Thursday Fulham Stuff (30/11/17)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Wolves and Fulham interested in January move for Sunderland loanee

Championship duo Wolves and Fulham are both interested in a move for on-loan Sunderland striker Lewis Grabban, according to HITC Sport.

The forward has a clause in his loan contract with his parent club, Premier League side AFC Bournemouth, that he can be recalled in the New Year. This has left some Championship sides, like Wolves and Fulham, monitoring the situation.

Grabban, 29, has impressed on loan with Sunderland this season. He has scored 8 goals so far this campaign and has stood out in a struggling side.

He started his career with Crystal Palace and had spells at Millwall, Brentford and Rotherham United before joining Bournemouth for the first time in 2012. He helped the Cherries gain promotion to the Championship before he left for Norwich City in 2014. He then was part of the Norwich side who were promoted to the Premier League in 2015.

Grabban made his return to Bournemouth in January 2016 but found chances hard to come by in the top flight. He was loaned out to Reading last season before being shipped off to Sunderland for the start of this campaign.

Wolves are one club being credited with an interest in him. They are currently top of the league and look like they could run away with the Championship this season.

Fulham are another side reportedly interested in Grabban. They have made a slow start to this season but will be looking for reinforcements in January to help them climb up the table. The signing of Lewis Grabban would certainly give them more options in attack.



http://the72.co.uk/94069/wolves-fulham-interested-january-move-sunderland-loanee/

[WhiteJC]

 
David Button believes Fulham's game with Brentford will be a battle for control of the ball

The Fulham keeper spent three years at Griffin Park and is looking forward to returning to his old stomping ground on Saturday

David Button believes Fulham's game with Brentford will be a battle to control the football, with both sides looking to dominate possession.

Both sides play a brand of football that sees them get on the ball and control the tempo, but both Slavisa Jokanovic's men and Dean Smith's won't be able to do that at Griffin Park, with only one able to come out on top in the possession stakes.

The Fulham keeper, who spent three years at Griffin Park and got promoted to the Championship during his time there, is looking forward to returning to the club and knows what a difficult test it will be.

But the 28-year-old knows what a positive result would mean to his current fans and knows Fulham will have to be at their best to win.

He said: "I'm looking forward to it, I know what it means to the fans and it will be nice to go back there, I'm really looking forward to putting in a good performance.

"It will be a tough game for sure, but I wouldn't disrespect any team because I think anyone can beat anyone in the Championship on their day and can be a good side.

"Time will tell, but starting on Saturday will be a difficult game and we'll have to be at your best to win.

"When I was there, they were keen on having the majority of the possession as well so it will be a battle for the ball and hopefully we can come out on top."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/david-button-believes-fulhams-game-13969401

[WhiteJC]

 
Former Fulham and Aston Villa assistant wants Rangers job

Former Fulham and Aston Villa assistant manager Ray Wilkins has thrown his name into the ring for the managerial vacancy at out of form Scottish Premiership club Rangers according to talkSPORT.

The Gers have been without a permanent boss for over a month since the club sacked Portuguese boss Pedro Caixinha following a poor run of results.

Former Reading defender Graeme Murty has been left in caretaker charge at Ibrox however he looks unlikely to land the role on a permanent basis following surprise back-to-back defeats to both Hamilton Academical and Dundee.

With the managerial merry-go-round at Rangers turning into something of a real saga, 61-year-old former Fulham and Aston Villa assistant Wilkins has indicated that he would like to become the new Rangers boss.

Wilkins did actually manage Fulham for a short spell way back in the late 1990's before working in an assistant role at a whole host of clubs including Chelsea, Watford, Millwall and the England Under-21 international side.

The coach managed the Jordan national side for a short spell around three years ago but won just one of 12 matches in charge either side of his spells as an assistant at both Fulham and Villa.

Wilkins was with Fulham for just six weeks in his second spell at the club before being dismissed as part of a management restructure. His time at Villa Park saw him assist former Villa boss Tim Sherwood as the former Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder looked to turn around the club's fortunes in the English Premier League.



http://the72.co.uk/94073/former-fulham-aston-villa-assistant-wants-rangers-job/

[WhiteJC]

 
Brentford v Fulham - Match Officials

This weekend Fulham take part in another London derby, a West London derby against Brentford, at Griffin Park.

Last time out, in another London derby, Fulham beat Millwall, 1-0, courtesy of a penalty by Oliver Norwood. Couple that with the fine 5-4 away victory away to Sheffield United and it`s clear the Cottagers are on a good run.

Can this be continued against Brentford.

Ahead of the fixture we`re now able to reveal the names of the officials appointed to take charge of the game:

Referee - Robert Madley

Assistant Referee - Mark Perry

Assistant Referee - Andrew Halliday

Fourth Official - Andy Davies

With regards to the referee, Robert Madley, so far this season he has officiated in 11 games issuing 42 yellow cards and 4 red cards.

This season, Robert Madley has yet to referee a game involving Fulham having spent the entire season officiating in the Premier League.



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=513166#ixzz4ztcv0unu

[WhiteJC]

 
3 Reasons Why This £30m-rated Talent Should Make The Jump To The Premier League With Tottenham

3 Reasons Why Ryan Sessegnon Should Make The Jump To The Premier League With Tottenham

In the interests of balance and fairness I should say now that, given Mauricio Pochettino's comments recently, I ultimately don't think Ryan Sessegnon should move to Tottenham this January at all.

Pochettino has stated after his recent rows with Danny Rose, that Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon would be his first choice replacement at left-back with Manchester United's out-of-favour Luke Shaw his second choice.

I've written here numerous times this season that the £30m Sessegnon is not a left-back and that his talent has been completely wasted in that position. I have drawn comparisons with Gareth Bale on more than one occasion and am happy to do so again.

Bale did indeed start off as an attacking left-back but once he was allowed to play on the wing, he was able to express himself properly, even becoming a fully fledged forward thereafter. Sessegnon is the same. While Fulham were struggling up front, he was playing at left-back but in the 3 games that he has played in the left attacking midfield position this season, he has scored 3 goals.

He helped to take Newcastle apart in that role last season as well and clearly belongs to that area of the field. That said, he does need to move on and up sooner rather than later so here are 3 reasons why he should move to Spurs (or any Premier League side).

His England Chances
Assuming he wants to play for his country, the fact is that at any age, they don't seem to like them playing in the Championship, regardless of how good they are.

For Gareth Southgate to notice him in time for the World Cup, no matter how big a step up that may be, he needs to be playing in the Premier League and so a move to Tottenham would, of course, accomplish that.

He Should Not Be Held Back
People say there's a big jump between the Championship and the Premier League and so I bet some of those people would urge caution here. However, if a really talented future star gets into a Premier League team from the reserves at 17, they don't complain.

Sessegnon is right at that level. He just happens to be playing for a second tier team and doing so for too long will simply hold him back. He needs to be at a higher level now to progress further.

It's Not Too Big A Move
Sometimes, getting away from it all is good for a young player, but at just 17 years old, moving away from where he is comfortable might be too much. Sessegnon is a London boy and has played at Fulham his entire career. So a move to Tottenham would not be too disruptive for him but will give him the step up the ladder he needs.




http://soccersouls.com/2017/11/30/3-reasons-why-this-30m-rated-talent-should-make-the-jump-to-the-premier-league-with-tottenham/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham resume contract talks with Fredericks

Fulham have resumed talks with Ryan Fredericks over a new contract.

The 25-year-old right-back's current deal expires at the end of the season.

Initial talks took place over the summer but were subsequently put on hold.

The former Tottenham academy player was signed from Bristol City in August 2015 and has made 84 appearances for the Whites.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-resume-contract-talks-fredericks

[WhiteJC]

Fredericks in discussions with Fulham over new deal
by Dan on November 29, 2017

Fulham are in discussions with full back Ryan Fredericks over extending his stay at Craven Cottage.

The Championship club are keen to tie down the former Tottenham academy graduate to a long-term deal with his current contract due to expire at the end of the season. Fredericks, who has firmly established himself as Slavisa Jokanovic's first choice right back, has played 84 games for Fulham since signing from Bristol City two years ago and opened the scoring in the derby win at Loftus Road last month.

The 25 year-old's representatives had opened talks with Fulham about a new deal in the summer and those discussions have now resumed with both parties confident that Fredericks will commit to an extended stay at Craven Cottage. Fredericks has struggled with a succession of injuries and fitness for much of his career but, working with Fulham's first team fitness coaches Marco Ceserani and Ally Harris, the speedy right back seems to have put those issues firmly behind him.

The Potters Bar-born defender, who represented England at under-19 level, enjoyed loan spells with Brentford, Millwall and Middlesbrough and starred as Jokanovic's side narrowly missed out on the reaching the play-off final last term.




http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/11/fredericks-in-discussions-with-fulham-over-new-deal/

[WhiteJC]

 
REPORT: Crawley Town 1 Fulham U-21s 3

Superb strike by Meite not enough as Reds end Checkatrade Trophy campaign with third defeat

Reds ended their Checkatrade Trophy campaign with a third Group A defeat at home to a lively Fulham u-21 team.

The hosts trailed 2-0 at the break to goals by Elijah Adebayo and Jordan Graham.

Ibrahim Meite pulled one back with 14 minutes to go with a superb effort into the top corner but Graham raced clear of the offside trap to end hopes of a home fightback with four minutes left.

Only three of the players in action against Coventry – Josh Payne, Josh Yorwerth and Mark Randall – were in the starting XI and Yorwerth was replaced after 16 minutes after feeling his hamstring.

His replacement Aryan Tajbakhsh nearly scored with his first touch when he cut inside from the right and unleashed a shot which Fulham keeper Luca Ashby-Hammond parried away.

Fulham then began to click into gear and create chances. Mattias Kait headed onto the roof of the bar from Graham's cross before Yusuf Mersin kept out Adebayo's effort. Reds broke down the left through Dennon Lewis who pulled the ball across the face of goal but Panutche Camara sliced his shot wide.

The visitors went in front on 31 minutes. Having won the ball, Tajbakhsh gave the ball away to Graham and his cross was headed goalwards by Adebayo. Mersin clawed it back into play but the assistant ruled that the ball had crossed the line.

Just before the break Crawley were punished again for dilatory defending. This time Josh Doherty was dispossessed by the impressive Adebayo who found Graham eight yards out. He side-stepped Josh Lelan and smashed the ball past a helpless Mersin.

Reds made two changes at the back with Randall and Payne replaced by the fit again Moussa Sanoh and Billy Clifford.

The hosts switched to a 4-4-2 formation and took the game to Fulham for a spell. Tajbakhsh almost played Camara in on goal and Clifford had an effort from the edge of the box blocked.

It was end to end stuff and Fulham remained a threat on the counter-attack. Mattias Kait flashed a near-post header just wide then Mersin kept out an effort from substitute Jon D'Agur Thorsteinsson.

But Reds got back into the game with 14 minutes to go. Meite worked a yard of space on the edge of the box before finding the top left-hand corner with a superb left-foot strike - one of the best goals seen so far at the Checkatrade this season.

The hosts pushed men forward in search of an equaliser but that left them vulnerable on the counter. With four minutes left Fulham broke from a corner and Graham raced clear, rounding Mersin before finding the net from an angle.

That was that and Reds can now concentrate on improving their League fortunes, starting against Mansfield in our next game on December 9.

Reds: Mersin, Lelan, McNerney, Doherty, Yorwerth (sub: Tajbakhsh 15), Payne (Clifford 45), Randall (Sanoh 45), Djalo, Lewis, Meite, Camara. Unused subs: Garnett, Morris.

Attendance: 435



https://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/2017/november/29.11-fulham-u21s-report/