Saturday Fulham Stuff (09/12/17)...

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Results

Friday
Sheff Utd	1 - 2	Bristol City

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Fulham v Birmingham preview

Fulham defender Denis Odoi is suspended for the visit of Birmingham.

The Belgian serves a one-match ban after he was sent off for two bookings in the defeat at Brentford last weekend. Tim Ream could step in if he can shake off the knock which kept him out against the Bees. Winger Floyd Ayite faces a few weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and Chelsea loanee Lucas Piazon is still recovering from a broken leg.

Birmingham boss Steve Cotterill has admitted he may have to turn to his under-23s amid a growing injury crisis. Cotterill declined to identify a series of players nursing knocks, but already has several men unavailable to him.

Defender Harlee Dean is suspended following his sending-off in Monday night's 1-0 defeat by Wolves, a game goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak missed with a groin problem. David Davis (knee) is back in training and will be assessed, but the game is likely to come too early for Jason Lowe (hamstring) and Craig Gardner (calf), while Maxime Colin (hamstring) and Isaac Vassell are still out.

Opta stats

Outside the top-flight, Fulham haven't beaten Birmingham in any of their last 11 home league meetings (D4 L7) since winning 2-0 on Boxing Day in 1968.

Last season, Birmingham won both Championship matches against the Cottagers 1-0, their first league double over the west London side since the 1991/92 season.

Fulham haven't kept back to back home league clean sheets within the same season since October 2014.

Birmingham have collected just two points from their opening 10 away league games - their worst tally since 1978/79 (1).

Tom Cairney, whose 10 assists last season were bettered only by Conor Hourihane (14) in the Championship, is yet to assist a goal in 11 matches this season.

The Blues' tally of just 10 goals from their opening 20 league games is the worst by a Championship side since Doncaster Rovers in 2008/09, who scored nine - however, they finished that season in 14th.



http://www.skysports.com/football/fulham-vs-birmham/preview/374862

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Tom Cairney interview: Fulham star warns Championship rivals they are close to finding their fear factor again

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Leading the charge: Captain Tom Cairney Rex Features

Tom Cairney has warned Fulham's Championship rivals that the west London club are only a few wins away from rediscovering the form that terrorised the league last season.

The Cottagers were among the pre-season favourites for promotion to the Premier League after a spectacular run of form in the second half of the last campaign propelled them into the play-offs, where they were knocked out by Reading in a heart-breaking semi-final.

However, Slavisa Jokanovic's side have struggled for consistency this term, managing back-to-back wins only twice in their first 20 league matches.

Fulham go into Saturday's home game against Birmingham in 15th place, nine points off the play-off spots, but Cairney is convinced that a run of wins will have Championship defences worrying about the Cottagers once more.

"We've still got the fear factor," the club skipper told Standard Sport. "Teams still respect us and if we win two or three on the bounce they'll start worrying we're back to that peak from last season.

"I don't think we've hit our best form yet but to be fair we hit our peak quite late last season as well. The second season is always the hardest. Teams set up differently for us now. Last year we shocked a lot of teams with our style of football. This year we're a scalp.

"The play-offs aren't a million miles away, we just need a run. Back-to-back wins can do so much for you in this league."

Fulham's bid for promotion has not been aided by a string of injuries to  key players, including the Scotland international himself.

Cairney admits he is still yet to recover his best form after a knee injury that caused him to miss eight of Fulham's first 11 league games of the season.

He now concedes it was brought on by a rush to be fit for the start of the Cottagers' campaign after he missed pre-season.

"My injury was weird. On the scan there was no damage but there was pain I couldn't get rid of," he said. "It's not completely gone now but I can deal with it. In hindsight, I definitely wouldn't have rushed back.

"As stupid as it sounds, at least if you break something you can see the injury and you know how long you're going to be out.

"With this there were no timescales. The physios didn't know. No-one knew what the best thing was to do so I kept coming back and trying to force it."

Tom Cairney was speaking to the Standard as Fulham FC is an official partner of Konami and Pro Evolution Soccer.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tom-cairney-interview-fulham-star-warns-championship-rivals-they-are-close-to-finding-their-fear-a3713896.html

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Ful-ly committed! Tom Cairney says he 'loves playing at Fulham' amid fresh links with Newcastle United

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Captain Cairney happy at Fulham Rex Features

Tom Cairney insists he is fully committed to Fulham despite renewed speculation over a move to Newcastle United in the upcoming transfer window.

The Scotland international has been one of Magpies' boss Rafa Benitez's top targets and Newcastle saw a £20million bid for the Scotland international rejected in January last year.

Cairney responded to that interest in July by putting pen to paper on a contract extension that will tie him to the Cottagers until 2021 with the option of a further season.

Reports in the north east last month claimed that Cairney remained a leading target for Benitez despite a stuttering start to the Championship season for both Cairney and Fulham the 26-year-old remains committed to Craven Cottage.

"You can't put a price on happiness," Cairney told Standard Sport. "Last season I was extremely happy on and off the pitch and that's when you play your best football. I wanted to show my happiness to the fans, let them know that I want to be here and try to take Fulham forward.

"I love playing football here. That's what I want to do.

"I feel a responsibility to Fulham. It's been great ever since I arrived. I enjoy playing football, I really enjoy playing it at the Cottage and long may it continue."

Cairney does, however, appreciate the on-going interest from Benitez, who has made no secret of his desire to add goals and creativity to a Newcastle side who have scored just 14 goals in their first 15 league games of the season.

"It's a massive accolade that [Newcastle boss] Rafa Benitez wants me," he said.

"It's a pat on the back to myself I guess, to know that other managers appreciate what I'm doing."

Tom Cairney was speaking to the Standard as Fulham FC is an official partner of Konami and Pro Evolution Soccer.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fully-committed-tom-cairney-says-he-loves-playing-at-fulham-amid-fresh-links-with-newcastle-united-a3713936.html

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Fulham midfielder sends warning message to Championship rivals

"They'll start worrying". That's the message Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney has delivered to his Championship rivals in an interview with The Evening Standard.

Prior to the season starting, Slavisa Jokanovic's side were among the favourites for promotion to the Premier League. Their form over the second half of last season send them racing into the play-offs before being knocked out by Reading in the play-offs.

But Fulham host Birmingham tomorrow afternoon sitting in 15th place, nine points beyond the play-offs. However Cairney is aware that if the Whites can get a few more wins under their belt then Championship defences will begin worrying that they have rediscovered their form from last term.

"We've still got the fear factor," the club skipper told Standard Sport. "Teams still respect us and if we win two or three on the bounce they'll start worrying we're back to that peak from last season.

"I don't think we've hit our best form yet but to be fair we hit our peak quite late last season as well. The second season is always the hardest. Teams set up differently for us now. Last year we shocked a lot of teams with our style of football. This year we're a scalp.

"The play-offs aren't a million miles away, we just need a run. Back-to-back wins can do so much for you in this league."

The midfielder has admitted that he is yet to reach peak form, with his previous knee injury causing him to miss eight of Fulham's opening eleven League matches of the season, however he says that the injury was his fault due to rushing in order to be ready for the start of the Cottagers' campaign.

My injury was weird. On the scan there was no damage but there was pain I couldn't get rid of," he said. "It's not completely gone now but I can deal with it. In hindsight, I definitely wouldn't have rushed back.

"As stupid as it sounds, at least if you break something you can see the injury and you know how long you're going to be out.

"With this there were no timescales. The physios didn't know. No-one knew what the best thing was to do so I kept coming back and trying to force it."



http://the72.co.uk/94336/fulham-midfielder-sends-warning-message-championship-rivals/

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Why Fulham's future looks bright thanks to these emerging star players

Fulham's future looks bright, with thanks to the emerging talent from their impressive youth system.

It is often said that England only win major tournaments when a Fulham player is in the team. In 1966, they had right back George Cohen and in 2017 when the youngsters were winning every tournament going, Fulham's Steven and Ryan Sessegnon and Tayo Edun all featured heavily for the national side. Russia 2018 may come too early for Ryan Sessegnon although if you go on to the Sky Sports England squad selector he does feature as an option.  This season all three have featured for the first team with Ryan playing in every game so far either at left back or as part of a front three, the latter being the position where his long term future definitely lies.

At 17 and a half he is joint top goalscorer on four goals with Stefan Johansen and Oliver Norwood. Included in his total is a hat trick which came against Sheffield United the day after my first article in a 5-4 victory and he became the first championship teenager since Conor Wickham to do so. The big clubs are clamouring for his signature and Ryan has showed his loyalty to a club where he and his brother have been since the age of 8 by signing a contract until 2020.

Whilst a left footer, his twin Steven is a right footer and he too has signed on for three more years. He has featured less often than his brother although Tottenham were trying to tempt him across London as well. The final one is Tayo Edun who has progressed fairly silently compared to his team mates and his versatility has seen him play at left back and in central midfield.

Fulham's youth system has seen a number of players feature for the first team over the last 18 months such as Matt O'Riley who recently signed a three young extension and has already been tipped by Slavisa Jokanovic to be part of the first team squad in the not too distant future and American Luca de la Torre who has figured a few times in recent weeks for the first team.

Other youngsters who Fulham have high hopes for include Stephen Humphries and Mattias Kait (a full Estonian international who has scored for his national side). Dennis Adeniran another highly rated youngster joined Everton in the Summer. There are a number of other players at Under 18 level who could make the step up over the coming months and the future looks bright and the only hope is that they stay at Fulham but in reality it is only a question of time when Ryan goes and Fulham's task will be to ensure that they get the best deal to invest in the first team and continuing to develop the younger players. Last season Fulham had two keepers in the Under 18's, one by the name of Mourinho and one by the name of Schwarzer who were contesting the position although only Schwarzer remains at the club. So all is not lost for Fulham and if the youngsters continue to develop at the rate they are (and Fulham manage to keep hold of them), then a return to the top flight of English football may not be far away.



http://www.xtheline.co.uk/fulham-stars/

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Birmingham City In Focus

Have a read of the key matchday information ahead of Fulham's meeting with Birmingham City at the Cottage on Saturday.
Possible opposition absentees

Craig Gardner - calf injury

Jason Lowe - hamstring injury

Maxime Colin - hamstring injury

Tomasz Kuszczak - groin injury

David Davis - knee injury

Isaac Vassell - knee injury

Carl Jenkinson - shoulder injury

Harlee Dean - suspended
Tickets

Advance match tickets start from £15 for juniors and £30 for adults, and are available to purchase on General Sale.
Weather

A crisp day in SW6 awaits, with temperatures as low as three degrees at kick-off, although it should remain dry.
Pre-match

Fans can pick up a pint of Carlsberg or Somersby for £3.50 (usually £4.80) up until 2pm in the Hammersmith, Riverside and Johnny Haynes Stands.
He said...

"Good footballing team and good club, Fulham. I don't think their home form is as good as ours. Hopefully that continues on Saturday. A good possession-based team that play some good football." – Steve Cotterill, Birmingham manager.
Live stream

Overseas subscribers to fulhamfctv will be able to watch a live stream of this game. Follow this link for all available packages, and head to www.fulhamfc.com/live from 2.30pm (GMT) to view.
Grosvenor Casinos match odds

Fulham: 3/5

Draw: 29/10

Birmingham: 9/2
Previous five results

Birmingham City 0-1 Wolves (Sky Bet Championship)

Sheffield United 1-1 Birmingham City (Sky Bet Championship)

Middlesbrough 2-0 Birmingham City (Sky Bet Championship)

Birmingham City 1-0 Nottingham Forest (Sky Bet Championship)

Barnsley 2-0 Birmingham City (Sky Bet Championship)



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/december/08/birmingham-city-in-focus

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'Massive accolade' – Midfield maestro delighted with Newcastle link, future move discussed

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney has said how delighted he is to have been linked with a move to Newcastle United but insists his focus is solely on a future with his current club.

The Magpies were heavily linked with a move for the midfield maestro over summer, and it was claimed by the Northern Echo last month that manager Rafael Benitez had identified the 26-year-old as his top target for the upcoming winter transfer window.

It was claimed that the north east side had seen a £20million bid rejected by the Cottagers, with Benitez looking to increase the quality of his options in the centre of the park.

Speaking about a potential move, Cairney acknowledged Benitez's interest, stating that he takes it as a huge compliment that a manager of the Spaniard's status was interested in securing his services.

However the Scottish international, who is also Fulham's captain, seemed to put the buffers on a transfer over January, insisting that pushing his current side forward to success has to be his priority.

He told the London Evening Standard: "Last season I was extremely happy on and off the pitch and that's when you play your best football.

"I wanted to show my happiness to the fans, let them know that I want to be here and try to take Fulham forward. I love playing football here. That's what I want to do, long may it continue."

"It's a massive accolade that Rafa Benitez wants me.

"It's a pat on the back to myself I guess, to know that other managers appreciate what I'm doing."

This season has seen Cairney turn out just 11 times for the Cottagers after a persistent knee injury, and has netted once.

He already has 11 Premier League appearances under his belt during his time with Hull City, while he also has picked up one international cap for Scotland.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/massive-accolade-midfield-maestro-delighted-newcastle-link-future-move-discussed/

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Birmingham boss Steve Cotterill reveals what he thinks of Fulham ahead of Craven Cottage clash

The Birmingham manager brings his side to the Cottage on Saturday - here's what he thinks of the side

Steve Cotterill is hoping Fulham's poor home form continues when he brings his Birmingham City side to Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Slavisa Jokanovic's side have only won twice at home all season, beating Hull City and Millwall, while drawing against six visitors to west London.

Birmingham are the latest to come to the Cottage, but they themselves are struggling in the Championship this season and have won just once in eight games and boss Cotterill is hoping they can use Fulham's home form to their advantage.

He said: "They're a good footballing team and a good club Fulham. I don't think their home form is as good as ours. Hopefully that continues on Saturday.

"They're a good possession-based team that play some good football.

"They've been settled behind the scenes there for some time ie same manager and same set of players in the squad for a little while now.

"They have missed a couple of boys that have been sold and have gone onto other clubs."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-boss-steve-cotterill-reveals-14010614

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Tom Cairney reveals delight at Rafa Benitez interest - but says he's happy at Fulham

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney has admitted he is delighted that Rafa Benitez wants him at Newcastle United - but says he's happy to stay at Fulham.

The 26-year-old has been a key target for the Magpies this year, with reports of a £20million bid turned down in January. Benitez remains an admirer of the midfielder, and has ben linked with another approach for the Scottish international. But Cairney, who signed a new contract at Fulham that will keep him at Craven Cottage until 2021, says he's happy at the Championship club despite being flattered by Benitez's interest.

"It's a massive accolade that [Newcastle boss] Rafa Benitez wants me," he said. "It's a pat on the back to myself I guess, to know that other managers appreciate what I'm doing." Cairney bagged 13 goals for Fulham last season, but has managed just one this term as the Cottagers have struggled to replicate the form that saw them reach the Championship play-offs. However, Cairney insists he is still happy at the London club.

R"You can't put a price on happiness," he told the Evening Standard. "Last season I was extremely happy on and off the pitch and that's when you play your best football. I wanted to show my happiness to the fans, let them know that I want to be here and try to take Fulham forward. "I love playing football here. That's what I want to do. "I feel a responsibility to Fulham. It's been great ever since I arrived. I enjoy playing football, I really enjoy playing it at the Cottage and long may it continue."



Read more at: https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/tom-cairney-reveals-delight-at-rafa-benitez-interest-but-says-he-s-happy-at-fulham-1-8899837

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Keep The Dream Alive

Stefan Johansen knows plenty of hard work is required if the Whites are to hit the heights of last season.

Johansen was one of Fulham's stand-out players of last term, chipping in with 11 goals and eight assists as the Whites reached the Play-Off Semi-Finals.

This season hasn't been quite so rosy, but he has scored four goals - a tally not to be sniffed at. He knows there's much more to come, though.

"Personally, it's been a bit up and down," he tells Saturday's official matchday programme for the visit of Birmingham City. "I was carrying a small injury and struggled a bit. I've had four goals but it's similar to the team, I haven't been consistent enough.

"I had a good season last time so maybe the hopes are bigger for me. That's something I can handle, I like to be under pressure, but I know I have more to give, especially lately. I started off okay but I need to step it up. It will come."

To read the full interview with Johansen, in which he also discusses the 'false No.9' role and Christmas with a former Celtic teammate, pick up a programme on Fulham's Official Charity Matchday on Saturday.

Other highlights from the publication include:

- Slaviša Jokanović, Tom Cairney and Gordon Davies pen their latest columns

- Franck Queudrue recalls his playing spells at Fulham and Birmingham

- Cairney takes our nine-dart challenge

- Maik Taylor talks us through a Fulham-related picture of him

- John Collins picks his Fulham Dream Team

- And we catch up with Jim Stannard and John Marshall ahead of their return to the Cottage on Saturday

Priced £3.50, the 100-page publication is available from various sellers on Stevenage Road from two hours before kick-off. Or order it online from ProgrammeMaster - where you can also purchase past editions.

£1 from every matchday programme purchased will be donated to Fulham Football Club Foundation.

The Club will donate 50p for every programme purchased this Saturday, matching donations made by ProgrammeMaster. A total of £1 for every programme purchased will be donated to the Foundation, at no extra cost to supporters.

Saturday's programme will highlight the work of Fulham Football Club Foundation, including a special feature on its disability provision. ProgrammeMaster, the Club's official programme provider, joins a long list of organisations supporting the cause, including Grosvenorcasinos.com and Konami Digital Entertainment.

Funds raised will help the Foundation to reach more young people with disabilities in South and South West London.

For just £1.99, the programme is also available as a digital download on your iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, PC or Mac via Pocketmags from 1am on Saturday morning.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/december/08/stefan-johansen-birmingham-programme

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Fulham v Birmingham City
SAT 09 Dec 2017 Championship
Venue: Craven Cottage

Jeremie Boga is the only Blues player to have scored in the four away matches since Steve Cotterill took charge

Fulham full-back Denis Odoi is suspended while centre-back Tim Ream will be assessed.

Floyd Ayite (hamstring) is sidelined while fellow forward Lucas Piazon is working his way back from a broken leg.

Birmingham's growing injury list has become "critical" according to boss Steve Cotterill.

With defender Harlee Dean suspended after his red card in Monday's 1-0 loss to Wolves, Cotterill may dip into the club's under-23 squad to boost numbers.

A host of players are struggling for fitness including goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak (groin), Maxime Colin and Jason Lowe (both hamstring), Isaac Vassell and David Davis (both knee) and Craig Gardner (calf).

SAM's prediction
Home win 60%   Draw 23%   Away win 17%

SAM, the Sports Analytics Machine, is a super-computer built by @ProfIanMcHale of the University of Liverpool.

Match facts

    Birmingham City's goal tally of just 10 in 20 league games is the lowest in the entire FL. It is also the worst in the EFL by a Championship side since Doncaster Rovers in 2008-09, who scored just nine times before improving to finished that season in 14th.
    Outside the top flight, Fulham have not beaten Birmingham in any of their last 11 home league meetings.
    Birmingham won both Championship matches against the Whites 1-0 last season, their first league double over the west London side since the 1991-92 season.
    Fulham have not kept back-to-back home league clean sheets within the same season since October 2014.
    Birmingham have collected just two points from their opening 10 away league games. That is also the worst record in the EFL and the club's own worst since 1978-79.
    Fulham's Tom Cairney, whose 10 assists last season were bettered in the Championship only by Conor Hourihane's 14 for Barnsley, is yet to assist a goal in 11 matches this season.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42205336

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U18s Travel To West Ham

The Under-18s travel to Little Heath on Saturday morning where they take on West Ham United in the Premier League South in an 11am kick off.

Last time out the Young Whites drew 1-1 away at Leicester City in the Premier League Cup, and it was enough to send them through to the quarter-finals of the competition.

Fulham are undefeated in their last five matches in all competitions, however have drawn their last three matches.

Two of those draws were in the, and as a result they have slipped in the congested top of the table from second to fourth.

The Young Whites are eight points off the top spot, but only two from second placed Leicester City. The top two teams go into a semi-final against the Premier League North's top two finishers.

The Hammers, however have had different fortunes this season and are at the bottom of the table in 12th having won 7 points so far.

They are joint on points with Norwich City and Reading, but are separated by goal difference.

West Ham's cup form has not been much better, with 0 points from their two matches.

Score updates will be provided for this match on the Club's official twitter account, @FulhamFC.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/december/08/u18s-travel-to-west-ham

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Team News

Slaviša Jokanović should have the majority of his squad available for Saturday's home fixture against Birmingham City.

"Lucas Piazon and Floyd Ayité are still not available for the game," he revealed. "Denis Odoi is suspended. Tayo Edun too is outside of the squad and not working with us. The other people are available."

Piazon has been sidelined since mid-August, but Jokanović hopes to have the playmaker back available before the end of the calendar year.

"We expect Lucas is going to be back working with the team after the Sunderland game," he stated. "At the moment he is working separately with the medical department and the physio department.

"He's working hard, he always shows great spirit and a great desire to work hard to get back.

"When we start working with him, we must check and see how much time he's going to need to be ready to help us on the pitch."

Lucas will be outside the stadium before kick-off collecting donations for the Fulham Foundation as part of our official charity matchday. So don't forget to bring a pound to the ground!




http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/december/08/team-news

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Fulham boss gives update on Chelsea loanee Lucas Piazon and team news ahead of Birmingham

The Fulham head coach expects the Brazilian to return to training with the side shortly

Slavisa Jokanovic expects Lucas Piazon to start training with the Fulham squad after their trip to Sunderland as he continues his recovery from a broken leg.

The Chelsea loanee has been out since the draw at Leeds but is working on the training pitch with the medical department at the club as he continues his rehabilitation from injury.

Meanwhile, there are now fresh injury concerns for the game with Birmingham City on Saturday, with Floyd Ayite still nursing a hamstring injury while Denis Odoi is suspended.

That means Tim Ream looks set to return to the starting XI after missing the past two games due to injury, having played every single minute in the league before that.

Speaking on injuries, Jokanovic said: "Lucas Piazon and Floyd Ayite are outside of the squad and Denis Odoi is suspended, that is it.

"We expect Piazon will be back working with the team after the Sunderland game.

"Piazon needs to start training with us, at the moment he's working separately with the medical department and physios.

"He's working hard and always shows great spirit, great desire to work and in this case to come back and at the end when we start working with him we must check and see how much time he will need to be available to help us in the pitch.

"I expect he will have opportunity to fight to be in the team who will compete."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-injury-news-chelsea-piazon-14013010

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Head Coach press conference

Slaviša Jokanović will not be underestimating Birmingham City when they make the trip to Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Blues currently sit in the relegation places and are the division's lowest scorers, but Jokanović is well aware of the threat that can be posed by a wounded animal.

"They want to change their situation," he stated in his pre-match press conference. "At the moment they are not successful, but they are a competitive, big, physically strong team and, like always, we expect a tough game.

"We more or less know how different teams are going to try and play against us. They're a team who aren't going to combine so much.

"We know we must be strong in the challenge and be ready in the second phase. They are not going to give us much space for an offensive transition.

"We want to play many minutes in the last third of the pitch, and we must show patience, precision, quality, and show the killer instinct, be clinical in this situation."

Fulham's next two games have plenty of recovery time between them, but Barnsley at home marks a run of four fixtures in 11 days as part of the usual festive juggernaut of matches.

"We are going step by step and we're going to see how we manage this kind of situation," Jokanović said. "At the moment it's still a quiet period where we have a week between our next two games.

"The end of December and the beginning of January is a very tough schedule with many games."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/december/08/head-coach-press conference

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FA Cup Confirmation

Fulham's Emirates FA Cup Third Round encounter with Southampton at Craven Cottage has not been selected for live television coverage.

Therefore, the fixture will take place on Saturday 6th January, kick-off 3pm.

Tickets for Season Ticket Holders are priced at £20 for adults, £15 for 18-21 year olds and fans aged 65 & over, and £5 for under-18s. Prices for non-Season Ticket Holders are £5 more in each category.

Fans can buy their tickets from 10am on Tuesday 12th December, while Season Ticket Holders' regular seats will be held until 10am on Monday 18th December, at which point they will be released for General Sale.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/december/08/fa-cup-confirmation

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Slavisa Jokanovic calls for Fulham to offer a better home performance against Birmingham than they did against Millwall

Fulham ground out a 1-0 victory in their last home game but the gaffer wants his side to control the game against Birmingham better

Slavisa Jokanovic wants his side's performance against Birmingham City on Saturday to be a lot better than the one fans witnessed against Millwall in the last home game.

Fulham won the match 1-0 thanks to an Oliver Norwood penalty, and despite grinding out a result and keeping a clean sheet, Jokanovic believes his side encountered too many problems that they weren't able to overcome against the south London outfit.

The Cottagers were lucky not to concede as Tom Elliott and George Saville both rattled the woodwork, and with Birmingham expected to come to the Cottage and play a similar way the head coach is expecting Fulham to offer a better performance - one that means they control the game.

He said: "The game that we play against Millwall, for supporters it's easy to make an opinion after the game, but at the end a big influence depends on the result.


(Image: Paul Burgman)

"If you go home happy with three points, like many teams, everything is nice, but if I go a little bit back, like the Millwall game, I cannot be satisfied with how we played this game.

"We found many problems in the challenge, many problems in the second ball and we must improve this situation.

"We scored one goal and we didn't create so much and at the end we didn't score a second, and at the end of the game we went home happy with the three points but many things we can do better.

"I expect it can be similar type of team, but I still expect we can offer better performance, we can control the game and we can go and bring the game in the last minute to be a little bit more comfortable.

"We don't know what will happen exactly but this is target, what we will try and find during the game."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/slavisa-jokanovic-calls-fulham-offer-14013181

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Slavisa Jokanovic explains why some Fulham players aren't being selected for his matchday squads

The boss has said that his team selections are nothing personal and are based on what he thinks

The reason Jordan Graham, Yohan Mollo and other players aren't being selected is because Slavisa Jokanovic believes he has better options for the situations Fulham find themselves in.

A number of players brought in over the summer haven't been used regularly, if at all, with Graham, Mollo, Rafa Soares and Marcelo Djalo, to name but a few, not really featuring for Jokanovic's side.

Fans have questioned as to why some of those players haven't been selected for Fulham's matchday squads and starting XI, but Jokanovic simply believes it's because he whatever players he picks for the starting line-up is the best option for the side.

And the boss has said that the selection of players is nothing personal - it's just what is best for the side.

He said: "I am working with 20 odd players, it's FIFA and UEFA rules that you start with 11 and at the end it depends on the situation.


Yohan Mollo in training (Image: Darren Pepe)

"In a position, where Jordan Graham or Yohan Mollo plays, it depends on the situation - Sheyi Ojo I've used, Kebano I've used, sometimes when I can use Ryan Sessegnon I use him, when I can use Floyd Ayite I use, Lucas Piazon when they are available.

"These two players must be professional football players and I chose what I think is best for my team.

"I choose them or if I choose different players it's because I believe they are the best options for us.

"We are a professional football club, there is nothing personally, I use players under contract, players on loan or players from different side and I try to find the reason why I use one or another player.

"When I put some players on the bench or in the stand the reason is simple, it's because I believe I have better options to put on the pitch."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/slavisa-jokanovic-explains-fulham-players-14013421

[WhiteJC]

 
1 In, 1 Out – 2 Key Transfer Deals Fulham Could Complete This January Including This Wolves Star

I hate to sound like a broken record, but I'm so hugely frustrated with Fulham this season and their manager Slavisa Jokanovic. I'm annoyed because I like Jokanovic but his choices this year confuse me. Last season, they did alright and stayed in the slipstream of the top six for the first-half of the campaign, all the while playing good football and entertaining people.

In the second half of the campaign, Ryan Sessegnon was unleashed on the league and with Scott Malone occupying left-back, the youngster was played as a left winger in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Things were simple; Cairney wanted to play in the middle, did so and attracted a £20million bid from Newcastle.  Sessegnon was on the left and showed his true attacking talent which even at that age was too much for most defences, while Sone Aluko was as usual at home, cutting in from the right.

This season, he has tinkered with various formations which have left Cairney and the influential Stefan Johansen out of position, while the boss insists that Sessegnon is a left-back. It's maddening. However, he appears to be stubborn on this one and so any ins and out may reflect this:

Ben Marshall (Wolverhampton Wanderers, In)

Jokanovic simply won't listen to reason regarding Sessegnon, so even when he does return to the 4-2-3-1 formation which sprung them to a play-off place at the end of the season, it would appear he won't play the young man there on the long-term.

Ben Marshall has long since been linked with a move south though and he is comfortable in that position himself, something which was shown when this was his regular starting place at Wolves last season under Paul Lambert, who of course knows him so well.

Ryan Sessegnon (Tottenham Hotspur, Out)

Even if he stayed, he wouldn't be in rightful position and I fear for the player that it'll now happen either way, with Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino seemingly seeing the young England hopeful as a replacement for Danny Rose, who could be about to join Manchester United for £50million after having fallen out with the boss somewhat.

Whatever money is offered for Sessegnon will be huge, so there is no way Fulham will turn it down I feel. As far as the player is concerned, he would be wise to make the move regardless of his position on the pitch, as he can always state his case for playing further forward, somewhere down the line, much like what Gareth Bale did.



http://soccersouls.com/2017/12/09/1-in-1-out-2-key-transfer-deals-fulham-could-complete-this-january-including-this-wolves-star/