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Tuesday Fulham Stuff (12/06/18)...

Started by WhiteJC, June 12, 2018, 07:24:13 AM

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WhiteJC

 
Fulham's Marcus Bettinelli deserves his chance in the Premier League

The 26-year-old was key throughout The Cottagers' promotion run.



Following Fulham's promotion to the Premier League, focus has immediately shifted to the areas of the squad where investment is needed in order for upgrades to top-flight quality.

Yet the goalkeeping position represents one position that does not require an overhaul.

Despite many claims to the contrary, goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli deserves a chance to prove himself in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old brings indispensable key skills to the Fulham squad, possessing excellent shot-stopping skills along with the ability to reinvigorate the team as a whole.

Remarkably, Bettinelli has overseen both of Fulham's superb runs of form over the past two seasons.

In the 2016/17 campaign, Bettinelli was second-choice for the majority of the season, yet was recalled to first team action after David Button's horror-show against Derby in April.

After Bettinelli returned to the starting lineup, Fulham were unbeaten and won five out of their last six matches, securing a play-off spot in spectacular fashion.

Following Fulham's promotion to the Premier League, focus has immediately shifted to the areas of the squad where investment is needed in order for upgrades to top-flight quality.

Yet the goalkeeping position represents one position that does not require an overhaul.

Despite many claims to the contrary, goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli deserves a chance to prove himself in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old brings indispensable key skills to the Fulham squad, possessing excellent shot-stopping skills along with the ability to reinvigorate the team as a whole.

Remarkably, Bettinelli has overseen both of Fulham's superb runs of form over the past two seasons.

In the 2016/17 campaign, Bettinelli was second-choice for the majority of the season, yet was recalled to first team action after David Button's horror-show against Derby in April.

After Bettinelli returned to the starting lineup, Fulham were unbeaten and won five out of their last six matches, securing a play-off spot in spectacular fashion.

Following that season's semi-final defeat at the hands of Reading, Bettinelli suffered an injury in preseason and lost his place to Button yet again.

The Englishman had to wait until December 2017 to return to the starting 11, and immediately won his first game against Birmingham.

It was the start of an incredible run, where Fulham would lose just three matches in the following 29 games. During that superb spell, Bettinelli kept 14 clean sheets and let in just 20 goals.

After losing two matches in a row in May, the Fulham goalkeeper responded admirably and kept two consecutive clean sheets in Fulham's biggest matches of the season en route to promotion glory.

These stunning runs of form always seem to occur just as Bettinelli returns to the side, and although all of Fulham's resurgences cannot be attributed to the goalkeeper, his skills are undoubtedly a major factor.

The shot-stopper has an incredible knack for keeping clean sheets, and his fantastic saves have averted disaster for the club on many occasions.

A perfect example of Bettinelli's value to Fulham came in the Whites' clash with Leeds United in April.

Leeds looked certain to score when Caleb Ekuban was slipped through in the second half, yet the Fulham 'keeper made an outstanding one-on-one stop to deny the striker.

Moments later, the Cottagers scored on the counter-attack and secured all three points- without Bettinelli's intervention, the score would have been all square at 1-1, instead of a 2-0 lead.

Overall, there are more pressing positions at Fulham that need strengthening (such as centre-midfield, right-wing, and right-back); a costly outlay on a new goalkeeper would be superfluous.

As a result of the Camberwell-born goalkeeper's heroics and value to team morale, Marcus Bettinelli should be given a chance between the sticks in the Premier League.



https://tbrfootball.com/fulhams-marcus-bettinelli-premier-league/

WhiteJC

 
3 Experienced PL campaigners Fulham could sign this summer including £90,000-a-week Arsenal star

Fulham have secured a return to the Premier League by beating Aston Villa 1-0 in the Championship play-off final last month.

The Cottagers were excellent throughout the previous season. Led by the likes of Ryan Sessegnon, Ryan Fredericks and Tom Cairney, Fulham played arguably the best football in the second-tier competition.

However, things will be different in the Premier League and Slavisa Jokanovic must bring in some experienced players to retain their top-flight status beyond the end of next season.

With that in mind, here are three experienced Premier League players the Cottagers should look to sign this summer.

Chancel Mbemba (Newcastle United)

Chancel Mbemba appeared just 9 times for Newcastle this past season as the 23-year-old defender failed to impress in the latter half of the previous campaign. However, Mbemba could be a massive signing for newly-promoted Fulham.

The Congolese is a no-nonsense defender and would provide some much-needed experience and solidity to the Fulham backline. Strong in the air and solid at tackling, Mbemba could be an ideal signing for the Cottagers.

Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Jokanovic must strengthen every single department to build a team capable of enjoying a successful campaign in the top-flight.

The Serbian should consider signing £90,000-a-week Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, who will be available on a free transfer this summer.

Wilshere's career has been blighted with various injuries but when fit, he is one of the most exciting midfielders to watch in the Premier League. The 26-year-old possesses excellent technical abilities and has the skill to dictate the tempo of the game from the middle of the park. He is creative, hard-working and is blessed with a fabulous range of passing.

Despite the fact that he is only 26, Wilshere already has vast Premier League experience and that could prove to be valuable for Fulham next season.

Danny Ings (Liverpool)

Danny Ings has had a forgettable time at Anfield with recurrent injuries halting his progress. He is not the first-choice striker under Jurgen Klopp, with the German tactician favouring Roberto Firmino to lead Liverpool's attack.

Hence, a loan move to join Fulham could be ideal for Ings to resurrect his stuttering career. In fact, the ex-Burnley striker would fit right in with how the Cottagers play their football under Jokanovic.

With his speed, agility and desperation for first-team football, Ings will be a superb addition for Fulham.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/06/12/3-experienced-pl-campaigners-fulham-could-sign-this-summer-including-90000-a-week-arsenal-star/

WhiteJC

 
Fulham: Three players to watch



Cairney, Ream and Sessegnon can flourish for the promoted Cottagers in 2018/19, writes Adrian Clarke

Adrian Clarke looks at three players who will be influential in Fulham's return to the Premier League.

Tom Cairney

Scoring the winner in the Championship play-off final was a fitting way for Tom Cairney to finish his best season to date.

Cairney has reached new levels under the guidance of Slavisa Jokanovic.

The former Hull City and Blackburn Rovers player has a wonderful left foot and makes Fulham tick.

The 27-year-old was second for chances created by Fulham players last term. Only Stefan Johansen, who takes most of their set-pieces, had more.

The 72 key passes he made also ranked him 11th in the Championship.

Cairney has a keen eye for both goals and assists, producing six and five respectively in 2017/18.

He combines well with Kevin McDonald and Johansen in midfield and was the Championship's most dominant and effective passer.

No one else came close to the 3,001 passes he made.

He has the quality and style to thrive in the Premier League, with a team perfectly suited for him. We should expect big things from Cairney.
Cairney passing in 2017/18*

     Total    Championship rank
Total passes    3,001    1
Passes/90    88.2    1
Pass accuracy    91.5%    1

*minimum 1,000 minutes played

Tim Ream

The United States defender has just been named Fulham's player of the season; and rightly so. He was one of the unsung heroes of their promotion campaign.

The 30-year-old was the cornerstone of a back four who conceded only 46 goals in the regular 46-match campaign.

That was an improvement of the 57 conceded in 2016/17, and 79 the season before that.

Ream's averages of 6.1 clearances and 0.7 blocks per match are the highest of all Fulham players. But his exceptional ball-playing skills also marked him out from the rest.

He is Fulham's most comfortable defender in possession and is suited to the way head coach Jokanovic likes his team to pass out from the back.

Championship defenders in 2017/18
Best pass accuracy    Most passes per match
Conor Coady    90.3%    Willy Boly    61.2
Tim Ream    88.3%    Paul McShane    60.5
James Chester    87%    Tim Ream    59.5

That ability to look after possession with assurance will be vital for Fulham in the Premier League.

The player signed from Bolton Wanderers is also a good reader of the game and seems to be improving with age. 

Ryan Sessegnon

The Championship Player of the Year looks set to continue his rapid development with Fulham in the Premier League.

Sessegnon can play as a left-back, left wing-back, wide left-sided forward or as a striker. So is a manager's dream.

Most of the 18-year-old's best performances have come as a winger in a three-man forward line.

He has great balance, footwork and speed, with the ability to go past defenders with and without the ball.

Sessegnon's crossing is good but it is the youngster's finishing that stands out as his best quality.

He can convert chances with either foot and has a knack of getting into excellent positions inside the penalty area. Many of his 16 goals were close-range efforts, after he had drifted into the centre of the box.

Very few wide men are able to become a second striker with the ease of Sessegnon, which is remarkable given that he broke into the side as a full-back.

Sessegnon goals in 2017/18
     Total
Goals    16
Left foot    10
Right foot    5
Header    1
Inside box    15
Outside box     1

With eight assists as well, Sessegnon was directly involved in almost 30 per cent of Fulham's goals en route to promotion. That is a sensational record.

Even if he is on the periphery of matches Sessegnon is always a dangerous player. With development to come, he looks a superstar in the making.



https://www.premierleague.com/news/713929


WhiteJC

 
The promoted: Fulham set to return in style


Adrian Clarke says there are similarities between the Cottagers and Premier League champions Man City

Adrian Clarke looks at what style of play we can expect to see from the three promoted clubs in 2018/19.
Fulham

In terms of style, Fulham look well suited to Premier League football.

Their head coach Slavisa Jokanovic has turned them into a possession-based team.

Playing in a fluid 4-3-3 formation, the Cottagers pass and move with confidence.

Four experienced players down the centre of the pitch are at the heart of Jokanovic's philosophy.

Central defender Tim Ream, holding midfielder Kevin McDonald and box-to-box specialists Stefan Johansen and Tom Cairney helped Fulham control the majority of their 2017/18 matches.

All aged between 27 and 30, they were each ranked in the top 10 for most passes per match in the Championship last season.

Most passes per match 2017/18
Player    Passes/match    Championship rank
Cairney    81.1    1
McDonald    65.0    2
Ream    59.5    8
Johansen    57.3    10

Playing the pressure game

As soon as Fulham lose the ball they look to win it back as quickly as possible, by pressing ferociously in packs.

But when they do win it back they show patience on the ball.

They boasted the largest average share of possession of the 24 Championship teams last season, with 57.8 per cent.

That determination to dominate possession forces opponents to do a lot of chasing, which wears them down and forces mistakes.

This also helped them get the most goals from open play last term, scoring 68 times.

Fulham's short game
2017/18     Fulham    Championship rank
Short passes/90    492    1
Long passes/90    58    24

While pundits questioned whether Jokanovic had a plan B, their main tactical approach was hugely productive.

This was especially the case from January onwards, after they had signed centre-forward Aleksandar Mitrovic on loan from Newcastle United.

The Serb scored 12 times in his 20 appearances, averaging a shot every 20.16 minutes.

In that period Fulham won 14 times and lost only twice.

Pace on the flanks

To ensure their passing is productive, Fulham have pace out wide to stretch teams.

Ryan Sessegnon was integral to their promotion campaign. Just turned 18, he produced 16 goals and eight assists.

The influence of Fulham's full-backs is also important.

Their wide defenders are encouraged to push on, especially when the man in front drifts inside to play as a second centre-forward.

During the latter stages of the season Matt Targett, the left-back, and Ryan Fredericks, on the right, were extremely creative.

With Targett being on loan from Southampton and Fredericks since having signed for West Ham United, whoever starts in these positions for Fulham in 2018/19 are sure to be attack-minded.

'A Guardiola team'

Fulham remind me of a Pep Guardiola team. They play attractive football based on movement and domination of the ball.

Led by a quality midfield trio, they like to dictate matches and wear rivals down.

It will be tougher to repeat this in the Premier League but I do not expect a shift in policy from Jokanovic.

Fulham are set to be a delight to watch.



https://www.premierleague.com/news/713268

WhiteJC

 
Liverpool Star Red Hot On Fulham Radar: Why He Should Leave The Company Of Klopp!

Ever since the famous Busby Babes of Manchester produced a side in the 1950s that won everything on their path, it has been a dilemma for the ages for every football manager, youth or experience. Any football manager who has tasked the challenges of handling a team and succeeded in bringing in the reins has faced the problem of choosing youth over experience or vice versa.

Most managers have a definite style of management and regardless of the club they go to, they stick to their philosophies and try to implement their style on the club. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is one such man who backs himself and his ideas. The tall, imposing German introduced the world to his heavy, metal football with a group of youngsters who have gone on to become world beaters now.

His crafty architecture established a platform of great productivity for the young players at Borussia Dortmund. Players like Mats Hummels, Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze, Shinji Kagawa, Marco Reus, Nuri Sahin, Ilkay Gundogan were inducted to Klopp's first team as nothing but promising youngsters and are now expensive world-class players spreading magic throughout Europe.

The normal one, now managing at Liverpool, intends to repeat his tactics. His focus on youth remains consistent with the Merseyside club giving platforms to many a youngster to showcase their talent.

One such player who was brought in by Klopp was Marko Grujic. Dubbed as the "new Nemanja Matic" for his tall, commanding figure and his quiet yet effective presence on the pitch, Grujic is one player who is still waiting to kick off his career at Liverpool. The 21-year joined Liverpool during the 2015-16 season and the box to box midfielder was sent back on loan for the rest of the season and had to wait till the next season to make his Liverpool.

Since then, he has only played 12 games for the club, spending the second half of the recently concluded season out on loan at Cardiff City. He played more often for the Bluebirds and now that he has returned to Liverpool, he again faces the prospect of sitting on the bench week in week out. It will hamper his progress and he is perhaps deserving of more game time, given the fact that he adds certain steel to any midfield and along with his good range of passing, can be an asset to any side.

Therefore, new reports which claim that Fulham are interested in signing the Serbian, may well see him move to the Cottagers. Grujic is a part of the Serbian team headed for the 2018 edition of the FIFA World Cup and should he play well, Liverpool might charge more for him. Therefore with only a couple of days to go for the tournament, Fulham should look to secure his services and add some strength as they prepare for a season in the Premier League.



http://the4thofficial.net/2018/06/liverpool-star-shown-interest-fulham-leave-company-klopp/

WhiteJC

 
Fulham news: Danny Murphy hails game changer Tom Cairney and reveals Ryan Sessegnon boost

FULHAM need skipper Tom Cairney to enjoy an injury-free season if they are to thrive in the Premier League, according to Danny Murphy.


Fulham News: Tom Cairney is Fulham's "game changer", according to Danny Murphy

Fulham struggled in the first half of the Championship campaign as Cairney was hampered by a knee injury but his return to full fitness coincided with a club record 23-game unbeaten run.

He leads the Whites into the Premier League after firing the winner against Aston Villa in the Play-Off final and is expected to remain a regular fixture on Slavisa Jovanovic's team-sheet.

"Cairney's a terrific player," Murphy, who captained Fulham during their run to the 2010 Europa League final, said. "What I like about him is he tries to make things happen, make a difference in the final third.

"I think he probably could be a bit fitter. That's not saying anything against him because that will come with playing at the next level anyway. He missed quite a few games, and they need to keep him fit because at the moment, he is the one, the game changer. He sees a pass, can score a goal, is calm.

"But they need players. A bit of experience and a bit more legs."

One of the many benefits of returning to the Premier League is that Fulham are under no financial pressure to sell teen sensation Ryan Sessegnon.

The Roehampton-born winger is attracting interest from the likes of Manchester United but he will stick around at Craven Cottage.

Murphy said: "It's great that he can stay here and play in the Premier League rather than sitting on the bench somewhere."

There has been one departure, however, with right-back Ryan Fredericks opting to join West Ham on a free transfer instead of extending his contract.

"It's a shame that Fredericks has gone because I like him," Murphy said. "They'll do well to replace him with someone with the same athleticism."



Fulham have been linked with a loan swoop for Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic and Murphy believes it could be a good move for the 22-year-old to learn his trade.

"It's a great club in terms of my memories of it," he said. "How it runs and works now seems to be going well.

"They play terrific football and the manager's done a terrific job with limited resources compared with other big clubs in the Championship.

"So I think if he is going to be playing. That's the only thing with being on loan, you have to play. If not don't bother.

"But he is a a talent. I've seen bits of him and he's a good player."



Former Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was delighted to see the Whites win promotion to the Premier League and he believes they can avoid an instant return to the Championship.

He said: "I think it will be nice for Fulham to keep the guys they want to keep, and of course add some quality to the team. But I wouldn't go full throttle and throw everything that you earned this year into the team. Make sure you have a stable organisation, a stable background.

"You've seen with other clubs that have got promoted that it's not impossible to stay up in the first year."

Danny Murphy was speaking ahead of Soccer Aid for Unicef. You can still donate at https://www.socceraid.org.uk/



https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/708822/Fulham-News-Danny-Murphy-Tom-Cairney-Ryan-Sessegnon-Rumours-Gossip


WhiteJC

 
Edwin van der Sar cautions Fulham not to go 'full throttle' in summer window

LONDON -- Fulham should not go "full throttle" with their spending in a bid to maximise their chances of surviving in the Premier League next season, according to former goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

Slavisa Jokanovic's men secured a return to the top flight with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in last month's tense Championship playoff final, a match that was estimated to be worth around £160 million to the victors.

Defeat at Wembley has left Villa in serious financial trouble, with chief executive Keith Wyness suspended last week and administration only narrowly avoided amid reports that the club must cut around £15m from its wage bill to remain solvent.

Fulham, in contrast, now have the means to keep the highly-rated core of their promotion side together while strengthening their squad for a Premier League campaign, but Van Der Sar, who serves as Ajax's chief executive, warned that owner Shahid Khan should not go overboard in the transfer window.

"I think it will be nice for Fulham to keep the guys they want to keep, and of course add some quality to the team," Van Der Sar said last week ahead playing in a World XI for Soccer Aid, which raised more than £5.5m for UNICEF at Old Trafford on Sunday.

"I watched the playoff final with my son. The first half I think they were the better team, second half they suffered a little bit, but it's great to see them back up [in the Premier League].

"But I wouldn't go full throttle and throw everything that you earned this year into the team. Make sure you have a stable organisation, a stable background. You've seen with other clubs that have got promoted that it's not impossible to stay up in the first year [without spending big]."

Several of Fulham's key players have been linked with moves elsewhere -- not least Ryan Sessegnon, the 18-year-old winger who has reportedly attracted serious interest from Tottenham after registering an astonishing 16 goals and eight assists in the Championship last season.

But former midfielder Danny Murphy, who played for England XI at Old Trafford, believes midfield playmaker Tom Cairney is the player that Jokanovic would miss most in the Premier League.

"Cairney is a terrific player," he said. "What I like about him is he tries to make things happen, make a difference in the final third.

"I think he probably could be a bit fitter. That's not saying anything against him because that will come with playing at the next level anyway. He missed quite a few games, and they need to keep him fit because at the moment he is the one, the game-changer."

Murphy was full of praise for the progress that Jokanovic and his players made last season, though he expects that both will need help to build on their success in the top flight.

"They play terrific football and the manager's done a terrific job with limited resources compared with other big clubs in the Championship," he added. "But they need players. A bit of experience and a bit more legs."



http://www.espn.co.uk/football/fulham/story/3522796/edwin-van-der-sar-cautions-fulham-not-to-go-full-throttle-in-summer-window