Monday Fulham Stuff (14/05/12)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham bow out with defeat at Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Fulham

FULHAM did their best to have their say in the great final day of drama – giving Spurs the jitters as the north Londoners chased the win they needed to have a chance of pipping Arsenal for third place.

But in the end, it was all academic in a game which ended in near silence from two resigned sets of fans.

The Whites were not quite able to land a telling blow as the home side's greater incentive gave them the edge and Spurs' win was not enough to take them above Arsenal into the one guaranteed Champions League spot.

The mood inside White Hart Lane ebbed and flowed with each scoreflash from the West Brom v Arsenal game. For a while, home fans were hopeful as news filtered through that the Gunners were 2-1 down.

But for the last half an hour, Spurs fans went quiet as it became clear that their great north London rivals were leading. It was all very subdued. Not even Fulham fans had cause to pipe up, with neighbours QPR beating the drop at Man City.

Martin Jol, making his first return to White Hart Lane since his sacking as boss of Spurs five years ago, was looking forward to a carefree afternoon - a top half finish already assured. But his mood probably changed within 90 seconds of the start.

That is all the time it took for Emmanuel Adebayor to leave Aaron Hughes in his slipstream as he exchanged passes with Rafael Van der Vaart and calmly tuck past an exposed Mark Schwarzer.

It could have got worse for the Whites when Luka Modric's shot broke off a defender for Gareth Bale and Schwarzer had to get down to block the Welsh midfielder from close range.

Van der Vaart then sliced a left foot shot off the outside of his left boot that passed the right side of the post as far as Fulham were concerned.

But from those unpromising beginnings, Jol's men began to pass their way back into contention and Spurs stopper Brad Friedel was twice called into action to deny Fulham an equaliser.

First John Arne Riise (pictured) scampered through the middle after collected a pass from Mahamadou Diarra and unleashed a powerful drive after the space opened up in front of him.

Tottenham's keeper did well to keep it out and still Riise awaits his first goal in Fulham colours.

An even better opening was fashioned when Damien Duff squared to Dembele on the edge of the area and the Belgian's low drive had Friedel fearing he had not got enough on the ball to end the danger. It needed an alert William Gallas to clear before Pavel Pogrebnyak – operating as a lone striker - could latch on to the rebound.

On the hour, Dembele hit a beautiful shot that glanced off the foot of a post, as the Whites tried to make light of the absence of top scorer Clint Dempsey.

But three minutes later, the game was as good as up when Jermain Defoe, who had just come on for Van der Vaart, buried a ball that broke kindly to him eight yards out after Aaron Lennon's hopeful shot from the right had ricocheted off Riise.

There was a late flicker of life from Jol's men as Duff struck a post and Dembele fired an arrow that Friedel had to help over the bar. But the outcome was never seriously in doubt.

Line up: Schwarzer; Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, JA Riise; Duff, Diarra, Murphy (Kasami 67), Dembele, Frei, Pogrebynak. Subs not used: Stockdale, Senderos, BH Riise, Gecov, Briggs, Trotta.
Attendance: 36, 256



http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2012/05/13/fulham-bow-out-with-defeat-at-tottenham-82029-30959519/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Tottenham Hotspur 2 Fulham 0: match report
Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham at White Hart Lane on Sunday May 13, 2012.

Long before the final whistle, the chants of "there's only one Bayern Munich" were echoing around White Hart Lane. And so it is that Tottenham Hotspur's fate will be decided not on their own turf and their own terms, but in Germany in the Champions League final on Saturday. Despite their comfortable victory here,

Arsenal's victory at West Bromwich Albion has condemned Tottenham to a game of Russian roulette in which they are not holding the gun.

"We're all becoming Bayern Munich fans," Harry Redknapp told Tottenham's supporters from the pitch afterwards.

Neighbours and rivals Chelsea can deny Spurs a place in Europe's elite by winning at the Allianz Arena this weekend, yet there is much more than gate receipts or television money at stake.

The futures of Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Benoît Assou-Ekotto could well hang on events in Munich too. It is an excruciating position for Tottenham to find themselves in.

Not that Redknapp was prepared to allow a small detail like that tarnish a good year's work. The Tottenham manager rated this season's achievement as more impressive than that of two seasons ago, when they also finished fourth.

"When we finished fourth, Manchester City were just arriving," he said. "They'd only spent about £300 million then. It's going to be even more difficult next year.

"United and City ain't gonna be out of the top four. I don't think Mr Abramovich is going to stand for Chelsea being out of the top four again. A Russian may come along and buy Wigan. It's going to be tough.

"It's been a great season. We've played some fantastic football. We'd love to have finished third, but over the season I don't think you could ask for a lot more than finishing fourth. The players have been magnificent."

The endlessly chipper Redknapp could put a positive spin on just about anything, but for all the sense of anticlimax at full-time yesterday, his words rang true.

For a club of Tottenham's size, to go fourth and conquer the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool is no small achievement.

Redknapp has kept up his end of the bargain; now chairman Daniel Levy must follow suit in the summer by investing heavily in the squad and moving heaven and chequebook to keep the club's most important players.

Levy admitted as much in the match programme, writing: "Our squad has top players at all levels and we shall continue to seek stability and to retain key players this summer and beyond.

"We may find that we still have to wait on the outcome of the Champions League final next weekend to know in which European competition we shall be competing. #

"But it is a mark of our progress and the quality of our squad that each season we now look and expect to be competing at the top of our game," added Levy.

"Once again we have seen football played at home and away which has shown our brand and style of play around the world and led our competitors to describe us as the most entertaining team in the Premier League."

One player Spurs may attempt to keep is Emmanuel Adebayor. In what was his last game on loan before returning to Manchester City, he opened the scoring after just 96 seconds, playing a neat one-two with Rafael van der Vaart and slotting a low finish home.

Even this patched-up Tottenham side, weary and reeling from injuries to Scott Parker, Assou-Ekotto, Ledley King and Michael Dawson, oozed talent in every department.

Bale made a rare start at left-back yesterday, and seemed to enjoy the extra space. Should he move to Barcelona this summer, that would probably be his new position.

He almost doubled Tottenham's lead after intercepting Modric's deflected shot, but saw his effort saved by Mark Schwarzer.

Fulham, whose manager Martin Jol was returning to White Hart Lane for the first time since Tottenham sacked him in 2007, failed to turn up for the first half hour. John Arne Riise and Moussa Dembele stung the palms of Brad Friedel before the break.

"They were stronger, sharper and had everything to play for," Jol said.

Jol is still held in the highest regard by Tottenham's fans, who sang his name as the Dutchman waved back in appreciation. "It's always good if you've got a good connection with your former club," he said. "But it's always a bit awkward. I'm here with my new girl and you have to be nice to your old misses."

Tottenham were certainly grateful for Fulham's generosity. Dembele and Damien Duff came close in the last 20 minutes, but by then the home side had put the game beyond doubt.

After an hour, a poor clearance found its way to Aaron Lennon. His shot was blocked by defender Brede Hangeland, only for the rebound to spin into the orbit of substitute Jermain Defoe, who instinctively threw out a left foot to steer it past Schwarzer.

As the minutes ticked away at The Hawthorns, this game gradually diminished in relevance. The end was greeted with a cheer and a sigh, for all roads now incontrovertibly lead to Munich.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/9257026/Tottenham-Hotspur-2-Fulham-0-match-report.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol's men are beaten by Tottenham

Fulham's season ended with a defeat at White Hart Lane, where manager Martin Jol's former club clinched fourth place.

Spurs made the perfect start, going ahead after only two minutes when Emmanuel Adebayor finished well after being put through by Rafael van der Vaart.

Fulham responded strongly and were unlucky not be level by half-time.

Tottenham's veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedel produced two fine saves, denying first John Arne Riise and then Moussa Dembele.

The unfortunate Dembele then hit the post as the Whites continued to press, but Jermain Defoe sealed his team's victory with a goal on 63 minutes.

Aaron Lennon's shot deflected into the path of the England striker, who fired home from eight yards out.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/jols-men-are-beaten-by-tottenham/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 0-2 Tottenham: Or, a Side Show of the Big Show

Fulham was a team with little really to play for, a bad away record, and missing its leading scorer. They faced a Tottenham desperate to win at home and qualify for the Champions League under a suddenly refocused manager. Needless to say it was over after 90 seconds.

That's not to say there were no bright spots on the day for our club who finish their 2011-12 Season 317 days after it started in a very respectable 9th spot. There were plenty in fact.

But at this point, with the title madness in Manchester and the lingering questions about the future of several key players seemingly overshadowing everything, does it amount to much beyond a round of applause and tip of the cap?

Well have more analysis on the match, and the season later. But for now...





http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/fulham-0-2-tottenham-or-a-side-show-of-the-big-show/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol: Outside the top eight Fulham are the best of the rest

Martin Jol has spoken of his delight at his first season in charge of Fulham claiming outside the top eight sides in the Premier League his team are the best of the rest.



http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/matchday-live/120513/jol-outside-top-eight-fulham-are-best-rest-171941?

[WhiteJC]

 
Bittersweet Finish

Kerim Frei and Mousa Dembele both put in impressive shifts at White Hart Lane on Sunday and Fulham's attacking duo were bitterly disappointed not have ended the season on a more positive note.

'We really wanted to finish on a high and end the season in seventh place so I'm a little bit disappointed,' Dembele told fulhamfc.com. 'I had a few chances and I was a bit unlucky today.

'However, we've ended the season in ninth place and overall it's been a very good season. Today I'm disappointed but I'm sure in a few days I'll feel happy about a good season for the Club.'

Dembele and Frei linked up superbly in the first half and caused the home side great concern and Frei was already looking towards his progression at the Club next season as the Team prepared to travel back across the Capital on Sunday evening.

'We've had a really good season and to finish in 9th is fantastic,' said Frei. 'We've played some really good football this season and it's just unfortunate the season ended in defeat.

'It's always nice if I can start a Premier League game and now I want to just keep progressing and my next step is to start more games for Fulham next season.

'I have to say our fans were brilliant today. It's always great to have a backing like we had today and it's unfortunate we couldn't take anything from the game.'



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/May/FreiDembeleReaction.aspx?#ixzz1up1rZ200

[WhiteJC]

 
Ninth Is Fantastic

Fulham ended the 2011/12 campaign in ninth position and Manager Martin Jol described the Team's final standing as 'fantastic' despite the season ending in defeat at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

'If you play at a place like White Hart Lane you have to play with flair and not be intimidated,' Jol told the assembled media after Sunday's game against Spurs.

'It was an exciting game and in the first half they [Spurs] were better. They were stronger and sharper but in the second half we were better and created a few chances before they scored their second goal.

'It was pleasing for us to finish the season in ninth place. I would have liked for us to have taken something from today's game but ninth place is fantastic.

'If you see the gap between us and the teams below us, you could say we're the best of the rest and since Christmas we were in the top five or six in terms of our results over the last few months.'



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/May/JolSpursReaction.aspx#ixzz1up273NCL

[WhiteJC]

 
Schwarzer Reaction

Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer felt Sunday's final score at White Hart Lane was not a true reflection of events on the field of play and that his Team were unfortunate to be ending the season in defeat.

'I thought we were very, very unlucky today but we didn't capitalise on our chances,' Schwarzer told fulhamfc.com after the game.

'When you concede so early in the game it always makes it a very tough task, especially at a place like White Hart Lane.

'The end result wasn't a true reflection of the game. We were really unlucky today as we had plenty of chances.

'That's the way it went and it just wasn't our day. That said, we've finished in ninth place which is fantastic.'



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/May/SchwarzerSpursReaction.aspx#ixzz1up2LqDrV

[WhiteJC]

 
Spurs 2 Fulham 0

Our season finished with a damp squib up at White Hart Lane.

Talk of getting a win that would see us record a record number of points to finish the season with went up in smoke as early as the second minute when Emmanuel Adebayor continued his fine run of scoring from against us.

Any plans to silence the home crowd with a stoic rear-guard action were undone when Van der Vaart unpicked the Fulham defence with a pass that the Tog international finished with aplomb.

As the half progressed though Fulham did rattle the home defence when Jogn Arne Riise forced Freidel into a fine save and the keeper repeated the trip to also deny Moussa Dembele.

The second half saw Fulham go in search of that equaliser and Demebele nearly did just that when his powerful shot came back off the post.

But any hopes of getting a point from the game were ended when Lennon saw a shot deflected into the path of Defoe who finished off easily from eight yards out.

Not the ideal finish to the season but Fulham can be proud of aninth place finish level on points with Liverpool.



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=282274#ixzz1up2as8Jm

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol bemoans early goal
Cottagers concede within two minutes to give themselves all to do

Fulham boss Martin Jol felt his side made it difficult for themselves after slipping to a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham.

The Cottagers had it all to do after slipping behind to a second minute Emmanuel Adebayor opener before substitute Jermain Defoe sealed the win for the hosts in the 63rd minute.

Jol would have liked to have earned a draw against his former club and bemoaned the early opener for the UEFA Champions League chasers.

"If you concede a goal after 90 seconds it is always difficult, you make it difficult for yourselves," he said.

"We know that if you come to a place like White Hart Lane you have to play with flair and not be intimidated.

"In the first half-an-hour they were better, stronger and sharper and had everything to play for.

"We created a few chances and then they scored again after a bad clearance and that is exactly what you shouldn't do."

Despite the defeat, Jol was happy with a ninth-placed finish in his first season in charge after taking over as Fulham boss last June.

"I think in hindsight if you see the gap with the other teams - equal on points with Liverpool and five points clear of the others you could say we were the best of the rest. It is not fantastic but it is good," he said.

"I would like to have had a draw here and maybe be eighth but ninth is fantastic."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7754788/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham boss takes some positives after Spurs defeat

The Whites finished in ninth, level on points with Liverpool

Fulham manager Martin Jol was pleased with his first season in charge of the Whites, despite a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham on the final day of the season.

The Dutchman guided the club to ninth place after starting their season in June with the qualifying rounds of the Europa League.

"I think in hindsight if you see the gap with the other teams - equal on points with Liverpool and five points clear of the others you could say we were the best of the rest. It is not fantastic but it is good," he said.

"I would like to have had a draw here and maybe be eighth but ninth is fantastic."

Nevertheless he was unhappy with the way his side started the game at White Hart Lane.

"If you concede a goal after 90 seconds it is always difficult, you make it difficult for yourselves," he said.

"We know that if you come to a place like White Hart Lane you have to play with flair and not be intimidated.

"In the first half an hour they were better, stronger and sharper and had everything to play for.

"We created a few chances and then they scored again after a bad clearance and that is exactly what you shouldn't do."

Jol, who took over as Fulham boss last June was happy with a ninth-placed finish in the final standings.



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_boss_takes_some_positives_after_spurs_defeat_1_1376348?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol disappointed with final performance

Martin Jol believes Fulham could have done better against former club Tottenham in a fixture that was relatively meaningless to them.

An early goal from Emmanuel Adebayor and a second-half strike from substitute Jermain Defoe earned Spurs a comfortable 2-0 victory.

The Cottagers boss said: "If you concede a goal after 90 seconds it is always difficult, you make it difficult for yourselves.

We know that if you come to a place like White Hart Lane you have to play with flair and not be intimidated.

"In the first half an hour they were better, stronger and sharper and had everything to play for. We created a few chances and then they scored again after a bad clearance and that is exactly what you shouldn't do."

Jol, who took over as Fulham boss last June, was happy with a ninth-placed finish in the final standings.

"I think in hindsight if you see the gap with the other teams - equal on points with Liverpool and five points clear of the others you could say we were the best of the rest. It is not fantastic but it is good," he added. "I would like to have had a draw here and maybe be eighth but ninth is fantastic."


http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/jol-disappointed-with-final-performance-1429116.html?

[HatterDon]

Jol: Outside the top eight Fulham are the best of the rest

Martin Jol has spoken of his delight at his first season in charge of Fulham claiming outside the top eight sides in the Premier League his team are the best of the rest.



http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/matchday-live/120513/jol-outside-top-eight-fulham-are-best-rest-171941?

Well let me see, if you finish 9th then I guess you ARE the "Best of the Rest" if the rest doesn't include the top 8.

I can't believe English sports journos. I think they've gotten as bad as they could possibly be, and then they go and amaze me.

[ScalleysDad]

Jol: Outside the top eight Fulham are the best of the rest

Martin Jol has spoken of his delight at his first season in charge of Fulham claiming outside the top eight sides in the Premier League his team are the best of the rest.



http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/matchday-live/120513/jol-outside-top-eight-fulham-are-best-rest-171941?

Well let me see, if you finish 9th then I guess you ARE the "Best of the Rest" if the rest doesn't include the top 8.

I can't believe English sports journos. I think they've gotten as bad as they could possibly be, and then they go and amaze me.

Brace yourself then for the manager sacking/hiring rollercoaster, the early sales and then of course the Euro's where Engerland are expected to give johnnie foreigner a lesson by these journo's when most of us know we are a very average side. Good luck to Roy with all that.

[valdeingruo]

Jol: Outside the top eight Fulham are the best of the rest

Martin Jol has spoken of his delight at his first season in charge of Fulham claiming outside the top eight sides in the Premier League his team are the best of the rest.



http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/matchday-live/120513/jol-outside-top-eight-fulham-are-best-rest-171941?

Well let me see, if you finish 9th then I guess you ARE the "Best of the Rest" if the rest doesn't include the top 8.

I can't believe English sports journos. I think they've gotten as bad as they could possibly be, and then they go and amaze me.

Brace yourself then for the manager sacking/hiring rollercoaster, the early sales and then of course the Euro's where Engerland are expected to give johnnie foreigner a lesson by these journo's when most of us know we are a very average side. Good luck to Roy with all that.

Fulham are also the best English team with a dutch manager, best when Clint Dempsey puts his left boot on first instead of his right and best when a irishmen sneezes on the friday before a full moon

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham boss: I'm here with my new girl and then I have to be nice to my old missus

Martin Jol thanked the Tottenham fans for the reception he received

Fulham manager Martin Jol thanked Tottenham fans for the reception he received at White Hart Lane yesterday.

The Dutchman is a popular figure at Spurs and led the north Londoners to fifth in 2006 and Gareth Bale signed for Tottenham because of the current Fulham boss.

"I know the Spurs fans are great," the Dutchman said. "I meet them in town and in the city and I feel that it is always good in football to have a connection with your former club.

"I always feel a little awkward - I'm here with my new girl and then I have to be nice to my old missus, and that is a strange feeling.

"I thought that I owed it to them to give them a wave and perhaps our fans won't like it but it is not easy."



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_boss_i_m_here_with_my_new_girl_and_then_i_have_to_be_nice_to_my_old_missus_1_1376451?

[WhiteJC]

 
A few thoughts about each team this season

Some thoughts then:

Manchester City look a good team to me, but not as good a team as they should be. Carlos Tevez could have had this league sewn up some time ago, and the fact that they needed the 95th minute of the last game of the season suggests some under-achievement. They'll win the next few though I imagine. Whoopee.

United did fantastically well to get so close, and will look back on that silly home defeat against Blackburn with horror. They're well set for the future but it feels like they need another superstar in the middle of the park.  Perhaps Tom Cleverly is that man.

Arsenal will also look back on the season and wonder what might have been. If anything, their predicament teaches us not to panic if short term results go askew – this is football, bad things can happen to good teams, whatever Piers Moron might think.

Spurs are a fine team and with a world class centre-back and the retention of Adebayor might push on a level next season. But they need to keep Modric and Bale as well, and that won't be easy.

Newcastle I have a lot of respect for.  They also raise the question of how much of a centre-forward's success is his own and how much is the system he plays in?  Demba Ba scored a hatful then was moved sideways to accommodate Cisse, at which point Cisse scored a hatful. Are Newcastle just really good at creating good chances? In any case, they have a fine squad and I don't think this is a fluke – should be top 7-8 next year, too.

Chelsea need to have a good hard look at themselves. If they wanted to stay as they were then why hire someone to change things? Villas Boas could, I'm sure, have just sat back from day one and let them good ol' boys do their thing, but that wasn't the brief, was it? How annoyed he must feel now. They have progressed with Ramires and Mata, fine players, but next year perhaps need to make Torres the focal point. At a strange juncture and it's not immeiately clear where they go from here.

Everton managed to reunite that lovely Pienaar-Osman-Fellaini-Neville midfield and survived a terrible off year from Tim Cahill to finish more or less where they always do. Jelevic was a revelation for them up front. And they seem to have a couple of good young players, and the ever impressive Baines. Also Tim Howard, underrated for ages. So it's all there and they're a bit like Fulham, good, solid, but lacking that extra £50m or inspired signing or three to do a Newcastle.  Or did Newcastle just do an Everton and Fulham without the form dip? Perhaps.

Liverpool will have a big season next year. I don't like them or what they have been up to but they had a comically unfortunate season, hitting the post more than anyone and converting a miniscule proportion of chances. Both of these almost have to be statistical freaks, outliers, and therefore likely to rebound to normalcy for the next season. This makes Liverpool a good bet to outperform expectations next time around I reckon.

Fulham did well, I think, and we'll talk about this a bit more in due course, but inquiring minds are now wondering whether this team might take itself a bit more seriously as contenders. "The best of the rest" (as Jol put it) is probably about fair, and it's greedy and probably wrong headed to take the second half of the season as the 'real' team while sweeping the first half under the carpet, but it's tempting to wonder if we mightn't have done a bit better overall.  We must remember that 'transition' word and point to the disruption that was Zamora as well as the Europa League farce, but I'm now wondering if we didn't slightly waste Clint Dempsey's golden farewell (if that's what it is).

WBA did well, too, funnily enough. The amusing thing is that Roy started winning away games, which makes me wonder if the whole "Fulham away" thing does indeed transcend managers, playing styles, or anything, and simply "is".

Swansea were a delight and were the top half of the table not so competitive would look to 'kick on' next year. As it is there's really no room for anyone without lots of money so this is probably about as good as it gets. Yay Premier League.

Norwich are the same and like Swansea, have one of the better managers in the game. Norwich don't have a signature style like Swansea but do have lots of players called Russell and Wesley and Bradley, which is quite something. If Lambert gets offered a big job I'd expect Norwich to plummet but who really knows? Eh?

Sunderland are lower than I'd have expected. Martin O'Neill is one of those managers who seems to be a little bit overrated but clearly he got his team playing well. Next year will be interesting though, I have some doubts.

Stoke... I can't be bothered really.

Wigan defied belief, apparently by switching to three at the back. This raises all kinds of interesting questions about tactical flexibility in the English game, but fair play to them, it was one hell of a run in and if Martinez can get them playing before February then they might even finish in the lofty and much coveted 12-14 places.

Villa fans seem to be blaming their manager, and this might not be unreasonable, but against that, they did sell, y'know, all their good players. Football's silly and doing things like 'balancing books' is not a good way to progress as a club. Randy Lerner must wonder what on earth he's doing.

QPR survive, thus ensuring more southern games next year. It's fashionable and funny to castigate Mark Hughes and his motley crew, but Hughes is a really good manager and they too will be fighting with us for the esteemed 9-13 places next season. It's going to be epic.

Bolton didn't, and have been a shambles for a while. (insert platitude about them, Blackburn and us coming up at same time). Frankly they're not good enough to survive, and Owen Coyle seems to have been found out. You can't have a centre-back pairing that contains the word "Zat" in this day and age and expect to progress.  They had some good players but Coyle couldn't work out how to use them.

Blackburn were terrible too, and for all the pity aimed at Steve Kean, we must remember that until he was appointed Sam Allardyce had them firmly in mid-table and above. Kean's ruined all that, his owners have produced some comedy moments, and all that's stopping them flying all the way down the league is the Premiership Parachute Bonanza, which they might still misuse anyway.  Goodbye, Blackburn.

Wolves also deserved to go for comedy villain purposes (bye-bye Karl Henry). Like Villa they haven't spent money for ages, and like Blackburn seem to have adopted the "let's do some weird things" approach to operations. Not entirely clear where they turn now, but the squad should remain more or less intact because nobody will want them in the top division, so they'll presumably soar reasonably high in the Championship. So we may well meet again.



https://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/a-few-thoughts-about-each-team-this-season/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Academy Internationals

After being crowned 2011/12 Academy League Champions at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon, there was further good news for three members of Kit Symons' U18 team.

Omri Altman, Season Kavanagh and Jack Grimmer (right) have been called up for U19 international duty following Saturday's historic win in SW6.

Altman has been selected to represent Israel U19s in their European Championship Elite Round Qualifying Matches, which will take place between 24th and 31st May.

Kavanagh has been selected to represent Republic of Ireland U19s in their UEFA Elite Phase Qualifying Matches taking place between the 20th May and the 1st June.

Scottish youth international Grimmer has been selected to play in the 59th ADO Den Haag Youth Tournament taking place between the 22nd and 27th May.



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/May/AcademyInternational.aspx?#ixzz1uqkkoYC6

[WhiteJC]

 
Everton star to try and lure Fulham's talisman to Goodison Park

Tim Howard wants the club to sign Clint Dempsey

Everton star Tim Howard has revealed that he will spend his summer on the phone to Fulham's talisman Clint Dempsey in a bid to bring the American to Goodison Park.

The 29-year-old forward scored 23 goals last season for the Whites and has been linked to a host of clubs and his international team-mate is desperate to have him on Merseyside.

"We need to assess a lot of things," Howard said.

"We need the gaffer in place, let him pick and choose the players who he wants to bring in.

"I'm going to be on the horn to Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan and I'm going to try my best."



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/everton_star_to_try_and_lure_fulham_s_talisman_to_goodison_park_1_1376702?

[WhiteJC]

 
Manchester United in £10 million chase for Fulham ace Dembele

According to reports Manchester United are launching a £10 million bid for Fulham attacker Mousa Dembele.

The Mail on Sunday claims United are expected to start rebuilding following the loss of their Premier League crown to bitter local rivals Manchester City.

It is understood that Dembele is in line to be the first of a number of signings.

The 24-year-old Belgium midfielder has made a huge impression since his £5 million move from AZ Alkmaar in 2010 and he has been a revelation following Fulham manager Martin Jol's decision to drop him back into a deeper central-midfield role in the 2-1 win over Stoke in February.

He has only scored twice this season, but has been instrumental in Fulham's rise to ninth and is seen as a ready-made replacement for veteran Paul Scholes.



http://www.click-manchester.com/sport/manchester-united/1216251-manchester-united-in-Â10-million-chase-for-fulham-ace-dembele.html?