Friday Fulham Stuff (18/01/19)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Winning the race for O'Riley would signal Leeds' long-term Premier League ambitions
Matt O'Riley is a target for Leeds United.

(Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Leeds United are among several clubs interested in signing Matt O'Riley from Fulham, according to a report by Sky Sports News.

Championship title rivals Norwich City are also keen, as well as Scottish Premiership heavyweights Celtic and Rangers.

Meanwhile, German trio Red Bull Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart want O'Riley to join the trend of young Englishman moving to the Bundesliga.

But Leeds are in the race, mulling over whether to launch a bid for the Fulham teenager.

The 18-year-old has played three first-team games for the Cottagers but he could move away to get more game time elsewhere.

While O'Riley would probably play a handful of games for Leeds at the moment, he would be seen as more of one for the future. And he certainly has the potential to reach the top with a host of top clubs chasing him in the past.

According to The Sun, Arsenal and Manchester City have kept their tabs on O'Riley. And The London Evening Standard adds Juventus and Manchester United to the long list of his admirers.

Leeds face a battle to sign the England under-18 starlet but winning the race for his signature would be a statement of intent.

Under Marcelo Bielsa, the club looks like it is heading in the right direction and bringing in some talented youngsters would indicate Leeds' long-term ambitions in the Premier League.

O'Riley would be on the verge of the first-team now, but he has the ability to become a star in Leeds' future top flight midfield.



https://tbrfootball.com/winning-the-race-for-oriley-would-signal-leeds-long-term-premier-league-ambitions/

[WhiteJC]

 
'A shrewd signing' – Leeds in competition with Celtic & Rangers for midfielder: Opinion

Leeds United are keen on signing talented Fulham youngster Matthew O'Riley before the window closes.

The 18-year-old has struggled for game time at Craven Cottage this season, only making one appearance this season which came in the League Cup.

And, according to Sky Sports, there are a host of clubs keen on signing the teenager.

They report that Bundesliga trio Stuttgart, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund want the midfielder to make the move to Germany, whilst Norwich, Celtic, Rangers and Leeds are also interested.

That outlines the ability many feel he has and it will be a real challenge for the Whites to see off such fierce competition to land the youngster.

But, if they did manage it, just how good a signing would O'Riley be for Leeds?

Our writers take a look...

George Harbey

"O'Riley could be yet another talented youngster who signs for Leeds.

"The likes of Jamie Shackleton, Aapo Halme and Jack Clarke have all been impressive for Leeds this season, so O'Riley should definitely look at their season and take great optimism from it.

"He's been impressive at youth level for England, and it could turn out to be a shrewd signing."

Chris Gallagher

"It would be a great move for the club and the player.

"Firstly, Leeds would be signing a talented young midfielder who is in-demand and he would suit the style of player they want.

"As well as that, it would give O'Riley a clearer pathway to the first-team and Marcelo Bielsa is a coach who could help his career.

Alfie Burns

"In many ways, Leeds is the perfect platform for the player.

"They are producing some serious talent themselves and giving them the chance, which is a rarity in the modern game.

"This could be a great move for all parties involved."



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/a-shrewd-signing-leeds-in-competition-with-celtic-rangers-for-midfielder-opinion/

[WhiteJC]

 
UNBEATABLE Ryan Babel never lost a Premier League game for Liverpool he scored in – there's hope yet for Fulham's escape bid

The striker was far from prolific for the Reds, though, as he only scored 22 times during his time at the club

Fulham signed former Liverpool striker Ryan Babel on Tuesday in the hope he will help them to Premier League safety.

They are second from bottom and five points off Cardiff City in 17th place.

The 32-year-old signed from Besiktas on a contract until the end of the season.

Babel has been far from prolific in his footballing career with 107 goals in 501 games.

Liverpool paid £11.5million for him back in 2007 but he failed to make much of an impact.

The forward netted 22 times in 146 games during three-and-a-half seasons with the Reds.

Babel had a knack of winning games he scored in, though, for Liverpool.

In the 11 Premier League games he scored in for the Merseyside club, he did not lose a single one.

If he keeps that record going then Fulham may yet have a chance of staying in the top flight.

Premier League games Ryan Babel scored in
September 1, 2007 – Liverpool 6-0 Derby

November 24, 2007 – Newcastle 0-3 Liverpool

December 2, 2007 – Liverpool 4-0 Bolton

March 2, 2008 – Bolton 1-3 Liverpool

September 13, 2008 – Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United

December 28, 2008 – Newcastle

1-5 Liverpool

May 9, 2009 – West Ham 0-3 Liverpool

September 26, 2009 – Liverpool 6-1 Hull (two goals for Babel)

March 15, 2010 – Liverpool 4-1 Portsmouth

April 25, 2010 – Burnley 0-4 Liverpool

December 6, 2010 – Liverpool 3-0 Aston Villa

Babel was shipped off to Hoffenheim in 2011 for a reported fee of £8million but could only manage six games for the Bundesliga club.

He then had spells at Ajax, Kasimpasa in the Turkish League, Al-Ain and Deportivo La Coruna.



https://talksport.com/football/475838/ryan-babel-fulham-liverpool-record/

[WhiteJC]

 
Club targeting Brighton player ahead of deadline, agent flies in for talks

Fotospor claim Besiktas have identified Brighton and Hove Albion attacker Jose Izquierdo as a possible replacement for Fulham's latest signing Ryan Babel.

Earlier this week the Turkish club confirmed they'd sold Ryan Babel to Fulham and are now in the market for a winger, with the Brighton player seemingly an option.

It's reported the Colombian player's agent Norman Capuozzo has arrived in Istanbul for talks with Besiktas vice president Serdal Adali, and the Turkish club are set to make a loan offer with an option to buy the 26 year old.

This season Izquierdo has played 9 Premier League games under Chris Hughton and Fotospor say Besiktas are ready to take him and give him much needed first team football.

Izquierdo has reportedly been followed by the Istanbul club since 2015, when he impressed whilst playing for his former side Club Brugge in the Europa League.

The 26-year old is under contract at Brighton until June 2021.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-targeting-brighton-player-ahead-deadline-agent-flies-talks/

[WhiteJC]

 
'He's got 'Boro' written all over him' – Middlesbrough plot move to sign midfielder: Opinion

Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis is looking to the Premier League and to Fulham for 30-year-old midfielder Kevin McDonald, who looks like being surplus to requirements at Craven Cottage and could be on his way, according to a report in The Sun (January 16, Page 53).

McDonald played a major role in the Cottagers' promotion to the Premier League under Slavisa Jokanovic, but has found opportunities scarce under new manager Claudio Ranieri.

So would McDonald be a good signing if he made a move to the Riverside?

We discuss.....

Louie Chandler

"A good signing, although unneeded.

"In Clayton, Leadbitter, Wing, Besic, Saville and Howson they have more than enough decent Championship level options.

"MacDonald is a good Championship player as well, but I feel they need more dynamism in attack rather than further back."

Gary Hutchinson

"He's got 'Boro' written all over him.

"Uncompromising, committed and always willing to battle. I like that in a player and so does Pulis.

"He's been promoted before, has international experience and will bring a different element to their squad.

"This is a great shout."

Jay Taylor

"How many midfielders do Middlesbrough need?

"They have a tonne of options in the middle, but I see this as a good signing, as he offers something different to what the current crop of middle-men at the Riverside have ability wise.

"McDonald isn't playing much at Fulham and will have a point to prove should he move back to the Championship."



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/hes-got-boro-written-all-over-him-middlesbrough-plot-move-to-sign-midfielder-opinion/

[MikeW]

Babel: Met a Liverpool supporting mate yesterday who's comment was 'Christ is that the best you can do?'  A few more on this board with that opinion I think!

[WhiteJC]

 
Tottenham expected XI v Fulham

OPINION
Tottenham, manager Mauricio Pochettino has a dilemma ahead of Sunday's game against Fulham.

With Harry Kane out for a couple of months and surely no time to bring anyone in for the weekend, Pochettino must look to a Plan B he hoped he would never have to unleash.

We're expecting Fernando Llorente to come in and deputise on Sunday, with Lucas Moura unlikely to recover in time from injury and Heung-min Son having left for the Asian Cup.

Troy Parrott might well make the bench, in what would represent a meteoric rise for him, but we doubt he'll make the starting XI.

Llorente should be supported by Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Erik Lamela.

There's another problem in midfield though, with in-form player Moussa Sissoko also out with injury.

That means Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp will probably take the reigns, with Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld in the heart of defence.

We expect Danny Rose to play on the left, with Ben Davies dropping to the bench, and Kieran Trippier holding onto his position on the right flank.

This is the starting XI that we expect Pochettino to unleash against Fulham:

https://thisisfutbol.com/2019/01/blogs/tottenham-expected-xi-v-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

 
Four tactical options for a Harry Kane-less Tottenham to employ against Fulham

After Tottenham's title challenge fell apart just days after it had begun, there is concern among their fans that their season is about to crumble with the news they feared most: Harry Kane has damaged his ankle ligaments. Again.

Kane has previous when it comes to returning early from injuries, but that won't provide a great deal of comfort to the supporters facing up to the prospect of games in four different competitions without their talisman.

Most fans have jumped to the conclusion that the team needs investment from Daniel Levy this month, but it is not his style to rush into a deal and, as it turns out, there might be some solutions closer to home.

Spurs have managed before without Kane, notably beating Manchester City at the start of Pep Guardiola's reign, winning at Chelsea last season and beating Arsenal last month in the Carabao Cup.

The problem this time around is that Heung-min Son is away at the Asian Cup, so Spurs will have to make do without two of their best attackers.

Here are four options for Mauricio Pochettino to go with in the coming weeks.

Switch to three at the back

Pochettino has used three-centre-back formations often during his time at Spurs and has players to make a few different systems work well. This season Spurs have lined up in a 3-4-3 (3-4-2-1) and a 3-1-4-2 (3-3-2-3) in the Premier League, with the additional centre-back allowing advanced wing-backs, which means the wide forwards can play inside the pitch. This setup might be perfect for making use of Fernando Llorente's skillset.

The shape works best if the defenders can play a bit since fielding a centre-back rather than midfielder or forward would traditionally result in a loss of creativity to gain stability, making the side in possession a little less dangerous. However, Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen are all ball-playing centre-backs able to find a teammate with a pass from deep or, if the space opens up, carry the ball into midfield meaning Spurs don't lose numerical superiority in any part of the pitch.

The two midfielders in a 3-4-3 tend to sit slightly deeper to provide protection and keep the ball moving - as in Antonio Conte's version of it at Chelsea - while a 3-1-4-2 allows for advanced playmakers in behind the strikers. Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli could get forward to join in attacking moves behind Fernando Llorente and Lucas Moura if the second option were taken, while the pairing in a 3-4-3 is slightly more complicated. Eriksen next to a destroyer would certainly work, but Alli, Harry Winks might not provide the steel to ensure the midfield is not battle ground easily lost.

Spurs tend to focus play through the middle of the pitch in their usual narrow 4-1-2-1-2 but in a three-centre-back system, the wing-backs would be heavily relied on to provide width, something which suits the striker available. Llorente is great at finding space to attack crosses and can either shoot with headers or look to flick on balls sent his way. More crosses might equal more chances to score.

The 3-4-3 would mean two of Moura, Alli, Eriksen and Erik Lamela start either side of Llorente, defending wide against opposition full-backs but attacking through the middle of the pitch as inside forwards. Llorente's role in this system would be more than goal poaching - Spurs want to get the ball forward quickly from goalkeeper to attackers and his aerial ability means Hugo Lloris has a target to aim for. With runners either side, Llorente can win the first header and his teammates the second ball.

Use a 'false nine'

A fairly likely solution to the Kane problem would be to do what Chelsea have been doing in the absence of an in-form centre-forward, and what Spurs did in the win at Stamford Bridge in April last year: employ a 'false nine' up front.

The idea here is to play without a traditional striker - in this case meaning Llorente remains a Plan B from the bench.

Lamela played as the nominal striker in that game as Spurs ended their 28-year hoodoo at Chelsea and Alli ran riot by making late runs beyond the last line of defence. The false nine dropping into midfield causes central defenders a headache, as they have to decide on each occasion whether to go with that player (usually someone who is comfortable on the ball and will look to receive the ball to feet) and risk leaving a gap at the back, or leave him alone, thereby allowing the opposition to overload players in central midfield.

It is a tricky tactic to perfect, but Spurs have done it before to great success and Pochettino will be pleased to have this as an option.

Stick with the 4-4-2 diamond

Spurs' style of play has evolved this season, with Kane's role changing markedly. A slightly simplistic explanation of this change is that Kane has moved deeper, from more of a number nine to a 10. His play-making is a hugely underrated part of his game, and the switch in role has allowed him to create from deeper and given the pacier members of the team more space to run in behind opposition defences.

It may be Pochettino's preference to keep on playing with a 4-4-2 diamond for reasons of consistency. Although Llorente cannot replicate Kane's performances like for like, he is adept at holding off defenders and bringing midfielders into play, while Moura has the speed to occupy Son's role, on the shoulder of the last defender and looking for any opportunity to spring the offside trap.

Playing this way would cause the least disruption to the starting lineup and crucially, would allow key men in Eriksen and Alli to continue in the positions they have been playing. However, with Moussa Sissoko also set for a spell on the sidelines, it isn't clear that Spurs have the midfielders to play this formation.

Return to 4-2-3-1

Pochettino could opt for the tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1. This setup depends on fast transitions to open up opponents and allows for the ball to move quickly from back to front. The wide forwards can play as wingers, allowing the full-backs to underlap, or as inside-forwards encouraged to attack central space when the full-backs overlap instead. Spurs will have the vast majority of possession against Fulham on Sunday, which means Trippier and Rose will spend a lot of their time doing exactly this.

In this shape either Llorente or Moura can play as the nine and look to push the opposition centre-backs towards their own box to create space for the 10. Alli would be excellent in this role playing off either striker, able to run from deep to attack crosses if Moura is there as more of a front-post-attacking, off-the-shoulder runner, or sprinting in behind Llorente to chase flick-ons and linked passes.

Since Spurs are certain to dominate the ball against Claudio Ranieri's side, having a player like Llorente in the box makes sense. He's hardly been a prolific goalscorer since joining Spurs but as shown during his time at Swansea, he is fantastic at attacking crosses and being in the right place at the right time inside the box.

If Llorente can shake off some of the rust accumulated from seasons spent on the bench, he could have an enjoyable afternoon causing problems for Fulham's ropey defence.



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/01/17/four-tactical-options-harry-kane-less-tottenham-employ-against/

[WhiteJC]

 
Higher Sports Academy Partnership

Fulham Football Club is pleased to announce the launch of a new International Player Development Programme in Valencia [Spain], in collaboration with The Higher Sports Academy, a company which has many years of experience in professional football and academy work.

The duration of the Development programme is either 1 or 2 years and includes quality daily football coaching, with fully qualified UEFA coaches, in a brand new state of the art facility in Valencia (Mas Camarena Students' Resort & Sports Centre).

The Player Development programme also offers a full match experience including games against top professional club academies from La Liga. In addition, players attending the programme will be provided with the opportunity to register and train with Spanish League sides, gaining vital match experience playing in Spain.

Alongside the football programme offers a quality education programme that includes daily Spanish lessons and a choice of education options including:

    A BTEC Sports Level 3 qualification provided by an outstanding OFSTED rated education provider
    A range of subjects offered by Mas Camarena a private bilingual school, rated as one of the top schools in Spain
    American High School Studies

The site for this new programme has been chosen not only for its outstanding sports facilities but also for the accommodation in this new complex which is on the site of the training ground within a secure gated community with 24-hour security and 24-hour reception service.

The International Player Development Programme will replicate the principles of Fulham FC's successful Academy and all players will be monitored by the Club with a view to finding the next star and coaching methods reviewed by Fulham FC qualified coaches and Management staff.

This unique programme, available to players aged 16-19  years of age, offers the chance for gifted players to improve their footballing abilities as well as gain educational qualifications, whilst broadening life experiences and personal development in a disciplined environment.

Academy Director, Huw Jennings added: "We are excited about a new development which will give opportunities for us to explore talented players in Spain and other territories."

For further information about the programme or the application process  students/players should contact:[email protected].



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/january/17/valencia-partnership

[WhiteJC]

 
From the Opposition: No Stroll By The Thames

With Fulham's London derby against high-flying Tottenham Hotspur coming up, we spoke to Ian Waterhouse from Spurs for Life to get a lowdown on what the view is from North London, ahead of their trip to the banks of the Thames.

As a Tottenham fan, one glance at the table should leave one with a feeling of confidence heading into this weekend's contest against Fulham.

Despite spending £110 million in the summer, things just have not worked out for the Cottagers this season and there is almost a certain irony that the one club that was lambasted by so many for not spending a single penny is currently enjoying life occupying third place in the table.

However, before I get too cocky, there is a general feeling among rival supporters of Fulham, that it is only a matter of time before that expensively assembled squad turn good and someone (most probably Tottenham) end up on the receiving end of a Fulham thrashing.

After all, it was only in 2011 during an FA Cup tie that the Cottagers inflicted a 4-0 defeat on Tottenham.

Talking of irony again, Danny Murphy and Mousa Dembélé were on the scoresheet for Fulham that day with one a former Spurs player and the other a current Lilywhite (at the time of writing!)

And so, to the weekend's fixture, what are the facts we need to know about the game and what can we expect?

Tottenham are reeling from defeat to Manchester United last weekend and the news that star man Harry Kane is set to be on the side-lines until March due to ankle ligament injury.

That is good news for Fulham but before we wave the white flag it is important to note that Tottenham's back up striker Son Heung-Min has netted the same number of Premier League goals as the Cottagers top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic with eight.

However, the news is still a devastating blow for the immediate future for the Lilywhites with Kane set to miss the Champions League double header with Borussia Dortmund (ah, there's always next season).

Despite this unexpected good news for the home side, even Claudio Ranieri himself must know that this is a game he probably just wants out of the way as quickly as possible.

That FA Cup win at the Cottage was Fulham's only home win over Tottenham since November 2008 with the home side winning just one of the 12 Premier League matches between the two since.

The last two top flight games between the two has seen the Lilywhites win 3-1 and it is hard to see any other result than another Spurs win over their London opponents.

Ranieri is yet to weave his magic at Fulham and the problem is time is running out.

I for one hope Fulham avoid the drop as Craven Cottage is one of the nicest grounds to visit for atmosphere and a cracking pint by the Thames, but if the revival can just wait until after this weekend then that would be just grand.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2019-01-17-from-the-opposition-no-stroll-by-the-thames/

[WhiteJC]

 
Exclusive: Sheffield Wednesday in talks to sign Premier League forward on loan

Sheffield Wednesday are in discussions to sign Neeskens Kebano from Premier League strugglers Fulham, The Star can reveal.

Negotiations are understood to be ongoing between the two clubs and sources close to the Owls say they hope to bring in the versatile forward on loan until the end of the season.

Sheffield Wednesday are in discussions to sign Neeskens Kebano from Premier League strugglers Fulham, The Star can reveal.

Negotiations are understood to be ongoing between the two clubs and sources close to the Owls say they hope to bring in the versatile forward on loan until the end of the season.

But Kebano has found game time hard to come by this term. Kebano, who endured a two-month injury lay-off after suffering an ankle problem in Fulham's Carabao Cup win over Exeter City back in August, has made just five appearances under managers Slavisa Jokanovic and Claudio Ranieri. He is still waiting to make a Premier League start, with Fulham currently 19th in the table, five points adrift of safety.

Born in France, Kebano started out at the renowned Clairefontaine football academy in France before attracting the interest of Paris Saint-Germain. After a loan spell at Caen, he left PSG in 2013 and headed to Charleroi.

Kebano notched 23 goals in two years before moving to Genk in the summer of 2016 where he helped them to a fifth place finish.

Kebano represented France from Under-17 to Under-20 level before switching his allegiance to the Democratic Republic of Congo. He made his DR Congo debut five years ago.



https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/exclusive-sheffield-wednesday-in-talks-to-sign-premier-league-forward-on-loan-1-9542863

[WhiteJC]

 
Analysis - Simon Davies on Craven Cottage clash

Simon Davies starred for us in the early 2000s before ending his career with a six-year stint at Fulham between 2007-13. He's kept a close eye on both teams' fortunes since then and was at Wembley for our game against United last weekend for media work - where he teamed-up again with Teddy Sheringham.

Now back to where it all started at Peterborough United alongside Matthew Etherington as coaches of Posh's Under-18s, who better than the former Welsh international to preview Sunday's Premier League clash at Craven Cottage?

Playing for Spurs
Simon: "In my first two or three years at Spurs I was absolutely flying. I just picked up injuries at the wrong times and that halted my progress. I still loved every minute. I always look back and some of those nights playing at White Hart Lane were unbelievable. It's funny, when you leave... you have a lot of emotional times at a club and until you go back like I did for the Lane Finale (May, 2017)... I'm not saying you forget about those times, but it all comes flooding back. I loved my time at Spurs, I really did."

Playing for Fulham
Simon: "I'd come off the back of my last season at Spurs (2004/05) struggling with injury, went to Everton, never really settled and I came back to London and Fulham (2007) and felt at home straight away. We had a group of players who had all done well earlier in their careers, had a bit of a stumble and then all came together – players like Bobby Zamora, Andy Johnson and Damien Duff. Roy Hodgson then came in and was the perfect manager for us, got us organised and we had an unbelievable couple of years. We finished seventh, eighth and reached the Europa League Final, incredible days. We beat Juventus on our way to the final having been 3-1 down from the first leg and then 4-1 down when they scored early at Craven Cottage. They then had a player sent off, we scored, the fans really got into it, momentum shifted and it was one of those crazy games, bang, bang, bang and we won 5-4!"

On Spurs...
Simon: "I was listening to the radio after the United game and people were saying 'Spurs looked leggy' and I was thinking 'what are you on about?' Spurs were always going to have the majority of the possession and United would try to hit them on the counter. You could see United had worked on it because every time they won the ball Rashford and Martial tried to spin in behind. There was nothing Spurs could have done differently. The amount of chances created, de Gea... you can't legislate for that, as a coach all you want to do is get your team into positions to score and de Gea made 11 saves. On another day, Spurs could have won three or 4-1. The manager said it was the best 45 minutes under him and you could see why. Spurs are a great side and I love watching them play, so many quality players, so much class."

On Fulham...
Simon: "I was at Fulham a few times earlier in the season. They played some great football last season in the Championship, played an expansive style and I just think they went into the Premier League believing they could do exactly the same. Maybe they were a bit naïve because every time they lost the ball they were getting countered and conceding goals. They made the decision to appoint Claudio Ranieri and try to tighten it up. I've not seen as much of Fulham since Ranieri's gone in there but from what I've seen he's playing two banks of four, trying to be hard to beat first and seeing what they can get on the back of that."

Sunday's match
Simon: "I remember going to Craven Cottage with Spurs and thinking 'it's tight here', always a tough place to go and play and then later playing for Fulham, we used that to our advantage, we were used to it and that was always the success during my time at Fulham, our home record. At home, we never got turned over and more often than not, we picked up good results against the big teams. Fulham have to get that back if they are to have a chance of staying up. For Spurs, they have such a drilled in way of playing, they just have to go there and go again. If they play well, they'll probably win. Spurs are so good to watch. As a game, it's really well set up for Sunday - let's see how it pans out!"



https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2019/january/analysis-simon-davies-on-fulham-spurs/

[WhiteJC]

 
Soccer Schools Mascot

Fulham Football Club Foundation would like to congratulate their Soccer Schools participant Olivia on leading the team out during the recent Emirates FA Cup Third Round fixture against Oldham Athletic.

Olivia was selected for her excellent attitude, in line with the club values, during the January Soccer Schools at Fulham FC's Training Ground, Motspur Park.

Fulham Soccer Schools Head Coach, Joe Snelling, explained why Olivia was chosen for the experience: "Our coaching team selected Olivia White for the mascot experience as she had shown great enthusiasm during her time at the soccer school. She has a highly positive attitude and is always playing with a smile on her face.

"Olivia is eight years old and a keen Fulham fan who's in her fourth year of attending Fulham FC matches."

Olivia's father also provided the following feedback: "What a fantastic experience for Olivia, she had a brilliant time so many thanks to all."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/january/17/soccer-schools-mascot

[WhiteJC]

 
Premier League predictions: Lawro v NBA star Mario Hezonja

Arsenal's game with Chelsea on Saturday is a crucial game in the battle for the top four, but who will come out on top?

BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson says: "The Gunners were beaten at Stamford Bridge at the start of the season but they had a very good spell in the game when they battered the Blues.

"The Gunners have defensive issues but they showed against Tottenham before Christmas what they are capable of in big games like this.

"With the crowd behind them, it would be typical if they went out and beat Chelsea - they have definitely got enough quality in midfield and attack to win this one."

Lawro is making predictions for all 380 top-flight matches this season, against a variety of guests.

This week he is up against New York Knicks basketball star Mario Hezonja.

The Croatian small forward played in Thursday's NBA London game against Washington Wizards.

Hezonja, 23, is a Newcastle fan and is backing them to beat fellow strugglers Cardiff on Saturday.

While playing for Barcelona at the start of his basketball career, Hezonja was asked if he had been to see Lionel Messi in action at the Nou Camp.

"Let Messi come to see me", was his response.

So, which NBA stars does Hezonja think are the best football players?

He told BBC Sport: "From what I've seen, Joel Embiid [of the Philadelphia 76ers] and Tony Parker [of the Charlotte Hornets]. I have to say myself too!"

LAWRO'S PREDICTIONS
Fulham v Tottenham (16:00 GMT)

Things could not have gone much worse for Tottenham last time out, with Harry Kane and Moussa Sissoko both injured in their defeat by Manchester United.

But even without those two, and Son, I still think Spurs will have far too much for Fulham, who have only signed one player - former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel - this month.

Lawro's prediction: 0-2

Mario's prediction: 0-2



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46897661

[WhiteJC]

 
Letting promising youngster Matt O'Riley slip would be a scandal for Fulham

Fulham midfielder Matt O'Riley is receiving interest from Stuttgart, RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Leeds, Norwich, Rangers, and Celtic, according to Sky Sports.

With such a wide variety of clubs monitoring the 18-year-old talent, Fulham need to ensure O'Riley stays at Craven Cottage.

Letting O'Riley slip from the club's grasps would be nothing less than a disgrace for the Whites.

In recent years, Fulham have prided themselves on their academy's excellent work, with promising stars such as Ryan and Steven Sessegnon, Patrick Roberts, Moussa Dembele, Dennis Adeniran, and Luca De La Torre all plying their trade at Motspur Park.

Bundesliga clubs have shown a strong interest in providing young English talent with a chance to get consistent playing time abroad, a prospect that might tempt O'Riley — the teenager hasn't played a single minute in the Premier League this season.

For the U-23's, O'Riley has consistently starred and surely deserves a chance to show Claudio Ranieri his skills in the first team.

Fulham's central midfield has been a major concern this campaign, and with the two big-money signings Jean-Michael Seri and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa failing to live up to expectations, O'Riley should have a role to play off the bench.

Matt O'Riley has the potential to be a top-quality midfielder in his prime — Fulham must do everything in their power to keep the promising teenager in SW6 in order to see O'Riley flourish at his boyhood club.



https://tbrfootball.com/letting-promising-youngster-matt-oriley-slip-would-be-a-scandal-for-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

 
WHAT FULHAM SHOULD EXPECT FROM RYAN BABEL?

Once he was dubbed the next Thierry Henry. The following decade has seen him drifting from Abu Dhabi to Galicia to an unexpected revival in Istanbul. But Cetin Cem Yilmaz asks can Ryan Babel save Fulham from relegation?

"I can't do the goal celebration by myself, sorry."

We are standing in the middle of an empty stadium: Ryan Babel, a videographer and me. We are at the Beşiktaş Park on a weekday morning and shoot some B-roll footage to accompany our UEFA.com interview. We ask the Dutchman to replicate a goal celebration but the answer is negative.

"I only have one celebration," he says, adding that he doesn't do that alone. The move involves two players jumping in unison and crashing into each other. This is just a celebration but somehow fits into Ryan Babel's role at Beşiktaş. Since arriving at the Black Eagles in January 2017, he has never been the leading man but always excelled in the supporting actor role and he will need to do more of the same to save Fulham from relegation.

YEARS OF REVIVAL

Babel arrived in Turkey as a player who barely revived his career in Deportivo La Coruña, following spells at Kasımpaşa and Al Ain. He is leaving Turkey now as a well-decorated player. In the two years since his arrival, no player in the Turkish top-flight has won more games than him (52). This stretch includes a Super Lig title, a UEFA Europa League quarterfinal appearance against Olympique Lyon (losing on penalties), an unbeaten UEFA Champions League group campaign (a record for a Turkish team), and a return to the Netherlands national team after six years of absence.

He redeemed himself at Beşiktaş, but helped the Black Eagles a lot on the way. Only Anderson Talisca has scored more goals (31) for Beşiktaş than Babel (29) since his debut, but the Brazilian did that in playing 19 games less. Still, that is remarkable for him, given he was outscored not only by Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt, but also by David Ngog whilst at Liverpool (Ngog scored nine Premier League goals in a red shirt onwards 2008, while Babel managed only eight in that period – overall, it was 12 in 91 games for Babel).

What he did in the assists department is not striking at first glance: He is the fifth Beşiktaş player in that regard. Ricardo Quaresma and Oğuzhan Özyakup dwarf him in that category while even Caner Erkin and Anderson Talisca delivered far more in fewer games.

CONSISTENT SCORING

If you look at his overall stats throughout his career, you see a guy delivering similar stats in minutes per goals or assists, either as the wonderkind in Amsterdam, or "the next Thierry Henry" at Merseyside, or the fall guy in the periphery of the Süper Lig elite at Kasımpaşa. Babel kept scoring or assisting once in every two games. His image and career trajectory might suggest otherwise, but Babel is a pretty reliable player in terms of production. And while Fulham fans should not expect him to go on a scoring spree, they can be relieved that he would be there, getting on the score sheet every two weeks (Fantasy Premier League players, take note!).

THE ENABLER

However, Ryan Babel did something more in his second trip to Istanbul. He was just another member of a star-studded frontline at Beşiktaş, and managed to shine when it mattered. The front four of Quaresma – Talisca – Babel – Cenk (Aboubakar in his first half year) was plenty for opposition to handle – especially in Europe, when Beşiktaş had the luxury to find more spaces instead of a squeezed box-play in the Süper Lig. Throughout 2017, Beşiktaş faced remarkable European opposition in the shape of Porto, Monaco, RB Leipzig, Olympique Lyon, Olympiakos – and were never outplayed.

Babel struck key goals in Europe, and overall, he scored with 43 percent of his shots (six goals from 14 shots) in Europe, compared to his still-admissible 22 percent shot conversion rate in the Süper Lig. Much more than this, his movement and intelligent play gave Talisca and Cenk the perfect stage to shine (both made very lucrative deals to China and England, respectively). While right winger Ricardo Quaresma is a trigger-happy crosser, Babel offered flick-ons, one-offs or cutbacks from the other wing – that was how Talisca and Cenk scored dozens.

FULHAM DIAGNOSIS

But what should Fulham be expecting from Babel? After all, a brief look at the table would show their main problem is not the attack, but rather the fact that they are leaking goals. At 49, they have allowed at least six goals than the next poorest defence, which is Burnley, and their goal difference is a shocking -29. For comparison, they have scored 20 goals as did Crystal Palace, who are slightly more comfortable on 14th spot.

However, Fulham, unlike other relegation-battlers, are a team looking to have more time on the ball. Their average possession of 47.1 percent is 10th in the league.  Their passing accuracy is 78.4 percent, sandwiched between other purveyors of the beautiful game, Wolves and Bournemouth (all trail "the Big Six"). Their 177 successful passes in the opposition half per game is better than any other team besides "the Big Six" in the Premier League.

What they do with the ball is another question: Fulham are only sixth from bottom when you question successful passes in the final third (76.7 per game). Despite all this possession stats, they shoot 12.1 per game, and this is higher than only six clubs in the league. And, 47.6 percent of their shots are from outside the box – the higher rate in the league. This 127 shots overall has an xG of 3.25 (mind you, they have only two goals from outside the box).

The system in which Babel was thriving at Beşiktaş was one with four attackers but Fulham are mostly using three in the front. Claudio Ranieri is still trying to find the right mix between Ryan Sessegnon, André Schürrle and Aboubakar Kamara in either side of Aleksandar Mitrović. They all find the net every now and then, but for Fulham, the problem is more about creating than about converting. If Ryan Babel manages to be the "enabler" guy as he was in Beşiktaş, the one making spaces and enabling Anderson Talisca and Cenk Tosun to find spaces, there could be hope for Fulham.

Önder Özen is a current television pundit but before that, he served at two big Istanbul clubs, as an assistant to Zico at Fenerbahçe and a sporting director to Slaven Bilic at Beşiktaş. He coached Babel during his brief head coaching stint at Kasımpaşa and would later command the Dutchman as one of the better professionals he worked with, much to his surprise. With his carefree social media presence, his ever-changing hairstyles and cool goal celebrations, it is easy to mistake him for a maverick. And indeed, sometimes he is one. In the last six months, he openly criticized Beşiktaş's Twitter account for not sharing the videos from his YouTube channel, entered into a couple of online arguments with the club's fans, even using profanity. Last month, when he was still out of the squad due to this feud, he celebrated his birthday by posting a video, which was soundtracked by all the critics dismissing him.

That is Ryan Babel for you. At his worst, you have a mutiny on your hand. At his best, he will score goals and make things better for everyone around him. The fine line between the two is usually all about support from around – the coach, teammates and the fans.

After all, he doesn't like to do things by himself.



https://totaldutchfootball.com/2019/01/17/what-fulham-should-expect-from-ryan-babel/

[WhiteJC]

Cottage Talk: View Of The Opposition - Tottenham Hotspur
Take a listen to a podcast that focuses on Fulham Football Club.



This episode is an interview with Kevin DeVries, the host of the EPL Round Table. He is a Tottenham Hotspur supporter, so he was on the show to give the Spurs perspective on this upcoming match. This show is our preview episode for this match.


You can also listen to the show by following this link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2019/1/17/18187123/cottage-talk-view-of-the-opposition-tottenham-hotspur

[WhiteJC]

 
Are we where we should be?

Sporting Intelligence published something about salaries in sport and did a handy table for the Premier League.

It has long been suggested that wage bill is the single best predictor of Premier League finishes, (there are studies galore on this), and in the chart above we can see a couple of mini leagues.  Cardiff and Huddersfield should be struggling, and while Huddersfield are bottom, Cardiff have outperformed their wage bill by a fair amount.  This might be a false position though and it wouldn't be surprising to see them drop as the season goes on.

Above that group are Watford and Wolves, who are decent and well run sides, then Brighton, Fulham, Burnley and Newcastle, with little Bournemouth just above.

I know everyone goes on about Fulham's recruitment and we won't go there now, but what this tells me is that the club's squad might reasonably be expected to be a bottom third side and is therefore well within the realms of expected performance as a result.  If people wanted the team to be better than it is, they're probably underestimating the level of investment needed to make this safely happen.   Yes, we're not outliers here, but given the team's new arrival in the division and the high turnover of players, we might argue that the problem isn't that the wrong expensive players came in, but that there maybe weren't enough of them.



https://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2019/01/17/are-we-where-we-should-be/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham keen on Antonio swoop at West Ham

West Ham forward Michail Antonio has been lined up as a transfer target by Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri as he desperately seeks signings before the end of January, according to the Sun.

The newspaper claim on their website that the Cottagers are looking at strengthening their side all over the pitch and are keen on the Hammers' 28-year-old as an option up front, although it is stated Manuel Pellegrini is unlikely to sanction a sale.

Antonio has made 23 appearances across all competitions this season, 19 of those coming in the Premier League, scoring three times and chipping in with a further four assists.

Good move for West Ham?

What is it with the Hammers' attackers being linked with moves away from east London this month? First Marko Arnautovic, then Javier Hernandez and now Antonio.

It seems as though the only man they would probably be willing to let go, Andy Carroll with a contract that expires this summer, is the only one not attracting attention from elsewhere.

Antonio is a good player whose versatility makes him a valuable member of the squad – having played up front, on the wings and even at right back – and strengthening your Premier League rivals while weakening yourselves is just shooting yourself in the foot.

This is Futbol rating: 2/10

Likely to happen?

The only way Antonio is on his way is if Fulham offer a healthy transfer fee and the Hammers can find a replacement.

Neither seems likely and so the Irons can feel pretty confident about keeping him at the London Stadium for the rest of the month.

This is Futbol rating: 2/10



https://thisisfutbol.com/2019/01/blogs/premier-league/fulham-keen-on-antonio-swoop-at-west-ham/

[WhiteJC]

Tottenham must be wary of the instant impact of Fulham's mercurial Ryan Babel

Fulham host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, with the Whites embroiled in a relegation battle and Spurs challenging up at the top of the table.

Although Fulham have struggled this year against the Premier League's big sides, Tottenham must be wary of the instant impact of the Cottagers' new signing Ryan Babel.

Fulham signed the mercurial attacker earlier this week from Besiktas, with the 32-year-old joining on a six-month permanent deal.

Babel's career has taken a wide number of untraditional turns after he left Liverpool, but his recent form gives Fulham reason to be optimistic.

Most notably, the winger has starred for the Dutch national team in their successful UEFA Nations League campaign. Babel became an integral starter who contributed a goal and an assist in matches against World Cup champions France.

In addition, Babel has the opportunity to revitalise a tired-looking Fulham attack that has struggled to score goals without the help of talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic.

With Spurs' defence focused on stopping the main target of Mitrovic, space could be freed up for Babel to work his magic out wide.

Desperately in need of a January boost, Fulham have turned to Ryan Babel to shake up their attack. Tottenham would do well to closely watch the new arrival on Sunday or face the Dutchman's wrath.



https://tbrfootball.com/tottenham-must-be-wary-of-the-instant-impact-of-fulhams-mercurial-ryan-babel/