Pre-Match Analysis: Fulham Host AFC Wimbledon in Carabao Cup
Fulham host fellow London side AFC Wimbledon in the Second round. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Fulham host League One side AFC Wimbledon in the second round of the Carabao Cup, with the hosts hoping to go deep in the competition as they did last season when they reached the quarter-finals.
Arbeloa in his first competitive match as Fulham manager. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Arbeloa in his first competitive match as Fulham manager. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Álvaro Arbeloa will be hoping to get his first win as Fulham manager against a favourable opposition, with this being the first time that the two clubs have faced each other in the competition.
The Cottagers kicked off their season on Monday night when they hosted Chelsea at home in the Premier League.
Despite what ended up being a nervy ending for Xabi Alonso’s side, the Blues were able to hold on to take all three points in a match that they ended up losing 2-0 in the season prior.
That being said, there were many positives for Fulham to take away concerning their performance competitiveness, with many believing the hosts deserved a point given their flurry of chances after 22-year-old Gonzalo García halved the deficit early in the second half.
More convincingly for the Cottagers ahead of their second-round match, however, is that the Dons are yet to win a match in normal time since the 25th April, with the club currently sat in the relegation zone in the third tier of English football.
Therefore, it is a match in which we are expecting a rotated squad from Arbeloa, with their next Premier League match against Sunderland on the horizon.
Young Stars To Shine For Fulham
Fulham will be expected to field a highly rotated side against Wimbledon, yet this doesn't mean that their squad will feature less quality than in their most recent match, which opened up their newest Premier League campaign.
Luc de Fougerolles playing for Canada in the World Cup. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Luc de Fougerolles playing for Canada in the World Cup. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
One player in defence that many will be excited to see shall he get selected, is the young Canadian defender Luc de Fougerolles, who joined the Fulham academy when he was just eight years old.
Named "Scholar of the Year" in 2023, he made his sole appearance for the first team in the Carabao Cup in the fourth round, when the Cottagers beat Ipswich Town 3-1 away at Portman Road.
The centre back was magnificent for Canada during their home World Cup, where they reached the round-of-16 for the first time in their history, and he was ranked as the fifth best defender at the World Cup, and best defender when excluding the champions, Spain.
Shea Charles would also be expected to make his full debut. After his £30 million transfer from Championship side Southampton, he became Northern Ireland’s most expensive footballer.
The 22-year-old signed a five-year contract and made his debut for the club on Monday, coming on as a substitute.
Charles, who graduated from the Manchester City academy before joining the Saints, primarily operates as a central midfield player and was incredibly crucial in the South Coast side's promotion push last season, when he worked himself into Southampton manager Tonda Eckert’s side.
Given the fact we can expect a rotated squad, 35-year-old Benjamin Lecomte would be expected to play over the club’s first-choice goalkeeper Bernt Leno. Kenny Tete and Ryan Sessegnon would also be expected to start.
In attack, Arbeloa could utilise Emile Smith Rowe, Kevin and Rodrigo Muniz. The latter came on as a late substitute to strengthen their attack against the Blues but was given limited time to make a desired impact.
Arbeloa aiming for statement win
As far as the fixtures are concerned, the Cottagers have quite a difficult start to their Premier League campaign.
After starting their season at home to a reenergised Chelsea side, now under the management of Alonso, who was replaced last season at Real Madrid by Arbeloa, Fulham travel up north to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland, before matches against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Manchester United.
All four sides qualified for European competitions last season, yet when looking ahead, the next three matches are the three newly promoted sides.
That being said, if there is still much doubt amongst the fanbase regarding Arbeloa’s appointment, then nothing less than a win will suffice to quell those concerns.
Given the places separating Fulham from Wimbledon’s and the form of the latter, it will be a match that the hosts are widely expected to win due to their quality.