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General Category => Archive => Daily Fulham Stuff => Topic started by: White Noise on March 23, 2010, 10:21:25 PM

Title: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 23, 2010, 10:21:25 PM
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/March/ReservesvChelsea.aspx


Reserves 2-1 Chelsea


Tuesday 23rd March 2010


Fulham FC News

Fulham secured the SW6 bragging rights at reserve level on Tuesday night, courtesy of strikes from Danny Hoesen and Erik Nevland.

Both sides had early chances, with Fabio Borini drawing a smart save from Neil Etheridge, while Rob Milsom drew an equally impressive stop from visiting 'keeper Sam Walker, drilling at goal from the edge of the box.

Chelsea certainly suggested that they would be a threat, with the much-talked about Gael Kakuta pulling the strings and Liam Bridcutt adding steel in the middle of the park.

However, mirroring the exploits of the First Team, Billy McKinlay's side are content and effective at soaking up the pressure, with Milsom and Kagisho Dikgacoi breaking play and linking the ball from defence to attack.

And it was from one such move that allowed Nevland to free the in-form Danny Hoesen, with the young Dutch striker racing clear and forcing Walker into action once more. He would make amends from the subsequent corner though, sweeping home Christopher Buchtmann's teasing delivery on 17 minutes.

The Blues responded with another flowing move, with Kakuta involved once more, but fortunately for the Whites, Jacob Mellis blazed over with the goal in sight.

The impressive Cheick Toure twice snuffed out the lively Borini, and 10 minutes after the first, Fulham had a second when Nevland knocked in a low pass from Hoesen, with the Norwegian striker showing his predatory instincts by sneaking in unopposed.

A Dikgacoi strike from his own half drew the breath of those in attendance, with the South African international's ambitious effort falling the wrong side of the Chelsea bar.

Milan Lalkovic fired over as Chelsea finished the half on top, but it was a deserved lead at the break for an impressive Fulham.

And a rampant start to the second-half almost rewarded the hosts with a third, with Nevland rolling the ball to Hoesen, who was denied again by Walker's giant frame.

Toure was needed at the other end, heading an arching cross from the tricky Lalkovic off from the line, while captain Matthew Briggs showed his excellent reading of the game to cut out a chance for Borini.

Clever play from Freddie Stoor and Keanu Marsh-Brown, saw the latter thread a pass through to Nevland just after the hour mark, but this shot from the angle could only find the side netting.

Marsh-Brown then curled a free-kick from the left wide of the far post, while substitute Michael Uwezu, making his first appearance for the Whites following a loan spell at Lincoln , tested Walker within moments of coming on.

Borini made it an interesting final 10 minutes, rising high and heading in George Saville's floated cross from the left and undoing Fulham's four games without conceding in the process.

The Italian almost levelled moments later, but was thwarted by a fantastic block from Etheridge. The talented shot-stopper then denied Mellis from the rebound with an equally vital stop.

With the momentum, Chelsea pushed forward, with Etheridge again doing well, claiming Nana Ofori-Twumasi's deep delivery with authority.

A shuddering tackle from Alex Smith down the left touchline reminded the Blues of the hosts' commitment. And despite the visitor's attacking intent, Fulham held on, with their unbeaten record stretching to seven games.

The win also moved the Whites five points above Chelsea in the Barclays Premier Reserve League South table, and closed the gap on second-placed Arsenal.

Billy McKinlay's side have a break in action next week, with the Development Squad facing Wolverhampton Wanderers at Motspur Park on Tuesday, April 6th, Kick-Off 7pm.

Fulham DS: Etheridge; Stoor, Smith, Briggs, Touré; Dikgacoi (Harris 75), Marsh-Brown (Marquez-Sanchez 89), Milsom, Buchtmann; Hoesen (Uwezu 71), Nevland; (Subs not used): Bettinelli, Pierre.

Chelsea Reserves: Walker; Ahamed, Hutchinson (Ince 46), Ofori-Twumasi, Strickland; Bridcutt, Mellis, Philliskirk, Kakuta (Devyne 58); Borini, Lalkovic (Saville 63); (Subs not used): Sampayo, Haxhia.
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 23, 2010, 10:23:06 PM
Foundation's PL4Sport Launch


Tuesday 23rd March 2010


Fulham FC News


Fulham FC players John Pantsil & Pascal Zuberbuhler attended the launch of Fulham Football Club Foundation's Premier League 4 Sport scheme on the eve of the team's FA Cup Quarter-Final replay against Tottenham Hotspur.

The players were asked to put their football skills to one side and encouraged by 50 young local participants to try out four Olympic sports (Judo, Table Tennis, Badminton & Volleyball) which make up the PL4Sport project and aims to increase the participation of young people in these four sports in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic Games by linking Premier League football clubs with local community sports.

All twenty Premier League football clubs, the sports governing bodies, the Youth Sports Trust, Sport England and DCMS aim to get 25,000 young people across the country, aged between 11 and 16, to join local sports clubs during the three-year scheme.

Fulham Football Club Foundation has been involved in the project since last September and, working with Richmond Volleyball Club, Ebbisham Sports Club in Epsom, Graham Spicer Table Tennis Centre in New Malden and Ernest Bevin Judo Club in Tooting, has so far successfully delivered sessions to over four hundred local young people who have all had an opportunity to experience a new sport, receive expert coaching and showcase their skills at festivals.

Steven Day, Chief Executive of Fulham Football Foundation, said:

"As Olympic fever will undoubtedly start to grip the nation in the build up to the London 2012 Games, the PL 4 Sport programme comes at a great time for young people to get involved in sport. The programme allows young people to make use of their local sports facilities, enjoy participating in these four sports and lead a healthy lifestyle. The popularity of football and, in particular, the Premier League can act as a catalyst in encouraging young people to participate in other sports through this scheme and I'm delighted that the Fulham Football Club Foundation is able to play a key role in delivering this programme."

Fulham FC defender, John Pantsil, added:

"There are so many sports for young people to enjoy and although some may not appear as popular as others, they all bring with them their own goals, ambitions and rewards. Participation in any sport is important to develop a range of skills such as team work, social interaction and communication; skills that are transferable and important in everyday life."


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/March/FoundationLaunch.aspx#ixzz0j2bpESEx (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/March/FoundationLaunch.aspx#ixzz0j2bpESEx)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 23, 2010, 10:24:19 PM
Wolfsburg v Fulham tickets


UEFA Europa League


Thursday 8 April


Kick-Off 20:05 BST - 21:05 CET


Tickets and Travel
The Club is pleased to announce it has secured an allocation of 2,400 tickets for the away leg of the Europa League Quarter-Final against Wolfsburg.

On Sale Dates
Season Ticket Holders - Wed 24 March, 9am (1 ticket)
Members - Tue 30 March, 9am (1 ticket)
General Sale - N/A
Ticket Prices
£20 (including booking fee)
Please note Season Ticket Holder / Member making the booking must be the named traveller, tickets can not be allocated to third parties. In accordance with UEFA Europa League regulations, you must pre-register your details| prior to making a booking.

How to Buy Tickets
buy tickets online  - 7 days a week, 24 hrs a day.
by phone 0870 442 1234 opt 3: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; non-match day Sat 10am-12pm
in person from the Ticket Office: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; non-match day Sat 10am-12pm
Official travel to see Wolfsburg v Fulham

We are pleased to announce that the Official Fulham Flyer Trip to Germany is now on sale to Season Ticket Holders and Club Members.

From £399pp and includes:

 

Chartered flight from Gatwick to Hannover departing on the morning of Wednesday April 7th.
Coach transfer from the airport to the 4* Grand Maritim, Hannover.
Overnight accommodation at the 4* Grand Maritim
Coach transfer from Hannover to the Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
Match kick off 2105
Transfer from the stadium back to Hannover Airport after the final whistle
Chartered flight returning after the game, arriving back into Gatwick in the early hours of Friday morning.
Fulham stewards and TMG trip escorts throughout
All taxes, fees and ATOL bonding
Your match ticket
You will be required to input your Season Ticket Number or Club Membership Number as well as date of birth at the time of booking.

Buy Today|

PLEASE NOTE, THE DAY TRIP PACKAGE HAS NOW SOLD OUT


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Tickets/Games/WolfsburgvFulham.aspx#ixzz0j2c5ikMc (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Tickets/Games/WolfsburgvFulham.aspx#ixzz0j2c5ikMc)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 23, 2010, 10:25:36 PM
Tottenham v Fulham tickets
   
FA Cup

Wednesday 24th March


Kick-Off 19:45

 

PURCHASE NOW AND COLLECT YOUR TICKETS FROM WHITE HART LANE 

Tickets for Wednesday night's FA Cup Quarter-Final Replay against Spurs at White Hart Lane remain on sale to the Club's Season Ticket Holders and Members.

Victory at the Lane would fire Roy Hodgson's side to Wembley for a FA Cup Semi-Final showdown against Portsmouth.

Wednesday night could be another historic night for the Club and with tickets still available, this is not a game to be missed.

Tickets can be purchased by phone (0870 442 1234) or by visiting the Club's Tickets Office at Craven Cottage (open 9am-5pm weekdays), tickets will then be held at White Hart Lane for collection from the main Ticket Office in Paxton Road.  The deadline to buy your tickets for this away fixture is 2pm Wednesday 24th March.

Prices

Adults -  £25
Over 65s -  £10
Under 16s -  £10
Travel
Coaches depart from Motspur Park at 4:30pm, Craven Cottage 5pm.

Coach travel price

Season Ticket Holders - Adults £10 ; Juniors £5
Non Season Ticket Holders – Adults £15 ; Juniors £8
To book coach tickets, call 0870 442 1234 option 3.

How to buy tickets
by phone on 0870 442 1234 (option 3) Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; non-match day Sat 10am-12pm
in person from the Ticket Office: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; non-match day Sat 10am-12pm


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Tickets/Games/TottenhamvFulham.aspx#ixzz0j2cTIy0a (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Tickets/Games/TottenhamvFulham.aspx#ixzz0j2cTIy0a)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 23, 2010, 10:27:17 PM
Wigan Fixture Confirmed


Tuesday 23rd March 2010


Fulham FC News

Fulham's Barclays Premier League fixture against Wigan Athletic at the Cottage will be played on Sunday 4th April (KO 3pm).

The date of Fulham's game against Wigan was moved to Sunday 4th April due to the Club's participation in the Quarter-Finals of the UEFA Europa League.


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/March/wiganfixture.aspx#ixzz0j2cjZ95r (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/March/wiganfixture.aspx#ixzz0j2cjZ95r)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 23, 2010, 10:29:06 PM
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/March/DempseyFACupPreview.aspx


A Golden Opportunity


Tuesday 23rd March 2010


Fulham FC News


Fulham will be looking to record another memorable result when the Whites face Tottenham in the Quarter-Final of the FA Cup at White Hart Lane.

The home side are likely to be without key players Jonathan Woodgate, Ledley King, Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Jermain Defoe but looking ahead to Wednesday's encounter, Clint Dempsey expects a typically challenging match.

"Any time you play a team like Spurs it's going to be difficult, it doesn't matter if they have injuries or not," he told fulhamfc.com. "Everybody who's selected will be up for this game. We're playing away which has been tough for us sometimes but hopefully we can play well and get the result we need to get to the Semi-Final against Portsmouth.

"Losing to Manchester City was disappointing but that's behind us now, we're moving forward and we've got an important game on Wednesday so were just trying to focus on the next game and improve.

"It would be good to reach the FA Cup Semi-Final but we want to do more than just that. You don't want to get one step closer to the Final and not go all the way. If you want to do something special in your career this is the opportunity to do that, hopefully we can take advantage of the opportunities that we have."

Less than a week ago Dempsey crowned a stunning Fulham fight back against Juventus with a spectacular winning goal to add to his collection of memorable strikes for the Whites.

"It's up there," Clint explained. "Along with scoring in the World Cup, scoring the goal that kept us up against Liverpool, the goal against Stoke was a special moment and getting a brace against Chelsea. Those are a few of the special moments I've had in my career and I'm glad that some of them have come at Fulham Football Club."
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 23, 2010, 10:31:30 PM
Fulham v Wolfsburg

UEFA Europa League


Thursday 1 April


Kick-Off 20:05


On-sale dates
Season Ticket Holders Now on sale (6 tickets per person)
Fulham Club Members Now on sale (6 tickets per person)
General Sale 9am Thur 25 Mar
Buy tickets now|

How to Buy Tickets
buy tickets online  - 7 days a week, 24 hrs a day. Save on booking fees by booking online*
by phone on 0870 442 1234 (option 1) - 7 days a week, 24 hrs a day
in person from the Ticket Office: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; non-match day Sat 10am-12pm
by fax 0207 384 4810 (download printable form )
by postal application to FFC Ticket Office, Stevenage Road, Fulham, SW6 6HH enclosing a stamped addressed envelope (download printable form )
Seatwave - the official fan-to-fan ticket exchange
Thomas Cook - match breaks for all Fulham FC home games
* Lower booking fees compared to telephone booking


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Tickets/Games/FulhamvWolfsburg.aspx#ixzz0j2dxKN85 (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Tickets/Games/FulhamvWolfsburg.aspx#ixzz0j2dxKN85)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 23, 2010, 10:32:55 PM
Back The Boys

Tuesday 23rd March 2010


Fulham FC News


Tickets for Wednesday night's FA Cup Quarter-Final Replay against Spurs at White Hart Lane remain on sale to the Club's Season Ticket Holders and Members.

Victory at the Lane would fire Roy Hodgson's side to Wembley for a FA Cup Semi-Final showdown against Portsmouth.

Wednesday night could be another historic night for the Club and with tickets still available, this is not a game to be missed.

Tickets can be purchased by phone (0870 442 1234) or by visiting the Club's Tickets Office at Craven Cottage (open 9am-5pm weekdays).


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/March/SpursTicketsAvailable.aspx#ixzz0j2eI5Wbk (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/March/SpursTicketsAvailable.aspx#ixzz0j2eI5Wbk)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 23, 2010, 10:40:49 PM
FA Cup Preview

Tuesday 23rd March 2010


Fulham FC News


Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham


FA Cup Sixth Round

Wednesday March 24th 2010, Kick-Off 7.45pm.

It's FA Cup time again on Wednesday when we cross the capital to take on Tottenham in a Quarter-Final replay. The prize for the victors in a game which must be settled on the night, is a trip to Wembley for a Semi-Final encounter with Portsmouth.

Trips to White Hart Lane have, of course, been a regular occurrence since we regained top-flight status in 2001. The most notable from our point of view being a 3-0 win in August 2003 when the magic of Barry Hayles and Luis Boa Morte ripped a fragile Tottenham defence apart. Hayles scored the first two goals that afternoon with Boa sealing a convincing win after 71 minutes. More recently, 0-0 draws have been gained in two of the last four visits.

Fulham and Tottenham have been drawn together in the FA Cup on three previous occasions and although we have yet to come out on top, it's worth noting that only in the February 1909 encounter were the clubs competing at the same level.

One memorable cup victory against the north London side came in a League Cup fourth round encounter at Craven Cottage in November 1999 when the then second tier Whites upset the applecart with an emphatic 3-1 win, Barry Hayles (again), Wayne Collins and Geoff Horsfield the men on target for the Whites.

Whilst Wednesday's tie will doubtless prove a tough encounter, Roy's boys have already proved their ability to get results away from home in cup action this season, most notably at Basel in December and more recently against Shakhtar Donetsk last month. With this game being far closer in terms of distance, it's a great chance for the Fulham faithful to turn out in force and cheer the Whites all the way to Wembley.

Tickets
Now on sale to Season Ticket Holders and Fulham Members' Club.
- Adults £25
- Over-65s £10
- Under-16s £10

Purchase tickets by calling: 0870 442 1234 or buy directly from the Ticket Office at Craven Cottage (Open 9am - 5pm weekdays).

Ground Details
Address: Bill Nicholson Way, 748 High Road, Tottenham, London N17 0AP
Telephone: 020 8365 5000
Capacity: 36,236
Visitors Sections: South Stand
Disabled Fans: South Stand

Fulham at White Hart Lane
P31 W2 D12 L17 F26 A56


Getting There
Coaches
Depart Motspur Park 4.30pm/Craven Cottage 5pm
Season Ticket Holders / Fulham Members' Club: Adults £10, Juniors £5
Non-Season Ticket Holders/Members: Adults £15, Juniors £8

By Road
From Hammersmith join A4 to Chiswick then join North Circular (A406). Continue on A406 until reaching Edmonton. At Edmonton turn right onto Fore Street (A1010) signs Tottenham. Ground is on the left in 1 mile.

Car Parking
Car Parking in the vicinity of the ground is now more restricted than in the past. There are a number of residents' parking schemes. Street parking may involve a significant walk. A number of schools and industrial units do offer parking from between £5 and £10. Keep valuables out of sight.

By Rail
The nearest station is White Hart Lane, accessible direct from Liverpool Street, or by changing from the underground at Seven Sisters. Station about a five minute walk from the ground.

The nearest underground station is Seven Sisters, on the Victoria Line. Catch bus 149, 259 or 279 to ground along Tottenham High Road. Station is at least a 30 minute walk from ground.


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/March/NextUpSpurs.aspx#ixzz0j2edr9gk (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/March/NextUpSpurs.aspx#ixzz0j2edr9gk)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 23, 2010, 10:42:15 PM
Overnight Fulham Flyer

Tuesday 23rd March 2010


Fulham FC News


Official Overnight Trip to see Wolfsburg v Fulham Announced
With the Official Fulham Day Trip now sold out, Fulham FC is pleased to announce that the Official Fulham Overnight Fans trip to the match against Wolfsburg is now on sale to Season Ticket Holders and Club Members.  Your support at this match will be crucial to seeing the Whites through to the Semi-Final round of the UEFA Europa League. Guarantee your match ticket by reserving your seat for the overnight trip today!|

The cost of the official overnight trip to Wolfsburg start from £399pp, guarantees you a match ticket and the following:

Chartered flight from Gatwick to Hannover departing on the morning of Wednesday April 7th.
Coach transfer from the airport to the 4* Grand Maritim, Hannover.
Overnight accommodation at the 4* Grand Maritim
Coach transfer from Hannover to the Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
Match kick off time 21:05 CET
Transfer from the stadium back to Hannover Airport after the final whistle
Chartered flight returning after the game, arriving back into Gatwick in the early hours of Friday morning.
Fulham stewards and TMG trip escorts throughout
All taxes, fees and ATOL bonding
Your match ticket
You will be required to input your Season Ticket Number or Club Membership Number as well as date of birth at the time of booking.  There are a limited number of places so reserve your place today|.

Buy Today|


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/March/WolfsburgAwayTravel.aspx#ixzz0j2gfHQPR (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/March/WolfsburgAwayTravel.aspx#ixzz0j2gfHQPR)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 23, 2010, 10:46:15 PM
http://www.spursodyssey.com/0910/prevpackfac6r.html

Spurs Odyssey Preview - FA Cup 6th Round Replay


Spurs v Fulham - 24.03.10 


The following is our record against Fulham in the FA and Football League Cups. The details are:


FA Cup   Round   Venue   Result  Scorer(s)
1908-09    2       H      1-0    R. Steel
1983-84    3       A      0-0
          3R       H      2-0    Archibald, Roberts
1997-98    3       H      3-1    Clemence, Calderwood
                                 + o.g
2006-07    5       A      4-0    Keane(2), Berbatov(2)
2010-11    6       A      0-0

FL Cup
1981-82    4       H      1-0    Hazard
1999-2000  4       A      1-3    Iversen
2001-2002  4       A      2-1    Rebrov, Davies

Can the last eleven standing win it?

· The full preview for the first match at Craven Cottage can be read here

Congratulations must go to Fulham for their fantastic result in the Europa League last week against Juventus. The match will without doubt go down as one of the greatest nights at The Cottage, and Fulham now have a quarter-final against Wolfsburg to look forward to next Thursday.

Of course, Fulham let us Spurs fans down on Sunday with their home defeat against Man City, who also play tomorrow night and who could go above us in the league, unless Everton manage to take something out of the game. Come on you Toffees!

Fulham will want to gain a few more league points, but realistically they are already safe in the Premier League, although their hopes of European football next season must rest with success in the FA Cup or the Europa League. Roy Hodgson has been mixing and matching his squad a little in his team's busy programme. Apart from long term absentee Andy Johnson, Fulham's only big loss is centre back Brede Hangeland, who is still recovering from a chest injury and may yet need 5 days to re-gain match fitness. Bobby Zamora went off after 52 minutes in the City game, and will be needed to play a big part as usual against his old team. Danny Murphy will also be available, and keen to put one over his former employers, who did not value him as much as Fulham do.

There is no sign of a Fulham burn out yet, and Spurs will have to be at their best to win through to the semi-final against Portsmouth which would be played on Sunday April 11th. The trouble is (still) that in the case of Spurs, it's almost going to be the last eleven men standing that take the field, although Tom Huddlestone and David Bentley will have late fitness tests, and could play a part. Wilson Palacios was safely preserved for this game, and will replace the cup-tied Younes Kaboul. Roman Pavlyuchenko may not be out for long, but he does miss tomorrow's game along with Defoe, Lennon, Jenas and Ledley King - not forgetting Jonathan Woodgate of course.

It follows that the only option for the strike partnership will be Eidur Gudjohnsen and Peter Crouch. Personally I have been very happy with the current team, despite the injury crisis. Luka Modric has done a sterling job in central midfield. Wilson Palacios has been in great form. Gareth Bale burns up and down the line in front of Ekotto, and Niko Kranjcar covers loads of midfield territory, whilst also linking in with the attack very effectively. The defence has hardly leaked any goals (no more than one in a game, and just 7 in the last 12 games). With Huddlestone and Bentley perhaps being available for the bench tomorrow, we'll even have a little something in reserve in the event of yet more injury woe.

I have to admit that I personally did not see the spat between Corluka and Ekotto at Stoke on Saturday, but that seems to be water under the bridge, and there are at least two centre backs between them most of the game!

Spurs have played an FA Cup quarter final replay in just 8 seasons in their history:-



SEASON   RD   H/A   Score  Opposition
1900-01  3R    H     3-0    Reading
1921-22  4R    H     2-1    Cardiff
1952-53  6R    H     2-2    Birmingham
1952-53  6(2R) N     1-0    Birmingham
1960-61  6R    H     5-0    Sunderland
1966-67  6R    H     6-0    Birmingham
1970-71  6R    H     0-1    Liverpool
1978-79  6R    A     0-2    Man Utd
2006-07  6R    H     1-2    Chelsea


Note that in three of those seasons, Spurs won and went on to win the trophy. Their aggregate score in the three games is 14-0. Let's hope for a clean sheet and a win tomorrow! I'll settle for any win, but will predict a repeat of our 2-0 Premier League win over Fulham in January.

Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 23, 2010, 10:50:32 PM
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=289458&cc=5739

Spurs likely to be without Pav


Competition Stats 
   Tottenham Hotspur  Fulham 
Goals  Jermain Defoe 5  Bobby Zamora 2 
Reds   
Yellows  Jermain Defoe 1  Zoltan Gera 1 
·   Club Squads : Tottenham Hotspur | Fulham 


Last Five Matches in Competition 
Tottenham Hotspur  Fulham 
A: Fulham 0-0  H: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 
H: Bolton Wanderers 4-0  H: Notts County 4-0 
A: Bolton Wanderers 1-1  A: Accrington Stanley 1-3 
A: Leeds United 1-3  H: Swindon Town 1-0 
H: Leeds United 2-2   
· Club Results: Tottenham Hotspur | Fulham 

Next Five Matches in Competition 
Tottenham Hotspur  Fulham 
24/3  H: Fulham  24/3  A: Tottenham Hotspur 
· Club Fixtures: Tottenham Hotspur | Fulham 
Updated: March 23, 2010, 4:33 PM UK

Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko is doubtful for the FA Cup quarter-final replay with Fulham after suffering a hamstring injury at Stoke.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is hoping David Rose (knee) and David Bentley (virus) will be passed fit after training.

Younes Kaboul is cup-tied but Wilson Palacios returns to the midfield after being rested for the league win at Stoke because he is one booking away from a two-match ban.

Defender Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini (wrist/pelvis) are long-term absentees.

Redknapp has sent a stern reminder to Jamie O'Hara that his ultimate loyalties lie with Tottenham after the midfielder admitted he wants Fulham to knock Spurs out of the FA Cup.

O'Hara is a lifelong Tottenham fan but he is on loan at Portsmouth, who will face the winners of the replay in a Wembley semi-final.

But the 23-year-old would not be eligible to play against Tottenham and he said: "It is a weird one because for the first time in my life I will be hoping Spurs lose. I want play at Wembley.''

Redknapp understands O'Hara's predicament but thinks he was wrong to back Fulham when he will be returning to play for Tottenham next year.

"Jamie shouldn't say that, really. I understand where he is coming from. I think he just wants to play at Wembley,'' said Redknapp.

"But this is his club, he is a Tottenham player and he will be back here next year.

"He has got to be careful what he says because this is his club and the fans love him here.

"He has done a great job for Portsmouth and I am delighted how well he has done for them. I have so much time for Jamie.

"He obviously wants to go to Wembley and play, so it is difficult.

"He had the disappointment in the league cup final of being left out of the team when Tottenham played Chelsea. He is obviously desperate to get there this year.''

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson will make a late check on Brede Hangeland's chest injury.

Hangeland missed the defeat to Manchester City at the weekend but Hodgson rested Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera for much of the second half to keep them fresh for the Spurs clash.

Andrew Johnson and John Pantsil remain in the treatment room, while David Elm has been ill.

Fulham midfielder Zoltan Gera has warned Tottenham he is relishing another chance to shine on the big stage after last week's heroics against Juventus.

Gera scored twice against Serie A giants Juve in the Europa League but considers the FA Cup quarter-final replay, with a place at Wembley at stake, just as important.

"This is a big occasion for the players, fans and the club,'' he said. "It will be an important night for us all, and hopefully I can play my part. I am pleased with my season so far, but there is always more that you can do.

"I have managed to score some important goals, and I would like to do so again. It's always nice to score, but of course, when it has a greater importance for the team that is great.

"But it's not just about one player, this is a team and we all have the same hopes for Wednesday - we all want to go through.''

Getting to Wembley would be the latest chapter of success under Hodgson, who has taken the club into Europe after being relegation candidates under Lawrie Sanchez.

"It has been a long while since Fulham last ran out at Wembley,'' Gera added. "So to be part of a team that achieves that for the club would be very special.

"And it's a special place to play, one of the best. I have been lucky enough to play there twice before, but I would love to go back and this time with Fulham.''
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 02:28:38 AM
Tottenham v Fulham – Preview – 24 March 2010

by: Jonathon Feyerherm


24Mar 2010

Tottenham v Fulham
English FA Cup
White Hart Lane – London, England
24 March 2010 – 19:45 GMT
Tottenham will host Fulham in a FA Cup quaterfinal replay with a spot in the semifinals at stake.

Tottenham v Fulham Preview
Both clubs are based on London and are in the top half of the English Premier League. The first match at Craven Cottage ended in a scoreless draw with this match at White Hart Lane.

Spurs will be without leading scorer Jermain Defoe who has five goals in the FA Cup while Fulham could be without Brede Hangeland. David Bentley and Danny Rose could feature in the match for Spurs are resuming training recently. Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko could miss the match after suffering a hamstring injury at Stoke on Saturday.

Tottenham will be favored in the match have a 10-2-3 record at home in the EPL and a 2-1-0 record at home in the FA Cup. Fulham struggled on Sunday against Manchester City after their surprising 4-1 victory in the Europa League against Juventus.

If Spurs are without both of their starting strikers (Defoe and Pavlyuchenko) then Peter Crouch will be called on to start up top. While his goal scoring record has been solid for England, Crouch has 10 goals in 37 matches for Tottenham.

Fulham have most of their key players available for Wednesday's match. Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera will likely start up top combined with midfielders Clint Dempsey and Damien Duff. Fulham are still alive in the Europa League it will be interesting to see if manager Roy Hogdson chooses to rest any players or put his strongest team available.

Even if Fulham bring their best side, Tottenham should be able to advance in a very close match.

How each team reached the quarterfinals

Fulham: Swindow Town (1-0), Accrington Stanley (3-1), Notts County (4-0)

Tottenham: Peterborough (4-0), Leeds (2-2 & 1-3), Bolton (1-1 & 4-0)

Tottenham v Fulham Prediction
Tottenham will win the match 2-1.



Read more: http://soccerlens.com/fulham-tottenham/42164/#ixzz0j3bSwFja (http://soccerlens.com/fulham-tottenham/42164/#ixzz0j3bSwFja)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 02:33:37 AM
http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/164856/Dempsey-Fulham-need-to-reach-the-top/


DEMPSEY: FULHAM NEED TO REACH THE TOP 


Dempsey believes that getting to an FA Cup semi-final means nothing unless Fulham reach the final


Wednesday March 24,2010


By Gideon Brooks 

CLINT Dempsey believes that getting to Wembley and an FA Cup semi-final means nothing unless Fulham can take full advantage of the position and reach the final.


Striker Dempsey, who came off the bench last week to score the goal that knocked Juventus out of the Europa League, is hoping to continue that form against Spurs at White Hart Lane tonight in the FA Cup quarter-final replay.

But he insisted that making the last four means next to nothing.

"You don't want to get one step closer to the final and not go all the way," he said. "If you want to do something special in your career this is the opportunity to do that, to take advantage of the opportunities that we have."

Fulham's dreadful away record this season will not fill their travelling supporters with much hope, even if Spurs are struggling with a long injury list.

"Any time you play a team like Spurs it is going to be difficult whether they have injuries or not," said Dempsey. "It has been tough for us away from home sometimes this season.

"But hopefully we can play well and get the result we need to get to the semi-final against Portsmouth next month." With struggling Pompey lined up for the winner, both sides will fancy their chances of a final appearance if they can make it into the last four.

And while Spurs could be missing key players, Fulham look set to be boosted by the return of defender Brede Hangeland, who missed the defeat against Manchester City with a chest injury.

Further good news surrounded the imminent return to full training of John Pantsil, who has been out with knee ligament trouble since late December.
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 02:37:06 AM
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/127687/Fulham-hoping-to-keep-fantastic-season-going-with-a-Wembley-visit-/


FULHAM HOPING TO KEEP FANTASTIC SEASON GOING WITH A WEMBLEY VISIT



24th March 2010


By David Woods

FULHAM'S fantastic season ­continues tonight when they play their 50th game of the season.

And they are hoping to celebrate by booking their first Wembley appearance since 1975.

Roy Hodgson's over-achievers face Tottenham at White Hart Lane in an FA Cup quarter-final replay six days after their historic 4-1 win over Juventus in the Europa League.

That earned them a 5-4 aggregate victory over the Italian giants and a tie against Wolfsburg in the last eight of the competition.

If Fulham were to reach the final of both cups, it would see them playing a staggering 65 matches this campaign – all with a squad much smaller than some of their Premier League ­rivals.

It would also guarantee boss Hodgson being even more heavily linked with a possible return in the ­summer to former club ­Inter Milan and their Serie A rivals Juventus.

To put the scale of ­Fulham's achievements this season into some kind of perspective, they have played 14 matches already in the ­Europa League.

They have played 12 games more than Birmingham, the team immediately above them in the Premier League, while Stoke, who are just behind them, have played 11 fewer games.

Fulham's last appearance at Wembley was a 2-0 FA Cup Final defeat to West Ham 35 years ago.

And Clint Dempsey, the winning wonder-goal hero against Juve, said: "It would be good to reach the FA Cup semi-final but we want to do more than just that.

"You don't want to get one step closer to the final and not go all the way.

"If you want to do ­something special in your career, this is the ­opportunity to do that.

"Everybody is up for this game and ­although we are away, which will be tough, hopefully we can get the ­result to put us in the semi-final against ­Portsmouth."
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 02:39:56 AM
http://www.clubfanzine.com/tottenham_hotspur/v2.showNews.php?id=27725

Spurs v Fulham preview - Who can provide the goals to take us through?


Tuesday 23 Mar 2010 23:05:38


by Editor

Spurs are one game away from a semi-final against Portsmouth at Wembley with Fulham standing in our way. 


Spurs Preview – Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham (FA Cup sixth round replay – 24 March 2010)
Expected line-ups

Tottenham: Gomes, Assou-Ekotto, Corluka, Bassong, Dawson, Palacios, Modric, Kranjcar, Bale, Crouch, Gudjohnsen.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Hangeland, Hughes, Shorey, Dempsey, Gera, Murphy, Duff, Davies, Zamora.

TPC's key battle: Gudjohnsen v Hangeland

To see the up-to-date injury list for both sides, click here.

Recent meetings

FA Cup: Fulham 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur, 06-03-10
League: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Fulham, 26-01-2010
League: Fulham 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur, 26-12-2009
League: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Fulham, 26-12-2008
League: Fulham 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur, 15-11-2008

Preview

Spurs can turn their attentions back to the FA Cup on Wednesday night safe in the knowledge their focus has not wavered between the goalless draw at Craven Cottage and this replay, where a semi-final spot at Wembley against Portsmouth is at stake.

It would have been easy given the draw to have let the imagination run wild but Spurs have instead maintained their push for fourth to the extent that the FA Cup, for so many years our only hope of silverware after Christmas, is not the be all and end all. Victories against Blackburn Rovers and away at Stoke City have proved that this Spurs team are up for the scrap and useful at breaking down resilient sides and they will need to show those qualities again to overcome Fulham at the second time of asking.

Both sides have shown their intent ahead of this game by leaving out significant personnel for their league games at the weekend and the superior strength in depth was displayed by Spurs as we ground out a win at Stoke without our most combative player, Wilson Palacios, while Fulham were quickly behind and never recovered against Manchester City, with Hangeland's absence a factor undoubtedly.

Aside from the return of Palacios, there are no new faces peeking out of the treatment room as far as we know so it will be up to the mix-and-match side that have served us so well in recent weeks to continue us on the road to Wembley. That said, Roman Pavlyuchenko could well be frustrated in his attempts to keep his good run of form going meaning the time could be right for Eidur Gudjohnsen to write his name into Tottenham folklore.

If Spurs can ensure no others players go under the doctor then we would fancy ourselves against a Fulham side that look dominant at home but toothless on their travels. That was proved in the league game at the Lane not so long ago when Spurs eased to a routine home victory but you feel this one will be trickier given Fulham are focussing all their efforts on this competition given their league position is safe and a return to Europe unlikely via that route.

For Spurs to progress we need to find goals from somewhere. Peter Crouch and Gudjohnsen are hardly prolific while the midfield, aside from Niko Kranjcar, do not really chip in with the number of goals we need from players of such quality. As such, plenty may rest on the shoulders of Gudjohnsen and Kranjcar and how the pair link with Luka Modric after the promising beginnings at Stoke. And, of course, there is the danger posed by Gareth Bale. With all that creativity, you would hope that Spurs just about have enough to break down a stubborn opponent.

Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Fulham
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 02:42:07 AM
http://blogs.news.sky.com/sportslines/Post:bf2deae1-6d1b-428c-b58d-b17aad34a812


Zamora For World Cup?

Nick Powell


March 23, 2010 11:13 PM


Bobby Zamora will be at the World Cup.

It might sound an improbable prediction, given that the Fulham striker appears some way down the queue for places among Fabio's fliers, the lucky 23 England manager Capello will put on the plane for South Africa this summer.

Twelve months ago, moreover, most sane observers would have dismissed out of hand the idea that Zamora could find the quality to grace football's biggest stage.

But two factors now weigh in his favour. First, his form. Among English strikers, only Wayne Rooney, Jermaine Defoe and Darren Bent have scored more than his 16 goals this season.

His general play, too - holding up long balls from defence, and creating goals for teammates - is winning new admirers weekly. Capello himself turned up to watch Zamora's influential, goal-scoring display in Fulham's eyebrow-raising Europa League triumph over Juventus.

The other pointer towards Zamora is nothing to do with him. It's England's mounting injury toll. Rooney's wounded knee might well dominate the headlines through the next nine nervous weeks. Defoe is injured too, while Bent failed to sparkle in his audition against Brazil last autumn.

Peter Crouch and Emile Heskey are fit - so far. But only a super-optimist would believe further injuries won't trouble Capello as overused muscles stretch towards the climax of the Premier League and Champions League seasons.

Suddenly, the idea of Zamora at the World Cup doesn't seem so far-fetched.

And remember, when Geoff Hurst made England global champions for the only time, his international career was only five months old.
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 02:45:48 AM
http://www.cfcnet.co.uk/2010/03/23/fulham-res-2-1-chelsea-res-walker-impresses-in-debut-defeat/

FULHAM RES 2-1 CHELSEA RES – WALKER IMPRESSES IN DEBUT DEFEAT


By Philip Rolfe • on March 23, 2010 • 235 views

For readers familiar with the phrase 'after the Lord Mayor's show', Tuesday night's 2-1 Reserve defeat away to Fulham can be summed up quite nicely in such a manner. If you're not au fait, a wet night in Merton for Chelsea's second string came as something of an anticlimax to Monday night's breathtaking youth team performance.

Perhaps surprisingly, goalkeeper Sam Walker played in both fixtures. With Jan Sebek travelling with the first team squad for the Portsmouth match tomorrow due to Rhys Taylor's injury, and Niclas Heimann looking for a new club for next season, the decision was taken to give the impressive youth team stopper his debut in Steve Holland's reserve side. Also playing for the second consecutive night was Milan Lalkovic, who played an hour of the Youth Cup Semi Final. With this being the club's third game in as many days across all levels, numbers were thin, and were made even thinner by the first team's injury crisis.

This amounted to Nikki Ahamed playing in an unfamiliar left-back role, and rare opportunities for Nana Ofori-Twumasi and Daniel Philliskirk to start. Alongside Kenny Strickland at centre-back was captain Sam Hutchinson, playing for the first time in five months after the latest in a series of knee problems. The rest of the team saw usual stalwarts Bridcutt, Mellis, Kakuta and Borini take to the field, although the subs bench left experience to be desired, with four first year scholars alongside backup goalkeeper Aldi Haxhia.

Fulham, as is standard at this level, came in with a mix of youth and experience, giving playing time to internationals Erik Nevland, Kagiso Dikgacoi and Frederik Stoor, but also to young defenders Matthew Briggs and Cheikh Toure and impressive Dutch forward Danny Hoesen, who would be the peripheral figure he tends to be against the Blues. In front of a surprisingly busy crowd at a Motspur Park pitch shrouded in darkness and rain, the action got underway with the Cottagers pressing high up the pitch, forcing early errors from a nervous visiting back four.

Indeed, they were to have the first goalmouth action, as Robert Milsom's well-struck drive from the edge of the area drew a sharp stop away to Walker's left, before a rebound effort skidded wide. As the rain picked up speed and Chelsea toiled with poor control of a wet ball, Fulham grew in stature and ensured that the young Chelsea goalkeeper's first night at this level would be a busy one. He was again impressive in keeping out a good shot from Hoesen, but from the resulting corner he was powerless to prevent the striker turning the ball home from close range. It was his fourth goal against the visitors at youth and reserve level, and put his side ahead after just sixteen minutes.

Billy McKinlay's side pressed with a high tempo and continued to force mistakes, particularly from Ahamed, who was finding the going tough out of position. Former Blues schoolboy Neil Etheridge was having a quiet night in the home goal, it taking until midway through the first half for Chelsea to really threaten, but Jacob Mellis' shot was high and didn't worry the Filipino international. Whilst they toiled, Fulham looked clinical, and doubled their lead before the half hour. Hoesen was once more an integral figure, coming inside and firing a powerful shot across the face of goal. Walker looked set to deal with it but Nevland arrived unmarked to blast home from point blank range.

Chelsea were simply second best in every area of the pitch, and were lacking a commitment and enthusiasm which somewhat mirrored the first team's approach at Blackburn on Sunday. Heads had dropped and blue shirts were hiding behind white when options were needed in possession. Borini was working a lone furrow up front and not getting much joy out of either centre-back, both of whom had the physical edge, and instead had to resort to shooting from distance. The results weren't pretty, sailing over the crossbar and into the car park on one occasion. At the other end, Dikgacoi chanced his arm from the halfway line, and whilst Walker had it covered, it wasn't too far away from being a worry.

In first half stoppage time a Kakuta free kick from just under 30 yards out went close enough to earn applause but not quite enough to fluster Etheridge, and it was a damning indictment on Chelsea's performance that it was their moment of the half. Holland isn't typically a man for stern words, so one imagines his team talk was more encouraging and confidence-building than teacup-throwing, but to his credit, the attitude changed in the second half, and was helped by more of a physical presence. Rohan Ince entered the fray for Hutchinson, who had come through his 45 scheduled minutes unscathed, and went straight into midfield, with Bridcutt taking the captaincy and going to centre-back.

Admittedly, it took a while for the Blues to assert themselves, and Walker was once more required to keep Hoesen at bay, but Ince's added size and long stride in the middle of the pitch gave Chelsea a transition their game had lacked. With the wet surface not conducive to spreading the ball out to the wingers, a different approach was adopted, and began to reap reward. The ball still found its way to the flanks, but from further up the pitch and into feet rather than into space. It allowed Lalkovic to get down the right and test out young Alex Smith, who struggled against the Slovakian. Three or four times in a short spell, Lalkovic produced a threatening cross, but with only Borini to aim for in a sea of giants, they were wasted.

Unfortunately, Lalkovic was withdrawn after an hour, playing 120 minutes in the space of 24 hours, and was replaced by George Saville, who was making his reserve debut. Bobby Devyne was doing similar, coming on for Kakuta, and it meant a reshuffle in personnel. Mellis moved onto the right wing, with Devyne on the left, and Saville taking up a central midfield role, initially more advanced than Philliskirk, but the trio moved with fluidity and discipline. Saville's left foot added balance to the centre of the pitch, and Chelsea seized the initiative. They lacked creativity in the final third, but had at last assrted themselves on proceedings.

Walker was still busier than Etheridge, making a low stop from sub Michael Uwezu, who had entered the fray along with Courtney Harris. Harris' arrival was a strange one, with Fulham first team manager Roy Hodgson demanding McKinlay make the change from his vantage point in the stands. With time running out, the game was rolling towards a 2-0 final score, but Chelsea set up a grandstand finish with ten minutes left on the clock. Ahamed went to the byline and stood up a cross to the far post. Philliskirk arrived on the scene at the opportune moment and headed in from a yard out to reduce the deficit to one and offer a lifeline.

With the ball firmly in their court now, the visitors knew they would have at least one more chance to get a second goal, and when it came, it was a golden one. Mellis played a slide-rule ball down the channel and Borini beat the offside trap. With just Etheridge to beat, the Italian set himself but was unable to convert the gilt-edged opportunity, and in truth, there was never a feeling of confidence in him putting it away, such had been his evening. Ahamed and Ince had thrashed efforts sail over in desperation, and Fulham were able to come away with a 2-1 win which they probably deserved on the balance of play.

For Chelsea, it was a mixed bag for a mixed team. Walker was easily his side's man of the match, whilst fellow youth teamers Lalkovic, Ince and Saville also turned in good performances. In contrast, reserve regulars Ofori-Twumasi, Phillskirk and Kakuta had disappointing evenings, whilst Mellis and Bridcutt had solid outings. There was some individual promise, once more from the younger side of the club, but it took the team too long to get going. As a result, they were never truly able to control the game, and paid for it.

Team: Walker, Ofori-Twumasi, Strickland, Hutchinson (c) (Ince 45), Ahamed, Bridcutt, Mellis, Phillskirk, Kakuta (Devyne 59), Lalkovic (Saville 61), Borini

Goal: Philliskirk '78
Booked: Bridcutt

Fulham: Etheridge, Stoor, Smith, Briggs (c), Toure, Dikgacoi (Harris 70), Milsom, Marsh-Brown (Marques-Sanchez 90), Buchtmann, Nevland, Hoesen (Uwezu 65)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 02:47:47 AM
http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2010/03/23/1846482/fa-cup-preview-tottenham-hotspur-fulham

FA Cup Preview: Tottenham Hotspur – Fulham


Two stalemates so far this season, who will triumph at the Lane?


By Richard Parry


Mar 23, 2010 7:44:00 PM

Kick-Off: Wednesday, 23 March, 19:45 GMT
White Hart Lane, north London


Roy Hodgson's Fulham travel across London to face Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, with a replay required to separate the sides after the teams played out a goalless draw at Craven Cottage.

The match was the second time this season that the side's have remained deadlocked for 90 minutes, having drawn their Boxing Day contest, again at Craven Cottage, 0-0.

Spurs, however, did manage to find the net during their league meeting at White Hart Lane, running out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Jermain Defoe and David Bentley.

Fulham, buoyed by their Europa League heroics against Juventus, found themselves somewhat numbed at the weekend, as Roberto Mancini's Manchester City side made the trip back up north with all three points.

Spurs, meanwhile, recorded an impressive 2-1 victory away to Stoke City, a performance, and result, which shows the increased competitiveness amongst Harry Redknapp's charges, especially considering Wilson Palacios was rested for the match.

The home side will fancy their chances on Wednesday night and home advantage could prove a key feature, especially at a packed Lane. Spurs will take confidence from the fact that Fulham have failed to score against them in three matches so far this season, but having bagged four goals against Serie A giants Juve, Redknapp's side will not underestimate the Cottagers.

FORM GUIDE

Tottenham

20 Mar: Stoke City 1-2 Tottenham (Premier League)
13 Mar: Tottenham 3-1 Blackburn Rovers (Premier League)
6 Mar: Fulham 0-0 Tottenham (FA Cup)
28 Feb: Tottenham 2-1 Everton (Premier League)
24 Feb: Tottenham 4-0 Bolton Wanderers (FA Cup)

Fulham

21 Mar: Fulham 1-2 Manchester City (Premier League)
18 Mar: Fulham 4-1 Juventus (Europa League)
14 Mar: Manchester United 3-0 Fulham (Premier League)
11 Mar: Juventus 3-1 Fulham (Europa League)
6 Mar: Fulham 0-0 Tottenham (FA Cup)

TEAM NEWS

Tottenham

Tottenham's in-form Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko will miss out on Wednesday's cup match with a hamstring injury, while top goalscorer Jermain Defoe (hamstring) will also be unavailable for Redknapp's side.

Long-term absentees Ledley King (thigh), Aaron Lennon, Jermaine Jenas and Jonathan Woodgate (all groin) are also still out, although David Bentley could return to the squad.

Younes Kaboul will not feature on Wednesday as he is cup-tied, having already participated in this season's competition whilst at Portsmouth.

Starting XI from last match (vs Stoke): Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Kranjcar, Kaboul, Modric, Bale; Pavlyuchenko, Crouch.

Fulham

Roy Hodgson travels across London without three members of his first team squad. Striker Andrew Johnson (knee) and David Elm (virus) will be unavailable for selection, whilst Ghanaian defender John Pantsil has yet to overcome his cruciate ligament tear.

Starting XI from last match (vs Man City): Schwarzer, Konchesky, Baird, Hughes, Smalling, Gera, Murphy, Duff, Etuhu, Davies, Zamora.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham – Eidur Gudjohnsen

A testament to the strength of Tottenham's squad was the performance of Eidur Gudjohnsen on Saturday. Having lost yet another striker to injury in the first half against Stoke, Redknapp replaced Pavyluchenko with the former Barcelona and Chelsea man.

The Icelandic international opened the scoring immediately after the interval, and played a big part in Kranjcar's winning goal, showing the kind of composure which fans of the Premier League will remember fondly from his tenure at Stamford Bridge.

A former Chelsea hero playing in a London derby against his old club's closest rivals makes interesting reading where the FA Cup is concerned, and I expect him to produce another moment of magic on Wednesday.

Fulham – Clint Dempsey

Fulham's returning USA international didn't hang about before making an impact on his return to first team duties; coming off the bench to send his fans into raptures with an audacious chip to knock the mighty Juventus out of the Europa League. A memory that will be etched into the minds of Fulham fans forever.

Dempsey is arguably Fulham's best attacking talent. In a similar mould to Everton's Tim Cahill, the American has a knack of finding the net at pivotal moments for his club, and Spurs will have to watch him closely.

PREDICTION

Spurs' victory over Stoke showed enough fight to suggest that they can overcome the obstacle posed by Roy Hodgson's men for the second time this season.

Fulham, having failed to score in any of the three games against Spurs this season, will look to keep it tight at the Lane, but the home side will have enough to pick them off.

Tottenham 1-0 Fulham
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 02:51:23 AM
http://community.footballpools.com/blog/2010/03/23/cascarinos-super-6-preview-tottenham-v-fulham/

Cascarino's Super 6 Preview: Tottenham v Fulham

This is should be another intriguing tie as Tottenham have been hit with a number of injuries while Fulham will be suffering from a hectic fixture list. Spurs have a golden opportunity to grab an FA Cup semi-final spot this Wednesday if they don't think that the job is already done by taking the Cottagers back to White Hart Lane.

Harry Redknapp has been putting out his best side in this competition and nothing should change on that front. Spurs will be missing a number of key players with their in-form striker Roman Pavlyuchenko the latest casualty. This should give on-loan Eidur Gudjohnsen another chance to impress up front with Peter Crouch.

The Icelandic star is a footballer's footballer, he will bring other players into the game but hasn't been prolific throughout his career. The likes of Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar will enjoy playing with him as he will always be looking to keep possession with little one-two's and clever passing. Eidur is technically superb as you have to be to have lasted so long at Chelsea and Barcelona. However, he is not the quickest of forwards.

His signing was a typical Harry deal, a pragmatic move to fill a gap left in the squad. Many managers wouldn't have touched him despite his pedigree after the amount of years he has spent in the football wilderness but Harry knew what he could bring to his squad. Gudjohnsen has spent 6 or 7 years in and out of his club sides even when he was at Chelsea but he is a good fit for Spurs in the short-term as he perfectly suits their current style of play. Without a natural predator in the side, Tottenham may struggle to break Fulham down but there is enough talent within the team to get goals.

Modric certainly has the ability to get goals as does Kranjcar while Gareth Bale will certainly provide the team with chances. Crouch may have a barren run of late but he is always a threat. If Fulham centre-half Brede Hangeland doesn't return from injury, Peter should get some joy aerially against the likes of Chris Smalling and Aaron Hughes who are not as tall as the big Norwegian.

Fulham have been on a great run of form but lost at the weekend to Manchester City. That result may worry Roy Hodgson ahead of this match as he will be wary that his team's fantastic performance against Juventus could lead to a lull in form. They did so much against the Italians that it wouldn't surprise me if it took them 3 or 4 weeks to return to their usual level of performance. Fulham have a great bunch of honest players but it sometimes turns out that after a truly great performance, motivation and concentration levels drop for the next few games as the players' heads remain in the clouds. The Cottagers can't afford to under-perform against Tottenham.

For some reason, Fulham perform far better at Craven Cottage than on the road. It's not as though their home patch is that intimidating to opposition sides but they do tend to be a bit more adventurous in front of their own fans which they don't away. Roy has created a very organised, disciplined team but with Spurs playing extremely well and in front of their own fans, I am backing them to win at the Lane and to book a trip to Wembley on Super 6. With £750 up for grabs, who will you back?
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 02:53:14 AM
http://www.101greatgoals.com/fulham-could-well-knock-tottenham-out-the-fa-cup/51009/


Fulham could well knock Tottenham out the FA Cup

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010


Tottenham v Fulham, FA Cup quarter-final replay, March 24, 2010

Tottenham 1.55; Draw 3.61; Fulham 5.58


How badly do Fulham want to win the FA Cup?

After their tremendous efforts in the Europa League last Thursday night, where Fulham knocked fallen-giants Juventus out of the cup with an incredible 4-1 home win, the Cottagers fell back down to earth on Sunday with a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Manchester City.

The defeat to City flagged up a bigger problem that may ultimately define the success of Fulham's season. Currently playing two high-profile matches every week, the Cottagers thin squad is now being pushed to their limits, and in the run up to the Spurs match it is prudent to wonder how the Cottagers should best invest their resources in the final months of the season.

On the plus side for Fulham, Roy Hodgson looks like having a full-strength team to pick from. Brede Hangeland was rested for the 2-1 loss at home to Manchester City on Sunday, while Zoltan Gera and in-form striker Bobby Zamora were substituted early in the second half merely as a precautionary measure.

Elsewhere, Fulham are able to field their strongest spine possible with Mark Schwarzer and Aaron Hughes all at the back, Dickson Etuhu sitting in front of the defence, while Damien Duff and Clint Dempsey are available to offer support from midfield in the Cottagers' attacking areas.

While Fulham almost have the luxury of picking and choosing their starting XI, life at Spurs is tougher. Harry Redknapp's men are enjoying a fabulous season, particularly in their quest for fourth spot, but their injury problems are beginning to accumulate, with Tom Huddlestone, Aaron Lennon, David Bentley, Jermaine Jenas and striker Jermain Defoe all on the sidelines.

Roman Pavlyuchenko is also out after suffering a hamstring strain in the 2-1 win away to Stoke City at the weekend. With the Russian unavailable, Peter Crouch and Eider Gudjohnsen are the only fit strikers that Redknapp has at his disposal.

Even with all those injury concerns though, Spurs will feel confident of progressing through to the semi-finals, believing that they should still have enough quality in their squad to see off their London rivals.

In that respect, goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes deserves a mention. Having suffered a somewhat unimpressive start to his Tottenham career, the Brazilian goalkeeper is now showing form that backs up the £7 million Spurs paid PSV Eindhoven for his services. The Spurs stopper has kept an impressive nine clean sheets from 23 Premier League games so far this season, and, considering that Fulham have failed to score against Spurs in their last four meetings, Gomes will be hoping for another clean sheet this week. (1.83 to be over 2.5 goals, 1.86 to be under.)


Aside from Gomes, the upturn in form of Gareth Bale down the Spurs left has been considerable of late. Having been relieved of his defensive duties and employed more as an orthodox left-winger, the Welshman has been in super form in 2010 in which he has repeatedly torn down the left channel and consistently delivered dangerous balls in the box for his strikers to feed off of.

101gg predicts: Tottenham 0 - Fulham 1 (12.79)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 02:55:54 AM
http://blog.ireland.com/itb_soccerpb?entry=203

Duff making the most of career kickstart


posted: 23-Mar-2010

On Wednesday evening, Damien Duff has a chance of helping Fulham take a step closer to the FA Cup final when his team face Tottenham Hotspur in a replay of their quarter-final match.

The FA Cup might not be as highly sought after by the 'bigger' clubs than the Premier League or the Champions League, but for a club like Fulham it is a huge competition. After all, they have only played in the final once and ended up being second best.

Things have been going well for the West Londoners since Roy Hodgson took over and their good form this season has largely been helped by Duff's impact since he joined from Newcastle United.

It may seem like a long time since he was lighting up the group stages of the 2002 World Cup, but the Dubliner has only hit his peak now and he has shown that he still has plenty left to offer at the highest level.

Back to his best.....at last

This blog admittedly has given Duff a hard time over the last year. Although the criticism aimed at him from this blog has come when he has under-performed in games where he was needed most (several Republic of Ireland games spring to mind), yet he is a player that generally escapes the scorn of the media and the ordinary fan.

Perhaps everyone still sees him as the sleepy-eyed winger who bedazzled defenders for Blackburn Rovers and Chelsea or for his wonderful individual displays for his country. But all of that is in the past and it hasn't been until this season that he has really stood out.

Okay there were glimpses of what he is capable of when at Newcastle and he was the star man in some international outings, but for a player of his quality he has not had consistency in his game for quite a while.

So it is very refreshing to see how well he has performed for Fulham this season. With 6 goals and 4 assists in the Premier League this term, Duff has definitely gotten his career back on track.

A chance to cap it off in style

If Fulham were to beat Tottenham on Wednesday (not as outlandish as it may seem) then the Cottagers would be one match away from reaching the final - a massive achievement for Hodgson's men.

On top of that, they are through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League with German giants Wolfsburg standing in their way. While they won't take their opponents for granted, they will certainly view them as a team that they can beat.

The pressure is on them to overcome these two huge games. If they do then their chances of ending this season on a high will be greatly enhanced and lifting some form of silverware would not be such a crazy thought.

Of course, a lot depends on how they perform as a team, but the influence that Duff can play in those two games is massive and if he performs then Fulham could be on their way into the semi-finals of both competitions.
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:01:34 AM
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/164857/Harry-Redknapp-raises-bar-for-Fulham


HARRY REDKNAPP RAISES BAR FOR FULHAM 


Harry Redknapp is juggling priorities in chasing a valuable Champions League place


Wednesday March 24,2010


By Gideon Brooks


HARRY Redknapp believes Fulham's victory over Serie A giants Juventus last week was one of "the great performances" by an English team in Europe.

But Tottenham boss Redknapp warned those who would prematurely crown Roy Hodgson as their manager of the year that Fulham could yet end the season with nothing.

Redknapp, who was at Craven Cottage for the stirring Europa League success over Juve, was impressed with both Fulham's performance and their general improvement under their wily boss.

He said that their thrilling 4-1 victory, which gave them a 5-4 win on aggregate, had been the talk of the Spurs dressing room at training last Friday morning.

"All the lads watched the game at home and they were all talking about it when they came in the next day," he said. "It was an amazing performance and one of the great European performances."

But Redknapp knows that it is easy to get carried away ahead of the business end of the season and added: "Let's just wait until we see who wins what and who finishes up where.

"Whoever wins manager of the year depends on what happens between now and the end and although Roy has a chance as he has done a terrific job, it all depends what they end up with.

"If Fulham end up winning the Europa League or the FA Cup then yes, but it's not over yet and they could end up with nothing."

Spurs will be confident they can close off one route to that trophy cabinet for Fulham in tonight's FA Cup quarter-final replay at White Hart Lane, especially given their visitors' miserable away record this season.
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:04:21 AM
Who needs Joe Cole?

By PAT SHEEHAN

Published: Today


HARRY REDKNAPP last night insisted: Who needs Joe Cole when I've got Niko Kranjcar.
Spurs boss Redknapp has been linked with a summer swoop for Cole, who is in a contract wrangle at Chelsea.

The England ace is available on a free transfer in June, when his current deal expires.

Redknapp is a huge fan of Cole, 28, having given him his first-team break in 1998 while managing West Ham.

But Tottenham will not go near the £80,000-a-week wages he is demanding at the Bridge.

And Redknapp says he does not need Cole as he already has an impressive midfield line-up with Kranjcar as good as anyone.

He said: "I know how good Joe is because I was his manager at West Ham - but I have a lot of terrific midfielders here.

"I'm not short of players who are impressive going forward.

"We've got the likes of Aaron Lennon, David Bentley, Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar.

"When you talk about signings of the year - Niko is right up there.

"He's been a fantastic signing for Tottenham, he cost us just £2.5million from Portsmouth.

"I was the manager at Fratton Park who brought Niko over for the same money from Hajduk Split in Croatia to the Premier League.

"He is a terrific player with a great touch and solid technique. The way he has played for us since signing in September has been top class.

"It was a while before he got a run in the side but now he looks unshakeable.I've developed good contacts with people in Croatia like their national manager Slaven Bilic, Davor Suker and Igor Stimac.

"A bit of a bonus is that Niko has been weighing in with some goals from midfield. He's got eight this season so far - seven for us.

"And, of course, there is the great understanding he has with his Croatian team-mates Modric and Vedran Corluka."

Tottenham hope that Fulham strike ace Bobby Zamora does not come back to haunt them in the FA Cup quarter-final replay at White Hart Lane tonight.

Redknapp believes Spurs probably still regret the decision to offload Zamora to West Ham in a swap deal for Jermain Defoe six years ago.

Zamora then signed for Fulham in a £4.8m move in 2008 - and has 16 goals to his name this term.

Redknapp said: "Zamora has been different class this season for Fulham and he's a good outside bet to make the England World Cup team.

"West Ham regret letting Bobby go and Tottenham probably regret letting him go as well.

"He has developed as a player, he shows well, holds the ball up and importantly is now scoring goals.

"The national manager Fabio Capello was at Craven Cottage to see the fantastic win over Juventus.

"I'm sure he would have been impressed with what he saw from Zamora that night.

"Anything can happen between now and the World Cup and, with Zamora's confidence high, who knows?

"I have so much respect for Fulham and so do my players - who couldn't stop talking about their 4-1 win over Juventus in the Europa League. Nothing will be taken for granted.

"I'm asked if I'd prefer a place in the FA Cup final or finish fourth in the Premier League. We want both."



Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2904547/Harry-Redknapp-Who-needs-Joe-Cole.html#ixzz0j3kTjHlH (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2904547/Harry-Redknapp-Who-needs-Joe-Cole.html#ixzz0j3kTjHlH)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:06:35 AM
We want to go all the way...

By ANDREW DILLON

Published: Today



CLINT DEMPSEY insists Fulham have bigger ambitions than enjoying a day trip to Wembley.
Fulham will play Portsmouth in the semi-finals at the national stadium if they can see off Tottenham in tonight's replay.

But Dempsey, 27, believes the club have moved on this season and now boast real expectations to go the distance.

The American striker said: "It would be good to reach the FA Cup semi-final but we want to do more than just that.

"You don't want to get one step closer to the final and not go all the way. If you want to do something special in your career this is the opportunity to do it.

"Hopefully we can take advantage of the opportunities we have."

Dempsey, back from a seven-week lay-off with a knee injury, is still on a high after scoring the decisive goal in last Thursday's Europa League win over Juventus.

And he will always remember the fantastic chip which sent the Cottagers into the last eight.

Dempsey said: "It's up there. Along with scoring in the World Cup, scoring the goal that kept us up against Liverpool, the goal against Stoke and getting a brace against Chelsea.

"Those are a few of the special moments I have had."



Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2904527/We-want-to-go-all-the-way.html#ixzz0j3l3pcHT (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2904527/We-want-to-go-all-the-way.html#ixzz0j3l3pcHT)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:14:07 AM
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/redknapp-excited-at-sandro-signing-1925981.html


Redknapp excited at Sandro signing

By Gordon Tynan


Wednesday, 24 March 2010


Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £9m fee for 21-year-old Brazil midfielder Sandro and expect him to join them in the summer from Internacional. Spurs said yesterday he will arrive in England once the Brazilian club's involvement in the Copa Libertadores is over.

"I got a phone call this morning from the chairman saying that he thought we were close to doing it," Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager said. "Hopefully it will get done now and it will be a good signing. He is strong. He looks a very, very good player so I am looking forward to getting him here."

Tottenham moved for Sandro under the terms of a partnership agreement they signed with Internacional in August. The player, whose full name is Sandro Ranieri Guimaraes Cordeiro, has played eight times for Brazil's Under-20 team and was captain of the side that won the 2009 South American Youth Championship. He made his debut for the selecao in a World Cup qualifier against Chile last September.

Spurs entertain Fulham in a FA Cup quarter-final replay tonight hoping David Bentley will have shaken off a virus and can feature in the squad. Roman Pavlyuchenko is doubtful after suffering a hamstring injury in the Premier League win at Stoke on Saturday but Wilson Palacios returns after being rested at the Britannia Stadium because he is one booking away from a two-match ban.

Fulham will make a late check on Brede Hangeland's chest injury after the centre-half missed Sunday's home defeat to Manchester City at the weekend.

The winner's of tonight's game will play Portsmouth and Pompey's Jamie O'Hara, who is on loan from Spurs, has angered Redknapp by declaring he hopes Fulham win so he can play in the semi-final. "It is a weird one because for the first time in my life I will be hoping Spurs lose," O'Hara said. "I want to play at Wembley."

Redknapp responded: "Jamie shouldn't say that, really. I understand where he is coming from. I think he just wants to play at Wembley. But this is his club, he is a Tottenham player and he will be back here next year. He has got to be careful what he says because this is his club and the fans love him here.

"He has done a great job for Portsmouth and I am delighted how well he has done for them. I have so much time for Jamie. He obviously wants to go to Wembley and play, so it is difficult. He had the disappointment in the League Cup final of being left out of the team when Tottenham played Chelsea. He is obviously desperate to get there this year."
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: Tom on March 24, 2010, 03:17:51 AM
WN, you are up late or early however you want to look at it.
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:21:11 AM
Quote from: Tom on March 24, 2010, 03:17:51 AM
WN, you are up late or early however you want to look at it.

Early unfortunately Tom. Too ill to sleep. Intrigued to see some of the pundits tipping us to beat Spurs though. It should be a hell of a game. Wish me luck in getting straight enough to go.  :54:
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:25:45 AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/8583019.stm

Tottenham    v    Fulham

Live text and stats
Content will update automatically

Wednesday, 24 March 2010

The FA Cup

Home Team Score Away Team Time
Tottenham v  Fulham 19:45

   

TOTTENHAMFULHAMPossession
Tottenham 50% Fulham 50% Attempts on target
Tottenham 0 Fulham 0 Attempts off target
Tottenham 0 Fulham 0 Corners
Tottenham 0 Fulham 0 Fouls
Tottenham 0 Fulham 0
Tottenham recall Wilson Palacios after the central midfielder was rested for Saturday's victory at Stoke.

Jermain Defoe is out with hamstring trouble and Younes Kaboul is cup-tied but Spurs hope David Bentley and Danny Rose will be passed fit after training.

Fulham are hopeful Brede Hangeland will be fit after suffering a chest injury.

Hangeland missed the defeat to Manchester City but Roy Hodgson will call upon Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera after substituting the pair on Sunday.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tottenham (from): Gomes, Alnwick, Corluka, Bassong, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Rose, Bentley, Kranjcar, Modric, Palacios, Bale, Pavlyuchenko, Crouch, Gudjohnsen, Livermore, Dervite, Parrett, Fredericks, Townsend, Kane.

Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Konchesky, Baird, Riise, Hughes, Smalling, Etuhu, Duff, Murphy, Gera, Okaka, Davies, Zamora, Dempsey, Zuberbuhler, Greening, Shorey, Kelly, Hangeland, Stoor, Nevland.


BIG-MATCH FACTS
The tie in context

• This is the only quarter-final tie that required a replay, in a competition that now has five Premier League survivors.

• Tottenham is the most successful club still alive in the FA Cup, having won the competition eight times.

• Fulham are the only remaining club who have never won the oldest cup competition in world football.

Semi-final draw

• The winners will be facing Portsmouth, the lowest ranked club left in the competition, in the second semi-final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 11 April (Kick off: 1600 BST)


Head-to-head
These clubs fought out 90 goalless minutes in the original tie earlier this month.

Fulham 0-0 Tottenham (FA Cup Quarter-final, 6 Mar)

• It was the second no score draw at Craven Cottage between these clubs this season.

Fulham 0-0 Tottenham (Prem Lge, 26 Dec)

• Between the two goalless games, Spurs prevailed in the league fixture at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham 2-0 Fulham (Prem Lge, 26 Jan)

• Fulham have not won in six league visits to the Lane. They have drawn two and lost four since a 3-0 triumph on 30 August 2003, when Barry Hayles scored twice and Luis Boa Morte got the other.

FA Cup records and best performances

• Tottenham hold a 100% record over the Cottagers in FA Cup ties, having progressed on all four previous occasions they have been drawn together; three at the first time of asking.


The clubs
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Current form

• Undefeated in seven in all competitions.

• Won five and drawn two league and cup games since a 1-0 loss to Wolves; their only defeat in 13.

• Won their last three at home, and not lost in 10 at White Hart Lane.

FA Cup form

• Beaten Peterborough, Leeds and Bolton in this cup run, with the aid of replays in the last two rounds.

• This is their first appearance in the quarter-finals in three years.

• The most recent of their 17 semi-final appearances was in 2001, when Arsenal ended their interest.

The Manager

• Harry Redknapp famously led Portsmouth to FA Cup victory in the season before last.

• His only other cup triumph as a manager was with West Ham, when they lifted the Intertoto Cup in 1999.

The Players

• Jeramin Defoe is Tottenham's top scorer in this FA Cup run. His five goals includes a hat-trick against Leeds.

FULHAM

Current form

• Lost three of the last four (all competitions).

• Completed six league and cup matches on the road without a win (D3, L3).

• Not won away from the Cottage since knocking out Accrington from the FA Cup in the fourth round on 23 January.

FA Cup form

• This tie is the first time Fulham have faced Premier League opposition in this cup run. Swindon, Accrington and Notts County were all dismissed in previous rounds on their way to the last eight.

• The Cottagers are appearing in the quarter-finals for the second year in a row, having been 4-0 victims to Manchester United at this stage last season.

The Manager

• Roy Hodgson won the Svenska Cup twice as manager of Swedish club Malmo (1986 and 1989), and the Danish Super Cup when at the helm of FC Copenhagen in 2001.

The Players

• Damien Duff and Bobby Zamora are Fulham's joint top scorers in the FA Cup this season, with two goals each.

• Zamora, Simon Davies, Stephen Kelly and Danny Murphy are all former Tottenham players, while Paul Konchesky was on loan at White Hart Lane.


Match officials
Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)

Assistant referees: Stephen Child and Simon Beck

Fourth official: Lee Probert
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:29:16 AM
http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_1_2063_club-focus-fulham-back-to-earth-but-does-the-league-really-matter-now.html

Club Focus - Fulham - Back to earth, but does the league really matter now?

By Matt Domm

It is the first season in Fulham's Premier League history that the club's league campaign has taken a back seat. In fact, the 38-game battle for position is not even second-fiddle any more. Sunday's reality-check against Manchester City means that the Whites are almost certainly going to finish outside the European qualification spots come May and, because of this, the fans are now looking towards the two remaining knockout competitions in order for their team to once again be facing off against the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk and Juventus.

The first option is to win the Europa League - and having knocked out two of the favourites already, this is certainly a possibility. Friday's draw pitted Fulham against current 10th-placed, German side Wolfsburg, who were beaten 5-1 by bottom club Hertha Berlin at the weekend so, on current form, they are only the fourth-strongest team the Whites have had to face so far. Should the west Londoners astonishingly win the whole tournament, then they should - pending the FA requesting their admission - be allowed to defend the title in 2010/11. Of course there is no easy game at this stage of any competition, but the Cottagers are arguably in the easier of the two sides of the draw. This means, should all go well, the really tricky sides, Liverpool, Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Benfica, await in the final in Hamburg. Few could deny that Fulham would be deserving winners should they defeat any of the above. Of course, the next round is not until April, the second possible route back into Europe continues tomorrow night at White Hart Lane.

Just 90 minutes stands in the way of Fulham's first Wembley appearance in 35 years, but getting a result at Tottenham is never an easy task, but the lure of automatically qualifying for a competition that has brought so much excitement will make things very tight. Roy Hodgson's early substitutions of both Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera, and his resting of Brede Hangeland suggest that even the manager had his eyes on the Spurs fixture rather than City. Of course, recent fixtures suggest even a full-strength, fit and rested Whites XI will have to be at their very best to get anything at all out of the game, let alone a passage into the FA Cup semi-finals. In three matches against Harry Redknapp's men so far this season, Fulham have yet to score, and were soundly beaten in the league at White Hart Lane. On the plus side, however, Mark Schwarzer has kept two clean sheets - both at Craven Cottage - so they know how to defend against Peter Crouch et al, and Jermain Defoe, comfortably Spurs' top scorer, is out injured. While Defoe's injury does not mean Tottenham are short of attacking threat, his absence will be a huge boost to Hangeland - should he be fit - and Aaron Hughes who have been imperious of late - defending against Wayne Rooney aside, of course. The pair dealt with Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko superbly in the first game, and shutting out Spurs' otherwise sluggish strikers should be the base from which to build.

The defence without Hangeland was cut open too often against City on Sunday, and an exhausted Fulham side were not up to the task of overturning another, albeit smaller, deficit. The players can be forgiven for thinking the league is turning into something of a distraction since the remarkable European campaign kicked into gear, but until the magic 40-point mark has been reached, there is still work to do domestically. However, with several very winnable home games yet to come in the league, the mid-table position is likely to be consolidated sooner rather than later. For a few weeks still at least, the focus remains on cup competition, as - if this writer can discount any away league fixtures, including Hull on March 27 - a likely three league points doesn't come around now until Stoke visit on April 14.

Before that day, Fulham's fate in reaching both the FA Cup and Europa League semi-finals will have been decided. If all goes to plan, the league games could very well do nothing but add to this congested cup fixture list
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:32:33 AM
Tottenham v FULHAM: Brede Hangeland faces late fitness test ahead of FA Cup quarter-final replay


By Sportsmail Reporter

Last updated at 10:33 AM on 23rd March 2010


Fulham boss Roy Hodgson will make a late check on Brede Hangeland's chest injury ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final replay against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.   

Hangeland missed the defeat to Manchester City at the weekend but Hodgson rested Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera for much of the second half to keep them fresh for the Spurs clash.   

Andrew Johnson and John Pantsil remain in the treatment room, while David Elm has been ill.   

Chest problem: Brede Hangeland missed last Saturday's game at Craven Cottage

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Baird, Riise, Hughes, Smalling, Etuhu, Duff, Murphy, Gera, Okaka, Davies, Zamora, Dempsey, Zuberbuhler, Greening, Shorey, Kelly, Hangeland, Stoor, Nevland. 


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1259991/Tottenham-v-FULHAM-Brede-Hangeland-faces-late-fitness-test-ahead-FA-Cup-quarter-final-replay.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0j3rWTi0G (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1259991/Tottenham-v-FULHAM-Brede-Hangeland-faces-late-fitness-test-ahead-FA-Cup-quarter-final-replay.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0j3rWTi0G)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:35:40 AM
9 Fulham - Danny Hoesen (18)The Dutch striker was a regular on the scoresheet for Gary Brazil's Under 18 side last season and impressed enough to earn his first professional contract


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1259859/Who-going-clubs-big-star-Sportsmail-takes-look-young-guns-Phil-Jones-makes-fine-Blackburn-debut-Chelsea.html#ixzz0j3sWRxep (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1259859/Who-going-clubs-big-star-Sportsmail-takes-look-young-guns-Phil-Jones-makes-fine-Blackburn-debut-Chelsea.html#ixzz0j3sWRxep)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:38:30 AM
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6049308,00.html

Fulham owner slams Fifa


Al Fayed blasts Blatter over technology snub


By Chris Burton   


Last updated: 23rd March 2010   


Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed has launched a scathing attack on Fifa for ruling out technology in football.

He believes the sport is ready to embrace such forward-thinking and feels it is wrong of the game's global governing body to have deserted the concept.

Talk of video replays and goal-line technology has been doing the rounds for years, without any success, and Al Fayed is stunned that such initiatives have not been implemented.

"I have been screaming for this for a long time. They don't understand," the businessman told the Daily Express.

"The people in charge are not suffering. They are not paying anything. They are not feeling anything.

"Who put them there in charge of our football? Who elected them there? I have no idea. They rely on African votes, some Katmandu votes, you know, to be elected. But for me, if I was in charge I would sack all those people."

Possible
Al Fayed has vowed to prove Fifa president Sepp Blatter wrong by staging a full-scale game at Craven Cottage showcasing the benefits of the available technology.

"I could put on a game at Fulham to say this technology works," he said.

"It is possible. Yes. To show that it works. I think I will do that. Definitely. As proof.

"Then these idiots who always say no, they can see for themselves and then they can enforce it."
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:42:18 AM
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/danny-murphy/article/4299/

Now let's try and win it


(http://l.yimg.com/i/i/eu/sp/epta22.jpg)

Tue Mar 23 04:14PM


Fulham's 4-1 win over Juventus was one of the most amazing nights of football that I have ever witnessed - as a spectator.

The spirit and character that the lads showed to come back - in that style - was magnificent and a real credit to them.

Naturally, it would have been even sweeter if I was involved but I now have the opportunity in what should be another fantastic tie against Wolfsburg.

Once again, the fans played their part, and it was the best atmosphere I have witnessed at the Cottage in some time. The vocality of the fans was a major factor in us raising our game to defeat a very talented Juventus side. It will certainly live long in the memory as one of Fulham's greatest victories.

From a personal perspective, it was a setback to be suspended for the two legs but the victory highlights the quality we have within the squad. Before the game, I had a number of individual chats with the lads involved just to reiterate the importance of just focusing on playing our football amidst the pressure.

Looking forward, Wolfsburg will be another good test for us, but having knocked out a very good Shakhtar Donetsk side and a team of Juventus' calibre, confidence is riding high.

We are well aware of the attacking threat that Wolfsburg possess, and the fact that we may have to resist early pressure, but we will have a game plan ready to focus on our strengths.

At this stage of the competition, it is important to take one game at a time. We can't be focusing on the semi-finals and beyond. Within the squad, we have the genuine belief that we can win it, but at the same time we appreciate the importance of focusing on each opponent as they come.

Our attention will solely be geared towards how we can out-perform Wolfsburg. On the back of the Juventus victory, the self-belief within the squad will be an integral factor in continuing our excellent campaign in the Europa League to date.

The FA Cup and Europa League are both priority competitions, but, as I have previously mentioned, the heritage and history that lies behind the FA Cup makes it a very special competition to me.

Our run in the Europa League has been fantastic and we certainly value the impact winning the competition would have on our status as a club.
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:49:39 AM
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Fulham-ready-to-snap-up-Wigan-star-article365697.html

Fulham ready to snap up Wigan star

Published 22:45 23/03/10


By Alan Nixon


Fulham are red-hot favourites to snap up Wigan star Paul Scharner when he quits at the end of his contract.

Roy Hodgson's European heroes plan to beat Stoke in the chase for the versatile Scharner.

The Austrian is a on a big contract at the DW Stadium and seems sure to leave after a long spell at the club - with boss Roberto Martinez no longer guaranteeing him a place in the side.
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:53:23 AM
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Tottenham-v-Fulham-preview-Harry-Redknapp-issues-FA-Cup-warning-to-Roy-Hodgson-article365661.html

Redknapp issues FA Cup warning to Hodgson


Published 22:45 23/03/10


By Neil McLeman


Harry Redknapp has warned Roy Hodgson he still has a long way to go to this season despite Fulham playing their 50th game tonight.

The Cottagers' campaign began with Europa League qualifying in Lithuania back in July.

Fulham, who are through to the last eight of that competition after beating Juventus, now face Spurs in a replay for the right to play Portsmouth in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Redknapp admitted he voted for Hodgson as the Manager of the Year last season after he took the relegation candidates to seventh in the Premier League.


But the Tottenham boss insisted no prizes are handed out at the end of March.

"Of course he has got a chance to win Manager of the Year this season," Redknapp said. "He has done a terrific job. Their victory over Juventus was one of the best European performances of all time.

"But it depends what they end up with. It is not over yet. If Roy can end up winning the Europa Cup or the FA Cup then he has a great chance. But there is still a long way to go.

"If Arsene Wenger wins the championship this year he would take some beating. But it depends who wins what and who finishes up where. He is obviously hoping to win one or two of the Cups. That would be the real achievement."

Winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League with a team he inherited at the bottom of the Premier League in October 2008 would also put racing fan Redknapp strongly in the running.

His former West Ham star Joe Cole could be available on a Bosman transfer this season after failing to agree a new deal with Chelsea. But the Spurs boss said he had enough midfield playmakers following the £2.5m signing of Niko Kranjcar.

"Joe is a terrific player but I have a lot of terrific players here," said Redknapp, who will recall Wilson Palacios tonight.

"When you look at Luka Modric, Niko, Aaron Lennon, David Bentley, I am not short really. When you talk about signings of the year, Niko has to be right up there. What a fantastic signing he has been for us. To bring him here, the way that he has played, he has been top class."

But a player Tottenham allowed to leave offers Fulham's biggest threat tonight.

"Bobby Zamora has been different class this season," said Redknapp of the 16-goal striker.

"Probably West Ham regret letting him go. Tottenham probably regret letting him go. He is really looking the part. He shows well, holds the ball well and is full of confidence. He is looking a real top player."

Fulham will give a late fitness test to Brede Hangeland after the Norwegian missed the defeat to Manchester Cith with a chest injury.

And striker Clint Dempsey insisted Fulham are not yet satisfied with their season.

"It would be good to reach the FA Cup semi-final but we want to do more than just that," said the American. "You don't want to get one step closer to the final and not go all the way.

"If you want to do something special in your career this is the opportunity to do that.Hopefully we can take advantage of the opportunities that we have."
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:58:47 AM
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Manchester-City-in-battle-with-Fulham-to-sign-young-Southend-defender-article365367.html

Man City in battle with Fulham to sign young defender

Published 13:41 23/03/10


By MirrorFootball


Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini and Fulham are battling to sign Southend United's giant young defender Anthony Furlong.

The teenager, who has shot through the ranks at the Shrimpers, has been for talks with Fulham and is due to turn out for City's youth team this week.
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 04:18:19 AM
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/premier-league-nets-16314bn-tv-rights-bonanza-1925462.html

Premier League nets £1.4bn TV rights bonanza

Global broadcasting deals double in value after bidding war, shattering expectations / Clubs in line for extra £13m each per year

By Nick Harris


Tuesday, 23 March 2010

The Premier League's sale of its overseas broadcasting rights for 2010-13 will raise around £1.4bn, more than double the previous level of £625m, The Independent can reveal.

With just two deals left to be concluded – in Albania and Russia – the League is assured of raising each club's average annual income from overseas rights alone from £10m now to about £23m per season from this summer.

That leap of £13m per club per year will not necessarily be split evenly. Some of the new cash will bankroll increased parachute payments, up from £11.2m last year to £16m from this summer. Parachute money will probably also be extended beyond the current two years. The League is finalising details on that, as well as how much extra money it might give the Football League in "solidarity payments". It currently gives the 72 Football League clubs £21.6m per year combined for a variety of academy, community and club projects.

The overseas rights bonanza underlines the global appeal of England's top football division, and has been fuelled by intense bidding wars in key areas, mainly between pay-TV rivals in Asia.

The Abu Dhabi royal family, from which Manchester City's owner Sheikh Mansour hails, has also played its part. The ruling elite's Abu Dhabi Media Company has won the rights for Premier League matches across the Middle East and North Africa from the incumbent holder, Showtime Arabia.

Local sources say Showtime paid around $120m (£80m) last time and that ADMC entered the auction for 2010-13 at $150m, but ended up paying more than $300m (£200m-plus). If that is a stunning endorsement of growth in one region, then the auctions in Singapore and Hong Kong were downright jaw-dropping.

In Singapore, an island with a population of 4.8 million people, the rights are held by the pay-TV operator StarHub, which paid an estimated £67m for 2007-10. Its fiercest commercial rival, SingTel, believes that Premier League content equals lucrative subscriptions so poured huge resources into the effort to take the rights from StarHub. It succeeded. Sources in Asia say SingTel paid £200m for 2010-13.

In Hong Kong (population 7 million), the Now TV station currently has the rights (having paid about £115m last time) but has lost them to i-Cable, which is understood to have paid close to £150m.

The Premier League will retain the same partners for 2010-13 in some regions: Fox and Setanta will continue to be the main carriers of the Premier League across North America and the Caribbean, as will Fox Latin in South America, and ESPN Star across 18 major Asia countries, including India.

Canal+ retains rights in France and Poland (in a deal worth about £60m), but a shake-up in Scandinavia has seen Canal+ lose the rights there to an intermediary sub-licensee, Medge Consulting. Medge has paid £111m for rights in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Medge has sold or will sell the rights on to individual broadcasters at a healthy mark-up. An incidental quirk in the Scandinavian sale is the involvement on a consultancy basis in the sell-on of rights of Rune Hauge, the agent at the centre of the Arsenal "bung" scandal of the early 1990s. Almost 20 years on, Hauge is still making money from English football, strictly legally this time.

The League simply does not have the manpower to do individual deals itself in all 211 countries where its games are shown, so sub-licensing and the sales of packets of regional rights is common. The League has 98 broadcast partners, as well as its own new TV station, Premier League TV, which will provide "viewer ready" action, commentary and analysis for nations wanting to buy rights "off the shelf".

In the future, the League hopes PLTV can attract non-traditional buyers to the market, for example entrepreneurs who want to enter the football market but don't have broadcasting capabilities themselves.

The Premier League's live domestic rights for 2010-13 raised £1.782bn when sold last summer. With such enormous growth in international sales, and room for expansion, foreign rights should overtake home sales in the future.

The League has been careful to strike the right balance in its latest sale between maximising income while making matches available to audiences that are as large as possible. Pay-TV stations pay more because they can earn more by charging viewers, but free-to-air stations always deliver much higher ratings.

In China, the pay-TV firm WinTV will keep rights for 2010-13, having paid around $50m, the same as it did for 2007-10. Exchange rate movements mean that $50m was worth £25.6m in 2007, but £33.3m now.

As The Independent first reported two years ago, the last WinTV deal caused a furore among the Premier League's top clubs because WinTV alienated potential viewers with crass marketing and high prices, and got so few subscribers that viewing figures were negligible. the dark side, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool were unhappy at the lack of exposure in what is seen as a key market for their international brand growth.
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: Tom on March 24, 2010, 04:40:04 AM
Quote from: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 03:21:11 AM
Quote from: Tom on March 24, 2010, 03:17:51 AM
WN, you are up late or early however you want to look at it.

Early unfortunately Tom. Too ill to sleep. Intrigued to see some of the pundits tipping us to beat Spurs though. It should be a hell of a game. Wish me luck in getting straight enough to go.  :54:
Sorry to here that. I hope you feel better my friend! You will bring us luck and we will win the game, no worries WN! Get better bud!!!
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 05:15:05 PM
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/harrys-watching-brief-240310.html

Harry's watching brief


24 March 2010


Harry Redknapp admits to still being in amazement at witnessing what he describes as 'one of the great European' performances from tonight's opponents Fulham last week.

The manager was at Craven Cottage to watch Roy Hodgson's side come back from a 4-1 aggregate deficit to defeat Italian giants Juventus in the Europa League.

It was a result Harry admits he and his players could only sit back and admire as they prepare to face the Cottagers for a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup tonight.

So he knows we will have to be on top of our game in front of what is expected to be a packed house at the Lane to prevent Fulham repeating last Thursday's heroics.

Harry said: "We have a mighty tough game on our hands. I was fortunate enough to be there last week to watch them beat Juventus.

"It was one of the great European performances of all time. It was a fantastic night, a great atmosphere and a great performance from Fulham, so this will be a really tough match.

"I have so much respect for Fulham, and my players all saw the game last week and were talking about it the next day. So this is one of the toughest games we could pick as they are a really good side."

And Harry puts Fulham's marked improvement over the last two years down to his much-respected opposite number, Hodgson.

"He has done a great job there for the last couple of years. He is a terrific guy who knows the game inside out and he has been a terrific signing for Fulham. He has taken them upwards and built a very good team there.

"It is good that Roy came back into the game after being out in the cold for so long since his days at Blackburn. It shows what he can do. It is about giving people opportunities."
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 05:16:44 PM
http://www.allactionnoplot.com/2010/03/spurs-fulham-preview-cue-the-star-wars-theme-music-834/

Spurs - Fulham Preview: Cue The Star Wars Theme Music


A Cup quarter-final, under the floodlights and in front of a jam-packed White Hart Lane – if that doesn't get your juices flowing my friend you're probably better off at the Emirates. The Star Wars theme that greets the players as they amble out each week may not be everyone's particular brand of cognac, but pre kick-off it certainly makes the hairs on the back of the AANP neck stand to attention, and by the time it blares out this evening I suspect I'll be bouncing off the walls and ready to kill someone with my bare hands.

With any luck the eleven in lilywhite will be similarly frenzied come 8pm. The omens are fairly encouraging - in our recent League double-header against Fulham we worked hard for a goalless draw on their patch, and then comfortably beat them 2-0 at the Lane barely a month later. A slice of nice meaty déjà-vu would go down nicely tonight.

Team News

For all our injury problems our starting eleven is still fairly imposing. Sergeant Wilson will be restored to midfield tonight; Gudjohnsen has served notice that he is now up to speed; and Saturday even saw BAE make a rare but highly effective foray behind enemy lines. If I may be a little greedy I would quite like to see more goals, or even just efforts on goal, from Modders, but the recent strict diet of victories gives little room for genuine complaint.

Ye gods be praised, as it looks as if reinforcements are finally arriving. Hudd and Bentley might be back in contention, and even if they do not swan straight back into the starting line-up I'll be exhaling in relief merely at the sight of them snuggling up on those comfy seats in the dug-out. While it is positive to see Livermore, Townsend et al mingling with the first team superstars, if we are hit by further injuries or even just tired legs, it will be reassuring to gaze around and behold chaps of the ilk of Bentley and Hudd stretching their multi-million pound limbs on their sidelines. 

Fulham: Abusive To Old Ladies

I fancy us to win this, as do the bookies, but complacency will be banned from the premises given that Fulham dealt out a right thumping to (an admittedly ten-man) Juve last week. Form is temporary and class permanent, according to the adage, but whatever the explanation Bobby Zamora is playing like a man who has been eating his greens. He has been a handful against us on a couple of occasions already this season, and let's face it, our lot hardly relish having to face these big burly chaps, all elbows, backsides and upper-body strength. I suspect that Sebastien Bassong earns more in a week than I do in a year, but I will happily dispense with envy tonight if he merits the full pay-packet tonight and keeps Zamora under lock and key.

These things don't always go to plan, but if our heroes blow this opportunity I might never forgive them. It ought not to come to that. Everybody will be singing, when the Spurs go marching on.
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 05:17:49 PM
http://www.itv.com/sport/football/news/facup/manualstories/tonightonitv1anditvcomwatchtottenhamvfulhamsfacupsixthroundreplayandjoinourlivechat5632/default.html

Tonight on ITV1 and ITV.com: Watch Tottenham v Fulham's FA Cup sixth round replay and join our live chat


Published: Wednesday, 24 March 2010, 10:42AM


Tonight on ITV.com we've got live FA Cup replay action as Harry Redknapp's Tottenham face Fulham at White Hart Lane for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Fulham are fresh from a sensational win against Juventus in the Europa League last league while Tottenham are vying for a spot in the UEFA Champions League next season: but who will prolong their FA Cup campaign?

Our coverage from White Hart Lane begins at 7.30pm and you will also have the chance to have your say on the game with our live chat.

Follow us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/itvfootball (http://twitter.com/itvfootball)
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 05:19:13 PM
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23818323-mark-schwarzers-not-tired-of-success-as-battling-fulham-refuse-to-run-out-of-steam.do

Mark Schwarzer's not tired of success as battling Fulham refuse to run out of steam

David Smith



24.03.10



Fulham tonight reach the half-century of games played this season, nine more than Tottenham. But you won't find Mark Schwarzer complaining about a marathon haul that has taken his side to the quarter-finals of the Europa League and FA Cup and a place in the top half of the Premier League.

Doom-mongers have been waiting for fatigue to set in and there were signs that a crowded fixture list was taking its toll on Roy Hodgson's men when they went down 2-1 to Manchester City at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

But Schwarzer, who will make his 39th consecutive appearance in Fulham's goal at White Hart Lane, said: "We've accepted the situation we're in with open arms.

"We've accepted it as a positive instead of a negative like some people portray it to be because of the workload.

"I think we've approached it in a manner which says we're delighted to be in the position we're in.

"As the gaffer has said, we're victims of our own success. But I'd rather be in that position than not. Football is a very, very short life for most of us and you've got to make the most of the opportunities that are put in front of you.

"It's a fantastic opportunity to be involved with Fulham at this stage and I want to enjoy every moment with them."

There was, in truth, little to enjoy at the Cottage at the weekend. But Zoltan Gera, Fulham's two-goal hero in the momentous victory over Juventus last Thursday, insisted he and his team-mates are up for the challenge against Tottenham tonight.

The Hungarian international, who has formed such a successful strike partnership with Bobby Zamora, said: "The result on Sunday was disappointing, we all know that, especially after the game against Juventus.

"But we have to forget about that now and we have the perfect match to bounce back when we face Tottenham.

"We are facing a very good side and one that have a lot of top players. We know this will be a difficult game for us, as the first one proved.

"But there wasn't a lot between the two teams that afternoon and I think it will probably be the same again tonight."

Gera has relished the big occasion this season, having scored goals in Europe against CSKA Sofia, Basel, UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar Donetsk and Juventus.

With Fulham within touching distance of a first Wembley appearance since the 1975 FA Cup Final, he wants to be on target again against Spurs.

"It will be an important night for us," said Gera. "And hopefully I can play my part. I have managed to score some important goals and I would like to do so again."
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 05:20:53 PM
http://www.givemefootball.com/fa-cup/tottenham-v-fulham-big-match-preview-

Tottenham v Fulham: Big Match preview

All eyes will be on Bobby Zamora at White Hart Lane tonight


By Dave Smith  March 24, 2010


Tottenham vs Portsmouth - 27/03/10 03:00 PM

Home win1.25 | Draw5.25 | Away win11.00Sunderland vs Tottenham - 03/04/10 03:00 PM
Home win3.35 | Draw3.25 | Away win2.10Hull vs Fulham - 27/03/10 03:00 PM
Home win2.45 | Draw3.25 | Away win2.75Fulham vs Wigan - 02/04/10 03:00 PM
Home win1.80 | Draw3.40 | Away win4.30Fulham vs Wolfsburg - 01/04/10 07:45 PM
Home win2.20 | Draw3.20 | Away win3.20



FA Cup Quarter Final Replay

Venue: White Hart Lane
Date: March 24, 2010
Kick off: 7.45


Team News


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Spurs recall Wilson Palacios after the central midfielder was rested for Saturday's victory at Stoke. Jermain Defoe is out with hamstring trouble and Younes Kaboul is cup-tied but Spurs hope David Bentley and Danny Rose will be passed fit after training.

Fulham are hopeful Brede Hangeland will be fit after suffering a chest injury. Hangeland missed the defeat to Manchester City but Roy Hodgson will call upon Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera after substituting the pair on Sunday.


All eyes will be on Bobby Zamora at White Hart Lane tonight


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Spurs boss Harry Redknapp singles out Bobby Zamora as the main threat to his side's quest to book a semi final showdown with former club Portsmouth.

Zamora failed to make the grade at Spurs after moving from Brighton, but re-built his reputation at West Ham, and has gone from strength to strength with tonight's opponents Fulham.

Zamora is in the best form of his career and his performances, and goals, this season have made him a serious contender for Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

"He is a really good player. West Ham probably regret letting him go. Tottenham probably regret letting him go. He is really looking the part," said Redknapp.

"He shows well, holds the ball well and is full of confidence. He is looking a real top player. His all around game has improved, and everything has been clicking for him."

Hodgson was the first to back Zamora for an England call-up and Redknapp adds: "I think he has a realistic shout. Fabio was at the Juventus game and he must have been impressed with his performance. He is in the frame. He is bang in form.

"Anything can happen between now and then. One or two injuries. He is certainly not doing himself any harm."


Spurs v Fulham: the facts


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


• Tottenham is the most successful club still alive in the FA Cup, having won the competition eight times.

• Fulham are the only remaining club who have never won the oldest cup competition in world football.

• The winners will be facing Portsmouth, the lowest ranked club left in the competition, in the second semi-final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, April 11.

• Spurs are undefeated in seven in all competitions, having won five and drawn two league and cup games since a 1-0 loss to Wolves; their only defeat in 13.

• Spurs have beaten Peterborough, Leeds and Bolton in this cup run, with the aid of replays in the last two rounds.

• Jeramin Defoe is Tottenham's top scorer in this FA Cup run. His five goals includes a hat-trick against Leeds.

• Fulham have lost three of the last four in all competitions). They have completed six league and cup matches on the road without a win (D3, L3).

• They have not won away from Craven Cottage since knocking out Accrington from the FA Cup in the fourth round on January 23.

• This tie is the first time Fulham have faced Premier League opposition in this cup run. Swindon, Accrington and Notts County were all dismissed in previous rounds on their way to the last eight.

• Damien Duff and Bobby Zamora are Fulham's joint top scorers in the FA Cup this season, with two goals each.

• Zamora, Simon Davies, Stephen Kelly and Danny Murphy are all former Tottenham players, while Paul Konchesky was on loan at White Hart Lane.
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 05:21:47 PM
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/eidurs-dreaming-240310.html

Eidur's dreaming 

24 March 2010


Eidur Gudjohnsen says every footballer dreams of playing at Wembley - that dream is one win from reality again as we face Fulham in an FA Cup quarter-final replay at the Lane tonight (Wednesday, March 24).

Victory against Roy Hodgson's team will book a place against Portsmouth in the semi-finals on Sunday, April 11 and a third-successive appearance at the national stadium after our Carling Cup Finals of 2008 and 2009.

And Eidur - who told us just how much the FA Cup meant to him before our fifth round clash against Bolton - can't help but look further ahead than that as he hunts down the medal that will complete his set in English football after bagging the Premier League title, League Cup and Charity Shield with Chelsea.

"It's the one trophy missing on my CV," said Eidur, who bagged his first goal for us in Saturday's 2-1 win at Stoke. "It's a great competition and we've got a great opportunity now we're back at home. We have to go for the win and then Wembley awaits us.

"That's what every player dreams of, to play at Wembley and it's what the fans dream of as well, having a day out and not just that, going to Wembley with one eye on going back and winning the trophy."

Eidur insisted there would be no underestimating the task ahead against Fulham in tonight's replay with players and management alike suitably impressed by the Cottagers' fantastic 4-1 win to beat Italian giants Juventus over two legs in the Europa League last week.

"They've done really well," he added. "The evidence was there when we played them in the first game (a goalless draw).

"They are a good footballing side with players who have improved a lot, especially Bobby Zamora. I have to give him credit, his all-round game is very strong and he's a big threat.

"They produced an amazing result against Juventus and we know it will be a difficult game for us and one we have to be ready for."
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24.03.10)
Post by: White Noise on March 24, 2010, 05:23:49 PM
http://tottenhamonmymind.wordpress.com/2010/03/24/spurs-v-fulham-daniel-levy-and-happy-clappers/

Spurs v Fulham, Daniel Levy and Happy Clappers


March 24, 2010


Alan


No messing about. Fulham are good but tonight's match is there to be won, because we are better. The path has been laid out for us: one match from a Wembley semi-final where we will start as favourites, two league games against teams below us in the league, then the fireworks begin...

I'm in an upbeat rather than complacent frame of mind. We have to go out and win those matches, which is not straightforward. What I do believe, passionately, is that we are capable of linking high quality football with the strength of character that will see us through, even that will enable us to look forward to the challenge as opposed to fearing it. Without playing superbly, and certainly not playing with our best team, far from it, we are unbeaten in seven, five wins included. Disrupted team selection, defensive tactics, the physical approach, we've taken them all on lately and sent them packing.

Wilson is likely to return tonight: the rumours circulating round the boards that he is unfit appear to be unfounded. Otherwise, the same again with Eidur starting up front. I suspect he's not ready for 90 hectic full-on minutes, so there's just the merest thought that Harry could leave him on the bench until half time and allow the game to open up a little before he comes on. Possible but unlikely. Gudjohnson's preference for hanging back off the very front could unsettle Fulham's back four who when defending do not like to come too far forward. They will therefore be presented with a dilemma – do they desert their post to follow him, thus leaving a gap for Luka, Bale or Kranjcar to fill, or stay at home and thus provide Eidur with a bit of space. Whatever, Modric and Krancjar are once again our key men. Nico can drift in from the right and use that sledgehammer shot while Modric will buzz in the middle to move the well-organised Fulham midfield around.

On Sunday our opponents rested a few of their best as a mark of respect towards us. Although they were easily beaten in the league fixture at the Lane not so long ago, the fact that they will be sterner opposition this time is due largely to one man, Bobby Zamora. I had written him off as terminally average but relatively late in his career has been given the target man role by the canny Hodgson, thus making the most of his limited abilities. Here, expectations are clear and horizons narrow, i.e. staying fairly central, often with back to goal and hold it up or knock it off to a grateful and always willing midfield. By restricting his game, he's become more effective. He was poor in the league match but was just coming back from injury. In the away tie he tried to drift left towards Bassong rather than Dawson, but Seb did well enough. Further danger will come from Murphy's probing and Dempsey's desire to get forward.

Spurs have as ever been active in the community, and so to publicise the events there are two good interviews today with Modric  in the Times and Kranjcar in the Standard. Both are enjoying life at the Lane. Luka provides an insight into Harry's methods, describing his half- time talks when things are going badly as scarier than those of Bilic, his national coach, who I had always thought of as one hard case. This lays to rest once and for all the image of cuddly ol' Uncle Harry that he cultivates so assiduously with his media mates. I'm not bothered: I want a tough man as a leader, and Redknapp allows his men to play their natural game, once they are favoured. If not, then as Bentley, Pav and Bent all found, life can be hard.

And before I go, a word in praise of Daniel Levy. He's not been in the headlines this week, or last for that matter, and that's just the point. Although I have been heavily critical of his past dealings with managers, he knows how to run a business. That's something that cannot be said for most football clubs but years of prudence have left us financially sound. In stark contrast, Davids Gold and Sullivan are seldom more than a few feet away from a microphone and camera intoning their mantra that everyone at West Ham is rubbish, including their manager which is eminently helpful in their campaign against relegation, and that there is a rising groundswell of opinion that the club need to move to the Olympic Stadium. West Ham have fast become a byword for bad judgement under the Icelanders, the nation not the shop, although the lowliest checkout operator could have told them not to buy Dyer and Lundberg on 70k a week. I'm not that bothered about where they play, and although they hate us, I expend all my energy despising the Arse and Chelsea. And it was clever of them to pay for 30,000 clappers last night that made a booing sound.

However, when I heard Gold talking last night about 'what a good product' it was, this sticks in the throat. Football is passion and glory, joy and pain, everlasting love. It's a business too, I don't doubt that. But the idea of it being 'product' is simply abhorrent and revolting. Never, whatever your colours, never.

Look out for the Tottenham On My Mind competition to win a copy of the spanking new book 'Spurs Cult Heroes' – unsigned!! You never know, if I finish my report his afternoon, it could be up by this evening. Must get on.