Friday Fulham Stuff (13/04/18)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Online Ticket Issues

We are aware that fans may be experiencing problems with our online ticketing system due to high demand.

Please be assured that we are currently working with our ticketing provider to resolve the situation, and appreciate your patience here.

Should you continue to experience issues, renewals can be made by phone on 0203 871 0810 (opt. 2), or by visiting the Ticket Office in person on Stevenage Road.

Fans are advised that the above issue is related to Season Ticket renewals only, with tickets for all other fixtures available to purchase online.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/april/12/online-ticket-issues

[WhiteJC]

 
Aleksandar Mitrovic: From Newcastle outcast to Fulham hero

Aleksandar Mitrovic had been on borrowed time at Newcastle United. He was unwanted and obviously, still is. Rafael Benitez couldn't stand the sight of the Serb. Many managers would do likewise; his work ethics on the pitch and attitude off it extremely vile. So when Fulham came to town in January, it was best he went along. Three months on, he's become something of a demigod there.

Newcastle finished the 2014/15 campaign without many cops. Having made significant leap under Alan Pardew, they somewhat retarded. Eight successive matches bereft of victory, Pardew's ghost remained at St. James' Park. Even after moving on to Crystal Palace. John Carver overwhelmingly enchanted.   

Steve McClaren set sight to erase those impending doom. He admittedly grasped the Toon Army lacked bite in attack, a physical midfield presence was visibly absent too. While Papiss Cisse was no longer to be trusted, young Ayoze Perez could make do with some help. In the middle, Cheick Tiote was passed his peak. To that effect, Mitrovic and Georginio Wijnaldum were signed from Anderlecht and PSV respectively.

Similar to tourist forwards before him, Mitrovic aimed to relive the golden Alan Shearer days. "I hope I can play like him for this club," the Serb prayed. Judging by antecedence, it seemed a low-hanging fruit. In his maiden season aged 18, he was the top scorer as Partisan clinched the Serbian League in 2013. Fifty strikes followed in two years in Belgium. Quite phenomenal stuff.

Though powerful, robust, with a fierce right foot, disciplinary lapses remained a great concern. Twenty seconds into his debut against Southampton, the 23-year-old was cautioned for a brainless, unnecessary and utterly unprovoked act. Some 20 days later, he bagged another card – this time red just 15 minutes into the home defeat to Arsenal. Yet to break his duck nor make any meaningful impact, not only was Mitrovic grappling with the English game but himself.

He eventually found his feet with nine Premier League goals, however, it was rather too late to save the Magpies from going down. Another red in the season's final victory over Tottenham meant he would miss the first four Championship games. A frustrated Benitez beamed elsewhere for goals. He brought two at once; Dwight Gayle and Daryl Murphy.

Gayle was the main man in the club's historic EFL title-winning campaign. Benitez's team struck 85 times with the ex-Palace star notching above one-quarter by himself. While Murphy, even with a third-less game time, racked up six, Mitrovic managed two less. Yet worst travails were ahead. Mitrovic wasn't considered for a league start heading into the winter. Not after another unnecessary dismissal in a cameo appearance against West Ham in August. Benitez was seemingly harbouring him till a suitor shows up. Fulham was happy to try. Jackpot.

Although a division lower, Mitrovic is enjoying the game again; earning elusive plaudits too. Teammate Ryan Sessegnon told the Cottagers' official website.

    He's on fire at the moment. All you have to do is keep feeding him the ball and you know he's going to score the goals for us."

Indeed the Serb is blazing hot. He has nine goals in 12 starts as Slavisa Jokanovic's team keep hold of a monumental 19 games unbeaten run. Mitrovic goals have been helpful as they climbed from 17th place to second. His efforts were rewarded with PFA Player of the Month award. But not devoid of the same critical issue with three cautions already. There will certainly be more goals before the season's end; accompanied by cards.



http://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/articles/aleksandar-mitrovic-from-newcastle-outcast-to-championship-main-cast

[WhiteJC]

 
How Fulham went from Championship laughing stock to serious promotion contenders

When Fulham were relegated from the Premier League after a 13-year stay back in 2014, it was on the back of a fairly ugly season. As Martin Jol's reign ground to a turgid halt and was succeeded by the confused revolution of Rene Meulenstein and the bizarro disciplinarianism of Felix Magath, Fulham – Europa League finalists in 2010 and once one of the more exciting mid-table sides in the top tier – slowly declined into dysfunction and listlessness.

They finished 19th at the end of the 2013/14 season, stuck on 32 points with a goal difference of -45 having failed to win any of their last four games. After he started the following season with a draw and six losses from his first seven Championship fixtures Magath was sacked by naive new owner Shahid Khan, but not before he had cleared out many experienced players who would go on to show they could still contribute at Premier League level with Steve Sidwell, Brede Hangeland and Kieran Richardson among them.

The residing memory of Magath's reign is surely the story about him telling Hangeland to rub soft cheese on a thigh injury, though the German manager's manic quirkiness was no doubt greatly exaggerated. More damning of his reign was the unbalanced state in which he left Fulham's squad, with star signing Ross McCormack – acquired for a Championship record fee of £11m from Leeds United – one of several who proved inconsistent and conspicuously struggled to fit in.

With Magath gone, Fulham underwent a slow revival under former player Kit Symons. Though he was popular at the club – and indeed astoundingly well liked relative to Magath – progress was limited and the west London club spent two seasons largely in the lower half of the table. In the middle of the latter, current coach Slavisa Jokanovic took over. Having previously led Watford to Premier League promotion as runners-up to Bournemouth at the end of the 2014/15 campaign, Jokanovic set about getting Fulham on the path to where they are today.

Slavisa Jokanovic's battle

It has not been plain sailing for Jokanovic at Craven Cottage, with the Serbian coach forced to fight hard to implement his ideas at the club. After a debut season in which he narrowly steered Fulham away from relegation to League One, his revamped side finished 6th last year with a wild attacking style only to lose to Jaap Stam's Reading in the play-offs. His team was built on a foundation of talented British players like Ryan Sessegnon, Tom Cairney, Ryan Fredericks and Scott Malone – the last of whom moved to Huddersfield at the end of the season and has been a regular fixture in the Premier League this term – with a few choice loanees like Tomas Kalas, Lucas Piazon and Chris Martin thrown in for good measure.

That said, there were also plenty of players who joined Fulham who Jokanovic neither wanted nor had much use for. This was down in no small part to the role played by Craig Kline, Fulham's director of statistical research. Reportedly a friend of Tony Khan – son of owner Shahid Khan and a prominent figure at the club who now holds the role of Vice Chairman and Director of Football – Kline was given a prominent say in transfers and recruitment while attempting to implement something resembling the famous 'Moneyball' system. He clashed with Jokanovic to the extent that there was talk of the manager leaving the club, with the Fulham boss regularly touted for a Premier League job earlier this season.

Instead, it was Kline who was forced out of the club back in October. He was reported to have called the police to Fulham's Motspur Park training ground after being informed of his dismissal, while a Twitter account under his name made a series of serious allegations about the club before it was deleted. The story took a surreal twist when Daniel Taylor revealed in The Guardian that Kline had concocted a bizarre strategy for countering rumours of a rift between himself and Jokanovic. "Kline's suggestion, I'm reliably informed, was to propose that he dressed up as a sumo wrestler and burst into one of Jokanovic's press conferences to challenge him to a fight," Taylor wrote.

"At which point, the manager would rip off his clothes to show that he, too, was dressed sumo-style. They would grapple for a few minutes in front of the journalists and, according to the logic, this little sketch would go viral and demonstrate they did actually get on. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Jokanovic turned the idea down."

Thankfully for Fulham fans, the club has garnered a lot more respect in the Championship since Kline's departure. With Jokanovic said to be much happier and working more collaboratively on transfers, the team has thrived and steadily climbed up the table. Having made some canny additions to the squad in the January transfer window, Fulham are currently unbeaten in 20 and on course for their best season since they were relegated from the top tier. Having beaten old foes Reading on Tuesday evening in a game which epitomised their all-action take on passing football – despite the 1-0 scoreline, it was an absolute battering – Fulham have leapfrogged Cardiff City into second and are within touching distance of automatic promotion.

Success of loan players

Jokanovic's moves in the January transfer window are proof that strategic loan signings can be the difference between life and death in the Championship. Bringing in young, hungry players who are on the fringes of top-flight teams is an excellent way to bolster a second-tier squad, providing the extra impetus and injection of talent needed to kick on towards the Premier League.

Certainly both Aleksandar Mitrovic and Matt Targett have a point to prove to respective parent clubs Newcastle and Southampton, with the former hampered by his mercurial reputation and the latter failing to fully capitalise on his breakthrough a couple of years ago. While Mitrovic has been the most influential for Fulham – scoring nine goals in 13 appearances through a mixture of brashness, brawn and guile as well as winning the PFA Player of the Month Award for March – Targett was excellent against Reading on Tuesday, showing the confidence, discipline and positional awareness that Fulham's defence has intermittently lacked over the past couple of seasons.

With all the working parts at Fulham clicking into place in the last few months, the club would make a strong addition to the Premier League. While their ambitious brand of football would no doubt see them face a few struggles against the traditional top six, they would have as good a chance as any of usurping one of the lower-mid-table survivors next season. Securing permanent moves for Mitrovic and Targett may be well beyond their control, but Jokanovic and the remaining recruitment gurus at the club have shown they are capable of signing the right players when they work together. So, having experienced their fair share of farce and surrealism since their relegation four years ago, Fulham fans can once again say that the club is taken seriously.



Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/football-indepth/fulham-good-again-loan-signings-key-championship-promotion/

[WhiteJC]

 
Birmingham City Tickets

Tickets for Fulham's final league game of the 2017/18 season will go on sale to Season Ticket Holders on a loyalty point basis from 10am on Monday 16th April.

The Whites take on Birmingham City on Sunday 6th May with kick-off scheduled for 12:30pm.

On sale dates are staggered, culminating with all Season Ticket Holders and Members able to purchase from Thursday 26th April. Supporters are advised to check the full on-sale schedule with Loyalty Points information here to establish when they qualify to purchase tickets.

Tickets are priced at just £20 for adults, £15 for over 65s and students, £10 for under 18s and £5 for under 13s.

Free Coach Travel
Fans can also enjoy free return travel to St Andrew's this May, with our Main Team Partner Grosvenor Casinos offering free coaches for Fulham Fans!


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/april/12/birmingham-city-tickets

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham midfielder Stefan Johansen on four 'cup finals' to keep the pressure on Cardiff City

The midfielder just wants to focus on winning games though

Stefan Johansen has called for his teammates to pile the pressure on Cardiff City by continuing to win three points as the season comes to a close.

The Cottagers lie a point ahead of the Bluebirds but Neil Warnock's side have a game in hand against Derby on April 24th.


(Image: Paul Burgman)

The 27-year-old sees the White's remaining fixtures as cup finals and has admitted that the squad have had their eye on Cardiff's progress.

He said: "It's all cup finals now really. It's just about getting three points and putting pressure on Cardiff. Of course we are but they have a game in hand.

"We're going to go into every game and put pressure on and see what they are all about. They've already lost a couple of points so we're going to see when the season is finished where we are going to be. We just need to focus on ourselves and winning games.

"Obviously you have an eye on them as well. They had that second place, not now but they have had it. We have had a look at them but the main focus has been ourselves and will be until the end of the season.

"Let them focus on themselves and see where it takes them."

The Norwegian international had goalscoring aspirations at the start of the season and has managed eight so far. Now he's not bothered who puts the ball in the net.

"Yeah it's alright I had hoped to make double figures. It's the part of the season where you don't care who scores or assists or whatever you just want three points and that is it."



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/fulham-midfielder-stefan-johansen-four-14519852

[WhiteJC]

 
Brentford hero a doubt for Fulham game as wing wizard returns to training

The Irishman missed the 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest with a hamstring injury and did not train with the first team squad on Thursday

Alan Judge is a major doubt for Brentford for their trip to west London rivals Fulham on Saturday.

The Irishman missed the 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest with a hamstring injury and did not train with the first team squad on Thursday.

And Dean Smith has confirmed that the Irishman, who has scored on his last two visits to Craven Cottage, is a doubt, while revealing that Florian Jozefzoon had returned to training.

He said: "I'm not sure about Alan Judge at the moment. He didn't train today. Florian trained today so he is fine. At the moment, it seems to be as it was."

Smith made four changes at the City Ground and further rotation could occur.

He added: "I made my mark to the players a few weeks ago and said with this run of games, I'll be changing the team.

"Lewis Macleod has played a few games now. Alan Judge the same. We've got fit players for every position so we can chop and change where we need."

Ryan Woods is available once again after serving a three match ban following his red card against Sheffield United.

Smith said: "He's itching to go. He's an old fashioned football lad as I'd call him who just wants to play games. It hurt him not playing and he's waiting to get back in.

"He also knows since he's been out we've we won three games 1-0 so he's competing with other lads at the moment."

Brentford have had to travel back from Nottingham on Tuesday night, while Fulham had an easier time of things as they hosted Reading.

Smith added: "We've recovered very well. We needed a few hours kip. There were traffic problems leaving Nottingham.

"It was a great idea to close the junction of the M1 after a game on a Tuesday night. Everyone has recovered and well."



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brentford-hero-doubt-fulham-game-14524088

[WhiteJC]

 
Reading FC fans complete gruelling charity walk

Three fans have raised more than £3,000 for suicide charity CALM

A group of football fans have raised more than £3,000 after completing a gruelling charity walk.

Reading FC supporters Johnny Hunt and Martin Sims, along with Fulham fan Lee Adams, braved the wind and rain to walk 37 miles from Madejski Stadium to Craven Cottage, where Royals played Fulham on Tuesday night.

The trio did the walk in aid of CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably - a charity which helps prevent male suicide in the UK.

They set off from the Mad Stad on Monday evening at around 9.30pm before walking throughout the night and in to Tuesday so they would arrive in time for kick-off
(7.45pm) on the banks of the River Thames.

Mr Hunt said: "It was cold, wet and horrible but we kept going.

"We were sat in a bus stop in Slough on Tuesday morning thinking were we going to do it for another seven or eight hours but that's what you do.

"You have to keep going and pushing yourself through - that's what dealing with mental health issues is like.

"We stopped for breakfast to dry out and warm up then carried on and made it to Craven Cottage at around 3.45pm.

"We went to the pub and I heard a 'There's only one Johnny Hunt chant' for the first time ever!

"I couldn't feel my legs by the end. We raised more money on the night too and it's been amazing."

Mr Hunt, who lives in Ireland but flies over for several Royals games every season, has first-hand experience of mental health issues

And he says he is keen to use this walk as a way of breaking down the stigma surrounding the issue.

"The whole awareness of the charity has been awesome," he said.

"I'm actually quite gobsmacked and I am very emotional about it because it means a lot to me.

"I started the whole project and to get it going, seeing people want to help and donate and share things is great.

"People want to talk about it and that's good for now but we don't just finish the walk and not talk to each other - we have to then go tomorrow, and the next day and the next.

"People need to share and talk about their own mental health issues or help each other out as much as they can and make it a normal subject like Reading playing a game or if you had a headache, cold or a broken arm."

Royals lost the game 1-0, with Fulham midfielder Stefan Johansen scoring the only goal of the game.

Those wishing to donate to the charity can still do via Johnny's fundraising page.

Watch videos and more from the walk via #readingtofulhamwalk on Twitter.



https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/reading-fc-fans-complete-gruelling-charity-walk/

[WhiteJC]

 
"Winning breeds confidence so the lads are full of confidence"

Dean Smith looks ahead to Saturday's trip to Craven Cottage

Brentford Head Coach Dean admits this weekend's Sky Bet Championship derby against Fulham carries extra spice with both clubs fighting at the top end of the table. The Whites are unbeaten in the league since December and moved into the top two with victory over Reading on Tuesday night while The Bees wrapped up a third straight league success at Nottingham Forest on the same night. Having taken nine points from a possible nine, and kept three clean sheets, Dean feels his side go into this weekend's televised game in a good place.

"Everybody has recovered and is well," Dean told iFollow Brentford. "We are five games unbeaten and have won the last three. Even though it's by the odd goal, winning breeds confidence so the lads are full of confidence. We haven't conceded many goals at all; the three against Cardiff City seems to have been a one-off. On the whole we have been defending a lot better and giving away fewer chances. Defensively I have been very pleased but we still need to create more chances. Bristol City we were excellent and created a number of chances but we probably haven't created as many in the last couple of games."

Despite those three victories, The Bees remain four points outside the top six with just four matches remaining this campaign. With the six teams between Derby County in fifth and The Bees in tenth covered by so few points, Dean knows his side can't afford any more slip-ups this campaign. However, knowing exactly what you need every time you go out on the pitch can have its advantages according to the Brentford boss.

"That's been our mindset for a while; we know we just have to go out and win games," said Dean. "Our start, not winning for eight games, always made it tough for us. We became a chaser and had to play catch up all the time. It's no different now so the mentality of the players has been like that for a while. It does make it easier knowing you have to win but, as I've said before, we have to perform. The only thing we can control is our performance. If we can control that, individually and collectively, then there's every chance we can win the game. Given the run that Fulham are on it makes it tougher but we still believe that we are a good team as well."

Unbeaten in their last 20 league games, The Whites are England's form side and overtook Cardiff City in the automatic promotion race in midweek. Slaviša Jokanović's side, like The Bees, have earned plaudits this season for their style of football as they look to go one better than last season's Play-Off semi-final defeat. Dean admits that the circumstances around the game has given it and extra spice and says The Bees travelling fans will have a big part to play in Saturday's derby.

"It's another game towards the total but there's obviously an added spice to it," admitted Dean. "We have given ourselves a chance by winning these three games and performing well. The fact that we will have a very good following there, and that they have broken into the top two, will make it that bit spicier. I have heard people say that we are two of the better footballing teams in the league, which is nice to hear, but we want to hear people talking about us as a top six team. The only way to do that is to go to Fulham, put in a performance, and hopefully get the result. The fans have a massive role. They travelled in their numbers to Nottingham on a Tuesday night. We are just about keeping that Play-Off dream alive by winning football games. They still believe in us, which is fantastic, and we will certainly need that at Fulham on Saturday."

When asked about his squad options for the trip to SW6, Dean said: "I am not sure about Alan Judge as he didn't train today. We will look at him tomorrow. Florian trained today so he's fine. At the moment it seems to be as was."



https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2018/april/dean-smiths-pre-fulham-press-conference/

[WhiteJC]

 
'After a while I wasn't even training with Fulham's first team. I was a bit of an outcast'
Having featured regularly in the Championship for the Cottagers, Dubliner Sean Kavanagh is getting his career back on track at Shamrock Rovers.

AT 20 YEARS of age, Sean Kavanagh was being handed his chance to impress at senior level for Fulham.

Having joined the London club's academy from Belvedere as a youngster, the left-sided full-back had worked his way through the ranks and German manager Felix Magath decided to take a punt.

A first-team debut came at home to Wolves in August 2014, and although ex-Bayern Munich boss Magath was sacked the following month after a run of 11 league games without a win, Kavanagh remained in the team under his successor, Kit Symons.

Despite sitting out several weeks through injury, the Dubliner played 23 times for the Cottagers in all competitions during that maiden campaign.

"I can't thank him enough for what he did for me," Kavanagh, speaking to The42, says of Magath.

"He gave me my full debut in the Championship, which was putting big trust in me as I was only 20. I look back on my time working under him fondly because he started me in a few games.

"I played a good bit under Kit as well and I knew him from the U21s. He stepped up and kept me in the team. But football is football and he went, with a new manager coming in."

In December 2015, former Yugoslavia midfielder Slavisa Jokanovic was handed the job and Kavanagh's chances dried up. After loan spells at Mansfield Town and Hartlepool United, it became clear that he would have to go elsewhere to play regularly.

"I just found myself out of the team, then after a while I wasn't even training with the first team," he recalls. "I was a bit of an outcast. It's disheartening as you feel like you've done your best for the club.

    Listen, that's football and I'm not the only one it has happened to. I won't be the last either.

"But I look back at what I've done and I'm happy with it. I'm proud of myself and my family are too, which is the main thing. I've come home and I'm looking to push on here if I can."

Although his contract wasn't due to expire until this summer, Kavanagh was eager to kickstart his career. He trained with Derry City, but a chat with former team-mate Damien Duff opened the door to a move to Shamrock Rovers in February.

And he believes it was the right decision.

"I've loved it since I've come back in," he says. "The lads have helped, it's a good bunch here. I had spoken to Damien a little bit and he's involved with the club. He spoke highly of it and what he said has been true.

"They're doing things right here and they seem to be one of the clubs who are going in the right direction with the facilities, the training ground and eating together and that. It's what I'd expect from a professional club coming from across the way, where you're used to all that stuff.

    I've been impressed with the players and the standard of training has been good."

Kavanagh, who is comfortable in a number of positions, has settled into the Rovers team almost immediately — missing just one of the 10 Premier Division matches so far due to suspension after picking up a red card against Limerick.

He has mainly operated on the left-side of midfield, but also featured in front of the back-four during the 6-0 win over Bray Wanderers.

"At the minute, I just want to play as much as I can," he replies, when asked about his favoured role. "When I came in, the gaffer said that one of the big reasons they were looking at me was my versatility as I can play left-back, left midfield or as a holding midfielder. Anywhere I can get on, I'll try to do a job for the team."

Away from football, the Ringsend native has enjoyed having his girlfriend and three-year-old son Freddy as well as family and friends all close by after the lengthy spell in England.

"Only the other day, I picked my grandad up, which I wouldn't have done in seven years or so. It's the small things that you do miss, and you don't realise until you come home that they are a big factor in your life. On and off the field, I've settled in."

With competition to succeed at England's top clubs greater than ever, more and more young Irish players are looking at returning to play in the League of Ireland as a viable option and Kavanagh can see why.

"They're probably being told the league here isn't great, but if players are struggling in England and I was to speak to anyone over there in that situation, I'd recommend it big time.

    You look at the likes of Sean Maguire, who went over and came back. Now he's gone back over with Kevin O'Connor. I know those two lads quite well, so it's something to look at if you want to come home and get yourself going again."

The 24-year-old wasn't involved when Bohemians handed Rovers a 3-1 defeat on the opening night of the season, but he's likely to play when the Gypsies visit Tallaght Stadium for this evening's Dublin derby.

"This last week it's just about keeping at it as we played well at times [in the 2-1 loss to Dundalk] last Friday," he says.

"It's a big derby and you need to know that, but it's just about going out and doing your thing, then the result will hopefully look after itself."



http://www.the42.ie/sean-kavanagh-shamrock-rovers-interview-3954745-Apr2018/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham to resist offers for Ryan Sessegnon if they are promoted to Premier League

Keep an eye on the Championship table the next few weeks.

Fulham's 17-year old star Ryan Sessegnon has been attracting all kinds of attention for the past year or so, and perhaps no club has wanted him more than Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs have been linked to the teenager for over a year now, and very nearly nabbed him from the Cottagers for a song before he signed his first professional contract at Craven Cottage last summer.

His rapidly rising price tag hasn't discouraged Spurs from their interest, and there were even rumors earlier that Spurs and Fulham had an informal deal in place to send Sessegnon to north London this summer. That may not be the case anymore. Fulham are red-hot in the Championship and have just climbed into second place, one of two automatic promotion slots. The London Evening Standard now suggest that if Fulham manage to promote back to the Premier League, either automatically or through the promotion playoff, they will want to hold on to their star player and will rebuff any approaches for Sessegnon.

Sessegnon is a remarkable player. He came through the Fulham academy and cracked the first team last season as a 16-year old left back. Since then he's been moving up the pitch and playing more as a left winger (similar to the development of Gareth Bale). He's Fulham's leading scorer this season with 14 league goals and has the makings of a generational talent for England. He's not going to stay at Fulham forever, but he's almost certain to be a star, and he would make a Premier League-bound Fulham better.

If you haven't been following the Championship at all this season, you should start paying attention. Wolverhampton, under Portuguese manager Nuno, looks poised to win the league, but the next six positions are fluid and exciting. Only five points separate Millwall, currently in sixth, from Preston, in 11th. Aston Villa also look likely to make the playoffs, the first time since they were relegated in 2016. Fulham, meanwhile, is unbeaten in their last 20 matches and has rocketed up to second place ahead of Cardiff with four games to go, though the Bluebirds have a game in hand.

So while Fulham are on a tear, there's still a decent chance that they'll have to fight their way through the promotion playoffs to get back to the Premier League. And if you believe the Standard, the only way Spurs will have a chance to sign Sess (who would command a huge transfer fee even if he is sold) is if they slip up and finish behind Cardiff, and then flame out in the playoff.

I don't know how realistic it is to assume that Spurs would be able to sign Sessegnon permanently even under the best case scenario — he's linked with a host of other teams including both Manchester clubs, Liverpool, and PSG. But over the next few weeks you'll want to keep one eye on the Football League as that could determine whether Tottenham has any chance at all.



https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2018/4/12/17230170/tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-rumors-ryan-sessegnon-fulham-reject-bids-promotion

[WhiteJC]

 
Floyd Ayite missing as Fulham face Brentford

Fulham will again be without Floyd Ayite when they aim to take another step towards promotion against local rivals Brentford.
The forward sustained a hamstring injury at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend and could also miss next Friday's test at in-form Millwall.
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic could name the same side that earned a 1-0 victory over Reading, although he does have options in the likes of Neeskens Kebano and Oliver Norwood.
The midweek win moved Fulham a point above Cardiff in their battle for automatic promotion.
Alan Judge could miss the short trip as he continues to struggle with a hamstring problem.
The issue forced Judge to miss Tuesday's victory at Nottingham Forest and he did not train on Thursday.
Fellow midfielder Ryan Woods is available after completing his three-match ban while winger Florian Jozefzoon is back in training and could feature.
Brentford are 10th in the Sky Bet Championship, four points adrift of the play-off places with four games remaining.



http://www.espn.co.uk/football/preview?gameId=483186

[WhiteJC]

 
Brentford In Focus

Get yourself up to date with the latest pre-match information as Fulham prepare to take on Brentford in Saturday's local derby.

Possible opposition absentees
Rico Henry - knee injury

Alan Judge - injury
Tickets

Starting from £15 juniors and £35 adults, fans can  buy online, by telephone on 0203 871 0810 (opt 2) or in person from the Fulham Ticket Office.
Weather

It will be warm and dry in Fulham on Saturday, around 16 degrees at kick-off.
Pre-match

Fans can pick up a pint of Carlsberg or Somersby for £3.50 (usually £4.80) up until 4.30pm in the Hammersmith, Riverside and Johnny Haynes Stands.
Live stream

Because this fixture has been selected for live coverage on Sky Sports, we are unable to stream it on fulhamfctv.
He said

"We know how well Fulham have done over last season and the last 20 games. The fact that we will have a really good following there, and that they have broken into the top two, will make it that bit spicier." - Dean Smith, Brentford head coach
Grosvenor Casinos match odds

Fulham: 13/20

Draw: 3/1

Brentford: 18/5
Previous five results

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Brentford (Championship)

Brentford 1-0 Ipswich Town (Championship)

Bristol City 0-1 Brentford (Championship)

Brentford 1-1 Sheffield United (Championship)

Brentford 1-1 Middlesbrough (Championship)



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/april/13/brentford-in-focus

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham must avoid capital punishment as London rivals threaten to derail Premier League push

Cardiff City may still be in the driver's seat in the race for promotion but it is Fulham that are moving at top speed as the Championship reaches its conclusion.

And though both manager Slavisa Jokanovic and his squad are desperate to reaffirm that they are not in control - they are a point ahead of Cardiff but have played a game more - the nature of their task has changed.

Back in the dog days of mid-November even a playoff push seemed unlikely. A six game run without victory had the Cottagers only seven points clear of the relegation zone. Wolves, Cardiff and Sheffield United - the three sides then vying for the top two - had seemingly faded from view.

Indeed captain Tom Cairney conceded defeat in the hunt for automatic promotion when he spoke to Standard Sport on December 7.

"Automatic is going to be tough, maybe too tough," he said. "If you said playoffs now we'd take it."

Now the playoffs would feel like a bitter blow for Fulham. But whether Cardiff clamber back into second or not the Cottagers have a chance to prove just how far they have come from the team that froze on the biggest stage against Reading last year in back-to-back London derbies.

Cairney said last month that Fulham are playing "Premier League football in the Championship" but aesthetics will count for little in these games. That is not to say that Brentford and Millwall are not capable of going toe-to-toe with their London rivals in footballing terms but, with so much on the line for all three teams no quarter will be given.

These games will be a test of mettle for Fulham, a chance to prove that they won't lose their cool as they did in such heartbreaking fashion against Reading last May. They came into those playoffs on the back of another scarcely credible hot streak that ultimately counted for nought.

If the same happens again this season then it will prove to be a tough summer for this exceptional side as Premier League predators circle around Ryan Sessegnon, Tom Cairney, Ryan Fredericks and others.

Brentford's unbeaten streak may only be a quarter as long as Fulham's 20 but they are proving to be just the sort of side that could unsettle Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ryan Sessegnon et al.

Their last three games have ended in 1-0 wins and only one of their last 12 opponents - Cardiff - have managed more than a goal against them.

Such is the test that Brentford will pose that Jokanovic can quite easily bat off questions about how their promotion aspirations will be tested at The Den, against a Millwall side whose own hot streak is now 16 games without defeat, let alone looking any further ahead to what might be around the corner next season.

"It is only one [game], one is ahead of us next Saturday and after this step there will be another and another," Jokanovic told Standard Sport.

"We don't need to think about Millwall, Sunderland or Birmingham because this is not under our control and we must wait for these games.

"The important game is the one ahead of us, against a good team, team that is fighting for the play-off."

Whilst Jokanovic is right to treat each game as though it is hermetically sealed the truth is these can be the two games where Fulham prove their readiness for the top flight.

As Neil Warnock put it: the hunter has become the hunted. Last season they buckled under the pressure but to extend their unbeaten streak to 22 games – and in the process tie Manchester City for England's best run without defeat this season – they will have to show mental fortitude that can only serve them well whether the league campaign ends in the top two or the playoffs.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-must-avoid-capital-punishment-as-london-rivals-threaten-to-derail-premier-league-push-a3812706.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Automatic For The People

It's fair to say there's been a slight upturn in form this year from the men from SW6. Thanks to a brilliant 20-game unbeaten run in the Sky Bet Championship, things have suddenly got very, very interesting in the race to reach the Premier League.

"We said after the international break that we were going to keep pushing Cardiff and see what they're about," Stefan Johansen tells Saturday's official matchday programme.

"I would guess the pressure is getting to them. They know that we're in great form, but also the way they've lost their last two games must hurt. The confidence is high in our group and we know we have a good chance to get promoted. We'll just keep pushing."

To read the full interview with Johansen, pick up a programme on Saturday.

Other highlights from the publication - named Programme Monthly's 'Championship Programme of the Season' - include:

    Slaviša Jokanović, Tom Cairney and Gordon Davies pen their latest columns
    Les Barrett and Fred Callaghan recall their spells at Fulham ahead of their return to SW6 on Saturday
    John Fraser reflects on his time at both the Whites and Brentford
    Zat Knight talks us through a Fulham-related photo of himself
    And Paul Parker picks the best XI he played with at the Cottage

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 and take out a half-season subscription.

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/2018/april/13/stefan-johansen-brentford-programme

[WhiteJC]

 
Ream: Good Energy

Tim Ream knows Fulham's four remaining fixtures will each present a unique challenge.

Brentford still harbour ambitions of a top-six finish, a position Millwall currently find themselves in, before the regular season comes to a close with matches against relegation threatened Sunderland and Birmingham City.

"They're all going to be different," Ream told the official website. "You have a London derby on Saturday, then another derby so to speak, two very different styles of play but two sides pushing for the Play-Offs – one that's in it right now and the other one holding out hope.

"Then you have two teams that are trying to avoid relegation, so there are no easy games in this division, there never has been and never will be, and we will have to go into every match with the same mentality that we've had for the past 20 games."

Craven Cottage was rocking on Tuesday night as Reading became the latest side put to the sword.

Another vociferous atmosphere surely awaits in Saturday's local derby with the Bees, and Ream admitted it's a pleasure to compete in such conditions.

"You can definitely feel the energy in the stadium," he stated. "It's fun, as players, to be out there with the fans completely behind us, as they have been all year, home and away.

"It was a great atmosphere [against Reading], especially towards the end. Every time we touch the ball they're right into it. It's as much about them as it is us, and I think we're all pulling in the right direction."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/april/13/tim-ream-good-energy

[WhiteJC]

 
U18s Travel to Norwich

The Under-18s travel to bottom of the table Norwich Cityon Saturday morning. The Young Whites face the Canaries in their penultimate PL South fixture at midday at the Colney Training Centre.

The reverse fixture finished with a 2-2 draw, Timmy Abraham opened the scoring but Fulham conceded two goals before the break.

Within a minute of the second half getting underway, Nicolas Santos-Clase got on the end of a Cameron Thompson cross to level the match.

Fulham are seventh in the PL South with two matches remaining. After this fixture they host West Ham in the final match of the season.

Last time out, Fulham were beaten by Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Motspur Park, Timmy Abraham was on the scoresheet for successive games. Norwich also lost their previous match 3-2 when they were away to Swansea City.

You can keep up to date with the match as live updates will be provided on the Club's official twitter account, @FulhamFC.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/april/13/u18s-travel-to-norwich

[WhiteJC]

 
Time to stand up and be counted. This is huge.

The weekend is almost here. Friday morning is upon us, meaning just one more sleep until Brentford travel to Fulham. One more sleep until The Bees have the chance to continue the push for the play offs against second placed Fulham. With the gap between the top two teams 11 points, should the Cottagers fail to win then Wolves will be crowned League champions. Otherwise, they'll need to wait until Sunday and their own game with Birmingham City on Sunday morning. With Barnsley hosting Bolton, the pressure at the basement end of the table is only sure to get even bigger. What a weekend awaits.

Elsewhere, I'll need to direct you to a story on the Telegraph website and then a subsequent petition. It is a story that given both our own ground development at Lionel Road and great away following, is of supreme relevance. Moreso given our predilection to stand up at football – whether on the road or in our current Griffin Park home.

First up, Fulham. Putting to one side a £35 ticket price that is approaching Leeds United levels of mickey taking – something even more shocking given the game is on TV – this one is huge. There's so much riding on this. For Brentford, the chance to keep our play-off push alive. Three successive 1-0 wins, despite the absence of talismanic midfielder Ryan Woods, have seen us move to within just four points of fifth place with Derby County having blown one of their two games in hand.

There's also the chance to continue a fine recent run against a Fulham side who have only beaten us once in 7 (seven) games since our paths crossed in the Championship. From Jota in the last minute back in 2014, through that season's 4-1 destruction at the Cottage all the way up to this campaign's 3-1 home win it would be fair to say that Brentford have had the upper hand. The only blot on the copy book being a November 2016 win at Griffin Park for, what needs to be acknowledged, was a very impressive looking outfit.

But what a time it would be to notch another three points on the bed post. The previous encounters have all had that huge emotional significance, of course. You can't beat the passion of a West London derby – even if one part of it is taking place in the neutral stand, with clappers and behind the Gin bar. This one, of course, will have all of that but it will have more. Much more.

A Fulham side packed with some homegrown talent and clever use of the loan system have been relentless in their pursuit of automatic promotion. Slowly that gap has been reeled in until last weekend they made it. They'd hit the top two positions. How delicious would it be to push them back out whilst continuing our own climb. You couldn't have written a better script in the build-up to this one.

For Brentford, there's nothing to lose and everything to gain. We've played with freedom and talent as our team has come together following the early season stumbles and triple transfer swoop by Birmingham City. Yet, perhaps as much motivated by 'that' ten times better  claim, the fans and the squad have been galvanised. We've been loud, proud and kept on churning out the results. Now, we are on the threshold of magnificence. More importantly, we are on the threshold of that bold predicton from Rasmus Ankersen coming to fruition.

I've mentioned this a lot on these pages but they are words that I've never forgotten. Back in Spetember 2015 he told supporters, "It is not an option to not be in the Premier League. It has to happen in the next three years.... At the moment there is no Plan B. we'll be in the Premier League in three years."

They are words that have been hard to swallow at times. I'm the first to admit that. Yet, at the same time, they are THE marker post. That three year period comes to an end with the conclusion of this campaign. For all that some supporters have struggled to get used to our new set up at Griffin Park. For all that even I've had my doubts a t times. For all that we've seen a whole host of huge names sold for vast sums of money. For all of this we're still going. For all of this we ARE in with a chance.

The absolute inner belief in this club is that Brentford are a Premier League Club. I know this for fact. Just speaking to our senior figures  – as anybody can do; they are always very accessible – you can feel the confidence and the self-assurance of the journey we are on. There is no doubt in which direction this club is heading. How incredible would it be to take that next step at Craven Cottage? See you there.

Could I also crave your indulgence to take a look at both the aforementioned Telegraph story and then ask, if you feel it appropriate, you sign the 'safe standing' petition. We all know what happened in the past but football has moved on so much since then. We all know football supporters still stand – it is as much part of just trying to see the game at times Yet our own Sports' minister seems to have her head in the sand as to what supports want and to what advice she is being given.

The Telegraph quotes her as saying "The answer to dealing with persistent standing is not necessarily to introduce safe standing....There are regulations to deal with persistent standing – I would like to see them enforced."

What is the answer? To continue with the successful standing zones introduced at the likes of Celtic and several Bundelsiga clubs? Or encourage stewards to take an even tougher stance at physical enforcement? Kick supporters out of the ground?

It's your shout. But the petition link is here if it is something you feel you need to make a stand about.

Many thanks

Nick Bruzon



https://nickbruzonslastword.wordpress.com/2018/04/13/time-to-stand-up-and-be-counted-this-is-huge/