 Welcome to Toffy TV, it's that time again, match preview for the first game of the season, Jack and myself will look forward to the home game versus Fulham on Saturday, a nice three o'clock Saturday kickoff to start the season Jack, how excited are you? That's going to be back isn't it, feels like the breaks flew by, felt like it was only yesterday we were doing these previews and everybody going we really need to win this one, really need to win today. So not only is it nice to be back but it's nice to not have the entire season living and dying on a result for once. You say that, no obviously there's not the same kind of pressure that we faced just what nine weeks ago clearly but saying that, Evan have got a potentially decent start ahead of them to the season if we're looking at the fixtures and Fulham at home represents a fantastic chance to get off to a good start. We know what Evan have done in the summer and what they're continuing to try to do, it's not quite there right now but Fulham, Evan exactly how they stray forward summer either have they, you know the threat of losing players, losing players, re-signing players, probably haven't got the players they won in yet. Even the manager, Michael Silva looked like he was being tempted to go over to Saudi Arabia so it's been an interesting time for Fulham. It's been far from ideal as now obviously they have got players through the door but there's been a lot of chatter around Mitrovic, one of their key men is he moving to Saudi, is he staying, is he going, will he hand me forth, he was going, now he's back, now he might be going again, again Silva like you say. So it's, you know they've not had a disaster as windowed, they've still got them all here but it's been far from ideal and it will affect their preparation having all that concern around some of their key players won't it? Yeah as you mentioned there obviously Mitrovic kicked up a big fuss, said he wanted to go, got a fantastic life changing offer to go to Saudi Arabia obviously. He said he'd never play for the club again, he's come back into the fold as I don't know whether the interest went away and he had to or Fulham just stayed fame with it, I don't know but he has come back into the fold. He is available for the game whether he's 100% fit because he's missed games we don't know. We'll have to wait and see but he's obviously a player that we'd love to not be involved with the sides this weekend. Yeah definitely because he's the key man, he was keeping them last season especially in that first half but you can really weigh flying high obviously the tail off a little bit towards the end but Mitrovic is that guaranteed quality for them, he's that goal threat and he is one of the better strikers in the league really as far as saying so if he's potentially not involved at the weekend obviously got the 20 minutes off the bench in their last friendly of pre-season. So he might feature at the weekend but he probably won't be a full fitness so that is an advantage to Everton straight away. Yeah let's just hear what Maho Silver said about Mitrovic's involvement for the weekend. Mitrovic is reported to have said to friends and family that he would never play for Fulham again, he has of course, he played in the last friendly. Is he available to play when he'd be selected to play at Everton? 100% sure. Mitrovic was able to play last week two games, he played behind closed doors 60 minutes against Offa 9, we played two games against Offa 9 last week and after played 30 minutes against Offa 9 again at Cottage and we wanted to give at least nine for him but in two days and we did it like we did with Andres Pereira, not just with him, like we did with Tim Rym as well. And that's it and this week again working every single day with his teammates and that's it, he's ready to play if I'm going to decide to start with him or not. There you go, Maho Silver has enlightened him as ever, fully animated there, I'm talking about Mitrovic. Let's just have a look at Mitrovic's numbers from last season anyway. There you go, 14 goals in 24 games, obviously had a huge ban as well last season but come back towards the end of the season and obviously started scoring again. Obviously missed the game against Everton at Godderson Park but obviously they won but if he doesn't start obviously they have got him and us that he's just brought in from Wolves who at first when he signed I thought he was going to be the replacement because he looked like an ID replacement but now it looks like obviously, looks like they're going to be fighting it out for that play. Let's have a look at him and his number from last season. Played 15 games, no goals for him and his last season, a very difficult season for him and obviously Wolves as a team struggled to score goals last season. Jack, but what are you taught on him and his starting the game? Cymines is a player who a couple of years ago looked like a great striker, he was a great striker, he was very prolific for Wolves and around that time he also suffered a very bad injury. Didn't even since then he's came back and it seems like one reason for another, he didn't really get that goalscoring form back but then he did score the other day for Fulham in a three season friendly. If you look at his stats there which have just had a obviously not impressive zero goals but only 2.6 xg still a big under performance but it also shows that he wasn't exactly blessed with chances at Wolves. You know the way in the most attacking forward thing inside even maybe at Fulham if he gets more chances he can get that confidence again. He has it the back of the net for them already maybe that's the confidence boost he needs to get back to the level he was. The thing about it is obviously if they're going to play with him and theirs and they're used to Mitterwitch then he's going to get a lot of joy out of that. So this and I remember his debut for Wolves against Everton so I'm not writing the fella off by any means. He is a good backup for Mitterwitch if you know Mitterwitch ends up leaving then he could be a good backup I don't think he's going to score as many goals as Mitterwitch did last season. He's a fantastic season but he is an ideal candidate just because of his prowess in the air. Yeah definitely and obviously a lot of me said about his injury is that what caused him to fall off from the level he was at but I think there's a lot to be said about a change of scenery for him as well and maybe that's what he needed he'd been at Wolves for a while. He was linked with moves away while he was there you know moves to bigger clubs that he obviously never materialised but he had been there a while. Wolves had definitely hit a ceiling in terms of what they were doing and accomplishing in the Premier League so things were going a little bit stale there and maybe now he's got to move, new manager, new club he can maybe just find that motivation again maybe that's what he's missing. I think this will tell us a lot about him and theirs you know is it the injury that's took it off him is it just his age or was it a mental thing did he need to get out of Wolves where it had gone stale and now he can be that striker again. Yeah it's going to be interesting to see what happens with the last couple of weeks of the transfer window as well you know being open and obviously you mentioned before William who's been linked as well with a move away. Have they settled down because it's the beginning of the season and you know they've got to and with that noise continue. One play they have brought in as well is Calvin Barcy from Ajax obviously went from Rangers to Ajax not so long ago now he's come into Fulham. There was a lot of talk that he was actually going to go for Jerry Mina but he's gone for Barcy and he's a good strong powerful player to have back there. Yeah definitely it didn't really work for him at Ajax but it didn't really work for a lot of players who came into Ajax over the last year or two. It was a struggle and just all across the board but you know he's a big physical presence he's decent in the air very fast for the centre back he's strong left back as well so he has got that physical side in him. He was very good for Rangers did very well near Europa League campaign a couple of seasons back that's probably largely what got him that move to Ajax in the first place. There is a good player in there I think it's just about figuring out what type of centre back he wants to be he's not actually been playing as a centre back for that long. That's something that more came towards the end of his spell at Rangers so he's still learning that role obviously in his early 20s but he's not got that much experience playing centre back. So he's learning on the job and he's going to continue to grow to be a good player? Yeah it's a decent sign for him moving forward. It's going to be an interesting season for Fulham this season just because the second season in the Premier League I do think they overachieved last season and it almost felt like everything Mitterwitch did ended up in the back of the net. It's whether they get that look I think a lot of people were taken by surprise by them last season. You go back to the first game of the season when they drew I think 2-2 with Liverpool. I think people were surprised by Fulham as they played but also by how well Mitterwitch adapted being back in the Premier League. Maybe people will give him a little bit more attention this season if he obviously stays and will treat him like one of the other top strikers in the league and make sure whether man marked or just set it up more likely to stop him. Yeah well the last time Fulham were in the Premier League Mitterwitch hardly featured did he? I think it was Scott Park who was the manager, he wasn't interested and trusted and didn't think he suited the way he wanted to play. Now obviously Marjo Silva sees how good this striker is, did amazing for them in the championship this season, he did come up and he's obviously carried that over. If he is given more attention he's treated like the top striker a lot of people think he is, maybe his goals do come down a bit especially if he is not fully committed to Fulham at the moment, if he's looking at Fulham and thinking do I really want to be here? Maybe that's another thing you mentioned Fulham as well will they be given more respect this year? I think that's quite possible on the other side of that is they might actually be weaker this year if they do lose obviously Polina, he's out at the weekend but he is a key player for them. He could be off to Westam, Mitterwitch and William both potentially out the door as well. So they could end this summer weaker than they were last year but be given the respect and treated like a bigger threat than people thought they were a year ago as well. It isn't a great combination for Fulham. It's always that thing isn't it? If you have a good season people will always come and look for your players, if you can't replace those players, if you're not ready to replace them or don't already have the backups at the club ready to go, it's always going to be difficult especially if you leave it late. That's where money sometimes talks for the owners but we'll wait and see. Let's have a little look at Fulham's side from their last pre-season game. So there you go, you've got Jimenez up front, Wilson behind, Willian in there as well, Bobby Reid in there as well. Lot of plays from last season, Callen Basi in the centre back and obviously Leno in goal. The crux of that team is the same. I don't think there'll be any real surprises for Evan coming into this game. They'll know what they're up against, they'll know the style Fulham will want to play. There's a lot of balls into the box, a lot of crosses but there's also good football as well. Nice little movement and of course if Wilson does start you've always got to be wary of him. He's a great striker of the ball, set pieces he's dangerous on and we'll love a goal against Evan again being an extra red. Just moving on to obviously Evan, there's question marks over Dominic Arvillewan. The manager has said that the game programme hasn't played out yet so he ruled him out of starting the game Wasn't 100% where they'd be on the bench but do you think that's just the manager being cute? Do you think he'll start again? Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if Calvert Llewyn starts and I think if Sean Daish can out the opposition thinking that Calvert Llewyn isn't playing and maybe to expect Malpie instead, the naive prepared for the very different threat from what they're getting so yeah that wouldn't shock me at all. It'd be very shocked if he started and then played the ball in 90 minutes but yeah I could definitely see Calvert Llewyn start and get an hour and that hour might be all we need to get a goal ahead and get in front and see it out but I think if you've got him fit you'd do off the play and get the whole thing of not rushing him back and everything like that but he has got three season minutes under his belt. He's not completely fully matched fit but he is fit to play. It's difficult though isn't it because with other players you would say well the fit to play they've got minutes under the belt but obviously it's Dominic Calvert Llewyn and it's that nag and worry of everything that's gone on in the last two years and I know Sean Daish has talked about him being on a better programme now and he's gone over to Germany and worked on his fitness so he looked all right against sporting at the weekend and yeah it's going to be an interesting one for whether he starts or not and obviously I think one of the other issues Evan will face or certainly a headache for Sean Daish is who will he start a centre back obviously he's confirmed James Tarkowski will start the game which is great but who do you think or who do you want for him to play next to? Well who I want and who I think to quite different answers for who I want I'd love to see Jared Brown for it. I'd like to see him get that chance and for us to put that faith and I'm going yeah you've had a great loan spell last year you've impressed us. I'm glad you can slot into that left centre back position we're going to give you a chance to be our centre back for the next 10 years. In terms of what I think will happen it wouldn't shock me all to see Michael Keane. I mean we've seen him picked over Conor Cody and Gary Mina last year and he did make mistakes in that time but he's obviously a player Daish likes to an extent Gary Mina and Conor Cody are both gone now. Does that sort of push Michael Keane up ahead of Jared Brown's way to his unproven to Sean Daish and didn't have a full pre-season with us either? I think for me I wouldn't be shocked at all if Keane plays at least the first game of the season. I think on the Keane situation for me after what happened at Leicester last season and him being taken out I think the manager is aware that he's limited and there will be games Keane will play. Keane, steady player doesn't get injured and he gives you that. You know what you're getting from him. That might be enough for some games but for others clearly it won't be. I think he'll go in the middle. I think he'll start Pen Godfrey again after what he stand at him against Sporting. I think that was a big indicator of what he wanted to do. I think the pace and the physicality of Ben Godfrey could be important if used correctly. Again, I'm more in the branch way just because I think the three of them will make mistakes. I'd rather a young lad who can learn from those mistakes and can grow and have someone like James Tarkowski next to him can grow into a premier player, play every single weekend and build on that like we've seen with others. For me he would be my starter but I've just got a feeling as well that Ben Godfrey will start. Sort of in the middle of those two. It'd be interesting if you've got Patterson who's fit to start at right back. You'd imagine actually young would start at left back as well. I seem to trust him. He's featured a lot in pre-season. I think if Coleman's absent having young in for that leadership and that voice as well, that's the other side of it. I'd expect young to start especially against Fulham who don't have loads of pace on the flanks. You can probably get away of starting an older player in what young is if Fulham are coming at you with a rapid right winger. Maybe you want Michelenko in there for fresher legs. But I think first game of the season your captain's not featuring it's good to have young in there for that experience. And then especially if you've got Bramfwynt next to him as well it'd be good to have an older Eds in the back line to help him through that game. That could be an important point if he starts on the left. You've got to remember two people who are going to talk him through the game so that would be interesting. I think everyone just wants us to start off on the right foot. Last season it was a bit different. We were playing Chelsea. I think a lot of people expected more from Chelsea last season. Losing in the way we did wasn't the end of the world. I face two home games. You're looking at them going. It's an opportunity to get six points there. After what we've been through in the last couple of seasons I think it's important we do get off to a good start. Let's do it right. Let's get to three points. That's obviously the best way possible to start a new season. And then it gives you all the stuff of the transfer market and everything else. It gives you that little bit of breathing space if you're picking up points as well. It takes the pressure off the people doing the deals. Especially if Dom's involved. Suddenly that pressure that's been on. The club to sign plays. It just dissipates a little bit. The people being vocal about it. They're not bothered. They're so happy they've won a game of football. That all that just seems to fade into the background. And the other side of that as well if we do manage to get points in before we've even signed some of these players it puts less pressure on them coming in. Because in January when we were linked with players every play we were linked with. There was that finger touch that can this be the player to save evidence from relegation. If we can be in a comfortable position before we sign anyone it goes okay well we're doing alright already. We're going to be even stronger now. And it's less a case of okay this is the player coming in and we're betting on them to improve this team and make them survive. Yeah absolutely. Yeah three points. That's the win. Just win a game of football. Dead easy. Won the last one at Godderson. Win the next one at Godderson. There you go. Let us know your thoughts in the comments on this one. Are you optimistic? How are you feeling ahead of the first game of the season? And tell us who you'd like us where you think we should be strengthening as well. Let us know in the comments. Make sure to check out the season preview me and Baz have done. Make sure to check out the press box season preview with me and Joe Thomas from the Echo as well. The start of 11 as well will be available in the next day or so. Make sure you check that out. And obviously all of the action videos after the game on Saturday. Check them out as well. Make sure to give this video a like. Subscribe if you haven't already. If you want more great videos. Join us over on Sofie TV Premiere. The link is in the description and the QR code is coming on the screen now. See you later.