Tuesday Fulham Stuff (24/07/18)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Wolves and Fulham target Oleksandr Zinchenko unsure of future

Manchester City youngster Oleksandr Zinchenko has provided an update on his future and it does look slightly promising for Wolves and Fulham who are keen to sign him.

'I am ready for anything'

Zinchenko provided an update on his future after a recent pre-match press conference.

"To be honest I am ready for anything.

"Of course you want to play, you want to play even more. You want to show everyone your quality.

"So we will see what happens in the future."

Pep Guardiola is in no rush to sell Zinchenko this summer according to reports and he even named him as a candidate to fill in at central midfield having missed out on the signing of Jorginho to Chelsea.

"We will decide until the last day.

"We have Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan who can play in this position, and Aleks (Zinchenko) can also play there.

"There is also Fabian Delph, and we have one or two young guys."

Versatile youngster

Zinchenko began his career in Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk's u19 side, for whom we would play seven, scoring one and assisting one.

The 21-year-old would then take a short career break before joining Russian side FK Ufa. He played 33 times for the Russian side, scoring two and assisting one.

Zinchenko then moved to Manchester City in July of 2016 for a fee in the region of £1.8 million.

City would then immediately loan Zinchenko to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, Zinchenko played 17 and assisted four during his loan spell with PSV.

Zinchenko would return to City this past season and would play a semi-key role in City's very impressive season. He played 14 games in all competitions for City, all of which were as a left-back.

However, despite playing all his games at left-back for City, Zinchenko is naturally a central midfielder who can also play left mid, right mid, centre defensive midfield and central attacking midfield.



https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/wolves-and-fulham-target-oleksandr-zinchenko-unsure-of-future/

[WhiteJC]

2018 Fulham Player Profiles: Stefan Johansen
Will the divisive midfielder get his chance to prove himself in the Premier League?


Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images

Basic Stats: 48 appearances | 46 starts | 2 substitutions | 3,883 minutes | 8 goals | 9 assists

Economics: £2.07 million Transfer Fee | Signed: 2016 | Contract Ends in Summer 2019 plus a 1-year option

Stats by Seven-Game sequences

WhoScored Rating Chart

Radar

All data from whoscored.com

Goals vs. Expected Goals

From experimental361.com

Transfermarket Value Chart

From transfermarket.co.uk

CC Thoughts: If anything else, this was not a boring season for Stefan Johansen. In spite of his critics, the man known as "StefJo" still led the club in assists and key passes. However, those same group of people will tell you that he was getting beaten like a drum in defense ( and there is data to back that up), his not-so-great-dribbling-to-begin-with got even worse and his shot map looked more wayward than in season's past.

Then again, think of the roles he had to play in 2017/18. Johansen basically had to be the engine of Fulham's midfield when Tom Cairney was out injured. Along with that, there were all those fixtures where somebody thought it was a good idea to have him play at center forward. [shivers]

But once the defeat to Sunderland was out of everyone's system, let alone Johansen's, you saw a much more confident midfielder who was his usual dominant self throughout the rest of the season. In the last 28 contests, the Norwegian National Team captain had four goals, eight of his nine total assists and have his dribbling rate nearly triple during that same time frame (0.56 per 90 minutes the first 21 games vs. 1.42 per 90 minutes the next 28).

Also, it is quite difficult to imagine where Fulham would have been without some of Johansen's critical goals. Among them include the end-to-end run that finished with a chip over Neil Etheridge to seal a great win at Cardiff City in December as well as the clinching goal that would seal three points at Queen's Park Rangers back in October. Fulham supporters won't also forget the performance he had against Norwich City where he seemed to just anger every Canaries player on the pitch with his antics and score on them in the same game.

In short, StefJo can get a bad rap sometimes. He can look a bit lethargic as a box-to-box midfielder and Jean-Michael Seri will be an absolute upgrade over him in the coming season. However, that doesn't discount the fact that Johansen will be a valuable member to Fulham in 2018/19. As long as the club are not making any transfers, all hands will have to be on deck for a senior squad that is still quite shallow. Any major performances by Johansen this upcoming season will surely turn his reputation around. If not, Fulham might be in a spot of bother.

Key Stat: 32.0% tackling success rate. It's one thing to have this stat as a forward hoping to win the ball back in the press by over-committing. But if your a central midfielder in hopes of relieving the duties of your back four and Kevin McDonald, this is not a pretty statistic to have. There's a reason Seri joined Fulham and boy would they be happy to see what a real box-to-box midfielder in the upper echelons of European football can do.

Your thoughts: So what do you say about StefJo? Do you think he's gotten a bad rap or is his criticism justified? What type of role do you see him having in 2018/19? Will he even be impressive coming off the bench? Give us your thoughts on Mr. Johansen in the comment section below.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/7/23/17602178/2018-fulham-player-profiles-stefan-johansen

[ffc2004]

Away Days: Part Four

Four Fulham fans provide some insight as to what trips to Burnley, Crystal Palace, West Ham United and Southampton will entail.

Billy Murphy: Burnley v Fulham (Turf Moor) – Saturday 12th January

Turf Moor; mention it to even the most optimistic of Fulham fans and they'd likely shudder and struggle to predict a Fulham victory there given our record of one win in 28 attempts, a meagre 67 years ago. Needless to say, good memories there are few and far between, but it is an old school stadium to go and watch a generally well organised team play their football. With the away fans situated behind the goal, it will make for some nice celebrations when we get a result there this season – though with Burnley being backed by a normally vociferous home crowd it's a game that promises to be as intensely fought off the pitch as it is on it. Away from the footballing side, there's a good selection of Northern grub in the ground with a range of pies on offer, and the nearby cricket club (a five minute walk away) is a decent place for some pre-match nerve settling.

Jack Collins: Crystal Palace v Fulham (Selhurst Park) – Saturday 2nd February

Crystal Palace's home ground is a strange mix of the old and the new, with two nicely old-school stands on the sides of the pitch combining with newer offerings at either end, the most famous of which is the Holmesdale End, which houses Palace's 'Ultras' group and their drum. Getting to Palace is reasonably easy - trains run to Norwood Junction or Selhurst from Clapham Junction, London Bridge, West Brompton or even Shepherd's Bush. With limited pubs nearby, your best bet may well be to drink in West or Central London before heading south to Selhurst. Away fans are housed in the Arthur Wait stand, which is spacious enough but does have some factors which limit views - seats towards the back are obstructed a tad by an overhanging roof and some pylons. But ultimately Selhurst Park is an away day with an nostalgic feel, and one which has provided Fulham with plenty of wonderful memories down the years - most notably being the birthplace of probably the finest goal of the first era of Premier League Fulham - Pajtim Kasami's wonder strike.

Dean Jones: West Ham United v Fulham (London Stadium) – Saturday 23rd February

Easier to access by tube than Upton Park but West Ham's new location still has its issues. Be prepared for a long dull walk from the station to stadium — and then a bland concrete venue with a lack of atmosphere. Many moan about the views and crowd noise but for away fans it's actually not too bad, with a decent upper and lower section situated towards one corner.

Ian McCulloch: Southampton v Fulham (St Mary's Stadium) – Wednesday 27th February

After spending all these years caught up in a love affair with the wonderful Cottage, I have to confess I'm not a big fan of the modern identikit stadium, but Southampton's St Mary's is definitely one of the better ones. There's a good atmosphere, the crowd are noisy without directing too much animosity towards the away end, and the view's good. It's probably been one of my favourite away days over the years, not a patch on the quirky old Dell of course, but it's an easy drive, parking's good, and after a nice drink at the picturesque marina, it's a short walk to the ground. Unfortunately we've yet to win at St Mary's, unlike the Dell where we did have some good results over the years. One of the absolute best was that famous Wednesday night in September 1998 when Kevin Keegan's third tier upstarts outplayed their Premier League opponents to unceremoniously dump them out of the League Cup. I think that was when it dawned on us that our humble club really was going places. No wonder I have happy memories of the place.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/23/away-days-part-four

That Billy Murphy writes well.....  :dft011: :005:

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham have a Plan B if transfer of Newcastle's Aleksandar Mitrovic collapses — sign fellow Toon striker Dwight Gayle!

Serbia international wants permanent move to club he helped win promotion on loan last season but no fee has been agreed PLUS: Magpies eye World Cup defender as Chancel Mbemba leaves

Newcastle risk losing Dwight Gayle to Fulham — if the Cottagers' £20million deal for fellow Toon striker Aleksandar Mitrovic falls through.

Serbia international Mitrovic is just two days from a return to training on Tyneside - where he has no future under boss Rafa Benitez - because the long-standing transfer has yet to be completed.

The Magpies are keen to raise cash from the sale of Mitrovic, who spent the final three months of last season on loan at Fulham, helping the Londoners win promotion via the play-offs.

Personal terms are said to have been agreed but nothing has been finalised between the clubs, although progress is anticipated this week.

Gayle is a fall-back option for Fulham, who have also been linked with Brazilian striker Willian Jose.


Mitrovic is already a Fulham hero after his 12 goals helped deliver promotion (Image: Getty)


Gayle was Newcastle's second-leading league scorer last season, netting six times (Image: Reuters)

Mitrovic, who wants to join Fulham, has been on holiday since playing at the World Cup in Russia.

Newcastle have checked out Swiss international Fabian Schar of Spain's Deportivo La Coruno, who has a £3m release clause.

His fellow defender Chancel Mbemba has signed for Porto in a £6m deal.

Benitez is hoping for a breakthrough this week after admitting he needs another five signings before the window closes at 5pm on August 9 — the day before the top-flight season begins.

The Spaniard has had his transfer funds restricted because he won't sign a new contract until investment is secured for upgrading the training ground and academy.

That has raised anger among the Geordie fans.

On Monday night, the Newcastle United Fans' Forum called on Benitez to be backed.

They said: "Rafa Benitez is right not to sign a new deal until he has seen sufficient evidence to support his and the fans' ambition.

"We feel the club's board need to support him now more than ever to show him that we are ambitious and willing to be a stable top ten club pushing for European qualification and domestic cup success."



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fulham-plan-b-transfer-newcastles-12969123

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Sergi Gomez emerges as new Fulham target; Celta Vigo want £4.5m

Fulham are reportedly on the lookout for a new central defender.

According to a report in Estadio Deportivo, Fulham have turned their attention to Celta Vigo defender Sergi Gomez, with the La Liga club demanding a fee in the region of £4.5 million.

The Cottagers have been keen to bolster their back line this summer, yet their initial first-choice – Espanyol's David Lopez – was an all-but impossible deal to make with the Spanish club seeking such a high fee.

In a report by AS, Espanyol were not willing to accept anything less than his reported £35 million release clause; an extraordinary price for a 28-year-old centre-back with no Premier League experience.

It seems Fulham have moved on and Celta's Sergi Gomez is cited as their new, cheaper alternative, although they face competition for his signature from French Ligue 1 side Toulouse.

Both clubs are said to be willing to match Celta's £4.5m asking price for the player, as the Spanish club have a surplus of centre-backs and are seemingly happy to allow one to leave.

Gomez is a former Spain U21 international who came through the Barcelona youth ranks before moving to Celta in the summer of 2014 on a free transfer, signing a three-year deal with the club.

He has gone on to make over 100 La Liga appearances for the club, including 33 top-flight appearances last season; therefore he has plenty of top level experience.

The 6ft 1inch centre-back is comfortable with the ball at his feet and strong in the air, ideal for Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic who likes his side to build their attacks from the back.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/07/23/tt-report-sergi-gomez-emerges-as-new-fulham-target-celta-vigo-wa/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham plot Gayle swoop

Fulham are planning to move for Newcastle forward Dwight Gayle if their attempts to sign Aleksandar Mitrovic fail, according to a Daily Mirror article tonight.

The Premier League new boys have made Mitrovic, who spent a hugely successful loan spell at Craven Cottage last season, their top summer recruitment target but they have yet to finalise the £20m. The Serbian striker, who has made plain his desire to make a permanent move to join his compatriot Slavisa Jokanovic in west London, faces reporting for pre-season training at Newcastle on Wednesday when he returns from a post-World Cup holiday – despite being told by Magpies boss Rafa Benitez that is surplus to requirements at St. James' Park.

The Mirror claims that personal terms between Mitrovic and Fulham have been agreed ahead of the proposed transfer, but the specifics of the final transfer fee and whether it will be paid in full up front or in installments are still up in the air. The failure to land Mitrovic, who scored 12 goals in 20 appearances last term as the Whites won promotion via the Championship play-offs, and leave Fulham seriously short of firepower ahead of their return to the top flight.

Fulham have had Gayle on their radar for a long time, with the former Crystal Palace striker coming close to joining the Whites on two occasions. The Cottagers earmarked him as a potential loan option to spearhead their attack in the Championship whilst he was still at Crystal Palace and offered £15m for the speedy striker at the tail end of the summer transfer window last year, but that deal fell through. The 28 year-old has scored 29 goals in 71 appearances in two seasons on Tyneside, managing six in 30 games last season,



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/07/fulham-plot-gayle-swoop/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham set to announce £5m signing of Besiktas goalkeeper Fabri after he passed a medical at Motspur Park

    Fulham are set to announce the signing of Besiktas goalkeeper Fabri for £5m 
    The Spaniard stopper was at Fulham's Motspur Park for a medical on Monday
    The 30-year-old said he was interested in playing in England earlier this week

Fulnam expect to announce the arrival of goalkeeper Fabri from Besiktas for £5m on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old Spaniard was at the club's Motspur Park training ground on Monday.

Fulham are still hopeful of finalising Aleksandr Mitrovic from Newcastle United once he returns from holiday this week.


Fulham are expected to announce the signing of goalkeeper Fabri from Besiktas for £5million

They have made enquiries for Real Sociedad striker Willian Jose but the Spanish side want his £45m buy out clause.

Fabri told reporters in Turkey earlier this week that he had agreed personal terms.

He said: 'As you know the Premier League is a major league and one I am interested in joining.


Fabri has played as high as the Champions League against some of the best teams in Europe

'Negotiations between the two clubs are ongoing but there is a verbal agreement with Fulham. I want to thank Besiktas for my time here.'

The arrival of Fabri would add to the acquisitions of Jean Michael Seri and Maxime Le Marchand of Nice for a combined fee of £30m.



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5984395/Fulham-set-announce-5m-signing-Besiktas-goalkeeper-Fabri.html

[WhiteJC]

 
'One man army': Some Fulham fans react to reported Willian Jose offer

Some Fulham fans have reacted to their reported bid for striker Willian Jose.

Fulham have reportedly launched a bid to sign striker Willian Jose from Spanish club Real Sociedad - and some of the club's supporters on Twitter believe he could be a great addition at Craven Cottage.

According to a report from the Sun, the Premier League new-boys have made a £26million offer for the centre-forward.

It is understood that the 26-year-old has been seen as an alternative target to Newcastle United's Aleksandar Mitrovic, as the club continue to struggle to get that deal over the line.

Jose is a Brazilian attacker who thrived in the Sociedad side last season, scoring 20 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions and that included five strikes in the Europa League.

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is looking to improve his squad ahead of a return to the top flight and a new number nine appears to be a priority.

Jose has proven himself to be an efficient goalscorer in La Liga and the general consensus from Fulham supporters is that they would like both him and Mitrovic in a new-look forward line.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/07/24/dt-one-man-army-some-fulham-fans-react-to-reported-willian-jose/