Saturday Fulham Stuff (21/04/12)...

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Fulham v Wigan Athletic: match preview
Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Fulham and Wigan Athletic at Craven Cottage on Saturday April 21 2012, kick-off 15:00 BST.


Lethal weapon: Clint Dempsey has six goals in nine games against Wigan
Photo: ACTION IMAGES

Fulham v Wigan Athletic
Craven Cottage
Kick-off: 15.00 BST.
TV: Highlights BBC ONE Match of the Day.

Fulham (Probable, 4-4-2): Schwarzer; Hughes, Hangeland, Senderos, J Riise; Dembele, Diarra, Kacaniklic, Dempsey; Johnson, Pogrebnyak.
Out: Ruiz (foot), Kelly (wrist), Sidwell (hernia), Grygera (knee).

Wigan (Probable, 3-4-2-1): Al-Habsi; Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa; Boyce, McArthur, McCarthy, Beausejour; Gomez, Moses; Di Santo.
Out: Crusat (calf).
Tests: Maloney, Rodallega (Knee).

Referee: Lee Probert (Matches 18, R3 Y40).

Team News
Strikers Pavel Pogrebnyak (ankle) and Andrew Johnson (thigh) return to the Fulham squad to face Wigan.

But winger Bryan Ruiz is recovering after surgery on a broken metatarsal and will be out for 10 weeks.

Defender Stephen Kelly will be back in training next week following a wrist injury suffered against Chelsea while midfielder Steve Sidwell continues to recover from a hernia problem.

Wigan pair Shaun Maloney and Hugo Rodallega are hoping to make themselves available following knee injuries.

Midfielder Maloney missed Monday's win at Arsenal while striker Rodallega is bidding to prove his fitness after a six-week absence.

Spanish midfielder Albert Crusat is definitely missing having been ruled out for up to two weeks with a calf injury suffered in training.

Match Notes
After successive victories over Manchester United and Arsenal, Wigan make a quick return to London knowing that if they can follow up Monday's success at the Emirates Stadium with a similar result at Craven Cottage, Premier League survival should be virtually assured.

That will mean keeping a careful guard on Fulham danger-man Clint Dempsey.

The Texan, who has scored 22 goals this season, has claimed no fewer than six goals in nine games against Wigan.

Betting: Home 13-20 Away 10-3, Draw 5-2.

Ben Findon's prediction: Fulham 1 Wigan Athletic 1.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/9213827/Fulham-v-Wigan-Athletic-match-preview.html

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Johnson and Pogrebnyak return for Wigan clash



Fulham v Wigan
FULHAM are boosted by the return of strike duo Andy Johnson and Pavel Pogrebnyak for tomorrow's clash at Craven Cottage.

Johnson (thigh) and Pogrebynyak (ankle) have both been struggling with injuries, but boss Martin Jol confirmed the pair are fit for the visit of the rejuvenated Latics.

However, Jol is without defender Stephen Kelly (wrist), who joins Bryan Ruiz (foot), Steve Sidwell (hernia), Zdenek Grygera (knee) and Neil Etheridge (wrist) in the treatment room.



http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2012/04/20/johnson-and-pogrebnyak-return-for-wigan-clash-82029-30803548/?

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Fulham FC v Wigan Athletic: Premier League preview

Wigan pair Shaun Maloney and Hugo Rodallega are hoping to return from knee injuries for the Barclays Premier League trip to Fulham. Midfielder Maloney missed Monday's win at Arsenal but hopes be back at training today while striker Rodallega is bidding to prove his fitness after a six-week absence.

Spanish midfielder Albert Crusat is definitely missing having been ruled out for up to two weeks with a calf injury suffered in training.

Ahead of the game Latics boss Roberto Martinez, whose side have defeated Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal recently, said: "Fulham is a completely different situation from the ones we have faced of late. "They are a really difficult team to play against and they have done really well. They use their home advantage in a great way. "They are a top-10 team in this league and they are a real threat. "I saw them against Chelsea and they never looked like a side that was inferior at all - the opposite." Strikers Pavel Pogrebnyak (ankle) and Andrew Johnson (thigh) return to the Fulham squad after recovering from injury.

But winger Bryan Ruiz is recovering after surgery on a broken metatarsal and will be out for 10 weeks. Defender Stephen Kelly will be back in training next week following a wrist injury suffered against Chelsea while midfielder Steve Sidwell continues to recover from a hernia problem.

Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Hangeland, Hughes, Riise, Duff, Murphy, Etuhu, Diarra, Sa, Frei, Pogrebnyak, Kacaniklic, Johnson, Dembele, Dempsey, Stockdale, Kasami, Senderos, Briggs.

Wigan Athletic (from): Al Habsi, Kirkland, Pollitt, Caldwell, Boyce, Figueroa, Alcaraz, Gohouri, Stam, Lopez, Beausejour, Watson, Moses, McArthur, McCarthy, McManaman, Jones, Gomez, Thomas, Diame, Maloney, Sammon, Di Santo, Rodallega.

Fulham league form: LLWWD
Wigan league form: WWLWW

Prediction: Fulham 1 Wigan 2 - Latics' spirit and footballing quality should deliver a win


Read more at: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/wigan_athletic/s/1491906_fulham-fc-v-wigan-athletic-premier-league-preview?

[WhiteJC]

 
Bishops Park Activities

Regular Weekend Football Coaching


From 10am - 12pm the Fulham Football Club Foundation will be returning to Bishops Park for the first time this year and they would love for you to come down and get involved.

Boys and girls aged 3-12 are able to pay on the day at a rate of £3 for one hour or £5 for two hours. Weekend Football Sessions are a great introduction to football, allowing players to develop new skills and enhance their knowledge of the game. Sessions are delivered to cater for all abilities and levels of experience.

Free Skills Session

There will be a number of skills sessions which will start from 12pm. Young Fulham fans are invited to experience an action packed 30 minute session where they can showcase their new skills in front of fans heading to the match.

Skills School Sessions are FREE of charge, with no pre-booking required. Simply turn up from 12pm and introduce yourselves to our enthusiastic and fully qualified Foundation coaches.

Target Cage


As well as the skills sessions, you can test your accuracy with the Foundation Target Cage which will be available from 12pm.

Challenge a friend or family member to see who can score the highest amount of points from 3 shots. Again, this activity is FREE of charge and we welcome adults to have a go too!

EA Sports Dugout


The interactive EA Sports Dugout will be on site for you to enjoy. Fulham supporters are invited to visit the Dugout where they can compete against their friends at FIFA 12 or Tiger Woods.

The EA Sports Dugout has visited our Motspur Park Training Ground before where Orlando Sa, Philippe Senderos and Matthew Briggs battled it out to celebrate the release of FIFA Street.

Barclays Ticket Office


Fulham has teamed up with Barclays to host the Barclays Ticket Office before kick-off for our match against Wigan.

Come down to Bishops Park between 12pm-3pm and step into the booth to try and catch as many blue tickets as you can in 30 seconds.

The supporter who catches the most tickets will win a Fulham VIP match day experience. 

Win With SEAT


SEAT will be bringing their Leon FR+ Supercopa along to Bishops Park which they will be filling with footballs.

All you have to do is guess how many footballs will fit in the car to win some fantastic Fulham prizes. One lucky supporter will win two tickets to the Whites' final home game of the season against Sunderland on Sunday 6th May. They will also win an official shirt and match ball signed by the Fulham team.



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/April/BishopsParkactivities.aspx?#ixzz1seF1TuMA

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Fulham boss Martin Jol speaks out on star duo’s futures

The Dutchman is hoping to keep Clint Dempsey and Danny Murphy

Fulham manager Martin Jol is hopeful that star duo Clint Dempsey and Danny Murphy will stay at Craven Cottage for the 2012/13 season.

Dempsey, who has scored 22 goals this season, only has a year left on his contract and the Whites could be forced to sell if the price is right.

“If you have a year to go it is hard to keep someone,” Jol said. “If you want to keep him on a contract until it will finish that will be a difficult situation for him and for us.

“That is the main priority I want to focus on. Can we keep him? We have made him a good offer and we have to wait and see until the summer.

“But I told him yesterday that I would love him to stay here at least as long as I am here.

“He’s had some season. He can score from all angles in the box and he can even score when he is not playing up front. I am very happy he is there. We are talking to him and hopefully we will get it right.”

Murphy is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with a coaching role at QPR but the Dutchman insisted that talks were ongoing about a new deal with the Whites.

“He is a free agent and he can do what he wants to do, but we talk to him as well. He could do a similar (coaching) thing here,” Jol added.

The 35-year-old midfielder has made 41 appearances this season, scoring six times.



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_boss_martin_jol_speaks_out_on_star_duo_s_futures_1_1355248?

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Martin Jol urges top scorer Clint Dempsey to stick with Fulham
• Dempsey has been linked with moves away from Fulham
• Jol may offer Danny Murphy a coaching role


Fulham's Clint Dempsey has scored 16 league goals this season.
Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

The Fulham manager Martin Jol has urged Clint Dempsey to stay at Craven Cottage.

The 29-year-old attacking midfielder has scored 16 league goals this season and is one of the main reasons Fulham are sitting in 10th place in the Premier League table without relegation worries.

Dempsey, however, has one year left on his contract and Jol, who lost Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United for £30m when he managed Tottenham Hotspur, fears that a big club could come in with an offer for the United States international which Fulham could not turn down.

Jol said: "If you have a year to go it is hard to keep someone. If you want to keep him on a contract until it will finish that will be a difficult situation for him and for us.

"That is the main priority I want to focus on. Can we keep him? We have made him a good offer and we have to wait and see until the summer. But I told him yesterday that I would love him to stay here at least as long as I am here.

"He's had some season. He can score from all angles in the box and he can even score when he is not playing up front. I am very happy he is there. We are talking to him and hopefully we will get it right."

Jol, recognising that interest in Dempsey is likely to peak in the summer transfer window, added: "It depends on the club that is coming in. At Spurs I had the same situation with Berbatov, if it is a big club then maybe you have a little problem."

Jol also faces losing captain and playmaker Danny Murphy whose contract is up this summer and who has been linked with a coaching role at QPR.

The Fulham manager, however, insisted that talks were ongoing with the 35-year-old. Jol said: "He is a free agent and he can do what he wants to do, but we talk to him as well. He could do a similar [coaching] thing here."


http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/20/martin-jol-clint-dempsey-fulham?

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Jol makes personal plea to Dempsey for Fulham stay

Fulham manager Martin Jol has urged star forward Clint Dempsey to stay at Craven Cottage.

Dempsey, 29, has scored 22 goals this season and is one of the main reasons Fulham are sitting in tenth place in the Premier League table without any relegation worries.

Dempsey, however, has one year left on his contract and Jol, who lost Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United for £30 million when he managed Tottenham, fears that a big club could come in with an offer for the United States international that Fulham could not turn down.

Jol said: "If you have a year to go it is hard to keep someone. If you want to keep him on a contract until it will finish that will be a difficult situation for him and for us.

"That is the main priority I want to focus on. Can we keep him? We have made him a good offer and we have to wait and see until the summer, but I told him yesterday that I would love him to stay here at least as long as I am here.

"He's had some season. He can score from all angles in the box and he can even score when he is not playing up front. I am very happy he is there. We are talking to him and hopefully we will get it right."

Jol, recognising that interest in Dempsey is likely to peak in the summer transfer window, added: "It depends on the club that is coming in. At Spurs I had the same situation with Berbatov, if it is a big club then maybe you have a little problem."

Jol also faces losing the possibility of losing 35-year-old captain and playmaker Danny Murphy, whose contract is up this summer. He has been linked with a coaching role at QPR.

Jol said: "He is a free agent and he can do what he wants to do, but we talk to him as well. He could do a similar (coaching) thing here."

Fulham resume their Premier League season against resurgent Wigan on Saturday after an impromptu break last weekend caused by rearranged fixtures.

Strikers Pavel Pogrebnyak and Andrew Johnson return to the squad after recovering from ankle and thigh injuries respectively but Jol is under no illusions that his team will face a battle against a Wigan side who have put breathing space between themselves and the relegation zone after beating Manchester United and Arsenal in the past ten days.

Jol believes Wigan's Spanish boss Roberto Martinez, a huge admirer of Barcelona's passing style, has had to curb his attacking tendencies to put some steel into the Latics.

Jol said: "They still need three or four points so they will fight for their lives. Bolton were in the same situation and we did well so hopefully we can keep the initiative. We have to be patient.

"Wigan did well at the right time of the season. They could get out of trouble now. They like to play but when they did that they didn't have the points. They have changed their style. They defend in numbers and they have got three players up front who do all the damage.

"They play compact now, like they did against Arsenal. There was no space on the flanks, there was no space in the middle. I went to the Emirates and saw that game. They are a hard team to beat these days."



http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/147158.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

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Fulham eye Sporting midfielder

Fulham and Sunderland are monitoring Sporting Lisbon's Dutch midfielder Stijn Schaars according to sources in Portugal.

Schaars, 28, joined Sporting from AZ Alkmaar last summer for just over £1million but could fetch many times that amount for the Lisbon club when the transfer window opens again in June.

Fulham and Sunderland have been watching Schaars this season and will have been impressed by his display again last night as Sporting grabbed a 2-1 first-leg lead against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-final.

The left-footed Dutchman, who has been capped 16 times by the Netherlands and is in contention to make their Euro 2012 squad, has scored three goals this season and also started for Sporting in their 1-0 win over Benfica earlier this month.

Fulham boss Martin Jol knows Schaars well from his years in Holland while Martin O'Neill is also on the lookout for a central midfielder and may have been impressed by his display as a second-half substitute against England at Wembley in March.



http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/fulham-eye-sporting-midfielder-1416366.html?

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Squad sheets: Fulham v Wigan Athletic

The enigma that is Wigan Athletic has been elevated to the mainstream this week after successive victories over Manchester United and Arsenal lifted them clear of the relegation zone. But this is Wigan, it is always necessary to expect the unexpected. The Latics were beaten 2-0 at home by Fulham earlier this season and Roberto Martínez is acutely aware they are capable of losing again and ending up straight back in trouble, especially as the hosts should have their forwards Pavel Pogrebnyak and Andrew Johnson back. Paul Chronnell

Venue Craven Cottage, Saturday 3pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Fulham 2 Wigan 0

Referee Lee Probert

This season's matches 18 Y40, R3, 2.39 cards per game

Odds Fulham 5-6 Wigan 7-2 Draw 13-5


Fulham v Wigan Athletic: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light.
Illustration: Graphic

Fulham

Subs from Stockdale, Orlando Sá, Gecov, Kasami, Senderos, BH Riise, Diarra, Etuhu, Frei, Briggs, Davies, Kacaniklic, Trotta

Doubtful Johnson (knee), Pogrebnyak (ankle)

Injured Kelly (wrist, 28 Apr), Sidwell (hernia, 6 May), Grygera (knee, Aug), Ruiz (foot, Aug)

Suspended None

Form guide DWWLLL

Disciplinary record Y50 R0

Leading scorer Dempsey 16

Wigan

Subs from Kirkland, Pollitt, Rodallega, Diamé, Gohouri, Stam, Jones, Watson, Gómez, Sammon, López, Thomas

Doubtful Maloney (knee), Rodallega (knee)

Injured Crusat (calf, 7 May)

Suspended None

Form guide WWLWWD

Disciplinary record Y62 R3

Leading scorers Di Santo, Gómez 5

Match pointers

• Fulham have lost just two of 18 home games against Wigan in all competitions

• Wigan have scored in their last eight Premier League away games, the longest current run in the top flight

• Clint Dempsey has six goals from nine league appearances versus Wigan, more than against any other team

• Only Manchester United and Newcastle (both 15) have taken more points from their past six games than Wigan (13)

• Pavel Pogrebnyak scored five times in his first three games but has failed to score in four subsequent appearances



http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/20/squad-sheets-fulham-wigan-athletic?

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Pogrebnyak Back for Wigan - Fulham Coach Jol



Fulham and Russia forward Pavel Pogrebnyak has recovered from an ankle injury to help his team in Saturday's Premier League clash against Wigan, Martin Jol said Friday.

The 28-year-old was stretchered off in the first half with a sprained ankle in the 2-1 win over Norwich last month.

“Andy Johnson is back after his injury and Pavel will be back too,” Jol said in his pre-match news conference.

Fulham are anchored in mid table, with five games to improve upon tenth position. Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham are run-in opponents.

Pogrebnyak is on loan for Fulham until the end of the season, when his contract with Stuttgart expires and he becomes a free agent. He scored 5 goals in 7 appearances, earning the praise of Jol.

After starting his career at Spartak Moscow, Pogrebnyak moved around several Russian sides before settling at Zenit St. Petersburg, where he won the UEFA Cup in 2008, and scored 22 goals in 58 games.

He scored 15 goals in 68 appearances at Stuttgart over two-and-a-half seasons, and has eight goals in 31 appearances for Russia.


http://en.rian.ru/sports/20120420/172942923.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
£7M IS AN ABSOLUTE SNIP AND WE SAY WHY…

The Sun have reported that Roma are planning to swoop for the in-form midfield machine that is Clint Dempsey and prise him away from Fulham.  They also report that Arsene Wenger has also shown an interest in bringing the Texan to Arsenal.  The question is, does Dempsey really deserve his £7 million price-tag or is his valuation simply too steep?

Like most others, I have been swayed by the current hype surrounding Clint Dempsey but I have to wonder, on what grounds this flurry of activity is actually based?  At this time of year it is expected that players who have attracted the headlines during the season, especially those from the less fashionable clubs, will be linked with a possible move to the so-called ‘bigger’ clubs and even moves abroad during the close season.

So what is all the fuss about? Has Dempsey merely been an underrated and somewhat over-looked player since first gracing the Premier League back in 2007, but now being appreciated for his talents? Or has he fell victim to another piece of newspaper speculation that has inflated his invaluation and therefore his footballing credentials?

I have seen him play, and without being a stand out player week-in, week-out for Fulham, he does seem to always pose some sort of threat, especially in the air most prominently from set pieces.  In a similar vein to Tim Cahill at Everton, Dempsey is a midfielder come striker, and is most effective when plying his trade in the whole behind the main forward; a combination that proved effective with former Fulham player Bobby Zamora and now new signing Pavel Pogrebnyak.  Dempsey is adept at making late runs and this therefore makes him difficult to mark.  With this, he has consequently caused problems for opposing defences by popping up to score a significant number of goals for his side.

Dempsey has been doing this for a number of seasons now, and this will not have gone unnoticed by Fulham fans; however, now the rest of the footballing world are taking notice.  The consistent and gradual improvement, both in form and the football played by Fulham, is paying dividends for both Dempsey and his club.  As previously touched on, the new acquisition of Russian forward Pavel Pogrebnyak, and the improved service from the likes of the experienced Damien Duff and John Arne Riise coupled with the emerging talent of teenager Kerim Frei, has aided the overall effectiveness of Dempsey in the Fulham side.  What is significant however, and most definitely the focus for the sudden hysteria surrounding Dempsey can be found in the players’ statistics for this season.

This campaign, Dempsey’s goal scoring record of 16 goals in 33 games means he averages almost a goal every two games for Fulham in the Premier League.  If we add to this a further 3 goals in the Europa League and 3 goals in the FA Cup; in all of the domestic league, cup and European appearances Dempsey has made in the 2011/2011 season, he has scored 22 goals and 6 assists for his Fulham teammates.  This impressive goal tally leaves him behind only Sergio Aguero, Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie up to this point, with still a handful of games left to play.

The phenominal goal scoring form he has been in this season is not a flash in the pan, Dempsey’s goal return has been reasonably consistent since coming to England.  Excluding this season’s figures, since arrving in the UK in the winter of 2007, Dempsey has averaged 11.25 goals per season in all competitions; impressive figures for essentially a midfielder who had only previously played in the MLS in the United States.  A record which rivals USA compratriot and former Fulham striker Brian McBride.

It has to be said that Dempsey has managed impressive figures like these at one of the less fashionable clubs.  Not at United, not at City but at a club were chances and goal scoring opportunities are more scarce due to the quality of players around him, compared to that which the Rooney’s and the Aguero’s have at their disposal.  This is not to say that Fulham are not a good side, they have made great strides since returning to the Premier League, not forgetting their European campaign in 2010 that saw them reach the Europa League final.  But clearly they are not title challengers and have been a mid-table side for a considerable number of years.

Taking all this into consideration, there is no doubt in my mind that Clint Dempsey more than warrants the accolades he is currently receiving and the subsequent transfer speculation surrounding the in-form American.  At the age of 29, Dempsey has a good few years left in him yet, but an important factor in this story is his contract is up in the summer of 2013.

Although more than a year away, with the form that he is showing, now may be the prime and most lucrative time for Fulham to cash in on their top scorer.  Unless the Cottagers can tie Dempsey down to a longer deal, which I’m sure is a main priority for Martin Jol at this moment in time, the lure of Europe’s elite sides may be too big for Clint to pass on.  With this in mind, it may be best for all parties in the South West London club to cash in whilst Dempsey’s profile is at its peak, and therefore get a good bit of business out of the attacking midfielder whilst they still can.  If they delay too long Dempsey could walk away from the club for nothing come June 2013.

Understandably, I believe that Dempsey has been an overlooked gem at Fulham and more than deserves the £7 million price tag currently hanging over his head.  However, if the American does leave Fulham this summer, would he reproduce the same form at clubs of a higher standard that simultaneously bring higher expectations?  Only time will tell… watch this space.


http://www.footballtransfertavern.com/2012/04/premiership/7m-is-an-absolute-snip-and-we-say-why

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol: Murphy can do what he wants

Amid speculation of a move to Queens Park Rangers in a coaching role under former manager Mark Hughes, current boss, Martin Jol, has stated that his captain can make his own decision about his future, but has also admitted that there are 'talks', no matter how serious.

The Daily Mail yesterday reported that Queens Park Rangers had made an offer to Murphy in which he would move to Loftus Road, following in the path of Hughes and Bobby Zamora, in a coaching role, something the former Liverpool man has expressed an interest in.

As it stands, talks over a new Fulham deal for Murphy have stalled and he will be free to talk with clubs once his deal expires at the end of this season. A move to QPR, though, in any capacity, will dependent on their final league standing. If the West London side get relegated, Murphy will deny any move.

Hughes and Murphy did have a good relationship when the pair were together at Craven Cottage, though, and there is potential for the move to go ahead. Yet, whether the midfielder, who has been at Fulham since 2007, would move to a local rival is up for debate.

Despite Murphy's palpable influence on the team, Jol, when asked about his captain's possible departure, was somewhat coy.

"He is a free agent and he can do what he wants to do," said Jol.

"But we talk to him as well. He could do a similar [coaching] thing here."


http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2012/4/20/2962581/jol-murphy-can-do-what-he-wants

[WhiteJC]

 
Riise's Goal

With 15 points up for grabs as we enter the final stage of the Barclays Premier League 2011/12 season, Fulham still have plenty to play for as we look to cement our position in the top half of the table.

Wigan Athletic are the opponents this afternoon and while they are not clear of relegation trouble quite yet, they have witnessed a stunning turnaround in fortunes as just one defeat in seven matches has put breathing space between themselves and the bottom three. It is form that means Fulham will need to be at their best to beat them, according to John Arne Riise.

“Wigan have had some good results lately,” the full-back admitted. “In the Premier League there are no games that are easy. Wigan are fighting to stay up so they are going to come to our place and really have a go at us so we need to play at our best and, if we do that, we are going to win.

“The target is to stay in the top ten and keep ourselves there. We have some tough games left to come but they are games which we feel we can take three points from. We know that if we keep doing what we did against Chelsea and Bolton we are looking good for the remainder of the season.”

No stranger to the rigours of English football, John has enjoyed a productive debut season down by the banks of the Thames, but has a personal target that he hopes to achieve before the campaign comes to an end.

“I know the fans want me to score a goal and I’m dying to score one for them as well,” he told fulhamfc.com. “It’ll come but the most important thing is to keep playing well and to keep up my performance level.

“The players have got to know my game and it’s nice to have wingers like Clint Dempsey or Kerim Frei, or whoever plays on the left, because they know what I want to do and where I like to receive the ball.

“I love overlapping and I love running so the last few games have been really good. I’m getting closer to a goal but the main thing is to keep a clean sheet, play well and get the points on the board.”



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/April/RiisesGoal.aspx#ixzz1sfoZ85Vm

[WhiteJC]

 
Up Next: Wigan (H)
by LORK on APRIL 21, 2012

Today’s opponents are coming into today’s game off the back of a rich vein of form. They’ve lost 2 of the last 11 games in a run which included a victories at Liverpool, (morally) at Chelsea, hosting United and at Arsenal. What is more remarkable is that this form isn’t propelling the team towards the title. Infact they’ve just soared to the relatively dizzy heights of 16th. Yep, Wigan are certainly an unstoppable force at the moment, and not before time too. Up until the last few weeks they were certain bankers for the drop in a (perhaps typical season) which promised nothing but the Championship, including a run of 8 straight losses. However Martinez has rallied the troops and tweaked the formation, and the Spaniard deserves a lot of credit for the upturn in form and bringing out the best of his players.

Similarly we’re experiencing a nice bit of form too. 5 wins and a draw from the last 9 has given us genuine top 10 aspirations and the confidence to achieving it too. A top 10 finish is obviously pales in signicifance compared to Wigan’s agenda but we also have hit form at a good time and judging from Aaron Hughes’ comments on Cottage Talk yesterday and the shifts we’ve put in recently we are still motivated to finish a high a place in the league as we can.

Team news for us is both good and bad; I’ll deliver the good news first. Pogrebnyak and Andy Johnson return from injury, meaning that we could have a genuine striker on the pitch for the first time since Pogrebnyak went off injured half an hour in to the Norwich game. Not that we struggled, and Dempsey did marvellously filling in up front, but I’d suggest that we’d rather Pogrebnyak played than didn’t. However Kelly joins Sidwell and Grygera on the injury list which may mean the excellent Hughes-Hangeland partnership may be broken up to allow Hughes to fill in at right back. As for our opponents they welcome back Maloney who of course scored scored that excellent winner against Manchester United not so long ago.

Wigan’s revival has been based on a significant change in tactics. Martinez has shifted his formation to a 3-5-2/3-4-3 from the 4-2-3-1 he was using previously. This has considerably shored up the Wigan defense which was a huge liability, especially considering they barely score (33 goals in 34 league games), but also allows them to play their attractive and adventerous attacking football. It was a risk, but one that has undoutably paid off.

However like all defensive systems there are chinks in the armour which we can exploit. The first key facet to our play will be width, something we’ve (perhaps suprisingly, it’s been a while since we’ve played with genuinely impressive width) used very successfully over the past few games. Wigan are very compact defensively, even using the extra wide men to make it a back 5 at times, which means that there is space on the flanks to use, whether it’d be a) for the wingers or b) the full backs (which is why I think we’ll miss Kelly a fair bit), and I expect Riise to get a lot of joy especially if Frei plays who will further occupy the wingback more centrally and allow Riise more space, and I suspect he will.

Secondly, and this was something pointed out to me by ZonalMarking.net (a fantastic tactical website), the Wigan defenders are very aggressive and don’t mind coming way out of position in order to stay tight or step out infront of strikers. However they will leave gaps behind them, and we can get joy from taking advantage of this, so I think a Dempsey – Pogrebnyak set up will be very favourable (Dempsey coming short with Pogrebnyak running in behind, the defenders will have to leave one) and plenty of midfield runners who may escaped unmarked from Wigan’s midfield who are in general very un-defensive; the trio of Gomez, Mcarthy and McArthurt that played against Arsenal are all offensively minded players.

We will need to be careful of Wigan’s counter attack and to concede an early goal will be fatal because then Wigan will just shut up shop and will be exceptionally hard to break down with 5 at the back.

I think we will have a bit too much for Wigan today however. Their opponents were fairly flawed and lethargic in their approach in their remarkable win but we have a spring in our step and we will know not to underestimate them.

My Prediction: Fulham 2 – 1 Wigan

~lork



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2012/04/up-next-wigan-h/