Thursday Fulham Stuff (10/01/19)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Chelsea duo given tour of Premier League club's training ground ahead of potential transfers

Fulham are reportedly eyeing two more potential transfer raids on rivals Chelsea as they aim to bring in Danny Drinkwater and Victor Moses alongside Gary Cahill.

According to Love Sport Radio, Claudio Ranieri is looking to link up with his former Leicester City midfielder Drinkwater again, and he and Moses have both been shown around the Fulham training ground ahead of prospective moves.

Fulham are reportedly eyeing two more potential transfer raids on rivals Chelsea as they aim to bring in Danny Drinkwater and Victor Moses alongside Gary Cahill.

These could be three fine signings by Fulham to aid their survival hopes, with their squad perhaps in need of more Premier League experience and know-how.

While Cahill has fallen out of favour at Chelsea in recent times and Drinkwater never really looked good enough for the Blues from day one, they could no doubt still do a job in the top flight for a lower-level club.

Moses, meanwhile, is somewhat unfortunate to have fallen out of favour since Maurizio Sarri replaced Antonio Conte as manager, having been one of the stars of Chelsea's title-winning squad less than two years ago.



https://www.caughtoffside.com/2019/01/09/chelseas-drinkwater-and-moses-fulham-transfers/

[WhiteJC]

 
Should Marko Pjaca snub Wolves to join Fulham instead?

Premier League newcomers Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers are both reportedly interested in signing Juventus's forgotten man Marko Pjaca.

Marko Pjaca could do with a fresh start.

The Croatian winger looked set to follow compatriots Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and co to the top of the European game when he joined Juventus from Dinamo Zagreb after some eye-catching performances at Euro 2016.

But an horrific cruciate ligament injury, coupled with underwhelming loan spells at Schalke and Fiorentina, has left Pjaca's reputation in tatters.

Calciomercato now reports that Juve are willing to let him go should they receive around £18 million. And a move to England could be on the cards with Tuttosport claiming that Fulham and Wolves have not been put off by Pjaca's recent struggles.

But where would the 23-year-old be better off? On paper, Wolves looks like the obvious answer. Nuno Espirito Santo's ambitious side are flying high in the Premier League while Fulham are stuck in the relegation zone.

Pjaca, however, needs to choose a club where he can get his career back on track and Fulham might be the better option. After all, it is difficult to see how the sprightly winger gets into Wolves' starting XI with Helder Costa, Adama Traore, Ivan Cavaleiro and co already plying their trade at Molineux.

Fulham, meanwhile, have lacked a bit of cutting edge since Claudio Ranieri took charge and Pjaca could be the sort of creative influence The Cottagers need to overshadow their defensive issues.

With his career at a crossroads, Pjaca needs to decide what is best for him and regular first-team football at Fulham is a better fit than sitting at the bench at Wolves.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/01/09/do-should-marko-pjaca-really-snub-wolves-to-join-fulham-instead/

[WhiteJC]

 
Sparkasse & VGH Cup Preview

Fulham Under-19s travel to Gottingen in Germany, to compete in the Sparkasse & VGH Cup. The tournament consists of numerous German sides from a local area, national scale and teams from abroad. The tournament commences on Thursday evening and concludes Sunday morning.

The games are played in a small sided five-a-side format on an indoor AstroTurf at a fast-paced tempo. There are four groups of seven teams, with each team playing every team in their group. The top four in each group will advance into the qualifiers where new groups of four teams will be formed. From here, a quarter final stage is formed where the traditional knockout games are played.

Fulham will play in the 'Rewe Group' alongside Mainz, Düsseldorf, Eint. Höhßernssee, SC Hainberg, JFV Rhume-Oder and SVG Einbeck. Other sides in the tournament include Manchester United, FC Brügge, Frankfurt, Schalke 04 and FC Augsburg.

The Young Whites travel to Gottingen on the back of a manic 3-3 draw with Aston Villa. The games can be streamed continuously from our website between Thursday and Sunday.

The squad travelling is as follows:

Luca Ashby-Hammond

Zico Asare

Cody Drameh

Scott Armsworth

Connor McAvoy

Ryan De Havilland

Fabio Carvalho

Tyrese Francois

Cameron Thompson

Nicolas Santos-Clase

Sonny Hilton

Ben Davis



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/january/09/sparkasse-preview

[WhiteJC]

 
Adebayo and Humphrys Return

The Club can confirm that Stephen Humphrys and Elijah Adebayo have returned following their loan spells at Scunthorpe United and Swindon Town respectively.

Humphrys made a total of 20 appearances for the Iron, including ten league starts, scoring five goals. The forward marked his return with a goal for the Under-23s against Middlesbrough on Friday.

Adebayo's Swindon career started off strongly, scoring four goals in the opening ten games. However, a barren spell followed with one goal coming since then and he returns to Fulham in the January window.

The pair will link back up with Mark Pembridge's side in the PL2.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/january/09/elijah-and-stephen-return

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham's Premier League ticket price hikes leave fans with a sour taste

There have been few empty seats at Craven Cottage this season but with some fans feeling priced out, a short-sighted ticketing policy could have long-term implications

9 January ~ Last year will forever be etched into the memories of Fulham fans. Getting promoted to the Premier League was the headline but for the supporters, it was more about seeing the team go to Wembley for the first time in 43 years – and win.

This season, however, might be remembered as a watershed moment for another reason. The club had a chance, in the transition from the Championship to the Premier League, to show that they stood by the fans, that the identity of the club remained the same. That's something Fulham feel they have done. I became a board member of the Supporters' Trust this summer. When we've raised the issue, they point to freezing season ticket prices for those who renewed before it was known what division Fulham would be playing in this season. All but a tiny proportion of the 12,000 season ticket holders did so.

However, added to that were around 2,500 new season tickets with price hikes of a couple of hundred pounds each, no matter where you were sitting. For the first time, Craven Cottage had a £1,000 season ticket. Then you have the regular matchday ticket prices, the cheapest of which was £25 in the Championship. Want one of those in the Premier League? That'll be £45. Against the top teams? That's up to £55, with the most expensive being at a staggering £75.

It's not like the stands have been empty though. The first three home games were close to sell-outs while games four and five against Arsenal and Bournemouth respectively were both full houses.

The club, as a result, don't see the problem, with chairman Shahid Khan and CEO Alistair Mackintosh both continually speaking in the last year of making Fulham sustainable.

The ticketing policy this season says otherwise. The more you tell people to pay, the more you create a culture of entitlement among the club's fans, something that you can't afford when you are Fulham. Entitled fans wait to be entertained. If that's your mentality as a fan, then you're killing any chance of an atmosphere in the stadium.

The club have called the atmosphere at Craven Cottage "excellent". As a Fulham fan, I can count on one hand the times it's hit that level in the past five years. If you told that to any visiting supporter during that time too, they'd struggle to hold a straight face. From speaking to fans, I know there are those who could afford the Championship but not the Premier League. "Who is to say we have the wrong fans in the ground?" has been one line from the club.

But, that's not an issue until you raise the ticket prices as much as they have done. Making yourself that much more exclusive creates tiers within the fanbase. It creates a debate of who is and isn't a real fan, something which previously didn't exist. It ignores the way that long-standing season ticket holders began supporting the club without such an idea of hierarchy – they started as equals.

Instead, supporters who may not have been able to afford a season ticket but came while the club were in the Championship are being disregarded. Replacing them with a customer who pays the highest price is part of the club's grand plan of being sustainable – a plan which conveniently ignores the Premier League TV deal, the biggest counter-argument there is against such drastic rises in ticket prices. West Bromwich Albion reaped £90 million from last season when finishing bottom of the division. You charge fans an extra £25 on a matchday and the financial difference to Fulham is a couple of million per year – an inconsequential figure in comparison to the monster TV deal. When you spend over £100m on new players in the summer, that becomes even harder to stomach.

The Premier League's lack of soul isn't exactly a secret but Fulham still have a chance to show that they're different, that they care about their fans and a wider fanbase, not just the relatively small extra amount of income per year by shipping in tourists for 90 minutes. The current ticketing policy is a short-sighted, short-term move with long-term consequences – should Fulham be relegated back to the Championship, whenever that may be, those fans who came before won't be inclined to return any time soon. Archie Rhind-Tutt

Photo by Simon Gill/WSC Photos: Fulham fans at Craven Cottage

This article first appeared in WSC 382, January 2019. Subscribers get free access to the complete WSC digital archive – you can find out more here



https://www.wsc.co.uk/stories/14177-fulham-s-premier-league-ticket-price-hikes-leave-fans-with-a-sour-taste

[WhiteJC]

 
Tony Khan reaffirms commitment to Fulham role after being named president of All Elite Wrestling

The Fulham Director of Football has entered into the wrestling business with his father and Fulham owner Shahid Khan

Tony Khan has reaffirmed his commitment to his role at Fulham after being named president of new wrestling All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

The company is being bankrolled by Shahid Khan who owns both Fulham and the Jacksonville Jaguars and AEW has already secured a big name in the wrestling world with former WWE star Jericho signing up to be part of the new venture.

Khan Jnr will hold the role with AEW alongside his current roles at the Jags and Fulham, where he is the Senior Vice President, Football Technology and Analytics in the US and Director of Football Operations at Craven Cottage.

The 36-year-old's role in England sees him head up the club's recruitment department where he oversees the identification, evaluation, recruitment, and signing of players, with Khan Jnr splitting his time between England and the States during the year.

At present, Khan Jnr is in the country and is working on bringing new signings to Fulham during the January Transfer Window and in a statement released by himself about the scale and focus of new venture AEW, he moved to assure that this new job would not mean any less commitment to the roles he currently holds with both Fulham and the Jaguars.

The statement read: "Wrestling fans are a community unlike most others. I've been a part of this community since I was seven-years-old, and I can tell you that wresting fans see the world every day through a special lens.

"We see wrestling in Hollywood films and TV shows, we see elements of wrestling in the presentation of sports and in the marketing of grandiose star athletes, and we certainly see wrestling in politics.

"The wrestling community is a constant; its members are diverse, we are physically located on all corners of the planet, yet we are constantly connected. Recently, a new family has formed, bonded by love and respect for wresting but armed with a vision and resources that have never before been available to the wrestling community.

"Our objective is to connect our community closer than ever before through All Elite Wrestling, or AEW.

"AEW does not mean any less of a continued commitment to existing obligations and duties that I have, or my family has, to our business and sports interests. That will never be the case.

"What's important is that every individual decision we make as family, whether it's ownership or investment in a team or property, is 100 percent beneficial to those specific interests.

"I will always welcome that accountability and responsibility, as nothing is more important than serving our supporters and friends.

"AEW will launch with a roster of the top wrestlers in the world. While they'll clash in what will be some of the most intense and fast-paced contests ever sanctioned in the squared circle, they'll also share a common goal: to make this the true golden age, to make this the greatest time ever to be a wrestling fan.

"Likewise, as a business, by treating our wrestlers with respect and warmth, we also seek to make this the golden age for the performers themselves.

"I urge everyone who believes in what we're doing, or wants to believe in dreams coming true, to support AEW by spreading the word and passing the wrestling bug onto someone else.

"My message: Get in on the ground floor with AEW today and help lead our movement to grow the wrestling community and ensure that the voices of the wrestling fans, their creative minds and their remarkable ideas, will always be heard."

Meanwhile, Khan Snr also issued a statement to reaffirm fans that the new project won't "deter attention or divert resources" from any of his teams, projects or businesses he currently has.

His statement read: "I am the lead investor, a supporter and a backer of All Elite Wrestling, and I anticipate great things today and into the future for AEW and everyone who has worked passionately on this week's launch.

"I know AEW will be welcomed by wrestling fans here in the U.S. and throughout the world who are ready for something new and authentic. AEW will work hard to deliver on that promise.

"As important, I am the father – the proud father – of Tony Khan, who will serve in a leadership role at AEW during the 2019 launch and in the years ahead.

"Tony will assemble a great team to take AEW over the top, for the benefit of everyone who loves the wrestling industry, while continuing to serve in his current capacities with the Jaguars and Fulham.

"AEW will operate as an organisation completely independently from my other interests. It will not deter attention or divert resources from any of my businesses, teams, projects or investments.

"At the same time, AEW will enjoy the same full commitment I given to everything and everyone in my life – my family and friends, my business and, in recent years, to sports, hospitality and now entertainment."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/tony-khan-reaffirms-commitment-fulham-15649519

[hovewhite]

Fulham's Premier League ticket price hikes leave fans with a sour taste

There have been few empty seats at Craven Cottage this season but with some fans feeling priced out, a short-sighted ticketing policy could have long-term implications

9 January ~ Last year will forever be etched into the memories of Fulham fans. Getting promoted to the Premier League was the headline but for the supporters, it was more about seeing the team go to Wembley for the first time in 43 years – and win.

This season, however, might be remembered as a watershed moment for another reason. The club had a chance, in the transition from the Championship to the Premier League, to show that they stood by the fans, that the identity of the club remained the same. That's something Fulham feel they have done. I became a board member of the Supporters' Trust this summer. When we've raised the issue, they point to freezing season ticket prices for those who renewed before it was known what division Fulham would be playing in this season. All but a tiny proportion of the 12,000 season ticket holders did so.

However, added to that were around 2,500 new season tickets with price hikes of a couple of hundred pounds each, no matter where you were sitting. For the first time, Craven Cottage had a £1,000 season ticket. Then you have the regular matchday ticket prices, the cheapest of which was £25 in the Championship. Want one of those in the Premier League? That'll be £45. Against the top teams? That's up to £55, with the most expensive being at a staggering £75.

It's not like the stands have been empty though. The first three home games were close to sell-outs while games four and five against Arsenal and Bournemouth respectively were both full houses.

The club, as a result, don't see the problem, with chairman Shahid Khan and CEO Alistair Mackintosh both continually speaking in the last year of making Fulham sustainable.

The ticketing policy this season says otherwise. The more you tell people to pay, the more you create a culture of entitlement among the club's fans, something that you can't afford when you are Fulham. Entitled fans wait to be entertained. If that's your mentality as a fan, then you're killing any chance of an atmosphere in the stadium.

The club have called the atmosphere at Craven Cottage "excellent". As a Fulham fan, I can count on one hand the times it's hit that level in the past five years. If you told that to any visiting supporter during that time too, they'd struggle to hold a straight face. From speaking to fans, I know there are those who could afford the Championship but not the Premier League. "Who is to say we have the wrong fans in the ground?" has been one line from the club.

But, that's not an issue until you raise the ticket prices as much as they have done. Making yourself that much more exclusive creates tiers within the fanbase. It creates a debate of who is and isn't a real fan, something which previously didn't exist. It ignores the way that long-standing season ticket holders began supporting the club without such an idea of hierarchy – they started as equals.

Instead, supporters who may not have been able to afford a season ticket but came while the club were in the Championship are being disregarded. Replacing them with a customer who pays the highest price is part of the club's grand plan of being sustainable – a plan which conveniently ignores the Premier League TV deal, the biggest counter-argument there is against such drastic rises in ticket prices. West Bromwich Albion reaped £90 million from last season when finishing bottom of the division. You charge fans an extra £25 on a matchday and the financial difference to Fulham is a couple of million per year – an inconsequential figure in comparison to the monster TV deal. When you spend over £100m on new players in the summer, that becomes even harder to stomach.

The Premier League's lack of soul isn't exactly a secret but Fulham still have a chance to show that they're different, that they care about their fans and a wider fanbase, not just the relatively small extra amount of income per year by shipping in tourists for 90 minutes. The current ticketing policy is a short-sighted, short-term move with long-term consequences – should Fulham be relegated back to the Championship, whenever that may be, those fans who came before won't be inclined to return any time soon. Archie Rhind-Tutt

Photo by Simon Gill/WSC Photos: Fulham fans at Craven Cottage

This article first appeared in WSC 382, January 2019. Subscribers get free access to the complete WSC digital archive – you can find out more here



https://www.wsc.co.uk/stories/14177-fulham-s-premier-league-ticket-price-hikes-leave-fans-with-a-sour-taste

thank you for that White jc ,I know MJG has been critical of me as the proposed increases of post early bird prices has been said by the club to be starting prices next season means I won't be able financially be able to attend next season .so thanks for highlighting the issue as now I see ylas a board you are disturbed by the issue.

[WhiteJC]

 
How Fulham fans can get to Burnley for crucial game despite Northern rail strike action

There are a few different ways fans can get to Turf Moor for the Premier League tie between the two clubs

Fulham travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley in a crucial Premier League game on Saturday but attempting to get to Lancashire is proving to be difficult for the travelling faithful.

Usually, fans are able to make the journey in about three hours on the train by heading from London to either Manchester or Preston, then getting a train from there down to Burnley.

However, strike action by Northern Rail on the weekend means there are no trains going to Burnley from either station, leaving fans with a travel headache if they're hoping to make the match.

It's a big one too - Burnley sit just four points and three places off Fulham in the Premier League and are one of only three teams that the side have beaten this season thanks to a 4-2 victory back in August.

Over 1,000 fans have bought tickets for the game and if you're still thinking of heading up to Lancashire to support the side, there are ways of getting to Turf Moor.

By Coach

Fulham are offering an official supporters' coach for the trip with departure points from both Craven Cottage and the training ground at Motspur Park.

The coach leaves both locations at 7.15am and are available to buy either over the phone or on the ticketing website, with adult members and season ticket holders able to buy a seat for £30, and juniors at £20.

If you're not a season ticket holder or member, you can buy a seat for £35 for adults and £25 for juniors.

By Train

You can still travel by train to the north, but the final leg of the journey to Burnley will still cause you problems.

However, there are a few different ways that you'd be able to get to Turf Moor for the game which involved either a taxi, bus or a coach.

    Rail replacement  bus - Northern rail are putting on a rail replacement bus service which would require you to get a train from Preston to Blackburn and then a coach to Burnley Central. If this is the option you're going for allow plenty of time to make your journey.
    Taxi - If there is a group of you going getting a taxi from Preston to Burnley make be the best way - it's 26 miles one way with the journey taking around 40 minutes.
    The X43 bus - Fans going to Manchester can hop on the X43 bus from Chorlton Street. It departs near enough every 15 minutes and takes around an hour and ten minutes to reach Burnley. You can view the timetable for the service here.
    Zeelo Coach - A company called Zeelo are offering coaches from both Preston and Manchester - Chorlton Street that will cost just £10 for a return journey. Seats are limited on the service but tickets are still available and you can book them right here.

By Car

And then there's the car.

Driving to Turf Moor from London will take around four and a half hours, with Burnley 246 miles away from the capital.

Some fans on social media are offering seats for those looking to make the trip so it's worth looking around the #FFC hashtag to see if some are still looking for people to share their trips with them.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/how-fulham-fans-can-burnley-15649681

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham fans draw up January wishlist to ensure survival in the Premier League

Fulham supporters have been having their say on the club's transfer activity this month

It will come as no surprise that Fulham fans think signing a new centre back is the number one priority in the January transfer window

The club sit 19th in the Premier League and have shipped a whopping 47 goals in 21 games - five more than anyone else and now face being without summer signing Alfie Mawson after he injured his knee in the win over Huddersfield Town in December.

Defence has been an issue all season long and January represents a chance for Fulham's recruitment team to try and solve it, and fans reckon a new central defender and a right back are the two main areas they should focus on this month.

According to fans who took football.london's transfer window survey the majority identified a centre back as the position in need most of strengthening, while right back was a close second.

From more than 120 people who responded to our survey, when asked what positions needed the most attention in January almost 87% of people identified the central defence role as the one where Fulham need to work on.

Right back was second with 64% of people believing that area needed work, with Timothy Fosu-Mensah looking likely to finish his loan deal early, which would leave only Cyrus Christie at the club.

Fulham have been linked heavily with Gary Cahill to fill that centre back role this January - a man who has vast Premier League experience which is something that has been lacking in this squad this season.

And he was the most popular choice for Fulham fans when asked which player they would most like to sign this January, while fellow Chelsea team mates Victor Moses and Danny Drinkwater were also popular choices.

Former loanee Matt Targett was also mentioned frequently, but only 25% of people polled believed that left back was a position that Fulham needed to strengthen in.

Interestingly, despite the club only scoring 19 goals this season with eight of those going to Aleksandar Mitrovic, another striker seems to be low on the priority list of those fans polled, with just 35% saying a new striker should be signed.

There is hope for Fulham fans, however, with last January's transfer window being a huge success for the club as they brought in Mitrovic, Targett and Christie to aid the club's promotion charge to the Premier League.

Despite there being no signings at time of writing, there are still 22 days until the window shuts at 11pm on January 31 for Fulham to bring in new recruits to help them survive in the top flight.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/fulham-fans-positions-club-need-15651113

[WhiteJC]

 
Signing Cahill from Chelsea would finally give Fulham their new Hangeland

Chelsea captain Gary Cahill has reportedly had a tour of local rivals Fulham's training ground ahead of a move to Craven Cottage.

(Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)

Experienced Chelsea defender Gary Cahill is edging ever closer to a move to west London rivals Fulham, according to Love Sport.

They claim that Cahill has had a tour of the Whites' Motspur Park training ground and looks set to make the short swap to Craven Cottage.

It remains to be seen whether Cahill is available on a loan basis, or on a free transfer; which would be more convenient for Fulham as they already have two temporary signings from the Premier League – Arsenal's Calum Chambers and Manchester United's Timothy Fosu-Mensah – on their books this season.

But if Claudio Ranieri can get the Cahill deal over the line – in whatever format – he will be bringing towering presence and leader at the back into the club, the kind Fulham have lacked since the departure of Brede Hangeland.

Before leaving for Crystal Palace in 2014, Hangeland was adored by the Craven Cottage faithful for his defensive diligence; he was not the most gifted player, but he put his head in where it hurt and knew how to organise a defence.

Cahill is the same; Ranieri currently has plenty of younger, athletic defenders but not someone who defends for his life and can be a leader at the back and that's exactly what he needs.

Otherwise, the Whites look set for an instant return to the Championship.



https://tbrfootball.com/signing-cahill-from-chelsea-would-finally-give-fulham-their-new-hangeland/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham would strike gold by signing this Liverpool outcast for £15m to provide cover and competition for Mitrovic – Opinion

Can Divock Origi be the answer to Fulham's attacking problems?

Before Claudio Ranieri was brought in on the 14th of November 2018, Fulham were struggling in the Premier League, both offensively and defensively. Top scorer Alexandre Mitrovic was struggling to find the back of the net, and then manager Slavisa Jokanovic could do nothing right. However, after Ranieri's appointment, the club began to take shape and with the January transfer window open, it's time to make improvements.

Daily Mail has revealed that the Cottagers are ready to launch a £15 million bid for Belgian star Divock Origi in the hopes of changing their season. But it also adds that manager Claudio Ranieri will have enough in his transfer budget to potentially bring in five stars. At the moment, their main target is the Liverpool striker, who has found himself dropped down the pecking order.

The 23-year-old returned from a loan spell with VFB Wolfsburg, where he showed what he could do in front of the goal in his first few months. He started well in the Bundesliga and got nominated for a Player of the Month award, scoring and assisting five goals in his first 11 games for the club before a dip in form. That's been consistent with the 23-year-old's performances for both Liverpool and Wolfsburg with him struggling to hit double figures since his arrival.



However, given the fact that he is only 23, Origi has time on his side and perhaps under Ranieri, he could find his footing once again. The talent and ability to score goals is clearly present as he scored 22 goals in 80 appearances for the Reds, all before the age of 22. Now this season, with Liverpool chasing after the Premier League title, it makes sense that Origi's development takes back seat. Thus, a move might suit the Belgian.

He needs to make a comeback and find himself in the running for a place in the Belgian national team. To do that, he needs regular appearances. At the moment, that is not something he will find at Liverpool. A £15 million fee won't be much of a profit on the €12.6 million Liverpool spent to sign him but it's still something.

For Fulham, it allows them to have an option other than target man Alexander Mitrovic, who has done relatively well in front of the goal but has still struggled. His 8 goals have come in 21 appearances in the Premier League but that also includes two separate six-game droughts.

Thus, the Cottagers could benefit greatly from Origi's presence.



https://www.mediareferee.com/2019/01/09/fulham-would-strike-gold-by-signing-this-liverpool-outcast-for-15m-to-provide-cover-and-competition-for-mitrovic-opinion/

[WhiteJC]

 
Vice president confirms Fulham player wants to join his club in this window

Besiktas vice president Serdal Adalı has confirmed Fulham goalkeeper Fabri wants to return to the club but he's put doubt on the transfer actually happening.

In recent weeks Fabri has been linked with his former club, with claims he's agreed personal terms with Besiktas.

TRT Spor journalist Fırat Günayer has reported on comments made by the Besiktas director about the possibly of signing the Fulham outcast: "Fabri wants to come. Our spending on foreign quotas is unlikely."

Fabri joined Fulham from Besiktas last summer for a fee believed to be in the region of €6m, but the Spaniard has failed to make his mark since arriving at Craven Cottage, making just two Premier League appearances.

This has led to speculation he could re-join the Super Lig club, with reports they want to loan the player for 18 months.

However, following these comments from Serdal Adalı it seems the move may not happen in this transfer window.

Leeds United have also been linked with Fabri as they look to bring in an experienced keeper to boost their promotion chances.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/vice-president-confirms-fulham-player-wants-join-club-window/

[WhiteJC]

 
Report explains why West Ham or Fulham won't be signing Gabriel Barbosa

nter Milan flop Gabriel Barbosa was linked with Premier League duo West Ham United and Fulham before returning to Brazil with Fluminense.

After months of speculation Gabriel Barbosa is not Premier League bound after all.

Calciomercato reported last week that West Ham United were in talks with Inter Milan about potentially signing the Brazilian striker, who flopped spectacularly after his £29.5 million move to the San Siro in 2016.

The report did add that obtaining a work permit could be a potential obstacle to Gabigol's hopes of sealing a switch to English football – and it seemed this was a hurdle that none managed to get around.

Sky Sports have reported on Wednesday that work permit issues prevented West Ham from getting their man with the 22-year-old instead returning to Brazil, joining Fluminense on a one-year loan deal.

Gabriel spent last season at Santos, scoring a 18 goals to win the league's Golden Boot award.

This will also leave Fulham frustrated with Goal reporting that the Cottagers were also hoping to bring the 2016 Olympic gold medallist to London. It was understood that Fulham were even willing to pay all of Gabriel's wages in order to sweeten a deal with Inter Milan.

Claudio Ranieri, however, will be forced to rely upon Aleksander Mitrovic for the time being.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/01/09/do-west-ham-and-fulham-reportedly-left-disappointed-in-gabriel-b/

[WhiteJC]

 
Out Of Favour Chelsea Trio Being Courted By Fulham

Just down the Fulham Road, it appears that our friendly neighbours, Fulham Football Club, have ambitions of strengthening their squad, this January transfer window, by raiding Chelsea for a trio of squad players that are, on a regular basis, no longer regular starters at Stamford Bridge.

According to the news source, lovesportradio, Fulham have aspirations of signing Gary Cahill, Victor Moses and Dany Drinkwater, all of whom are no longer part of Maurizio Sarri's plans, with the latter two not having featured, in the first-team, at all this season.

But, swapping life at Chelsea for a relegation fight with the Craven Cottage based club might not be that appealing.

To that effect, our referenced source is reporting that the trio were given a guided tour of Fulham's training ground in an attempt to lure them from one part of West London to another.

It remains to be seen if any of the trio are tempted.

Personally, I reckon two of the three will go, Cahill and Moses, but what's your view.

Please feel free to comment on the above subject matter in our comment facility beneath this article.



https://chelsea.vitalfootball.co.uk/out-of-favour-chelsea-trio-being-courted-by-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

 
Games for the Weekend 12/01
Back to the Premier League with another "6 pointer", this time we're away too Burnley Turf Moor.

After the disappointment of the game against Oldham last Sunday this weekend we travel to Turf Moor which hasn't been a "happy hunting ground" for us in the past, lets see if we can do something about that this time?
Should we win, we'll move to within 1 point of Burnley who had a good win against West Ham last time out and although we'd still be in the bottom 3 we'd be moving in the right direction.

Games of Interest
Saturday 12th
Brighton v Liverpool
Burnley v Fulham
Cardiff v Huddersfield
Leicester v Southampton
Chelsea v Newcastle


come on over to the forum and join in the conversation...
http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0



http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=573

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham landing Drinkwater would push captain Cairney towards Fulham exit door

A reunion between Danny Drinkwater and Claudio Ranieri at Fulham would only increase the chances of club captain Tom Cairney leaving this month.

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Chelsea outcast Danny Drinkwater is one of three Blues players who has been shown around the Motspur Park training ground of their local rivals Fulham with a view to a January move, according to Love Sport.

Drinkwater is miles down the midfield pecking order under Maurizio Sarri and alongside team-mates Gary Cahill and Victor Moses, he has reportedly been around the training ground as the Cottagers look to convince him about the merits of a switch across west London this month.

Fulham are managed by a man who knows how to get the best out of Drinkwater; Claudio Ranieri was oversaw the Leicester side that won the Premier League against all odds back in 2016 as the English midfielder played a starring role.

But his arrival would be bad news for Fulham captain Tom Cairney, who has struggled for gametime this season and has already been linked with a move to Newcastle this month.

Cairney was the heartbeat of Slavisa Jokanovic's slick passing team, but the change of formation and style that Ranieri has brought to the Cottage does not suit him.

And given the bumper wages Drinkwater is likely to be on, if Ranieri did get him, he would want to put him at the centre of the side and it is tough to see how he and Cairney can co-exist.



https://tbrfootball.com/fulham-landing-drinkwater-would-push-captain-cairney-towards-fulham-exit-door/

[WhiteJC]

 
Crystal Palace Tickets

Tickets for Fulham's match away to Crystal Palace will be on sale from 10am tomorrow (Thursday 10th January).

The Whites head to Selhurst Park on Saturday 2nd February (kick-off 3pm) and you can be there to cheer on the boys!

On sale dates are staggered via Loyalty Points, culminating with all Season Ticket Holders and Members being able to purchase tickets - subject to availability - from Thursday 10th January.

On Sale Date	On Sale Group
10am, Thursday 10th January	Season Ticket Holders & Members with 700+points (4 per person)
10am, Friday 11th January	Season Ticket Holders & Members with 600+points (4 per person)
10am, Monday 14th January	Season Ticket Holders & Members with 500+points (4 per person)
10am, Tuesday 15th January	Season Ticket Holders & Members with 400+points (4 per person)
10am, Wednesday 16th January	Season Ticket Holders & Members with 300+points (4 per person)
10am, Thursday 17th January	Season Ticket Holders & Members with 200+points (4 per person)
10am, Friday 18th January	Season Ticket Holders & Members with 100+points (4 per person)
10am, Monday 21st January	All Season Ticket Holders & Members (4 per person)

Tickets are priced at £30 for adults, £20 for over 65s, full time students, ambulant and wheelchair disabled supporters and just £16 for Under 18s.

Fans can purchase tickets online, by telephone on 0203 871 0810 (opt 1) or in person from the Fulham Ticket Office.

Non-Standing Seats

We wish to ensure that all supporters travelling to away games have an equal chance of enjoying the matchday experience - including families, groups, and those unable to stand for long periods.

As part of ongoing structured dialogue with the Fulham Supporters' Trust, the Club has introduced sections of dedicated 'non-standing seats' for supporters who wish to remain seated and enjoy the matches in a family-friendly environment.

These tickets are allocated across the front five rows and are available to purchase over the phone, on 0203 871 0810 (opt. 1)

Supporters are advised that Crystal Palace have asked us to sell tickets in the following order:  Block S (right side), Block R, Block S (left side), Block T.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/january/09/crystal-palace-tickets

[WhiteJC]

 
This £3.6m all-round full-back would be a dream presence for Mitrovic and Fulham must get him

Why Fulham should sign Youssouf Sabaly this month

According to a report in French Outlet L'Equipe, Premier League strugglers Fulham have launched a bid to sign Bordeaux fullback Youssouf Sabaly. It is suggested that the opening bid was rejected by the French side, but the talks are going on for a possible deal. The Senegalese international nearly joined Italian giants Napoli during the summer transfer window.

The 25-year-old joined the Les Girondins on a permanent deal in July 2017 for a fee around £3.6m. It is pretty evident that the Cottagers are eager to get the player over the line at Craven Cottage. Here's why they are doing the right thing:

Sabaly – a presence of rejuvenation

Fulham have been struggling to keep the ball out of the back of their net. They have already conceded 47 goals in 21 league games, most in the league this season thus far. The right functionality and winning mentality of a football team comes from being secure at the back, which in turns gives confidence to the front men to do that.

As a result of that, the Cottagers have been leaky at the back and they have only scored 19 goals, which is way below the required number, especially given the talent they have at their disposal.

Hence, with Claudio Ranieri now in charge after the sack of Slavisa Jokanovic, the focus should be on how to improve defensively and make that as a basis for the survival bid in the coming four months.

Getting Youssouf Sabaly could right a few wrongs in the team at the back. The Senegalese, predominantly a right-back, can also ply his trade at left-back if required. He is a buccaneering fullback who will make runs up the pitch but recover them in the nick of time to restore defensive stability.

Talking about this season, the 25-year-old has completed tackles at a rate of 2.5 per game and interceptions at 1.3. It shows his willingness to defend well in one-vs-one situations and also read the game astutely to intercept whenever required. (Whoscored.com)

Going forward, he is a real threat to the opposition fullbacks, as the Senegalese has a good cross in his locker. Strikers like Aleksandar Mitrovic would love feeding off those balls into the box.

All in all, Sabaly is a proper all-around fullback who can help revitalise this Fulham defence in the wide areas. The prowess going forward would be a bonus for Ranieri and his men.



https://soccersouls.com/2019/01/10/this-3-6m-all-round-full-back-would-be-a-dream-presence-for-mitrovic-and-fulham-must-get-him/

[WhiteJC]

 
Go for it Ranieri – Fulham would strike gold by beating Wolves to sign this speedy Croatian winger

Fulham and Wolves are in the race for Marko Pjaca but who needs him more?

Subject to more than his fair share of loan spells since he moved from Dinamo Zagreb to Juventus, Marko Pjaca could finally be on his way to the Premier League.

Italian news outlet Tuttosport has linked the 23-year-old with a move to both Wolves and Fulham with both sides looking to boost their squads with the talented winger.

While he is currently on loan at Florentina, Football Italia has revealed that the Croatian star could be on his way back to Juventus before another move can take place.

While this does complicate things for everyone, at the moment, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers lead the race for the 23-year-old. This also includes a short loan spell plus an option for a permanent deal worth around €20million, as per Football Italia.

The question for both the Premier League sides, however, is who needs Pjaca more – Claudio Ranieri or Nuno Espirito Santo?

A complicated question, to say the least, but who wouldn't want the 23-year-old winger? Marko Pjaca is not just a great dribbler; the Croat also happens to be a speedy winger with a splendid eye for goal, although like many he is scarred with inconsistency.

Like many before him and many after him, Pjaca is a product of a brilliant Dinamo Zagreb youth academy that's produced the likes of Luka Modric, Andrej Kramaric and many more. However, what makes him useful for either side is his versatility to play across the midfield as a winger on either side or a No. 8 and even a false nine.

For Fulham, this gives them so many options if they do bring in the Croatian star, especially with Andre Schurrle, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Luciano Vietto struggling. The 23-year old's versatility will allow him to play up-top alongside Raul Jiminez for Wolves but it must be noted that they have Helder Costa, Ivan Cavaleiro, Adama Traore and Diogo Jota to call upon.

Although both Premier League clubs are chasing the Croatian international, it's Fulham who really need the talented 23-year-old. The added bonus for Juventus would be the fact that Marko Pjaca will get to test himself out in another league. If it doesn't work out, the experience alone will add to his market value for a future move away.



https://www.mediareferee.com/2019/01/10/go-for-it-ranieri-fulham-would-strike-gold-by-beating-wolves-to-sign-this-speedy-croatian-winger/

[WhiteJC]

 
Why Fulham should consider terminating Luciano Vietto's loan deal

In recent weeks, Fulham fans have been largely focused on the loan rumours surrounding the termination of Manchester United defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah.

Yet along with the underwhelming right-back, the Whites should consider ending Luciano Vietto's loan deal, following his dreadful performance against Oldham and his lack of opportunities under Claudio Ranieri.

Vietto arrived at Craven Cottage from Atletico Madrid on deadline day this summer, after amassing a decent scoring record during spells at various La Liga clubs.

Early on in the season, the Argentine broke into the starting lineup under Slavisa Jokanovic, providing crucial assists against Burnley and Watford in the fall.

But the attacker, who has mainly been used on the wing despite his best position being centre-forward, quickly fell out of favour once Ranieri was appointed manager.

Since November, Vietto has played a role in just three league matches under the Italian, including two disappointing performances against Leicester and Manchester United.

Vietto's brightest Ranieri display came against Huddersfield, where the loanee was excellent in the second half, providing dangerous movement, penetrating passes, and mazy dribbling as the Whites broke down the Terriers.

However, that side of Vietto has been evident far too rarely during his spell in SW6. For the majority of his time on the pitch, the attacker has been peripheral, pushed off the ball far too easily, and unable to influence proceedings.

This side of Vietto's play took centre stage on Sunday against Oldham, when the loanee from one of Spain's best teams could barely trouble a League Two defence.

Vietto undoubtedly possesses useful qualities such as an eye for a pass and nice technical abilities, but his skill-set is simply not cut out for a relegation battle.

Too often he has drifted out of crucial matches, and as Luciano Vietto is still goalless for Fulham, the club may do well to terminate his loan in January and search for more battle-hardened frontmen.



https://tbrfootball.com/why-fulham-should-consider-terminating-luciano-viettos-loan-deal/