Thursday Fulham Stuff (24/05/18)...

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Fulham fans have a secret plan for Wembley when they face Aston Villa

This is what the Fulham fans have planned against Aston Villa

Fulham Football Club have started a campaign urging fans to turn the east side of Wembley into a 'wall of white' for the game against Aston Villa.

Using the hashtag #FFCWhiteWall, the club are telling their 38,000 fans to make sure they are wearing white.

Posting on their website, they explain the campaign.

They state: "The support demonstrated by the Fulham Faithful this season has been nothing short of magnificent.

"Many of the players commented on how incredible the atmosphere was at Craven Cottage in our Play-Off Semi-Final triumph, and there's no doubt it will be even better when 38,000 of you make your way to Wembley this weekend.

"With Fulham taking over the East End of the stadium, we're encouraging you to wear your home colours on Saturday, to create a White Wall. For the players to walk out and see the better part of 40,000 of their fans all wearing white will certainly be a sight to behold.

"Back the boys – wear white!"

It shouldn't be difficult for Fulham to achieve their aim, the club colours are white after all.

Aston Villa fans are also expected to wear their colours.



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-fans-secret-plan-wembley-14694041

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Fulham supporters issue very confident verdicts ahead of play-off final with Aston Villa



The Sky Bet Championship play-off final is fast approaching, with Fulham preparing themselves to take on Aston Villa at Wembley. 

Slavisa Jokanovic's side finished third in the Championship table after 46 fixtures, narrowly behind Cardiff City, who clinched the second automatic promotion spot on the final day of the season.

Fulham beat Derby County in the play-off semi-final, overturning a first-leg defeat to win 2-1 on aggregate.

Aston Villa, who finished fourth, now stand between Jokanovic's side and a place back in the Premier League, with Saturday's clash set to decide who joins Wolves and Cardiff back in the top-flight.

Saturday will be the first time that Fulham have played at Wembley since 1975, and here at FLW, we wanted to find out if Fulham's supporters were confident their side would win the play-off final and secure a place in the Premier League.

Unsurprisingly, there are some Fulham supporters holding back, with 35% believing that they will not be a Premier League outfit next season, whilst 65% of voters in our poll have back Jokanovic's side to deliver and secure top-flight football next season.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-supporters-issue-very-confident-verdicts-ahead-of-play-off-final-with-aston-villa/

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Key Wembley Cogs: Ryan Fredericks

Our offensive armoury may be laden with exhilarating options that leave us all awestruck on a weekly basis, but if there's one man in the defensive quarters who really heightens the heart rate and gets the blood pumping, it's the ever dependable right-back in our ranks, Ryan Fredericks. Cameron Ramsey looks at his potential impact in the final.

Fredericks has made the right channel his own throughout the 2017-18 Championship campaign and is regarded as one of the division's most effective full-backs, so much so that over the recent months he's attracted interest from an array of notable Premier League outfits, allegedly including Arsenal, amongst others.

Searing pace and ankle breaking twists, jinks and shimmies are all defining qualities within 'Freddo's' locker, alluring traits which undoubtedly make him a troublesome, missile-propelled handful to contend with, especially at the level he currently administers his flourishing trade.

Though many believe that the 25-year-old is better suited to hounding and probing oppositions further up the flanks, Fredericks' tenacious approach to his defensive responsibilities dictates that he's a disruptive influence in virtually every department across the park, as quite simply, no given opponent on their day is physically able to tame his ferocious appetite to create threatening opportunities for he and his teammates to feed from, often to devastating effect.

In 44 accomplished Championship appearances this term, Fredericks has supplied his colleagues with 9 assists, an abundant tally which holds his name aloft as one of the more productive in the division, and though over the duration of the current campaign he's managed to accumulate 10 yellow cards, the former Bristol City man is certainly no villain amongst the club's faithful following.

The only notable shortcomings in Fredericks' game is the space he leaves behind himself if dispossessed in the final third and occasionally, despite being a studied distributor of the ball, an air of complacency plagues his decision making whilst squaring up his immediate adversary in pivotal phases of play – should he offload and stretch, sit and consolidate, or send them for a cold, soggy, turf topped hot-dog?

I like to think that we'd all agree that the latter option is the more appealing, but it's not always beneficial to our prosperity on the counter attack as, whilst not a particularly regular occurrence, occasionally his efforts are thwarted. As we in the terraces struggle to fathom how he was intercepted, a frantic foot race has ensued in the opposite direction, leaving our defensive shape vulnerable and our rearguard compromised.

Now, Aston Villa are a contingent which will aim to break us in the same vein, particularly through Albert Adomah, who will strive to menace down that right flank throughout the play-off final on Saturday.

Villa's propensity to switch wingers throughout means that Matt Targett is just as likely to duel with the athletic Ghanaian on the day, but this means that Robert Snodgrass will presumably confront Fredericks at some point, a wily, experienced midfielder who knows this division well.

Snodgrass, 30, may not have the dazzling speed that Fredericks reserves in his legs, but he does have a wand of a left foot on him, capable of unleashing a bountiful supply to Villa's attackers in the danger area. Ultimately, our man has to be ready to throw himself on the line to ensure that the Scotsman's impact is suppressed, even if that means taking a pinpoint whip to the body in a dangerous area.

If Fredericks contains Snodgrass and stifles those alarming killer balls of his, the one time England u19 international, proudly on our books, will have the freedom of the right wing, because as it's been previously been stated, once the trailblazing defender travels past the halfway line and flexes his offensive tendencies, no professional on the planet is realistically capable of snaring the Whites' very own Road Runner, twinned with Speedy Gonzales... and Sonic the Hedgehog.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2018-05-23-key-wembley-cogs-ryan-fredericks/

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Aston Villa star Robert Snodgrass fears Fulham threat in Championship play-off final

ASTON VILLA winger Robert Snodgrass insists the fear of failure can inspire his side to a Premier League return.

Snodgrass is ready for Saturday's Championship play-off final against Fulham as Aston Villa look to end a two-year exile from the top flight.

Villa edged past Middlesbrough 1-0 on aggregate in the semi-final having finished fourth.

Fulham narrowly missed out on automatic promotion on the final day and beat Derby 2-1 over two legs to reach the play-off final.

And Snodgrass has been impressed by the Cottagers this term.

The 30-year-old said: "It feels like I've had three seasons in one. We know it's going to be hard, but if you want results, you've got to beat the best.

"We have to beat Fulham who've been one of the best teams in the division.

"I'm taking about all season, even taking Wolves and Cardiff into account and they went up. Everybody watching Fulham would probably agree."

Should Villa lose, the club will only bank £15m of parachute payments next season - their last year of the cash - having been relegated in 2016.

Financially it is crucial the club returns to the Premier League, with the promoted side landing a jackpot of at least £160m.

And Snodgrass, who played in Hull's 1-0 play-off final victory against Sheffield Wednesday in 2016, believes fear of failure can help.


Fulham narrowly missed out on automatic promotion

The West Ham loanee said: "I know some of the other lads have experienced it as well.

"That's beauty of the play-offs, it's the fear of losing that drives you forwards. None of the lads want to lose.

"Everybody wants to be on the good end, the club have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to get the club back there.

"It's very rare you get a second chance to get to your final destination.

"We fell short in the automatic places, we know now there's no room for error.

"It's the Championship though isn't it. Everybody loves watching the Championship."



https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/704662/Championship-Play-Off-Final-Robert-Snodgrass-Aston-Villa-Fulham-Preview?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-star-football+%28Daily+Star+%3A%3A+Football+Feed%29

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Slavisa Jokanovic wants Fulham to match his ambition ahead of talks with club's hierarchy


Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic (PA)

Slavisa Jokanovic will look for assurances that Fulham will match his ambition when he sits down with the club's hierarchy after Saturday's Play-off Final at Wembley.

The Serb could be in demand this summer because of the job he has done at Craven Cottage, with Fulham on the threshold of reaching the top flight.

Chelsea have added Jokanovic to their list of possible successors to Antonio Conte, with the Italian expected to leave Stamford Bridge.

Jokanovic is due to speak to Fulham after the Play-off Final against Aston Villa to discuss next season and he hopes to hear that he will get financial backing if they are promoted.

Fulham owner Shahid Khan today told Standard Sport that he wants to do more than just survive in the Premier League if the club go up and indicated he is ready to spend in the transfer market.

Jokanovic, 42, will be pleased with that ambition and he wants to ensure Fulham will be ready should they beat Villa. He still has one year left on his contact at Craven Cottage and has given no indication he would look to leave. Fulham are keen to offer Jokanovic a new contract but he could have offers from other clubs and they may have to ward off interest in him if they fail to go up.

Jokanovic almost guided Fulham to automatic promotion this season following a 23-match unbeaten run but a 3-1 defeat at Birmingham on the final day of the campaign meant they missed out and finished third.

Fulham beat Derby in their play-off semi-final and Jokanovic has urged his players to seize the opportunity to get into the Premier League.

Jokanovic said: "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 is one of the most important games in our careers."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/slavisa-jokanovic-wants-fulham-to-match-his-ambition-ahead-of-talks-with-club-s-hierarchy-a3846416.html

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Fulham owner Shahid Khan has big ambitions if the club secures Premier League promotion
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Fulham have spent four years outside of the Premier League and their owner Shahid Khan wants to ensure the club do more than just make up the numbers should they return to the top table of English football.

Khan has stabilised Fulham since relegation in 2014 and is ready to invest in the team this summer if they get promoted at Wembley on Saturday.

Fulham play Aston Villa in the Championship play-off final and it would perhaps be understandable if  the winners simply aimed to avoid relegation next season.

However, Khan, who is worth an estimated £5.2billion, hopes promotion is just the beginning of a successful period for the club.

The 67-year-old American insists Fulham would not go up and then spend a season struggling to avoid the drop and he has vowed to supplement their already talented squad to ensure they will do well in the top tier.

Khan said: "This has been a hard journey over the last four years but regrettably necessary to rebuild the team the right way.

"We have committed to our style that is winning football but also pleasing for the fans. We've done that part and now we have ambition to move forward.

"The Premier League is where Fulham belongs, the supporters and the players. Getting back there would be mission one accomplished. But we are an ambitious club. We want to get to the Premier League and then our goal is not to skate by, our goal is to win.

"Money is not a limitation but a number of other things are just as important and we want to go about it wisely and the right way. We have great players, who work hard, you want to see them accomplish and be rewarded. Then you want have a sustainability programme to invest and supplement it [the team] with whatever helps us be more successful."

Fulham spent 13 years in the Premier League before they dropped into the Championship and even though he has curbed spending, Khan is committed to the long-term aim of establishing the club in the top flight again.

"It is the long-term viability and sustainability," said Khan, who has pushed through plans to rebuild the Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage and wants Fulham to bring more players through their academy.


Photo: PA

One player that system has produced is Ryan Sessegnon, who has become one of the hottest talents in English football following a sparkling season.

All eyes will be on Sessegnon, 18, at Wembley and the result of the match is likely to determine whether he stays at the club.

Tottenham have long been admirers of Sessegnon but the left-winger would prefer to stay at Fulham if they get promoted and Khan hopes he will.

"He is super talented," said Khan. "I think he has been at the academy for almost 10 years. He is a product of Fulham and is Fulham through and through. And what a nice young man, too. He is the perfect package in many ways.

"Look at [Fulham goalkeeper] Marcus Bettinelli and how he has progressed, another one to come through the academy. That is what makes Fulham special. It is not just being mercenary. It is being built the right way and the real definition of being a team."

Captain Tom Cairney and Ryan Fredericks could also leave the club if they miss out on promotion, while Chelsea have added Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic to their list of possible successors to Antonio Conte. For now, though, Khan is just concentrating on Saturday's clash.

"That is our focus right now," he said. "But actions speak louder than words and look at what has happened over the last couple of years.

"I am optimistic for Fulham but also hopeful for promotion.

"I like Slav, he is a nice guy and a super talented coach. That is why we worked very hard to recruit him and secure him from Maccabi Tel Aviv and then work with him to give him the tools we need to succeed.

"We have him under contract. I want the best thing for him and the best thing for Fulham. Right now, the best thing for everybody is getting promoted."

Khan could become one of the most significant figures in football if he completes a deal worth well in excess of £500million to buy Wembley Stadium.

On Saturday, he hopes to join the American owners in the Premier League — Stan Kroenke (Arsenal), the Glazer family (Manchester United) and John Henry (Liverpool).

"We have to have confidence," said Khan, who is flying to London for the game and will visit the club's training ground to speak to Jokanovic and the players ahead of the match.

"This is a special team. To go 23 unbeaten, that tells you what kind of a team it is and absolutely it deserves to win this Saturday."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-owner-shahid-khan-has-big-ambitions-if-the-club-secures-premier-league-promotion-a3846221.html

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'Fulham should fear us' Aston Villa fans have a warning for their Wembley rivals

This is what the Aston Villa faithful have had to say about the match against Fulham

Aston Villa fans believe that they have nothing to fear but themselves as they look to take win promotion to the Premier League.

The Villa faithful have had plenty to say after we published the thoughts of the Fulham fans yesterday.

It seems on the whole, both sets of fans are confident in their team performing at Wembley.

Frederick Ennis: If I was a Fulham fan, Villa would be the team I'd have wanted to play to have the most realistic chance for promotion. I agree, Villa didn't set the world alight with their performances against Middlesbrough.

Alan Barnett: My confidence in our team is all over the place.. we bring the attacking villa we win, we bring anything else and we might have yet another season...

Peter Shaw: The villa players will do their talking on the pitch and the magnificent villa fans will sing aloud and drown out Fulham fans

Neal Makh: Got a feelings Bruce's experience in play offs coupled with the players many appearances at Wembley will see us over the line even if it isn't pretty or we don't play like the fa cup semi in 2015

Trevor Davies: We need to attack from the off none of this defending if were 1 nil up and sit back games are lost that way so we need to take command . fulham have been more consistent than us so there no room for slip ups

David Davies: Fear will lead to defeat. All we need to know is they're a good side, and we need to be better. The answer is to attack them... "We're gonna score one more than you..."

Sean Brittain: Villa showed they can turn up for the big game, plus the extra space Wembley will give our creative players, 3-1 win for the Villa in normal time.

Bhavick Ricky Popat: The only thing I fear is complacency on our part. Turn up and perform like we can will end up in a victory.

David Carter: Shouldn't fear any team... They should fear us.. We are aston villa.. We are proud we are loud.. Utv

Danny Barker: Need a performance like v Wolves,it's that simple!

Fulham Football Club have started a campaign urging fans to turn the east side of Wembley into a 'wall of white' for the game against Aston Villa.

Using the hashtag #FFCWhiteWall, the club are telling their 38,000 fans to make sure they are wearing white.

Posting on their website, they explain the campaign.

They state: "The support demonstrated by the Fulham Faithful this season has been nothing short of magnificent.

"Many of the players commented on how incredible the atmosphere was at Craven Cottage in our Play-Off Semi-Final triumph, and there's no doubt it will be even better when 38,000 of you make your way to Wembley this weekend.

With Fulham taking over the East End of the stadium, we're encouraging you to wear your home colours on Saturday, to create a White Wall. For the players to walk out and see the better part of 40,000 of their fans all wearing white will certainly be a sight to behold.

"Back the boys – wear white!"

It shouldn't be difficult for Fulham to achieve their aim, the club colours are white after all.

Aston Villa fans are also expected to wear their colours.



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-should-fear-us-aston-14694793

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Matchday Arrangements

The Club would like to make fans aware of the following points regarding ticketing for Saturday's Play-Off Final at Wembley:

    The Fulham FC Ticket Office at Wembley will be open from 1pm, located in the East Stand Ticket Office (urgent queries only)
    Anyone who has not received their tickets by Friday must contact Ticketmaster on 0333 003 5935 to arrange duplicate tickets in advance of the game
    Anyone who has not received their wheelchair disabled tickets must contact the FFC Ticket Office to arrange duplicate tickets in advance of the game
    Duplicate tickets will only be issued to the purchaser, upon production of photographic ID
    No matchday upgrades or seat moves will be facilitated on the day
    Hospitality collections will be available to pick up from the East Stand Ticket Office, upon production of photographic ID
    All fans are advised to collect their pre-arranged duplicate tickets and collections by no later than 4pm

    Supporters are reminded that the only official sellers of Play-Off Final Tickets are Fulham FC and Ticketmaster. Fans are urged not to purchase tickets through unofficial sellers, as these may not be valid for entry on Saturday



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/may/22/matchday-arrangements

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Sess Wins PFA Fans' Player of the Year

Ryan Sessegnon has been named PFA Fans' Player of the Year for the Sky Bet Championship.

It's the latest award to be added to the 18-year-old's ever growing trophy collection, as what has been an historic season for him approaches its conclusion.

Sessegnon's crucial goal in our Play-Off Semi-Final triumph over Derby County was his 16th of the season, and Saturday's Final against Aston Villa will mark his 82nd Fulham appearance.

He was a comfortable winner of the PFA award, as voted for by supporters, with 32 per cent deeming him the division's best player in 2017/18.

Full details of how the voting unfolded:

● Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham) – 32%

● Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) – 26%

● Sean Morrison (Cardiff City) – 15%

● Robert Snodgrass (Aston Villa) – 13%

● Curtis Davies (Derby County) – 8%

● James Maddison (Norwich City) – 6%



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/may/23/ryan-sessegnon-pfa-fans-player-of-the-year

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Key Wembley Cogs: Kevin McDonald

Fulham are blessed with three leaders, all with different strengths, in the middle of the park. Jack J Collins talks about the impact that Fulham's undersung hero, Kevin McDonald, could have on Saturday's final.

Tom Cairney wears the armband, and is the creative fulcrum of the team, and Stefan Johansen provides the engine and the ruthless streak to Fulham's liquid efficiency; but it is Kevin McDonald who most off the pitch see to be the man who picks things up again when the chips are down for Fulham.

It's no coincidence that when things haven't looked good, Kevin McDonald (alongside Tim Ream) has been one of the only people to maintain an almost perfect reputation amongst the Fulham faithful. He's the first to fire everyone back up again when we've gone behind, and came the closest to snatching a draw for Fulham in the playoff first leg against Derby when the Whites were struggling to make inroads.

His goal against Barnsley remains probably the goal of the season for those of us in attendance, and the sheer scenes sparked by Fulham's winning goal are a testament to the regard in which the big Scot is held by the faithful.

Impact

McDonald's selfless defensive shielding is the reason that Fulham's full-backs are able to bomb on so much and cause havoc in the final third – by dropping in as an auxiliary centre-half when play spreads, he acts as the cover needed that Fredericks and Targett are able to hit the byline or put dangerous crosses into the box, but there's far more to KMac's game than simply doing the dirty work.

On the ball, he's a powerful runner, and is more likely than not to take matters into his own hands if he feels those around him aren't performing to the best of their ability. The surges he performs give everyone a lift, and as such are key weapons for bringing both fans and his teammates back to belief when things aren't necessarily going our way.

There's also an aerial threat and although not a great scorer of goals, his sheer presence in the box has been enough to force the odd mistake from teams, giving Fulham an extra element from set pieces.

Key Battle

With all that said, McDonald's main task on Saturday will be to shackle the effervescent Jack Grealish, who's been so key to the Villans when they've played well this season.

If KMac can shut him down and prevent him from getting his foot on the ball, it will go a long way to stunting Villa's effectiveness in possession, and their threat in attack.

Conclusion

If McDonald does his role to maximum effectiveness, Villa will have to change their entire style of play, bypassing Grealish, which should allow Fulham to dominate possession the way they like to. In doing so, he'd go a long way to allowing the Whites to dictate the style of the game, allowing for the fullbacks to exploit the wide pitch at Wembley and get into the attacking positions they favour – something which would push the odds of promotion in Fulham's favour.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2018-05-23-key-wembley-cogs-kevin-mcdonald/

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Fulham starlet Ryan Sessegnon 'washed and ironed his own kit' after being left stranded following an evening game, CEO reveals ahead of play-off final clash with Aston Villa

    Fulham take on Aston Villa for a place in the Premier League on Saturday
    Ryan Sessegnon has been one of the standouts for Slavisa Jokanovic's side
    Fulham Alistair Mackintosh praised the starlet's attitude on and off the pitch

Ryan Sessegnon is one of the brightest prospects in English football with Premier League clubs queuing up to secure his signature.

But the teenager does not appear to be letting his success this season go to his head.

Sessegnon and Fulham take on Aston Villa for a place in the top flight on Saturday and ahead of the game Fulham CEO Alistair Mackintosh revealed a hilarious story that shows how grounded the starlet remains.


Ryan Sessegnon washed and ironed his own kit after being left alone following a night game

'On one occasion this season, Ryan Sessegnon had a doping test after a night game,' he told the Supporters Trust AGM on Tuesday.

'When he was done everyone had gone, the kit man included. So Sessegnon took his kit home, washed and ironed it before bringing it in the next day!'

The comical anecdote came as Mackintosh praised the young player's attitude both on and off the pitch.

Sessegnon has scored 16 goals and racked up seven assists for Slavisa Jokanovic's side so far this season and was an outside bet for Gareth Southgate's England squad for this summer's World Cup.

He missed out on the final 23 but could still finish the season with promotion to the Premier League. Fulham and Villa collide at Wembley on Saturday in the money-spinning play-off final.

Tottenham and Liverpool are among the clubs who have been linked with a summer move for the 18-year-old, while Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly interested.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5761743/Sessegnon-washed-ironed-kit-left-stranded-game.html#ixzz5GOlvHiyb
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The Sean Davis Column

I played at Wembley once in my career, for Portsmouth in the FA Cup Semi-Final win over West Brom 10 years ago. I came on as a substitute, and it is different to a normal game. Everything is bigger, the atmosphere is great, and it's a fantastic occasion. I wasn't involved in the matchday squad for the Final so I was pretty jealous, but the build-up to that game was special. The Pompey fans packed out the stadium, as the Fulham faithful will at the weekend, so it was a top day.

It was gutting to find out I wasn't even on the bench for the Final. It was probably one of the worst experiences of my football career. So in that respect I haven't got great memories of Wembley, but hopefully that changes come Saturday. Everyone is going to want to play, everyone is going to want to be part of what's hopefully a great day in the history of Fulham Football Club. We need to treat it as we would any other game. It's a massive match and I think the team who deals with the occasion the best mentally, and plays their own game, will come out on top.

The Manager probably already has his starting XI in his head. I think if he changes anything from the Second Leg he may bring Floyd Ayité back in for Aboubakar Kamara. I could well be wrong as Kamara worked his socks off against Derby and did very well, but that was a game we needed to be very offensive in, so Slaviša may prefer to have him as an option off the bench this time. We've got a settled side now that he doesn't tend to tinker with very often, so we're not going to change too much for the Final I don't think.

We're a very positive team, we keep the ball well, and we like to use our pace and get in behind. Villa will set their stall out, they're hard to break down, so our midfielders and defenders are just going to have to be wary of the counter-attack. Villa's whole season has been built on having good foundations, being hard to beat, keeping clean sheets and nicking a goal here or there, so I can see it being quite a cagey game.

We sold out our allocation five days before the game, which shows how good our support is. To have 38,000-plus Fulham fans there – wow. There are so many supporters who have never seen Fulham at Wembley that I'm not surprised in the slightest we sold out nice and quickly. I hear there's a campaign to get all of our fans wearing white, and I fully endorse that. My only experience is with Portsmouth, but when we walked out and saw a sea of blue, it was great. That visual support really does make a difference, so it will give the boys a boost seeing that white wall.

Promotion would have been the aim for both teams at the beginning of the season, so we're both still on track. I think Steve Bruce has done a great job there, and hopefully he can take them up next year. It's going to be a tough game, there's a lot of good players out there, a lot of big characters. It's an exciting match, the players know what's at stake, and the ambition for all of them will be to play in the best league in the world, and that's the Premier League. We were there for 13 years and we want to get back there, because I believe that's where we belong. When you speak to fans of Premier League clubs, they often talk about missing their days out at the Cottage, so hopefully we can give that back to them.

I'm 100 per cent confident for Saturday. I just feel it's our time. Barry Hayles and I ended up in the Golden Lion pub after the Semi-Final and the celebrations were incredible. The after-party was great so I can't imagine what it will be like after Wembley if we've been promoted back to the Premier League. All the best to the players, I'll have everything crossed.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/may/23/the-sean-davis-column

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Ryan Sessegnon will reach the top but right now his only focus is getting Fulham promoted, says Ryan Fredericks

The teenage prodigy has been instrumental in Fulham reaching the play-off final this season


Ryan Sessegnon has all the tools to play for a top-four team (Image: PA)

Ryan Fredericks says wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon has all the tools to play for a top-four team, but right now is only focused on getting Fulham promoted.

The Cottagers take on Aston Villa in the play-off final this weekend after defeating Derby over two legs, with teenage prodigy Sessegnon the star of the show in the deciding second fixture.

Sessegnon's exploits have caught the eye of European giants Barcelona, but Fredericks believe the left-winger's sole focus is on firing Fulham to Wembley glory.

Fredericks said: "I have no doubt about it, and everyone at the club will say the same thing, Ryan will go right to the top.


The teenage prodigy has been instrumental in Fulham reaching the play-off final (Image: PA)

"He will be playing for a top four club in the next few years, if not I will be very, very surprised. The ability he has got and the understanding of the game at such a young age.

"The experience he is getting over the last two seasons and the level head he has got on his shoulders, no matter how high he goes he's not going to forget where he has come from, forget his roots, and everyone around him."

Sessegnon has also been linked with a whole host of Premier League clubs since bursting onto the scene last season, aged just 16.


Ryan Fredericks is confident his team-mate has all the tools to play for a top-four team (Image: Getty Images Europe)

But despite such intense pressure on young shoulders, Fredericks says his team-mate takes it all in his stride.

He added: "[He deals with pressure] really well to be fair, it's crazy to think how young he is. He has a mature head on his shoulders.

"We've been with him in the last two years and not one of us have heard him talk about another club. He's got great respect for Fulham and he loves it here. I'm sure one day he will be playing at a top, top level.


Sessegnon was recently named EA Sports Young Player of the Season (Image: Getty Images Europe)

"But he knows at the moment he is here with us at Fulham. And he is doing everything he can to make sure we're back up in the Premier League."

* Ryan Fredericks was speaking on behalf of Grosvenor Casinos, main team partner of Fulham FC, for the Grosvenor Poker Cup. Watch the highlights



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ryan-sessegnon-reach-top-right-12578016

[WhiteJC]

 
Pro Deal For Thompson

Academy forward Cameron Thompson has signed his first professional contract with the Club, keeping him at Fulham until the summer of 2020.

The 18-year old joined the Club when he was just 11 years old and has put pen to paper for the first time.

"It feels good," Thompson said. "It's been a long time coming. I got injured half way through the season and I was out for the rest of it, but it feels good to get back on my feet and sign this contract.

"I can now concentrate on hitting the ground running in pre-season."

Thompson started the year in great form, putting nine goals and an assist away in the opening nine fixtures for the Under-18s.

His form was rewarded with a call up to Peter Grant's Under-23s, where he scored twice including at the Valley in the Checkatrade Trophy.

"I started this season with a hat trick against Arsenal, I felt good. From there I felt I was going to have a good season and scored a few goals. I made my debut for the Under-23s and got a few appearances and netted twice.

"Then my injury happened, I've just put that behind me now and looking forward to getting back up and running.

"I've been at the Club since 2011, I've had my highs and lows at this Club, but at the end of the day I'm here signing my pro contract. I'm grateful for that and I couldn't have asked for more."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/may/23/pro-deal-for-thompson

[WhiteJC]

 
Journalist provides bittersweet update on Aston Villa player ahead of Fulham clash

Aston Villa defender Ahmed Elmohamady is likely to miss the Championship play-off final this Saturday through injury.

According to Gregg Evans, sports writer for the Birmingham Mail, the Egyptian international will have a late check before the final, but is unlikely to feature.

Evans tweeted: "Ahmed Elmohamady still a doubt for #avfc in the play off final. Chance he could make it but will need a late check. #ffc"

Elmohamady picked up a knock in the first leg of the play-off semi-final at the Riverside, subsequently missing the second leg.

Whether the 30-year-old recovers in time for this match at Wembley will have to wait and see, but Steve Bruce's side could do with the defensive veteran in their side, to give them a chance of reaching the Premier League.

Villa will go into the game as underdogs, as Slavisa Jokanovic's side have been almost unstoppable in the latter stages of the season.

The Verdict

The injury to Ahmed Elmohamady is a real blow for Steve Bruce's side, as he has been a constant in their defensive line this season, having made 45 appearances throughout all competitions.

In his absence, it leaves James Bree as his likely replacement, who has just four Championship starts to his name this season.

Aston Villa will just have to hope that the Egptian can pull through and recover in time for the important match at Wembley.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/journalist-provides-bittersweet-update-on-aston-villa-player-ahead-of-fulham-clash/

[WhiteJC]

 
Aston Villa vs Fulham: Everything you need to know for the Championship play-off final as both sides battle for Premier League promotion

    Championship play-off final Aston Villa vs Fulham takes place on 26 May
    Aston Villa vs Fulham takes place on neutral ground at Wembley Stadium
    Aston Villa vs Fulham tickets through the official club sites have sold out

Championship play-off final is the last hurdle for Aston Villa and Fulham to face in their efforts for Premier League promotion.

At first Fulhams chances of reaching the play-off final looked in doubt after defeat in the first-leg against Derby, but Fulham in the second-leg overturned the 1-0 deficit with a 2-0 win at Craven Cottage. Aston Villa's semi-final play-off was more plain sailing after conceding no goals and producing one away goal from Mile Jedinak.

Sportsmail will provide you everything you need to know for Championship play-off final between Aston Villa and Fulham including date, time, location and tickets plus head-to-head stats, how they reached the play-offs and odds.


Aston Villa captain John Terry will be looking to lead his side to Premier League promotion

When and what time is it?

The  Championship play-off final between Aston Villa and Fulham will take place on 26 May at 5pm (BST).

Where is Championship final play-off happening?

The Championship play-off final to reach the Premier League will take place on neutral soil at Wembley Stadium.


Championship play-off final between Aston Villa and Fulham takes place at Wembley Stadium

Are Aston Villa vs Fulham tickets still available?

Tickets for Championship play-off final for Aston Villa and Fulham fans have sold out.

How can I watch Championship play-off final

It will be televised LIVE on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event. 

You can LIVE stream the Aston Villa vs Fulham match on Now TV with a day pass costing £7.99.

Follow Sportsmail LIVE commentary on May 26 for the latest team news, line-ups, goals and substitutions in the Championship play-off final.

Aston Villa vs Fulham head-to-head

Both sides come into the Championship play-off final on an even playing field with both sides winning an equal amount of games against each other since their first clash in 1905.

Championship 2018/19 season saw both sides win their home games in the four matches against each other.

Road to Championship play-off final

Fulham finished in third in the Sky Bet Championship with five-point lead over Aston Villa who finished fourth.

Here is how Aston Villa and Fulham reached the Championship play-off final:


Aston Villa Results

4th in Sky Bet Championship
August 2017

    Aston Villa 1-1 Hull City
    Cardiff City  3-0 Aston Villa
    Reading 2-1 Aston Villa
    Aston Villa 4-2 Norwich City
    Bristol City 1-1 Aston Villa

September 2017

    Aston Villa 0-0 Brentford
    Aston Villa 0-0 Middlesbrough
    Barnsley 0-3 Aston Villa
    Aston Villa 2-1 Nottm Forest
    Burton 0-4 Aston Villa
    Aston Villa 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

October 2017

    Wolves 2-0 Aston Villa
    Aston Villa 2-1 Fulham
    Birmingham 0-0 Aston Villa

November 2017

    Preston 0-2 Aston Villa
    Aston Villa 1-2 Sheff Wed
    QPR 1-2 Aston Villa
    Aston Villa 2-1 Sunderland
    Aston Villa 2-0 Ipswich Town

December 2017

    Leeds United 1-1 Aston Villa
    Aston Villa 0-0 Millwall
    Derby 2-0 Aston Villa
    Aston Villa 2-2 Sheff Utd
    Brentford 2-1 Aston Villa
    Middlesbrough 0-1 Aston Villa

January 2018

    Aston Villa 5-0 Bristol City
    Nottm Forest 0-1 Aston Villa
    Aston Villa 3-1 Barnsley
    Sheff Utd 0-1  Aston Villa

February 2018

    Aston Villa 3-2 Burton
    Aston Villa 2-0 Birmingham
    Fulham 2-0 Aston Villa
    Aston Villa 1-1 Preston
    Sheff Wed 2-4 Aston Villa

March 2018

    Sunderland 0-3 Aston Villa
    Aston Villa 4-1 Wolves
    Aston Villa 1-3 QPR
    Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Aston Villa
    Hull City 0-0 Aston Villa

April 2018

    Aston Villa 3-0 Reading
    Norwich City 3-1 Aston Villa
    Aston Villa 1-0 Cardiff City
    Aston Villa 1-0 Leeds United
    Ipswich Town 0-4 Aston Villa   
    Aston Villa 1-1 Derby   

May 2018 

    Millwall 1-0 Aston Villa

Championship semi-final play-off:

    Middlesbrough 0-1 Aston Villa
    Aston Villa 0-0 Middlesbrough

Fulham Results

3rd in Sky Bet Championship
August 2017

    Fulham 1-1 Norwich City 
    Reading 1-1 Fulham
    Leeds United 0-0 Fulham
    Fulham 0-1 Sheff Wed
    Ipswich Town 0-2 Fulham

September 2017

    Fulham 1-1 Cardiff City
    Fulham 2-1 Hull City
    Burton 2-1 Fulham
    Fulham 1-1 Middlesbrough
    Nottm Forest 1-3 Fulham
    QPR 1-2 Fulham

October 2017

    Fulham 2-2 Preston
    Aston Villa 2-1 Fulham
    Fulham 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
    Fulham 0-2 Bristol City

November 2017

    Wolves 2-0 Fulham
    Fulham 1-1 Derby
    Sheff Utd 4-5 Fulham
    Fulham 1-0 Millwall

December 2017

    Brentford 1-3 Fulham
    Fulham 1-0 Birmingham
    Sunderland 1-0 Fulham
    Fulham 2-1 Barnsley
    Cardiff City 2-4 Fulham
    Hull City 2-2 Fulham

January 2018

    Fulham 4-1 Ipswich Town
    Middlesbrough 0-1 Fulham
    Fulham 6-0 Burton
    Barnsley 3-1 Fulham

February 2018

    Fulham 2-0 Nottm Forest
    Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Fulham
    Fulham 2-0 Aston Villa
    Bristol City 1-1 Fulham
    Fulham 2-0 Wolves

March 2018

    Derby 1-2 Fulham
    Fulham 3-0 Sheff Wed
    Preston 1-2 Fulham
    Fulham 2-2 QPR
    Norwich City 0-2 Fulham

April 2018

    Fulham 2-0 Leeds united
    Sheff Wed 0-1 Fulham
    Fulham 1-0 Reading
    Fulham 1-1 Brentford
    Millwall 0-3 Fulham
    Fulham 2-1 Sunderland

May 2018 

    Birmingham 3-1 Fulham

Championship semi-final play-off:

    Derby 1-0 Fulham
    Fulham 2-0 Derby

Aston Villa vs Fulham Latest Odds



Winning:

    Aston Villa - 5/2
    Fulham - 7/5
    Draw - 9/4

Special:

    Over 3.5 goals and 7+ corners each team - 50/1



How tie will be decided between Fulham and Aston Villa:

    Aston Villa in Extra Time - 14/1
    Fulham in Extra Time - 10/1
    Either Team in Extra Time - 5/1
    Aston Villa on Penalties - 11/1
    Fulham on Penalties - 11/1
    Either Team on Penalties -5/1

*Odds provided by Sky Sports Bet on 23/05/18



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5757077/Aston-Villa-vs-Fulham-Championship-play-final-2018-guide.html#ixzz5GOqhjFDu
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[WhiteJC]

 
Head Coach press conference

Slaviša Jokanović is proud of the situation that Fulham are currently in, but knows they will have to be at their best to finish the job.

A fine second half of the season means the Whites are now potentially just 90 minutes away from the Premier League, although a stern test awaits in the form of Aston Villa in Saturday's Play-Off Final.

"A massive challenge is ahead of us," Jokanović said in Wednesday's press conference. "It's big for myself, the Club, the supporters.

"When I arrived here two-and-a-half years ago we were fighting relegation, so I believe we've made great steps to have the opportunity to bring this Club back and be a promoted team.

"We have an important chance in front of us, and we expect we are going to find our best performance, follow our style, be confident, and cross this important line.

"A great season is behind us, but now we cannot think about the past. This is one game where we have the opportunity to cross this magic line. We know our responsibility, we know how important it is.

"I'm only thinking about this 90 or 120 minutes, or some minutes after extra-time. We don't know exactly what we're going to find in this game, but we are ready for everything.

"Villa are an organised and strong team, a good team. They're in the Final, like us, and deserve to be there.

"Steve Bruce knows very well how to protect his defensive line, but we expect we can put these players under some kind of stress and pressure to do them damage."

When asked if playing at Wembley would suit his side, Jokanović replied: "Yes, why not? We believe we play great football and have more opportunities to win the game

"We are two good teams with a little bit different styles. We are probably going to try and move it a little bit more.

"They won't surprise us, they'll try and score some goals from set-pieces, from some individual action, after some offensive transition.

"We must follow our style, it's not a question of taking risks or not, we'll try to dominate the situation, put them under stress.

"Against us we are going to find many experienced players who are used to playing in this stadium. We must take responsibility, be aggressive, and try to win the game."

When it was put to Jokanović that Villa have more experience in their side than Fulham, our Head Coach played down the importance of such a thing.

"We're a more experienced team than we were last season," he explained. "It's our second time in the Play-Offs, now we made this step to play in the Final.

"John Terry is a fantastic player, James Chester is a fantastic player, they have experience of playing in this stadium.

"We are the youngest team, we are probably the team with more energy, we believe in our style, we believe we can dominate the situation and score the goals.

"We have observed all the strengths and weaknesses from Villa's side. We are ready for all the small details. Experience is important, but it's not everything."

Both teams have now sold out their 38,000-plus allocations for the showpiece event, and Jokanović knows the support given by the #FFCWhiteWall will give his side that extra gear when needed.

"It's great news for us that tickets have sold out," he said. "Sometimes people say that Craven Cottage is not such a noisy stadium, but the last game we played against Derby our supporters pushed us really strongly.

"We sold all the tickets and I am sure we are going to find this white wall at Wembley and they are going to push us, they are going to be noisy, and we are going to give everything to make them happy and satisfied."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/may/23/head-coach-press conference

[WhiteJC]

 
"The richest game in club football" is almost upon us. A Look At What Villa Must Do To Win

Three Things – Fulham at Wembley, Championship Play-off Final

"The richest game in club football" is almost upon us. On Saturday 26th May – a date not without significance in Aston Villa's history – we return to the national stadium for the first time since we beat Liverpool in that memorable FA Cup semi-final three years ago. I say the semi-final because I think it's fair to say that although we won and were due back to play in the final against Arsenal, we spectacularly failed to turn up on that particular occasion.

Anyway, water under the bridge. Although it is more than a little crass to focus on the financial implications of this match, we find ourselves days from the biggest and most significant game of the past 36 years. A place in the Greed League is at stake, with the thick end of £200m ready and waiting to swell the club's coffers over the next couple of seasons and banish Financial Fair Play concerns to the dustbin of history. Winner takes all, and the loser remains mired in the Championship, planning away days at Brentford and Wigan, rather than, er, Huddersfield or Bournemouth. Put that way, another season in the Championship suddenly doesn't seem any less glamourous.

In all seriousness, we need to get promoted. Financially and in terms of our prestige, we need to get back to the top table and stabilise in the Premier League, before kicking on and getting back to challenging for European football again. We've already been left behind by former contemporaries such as Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea, so another year grafting Saturday/Tuesday over a 46-game season is not something we want in our future.

Standing in our way are Fulham, arguably the best side in the division behind Wolves, but tainted by play-off failure last season and by choking on the final day of this season, when a win at Small Heath – an away banker, surely? – would have seen them go up automatically by pipping Cardiff at the post. Instead, they collapsed to an acca-busting 3-1 defeat against one of the poorest teams in the division. I don't think anyone would have begrudged them automatic promotion, but fail miserably they did, and now they've had to join us in doing it the hard way. As good as Fulham may be, I imagine they will be pretty comfortable having to play us rather than the one-dimensional Middlesbrough.



Historically, we are very evenly matched – in 68 previous encounters, Villa have won 23, as have Fulham, with 22 drawn. Since the year 2000, we've met 30 times, with Villa winning 11 to Fulham's 8, with 11 drawn. Although the 'Cottagers' have won five of the last eight matches, and the last draw was back in 2013. History suggests a draw this time out (over the 90 minutes at least) while recent form suggests a victory for Fulham. What can we do to ensure that doesn't happen?



https://astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/the-richest-game-in-club-football-is-almost-upon-us-a-look-at-what-villa-must-do-to-win/

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: West Ham United still interested in Fulham duo Ryan Fredericks and Tom Cairney

Manuel Pellegrini is believed to have a significant amount of money to spend at West Ham United.

According to a report in the London Evening Standard, Manuel Pellegrini retains a strong interest in landing Tom Cairney and Ryan Fredericks for West Ham United this summer.

Cairney and Fredericks had first been identified as West Ham targets by previous boss David Moyes.

When the Scottish boss departed there were question marks over whether the Fulham duo would remain as targets for West Ham.

But the Standard claim that Pellegrini is indeed keen to bring them in, as he is also a fan.

Pellegrini is believed to have full control of transfers at West Ham, and he also has a sizeable budget to spend.

Whether the Chilean is successful in bringing Fredericks and Cairney to West Ham could depend on whether Fulham win on Saturday.

The Cottagers are set to play in the Championship play off final against Aston Villa this weekend, and if they are victorious, there is a belief at Craven Cottage that both the pair will stick with them for their first season back in the Premier League.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/05/23/report-west-ham-united-still-interested-in-fulham-duo-ryan-frede/

[WhiteJC]

 
Play-Off Final: In numbers

The facts and figures ahead of Aston Villa versus Fulham

With Saturday's Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final approaching, and with a little help from Opta, we've crunched the numbers ahead of Aston Villa versus Fulham.

1 - Fulham are featuring in the first play-off final in the club's history

2 - Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has won two out of two play-off finals, with Birmingham City in 2002 and with Hull City two years ago.

2 - Two of those Hull players are now at Villa Park, with Robert Snodgrass and Ahmed Elmohamady reuniting with their former boss.

3 - Bruce will become the third manager to manage in three second-tier play-off finals, following in the footsteps of Brian Little and Ian Holloway

4 - The Villans' gaffer has four promotions to the top flight under his belt, a joint record held with Neil Warnock.

5 - The number of Championship points between the sides, with Fulham third on 88 and Villa fourth with 83.

5 - Fulham's Ryan Fredericks, Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon appeared in the Championship Team of the Season, along with Aston Villa duo John Terry and Albert Adomah.

6 - The number of play-off ties in which Aston Villa striker Lewis Grabban has played, failing to score in any of those appearances.

7 - Aston Villa racked up seven straight wins from the end of December onwards, finally coming unstuck against Fulham in mid-February.

12 - January addition Aleksandar Mitrovic notched 12 goals in a run of 13 games to fire the Cottagers to third place.

14 - Aston Villa's top scorer this season is Albert Adomah; Lewis Grabban has notched 20 goals, but 12 of those came while on loan at Sunderland.

14 - On the creative front, no Championship player has laid on more goals than Robert Snodgrass, who registered 14 assists.

15 - Ryan Sessegnon is Fulham's top scorer this season, notching 15 goals from the left-hand side.

23 - Fulham went unbeaten from mid-December to the final game of the season, a run of 23 games – a streak unmatched in the EFL this term.

43 - Fulham appear at Wembley for only the second time, 43 years on from defeat in the 1975 FA Cup Final.

140 - The amount of on-pitch minutes since Sam Johnstone faced a shot on target, having kept Middlesbrough out of reach since the 40th minute of their first leg tie.

8370 - Including the play-off semi-finals, the amount of EFL minutes James Chester has played consecutively for Aston Villa – 93 games in a row.



https://www.efl.com/news/2018/may/play-off-final-in-numbers/