Saturday Fulham Stuff (05/01/19)...

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Max: Prestigious Competition

Maxime Le Marchand is hoping Sunday's Emirates FA Cup tie at Craven Cottage gives Fulham a shot in the arm, in more ways than one.

Oldham Athletic stand between us and a place in the Round Four draw, and our French defender is keen for progression which would stand the Whites in good stead ahead of our trip to Burnley six days later.

"We continue to work hard as we prepare for this game," Le Marchand told fulhamfc.com. "If we win it will give us confidence for the next game in the Premier League, it will be good for us.

"It's a good competition, we want to go as far as possible. It's a game we're looking forward to.

"I have good memories of watching the FA Cup Final. It's a prestigious competition, and that's why we want to go as far as possible."

The Latics provide a different kind of opposition to that which Le Marchand has faced so far during his time in England, and he knows there's no room for complacency against the League Two side.

"We have watched some videos of them," he explained. "We have to be focused because they will want to beat a team who play in the Premier League, so we have to be focused and make sure we're fully prepared."

Get down to the Cottage on Sunday for some FA Cup action, with tickets priced at just £10 for adults and £1 for juniors!



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/january/05/maxime-le-marchand-prestigious-competition

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Striker Defrel would be an upgrade on Kamara in Fulham's survival push

Aboubakar Kamara has shown his best and worst traits in Fulham's bid to avoid relegation and that is reflected in Claudio Ranieri's intense pursuit of a new striker.

(Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Fulham are one of three Premier League clubs chasing Sampdoria striker Gregoire Defrel in this month's transfer window, according to Sky Italia.

The French hitman has bagged seven goals across all competitions this season and that has reportedly attracted Claudio Ranieri's attention as he seeks to add firepower to the Cottagers' bid to beat relegation.

Ranieri will apparently have to fend off competition from London rivals Watford and West Ham, who may have the edge in the chase because they are not in immediate danger of relegation this season.

But the Whites manager is plainly desperate for a new attacking dimension; he lined up Bournemouth's Lys Mousset last month before being rebuffed by Eddie Howe and has also eyed a reunion with Nantes striker Emiliano Sala.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was the undisputed first choice striker under his Serbian countryman Slavisa Jokanovic but Ranieri has thrown Aboubakar Kamara into the fray up front for something different since taking over.

Kamara has shown both the best and worst of his game; he has grabbed three goals but also displayed incredible petulance and selfishness to seize a penalty against Huddersfield last month, only to miss and nearly cost his side the win.

Ranieri's angry reaction was well-publicised and his frantic striker search shows he knows he needs a better option than Kamara and that's exactly what Defrel – based on his form in Italy – would be, if Fulham can beat the chasing pack to his signature.



https://tbrfootball.com/striker-defrel-would-be-an-upgrade-on-kamara-in-fulhams-survival-push/