr 30 10:41AMCongrats Danny. I've been rooting for you and Fulham in Europe since you started writing this blog. Saw your assist last night and I thought you played excellently. Best of luck in the final and continue writing your blog. It seems to be good luck for you
From shivo_rox on Fri Apr 30 06:21PMcongrats danny!!
From kenynb on Sat May 01 08:29AMyes, best of luck for final...
From shamikghosh84 on Tue May 04 09:48AM
Comment on this article
Please sign in to add your comments.