Thursday Fulham Stuff (21/09/17)...

[WhiteJC]

 
More to come from Fulham's Oliver Norwood and Ibrahima Cisse, according to Slavisa Jokanovic

The boss believes both bring different qualities to his side but that Fulham fans have yet to see them as they get settled at Fulham

Slavisa Jokanovic insists there is more to come from Oliver Norwood and Ibrahima Cisse but feels they need to adapt to the new roles he wants them to play.

Norwood signed for Fulham on a season-long loan from Premier League Brighton, while Cisse joined on a permanent deal from Standard Liege on a three-year deal back in July.

The Northern Ireland man got his first goal for the club against Burton on the weekend, with both players filling in for the injured Tom Cairney in previous games, but both not having the desired effect that Jokanovic wanted.

However, Jokanovic believes both can offer different things to his Fulham side and that they are yet to see the best from the pair as they continue to settle in their new surroundings.

He said: "Both players are new additions for my squad, they are two players with different characteristics.

"Their natural position can be the position where I use Kevin McDonald and in this moment they need to adapt themselves for a different role in the team.


Ibrahima Cisse (Image: Paul Burgman/Press-Photos.com)

"In the case of Cisse, it is a different country and a different culture and competition, he has different team mates, different club and in the football you need time.

"However, this time doesn't exist and new people must be extremely focused and concentrate - I cannot charge against nobody, I believe both players can offer us more things.

"To make a simple comparison in this moment, we believe Oliver can give us more forward and Cisse more power - I believe they can both improve in all the parts during the game.

"Oliver interprets his role very well, his role is different from what it was at Brighton and he has adapted well.

"Cisse is a new player for us and a new competition for him, it's hard and I don't believe it's his best version at the moment, he's working hard to improve himself and I will use him in the time going forward and I expect he will be much more important in the future."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/more-come-fulhams-oliver-norwood-13646957

[WhiteJC]

 
The Tony Gale Column

Saturday was a disappointing one all round, especially as I really fancied us in that game because Burton aren't a side that are going to try and kick you off the park. Nigel Clough wants them to play our type of football, and we are a better side at playing that style, so that's what made the defeat particularly frustrating. You look at the stats and we had 70 per cent possession but only two shots on target, and that really isn't right. That's us at our worst, having all of the ball but not creating enough clear-cut chances in the final third.

It was a contentious penalty which won it for Burton, and while we're not happy with the decision, we can't solely blame that for losing the match.

It's the sort of thing that can sometimes go against you away from home, maybe if it had been at Craven Cottage the referee wouldn't have given it, who knows.

It's a difficult match to try and bounce back in on Saturday but, as I always say, we're always better against the stronger teams. I think the bookies will make Boro the favourites when they come to us, and that will suit us down to the ground. I think we'll win, which will make the Burton result a little bit more galling. Boro will come at us, and they'll come at us playing football because that's what Garry Monk's sides do. In doing that they'll commit players forward, which does leave them open to the counter. I'm a fan of Garry, he's a good, young English manager, which you don't see too many of in the top two tiers.

Middlesbrough spent an absolute fortune in the summer, which goes to show that this division is only going to get harder. When you lay out £15m on Britt Assombalonga, that's when you've got serious dough. He is a good player, though. He was with my pal Alan Devonshire, who I played with at West Ham, at Braintree. He's a good example of a kid going down to non-league on loan to cut his teeth before working his way back up. He had a bad injury but fought back well from that, and you'd expect to see him in the Premier League before too long, so he's a good example to young players trying to make it.

We're off to Forest a few days later and they've probably done better so far this season than some people expected. They're another side who try and play good football, but they're similar to a lot of teams in the Championship in that they can be electric one week and poor the next. Speaking of Assombalonga, Forest brought in Daryl Murphy to replace him and he's done a good job. He's no spring chicken anymore but he's still banging in the goals. He's one of those players who plied his trade in the lower leagues for most of his career and did really well. He might not be a 30-goal-a-season man now, but he's going to get around the 15 mark if he stays fit.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/september/20/the-tony-gale-column

[WhiteJC]

 
Arsenal and Manchester City going head to head for Fulham wonder kid Matt O'Riley

O'Riley has caught the eye of the Premier League duo after breaking into the first team at Craven Cottage this season


Matt O'Riley has caught the eye (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Manchester City and Arsenal are keeping tabs on Fulham's latest teenage wonder kid Matt O'Riley.

O'Riley has caught the eye of the Premier League duo after breaking into the first team this season having starred for Fulham's youth teams.

Creative midfielder O'Riley has started twice in the Carabao Cup this season despite not turning 17 until November and also featured in the Checkatrade Trophy for the Cottagers.

O'Riley's displays have earned him further international recognition at youth level too with a call up to the England squad for their September friendlies against Brazil and South Africa ahead of next month's under-17 World Cup in India.


Riley has represented England through the age groups (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Fulham have high hopes for the left-footed playmaker O'Riley whose passing and technical ability is earning him admirers and who is tipped to be the next hot prospect to emerge from their academy.

Boss Slavisa Jokanovic said earlier this season: "I expect he can be an important player for our club in the future."

But they could soon face a battle to hold on to him amid interest from big clubs in the Premier League and also abroad.




http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-manchester-city-going-head-11207494

[WhiteJC]

 
Friends of Fulham FoFcast 4
FoFcast 4 – Looking back to the HULL and Burton games

Dannyboi and Westcliff White were at again and produced their 4th FOFcast

Give a listen here...

https://www.buzzsprout.com/111200/566942-fofcast-4




http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=60

[WhiteJC]

 
How to get FIFA 18 for just £30 ahead of the game's release

FIFA 18 is just round the corner and you can pre-order the cheapest version for just £30.

FIFA 18 is just round the corner and you can pre-order the cheapest version for just £30.

Fans of the game who spend £54.99 on the standard version will have to wait until September 29 to get their hands on the game which will see Cristiano Ronaldo as the cover star for the first time.

Despite Fulham signing a sponsorship with Pro Evolution for the year, all three of Brentford, QPR and the Whites will be playable in the latest edition of the game.

Here's how you can pre-order FIFA18 at the lower price of £30.

Where to get the cheapest FIFA 18

The prices for the standard, Ronaldo and Icon versions of the game are set by EA Sports in their online store.

You can get FIFA18 for just £30 from Zavvi using this cashback offer.

Simply sign up to Quidco here and follow the instructions to buy the game from Zavvi - you will then receive a £20 cashback bonus within two weeks of your purchase.

How to play FIFA 18 early

The FIFA 18 launch date is Friday 29 September but there is a way to sample the game early.

Gamers who sign up for EA Access on XBox One or Origin Access on PC can get 10 hours of play time from Thursday 21 September - a week before launch.

Playstation 4 players will have to wait until 26 September to access the game.

What is the difference between the editions?

The standard edition does come with eight special edition FUT (Fifa's Ultimate Team game mode) kits, five FIFA Ultimate Team Jumbo Premium Gold Packs and Cristiano Ronaldo on loan for five FUT matches.

The Ronaldo edition comes with early access, 20 FIFA Ultimate Team Jumbo Premium Gold Packs, the Cristiano Ronaldo loan and eight special edition kits.

And 'Icon edition' priced at £89.99 comes with 40 Gold Packs, the Ronaldo loan, a five-match Brazilian Ronaldo loan, eight kits and three FUT Team of the Week loan players for 20 weeks.

All editions are available on Playstation 4, Xbox One and PC. Legacy editions are available on PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.

EA Sports has also launched a Nintendo Switch version, with a custom game engine to suit the new platform.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-fifa-18-just-30-13649369

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham manager issues update ahead of big Middlesbrough clash on Saturday

Fulham started the season as one of the favourites for promotion but have failed to find the same consistency that saw them end the previous campaign so well.

The Londoners have won just two of their eight games in the league so far and fell to a poor 2-1 defeat to Burton Albion last time around.

They can rightly feel aggrieved by the awarding of a harsh penalty that ultimately decided the game, but it was a poor showing nonetheless.

Ahead of their next match, against a resurgent Middlesbrough side, boss Slavisa Jokanovic shared a a message with fans through his Twitter account.

It shows the Serbian looking over his side on the training field as they are put through their paces.

They welcome Boro to Craven Cottage, where they've won only one of their four league games so far, something they need to rectify quickly.

Even though they've had to contend with injuries to last season's star man Tom Cairney and big-money signing Rui Fonte, The Cottagers should still be doing better.

The Verdict

Defeat at the Pirelli Stadium last time out will have been a big blow to Jokanovic who would've hoped his side had turned the corner.

However, they clearly need to make major improvements to play the same free-flowing football they ended last season with.

Fulham fans will still believe their quality manager will turn it round and will be happy to see him wanting more from the team.




https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-manager-issues-update-ahead-of-big-middlesbrough-clash-on-saturday/

[WhiteJC]

 
Neil Warnock names Leeds, Wolves and Aston Villa amongst sides he expected to challenge for Championship this season

Neil Warnock has suggested that Leeds United, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers were amongst the six teams he expected to be challenging for Championship promotion this season.

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock has told The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT (broadcast on 19th September 2017; 8:12 am) that Leeds, Aston Villa, Wolves, Middlesbrough, Fulham and Derby County were the six clubs that he expected to be challenging for promotion before the Championship season had begun.

After eight games of the new campaign, Warnock's Bluebirds side are third in the table, but boast an identical record to the two sides directly above them, Leeds and Wolves, with five wins each coming so far.

And Warnock hinted that Cardiff's success has come as something as a surprise to him given that he expected six other sides to be battling near the summit before a ball had been kicked.

"You couldn't have a bet on it," he told The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT regarding the unpredictability of the Championship.

"For me, the six clubs I thought would be up there to start with were Villa, Derby, Fulham, Middlesbrough, Leeds and Wolves. We've played Wolves and they were very good, although they're spending a lot of money, it's still very even."

As mentioned, Leeds and Wolves have lived up to Warnock's expectations so far, with the Whites currently topping the table on goal difference - which has arguably caught many by surprise given how many changes were made at Elland Road during the summer - while Nuno Espirito Santo's men are second with their only defeat in the league coming against Cardiff.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough may be seventh in the table, but they are just three points off the summit. But the other three sides have arguably been a lot more underwhelming thus far.

Aston Villa, Fulham and Derby are currently 13th, 14th and 15th respectively, all on 10 points with only the finest of margins between their respective goal differences. But the sides above them will know that there is more than enough time left in the campaign for those three to improve and vindicate Warnock's pre-season prediction, and for the current pace-setters to potentially fall away.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/09/19/neil-warnock-names-leeds-wolves-and-aston-villa-amongst-sides-he/

[WhiteJC]

 
The Patrick Bamford dilemma: Does he start for Middlesbrough at Fulham - if so, where?

After Bamford's Villa Park double, Dominic Shaw looks ahead to Fulham and where the forward could fit into Monk's side

"Even though it's a cup game, we need to have the same mentality," said Garry Monk as he looked ahead to a fourth round tie in the League Cup.

This wasn't after Boro's success at Villa Park, though; rather last season at Leeds United as he looked ahead to a last 16 clash with Norwich City.

"Keeping momentum and keeping winning - it's all you want to do."

His side won, on penalties, booking a trip to Anfield in the last eight, a tie which they eventually lost 2-0 despite playing extremely well.

Monk knows what cup success can mean for a club and a town. The League Cup matters. He won it with Swansea back in 2013.

So his decision to ring the changes for Tuesday night's game wasn't a case of him treating the competition with disregard but about giving substitutes and spectators a stage in which to shine.

How Patrick Bamford obliged. While other incomers to the XI put in solid showings in the Midlands, Bamford was the stand-out star of the evening, grabbing a brace which could - should - have been three with the striker having missed that close-range header in the first half.

Did his match-winning display come as any surprise? Not particularly. Bamford has looked bright, sharp and threatening in the early stages of the season and his performances so far would have earned him a weekly starting spot in most if not all other Championship sides.

The difference at Boro, of course, is that Monk can call upon a stacked selection of strikers. And there's no real shortage of attacking midfielders on the books now either.

But the momentum that Monk speaks about isn't just a collective thing. It can work wonders for individuals, too. Marvin Johnson, for example, would have loved nothing more than another outing a few days after his QPR super-show to build on that excellent display.

And after getting off the mark for the season, Patrick Bamford will be desperate to stay in the Boro team for Saturday's trip to Fullham.

So does he? And if so, where?

Up-top - where he played at Villa Park
Going on the evidence of what we've seen from Bamford in his two spells at the club, he's at his best when he's played as a striker.

During the play-off final season, Boro saw the very best of him when he was played as a regular striker rather than off the flank. He sees himself as a frontman, too.

But to get the nod as an out-and-out striker at Fulham on Saturday would surely require a system change from what we've seen in the league of late, for Garry Monk is unlikely to drop top scorer Britt Assombalonga.

Having someone up alongside the ex-Forest man may well bring the best out of him. That appeared the case against QPR in the second half when he had company in the form of Ashley Fletcher.

On that note, Fletcher shouldn't be ignored. While the former West Ham striker didn't make as much of an impact as Bamford at Villa Park, he did change the game against Rangers last weekend and will feel - if Monk does add an extra striker - that he should also be considered.

Is Monk likely to alter the system at Fulham, though?

The 4-2-3-1 set-up that he's favoured since the international break has worked a treat, with Boro picking up seven points out of nine playing that way.

Playing as the No.10
If Monk does stick with the system that he's played in the league of late and does stick with Assombalonga leading the line, where does Bamford fit in?

As a No.10, perhaps? But would that mean leaving out Lewis Baker, who enjoyed one of his best Boro displays so far against QPR?

Bamford, though, has demonstrated this season that he can play in a slightly deeper role.

It does run the risk of negating his eye for goal, but what Bamford also possesses is vision and an ability to make a yard for himself, which can come in handy when playing in that position just off the striker.

While Bamford looks most at home playing on the shoulder of the last man, he has shown that he can make a success of playing that bit deeper. In the early stages of the season , when Monk was playing 4-3-3, Bamford was a crucial link-up between midfield and attack and caught the eye.

An alternative for Saturday, of course, is going back to the 4-3-3 approach. But if that's the case, who drops out?

A wide position
You can't help but feel this is a case of accommodating Bamford rather than getting the best out of him.

He has shown in the past that he is disciplined enough to play in a wide position but that's not to say it looks particularly natural to him.

On the evidence of this season, if Monk plays a system containing wide players Boro look far more balanced if those roles are taken by genuine wingers.

So yes, Monk has himself a Bamford dilemma.

et the gaffer has shown this year that he's not one to shirk a key decision.

To bring Bamford in in place of a player who has contributed to the unbeaten run of late or to again leave the striker out despite his double.

Either represents a bold call.



http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/patrick-bamford-dilemma-start-middlesbrough-13648915

[Bassey the warrior]

O'Riley would do well to look at how Hyndman's move is going. Much better staying and breaking into the first team. Follow Sess's lead.