Wednesday Fulham Stuff (26/12/18)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Three signings Fulham should make in January

Fulham chairman Shahid Khan has made it clear he will back Claudio Ranieri in the January transfer window, with the Whites needing new faces in order to lift themselves from the foot of the league table.

Here are three signings Fulham should make in the winter transfer window.

Danny Drinkwater

A lack of solidity in the centre of midfield has been a major reason Fulham have conceded an exorbitant amount of goals to date, and a tenacious player such as Danny Drinkwater would be an excellent choice to shore up the Whites' midfield.

Ranieri has a strong connection with Drinkwater from their time at Leicester City, when the Italian turned the midfielder into a title-winning force.

Now exiled at Chelsea, a move down Fulham Road to Craven Cottage would be a smart switch for Danny Drinkwater in January.

Gary Cahill

Another Chelsea reject, Cahill has barely featured for the Blues all season, and must be furious with Maurizio Sarri's lack of faith in him.

The England international can still defend resolutely at the highest level and would be a massive upgrade on Fulham's current options at the back.

A strong, authoritative presence in the heart of defence like Gary Cahill could turn around the leaky Fulham backline in 2019.

Nathaniel Clyne

Fulham's defence needs to be strengthened next month, and the right back position is one area that has been particularly suspect for the Whites.

Denis Odoi, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, and Cyrus Chrsitie have all been stationed there with little success, opening the door for Nathaniel Clyne to arrive on loan in January.

Manchester United loanee Fosu-Mensah has been exiled from the squad under Claudio Ranieri, indicating he is set to be sent back to Old Trafford and for another defender to arrive on loan.

Fulham must make it a priority to ensure Clyne is that player, as the Premier League-savvy defender offers pace, experience, and aggression in defence.



https://tbrfootball.com/three-signings-fulham-should-make-in-january/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham vs Wolves – Premier League preview, prediction, odds, how to watch on TV and live stream

A look ahead to the Boxing Day clash at Craven Cottage

Fulham and Wolves kick off the Boxing Day programme when face off at Craven Cottage tomorrow afternoon.

Wolves head into the fixture on the back of a 2-0 defeat by Liverpool but their recent results, including a 2-1 win over Chelsea, suggest they're favourites for victory.

Fulham, meanwhile, continue to languish at the bottom of the table on 10 points. They've managed just one win from their last 13 games and are in desperate need of a result.

What time is it?

The match kicks off at 12.30pm on Wednesday 26 December. Coverage starts at 12pm.

Where can I watch it?

Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League will be broadcasting the match. Subscribers can live stream the match via the Sky Sports app or online.

Form guide:

Fulham: DLLDLW

Wolves: LWWWLL

Odds:

Fulham to win: 9/4

Draw: 12/5

Wolves to win: 11/8

Prediction:

Wolves to win 3-1



https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fulham-vs-wolves-live-stream-info-online-premier-league-2018-latest-score-goals-tv-watch-a8698901.html

[WhiteJC]

 
All 12 of Fulham's summer signings ranked so far

Fulham's summer business has perhaps become more notorious than any other club this offseason. The Whites spent over 100 million pounds after gaining promotion, bringing in a full 12 players to Craven Cottage.

Here is a comprehensive ranking of all of the summer arrivals, halfway into the league season.

    Aleksandar Mitrovic

It is a telling sign of Fulham's transfer business that their best signing isn't truly a new face. Mitrovic's loan was made permanent in the summer from Newcastle, and the Serbian has been the Cottagers' best player since.

The top scorer that has played a role in more than half of Fulham's total league goals to date, the Whites simply would flounder without their star striker.

2. Calum Chambers

The Arsenal loanee was initially terrible when utilised at the back, yet a switch to centre midfield has brought out the best in Chambers.

Now one of Fulham's most influential players, Chambers is a rock in the centre of midfield, breaking up play and starting attacks with determination.

3. Sergio Rico

Fulham's current first-choice goalkeeper was number three in the goalkeeping pecking order earlier in the season, yet after Fabri and Marcus Bettinelli fell to the side, the Sevilla loanee flourished.

A player with Europa League and La Liga experience, Rico's saves have been vital and he has commanded his penalty area with authority in recent weeks.

4. Alfie Mawson

The centre-half is finally starting to show signs of the player everyone expected him to be, most notably producing a gargantuan display in the weekend scoreless draw at Newcastle.

An injury kept Mawson out for the opening month of the season and clearly impacted his form once he returned to the first team; luckily for Fulham, the defender appears to be back to his dominating self at the heart of defence.

5. Joe Bryan

The left back was signed from Bristol City in the summer, but has struggled to adapt to life in the top flight. A hamstring strain ruled him out for over a month in the fall, and he recently displaced Maxime le Marchand in the starting lineup.

Prone to mistakes at times, Bryan still has much to learn about Premier League defending, yet has potential to be a quality wingback at Craven Cottage.

6. Andre Schurrle

Perhaps Fulham's most high-profile signing, the World Cup winner has enjoyed a mixed time at Craven Cottage.

Schurrle has registered five goals so far, second only behind Mitrovic, revealing his knack for audacious finishes.

Yet the German has attempted a ridiculous number of shots in the process, often wayward in his shooting and wasteful in possession. And the winger is simply not cut out for a relegation dogfight, lacking the pace, aggression, and passion to fight for Fulham when it matters most.

7. Maxime le Marchand

The French defender joined Fulham along with fellow Nice teammate Jean-Michael Seri, yet surprisingly, it is Le Marchand who has played better at Craven Cottage.

Able to play either centre-back or wingback, the defender's versatility is useful, yet Le Marchand has a penchant for gifting the opposition possession with sloppy passes out from the back.

Utilised at left back for Jokanovic's final matches and for the opening games of Ranieri's tenure, Le Marchand has now fallen out favour and out of the starting lineup.

8. Luciano Vietto

Another loanee from a top European club, Vietto's time at Fulham has been inconsistent. Often used out wide in Jokanovic's 4-3-3- system, the Argentine looked bright in attack and contributed vital assists in the early months of the season.

Yet his influence has diminished ever since, fading out of matches, failing to finish clear-cut opportunities, and getting bullied off the ball by more physical players.

9. Timothy Fosu-Mensah

The Manchester United loanee's time at Fulham already appears to be coming to a close, with Ranieri completely freezing out the right back ever since being appointed manager.

Fosu-Mensah showed glimpses of brilliance, barging forward from the back with purposeful runs, but his defending was haphazard and his delivery poor. Fulham will do well to replace the youngster with a more experienced option in January.

10. Jean-Michael Seri

The signing that many hailed as the coup of the summer window has resulted in failure. Seri's contributions to Fulham have been far outweighed by his negative traits and his inability to adapt to English football.

Never keen to track back, quick to give the ball away in terrible positions, and lacking any sort of intensity, Seri has been the biggest disappointment at Fulham all season.

11. Fabri

Brought in to Craven Cottage by Fulham's now-departed goalkeeping coach, the signing of Fabri already appears to be a multi-million pound mistake.

The Spaniard was unconvincing in the opening matches of the season and was quickly dropped in favour of Bettinelli. Since his demotion, Fabri has not played a minute in the league for Fulham since, and is firmly third choice in SW6.

12. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa

Simply put, Anguissa is not fit to be a top-flight footballer. His touch is abysmal, his work-rate is poor, and his knack for attempting to take on five opposition players in his own defensive third is maddening.

One only needs to look at his performance against Manchester United, where Anguissa was the worst player on the pitch before being sent off in the second half.

The midfielder is still young and undoubtedly has potential, yet the decision to splash upwards of 20 million pounds on an unproven maverick looks misguided.



https://tbrfootball.com/all-12-of-fulhams-summer-signings-ranked-so-far/

[WhiteJC]

 
'This time last year we were 17th': Tom Cairney issues warning to anyone writing off Fulham this season

    Fulham were 17th in the Championship last Christmas before a sensational run
    This year the Cottagers are bottom of the league and four points from safety
    Fulham host Wolves on Boxing Day lunchtime as they start survival push

Tom Cairney has reminded anyone who is writing off Fulham's survival chances that they were 17th in the Championship last Christmas.

The Cottagers are bottom of the Premier League and four points from safety after winning just two of their opening 18 matches following promotion.

However Cairney said: 'This time last year we were 17th and then we got to Christmas and just turned it on. Hopefully we can do it again.


Tom Cairney has warned anyone who is writing off Fulham's survival chances this season

'The next two games, at home to Wolves and Huddersfield, and the next month is season defining.

'I'm definitely confident we can stay in the league. We've got to be the fourth worst team. When you put it like that, it's reachable.'

Fulham kept their first clean sheet of the season during Saturday's stalemate at Newcastle, and Cairney believes that is down to the influence of new boss Claudio Ranieri.


Fulham were 17th in the Championship last Christmas before a sensational run took them up

'Things have changed,' added the midfielder. 'The two managers we've had are very different.

'Slavisa Jokanovic was quite high press and attacking football, as you've seen in the Championship and at the start of this season, whereas the gaffer now is Italian.

'There's a lot more shape, concentrating on being solid, breaking and hitting teams on the counter. Two different managers, two different styles of play - hopefully this one works for us.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6528693/Tom-Cairney-issues-warning-writing-Fulham-season.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Three surprise packages at Fulham so far

Fulham enjoyed a whirlwind transfer window that brought many new faces to Craven Cottage, including some intriguing talents.

Here are three of Fulham's most surprising packages so far this campaign.

Calum Chambers

The Arsenal loanee arrived in SW6 with a reputation for being a solid centre-half, yet Chambers' performances at the back were nothing short of dreadful.

And in one of Slavisa Jokanovic's most successful decisions in his short reign in the Premier League, the former Whites manager shifted Chambers to a central defensive midfield role.

The Englishman is now one of the first names on the Fulham team-sheet in centre midfield, a stark turnaround from his abysmal early displays in defence.

Denis Odoi

After Odoi's sending off in the play-off final, few expected the Belgian centre-half to appear for Fulham in the Premier League.

Rarely a mainstay in the Championship, Odoi only broke into the starting lineup consistently towards the end of the 17/18 season. Yet the defender has been practically everpresent at the back for Fulham in the top flight.

His partnership with Alfie Mawson appeared promising early on in Claudio Ranieri's reign, and save for a couple of shaky displays at right back, Odoi has acquitted himself well this season amid a disastrous defence.

Jean-Michael Seri

The summer signing from Nice is unfortunately on the list as a disappointing surprise, due to the Ivorian's dreadful displays in centre-midfield.

One of many acquisitions who arrived with a glittering resume and high expectations, Seri has immensely struggled to adapt to English football.

Prone to giving the ball away in terrible areas, failing to properly track back, and generally appearing disinterested on the pitch, Fulham must hope Seri can sort out his form in 2019.



https://tbrfootball.com/three-surprise-packages-at-fulham-so-far/

[WhiteJC]

 
Why Fulham should arrest their fall by landing this 6ft 1in Bundesliga star in January

Why Fulham should go all out to sign Willi Orban in January

Basement club Fulham boast just 10 points from 18 games and have conceded in every game except one this season. The Cottagers are currently bottom of the Premier League following four years in the Championship and have conceded a league-high 42 goals.

Claudio Ranieri, who replaced Slavisa Jokanovic at Craven Cottage last month, has won just once in last five Premier League games but his team have conceded a whopping 11 goals. Fulham desperately need to start picking up points during the festive period of the season but first and foremost, a clean sheet is the need of the hour to kick-start their Premier League survival fight.

The Cottagers face Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town and Arsenal in 11 days – a massive test Ranieri will look to pass with flying colours. But come January, the Italian tactician should bring in a central defender to strengthen his porous backline which has conceded goals at an alarming rate following their promotion to the top-flight.

That said, Fulham must target RB Leipzig's defensive lynchpin, Willi Orban. The 26-year-old has been in very good form for an RB Leipzig team that's in the fight for a top-four spot in the Bundesliga this season.

Standing tall at 6ft 1in, he has the ideal height for a central defender, which helps him stamp his authority in the air. The four-cap Hungary international is a defender with a sound technique, which allows him to run comfortably with the ball at his feet and pass it around to his teammates with ease.

The Kaiserslautern-born defender is a decent tackler and has the ability to cut out the attacks with crucial interceptions. Willi Orban has the tendency to move further up the pitch at times to cut the passing lanes, not allowing the opposition to play an incisive pass in the final third. He reads the game very well and due to his ball-playing abilities, the 26-year-old can initiate attacks from the back as well.

Ranieri has managed to bring back a bit of life to Craven Cottage, yet they still need a leader to help them out defensively. The likes of Alfie Mawson, Maxime Le Marchand and Calum Chambers have all failed to nail down a regular place in the team, leaving Fulham in shambles defensively and with the worst defensive record in the league.

Orban is experienced and skilled enough to repair the Cottagers' vulnerable backline. Signing Orban would not only help Fulham obtain an experienced centre-back but also a leader that can save the West London club's ship from sinking.

Hence, Ranieri must do everything in his powers to get a deal done for the Hungary international in January.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/12/26/why-fulham-should-arrest-their-fall-by-landing-this-6ft-1in-bundesliga-star-in-january/

[WhiteJC]

 
Despite spending over £100m in the summer, Fulham must do everything to sign this La Liga sensation in January

Why Fulham must go all out for Enis Bardhi in January

According to a report from Football.London, Fulham owner Shahid Khan has promised to back manager Claudio Ranieri in the forthcoming January transfer window.

Fulham lie rock bottom in the table after 18 games, amassing just 10 points following their promotion to the top-flight. Understandably, strengthening the defence has to be the top priority for Claudio Ranieri, with the Cottagers' defensive record leaving a lot to be desired.

The West Londoners have conceded an eye-watering 42 goals in 18 games since promotion, although they did claim their first clean sheet of the season in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Newcastle United.

But Claudio Ranieri must not ignore bolstering his attacking options in January to help Fulham avoid relegation from the Premier League. The Cottagers spent over £100million in the summer transfer window on 12 players but the scripts didn't go as per the plan for the club, who sacked Slavisa Jokanovic after 12 matches that saw him pick up just five points.

Apart from making Aleksandar Mitrovic's deal permanent, the Cottagers brought in the likes of Andre Schurrle, Luciano Vietto and Jean Michael Seri to beef up their attack.

Mitrovic has been the club's chief source of goals with 7 in 18 games but barring him, the other attackers have been flat and have not produced the bare minimum which was expected out of them.

That said, it's also important for the basement club to splash the cash on another attacker. And Fulham should consider signing Levante star Enis Bardhi in the New Year.

Enis Bardhi, 23, enjoyed a fantastic debut season in La Liga, helping Levante to safety in their first campaign back in the top-flight. The Macedonia international of Albanian descent finished the previous season with 13 goals and 7 assists from the midfield, and although he has netted just once in 16 La Liga games this season, the 23-year-old remains one of Levante's key players.

A number 10 by trade, Enis Bardhi is equally adept in a deeper midfield role and on the wings. He is a technically-gifted and a tactically versatile player who gives the manager the flexibility to use him anywhere in the attack.

At his best, the 23-year-old is a joy to watch, finding pockets of space in the final third and gliding past defenders on driving runs towards goal. With his dribbling skills and eye for a killer pass, he is the key to unlocking the opposition. The diminutive Skopje-born star possesses superb close control and the awareness to pick up intelligent positions around the edge of the box.

Not only is Bardhi creative and possesses the vision to unlock defences, but he is also a tenacious and a feisty customer who works extremely hard to fall back and help his team defensively when required. Furthermore, the 23-year-old is a long-range specialist, with six of his nine strikes last season coming from outside the area.

Given Bardhi's qualities, he would be the type of player who would bring freshness and flair to Fulham's dull attack. Hence, the Cottagers should do everything possible to secure his services in January.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/12/26/despite-spending-over-100m-in-the-summer-fulham-must-do-everything-to-sign-this-la-liga-sensation-in-january/

[WhiteJC]

Three Players to Watch: Matchday 19 vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Can Fulham finally build off of a solid result from last weekend

Just when you thought it was a good idea to savor a well-deserved draw, Fulham are back at it again a day after the Christmas holiday. It definitely is not convenient to go from one fixture to the next so soon, and with a 12:30pm local time kickoff to boot, but that's England's fixture list for you. At least this next one is happening at the friendly confines of Craven Cottage, and it's against a familiar opponent.

Last season, Fulham were battling Wolverhampton Wanderers for promotion spots back in the Championship with both finding a way to succeed in the end. What has made Wolves so successful throughout the past two seasons has been their consistently strong investment by the club's new ownership and sort of legal association with super agent Jorge Mendes. Along with that, manager Nuno Santo has developed a 3-4-3 system that has translated so well in both leagues that it takes some of the top flight's best efforts to break them down. Lastly, the players they have recruited simply had no business playing in England's second tier last campaign. You really mean to tell me that the likes of Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves and Ivan Cavaliero should be traveling to Burton on a cold January night?!

Now this club has brought in Rui Patricio, João Moutinho and the flashy Raúl Jiménez to add to an already strong senior team. The result has been a top-ten position in the Premier League table so far and a defense that sees them fourth in expected goals according to Understat. Now their possession of the ball has dwindled from 53.4% last season to 46.0% this campaign. Along with that, their 13.02 passes allowed per defensive action indicates that Fulham will have time on the ball.

In fact, you could argue that such statistics have led to having a Wolves attack that is surplus to requirements, but that doesn't mean that they don't have the talent to score at will. Until their defeat to Liverpool, they were in the midst of a three-game unbeaten run that saw them score twice in every contest and included a win over Chelsea. So regardless of what Wolves' profile looks like, this will be a daunting task for Fulham to collect a much needed three points.

Jota seems to be the lone casualty for Santos' squad as he is dealing with a hamstring injury while Fulham are only missing Andre Frank Zambio Anguissa to a knock he picked up in training. The previously suspended Cameroon International is expected be to out until the New Year, but Ryan Sessegnon and Maxime Le Marchand are supposed to be back to full fitness for tomorrow's fixture.

With that in mind, here are three players to watch out for coming from the West Midlands this Boxing Day.

Raúl Jiménez

First up is the 70 times capped Mexico International who arrived on loan from Benfica. This season, Jimenez hasn't disappointed at all as Wolves' front man with five goals, four assists and 3.28 shots per 90 minutes. Outside of having a much more accurate shot, he is everything you could ask for. But at the same time, that's kind of what has been expected out of Jimenez. After all, he has only scored 15 times in his 70 International caps, has only had a career 10.6% goal conversion rate and has never hit double digit goals in a European league campaign. These are uncharted waters for Jimenez to receive this much of a work load and a role within the team. But as of now, he has handled all challenges as well as he could and he will continue to be a force to be reckoned with the rest of the season.

João Moutinho

Next up is the 32-year old string puller of a midfielder that has garnered 113 caps for Portugal and counting. It has been amazing to see such a player with such a reputation only just make his way into the Premier League, but after playing for Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto and AS Monaco, he has finally arrived in the richest league in the world. Even at such an advanced age, no player on Wolves has more than Moutinho's 33 key passes and only Neves has matched his 0.28 xG buildup per 90 minutes among players playing over 400 league minutes. Add in Neves' shooting ability from defensive midfield and you can see how Wolves' double pivot is just world class.

Willy Boly

All data from whoscored.com

Lastly, we talk about one of the unsung heroes at Wolves that has been able to translate his game from the Championship to the Premier League. In spite of tougher opposition, Boly is still producing quite well at center back by leading all teammates with 85 defensive actions. Along with that, he scored the lone goal that resulted in Wolves' 1-1 draw with Manchester City earlier this campaign. As if the Neves-Moutinho axis was hard enough to break down, Fulham also have to get past another wall of three at the back to get closer towards goal. But if there's one from that trio that you can count on the most to be the most active, it is most likely going to be the former Auxerre, FC Porto and SC Braga journeyman.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/12/25/18155557/three-players-to-watch-matchday-19-vs-wolverhampton-wanderers

[WhiteJC]

 
Claudio Ranieri tells his players they must improve their home form if they are to stay in the Premier League

    Fulham are bottom of the Premier League and are struggling at home
    They have picked up just eight points from a possible 24 at Craven Cottage
    Claudio Ranieri's Fulham side host Wolves and Huddersfield in next two games

Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri has urged his side to address their home form if they are to stand any chance of staying in the Premier League.

Ranieri's side are bottom of the league and have only taken eight points from a possible 24 at home. Only Cardiff have conceded more home goals than Fulham's 18.

'They fought a lot to get back into the Premier League so it's important for them,' Ranieri said.


Claudio Ranieri wants to see an improvement at home during the next few games

'I'd like to get more points at home in front of our fans because they deserve it. Did you see against West Ham? The fans are unbelievable. It was one of our best first halves, we conceded twice, but I am sure we will do better.'

Ranieri wasn't able to explain how his team have fared so differently to Wolves after the two clubs achieved promotion last season and then splurged in the summer.

Fulham spent £105million while Wolves spent £60m as they both hoped to impress in the top flight.

However, Fulham only have 10 points from 18 games, while Wolves on 25 points, find themselves 13 points clear of the relegation zone.

The Italian said: 'Always one team is stronger than another but you can never say it's sure they win.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6529005/Claudio-Ranieri-tells-players-improve-home-form.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Team against Wolves 26/12
Over on the forum we've been discussing which players would be in our team against Wolves on Boxing Day...

WHITEJC

Subs: Betts, MLM, KMac, Ayite, Vietto, Schurrle


come over to the forum and join in the discussion
http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=68995.0



http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=554

[WhiteJC]

 
Nuno Espirito Santo expects Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic to pose big threat to Wolves
Watch Wolves visit Fulham on Boxing Day, live on Sky Sports

Nuno Espirito Santo expects Aleksandar Mitrovic to provide a significant test when Wolves face Fulham on Boxing Day.

Both sides were promoted to the Premier League last season as both sides shared the spoils in the Championship, with the Serbia international scoring in a Fulham victory at Craven Cottage.

Nuno, whose side saw their three-match league-winning run ended by Liverpool on Friday, says his side must improve tactically if they are to contend with the threat of the striker, who signed for Fulham permanently in the summer.

"[Mitrovic] is one of the strikers who plays better with his back to goal," Nuno said.

"We have to work on that because last season he caused a lot of problems, especially because he was man-to-man with our last reference of defence. We have to balance better."

Mitrovic proved integral to Fulham in the second half of last season during a loan spell as the Cottagers returned to the top-flight via the play-offs, thanks in part to 12 goals from the former Newcastle player.

"In that moment he was clearly a player that really helped them," Nuno added.

"To get promoted their performance was fantastic and he is a very good player."

Nuno's side visit Claudio Ranieri's side targeting an eighth win of the campaign and the Portuguese boss expects a completely different test against a struggling Fulham compared with last season.

"Different realities. In those moments both teams were fighting for [the] objective of getting promoted," he said.

"Now the squads are totally different. I think we stayed more with the core of our squad - we maintained our main basis.

"Fulham is not the same team we faced last season. It is going to be totally different. What I can see is they have a very good manager and they are trying to get back to their ideas and I see a better team."

Ahead of the defeat against Liverpool, Nuno said his side would approach every match with the same approach and predicts fellow former Valencia boss Ranieri to have Fulham fighting hard for vital points in their battle to avoid relegation.

"What I expect is a very organised team, very well balanced team," he said.

"A team that is managed by a manager that was champion of the Premier League. It is going to be very difficult. Claudio is fantastic."



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11699/11588504/nuno-espirito-santo-expects-fulhams-aleksandar-mitrovic-to-pose-big-threat-to-wolves

[WhiteJC]

 
Wolves not underestimating Fulham

Wolves didn't endure too many dark days last season, but their trip to Fulham was certainly one of them.

At a pivotal juncture in the title race, Nuno Espirito Santo's team were soundly beaten 2-0 by the Cottagers with Aleksandar Mitrovic running them ragged.

However, with Mitrovic just about the only player from that side still regularly turning out for Fulham due to a plethora of signings made last summer, it should be a different game today.

Fulham have had plenty of dark days themselves this season, winning only two of their 18 matches despite spending a whopping £100m on signing 12 players last summer.

Portuguese forward Ivan Cavaleiro, who has scored two goals in four appearances against Fulham, says it would be dangerous to underestimate their opponents.

"They can certainly be dangerous because every Premier League side, just like in the Championship, is tough," he said.

"Fulham have a very good side, but unfortunately they haven't managed to win many games yet.

"I think it'll be a great game against a good side and we're expecting it to be tough. I think it's a good fixture for us which we're motivated for, while always respecting our opponents.

"We want to go there and get the win. I think our aim has to be step by step and regardless of who we're facing, we want to win."

Captain Conor Coady echoed those sentiments.

He said: "We don't expect to go there and win. We expect to go and perform and put on a way of playing we want to play. Hopefully we can do that to get the win.

"Fulham are a Premier League team and were fantastic last season.

"We found it hard last season because they played really well against us.

"We need to make sure we're ready for it."

Claudio Ranieri recently replaced Nuno Espirito Santo's good friend Slavisa Jokanovic as Fulham boss but has yet to oversee an upturn in fortunes. Fulham did, though, finally keep their first clean sheet of the season when drawing 0-0 at Newcastle on Saturday.

Cavaleiro said of Ranieri: "I don't know their coach that well, but I do know that he won the league with Leicester in a season when they didn't have particularly well-known players and that was the year after battling against the drop.

"Everything is possible in this league. Take the example of Leicester winning the league, which nobody expected. I think Claudio Ranieri did a great job at Leicester.

"There are very good sides in this league and our aim is to take it step by step, game by game, win matches and go as far as possible."

Wolves will hope Diogo Jota has recovered from a hamstring injury in time to play. Nuno may hand a recall to Morgan Gibbs-White after he was benched against Liverpool.



https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2018/12/26/wolves-not-underestimating-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

 
Can Fulham maintain the momentum from St. James' Park?

After the pre-Christmas miracle of a clean sheet at Newcastle, Claudio Ranieri was defiant in the face of an ignorant journalist's question. Told that the side who is bottom of the Premier League always goes down, the Fulham boss adamantly insisted 'it is not true'. He is, right, of course, although there are only three examples of this (West Brom in 2004, Sunderland in 2013 and Leicester City in 2014). Perhaps still buzzing from securing a point on Tyneside, Ranieri added: 'We'll be safe at the end, don't worry.'

The Tinkerman has yet to settle on a regular line-up since replacing Slavisa Jokanovic in November, although Saturday's attritional draw with a Newcastle side who failed to register a single shot on target was probably a direct result of Ranieri's switch to a three-man central defence. Tim Ream, Alfie Mawson – who survived a punch on the nose from Sergio Rico in the first half – and Denis Odoi delivered a display of defensive excellence that has been missing all season to provide some much needed resilience at the back. The big question confronting the Fulham coach over his Christmas dinner will be whether to stick with a back three and match up with Wolves, or to add an extra attacker in order to put the visitors under some pressure this lunchtime.

Ranieri's side haven't won since his first game in charge – a dramatic five-goal thriller against Southampton a month ago – and remain rooted to the foot of the table. Despite that, the Italian has pointed to greater positivity in the wake of the draw against the Magpies – revealing that result had helped to lift the training ground. It might be a worry that Fulham's ability to threaten opposition defences has been lacking in recent weeks as the Whites have failed to score in six of their last nine league games. Aleksandar Mitrovic has looked horribly isolated lately, although he will point to the fact that his late shot at Newcastle might have nestled in the far corner had it not struck the arm of Jamaal Lascalles. There is certainly something in Cyrus Christie's suggestion that Fulham need to display more of a killer instinct if they are to stay up.

Teenage winger Ryan Sessegnon has been passed fit again after missing the last two games through a groin strain. He would most naturally return in the left wing-back position in place of Joe Bryan in Fulham's new-look system, although the England under-21 international has looked most at home in the Premier League in a more advanced position. He famously scored the first goal against Wolves at the Cottage last year as the Whites went on that 23-match unbeaten run to the end of the season. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa will be missing until the New Year at least, which should allow Arsenal loanee Calum Chambers to continue his recent resurgence as a deep-lying midfielder.

Ranieri was raving in his pre-match press conference about Wolves' storming performance against Liverpool last Friday where they were unfortunate to be beaten by Liverpool after giving Jurgen Klopp's league leaders a real scare in the first half. Nuno Esporito Santo's men started Premier League life like a runaway train, even taking the game to Manchester City in another accomplished performance against one of the league's top sides. They came from behind to beat Chelsea and, despite picking up a single point from their last eighteen, will pose a serious threat this afternoon.

Santo's side have continued to play the sort of ambitious and eye-catching football that characterised their romp to the Championship title last season – if anything, kicking on in these more rarefied surroundings. The mighty Willy Boly has been been a rock at the heart of the back three with Conor Coady, converted into a centre half by Santo last season, equally as impressive. Morgan Gibbs-White, a World Cup winner with Steven Sessegnon with the England under 20s last summer, has shown glimpses of his prodigious talent and the unheralded Raul Jimenez has proven a real livewire in the opposition penalty area,

Wolves are likely to be without Diego Jota, who has recently looked like he has found the answers to replicate his devastating skills in the Championship again in the top flight, but Fulham should be equally wary of Adama Traore, whose blistering pace caused such alarm at Middlesbrough last year. Traore posed real problems for the Liverpool defence at Molineux on Friday night and will be licking his lips at the prospect of taking on Fulham's leaky defence.

MY FULHAM XI (3-4-2-1): Rico; Odoi, Mawson, Ream; Christie, R. Sessegnon, Chambers, Seri; Cairney, Schurrle, Mitrovic. Subs: Bettinelli, Le Marchand, McDonald, Johansen, Vietto, Ayite, Kamara.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/12/can-fulham-maintain-the-momentum-from-st-james-park/

[hovewhite]

That's the side roughly I'd go with jc apart from putting Ayite for schurrle as Ayite gives 500% every game.

[WhiteJC]

 
Leeds United 'want' to sign Fulham player, reasonable chance of January transfer happening

Milliyet's Besiktas journalist Serdar Saridag has reported on the latest transfer developments at Besiktas and he claims Leeds United are interested in Fulham goalkeeper Fabri.

Saridag says Fabri will not return to Besiktas despite recent speculation, as they are looking to put their faith in Liverpool loanee Loric Karius. The Turkish journalist reports Leeds United 'want him', along with La Liga side Rayo Vallecano.

The 31 year old joined Fulham from Besiktas in the summer for a fee believed to be in the region of €7m but he's failed to establish himself at Craven Cottage. The former Besiktas player has made just three Premier League appearances and is no longer involved in Claudio Raneri's match day squads.

Fabri is good at playing out with the ball at his feet, which could make him an ideal signing for Marcelo Bielsa ahead of the next transfer window. A transfer would be relatively easy given his current situation.

22 year old Bailey-Peacock Farrell is the current No.1 at Leeds United but is lacking in experience.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/claim-leeds-united-interested-signing-fulham-summer-signing/

[WhiteJC]

 
Southampton could stave off relegation by signing this 26-year-old Fulham ace to replace this outbound star – Opinion

Southampton could stave off relegation by signing this 26-year-old Fulham ace to replace this outbound star – Opinion

Southampton are 16th in the Premier League, thanks to the win over Arsenal in Ralph Hasenhuttl's first home win as their new manager. However, for Hasenhuttl the problem starts now, as the Saints face a massive fight in their battle to avoid relegation but also the new boss has to fight to keep their stars as the January window approaches.

The Daily Mail has revealed that Fulham star Marcus Bettinelli has been tracked and marked for scouting by Southampton as they look to replace Alex McCarthy.

The current shot-stopper has been marked as well by teams within the Premier League and in all likelihood could move in the winter window.

Bettinelli was former Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic's top choice before he was replaced by Sergio Rico, who arrived on loan from Sevilla.

The 26-year-old was in great form which even led to him being called up by Gareth Southgate, playing deputy to Jordan Pickford. His performances have dipped in the leading months but that hasn't stopped Southampton from scouting the Englishman.

However, what the Saints need is someone who can score more goals for them as well as improving their midfield during the winter window.

Hasenhuttl is going to have a tough time keeping his best players in January unless he can somehow improve Southampton's league position before that happens.

It needs to improve, especially if they are trying to lure in Marcus Bettinelli who at this moment is Gareth Southgate's second choice behind only Jordan Pickford. If the 26-year-old does join, however, Hasenhuttl gets a brilliant replacement if McCarthy does end up leaving in the near future. But what could prove to be a major roadblock in the winter-window is the fact that Sergio Rico is currently on loan at Fulham.

The Sevilla shot-stopper in all likelihood will return to his parent club at the end of the season and that would mean, that Bettinelli could get a chance to become Fulham's number one once again.

The 26-year-old certainly has a choice to make in the near future, because a move could reinvigorate his career and in all likelihood, he'd get another chance to feature in Gareth Southgate's England squad. But then again, that's only if Alex McCarthy leaves.



https://www.mediareferee.com/2018/12/26/southampton-could-stave-off-relegation-by-signing-this-26-year-old-fulham-ace-to-replace-this-outbound-star-opinion/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham official says Jokanović sacked early as Southampton 'were also considering' Ranieri

In November, Fulham sacked their manager Slaviša Jokanović and replaced him with Claudio Ranieri.

The Italian has the experience of managing in England as he had spells at Chelsea and Leicester City, including a title winning campaign with the Foxes during the 2015/16 season.

Casper Stylsvig, the Cottagers chief revenue officer, sat down for an interview with Danish newspaper Politiken in London, and explained he doesn't involve himself in the sporting decisions of the club.

Despite that, the former Manchester United head of sales revealed why Fulham decided to move quickly to appoint Ranieri as their new coach, even though they were planning to give their former manager a few more games to change things around.

"Perhaps Slavisa could have got one or two more matches, but the considerations were already upside down with probing of other coaches who were available on the market," he said.

"We heard that Southampton were also considering hiring Ranieri, and then the decision was made. Along the way, there are not many available trainees who you want to trust a Premier League club with, so it was just getting through the decision.

"He has the experience, style and gentlemanly attitude that we would like to associate with Fulham, and even though he was fired at Leicester, it is worth noting the results he delivered with Leicester..."

Earlier in December, Southampton also sacked their manager Mark Hughes and replaced him with Ralph Hasenhüttl and the Saints have enjoyed a good start under their new boss.

Fulham, meanwhile, are still at the bottom of the table, even after Ranieri's appointment. 

It should be seen if he can help the club avoid relegation this season.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-official-says-jokanovic-sacked-early-southampton-also-considering-ranieri/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham v Wolves

Preamble

I know why you're here. Enough of the in-laws, one-too-many questions about how the new job is going, I bet you can't look at another mince pie. It's probably a bit too brazen to just stick on Sky Sports in the middle of the living room where your sister is playing that new board game, but a quiet moment upstairs to check the MBM is probably allowed. Welcome.

Luckily, football is here to save us all on Boxing Day. It always is. And a lot like how our Australian counterparts feel about Test cricket, a bit of sport is an excellent excuse to put all that Christmas stuff behind us. Now we can look forward to NYE and Fulham v Wolves.

It should be an excellent game. Last season, in the Championship, Fulham and Wolves each won one game each at home, the former depending on strikes from Ryan Sessegnon and Aleksandar Mitrovic to get a 2-0 win in September 2017. You suspect that if Fulham are to get a similar scoreline today – and avoid relegation this season – those two will play a major part.

Lose today, and Fulham will be exactly half-way through the season with 10 points, which means they will almost certainly still be bottom of the league. A draw today means that they will equal the worst ever Premier League points total for a season – 11, set by Derby County in 2007-08 – so at least that's something. There's something in me here which senses a win for Fulham today, though, and I'm not really sure why.

Wolves have had a fine season, all-in-all. Thirteen points clear of the relegation zone, they have won three of the last four, and there was no shame in last Friday's defeat to Liverpool. A win here would lift them to seventh, a point off Manchester United. Not that that is a barometer of success anymore, but it sounds quite impressive, doesn't it?

Kick-off: 12.30pm GMT

Today's teams!

Ryan Sessegnon is only fit enough for the bench – a groin injury kept him out of the defeat to West Ham and the draw at Newcastle. Claudio Ranieri's only change from that game in the north-east is Cairney out, Kamara in: The Frenchman looks as though he'll play right wing.

Wolves also make one change, as Gibbs-White starts in favour of Ruben Neves who drops to the bench. Gibbs-White is some player, by the way. Excited to see him today.

Fulham: Sergio Rico, Odoi, Mawson, Ream, Christie, Chambers, Seri, Bryan, Kamara, Mitrovic, Schurrle.
Subs: Bettinelli, Ryan Sessegnon, McDonald, Cairney, Ayite, Vietto, Le Marchand.

Wolverhampton: Rui Patricio, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Doherty, Joao Moutinho, Saiss, Jonny, Traore, Jimenez, Gibbs-White.
Subs: Ivan Cavaleiro, Neves, Helder Costa, John Ruddy, Ruben Vinagre, Leo Bonatini, Kilman.

Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)



https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2018/dec/26/fulham-wolves-premier-league-live

[WhiteJC]

Calum Chambers speaks out on his conversations with Unai Emery and why he joined Fulham on loan

The 23-year-old signed a new four year deal before opting to spend the season out on loan

Calum Chambers has spoken out on the conversations he had with Unai Emery in pre-season that led to him joining Fulham on loan.

The 23-year-old has been in the first team during pre-season but having spoken with the new head coach at the Emirates over the summer, he was unsure on how much games he would get once the Premier League campaign started.

Fulham had made him one of their key targets during the summer but it looked like all hopes of a move were extinguished when he signed a new four-year deal in July.

However, a month later Chambers had made the move from north to west, joining the Cottagers on a one-year loan deal, and ahead of his side's game with Wolves on Boxing Day he's revealed it was his desire of wanting to play an entire campaign week-in, week-out that led him to moving to Fulham.

Speaking to the Fulham matchday programme, Chmabers said: "I had a lot of conversations with Unai Emery.

"I trained with Arsenal in pre-season but I needed to play games this term. I was unsure whether that would happen at Arsenal this season, so I wanted to get out and play games to get experience.

"When I went to Middlesbrough on loan, I played a lot at centre-half. Unfortunately, we went down, but it was great for me to go somewhere new and play a lot of games in the Premier League.

"I came back from that a different player and that's what I wanted to happen this season.

"I played a bit at Arsenal towards the end of last season, but I wanted a full campaign of playing week in, week out."



https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/players/calum-chambers-speaks-out-conversations-15596116

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham team news vs Wolves: Aboubakar Kamara replaces Tom Cairney in starting XI

Ryan Sessegnon is on the bench having recovered from a groin injury

Aboubakar Kamara has been recalled to the Fulham starting XI for this afternoon's game with Wolves - replacing skipper Tom Cairney in the side.

That's the only change that Claudio Ranieri has made for the Boxing Day tie between two of the sides promoted to the Premier League from the Championship last campaign.

The Italian got the side's first clean sheet of the season thanks to a 0-0 draw at Newcastle United where he introduced wing backs to the team, and it's something that Ranieri has gon with again today.

Denis Odoi, Alfie Mawson and Tim Ream will provide the central base with Joe Bryan and Cyrus Christie provided the width, while Calum Chambers and Jean-Michael Seri continue in a central midfield role.

Kamara comes in for Cairney on the right where his pace will be a key aspect of this starting XI, while Andre Schurrle keeps his place on the other wing.

Up top is Aleksandar Mitrovic who is without a goal since Ranieri's first game in charge of Fulham.

Meanwhile, Ryan Sessegnon returns to the bench having recovered from a groin injury that has kept him out of the previous two games with West Ham and Newcastle.

Fuham: Rico, Odoi, Mawson, Ream, Christie, Chambers, Seri, Bryan, Kamara, Mitrovic, Schürrle

Subs: Bettinelli, Sessegnon, Cairney, Vietto, McDonald, Le Marchand, Agite



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/fulham-team-news-vs-wolves-15596208