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Tuesday Fulham Stuff (08/08/17)...

Started by WhiteJC, August 08, 2017, 07:09:33 AM

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WhiteJC

 
GrovesnorCasinos.com to provide free travel for Fulham fans travelling to Leeds United, Cardiff City, Sheffield United and Bristol City as part of the #FollowFulhamAway initiative

The club's newly announced main team partner has acted to help supporters tackle the trickiest away days as part of the #FollowFulhamAway, chosen based on factors such as distance from London and the date and time of the fixture.

Fulham have confirmed that Grovesnorcasinos.com are to provide free travel for Fulham fans heading to the club's five longest away trips, starting with their clash with Leeds United on Tuesday August 15th.

The club's newly announced main team partner has acted to help supporters tackle the trickiest away days as part of the #FollowFulhamAway, chosen based on factors such as distance from London and the date and time of the fixture.

As well as the trip the Leeds, Grovesnorcasinos.com will provide free travel for the Boxing Day clash at Cardiff City, as well as the Tuesday night trips to Sheffield United on November 21st, and Bristol City on February 20th.

The fifth fixture will be confirmed later in the season.

Supporters who have already purchased coach tickets for the Leeds match will be refunded and those yet to purchase a match ticket will be offered complimentary return coach travel, which can be secured online, by phone, or at the ticket office.

Speaking of the initiative, Fulham captain Tom Cairney said: "The Club is extremely grateful that grosvenorcasinos.com will so generously provide free travel to our fans heading to Leeds and for other key away days this season.

"Our supporters always turn up in great numbers and bring their singing voices with them, so we hope this initiative will help give the players an extra boost as we embark on another exciting season."

Aaron O'Sullivan, Head of Marketing (Digital) at Grovesnorcasinos.com said: "We're thrilled that one of our first acts as sponsors of Fulham is to provide free travel for the dedicated and passionate fans making the journey to and from Leeds, when trains don't run late enough to return to London after the game.

"We want to make sure the fans benefit as much as possible from our partnership and hope that #FollowFulhamAway can help spur the team on in its promotion push."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/grovesnorcasinoscom-provide-free-travel-fulham-13441130

WhiteJC

 
Kebano: We'll Improve

Neeskens Kebano accepted that a draw was a fair result on Saturday, but insists the best is yet to come from Fulham.

A late Norwich City equaliser meant it was two points dropped from the season opener, which was an even encounter with chances aplenty for either side.


"We knew that it was going to be tough," Kebano told fulhamfc.com. "They had many occasions to score, just like us, so this draw is fully deserved for them.

"It was a tough game, it was not against an easy team. We know Norwich only came into the Championship last year having been in the Premier League before, so they have some ambition, the same as us, to be promoted.

"It was the first game of a long season, we can't say there were too many negative things from the game.

"Everything that was less good in our first game we can easily correct. It's true that we found some space in the wide channels but we couldn't negotiate it better than we did.

"When I saw that my shot hit the far post in the second half I was annoyed, I thought next time I will get it but I didn't have another chance to shoot, so maybe in the next game."

After picking up a knock in pre-season, Saturday saw the winger play 90 minutes for the first time since May, and he feels better for it.


"It was my first game for a few weeks," he explained. "Before that I played two games in pre-season, 45 minutes each, so I felt good for myself.

"Those last few minutes were tough, I have to just work in that direction to be better, my physical condition is only going to get better, and this is good.

"I think in this game we didn't drop everything that we achieved last year, we kept a lot of the good things and that is why we could play a good game because we are used to it.

"We just have to build on everything to be better and to play even better, and we are always working hard. We know that we are a good team, we just have to keep on working hard and then we will be a very, very good team.

"There were some new boys making their debuts and they played well, they have come to help the team and they just need to keep doing what they are doing and they will do better, so I don't have any worries about them."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/august/07/neeskens-kebano-well-improve

WhiteJC

 
Leeds ready to up the ante in pursuit of Birmingham and Fulham target

Championship outfit Leeds United are ready to up the ante in pursuit of Birmingham and Fulham target Joe Bryan, reports The Daily Mirror.

The 23-year-old came up through the youth ranks at Ashton Gate to earn his senior debut for the Robins back in March 2012, in a 3-2 Championship win over Leicester City.

And he has since gone from strength to strength by making a further 181 appearances for the club, in which time he has scored 14 goals and laid on 26 assists to help Lee Johnson's side earn promotion to the second tier, and indeed consolidate their position in the division.

Yet it appears that his long association with Bristol City could be coming to an end this summer, as recent reports suggest that Thomas Christiansen's Leeds are looking to up the ante by offering £2 million for the 23-year-old's services.

The Yorkshire club finished seventh in the Championship last term so clearly have a squad capable of challenging at the right end of the division, yet the departure of Charlie Taylor over the summer has left a gaping hole down their left-hand-side.

And it's a hole Bryan could certainly fill for Leeds over the coming years, but with Harry Redknapp's Birmingham and Slavisa Jokanovic's Fulham also thought to be interested, it very much remains to be seen where the 23-year-old is plying his trade when the transfer window shuts on August 31.

The Verdict: Joe Bryan has proven himself to be quite the footballer in his time at Bristol City, and would certainly bolster a Leeds side who, although have strengthened this summer, haven't done so much defensively.

Matthew Pennington has joined on loan but could be set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury in their 3-2 win at Bolton Wanderers on Sunday, as did fellow defender Gaetano Berardi, so a move for 23-year-old Bryan certainly makes sense.

Yet the recent arrival of Manchester United youngster Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, also a left-back, somewhat throws a possible deal for Bryan into doubt, and as such may give the likes of Birmingham and Fulham even greater incentive to push for a deal for the Bristol City man.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/leeds-ready-to-up-the-ante-in-pursuit-of-birmingham-and-fulham-target/


WhiteJC

 
This Derby player should be Fulham's contingency plan should Aluko leave this summer


Fulham enter the new campaign with bursting confidence following an excellent year last time out and a summer of quality business, and the 1-1 draw with Norwich on Saturday is an encouraging start.

Keeping hold of his star players has been the Serb's biggest success story this summer, with Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon resisting the temptation of Premier League football to continue plying their trade in West London.

Now it is wide man Sone Aluko's turn to face speculation regarding his Craven Cottage future, with several clubs said to be monitoring his situation as the transfer window progresses.

Jokanovic will hope to keep the player, but must have a contingency in place should the Nigerian leave, and should consider Derby's Johnny Russell as a potential replacement.

The winger has just one year remaining on his deal at Pride Park, and although boss Gary Rowett will hope to keep him at the club this summer, could be tempted to sell if the right offer were to materialise.

Russell made 29 league starts for the Rams last year as they missed out on the play-offs, scoring twice and providing a further 4 assists in what was the player's least productive season in years.

The 27-year-old Scot is an excellent all round player, and his hard work down the wings will be an attribute which highly appeals to Jokanovic's style of play.

Laying the goals on next season for new signing Aboubakar Kamara could hold the key to Fulham's promotion aspirations, and Russell is player who could form a deadly partnership with the Frenchman.

A deal may be unlikely at this point, but is certainly something Jokanovic should consider if Aluko departs.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/this-derby-player-should-be-fulhams-contingency-plan-should-aluko-leave-this-summer/

WhiteJC

 
Slavisa Jokanovic warns Fulham: Learn from past mistakes if we want to be promoted

Slavisa Jokanovic says Fulham have to learn to see out games if they want to get promoted.

Fulham conceded an 88th-minute equaliser to draw 1-1 with Norwich in their Championship opener at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The hosts had wasted a number of chances during the game, the best of which came as Neeskens Kebano hit the post in the second half.

However, substitute Nelson Oliveira slotted home a Wes Hoolahan cross to earn a share of the spoils.

A frustrated Jokanovic said: "I saw this story last season and it was a repeat of those kinds of situations.

"To be a top team and show the character of champions, we must stick results and die in the last few minutes to not drop points. We must improve and die in the game to get the result. We did not do that."

He added: "Simply we have dropped two points. I see no point in complaining - it's about looking forward, not about the past.

"It's always disappointing to concede at that late point in the game. We are in a similar situation to last season when we were creating chances but not scoring enough."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/slavisa-jokanovic-warns-fulham-learn-from-past-mistakes-if-we-want-to-be-promoted-a3605856.html

WhiteJC

 
Stam: Aluko would fit in perfectly at Reading FC

Reading FC remain hopeful of signing Nigeria international Sone Aluko, who is currently on the books of Fulham FC.

English Championship outfit Fulham recently stated that they are aware of interest from other clubs in their hard-working frontman.

Reading, who are also in the English Championship, have since confirmed that they are keen to sign Aluko during the current Transfer Window.

However, Reading manager and head coach Jaap Stam doubts that Fulham would agree to sell one of their top players.

"Everybody knows what type of system Sone plays in at Fulham," Stam told Reading Chronicle.

"If he was here he would fit in our style of play but I don't know if we can agree a deal," he added.

"I know his name has been mentioned, we would be very interested in bringing a player like him in, but I don't know if it can happen."

Aluko played the entire match as Fulham drew 1-1 with Norwich City in their first league of the 2017/18 season in London on Saturday.

The 28-year-old striker will be hoping to make the Nigeria squad for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon.



http://africanfootball.com//news/722894/Stam-Aluko-would-fit-in-perfectly-at-Reading-FC


WhiteJC

 
Where Are They Now?: Pape Bouba Diop

In this week's edition of our weekly Where Are They Now? Segment we look at one of the key players of the 2011/2012 season in the form of Papa Bouba Diop, but why was he so important during that promotion? And where is he now?

Papa Bouba Diop
The now 39-year-old began his career in The Senegal Premier League with Ndeffann Saltigue, before later moving to ASC Diaraf in the same Division. However, Diop's career was soon to take a major turn when, after a few seasons in the Swiss lower leagues, Grasshoppers came calling. The midfielder would have a successful time with the Swiss giants, and made the step up to Ligue 1 in France with Lens in 2002.

In that same year, the physical player scored the landmark first ever Senegal goal in a World Cup in the country's first ever World Cup match against France. Meanwhile, Diop's club-career was going from strength to strength and a move to the Premier League would be just around the corner.

Fulham finally snapped up the Senegalese international in 2004, and he was an instant hit in English football. Diop went on to become one of the finest Premier League midfielders of the Noughties, winning Fulham's Opta Player of the Season award in 2006 and gaining the club captaincy from 2005 to 2006. However, on Deadline Day, summer 2007, The Cottagers sold the 39-year-old to rivals Portsmouth. Diop would go onto help Pompey to FA Cup glory in his first-season at Fratton Park, but would be sold onto AEK Athens just three-years later.

His time in Greece would turn out to be short-lived and injury hit, and he would leave the Greek top-flight with few notable highlights to speak of. However, the Senegalese would soon return to the country that he made his name in, as the twilight of his career dawned. New manager Sam Allardyce made Diop one of his first Hammers signings in late August 2011, as our bid for promotion from the Championship began. The tall-versatile midfielder would go on to play a key role in our Play-Off promotion, with several strong performances throughout the season. The veteran's stand-out performance in Claret & Blue came in the 1-0 home victory over Barnsley, where he powered an early header to give us a vital win.

Despite his positive Hammers start, Diop struggled to break into the starting Xl late on in the season and was subsequently released in May 2012, after our promotion back to the Premier League. A few months later, the former Fulham man would sign under the management of former teammate Lee Clark at Birmingham City, but he would only last a few months in the Midlands and call it a day on his career in January 2013 as injuries took their toll.

Nowadays, Pape Bouba Diop is working as a football pundit in his home country, and will go down in history as the first of a long line of Hammers stars from the African Nation of Senegal.




http://www.moorethanjustaclub.com/columnist/now-pape-bouba-diop/

WhiteJC


Jokanovic: Fulham must 'die in the last few minutes' to earn wins
by Dan on August 7, 2017


Slavisa Jokanovic has urged his Fulham side to learn from the mistakes of last season and 'die in the last few minutes' to earn the results that will get them out of the Championship.

The Serbian head coach was angry after his side let a winning position slip in the final two minutes of their first game of the season against fellow promotion contenders Norwich City and recognised the signs of sloppy defending that had dogged their attempts to go up last term.

    I saw this story last season and it was a repeat of those kinds of situations. To be a top team and show the character of champions, we must stick results and die in the last few minutes to not drop points. We must improve and die in the game to get the result. We did not do that.

    Simply we have dropped two points. I see no point in complaining – it's about looking forward, not about the past. It's always disappointing to concede at that late point in the game. We are in a similar situation to last season when we were creating chances but not scoring enough.

Jokanovic has indicated that he will conduct a serious reshuffle ahead of tomorrow night's League Cup tie at League Two Wycombe Wanderers with several first-team stars rested for Saturday's trip to the scene of May's play-off defeat, Reading.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/08/jokanovic-fulham-must-die-in-the-last-few-minutes-to-earn-wins/

WhiteJC

 
Fulham and Norwich will surely be top-six contenders after entertaining opening day draw

Play-Off contenders Fulham and Norwich played out an entertaining affair at Craven Cottage to open their respective campaigns, and both side's will leave with a lot to think about following the game in west London.

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic's men were denied victory by an 88th minute equaliser, and the Serb will be extremely disappointed that his side were unable to see out the game in the dying minutes.

The Cottagers looked the better of the two sides however, and perhaps should have wrapped things up earlier as Neeskens Kebano hit the upright as Fulham chased a second.

Jokanovic will realise that his opponents for the day were a suitable test to determine where his side are at following the summer break, and will not be too disappointed with the performance despite the nuisance of Norwich's late equaliser.

Daniel Farke of Norwich will be delighted with his side's persistence, and to see Nelson Oliveira score from off the bench will provide the German with a positive selection headache, ahead of their next league fixture at home to Sunderland.

Oliveira had been linked with a big money move to Reading earlier in the summer, but the Portuguese striker did enough on Saturday to suggest that he could be ready to lead the Canaries promotion charge this season.

Both managers will be happy with the performances of their respective outfits, although Jokanovic will hope his side will rediscover their killer instinct in front of goal and begin to see games out much earlier as the season progresses.

Based on the result and performances witnessed during this fixture, both the Cottagers and the Canaries look on course to challenge for a place in the top six this semester.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-and-norwich-will-surely-be-top-six-contenders-after-entertaining-opening-day-draw/


WhiteJC

 
Lack of Defensive Cover
What can we learn from Norwich?


Ryan Sessegnon v Norwich 08-05-17 FulhamFC.com

Fulham struggled to keep Norwich from pushing forward on the left wing and left many wondering if Ryan Sessegnon is able to build upon his success from last year. Dan at HammyEnd.com made excellent points about Sessegnon's play working hard to make up for the lack of coverage left by Neeskens Kebano.


Ryan Sessegnon heat map v Norwich WhoScored.com


Neeskens Kebano heat map v Norwich WhoScored.com



As can be seen, Sessegnon spent most of his time at midfield playing the high line in addition to getting forward to bolster Fulham's attack. Norwich exploited this three times in the first half and needed help from Tim Ream and Oliver Norwood to protect the left side and their heat maps, combined, display the amount of time spent protecting the goal.


Tim Ream and Oliver Norwood heat map v Norwich WhoScored.com

Even though Kebano was not providing the defensive coverage necessary to allow Sessegnon to move forward, he lead Fulham with 8 tackles.


Neeskens Kebano tackles v Norwich WhoScored.com



After 63 minutes, Fulham were up a goal and Jokanovic replaced Norwood with Ibrahima Cisse to shore up the defense and take 3 points from another promotion favorite. However, it did not come to fruition as Nelson Oliveira netted a goal from open play in the 88th minute.

Tuesday, Fulham travels to Adams Park to face Wycombe in the EFL Cup. Jokanovic will move players around and rest others for Saturday's match against Reading. It will be interesting to see who is in the starting 11 on Tuesday and what players are selected to bolster the defensive left side.

Saturday's draw with Norwich is another reminder Fulham needs to add more depth to the squad and hope more players come into the club before the end of the summer transfer window.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2017/8/7/16107800/lack-of-defensive-cover

WhiteJC

 
Any Money That Fulham Spend From Now To The End Of Summer Should Be On A Defender

Do Fulham Need More Signings Before The Close Of The Transfer Window

Fulham played out a draw on the opening day of the Championship season against Norwich City and did so in familiar style, i.e. taking the lead at home but not seeing the game out for three points.

One game is too early to judge everything, but it did rather feel as though little had changed at Craven Cottage over the summer. While some of that is positive, the retention of players such as Kalas, Sessegnon and Cairney for example, things need to change if they are to improve their position.

That position come last May was that they sneaked into the playoffs via sixth place and so regardless of their form in the final third of the campaign; it's a position which cannot make them favourites for promotion this time.

Furthermore, influential attacking left-back Scott Malone has left the club and it's on that side of the pitch where the immediate problem may lie. The trouble is, it's hard to know which position actually needs a change.

Malone was excellent last term and it meant that when Ryan Sessegnon broke into the team, he played in an advanced position on the wing. He was brilliant there, baffling defenders and making them look stupid. It appeared then that his days as a fullback were already behind him. However, with plenty of forwards on the books it seems Slavisa Jokanovic wants to keep Sessegnon back there.


Ryan Sessegnon

Neeskens Kebano started on the left against Norwich and with the likes of Lucas Piazon also in the squad, the club may be unwilling to sign another similar type of player. The trouble is that when you have lots of options in one position, it tends to mean that none of them are outstanding and I think that's where Fulham sit now.

The question is, do they sign a new winger to improve their chances in front of goal, or a Malone replacement to allow Sessegnon the freedom to move forward?

I hate to think that, but the manager may want the former option while I would love to see the latter. Like Gareth Bale, players often start out in defensive or deeper positions but the brutal fact is that professional football is much like school football in many ways – the better kids play up front.

Sessegnon has proper talent and frankly, it's being wasted at the back for Fulham. He should be playing on the left of their 4-2-3-1 in behind the front man and so any money the club spend between now and the deadline should be on a left-back as far as I'm concerned.




http://soccersouls.com/2017/08/08/any-money-that-fulham-spend-from-now-to-the-end-of-summer-should-be-on-a-defender/

WhiteJC


Fulham have 'targets on our backs,' warns Ream
by Dan on August 8, 2017


Tim Ream has warned his Fulham team-mates that they have 'targets on our backs' as they prepare to face League Two Wycombe Wanderers in the first round of the League Cup tonight.

The American centre back, who was one of the star performers during the run-in as the Whites got so close to reaching Wembley last season, knows that Slavisa Jokanovic's side would be a big scalp for supporter-owned Wycombe at Adams Park this evening. Ream is also expecting his Serbian head coach to rotate a few of his first-team players with Saturday's trip to Reading in mind.

    It's one of the grounds I've not been to, so that'll be interesting for me. We have quite a few numbers in the squad now, so whether we make quite a few changes or whether some guys play again, we'll see what happens.

    I know we've only played one game in the league, but a change of pace and a chance to progress in a Cup competition rather than compete for three points is a different proposition, so it'll be nice to get out there and try and progress to the next round.

    It's not going to be as nice a pitch as we've got at Craven Cottage, the atmosphere's going to be different and these games are always difficult. These lower-league sides are always out to prove something. Teams in the Championship, the Premier League and League One always have targets on our back when we face these lower-league teams, so we have to be ready for that, prepare properly and do what we do best.

Ream was still with Bolton Wanderers when the Fulham, then managed by Kit Symons, narrowly saw off Wycombe in this competition two seasons ago – securing a place in the second round thanks to a second half strike from Alex Kacaniklic.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/08/fulham-have-targets-on-our-backs-warns-ream/


WhiteJC

 
Fulham fans to walk from Craven Cottage to Reading's Madejski Stadium in aid of CALM

Commencing on Friday August 11 at 7.15pm, the fans aim to complete their overnight 40 mile journey from Fulham's Craven Cottage stadium to Reading's Madejski Stadium in 15 hours.

In aid of the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a group of ten Fulham Football Club fans will walk from Craven Cottage to their team's first away fixture of the 2017/18 EFL Championship season against Reading Football Club.

Commencing on Friday August 11 at 7.15pm, the fans aim to complete their overnight 40 mile journey from Fulham's Craven Cottage stadium to Reading's Madejski Stadium in 15 hours.

CALM is a charity dedicated to preventing male suicide – the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. Latest UK figures show men are three times more likely than women to take their own life, and less likely to tell anyone about going through depression. CALM provides a free, anonymous and confidential helpline and webchat service for men who are down or in crisis – open every day, 5pm-midnight.

The group, headed by Fulham season ticket holder and long-time CALM supporter Lee Adams, have already surpassed their original fundraising target of £3,000, including a donation from television presenter and fellow Fulham fan, Richard Osman.

Adams said: "I have been fighting for CALM for about two years now. I want to live in a world where men can feel they can reach out and seek help. I'm truly thankful and proud of every one of the lads walking with me overnight from Fulham to Reading who want to stand up and make a difference."

Simon Gunning, CEO of CALM, said: "CALM relies on the hard work of the volunteers and fundraisers who raise money and awareness of the fact that suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. Lee's doing a brilliant thing for us and he joins a growing army of people dedicating their time and effort to save lives with CALM."

For more information on the walk and to make a donation,
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fulham2readingwalk



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-fans-walk-craven-cottage-13445466

WhiteJC

 
Wycombe vs Fulham EFL Cup– Match Preview August 8, 2017

This Tuesday, August 8, 2017 (11:45 AM Pacific) Wycombe Wanderers will host Fulham at Adams Park for a match in the first round of the EFL Cup. Both teams will be aiming for success in their respective leagues and to get past this first round of the EFL Cup.

Wycombe Wanderers had a decent 16-17 season in the League Two, finishing in ninth under Gareth Ainsworth in his fifth year at the helm. The Blues had a decent start to the new season, obtaining a 2-2 draw against Lincoln City away from home.

The offseason signings of some key veterans like Adam El-Abd and Nathan Tyson should add experience and depth to the League Two side. The game should be an interesting one in the intimate confines of Adams Park and Wycombe could give Fulham a decent contest to start this English League Cup.

Fulham had a productive 16-17 season in the Championship, finishing sixth but did have its Premier League hopes destroyed by Reading in the playoffs.

Slaviša Jokanović is looking like the right man for the job that could return The Whites to Premier League glory. The offseason signings of players like Ibrahima Cisse, Tomas Kalas and Jozabed Sanchez could propel the team to another playoff finish and beyond this season. The Cottagers should also have a solid performance in this EFL Cup starting by a win in this game at Adams Park.



http://futnsoccer.com/2017/08/08/wycombe-wanderers-vs-fulham-england-league-cup-match-preview-august-8-2017-pppfv4/

WhiteJC

 
Ream backs Fulham keeper Button

Tim Ream insists Fulham's defence has every confidence in goalkeeper David Button.

Former Brentford keeper Button was dropped for the final six games of last season and the play-off semi-final games against Reading, having come under fire from supporters for some of his performances.

But he returned to the starting line-up in Saturday's Championship opener against Norwich, after Marcus Bettinelli tweaked a hamstring, and made several good saves before being beaten late on by Nelson Oliveira's equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Ream, who played in front of both Button and Bettinelli last season, said: "We're confident with whoever's back there.

"Both have their strong points and we know how each keeper likes to play. Their communication is top notch.

"We knew coming into Saturday's match what was happening and it's a case of the next guy up. Nobody skips a beat and we just get on with it."



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-defender-backs-button-put-last-season-behind


WhiteJC

 
Will any Fulham youngsters join the roll of honour against Wycombe?

This time last year, Ryan Sessegnon, Tayo Edun, Dennis Adeniran and Lucas De La Torre made their first senior appearances for the club in a 3-2 win over Leyton Orient

Slavisa Jokanovic is likely to ring the changes for Fulham's Carabao Cup tie with Wycombe Wanderers and he could hand debuts to some of the Whites' academy players.

This time last year, Ryan Sessegnon, Tayo Edun, Dennis Adeniran and Lucas De La Torre made their first senior appearances for the club in a 3-2 win over Leyton Orient.

Of the quartet, only Sessegnon has broken into the first team on a regular basis and, despite being linked with moves to Premier League clubs, agreed a new deal at Craven Cottage this summer.

And the likelihood is that Adeniran, who scored twice against Orient, Edun and De La Torre will be given a chance, once again to impress.

Jerome Opoku, Matt O'Riley and Steven Sessegnon were all given minutes by Slavisa Jokanovic over the course of pre-season and the trio could be involved at Adams Park.

And they would their names to the board at Motspur Park of players to have come through the academy and make a first team appearance for Fulham.

Adeniran is highly rated by the Whites with academy chief Huw Jennings telling GetWestLondon in September last year in a wide-ranging two part interview that he wasn't too far behind Ryan Sessegnon.

He said: "He's not too far behind Ryan. For Dennis, his pathway has probably been a bit tougher.

"He started life as a striker with us and didn't join the academy until he was 12, 13 which is later as Ryan was in at nine.

"So, it's been a harder pathway for Dennis but he's started to establish himself as a midfield player and he had a tough time against Middlesbrough for parts of the game but he got through it and managed himself pretty well and that was encouraging because emotional control is something Dennis needs to be working on and I was very pleased and encouraged by that.

"I have sort of forgiven him for getting booked for the celebration against Orient but he knows there's a pending fine if he lets himself down.

"With someone like Dennis, you see him grow in his belief. His self-belief has started to come on in the last 12 months."

It will also give Fulham a glimpse of some of the players they could come across in the Checkatrade Trophy, which they are entering this year.

Jennings explained: "I don't think there's any one formula. I think it's a variety of formulas. You have to meet the need of the players.

"For some it's good for them to go out on loan, for some it's not. We'd have competed in the EFL Trophy had there been a place for us.

"We recognise the value of that. I reckon beating Middlesbrough was better than being in the EFL Trophy but there you go.

"I think we had discussions with the FA when they did their review about collaborations with lower league clubs and it's not everybody's favoured view because the 92 club mentality is understandably a unique feature of the game in this country.

"My job is to support young players and sometimes you get frustrated when you see players in their mid to late 30s continuing to get short term contracts at clubs because the manager is desperate to not get beaten on a Saturday and that's a short-term view.

"We're only going to get better in this country if we understand the value of promoting youth.

"It's all very well to have great big new shiny buildings around the country. They look fantastic and it's important to have high quality facilities developing them here.

"It's about the people and I feel very privileged with a great group of staff here."

You can read Jennings' thoughts on youth development by visiting this page and his thoughts on Fulham's academy graduates at the time of writing by visiting here.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/any-fulham-youngsters-join-roll-13447316

WhiteJC


Happy birthday, Louis Saha
by Dan on August 8, 2017


Louis Saha wasn't universally welcomed at Fulham in June 2000. Much of the scepticism surrounding the young French forward's arrival was down to circumstance, he was the mystical youth pushing out cult hero Geoff Horsfield, whom Jean Tigana swiftly decided was ill-equipped the beautiful, balletic and mesmerising football he sought to unleash on the First Division. Some Fulham fans pointed towards Saha's fitful loan spell at Newcastle under Ruud Gullit in 1999, where he scored twice in twelve appearances and was left out of the FA Cup final squad, and an underwhelming goalscoring record with Metz as justification that the £2.1m Tigana had splashed out on the 20 year-old was far too step.

That view didn't hold for long. Saha scored at Tiverton Town in his first outing in the black and white – and it seemed like he never stopped scoring during a season where Tigana's charges swept all before them. He scored ten in his first eleven league fixtures as Fulham stormed to the top of the table, a position they were never to relinquish. 'Petit Louis' as his friends at his first football club, Soisy Andilly Margency, called him for his penchant for playing with the older boys grew into a man this year – and his was a power nobody could contain. He formed a quite devastating scoring triumvirate with the archetypal English forward Barry Hayles and eccentric winger Luis Boa Morte, then borrowed from Southampton, and showed just why everyone at Clarefontaine, including Tigana's perceptive assistant Christian Damiano, had tipped him for the top.


Saha was the new breed of striker built for the 21st century. Now, everyone can list the components of the main man in a fluid 4-3-3 formation: pace, power and predatory finishing, but back then Saha was a revelation. He could score goals with his either foot – memorably alternating from left to right for penalties – or his head and had a footballing intelligence that was able to bring others into play as well. His first touch was magnificent and the way he glided away from despairing defenders just seemed effortless. The 27 goals that carried Fulham to the promise land of the Premiership contained all sorts of sublime finishes – an astonishingly powerful strike from an acute angle at Tranmere, the mazy dribble through the remnants of a Northampton defence, the bullet header that was the first of three against Barnsley and a brilliant brace at Wolves spring to mind.

As the man who in many ways symbolised that Fulham's time at English football's top table had come, it was fitting that Saha would steal the show at Old Trafford in their first Premiership fixture. In a game that was supposed to be all about Ruud van Nistelrooy, Saha took just four minutes to make his mark, striding away from a suicidal Manchester United high line to lift a sumptuous ball from Sean Davis over a stranded Fabien Barthez. Just to prove it wasn't a fluke, Saha restored Fulham's lead shortly after half-time, sprinting onto a through ball from Steed Malbranque to slot into the bottom corner with his weaker right foot. August 19th 2001 was apparently the day Sir Alex Ferguson decided to sign Saha, but the way he and Malbranque ripped United apart had ruinous consequences, as the Scot soon parted company with Jaap Stam, something he later described as 'one of the stupidest decisions I ever made'.


Saha finished August as the Premier League's player of the month, but only showed flickers of his immense talent in the remainder of that campaign, with a sensational strike against Newcastle and a devastating double at Stamford Bridge illuminating what became a frustrating season. He began the following summer with what might have been the last ever goal at Craven Cottage, a scrappy strike against Greek outfit Egaelo ensuring Tigana's team progressed in the InterToto Cup, but only managed seven in total as the injuries that so ravaged his later career began to take hold. It was when Chris Coleman played him as a lone striker in a side tipped by the pundits to go down that 'King' Louis really flourished.

Fulham began that season like a house on fire and Saha seemed back to the creature that had terorrised the First Division. He scored five in his first nine games as Fulham went to Old Trafford sixth in the table with the talking heads again suggesting that the wind would have been taken out of their sails after they surrendered a two-goal lead to lose to Newcastle in midweek. Saha might not have scored on that famous day that Fulham put the champions to the sword but, as Gary Neville wrote in his autobiography, 'he was totally unplayable'. This time the goals didn't dry up – his fifteen in 22 appearances had the Whites in the Champions' League places when Ferguson came calling and, even Coleman's infamous 'over my dead body' reply, couldn't keep hold of Fulham's prize asset.


For a while, the sadness of Saha's exit soured the memories of the artist's remarkable three-and-a-half-years with Fulham. But, in the fullness of the time, it became churlish to deny that he was the finest forward anyone had seen in the black and white. The fact that his massive transfer fee reportedly paved the way for a return to Craven Cottage seemed too good to be true, but so it proved. Saha might have gone on to represent his country – looking back it seems ludicrous he wasn't judged good enough to achieve full international hours whilst with Fulham – and win titles with United, but he was never better than during his years alongside the River Thames.

The likable forward, who always had time for the fans, celebrates his 39th birthday today. He has moved on from his playing days, writing one of the best football books of the genre, and now has his own network that is taking aim at the ruinous power of the agent. Louis was one of a kind, the kingpin who came to embody Tigana's French revolution at Fulham, and I wish him many happy returns.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/08/happy-birthday-louis-saha/

WhiteJC

 
West London Audi Partnership

Fulham Football Club is delighted to announce a new partnership with West London Audi who will become the Club's Official Automotive Partner.

West London Audi is one of London's most prestigious car dealerships, servicing the metropolitan area and beyond with top-of-the-range vehicles and exceptional customer service.

As part of the deal, West London Audi will provide a fleet of new vehicles complete with Fulham FC and West London Audi branding. These vehicles will be used by the Club for First Team duties as well as other club operations which include transportation of Academy players and VIP clients on a matchday.

West London Audi, in return, will receive exposure and representation throughout the Club, particularly on a matchday at Craven Cottage where they will be featured on the Club's brand new state of the art LED system.   


Casper Stylsvig, Chief Revenue Officer at Fulham FC said: "West London Audi has an impressive and extensive collection of vehicles. We are excited to be associated with one of the most prestigious automotive brands in the world and delighted to have them on board as our Official Automotive Partner."

Ray Campbell, Head of Business at West London Audi said: "West London Audi feel incredibly honoured to have been welcomed to the Fulham Football Club family. We use the word family because we know that the Club is so much more than just a Club, they bring together the community. For that, and many other reasons, we are extremely excited about the opportunities that our newly formed partnership will bring to both our customers and fans of Fulham FC. Believing that our brands are very much aligned, we look forward to working with FFC and wish them a very successful season."

West London Audi is delighted to be able to provide exclusive offers for Fulham FC Season Ticket Holders. For further details, please contact Jeremy Spencer on: 0208 380 4000 or e-mail: [email protected].



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/august/08/west-london-audi-partnership


WhiteJC

 
The Big Match Preview: Wycombe vs Fulham

All you need to know ahead of tonight's Carabao Cup first round tie.

Team news, tickets, travel and much more...

Wycombe Wanderers vs Fulham
Tuesday 8th August 2017, k.o. 7.45pm
Adams Park
Referee: Gavin Ward


After draws for both of these sides in their opening league matches at the weekend, Wycombe and Fulham renew rivalries in the first round of the Carabao Cup tonight, just two years since their last meeting at the same stage of the same competition.

The Cottagers were victorious that night, edging through with a 1-0 victory, which prolonged the Chairboys' unwanted record of having not won a match in this cup in 90 minutes since 2006.

That jinx still stands, but tonight's game provides a fresh opportunity to spring a surprise and make progress in the competition for the first time since 2011, when the Blues knocked out Colchester United on penalties.

A shootout could be on the cards tonight, and if so, it would be the first ABBA format to be be played out at Adams Park since the introduction of a new rule for EFL cup competitions.

Team news
Gareth Ainsworth has hinted that he could make changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Lincoln on Saturday, although there are no fresh injury worries.

Fulham are also expected to shuffle the pack, having handed four senior debuts to youngsters in the first round of last season's League Cup.

Man in the middle
Gavin Ward took charge of the same fixture two years ago, and returned to Adams Park for the 1-1 draw with Barnet in April 2016 and 2-1 loss to Crawley last season. He was also in the middle for the 2-1 FA Cup win at Portsmouth, and the 2-0 league victory at Barnet.

Tickets
Prices have been kept the same as the first round ties in each of the previous two seasons, and can be found below. Please note the Frank Adams Stand will be closed for this fixture.

Adults (19-59): £15
Seniors (60+): £12
Juniors (18 and under): £5

Book online, call the ticket office on 01494 441118, or buy in person at Adams Park. Tickets are available on arrival for both home and away fans at no extra charge.

Travel
Important travel news for those coming to tonight's game against Fulham; John Hall Way will be closed from 7pm with diversions in place, so please allow extra time for your journey, particularly if travelling from the Handy Cross roundabout.

You can travel to the game by bus thanks to the Arriva service.

Adult return: £3
Adult single: £2
Concession return: £1.50
Concession single: £1

Fares are charged at the same rate regardless of where passengers board the service. Concessions are classed at under 16s and over 60s.

The service timetables are as follows.

Outbound:
Wycombe Railway Station – 17.50 and 18.50
Eden Bus Station – 18.00 and 19.00
Cressex Park & Ride – 18.10 and 19.10
Adams Park – 18.20 and 19.20

Inbound:
Adams Park – 21.45
Cressex Park & Ride – 21.55
Eden Bus Station – 22.05
Wycombe Railway Station – 22.15

In the event of extra-time and penalties, the inbound service will wait until around 20 minutes after the conclusion of the match.

Parking
There will be no parking for the general public in the lower tier - spaces in the upper tier are £5 per car.

There is an additional club-run car park behind Origin Global (on the left before the Adams Park gates), priced at £5 a car.

Spaces for pass holders in the club car park are guaranteed up until 7.15pm, after which time the lower tier becomes closed to vehicles due to high pedestrian traffic.

Blue badge holders are required to pre-book one of 15 complimentary parking spaces via the ticket office; otherwise the standard £5 charge applies.

Where to go
Buying tickets for this game - Ticket Office 1 or 2 (from 5.30pm).
Collecting pre-booked tickets - collection pod opposite Ticket Office 1
Ticket enquiries - Ticket Office 1, window 4
Shop - through the shop doors
Hospitality and boardroom guests - through the arch to the reception desk
Media - through the arch to the reception desk
Players and officials - designated entrance to the right of the shop
Scouts - collection pod opposite Ticket Office 1
Staff/deliveries - delivery entrance to the left of the shop

Food and drink
The bars in the stadium open at 6pm.

    Caledonian Suite - home fans only. Ale festival in operation. Also open at half-time for fans in Beechdean & Bucks New Uni stands.
    Monty's - home fans only. Open after the game.
    Woodlands - members only. Hot food available.
    Honours - VIP hospitality.
    Marquee - open to home and away fans, with a BBQ and selection of alcoholic and soft drinks available.

All bars show Sky Sports and BT Sport on the TVs around the walls.

The BBQ, which serves burgers, hot dogs and steak burgers, will also be open at half-time, close to the entrance to the Caledonian Suite.

Inside the stadium, each stand is serviced by a kiosk serving hot and cold food and drink.

50/50 matchday draws
The club operates two matchday draws, giving fans the chance to win a cash prize. Purchase your blue £1 or orange £2 tickets from our vendors around the ground to be entered into the draw, where 50% of the takings go into the prize find and the other 50% goes to support club projects.

Matchday timetable
9am - phone lines and shop open.
5.30pm - Ticket Office 1 and 2 open.
5.45pm - players begin to arrive.
6pm - Caledonian Suite & Monty's bars open for home fans. Marquee open for home and away fans.
6pm - collection point at blue pod open.
6.15pm - turnstiles open for access to stadium bowl.
6.45pm - teams announced via Twitter.
6.55pm - teamsheets distributed around the bars.
7pm - warm-up begins.
7.40pm - teams emerge from the tunnel.
7.45pm - kick-off.
8.30pm - half-time. Fans in Beechdean Stand & terrace have access to the Caledonian Suite.
8.45pm - second half commences.
9.30pm - full-time. Caledonian Suite and Monty's open.

Can't make it?
Listen live on iFollow with Phil Catchpole and Keith Scott on the club's new and improved audio and video service. Note there will be no live stream for overseas fans for fixtures in this competition.



https://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/news/2017/august/match-preview-for-wycombe-wanderers-vs-fulham-on-08-aug-17/

WhiteJC


Up next: Wycombe Wanderers (a)
by Dan on August 8, 2017


With the disappointment of Saturday's squandering of a winning position not quite out of our system, Fulham head to Wycombe Wanderers tonight to begin their League Cup campaign for the second time in the last three years. Slavisa Jokanovic used the competition to blood a number of the academy's leading lights last year – indeed, it will be a year ago tomorrow that young Ryan Sessegnon took his first steps in senior football at Leyton Orient – and all the signs are that it will be a much changed side that takes to the field at Adams Park this evening.

Just how youthful a team Jokanovic puts out remains to be seen. Marek Rodak might get a Fulham debut in goal, but it could be worth offering David Button another opportunity given Marcus Bettinelli's prolonged absence and how well the former Brentford goalkeeper stepped up to the task against Norwich at the weekend. If the Serbian is content to push Sessegnon further forward following his tough examination at the hands of Yanic Wildschut on Saturday, then Jerome Opoku might continue his encouraging development during pre-season or we may get another fleeting sighting of Sean Kavanagh.

Marcelo Djalo could be paired with the fit-again Michael Madl at the heart of a revamped defence, with European Under 19 Championship winner Tayo Edun in front of the back four. Edun has been versatile in his previous performances in the first team, but after signing his new contract in the summer hinted that he would like to make a midfield spot his own. The promising youngster could be joined in the middle of the park by either Ibrahima Cisse or Oliver Norwood, but not by American starlet Luca de la Torre, who has picked up an untimely injury. Matt O'Riley, who was given plenty of opportunities during Fulham's pre-season programme, might make the matchday squad.

The interesting conundrum will come when Jokanovic considers who to opt for in the forward positions. Aboubakar Kamara's cameo on Saturday suggested that he lacks neither for pace nor confidence and you would guess that the barrel-chested Frenchman would benefit from more minutes as he acclimatises to the English game. Cauley Woodrow will be keen to make an impression – and if he is overlooked this evening it may well be that his immediate future is out on loan rather than with Jokanovic's first team squad. Lucas Piazon would be a natural fit to the wide left role should Sessegnon be rested ahead of the Royals' clash at the weekend.

Supporter-owned Wycombe began their season with a 2-2 draw at home to newly-promoted Lincoln City on Saturday. Gareth Ainsworth, now one of the longest-serving managers in the Football League, is considering making some changes to the weekend line-up, which featured summer signings Adam El Abd and Nathan Tyson. There is a feelgood factor around Adams Park after the club's highest opening-day attendance in eight years and the presence of former AFC Wimbledon unit Adebayo Akinfenwa will be sure to test out any jitters in the Fulham back line. Wanderers have real pedigree in this competition having knocked out Fulham on their way to the semi-finals in 2006 – and Jokanovic will be desperate to avoid a repeat.

MY FULHAM XI (4-3-3): Button; Odoi, Opoku, Madl, Djalo; Edun, Cisse, Norwood; R. Sessegnon, Piazon, Kamara. Subs: Rodak, Ream, Kavanagh, O'Riley, Ayite, Aluko, Woodrow.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/08/up-next-wycombe-wanderers-a/