Monday Fulham Stuff (27/11/17)...

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 'belong in the top six,' says Kalas
by Dan on November 26, 2017

Tomas Kalas believes Fulham belong in the Championship's top six and has urged the Whites to use their accumulation of seven points in seven days as a springboard to start the sort of run that carried them into the upper echelons of the table last season.

The Czech central half told FulhamFCTV that he was pleased to keep a clean sheet against Millwall yesterday, but he wants that to become the norm over the coming weeks as Slavisa Jokanovic's side bid to climb the table. Kalas feels Fulham's impressive recent form has been a long time in coming and wants to carry that confidence into next weekend's west London derby with Brentford.

    We should have done it much earlier. It's better to start now than never. It was three tough games. We've got seven points, it could have been nine but we're quite happy with seven after what we've been through before and now we've just one game each weekend for three or four weeks so let's get together, let's work on training and keep it going like that.

    When was the last time [we kept a clean sheet]? Three months ago or something like that? We can finally smile and say that we can keep clean sheets! One clean sheet doesn't make anything, we have to aim for that. We need to stick together on the pitch and when we defend and attack as a team then we can beat the opponent just 1-0.

Kalas acknowledged that Millwall's direct and imposing football knocked Fulham off their stride in the second half but feels his team-mates will learn an awful lot from having ground out a result against the Lions.

    They are aggressive, playing long balls and it is always annoying to play against teams like that but you will find it in every league, especially the Championship or League One. So we have to deal with it and, even though, literally every one of our players was smaller than their smallest player on the pitch, we dealt with it and big credit to everyone on the pitch.

The competitive nature of the Championship means the league remains very congested approaching the festive period and Kalas is adamant that Fulham, having moved into the top half courtesy of Ollie Norwood's penalty yesterday, belong at least in the play-off positions.

    In this competition, you know that if you win two or three times in a row and you are completely in a different position in the table. We just have to try to keep it going and climb up the table. There wasn't many teams that were better than us [last season] and we have to believe in ourselves because we lost against teams that we shouldn't have lost [to] and we beat teams that are in front of us or in the top six. I think we belong in the top six and hopefully we will get there as soon as possible.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/11/fulham-belong-in-the-top-six-says-kalas/

[WhiteJC]

 
Jokanovic gives his thoughts on narrow Fulham win

Fulham picked up seven points from their last nine available after beating London rivals Millwall 1-0 at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

Whites boss Slavisa Jokanovic has praised his side for getting through a typically grueling Championship week unbeaten while missing key players in all three games, according to the club's official website.

The former Watford boss saw Ollie Norwood secure the win over the Lions with a first half penalty and said: "We saved some important players for this game.

"It's positive news because we won the game at home and made our supporters happy. This victory means back-to-back wins in the Championship.

"We are fighting. They sent many long balls into our box and are solid. They're bigger and stronger than us in these situations. We don't have enough tools to find a solution for certain problems.

"In the end, the team suffered together and got a clean sheet, which is fantastic. It's the third game this week without a few players so we must be satisfied – we won seven points."

Jokanovic also offered an injury update ahead of another all-London clash, this time against bitter West London rivals Brentford.

"We expect we'll recover some players and be ready for another London derby. Tim Ream and Kevin McDonald are injured, but we expect them to be ready for the next game. Floyd Ayite is a few weeks away from being available to help us."

The Verdict:

You can see why Jokanovic would make a point of praising his side for winning despite absentees and in the face of a physical test.

Robust defending is traditionally an area Fulham have struggled under him and they have also not been able to string together a run of results.

Jokanovic will hope that this unbeaten week can be a catalyst to go on a run of form that we all know they are capable of and shoot up the league.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/jokanovic-gives-his-thoughts-on-narrow-fulham-win/

[WhiteJC]

 
Five things we learned from Fulham 1 Millwall 0

Millwall are still searching for their first win in six games following a 1-0 defeat to Fulham.

Oliver Norwood scored from a spot-kick in the only goal of the game at Craven Cottage, as the Lions have still yet to win away from this season.

Tom Elliott and George Saville both came close to scoring, but heroics from goalkeeper David Button and the post denied them.

Here are five things we learned ...

Was it a penalty, was it not a penalty?

Conor McLaughlin brilliantly denied winger Neeskens Kebano with a recovery challenge after the ball went through on goal for Fulham.

But shortly before half-time, referee Peter Tierney pointed to the spot after adjudging the full back to have fouled striker Rui Fonte inside the box.

The contact was fairly minimal, but many will have seen them given before. Neil Harris said post-match that Fonte made the most of what he had in terms of contact, which may be a fair assessment after looking at it.

Tom Elliott was a handful

Placing Lee Gregory on the bench was an interesting decision by Harris.

It meant that defenders Tomas Kalas and Dennis Odoi would not be dealing with a big man, little man dynamic, but two physically powerful forwards instead.

Elliott's outing gave confidence in his ability to contribute this season. Odoi looked uncomfortable when dealing with him, and he made the most of his half-chances. He was unfortunate have not gotten more.

Ryan Tunnicliffe was excellent

The ex-Manchester United midfielder hardly put in a foot wrong all afternoon and made George Saville's role a little easier with his awareness and accurate passing.

There was a moment where he delivered a pinpoint ball into the path of Fred Onyedinma from midfield that summed up a cool and collated showing by him.

If he can continue with similar performances, then Shaun Williams' absence will be mitigated at least.

Millwall gave Fulham very little

Harris was generally correct in his post-match press conference. Fulham struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against his side on a chilly afternoon in south west London, as his defence matched Fulham's threatening front three.

Granted, Sheyi Ojo, Neeskens Kebano and others had their opportunities, but there were plenty of blocks, interceptions and last-ditch defensive efforts which prevented them from having much joy.

Shaun Hutchinson was once again outstanding, and Jake Cooper partnered him well. Had it not been for the penalty, perhaps the Lions would have come away with something.

But unfortunately, similar issues continue to arise each week

The lack of execution inside the final third, or 18-yard box, is what is separating Millwall from a higher position in the league.

This is no secret though, as the attack resolves to find various ways to put the ball in the back of the net.

Once the scoring touch is consistently found, Harris' men should be climbing into mid-table. But until then, it's difficult not to bring the same problems up each week.




http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/millwall/15684595.Five_things_we_learned_from_Fulham_1_Millwall_0/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham keeper hails the 'other side of the game' that Whites had to do well to beat Millwall

Button says back-to-back results could be the start of something for Fulham

Fulham stopper David Button has admitted that clean sheets and three points are two things that have been "too rare for our liking" this season.

The Whites backed up their extraordinary 5-4 win at Sheffield United on Tuesday with a hard-fought 1-0 win at home to Millwall yesterday.

And goalkeeper Button is hoping it can be the start of something.

He said: "The more clean sheets we get gives us a great chance to win the game with the attacking players we've got, it's something we'd like more of, but playing the way we play doesn't always happen.

"I hope there's a run brewing, we're taking it a game at a time, but with quality in the squad there's no reason why we can't put a run together.

"In this league, everyone knows the type of football we can play, but sometimes we've got to do the other side of it and I thought we did it really well, stood up to their long balls, big strikers, and credit to the team.

"We know what Millwall are about, they stick to their gameplan very well, they're a big team, a physical team, they're going to cause teams problems playing like that, but we stood up to them, and got the result.

"Both of those things [three points and clean sheets] have been too rare for our liking this season."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-keeper-hails-other-side-13956120

[WhiteJC]

 
2 players who could follow Ryan Sessegnon to Liverpool in January

Liverpool supporters have been reasonably buoyant in the Transfer Tavern so far this season such has been their side's solid start to the campaign, which could well stand them in good stead heading into the second half of the season.

Jurgen Klopp's men finished fourth in the Premier League last season to return to the Champions League for the first time since 2014, and their place in that competition may well have helped them land former Chelsea attacker Mohamed Salah from Roma during the summer, who is already repaying the £36.9 million they spent on him following several impressive displays so far this season. And with the Reds well-placed to qualify from their Champions League group, and indeed on the cusps of the top four places in the Premier League, it's all set up to be an interesting campaign for our resident Liverpudlians.

Elsewhere, many of those Reds fans lining up at the bar have been discussing their side's possible business in the upcoming January transfer window, and one man who has been linked with a move to Anfield is Fulham starlet Ryan Sessegnon.

The 17-year-old has burst onto the scene in the last 12 months or so, and his meteoric rise took another stratospheric step last week as he bagged a wonderful hat-trick in the Cottagers' 5-4 victory over high-flying Sheffield United.

And his incredible exploits for the Championship club has reportedly attracted the interest of several Premier League heavyweights, one of which being Liverpool, and were the left-back to make the move to Anfield in January, here are TWO other stars who could follow him to the Merseyside giants...




https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premiership/2-players-who-could-follow-ryan-sessegnon-to-liverpool-in-january/

[WhiteJC]

 
Arsenal join 4 other clubs scouting Fulham 17-year-old

Arsenal have reportedly joined four other big-six teams who have scouted Ryan Sessegnon since he broke into the Fulham first-team, and will apparently battle it out for his signature in the summer.

Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham are the other four teams interested in the 17-year-old, according to the Express.

Sessegnon has become a first-team regular at Craven Cottage this season, starting all 19 league games so far.

Playing mostly on the left, either at left-back or as a left-winger, Ryan would certainly fit well in Arsenal's squad. The Gunners currently only have Sead Kolašinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles as options on the left-hand side, given Nacho Monreal is now playing as a centre-back.

Maitland-Niles is likely to end up in the middle of the park, so the club still need someone else to come in as cover for Sead.

Sessegnon is seven years younger than Kolašinac, which seems like the perfect age gap for the youngster to learn from and play understudy to the Bosnian, before eventually taking over from him.

However, with competition high for the England u19 international's signature, it may be difficult for Arsenal to set themselves apart from the pack.

Sessegnon scored a hat-trick last weekend, so his value is only going in one direction right now and I'd expect Fulham to do everything they can to instigate a bidding war before they let the player leave.

Those rarely end well for Arsenal.



http://dailycannon.com/2017/11/arsenal-join-4-other-clubs-scouting-fulham-17-year-old/

[WhiteJC]

 
Potential Sessegnon arrival would improve Tottenham if these 2 stars followed – Agreed?

Tottenham supporters have been pretty deflated in the Transfer Tavern this weekend after seeing their side drop more points in the Premier League title race, with Spurs only mustering a 1-1 draw at home to managerless West Brom on Saturday.

Mauricio Pochettino's men went into their clash with the Baggies off the back of beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 to finish top of Group H in the Champions League, a group stage which also saw them get the better of holders Real Madrid. However, they were unable to back that up with victory over the weekend as a Solomon Rondon strike gave the Midlands outfit a fourth minute lead at Wembley, and it took Spurs until the 74th minute to level proceedings, with striker Harry Kane bagging his ninth league goal of the campaign. Yet they were unable to net the crucial second to fall even further behind leaders Manchester City, who beat Huddersfield Town 2-1 on Sunday.

Thus, there have been many despondent Tottenham fans in the Tavern over the weekend, although many are already turning their attentions to Tuesday's potentially tricky trip to Leicester City, where Pochettino's side will hope to get the three points that moves them back inside the Premier League's top four.

Elsewhere, there has been plenty for our resident Spurs fans to get their teeth into in recent times, not least recent reports linking them with a move for Fulham sensation Ryan Sessegnon.

The 17-year-old burst onto the scene little over 12 months ago and has since then gone from strength to strength for Slavisa Jokanovic's side, bagging five goals and laying on three assists for the Cottagers in their rise to sixth place in last season's Championship.

And with a sensational hat-trick in their 5-4 success over Sheffield United last week, the England Under-19 international continues to underline his talent, and it's talent which has reportedly attracted the interest of several Premier League heavyweights, including Pochettino's Spurs.

And were the versatile left-back to make the move to North London, here are TWO other stars who could follow the youngster to Tottenham in January...

Richarlison
Richarlison only made the move to the Premier League with Watford during the summer, but he has adapted wonderfully to suggest that he is destined for a bright future in the game.

The 20-year-old has scored five goals and laid on four assists in just 13 league appearances for Marco Silva's side, thus helping them to five victories and three draws in that time, enough to see them comfortably sit in the top half of the table.

And his excellent start to life in England has reportedly attracted the attention of Pochettino's Spurs, who could see the young Brazilian star as someone who can take the club places in the years to come.

Thus, it's a deal they could look to strike in the New Year.

Cenk Tosun
Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun has been in sensational form for the Turkish giants in the last 12 months or so, and ten goals in just 17 appearances so far this season suggests that he has no plans to let up.

The 26-year-old bagged 20 goals in just 33 league games last term to inspire the club to a second successive Super Lig title, at the same time attracting much interest from the Premier League, with Spurs, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle reportedly keen on his services.

And with Pochettino's men clearly the most desirable of those destinations, they could well make a move for Tosun in January in a bid to bolster their attacking ranks, and thus take the weight off the shoulders of star forward Harry Kane.




https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premiership/potential-sessegnon-arrival-would-improve-tottenham-if-these-2-stars-followed-agreed/