Wednesday Fulham Stuff (23/05/18)...

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The extortionate amount that Aston Villa fans are being charged for Wembley tickets

Ticket touts are cashing in on supporters' desperation to watch AVFC vs Fulham at Wembley

Touts are cashing in on the play-off final with Wembley tickets selling for almost FIVE times the normal price.

Aston Villa meet Fulham at Wembley on Saturday evening in the so-called 'richest game in football'.

Villa's tickets have been selling at an incredible rate, despite season ticket holders only permitted to purchase one.

The claret and blues had already sold more than 20,000 within 48 hours of tickets going on sale on Wednesday, May 16 (5pm).

But some of those tickets appear to have fallen into the wrong hands with ticket websites such as ticketbis charging Villans in excess of £600 for some seats.

The most expensive ticket available to fans via Villa's ticketing service was the Category One £98 for an adult.

That same ticket is being sold for £474.95 on tickets.

During the brief period BirminghamLive spent analysing prices on ticketbis, tickets were selling rapidly as desperate fans parted with huge sums of cash.

The cheapest tickets on ticketbis are selling for £124.60 - but they're in the East End, which is where the Fulham fans are housed.

A huge concern for EFL chiefs is that Villa fans, keen to be at Wembley, will end up sitting in the Fulham end.

While Villa season ticket holders are only permitted to buy one ticket, Fulham allowed their regulars to purchase as many as five.



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-ticket-tout-fulham-14687417

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ALL GONE! Aston Villa sell their Wembley ticket allocation

CEO Keith Wyness paid tribute to the supporters ahead of the play-off final

Aston Villa and Fulham have both sold out their 38,000 allocation for Saturday's play-off final.

Fans flocked to buy tickets for the clash at Wembley and secured the remaining seats online this morning.

By 8pm on Monday night, Fulham confirmed that all available tickets had been sold and that only hospitality packages remain.

And Villa sold out their remaining tickets this morning.

CEO Keith Wyness paid tribute to the supporters, saying:

"Once again, the Villa fans have shown their tremendous support.

"Big games always mean disappointment for some, it has unfortunately always been like that in football. I know we could have taken many thousands more.

"Your support on Saturday will be crucial as it was in the play-off semi-final games. A sincere thank you to all of you."



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-fulham-wembley-playoffs-14688326

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'Now is their time' The inside track on Aston Villa's play-off opponents Fulham

Football editor Mat Kendrick spoke to a FFC expert to get the lowdown

Fulham - the obstacle standing between Aston Villa and a return to the Premier League.

It's honours even between the two clubs this season with Villa winning 2-1 at Villa Park and the Cottagers winning 2-0 at Craven Cottage.

Fulham are the bookies favourites heading into the Wembley showdown after a remarkable run took them to third place, one position above their final rivals.

We spoke to Ryan O'Donovan, a regular Whites watcher from Football.london for the inside track on Slavisa Jokanovic's men. Here's the lowdown:

Sum up your season



I'd say it was the old cliche - a tale of two halves.

It started off as one of disappointment for Fulham - a poor start saw the side slip to 17th in the table after a summer that was full of hope and optimism.

But after the defeat at Sunderland, the lowest point in the campaign, the Whites' season can only be described as phenomenal.

To go 23 games unbeaten and challenge for the top two after that start makes where they are now all the more impressive.

Who have been Fulham's top three players this season?

Tim Ream - The centre back has enjoyed his best season in his career and has been an ever-present rock at the back. Fulham lacked strength in defence last year, but Ream has stepped to the plate and has been consistent all season.

Kevin McDonald - An unsung hero in Fulham's side - his anchor role protects the back four and allows the more creative players to flourish. He adds balance to the side, and although he doesn't score that many goals, he is vital to the Fulham machine.

Ryan Sessegnon



An obvious one after the season he's had - 16 goals for a 17-year-old is just unbelievable when you think about it.

His goals were vital when Fulham were pulling themselves out of their rut, and his ability to pop up with a goal at the right time cannot be understated.

Sum up your thoughts on Villa's season

I fancied Aston Villa to go up automatically myself - you look at their squad and see quality all through it.

From the outside looking in, it seems to have been a good season for Villa after previous years, but I can't help but feel that with the players at their disposal, they should be in the top two.

From our point of view, it seems that inconsistency has been the reason why Villa weren't in the race for automatic promotion for longer.

Who is the Villa player you would most fear in the play-offs?

Jack Grealish - the side seems to be built around him and when he's on his game, he's by far and away one of the best players in the Championship.

He has the ability to make things happen for Villa and I think a lot of people were glad he missed out in the game at Craven Cottage earlier this season.

If he's on form, the Wembley pitch will do doubt play into his hands and he could exploit the space in between Fulham's defence and midfield, and that's a worry for the Cottagers.

How would you describe the job Slavisa Jokanovic has done?

It's been a very solid job. He guided the side to safety in his first year and since then has taken Fulham on an upward trajectory.

Some were calling for his head in November when the side were struggling, but he's hauled them into contention for a spot in the Premier League, and he's done it playing easy on the eye football, which isn't easy to do in the second tier.

What have been the five best moments of the season?

Sheffield United 4-5 Fulham: A crazy night which saw Ryan Sessegnon score a hat-trick on his 50th appearance for his boyhood club. I probably won't see a game like that again for a long time.

Middlesbrough 0-1 Fulham: The game at the Riverside proved Fulham have the steel this season that they were lacking in the last campaign. Add that to a last minute penalty to secure three points and it's a pretty good time.



Fulham 2-0 Wolves: This period in February was make or break time - Fulham played everyone in and around the top six but the victory over Wolves proved the side had to what it takes to mix it with the very best in the division.

Fulham 2-1 Preston: It was a hard fought game up at Deepdale, and after Sean Maguire had equalised it looked like Fulham would have to settle for one point. But Aleksandar Mitrovic's last minute goal sent the travelling fans into raptures as the unbeaten as the team made it four wins on the bounce.

Fulham 2-0 Derby: I can't mention best moments without mentioning the play-off final. Fulham played magnificently and the atmosphere was one not seen at the Cottage since the Europa League run back in 2010.

And the five worst?

Sunderland 1-0 Fulham: Sunderland hadn't won at home in a year, up step Fulham. No more needs to be said.

Wolves 2-0 Fulham: Defeat at Molineux, which looked like a training game at times, made it the whole month of October without a win and five in total.

Fulham 0-2 Bristol City: The club had just sacked data analyst, Craig Kline, and on the pitch Fulham were out played by their visitors. It looked like it would be a season full of turmoil for the Whites.

Derby 1-0 Fulham: Another play off defeat for Fulham and it looked like the curse could continue for the Whites. They peppered Derby's goal with efforts but couldn't find the breakthrough.

Tom Cairney's injury in pre-season: The talisman, he got injured in pre-season and it took until the second half of the season before we saw the real Cairney again.



How would you sum up your fans this season/what have been the best chants?

The fans have been great this season - the majority continued to back the side in the poor spell in October and travelled in big numbers towards the end of the campaign.

The 'Try Before You Buy' slogan going round about the Play-off final at Wembley and Shahid Khan's potential purchase has been a particular highlight for me.

Give us your final prediction please

I'm tempting fate here, but I'm going to go with 2-1 Fulham.

I think the Whites have enough about them to win this game, but Villa will pose the biggest challenge they've faced so far.

Fulham have quality all over the pitch and I think now is their time to finally get back into the Premier League.



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/now-time-inside-track-aston-14689407

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Championship play-off final 'worth at least £160million to winners'

Deloitte say Saturday's match between Villa and Fulham continues to offer the biggest prize in world football.

The Sky Bet Championship play-off final between Aston Villa and Fulham on Saturday could be worth at least £160million for the winners.

Villa and Fulham hope to join Wolves and Cardiff in the Premier League next season and the prize on offer in the annual winner-takes-all clash at Wembley is still the biggest in world football.

The figures, released by Deloitte, are the same as last season with this year's showdown falling in the second year of the latest, record-breaking three-year television rights deal.

"All eyes will be on Wembley on Saturday afternoon for this winner-takes-all clash," said Deloitte's head of the sports business group Dan Jones.

"It will be, as ever, a fantastic advert for the competitive intensity of the Championship and the financial attraction of the Premier League."

Jones said the financial rewards for the winners of the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Kiev later on Saturday pale in comparison.

"Whilst in football terms the UEFA Champions League final is the bigger game, the financial rewards on offer in Kiev are dwarfed by those at stake in north London," Jones added.

"The difference between winning and losing for Liverpool this weekend, is a mere £4m in distributions from UEFA and they are already assured of appearing in next year's competition."

Cardiff and Fulham both received their final parachute payments in the 2017/18 season, having been relegated from the Premier League in 2014.

Champions Wolves are not currently in receipt of parachute payments, having been relegated to the Championship in 2012, while Aston Villa received their second of three parachute payments in the 2017/18 season having been relegated in 2016.

As a result, Cardiff, Fulham and Wolves can expect a minimum revenue uplift of around £170m over three years if relegated from the Premier League after just one season, Deloitte said.

"The financial prize for Fulham or Aston Villa, as well as Wolves and Cardiff, becomes at least £280m if they survive the first season in the Premier League," added Deloitte's sports business group consultant Sam Boor.

"This figure could rise further once the Premier League concludes the sale of all live broadcast rights.

"Huddersfield, Brighton and Newcastle all successfully stayed up this year, a rarity, and any club that enjoys a sustained period of Premier League participation will challenge for a place in the top 30 of Deloitte's Football Money League."



http://sport.bt.com/football/championship-play-off-final-worth-at-least-160million-to-winners-S11364273447296

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£280m winner: Villa and Fulham fight for biggest cash prize in world football

May 22 – The winner of Saturday's Champions League final, the most prestigious club competition in Europe, will walk away with €15.5 million in prize money.  The winner of the EFL Championship play-off for the Premier League – that takes place earlier in the afternoon between Aston Villa and Fulham – will win the biggest cash prize in world football with a whopping revenue of boost of at least £160 million over three seasons, rising to more than £280 million if they avoid relegation in their first season in the Premier League.

Aston Villa and Fulham will battle it for what accountancy and financial advisory firm Deloitte says is the biggest prize in world football.

Dan Jones, Partner and Head of the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said: "Whilst in football terms the UEFA Champions League Final is the bigger game, the financial rewards on offer in Kiev are dwarfed by those at stake in North London. The difference between winning and losing for Liverpool this weekend, is a mere £4 million in distributions from UEFA (with any inbound sponsor bonuses likely to be at least in part offset by outgoing player and management bonuses) and they are already assured of appearing in next year's competition."

The cash windfall is predominantly the result of the Premier League's massive broadcast rights deals. Deloittes point out that the "2018/19 is the final year of the current three-year broadcast rights cycle, which has provided the Premier League with an additional £1 billion per season compared to the previous cycle ending in 2016. In February, the Premier League sold the majority of domestic broadcast rights for the next cycle (starting with the 2019/20 season) for almost £4.5 billion."

Jones points out that while the broadcast rights deals for the UK market of the next three-year cycle are slightly lower so far (£4.5 billion vs £5.4 billion), he says that he expects the sale of the two remaining UK packages and the international broadcast sales to maintain a "healthy premium" for the next rights cycle.

Once in the Premier League the task is surviving. Both Fulham and Aston Villa, as well as already promoted Cardiff City, have benefitted from parachute payments this season. Deloittes point out that "in the last 10 seasons to 2017/18, 20 (67%) of the 30 clubs promoted to the Premier League have avoided relegation in their first season. Last season was the first in seven years where all three of the promoted clubs avoided first-year relegation."



http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2018/05/22/280m-winner-villa-fulham-fight-biggest-cash-prize-world-football/

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Newcastle's Mitrovic keen on Fulham stay as Jokanovic desperate – report

Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is hopeful over securing a permanent move to Fulham this summer with Slavisa Jokanovic desperate to keep him after his loan spell, according to Football.London.

The football news website claim on their live question and answer (22/05, 12:00) that the Serbian powerhouse and his family are settled down at the London club and after his impressive performances while on a temporary deal, his fellow countryman and manager is keen for him to stay.

The 23-year-old has scored 12 goals in 19 appearances to help fire the Cottagers to the play off final, and the report states his future could lie on both whether Fulham are promoted and his performances at the World Cup this summer.

Good move for Newcastle?

Mitrovic fell out of Rafael Benitez's plans for what appeared to be a lack of trust both on and off the field, but he seems to have bucked his ideas up with Fulham.

His impressive form down south has been a kick in the teeth for the Magpies for they so desperately needed a striker who could stick the ball in the back of the net, and had he shown the same form he has over the past couple of months, he would have been heralded on Tyneside.

Instead he now looks as one of the north east side's most saleable assets as they look to build up funds for the summer transfer window, and it will likely be a case of what could have been for both parties.

This is Futbol rating: 7/10

Likely to happen?

A move away seems a certainty if a club come in with the right sort of price, and whether that will be Fulham remains to be seen.

There should be a lot of interest in the aggressive forward and after impressing in London, Benitez will be looking for the best possible fee, with a potential bidding war on the cards.

Barring a miracle, Mitrovic's future at Newcastle is non-existent, and it is only a matter of where he ends up next which needs to be decided.

This is Futbol rating: 9/10



https://thisisfutbol.com/2018/05/blogs/newcastles-mitrovic-keen-on-fulham-stay-as-jokanovic-desperate-report/

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Play-Off Final v Fulham – The Financial Cost For Failure

Deloitte have crunched the numbers on what the Championship Play-Off Final and victory would mean for both Aston Villa and Fulham this season.

With a Wembley route often regarded as the more magical way of achieving promotion into the Premier League, it is certainly the more financially beneficial with the national stadium riches at stake for both clubs and especially the winner.

Saturday, May 26 sees Steve Bruce's side fight for the biggest financial prize in world football when you factor in all the relevant benefits, and for the traditionalists amongst us, the following will make for frightening reading.

If promoted Villa will benefit from a rough £160million across the next three seasons owing to the current terms of the television deal in place, and that figure could rise to in excess of £280million if we consolidate our position on our return. To put that in perspective, West Bromwich Albion earned £94,666,492 for finishing in last place this year.

Referencing the Champions League Final as the bigger game, Partner and Head of Sports, Dan Jones told their website – Click Here.

"Whilst in football terms the UEFA Champions League Final is the bigger game, the financial rewards on offer in Kiev are dwarfed by those at stake in North London. The difference between winning and losing for Liverpool this weekend, is a mere £4m in distributions from UEFA (with any inbound sponsor bonuses likely to be at least in part offset by outgoing player and management bonuses) and they are already assured of appearing in next year's competition."

The self-styled Chumps League is worth a pittance in comparison and Villa actually receive slightly less of a financial prize as we forego our third parachute payment for success – but you only need to look at the figures listed to know how important it is for our finances.

Okay, this report contains some presumptions – it assumes the value of the next television deal delivers the same value as the current agreement, but with Financial Fair Play in the second tier about to bite, and Villa needing to move to a loan approach to strengthening the squad, it doesn't take a financial whiz to know what this kind of boost would give our accounts and the added freedom it would allow in the first team to strengthen.

Many have happily said they enjoyed the Championship battle more than the Premier League, but it's not about the fans anymore is it – it's about the money on offer and for Villa to grow, we need to get our share of that pie.

A failure to gain promotion this year and we know we need to significantly tighten our belts and neither the club nor Steve Bruce, have overly hidden that.

You can very easily say there are 280million reasons to get the job done this weekend and ensure we don't then become a yo-yo club for a few seasons.



https://astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/play-off-final-v-fulham-the-financial-cost-for-failure/

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Villa and Fulham to battle for 'the biggest prize in football'

(Reuters) - Aston Villa and Fulham will be playing for a minimum 160 million pounds when they go head-to-head for a place in the Premier League at Wembley Stadium on Saturday in a match often described as the richest in world soccer.

According to Deloitte Sports Business Group, the winner of the Championship playoff final for the third promotion place can finish bottom of the top-flight next season and still benefit from lucrative broadcasting deals and parachute payments.

"All eyes will be on Wembley on Saturday afternoon for this winner-takes-all clash," Dan Jones, partner and head of the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said in a statement.

"It will be, as ever, a fantastic advert for the competitive intensity of the Championship and the financial attraction of the Premier League."

Fulham can expect to earn up to 170 million pounds over three seasons if they are relegated from the Premier League after just one season.

That breaks down to a minimum of 95 million pounds, mostly from Premier League's central payments, and approximately 75 million pounds in parachute payments in 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Villa were relegated from the top division in 2016 and would receive a third parachute payment next year. However, they will need to forego that amount should they get promoted, meaning their minimum net uplift would be 160 million pounds.

The change from three to two years of parachute payments was enforced from the 2016-17 season. This means that any club that gets relegated after just one season in the Premier League is only entitled to two years of parachute payments.

The 2018-19 Premier League campaign will be final season under a 5.1 billion pound domestic TV rights deal signed in 2015.

The value of the broadcasting rights have since dropped after the Premier League sold the majority of the packages for the next cycle for almost 4.5 billion pounds in February.

"Whilst sale of domestic rights has so far produced a lower value relative to the current cycle we expect the combined value of domestic and international rights to remain at a healthy premium across 2019 to 2022 to any other football league," Jones added.

"The value of rights for the next cycle should reach current levels after the conclusion of the Premier League's sale of domestic rights (two smaller packages remain unsold) and international rights."



https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-england-ful-ava-prize/villa-and-fulham-to-battle-for-the-biggest-prize-in-football-idUKKCN1IN1LN?rpc=401&;

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Who is Aleksandar Mitrovic? The 'killer up front' ready to unsettle Aston Villa at Wembley

Mitrovic will lead the line for Fulham in the play-off final at Wembley

Meet Aleksandar Mitrovic, a man threatening to ruin Aston Villa's Wembley dream this weekend.

The 23-year old Serbian forward has scored 12 goals for Fulham since joining on loan from Newcastle United in January.

Described by Cottagers boss Slavisa Jokanovic as "showing strength, quality and perseverance", we take a look at what makes him such a threat to Villa in the play-off final on Saturday.

The story of his season



Having begun the season at his parent club, Newcastle United, Mitrovic scored one goal in six appearances as the Toon began their campaign to stay in the Premier League.

He then arrived at Craven Cottage on the final day of the January transfer window and has since become their second highest goalscorer this season. Netting 12 goals to Ryan Sessegnon's 16.

Mitrovic's last goal came in the 2-1 win over Sunderland on 27th April.

What his managers have said



Newcastle United Manager, Rafa Benitez:

"Really pleased (for Aleksandar Mitrovic).

"I have to congratulate him (on Championship player of the month award for March) because he's doing a good job.

"I think it is important for him and good for us too. Aleksandar Mitrovic is a young player, doing well in a good team.

"Everything is positive for him and for us."

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic:

"Aleksandar Mitrovic has shown strength, quality and perseverance to score important goals and assist his teammates too.

"I congratulate him for winning the award for March.

"I expect that he will continue to offer good performances to help the team in this crucial moment of the Championship season."



Serbia manager, Mladen Krstajic:

"Mitrovic was very lucky to be coached by Jokanovic, a coach from Serbia who knows him very well.

"Mitrovic did a very good thing in choosing to come to Fulham.

"I'm sure that after the loan he will move to an even bigger, better club, where he can do much better.

"Personally, it's a great pleasure to have a player such as Mitrovic in our squad.

"He's a killer up front, which he proved against Nigeria."



What he has said

"From the first minute here, I adapted really fast and my team-mates have helped me a lot.

"I feel good to play every game on the pitch so I hope that we'll be able to fight for automatic promotion for the rest of the season.

"I needed to leave Newcastle because I needed game time and needed games in my legs and I was desperate to play football, to be on the pitch, to score goals.



"It works perfectly for me, I really enjoy it here, my family enjoy it and I hope it continues.

"The manager, obviously being Serbian too, helped me a lot and the style they play, the players they have, I like a lot."

On getting to the play-off final:

"This is the reason I came here. It is unbelievable. I think we deserve to get promoted as we play good football and created chances. I am so proud and so happy"

How can Villa stop him?



Mitrovic has shown in his time at Newcastle that he can have a tendency to get frustrated and kick out at an opposition player, having missed seven games for Newcastle in the 15/16 season due to red card offences.

Villa may try to use this to their advantage and attempt to frustrate the Serbian, this is where the experience of players like John Terry and Alan Hutton in defence may become useful.

Including Mile Jedinak in the team may also offer a better physical presence when dealing with the 6ft 2in striker.



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-aleksandar-mitrovic-killer-up-14691003

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Aston Villa man deemed 'too small' tasked with dealing with Fulham's 'awkward striker' Mitrovic

Aleksandar Mitrovic will be Fulham's biggest threat in the play-off final - meet the man tasked with dealing with him, who was deemed 'too small' by Tony Pulis

Fulham take on Aston Villa on Saturday in the Championship play-off final with Aleksandar Mitrovic expecting to play a key role in the battle for the Premier League.

The Newcastle loanee has been in stunning form since arriving in January, bagging himself 12 goals in his time at Craven Cottage so far - goals that have seen the side rise up the table and eventually finish 3rd.

James Chester looks set to be the man tasked with trying to make sure he doesn't add Villa to the list of sides that he's netted against this season by scoring at Wembley, and the two have history.

Ahead of the play-off final, we spoke to Birmingham Live's Aston Villa man, Gregg Evans, about the role Chester will play on Saturday and whether or not he can control Fulham's 'awkward striker'.

How can Aston Villa contain Aleksandar Mitrovic?

"James Chester is expected to be the man tasked with containing Aleksandar Mitrovic at Wembley.

"And he'll be primed for the test having faced the in-form striker on a number of previous occasions.

"Mitrovic scored in both encounters when Serbia drew with Wales home and away in World Cup qualifying last season.

"Chester played against him both times and also came face-to-face with the striker again in February when Fulham beat Villa 2-0 at Craven Cottage.

"Keeping Fulham's awkward striker on a leash is pivotal for Villa.

"Mitrovic has fired 12 goals in 17 matches since arriving at Craven Cottage from Newcastle United in January and he's a real handful up top.

"But Chester has enjoyed a wonderful season himself and collected the supporters' player of the year award for his efforts.

"He's also played every single minute of the season and incredibly every single minute since signing.

"How he didn't get into the Championship team of the year is beyond me.

"Moving to Villa was essentially a drop down in level when he left West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League in 2016.

"But he's shown that he can perform to the highest standard on a regular basis AND in his favoured centre-back role.

"Deemed too small by Tony Pulis who played Chester at right-back despite signing him for £7million from Hull, the defender had a point to prove.


(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

"He's done that with his performances on the pitch and if Villa don't go up this term, there will be no shortage of suitors looking to take him away.

"On Sunday he gets married to his long-term girlfriend, less than 24 hours after the play-off final.

"His job will be to keep Mitrovic quiet at Wembley first, and who's to say he won't. He's never let Villa down before."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/aston-villa-man-deemed-too-14691268

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The All Important Pub Guide For Wembley – Allocated Bars For Aston Villa & Fulham Fans.

So now we know that Villa have officially sold out it's allocation for the play-off Final on Saturday, here is the information we all need to know. What pubs have been allocated to the Claret & Blue faithful?

There will be 2 x external fan zones for both sets of supporters open 12:00pm – 4:00pm:

Aston Villa Fan Zone – Events Pad (next to LDO)
Fulham Fan Zone – Arena Square (next to SSE Arena)

And then the bars:

Aston Villa Supporters pubs:

The Green Man

The Arch

Station 31 (Speakeasy)

JJ Moons

Thirsty Eddies

Flannery's

Fusilier

Masti

The Corner House (Mannions)

The Liquor Station

Moore Spice

Fulham Supporters have the following pubs allocated: The Torch / Crock of Gold / Watkins Folly / Blue Check Café / Crystal Club (Silverspoon) / The Parish / First Class Sports Bar / The Wembley Tavern / Flyers Last Stand / The Copper Jug

I'm personally not sold on these 5pm kick-offs, I'd rather have a drink, get to the match at 3pm, enjoy the game half awake and then go for the celebratory (oh yes, I have faith!) drinks after. But hey ho, money talks in £ootball now, not common sense.



https://astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/the-all-important-pub-guide-for-wembley-allocated-bars-for-aston-villa-fulham-fans/

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What next for Chris Coleman after Sunderland humiliation?

Chris Coleman cut his managerial teeth by leading Fulham to a ninth-place finish in the 2003/04 Premier League campaign. Unfortunately for the Welshman, that remains his biggest achievement in club management. Stints at Real Sociedad, Coventry City, and Greek side AEL all ended in disappointment for one reason or another.

Coleman finally found stability at home. After taking over the Welsh national team in 2012, he led the Dragons to the European Championship semi-final four years later. His achievement was made more remarkable as it was Wales' first major tournament qualification since appearing in the 1958 World Cup. 

Appreciation soon showered on Coleman. His contribution to the national side was fully acknowledged. In 2016, he was awarded the freedom of his hometown, Swansea. Three months later, the former defender received an honorary degree from Swansea University. He was also appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to football.

With all the accolades, one would have expected Coleman to dream big.

Surprisingly, though, he opted for a lowly-positioned Championship club. Sunderland was struggling to stay afloat in the relegation waters, neither prepared nor equipped for survival. 

Coleman's decision to manage the Black Cats was perhaps motivated by once taking a similar gamble during his playing career.

In late 1997, he dropped two divisions to join Fulham from Blackburn Rovers. Coleman, as captain, helped the Cottagers gain promotion to the second tier. He wasn't as fortunate 21 years later, however.

The Stadium of Light has witnessed a dark period in recent times. From endless Premier League struggles to swapping managers as often as Donald Trump likes to Tweet, it's been a nightmare for the Black Cats. One former gaffer, David Moyes, even foretold relegation under his watch.

Poor management coupled with a lack of resources have ultimately dragged Sunderland all the way down to League One. That's a club which has won six top-flight titles. Historically, only five clubs have achieved more than the Black Cats in England's top tier. It counts for little now, though.

Coleman was released from his Sunderland contract on 29 April. He should have realised his mistake by now. It's time for him to clear his mind and look to the future.

Several Premier League teams require a top-class manager. The list includes Everton's current vacant position, as well as Watford. For Coleman to redeem his reputation earned at Wales, he must lead a top-flight side to glory.   

With Sam Allardyce gone, Everton desperately need a proven manager. One who will bring beautiful football back to Goodison Park. The Toffees faithful also want a European adventure. 

Coleman would be a good fit at Everton. Only 47 years old, hungry, yet vastly experienced. It's the perfect solution for both manager and club. 

Although Sunderland may want Coleman back, a Premier League return is the Welshman's best opportunity to take his career up a level.



http://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/articles/what-next-chris-coleman-sunderland-humiliation-championship

[WhiteJC]

 
Slavisa Jokanovic: Fulham must not be scared in play-off final with Aston Villa

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has urged his players not to be scared when they face Aston Villa in the Championship play-off final.

The Cottagers are a game away from returning to the Premier League for the first time since 2014, having missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of the league season when they were beaten 3-1 by Birmingham.

That defeat was Fulham's first in 24 league games and they have recovered to reach the final after overturning a first-leg deficit to beat Derby in the play-off semi-finals, but having fallen at that stage last year, Jokanovic knows how tricky managing pressure at this stage of the season can be.

"It's a special game, but on the other hand we must understand it is only one game," he told Sky Sports. "We must try to play, perform and show our quality, to show we are focused and concentrated to show we are a good team. We must play the game, we must not be scared. In football there are different results but we are thinking about only one.

"We are more experienced, we played in the play-offs last season and knew more or less what we were going to find.

"We are going to have an opportunity to play the most important game in the last few years for us, we know how we are going to find it and at the end, what we want is to win.

"People only remember winners, no-one remembers the team that lost the final. It's one of the most important games in our careers."

Jokanovic has enjoyed almost two weeks with his squad to prepare for the biggest game of their season since eliminating Derby at Craven Cottage.

Such a long wait for the final is unlikely to aid any nerves, but the Fulham boss has used that extra time to get his players as prepared as possible for the game, which is live on Sky Sports Football from 4pm.

He said: "On one hand it's not such great news [the long wait], but on the other we have enough time to think about all the details, to prepare for everything and be ready for the game.

"The game is huge. It's important for both teams, and we must use this period to treat all the details we can during the game. During the regular part of the Championship you don't have the time for that, but now we look at everything."



http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11382032/slavisa-jokanovic-fulham-must-not-be-scared-in-play-off-final-with-aston-villa

[WhiteJC]

 
Wide men likely to decide Championship playoff final

The Championship is an endless slog. England's second tier has eight more games than the Premier League and should a team finish in they playoff positions, they face three more as they aim to reach Wembley and get promoted.

When Aston Villa and Fulham meet on Saturday at the national stadium, it will be their 49th league match of the campaign. But it will be the game with the biggest importance, with the prize for the winner being a place in the top flight next term.

Fulham go into the match as slight favourites, after finishing third. Villa ended the season five points behind the Londoners in fourth.

It is the first time since 2015 the two teams who finished third and fourth have reached Wembley in the Championship playoffs. On that occasion Norwich City, who ended the season above fellow finalists Middlesbrough, secured promotion.

Several of the league's best players will be on show, with five of the EFL's Championship Team of the Season being made up of Villa and Fulham men – John Terry and Albert Adomah were in it for Steve Bruce's side, while the Whites had Ryan Fredericks, Ryan Sessegnon and Tom Cairney make the cut.

What's more Villa have the league's second highest scorer in Lewis Grabban, who has 20 goals in the Championship this season, although he spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Sunderland.

Fulham's striker Aleksandar Mitrović, meanwhile, has been on fire since arriving on loan from Newcastle United in January and has 12 league goals.

Both sides will undoubtedly be confident of winning and have the skills to scare the opposition, but neither are the perfect team. If they were, they'd have finished in the top two. Both sides have chinks in their armour that can be taken advantage of.

They are two contrasting teams. Aston Villa are far more direct than their opponents, whereas Fulham are more considered in their build-up play.

You can see that in the teams' personas below. The Whites lean towards high possession while the Villains tend to favour long balls.

The clash of styles should produce a fascinating battle, but the game could boil down to each side's wingers as they try to make the most of the other team's weaknesses.

Fulham are an attacking side. Over the standard 46-game season, only champions Wolverhampton Wanderers scored more than Slaviša Jokanović's men's 79 goals.

But their offensive nature can leave them open at the back – they let in 46 goals in the regular Championship season, the highest of the teams that finished in the top five.

Villa will want to take advantage of that defensive frailty. One way of doing so could be by targeting the space behind the full-backs as they push upfield.

Fulham getting their two full-backs – likely to be Fredericks and Matt Targett – into dangerous attacking areas is crucial to their game, and the two always provide offensive outlets.

While they are both quick, Fredericks especially, that means they leave gaps and  often leave centre-backs Denis Odoi and Tim Ream isolated.

Villa's rivals Birmingham City took full advantage of that to pull off a shock upset and end Fulham's 23-match unbeaten run on the final match of the regular league season.

In the three stills above, the Fulham left-back (here Sessegnon, as Targett was injured) is caught up field after an attack, leaving Ream and Odoi (circled in red) isolated.

Birmingham push into the space and drag Ream out wide. Even with Sessegnon (circled in yellow) coming back into the picture, they get the ball across for Lukas Jutkiewicz to score.

And on the other side, for Birmingham's third, Cyrus Christie – who had come on for Fredericks – is nowhere to be seen as Che Adams runs at an isolated Odoi and Ream before getting a shot away from an acute angle.

Bruce will no doubt identify this as a key weakness for Fulham, and will look at getting Robert Snodgrass free out wide to create danger – no-one has more assists in the Championship than the 30-year-old's 14 this season.

If the Whites push forward and leave him in space, they could be in real trouble.

Yet while Snodgrass may be the man to make the difference for Villa, for Fulham, it could be whoever they choose to play on the right wing.

The problem is, that's the one spot in their starting XI that isn't a given. Sheyi Ojo, Lucas Piazon, Floyd Ayité and Neeskens Kebano have all played there during the season, but Aboubakar Kamara was the man given the nod on the right wing for the second leg of their play-off semi-final against Derby County.

They'll need to choose who can best trouble Bruce's men, with the left side of their defence being a weakness.

Norwich took advantage of that to score, as you can see in the stills above. The left-hand side, here made up of Neil Taylor and John Terry, fell asleep and they lost Dennis Srbeny, leaving him with a tap-in.

And above, again, you can see how Matt Doherty of Wolves goes past Taylor before playing a ball behind Terry, who should be deeper to cut it out, but gets caught out of position running back – something the former Chelsea captain wouldn't have done in the past. That pass across the box leads to Diogo Jota scoring.

The two have been guilty of not being at the level you would expect from former Premier League regulars, and it was no surprise to see Bruce change things up for the play-offs, with Alan Hutton coming in at left-back to quash Middlesbrough's biggest threat, Adama Traoré.

The problem for Villa when they face Fulham is, however, that arguably the Whites' biggest threat is Sessegnon, who plays on the left, meaning Hutton is likely to return to his preferred side to do a job on the teenager like he did on Traoré.

And should Taylor return to left-back, whoever plays right-wing for Fulham will have to try and make the most of it. With Terry never blessed with pace and Taylor not the quickest in the league, Jokanović may once again opt for Kamara, who has the speed to get away from slow defenders.

The Whites will only hope his end product – which can be erratic – is spot on.

Both teams will hope their wide men can find space and with Wembley's big pitch it could very well be the area where the game is won or lost.



https://www.footballwhispers.com/blog/wide-men-likely-decide-championship-play-off-final?utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=news-now

[WhiteJC]

 
Should Fulham consider West Ham right-back Sam Byram?

Fulham defender Ryan Fredericks could still be set to leave Craven Cottage this summer despite Slavisa Jokanovic's side pushing the west Londoners into the Championship play-off final.

The London Evening Standard claim both West Ham United and Crystal Palace are interesting in the former Tottenham Hotspur right-back, who has a contract with Fulham until the end of the season.

The Premier League duo's interest is unsurprising, after Fredericks has shone throughout the 2017-18 campaign, with the 25-year-old proving to be somewhat of an assist machine by setting up nine goals this term.

Promotion is not said to make a difference on whether Fredericks will remain at Fulham, and the Cottagers must start to begin looking for replacements after Saturday's final against Aston Villa.

Their attention should turn to one of Fredericks' interested sides, and look to lure Sam Byram across London with the signing of Fredericks likely to push the former Leeds defender down the pecking order.

Byram, 24, has only managed 10 senior appearances this season due to injury, and now the Times claim he is one of four senior Hammers stars who will be sold to raise transfer funds this summer.

He joins Edimilson Fernandes, Jordan Hugill and Andy Carroll on the transfer list ahead of the summer transfer window, with new manager Manuel Pellegrini left with a big decision to make.

Byram has plenty of Championship experience following his time with Leeds, where he clocked up 130 second-tier appearances. He would be the perfect replacement for Fredericks, as he is renowned for being just as attacking as he is defensive.

Despite having two years remaining on a contract the Daily Star claim is worth £25,000 a week, West Ham will be looking to sell the defender and Fulham should seriously consider a move.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/05/22/should-fulham-consider-west-ham-right-back-sam-byram/

[WhiteJC]

 
Secret Aston Villa Fan Crowdfunder to Destroy Fulham's Wembley Plans Hits Target

White Walls...

In the past week, there has been a lot of talk by Fulham fans of creating a 'White Wall' at Wembley on the east side of the stadium. You may have seen the Twitter hashtags #whitewall and #FFCWhiteWall doing the rounds, promoting their White Wall campaign that is supported by the club.

The idea...wait for it...is for all Fulham fans to wear white T-shirts or home shirts to create a visual white wall.

White Walls...

In the past week, there has been a lot of talk by Fulham fans of creating a 'White Wall' at Wembley on the east side of the stadium. You may have seen the Twitter hashtags #whitewall and #FFCWhiteWall doing the rounds, promoting their White Wall campaign that is supported by the club.

The idea...wait for it...is for all Fulham fans to wear white T-shirts or home shirts to create a visual white wall.

Uncertain Foundations

With Fulham fans allowed up to five tickets, when they booked their play-off final tickets, it's been purposed that due to the moderate size of their fanbase, this may lead to daytrippers, neutral friends and family, and even Villa fans joining their ranks in their end of Wembley.

This could create dodgy foundations for any wall, but Villa fans are taking no chances.

Villa's supporters have been past masters of winning the Wembley battle of the stands, with their latest success drowning out Liverpool fans' pre-match rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' before the 2015 FA Cup semi-final kicked-off. After which, they then produced an impressive 'VILLA' mosaic.

It both, took the Liverpool fans by surprise and spurred the Villa players on to victory.

This time, to counter Fulham's 'White Wall', the plans are a little more elaborate and take their cue from the popular TV series Game of Thrones.

***SPOILER ALERT***

In the final episode of the last season of a Game of Thrones, there is literally the blueprint of how to destroy a giant white wall.

In the climatic scene, the Night King uses his newly acquired pet dragon to lay waste to the wall that separates his undead army from the living of Westerns.

Taking their lead from this episode, Villa supporters ran a secret crowdfunder on the dark web, away from the prying eyes of local press and mainstream social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, to raise an undisclosed five-figure sum for a giant inflatable pyro-breathing dragon.

Due to the immense costs involved of creating such a giant inflatable pyro-breathing dragon, Villa fans had to enlist the contacts of owner Tony Xia to get it sourced in China under the supervision of the Recon Group, to keep costs down.

Also, it is understood that Xia astutely negotiated a 'try before you by' deal, similar to what Fulham fan's seem to think their appearance at Wembley stadium is.

With the Villa owner a big fan of Games of Thrones, Doctor Tony has allegedly volunteered to ride the dragon into Wembley Stadium during the build-up to the match, like the Night King does in the TV show, to personally destroy Fulham's white wall himself.

Preparation

What Fulham fans haven't realised is their downfall has been prepared in plain sight.

The pyro-breathing mechanisms for the dragon were successfully tested recently on the Villa Park pitch, before the second-leg of the play-off semi-final win against Middlesbrough.

Earlier in the year, at an invite-only Chinese New Year celebration in the grounds of Aston Hall, the dragon itself got a test run, which MOMS was lucky enough to get a snap of below...


'Symbolic of a new golden age of Aston Villa football club'

Not Claret Enough

The reason the dragon turned out to be gold and a Chinese dragon in design, is very much down to Dr Tony's smart-thinking and diplomacy, that helped defuse an argument that had arisen within the Villa ranks.

Originally, Villa fans had earmarked a more traditional looking dragon design, ala Smaug in The Hobbit or the ones in Game of Thrones. Everything was going to plan, until a certain section of supporters complained that the dragon was too purple and not claret enough.

An argument not too dissimilar to some fans outrage in recent years over the colour of the club's last few home shirts.

Xia, with his vast contacts in the Chinese smart dragon manufacturing sector, was able to source the golden dragon to provide all parties with a happy compromise.

In the press release, the club only sent to MOMS, they stated that the dragon's colour is 'symbolic of a new golden age of Aston Villa football club'.

Rumours that next season's Villa away shirt designed by Luke 1977 is also gold, cannot be confirmed at this time.
Testing

A Villa spokesman, was noticeably very excited about the dragon plans, when speaking with MOMS to give us the lowdown.

"The inflatable pyro-breathing dragon should lay waste to the Fulham fans' white wall in 15 seconds flat by our estimates," said the Villa spokesman.

"It could actually be quicker than that, it all depends on how flammable those clappers are that Fulham fans use."

There have been concerns that Wembley stadium would ban the dragon due to health and safety concerns, further frustrating Villa supporters, whom on their previous Wembley visit to the 2015 FA Cup final, had their giant surfer flag banned by the stadium.

Villa's legal team pointed out to Wembley Stadium officials that since the dragon will fly in and only occupy the air above the stadium, they cannot legally object, since the London Borough of Brent council doesn't have any no-fly zone regulations in place for inflatable dragons.

The two parties agreed though, that it's best if Xia and the inflatable pyro-breathing dragon should fly in-and-out of the stadium while Sky TV is on a commercial break. This will at least spare those viewers of a sensitive disposition from witnessing the wall's complete and utter destruction.
Pimms Sippers Advice

A lot has been said on social media about Fulham fans and their sun cream warning tweets (like the one above). Pimms Sippers, if you are going to take sun lotion into the stadium, make sure it's about Factor 5000, as there's an inflatable pyro-breathing dragon coming your way.

For extra protection, maybe take in one of those aluminium foil blankets they use after marathons.

Most of all, and you'll thank Uncle MOMS later for this, take some ear plugs. You don't want to damage your precious little ear drums from the sheer volume of Villa's travelling army.

UTV


https://www.myoldmansaid.com/secret-aston-villa-fan-crowdfunder-to-destroy-fulhams-wembley-plans-hits-target/

[WhiteJC]

 
Darren Bent backs Aston Villa to win against Fulham

Aston Villa and Fulham will face each other in the Championship playoff final this weekend, and Darren Bent predicts Steve Bruce's side to win.

Darren Bent predicted on the Kick Off show on talkSPORT on Monday evening (9:55pm, May 21, 2018) that Aston Villa will against Fulham in the Championship playoff final this coming weekend.

Villa will take on Fulham at the Wembley Stadium in London in the Championship playoff final on Saturday evening.

Bent, who is leaving Championship club Derby County this summer, has backed Steve Bruce's side to get the better of the Cottagers.

The 34-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland striker has played for both Villa and Fulham in his career.

Bent said on the Kick Off show on talkSPORT on Monday evening (9:55pm, May 21, 2018): "Aston Villa for me. I think they are going to win.

"Steve Bruce, he knows how to get teams out of the division, and he very rarely fails when he gets to this part of the season, the playoff final. I genuinely believe that Aston Villa will go up."

Aston Villa or Fulham?

Fulham finished above Villa in the Championship table in the 'regular' season, and the London club will be looking to use that as an inspiration this Saturday evening.

The Cottagers have been superb in recent weeks, and perhaps they were even unlucky not to win automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Villa, though, have one of the best managers in the Championship in Bruce, and the Villans also have some brilliant footballers as well.

The Villans need to be defensively strong against Fulham, who have a brilliant attacking unit who will be confidence of scoring at least once at the Wemley Stadium in London.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/05/22/darren-bent-backs-aston-villa-to-win-against-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

 
The Cottage, Purgatory, and Wembley: The Life Of A Fulham Fan

This weekend will see Aston Villa play Fulham in the most lucrative match in English football, a one-off shot at promotion to the Premier League: the Playoff Final.

The playoffs are one of the most exciting events in football and the cruelest, all at the same time. No one wants to lose this game, least of all me. That's because I am that rare breed, an Irish Fulham fan.

Just every football fan thinks they're club is special, that it's unique or different in some way. The truth is most clubs are exactly the same as each other. They are just a carbon copy of one another with subtle differences here and there.

And yet I am one of the fools who genuinely thinks there is something different about my club. We have a blooming Cottage in our ground, sure!

We even have a word for our uniqueness, a phrase to describe the quirks surrounding this little club of ours: Fulhamish. Don't ask me to define it because I wouldn't know where to start, but it suits us perfectly.



I must confess I did have a brief flirtation with a 'top' English club before Fulham, and it was nice while it lasted, but I never truly fell in love. When the thing that attracts you to a team is the success, then success is the only thing that can sustain your fandom. And that is, frankly, boring.

I would still be a fan of that particular team had it not been for Merlin's Premier League sticker album.

In 2001 I, like many other children at the time, feverishly collected football stickers, although I never completed a full album. I did, however, complete a team for the first time ever that year: Fulham Football Club. And that's where it started.

I don't know whether that's an amazing way to start an affinity with a sports team, or a really lame one, but that's where it began; the sticker album. That, and the fact that their sponsor at the time was Pizza Hut. Fulham actually sold less jerseys that year than the year previously when they were in the First Division, but kids loving love pizza and I was no different.

I didn't immediately become a super fan there and then. They became my second team for a while, but as time went on I realised I cared more about a routine league game that featured the South West London side than I did about my original team winning major trophies. Against the odds Fulham won out.

Hamburg holds a special place for Fulham fans. It was in the German city that the Cottagers played their one, and likely only ever, European final.

Fulham lost that day, another to add to the short list of finals lost, to an Atletico Madrid side featuring the likes of Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan and a very young David De Gea. There was no shame in losing to such strong opposition, but an opportunity was lost.

The destination didn't turn out how we hoped, but the journey was exquisite. It started in July with a 6-0 win on aggregate over Lituanian side Vetra, continued with AS Roma in the group stage, leading us to a huge win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the round of 32.

The moment we began believing was the next round, where we met Juventus. Everyone knows the story by now; losing 3-1 in the first leg, only to come back and win the second 4-1. It might be the single greatest night in the history of the club.

From there we beat Wolfsburg to get into the last four, where we met Hamburg. The German club, one time winners of the European Cup, were hoping for a home final. But in a thrilling tie and another come-from-behind victory, Fulham advanced.

It was the most surreal feeling I've ever had as a football fan, reaching a European final. I remember thinking it would never get so good again. Or so I thought...

Win or lose this Saturday, this past season will go down in the history of the club. Not only did the team end the season with an incredible 23 game unbeaten run, but they did so while playing some of the most attractive and exciting football in any of the major leagues in Europe. It's one the supporters will never ever forget and has gathered a lot of admirers along the way.

The high point thus far was undoubtedly the playoff semi-final win over Derby County. Becoming only the second side in playoff history to win a semi-final after losing the first leg, a pitch invasion followed the final whistle. Craven Cottage has never witnessed scenes quite like it.

Criticism on social media followed, while Ireland and Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane said Fulham acted as if "they've won the league." To those on the outside, the players and fans alike have committed the crime of supposedly having a small club mentality. Which is bizarre, considering Fulham is exactly that, a small club.

The sort of begrudgery that claims you can't celebrate victories, no matter how big or small, is a personal bugbear of mine. While Aston Villa are far more acquainted with finals than we are, there is no harm in making a big deal out making it to Wembley. After all, out of all the clubs in the Football League, no one has waited longer to play at the hallowed turf than Fulham. With Bobby Moore in their ranks, they lost to West Ham in the FA Cup final in 1975.

The irony is that for years Fulham fans have been accused of being boring shites, which is exactly what we would have been called had we muted our celebrations.

In any case, the players know full well the job wasn't completed last Monday. If any club knows there is still a lot to be done, then it is this one; a club who have never won a final in their history.

The joy of supporting a small club is that victories mean so much. For a so-called big club it is more about the absence of defeat. Winning becomes the be all and end all, sucking much of the joy out of the experience. There are no glory hunters here, no plastic fans.

Although it can sometimes fell like purgatory when your team is flailing in the lower reaches of the second tier, we wouldn't want to be anywhere else than Fulham. COYW.



https://www.balls.ie/football/fulham-fan-perspective-playoff-final-389522

[WhiteJC]

 
Why Aboubakar Kamara will be vital to Fulham's play-off final success

The 23-year-old could prove Fulham's secret weapon at Wembley.


Photo; Getty Images

Although Denis Odoi and Ryan Sessegnon stole the headlines in the aftermath of Fulham's 2-0 play-off semi-final win over Derby, perhaps the standout player that night was right winger Aboubakar Kamara.

The 23-year-old Frenchman was drafted into the starting lineup for the first time since January, and produced an all-action performance that was filled with power, pace, and trickery.

And in the Cottagers' upcoming play-off final, the winger will be vital to Fulham's success if he can replicate his semifinal heroics against Aston Villa.

Kamara joined Fulham last summer after gaining promotion to Ligue 1 with French side Amiens, and divided opinion early on during his stay at Craven Cottage. There was no doubting his natural gifts and ability, yet often his composure and technique was left severely lacking.

A inconsistent fall was followed by a prolific winter, in which the Frenchman scored five goals during a four match spell in December and January.

Although Denis Odoi and Ryan Sessegnon stole the headlines in the aftermath of Fulham's 2-0 play-off semi-final win over Derby, perhaps the standout player that night was right winger Aboubakar Kamara.

The 23-year-old Frenchman was drafted into the starting lineup for the first time since January, and produced an all-action performance that was filled with power, pace, and trickery.

And in the Cottagers' upcoming play-off final, the winger will be vital to Fulham's success if he can replicate his semifinal heroics against Aston Villa.

Kamara joined Fulham last summer after gaining promotion to Ligue 1 with French side Amiens, and divided opinion early on during his stay at Craven Cottage. There was no doubting his natural gifts and ability, yet often his composure and technique was left severely lacking.

A inconsistent fall was followed by a prolific winter, in which the Frenchman scored five goals during a four match spell in December and January.

The thought of a confident Aboubakar Kamara running full pelt at a helpless Alan Hutton is a delightful image for the Fulham faithful, who will hope the Frenchman can continue his excellent recent form and lead the club to the Premier League.



https://tbrfootball.com/aboubakar-kamara-fulham-secret-weapon/

[WhiteJC]

 
2 Worthy managerial candidates who can replace Jokanovic at Fulham including this veteran Scot

As per a report from the Evening Standard, Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic has emerged as a shock managerial candidate to replace Antonio Conte at Chelsea this summer.

The Italian is widely expected to leave the West London club in the coming days, after what has been a disappointing second season in-charge, despite having managed to win the FA Cup last weekend. 

A lot of names have been thrown around as potential replacements for the former Italy and Juventus boss, with Napoli head coach Maurizio Sarri being tipped as the favourite, while former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique too has been mentioned. 

However, now it seems like the Blues have added Jokanovic's name to their shortlist for the possible vacancy.

The 49-year-old, who played for Chelsea between 2000 and 2002, has done some brilliant work at Fulham over the past couple of years and has taken them to the brink of promotion to the Premier League this term, with the Cottagers set to face Aston Villa in the EFL Championship playoffs this Saturday. 

His work with the fellow London club hasn't gone unnoticed, with the Blues hierarchy reportedly impressed by the progress he has achieved at Craven Cottage, coupled with the entertaining, attacking brand of football that his team plays.

Jokanovic has a year left on his deal with Fulham and a chance to return to Stamford Bridge, as a manager this time, would prove to be too hard to turn down.

If that happens, here are 2 managers that Fulham should consider replacing Jokanovic with.

Graham Potter (FK Ostersunds)
The English manager has been working wonders with Swedish outfit Ostersunds FK and while he may be a left-field choice, he could prove to be an effective one.

Having joined the club back in 2011, Potter has managed to guide the club from the fourth tier of Swedish football to the top-flight.

In the 2017/18 season, the 43-year-old led Ostersunds to the round-of-32 of the UEFA Europa League on their first-ever appearance in a European competition, having beaten the likes of Galatasaray and Hertha Berlin along the way, while also drawing against Athletic Bilbao.

Perhaps, one of the most notable achievements for the club under Potter came when they managed to beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates stadium in the round of 32 but lost out on aggregate.

What made it even more impressive was the fact that they were just the second team to beat the Gunners at home in 28 games in all competitions, a run dating back to March 2017.

Potter's teams play a constructive, fluid type of football that would sit well with what Fulham have been doing under Jokanovic.

While he might not have the requisite experience, the manner in which he has put Ostersunds on the map from complete anonymity gives an insight into his coaching abilities and pedigree.

David Moyes (Unattached)
The Scotsman is currently without a job after having been let go by West Ham United at the end of the 2017/18 Premier League campaign. He could be a viable candidate for Fulham.

Moyes' career has somewhat taken a downturn after his sorry stint at Manchester United, which was followed by unsuccessful spells at Real Sociedad and Sunderland. However, he showed his value and pedigree in this recently concluded season in his short spell at West Ham.

Having brought in to replace Slaven Bilic, with the club mired in a relegation battle, the 55-year-old guided the East Londoners to a respectable 13th place finish.

A vastly experienced manager with great knowledge of the English game, Moyes has shown that he has the tools to build strong and solid teams if given time. He could prove to be a shrewd appointment for the Cottagers, especially if they manage to earn promotion back to the top-flight.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/05/23/2-worthy-managerial-candidates-who-can-replace-jokanovic-at-fulham-including-this-veteran-scot/