Saturday Fulham Stuff (29/12/18)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Terriers will have to deal with Fulham's altered mindset

HUDDERSFIELD Town head coach David Wagner expects to face a very different Fulham to the one beaten at the John Smith's Stadium just 54 days ago.

An own goal from Timothy Fosu-Mensah ensured the Terriers claimed a first win of the season against Slavisa Jokanovic's London club on Bonfire Night.

Since then the Serbian has been replaced at Craven Cottage by Claudio Ranieri and Wagner expects the Italian's influence to be keenly felt when the Premier League's bottom two clubs go head to head on the banks of the Thames.

"Fulham will have a different mindset to last time," said the German. "Less ball possession, less circulation, much less passes.

"They play from a solid, stable defence and deeper block and try to attack on the counter.

"We will probably win the ball much less often higher up the pitch. We are aware what we will face. Hopefully we will find a good solution."

Jonathan Hogg is expected to return after being kept on the bench in the Boxing Day defeat at Manchester United with this fixture in mind.

Wagner may also turn to Steve Mounie for the spark that has been missing in front of goal for a Terriers side who have netted just 12 times in 19 league outings this term.

"Our problem is obvious," said the Town chief about neither Mounie nor fellow striker Laurent Depoitre having found the net all season.

"Obviously we have not solved this problem so far. This is the truth. But if you perform as we have done there will be the point when we start to score goals.

"That is how football works. I know it. We have to deliver it. Performance is so important. You can't say it would be better if we didn't perform well because we would win games."



https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/huddersfield-town/terriers-will-have-to-deal-with-fulham-s-altered-mindset-1-9512678

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham need Aleksandar Mitrovic at his clinical best against Huddersfield

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic produced an all-action display on Boxing Day, bullying the Wolves defence at will and creating countless goalscoring opportunities.

Yet for all his diligent work, the Serbian international failed to convert any of his chances. The Whites need Mitrovic to be at his clinical best if they hope to triumph against Huddersfield Town today.

Every part of the Fulham attack runs through Mitrovic, a hugely influential striker who has played a role in nine of his team's 17 league goals to date.

Simply put, when Mitrovic is on fire, Fulham thrives. And for a team mired in the relegation zone with few other genuine scoring threats, that prospect creates a significant amount of pressure for the former Newcastle man.

Often isolated during the Whites' poorest performances, the entire side seems to get better when Mitrovic is on the ball and heavily involved. Against Wolves, Mitrovic saw numerous excellent chances go begging, yet there is reason for encouragement despite his lack of goals.

The opportunities the striker created for himself were top-class; particular highlights include sending three defenders in the dust with his feints before shooting straight at Rui Patricio, and out-muscling the entire Wolves backline after latching onto a last-minute clearance from Sergio Rico.

But in order for Fulham to succeed against the Terriers today, Aleksandar Mitrovic must show his most clinical side in front of goal.



https://tbrfootball.com/fulham-need-aleksandar-mitrovic-at-his-clinical-best-against-huddersfield/

[WhiteJC]

 
Ranieri ready to swap Cairney for Shelvey

Claudio Ranieri has told Fulham's top executives that he wants to explore the possibility of swapping club captain Tom Cairney with Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, according to Dave Kidd in the Sun.

Cairney has reportedly fallen out of favour with the new Fulham manager and was dropped to the bench for the Boxing Day draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Scottish international was criticised for a lack of application after replacing Aboubakar Kamara with the Whites 1-0 up and is apparently disappointed at no longer being a first choice in Ranieri's midfield.

The 28 year-old doesn't fit into the Italian's new-look formation which features three centre backs and Ranieri appears to prefer Ivory Coast international Jean-Michael Seri in the central midfield role that Cairney had made his own under Slavisa Jokanovic. The former Blackburn Rovers midfielder made the Championship team of the year in 2016/2017 and famously scored the winner at Wembley as the Whites beat Aston Villa in the play-off final to return to the top flight.

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez is a known admirer of Cairney, having seen a number of bids rejected over the past couple of seasons. He might be reluctant to allow the England international to leave next month, with regular starter Ki-Sung Yueng due to jet off to the Asia Cup to represent South Korea. West Ham, who actively sought to sign Cairney last year, could be another potential destination for the playmaker and Ranieri is interested in defender Pedro Obiang as a possible makeweight.

Cairney, who only signed a five-year contract extension in July, has made 145 appearances for Fulham, scoring 27 goals, since moving to Craven Cottage in a £2.5m deal back in June 2015. He became a pivotal part of Jokanovic's side, being switched to a central role, and was named captain after Scott Parker's retirement.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/12/ranieri-ready-to-swap-cairney-for-shelvey/

[WhiteJC]

 
Benitez dismisses Shelvey departure

Rafa Benitez has dismissed the possibility of England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey leaving Newcastle United during the forthcoming January window.

The Spanish manager says the club would not be entertaining the idea of selling Shelvey next month despite rumours that Fulham would consider a swap deal for one of Benitez's top targets in Tom Cairney. Benitez, who revealed that Shelvey is set to return to Newcastle's starting line-up after injury problems at Watford this weekend, was emphatic in his denial during his pre-match press conference this afternoon.

    No, no chance. Jonjo is an important player for us. Him and Ki Sung-yueng [absent at the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates with South Korea] can technically pass the ball well and keep it, they give confidence to the rest of the team. I hope Jonjo will be as important to us for the rest of the season as he was last year.

Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri was reportedly interested in taking Shelvey to Craven Cottage to aid the Whites' fight against relegation but know looks set to have to seek an alternative target.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/12/benitez-dismisses-shelvey-departure/

[WhiteJC]

 
Crucial clash with Huddersfield is a must-win for Fulham

After the disappointment of conceding a late leveller to Wolves on Boxing Day, this afternoon's visit of Huddersfield Town to Craven Cottage is simply a must win for Fulham. Wednesday's point might have lifted Claudio Ranieri's side off the foot of the Premier League table but it is only wins that will secure top flight football next year – and a victory over a relegation rival would have an immense psychological impact going into the New Year.

A win would also help banish the memory of one of the most spineless Fulham performances I have witnessed – a limp 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield last month that proved to be the beginning of the end for Slavisa Jokanovic. The Whites showed little stomach for the fight that night not registering a single shot on target and were fortunate to have only been beaten by a single goal. The lack of desire convinced Shahid Khan to start interviewing replacements for Jokanovic, who was sacked after a much-improved display at Liverpool.

Ranieri has certainly made Fulham harder to play through and defensively more solid. The switch to three centre backs, which secured a first clean sheet of the season last weekend at Newcastle was a success, and, despite the agony of Romain Saiss' Boxing Day equaliser, also worked against Wolves, who were far from their fluent selves for much of that game. The Italian has sacrificed some of Fulham's fluidity up front in the name of being tougher to beat – which was probably necessary after Jokanovic's more adventurous approach left the Whites ridiculously open at the back.

Fulham did carve out a whole host of chances against Wolves and it is that lack of a killer instinct that could prove costly in their battle for survival. Aleksandar Mitrovic, who led the line superbly at the Cottage the other tough, was uncharacteristically unable to take any of the eight chances that came his way leading the tough Serbian to admit that he felt like crying in a post-match interview. Ranieri has backed his big striker to end a goalscoring drought that now stretches to six matches.

    Aleksandar's confidence is good. Of course for a goalscorer, goals are life. But he's feeling positive. He played very well against Wolves. He was unlucky and that's the life of a striker – some days momentum goes well and on others its worse. He's ready to start scoring again.

    I want the team always to be together and he made a very good sacrifice. He closed the space and was ready to counter attack. It's important that the team continues to create the chances. He didn't make mistakes against Wolves, he just had bad luck.

Perhaps the most vibrant display on Boxing Day came from a man who has enjoyed a new lease of life under Ranieri. Aboubakar Kamara's raw pace and powerful physique makes him the perfect example of what the new Fulham boss wants from his side and there were times when he looked absolutely unstoppable against Wolves. He has grabbed two goals since the Italian came in and, although he was tiring significantly towards the end of the second half, it was noticeable that Fulham barely got up the pitch once he had been substituted. On this sort of imposing form, he looks tailor made for a rampaging role down the right in Ranieri's new system that is based on pragmatism rather than possession.

Ranieri should also try and find a way to fit Ryan Sessegnon back into the side. The teenager has shrugged off the groin injury that has hampered his participation during December and showed his uncanny ability to find the back of net when he came off the bench to such great affect on Wednesday. Sessegnon could slot in either at wing back or in a more advanced position and the speedy young winger could edge out Andre Schurrle, whose performances have lacked a little bit of zest of late.

Huddersfield might now be bottom of the table, but they certainly shouldn't be underestimated. Their spirit has surprised Fulham once already this season and they will desperate to arrest a run of six straight defeats at Craven Cottage this afternoon. The Terriers have one of the league's most gifted playmakers in the league, the excellent Australian Aaaron Mooy, at their disposal – although he may miss out today through injury – as well as a top manager in David Wagner, who has already achieved miracles to take Town up to the top flight and keep them there.

Wagner knows that a lack of goals has been Huddersfield's problem. They have scored just twelve, the lowest total in the Premier League, and not one of those has come from a recognised striker. The German has made a new forward a priority in January, with Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke and Monaco man Stevan Jovetic said to be among his targets. He will certainly have his side right up for the battle this afternoon – and Fulham will need to deliver a more convincing performance that they managed in front of the television cameras in Yorkshire last month.

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



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/12/crucial-clash-with-huddersfield-is-a-must-win-for-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

 
HYS: Should Newcastle swap Jonjo Shelvey for Tom Cairney?

According to The Sun, Fulham are keen on swapping captain Tom Cairney for Newcastle's Jonjo Shelvey as the Scotsman has fallen out of favour under Claudio Ranieri, who feels that a holding midfielder must be brought in as soon as possible.

Magpies boss Rafa Benitez is a long term admirer of Cairney's and the Tyneside outfit have lodged bids for the midfielder before, while Shelvey has made just nine appearances this season – former Leicester boss Ranieri wants to bring Shelvey to Craven Cottage in order to add some steel to a soft midfield and give the Englishman a fresh start.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are in desperate need of a creative midfielder and have hit a pretty big stumbling block in their pursuit of Miguel Almiron with Atlanta demanding in excess of £30m for the Paraguayan – a fee Mike Ashley surely won't provide – Cairney could prove to be a smart signing if he can provide some invention for the likes of Salomon Rondon, but it can't come at the expense of Shelvey.

Benitez will surely be fuming if Newcastle director Lee Charnley pulls the trigger on this crazy switch – it could be the straw that breaks the camel's back for the Spaniard and he may finally leave.



https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/newcastle-united/hys-should-newcastle-swap-jonjo-shelvey-for-tom-cairney

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham vs Huddersfield Town: We face a different proposition says David Wagner

Hunting a double but wary of counter-attack threat

Huddersfield Town are looking for a double over Fulham but David Wagner says the Cottagers are now a different proposition under Claudio Ranieri.

When Town defeated Fulham 1-0 at the John Smith's Stadium on November 5, the London club were under the guidance of manager Slavisa Jokanovic.

Ranieri was appointed nine days later by Fulham chairman Shahid Khan and they have since moved a point ahead of Town, having picked up three draws in their last five outings.

So does Wagner think they pose a different threat than on Bonfire Night?

"Yes. They have a different mindset now," explained Wagner, who expects Jonathan Hogg to be fit to return to the starting line-up.

"Less ball possession, less circulation, much fewer passes - they play from a solid, stable defence, deeper block and try to be successful on the counter attack.

"This is what they do, and it means we will probably win the ball less often high up the pitch because they kick the ball quickly up front and try to be successful with these counter attacks.

"So we are absolutely aware of what we will face and, hopefully, we will find a good solution."

Wagner - who has allowed Ramadan Sobhi to go on loan back to Al Ahly in Egypt - would not talk about possible incoming transfers but says he is confident in the current squad to turn things and also in his strikers to start scoring.

"Absolutely I am, and I am looking forward to the next challenge and the next chance which we have," he said.

"Like we always have done, we leave the past in the past and try to be focused on the next one.

"We all together, individually and as a group, will do this.

"We will pick a squad and a starting XI where we have every confidence and every belief that they can turn this.

"First of all we have confidence they can perform again on the level which we need and, secondly, that they can turn this performance into goals and results."



https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/fulham-vs-huddersfield-town-face-15606012

[WhiteJC]

 
Swapping Jonjo Shelvey for Tom Cairney would be a smart move for Newcastle

According to The Sun, Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri wants to offer Tom Cairney in a swap deal for Newcastle United playmaker Jonjo Shelvey in the upcoming January transfer window.

What's the story?

As per the aforementioned report, Cairney has apparently fallen out with the Craven Cottage hierarchy, leaving his future with the Cottagers in doubt. Ranieri is seemingly keen to offload the 27-year-old.

Shelvey himself has issues at St James' Park, having fallen out of favour somewhat with Rafa Benitez. The Magpies are certainly less reliant upon the 6-cap England international this season, who has struggled to influence many Premier League matches recently.

Despite that, losing Shelvey might seem like a major blow for Newcastle. However, gaining Cairney could well be positive enough to outweigh that loss.

A much-needed boost

For all of his creativity, technical talent and playmaking ability, Shelvey remains something of a liability to Benitez's side. The 26-year-old is simply not diligent enough defensively, and lacks the consistency and temperament to be relied upon week in, week out.

Though Shelvey is more proven and experienced at Premier League level than Cairney, the arrival of the Fulham man could give the Tyneside club a boost in much-needed areas. The 2-cap Scotland international is a leader and relentlessly hard-working, willing to do his bit defensively for the team. He also operates as a No. 10 – rather than in the deep-lying role Shelvey takes up – which is a position Newcastle could do with fresh blood in.

If Fulham do propose this swap offer, then Newcastle could get the better end of the deal by accepting it.



https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/newcastle-united/swapping-jonjo-shelvey-for-tom-cairney-would-be-a-smart-move-for-newcastle

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham captain Tom Cairney admits frustration at being dropped but understands Ranieri's thinking

Cairney has been a talisman for the Cottagers in recent seasons

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney has admitted that he was frustrated to start from the bench against Wolves but understands that Claudio Ranieri is still trying new things with the team.

The Scotland international has been a stalwart of the Fulham XI for the last few seasons when fit but had to settle for being introduced in the 73rd minute against Wolves on Boxing Day - just sixty seconds before Ryan Sessegnon scored the opening goal.

The 27-year-old has played a significant proportion of just about every other game he's been involved with and will hope that the 'Tinkerman' will mix things up again.

Cairney said in the official Fulham programme: "I was on the bench against Wolves and came on in the second half. Of course, it's frustrating as every is desperate to play, but the gaffer tried something a bit different tactically.

"He wanted us to get in behind against their back three and try and exploit the spaces their wing-backs left. It worked in the first half, but in the second half we tired, and they started to dominate."

Against both Newcastle and Wolves, Ranieri has played with three central defenders and Cairney played an advanced role ahead of Calum Chambers and Jean Michael Seri for the trip to the North East. He was quite isolated as the Cottagers defender resolutely but struggled to create opportunities, with the former Blackburn star noting that such tactics could be key to winning games.

He said: "We've used a different formation with three centre-backs for the past couple of game as the boss tries to make us more solid. We kept a clean sheet in the first game and only conceded late on in the second so defensively we have looked stronger.

"We haven't created as many chances, but the gaffer wants to have a solid foundation to build from. A few months ago, we were having to score three goals to win a match and there was little chance of that happening. This gives us a chance to stay in the game."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/fulham-captain-tom-cairney-admits-15608121