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General Category => Archive => Daily Fulham Stuff => Topic started by: WhiteJC on December 07, 2017, 06:56:55 AM

Title: Thursday Fulham Stuff (07/12/17)...
Post by: WhiteJC on December 07, 2017, 06:56:55 AM
 
Referee confirmed for the Fulham game

Tony Harrington has been confirmed as the referee for Blues' Sky Bet Championship fixture against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The Cleveland-based official has taken charge of 19 games so far this season, where he has dished out a total of 63 yellow cards and three reds.

The last Blues game he refereed was our Championship away game at Burton in August.

Blues were beaten 2-1 in that match and just one player was cautioned - Brewers goalkeeper Stephen Bywater.

The last Fulham game he oversaw was the Cottagers' 1-1 home draw against Cardiff in September when he booked a total of seven players; including four for the hosts.

Mr Harrington will be assisted by Daniel Leach and Darren Blunden on Saturday.



https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2017/referee-confirmed-for-the-fulham-game/
Title: Re: Thursday Fulham Stuff (07/12/17)...
Post by: WhiteJC on December 07, 2017, 06:58:54 AM
 
Why Ryan Sessegnon To Tottenham Hotspur Is Written In The Stars

(https://www.thesportsman.com/media/images/admin/football/PA-33882171.jpg)
Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon (right) has attracted plenty of admiring glances from Premier League clubs

Every aspect of Ryan Sessegnon's hat-trick last month away to promotion-chasing Sheffield United flew in the face of conventional wisdom. There's his age to begin with: 17-year-olds tend not to take the match-ball home with them in top-level football and indeed the last youngster to do so from the top four tiers was Dele Alli for MK Dons in 2014. Then there's the Fulham prodigy's primary stationing at full-back which might occasionally allow a two-goal hero to emerge once every blue moon but three in a game? Never. To put into proper context since the Championship became the Championship in 2004 it has heralded 142 hat-tricks. Not one of them prior to Sessesgnon wore the number three shirt.

That the teenager began his spree with a 25 yarder executed with his weaker foot just tops off an extraordinary achievement by an extraordinary prospect and yet we still haven't arrived at the most logic-defying detail of them all. When Ryan Sessegnon took to the Bramhall Lane pitch that evening it was to compete in his 50th professional game.

Since the Roehampton born talent was first thrust into the Fulham first team just 81 days after being legally permitted to ride a moped he has been ripping up the record books. His first league goal made him the first ever scorer throughout the divisions to have been born in the 2000s. His winning strike against Cardiff in the FA Cup last January made him the youngest ever scorer in the competition. His eventual and rightful inclusion in the PFA Championship Team of the Year last May made him, well; you know where I'm going with this.

It is not simply landmarks of course why seemingly the whole of football is talking about this superstar in the making. Such has been the youngster's impact on this exciting, if inconsistent, Fulham side he has found himself deployed in any number of different roles, less for his utilitarian attributes and more to fully benefit from a very special natural talent. For a quarter of his twenty appearances so far this term Sessegnon has proven to be a devastating option out wide and even up front while at left-back he has swiftly established himself as a thoroughly modern exponent of the role, tenacious in retreat and always a willing, jet-heeled support when going forward. It's led to comparisons being made with Bayern Munich's David Alaba. It's led to comparisons being made with pretty much anyone who has made the left flank their own in recent years.

That list includes Gareth Bale and Danny Rose so it is entirely appropriate that the club being persistently linked to Sessegnon is the same institution where each star arrived callow but brilliant as teenagers before gradually establishing themselves as elite talents. In fact it is precisely due to the latter's ill-judged criticism of Tottenham's wage ceiling that has seemingly sharpened Mauricio Pochettino's intent on securing a long-term replacement with Rose's thorny relationship with his employers increasingly looking beyond repair.

In his place surely will step Sessegnon and the only question remaining is when this might happen. Had Spurs been successful in their tabled £25m bid over the summer the answer would almost certainly be a recalled loan this January but instead Sessegnon showed admirable maturity in choosing to continue his development at Craven Cottage. Instead, he signed his first professional contract back in June – notably with no buy-out clauses inserted - putting to bed the rumours if only temporarily.

A trawl through the transfer gossip sites and tabloid back pages one year ago reveals a plethora of leading clubs reportedly showing a keen interest in locking down one of the most exhilarating discoveries in English football for decades. Now there is only Tottenham with a new story appearing almost on a daily basis.

How much of this is down to joined-up thinking in merging together Spurs' recent failed attempt, their clear mandate to target young players of promise, and Danny Rose's fall from grace, is pure conjecture. It's still hard to shake off the feeling though that Ryan Sessegnon playing at Wembley Stadium under Pochettino in years to come is written in the stars.



https://www.thesportsman.com/articles/why-ryan-sessegnon-to-tottenham-hotspur-is-written-in-the-stars
Title: Re: Thursday Fulham Stuff (07/12/17)...
Post by: WhiteJC on December 07, 2017, 07:01:41 AM
 
Arsenal men return? How Birmingham City could line up against Fulham

Steve Cotterill's side head to Fulham on Saturday looking to pick up just their fifth Championship win of the season

Steve Cotterill is expected to make changes to Birmingham City's starting XI for Saturday's match at Fulham.

Blues have been forced into at least one change with defender Harlee Dean unavailable due to suspension following his red card against Wolves.

Cotterill's primary dilemma will centre around what formation to adopt against Fulham. Will he stick with 3-4-3 and shift Jonathan Grounds into central defence, or does he return to a back four?

Our writers have picked their teams...

Brian Dick

Blues (4-3-3): Stockdale; Jenkinson, Morrison, Roberts, Grounds; Davis, Gleeson, Kieftenbeld; Boga, Adams, Jota

(https://i2-prod.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/article14003549.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/brians_team_fulham_vs_birmingham_171206.png)

GK/Defence

Whilst the selection at goalkeeper is straightforward - David Stockdale had his best game for Blues against Wolves, neither the shape nor the personnel of the backline is anything like as simple.

I'd be uncomfortable shoe-horning a player into a three-man back-line just for the sake of keeping the same system - at the risk of playing someone out of position.

With that in mind it's back to a four-man defence, manned by the two fit centre halves, Jonathan Grounds on the left and Carl Jenkinson on the right - if Maxime Colin isn't fit.

Midfield

The critical need for a technical player to receive the ball off the back four was achingly obvious on Monday night.

Stephen Gleeson is the man closest to match fitness of the candidates - and he did OK against Wolves and very well against Nottingham Forest.

David Davis needs to come back into the team to combine with Maikel Kieftenbeld.

Attack

Difficult one this. Jeremie Boga and Che Adams look the most likely ones to open up a defence, the question is do you play Adams out wide or through the middle?

I think I'd just err on the side of through the middle to give Jota another chance. He combined well with Boga in the last away game at Sheffield United.

Alex Dicken

Blues (3-4-3): Stockdale; Roberts, Morrison, Grounds; Nsue, Gleeson, Kieftenbeld, Bramall; Jota, Boga, Adams

(https://i2-prod.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/article14003600.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Alexs_team_fulham_vs_birmingham_171206-1.png)

Defence

Harlee Dean has arguably been the best of Blues' three prominent central defenders this season but his absence could actually be a blessing in disguise.

It should - providing Cotterill continues with a back three - allow Jonathan Grounds to move to the left side of a back three, which undoubtedly suits him better than his current wing-back role.

Blues' only natural left wing-back is Cohen Bramall. While the Arsenal loanee hasn't played since August and hasn't featured in a squad under Cotterill, he looks the obvious candidate to fill in.

Carl Jenkinson, when fit, would replace Emilio Nsue but Blues' second Arsenal full-back has only just returned from injury.

Midfield

Stephen Gleeson added much-needed balance against Wolves and he has done enough to warrant a starting spot. Maikel Kieftenbeld is among the first names on Blues' team sheet and so he should be. The Dutchman's application and commitment to Blues can never be called into question.

Attack

A three-man attack of Jota, Jeremie Boga and Che Adams is exciting and just about the only combination that hasn't been put to the test.

Blues will spend the majority of the game at Fulham without the ball, making the pace of Jota, Boga and Adams in attack crucial.




http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/arsenal-birmingham-city-fulham-cotterill-14003767
Title: Re: Thursday Fulham Stuff (07/12/17)...
Post by: WhiteJC on December 07, 2017, 07:04:18 AM
 
Kebano Up Front, Johansen On The Left – Predicted 4-3-3 Fulham Line-Up To Face Birmingham

(http://soccersouls.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Fulham.jpg)

Predicted Fulham Line-up To Face Birmingham City In EFL Championship

Having previously won two in a row, Fulham crashed and burned last time out and frankly, it is no surprise that they lost to local rivals Brentford.

Their best attacking talent by miles, Ryan Sessegnon, was slotted yet again in the left-back role for their derby match against the Bees and so why they are surprised they lacked the punch I simply do not know.

I have a horrible feeling Jokanovic will once again keep the young man in the backline though and so I hold little hope for a barnstorming performance, though given the quality of the opposition, they should still start as heavy favourites to grab the three points.

Piazon and Ayite are still missing while Dennis Odoi is now suspended having been sent off last time out. It's almost impossible to know what formation the manager will go for this time, so we'll take a guess at a 4-3-3 made up of the following personnel:
Formation: 4-3-3
Manager: Slavisa Jokanovic
GK – David Button

Continues to do fine, but it's often a thankless task being the last line of defence for this side.

RB – Ryan Fredericks

The attacking full-back is solid enough and should once again start on the right.
CB – Tomas Kalas

The Chelsea man will continue in his normal position and may hope for a quieter afternoon than normal against the struggling Blues.

CB – Tim Ream

Fulham will be hoping that the experienced American can return to the back line for this one.
LB – Ryan Sessegnon

It makes me utterly fed up to see him in this position and frankly, he would tear this Birmingham defence apart if he were in an attacking role.
RCM – Tom Cairney

Doesn't like this formation as it blunts his abilities, not that it seems to bother Jokanovic overly.
CM – Kevin McDonald

Provides the one bit of defensive solidity in the Fulham midfield and remains highly rated by the club.
LCM – Oliver Norwood

Being shoehorned into a midfield that contains plenty of talent, just not all of it in its rightful and comfortable position.

RW – Sheyi Ojo

The Liverpool loanee can start again and is looking to continually improve his game. A goal for him here wouldn't go amiss.
LW – Stefan Johansen

Really needs to be playing further back in a more organised midfield shape, but he nonetheless possesses a good finish and can cause problems here for the Blues.
ST – Neeskens Kebano

Should take the central role, though Rui Costa will feel it's his rightful position.



http://soccersouls.com/2017/12/07/kebano-up-front-johansen-on-the-left-predicted-4-3-3-fulham-line-up-to-face-birmingham/
Title: Re: Thursday Fulham Stuff (07/12/17)...
Post by: WhiteJC on December 07, 2017, 07:05:38 AM
 
Loan Round-Up
(http://ffcw001.azureedge.net/-/media/academy/rodakmillers.jpg?w=622&h=278)

In League One Marek Rodak played 90 between the sticks for Rotherham United's 2-1 away loss to Bristol Rovers on Saturday afternoon.

That loss leaves the Millers 13th in the league after 20 matches. Rotherham have endured a poor run of results as of late, with five losses and two draws in their last seven outings and leaves them nine points off the play-off spots.

(http://ffcw001.azureedge.net/-/media/academy/pearcebath.jpg?w=350&h=250)

Next up Rotherham travel to Blackpool who sit one place above them in the table.

Cauley Woodrow was an unused substitute in Bristol City's 2-1 win over Middlesbrough to push them up to third in the Championship after consecutive wins.

Bristol are now six points from the automatic spots, and five above seventh spot.

In the National League South, Isaac Pearce came on in the 68th minute in Bath City's 0-0 home draw to Hemel Hempstead Town.

Pearce created a chance for a last minute winner, however Andy Watkins sent a diving header wide as the match finished level.

That draw leaves Bath 12th in the table, with their next match away to Margate in a replay of the FA Trophy.




http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/december/04/loan-round-up
Title: Re: Thursday Fulham Stuff (07/12/17)...
Post by: Neil D on December 07, 2017, 08:37:42 AM
Quote from: WhiteJC on December 07, 2017, 07:04:18 AM

Their best attacking talent by miles, Ryan Sessegnon, was slotted yet again in the left-back role for their derby match against the Bees and so why they are surprised they lacked the punch I simply do not know.

I have a horrible feeling Jokanovic will once again keep the young man in the backline though and so I hold little hope for a barnstorming performance, though given the quality of the opposition, they should still start as heavy favourites to grab the three points.

Maybe Joka has a Macchiavellian strategy of keeping a lid on Sessegnon's performances so as not to lose him in the January window...
Title: Re: Thursday Fulham Stuff (07/12/17)...
Post by: Matt10 on December 07, 2017, 03:01:18 PM
Quote from: Neil D on December 07, 2017, 08:37:42 AM
Quote from: WhiteJC on December 07, 2017, 07:04:18 AM

Their best attacking talent by miles, Ryan Sessegnon, was slotted yet again in the left-back role for their derby match against the Bees and so why they are surprised they lacked the punch I simply do not know.

I have a horrible feeling Jokanovic will once again keep the young man in the backline though and so I hold little hope for a barnstorming performance, though given the quality of the opposition, they should still start as heavy favourites to grab the three points.

Maybe Joka has a Macchiavellian strategy of keeping a lid on Sessegnon's performances so as not to lose him in the January window...

Wasn't that the same thought process when he scored against Newcastle last year? It's mind boggling.