Thursday Fulham Stuff (24/08/17)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Cairney Gets Scotland Call

Tom Cairney has been called up by Scotland manager Gordon Strachan for the coming international break.

The next international break of the year is almost with us, and Scotland face Lithuania in Vilnius on September 1 in a World Cup qualifier, before then hosting Malta three days later at Hampden Park.

There are a number of changes for Strachan in the squad with a few players missing out on the group from last June, but with some players returning to injury they find themselves back in contention and there's also a first call up for Millwall goalkeeper Jordan Archer.

Scotland squad:

Goalkeepers:

Jordan Archer (Millwall), Craig Gordon (Celtic), Allan McGregor (Hull City).

Defenders:

Ikechi Anya (Derby County), Christophe Berra (Heart of Midlothian), Grant Hanley (Newcastle United), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers), Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), Kieran Tierney (Celtic), Steven Whittaker (Hibernian).

Midfielders:

Stuart Armstrong (Celtic), Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday), Scott Brown (Celtic), Tom Cairney (Fulham), Darren Fletcher (Stoke City), Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth), James Forrest (Celtic), James McArthur (Crystal Palace), John McGinn (Hibernian), Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion), Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United), Robert Snodgrass (West Ham United).

Forwards:

Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday), Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Chris Martin (Derby County), Steven Naismith (Norwich City).




Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=501763#ixzz4qeLaPbcF

[WhiteJC]

 
Slavisa Jokanovic challenges Fulham players to 'defend the crest' after losing to Bristol Rovers in the Carabao Cup

The defeat means it's only one win in six games for Fulham and Jokanovic has called on his players to use defending the crest as motivation to get a result at Ipswich

Slavisa Jokanovic has challenged his players to "defend the Fulham crest" and use it as motivation after they crashed out of the Carabao Cup to Bristol Rovers.

The manager made eleven changes to the side that lost 1-0 the Sheffield Wednesday on the weekend, with Marcus Bettinelli returning in goal, while there was a debut for on-loan Liverpool man Sheyi Ojo.

Ellis Harrison's 13th minute goal was enough for the League One side to knock out their Championship opponents, and Jokanovic has said he knows his players can do better and must push to achieve that level in their next game against Ipswich.

He said: "The players must defend the Fulham crest - this is enough motivation for them.

"We haven't started in the way we wanted, and in front of us is a chance for us to show something different and find a better level, and do everything to try and enjoy a first victory.

"We can work hard and improve our level. We know we are not at our best level and we must push hard to be closer to our best level.


Under the lights: Oliver Norwood (Image: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

"We know we can do better, and we must push harder still to do that."

Jokanovic once again bemoaned the side's inability to finish chances, but explained the reasoning behind making wholesale changes for this tie.

He added: "Yes, it's disappointing - we didn't play a good enough game, we didn't create enough clear chances.

"With the chances we did create, we weren't clinical enough. We wanted to progress in this competition, but we didn't do it.

"All we can do now is rest, then work hard and prepare for the challenge that's in front of us.

"I had a similar team and used similar players in the first League Cup game, we played well in the first game.

"I used some new players, some players who needed minutes in the competition. I tested some players too. I used this night to win the game, to progress in this competition with some different players.

"This is our sixth game in 18 days, something like this. I am disappointed, I must think about this night and analyse what we didn't do well enough, and I must think about the game that's immediately in front of us."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/slavisa-jokanovic-challenges-fulham-players-13516084

[WhiteJC]

 
Manchester United fear Ryan Sessegnon will opt for Tottenham transfer

Manchester United are keen on signing Fulham wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon but fear the 'London factor' will see Tottenham win the race for his signature.

The 17-year-old burst onto the scene last season and made 25 appearances for the Cottagers in the Championship.

Mourinho has been keen to add to his squad in wide areas and United are attracted by Sessegnong's tactical flexibility.

The England U19 international can play at left-back and left-wing but United face competition from Tottenham for the teenager.

According to ESPN, United could move for Sessengnon in the last days of the transfer window but there's a sense that the youngster would prefer to stay in London.

That would hand a huge advantage to Mauricio Pochettino's side, who have a long-term interest in the full-back.

Spurs ace Danny Rose has been linked with an exit from the club since an explosive interview in which he criticised Tottenham's wage structure.

Chelsea and Manchester United have both expressed interest in the England international but Sessegnon represents a cheaper, albeit more inexperienced, alternative to Rose.



Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/23/manchester-united-fear-ryan-sessegnon-will-opt-for-tottenham-transfer-6872401/#ixzz4qeNxY3SB

[WhiteJC]

 
Cardiff City Tickets

Following the trip to Portman Road and the International Break, the Whites return to Craven Cottage on Saturday 9th September (3pm) to take on League leaders Cardiff City.

You can be there to watch all the action with match tickets priced from £20 adults and just £1 juniors.

Secure your seat online, by phone on 0203 871 0810 (opt 1.) or in person from the Fulham Ticket Office.

COYW!

Ticket Office open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/august/23/cardiff-city-tickets

[WhiteJC]

 
Ryan Sessegnon makes up his mind on his next destination amid Manchester United & Spurs links - report
The young Fulham starlet has reportedly decided on his next club

Amid all the speculation surrounding interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, Ryan Sessegnon has decided on the club he wants to join if he leaves Fulham according to one report.

Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino are both known to be admirers of the 17-year-old, who signed his first professional deal with Fulham in June.

United have been linked again with Sessegnon, with reports that they are ready to move quickly should the Championship outfit indicate that they are willing to part with the talented teenager for a major fee.

Reports also surfaced that Spurs were also contemplating making a fresh bid for Sessegnon, who was named in the Championship Team of the Year last season and impressed against his side in a brief cameo in the FA Cup last season.


Ryan Sessegnon in action for Fulham

However, football.london understands that despite retaining an interest in the player, Tottenham are not considering making another bid for the teenager this window and have not held any talks with Fulham since Sessegnon penned his new deal earlier this summer.

A new report from ESPN claimed on Wednesday that United believe that Sessegnon's preferred destination is Tottenham if Fulham decide to cash in on their talented teenager.

With Danny Rose set to return to full training in just over a week's time and Ben Davies performing well as his replacement, Spurs are currently well stocked with left-backs.

With Sessegnon able to play as a left-sided midfielder as well though, Tottenham are expected to bid for the talented England youth international again in future transfer windows as Pochettino is understood to be a fan of the player.




http://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/transfer-news/sessegnon-spurs-manchester-united-mourinho-13517353

[WhiteJC]

 
Manchester United Target to Snub Jose Mourinho For Tottenham Hotspur Move

Tottenham Hotspur is set to beat Manchester United to the signing of Fulham's teenage sensation Ryan Sessegnon, according to reports.

The 17-year-old, who is capable of playing anywhere on the left side of the pitch, has a few potential suitors in the Premier League, including United, Spurs and Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.

Sessegnon featured 25 times for the west London club in the Championship last season, and is valued at £25 million (about $32 million) by Fulham.

According to ESPN, the teenager will snub the advances of Jose Mourinho's Manchester United to join Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham in the final days of the summer transfer window.

Mourinho has already spent £150 million (about $192 million) this summer at Old Trafford, strengthening the core of his team. Swedish center back Victor Lindelof was the first through the door, followed by Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku for £75 million (about $98 million).

Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic was the third and, so far, final signing to arrive in the north west of England, from Chelsea for £40 million. But Mourinho reportedly wants Sessegnon, too.

But there may be more opportunity in north London for the youngster. Tottenham has been one of the lowest spenders in the Premier League so far this summer.

Colombian center back Davinson Sanchez is set to become the club's first signing, subject to a medical, joining from Ajax for a fee of around £36 million (about $46 million).

Working with Pochettino will be an attractive prospect for Sessegnon because the Argentine coach has promoted from the Spurs academy frequently since he arrived at the club.

Kyle Walker-Peters, Harry Winks and Josh Onomah, all 21 or younger, benefitted from working with Pochettino and appeared in the Spurs first team last season.



http://www.newsweek.com/sport-manchester-united-transfer-news-653884

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham have a goal-scoring problem and need to find solution fast, admits boss Slavisa Jokanovic

Fulham boss reacts further to Tuesday's shock defeat to Bristol Rovers in the Carabao Cup


Slavisa Jokanovic needs to find a scoring solution quickly at Fulham (Image: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has admitted his side need to address their goal-scoring concern following the disappointing 1-0 defeat to Bristol Rovers in the EFL Cup.

The Cottagers haven't set their season alight so far in front of goal, and they never really looked like scoring on Tuesday.

Jokanovic started with Aboubakar Kamara in attack against the League One side, and despite much promise from his wide men especially in the second half, the frontline hardly had a sniff.

"It is clearly evident we are not scoring. We have to have more confidence and move the ball more with pace, we must show more quality," said the manager.

"We need to find a solution. We have our team to attack from the wide positions but we didn't create enough chances.

"We fought and we pushed, we showed ambition and desire, but not enough clear chances.

"In this moment it's not good news for us but we have to stay positive and work hard to find a solution."

The first half was very pedestrian-like from Fulham and they were hit by Ellis Harrison's early goal, which turned out to be the winner.

The hosts were much better in the second period, begging the question why didn't they show as much promise from the opening whistle?

"In general, we tried to open the pitch up a bit more with our wingers, getting the ball to Kebano and Ojo," said Jokanovic, when asked if there were stern words said at half-time.

"We just didn't create clear chances. We did improve in the beginning of the second half, that is true.

"We tried to bring more players into play and we connected a lot more, it was better but it just didn't bring us a positive outcome."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-goal-scoring-problem-need-13518517

[WhiteJC]

 
Who Man United target Ryan Sessegnon would prefer to join in this window

Manchester United's quest to find Jose Mourinho's fourth major signing of the summer has proved much tougher to complete than they would have hoped.

Having completed deals for Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic relatively early in the transfer window, the Red Devils looked well placed to achieve Mourinho's target of four additions.

However, since the arrival of Matic, United have found that fourth signing rather elusive.

Speculation regarding Inter Milan's Ivan Perisic and Real Madrid's Gareth Bale has gone quiet, while Mourinho himself has eased the pressure on the club's hierarchy - in public at least.

That doesn't mean vice-chairman Ed Woodward isn't quietly working away to bring in someone else before the transfer window closes next week.

ESPN have reported the Premier League leaders remain interested highly-rated Fulham starlet Ryan Sessegnon.

The 17-year-old, who can play anywhere on the left flank, has attracted plenty of followers with his impressive performances at Craven Cottage.

And although a move to Old Trafford would represent a tempting proposition to most of the country's talented teens, Sessegnon is seemingly reluctant to make the move up north.

The same article claims that if Fulham's resistance to sell the England youth international in this window is broken, he would prefer to stay in London.

Sessegnon grew up in Roehampton, south-west London and at 17, a move to Manchester would be a huge, life-changing experience.

Instead, it is believed the Cottagers' ace would be more willing to join Tottenham than the Red Devils.

Of course, Mourinho's methods of persuasion are better than most so an agreement could still yet be reached but it is an uphill battle.

So far in his brief career, Sessegnon has made 36 appearances for Fulham and has represented England at under-16, U17 and U19 levels.



http://www.givemesport.com/1130294-who-man-united-target-ryan-sessegnon-would-prefer-to-join-in-this-window?autoplay=on

[WhiteJC]

 
Join us at the Cottage for PL2 Action

If you're unable to make it to Portman Road this weekend then why not join us for Premier League 2 action as Fulham host Aston Villa at Craven Cottage this Saturday 26th August (2pm).

Watch Peter Grant's Under 23s take on the Villains and continue their fight for promotion.

Supporters can purchase tickets on the day with adults £3 and juniors just £1!
Entry is also free for Season Ticket Holders on production of your Season Ticket Card on the day.

Come On You Whites!



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/august/23/pl2-action-join-us-at-the-cottage

[WhiteJC]

 
Ipswich Town v Fulham

Saturday's trip to Ipswich has become quite a big affair. Obviously seasons are not won or lost at this stage, and it would be ludicrous to suggest that we're somehow relegation fodder after three draws and a loss to credible opposition, but in terms of morale around the club, a win would do wonders for everyone's nerves and mentality.

Where better to go then, than to unbeaten Ipswich Town, who are riding a wave of good feeling of their own making. Summer signings Joe Garner and Martin Waghorn looked like a cut-price duo, but with seven goals between them already, there can be no doubting that they are demonstrating the quality that has seen them both cut it at Championship level before. Mick McCarthy is playing with something of a makeshift squad, and fielded a back four entirely made up of full-backs against Brentford last time out.

The statistics from that game are insane. Brentford had 22 shots, 6 of which were on target, but were met with an inspired Bialkowski in the Ipswich net. Ipswich took five shots, put three on target, and scored twice. If you think that's clinical, against Millwall they had four shots on target, and scored all of them. Ruthless.

McCarthy has his team firing already, and a spluttering Fulham are going to need to find their groove if they're to turn things around in what now promises to be a very tricky trip to take on the Tractor Boys.

It's not all doom and gloom though–Rui Fonte looked sharp last week against Sheffield Wednesday and now with a week learning how the rest of the team are going to play, you'd hope that he can start to gel with those around him. We're hoping that Cairney is back to fitness, and if so, his connection with Fonte has been at least partly built. That could be a combination that fires Fulham back towards winning heights.

Tuesday night was a shambles, but Fulham will want to put things right before the international break. Ipswich are beatable, even with their excellent form, but the Whites are going to need to get the engine firing if we're to bring our first three points of the season back with us to Craven Cottage.

Championship Results So Far:
    W: Ipswich Town 2-0 Brentford
    W: Millwall 3-4 Ipswich Town
    W: Barnsley 1-2 Ipswich Town
    W: Ipswich Town 1-0 Birmingham

Fulhamish's Starting Line-Up:
If Cairney is fit, he should obviously start, but we mean 100% fit. Against Wednesday the skipper was a passenger and the game passed him by, with his normally incisive passing looking blurred and his ability to strike from distance seemingly hampered. On form, Cairney is probably the best player in the Championship (Ruben Neves aside perhaps), but if he's injured then we have plenty of other options which we should use. They might not have TC's quality, but there can be no doubting that Cisse and Norwood are able deputies, and even Aluko can play behind the striker.

Talking of Aluko, we think the gaffer might bench him at the weekend if Cairney is fit enough to start and wear the armband. He's had a poor run of form, and there seems to be some sort of unspoken arrangement that Sessegnon is going to play most of the time in one role or another, at least until the end of the transfer window, or so we suspect. Kebano's direct approach really shook things up against Wednesday last Saturday, and you'd imagine the little Congolese No7 will get a start sooner or later. We hope that it's this weekend.

Fonte, now with a week under his belt, should start, and we're hoping to see even more of the glimpses of quality he showed last weekend. If he can click with the players around him, then the goals will surely start to come for Fulham.

Key Battle:
Jordan Spence v Rui Fonte

We've spoken already about how key we think Fonte can be for Fulham, but his battle with Jordan Spence should be a really interesting one to watch. Fulham's new No9 is a classy player, with a tidy touch and a good bit of pace about him, but Spence, who is potentially most comfortable as a full-back, should have the legs to match him. If Fonte can expose the weaknesses in his centre-back game, however, Fulham could be on to a winner.

Both Spence and his centre-half partner thus far, Jonas Knutsen, are converted full-backs, and whilst they've been excellent at times in keeping out Brentford and Birmingham, they also conceded three to Millwall, and so there are holes to be exploited if Fonte and co can find them. Given how potent Fulham were in carving teams open last year, and now with a proven finisher spearheading the line, Fulham must take the opportunities they will create if they are to win this game.

Fulhamish's Prediction:
It's impossible to call this one properly. Fulham could misfire again and we could lose 2-0 to two headed goals from corners, but equally if we turn up and play, there's the potential that the Whites could rip McCarthy's makeshift defensive line to shreds. It'll probably be a bit of both, so we're going to go for an entertaining 2-2 draw, but don't bet against either side winning this one at the death.

Match reaction:
Don't forget to listen to Tuesday's episode of Fulhamish for all the reaction to Saturday's game, and make sure that you're subscribed on one of the following platforms.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2017-08-23-ipswich-town-v-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

 
Jokanovic wants Fulham to sign Flint

Slavisa Jokanovic wants Fulham to complete a deal to sign Bristol City centre-back Aden Flint.

Head coach Jokanovic is hoping to add Flint, 27, to his squad but the Whites hierarchy are less keen, having brought in Marcelo Djalo and Tomas Kalas on loan.

Jokanovic also likes Watford's Craig Cathcart and Grant Hanley of Newcastle.

However, as in the case of Flint, Fulham's statistical analysis team are unconvinced they would be good acquisitions.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough have enquired about Tim Ream but Fulham want the United States international to stay.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/football-news-fulham-jokanovic-likes-aden-flint-bristol-city-newcastle-grant-hanley-watford-craig-cathcart-2408

[WhiteJC]

Is it really all doom and gloom?
by Dan on August 23, 2017

If this article leaves you with a lingering sense of deja vu, I can only apologise. I wrote something similar after Saturday's narrow defeat by Sheffield Wednesday but, after the hysterical overreaction to last night's elimination from the League Cup at the hands of League One Bristol Rovers, there are some points that are worth stating.

The narrative is easy enough to understand. Fulham's fine end to last season with a fluke. Slavisa Jokanovic might be a lucky coach but he could also be a very devious man. He might be getting restless given that, like Roy Hodgson, he rarely seems to put roots down in one place. The two defeats on the bounce show that he's been found out at this level and, what's more, he escalated a quarrel he might be having with Fulham's board to such an extent that he refused to make all bar a token change against Rovers as he wanted to make a point about how he has been sidelined by the club's streamlined recruitment strategy.

Personally, I think that the outrage is a little far-fetched. Let's consider a few facts. Fulham, with a trip to one of the early season pace-setters Ipswich Town on Saturday, made eleven changes for a League Cup. It wasn't like this was unprecedented – Jokanovic had mixed and matched his sides in this competition last year to varying degrees of success. Whilst a youthful team dispatched Leyton Orient and edged past Middlesbrough after extra time, they were knocked out by Bristolian opposition last year.

The eleven that Jokanovic picked included one debutante, two players starting only their third senior fixture and two more who had played four games in English football between them. Only Marcus Bettinelli, who was appearing for the first time this season, Michael Madl and Neeskens Kebano had made more than ten appearances in the black and white. Where Jokanovic's wholesale changes had a sixteen year-old pulling the strings in central midfield, Darrell Clarke rotated only three players from Rovers' win at Bury at the weekend and the divisional gap between the sides evaporated.

The visitors were defensively superbly organised, battled for everything and had veterans of attritional football – if Liam Sercombe, who I watched put everything he had into Conference games with Exeter City when he took his first steps in the senior game, isn't too offended by that description. Clarke's side also benefited from generous officiating when the assistant referee failed to spot that Sercombe was well offside before he played in the impressive Ellis Harrison for what turned out to the game's decisive moment.

Of course, the reaction on the messageboards and across social media has been as measured as ever. One correspondent claimed it was the worst Fulham performance in living memory, which was quite a stretch considering the Whites were abject in Cup defeats by Orient, non-league Yeovil and Hayes as well as capitulations at the hands of Chester City and Port Vale. I would argue that the dreadful defeat by Sheffield United in the FA Cup – which included Rene Meulensteen withdrawing Hugo Rodallega to leave Fulham without a striker and then laughing with Ray Wilkins as his side failed to break down the Blades – was far worse than last night.

As ever, some fans also felt the players were worthy of brickbats. One suggested that Aboubakar Kamara was the worst forward to wear a Fulham shirt. Harsh on a guy who looked quite bright against Norwich and Leeds when he had hardly any service to speak of. It's also inaccurate in the extreme – I'd put Bjorn Runstrom, Ahmad Elrich and David Elm well ahead of Kamara in those stakes from the Premier League years alone – and that's before we get to discussing the relative merits of Aidan Newhouse or Tony Thorpe, who cost the club markedly different sums of money. Some supporters saw fit to coat some of the younger players – I'll assume the gentleman alongside me in the Riverside Stand was unaware that Matt O'Riley was sixteen or that Tayo Edun had recently won the European Under 19 Championship with England.

Jokanovic's lack of substitutions to influence proceedings, especially after Rovers recovered from a real Fulham flurry at the start of the second half, was puzzling but perhaps you don't have to resort to conspiracy theories to explain it. With a squad that now looks a little stretched due to injuries would there have been much value in risking the likes of Kevin McDonald, a holding midfielder, Stefan Johansen – in central midfield – or the recently recruited Rui Fonte if they are all in line for a start at Portman Road. Surely league points would take priority over securing thirty more minutes of Carabao Cup action.

The idea that all the Academy products are useless and that Jokanovic is a fraud doesn't ring true to me at all. I fully admit I'm from the generation that went to Fulham to enjoy an afternoon or evening with my mates in full recognition of the fact that the football wasn't going to be of great quality. It gives me great pleasure to be able to watch some of the club's finest young talent at Craven Cottage – and I'm sure Jokanovic and Huw Jennings would have learnt a bit more about some of those players in a senior football setting last night. Fulham have progressed to such a degree since I started watching them that instead of dreaming about a giantkilling, we are now hunted prey in these competitions. That's a position I relish.

Nobody, least of all me, wants to gloss over what was a poor result or a testing start to the season. But allow me to point out that from the four corresponding league fixtures last term, Fulham amassed three points. Jokanovic's charges have had probably the most testing start to the new campaign of any Championship side – and also have a number of new faces to fit into their squad. I can certainly understand people's frustration following last night but this correspondent refuses to subscribe to the notion that it's all doom and gloom already. At least allow Jokanovic some breathing space – after the miracles he worked last year, he's surely worthy of that.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/08/is-it-really-all-doom-and-gloom/

[WhiteJC]

 
Man United could sign top teenager before transfer deadline – report
Manchester United could sign defender Ryan Sessegnon this summer, say reports

Manchester United could sign defender Ryan Sessegnon from Fulham before the close of the transfer window next week, according to reports in the British media.

ESPN is reporting that the Red Devils remain interested in landing the 17-year-old defender before next Thursday's deadline as Jose Mourinho ponders further bolstering his defensive options at Old Trafford.

However, the same report also says that there is a growing sense that Sessegnon would rather stay in London if he were to leave Fulham, with Tottenham also one of the clubs said to be interested in signing the teenager.

The story also says that Fulham have made it clear that Sessegnon is not for sale this summer, but that Manchester United will continue to monitor his situation as the transfer window reaches its conclusion.

Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in Sessegnon, according to the same report.

Manchester United have already bolstered their defensive options this summer with the signing of Victor Lindelof from Benfica back in June.

The Red Devils, who are top of the Premier League, have also concluded deals to sign Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic as Mourinho added further depth to his squad in time for his second season in charge at Old Trafford.



http://www.thesportreview.com/tsr/2017/08/man-united-could-sign-top-teenager-before-transfer-deadline-report/