Thursday Fulham Stuff (15/02/18)...

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Matt Targett delivers his verdict on Aston Villa's squad

Southampton defender Matt Targett, who is on loan at Fulham, has been very impressed by Aston Villa.

Fulham loanee Matt Targett has told his club's official website that he believes Aston Villa have a squad capable of playing in the Premier League already.

Targett, who is contracted to Southampton, feels that Villa have a real chance of promotion this term.

And the left-back is looking forward to taking on Steve Bruce's in-form side at the weekend.

"I think if you look at their squad, it's a Premier League squad on paper, so it will be good to test ourselves against that," Targett said.

"It's a massive game. We're both in great form, so it should be a good game and hopefully we can get the three points."

Villa have won their last seven league matches in succession to move into second place in the Championship table.

Their upcoming match with Fulham will arguably their toughest test yet though, as Slavisa Jokanovic's side have been steadily climbing the table for months.

Targett is like to feature against Villa, as the Southampton youngster has been in impressive form since signing for the Cottagers in January.

Targett scored on Fulham's last outing against Bolton Wanderers, and helped his side pick up a 1-1 draw.

If Jokanovic's side can beat Villa, they will cut the gap between the two sides down to just four points.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/02/14/matt-targett-delivers-his-verdict-on-aston-villas-squad/

[WhiteJC]

 
Wolves are Champions - who joins them? Predict the promotion race in the Championship

Have your say and predict how the Championship campaign will finish using our predictor gadget

So here it is - the business end of the season.

With just 15 games left of the Championship season, Slavisa Jokanovic's side sit seven points off an automatic promotion spot and are three points off Preston who are chasing the Play-off places.

After a horrid start to the campaign, the side have done amazingly well to drag themselves kicking and screaming back into the race to the Premier League - and now you can predict how the season finishes.

Prepare yourself though - there's 136 games for you to predict, so make sure your boss isn't watching, grab a cuppa and settle in as you plot Fulham's road to the top flight of English football once again.

All you need to do is click whether you think each game will be a home win, away win or draw and our gadget will do the rest.

Goals aren't recorded though, so if two teams tie on points it won't take goal difference into account.





https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wolves-champions-championship-promotion-predict-14281808

[WhiteJC]

Targett excited to take on Villa
by Dan on February 14, 2018

Matt Targett is excited by Saturday's visit of promotion contenders Aston Villa to Craven Cottage and believes Fulham could send out 'a massive statement' by ending the Villains winning streak.

Steve Bruce's side have won all of their last seven league matches – including Sunday's derby against Birmingham City which saw them move above Derby County into second place – and Targett knows that Villa will represent one of the toughest tests of the season this weekend. He told Fulham's official website:

It would be a massive statement. We've got a lot of catching up to do with them, they're seven points ahead of us, so I think it is a more important game for us than it is for them, and we need to win it.

I think if you look at their squad, it's a Premier League squad on paper, so it will be good to test ourselves against that. It's a massive game. We're both in great form, so it should be good game and hopefully we can get the three points.

Targett was disappointed that the Whites' own winning run came to end with a draw at Bolton last weekend – a game he felt Fulham should have won.

Yeah, I think so. We had a lot of good chances to go 2-0 up and kill the game, but as long as it says 1-0, Bolton are always going to have the chance of getting back into it. On another day we would have won that game 4-0 or 4-1, but at least we're getting into the positions and creating those chances.

The on-loan Southampton left headed home his first senior goal to put Slavisa Jokanovic's side ahead but Targett's joy was tempered by Fulham's failure to take all three points back to London.

It was nice to score my first professional goal. I wanted to play a one-two with Sess, but he decided to cross! So I thought why not get myself in there at the back post as the gaffer likes his full backs to be attacking, very high and Lucas did great to win the header and put it back across to me. I'm really happy to score, but obviously disappointed we didn't get the three points.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/02/targett-excited-to-take-on-villa/

[WhiteJC]

Fines, cheese and #FelixBingo – the managerial madness of Felix Magath
by Sarah on February 14, 2018

Four years ago, my Valentine's Day was proving so non-eventful that I had Sky Sports News on the background as I made the dinner. I remember vividly rushing into my front room as the anchor broke off from something else to introduce 'breaking news from Craven Cottage' and being completely baffled. I burned my previously lovingly-tended to potatoes as Felix Magath was announced as the new Fulham manager – and that was the first in a long line of things I could blame the eccentric German for.

On paper, it seemed a sound appointment. Magath had a record of real achievement in Germany and had also developed a reputation as something of a relegation-averting specialist. Two members of the Wolfsburg side with whom he won a third Bundesliga title in 2009 – Sascha Riether and Ashkan Dejagah – were part of the Fulham squad and it was clear after the Sheffield United debacle that Rene Meulensteen wasn't the man to lift Fulham clear of the Premier League drop zone. The problem, of course, was that Magath's methods and approach to management was completely alien to the squad he inherited – and the man himself wasn't about to go out of his way to get his new players onside.

The madness that took place at Motspur Park during the German's brief tenure at the helm of London's oldest football club has already been well documented elsewhere, especially the suggestion that Brede Hangeland should place cheese soaked in alcohol on his injured thigh and call his mother. Perhaps more damaging to Fulham's long-term prospects was the fact that, following that incident, the long-serving Hangeland was allowed to leave Craven Cottage – being told that contract negotiations had ended in an email – just at the time that the Whites would need a dominant centre back in the Championship. An indication of just how madcap Magath's methods went down also came in the abrupt departure of Stephen Lewis, who left to join Brighton and Hove Albion.

Magath also quickly froze out a number of players who could have been pivotal to the club's future. Bryan Ruiz, Maarten Stekelenburg, Fernando Amorebieta and Kostas Mitroglou trained on their own – in complete isolation from the rest of the squad – and their fellow players were warned that speaking to them was not allowed. Then there was the time that Magath fined two first-year scholars £20,000 for turning up late for training. This prompted Scott Parker to try and reason with the manager. When Magath insisted that the fines were staying in place, the-then Fulham captain paid them himself.

The manager's approach to training was also highly irregular. He occasionally reacted to defeats by staging 90-minute matches unannounced the following morning or instigating three heavy fitness sessions – all comprised of continuous running – a day. Jean Tigana's double training sessions took some getting used to, but players bought into the Frenchman's ideas when they saw the positive impact on their own performances and results. If anything, Magath's Fulham team went backwards.

Magath was certainly innovative in terms of his team selection. Lewis Holtby, who reportedly when to senior club officials and asked to be sent back to Tottenham the day after Magath's arrival after clashing with the coach as a young player in Germany, was Fulham's creative hub under Meulensteen but he was left out and then dragged off midway through the first half at Stoke City, with the Whites behind in a game they had to win to keep their hopes of beating the drop alive. Magath had previously devoted half of a pre-match press conference lambasting Holtby for not showing enough energy or desire. It wasn't exactly the best way of motivating one of your key players.

Of course, much worse treatment was meted out to young Dan Burn, who had been magnificent at Old Trafford under Meulensteen. The left footed, 6ft6in centre back was shifted to right back at the Britannia Stadium by Magath and promptly roasted by Oussama Assaidi. He begged the Stoke winger to stop tormenting him during the game as Fulham were hammered 4-1 and their relegation was confirmed. In the dressing room afterwards, Magath hammered Burn for his ineptitude and then promptly ostracised the young defender from the first-team picture under the very end of his reign.

That was just the start of #FelixBingo. From the beginning of Fulham's time in the Championship, there seemed to be no rhyme or reason behind the German's team selections. At Ipswich on the opening day, Magath's starting eleven included eight debutants with Cameron Burgess, another tall, promising, youth centre back played as a holding midfielder. He had ditched senior professionals like goalkeeper David Stockdale and experienced midfielder Steve Sidwell – who later won promotion with Brighton – preferring to bring in the likes of Adil Chihi, Mark Fotheringham and Thomas Eisfeld, none of whom were remotely good enough for the level of football they were asked to play. Magath fastracked a number of the club's talented youngsters but several never recovered from their brief taste of first-team action.

Of course, dissent wasn't tolerated during the Magath regime. There was a suspicion that the German coach, viewed as a deeply unpleasant man by many people who had decades of experience in English and European football, promoted the youngsters because they would more easily bend to his will than senior players. That attitude extended far beyond the training pitch. Members of the media who questioned Magath's decision making were frequently subjected to the grinning German grilling his inquisitor about their own footballing record whilst recalling his own achievements. Memorably, one reporter who wanted to understand why Magath's training methods were not proving successful was repeatedly asked whether he knew 'Raul or Rakitic' until he had to concede, 'not personally'.

It was a bizarre experience being at Nottingham Forest for Magath's last match. Poor old Shaun Hutchinson, now proving that he belongs at this level with Millwall, was in and out of the side – often playing alongside another central defensive partner. He was sent off before half time and, when Fulham staged a comeback from 2-0 down to lead 3-2, several fans worried that should the Whites' hold on, it might earn Magath a stay of execution. A late collapse at the hands of Britt Assombalonga condemned Fulham to another defeat and the foot of the table, before the German was finally dispensed with the following day.

Magath's reign was madness writ large. I understand that many Fulham fans might still view Kit Symons' managerial capabilities with some skepticism, but the former Fulham defender did superbly to pull the club out of the mess he found them in once Magath had moved on.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/02/fines-cheese-and-felixbingo-the-managerial-madness-of-felix-magath/

[WhiteJC]

 
Should Swansea kick themselves if West Ham land Ryan Fredericks?

Ryan Fredericks' form for Championship hopefuls Fulham has attracted the interest of Premier League duo West Ham United and Swansea City.

Fulham cannot afford to miss out on promotion again this season. Because it seems only a matter of time before the vultures from the Premier League start picking at Slavisa Jokanovic's squad.

So many of Fulham's key men have been linked with top flight clubs of late, Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon becoming gossip column veterans, and it seems that Ryan Fredericks' days at Craven Cottage are already coming to an end.

The former Spurs full-back is out of contract in the summer. And, according to Football London, he is a priority for West Ham United manager David Moyes in the summer transfer window.

Right-back has been something of a problem position for the Hammers over the last couple of years with veterans like Alvaro Arbeloa and Pablo Zabaleta well past their best. Sam Byram, meanwhile, has not looked Premier League standard since his January 2016 move from Leeds United.

But if West Ham are keen to sign Fredericks on a free, surely Swansea City should not let such an opportunity pass them by.

The BBC reported in January that Swansea were keen on the jet-heeled 25-year-old, who has five Championship assists to his name this season.

And you could argue that the Swans are in even greater need of a right-back. After all, Kyle Naughton has been below par for far too long but consecutive Swansea managers have not been able to drop him from the starting XI due to the lack of alternatives in reserve.

Fredericks, then, should walk into Swansea's first-team.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/02/13/do-swansea-city-will-kick-themselves-if-west-ham-land-ryan-frede/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham vs Aston Villa: Early team news ahead of the crunch tie at Craven Cottage

The early team news ahead of the huge match between Fulham and Villa on Saturday

Fulham look set to have a fully fit squad as they welcome Aston Villa in what looks to be a crunch test in the race for second in the Championship.

Sheyi Ojo returned to training last week but missed out of the squad that travelled to Bolton as a result of being the loan man that Slavisa Jokanovic has to leave out of every side with Fulham having six loanees - one more than is allowed in swuads.

Skipper Tom Cairney also got game time in the 1-1 draw, playing the last 16 minutes as he returned from rehab in Ireland on his keen problem that has seen him have and up and down season at the club.

Everyone else seems to fit to go, with Aleksandar Mitrovic continuing to get game time and match fitness after signing from Newcastle on loan on Deadline Day.

Meanwhile, Villa will be without Jonathan Kodjia and Jed Steer as they continue their recovery from long-term injuries, while Albert Adomah was suffering from a hamstring injury in the 2-0 win over Birmingham City but managed to score in the tie.

Otherwise it looks like Steve Bruce could have a fully fit side too as two of the form teams in the Championship clash in what is a monumental game for second spot.



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-vs-aston-villa-early-14287815

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Ryan Sessegnon and January arrivals keep Fulham's dream alive
With the teenager likened to Gareth Bale thriving, off-field tensions easing and recent signings bolstering the squad, Fulham have a Premier League return in their sights

It is seldom dull at Fulham, a club who have shown a habit of making life difficult over the past couple of seasons, treading a rickety yet scenic route instead of any plain sailing. They play bold and full-throttle football, though, with a punchy intensity and goals are not a problem – only Wolves have scored more in the Championship. And the beauty of Slavisa Jokanovic's slow-burning, swaggering side – unbeaten in nine league matches – is that the fruits of such progress are ripening.

The litmus test is on the horizon. In the space of three weeks they face six of the current top eight, all of whom have to be considered promotion rivals, starting with Aston Villa at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Fulham needed a barnstorming run to reach the play-offs last season and this time, after huffing and puffing through autumn, they are fifth after finding their groove.

"Time in football is important," Jokanovic says. "We understand a little better, we trust each other, we start believing like family all together." The Fulham head coach also stresses how, if the summer transfer window had closed before the start of the season, things would have been easier, his ideas clearer. Rui Fonte had led the line alongside Sone Aluko before the latter was sold to Reading for £7.5m two days before the window shut. Such difficulties, Jokanovic says, mean that Fulham will finish the season having operated with "three teams" of varying systems.

The Serb is not moaning but explaining what he describes as the natural process as his team have evolved. The return of the pirouetting playmaker Tom Cairney from a troubling knee injury last weekend enhances their promotion prospects, with Jokanovic noting supporters have been starved of seeing the "best version" of the Fulham captain this season.

The standout performer has arguably been Ryan Sessegnon, the understated 17-year-old who joined the club 10 years ago and lives with his mother and older brother, Chris, in Worcester Park, south-west London, around the corner from the club's Motspur Park training ground. "Off the pitch he is polite and everything you would want your son to be," says the midfielder Kevin McDonald. Since being substituted on the opening day of the season, Sessegnon has played all but four minutes of the league campaign, scoring 11 goals. His lung-bursting surges of power and pace have become something of a trademark: easy to detect but difficult to stop.

Huw Jennings, the Fulham academy director who held the same post at Southampton while they nurtured Gareth Bale and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, sees "similarities" between Sessegnon and the Real Madrid forward. "He has that spirit Bale has got, saying: 'Actually the best form of defence is attack and we'll take it to you whichever part of the pitch we're on.'" The arrival of Matt Targett last month, on loan from Southampton, has freed Sessegnon to do more damage further upfield. Jokanovic and Fulham, however, are not naive enough to think they will hold on to him for ever.

"When the club is getting bids, then something is going to happen at some point – it's a matter of time – but the main thing is that we have got him for the rest of the season and hopefully a little bit more," McDonald says. "He will be a massive player for us between now and whenever he leaves." There are also high hopes for Sessegnon's twin, Steven, as well as for Tayo Edun, Elijah Adebayo – the 20-year-old striker out on loan at Cheltenham Town – and Timmy Abraham – the 17-year-old younger brother of Tammy, the Chelsea striker – who signed his first professional contract at Fulham on New Year's Day.

As Jokanovic points out when asked about his January business, no one player will single-handedly help Fulham over the line but his squad was – eventually – bolstered by three arrivals. He had questioned the support of the club's hierarchy at the start of last month, taking aim at Tony Khan, the vice-chairman and director of football operations, who is integral to the recruitment of first-team players, insisting his squad was not competitive enough. Targett and Cyrus Christie, the Republic of Ireland full-back, add welcome doses of athleticism and the Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who arrived on deadline day as a result of a WhatsApp conversation with Jokanovic, ought to add goals. "I don't know where we are going to finish," the 49-year-old Jokanovic says, "but I know we have the chance to fight and we have shown we can play quality football."

For now the off-field tensions between Jokanovic and Khan, son of the club's billionaire Pakistani-American owner, Shahid, have been eased, undoubtedly aided by the acrimonious exit of Khan's university friend and former assistant director of football operations, Craig Kline, at the end of October. Jokanovic's charm offensive that followed the January window, in which he praised Khan's work, was perhaps just that but retaining Cairney and Sessegnon, their two prized assets, amid Premier League interest was arguably more important than any new faces.

Between now and May the true significance of keeping them should become clearer. Asked whether promotion was necessary to keep them next season, Jokanovic replied: "I don't need to think about these different things. I have many dreams but dreams are for the bed. When I am in the bed, I have the dreams but I must live my realistic life."



https://www.theguardian.com/football/football-league-blog/2018/feb/14/ryan-sessegnon-fulham-january-signings-premier-league

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Follow Fulham Away

Tickets for Fulham's match against Bristol City on Wednesday 21st February (7.45pm) are still available for all supporters to purchase on General Sale.

More than 1,100 fans have already got their ticket for the meeting with our promotion rivals. Secure yours now as no tickets will be available to purchase on the gate!

Tickets are priced at £27 for adults and just £12 for under-12s. Supporters can view the full pricing structure and find out how to secure tickets by clicking here.

Free Coach Travel

Following the successful launch of the #FollowFulhamAway campaign earlier this season, Grosvenorcasinos.com are delighted to announce they will be providing free travel once again for Fulham fans heading to Ashton Gate.

Supporters can secure their free coach travel online or by calling the Fulham Ticket Office 0203 871 0810.




http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/february/14/follow-fulham-away

[WhiteJC]

 
Over 54 passes a game, 6 goals: The underrated Fulham star driving their play-off surge

Fulham are in great form once again at the moment and a play-off place come May is certainly in the offing at the moment.

The men from Craven Cottage have got a handy knack at the moment of making late runs from almost nowhere to get into the final shootout at the end of the campaign and they'll be looking to do that once more.

Certainly, though, they'll want to go up from the top six this season, though they're not that far off an automatic spot right now either.

And, though Ryan Sessegnon and Tom Cairney will get much of the attention, our latest FLW Spotlight feature deserves plenty of credit too for what has been a good season from him – Stefan Johansen:



Indeed, though Cairney is the midfield star he has been injured quite a bit this year and it's fallen to the likes of Johansen to be the driving force in the middle of the park.

He's done that brilliantly, too, with him often setting the tempo with his passing – highlighted by a pass success rate that is close to 85%.

Goals have also been a big part of his game this year, as well, with half a dozen being notched and so it's clear he's having one of his best campaigns to date.

For sure, then, Ryan Sessegnon deserves plenty of the praise he gets but there can be no doubt Johansen is another vital cog in Fulham's promotion challenge this season.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/over-54-passes-a-game-6-goals-the-underrated-fulham-star-driving-their-play-off-surge/

[WhiteJC]

 
Slavisa Jokanovic discusses what's changed at Fulham from the start of the season to now

No win in six turned into two losses in 14 - here's what the head coach had to say about the change in form

Slavisa Jokanovic believes his Fulham side have started "living like a family" after a stunning run of form has seen them lose just twice in 14 games.

That run has seen them rise to 5th in the table, only seven points off second place who visit the Cottage on Saturday in what has the makings of a monumental tussle.

Go back to November, and that looked impossible.

Fulham were 17th after a winless run that stretched six games and it just didn't look like it was going to click for the side this year after coming so close to promotion the previous year.

But now things seem to be going the right way, and Jokanovic believes his side understand each other better now than they did at the start of the campaign.

He said: "Time has changed - we needed to adapt ourselves, everyone was talking about Fulham last season but Fulham last season are two different teams.

"It's true we stay with some very important players like Ryan Sessegnon and Tom Cairney, but to be honest we didn't enjoy best version of Cairney this season.

"We expect he can improve us still more, and time in football is important.

"We understand better and start to trust each other, we start living like family, all together, and it's more positive.

"We are ready for fighting for each other, more than what we were doing in the past and we have a clearer idea on what we must do in the game.

"At the end, we are a little but luckier, we find results but we show more spirit, trust in ourselves and this is a change when we compare the games in September or October or the beginning of the Championship.

"I don't know where we are going to finish, I know we have the chance to fight and show we can play quality football."


(Image: Paul Burgman)

Tony Khan and the recruitment team added three new faces to the squad in January, something that also seemed unlikely after the head coach blew up in a press conference at the start of the month about the lack of incomings.

But with the additions of Matt Targett, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Cyrus Christie, Jokanovic believes the squad can challenge.

He added: "I believe we made three good signings in January Transfer Window, they can push and bring us more competition in the team and I believe I can detect that we are working with more quality with few new players.

"It's impossible for one player to bring us up, but these three new players can start to push in the same direction as the rest of the team and this is good for us."



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/slavisa-jokanovic-discuss-whats-changed-14290000

[WhiteJC]

Jokanovic admires Fulham's 'fight'
by Dan on February 14, 2018

Slavisa Jokanovic feels time has helped Fulham become a more formidable side this season – and the Serbian head coach has been heartened by the fight his team has shown over the course of this Championship campaign.

The Whites' six-match winning run might have come to end an end at Bolton on Saturday, but Jokanovic's team still head into Saturday's crunch clash with Aston Villa unbeaten in seven. Fulham now have genuine promotion aspirations, something which looked far fetched when they slipped to seventeenth in the table after losing at Wolves back in November. Jokanovic told GetWestLondon's Ryan O'Donovan that his side needed some time to adjust to their shaky start to the season:

Time has changed – we needed to adapt ourselves, everyone was talking about Fulham last season but Fulham last season are two different teams. It's true we stayed with some very important players like Ryan Sessegnon and Tom Cairney, but to be honest we didn't enjoy the best version of Cairney this season. We expect he can improve us still more, and time in football is important.

We understand better and start to trust each other, we start living like family, all together, and it's more positive. We are ready for fighting for each other, more than what we were doing in the past and we have a clearer idea on what we must do in the game.

At the end, we are a little but luckier, we find results but we show more spirit, trust in ourselves and this is a change when we compare the games in September or October or the beginning of the Championship. I don't know where we are going to finish, I know we have the chance to fight and show we can play quality football.

The Fulham head coach believes the club's strengthening of the first team squad with the additions of Matt Targett, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Cyrus Christie in the January transfer window could prove crucial during the run-in.

I believe we made three good signings in the January transfer window, they can push and bring us more competition in the team and I believe I can detect that we are working with more quality with few new players. It's impossible for one player to bring us up, but these three new players can start to push in the same direction as the rest of the team and this is good for us.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/02/jokanovic-admires-fulhams-fight/

[WhiteJC]

 
A Rocky Ride: Fulham's Championship Story

Fulham's three and half years in the Championship are a funny thing. The halcyon days of the Premier League seem only yesterday, yet it also feels like Fulham have languishing down a division for ever. Will Stokes breaks the story of the Championship struggle down in his Fulhamish debut.

It doesn't seem that long ago that Fulham were in the Premier League, with the likes of Clint Dempsey and Dimitar Berbatov smashing in goals for The Cottagers, but since their relegation in 2014, it has hardly been the straightforward bounce back to the big time that clubs such as Burnley and Newcastle (to name a few), have enjoyed in recent years...

During their 13-year top flight stay, the Whites had always floated comfortably in mid-table, having the occasional stumble like in 2008, finishing 17th only on goal difference.

But the downs were always balanced with ups, such as the incredible 2009/10 Europa League run, where Fulham reached the final with players like Chris Baird and Simon Davies in the team; but they narrowly missed out on silverware due to a 116th minute Atletico Madrid goal.

Fulham's venture in England's top flight ended in 2014 after a calamitous season that involved 3 managers, new ownership and a £13m record signing that played less than 5 games.

Over the summer, Fulham fans did not know what to expect of the forthcoming season. However, with the signing of players like Mark Fotheringham and Gábor Király, Fulham fans had a taste of what was to come...

The Whites had a dreadful start to the 2014/15 season, taking only one point from eight league games, and in the wake of this record, Fulham's tyrannic manager, Felix Magath, got the boot.

He was replaced with former Fulham player Kit Symons, who managed to drag the club out and away from the relegation zone but only could inspire a measly 17th place finish at the end of the season. Fulham had fully felt the brutality of the Championship, so at least they were in the position to improve for next season, right ?

Fulham's 15/16 season got off to a decent start, they were 10th at the start of November. Strikers Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele had been a breath of fresh air at the club, and the duo would go on to score 36 goals between them by the season's end.

However losses to Burnley and Birmingham meant that Symons was ultimately sacked, with the board not feeling that the Welshman was steering the Whites in the direction that they wanted to go – up.

Fulham went well over a month without a manager, as their form dipped and they slid down the table. In late December of 2015, the Serbian Slaviša Jokanović was appointed the head coach after guiding Watford to promotion (then leaving for Maccabi Tel-Aviv) that same year.

Jokanović tried to employ a better style of football into the side, but the quality of players were simply not good enough, meaning that Fulham were left hovering one point over the relegation zone in April 2016, and staring a second relegation in three years right in the face.

Fulham eventually steered clear of the drop-zone thanks to a good run of form, but ended up finishing 20th. The days of European glory and Premier League solidarity were now a distant memory.

The summer of 2016 was a mixed one for the Whites signing a plethora of players: Stefan Johansen, Kevin McDonald, Tomas Kalas, Chris Martin, Sone Aluko, Lucas Piazon, Scott Malone and Floyd Ayite, whilst also seeing the breakthrough of 16-year-old Ryan Sessegnon.

This injection of new players came at a price, as Fulham both the saw the back of their star strikers Dembele and McCormack, who were the shining light of the previous season, as they joined Celtic and Aston Villa, respectively.

The London club got of to the dream start beating newly relegated giants Newcastle 1-0, on the opening day. They were unbeaten in August as Slaviša Jokanović finally got Fulham playing good football once again. They were sat just outside the play-off places for the majority of the season, but an extraordinary second half of the season, accompanied by Leeds slipping down the table, saw Fulham finish in the last play-off spot.

Fulham faced Reading in the semi-finals but heartbreakingly lost 2-1 on aggregate. Although the season ended in sadness and sorrow, the feel good factor was back in South-West London.

Not much changed over pre-season. Fulham acquired Both Tomas Kalas and Lucas Piazon from Chelsea on loan for another season and signed a collection of players: Jordan Graham, Rafa Soares, Oliver Norwood and Sheyi Ojo joining on loan, with Yohan Mollo and Rui Fonte and a few others joining The Cottagers on a permanent basis.

The Whites also sold a handful of players, including Scott Malone and Sone Aluko, whilst Chris Martin returned to Derby. Most importantly, the club tied down star-man and captain Tom Cairney to a new deal.

Fulham's start to the season was far from glamorous as they sat in 17th in mid November,with Jokanovic's system simply getting found out by other Championship teams. The manager, and the club as a whole, managed to turn this right around with a run of form (which is still ongoing) which has seen Fulham lose only twice in 15 games, remainig unbeaten in 9 and winning 5 of their last 6 league games.

This has come about thanks to a renewed team spirit and in no small part due to the efforts of 17-year-old left winger, Ryan Sessegnon. He is the Whites' top scorer with 11 goals, setting the Championship alight and showing no signs of slowing down.

Fulham now sit comfortably in the play-off positions, and are chasing the teams above them. They recently signed left-back Matt Targett on loan and got the signatures of both Cyrus Christie and Aleksandar Mitrović on Deadline Day to bolster the squad.

Things are certainly looking up for Fulham, is a Premier League return finally on the cards?



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2018-02-14-a-rocky-ride-fulhams-championship-story/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham v Aston Villa - Match Day Officials

This Saturday, Fulham welcome Aston Villa to Craven Cottage for a Championship fixture.

Like ourselves, Aston Villa have aspirations of getting promoted to the Premier League come May.

But whilst Fulham have climbed into the play-off places with a good run of form, Aston Villa have gone one better, with the club managed by Steve Bruce, now nestling in second-place and with aspirations of automatic promotion.

The game should be a humdinger with two sides who want to play football going head-to-head.

Ahead of the game we`re now able to bring you the names of those chosen by the EFL to officiate:

Referee - Tony Harrington

Assistant Referee - Geoffrey Russell

Assistant Referee - Michael George

Fourth Official - Keith Stroud

With regards to the referee, Tony Harrington, he has taken charge of 25 games this season and has issued 91 yellow cards and 4 red cards.

This season, Tony Harrington has taken charge of the following games involving Fulham:

• 9 Sept - Championship - Fulham 1 Cardiff 1 - yellow cards issued 7, red cards issued 0

• 9 Dec - Championship - Fulham 1 Birmingham 0 - yellow cards issued 2, red cards issued 0.

COYW`s




Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=521423#ixzz57A3snQrN

[WhiteJC]

 
Championship promotion odds: Aston Villa above Derby County; How Cardiff City, Fulham and Bristol City are rated

The latest promotion odds from Sky Bet with 31 games of the season gone

Bristol City's odds of winning promotion from the Championship are now 11/2 after their 3-3 draw with at home to Sunderland on Saturday.

The Robins headed in to the weekend with odds of 9/2 to win promotion but the comeback by Chris Coleman's Sunderland side has seen those odds go down.

Aston Villa are the current favourites to join league leaders Wolves for automatic promotion to the Premier League after winning the City derby 2-0.

Steve Bruce's team haven't lost in the league since their trip to Brentford on Boxing Day and have picked up 18 points in six wins, their odds are down at 4/5.

Derby County's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night see them on joint odds with Fulham as favourites to win the play offs with odds of 9/2.

Lee Johnson's side have been placed at 7/1 to win the play-offs based on their current form, just one win in their last ten matches, three of which were cup ties, picking up five points from a possible 21.


Ryan Kent of Bristol City reacts to going close

Promotion Odds:

Derby: 11/8

Fulham: 3/1

Aston Villa: 4/5

Cardiff City: 7/4

Bristol City: 11/2


Scott Hogan, left, and Jack Grealish celebrate at Villa Park

To win the play-offs:

Derby: 9/2

Fulham: 9/2

Aston Villa: 11/2

Cardiff: 6/1

Bristol City: 7/1



To finish in top two:

Derby: 11/4

Fulham: 10/1

Aston Villa: 5/4

Cardiff City: 3/1

Bristol City: 18/1



https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/championship-odds-promotion-aston-villa-1185667

[WhiteJC]

Why Fulham shouldn't fear Aston Villa on Saturday
by alandrewett on February 14, 2018

Having won their last six home league games, Slavisa Jokanovic's Fulham side should head into Saturday's fixture with Aston Villa full of confidence and believing that they strike a serious blow in the promotion race by securing all three points. Jokanovic has got the Fulham playing with flair and fluidity which they showed in that sensational run to the top six during the second half of last season. The visit of Steve Bruce's side to the Cottage will be the start of six season-defining fixtures which will prove whether the Whites can genuinely contend for automatic promotion from the Championship.

There are plenty of grounds optimistic ahead of this weekend's crunch fixture. In the last ten meetings with Villa at Craven Cottage, Fulham have lost just once. The Whites have won all of the last three encounters in London, scoring six goals and only letting in Jack Grealish's stunning strike last season. That day Villa were undone by Jonathan Kodija's early sending off and ultimately defeated by goals from Ryan Sessegnon, Sone Aluko and Neeskens Kebano. It goes without saying that Bruce's side will provide a much sterner test this season.

The Villains have notched up seven straight victories and, after seeing off their local rivals Birmingham on Sunday, are also sitting pretty in the second automatic promotion spot. Although there is a lot to admire about their current form, they haven't faced a side such of Fulham on their travels this year. If Villa follow the template of most visitors to the Cottage this season and defend for large portions of the game hoping to score on the counter attack, they could be asking for trouble. Fulham have shown signs of being able to unlock stubborn defences in recent weeks – with Nottingham Forest's gameplan the latest to come unstuck a couple of weeks ago – and, as Lucas Piazon and Tom Cairney return to the side, there is more creativity for Jokanovic to call on. Should Bruce be more ambitious and take the attack to Fulham, then that could suit the home side's adventurous approach even more.

The first goal on Saturday could prove pivotal. I firmly believe no matter who Fulham play against at home – if we score early then we should be take advantage and win the game. If we can get that early goal, I can see it being a good afternoon for us. The Whites should also be fired up by their failure to capitalise on Matty Targett's first senior goal at Bolton last weekend. You've heard the Fulham squad all admit that the draw at the Macron Stadium amounted to two dropped points and Jokanovic won't have been happy that his side reduced the tempo just when Wanderers seemed to be there for the taking. I doubt they'll be a repeat of that this weekend.

Saturday's game is massive for both sides. Villa will be travelling to London hoping to consolidate their hold on the second automatic promotion spot, whilst a Fulham victory would cut the gap between the sides to just four points. It may be controversial, but I would personally carry keep faith with Rui Fonte up top as his intelligence will pull Villa's centre backs out of position and can create space through the middle where Fulham are at our strongest. No doubt there will be plenty of nerves come kick off this is just the sort of game where the Whites can prove that they are a match for anyone under Jokanovic. I fancy a 3-0 victory and for Ryan Sessegnon to bounce back from a couple of quiet games to notch a couple more important goals.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/02/why-fulham-should-not-fear-villa-on-saturday/

[WhiteJC]

 
Go for it Jokanovic – 3 players Fulham should look to sign this Summer including West Ham youngster

Three Players Who Fulham Should Look To Sign In The Summer

Fulham sit firmly ensconced in the playoff positions with an unbeaten run in the league stretching back to the 16th of December. The players at Craven Cottage have really stepped up to the plate under Slavisa Jokanovic in recent weeks and they finally look like a side that could seriously challenge for promotion.

Of course, they are only 3 points away from dropping out of the playoff places but unlike those around them, they are in excellent form and although they only managed a draw against Bolton in their last game, they can look forward to the rest of the season with confidence. In the Summer, if Fulham do make it to the Premier League, they will have to add to their talented young squad to try and guarantee their stay in the league. So, with that in mind what do Fulham need?

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Fulham have the impressive Aleksandar Mitrovic on loan until the end of the season, but it is likely that he will return to St. James Park in the summer. If Fulham do manage to make it through the playoffs, a player like Dominic Calvert-Lewin would be the perfect replacement for Mitrovic.

Calvert-Lewin currently finds himself behind Niasse and Tosun in the striking area at Goodison Park, whoever is in charge of Everton in the summer will be looking to add an extra striker to have more options. This may mean that Calvert-Lewin could be out the door, and Fulham would be the perfect place for him.

Joan Jordan

The Eibar central midfielder has been a revelation this season for a club with the smallest budget in La Liga. He has provided 5 goals for the Spanish side and is a compact and tough player who would suit a team fighting for its life in the Premier League. He would complement Tom Cairney, who would have to be persuaded to stay if they get promoted.

Reece Oxford

The West Ham defender made a sterling debut a couple of seasons ago as West Ham beat Arsenal but he has recently been on loan in the Bundesliga because he's not able to get regular game time in East London. The journey across the city to Fulham would suit him if Fulham make it to the Premier League because he is a young player with a lot of potential and can play in a variety of midfield and defensive positions, which could be important for a side battling relegation.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/02/15/go-for-it-jokanovic-3-players-fulham-should-look-to-sign-this-summer-including-west-ham-youngster/

[WhiteJC]

 
Go for it Moyes – Fulham's star defender could be a good signing for West Ham

Why Fulham's Ryan Fredericks Could Be A Good Signing For West Ham

According to reports this week, Premier League side West Ham United are interested in taking Fulham right-back Ryan Fredericks to the London Stadium on a free transfer at the end of the current season.

The 25-year-old flying full-back has been a regular in the Fulham team this term, playing 31 times in all competitions for Slavisa Jokanovic but he's out of contract in the summer and must have made it plain that he doesn't intend to stay on at Craven Cottage.

In the January transfer window, Fulham moved to sign the player often described as the best right-back in the Championship, Cyrus Christie. So they would argue that they already have Fredericks' replacement and that he is even a better player.

The Hammers, meanwhile, have been embroiled in a relegation battle for most of this season and are still only four points above the drop zone. Manager David Moyes would know that he needs to strengthen his squad over the summer to avoid becoming perennial strugglers in the top division.

Having not quite made it at Tottenham where he was a junior, Fredericks gained experience out on loan with Brentford, Millwall and Middlesbrough before heading to Bristol City and then Fulham on permanent deals.

West Ham, of course, have gone cap in hand to the Championship for right-back talent before, signing highly-rated Leeds United man Sam Byram, though a host of injuries have curtailed his development.

They will be hoping Fredericks is different and the fact that he is available on a free transfer come July is a huge factor too. Moyes is keen to take a risk on the player, given that he is an admirer of his; however, whether or not Fredericks can take the step up in his stride is open to doubt.

If I've written it once, I've written it a million times; football is a very simple game and not one to be over complicated. So, the fact that Cyrus Christie is consistently labelled as the best right-back in the league (some rating, facts and figures once again back it up this season) and Fulham want him in their side now at the expense of Fredericks probably tells you West Ham aren't getting a player who is good enough right now.

They won't even be signing Fulham's best right-back so this remains a risk, but it seems to be one Moyes, in particular, is willing to take.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/02/15/go-for-it-moyes-fulhams-star-defender-could-be-a-good-signing-for-west-ham/

[WhiteJC]

 
Jokanovic to make 2 changes – Strongest 4-2-3-1 Fulham lineup to face Aston Villa

Predicted Fulham Lineup To Face Aston Villa In The EFL Championship

Slavisa Jokanovic will have a big job on his hand when the form team in the Championship arrive at Craven Cottage this weekend. However, Fulham have been doing very well themselves and are still unbeaten since 16th December in the league.

Although they would count the game against Bolton as a setback, they still managed to come away with a draw and they will be hoping that the Craven Cottage crowd can roar them on to victory. Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo has returned to training and Tom Cairney will be pushing for a return to the starting line-up.

Probable Fulham XI
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK – Marcus Bettinelli

Couldn't do anything about Adam LeFondre's wonder strike last week but may be quite busy against one of the best attacking lines in the division.
LB – Matt Targett

Targett had a brilliant game against Bolton and was probably Fulham's best player. His potential link-up with Ryan Sessegnon is very exciting.
CB – Tim Ream

He will be dealing with the bustling Scott Hogan this weekend and will have to be on his toes to keep the Villa striker at bay.
CB – Tom Kalas

Kalas will be disappointed that they were unable to keep Bolton out in their last game but he will have a job on his hands, marshalling the defence against the Villans.
RB – Ryan Fredericks

The young full-back had a poor game against Bolton but he is a part of the free-flowing attacking game of Fulham and will aim to recover against Villa.
DM – Oliver Norwood

The perfect screen for a defence, Oliver Norwood will bring his tough tackling style to bear on the flair players of Aston Villa.
CM – Stefan Johansen

The Norwegian midfielder will attempt to link the midfield and the attack and play on the half turn. He will also look to get behind a slow Aston Villa defence.
CAM – Tom Cairney

Back from the knee injury, Tom Cairney will be key if Fulham are to make an impact on this game.
LW – Ryan Sessegnon

The current Fulham player of the year is having a great season, now that he has moved to his preferred position. He will be the biggest threat going forward.

RW – Lucas Piazon

Provided an assist but hauled off after 51 minutes against Bolton. He will attempt to put in an improved performance as the young Aboubakar Kamara is after his place.

ST – Aleksandar Mitrovic

It has to be time to start the on-loan Newcastle forward from the start, as he relishes big games. This is a very big game in Fulham's season.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/02/15/jokanovic-to-make-2-changes-strongest-4-2-3-1-fulham-lineup-to-face-aston-villa/

[WhiteJC]

 
Bruce to make 1 important change – Predicted 4-1-4-1 Aston Villa XI to face Fulham

Predicted Aston Villa Lineup To Face Fulham In The EFL Championship

After an emotional Second City Derby win last weekend against Birmingham, Aston Villa will look to continue their incredible run in the Championship against fellow promotion candidates Fulham. If Aston Villa manage to come out on top in this game, then they could have a 4-point lead over the teams in the playoff places and at this point in the season, that seems like a massive gap.

Steve Bruce will probably have to spend this week calming his players down after the emotion of the Birmingham Derby but if they are to be promoted, then it will be the reaction to games like the one last weekend that will keep them going.

A victory against Fulham would also be their 8th in a row, the best record for an Aston Villa side since 1975. Steve Bruce will be boosted by the fact that Albert Adomah has shaken off a knock. Villa will be without Jonathan Kodjia and Jed Steer as they continue their recovery from long-term injuries but otherwise, Bruce has no new injury concerns.

Probable Aston Villa XI
Formation: 4-1-4-1
GK – Sam Johnstone

The 24-year-old English goalkeeper may well be the best keeper outside of the Premier League, and he kept a clean sheet against Birmingham after conceding two the week before.
LB – Alan Hutton

The old stager is part of an incredibly experienced backline for Aston Villa. He was never the fastest player and will have to be on his toes to deal with the nippy Fulham wingers.
CB – John Terry

As has been widely reported, John Terry played in front of his highest home crowd ever last weekend and will be relishing the opportunity to put one over a Chelsea rival. It will be interesting to see if he fancies another crack at the Premier League at the end of this season.
CB – James Chester

The Welsh international has been a rock at the centre of the Villa defence and did not put a foot wrong against Birmingham.
RB – Ahmed El Mohamady

Rounding off the experienced Aston Villa defence is El Mohamady, a player who is still capable of moments of brilliance, and one who will be hoping he can keep the impressive Fulham attack quiet.
DM – Birkir Bjarnason

Bjarnason will most likely come in for Jedinak away at Fulham to give the midfield some fresh legs. Jedinak played well but cannot last a full game and Bjarnason could be given the task of shutting down the Fulham attack.
LM – Albert Adomah

Adomah shook off a knock to score the decisive second goal in the Second City Derby and if he wasn't a fan favourite before, he will be after that goal. He is a creative force from wide areas, and Fulham will try not to give him any space.
CM – Jack Grealish

Grealish revealed this week that John Terry helped him to revive his Aston Villa career after disciplinary and injury issues earlier in the season. He currently looks like a player reborn.
CM – Conor Hourihane

The Irishman scored a beautiful goal last weekend to remind everyone of the class he has. He could be asked to link up with Scott Hogan and Jack Grealish to create opportunities in this game.
RM – Robert Snodgrass

Snodgrass has begun to rebuild his career after the disaster of moving to the London Stadium and it is likely that he will be playing next season in the Premier League.
ST – Scott Hogan

The bustling striker is still on a great run of form and hit the bar against Birmingham. He will be aware that Lewis Grabban will want to take his place.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/02/15/bruce-to-make-1-important-change-predicted-4-1-4-1-aston-villa-xi-to-face-fulham/