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

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'NEUTRAL' TICKETS AVAILABLE AT FULHAM

Brighton & Hove Albion fans have been invited to purchase tickets in a neutral zone, located next to the away end, for the upcoming Premier League fixture against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Tickets must be purchased directly from Fulham's ticket office and are available at the following prices.

Adults: £50

Over 65s: £45

Under-21s: £45

Under-18s: £35

Fulham have advised that they have opened up Block P4 in the Putney End, which is a mixed area located right next to the away allocation; note that there will be a segregation line between the away allocation and these seats. 

Fans wishing to attend the match on Tuesday 29th January should visit the ticket section on Fulham's website.



https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/2019/january/neutral-tickets-available-at-fulham/

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Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri raises concerns over move for Chelsea defender Gary Cahill

The defender looks set to move to Craven Cottage but a deal has gone cold for the moment

Claudio Ranieri isn't sure if Chelsea defender Gary Cahill wants to come to Fulham and fight with them for Premier League survival.

The 33-year-old had been heavily linked with a move from the blue side of SW6 to the white side earlier on in the January transfer window as Fulham look to add experience to their side, but a move has gone cold for the moment.

The club made their first move in the window by bringing in Ryan Babel from Besiktas to help their attacking issues, but so far no defensive reinforcement have come into the club, with a move for Cahill believed to have stalled because the player isn't sure whether a move to a struggling side is the best step.

Fulham are in desperate need of recruits in defence with the side having the worst defensive record in the entire Premier League, having conceded 49 goals in just 22 games ahead of their tie with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Ranieri believes that Cahill would be 'fantastic' if he were to sign for Fulham this January but has raised concerns about whether or not the defender wants to come and fight with the side as they look for Premier League survival.

Ahead of the Spurs game, he said: "I don't know, Gary is a very important player and for us it would be fantastic but I don't know if he wants to come and fight with us."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/fulham-boss-claudio-ranieri-raises-15698294

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Ranieri plays down Mitrovic-Kamara spat

Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri has played down the yoga bust-up between Aleksandar Mitrovic and Aboubakar Kamara.

The strikers had a row during a yoga session at the club's training ground, with reports claiming they had to be separated by team-mates.

The incident came just a couple of weeks after they had argued over who would take a penalty against Huddersfield.

It was an argument Kamara won, only to subsequently miss the spot-kick.

But Ranieri insisted: "It wasn't a battle, it was a chat and something that happens in every team. I don't think it was about the penalty."

Nevertheless, it was a distraction Ranieri could have done without as with Fulham precariously placed second from bottom.

They are five points from safety and face a tough home game against Tottenham on Sunday.

One piece of good news was the arrival of former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel this week.

The 32-year-old Holland international, signed from Besiktas, is set to go straight into the squad to face Spurs.

"I hope Ryan can bring his experience and strength, he's a quality player who can score some goals because we need goals, and of course I hope he can adapt to our football as soon as possible," said Ranieri.

"I am happy because he played for Liverpool and he knows the Premier League very well.

"He's not fit 100 per cent so I must choose if we start with him or during the match."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/ranieri-plays-down-mitrovic-kamara-spat

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Fulham ditch transfer policy as part of their efforts to salvage their Premier League season

It is a sign of the emergency situation at Fulham that they have abandoned their "over-28s rule" in a bid to save themselves from relegation.

Fulham have in recent years had a policy of not buying players above that age, but they have changed their transfer strategy this month as part of a desperate salvage operation.

This week they signed Ryan Babel, 32, on a six-month contract from Besiktas and they hope to convince Gary Cahill, 33, to join from Chelsea.

Claudio Ranieri is also primed to make a double raid on his former club Leicester in a bid to sign Danny Simpson and Shinji Okazaki, who are both 32.

Long-term planning has been replaced by the need for a short-term fix. Vice- chairman Tony Khan has promised "multiple signings" and it will be a busy end to the window at Craven Cottage.

But Calum Chambers has warned Fulham, who spent more than £100million on 12 new players last summer, cannot rely simply on an influx of signings to get them out of trouble.

"When players come in it is great, but you cannot wait around for that to happen," he said. "We have got to focus on the squad we have got. We have got to work on that and try to get the best out of everyone we have.

"Ryan came in this week and he is a good player. He is strong, powerful and a good finisher. It will be exciting to see what he can bring. Reinforcements are good if you get the right people, then it is positive. But we are not sitting around waiting for players to arrive."

It emerged this week that team-mates Aleksandar Mitrovic and Aboubakar Kamara had a disagreement during a yoga session — adding to the feeling that these are turbulent times at Fulham, who are five points from safety.

Chambers says the incident was "blown out of proportion", but it is still clearly a concern. "I did not actually see it," he said. "I just heard it was a disagreement. It is part and parcel of football. It happens at times. It was a little disagreement blown out of proportion. Everyone has moved on and forgotten about it.

"The Burnley defeat was a tough one to take last weekend. We are at the stage now where every game is a cup final for us. We have to pick up points."

Fulham play a Tottenham side on Sunday minus Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son,  but Chambers knows they still face a difficult challenge.

He added: "Whoever they bring in, we have to adapt. I do not think it is ever an easy time to play Tottenham.

"It is all about believing yourself. We want to do better and we can do better. Everyone knows there is a lot of quality in the squad. You see it in training. Everyone has that belief that we can do it.  We have just to keep going and hopefully things will pick up. I believe we are good enough to turn things around."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham/fulham-ditch-transfer-policy-as-part-of-their-efforts-to-salvage-their-premier-league-season-a4043121.html

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Cahill faces decision after Fulham agree deal

Chelsea and Fulham have agreed a deal for Gary Cahill to move to Craven Cottage – but Claudio Ranieri has suggested the defender might be reluctant to join the Whites' fight for Premier League survival.

Cahill, 33, is expected to leave Chelsea, where he has become a bit-part player under Blues boss Maurizio Sarri.

Several clubs, including Arsenal, have been tipped to move for him during this month's transfer window and have not done so.

West London Sport revealed, though, that Fulham were interested in the former England centre-back.

Fulham have now reached an agreement with their neighbours to sign Cahill on a deal until the end of the season.

But Cahill, who is in the final year of his Blues contract, must decide whether he wants to leave Stamford Bridge for a relegation battle.

And Fulham manager Ranieri admitted: "Gary is a very important player and for us it would be fantastic, but I don't know if he wants to come and fight with us."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/chelsea/football-cahill-fulham-deal

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Aleksandar Mitrovic and Aboubakar Kamara bust-up played down by Claudio Ranieri

Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri has denied Aleksandar Mitrovic and Aboubakar Kamara were involved in a training ground bust-up.

Sky Sports News reported on Tuesday that the row took place in a gym at their training centre last week.

However, Ranieri insists there is no animosity between the pair, saying: "It wasn't a battle; it was just a chat, something that happens in every team, nothing more."

The pair previously had a dispute during Fulham's 1-0 win over Huddersfield last month when Karama grabbed the ball from designated penalty taker Mitrovic.

Kamara then saw his spot kick saved by Huddersfield's Jonas Lossl.

Asked if the training ground disagreement was related to the penalty incident, the Italian said: "I don't think it was for the penalty."

Fulham play Tottenham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11610910/aleksandar-mitrovic-and-aboubakar-kamara-bust-up-played-down-by-claudio-ranieri

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Claudio Ranieri highlights the mistakes Fulham made under Slavisa Jokanovic in the Premier League

Fulham are still struggling at the bottom of the top flight after a difficult campaign

Claudio Ranieri has highlighted the mistakes Fulham were making at the start of the season under former boss Slavisa Jokanovic as they struggled to adapt to the Premier League.

Under the Serbian the club were promoted to the top flight after a 1-0 play-off victory against Aston Villa at Wembley in what was the culmination of a season that saw the club go on a 23-game unbeaten run.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was signed in January and he scored a stunning 12 goals to help push Fulham to promotion, with the side becoming known for their fluid attacking football.

However, they struggled to adapt to the Premier League and Jokanovic won just one game before being sacked by Shahid Khan in November, paving the way for Ranieri to come to the club to try and keep them up.

Since then they've won only twice, but the Italian believes he knows the mistakes they were making at the start of the season and has tried to ensure his team are now prepared better for the challenges of the top flight.

He said: "Last season they play a lot with the ball, keep possession and Mitrovic would finish the job.

"Now you must think and defend because there are teams better than you and you must think in two ways, with or without the ball and we must improve a lot when we lose the ball."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/claudio-ranieri-highlights-mistakes-fulham-15698396

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Fulham vs Tottenham preview: Mauricio Pochettino says Spurs can cope without Harry Kane
Fulham host Spurs live on Sky Sports Premier League from 3.30pm on Sunday

Mauricio Pochettino is adamant Tottenham can cope without injured striker Harry Kane, starting with Sunday's Premier League clash at Fulham.

Kane is not scheduled to return to training until early March after suffering ankle ligament damage towards the end of a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United last weekend.

However, the World Cup Golden Boot winner has a track record of returning ahead of schedule from injuries and Pochettino hinted that could be the case once more.

Spurs face huge games against Chelsea on February 27 and Arsenal on March 2 in the Premier League and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

"Harry is a very positive person, the moment he got injured he started thinking about recovering as soon as possible," said Pochettino on Friday. "When he is one of the best strikers in Europe it is going to affect performances.

"We are positive, we can cope and we have players who can cover his position. It won't affect our approach to the games."

As for their struggling opponents at Craven Cottage this weekend, Fulham have been boosted by the arrival of former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel this week.

The 32-year-old Holland international, signed from Besiktas, is set to go straight into the squad to face Spurs.

"I hope Ryan can bring his experience and strength, he's a quality player who can score some goals because we need goals, and of course I hope he can adapt to our football as soon as possible," said manager Claudio Ranieri.

"I am happy because he played for Liverpool and he knows the Premier League very well.

"He's not fit 100 per cent so I must choose if we start with him or during the match."

Team news

Babel will be added to the Fulham squad for the visit of Tottenham, but Alfie Mawson and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa are both still out injured.

Tottenham are without Kane (ankle) and Moussa Sissoko (groin) after the duo were both injured against United last Sunday and are out for two months and two weeks respectively.

Heung-Min Son is on international duty with South Korea at the Asian Cup, Lucas Moura is back training on the grass, but his knee injury will keep him out, while Eric Dier (appendicitis) could be involved in the squad.

Opta stats

    After an unbeaten run of eight home games against them, Fulham have lost each of their last four Premier League games against Tottenham on home soil
    Tottenham have won nine of their last 10 Premier League meetings with Fulham, losing only in March 2013 at White Hart Lane (0-1)
    Fulham have lost their last six Premier League London derbies - only QPR have ever lost more consecutively in the top-flight (7 between August 1995 and January 1996)
    Tottenham lost their last Premier League London derby (2-4 vs Arsenal in December) having won their last seven in a row before that
    Fulham are looking to win consecutive home games in the Premier League for the first time since April 2013
    Tottenham have won more Premier League away games than any other side this season (10)
    Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 20 Premier League away games against promoted sides (W17 D3), since a 0-1 loss at QPR in April 2012
    Tottenham have lost three of their four Premier League games played on a Sunday this season (W1) - more than they had in their previous two seasons combined in Sunday games (P23 W17 D4 L2)

Merson's prediction

Before the Kane news, this game would have been a foregone conclusion. However, it's a different story now. Fulham have every chance.

Spurs have lost so many goals from their team with Kane and Heung-Min Son, plus Moussa Sissoko is also missing - I'm not his biggest fan but he's been strong this season.

Fulham could get something....but I'm leaning just towards Spurs.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (11/1 with Sky Bet)



https://www.skysports.com/football/fulham-vs-tottenham/preview/390979

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Claudio Ranieri's handling of Ryan Sessegnon could intrigue Tottenham this weekend

Tottenham Hotspur have long been prominent admirers of Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon, yet the 18-year-old phenom has stayed put at Craven Cottage despite previous interest.

Yet when the two sides face off this weekend in SW6, Claudio Ranieri's treatment of the young winger could put Spurs on red alert.

Ever since the Italian took over at Fulham this fall, his handling of Sessegnon has been far less charitable than Slavisa Jokanovic. Under the Serbian, Sessegnon was an undisputed starter and barely ever was relegated to the bench or subsituted early in matches.

However, Ranieri has shown less lenience with the 18-year-old, revealing in recent matches he is not afraid to haul off Sessegnon or drop him to the bench.

Against Chelsea, the winger was hauled off at half-time. After recovering from a groin injury, Sessegnon made two subsitute appearances against Wolves and Huddersfield. And most jarringly, Sessegnon was abruptly withdrawn at halftime of Fulham's loss against Burnley — even when other attackers were far better options to take off.

In all, Ranieri's treatment of Sessegnon is far from egregious, but when there is significant outside interest from bigger clubs, little gestures and a lack of faith can unsettle even the most loyal of players.

Sessegnon, for his part, has displayed nothing but an undying loyalty to the Fulham cause and has undoubtedly been the most passionate, determined, and distraught Fulham player during the challenging opening months of the campaign.

But if his first-team place is called into question — due to Ranieri's tough treatment of the winger and the arrival of left winger Ryan Babel — then Tottenham may have an advantage in luring Sessegnon to north London.

With Babel's signing, it will be fascinating to see whether Ryan Sessegnon starts against Tottenham. If not, then Spurs may be intrigued by the possibility of finally securing the signature of the highly-rated teenager.



https://tbrfootball.com/claudio-ranieris-handling-of-ryan-sessegnon-could-intrigue-tottenham-this-weekend/

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Cahill faces decision after Fulham agree deal

Chelsea and Fulham have agreed a deal for Gary Cahill to move to Craven Cottage – but Claudio Ranieri has suggested the defender might be reluctant to join the Whites' fight for Premier League survival.

Cahill, 33, is expected to leave Chelsea, where he has become a bit-part player under Blues boss Maurizio Sarri.

Several clubs, including Arsenal, have been tipped to move for him during this month's transfer window and have not done so.

West London Sport revealed, though, that Fulham were interested in the former England centre-back.

Fulham have now reached an agreement with their neighbours to sign Cahill on a deal until the end of the season.

But Cahill, who is in the final year of his Blues contract, must decide whether he wants to leave Stamford Bridge for a relegation battle.

And Fulham manager Ranieri admitted: "Gary is a very important player and for us it would be fantastic, but I don't know if he wants to come and fight with us."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/chelsea/football-cahill-fulham-deal

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Why this versatile Serie A star can be the boost for Fulham's survival push this season

Why Bryan Dabo could be the answer to Fulham's defensive woes

Despite bringing in Claudio Ranieri in November, Fulham have still struggled since then, winning just two games and in the process, conceding 18 goals in the Premier League alone as the former Leicester City boss has struggled to revive the club.

At the moment, they sit in the relegation spot and are five points from safety, which doesn't look possible given their offensive and defensive issues.

The Cottagers are on par to conceding a record number of Premier League goals in one season and while that has been down to a myriad of defensive issues, it seems that the January window has come at the perfect time for the club.

The Sun has revealed that Fulham are chasing Serie A star Bryan Dabo, with the versatile 26-year-old among Ranieri's top targets.

The Serie A star can play in a number of positions, which includes right-back and central midfield along with his preferred defensive midfield position.

A tall and strong central defensive midfielder, Dabo is exactly who Fulham need as Andre Zambo Anguissa's partner at the base of their midfield and given the 26-year-old's lack of game time, he might be open to a move.

At the moment, Ranieri has been using on-loan Arsenal star Calum Chambers as a defensive midfielder but now that Alfie Mawson has been ruled out for a few weeks at the most, he needs the 23-year-old back in central defence.

This poses a few problems for the Cottagers as Ibrahima Cisse hasn't impressed this season, which is why Fulham are chasing Dabo.

So far, Bryan Dabo has made 8 appearances for the Viola but all have been off the bench, with the 26-year-old failing to start even a single game.

This adds to his value, as despite his lack of game time, Dabo has impressed in the few appearances he's made this season. His composure and defensive acumen make him a good target for Fulham.

Fulham have only 16 games to make a difference and while it isn't enough, they'll need all the help they can get. The club has already made a shock move for former Liverpool man Ryan Babel, with a few more transfers needed before the window slams shut.



https://soccersouls.com/2019/01/19/why-this-versatile-serie-a-star-can-be-the-boost-for-fulhams-survival-push-this-season/

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Chelsea Agree Deal To Offload Star, Player Not Convinced Over Leaving

Chelsea have agreed to sell Gary Cahill to Fulham, but the defender is unsure on the move, according to Sky Sports News.

Cahill has been frozen out of the first team picture at Stamford Bridge under Maurizio Sarri this season and the Blues are happy for him to depart.

Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri is keen to land the centre-back and it has emerged that Chelsea have agreed a deal with the Cottagers.

But Cahill is not yet convinced by the idea of dropping down to the lower reaches of the Premier League for a relegation scrap with Fulham.

Ranieri would still appear to have work to do to convince the defender to make the move to Craven Cottage.

Cahill could wait until later this month to see what further options emerge, as he plots his next career move.

The 33-year-old defender, who is out of contract in the summer, has made just seven appearances for Chelsea this season.



http://www.insidefutbol.com/2019/01/18/chelsea-agree-deal-to-offload-star-player-not-convinced-over-leaving/406470/

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Aston Villa should plot a loan move for Fulham's promotion hero Kevin McDonald

Sky Sports reported earlier this week that Fulham were willing to send Kevin McDonald out on loan in January, with the Scottish midfielder starved of playing time under Claudio Ranieri.

Aston Villa should plot a loan move for the Whites' promotion hero, who would slot into the Villa side and reclaim his title as one of the best holding midfielders in the Championship.

Integral to Fulham's play-off triumph last season, McDonald was an ever-present in Slavisa Jokanovic's side, playing 45 times in the league and the play-offs as Fulham gained promotion to the Premier League.

As part of a midfield trio that included Stefan Johansen and Tom Cairney, McDonald was the deep-lying cog of the team. The imposing Scottish international snuffed out danger whenever necessary, distributed the ball across midfield with ease, and always put his body on the line when completing his defensive duties.

Although Tim Ream won Fulham's player of the year in 2017/18, many Fulham supporters also petitioned for McDonald to take home the award, due to his tireless efforts and dominating displays in the centre of the park.

The 30-year-old would bring all of those excellent attributes, as well as a knack for gaining promotion, to Aston Villa — who currently sit a disappointing 12th.

A short-term loan deal for Fulham's Kevin McDonald may be the ideal catalyst for Aston Villa to kick off a second half of the season revival in their hunt for promotion, much like Fulham achieved with McDonald at the helm last year.



https://tbrfootball.com/aston-villa-should-plot-a-loan-move-for-fulhams-promotion-hero-kevin-mcdonald/

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Fulham eye a transfer for midfield powerhouse: A smashing move by Ranieri

Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri is keen on the services of Fiorentina midfielder Bryan Dabo, it has been reported.

The Sun have claimed that the Burkina Faso international will be available on loan this month, after failing to crack the Fiorentina first-team this season.

Fulham are looking to bolster their midfield, and the situation surrounding Dabo means they can make a move for him.

Bryan Dabo: The player Fulham need
Dabo was initially brought in to provide more cover in the Fiorentina midfield at the start of last year. And quite naturally, chances have come few and far for the 26-year-old, who has mustered just over 650 minutes of competitive action with the Viola.

However, Dabo is still regarded as a strong midfielder, who can turn out to be an excellent signing for Fulham.

The 26-year-old is mainly known for his defensive contribution in midfield, having consistently averaged over 1.5 tackles per 90 minutes for the most part of his career.

Dabo averaged over two interceptions per 90 minutes last campaign, which is indicative of his ability to read the game. This could be an ideal trait for Ranieri to use at Fulham.

The Italian likes his team to remain one step ahead of the opposition and thus, having someone like Dabo, who can not only intercept passes in midfield but also disrupt the flow of the opposition with his tackles, would prove to be useful.

However, it must be noted that Dabo is not really proficient when it comes to his distribution, often resorting to short, and safe passes.

Dabo boasts excellent physique, which allows him to keep hold of the ball even under pressure, and gives him a substantial advantage when it comes to aerial duels as well.

Therefore, the midfielder certainly seems like a viable target for the Cottagers, who have struggled to stem the flow of goals so far this season.

Dabo's arrival would provide Ranieri with more options in the midfield department as the Italian looks to save the newly promoted Premier League side from relegation in the coming months.

Stat courtesy: Whoscored



https://madaboutepl.net/2019/01/fulham-eye-a-transfer-for-midfield-powerhouse-bryan-dabo/

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Claudio Ranieri set to axe Aboubakar Kamara from Fulham squad following row with Aleksandar Mitrovic during yoga session at their training ground

    Claudio Ranieri will show his ruthless side by axing Aboubakar Kamara
    The striker is set to miss out when Tottenham visit Craven Cottage on Sunday
    It comes after Kamara and Aleksandar Mitrovic had a row during a yoga session

Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri is set to show his ruthless side by axing Aboubakar Kamara from his squad for Sunday's visit of Tottenham.

It comes in the aftermath of Kamara's row with Aleksandar Mitrovic during a team yoga session at their training ground.

Kamara had previously grabbed the ball from designated penalty-taker Mitrovic then missed his spot-kick in their game against Huddersfield, leaving Ranieri furious.

The 23-year-old's days at Fulham appear to be numbered and he is not in line to feature against Spurs.

Kamara also posted a bizarre statement on his Instagram profile in relation to the incident on Friday evening.

Fulham are second bottom in the Premier League and five points from safety. With Kamara out, Ryan Babel could make his debut after signing from Besiktas this week.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6608329/Claudio-Ranieri-set-axe-Aboubakar-Kamara-Fulham-squad.html

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'I'm not used to losing so often!': Andre Schurrle admits he's usually on the winning side after he set up the winner in the World Cup final... but now he's in a relegation fight with Fulham

    The German has brought the technique you would expect of a World Cup winner
    However the team are second bottom and struggling for points and leadership
    World Cup winner Andre Schurrle does not deny that he is in alien territory

The afternoon sky is azure blue in south west London but the chill in the air permeates every corner of Motspur Park, the one-time athletics ground which is Fulham's base.

Training would be done by now, had the season taken its anticipated course, but there have been double sessions all week. There's a restless, nervous energy. It's 1.30pm and Andre Schurrle will soon be heading back to the gym.

The German has brought Fulham the full technical component you would expect of a World Cup winner these past five months, such as the goal 

However the team are second bottom and struggling: for points, for leadership, for any material sense of a plan.

Schurrle, who was setting up Germany's World Cup winner for Mario Gotze in Rio a little more than four years ago, does not deny that he is in alien territory.

'That's true. That's true,' he says, taking a chair in one of the warren of rooms in the elegant 1920s building. 'It's not easy to adapt to losing a lot. This didn't happen in my career yet. It's a completely new situation for me. Completely new pressure.'

He pauses, raking through his mind for some kind of symmetry between his early days at little Bundesliga club Mainz, a decade ago, and the experience of facing Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage this weekend, in a team who have won one game in 10.

'Maybe it is quite similar, it is quite similar,' he says, warming to the idea. 'You go as a little team playing against the big teams not expecting to win big. You always have this little thing in your head that if everything goes right you can make a big surprise.' But Mainz, managed by Thomas Tuchel, finished ninth in Schurrle's early season.

'It hasn't come off for us yet this season,' he says. 'We've struggled big time against big teams. So it's all new. And new things can bring something positive.'

The problem for Fulham is that too much is new. Schurrle arrived as part of a £125milion whirl of transfer activity last summer, which blew away some of the cornerstones of the side who had won promotion.

Now, as Claudio Ranieri settles in as manager, another round of buying is under way. Ryan Babel, last known here as the Dutch prodigy who failed to make good on promise at Liverpool, has arrived from Besiktas, aged 32.

No one really knows if anything other than his hairstyle — shaven eight years ago, bright red now — has changed. He has wandered the world since Anfield.

Lost in this frenzy seems any sense of a Fulham old guard, leaders or players who can tell the rest what makes Fulham tick.

'Yes that's fair,' Schurrle says. 'That's fair. It's like we had a little bit of a struggle, maybe still have a little bit of a struggle, to find a hierarchy in the team. The few players everybody looks up to and the rest can follow.

'I think it's quite normal with a team that lost a lot of games and has been in a rebuilding process. They had a very good team spirit and it's not easy to build this back up.'

There have been moments when Schurrle, who is on a two-year loan from Borussia Dortmund, has assumed that mantle. His candour at Burnley, where Fulham conspired to lose to a team who did not manage a shot on goal, was welcome.

'We are deep, deep, deep in trouble,' he said late that night. Yet he does not claim to possess the leadership qualities which seem to be a requirement if Fulham are to drag themselves out of the state they're in.

'In my previous clubs, there were players who were there a long time, the leaders of the club,' he says. 'So you come in and try to fit in. Obviously with my experience there's an expectation of me leading a little bit.

'But I wouldn't say I'm the big leader who shouts a lot. I'm the guy who tries with my qualities to help on the field. Obviously, I talk to young players and help them a little bit with my experience. But it's not that I'm this figure who stands up and shouts a lot.'

The individual sharing these thoughts does not, for all the present uncertainty, look a player in a pit of despair. He returned home to Germany from England four years ago because his confidence had been shredded by Jose Mourinho, who didn't play him at Chelsea.

'I wasn't in a good place there because I didn't have much time or much trust from the manager,' he reflects.

Yet after a successful spell at Wolfsburg, two years at Dortmund were unremittingly tough, bringing three goals and an unforgiving response from the Yellow Wall of supporters. 'We'll drink until Schurrle scores' was one of the chants.

Schurrle speaks of the difficult relationship that can exist between fans and players in Germany.

'It's a big jealousy thing that you have from fans - not the hard-core fans because they always stand behind their team - but it's not easy, especially for a German national team player who did great things in the past and maybe is struggling.'

London is the release from that, the city he loved first time round, when he pursued his interest in cuisine — discovering Jak's on Walton Street, Cut at 45 Park Lane, Tsukiji Sushi at The Westbury, and Nobu on Berkeley Street.

He grew up in a working-class family in the provincial city of Ludwigshafen and was always struck by the variety London offered.

It's a different, smaller kind of home he has here this time — a rented house in Fulham — but his Instagram post proclaiming the find seemed to reflect a wish to be part of the community which Fulham brings.

Fulham fans have not yet taken to calling him 'Shirley' as the Chelsea contingent did, but he's more likely to encounter them while walking down the street.

'When we've had big losses, they still want to talk,' he says. 'It's quite special. I don't think it's like this at a lot of clubs, where you lose a lot and the fans are still with you like this.'

It's a different kind of Britain, five years on — a nation tearing itself apart over the majority's wish to split from Europe and Schurrle clearly finds the fervour for Brexit as puzzling as many continental Europeans do.

'I watch the news of that,' he says. 'I saw when I was making the move here that Britain might be going out of the EU. Obviously I think it's the best the way it was. The way it was, it was good.

'Maybe some important people had a problem with that so they made a choice and I hope it will all work out. Hopefully it won't change too many things.'

When he left England last time, Mourinho was in his pomp, though he is another who has gone. There was a time when the Portuguese was publicly denigrating Schurrle in that now-familiar way of his, when the player took to Instagram to profess his intention to stay and fight for his Chelsea place. But if he has any temptation to bask in the Portuguese's fate, he is reining it in

'Everybody knows he has a lot of success in every club he's been at,' he says. 'I don't know what was inside the United squad so I can't say much. But I just know that he is a manager who always wants to win and puts everything into that. I wish him well.'

At Fulham, the frustrations have revealed themselves in unusual ways. This was the week when tempers became frayed because one player, Aleksandar Mitrovic, wanted silence in a yoga session at Motspur Park, while another, Aboubakar Kamara, wanted to talk.

Schurrle sounds glad to have avoided that flashpoint, saying: 'To be fair I wasn't in there. I was with another group, so I can't say much about it as it would be unfair on the other players.' Defender Joe Bryan, who was present, says it was more disagreement than bust-up.

There are bigger considerations, like whether Fulham have it in them to assimilate yet more new players as they embark on a policy of employing Premier League veterans — Gary Cahill, Danny Simpson and Danny Drinkwater if they have their way — to stay up.

'We need quality,' Schurrle says. 'We had a lot of chances with this squad to win matches and we lost almost all of them. Obviously then something needs to change. We have a new manager, this is his first transfer period and he is obviously looking for players that he wants to play and work with.

'Claudio has changed our way of playing and tried to be more defensive, to be more stable, to be more people behind the ball and work harder against the ball.

'It's way better, but obviously we need to have the balance. We are players who like to have the ball and that's what we need to do so we can win matches. Hopefully that's what we can find.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6608341/Andre-Schurrle-admits-hes-usually-winning-hes-Fulhams-relegation-fight.html

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Alfie Mawson injured himself putting on boots, says Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri

Fulham have won just two of 11 matches in all competitions since Ranieri replaced the sacked Slavisa Jokanovic in November 2018

Fulham defender Alfie Mawson injured himself while changing his boots, says manager Claudio Ranieri.

Mawson, 24, a £20m summer signing from Swansea, has been sidelined since 29 December with a knee injury.

And prior to Fulham's clash with Tottenham on Sunday, Ranieri revealed the bizarre reason for his absence.

"It was a very strange injury. He just changed his boots. It was unbelievable," said Ranieri. "He needs more time. How long? I don't know."

Ranieri also said forward Aboubakar Kamara, who reportedly had a training ground row with Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic last week, will not be considered for selection.

The incident came two weeks after the pair had argued over who would take a penalty against Huddersfield. It was an argument Frenchman Kamara won, only to subsequently miss the spot-kick.

Ranieri attempted to play down the training row, but said Kamara, 23, is no longer in his plans.

"It wasn't a battle, it was a chat and something that happens in every team, nothing more," said the Italian.

"I don't think it was about the penalty.

"Kamara is not in the squad. I will do the best for the team."

Ranieri also said he was interested in signing Chelsea's former England defender Gary Cahill.

"Gary is a very important player and for us it would be fantastic, but I don't know if he wants to come and fight with us," he said.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46926248

[WhiteJC]

Just What Do Fulham Get in Ryan Babel?
Welp, He Is An Addition

When your club is sitting second from bottom in the Premier League, it is quite clear the squad isn't good enough overall, regardless of what part of the team you are talking about. Fulham's attack has under-achieved all year and their defense has been one of the worst in modern history. Along with that, Claudio Ranieri has essentially come in and completely neutered the possession-based style of play this squad was built upon over the past two-and-a-half seasons under Slavisa Jokanovic. Regardless of what your thoughts are on how to make the club better, desperation has to take hold on Tony Kahn and Co. to find the right players to help them avoid relegation. Bluntly, winnable games are becoming few and far between and shock results now need to happen for Fulham to increase their chances of staying up. The real question now is whether their first signing would make such an impact.

Last Tuesday, Ryan Babel joined our beloved football club for a permanent contract that will only last for the rest of this season and is projected to only be worth £1.8 million. It's a deal that won't break the bank too much at Craven Cottage and the 32-year old has something to prove after leaving the Premier League over seven years ago.

Back then, Babel was supposed to be a rising star at Liverpool and for the Dutch National Team. But once 2011 came around, he was forced to leave and join then-Bundesliga upstarts Hoffenheim and never sniff International football again for another six years after 37 caps. A move over to mid-tier club football in Turkey and then the riches of the United Arab Emirates came calling and it seemed like Babel was about to leave the top-tier professional football scene entirely. That was until Deportivo La Coruña came knocking and his career got a reboot back in the Summer of 2016. Babel went on to reward the club with four goals in just 560 La Liga minutes. However, his Deportivo tenure only lasted as long as his contract, which also happened to be six months.

All data from whoscored.com

From there, Babel used that negotiating leverage to move over to Turkish giants Besiktas where he continued to be quite solid at his advancing age. Since his move back to the Superlig, he went on to score 22 goals in 5,230 minutes (or 0.37 goals per 90 minutes). While no longer at his prime anymore, his offensive numbers this season have stayed consistent throughout his entire tenure. His 2.18 shots per contest rate and a shot-on-target percentage of 40.0% are much better than what Fulham currently have at their disposal. For example, André Schürrle's shot-on-target mark is only at 32.7% while Ryan Sessegnon's is at 35.0%. And unlike Schürrle, Babel has been used to playing over 2,000 of league play in recent seasons, so health will surely not be as much of an issue for him.

However, it can't be stated enough the uncertainty there is for how well players perform once they leave the comforts of Turkish football. In the past, the league has been infamous for being a last salvage destination for aging stars like Didier Drogba and Robin Van Persie. Only Everton's Cenk Tosun has been the lone example of a player coming good and even that has come with mixed reviews. Along with that, the big three of Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce have been having dreadful campaigns as their performances have coincided with the worsening of the quality of play in the league as a result of the economic and political crises that are currently happening in the country.

So yeah, it's understandable to take things with a grain of salt in that regard.

Along with that, Babel's 1.29 key passes and 0.19 assists per 90 minutes while at Besiktas are not that much of an upgrade to what we have seen out of Schürrle this season. Lastly, his ratio of 13 successful dribbles to 32 dispossessed events is not a good sign at all from a wide forward. It's one thing to average close to half as many dribbles (1.14 per 90 minutes this season) as your career mark (2.28 per 90 minutes). It's another to have defenses give no respect for you whatsoever out on the wing.

In short, Fulham have got a warm body to supposedly improve their squad depth to not that much cost. But with a demand for out-and-out starters looking like successful Premier League players right now, Babel will probably struggle to check all the boxes to meet those requirements. We've already seen a supposed star from the past look like a shadow of his former self in 2018/19 for Fulham. Will Ryan Babel be another?



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2019/1/18/18186356/just-what-do-fulham-get-in-ryan-babel

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Aboubakar Kamara dropped once more as Claudio Ranieri considers the forward's future

The Frenchman won't be in the Fulham squad for their game with Tottenham Hotspur

Aboubakar Kamara has been frozen out of the Fulham squad once more as Claudio Ranieri considers the Frenchman's future at the club.

The 23-year-old has been the centre of controversy at Craven Cottage in the past month, first by arguing with Aleksandar Mitrovic over who would take a penalty against Huddersfield Town in December and then a week ago when he was involved once more in a heated argument with the Serbian striker.

That led Ranieri to drop him from the squad for the loss with Burnley last week and he will be missing once again when Tottenham Hotspur come to visit SW6 on Sunday as the Italian manager considers what to do with Kamara.

Kamara was used sparingly by former head coach Slavisa Jokanovic but has found more game time under Ranieri, making nine appearances where he has chipped in with three goals.

However, it looks like Ranieri may have had enough of the forward and says he will take time to think about what he does next, but insisted he will do whatever he believes is best for the team.

The writing could be on the wall for Kamara, and with reports in Turkey linking him with a move to Super Lig side Yeni Malatyaspor his time at Fulham may well be coming to an end.

Ahead of the game with Spurs, Ranieri said on the subject: "Kamara is not in the squad. I prefer to think about it and then I will do the best for the team."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/aboubakar-kamara-dropped-once-more-15700447

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Claudio Ranieri exclusive: Fulham will survive in Premier League
Ranieri's Fulham take on Tottenham at Craven Cottage on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League at 4pm

Claudio Ranieri is adamant Fulham will stay in the Premier League despite sitting five points off safety.

Ranieri, who took over from Slavisa Jokanovic in November, has overseen just two wins and three draws in 11 games so far in all competitions, including a shock FA Cup third-round defeat by Oldham at Craven Cottage.

Sitting five points off 17th-place Cardiff with 16 Premier League games remaining, Fulham host Tottenham on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League at 4pm, but Ranieri is remaining positive and believes they will survive.

He told Soccer Saturday: "Of course I am positive - and I think at the end we survive. Of course it's not easy, but at the end, we will survive."

Asked if he expected an easier first few months, he said: "No, I expected a very tough season for Fulham. Because when you grow up and arrive at the Premier League, it's important to realise the tempo, the intensity the quality of the players. I hope now that in the last matches that there are we can do something good for the team.

"I am happy with this team, these lads, because they train very well. Of course you need a bit of luck to win some matches. Last match [at Burnley] we lost the match without conceding a shot on target. It's very, very bizarre, but we have to do something."

Ranieri has attempted to instil some discipline to the Premier League's leakiest defence since arriving in November, as well as utilising star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Since scoring twice in Ranieri's first game in charge, a 4-2 win against Southampton, Mitrovic has scored just once, but the manager says balance in the team is just as important.

"I work a lot on how I want to exploit my players up front and of course I'd like more crosses for Mitrovic. In training sessions it is easier and it is more difficult in the match. Also to give some support in a defensive way, not just the back three or back four, but the whole team have to understand the movement.

"When they have the ball I expect something. But the balance in the team is very, very important and every match we concede a goal, and I have to find a solution."

Asked what that solution is, Ranieri admitted Fulham may dip into the transfer market further in January, having already signed winger Ryan Babel.

"The solution is try to find some new players and to help the team," Ranieri added. "I hope [Babel] can bring his experience and his qualities because he is an outstanding player. And also some goals, as we need players who can shoot at goal, he shoots very well from long distance. I expect this.

"Now if there will be some good opportunity [to make signings], my chairman is ready."



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11611047/claudio-ranieri-exclusive-fulham-will-survive-in-premier-league