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http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/1323/0/johnson-close-fulham-return? (http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/1323/0/johnson-close-fulham-return?)
Johnson close to Fulham return

Fulham have been boosted by the news that Andrew Johnson will return to full training next week.

The £10.5m striker has not played since injuring his knee in the defeat at Blackburn in January.

But he is hoping to be pushing for a place in the squad for the game at West Ham on October 2.

Johnson's return is a welcome piece of good news for Craven Cottage boss Mark Hughes, who has lost Bobby Zamora and Mousa Dembele to injury in the last fortnight.

Zamora has been ruled out for up to five months after breaking his leg against Wolves.

And Dembele faces at least a fortnight on the sidelines after suffering ankle ligament in a tackle from Stoke full-back Andy Wilkinson that Hughes called 'ridiculous'.

But Johnson could return to lead the line at Upton Park, having played just 13 games last season due to knee and shoulder injuries.

http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=214264 (http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=214264)
Fulham - Dembele Latest!
We`re still a little up in the air when it comes to the extent of the injury Moussa Dembele suffered at Stoke on Tuesday evening.

The club has announced that X-rays have shown that there is no fracture to the ankle but that an MRI scan has shown there is ligament damage.

The obvious statement is added that this damage must be allowed to repair before he can resume training but no indication is given as to any time scale.

Fingers crossed that it won`t be too long!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=214264#ixzz10QVzwnn6 (http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=214264#ixzz10QVzwnn6)

http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/matchprere.asp?a=214265 (http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/matchprere.asp?a=214265)
Fulham v Everton Preview!
After suffering their first defeat of the season, up at the Britannia Stadium against Stoke in the Carling Cup, Fulham will want to get back to winning ways when they entertain Everton this weekend. Everton, despite an array of stars in their line-up, have struggled this season, thus far, and find themselves lurking around the relegation area, something David Moyes wouldn`t have anticipated when the season started. A thriller, at the Cottage, could be in prospect!

Vital Quotes:
A second visit, inside a week, to West London beckons for troubled David Moyes. After a poor start to the season the troubled Everton boss is keen to rally his troops for the visit to Craven Cottage.

After being knocked out of the Carling Cup, at our London neighbours Brentford, Moyes had this to say,

"We had a poor performance on Saturday. And this performance on top of that was not very good."

"I`m always concerned about it. In that position any manager would be concerned,"

"You want to get point on the board and you don`t want to get knocked out of the Cup. We had set up this year to start very strongly."

"We had prepared differently in pre-season and we were expecting a good start. I`ve got a job on now."

"I know I`ll need to manage, to get to work. I`ll take the responsibility."

"I`ll try to get things changed around. But I will be there on the touchline in the next game and people will be able to see me."

I guess with our decent home record Moyes might have wished for an easier away trip to try and stir his team into producing a winning performance.

Fulham Team News:
Mark Hughes, having witnessed the latest of his playing staff in Moussa Dembele get ting injured, is down to his bare striking bones this weekend. With Bobby Zamora sidelined until February, Dimansy Kamara and Andrew Johnson still on the comeback trail, Mark has to decide whether to push Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera up front or whether to entrust Eddie Johnson and David Elm to do the job.

David Stockdale, out since injuring his ankle at Bloomfield Road, will hopefully return to the fold, whether he`ll displace Mark Schwarzer or not remains to be seen. Apart form those players mentioned; the only possible change we can envisage is the return of Damien Duff with the Irishman having missed out at Stoke, in midweek.

Fulham could line up as follows:-

Schwarzer (or Stockdale), Kelly, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido, Murphy, Etuhu, Davies, Duff, Gera and Dempsey (or Johnson)

Player to watch: Danny Murphy
With Mikel Arteta on the opposition side, Saturday could see an enthralling midfield battle to determine who is the better passer of the ball, if Fulham are to emerge victorious and take all three points then this is a battle that Danny will have to win.

Everton Team News:
David Moyes has a squad filled with star names. Howard, Jagielka, Arteta, Cahill, Pienaar, Fellaini, Baines and co should be capable of giving anyone a decent game, but their current league position, allied with a midweek Carling Cup defeat by Brentford, suggests all is not well at the club. In fact Everton have yet to win a game all season only picking up two points from two draws, such is their current predicament.

On the injury front, Moyes is faring a lot better than this time last year, a time whereby his squad was beset with major injury problems to key players. This weekend, one of the most promising youngsters to emerge from the Goodison scene for ages, Jack Rodwell, is amongst those absent through injury.

Player to watch: Tim Cahill
The Australian has the knack of being in the right place at exactly the right time when lofted balls arrive in the box to score with uncanny frequency with his head. A man who`ll need to be watched!

Match Facts & Stats
Fulham enter this fixture unbeaten in the Premier League this season. Our record may only feature the solitary win but our resilience has seen us pick up draws when faced with adversity, typical examples being away to Blackpool and at home to Manchester United whereby late, late goals rescued points for us.

Everton, on the other hand, are still looking for a first win of the season having only mustered two draws this season, one of which, just like us, related to a last gasp rescue mission against Manchester United.

Last time out Everton went out of the Carling Cup at Brentford off all places whilst Fulham exited the same competition up at Stoke.

Match Prediction:
This will, in our opinion, be a close game. Everton showed, against Manchester United that they can never be written off and it`s something of a mystery as to why they are so far down the table and why their form is so inconsistent. Fulham, on the other hand, are s resilient as ever and will fancy beating anyone on their own pitch. Us Vital Fulham staff, reckon this`ll end up as a Fulham win but by the narrowest of margins, 1-0!

Next Fixtures:
It`s a jaunt across London, to the jolly old East End, for us next when we make the relatively short journey to Upton Park to play West Ham United.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/matchprere.asp?a=214265#ixzz10QWHeaMP (http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/matchprere.asp?a=214265#ixzz10QWHeaMP)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1314711/Fulhams-Andrew-Johnson-returns-training-Mark-Hughes-battles-striking-injury-crisis.html? (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1314711/Fulhams-Andrew-Johnson-returns-training-Mark-Hughes-battles-striking-injury-crisis.html?)
Fulham's Andrew Johnson returns to training as Mark Hughes battles a striking injury crisis

Fulham have been boosted by the news that Andrew Johnson will return to full training next week.

The £10.5m striker has not played since injuring his knee in the defeat at Blackburn in January.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/09/23/article-0-0340AF3B000005DC-988_468x313.jpg)
So close: Andrew Johnson has targeted the first week of October to make his return from a nine month injury absence
But he is hoping to be pushing for a place in the squad for the game at West Ham on October 2.

Johnson's return is a welcome piece of good news for Craven Cottage boss Mark Hughes, who has lost Bobby Zamora and Mousa Dembele to injury in the last fortnight.

Zamora has been ruled out for up to five months after breaking his leg against Wolves.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/09/23/article-0-0B4AFE53000005DC-755_468x294.jpg)
Another blow: Moussa Dembele is likely to be out for two weeks after suffering an injury in a tackle with Stoke City's Andy Wilkinson

And Dembele faces at least a fortnight on the sidelines after suffering ankle ligament in a tackle from Stoke full-back Andy Wilkinson that Hughes called 'ridiculous'.

But Johnson could return to lead the line at Upton Park, having played just 13 games last season due to knee and shoulder injuries.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1314711/Fulhams-Andrew-Johnson-returns-training-Mark-Hughes-battles-striking-injury-crisis.html?#ixzz10QXAoMgo (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1314711/Fulhams-Andrew-Johnson-returns-training-Mark-Hughes-battles-striking-injury-crisis.html?#ixzz10QXAoMgo)

http://cottagers.blogspot.com/2010/09/playing-with-big-boys.html? (http://cottagers.blogspot.com/2010/09/playing-with-big-boys.html?)
Craven Cottagers
Following the 2007/8, 2008/9, 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons at Craven Cottage - recounted by season ticket holders who aren't actually Fulham fans.

Playing with the big boys
It's been a bruising few weeks for the Fulham team. A cynical Wolves playing a more physical game than expected followed up by matches against the typically robust tactics of Blackburn and Stoke has seen the sum total of two crocked strikers and a roughhoused goalkeeper. I reckon Schwarzer will be fine - any keeper would have struggled with the last two games, especially with no protection from the referee at Ewood Park.

All it needed to round up this set of fixtures would have been a match against Bolton Wanderers, although Owen Coyle appears to have rounded off some of the rough edges that he inherited from Gary Megson.

Still, Everton can also offer a physical challenge when needed, especially old Marouane Fellaini, so Fulham need to toughen themselves up for this weekend's match, which may not actually see any recognised strikers on the pitch.. It depends if either managers are going to put their faith in previously underperforming reserve forwards - Eddie Johnson and Jermaine Beckford.

The way Fulham have been playing, it would suggest that Tim Cahill is bang on to score first with his head - a 7/1 shot and favourite given the only players sporting shorter odds are AJ and Dembele.

Another full house against a team with a relatively poor record at the Cottage suggests a good atmosphere this weekend and I reckon an Everton HT/ Fulham FT is a decent bet, especially as it can be found for as long as 40/1.

http://fulham.theoffside.com/team-news/david-elms-new-blog.html? (http://fulham.theoffside.com/team-news/david-elms-new-blog.html?)
David Elm's new blog
By: timmyg | September 23rd, 2010

Last year David Elm was blogging for Barometern, a Swedish newspaper. Using the power of google translate, we got a inside look at the happenings at Motspur Park, albeit in broken English.

Well, turns out David and his brother Rasmus now have their own website. And just look at this picture splashed on the homepage:

Wow.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/7943413/Fulham-v-Everton-match-preview.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/7943413/Fulham-v-Everton-match-preview.html)
Fulham v Everton: match preview
Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Fulham and Everton at Craven Cottage on Saturday Sept 25 2010, kick-off 15:00 BST.

Fulham (possible, 4-4-2): Schwarzer; Kelly, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido; Duff, Etuhu, Murphy, Davies; Gera, Dempsey.

Everton (possible, 4-5-1): Howard; Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Osman, Fellaini, Heitinga, Arteta, Pienaar; Yakubu.

Referee: Howard Webb. Matches: 2. R0 Y8.

Tale of the game
Find a friend and ask them to name the four unbeaten teams in the Premier League this season. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United they should all get without too much trouble. But it's a good bet they'll name one of them twice before they happen upon Fulham, who boast a proud record of one win, four draws and no defeats so far.

Mark Hughes is earning a reputation as a draw specialist, and on the face of things this game has 0-0 written all over it.

Everton's strikers have all struggled in front of goal this season, while Bobby Zamora, Moussa Dembele and Andy Johnson are all injured for Fulham. If you adhere to the 'regression to the mean' theory, however, this should be a fiesta of goals.

Fulham still have striking options; Zoltan Gera and Eddie Johnson will compete to start alongside Clint Dempsey. Louis Saha, Jack Rodwell and Victor Anichebe are all out for Everton, while Tim Cahill is a doubt after missing the defeat to Brentford on penalties in midweek.

After Everton's cup exit, is it too early to posit that defeat to Fulham might put a little pressure on David Moyes? The Scot has earned some patience after being in the job for eight years – but equally, never in his eight years have his side started a season this poorly.

Last season: Fulham 2 Everton 1; Everton 2 Fulham 1.

Stat of the game: Steven Pienaar has won the most free-kicks of any Premier League player – 19.

Betting tip: Zoltan Gera is 10/1 to open the scoring.

http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2010/09/24/fulham-full-back-carlo-salcido-s-amazing-journey-from-a-carwash-to-craven-cottage-82029-27330577/? (http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2010/09/24/fulham-full-back-carlo-salcido-s-amazing-journey-from-a-carwash-to-craven-cottage-82029-27330577/?)
Fulham full-back Carlo Salcido's amazing journey from a carwash to Craven Cottage

CARLOS Salcido has finally made it to the Premiership with Fulham after an amazing journey through heartbreak and hunger.

The 30-year-old Mexican World Cup defender endured losing his mum when he was nine – deportation from the USA three times - working in a carwash at 14 – and even the effects of eating nothing but fast-food because he didn't have the English to ask for anything else.

The left-back's climb from near poverty to an excellent debut at Blackburn last Saturday as the natural successor to Paul Konchesky appears as smooth as silk.

The same can hardly be said for Salcido's rise to glory.

"I thought I was lucky to get a job in the carwash," he explained. "But my feet were suffering with the water and the boots and I reluctantly had to quit.

Salcido had a batch of illegal goes at crossing the US border like so many of his countrymen in search of a better life.

But it was only at the age of 20 when the second youngest of six used a fake player's licence to get a trial with Mexican club Chivas in his native Guadalajara he got his first break.

He impressed coach Ramon Candelario, who immediately forked out a $1,000 to make sure he got his man.

Salcido explained: "I told him I lived with an aunt and we didn't eat so well – and he realised that if he gave me the money maybe I could really make it as a footballer."

When the established Salcido was transferred to PSV Eindhoven in 2006 he discovered the set-up in Holland was nothing like the help he's had since joining Fulham.

"After 15 days in Eindhoven I was desperate. I felt abandoned," he said. "Not knowing what to do, I only ate at a McDonalds or Kentucky because it was easier, and my game suffered for a while.

"But I've always dreamed of playing in the Premier League, and Fulham have given me that opportunity. Since I joined, I've met very nice people and everyone has been very supportive."



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2010/09/24/fulham-full-back-carlo-salcido-s-amazing-journey-from-a-carwash-to-craven-cottage-82029-27330577/?#ixzz10QZlYAjK (http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2010/09/24/fulham-full-back-carlo-salcido-s-amazing-journey-from-a-carwash-to-craven-cottage-82029-27330577/?#ixzz10QZlYAjK)

http://www.soccertimes.com/americans/2010/sep23? (http://www.soccertimes.com/americans/2010/sep23?)
Dempsey's first goal allows Fulham to draw 1-1 with Rovers.

By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
SoccerTimes
(Thursday, September 23, 2010) -- United States attacker Clint Dempsey notched his first goal of the season Saturday and it ended up earning Fulham an important point in the English Premier League standings.

Against host Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, Fulham fell behind on a goal from Christopher Samba on the half hour. Then in the 56th minute, defender Carlos Salcido brought the ball down the right side and floated a cross toward the far post. Dempsey outran defender Ryan Nelsen to the ball to hit a powerful header that easily beat goalkeeper Paul Robinson for the equalizer in the 1-1 match.

For the second match in a row, Dempsey yielded to fellow American striker Eddie Johnson, this time in the 78th minute.

The match proved costly to Fulham with forward Bobby Zamora suffering a broken leg. The injury should ensure Dempsey more playing time.

Fulham is in a five-way tie for sixth place at seven points, undefeated at 1-0-4.

On Tuesday, Dempsey went the distance and Johnson played the final half hour in a 2-0 loss to Stoke City (17th in the Premier League) in the third round of the Carling Cup. Dempsey, who played on the front line in place of the injured Zamora, had a golden opportunity in the second half because of a goalkeeping error, but sent his shot over the crossbar.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/September/SalcidoExclusive.aspx? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/September/SalcidoExclusive.aspx?)
Carlos' Dream Move

It was not until the age of 20 that Carlos Salcido finally found a route into the professional game after enduring years of hardship during his formative years in Mexico.

At the tender age of 14, Salcido worked in a car wash but six years later his life was to change forever when he earned him a trial with Chivas in Guadalajara.

Coach Ramon Candelario was clearly impressed and signed Salcido before helping the defender, on and off the pitch, fulfill his talent.

"I told him [Candelario] I lived with an aunt and we didn't eat so well," Salcido explained. "He realised that if he gave me money maybe I could really make it as a footballer."

Salcido never looked back, making 105 appearances for Chivas between 2001 and 2006 and following his appearances at the 2006 World Cup with Mexico, he was transferred to PSV Eindhoven but evidently found the transition tough.

"After 15 days in Eindhoven I was desperate. I felt abandoned," he said. "Not knowing what to do, I only ate fast food because it was easier but my game suffered for a while."

Things quickly improved on the pitch with Salcido earning the captaincy at Eindhoven during a four-year spell that saw him gain Champions League experience during his time in Holland.

Salcido's sterling performances at the 2010 World Cup finally earned him a move to the Barclays Premier League this season, with Mark Hughes signing the defender on a three-year deal. It was, he reveals, a dream come true.

"As a professional football player I have always dreamt of playing in the Premier League. It was most definitely my dream as I've always been a fan of the English football and followed most of the teams – I'm delighted because Fulham has given me the opportunity to play here.

"I'm really happy because since I joined Fulham I've met very nice people. My team-mate and all the staff at the Club have been very supportive. I've been made to feel really welcome."

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/September/SalcidoExclusive.aspx?#ixzz10QaXzCNp (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/September/SalcidoExclusive.aspx?#ixzz10QaXzCNp)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9026619.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9026619.stm)
Fulham v Everton
(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/49219000/gif/_49219014_ful_eve_0506.gif)
Considering the job he has done, I find it unbelievable that there is now a bit of pressure on Everton boss David Moyes after their home defeat by Newcastle and Carling Cup exit on penalties at the hands of Brentford.

Yes, they were two poor results but Everton have been playing some decent football and creating stacks of chances. Their luck will turn soon, and it could happen for them at Craven Cottage.

Fulham are still unbeaten in the league this season, and look very solid, but Moussa Dembele has joined Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson on the sidelines and they might not carry enough of a threat up front.

Prediction: 1-2

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1314795/Everton-skipper-Phil-Neville-calls-team-mates-pull-together.html? (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1314795/Everton-skipper-Phil-Neville-calls-team-mates-pull-together.html?)
Phil Neville issues rallying call to Everton team-mates and says: Let's come together at Fulham

Everton captain Phil Neville has called on his side to dig themselves out of a hole - starting at Fulham on Saturday.

The Toffees' dreadful start has seen them slip into the Barclays Premier League's bottom three as well as suffering a Carling Cup shock against Brentford on Tuesday.

And Neville told Everton TV: 'The spirit that everyone raves about has to come to the fore now.

'As captain I have to make sure I'm leading from the front, but I couldn't want a better set of players behind me to get us out of this mess that we're in.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1314795/Everton-skipper-Phil-Neville-calls-team-mates-pull-together.html?#ixzz10R2GHwvI (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1314795/Everton-skipper-Phil-Neville-calls-team-mates-pull-together.html?#ixzz10R2GHwvI)

http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_1_4501_club-focus-fulham-dembele-the-latest-on-the-cottagersà (http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_1_4501_club-focus-fulham-dembele-the-latest-on-the-cottagers%C3%83)¢Â€Â™-disassembly-line-of-strikers.html?
Club Focus - Fulham - Dembele, the latest on the Cottagers' disassembly line of strikers

Fulham's chances of having a successful season in the absence of talisman Bobby Zamora were on a knife-edge after Andy Wilkinson's frankly appalling challenge on Moussa Dembele at the end of Tuesday's somewhat miserable away performance at Stoke City. Should the Whites lose the so-far impressive Dembele for a lengthy spell as well as England international Zamora, early-season predictions of a top-half finish will look wildly optimistic.

The club's official statement announced that, while Dembele was lucky enough to avoid a fracture (which looked inevitable after the offence), there was ligament damage, which will make unofficial announcements of a two-week lay-off look incredibly ambitious. In truth, the two-month mark is a better estimation. The club have not set a timescale as yet, but it will come as bad news to Fulham fans who had to watch one of their best performers be subjected to a needless and mindless, and of course career-threatening, tackle. A red card would have been a lenient response from the referee, but as it stands Wilkinson will - if selected - play in Stoke's next game, yet Fulham will be without the Belgian for quite some time.

The game was already lost, so perhaps Mark Hughes could have substituted his skilful forward as the game drew to a close, knowing the potential for injury is higher when such tackling is encouraged as good old-fashioned British grit at some venues around the country. Hughes will, of course, feel he should not have to protect his players from 'over-enthusiasm', but there was none coming from the referee so playing safe and withdrawing Dembele was an option that probably should have been taken. Disappointingly, the incident did tar a more impressive Stoke passing performance than they have become known for, but such incidents are always the danger, and it is the victims who are the ultimate losers.

The Whites are running out of forwards faster than Hughes is running out of patience with his managerial compatriots, and up front the Welshman's squad is down to the bare bones. Without Zamora, the emphasis had been placed on Dembele to get the goals for Fulham, but now the burden must be shared between a few midfielders masquerading as strikers, a soon-to-return, once-excellent striker and an actual forward yet to score a goal for his club despite a magnitude of substitute appearances. The lack of a genuine outlet up top is a massive worry - Clint Dempsey, despite his excellent header last weekend, and Zoltan Gera, both play their best football behind Zamora, and as such are relatively untested as a striking pair. Andy Johnson, who will return to full training next week, is still weeks away from first-team action, and will need time to regain sharpness, and his namesake, Eddie, is completely unproven, but has shown glimpses of quality in his appearances so far this term. There is another striker, David Elm, available, however Hughes has yet to select him at all this season, suggesting little faith in the Swede.

Goals have been of the essence in the handful of league games so far - relatively speaking in comparison to Roy Hodgson's tenure of course - but there is real danger of them drying up without Zamora and Dembele. Eddie Johnson, then, if selected has some pressure on his shoulders, but also a genuine chance at Fulham which he has yet to be given. With his natural pace, the American tends to sit on the shoulders of opposition defences - as reflected in his being caught offside frequently - yet has shown precious little composure in his limited time on the pitch since joining the club. He should not yet be labelled 'not good enough' for this league, and indeed he could be set for more playing time in order to prove his doubters wrong. That Hughes has brought him on several times in second-halves this season suggests he is to be given a chance to shine. All Whites fans will be hoping he can take it, because with the shaky-looking Mark Schwarzer conceding for fun at the other end, the goals dare not dry up.

With an almost-perfect home record against Saturday's opponents, Everton, whomever is selected to lead the Fulham line can look forward to, hopefully, a game of football, rather than a fusion with the sport played with the oval ball as has been witnessed during the past three fixtures. A few matches without serious injury or blatant cheating - such as Blackburn Rovers' goal - would make a refreshing change. A successful season is not yet out of the question, and indeed this side will continue fighting for each other until even the youth team are in hospital.

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/09/24/fulhams-good-start-why-its-on-a-par-with-chelsea-arsenal-and-man-utd-240901/? (http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/09/24/fulhams-good-start-why-its-on-a-par-with-chelsea-arsenal-and-man-utd-240901/?)
Fulham's good start: why it's on a par with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester Utd
By Brian Sears
24 September 2010

Four teams remain unbeaten in the Premier League after five rounds of matches and three of them are the "usual suspects" in that Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have done it the most often of all the Premier League clubs.  But Fulham have now achieved the feat for the first time in their 10 Premier League seasons, unbeaten in five thanks to a home win, a home draw and three away draws. Tomorrow they host Everton, without a win yet this season.

Last season was very different.  For the first time in the Premier League era (since 1992), only one side – Chelsea – went as long as five games before tasting defeat. Chelsea, of course, went on to be champions to register the 10th time out of the 18 completed seasons that the eventual champions had gone at least their first five games unbeaten.

What does this tell us statistically? That the eventual champions, more often than not, have started with five unbeaten games. That would suggest this season's champions will come from Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal . . . or Fulham.
Seven current Premier League clubs have yet to achieve the feat of starting with five unbeaten games.

Here's the list with the number of seasons they have been trying in brackets: Bolton (12), Sunderland (10), Wigan (6), West Brom (5), Stoke (3), Wolves (3) and Blackpool (1).

In all, 57 sides in the 19 seasons of Premier League football (or an average of three sides per season) have now managed to go the first five games of a season unbeaten; famously in 2003-04, Arsenal went the whole season without a defeat and then nine games into the next season.

That Arsenal season of seven years ago saw the only time that as many as five sides were unbeaten for at least the first five games. Those teams (with eventual run of unbeaten games in brackets): Arsenal (38), Chelsea (8), Birmingham (6), Southampton (6) and Portsmouth (5).

Here's the list of clubs that have achieved the first five games unbeaten and the number of  times they've done it.
.
FIRST FIVE GAMES UNBEATEN IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE 1992-2010
10 times: Chelsea
8 times: Arsenal
7 times: Man Utd
5 times: Liverpool
4 times: Aston Villa, Blackburn
Twice: Everton, Leeds, Nottm Forest, Portsmouth
Once: Birmingham, Coventry, Derby, Fulham, Ipswich, Leicester, Man City, Newcastle, Southampton, Tottenham, West Ham
.
Early avoidance of defeat is not a sure guarantee of eventual success.  Five seasons ago, Manchester City began with three wins and two draws but ended up 15th.  And in 1994-95, Aston Villa had three draws and two wins to begin their campaign but subsided to 18th by the season's end.  But so far no side has managed five unbeaten opening games and then got itself relegated.
.

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Fulham v Everton: Toffees seek a slice of luck

How David Moyes isn't grey or bald is a mystery. He has assembled one of the most hard-working and talented squads in the Premier League but after five league games they find themselves in the bottom three and dumped out of the Carling Cup.

After their miraculous comeback at Goodison Park against Manchester United a fortnight ago every man and their dog thought they would see off Newcastle United with ease. However, nobody told the Geordies and Ben Arfa's blistering strike was enough to see them leave Merseyside with all three points.

Again, Everton played well but just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net thanks to a combination of great goalkeeping by Tim Krull and poor finishing. This weekend they travel to Craven Cottage, a ground where they have only won once since 1966, to take on the draw specialists Fulham.

Mark Hughes's men have drawn four of their five opening league fixtures and have shown a lot of character to come back in four of their outings to get something from the opposition. The former Manchester United and Everton striker has obviously instilled a never-say-die spirit in the squad and that will serve them well as the season progresses.

Fulham are one of only four top flight sides yet to lose a game this season and the majority of the Panel sees that stat remaining come the final whistle.

Fulham v Everton; Kick off 3pm 25 September 2010

http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/hughes-ponders-striker-options-1100736.html? (http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/hughes-ponders-striker-options-1100736.html?)
Hughes ponders striker options

Mark Hughes has major worries on the striker front as Bobby Zamora, Moussa Dembele and Andy Johnson will all miss the Everton clash.

Zamora is out for at least five months with a broken leg, Dembele picked up an injury in the clash with Stoke much to the annoyance of the boss following a tackle from Stoke defender Andy Wilkinson and Johnson is still three weeks away from fitness.

Zoltan Gera may come in to the side and both Eddie Johnson and Clint Dempsey will be looking to lead the Fulham line.

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/44174/Winless_Everton_head_to_Fulham.aspx? (http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/44174/Winless_Everton_head_to_Fulham.aspx?)
Winless Everton head to Fulham

Unbeaten Fulham entertain winless Everton at Craven Cottage in an intriguing Premier League encounter.

The Cottagers have won one and drawn four of their opening five games, while the under-pressure visitors have picked up just two points from the first 15 on offer.

Mark Hughes has certainly managed to pick up where predecessor Roy Hodgson left off with Fulham riding high in seventh place in the Premier League table.

However, they same cannot be said for the Toffees, who find themselves second bottom of the fledgling table following what has now become their customary slow start to a season.

Fulham battled back from a goal down to draw with Blackburn Rovers last weekend with Clint Dempsey stepping into the scoring breach in the first game of Bobby Zamora's (broken leg) lengthy injury absence.

A 2-1 victory over Wolves, 2-2 draw with Blackpool, 2-2 stalemate with Manchester United and goalless opener against Bolton have resulted in Hughes taking plenty of plaudits.

The same cannot be said for opposite number David Moyes, who finds himself coming under increasing pressure with each passing match.

Last weekend's 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Newcastle was their latest disappointment following similar reverses at the hands of Aston Villa (1-0) and Blackburn (1-1).

The undoubted highlight of the season so far was fighting back from 3-1 down in stoppage time against Manchester United to snatch a point, but Moyes is beginning to feel the heat eight years into his Goodison Park reign.

Losing on penalties in the third round of the Carling Cup to League One strugglers Brentford has increased the pressure on the long-serving Toffees boss.

Scoring goals appears to be a major problem for the Toffees with former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford struggling to make the step up from League One, Yakubu appearing to lack motivation and Louis Saha being injured.

Moussa Dembele is the newest addition in the Cottagers' treatment room after he suffered an ankle injury in the Carling Cup defeat at Stoke City in midweek.

He joins the stricken Zamora (broken leg), Diomansy Kamara (ankle), David Stockdale (foot), Philippe Senderos (Achilles) and Andrew Johnson (groin) on the sidelines.

Everton are likely to be without Victor Anichebe (knee) while Jack Rodwell (ankle) and Louis Saha (calf) are definitely missing.

Home wins were the order of the day when Fulham and Everton went head to head last season.

Paul Konchesky and Damien Duff score the goals as the Cottagers won 2-1 at Craven Cottage in September, before a Chris Smalling own goal and late Mikel Arteta penalty won the day for the Toffees by the same scoreline at Goodison Park five months later.

Prior to last season, Everton have dominated after winning four of their last five encounters.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=826407&sec=england&cc=5739 (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=826407&sec=england&cc=5739)
Fulham relief as Dembele only out for three weeks

Fulham striker Moussa Dembele will be out for only two to three weeks, manager Mark Hughes confirmed, after the striker was carried off following an injury-time tackle by Stoke defender Andy Wilkinson in Tuesday night's 2-0 Carling Cup defeat at the Britannia Stadium.

Hughes was furious with the challenge, which he branded ''absolutely ridiculous'', and initially feared the £5 million summer signing from AZ Alkmaar had broken his leg.

But a scan revealed that Belgium international Dembele, who has scored three goals this season in a fine start to life at Craven Cottage, had sustained only minor ankle ligament damage.

''Moussa had a scan after the initial impact of the injury had settled down,'' said Hughes. ''At the moment it looks like he'll be out for two to three weeks. He should be fit and well after the international break.

''The challenge was unnecessary and we're thankful the injury isn't more serious than it is. At the time I was extremely angry and made my feelings known.

''We've been really pleased with what Dembele has produced and he's been a big reason behind the positive start we've had. Not to have him available because of a tackle so late in the game is frustrating for everybody.''

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24092010/58/premier-league-matchpack-fulham-v-everton.html? (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24092010/58/premier-league-matchpack-fulham-v-everton.html?)
Premier League - Matchpack: Fulham v Everton

TEAM NEWS
Fulham striker Moussa Dembele misses out because of an ankle injury. Dembele is out for two to three weeks and joins fellow striker Bobby Zamora (broken leg) in the treatment room. With Andrew Johnson (knee) and Diomansy Kamara (foot) back in training but unavailable for selection, Eddie Johnson, Clint Dempsey or Zoltan Gera will start up front. Damien Duff (calf) is expected to return after missing the 2-0 Carling Cup defeat by Stoke in midweek.

Everton have doubts over midfielders Tim Cahill and Leon Osman. Cahill is rated 50-50 after two games out with a knee problem while Osman suffered a rib injury in the midweek Carling Cup loss to Brentford. Full-back Tony Hibbert is also unlikely to feature at Craven Cottage due to a groin strain. Forwards Louis Saha (calf) and Victor Anichebe (knee) both remain on the sidelines while Jack Rodwell (ankle) is out long term.

MATCH STATS
17 of the 18 Premier league meetings between Fulham and Everton have ended as home wins.

Everton have failed to score in six of their nine Premier League trips to play Fulham in the Premier League.

Fulham have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight Premier League home matches.

Everton have failed to score in their last three Premier League away matches.

The Toffees have only won three of their last 16 Premier League away matches.

Fulham have recouped six points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other side.

Mark Hughes has drawn 12 of his last 16 matches as a Premier League coach.

Everton have been fouled 92 times, more than any other team in the top flight.

The Toffees have blocked just 11 shots this season, fewer than any other team in the Premier League.

This is Everton's poorest start to a league season since 1994/95 when they had accrued just one point after five games.

ODDS
Fulham 6/4, Draw 21/10, Everton 8/5
PA Sport / Opta

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/September/EvertonTeamNews.aspx? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/September/EvertonTeamNews.aspx?)
Team News

On Friday morning Mark Hughes revealed that Mousa Dembele will be out of action for 2-3 weeks following Fulham's match against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Tuesday night.

"At the moment it's looking likely he'll [Dembele] be out for 2-3 weeks," Hughes told fulhamfc.com. "I would imagine after the international break he'll be fit and well.

"He's been very lucky. The challenge was unnecessary and we're thankful it's not any more serious than it is. At the time I was extremely angry and made my feelings known. I was disappointed by the challenge.

"I've been pleased with what Mousa's produced this season and to not have him available from a tackle so late in the game is frustrating, but we'll get him back as soon as possible.

"It's important we don't get him back too soon and compromise him but the feeling is he'll be out for 2-3 weeks."

There was some good news on the injury front on Friday, with Hughes confirming that Diomansy Kamara and Damien Duff will both be in contention for Saturday's game agaisnt Everton at the Cottage.

"Diomansy Kamara's back in training. He played 70 minutes in a game behind closed doors this week and we'll look at him today [Friday]. Damien Duff also trained yesterday so he's in contention for Saturday."

There was further positive news surrounding the fitness of goalkeeper David Stockdale and striker Andrew Johnson. As Hughes explained, Stockdale is now back in training and will be joined the very near future by Fulham's No.8.

"David Stockdale has started to join in with the senior group. He's not quite ready to play yet but he's not far from it. It's good he's back training again and he should be okay in the next week or so.

"Andy Johnson's doing really well and we're hopeful he'll join the main group on Monday. We'll build him up and try and get him some game time in practice matches with the senior group. We'll take our time with him because he's been out for a long time and we don't want to force him back too quickly."



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http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/September/EvertonProgrammePreview.aspx (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/September/EvertonProgrammePreview.aspx)
Everton Programme Preview

After the disappointment of Carling Cup exit on Tuesday evening, Fulham return to Barclays Premier League action on Saturday as the team look to continue their impressive unbeaten start to the season.

The opponents looking to end that run will be Everton, who have uncharacteristically struggled so far this term and were themselves dumped out of the cup this week by our near neighbours Brentford.

The stakes are high, and after the fantastic atmosphere at the Cottage at the last home game against Wolves, it promises to be another great occasion.

So for a lasting memento of the day, and for all the match background and latest team news, pick up the Club's award-winning new-look official Matchday Programme.

With its sleek re-design, the must read 84-page publication is packed full of Fulham facts and info, in-depth discussion, exclusive player interaction, innovative features and detailed coverage of your favourite club.

The essential Matchday companion this week includes:

• A message from Fulham Manager Mark Hughes.
• Danny Murphy's views as Club Captain.
• An exclusive one-on-one feature with Dickson Etuhu.
• Lauri Dalla Valle discusses his switch from Liverpool to Fulham.
• Expert Analysis from former Everton stalwart Andy Hinchcliffe.
• Guest column from Fulham's Sky Sports Fanzone representative Charlie Emmett.
• The popular Black & White Eye, covering all things Fulham.
• Match action from the recent games against Wolves, Blackburn and Stoke.
• Plenty of nostalgia from Fulham of yesteryear.
• Unprecedented fan interaction and tonnes of fun for younger fans too.
• Plus, so much more besides!

The brilliant publication will be on sale in and around the ground from two hours before kick-off and at half-time.

If you miss your copy outside then look out for sellers on the Putney and Hammersmith Terrace, or at half-time from the programme room situated inside the Johnny Haynes Stand by Block E (opposite Turnstile 24).

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/September/EvertonProgrammePreview.aspx#ixzz10RfQv0m8 (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/September/EvertonProgrammePreview.aspx#ixzz10RfQv0m8)

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/Fulham-v-Everton-Latest-team.6549358.jp? (http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/Fulham-v-Everton-Latest-team.6549358.jp?)
Fulham v Everton: Latest team news UPDATED
Published Date: 24 September 2010
Fulham striker Moussa Dembele will miss tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash with Everton because of an ankle injury.

Dembele is out for two to three weeks and joins fellow striker Bobby Zamora (broken leg) in the treatment room.

With Andrew Johnson (knee) and Diomansy Kamara (foot) back in training but unavailable for selection, Eddie Johnson, Clint Dempsey or Zoltan Gera will start up front. Damien Duff (calf) is expected to return after missing the 2-0 Carling Cup defeat by Stoke in midweek.

Team (from): Schwarzer, Zuberbuhler, Kelly, Pantsil, Salcido, Baird, Hangeland, Hughes, Halliche, Gera, Murphy, Duff, Riise, Etuhu, Dempsey, E Johnson, Greening, Davies, Dikgacoi, Elm, Briggs.

****

Everton have doubts over midfielders Tim Cahill and Leon Osman for the trip to Fulham.

Cahill is rated 50-50 after two games out with a knee problem while Osman suffered a rib injury in the midweek Carling Cup loss to Brentford.

Full-back Tony Hibbert is also unlikely to feature at Craven Cottage due to a groin strain.

Forwards Louis Saha (calf) and Victor Anichebe (knee) both remain on the sidelines while Jack Rodwell (ankle) is out long term.

Provisional squad: Howard, Neville, Distin, Jagielka, Cahill, Fellaini, Pienaar, Osman, Arteta, Beckford, Bilyaletdinov, Gueye, Heitinga, Coleman, Yakubu, Barkley, Mustafi, Silva, Baxter, Mucha.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1314907/Fulham-v-EVERTON-David-Moyes-sweating-fitness-Tim-Cahill-Leon-Osman.html? (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1314907/Fulham-v-EVERTON-David-Moyes-sweating-fitness-Tim-Cahill-Leon-Osman.html?)
Fulham v EVERTON: David Moyes sweating on fitness of Tim Cahill and Leon Osman

Everton have doubts over midfielders Tim Cahill and Leon Osman for their Barclays Premier League trip to Fulham.

Cahill is rated 50-50 after two games out with a knee problem while Osman suffered a rib injury in the midweek Carling Cup loss to Brentford.

Full-back Tony Hibbert is also unlikely to feature at Craven Cottage due to a groin strain.

Forwards Louis Saha (calf) and Victor Anichebe (knee) both remain on the sidelines while Jack Rodwell (ankle) is out long term.

Provisional squad: Howard, Neville, Distin, Jagielka, Cahill, Fellaini, Pienaar, Osman, Arteta, Beckford, Bilyaletdinov, Gueye, Heitinga, Coleman, Yakubu, Barkley, Mustafi, Silva, Baxter, Mucha.


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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9021031.stm? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9021031.stm?)
Fulham    v    Everton

TEAM NEWS
Fulham's Moussa Dembele has been ruled out for three weeks with ankle ligament damage following a heavy tackle against Stoke in the League Cup.

Damien Duff is expected to return for Mark Hughes' side who may deploy Zoltan Gera as an emergency striker.

Everton's top scorer Tim Cahill is rated 50/50 to play after recent knee trouble and Leon Osman is also a doubt.

Victor Anichebe is out for up to six weeks after knee surgery, while fellow striker Louis Saha is still sidelined.

Fulham
Doubtful: Dikgacoi (thigh), Duff (calf), Stoor (groin)
Injured: Dembele & Stockdale (both ankle), A Johnson (knee), Kamara (foot), Senderos (Achilles), Zamora (leg)

Everton
Doubtful: Cahill (knee), Hibbert (groin), Osman (ribs)
Injured: Anichebe ( knee), Rodwell (ankle), Saha (calf)

MATCH PREVIEW
Everton's season is on the verge of crisis. Even by their standards of being traditionally slow starters, they are in a rut, and were further stung by the Bees of Brentford in midweek.

A defeat at Craven Cottage in mid-September last year left them in 19th position, but they had a valid excuse, given they were in the midst of an injury crisis that deprived them of the likes of Phil Jagielka and Mikel Arteta.

But they have had no such problems this season and manager David Moyes is at a loss to explain why the pre-season optimism surrounding the club is evaporating into the autumnal air.

While the Toffees are winless, Fulham are unbeaten, and they have been a model of stability under Mark Hughes, who has slipped into Roy Hodgson's shoes with the minimum of fuss.

The Cottagers are still coming to terms with the loss of the injured Bobby Zamora, and Hughes was livid when a reckless tackle in midweek from Stoke's Andy Wilkinson saw Moussa Dembele stretchered off. With a small squad at his disposal, Fulham can ill afford to have any more players on the treatment table.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• In 18 Premier League meetings between the two, there has never been a draw (Everton 10 wins, Fulham eight).
• The home side has won on 17 of those 18 occasions.
• It is 44 years (24 matches) since they last drew a league match against each other (1-1 at Craven Cottage 19 April 1965, old Division One).

Fulham
• Mark Hughes has drawn 12 of his last 16 Premier League games as a manager.
• Hughes' side have one more point than at the same stage last season when they were under the stewardship of Roy Hodgson.
• Fulham had 62% possession in their match against Blackburn last Saturday, but had only two shots on target.

Everton
• Everton are the most fouled team and Steven Pienaar and Mikel Arteta are among the five most fouled Premier League players this season.
• The last league goal scored by an Everton striker came in April when Yakubu scored against Blackburn.
• Jermaine Beckford managed just five passes and no shots in his 45-minute appearance against Newcastle last Saturday.
• This is the Toffees' worst start to a season since 1994/95, when they had just one point after five league games.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Fulham
Dembele: 3 goals (2 league); Zamora: 3 goals (1 league)

Everton
Cahill: 2 goals (2 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Howard Webb
Assistant referees: Peter Kirkup & Mike Mullarkey
Fourth official: Kevin Friend

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Fulham (D1-1 v Blackburn, a): Schwarzer, Kelly, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido, Duff, Etuhu, Murphy (Gera 89), Davies, Dempsey (Eddie Johnson 77), Dembele. Subs not used: Etheridge, Pantsil, Baird, Riise, Greening.

Everton (L0-1 v Newcastle, h): Howard, Hibbert (Coleman 46), Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Osman, Arteta, Heitinga (Bilyaletdinov 73), Pienaar,Fellaini, Beckford (Yakubu 46). Subs not used: Mucha, Neville, Gueye, Barkley.

http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/football-ealing/fulham-fc-ealing/2010/09/24/emotional-pantsil-won-t-be-reprimanded-for-fulham-fc-facebook-message-64767-27336189/? (http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/football-ealing/fulham-fc-ealing/2010/09/24/emotional-pantsil-won-t-be-reprimanded-for-fulham-fc-facebook-message-64767-27336189/?)
'Emotional' Pantsil won't be reprimanded for Fulham FC Facebook message

JOHN Pantsil has escaped a rap on the knuckles for a Facebook message earlier this week where he bid Fulham fans farewell after being dropped.

Boss Mark Hughes waved away the posting as that of an 'emotional guy' and one that was 'misinterpreted' by those who read it.

The Ghanaian World Cup defender was dropped for the game at Blackburn on Saturday, and was forced to warm the bench for the 2-0 defeat at Stoke on Tuesday.

But boss Mark Hughes revealed he hadn't given Pantsil grief for publicly throwing his toys out of the pram.

The manager said: "He (Pantsil) is an emotional guy, as everyone who knows him can testify. I didn't pull him up on it though, and I think he was just a bit frustrated.

"An opinion about players posting messages on Facebook or Twitter? I don't really have one – but I would like them all to be mindful of what they write that's posted in the public domain."

http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2010/09/24/kamara-set-to-be-included-in-fulham-fc-squad-82029-27336212/? (http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2010/09/24/kamara-set-to-be-included-in-fulham-fc-squad-82029-27336212/?)
Kamara set to be included in Fulham FC squad

DIOMANSY Kamara is set to be included in a Fulham Premiership squad for the first time this season after the striker came through 70 minutes of a behind-closed doors friendly this week.

The man bought from West Brom two seasons ago is drafted back into action after injuries to Mousa Dembele and Bobby Zamora has left the Whites short up front.

Dembele could be out for up to three weeks after an industrial tackle by Stoke's Andy Wilkinson damaged his ankle ligaments in the midweek Carling Cup defeat to Stoke.

The Belgian international has made a flying start to his Craven Cottage career, but boss Mark Hughes insists his team will get by on what's left in front of him.

He added: "I can change the personnel and the formation if needs be. And Damien Duff is available for selection again.

"Duffer got no reaction (to a calf problem) in the last two training sessions, and we're hopeful of including him."

Striker Andy Johnson rejoins training with the first-team group on Monday for the first time in nine months, but the Whites are likely to start with Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera up front.

Keeper David Stockdale is also set to resume training on Monday.



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http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2010/09/24/fulham-v-everton-and-the-crowded-midfield-battle-ahead/? (http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2010/09/24/fulham-v-everton-and-the-crowded-midfield-battle-ahead/?)
Fulham v Everton and the crowded midfield battle ahead
Filed under: General — weltmeisterclaude @ 12:36 pm
Tactically speaking, tomorrow's game could be quite interesting.

The issue both teams have is a lack of centre-forward. Everton ended up with Fellaini and Cahill the other day; Fulham will probably use Dempsey and Gera tomorrow.


These are ESPN's 'average position' charts, and until the players in yellow came on (these are the subs) neither side really had someone playing right up front.  Curiously, Fulham's furthest forward player was Simon Davies, but look how advanced the full-backs were, too (the axes are wrong on their co-ordinates – that's Salcido up top and Kelly down below, wrong way around).    Then you had the likes of Dempsey, Dembele, Etuhu and Murphy all very close in the middle of the pitch.

Similar for Everton, with only Fellaini up front and everyone else squeezed right together.

What does it all mean?   First, huge shame that we're missing Dembele, but Gera (if he plays) might be just the kind of player to find space out there.   Otherwise it's the usual thing with Everton:  expect a home win, and be frightened of Cahill and Yakubu, who in my mind are the most frightening players we play against.  Whatever, it seems certain to be a super-tight game (cue 4-3 win...) with no space in midfield and neither team at the top of their game.

http://blogs.soccernet.com/fulham/archives/2010/09/hard_but_fair.php? (http://blogs.soccernet.com/fulham/archives/2010/09/hard_but_fair.php?)
Hard - but Fair?
Posted by Phil Mison 1 hour, 56 minutes ago
A turbulent week for Fulham fans has seen the ugly side of football dominate headlines and social forums. Flair appears under real threat from the cloggers. Are we powerless to prevent it?

In the search for balance I've resisted posting since the events of Tuesday night. Suffice to say my mail bag has been busy with postings on the approach of our last two opponents Blackburn and Stoke. We've drawn sympathy from various quarters, sober criticism from Rovers fans of their own club's style, while many Gooners have flagged up the catalogue of injuries inflicted on Arsenal players in recent seasons.

Ironic that I had drawn comparisons with their free-flowing style and our approach to the game earlier in the week. So where do we go from here? Is football really getting dirtier and are the hatchet men getting away with too much?

Returning to the game at Stoke and the 93rd minute lunge on Dembele with the game won. Both manager Pulis and his assistant Kemp have publicly criticised their player and apologised.

In the heat of Tuesday night the FFC official site was flooded with obscenities after the game and had to suspend operations. There is history between Pulis and Fulham that goes back to November 1995 and the 'Battle of Priestfield' when Martin Thomas broke the leg of Gills O'Connor. He never played again, there was trouble between fans and in 1998 a Whites fan got jumped outside the ground and died.

Last January in the league fixture at Stoke Zamora was the man targeted, dislocating a collarbone after a meaty challenge from Faye. This week Dembele was the victim, Etherington going in late as early as the 7th minute, which led to Murphy getting booked after he took umbrage at the challenge.

Wearing my reporter hat for the sake of objectivity, I appreciate that teams such as Bolton, Blackburn and Stoke have to stay in the Premier League by whatever means necessary. In recent times the last two have been pretty adept at brushing Fulham teams aside. Rovers scorer last Saturday Samba has admitted they targeted Schwarzer as the weak link when leaving his line to deal with high balls pumped into the box. On the evidence of Mark's two howlers mid-week that seems to me a perfectly vaild tactic. Detailing Diouf to deliberately take down our keeper is not. So where do we draw the line?

Football is a man's game. Schoolboys coming into the professional ranks learn quickly, or suffer. Two decades ago Ray Lewington told me of the family of a Fulham youth player he encountered at a petrol station after an away reserve night game. They were distraught and their son in tears at the treatment he'd received on the pitch. "You have to be ready to mix it yourself, or you don't make it," Ray told them.

Let's face it, footballers today get far more protection than they did years ago. Recall the uproar when Blatter seemed intent on eliminating tackling from the game altogether. Anyone remember Doug Rougvie? At the end of his career he turned up at the Cottage to add a bit of Scottish steel to our feeble back line. 20 seconds into his debut as our opponents played the ball forward from the kick-off he went right through the centre-forward from behind. Player left writhing, not so much as a finger wagging from the ref, and Doug trotted back with a huge grin on his face.

Back to the present. This debate is only going to burn brighter when the next notorious tackle puts another big player in plaster. It could well come this weekend. So are we going to let the cheats win? Can our football community create enough of a stink to make the FA see sense?

A constructive proposal to conclude. At present I believe league officials duck the issue of dirty play by putting an unfair burden on match officials. 'If the referee hasn't seen it as a foul we can't act.' The ethos of 'the game is over after 90 minutes' so we move on. In life front line policing of our streets is being withdrawn in favour of surveillance cameras. Video evidence of public crime is commonplace in prosecutions and keeping order.

Why then can the FA not deal retrospectively with actions that are clearly bringing the game into disrepute? Away from the playing field they would be viewed as assaults causing actual bodily harm. If the FA have any guts and a genuine desire to clean up the game they will start handing out long suspensions and fines. Serial offenders - and we all know who they are - should see points deducted for failing to control their players.

I have no problem with teams beating my club with a superior brand of football. Bullies - in life and in football - I've no time for.

http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/football-ealing/fulham-fc-ealing/2010/09/24/kamara-set-to-be-included-in-fulham-squad-64767-27336299/? (http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/football-ealing/fulham-fc-ealing/2010/09/24/kamara-set-to-be-included-in-fulham-squad-64767-27336299/?)
Kamara set to be included in Fulham squad

DIOMANSY Kamara is set to be included in a Fulham Premiership squad for the first time this season after the striker came through 70 minutes of a behind-closed doors friendly this week.

The man bought from West Brom two seasons ago is drafted back into action after injuries to Mousa Dembele and Bobby Zamora has left the Whites short up front.

Dembele could be out for up to three weeks after an industrial tackle by Stoke's Andy Wilkinson damaged his ankle ligaments in the midweek Carling Cup defeat to Stoke.

The Belgian international has made a flying start to his Craven Cottage career, but boss Mark Hughes insists his team will get by on what's left in front of him.

He added: "I can change the personnel and the formation if needs be. And Damien Duff is available for selection again.

"Duffer got no reaction (to a calf problem) in the last two training sessions, and we're hopeful of including him."

Striker Andy Johnson rejoins training with the first-team group on Monday for the first time in nine months, but the Whites are likely to start with Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera up front.

Keeper David Stockdale is also set to resume training on Monday.

http://football.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/09/24/fulham-v-everton-preview-clint-dempsey-aims-to-add-to-toffees-woes/ (http://football.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/09/24/fulham-v-everton-preview-clint-dempsey-aims-to-add-to-toffees-woes/)
Fulham v Everton Preview: Clint Dempsey Aims to Add to Toffees' Woes

Neither side enjoyed their Carling Cup experiences earlier in the week. Fulham lost 2-0 at Stoke and saw summer signing Moussa Dembele stretchered off while Everton were eliminated by League One Brentford in a penalty shoot-out.

At least Fulham's Premier League campaign has got off to a solid start, which is more than can be said for Everton's despite a thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester United.

Mark Hughes' side, on the back of an unbeaten start to the campaign, are in seventh with seven points from their five games while David Moyes finds himself under pressure as the Toffees are second from bottom with just two points to show for their efforts so far.

And Moyes will know that Craven Cottage has never been a happy hunting ground for Everton, who have won there just once since 1966.

Key match up: Clint Dempsey v Phil Jagielka. With Dembele having joined broken leg victim Bobby Zamora on the sidelines the onus will be on USA star Dempsey to ensure Fulham carry on scoring. Jakielka's task will be to ensure that doesn't happen and the England defender will have an extra incentive as he was a penalty shoot-out failure in midweek.

Form guide: Fulham have drawn all but one of their matches; Everton have lost all but two. But five games is but a small portion of a season and it would be no great surprise if the Toffees overtook the Cottagers at some point.

Odds: Fulham 8/5, Everton 9/5, Draw 11/5


FULHAM:
Fulham manager Hughes will try to exploit "wounded" Everton's lack of confidence as his side attempts to keep their own unbeaten start to the Premier League season going.

Everton travel to Craven Cottage without a win in the Premier League and off the back of an embarrassing Carling Cup exit on Tuesday and while Hughes is refusing to let complacency creep in to his team, he will do all he can to undermine Everton's fragile state of mind.

He said: "Sometimes, if a team is struggling and you get your nose in front then maybe a lack of confidence can affect the way they play. If we play at the level we have been at for the most part of this season we will make it very difficult for Everton.

"[Their poor start] is a little bit surprising, it has probably surprised Moyes as well. He has probably stated he feels the group he has is the strongest he has had – which is quite a statement. I am sure he is feeling really frustrated by what has happened at the beginning. He is probably scratching his head and wondering why it has happened and the reasons behind it.

"But there is no doubt that they are a very strong and accomplished Premier League team and they are always difficult to beat, irrespective of current form.

"We know they are a little bit wounded and will be looking to improve their form against us, so we have to be mindful of that and make sure we are ready."

Hughes will have to make do without Dembele up front for the next two to three weeks, but he is confident he has enough in the squad to compensate.

He added: "We are short, because we have lost Bobby as well but we still have options. Clint Dempsey is there and we have Diomansy Kamara who played 70-odd minutes in a closed-doors match so he will come into contention."

Strategy: With two of his first-choice strikers out of contention, Hughes is likely to change formation, with Zoltan Gera employed as a lone forward, supported by Dempsey just behind him. The return of Damien Duff is a boost for the side, as his pace will unsettle the visitors.

Injury news: Duff is back from a two-week absence due to a calf problem. Kamara's return is a welcome filip for Hughes, although he may have to be content with a place on the bench against Everton. Andy Johnson, who last played in January, is back in full training, although his first team return is two to three weeks away.

EVERTON:
Midfielder Mikel Arteta has called on his team-mates to show character and register their first victory in the Premier League at Craven Cottage.

Moyes's side have made a miserable start to the season, having accumulated only two points from five games played in the league. This has left them languishing in 19th place, as worries over their lacklustre run continue.

These worries were compounded by the shock defeat to League One Brentford in the Carling Cup. Now Arteta insists that the time has come for the team to dig deep and carve out a result at a ground where Everton have won just once since 1966.

"We have conceded goals through mistakes and we haven't been able to put the ball in the net when we've had the chance," said the Spanish playmaker.

"Football is about goals. We're dominating the games, we're playing good football and creating chances but that's not been enough to win the games at the moment.

"It seems like every time somebody gets a chance [against us] they put it in the top corner. We need to stand up and we need to show our character now. I know it's tough and we've got some tough games coming up.

"It is not going to be easy but we have to start winning now."

Strategy: The time has come for Moyes's side to stand up and be counted, and what better way of returning to form than becoming the first team to win at Craven Cottage this season. Despite the midweek cup exit, Everton are not far away from getting it right. The recent 3-3 draw with Manchester United, having been 3-1 down at the start of stoppage time, showed that there is plenty of spirit in the side. Yet the pretty football Everton have been playing without reward may have to be sacrificed for an ugly win. The longer they win-less run continues, the less likely Everton's target becomes of challenging for a top six finish.

Injury Update: Tim Cahill (knee) is doubtful while Leon Osman (rib) and Tony Hibbert (groin) are definitely out. Louis Saha (knee) is unlikely to feature against his former club while Victor Anichebe has undergone a knee operation which will keep him out for the next six weeks.

http://www.evertonfc.com//news/archive/2010/09/24/the-inside-track-fulham?utm_source=rss_everton&utm_medium=rss_feed&utm_term=The+Inside+Track%3A+Fulham (http://www.evertonfc.com//news/archive/2010/09/24/the-inside-track-fulham?utm_source=rss_everton&utm_medium=rss_feed&utm_term=The+Inside+Track%3A+Fulham)
THE INSIDE TRACK

Every week on evertonfc.com we ask a journalist that closely follows our next opposition to give us the low-down on the side in question.

This week we have enlisted the help of the Fulham Chronicle's Paul Warburton for the inside track on Mark Hughes' unbeaten Cottagers.

How do you think Mark Hughes has done since replacing Roy Hodgson as manager?

Mark Hughes appears to have slotted into life at Craven Cottage seamlessly especially as Roy Hodgson was such a hard act to follow. I've been quite surprised at how well he's done, I thought there might have been a few hiccups at the start of the season.

The team that he inherited from Roy Hodgson is one engrained with the Premier League, and he's been shrewd enough not to make too many changes as I think that might have rattled the team. I would of been surprised if Hughes had come in and made changes and then succeeded.

This Fulham team is one that got to the Europa League final last season, and Hughes has kept faith with the system that got them there. In time I'd think he would like Fulham to play at a slightly higher tempo but for now he's leaving well alone.

How bigger blow is it for Fulham to be without their talisman Bobby Zamora for such a long period?

Obviously it's a blow to be without Bobby Zamora, but they are also now without Moussa Dembele and Andy Johnson for the game against Everton.

Andy Johnson has been out for nine months, but I'm told that he will be back in training for the first time next month.

As for Moussa Dembele, the Belgian international that Fulham signed in the transfer window, he has been a revelation at the start of the season but was crocked by a ridiculous tackle by Andy Wilkinson in the Carling Cup which will keep him out for two to three weeks.

Without Zamora, Dembele and Johnson how can we expect Fulham to start up front?

Mark Hughes is most likely to play Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera up front despite the fact that neither of them are particularly keen to play there. Clint Dempsey hates playing with his back to goal, as the hold-up man but on this occasion he'll just have to bite the bullet because it's a question of needs must for Fulham.

The good news is that Diomansy Kamara, the tall Senegalese striker that Fulham signed from West Brom, has returned from injury and he'll be on the bench and fit to play if they need him.

How will Fulham view the visit of Everton given their excellent record at Craven Cottage?

Well Fulham are absolutely shocking away from home, but they do rarely lose at home and they'll give anybody a good game.

I think Manchester United are without a win here in about four years, and the Cottage has become something of a fortress. So even though they are short on attackers they'll be confident of beating Everton.

They are very solid defensively with Hangeland and Aaron Hughes and they have added Mexican World Cup star Carlos Salcido to their side and he seems to have hit the ground running.

What has Fulham boss Mark Hughes made of Everton's start to the season?

Mark Hughes indicated in his pre-match press conference that he was very surprised with Everton's poor start to the season. But he also said that he guessed David Moyes would be even more surprised.

Hughes and Fulham will be looking to exploit Everton's fragile confidence by getting at them early in the game, and looking to get a goal in the first 15-20 minutes.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2010/09/24/2134497/roy-hodgson-is-better-suited-to-fulham-than-a-big-club-like? (http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2010/09/24/2134497/roy-hodgson-is-better-suited-to-fulham-than-a-big-club-like?)
Roy Hodgson Is Better Suited To Fulham Than A Big Club Like Liverpool - Lars Bohinen
Former Norway international critical of the Anfield circus...

Premier League side Liverpool have been in disappointing form in the opening weeks of the 2010-11 campaign and the Reds sit only 16th in the league table after five games.

Many are starting to question whether new manager Roy Hodgson is the right man for Liverpool following the club's shaky performances, but former Norway international Lars Bohinen, who worked under the coach at Blackburn Rovers, has voiced his opinion that Hodgson is not the only one at fault for the club's disastrous results so far.

"To begin with, Liverpool's squad is simply not good enough at the moment. The spine of the team lacks the class and leadership qualities to compete with the big teams," said Bohinen to TV2.

"Pepe Reina is a class shot stopper, but Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel are no leaders at the back. Steven Gerrard is the natural leader of the team, but he has been struggling to find his best form. Fernando Torres is a good player, but no leader.

"Additionally, Liverpool have done a poor job in the transfer market. Milan Jovanovic is not good enough in the one-on-ones and turns inward way too often. Christian Poulsen's action radius is too low and he hardly passes forward. Then Paul Konchesky is very vulnerable at the back. Raul Meireles is a good player, but he needs time to settle in."

Bohinen did have some criticism for Hodgson, however, and suggested that from his experience the cautious Englishman was more tactically suited to a club wanting to grind out results, rather than a top side like Liverpool were success is expected.

"There is no element of surprise to Liverpool's current style of play. It's all about passing the ball, but without any clear idea behind it. Players such as Gerrard and Torres are unable to shine in this formation and Roy Hodgson is the one to blame for this," Bohinen said.

"I've worked under him in the past and he's the best coach I've ever had. However, he focuses too much on the defensive structure of a team. He doesn't really have a clear philosophy when it comes to attacking football. He used a similar style of play at Blackburn Rovers, Inter and Fulham.

"Hodgson is the right man for a club that wants to defend a certain result, but I'm not sure whether he's the right man for Liverpool.

"His preferred tactics suit a club like Fulham, but he's not much into attacking football and creative players. I expect Gerrard and Torres to continue suffering under Hodgson."

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/44205/Moyes_eager_to_turn_things_around.aspx? (http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/44205/Moyes_eager_to_turn_things_around.aspx?)
Moyes eager to turn things around

Everton boss David Moyes is determined to prove the doubters wrong after his side came under fire for their poor start to the new season.

The Toffees have taken just two points from five Premier League outings, while in midweek they were knocked out of the Carling Cup by League One Brentford.

With a trip to Fulham next on the agenda, Moyes told reporters: "We started the season with the belief, coming off two defeats in 24 last year, that we would start the season well.

"It didn't happen and that affects your confidence. It's disappointing because I didn't expect this. We expected to start better after the good run we had last year.

"We want to do better and nobody cares more than the players, I can see that by their attitude and the way they are training.

"Football pressure is what I do, it is what the players do. It is why we are in the business and we will get on with it.

"I wouldn't say you want to prove people wrong, but I have been in this situation quite a few times now and it is always the same kind of people who come out and say things.

"We turn it around and they come back again when we don't start the season well.

"But it's a difficult run. Five of the opening nine were away and two of the four at home included Manchester United and Liverpool.

"I knew this start was going to be quite a hard one if we didn't get off to a good start against Blackburn and Wolves."

http://hammyend.com/index.php/2010/09/dembele-will-only-miss-three-weeks/? (http://hammyend.com/index.php/2010/09/dembele-will-only-miss-three-weeks/?)
Dembele will only miss three weeks
by DAN on SEPTEMBER 24, 2010

Fulham have been handed a massive boost with the news that Belgian forward Moussa Dembele will only miss three weeks of football after suffering minor ankle ligament damage in the 2-0 defeat by Stoke on Tuesday night.

Mark Hughes was furious with the 'absolutely ridiculous' challenge by Andy Wilkinson that saw Dembele carried off on a stretcher in injury time at the end of the midweek Carling Cup tie. Having seen Bobby Zamora suffer a broken leg at the weekend, Hughes feared the worst for Dembele, who made an instant impact on his arrival in English football after signing from AZ Alkmaar during the summer. Hughes revealed that Dembele, who has already scored three goals for Fulham this season, could return in time for the October 16 clash with Tottenham at Craven Cottage.

Moussa had a scan after the initial impact of the injury had settled down. 'At the moment it looks like he'll be out for two to three weeks. He should be fit and well after the international break

The challenge was unnecessary and we're thankful the injury isn't more serious than it is. At the time I was extremely angry and made my feelings known.

We've been really pleased with what Dembele has produced and he's been a big reason behind the positive start we've had. Not to have him available because of a tackle so late in the game is frustrating for everybody.

http://hammyend.com/index.php/2010/09/up-next-everton-h/? (http://hammyend.com/index.php/2010/09/up-next-everton-h/?)
Up next: Everton (h)
by DAN on SEPTEMBER 24, 2010

Fulham's chances of recording another home win against Everton – the Premier League sequence between these two sides favours the home side – tomorrow have receeded badly over the past week or so. Karl Henry and Andy Wilkinson have put paid to any hopes we may have had of seeing Zamora-Dembele partnership blossom as we head into autumn, although the fury over Wilkinson's utterly atrocious tackle at the end of Fulham's League Cup defeat at the Britannia Stadium on Tuesday has receeded somewhat with the news that Dembele's injury isn't quite as bad as Mark Hughes first feared.

The absence of his two main forwards does leave Hughes with something of a selection dilemma for tomorrow though. Zamora looked fit and raring to go after returning from ankle surgery and Dembele has been something of a revelation since arriving for around £5m in the summer. His ability to take players on and shoot on goal from outside of the box brings something different to the party – previously Fulham's attacks were a little too functional to prise open the best defences. Zoltan Gera has played the withdrawn striker role very effectively over the last 18 months – he shot to prominence during last season's European run at a time when Roy Hodgson's striking options were severely depleted – and he may well be the favourite to fill the Dembele slot against Everton. My money would be on Clint Dempey being asked to play as a lone striker, something he's done manfully in the past, even if it isn't his favoured position. David Elm and Eddie Johnson are probably best used off the bench, although the news that the mercurial Diomansy Kamara, fit again after injury, could be included in the matchday squad is exciting.

Movement from midfield might well be the key to prolonging Everton's miserable start to the season. It has always been a more fluid four than the orthodox formations other sides have played, but Hughes has taken Roy Hodgson's template on a level. Now the wide players aren't just expected to tuck in and track back, but widen the pitch and create space and chances for the front players. The liberty given to Simon Davies, for example, can be illustrated in the manner that he galloped forward to score the first equaliser against Manchester United after Damien Duff had broken clear on the halfway line. Under Hodgson, Fulham were all too reluctant to throw players into the penalty area. With the encouragement Hughes has offered Dickson Etuhu, formerly the textbook stopper in front of the back four, to make runs from central midfield, there's certainly a few more threats for the opposition to quell.

David Moyes has a similar lack of forwards to contend with as he contemplates his side for tomorrow. Like Fulham, Everton have flourished in a rather uncoventional 4-6-0 formation over the past couple of years, with the intelligence of Tim Cahill and the goal-getting prowess of Marouane Fellaini compensating for the lack of a fit leader of the line on ocassions. The fit-again Yakubu could plough a lone furrow up front, but the real danger comes from the Everton engine room. The Toffees probably have one of the strongest midfields outside the top four, with the underrated Leon Osman competing for places alongside the likes of Steven Pienaar and Mikel Arteta. The strength of Spanish football at the moment is illustrated by the fact that Arteta, a supremely gifted footballer, has contemplated switching nationality to play international football.

Everton will be desperate to record their first win of the season and won't be relishing a return to west London after they tumbled out of the Carling Cup on penalties at Brentford on Tuesday night. Fulham, remarkably consistent under Hughes until the slip-up at Stoke, will need to improve on a jittery defensive performance at Ewood Park last weekend. Everton might not be as physical and route one as Sam Allardyce's Blackburn were on that ocassion, but Mark Schwarzer looked unusually shaky in coming for high balls. Carlos Salcido had a particularly impressive debut and, if Hangeland and Hughes aren't distracted by the possible lack of a front man to mark, the Whites should consider themselves able to continue their unbeaten league start.

MY FULHAM XI (4-4-1-1): Schwarzer; Kelly, Salcido, Hughes, Hangeland; Etuhu, Murphy, Davies, Duff; Gera; Dempsey. Subs: Etheridge, Baird, Halliche, Greening, Kamara, E. Johnson, Elm.

http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2010/9/24/1707895/my-five-keys-to-victory-for-fulham-against-everton-match-preview? (http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2010/9/24/1707895/my-five-keys-to-victory-for-fulham-against-everton-match-preview?)
My Five Keys To Victory For Fulham Against Everton - Match Preview

This Saturday, Fulham will be home playing Everton at Craven Cottage. The game takes place at 3PM UK Time and 10 AM EST. The game will be on Fox Soccer Plus taped delayed on Saturday at 4 PM EST in the United States. However, there is another option online. You can watch the game on Foxsoccer.tv live.This is a subscription based service that I would recommend. 

This game will not be easy for Fulham. With the injuries to Bobby Zamora and Moussa Dembele, Fulham will need some other players to step up to be the goal scoring threats against Everton.

Everton have started poorly this season. They currently are 19th in the table and have only two points. However, Everton always seem to be a tough opponent for Fulham.

Last season the two clubs split the games. Fulham beat Everton 2-1 at Craven Cottage. Everton beat Fulham 2-1 at Goodison Park.

The away match had a controversial ending. In the last minute of stoppage time, Tim Cahill went down inside the box, and a penalty was awarded to Everton. Mikel Arteta scored on the penalty kick which gave Everton the victory. However, the controversy surrounding the game involved the play before Cahill was taken down in the box. The ball seemed to go off of an Everton player before going out of bounds. The call however made by the referee was that the ball went off of a Fulham player. Everton threw in the ball, and eventually that play led to the deciding goal. 

David Moyes is the manager of Everton, and is a quality coach. Players to watch include Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta. Tim Cahill is a dangerous Australian midfielder. Last season he scored 10 goals. He is fighting an injury so his status for tomorrow is unclear. Mikel Arteta is another midfielder that can cause havoc to an opposition. Last season he scored 6 goals for Everton.

As I do before every match I do my 5 "keys" that I hope will lead to 3 points for Fulham. Below are " My 5 Keys To Victory For Fulham Against Everton"

1. Fulham need to do a much better job defending set pieces. Fulham, in their last two matches gave up goals on set pieces. This is an issue that was a problem last season. Fulham's defenders need to do a much better job at marking their players against Everton. Mark Schwarzer definitely needs to handle these situations much better as well. He has looked uncomfortable, and out of place lately on these plays.



2. Mark Schwarzer needs to return to his high level form. I don't know if this is a mental issue with Schwarzer right now. It has been reported that he wanted to leave Fulham this summer for Arsenal. I don't know if this issue is playing any role in his bad play. Regardless, it is important for himself, and the team that he starts playing well. He has been very poor on set pieces, and generally does not look like the confident goalkeeper Fulham fans are used to seeing. Fulham need him at his best against Everton.

3. Fulham need to contain Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta. These two players have the ability to control the game for Everton in the midfield. They are both dangerous in scoring situations. Fulham need to keep these players in check.

4. Fulham really need a lead going into the half.  Fulham have proven to be able to come from behind in the second half. However, it is very difficult to continually come from behind. I think it is very important that Fulham are up at the half. They could really dictate the game. Everton right now are struggling. If you can get up on them in the first half, Everton might find it very difficult to fight back on the road in the second half. Everton did come from behind late in the game at home against Manchester United. However, at Craven Cottage they might find it much harder to come back from a deficit.

5. The strikers need to step up tomorrow and be scoring threats.  Tomorrow should be very interesting to see who Mark Hughes has playing up front. My guess is you will see Zoltan Gera and Clint Dempsey as your strikers tomorrow against Everton. The strikers need to be counted on to create scoring chances. This could be Dempsey and Gera's game to really shine.

I honestly see this game as a struggle. Who will do scoring for Fulham? Will the Cottagers be able to defend set pieces? I am hoping we have positive answers to these questions tomorrow.

I am predicting a 1-0 victory for Fulham against Everton at Craven Cottage. I still think the Cottagers have enough quality to grab a win at home.

http://blogs.soccernet.com/fulham/archives/2010/09/fulham_v_everton_preview.php? (http://blogs.soccernet.com/fulham/archives/2010/09/fulham_v_everton_preview.php?)
Fulham v Everton Preview
Posted by Phil Mison
Back to basics for the Whites on Saturday. Can we return to winning ways against struggling Everton? Despite the bruises from that midweek trip to Stoke, in the league we remain unbeaten.

A chance to move higher up the table against David Moyes side, who rarely do well at the Cottage although scorelines are usually close. Both home teams won the corresponding fixture last season 2-1, Duff lashing in a belter ten minutes from time at the Cottage as we came from behind. Everton did likewise up at Goodison when we were focusing on the Europa League. Roy made 9 changes and we only lost in very controversial circumstances to a highly debatable penalty in the last minute of stoppage time.

While we're all bemoaning the absence of Zamora and now Dembele - though thankfully only short term with damaged ankle ligaments - let's not forget Everton themselves have been deprived of Saha, Rodwell and Anichebe already this season. Moyes has been left with a lack of firepower up front, with the Toffees yet score an away goal, and Brentford put them out of the Carling Cup this week.

The key to Fulham ending the week on a positive note is all down to Hughes team selection and really getting the players fired up from the off. He's seen enough now hopefully to realise there's simply not enough creativity coming from midfield. I cannot guess who will feature up top, but we need goals. His career to date in the UK suggests Eddie Johnson is not likely to score them, so please end that experiment, along with Kelly at full-back.

I trust Mark has received four days of intense coaching on dealing with high balls into the box, and can we have a return to calm assurance at the back and a clean sheet (not had one in the league since our opener at Bolton). A few more tricks from set plays would not go amiss in light of Murphy's inability to get a shot on target so far.

Can I repeat my outrageous fluke of calling the Stoke game just right? Probably no, but here goes. Salcido to inspire Fulham to a narrow win with the luck for once going in our favour from the ref. Home penalty anyone?

COYW