Friends of Fulham

 
Fulham skipper Hangeland up for the fight

Norwegian says Cottagers have character for survival scrap

(http://i1.getwestlondon.co.uk/incoming/article6082295.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Brede-Hangeland-6082295.jpg)
Determined: Fulham captain Brede Hangeland
Brede Hangeland insists Fulham's squad have got the stomach for a relegation fight.

The Cottagers' miserable season took another turn for the worse on Tuesday night after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by League One strugglers Sheffield United.

Rene Meulensteen's men are bottom of the table, four points adrift of safety with just 14 games remaining to haul themselves clear of the drop zone.

"We are going through a very tough time," Hangeland told the club's website. "I hope this is rock bottom because there's only one way up from here.

"Everyone can be rest assured there will be no stone left unturned in the quest to resolve this. We need to work extremely hard to put our form right and start getting results.

"It's about character now and who's up for the fight. There's a lot of good guys in the dressing room who really care about this, so I'm hoping we have enough."

Fulham have a nightmare run of fixtures that sees them face Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea in their next four games.

But Hangeland added: "We're playing tough teams in the next couple of games, but we'll go into battle and see what happens."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-skipper-hangeland-up-fight-6676350? (http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-skipper-hangeland-up-fight-6676350?)

 
No Room for Excuses for David Moyes If Manchester United Fail to Beat Fulham

David Moyes has developed a bad habit.

When United lost to Stoke last weekend, he took to MUTV, (h/t Manutd.com) to bemoan United's lack of good fortune. Whilst it may have been fair to wish that Jonny Evans hadn't got injured in the opening exchanges and that Phil Jones' injury hadn't subsequently forced Michael Carrick into central defence, it was not misfortune alone that meant United did not leave the Britannia with all three points.

Neither was luck the only reason United drew with Shakhtar Donestk, lost to Swansea or suffered back-to-back losses against Newcastle and Everton.

Occasionally Moyes has acknowledged that the team's performance has not been good enough to win—as it was not in any of the above listed examples—as the Guardian reported that he did following the Capital One Cup semi-final exit.

Moyes' general reluctance to lay into his team is understandable. In a dressing room full of champions, Moyes is the odd man out.

Criticising players of that calibre is a high-risk strategy. It is not a huge leap of imagination to believe that if he does attack his players, still reigning champions, they may start asking in a more public way, what exactly it is that has changed since last season.

Moyes also knows that taking too much of the responsibility for himself is also a dangerous game to play with the press.

It would not be hard to develop a narrative based around the idea that Moyes is out of his depth at Manchester United, and his methods have only succeeded in stripping confidence and ability from his talented charges.

For Moyes to take ownership of poor performances would exacerbate this problem.

After the Stoke game Moyes said "I don't know what we have to do to win," per BBC Sport. It was a statement intended to decry the fickle fates, but read out of context it takes on an entirely different aspect.

If Moyes' men lose again to Fulham and the prospect of losing at home to the team at the bottom of the Premier League is something the Moyes era has made at least vaguely realistic, the United manager needs to find a fourth way.

Blaming luck (and referees) has become tiresome and is at least partially inaccurate. Blaming the players is a high-wire act for a manager who got the job on his personal characteristics rather than his CV.

Blaming himself could be fatal for his job.

Manchester United are, in the language of the times, in "crisis." Whether it is a long-term issue or not remains to be seen. What is certain is that this season appears to be a near write off.

The title is gone, the domestic cups are gone. Whilst it is not impossible for a hugely outmatched team to win the Champions League, United would need something akin to a miracle to defeat Europe's elite and win silverware.

A defeat to Fulham would mean that the only thing United are playing for, qualification to have another go at the Champions League next season, would move yet further out of reach.

If this does happen, Moyes has really only one option, and that is to begin a PR campaign that is all about the future. If he wants to keep the job, he needs to sell the idea that he has a plan and that the plan is not just to knock the ball out wide and hump in crosses.

United fans will stand by David Moyes for a while yet regardless, but it would not hurt for him to make it a little more comfortable to do so.

Of course, United are still favourites to beat Fulham on Sunday. But they will lose again this season, and when they do, it would be very nice not to hear about how unlucky they were.

There comes a point where that is simply not good enough.



http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1950327-no-room-for-excuses-for-david-moyes-if-manchester-united-fail-to-beat-fulham? (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1950327-no-room-for-excuses-for-david-moyes-if-manchester-united-fail-to-beat-fulham?)

 
Dimitar Berbatov 'released by Fulham'

There is some confusion over the future of Dimitar Berbatov after it emerged he has been released by Fulham.

Berbatov, 33, joined Ligue 1 title challengers Monaco on the final day of the January transfer window, reportedly on loan from Rene Meulensteen's side until the end of the season.

However, with the striker's contract at Craven Cottage having been due to expire in June, the former Manchester United man has actually signed a six-month deal at the French club, rather than joining on loan.

L'Equipe reported on Thursday that the French Football League (LFP) had confirmed to the sports daily that "it is not a loan, but a normal contract."

The paper also reported that Fulham have confirmed Berbatov no longer belongs to them.

"Fulham have loaned him to us. Perhaps he has agreed with his club to end his contract by mutual consent at the end of the season," a Monaco source is reported as saying in L'Equipe.

"Anyway, it changes nothing. He belongs to us until the end of the season."



http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1706539?&cc=5739 (http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1706539?&cc=5739)

 
Do Fulham need a change?

It would be fair to say that most Fulham fans felt that going in to Tuesday night's FA Cup replay against Sheffield United things probably couldn't get much worse than they are right now.

Sitting rock bottom of the league and boasting a combination of the leakiest defence around and a forward line lacking anything in penetration we still expected to overcome a team struggling in League 1 fairly comfortably. Despite fielding a strong side we somehow managed to surpass ourselves in our failings and managed to not only lose to a last minute goal, but fail to offer anything in terms of a threat to the opposition for the best part of 120 minutes of football.

Any leftover positive feeling from what was certainly a very active last day of the transfer window for the club was quickly put to rest on Saturday following yet another dismal display at home to Southampton. While losing is of course a major issue, the problem at Fulham at the moment is the manner in which we go about doing so.  We continue to lack any fight or passion for the cause and the starting XI resemble a group of strangers who only met an hour before kick-off. The Fulham of old were defined by their relationships on the pitch, The Hughes & Hangeland at the back, Zamora and Gera up top, Murphy and Etuhu in the middle, but now we have none of that. Last season there were signs of a good rapport between Sascha Reither and Ashkan Dejagah although the games they have played together this season can be counted on one hand.

The fact is the warning signs for Fulham have been there for a while now and the situation we find ourselves in is representative of a lack of investment over a number of seasons. We are simply not good enough at the moment and this tough run of games we have coming up is unlikely to help matters. The small ray of hope we all have is that our new acquisitions, mainly Kostas Mitroglou and Lewis Holtby, can hit the ground running and give us a new lease of life in the coming weeks. Certainly Holtby looked decent against Southampton but I can't help but feel that our inability to secure a new left-back during January will inevitably be our downfall.

We have 14 league games to save ourselves and as a club we need to stop feeling sorry for our situation. Personally I would like to see both Ray Wilkins and Alan Curbishley removed as soon as possible given the latter has never had his role defined and both detract away from Rene being held accountable for his actions. We are all in this together but having three people pulling three different ways is not going to help the cause.

That said, a couple of wins and we are back in mid-table and another 'Great Escape' could be on...

#COYW



http://www.shoot.co.uk/do-fulham-need-a-change/ (http://www.shoot.co.uk/do-fulham-need-a-change/)

 
Premier League: The closest relegation battle in history?

Ten teams are separated by just six points in the bottom half of the Premier League after 24 games, meaning this season's fight for survival is shaping up to be the most desperate yet.

The increased revenue from the £3bn television rights deal that came into effect this season has ensured playing in the top flight is more lucrative than ever before.

QPR received £39m after finishing bottom last season - but the prize for staying up this year is staggering, with the bottom side expected to receive more than £63m. 

Hardly surprising then that eight of the bottom 10 have broken their transfer record in the last two transfer windows - the only exceptions are Stoke and Sunderland.

But just how tight is this year's battle against relegation? What lessons can we learn from previous seasons? And who does BBC pundit Robbie Savage expect to go down?

Is it the tightest?
The Premier League was reduced to 20 teams in 1995-96 - since then the average number of points separating the bottom 10 teams in the table after 24 games has been 18 points.
This year it is just six.
Only once before has there been just six points between the bottom half of the table - that was in 2008-09 when West Brom, Middlesbrough and Newcastle were relegated.
That season just two points separated the bottom five teams at this stage of the season. Right now there are four points between the bottom five.

What does history tell us?
The most important number for any club looking to avoid relegation is 39.
That is the average amount of points a team finishing in 17th has picked up and thus avoided the drop since the league was reduced to 20 teams.
There are the occasional anomalies. West Ham went down with 42 points in 2002-03, the highest in a 38-game season, while West Brom stayed up with 34 points in 2004-05.
Meanwhile, the lesson from 2008-09 is clear - expect a thrilling end to the current season.
On the last day of that campaign there were four teams that could still be relegated.
Of the bottom three at this stage of the season, two were eventually relegated. Only Blackburn managed to climb to safety.

Who is in the relegation scrap?

Stoke
League position: 11th
Top scorer: Charlie Adam (eight goals)
Robbie Savage's view: Charlie Adam has lost some weight and Mark Hughes has him playing well. I think their home form will see them survive.
Did you know? The Potters have the worst away record in the league having collected just five points from a possible 36 on the road.

Swansea
League position: 12th
Top scorer: Wilfried Bony (13 goals)
Savage's view: The sacking of Michael Laudrup comes at a bizarre time. But with Wilfried Bony's 13 goals this season, even with Garry Monk and Alan Curtis in charge, I think they will survive.
Did you know? Swansea have picked up four points from their last eight league fixtures - only Saturday's opponents Cardiff have such a poor sequence of recent form.

Hull City
League position: 13th
Top scorer: Robbie Brady (four goals)
Savage's view: Hull City made good signings in January by bringing in Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic. They are also beating the teams around them in the table and that is essential for teams in their position.
Did you know? The Tigers have the eighth best defensive record in the top flight, having conceded 30 goals in 24 games.

Sunderland
League position: 14th
Top scorer : Adam Johnson (nine goals)
Savage's view: Gus Poyet has got them playing good football in terms of passion and hard work and they also have Adam Johnson, who is in fine form.
Did you know? The Black Cats were bottom at Christmas and only one team in the Premier League has stayed up when propping up the table at that stage of the season - West Brom in 2004-05.

Norwich
League position: 15th
Top scorer: Gary Hooper (seven goals)
Savage's view: Gary Hooper is their top scorer, but they have only managed one win in the league since 7 December. They need the points on the board now.
Did you know? Former Celtic striker Gary Hooper scored five goals in eight games in November and December, but has not scored in Norwich's last six league games.

West Brom
League position: 16th
Top scorer: Saido Berahino (eight goals)
Savage's view: West Brom were 11 points better off and seven places higher in the league this time last season. I just think they will have enough to stay up but it will be close.
Did you know? The Baggies are struggling to keep clean sheets this season - they have managed just one in the league since 2 November.

Crystal Palace
League position: 17th
Top scorer: Marouane Chamakh (five goals)
Savage's view: Tony Pulis has done an amazing job since arriving in late November. He's galvanised the squad, made some great signings in the January transfer window, and they have the best fans in the Premier League.
Did you know? Crystal Palace have scored 15 goals in their 24 league fixtures - the fewest in the division. They have failed to score in half of their 24 games.

West Ham
League position: 18th
Top scorer: Carlton Cole & Ravel Morrison (five goals each)
Savage's view: If they can keep Andy Carroll fit, his impact on the team, especially with team-mate Kevin Nolan alongside him, will see them just survive.
Did you know? The Hammers were bottom of the form table at the end of December following a torrid run of four defeats and two draws in six games but have collected seven points from a possible 15 in 2014.

Cardiff City
League position: 19th
Top scorer: Fraizer Campbell (seven goals)
Savage's view: I don't think they have enough quality to stay up. I can't see who is going to score six or seven goals at this stage to keep them up.
Did you know? Cardiff's away form is one of the worst in the division, with all but one of their five wins this season coming at home.

Fulham
League position: 20th
Top scorer: Steve Sidwell (six goals)
Savage's view: They have not improved under Rene Meulensteen since he came in. Their players have not responded to a new manager like those at Sunderland and Crystal Palace, which is a massively worrying sign.
Did you know? Their goal difference of -31 is the worst in the top four English football divisions.

The new manager effect
More clubs in the bottom half of the table have changed managers during the course of the current campaign than in any of the previous six seasons.

Seven managerial changes were made by this point in 2007-08, while Michael Laudrup's departure from Swansea on Tuesday means six have made way this time.

Sunderland and Crystal Palace are the biggest beneficiaries of changing managers during the season.

Since Gus Poyet replaced Paolo Di Canio on 8 October, Sunderland have picked up an average of 1.35 points per game, while Tony Pulis is averaging 1.33 per game, a marked improvement on 0.58 prior to his arrival.

Sadly for Fulham, they are yet to experience the new manager bounce.

When Martin Jol was sacked on 1 December, the Cottagers had been averaging 0.76 points per game. His replacement, Rene Meulensteen, has only marginally improved that statistic, picking up 0.82 points per game.

Who is going down?
Savage's view: "Norwich have only managed one win in the league since 7 December and I just think they are going to go down because their last four games look extremely difficult. They play Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

"Cardiff's away form is one of the worst in the division. I think because of that they will not pick up enough points. I'd love for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to keep a Welsh team in the Premier League, but I just don't think they have enough quality.

"Finally, Fulham. They can't score goals and can't defend. They were woeful in the FA Cup in midweek and I believe they will go down.

"It is so tight at the bottom from 11th down. This season is very bizarre and the three teams that I think will go down could get a couple of wins and get out of it. I'll probably be wrong but I am going to stick with my chosen three!"
Savage's verdict: Norwich, Cardiff and Fulham



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25906151? (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25906151?)

 
Were Fulham wrong to make Jacko 'Beat It'?

Perhaps Fulham owner Shahid Khan take a look at the 'Man in the Mirror' for his decision to remove the Michael Jackson statue from Craven Cottage, as it has coincided with a slump in the side's home form.

Khan's predecessor Mohamed Al Fayed was close friends with the late 'King of Pop' and erected the structure in April 2011. The following weeks saw the Cottagers claim two wins and a draw on their own patch.

The first full season in the company of Jacko was a 'Thriller' as they mustered 10 home victories and five draws, while the 2012-13 campaign saw Fulham avoid defeat another 10 times, seven of which were triumphs.

Shortly after taking over the West London club, Khan oversaw the removal of the statue last September.

Since telling the American icon to 'Beat It', things have become 'Bad'.

Fulham have endured a torrid campaign which has culminated in plummeting to the bottom of the Premier League table and suffering a humiliating FA Cup exit at the hands of League One Sheffield United.

They have picked up five wins, two of which came in the domestic cup competitions, and have not drawn a single match in their own back yard.

While nothing is ever 'Black or White' in football, Khan's decision to part with Fulham's lucky charm is certainly looking 'Dangerous'.


http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/fulham-fc-transfer-news/39855-were-fulham-wrong-to-make-jacko-beat-it.php#.UvPgyf0dObA (http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/fulham-fc-transfer-news/39855-were-fulham-wrong-to-make-jacko-beat-it.php#.UvPgyf0dObA)

 
Viewers Demand Payment After ITV4 Presenter Adrian Chiles Promises £5 To Anybody Still Watching Fulham's Turgid FA Cup Loss

Adrian Chiles has found himself nervously thumbing his wallet today after several ITV4 viewers contacted the station to demand the presenter honour his pledge to send £5 to anybody who managed to watch the whole of Fulham's dismal FA Cup replay trudger against Sheffield United on Monday night.

After the game finished 0-0 after normal time and was still goalless at half-time in extra time, Chiles – taking a momentary break from his utterly tiresome "O Roy Keane u so big n scary" shtick – muttered on camera that any viewers who hadn't fallen asleep or turned over could "write in and he would send them a fiver".

Sheffield United went on to win the turgid tie 1-0 with a late goal and, at full-time, several foolhardy fans began to Tweet ITV to ask for their £5 remuneration from Chiles:

"Hi @ITV Adrian Chiles said if anyone was watching they'd get £5 sent out to them. How do I go about claiming this? Cheers"

"Adrian Chiles promises everyone still watching @itv4 £5. There are four of us watching here... ;)"

"Adrian Chiles owes me £5 for sticking with this game as promised then... I'll also claim £4.38 for having to listen to Clarke Carlisle #zzzz"

Another viewer who, for reasons unbeknownst, went the distance and watched the whole affair, Mr Peter Hyam, even went as far as emailing ITV directly, writing:

"I'm currently watching Fulham v Sheffield United on ITV4. It's an awful game. Possibly the worst I've ever seen. But I'm still persisting.

"At half time in extra time Adrian Chiles said 'if you're still watching, write in and we'll send you a fiver each'. This is obviously a stupid thing for any presenter to say – and I doubt it was on the cue cards.

"However, I'd like my fiver please. If not then I shall formally complain about your dreadful presenter lying to the one viewer.

"I'd prefer it in cash or cheque ... Alternatively a signed photo of Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield would do."

Alas, we don't think Chiles should be overly concerned about keeping up his end of the bargain – looks like it's going to cost him about £20!


http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/fail/184415/viewers-demand-payment-after-itv4-presenter-adrian-chiles-promises-5-to-anybody-still-watching-fulhams-turgid-fa-cup-loss.html? (http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/fail/184415/viewers-demand-payment-after-itv4-presenter-adrian-chiles-promises-5-to-anybody-still-watching-fulhams-turgid-fa-cup-loss.html?)

 
Chelsea Tickets

Tickets for the SW6 derby are already on sale, with Season Ticket Holders and Members having exclusive access to up to four tickets each.

Make sure you're at the Cottage for one of the biggest games of the season on Saturday 1st March (3pm) by purchasing your tickets today.

If you don't currently have access to tickets, you can sign up to become an Adult Member from just £20, or a Junior Member for just £5. Find out more at fulhamfc.com/membership.


SW6 Derby Hospitality

Hospitality packages remain available to buy in our George Cohen Restaurant and Haynes Lounge. Alternatively, why not take up a spot in one of our Executive Suites, where you can enjoy the SW6 derby in comfort. Full package details are available here, and supporters can buy online or call 020 8336 7555 today.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/06/chelsea-tickets? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/06/chelsea-tickets?)

 
From 'bargain of the century' to Fulham: Lewis Holtby's year at Spurs

Spurs correspondent Ben Pearce looks back at Lewis Holtby's year at Tottenham following his loan move to Fulham on deadline day.

When Lewis Holtby arrived at Tottenham for £1.5million last January, it was hailed as a major coup.

At the time, Andre Villas-Boas was asked whether the Germany Under-21 captain might be "the bargain of the century" and the Portuguese replied: "Yes I think so", before comparing his creative talents to Rafael van der Vaart.

"He's recognised as an exceptional young talent and we have high expectations of the player," added Villas-Boas. "He will fill the No10 position, although he can play on the right or the left and he has also played in a holding role."

Holtby ended up playing in all of those positions during his year at White Hart Lane, but he never really found a home in the Spurs side – and just one year after his arrival, he has departed on loan to Fulham.

Holtby was certainly unfortunate that, having been told he would "fill the No10 position", his arrival coincided with Gareth Bale's switch from the left flank into the centre - no-one needs reminding of how successful that was.

Spurs' new signing therefore found himself operating in wide positions instead, and he played in 17 of Spurs' last 21 games of the season – but he ended the campaign with no goals and just two assists.

The general feeling was that Spurs fans would see the best of Holtby the following season – this season – and he seemed to feel the same way.

Speaking in July, he said: "I moved to a different league with no pre-season, and after two days I was playing my first game. It was very quick and that half-season went very quickly – it was Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday.

"With the pre-season now, it's a brilliant opportunity for me, and especially for the coach to get me where I can play best."

That suggested that Holtby was still unsure where he would fit into Villas-Boas' side, and he went on: "With my running ability I think I can play as an attacking No6 or as a defensive No6 - I can always come back to my position. I love having the game in front of me and getting on the ball a lot, and I think this position suits me.

"As you have seen probably so far, I've played every position here – on the left wing, right wing, No10, No6, No8, No9 and a half - name every number. But I think that's a good thing to have, if you can play more than one position."

Tottenham's hierarchy clearly agreed because they flooded the squad with similarly versatile players, adding Nacer Chadli, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen to the likes of Holtby, Andros Townsend and Gylfi Sigurdsson.

The young German now had a real fight on his hands, and he was hampered by an injury – sustained at the European Under-21 Championships – which ruled him out of Spurs' pre-season friendlies and sidelined him for the start of the season.

He eventually returned in the home leg of the Europa League play-off against Georgian minnows Dinamo Tbilisi, and got his first Spurs goal in a 3-0 home win.

Jermain Defoe also struck twice that night and, with Holtby now getting his chance to play as a No10 behind the English striker, the pair built a strong relationship.

Holtby went on to play the penultimate or final pass in six of Spurs' eight goals against Tromso (3-0), Cardiff (1-0) and Aston Villa (4-0 in the Capital One Cup) in the space of six days – with Defoe scoring four of them.

The policy of pairing Eriksen-Soldado in the league and Holtby-Defoe in the cups appeared to be paying dividends - Eriksen and Soldado combined nicely to set up Sigurdsson's opener against Chelsea in the following game.

However, Villas-Boas opted to change things up – possibly to reward Holtby, who got his first Premier League start of the season behind Soldado away at Villa and played the penultimate pass in the Spaniard's goal (which remains his last strike in open play).

Holtby was now showing what he could do as a No10, and his passion, work-rate and eternally sunny disposition made him a firm favourite with the fans - and the media.

He kept his place for the top-flight fixtures against Hull and Everton – but Tottenham mustered just one goal in those games, and Holtby was partly at fault.

With frustratingly little space to operate in against Hull's five-man defence, it was noticeable that the No10 was dropping deep to get on the ball, taking it off the centre-backs and then bemoaning the lack of options in front of him – precisely the job he should have been doing as the link-man.

It was telling to note Holtby's words a few months earlier: "I love having the game in front of me and getting on the ball a lot." Unfortunately, he was being asked to perform a very different task.

Villas-Boas reinstated Eriksen for the home game against Newcastle (a 1-0 defeat), underlining the head coach's difficulty in selecting his best team, but the Dane was then injured on international duty.

Holtby consequently started away at Manchester City but he was substituted at half-time in the 6-0 defeat and was benched for the following three games, with Villas-Boas now preferring to play Paulinho off Soldado.

The new tactic didn't work away at Fulham, and Holtby was introduced at the interval, initially operating as a No10 before dropping into a deeper-lying role – and it was he who struck the winner from 20 yards.

Having previously played wide and in a central position at Spurs, he now had a new place in the side and, two games later, he was on target again in the 4-1 home win over Anzhi.

Holtby reflected: "Against Fulham I got my goal when I played in that No6 role, so I think when I come from that deeper position on the ball I can have a crack on the goal.

"If I play as No10, then their No6 takes me on, but at No6 no-one really follows you so I have so much space."

It seemed that Holtby was offering a new dimension to a Spurs team who had previously been struggling for goals – but five days later Villas-Boas was gone, following the 5-0 home defeat against Liverpool.

Suddenly there was a new manager and a new 4-4-2 formation, and it quickly became apparent that there was no room for Holtby, who made just one start under Sherwood and found the little-known 19-year-old Nabil Bentaleb ahead of him in the pecking order.

By now he cut a frustrated figure - especially after the 2-0 home win over Palace. Leaving the ground after being an unused substitute, the German was unfortunately mistaken for the man of the moment as a journalist, who wanted an interview, shouted "Eriksen!" at him.

It was no surprise to see Holtby departing in search of first-team action last week, and his agent Marcus Noack said: "The system and philosophy how Fulham plays fits well with Lewis.

"He will have match practice in the second half of the season in his favourite position, and then we'll see how things are going by summer."

It seemed that Holtby was something of a 'jack of all trades, master of none' at Tottenham – he could play a number of positions but was rarely the first choice in any of them.

He struggled to get goals and assists out wide last season and, although he had a purple spell at No10 in the cup competitions, he was unable to maintain that form when he got his chance in the Premier League.

Then, when it seemed that the German might get a run of games in a deeper-lying role, Villas-Boas was sacked – and Sherwood clearly prefers his rivals in his four-man midfield.

The chance to play regularly as a key player at Fulham will be a relief for Holtby – and it is win-win situation for Tottenham, who cannot really lose in the long-term after paying a paltry £1.5m for his services.

Either Holtby will benefit from a run of Premier League games and force his way back into the picture at Spurs – as Townsend did after impressing with QPR last year - or he will put himself in the shop window and make a healthy profit in the summer.



http://www.london24.com/sport/tottenham/from_bargain_of_the_century_to_fulham_lewis_holtby_s_year_at_spurs_1_3287894 (http://www.london24.com/sport/tottenham/from_bargain_of_the_century_to_fulham_lewis_holtby_s_year_at_spurs_1_3287894)

 
Fulham on alert over German goalkeeper

(http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/images/news/39857/638x0/fulham-on-alert-over-german-goalkeeper.jpg)
Christian Wetklo (Reuters)

Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen has been alerted to the availability of Mainz goalkeeper Christian Wetklo.

The 34-year-old's future at the Bundesliga side is very much in doubt after coach Thomas Tuchel has seemingly demoted him to a virtually permanent position on the bench, down the pecking order behind Loris Karius and Dario Kresic.

Tuchel said: "I need someone who sits [on the bench] with joy, desire and ambition. When we got Dario Kresic the ranking was clear."

Fulham have been on the look-out for someone to fill the number one spot on a regular basis and Wetklo could meet their needs and a summer bid could be in the making with Wetklo making the move to the Premier League.


http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/premier-league-news/39857-fulham-on-alert-over-german-goalkeeper.php#.UvPiAf0dObA (http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/premier-league-news/39857-fulham-on-alert-over-german-goalkeeper.php#.UvPiAf0dObA)

 
Hangeland Calls for Unity
   
I`m probably not alone in reckoning that our poor run of Premier League form truly took hold when Brede Hangeland was ruled out with a nerve problem.

Matters went from bad to worse, results hit a new low and the rot set in.

Well now our Norwegian centre-back is back from injury and is looking for a change in fortunes, hopefully believing we`ve hit rock bottom and the only way is up.

Talking about our problems, the Norwegian has remarked,

"We are going through a very tough time. I hope this is rock bottom.

"I can understand the frustration of the supporters and hope they get behind us

"There will be no stone unturned in the quest to solve this. It`s about who is up for the fight."

I can`t help think that the last line resembles fighting talk from the Norse legend; let`s hope that words are backed up with actions!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=348642#ixzz2sZWatHdi (http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=348642#ixzz2sZWatHdi)

 
The Mitroglou Conundrum
   
Did anyone give this one any really serious thought?

Okay, on paper, the signing of the Olympiakos striker Kostas Mitroglou might look to be a decent long-term acquisition but, with our Premier League survival the be-all and end-all of it, on a short term basis he may not be the man for the job.

It transpires that the twenty-five year old has only played; somewhere near, sixty minutes of football since the Greek season closed for its winter break. There`s also the small matter of the player having an injury when he arrived, something Rene Meulensteen has confirmed by remarking to the media,

"Kostas had an injury but we have been working hard with our conditioning staff to get him ready."

At the time of writing (or should that be typing) there are doubts that Kostas will be available for our trip to Old Trafford, for our fixture against Manchester United, a fixture few expect us to get anything from thereby leaving us rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table and, possibly, cast adrift of those immediately above us in the table.

Now I`ve always thought that January signings, with the season well past the halfway mark, were supposed to make an immediate impact, but with regards to Kostas and I should hasten to point out it is not his fault, this doesn`t appear to be the case.

Let`s hope it`s not a case of delivering the goods when it is too late!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=348643#ixzz2sZWlBu9X (http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=348643#ixzz2sZWlBu9X)

 
A Knee in the Nuts!
   
Otherwise engaged yesterday, probably sulking at our embarrassing cup exit at the hands of League One Sheffield United, this little gem slipped through without comment.

Now safe in the luxurious surroundings of Monaco our Bulgarian striker, Dimitar Berbatov, has commented about why he chose to leave West London for Monaco in the last knockings of the transfer window being open.

Berbatov politely tries to explain that he chose to move because he didn`t want to play a style of football that sends people to sleep.

Coming from somebody who was at one time this season, given the responsibility of captaining the side, those words feel like a kick in the nuts, or, perhaps, after those words Dimitar deserves a kick in the nuts!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=348644#ixzz2sZWwKXfd (http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=348644#ixzz2sZWwKXfd)

 
Fulham Had £5m Bid for Sporting Lisbon Star Rejected in January – Report

(http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/414180/jonny-heitinga.jpg?w=500&h=334&l=50&t=50)
Fulham finally signed John Heitinga on deadline day.

Fulham tried to sign Sporting Lisbon centre-back Marcos Rojo during the January transfer window but as the Portuguese side rejected their £5m offer the English side finally opted to sign former Everton defender John Heitinga instead.

The Cottagers, who are trying to avoid relegation to the Championship, had a very busy transfer window, bolstering the squad with Olymipakos striker Konstantinos Mitroglou, Tottenham Midfielder Lewis Holtby, Everton defender Heitinga and Manchester United youngsters Ryan Tunnicliffe and Larnell Cole.

However Portuguese newspaper A Bola claimed that the London club were frustrated in their attempts to sign Rojo, who was manager Rene Meulensteen's top target to strengthen his defence.

According to A Bola, Fulham launched a £5m bid on deadline day to secure the services of the Argentinian defender but Sporting President Bruno Carvalho immediately rejected the move as they considered the bid very low.

According to the reports, the Portuguese side are willing to let Rojo leave the team this summer, but they wanted to keep the player in January as his value is likely to increase after the 2014 World Cup.

The 23-year-old Argentina international is one of the most promising players in Portugal and is set to make the trip to Brazil next summer after being part of the national team in recent friendlies.

When Rojo's deal failed, Fulham finally decided to complete the signing of Everton centre-back John Heitinga on a free transfer to replace Philippe Senderos, who joined Spanish side Valencia on deadline day.

Apart from the departure of Senderos, Brian Ruiz left Craven Cottage to join PSV Eindhoven, Aaron Hughes joined Queens Park Rangers and Dimitar Berbatov completed a loan move to Monaco.

Fulham are currently on the bottom of the Premier League after their latest 3-0 defeat against Southampton at Craven Cottage.



http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/fulham-had-5m-bid-sporting-lisbon-star-rejected-january-report-1435378? (http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/fulham-had-5m-bid-sporting-lisbon-star-rejected-january-report-1435378?)

 
Meet the man who can save Fulham's miserable season

(http://images.cdn.fourfourtwo.com/sites/fourfourtwo.com/files/styles/main-image-landscape/public/kostas-mitroglou-olympiakos.jpg?itok=d6RcfUOV)

Fulham's deadline-day signing of Greek striker Kostantinos Mitroglou is already causing a stir. But is it a stroke of genius from the Cottagers, or a huge risk on an unproven player? George Tsitsonis sheds light on the man Rene Meulensteen's men are banking on, ahead of his likely debut against Manchester United...
Fulham's pursuit of Kostas Mitroglou ended with a deadline-day deal which saw the London side get their man for a club record £12.4 million.

The 25-year-old comes to England with strong pedigree in Greek football, but questions about his suitability for a Premier League relegation scrap are already in the air. Fulham are struggling at the bottom of the league, after all, and will need goals from their new man immediately to stand a chance of avoiding the drop.

Mitroglou's switch to Craven Cottage was a surprise. Many top level clubs on the continent had shown an interest in snapping up the Greece man, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Borussia Dortmund, but it seems Mitroglou's move to west London was driven by one thing above all else: playing at the top level. Those close to the striker insist it's the player's greatest motivation, and at Fulham he is guaranteed the chance to prove himself. A brief glance at his past proves the importance of first-team football to him.

This won't be Mitroglou's first time playing away from his homeland. The player known as 'The Pistolero' for his gun-toting celebrations, was born in Greece but began his playing career in Germany after his family emigrated there when he was two years old. The striker made inroads as a youngster at MSV Duisburg, before moving on to Borussia Mönchengladbach four years later, where he impressed in die Fohlen's second string.

Although eligible to play for Germany, Mitroglou quickly pledged allegiance to his birth country. A superb showing for Greece at the 2007 U19 European Championship saw him net three goals and lead his country to the final, where they lost to Spain. On the way, Mitroglou led Greece past the semi-finals against a Germany side which included the likes of Mesut Özil, Jerome Boateng, Benedikt Höwedes and Sidney Sam.

Having lit up the U19 Bundesliga with Gladbach, his progress was monitored by several Greeks clubs, and Olympiakos signed him in 2007. The talented youngster was tipped for big things with the Greek giants, but things didn't quite work out as planned. Initially he enjoyed a solid first season for the Piraeus club, and played his part in their title-winning campaign of 2007/08 with seven goals. Then, [current Athletic Club boss] Ernesto Valverde took the reins in 2008 - and the Spaniard's first impression of the player was not a good one. Mitroglou missed a penalty in a Champions' League qualifier away to Anorthosis, having defied the coach's orders for a different player take the spot-kick.

It proved the start of the pair's uneasy relationship. Valverde enjoyed success with the club over two spells (2008-09 and 2010-12), but Mitroglou played only sporadically. Suddenly there were questions about the player's character and his commitment to training. Mitroglou's time at Olympiakos looked to be running out.

Two loan spells in consecutive seasons revitalised the striker's career. When Mitroglou joined Panionios in January 2011, the Athens-based side were rooted to the bottom of the table. Four months later they finished a respectable 10th in the league, 10 points clear of the drop. Fulham supporters will be glad to know that the catalyst for that remarkable turnaround was their new man, eight goals in 11 matches for 'Mitrogoal' saving the club from near-certain relegation.

Still, though, the Greek's goalscoring exploits weren't enough to convince Valverde. A season-long loan to Atromitos followed, and Mitroglou continued his fine form by leading his new side to third with 16 league goals, second only to current Everton forward [and then-Olympiakos man] Kevin Mirallas.

The two loan stints showcased Mitroglou's greatest strengths. First was his finishing - the calmness with which he could find the net from any position - and, just as important, his ability to create chances for himself. Mitroglou's creativity and one-on-one moves in the box were responsible for many unassisted goals.

Upon his return, with Valverde gone at the 2011/12 season's end, Mitroglou finally got his real chance with Olympiakos. The goal-getting hitman snatched the opportunity too, finishing the season with 20 goals from just over 40 matches. It was the precursor to this season, and his true breakthrough year. The statistics speak for themselves:  23 goals in 25 matches, top scorer in the Greek Super League, a hat-trick against Anderlecht in the Champions League (the first Greek player to do so), and six goals for Greece, including three crucial strikes in the two-legged World Cup qualification play-off against Romania that put his nation in the pot for Brazil.

Greece boss Fernando Santos probably encapsulated Mitroglou's rise to prominence best when he said: "The Mitroglou I see now is much different than the one I first saw with the national team. He has changed as a player, but also as a character. He is much more calm and it shows with his play on the pitch."

What you see is not exactly what you get with Mitroglou. While his numerous tattoos and facial hair point to an extrovert, the truth is that Mitroglou is a humble star ill at ease in front of cameras and during interviews. In Greece he was sometimes criticised for not being completely fluent, but this is a player who prefers to do his talking on the pitch.

Coming from a league of a lower standard, it's only natural that some are yet to be convinced that he can do the business in England. But Mitroglou's improvement over the last three years has been down to his insatiable hunger to become a top player in Europe. The Premier League could be the perfect place to show off his skills. Mitroglou's size, strength and combination play make him an ideal target man, but he is more than just a good hold-up player. He should endear himself to Fulham supporters with his creativity in attack and impressive range of his goals, as a player equally at home in the penalty box as he is operating outside the area.

He does not yet have the Premier League pedigree of the recently departed Dimitar Berbatov, but his deft touches and inventiveness in the penalty box will remind some of the Bulgarian. Surely, the Greek's work-rate will succeed that of his predecessor, and those taking in matches at Craven Cottage will see no shortage of effort from a true two-footed finisher who is also strong in the air.

Keeping up with the speed of the English game is something the striker will have to prove, but first get used to. Though not exactly slow, a lack of obvious pace may be an issue. There will also be questions of his stamina over 90 minutes in the cut and thrust of English football.

Still, the positives seem to outweigh the negatives and Fulham obviously trust the player's abilities. It is worth remembering that Mitroglou's admirers over the last six months have included the likes of Arsene Wenger, who labelled him "a true finisher who can't be ignored", and Jürgen Klopp, who travelled to Romania for the second leg of that World Cup play-off and reportedly liked what he saw.

Mitroglou's former Olympiakos team-mate Roy Carroll believes Fulham are onto something special with their Greece international. The former Manchester United goalkeeper likened the striker to a player who left an indelible mark on the English game: "He is 25 and is hungry and passionate for football. Eric Cantona was a superb player, one of the best. I used to watch Cantona hold the ball up high. Mitroglou is that type of player. He is very strong too."

Only time will tell if Carroll's comparisons are wide of the mark, or whether they possess some degree of truth. But knowing Mitroglou's journey from unappreciated loane to established star, Fulham fans can expect full commitment from their new man in troubled times.



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Why Fulham could be relegated before April

(http://gms.cachefly.net/images/1d5763c193d132127d4de4d10dd002c6/130361724496370650/650x420/top.jpg)
Fulham will need to find inspiration from somewhere. (©GettyImages)

Fulham may only be four points from safety with 14 games to play, but they'll be lucky to still be a Premier League club on April Fool's Day.

Made to look foolish a few weeks early against Sheffield United on Tuesday night. Crashing out of the FA Cup, 1-0 at home to the League One outfit, looked like a scary preview of what's to come over the next seven weeks.

So just when three points would serve as a light relief to Rene Meulensteen, his boy's next outing is at Manchester United. Old Trafford has hardly been a fortress this season, but Fulham will not be as fortunate as others.

United are coming off the back of an 'unlucky' defeat to Stoke, in David Moyes words, and cannot afford any more slip ups if they want to finish in the top four. Though he may rest one or two for the trip to Arsenal three days later, Moyes could send any pair from Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Juan Mata or Adnan Januzaj onto the pitch Sunday to spark a routine win.

In truth, no one goes to Old Trafford expecting to gain points, so Meulensteen may have written this one off and looked towards next week instead. The visit of Liverpool. Oh.

Their following six games don't really get any easier either. An away day at West Brom presents a hopeful chance of a much-needed victory, before a London derby against in-form Chelsea at Craven Cottage. Away at Cardiff and home to Newcastle may be their chance to pick up some more points, before heading to the Etihad to face Manchester City, then finally hosting high-flying Everton in their last game in March.

It's not impossible for Fulham to spring a few upsets, after all, clubs fighting relegation often step up their game. That's why it may be worrying that their two games against teams from the bottom half and also staving off relegation, are both away from home.

And, while Fulham may feel the fixture list is conspiring against them, they need to look closer to home. They've lost their most classy player, in Dimitar Berbatov, to Monaco, and while some may say he's not the sort of player you want in a relegation scrap, neither Cardiff, West Ham or Crystal Palace would have turned him away in this moment.

Their most promising and proven goalscorer, Darren Bent, has made most of his Premier League bows from the sub's bench, although he's only managed two goals all season. His attitude has been questioned, however his goalscoring ability cannot be. He just needs a start. Though Fulham fans will hope new signing, Konstantinos Mitroglou, may be able to shoulder some of the scoring burden.

At the other end of the pitch, the Cottagers have leaked 53 goals this season, 12 more than the next worse team, Cardiff. Yet Fulham chose to mostly strengthen their team in offensive positions in the transfer window. Bringing in Lewis Holtby and Clint Dempsey, as well as Mitroglou.

They did however bring in Johnny Heitinga, after losing long-serving defender, Aaron Hughes. His experience may do something for the cause, however his World Cup Finalist friend, Maarten Stekelenburg, must be wondering why he swapped Rome for West London.

Only six points separate the Lilywhites from Stoke in 11th, their performances are going to need to improve, against considerably better opposition than Sheffield United, or risk being too far adrift by time they travel to Aston Villa on the 5th of April.

Fulham are going to have to pull together to get out of this hole and avoid their first relegation from the Premier League. Their saving grace may be that due to things being so tight down the bottom, they may need a smaller total than 40 points to survive.

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DISCLAIMER: This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article. GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.


http://www.givemesport.com/428027-why-fulham-could-be-relegated-before-april?autoplay=on (http://www.givemesport.com/428027-why-fulham-could-be-relegated-before-april?autoplay=on)

 
Roberts' Pro Deal

The Club is pleased to announce that Patrick Roberts has signed a professional contract with the Club, tying him to Fulham until at least the summer of 2016.

Having dazzled as Fulham Under-18s won the league last season, the attacking midfielder has continued his form this time around, notably when he recently scored a hat-trick in the 3-2 FA Youth Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

Capable of playing out wide or in the hole behind a central striker, Roberts' progress has been excellent and he was duly rewarded with a debut for the Under-21s earlier in the campaign, aged just 16.

His form has not gone unnoticed at international level, either, and he has made a number of appearances for England Under-17s this season.

"Pat has made excellent progress and we're pleased with the performances he has been showing," said Academy Director Huw Jennings. "He knows that he has to continue to work hard, but if he shows the same application, desire and determination there's no reason why he can't be very successful.

"He's the type of player that is exciting to watch, and he's had a very good 12 months for both Fulham and England. We hope that he will be one of the standard-bearers for our Academy for many years to come."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/06/roberts-pro-deal? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/06/roberts-pro-deal?)

 
A Modified Approach?
   
More mumbo-jumbo?

Old Trafford isn`t the best of places to have to visit when you consider our current predicament.

But then again it isn`t the fortress it once was!

As we contemplate a trip to the north-west to try and get something from a game many suspect we won`t, Rene Meulensteen is looking towards the recent January transfer window signings to turn things around at the club with Rene remarking,

"Hopefully the new players coming in can help."

"We are trying hard to get out of it but there is not a quick fix."

"Am I looking for more fight?"

"Absolutely. There`s no two ways about it.

"The only way to get out of this mess is to have a stack of totally committed players who want to work and do the necessary job.

Because of where we are, the job has to change slightly

We have to be more disciplined defensively, more organized, instead of just flying forward."

Or to put it in terms many would understand a lot better - let`s get some bloody points on the board no matter how we do it!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=348675#ixzz2sZZNy0go (http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=348675#ixzz2sZZNy0go)

 
Inside Old Trafford

Ahead of Sunday's trip to Manchester United, Red Devils fan James Bridges provides us with the lowdown on his team.



Following Sir Alex Ferguson's departure and the subsequent arrival of David Moyes this was always likely to be a season of transition for United. What's your assessment of the campaign to date?

We've never really got going. I applaud Moyes for making his own judgement on players and not being steered by others, it shows that he's a strong person. I think it's been a learning curve for him, as it's a completely different job than the one he was used to at Everton.


It's fair to say, like Fulham, January was a bit of a testing month for you guys...

It didn't start well following three defeats, but things looked better against Swansea City in the league. Five defeats in seven games isn't good enough, but it's onwards and upwards now hopefully. So the month of January was a little up and down to say the least.


With 14 games remaining, what's the target now for United?

It's very simple, we need to win all 14 games. I'm sure fans of rival clubs have already written us off but, as United supporters know, it's never over until it's over.


Fulham go in search of what would prove a vital win when they make the trip to Old Trafford. What sort of game do you anticipate?

Fulham need the points as they're determined to move off from the bottom. I'm surprised by their position in the table, and Sunday's game could be tough for us. With the season we've had so far, it's a difficult one to call.


René Meulensteen, our Head Coach, obviously spent time at Old Trafford. The United fans were disappointed to see him go weren't they?

René was seen as a big loss, as he was very popular with both the players and the fans. I'm sure he's relishing the chance of overseeing a Fulham win at Old Trafford. With the exception of a few that have come in since his departure, he'll know all about the United players.

We signed two young players from your club last week, Larnell Cole and Ryan Tunnicliffe - what can you tell us about them?

Cole was a regular for our Under-21 side, and he scored some important goals at that level. He was highly-rated, but it's a good chance for him at Fulham. Tunnicliffe is a local Manchester lad and someone that plays with real grit. He was part of the Under-18 side that won the FA Youth Cup in 2011 and impressed during loan spells at Peterborough United, Barnsley and Ipswich Town, according to reports. They were signed with one eye on the future, and hopefully they'll do well at Craven Cottage.

Juan Mata came in for United during the recent transfer window, what does he bring to the team?

While he may not be the quickest player in the league, he's certainly one of the most skilful; he's inventive and uses the ball well. He creates chances, and that's what we've been really lacking. With Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie feeding off him, it should be the dream ticket.

Mata lined up alongside Van Persie and Rooney in the match against Stoke City. Although the result wasn't what you had hoped for, that attacking trio is one of the best in the league isn't it?

It is, and if it they click they could prove to be a devastating mix. We're talking about three tremendous talents and each one brings something different to the team. It may take a few weeks to get going, but I'm confident United fans will see a return of some excellent attacking football.

Which United players have stood out for you this season?

Rooney was brilliant before his injury, and Adnan Januzaj has emerged as a genuine talent - the youngster has been a real bonus this season. It was no secret that he was going to be a good player, but Moyes has done well to bring him in and give him the confidence to play. The youngster was given a chance, and he's certainly taken it.


Which visiting players do you think could prove the biggest threat to your chances on Sunday?

The loan signing of Lewis Holtby is a good move and, while I haven't seen a great deal of him, the lad from Olympiacos, Konstantinos Mitroglou, is well regarded. If he does make his debut for Fulham at Old Trafford, then I'd certainly mark him down as a threat. Thanks for signing him, though, as he can't play in the UEFA Champions League when we face his former team!

Can you recommend a good place for the Fulham fans to grab a pint before the game?

I was only talking about this the other day. Over the years there has been a rapid decline in the number of pubs around Old Trafford and now most are for 'home fans only' so the away fans will have to make do with one of the pubs or bars in the city centre, where there will be plenty of choice.

Do you have a stand-out memory from games between United and Fulham of the past?

We've got a good record against Fulham, barring a couple of exceptions at Craven Cottage. I'd probably say my stand-out memory would be Cristiano Ronaldo's 88th-minute winner in a 2-1 victory in London in February 2007. It was a goal that moved us nine points clear at the top.

Can we move you into making a score prediction for the match ahead - how will this one finish?

Afraid not, I just never make predictions on United's games - I don't want to jinx anything!



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/06/inside-ot? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/06/inside-ot?)

 
Premier League: Patrick Roberts signs first Fulham deal

(http://e0.365dm.com/14/02/16-9/20/PatrickRoberts_3079304.jpg?20140206182516)
Patrick Roberts: Professional deal at Fulham

Fulham youngster Patrick Roberts has signed his first professional contract with the club.

The attacking midfielder only turned 17 on Wednesday but he has already impressed at Craven Cottage, helping the Londoners secure the U18s league title last season.

The England U17 international recently scored a hat-trick in the 3-2 FA Youth Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur and that has seen him rewarded with a first deal until at least 2016.

"Pat has made excellent progress and we're pleased with the performances he has been showing," academy director Huw Jennings told the club's official website.

"He knows that he has to continue to work hard, but if he shows the same application, desire and determination, there's no reason why he can't be very successful."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9153454/? (http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9153454/?)

 
Rodallega unhappy with Meulentsteen

Hugo Rodallega has accused Rene Meulensteen of showing him a "lack of respect" and stated the manager's decision to substitute him in Fulham's FA Cup defeat to Sheffield United left him broken hearted.

The 28-year-old was visibly upset when hauled off after just 59 minutes as Fulham crashed out of the Cup with a 1-0 loss, and he made his unhappiness even clearer when interviewed on TV station Win Sport in his native Colombia.

Rodallega is understood to be angling for a move to Everton in the summer, to link up with his former Wigan manager Roberto Martinez. While the Colombia forward enjoyed an excellent relationship with the Spaniard, that does not seem the case with Meulensteen.

"I have never experienced what happened [on Tuesday] and it is something that keeps me awake at night," Rodallega said.

"I love this sport and I always want to do things right and keep my starting place. I have had a clean career, without trouble or disciplinary problems. What happened [in being seen to cry] was rage, frustration and the desire to keep playing.

"It was a lack of respect on the part of the coach. They always tend keep the front players on, whatever happens, and I feel he went too far. I didn't play a good pass and was taken off only minutes after the second half started. That broke my heart."



http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1706969?&cc=5739 (http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1706969?&cc=5739)

 
So, At Home To Arsenal Or Away To Doncaster?

When Martin Jol was relieved of his duties as Fulham manager on the 1st December, many Fulham fans would have been forgiven for breathing a sigh of relief.

Languishing in 18th place in the Premiership, with a return of three wins, one draw and nine losses from the first thirteen games of the season, it was clear that something needed to be done to bring the smiles back in SW6. Enter fellow Dutchman, owner of one of the strangest accents in football, Rene Meulensteen.

When Meulensteen was appointed as Martin Jol's assistant there was a widespread feeling throughout the football community that Jol has signed his own p45.  Although Meulensteen had failed previous attempts at bridging the gap from coach to manager, notably at Brøndby and Anzhi, his pedigree as trusted assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson meant  the majority of  Fulham fans were happy with the appointment.

Fast forward two months, and Fulham fans will be wandering what exactly has changed.

Ex-Fulham captain Danny Murphy was the first to address the situation by claiming that Meulensteen is too similar to his predecessor. Speaking on the Colin Murray show, Murphy said:

He is quite similar to Martin from what I can gather. Martin was a coach, he is always out on the training pitch, and I think Meulensteen is the same.

Similar nationalities, similar traits in some ways and I think they went like-for-like rather than a different extreme, which can give you a reaction."

Besides the obvious link to Holland, Murphy believes that both managers have a similar coaching style, which has failed to spark the reaction new owner Shahid Khan was looking for.

Comparing the records makes for grim reading, with Meulensteen only able to add three wins in his eleven games in charge, losing eight times. Worryingly for Fulham, Meulensteen hasn't been able to address the leaky defence either, shipping a further 29 goals, compared to Jol's tally of 24.
This included a humbling six-nil second half capitulation against Hull. Both Fulham sides are lining up with a similar 4-2-3-1 formation, which so far has left the frontman isolated, and required too much work-rate for the aging legs of Scott Parker, Steve Sidwell and Giorgios Karagounis, leaving the back four constantly exposed.
So is all hope lost for Fulham? The simple answer is no.

There is no doubting that Fulham need to drastically improve, but judging Meulensteen on his first eleven games in charge is futile, as he was working with Martin Jol's squad. In the January transfer window, Meulensteen was able to stretch his financial muscle, and he will be ecstatic with the signings made.

Fulham brought in a goalscorer in Kostas Mitroglou, offsetting the loss of Dimitar Berbatov, who, although at times genius, is not the fighter you need in a relegation scrap.

The signing of Lewis Holtby on loan from Tottenham will add the much needed creativity and work ratethat was missing from Bryan Ruiz and Adel Taarabt. Although the chances are slim, Holtby will be fighting for a spot in the German world cup squad, as well as his Tottenham future.

He was also able to add the premiership experience of John Heitinga, and the much needed injection of youth from former United youngsters Larnell Cole and Ryan Tunicliffe, who Meulensteen knows well from his time in Manchester. These signing have given Fulham a fighting chance of avoiding relegation, although the next two fixtures, against Manchester United and Liverpool do not bode well.

Ultimately, if Fulham do stay up, then expect the new signings to be instrumental in the rise up the table.

Fulham may benefit from the fact that, with so many other teams struggling, there will be 3 or 4 teams that stay up without deserving it. In bringing the age of the squad down, and shipping out the deadwood at craven cottage that Jol compiled, Meulensteen has already upgraded Fulham. However, the acid test for his managerial career will be whether they start next season at home to Arsenal, or away to Doncaster.



http://threeandin.com/archives/34634? (http://threeandin.com/archives/34634?)

 
Warburton, Trotta Nominated

Continuing good form has earned Brentford Manager Mark Warburton and striker Marcello Trotta nominations for the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month and Player of the Month awards for January. Warburton will be looking to complete an extraordinary double. He was named Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month for December, exactly a month after taking charge. Trotta scored three goals for The Bees in January and set up two more.


http://www.griffinpark.org/forums/showthread.php?t=109544&p=2307814#post2307814 (http://www.griffinpark.org/forums/showthread.php?t=109544&p=2307814#post2307814)

 
Clint Dempsey trying to regain form

A little more than four months before the U.S. World Cup opener, Clint Dempsey is trying to regain his form.

He set a record for an American in Europe with 23 goals for Fulham two seasons ago and earned a transfer to Tottenham, a wealthier and more prestigious London club.

After scoring just 12 goals for Spurs, Dempsey made the surprising decision last summer to return to Major League Soccer and joined the Seattle Sounders for a $9 million transfer fee. But hampered by a calf injury, he scored just once in 12 matches.

Now the U.S. captain is in the middle of a two-month loan back to Fulham, trying to help his old club get out of last place and avoid relegation from the Premier League.

"It's been tough, but also it's been good for me, trying to get back to fitness and feeling good, coming off an injury towards the end of the season with the national team,'' he said during a telephone interview Thursday. "It's good to get some games, some minutes over here, but unfortunately the results haven't been going our way. But I've still got a month left and hopefully we can start getting some points.''

Dempsey, a midfielder and forward who turns 31 next month, started a trend of American soccer repatriation. Michael Bradley, a 26-year-old midfielder, was sold from Italy's Roma to Toronto FC last month for 7 million euros ($9.5 million). Midfielder Maurice Edu moved from England's Stoke to Philadelphia and defender Michael Parkhurst from Germany's Augsburg to Columbus.

After taking over as U.S. coach in 2011, Jurgen Klinsmann had pressed his players to challenge themselves on bigger stages _ as long as they put themselves in situations where they saw playing time.

"Obviously, you want more in the Champions League, where the music is played,'' Klinsmann said in May 2012, adding he told his players "none of you guys, none of you guys have really experienced the highest level of club football on a consistent basis. Maybe a year here or a year there, but not really what it takes to be a consistent performer on the highest level. So I can tell you what it takes to be there, because I was there.''

Uncertain of minutes in every match, the quartet returned to MLS and will face a quality of play that has vastly improved but still falls short of what their European clubs experience.

"I'm not worried about that. I think the more important thing for a player is to make sure that's you're playing and you're playing well and playing consistently. If doesn't matter where you are,'' Dempsey said. ``You're seeing more players come back to MLS in their prime and the homegrown talent coming up that's of high quality. I think that game's always continuing to grow and I'm happy to be part of that growth and come back to the league.''

Dempsey hasn't scored in six matches with Fulham this year. While he helped the Cottagers reached the Europa League final in 2010, they are last in the Premier League this season at 6-17-1 and were eliminated from the FA Cup this week in the fourth round by Sheffield United, which is 23rd among the 24 clubs in the third-tier League 1.

Fans at Craven Cottage applauded Dempsey during a warm welcome when he returned, but he knows he has to reward them with goals and that lead to points and keep the club from dropping into the second-tier League Championship for the first time since 2000-01.

He's just one of the Americans on a scoring skid. Jozy Altidore broke Dempsey's mark for goals by an American in Europe with 31 last season for the Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, but the forward has just two this season for England's Sunderland.

At the World Cup, the Americans play Ghana, Portugal and Germany in what appears to be the most difficult first-round group. Preparing for its seventh straight World Cup appearance, the U.S. won last year's CONCACAF Gold Cup and topped the final round of qualifying for the third straight cycle.

"The confidence seems to be growing. The quality seems to be getting better. There's more competition for spots,'' Dempsey said. ``They just keep pushing us even more to get better and better. We're coming off one of our most successful seasons, successful years with the national team, and hopefully we can carry that into 2014. I'm excited about the challenge of the World Cup and the group that we're in, and looking forward to going down there and try to continue the growth of the game in the United States and getting out of the group.''

Sponsor interest also is increasing. Four years ago, Nike put up a 70½-foot billboard of Dempsey near New York's Penn Station. Dempsey took part in a video chat Thursday for Degree Men deodorant as part of a promotion in which a fan named Faiz Hasya Deniza won a trip to the World Cup that includes a meeting with Dempsey.

For now, Dempsey is living through another London winter. He's actually back in the Wimbledon Village apartment he rented when he first arrived following his sale from the New England Revolution in January 2007.

"I still had the landlord's number,'' he said. "It's nice to get back into the same flat that I was in, but it's lonely not having the wife and kids over.''

He plans to rejoin the Sounders ahead of their MLS opener against Sporting Kansas City on March 8 -- three days after the U.S. is scheduled to play an exhibition at Ukraine -- and hopes to be sharper than he was when he got to Seattle last summer. He'll have a little more than two months with the Sounders before the national team gathers in mid-May to start final preparations for Brazil.

"It never really changes, your mindset,'' he said. "All you can do is put in work. That's what you can control, the effort that you put in, and that's what I'm doing.''



http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1707331?&cc=5739 (http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1707331?&cc=5739)

 
Fulham defender Brede Hangeland: I'm just an ordinary guy who happens to play football
Fulham defender tells Jonathan Liew there is more to life than three points

(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02815/MarathonBet-PR-25_2815006b.jpg)
Ordinary guy: Fulham's down-to-earth defender Brede Hangeland 

As a teenager, Brede Hangeland served a year of national service in the Norwegian navy.

"I'll tell you a story," he says in a vaguely conspiratorial tone, suppressing a chuckle as he gets the facts straight in his head.
"We had to go on the range and practise shooting. After that, you had to take your gun apart, clean it with oil, and put it back together. That took two hours.

"After the first time, a few of us got together and decided there was no point actually shooting. So we just pretended, gave the ammo to the next guy, and then you could sleep for two hours. I fired about 16 shots in 12 months."

There are two conclusions you could derive from this. The first is that Fulham's 32-year-old centre-half is a resourceful, intelligent sort of guy. He did four years of a part-time degree in business and economics, which he has topped up with a number of online courses. He reads voraciously: books and newspapers, and not just the sport pages either.

The second is that for all the stresses, dilemmas and background noise that accompany the existence of the modern Premier League footballer, Hangeland really just craves a simple life. Not for Hangeland the neon honeypots of the Kings Road, or the branded luxury goods of the aspirant sporting icon.

He is perfectly content living with his wife and three children near the idyllic suburban grasslands of Richmond Park, from where he can easily take the train to work in the morning.

This hankering for something more and something less than the archetypal footballer's life partly explains why he has remained at Fulham for almost six years. It also explains why, even against his career's turbulent backdrop – struggles with relegation, new managers and injury strife, a daunting trip to Old Trafford on Sunday – he can appreciate that there is more to life than three points.

Here's something you may not know about him. At his wedding in 2009, guests were asked not to bring gifts, but to make a donation to Save the Children, the proceeds of which – around £45,000 in total – went towards the construction of a school in Cambodia that is already up and running.

"How did you know that?" he asks; surprised, because he has never sought any publicity for his act of altruism. "There wasn't anything we needed, so it was a nice thing to do. I think there are 500 kids going to school there than wouldn't be going otherwise. I haven't been to visit, but that's definitely that's on the bucket list."

So, why did he do it? "I see myself as just an ordinary guy who happens to play football. It's important in this game to be able to broaden your horizons. You can get caught in this bubble, where football seems like the most important thing in the world.
Although it means a lot to people, there are definitely bigger things out there. It's useful to remember that we are really privileged, and the problems we have are small in comparison."

Hangeland sits on the management committee of the Professional Footballers Association, and thus has a certain interest in the way footballers are perceived.

"People think we're all the same, that we all just play golf and PlayStation, and drive expensive cars, and that's it. There are some that are superstars, and act that way, but that's not necessarily true for the rest. And it's important to keep that in mind.
"The fact is that everyone's different. Some get the train into training in the morning. Simon Davies used to do that. Some read the papers, read books. We can actually read, some of us.

"There are lots of different types. It's just that there's only one portrayed. There's always a big story in the papers when someone does something wrong, but there's not much focus on normality in football. It just shows, in this day and age, what makes a story. Which I can understand, because I suppose it's a bit boring."

At the moment, the real story is Fulham's Premier League survival. For all the fresh ideas promised by new manager Rene Meulensteen, Fulham are still bottom of the table, having blossomed for periods but not, Hangeland admits, for a full 90 minutes.

"I agree with that," he says. "We need to get points on the board as soon as possible. When times are a bit difficult, like now, everyone working here has a job to lift the mood and work hard."

Does he feel an emotional connection with Fulham? "Very much so. That's an important thing, especially in modern-day football. Players come and go; go wherever the money's best, so to speak. So I think it's good to have something that connects you with the club on a deeper level.

"You don't want to be a mercenary, just travelling around. You want to really care about the place. From the day I arrived, I've felt at home, and I've never really found any reason to leave. I can see myself finishing my career at Fulham, no question about that."

Hangeland, who was signed by Roy Hodgson from Copenhagen in 2008, has seen a good deal of change in his six years. "The style of play has seen a big difference," he says. "When I played with Aaron Hughes under Hodgson, we used to work on defending every day, basically spend a whole session on it.

It was almost mechanical, like a telepathic understanding.

"Hodgson did a lot of work on the defensive side, shape and teamwork, over and over again, the same stuff. Mark Hughes and his guys were very keen on energy and the tempo of play, whereas Martin Jol was definitely more attack-minded. A lot of ball work, a lot of technical drills, keeping the ball, creating overloads. Of course we worked on defending, but less so. So there was less of a system in place."

What about Meulensteen? "He's made a difference since coming in. I realise results haven't been great, but there's a difference in the quality of our training and the way we try and do things, so I think we will improve."

At that point, he abruptly stops himself. Something has caught his eye.

Pressed up against the office window is Damien Duff, flexing his bare, pasty torso for our private benefit. "Can we get some self tan or something here?" Hangeland shouts. "Guys like him. How can you leave this place? He isn't your typical footballer either, I can tell you that. He's on his bike, cycling home after a game, a little wicker basket on the front."

Having had his fun, Duff's brilliant white features recede into the background. This really isn't your ordinary club, is it?
"I don't think it is," Hangeland smiles. "I think that's the reason I like it."


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/10622939/Fulham-defender-Brede-Hangeland-Im-just-an-ordinary-guy-who-happens-to-play-football.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/10622939/Fulham-defender-Brede-Hangeland-Im-just-an-ordinary-guy-who-happens-to-play-football.html)

 
BRENTFORD DUO MISS OUT ON SKY BET AWARDS

Brentford Manager Mark Warburton and striker Marcello Trotta did not win Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month and Player of the Month awards

Brentford Manager Mark Warburton and striker Marcello Trotta missed out on the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month and Player of the Month awards for January.

Brentford are unbeaten in 18 Sky Bet League One matches, a run that now stretches back four months.

They have won 15 of those, taking 48 points from the last 54 on offer and are top of the table.

This run earned Mark a nomination for the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month award for January and Marcello Trotta was nominated for the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month award for January.

In January Brentford won four of their five League One matches.

The month started with a win away from home against Peterborough United and that was followed by home wins against Port Vale, Gillingham and Bristol City.

The Bees also drew away from home against Walsall.

They started February with a draw away to Shrewsbury Town that does not count for this award.

That was not enough for the prize as Layton Orient boss Russell Slade was named the winner.

Orient won four League One games out of four in January, beating Shrewsbury and Crewe Alexandra away from home and Carlisle United and Coventry City at home.

They lost to Yeovil Town in an FA Cup with Budweiser tie that did not count and started February with defeat to Rotherham United, another result that was not factored in to the judging.

It meant Mark did not complete an extraordinary double.

He was named Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month for December, exactly a month after taking charge.

Mark was named Brentford Manager on December 10, a few days after former boss Uwe Rösler left the role.

Uwe himself had been named Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month for November, recognition for the start of the current run.

Brentford have won eight and drawn two of Mark's first ten games in charge.

Marcello scored three goals for The Bees in January and set up two more.

He scored in all three home wins – the vital first against Port Vale, what proved to be the winner, from the penalty spot, against Gillingham and the killer third in a 3-1 win against Bristol City.

He set up Sam Saunders for a goal in the win at Peterborough and Will Grigg for the second against Port Vale.

Marcello has scored seven goals in his last nine games, continuing his goal scoring run with one in the draw at Shrewsbury.

However, Peterborough striker Nicky Ajose took the award.

The striker hit five goals in the month, a hat-trick against the ten men of Notts County, the third in a 3-0 win over Tranmere Rovers and one in a defeat to Oldham Athletic.

His five goals in five games won him the prize.

Marcello missed out on being the second Brentford player in a row to pick up the award after Sam Saunders was named Sky Bet League One Player of the Month for December.

The Manager of the Month award is decided by Dave Bassett, Sky Sports' Football League expert Don Goodman, Football League Chief Operating Officer Andy Williamson, League Managers Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet Head of Football Paul Wiggins.

The Player of the Month award is decided by Don Goodman, Football League Head of Communications John Nagle, Olaf Dixon and Paul Wiggins.


Read more at http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/mom-pom-jan-2014-1344224.aspx?#d3XkIedbvrifQBSr.99 (http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/mom-pom-jan-2014-1344224.aspx?#d3XkIedbvrifQBSr.99)

 
Wayne Rooney v Pajtim Kasami: Head-to-head analysis ahead of the clash between Manchester United and Fulham

(http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article9112916.ece/ALTERNATES/w620/Rooney-vs-Kasami.jpg)

Check out all the vital statistics concerning the two sides' players ahead of this weekend's Premier League meeting at Old Trafford

Ahead of this weekend's Premier League meeting, between Manchester United and Fulham, see how the sides' players Wayne Rooney and Pajtim Kasami compare.

Data and graphic provided by whoscored.com



http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wayne-rooney-v-pajtim-kasami-headtohead-analysis-ahead-of-the-clash-between-manchester-united-and-fulham-9113018.html (http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wayne-rooney-v-pajtim-kasami-headtohead-analysis-ahead-of-the-clash-between-manchester-united-and-fulham-9113018.html)

 
Things never change at the Cottage

Fulham FanZoner Andy Lye believes poor tactical decisions are costing the Cottagers, and hopes the club's new signings can turn things around.

We'll have to wait until Sunday's game at Old Trafford to really see if what was probably our best transfer deadline day ever will have the effect we want, but if our desperate need for energetic players wasn't already evident, the old ones made sure it was beyond doubt with their performances this week.

We've gone backwards, it's fair to say. In fact, if I didn't know better, I'd say we were still playing under Martin Jol. When Rene Meulensteen took over our play improved overnight, and that was primarily down to one simple thing: he picked a balanced team with players in their correct positions.

Suddenly he's stopped doing that, and is compounding the issue with ludicrous substitutions, just as Jol used to. The team line-up against Southampton was obviously wrong from the moment it was announced. Against a quick team we had no pace in the starting 11 at all, with the players who should have been first choice (Ashkan Dejagah and Alex Kacaniklic) sacrificed seemingly to shoehorn new loan singing William Kvist into central midfield alongside established pair Steve Sidwell and Scott Parker.

Obviously Lewis Holtby needed to start as well, so he was stuck out on the right so, along with Rene's inexplicable persistence with Damian Duff, whose lack of confidence going forward is easy to see, we lined up with no real wide options.

Inevitably Holtby was rarely out on the right, often cutting inside to look for the ball, and with three central midfielders we crowded ourselves out in the middle. Southampton therefore enjoyed a lot of space down the flanks all day.

But the new ones were our best players. Kvist kept his passing neat and accurate, tackled sensibly, and didn't stop running. Holtby similarly was full of running and, despite a few wayward passes, he was easily our most eager, creative player. Meanwhile Sidwell was appalling, and Parker was largely anonymous having apparently lost the confidence to pass. Up front Darren Bent was also dreadful, and shouldn't have been allowed to stay on for 19 minutes, let alone the full 90. How Rene couldn't see it was a mystery.

Bent and Sidwell were the obvious changes to make, for Hugo Rodellega and a winger respectively. That would allow Holtby to move inside and feed the striker. Instead Clint Dempsey and Pajtim Kasami came on for Parker and Duff, so we still didn't have any wingers on the field and effectively had three number tens all trying to play in the same place.

Against Sheffield United, Parker was absolutely awful and looked completely demoralised. The famous pirouetting in the centre circle has started, which is a clear indication that he doesn't have the confidence to look for a pass forwards, and after an hour he simply stopped running.

Several out of position players, including Muamer Tankovic lost in central midfield, and Kasami on the right wing, doing his level best to replace Dimitar Berbatov in the ineffective-but-stroppy stakes, likewise had bad games, and although Kacaniklic got the start he deserved, Dejagah was once again left out. What he's done wrong to deserve being dropped so often is anybody's guess.

Meanwhile Rodellega had to put up with barely getting a sniff of the ball as the midfield queued up to pass backwards, so we had to rely, bizarrely, on Brede Hangeland and Dan Burn attempting long range passes to get the ball forward. Unsurprisingly that didn't work.

The solution was again simple. Giorgos Karagounis for Tankovic to get a bit of energy and confidence into the middle and allow Parker to drop back without the pressure of needing to go forward, and Dejagah for Kasami to get some pace down the right.

Instead Rene hauls off the only two players in the side who might actually achieve anything if given the chance, Kacaniklic and Rodellega, to bring on Duff and Dejagah. Kasami then spent the next few minutes completely lost because he didn't know where he was meant to be, while Rodellega looked like a man who wished he'd left in January.

I honestly thought we finally had a manager with a real tactical mind, but the last two games haven't provided particularly compelling evidence, and I'm getting tired of looking for small positives in otherwise diabolical performances. Sacking him would be a mistake, especially after backing him so heavily in the transfer window, but the new recruits simply must do the business.

Starting with Man U we have got to get a balance back to the team, get as many new players, hopefully untainted by the awful season we've had so far, into the side as possible and hope their work rate is high. If that means sacrificing Parker, Duff, Kieran Richardson, or anyone else, so be it. Every week it feels like the opposition has more men on the pitch than us, and that's because we simply aren't working hard enough to cover the pitch and close down the ball or break quickly.

That means big new striker Kostas Mitroglou must start, with Holtby behind him. We need to use real wingers, with Kvist and one other (this should really be Karagounis, at least for an hour) in the middle, and John Heitinga at left back. Although not a natural left back, he is athletic and tough-tackling, which is something we often lack in that position, and is desperate to prove a point and get into the Dutch World Cup squad.

The new signings really seem to be our only hope, because most of the old players look like they've already given up. We look like a team going down, and must change that attitude. We've ejected the right players from the squad (Senderos, Ruiz, Berbatov), and on paper signed a lot of quality, so all hope isn't lost just yet.



http://www.teamtalk.com/fanzone/15164/9153860/-? (http://www.teamtalk.com/fanzone/15164/9153860/-?)

 
Poor Transfer Targets And Forward Thinking Leave Fulham In Mire

(http://images.sport.co.uk/630x350/cd13371f1b474590228abf92cf392bc5.jpg)

Anyone who has seen Fulham lately will realise that despite the small points gaps in the relegation battle, the Cottagers can have no complaints about sitting last place. There are obviously various reasons they find themselves there, but the lack of a transfer policy and forward thinking has caught up with them and meant a squad lacking youth, imagination and cohesion.

When Rene Meulensteen was brought in as Manager in December, he was left with a pretty uninspiring squad. However, most people felt that with the right additions in the Transfer Window and a few good results, things would improve. The New Manager couldn't be blamed for the previous summers transfers, which did little to help and aging squad. Fulham brought in what you would now have to class as some real unimaginative signings, which were the opposite of what they needed. However, the last transfer window has done little to make the squad see much improvement. Other clubs with similar budgets targeted young players, but with a good reputation. With the change of ownership, fans of the whites would have been waiting with anticipation to see some ambition from the off.

One area that has been slightly improved in the Winter Window is Defence, with Dutch International John Heitinga arriving. The usually solid Brede Hangeland has been paired firstly with the now-departed Senderos, then occasionally un-inspiring summer arrival Amorebieta and recently youngster Dan Burn. The availability of the likes of Steven Caulker (now Cardiff) last July, would have been the perfect type of player. A player with big potential, and could play week in week out with Hangeland. However, Martin Jol signed unproven Amorebieta from Spain and also went with the underperforming Hangeland. Luckily, Heitinga has been brought in now – one piece of decent transfer work.

In Midfield, the club has never planned forward. The three options in there are all the wrong side of thirty. Both Scott Parker and Steve Sidwell normally start, but neither now find it easy to dictate the tempo of the game. The third is the veteran Georgios Karagounis, who is now thirty five. The loan signing of Defensive Minded Midfielder William Kvist a couple of weeks ago seems even more strange, when you consider the type of player the club seems overloaded with. Again, it stems back to the start of the season though. Most people will tell you that the summer window is the time to get the best players. Players like Tom Huddlestone (a good tempo dictator through passing) or even Jonjo Shelvey (who can break from Midfield with energy) went to Hull and Swansea. Surely they are the type of players that a club like Fulham should be competing for.

Even in Forward areas, they haven't been scoring enough. Dimitar Berbatov was allowed to leave – which some will say is no bad thing. However, it's still a gamble to let that talent go mid-way through a season. Big money has been spent on Konstantinos Mitroglou from Olympiacos. It would seem he has the attributes to be a good Striker, but he may take time to settle – something Fulham haven't got. So the main pressure for goals currently falls to Darren Bent. Unless he gets better service though, he will struggle to score. That will fall at the feet of loan signings Lewis Holtby and Clint Dempsey, who will be tasked to play the 'number ten' role. Wide areas will need to up their game – another part of the team which needed better options. With his Manchester United links, should Meulentsteen have gone all out to loan Wifried Zaha? His pace on the wing couldn't have been a bad thing. Relying on Damien Duff to deliver every game is too much to expect of a thirty four year old. Other options like Kasami and Kacaniklic are too inconsistent to think they will make the difference more often than not.

All in all its not looking good for the Cottagers. However, the way the Premier League is at the moment, they are certainly not a lost cause. The players will have to stand up and be counted soon though, as Fulham look to avoid the Championship.



http://www.sport.co.uk/football/poor-transfer-targets-and-forward-thinking-leave-fulham-in-m/4599466/? (http://www.sport.co.uk/football/poor-transfer-targets-and-forward-thinking-leave-fulham-in-m/4599466/?)

 
A Good Challenge


John Heitinga is itching to make his Fulham debut when the Whites head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday (4pm).

The Netherlands international joined Fulham in the final hours of the January transfer window from Everton and was therefore ineligible to feature in last weekend's 3-0 home loss to Southampton.

Introduced to the Fulham faithful beforehand, Heitinga watched on as the Whites dominated the first half, only to concede three goals in quick succession in the second 45 to fall to defeat.

The result saw Fulham slip to the foot of the Barclays Premier League table, but Heitinga has seen enough in his short time in SW6 to suggest his new side can get out of trouble.

"The spirit in the squad is good," Heitinga told the official website. "I knew Maarten Stekelenburg beforehand from the national team and the other boys have welcomed me into the group.

"They're professionals and good players. We know exactly what we need to do to get out of this situation. It's a top club and we have the quality to be higher up the table than we are."

With 14 games remaining, Fulham Head Coach René Meulensteen believes at least six wins will be required in order for the Whites to survive.

And centre-back Heitinga, who can also play in midfield, is eyeing the start of that run against the Red Devils, a side who have suffered a mixed campaign of their own under new boss David Moyes.

The 30-year-old had made just five appearances for Everton this season and is understandably keen to feature when the Whites run out against Moyes' men.

"Hopefully I'll make my debut on Sunday," said Heitinga. "It will be a good challenge but a tough game away from home. United haven't been as dominant at home this season as they have in the past, we need to get some points and we're aiming to start on Sunday. If I can help play a part, then that will be good."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/07/a-good-challenge? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/07/a-good-challenge?)

 
Fulham's Hugo Rodallega slams 'disrespectful' Rene Meulensteen after upsetting substitution

Fulham striker Hugo Rodallega has told Colombian TV that head coach Rene Meulensteen showed him a lack of respect by taking him off against Sheffield United.

Rodallega has had few chances to impress at Craven Cottage since Meulensteen took charge but he was given a start for Tuesday's FA Cup replay.

However, Meulensteen's decision to replace the striker after an hour left him more devastated than at any other time in his career, with the forward sitting with his head in his hands on the bench after leaving the field.

Rodallega cannot understand why he was substituted when other forwards at Fulham tend to be given a whole match, and has criticised his boss.

"I have no relationship with the new manager and I think he has been disrespectful to me," Rodallega is quoted as telling Colombian TV show Kick Off.

"He always keeps his forwards on whether or not they are playing well, so I don't know why he has done this to me. It broke my heart.

"I've never gone through a situation like the one on Tuesday in my whole career. I couldn't sleep that night."

The 28-year-old added: "I've had a good career with no acts of indiscipline anywhere.

"But at that moment I felt rage because I wanted to keep playing."

Fulham crashed out of the FA Cup defeat with a 1-0 defeat as Shaun Miller scored for Sheffield United in the final minute of extra-time.



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9154017/? (http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9154017/?)

 
U21 Chelsea Preview

Our Under-21s face Chelsea at Motspur Park on Friday night (7.05pm) in what promises to be an exciting SW6 derby.

Kit Symons' side continue to set the pace in the Barclays U21 Premier League following their 1-0 defeat of West Ham United last time out. The victory stretched the Whites' unbeaten run to 12 league fixtures.

Opponents Chelsea are also enjoying a fine run of form, with the Blues undefeated in their last seven matches. Like Fulham, their only recent loss came against Arsenal in the U21 Premier League Cup.

To date, Dermot Drummy's side have lost just twice in the league, slipping to a 4-2 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur in their opening game and then to a 3-2 loss at Everton in mid-September. Taking 22 points from their 12 games, the Blues sit in fourth place and six points behind the Whites.

Last season Fulham and Chelsea met on four occasions at Under-21 level, with both winning two games each. The Whites claimed 3-1 and 1-0 victories at home.

As a result of the U21s' impressive campaign to date, a number of Symons' charges have been rewarded with First Team football this term, with Chris David, Moussa Dembélé, Buomesca Tué Na Bangna, Josh Passley, Ange-Freddy Plumain, Muamer Tanković and Lasse Vigen Christensen (pictured) all involved at various points.

Chelsea, too, boast a talented group, particularly in the form of England youth internationals Lewis Baker, Isaiah Brown, Fankaty Dabo, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and John Swift. Frenchman Jeremie Boga and Scotland Under-21 international Islam Feruz are also key players for the Blues.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/07/u21-preview? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/07/u21-preview?)

 
Adams hoping to extend Grimmer loan

(http://www.onevalefan.co.uk/ovf/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/grimmer.jpg)

Manager Micky Adams has revealed that he would like to extend Jack Grimmer's loan until the end of the season.

Grimmer has been a big success since joining the club on loan from Fulham but his initial month's loan will expire after the game against Swindon.

Adams said: "The plan is to talk to Fulham and see what they want to do.

"He is their player so we always have to be mindful of that, and ask the question.

"It is up to them what they want to do with him."



http://www.onevalefan.co.uk/site/adams-hoping-to-extend-grimmer-loan/? (http://www.onevalefan.co.uk/site/adams-hoping-to-extend-grimmer-loan/?)

 
Can Fulham pull off the great escape?

It took a while coming this season, but Fulham have finally hit the foot of the Premier League table. Their 3-0 home defeat to Southampton on Saturday has left them two points off 19th-placed Cardiff and four away from Crystal Palace in 17th. On current form they are certainly down, but with 14 games left will they be able to improve in time?

Here, Sports Mole considers a number of factors that could go in the Cottagers' favour or against them in their battle to pull off an unlikely survival.

1. Coaching team

Fulham's coaching set-up must have been dreamed up by the writers of The Matrix, such is its complexity. Since they dispensed with the services of the previous manager Martin Jol, the club's heirarchy - namely chairman Shahid Khan and CEO Alistair Mackintosh - put head coach Rene Meulensteen in charge of first-team affairs. All well and good, but throw in assistant head coach Ray Wilkins and technical director Alan Curbishley and there are certainly a lot of cooks keeping an eye on that broth.

Initially, in Meulensteen's first few games in charge, the players showed a new sense of vigour and an intent to attack and they looked as though they had more than enough to survive. However, and it remains to be seen whether this is a coincidence or not, since Wilkins and Curbishley have arrived the football on the pitch has returned to the slow-paced, uncreative fare from earlier in the season. Perhaps one clear boss - whether that is Meulensteen or Curbishley - would put the Whites in a better spot?

2. The run-in

Every team plays every other twice throughout a league season so there is no real advantage, but there is little doubt that a less tricky run-in is a bonus for a side desperate for points. Not only do some teams have less to play for at the end of a season, but a spell of home games against teams in a similar league position can pull a team up the table and those near them down it.

In this respect, Fulham have as good a final five games as could be hoped for in a relegation battle. Although they have a tough time of it over the next couple of months, should they stay in touch of 17th before the last five their run-in could make the difference. They take on four bottom-half teams in April and May, which is far preferable to facing Champions League teams.

Fulham have history here, too. In the 2007-08 season they had just 24 points after 33 games before finishing strongly to somehow survive on the final day. At this point, fans would take a must-win game against Palace on May 11.

3. Are there worse teams?

Having plummeted to the bottom of the table, Fulham are also propping up the form league over the last six games. That makes it tough to see three other sides who the Whites can climb above. On paper, however, some of the players they have compare favourably to their relegation counterparts. For example, a World Cup finalist goalkeeper in Maarten Stekelenburg as well as a lot of Premier League experience in the likes of Scott Parker and Brede Hangeland.

That said, a lot of the other teams have found the right combination already. Palace may have a less strong squad on paper, but in Tony Pulis they have a manager experienced at producing results even if the football is not so eye-catching. Sunderland, bottom for so long earlier in the season have seen Gus Poyet turn their fortunes around. Perhaps Fulham's best chance of catching teams will be others falling into the scrap who were previously comfortable, such as Swansea City and Norwich City.

4. New signings

Whatever else has happened to Fulham this season, the owner Khan has signalled his intention to give his side the best chance of survival by sanctioning some important signings. This includes the club-record signing of Konstantinos Mitroglou from Olympiacos. Before the January transfer window Meulensteen had to work with Jol's squad, but with a handful of new signings to work with he has many of his own players now.

The new players, who also include William Kvist and Lewis Holtby on loan, have had time to train with their new teammates and all could provide fresh momentum to what has been a failing relegation battle to this point. What's more, many of the new players improve the squad in key areas.

Mitroglou is an energetic battering-ram and much more valuable in a relegation scrap than Dimitar Berbatov. Holtby will provide a creative spark with his passing and running that the team simply lacks in the likes of Steve Sidwell and Parker, while Kvist is a different kind of midfielder, happy not to roam too far from his defensive midfield position.

How well the players adapt will be crucial to Fulham's chances, but they must also turn all the above points in their favour. There is still time, but with 42 points left to play for - and 21 needed to reach the magic 40 - even that is running out quickly.



http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/relegation-battle/news/can-fulham-pull-off-the-great-escape_135836.html (http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/relegation-battle/news/can-fulham-pull-off-the-great-escape_135836.html)

 
GBK Joins The Team

Gourmet Burger Kitchen has agreed a deal to become an Official Partner of Fulham Football Club for the remainder of the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League season. The partnership sees GBK offering unique benefits to Fulham Season Ticket Holders, Members and Junior Members.

As a partner of Fulham, GBK has secured a variety of marketing rights around the Club which will focus on adding value to junior memberships and include activations such as bringing the GBK burger bus to Craven Cottage and give fans the chance to meet Billy the Badger at an event at GBK Wandsworth Southside!

Burger Hungry? Download the GBK app to enjoy free burgers & sides on every other visit*, enter competitions and receive discounts. Download at gbkapp.co.uk or visit your app store. Dining in without our app? You're missing out. The immensely popular GBK App rewards burger aficionados with free burgers and other tasty treats.

The free side offer is available at the below GBK restaurants, when you download the gbk app from gbkapp.co.uk and quote 'Fulham Football Club' at the till:

- Wimbledon: 88 The Broadway, London, SW19 1RH

- Kingston: 42-46 High Street, Kingston-Upon-Thames, KT1 1HL

- Wandsworth: 54 Garratt Lane, Southside Shopping Centre, Wandsworth, SW18 4TF

- Putney: 333 Putney Bridge Road, Putney, London, SW15 2PG

- Fulham: 49 Fulham Broadway, London, SW6 1AE

*Terms and Conditions: Free side when you purchase a main meal and download the GBK app. Present your app customer ID at the till when ordering and quote 'Fulham Football Club' to receive the offer. Offer is also valid for existing app users. Valid at GBK Wimbledon, Putney, Wandsworth Southside, Fulham and Kingston restaurants only. Valid until 31st July 2014.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/07/gbk-joins-the-team? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/07/gbk-joins-the-team?)