Friends of Fulham

 
FM19 sims how many of the bottom five clubs Big Sam could lead to safety

There has not been a sacking in the Premier League so far this season but with the November international break approaching, it won't be long before heads are rolling. Which is good news for Sam Allardyce.

There were five sackings in the Premier League last November alone, while Big Sam has been hired in Autumn by a struggling Premier League club in each of the last three seasons (Sunderland, Crystal Palace, and Everton), successfully avoiding the drop every time. He has become a fire-fighting specialist, which means he will almost certainly be appointed before Christmas by an anxious club owner willing to sacrifice aesthetics for Premier League survival.

But who among the current bottom five clubs, all of which could be considering a change of manager in the coming months, would be most successful with Allardyce at the helm? We took to Football Manager 2019 to find out.

Using the FM Editor we cloned Big Sam four times, putting the five men in control of Fulham, Southampton, Cardiff, Newcastle, and Huddersfield.

There's no way to artificially manufacture the real-life league table, so Allardyce takes over in late June 2018 (with transfer windows kept closed for the first summer). The game was simmed for one year, until May 13.

Here's how he got on:

(https://d3nfwcxd527z59.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/11/08110539/Football-Manager-table.jpg)

Southampton – 14th, sacked on December 5 in 18th

Clearly the Southampton board never really took to Big Sam, which is fair enough when you consider fans are already irritated by the very un-Southampton-y Mark Hughes.

Saints got rid of Allardyce in early December with the club residing in the bottom three – but after a tricky run of fixtures it had looked as though Southampton were stabilising.

Allardyce can feel hard done by here. Four points from the last two matches, against Huddersfield and West Ham, made it nine from the last eight – which isn't too bad at all, especially with the club trying to rebuild confidence following defeats to Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City in their opening eight league games.

Southampton replaced Big Sam with Andres Villas-Boas, who led the team to 14th thanks to a flurry of wins at the end of the season that – adding insult to injury – relegated Allardyce's Fulham.

High point: A dominant performance and a debut goal for Danny Ings gave Southampton the perfect start with a 1-0 win over Watford. They lost their next six.

Low point: When confidence is low it can sometimes feel as if everything is going against you. In a must-win game that Southampton had dominated, Christian Benteke scored an 88th-minute winner for Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Victory here, three weeks before the sack, and Allardyce would surely have kept his job.

(https://d3nfwcxd527z59.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/11/08110751/Football-Manager-Southampton.jpg)

Fulham – 19th, sacked on May 12

Things could easily have been so very, very different. After winning 15 points from the first 10 league games Allardyce had apparently proven the doubters wrong, although Fulham fans (who had enjoyed Slavisa Jokanovic's expansive football) were obviously still aggrieved.

Then it all fell apart. A miserable 18 points from their final 28 games sealed a return to the Championship – their relegation confirmed in a 3-1 home defeat to Manchester City on matchday 36 – just two weeks after it had looked as though the great escape was on.

Fulham beat Southampton 3-0 in late April – their first win in 12 – to go within one point of Saints in 17th...only to lose their final three.

High point: A 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Craven Cottage in September, their third successive Premier League win, was vintage Allardyce. Things collapsed pretty much immediately after this.

Low point: Allardyce's 0-0 draw at home to Allardyce's Cardiff in February extended a run of four matches without scoring a goal. It was two points dropped that would ultimately cost them their Premier League status.

(https://d3nfwcxd527z59.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/11/08111004/Football-Manager-Fulham.jpg)

Cardiff – 20th, still in the job

How on earth Allardyce wasn't sacked is a mystery. Cardiff went down in spectacular fashion, with just 16 points and a host of new records.

They went 13 games without scoring. They failed to win a single home game. They were bottom of the table from matchday four and never left it. They scored 24 goals.

And yet Cardiff were clearly an Allardyce side, conceding a surprisingly low 65 goals. The Bluebirds only let in three or more goals on eight occasions in the league, generally losing by a one-goal margin.

High point: A 2-1 win at Burnley in late October finally ended fears that Cardiff would go the entire season with victory. A late Danny Ward penalty sealed the three points in a match Burnley – with more possession, shots, and chances – should have won.

The Bluebirds would win just once more, 3-1 at Huddersfield in February.

Low point: Everything else.

(https://d3nfwcxd527z59.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/11/08111153/Football-Manager-Cardiff.jpg)

Newcastle – 12th, still in the job

The league table might look pretty good, but it took until the penultimate game of the season for Newcastle to secure their place in the top flight.

After winning once in their previous 13 league matches, it looked as though Allardyce's Newcastle were sliding towards relegation. But Big Sam pulled off a famous 2-0 win at home to Manchester United to avoid the drop.

That was undoubtedly the highlight after an appalling run through the middle of the campaign. Newcastle had 11 points after five matches, only to more or less collapse in on themselves until the win against the Red Devils.

High point: A 3-0 win over Burnley in September, extending an undefeated start, was the third game (out of five) in which the Magpies had scored three goals.

At that point it looked like Allardyce had finally sussed how to get Newcastle right. To be fair, they didn't drop into the bottom three once the entire season.

Low point: Weirdly, fan favourite Jonjo Shelvey failed to start a single game in any competition but made 24 appearances off the bench.

That must have been extremely annoying for everyone involved.

(https://d3nfwcxd527z59.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/11/08111555/Football-Manager-Newcastle.jpg)

Huddersfield – 15th, still in the job

The most dramatic Allardyce story came at Huddersfield, where his all-but-doomed side somehow came back from the brink to survive relegation on the final day of the season.

A Nigel Pearson-esque run of 10 points from the final five fixtures boosted the Terriers up into 15th, two points above the drop zone on 39 points.

Huddersfield spent a total of 27 consecutive weeks in the bottom three, slumping in on matchday 11 and only rising above the dotted line on the final day. Miraculous.

High point: A 2-1 win at Palace on the last day did the job, courtesy of goals from Alex Pritchard and Dario Lezcano.

Low point: A 3-1 loss at Allardyce's Newcastle on the opening day was a pretty ominous sign, triggering a terrible first half of the campaign in which Huddersfield didn't record a home win until mid-December.

(https://d3nfwcxd527z59.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/11/08111758/Football-Manager-Huddersfield.jpg)



https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/fm19-sims-what-would-happen-if-the-bottom-five-clubs-appointed-big-sam/

 
Liverpool squad vs Fulham revealed with Naby Keita raring to feature

The Reds midfield looks to be getting back to full strength ahead of their Premier League clash with the Cottagers

Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson are ready to feature against Fulham.

The Guinean international got off to a flier against West Ham on the opening weekend when he lined up with James Milner and Gini Wijnaldum for the Reds - but he hasn't performed at that level since and has been hampered by injuries.

The midfielder was hurt on international duty and hasn't played for Liverpool since the 0-0 draw with Manchester City in early October.

Now though, he has posted a video on his Instagram page showing him going through the paces in full training at Melwood and highlighting the fact he is back and ready to play.

The slow-motion video shows Keita receiving the ball before controlling the pass and moving forward to then play it across to another player on the training ground.

There are hopes the No.8 has now had time to adjust to life in England and as such will be up to the pace of Premier League football - providing the solution for manager Jurgen Klopp in that well-publicised midfield conundrum.

Club captain Jordan Henderson was also pictured in training yesterday and similarly posted a picture on his own social media page showing him kicking a ball around before adding to his story a video of him characteristically waiting to receive the ball and play it away.

Klopp has now confirmed both Keita and Henderson - along with Joe Gomez - will be available for the game against the Cottagers.

"It's nothing to discuss in public to be honest," Klopp said after being asked about Henderson and Gomez being called up to the England squad. "We will see how we deal with that.

"It's different with the two boys. If there's something to talk about I will say it to Gareth (Southampton). It's better than telling you and then he has to read it or whatever!

"We will see, but for the weekend they are all available."

And Klopp offered Liverpool fans something they have been waiting to hear for a while - an almost fully-fit midfield at his disposal.

"It's good to have them back, it's probably the first time that all midfield players apart from Ox are available," he added. "That's another thing to do, make decisions on who starts with who. It's all about fitness levels, form, shape, then we will see."

Liverpool squad: Alisson, Mignolet; Moreno, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Clyne, Matip, Van Dijk, Lovren, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner, Lallana, Shaqiri, Mane, Salah, Firmino, Sturridge, Solanke, Origi



https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-squad-vs-fulham-keita-15391863

 
Premier League the most competitive in the world? You must be joking

The top five clubs have played the bottom five 19 times this season and won every one. There is nothing to celebrate in the top flight's great divide

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Clockwise from top left: Fulham, Southampton, Newcastle, Cardiff and Huddersfield have conceded 108 goals between them. Composite: Getty Images, BPI/Rex/Shutterstock, Action Images

Amid all the gloom enveloping those at the wrong end of the Premier League table, where Fulham, Cardiff, Huddersfield, Newcastle and Southampton have conceded 108 goals between them, suffered 36 defeats and registered only one victory each, there is a ray of hope. On the basis of the results so far, only 22 points will be needed to stay up this season.

Although 11 fixtures is not much of a sample size from which to calculate a points-per-game ratio, the numbers do not lie and there is no getting away from just how poor the standard is in the lower reaches of the Premier League this season. The fact that this is the first time in 27 Premier League seasons that five clubs have seven or fewer points from their opening 11 matches says it all.

Newcastle, who won last Saturday for the first time this season, are somehow out of the relegation zone despite picking up only six points from 11 games. The survival bar could hardly be set any lower and it all feels so predictable. Cast the net a little further to include Burnley, who are lying in 15th place, and a strong case could be made to say that the bottom six now will be the bottom six come May, with only their order to be decided.

A glance towards the other end of the table shows how the other half live. Manchester City, the leaders, have as many points as Fulham, Cardiff, Huddersfield, Newcastle and Southampton – a quarter of the clubs – put together. By way of comparison, the bottom five had 10 points more than the league leaders at the same juncture last season – and Pep Guardiola's team, who were also top then, were two points better off than they are now.

The numbers say much about what the Premier League has become this season, with one set of results in particular highlighting the growing divide that makes a mockery of the idea that English football's top flight should be celebrated for its competitiveness.

Fulham, Cardiff, Huddersfield, Newcastle and Southampton have faced Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal – the top five – a total of 19 times this season. The record of the bottom five clubs in those matches reads: P19 W0 D0 L19 F12 A60. To put it bluntly, what is the point of those fixtures? What is clear is that the misery at the bottom cannot be seen in isolation from the joy at the top, where the big boys are racking up points like never before.

This is the first time in the Premier League era that three clubs – Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool – are still unbeaten after 11 games. Never before have five Premier League clubs had 23 points or more at this stage.

Reeling off all the facts and figures is one thing; trying to make sense of them is quite another. The obvious conclusion to draw initially is that the top clubs are getting better and the bottom five, collectively, are as bad as we have ever seen. That, however, seems a little simplistic and is almost certainly not true.

(https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ecae4b9a986373639f4873a380954fe32d95b415/0_132_4896_2937/master/4896.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b46fb05c21bc6ffa354cff7be7496f86)
Leroy Sané begins the celebrations after one of the six goals Manchester City scored against Southampton. Photograph: Jon Super/Rex/Shutterstock

For a start, are Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal really that brilliant? The Champions League this season suggests otherwise. Lyon, fourth in Ligue 1, beat Manchester City. Red Star Belgrade, who are hardly a European powerhouse, and Napoli, third in Serie A, defeated Liverpool, while Spurs' hopes of reaching the knockout stage are hanging by a thread.

All of which throws the spotlight back on to the Premier League and specifically what is happening outside of the top five, or the top six as the case will soon be when Manchester United, one place behind high-flying Bournemouth, get their act together domestically. In the past couple of years there has been a movement towards a two-tier league in which mid-table has almost ceased to exist, yet that is definitely not the case this season, with Brighton, Wolves, Leicester, Everton and Watford already comfortably clear (eight to 13 points) of the bottom four and, realistically, not going to seriously threaten the monopoly of the big six.

The notable shift this season has taken place lower down, where a group of clubs are in danger of being cut adrift even before the leaves have finished falling from the trees, with their plight so desperate that league victories in November are celebrated like winning cup finals in May. They are playing survival football with 27 matches remaining.

In the case of Cardiff, who punched above their weight to win promotion, and Huddersfield, who did the same to retain their Premier League status last season, it is no real surprise to see them in the bottom three. Fulham, however, expected better than to be propping up the league after spending £100m in the summer and it says little for Slavisa Jokanovic's team that the only victories Cardiff and Huddersfield have managed this season have come at their expense.

As for the others, the writing has been on the wall for some time at Southampton, who avoided the drop by the skin of their teeth last season, and Newcastle's woes feel just as predictable on the back of a summer of discontent and under-investment. Burnley and Crystal Palace are not much better off and in many years would have found themselves in the bottom three with eight points from 11 games.

This, however, is unlike any other Premier League season and there is not much to celebrate about that.



https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/09/premier-league-top-five-bottom-five-great-divide

Inside Anfield

The Anfield Wrap has been nominated in the Fan Media of the Year category at the upcoming Footballer Supporters' Federation awards. We caught up with Editor Josh Sexton, who assesses where this Liverpool side ranks for him, and what he's expecting from Sunday's match with Fulham.

Unbeaten and two points off the top of the Premier League table – as good a start as you could've hoped for?

Context is a funny thing for Liverpool supporters at the moment. The cold, hard facts suggest a flying start to the season, but the truth is that The Reds haven't been at their best on anything like a frequent enough basis. It's hard to pinpoint the exact reason behind that, but we're all living in hope that we can start to build up the kind of consistency in performance that Manchester City are attaining. The main thing is we have kept in touch with City so far, which I'm sure will be a frustration for Pep Guardiola and co given we haven't been at our best. As long as the results keep coming, the performances should follow.


Where does this current Liverpool team rank compared to recent years?

Despite the groans about performances, the balance of the side is the best it has been for years and the strength in depth is there, which should make us real contenders for honours. It's probably the strongest we've been since the sides under Rafael Benitez in 2007/08 and 2008/09, which had solid foundations as well as the attacking talents of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. The 2013/14 side offered up so much entertainment but left a lot to be desired at the back, so this side probably ranks just ahead of them.

What do you make of your title chances?

I make a lot of our chances of mounting a sustained push for the title, but Manchester City look pretty unstoppable right now. There's every chance we could surpass our record points total for a Premier League season and still fall short, but I'm clinging onto the fact that both City and Chelsea have dropped points to sides outside the top six, which we haven't - as yet!

What went wrong against Red Star on Tuesday?

How much time have you got?! We started too slowly against a side full of aggression with a point to prove. The midfield lacked creativity and the game almost completely passed them by. The front three never got it going despite the changes at half-time. All round it was probably Liverpool's worst performance since losing 1-0 away to Swansea City back in January.


Who have been Liverpool's best performers so far this season?

Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk have had a massive influence on our defensive solidity, but our best player of the season so far is somebody a little less obvious - and who cost a lot less! Joe Gomez has barely had a chance in his favoured centre-back role since he signed from Charlton for £6m, and injury problems meant it took a while for him to get a chance once Jürgen Klopp took over. Last season he was mostly played at right back, losing out to Trent Alexander-Arnold towards the back end of it, but this season he has been a colossus at centre half. Van Dijk has been afforded much of the credit for that, but Gomez deserve his plaudits also. He's quick, strong, composed, good with the ball at his feet and in the air, so has all the ingredients to be the perfect option in the centre of defence for years to come.

Have you seen much of Fulham?

I think I've only watched two full Fulham games this season, against Arsenal and Huddersfield. Any other time has been via Match Of The Day, which is always hard to take anything from without regurgitating exactly what the pundits say. From what I have seen, it's hard to really judge but on paper it should be the kind of game Liverpool should be looking to find their stride in - with the utmost respect to the Whites!


Which of our players do you think could cause you problems?

I'm a really big fan of Ryan Sessegnon from what I saw of him in the Championship last season. He'd have to be a consideration (as much as anybody else in the team), along with André Schürrle who has a goal in him.

What sort of match are you expecting on Sunday?

As I said before, it should be a game Liverpool are looking to win comfortably. We've not conceded many this season and Fulham have conceded the most in the league so, although it won't be as straightforward as that, you'd expect Liverpool to pick up three points.

Can you recommend a decent away pub for Fulham fans to get a pre-match pint?

It's a tough one being an early kick off. My best advice would be to come the night before and take in a Saturday night in Liverpool city centre if possible. If not, then The Sandon or The Flat Iron aren't necessarily "away fan pubs" but they're accommodating of travelling supporters. Neither are far from the away end.


Congratulations on the nomination for Fan Media of the Year – how much of a labour of love is your podcast?

I joined The Anfield Wrap in August 2016 and it has come a long way since then. It started off in 2011 as a few supporters recording one free podcast a week in Parr Street Studios in Liverpool, and now it's a full-time job for 10 people with an office, audio and video studios on Liverpool's waterfront. It wouldn't have been possible without the help of those who have been involved in any aspect of the journey; from the lads who quit their jobs to take it full time in 2015, to the hundreds of contributors down the years who have given up their own time to come and talk on podcasts. We're proud to be recognised for all the hard work!

What score prediction are you going for?

I'm hoping it will be a much more comfortable 90 minutes than Tuesday evening, so I'm going to go with a 2-0 Liverpool win. We've been very hard to break down at home - the goal conceded against Cardiff being the first time we'd conceded in the league at Anfield since February - which should provide us with a solid foundation, but I expect Fulham to defend resolutely and, since we aren't at our attacking best, I can't see there being a glut of goals.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/november/09/inside-anfield

 
Henderson and Keita fit for Liverpool v Fulham

Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita are available for Liverpool's meeting with Fulham on Sunday.

Captain Henderson has missed the Reds' last four matches, while Keita has been sidelined for five games.

However, the midfield duo have recovered from their respective hamstring problems and are in contention to face Fulham, Jürgen Klopp confirmed on Friday.

"It's good to have them back, it's probably the first time that all midfield players apart from Ox are available," said the boss.

"That's then another thing to do, making decisions, who starts with who, stuff like that. It's all about then fitness level, form, shape, whatever and then we will see."

Klopp, who reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of the weekend's Premier League fixture at Anfield, was asked about whether Liverpool had missed Henderson's influence in recent weeks.

"When Jordan is not available we always miss him," he stated.

"I would love to say Hendo would have changed the whole game [versus Red Star Belgrade], but I am not really sure about it, the whole game was kind of strange and not us or whatever and the game before was Arsenal. That was actually an absolutely OK game but we only have to admit, and maybe a few people were surprised, that Arsenal are a good football team.

"They caused us problems, we caused them problems. We were 1-0 up, we had big chances, didn't score and so it was 1-1, that's all. But [that was] nothing to do with players in or out, it was just like it was."



https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/324615-jordan-henderson-naby-keita-fitness-injury-latest

 
Jurgen Klopp makes request to Liverpool fans ahead of Fulham match on Sunday

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has made a request to Liverpool fans in his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool's Premier League clash against Fulham on Sunday at midday.

Fans are hoping that the Reds can blow Fulham away given the West London club's poor defensive record and the fact that they sit at the bottom of the Premier League.

Klopp's men will need to turn in an impressive performance against the relegation candidates, especially after falling to a shock defeat on Tuesday night to Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League.

The Reds have the perfect chance on Sunday to equal or better Manchester City's points tally so far this season, Liverpool can overtake City and take 1st place in the division if City lose to Manchester United in the Manchester derby that follows Liverpool's clash with Fulham.

Liverpool could also equal City for points if the Manchester derby ends in a draw.



https://www.caughtoffside.com/2018/11/09/jurgen-klopp-makes-request-to-liverpool-fans-ahead-of-fulham-match-on-saturday/

 
Liverpool trip could be pivotal for Fulham No1 Sergio Rico as he aims to ease pressure on Slavisa Jokanovic

(https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2018/11/09/10/Sergio-Rico0911abc.jpg?w968)
Difficult start: Sergio Rico has won the No1 jersey but Fulham are shipping goals at a frightening rate ( REUTERS )

If Slavisa Jokanovic is going to ease some of the pressure weighing him down at Fulham with an unexpected result at Anfield, he will probably need Sergio Rico to be in inspired form.

The goalkeeper is in for a busy afternoon and is likely to be key to helping Fulham avoid a sixth straight defeat.

It has been a difficult year for Rico, but the Spanish shot-stopper hopes a good display can help him start to revive his career after it has stalled.

Rico had established himself as a regular in the Spain squad when he helped Sevilla knock Manchester United out of the Champions League in March, and he was being tipped to go to the World Cup as third-choice behind David de Gea and Pepe Reina.

But the 6ft 4in stopper was replaced by David Soria at Sevilla at the end of last season and Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is now at Chelsea, went to Russia ahead of him. He was dealt another blow when Sevilla signed Tomas Vaclik and he was allowed to leave his hometown club after 170 appearances.

He joined Fulham on loan on deadline day, but started the season as back-up to Marcus Bettinelli and Fabri, and his lack of English made it difficult for him to settle. Jokanovic, though, has now made Rico his No1 and he needs the 25-year-old to replay that faith shown in him.

"The whole thing at Sevilla came as a blow to him," says Spanish football expert Terry Gibson. "Then, when he did not start the season as first-choice, it looked like he was on a downward spiral.

"He was hoping he'd be automatic first-choice and not in a three-way tussle to be No1. Everybody in Spain assumed he was going to have a bright future at Sevilla, but now his career is at a crossroads.

"He needs to play well for Fulham, establish himself as No1 in that team and then get himself back in the Spain squad. Sunday could be pivotal for him, Fulham and Slavisa Jovanovic."

Rico places a big emphasis on organising his defence, studying tactical work and understanding different systems. Fulham have named 14 different backlines this season, but against Liverpool Jokanovic could name the same back four who started Monday's 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield.

That consistency in selection could help Rico and Fulham, who have shipped 29 goals in 11 matches.

"His main strength is his shot-stopping," adds Gibson. "For a keeper of his size, he needs to be more physical and assertive dealing with crosses. He needs to be stronger. David de Gea was similar when he went to Manchester United. In Spain, keepers get protected more than in the Premier League. He is going to have to get used to that."

Rico missed out on facing Liverpool in the 2016 Europa League Final, when he was named on the bench, but did play in 2015, when Sevilla beat Dnipro.

"Crosses will not be an issue because Liverpool do not have that big forward who'll be a nuisance," says Gibson. "There will be plenty of shots, but his shot-stopping is really good."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/liverpool-trip-could-be-pivotal-for-fulham-no1-sergio-rico-as-he-aims-to-ease-pressure-on-slavisa-a3985576.html

 
In Focus: Colchester U23s

Come and show your support this Saturday as Fulham's Under-23s take on Colchester United at Craven Cottage.


The Young Whites face off against Colchester's Under-23s in the Premier League Cup, having won their opener against Birmingham City last month.

Tickets will be available on the gate priced at just £3 for adults and £1 for juniors! Entry is also free for Season Ticket Holders on production of your Season Ticket Card on the day.

Fulham Under-23s will be hoping to put the disappointing exit from the Checkatrade Trophy behind them, when they face Colchester United in the PL Cup at the revised venue of Craven Cottage.

Northampton ran out 2-0 winners on Tuesday night with two quick fire goals from Aaron Pierre and Sam Hoskins. However, the adjustment to physicality saw Fulham grow into the game.

The Young Whites kicked off their Group G campaign with a 2-1 victory over Birmingham. The other team in the pool, Reading, will face the Blues in the remaining tie in our group.

The U's were beaten 3-1 by Reading in their last game and will pose a different sort of test to the Under-23s.

United currently sit bottom of the Professional Development League South, with six points to their name after nine games.

Kick off is at the slightly later time of 1 o'clock.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/november/09/u23s-colchester-preview

 
Klopp warns fans to 'stay at home' if they expect Fulham stroll

Jurgen Klopp has warned Liverpool supporters not to expect a thrashing of Fulham on Sunday.

Liverpool host the Premier League's bottom club at the weekend, and will hope to capitalise on potential slip-ups from Manchester City (v Manchester United) and Chelsea (v Everton) later on Sunday.

Many expect Liverpool to cruise past the Cottagers, who have conceded a whipping 29 goals in 11 league games.

We are even backing a 6-0 victory for the Reds, who will be desperate to bounce back after Tuesday's poor defeat to Red Star.

But Klopp does not want Fulham to be underestimated, and says fans expecting a stroll should "stay at home".

"I'd be an idiot if I talked about goal difference before this game," Klopp said.

"Watch Fulham's games, not just Match of the Day summaries. They caused City problems and are a really skilled team.

"If somebody expects an easy game then please stay at home.

"Maybe we want to show a reaction, that makes sense, but the right reaction.

"Another challenge is the 12 o'clock kick off. Please go to bed early on Saturday night and come to Anfield in your best shape."



https://www.football365.com/news/klopp-warns-fans-to-stay-at-home-if-they-expect-fulham-stroll

 
Opposition Camp

Jürgen Klopp has plenty of respect for Fulham as he prepares his Liverpool side for Sunday's clash at Anfield.


In his pre-match press conference, a journalist put to him that some might view it as a good opportunity to boost their goal difference considering the Whites' position in the table, but Klopp quashed any such notion.

"I would really be an idiot if I talked about goal difference before the game," he said. "It would help if you watched a few Fulham games before you asked questions like this.

"I am not sure how many [Fulham] games you watched 90 minutes, not only Match of the Day summaries. Not a lot, probably. This is a really strange situation for Fulham, I can really imagine how they feel at the moment.

"The football is good, a lot of things are really good, they caused [Manchester] City problems in the Carabao Cup. It was really good football in a lot of moments, so we have to defend them.

"They're a really skilled team offensively, entuned in doing a lot of things. The end product, the finishing, maybe was not so good often enough this season, but they scored goals.

"On the other side, they conceded a lot, but you can never score a goal against a team like Fulham with the quality they've got if you go into the game with the wrong attitude of thinking about scoring, scoring, scoring, or whatever.

"It's a big challenge, really this game is a big challenge. We have to not forget what kind of really good situation we're in, atmosphere wise.

"It's another challenge at 12 o'clock, so to all the people coming to the stadium, go to bed early Saturday night and be in your best shape at lunchtime on Sunday, and help, because if somebody goes there and expects an easy game then please stay at home.

"It's a tough job to do, and we want to show a reaction, but the right reaction."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/november/09/opposition-camp

 
Paul Merson's Premier League predictions: Manchester derby previewed

Liverpool vs Fulham (Sunday, 12pm)

If there was a round of Champions League games to follow this match Liverpool may have rested some players, but with this being the final game before the international break, they could run amok. Fulham are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. They started the season scoring and letting goals in for fun, then they shut up shop at the back and never looked like scoring.

They've got to get that balance right sooner rather than later, but you couldn't have asked for a worse game than a trip to Anfield. This is the time where managers under pressure worry about the clubs using the two-week period to get someone else in. Slavisa Jokanovic will be worried, especially after losing at Huddersfield. It's game like those that are Fulham's bread and butter because they are not expected to beat sides in the top six. They are in trouble.

PAUL PREDICTS: 5-0 (11/1 with Sky Bet)



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11547859/paul-mersons-premier-league-predictions-manchester-derby-previewed

 
Steve Bruce emerges as new favourite to be Fulham's next manager, six months after his Aston Villa side lost to Cottagers

The former Aston Villa manager has leapfrogged several big names in the running to replace Slavisa Jokanovic at Fulham.

The former Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has replaced David Moyes as favourite to succeed Slavisa Jokanovic at Fulham - that is with bookmaker Paddy Power.

Sacked by Villa at the start of October, Bruce has leapfrogged Moyes in the betting - as well as, among others, Sam Allardyce, Claudio Ranieri and Chris Coleman - after seeing his odds shortened to 5/2.

The experienced boss led Aston Villa to fourth in the Championship last season, before losing to Fulham, of all teams, in the play-off final at Wembley.

His CV does, however, boast four promotions, which could come in handy should Fulham succumb to relegation this season, although he also helped to keep a string of clubs in the Premier League.

Jokanovic has lost his last five league games as Cottagers boss and, according to reports, could be relived of his duties if his side lose at Liverpool this weekend.

Meanwhile, Paddy Power have suspended betting on Bruce, who has also been linked with the Reading position since leaving Aston Villa, becoming the next Southampton manager.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/11/09/steve-bruce-emerges-as-new-favourite-to-be-fulhams-next-manager/

 
Liverpool v Fulham
SUN 11 Nov 2018   Premier League
Venue: Anfield


TEAM NEWS

Forward Roberto Firmino is likely to return to Liverpool's starting line-up after beginning on the bench against Red Star Belgrade in midweek.

Fit-again midfielders Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita will also hope for recalls, while Xherdan Shaqiri - who was excused from the trip to Serbia - comes back into contention.

Joe Gomez is available despite reports he is nursing an Achilles problem.

Fulham are expected to be without Kevin McDonald and Joe Bryan.

Both players are nursing hamstring problems.

Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is a booking away from a one-game ban.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

@Wilsonfooty: Liverpool might have found the partisan atmosphere of Red Star uncomfortable on Tuesday, but Fulham's Serbian head coach Slavisa Jokanovic was always Partizan when it came to the Belgrade divide - and may not have been celebrating Liverpool's loss.

Jokanovic will be well aware that Liverpool's players will be fired up to make amends.

Fulham play football - and should be applauded for it - but they've discovered that trying to outplay teams blessed with better players only ever ends one way.

A change in the Cottagers' approach must be in evidence at Anfield on Sunday. If not, then the current crop of Fulham players might just get a taste of how their 1986 team felt when they went to Anfield: despite Liverpool missing a penalty, Fulham lost - 10-0!

---

VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "The season so far-wise, points-wise in the Premier League, has been really successful.

"But it doesn't really feel like that because there are two reasons in comparison with last year: free-flowing football in a few games and Man City and maybe Chelsea and a few others play a very good season as well.

"It feels a bit like this season can only be a success if we become champions."

Fulham head coach Slavisa Jokanovic: "In the last game we chose a really ugly way to lose. You must fight until the last moment, you must give extra effort. We didn't show the effort and we must now wake up.

"My mentality is always the same. I want to find brave people around me. We must move out of our comfort zone, push harder and be more competitive.

"After a tough two-and-a-half years in the Championship, we cannot give up now. We must show ambition and pride."

---

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

The Cottagers are having a disastrous run that has seen them fall to the bottom of the table, and I think they will lose for a seventh successive game on Sunday.

Prediction: 3-0

---

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

    Fulham's only Merseyside win in 54 away league games against Liverpool and Everton was 1-0 at Anfield in May 2012 (D11, L42).
    The Londoners have scored just four times in their last 17 matches away to Liverpool.
    The Reds have won the last four meetings, scoring a total of 14 goals.

Liverpool

    Under Jurgen Klopp, the Reds have won all eight of their Premier League home games against newly-promoted sides, scoring 25 goals and conceding just three.
    Liverpool are unbeaten in 26 top-flight games at Anfield, their longest such run since a 31-match streak from 2007 to 2009.
    If the Reds keep a clean sheet they will equal the club record for fewest goals conceded after 12 top-flight fixtures: five in 1977-78 and 1978-79.
    They had 38.2% possession against Arsenal last weekend, their lowest figure in the Premier League since February's 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
    Daniel Sturridge has scored four goals in his last three league matches against Fulham.
    Mohamed Salah has averaged a Premier League goal or assist every 66 minutes against newly-promoted teams since joining Liverpool.

Fulham

    Fulham could equal their club record of six consecutive Premier League defeats, set in 2001-02 and 2012-13. Both of those streaks included a loss against Liverpool.
    Fulham have conceded 29 goals in 11 games, the joint-highest figure at this stage of a Premier League season. Southampton let in 29 in 2012-13.
    They have taken one point from their last 18 Premier League matches against the established top six sides. That includes three defeats this season, in which they have conceded 11 goals and scored twice.
    Prior to the weekend, Fulham were one of just three teams yet to keep a clean sheet in English league football this season, along with Macclesfield and Sheffield Wednesday.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46087587

 
Omogbehin: A Good Place

Fulham Under-18s will face new league leaders Arsenal tomorrow, after the Young Whites held Spurs to a 1-1 draw last Saturday, and knocked them off top spot.


Fulham rode Tottenham's insistent pressure throughout the first half, before a sweeping counter attack allowed Timmy Abraham to open the scoring. Phoenix Patterson levelled the game as Harvey Elliott saw a spot kick saved late-on.

Colin Omogbehin thinks his team are in a 'good place' as they face the Gunners on Saturday.

"The boys worked hard throughout the week to match the challenge that Tottenham would bring." He told fulhamfc.com. "I'm glad they were able to go out and execute what we worked on and did it very well.

"We looked at the way Spurs play and they have a wealth of possession based players with fluid build-up. We tried to nullify that by being compact in the final third particularly in the spaces between our defence and midfield. The counter attack we set-up was very effective, it's good education for them as there will be points in their career where they are asked to play in different systems.

"Things take time. We have a young team with boys who are still learning their trade so we do a lot of work based around unit defending. They are showing they can take these lessons on to the pitch.

"A draw was a fair result but with the chances we missed and obviously the penalty, we could have nicked it, but a positive result nonetheless.

"It's a challenge for the boys this month and another valuable lesson. The main emphasis is on the boys learning as individuals to develop and grow but we always create chances. There were two games where we performed poorly, but we are in a good place there are vast improvements."


Tristan Cover has hailed the solidity of his back four following a hard-fought draw against Tottenham. However, he insists there is still more to come from this group in a tricky run of games.

"Tottenham were a fantastic side, they had a lot of technical players who keep it well across the whole midfield. We stuck to our game plan and we could have won the game, but a couple of good saves denied us.

"When I was injured and players were chopping and changing through the back four and we didn't have that consistency. Since we've had everyone playing as a unit with consistency it has been a massive improvement defensively.

"The coaches told us how Spurs might set-up so we stuck to that plan of springing when needed. Timmy could have taken a couple of chances but their keeper had a top-notch game.

"We are strong-minded as a squad. We have had a tricky draw of fixtures this month but we have started positively and we are gradually climbing the table. We know we can beat anyone on the day.

"No game is easy. Every game is a tricky one in this league, and we will do everything we can to win it. We can achieve great things, and a lot of promising young players, the more experienced lads have helped with that. We will keep growing as a unit as Jean-Pierre Tiehi and Ryan De Havilland come back from injury to keep developing."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/november/09/u18s-reaction-and-preview

 
Slavisa Jokanovic transcript: Everything Fulham boss said on his job, coping with Liverpool & more

Read everything that the Fulham head coach had to say ahead of the trip to Anfield on Sunday

Any talks about your future?

"I am here and we are not talking about my future, we are talking about my present.

"We had a conversation about finding a way to improve, to be more competitive and win the games."

Been given any targets?

"The target is to show improvement and be more competitive and win the games."

Reports over Scott Parker taking over unsettling?

"No, Scott is my choice, in the press there are many different names but right now, where we are in bottom of the Premier League, this speculation is normal situation for all the coaches in this situation.

"I don't have the time to gossip, it's part of the country and I'm not surprised."

Still confident you can find a way to change how results have gone?

"I am always confident in myself, I believe in my players and my staff and people around us.

"We are where we are, we must know where we are, this is Premier League, all of us must make steps forward and we cannot be satisfied with the start.

"This is the start, the gap between bottom teams is not so big and we must keep going forward, working hard and looking for solution."

Schurrle's comments after Huddersfield - does he have a point?

"In general the last few games there exists a way to lose the game, there are different ways.

"Last game we choose an ugly way to lose the game. You must be proud, competitive and fight at the last moment and make extra effort and same or more effort of the opposition.

"We are right now not showing this quality or effort, we must wake up and when we lose the game we must know how we lost it, we can not sell our skin so cheap, if we are available for battle we must show it.

"A few times before games I say my team is ready for the fight, but we are not showing enough effort or ambition and we must change this."

How do you change things?

"I don't need to change anything, my mentality is always the same, I want to push my team and find the brave people around me.

"We must know where we are and accept this situation and go outside our comfort zone, because this situation didn't bring us enough good results.

"We must shake our hands, push harder, be more competitive, I don't believe this is impossible.

"Behind us is a long two and a half years, or for Fulham, four years in the Championship, to give up after a few months, I will repeat, battle will be tough, we will be strong, it's the start of the battle, we didn't show enough power or weapons and we must change this.

"We must make people around us proud, when we lose people can go home satisfied but right now we're not offering that."

Liverpool's potent attack - how do you cope with that? Changing formation?

"I didn't find best four at the back, or find best XI - I am not trying to find best players, I am finding the best team who have possibility to win the game.

"I didn't find good results, it's not question about best players, it's question about what is best team.

"Liverpool are important team in the Premier League, they are dangerous with important weapons, we must work altogether and show people we are the team and must be available to go in the battle and be brave.

"We must defend, at the end this is the efforts, I need people sprint to attack space, I need to sprint to regain the ball, be strong to win the challenge and sprint to recover my team mates, and this is the way for finding solution and improvement.

"If we are jogging on the field and people think we will get a present, this is the wrong way and we must show more effort."

Players have not been putting in the effort?

"I use this word, but what I try explain is we need more, to be available for the the fight.

"No presents exist, last game against Huddersfield we find 25 times in a situation 3 vs 3 and we didn't win any challenge and after winning the ball we didn't win any second phase.

"They were always more strong than us, the effort wasn't strong enough.

"We didn't make enough effort, normally you lose the game and this defeat is ugly, because we can do more things and we didn't do enough."

Talk of future distracting?

"No.

"This is not a distraction, it's part of the business and it's not the first time in my life as a coach or player and it's not new situation for different coaches.

"If I think about gossip, I will lose focus.

"I think about improvement and my work."

Is the Liverpool game a free hit of sorts?

"Liverpool are coming from a defeat and are hurt, we are hurt more than Liverpool and they will show some different imagination than the last game they lost against Red Star.

"We need to be more motivated and be ready for a fight, be ready for battle, don't give up and in our plans there exists a way to win the points.

"My people will be available for the fight and make our supporters proud.

"Okay, the result is more important and points, but if you are not available and don't catch this level to win the points, there exists a way to lose the points.

"We need to immediately improve way to win the game.

"If we are confused, scared and play like kids, it's not easy for any team."

Boost to have more time to prepare?

"I have the team three months and Jurgen Klopp has it a few years.

"I didn't believe they are so affected from last game, it's normal for a big club like Liverpool - they have enough quality."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/slavisa-jokanovic-transcript-everything-fulham-15394343

 
Slavisa Jokanovic still yet to find his "best team" ahead of Fulham's trip to Liverpool

Struggling Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic has admitted he is still searching for his "best team" as he seeks a big result at Liverpool on Sunday.

The Cottagers have won just once in the Premier League this season, heading into the weekend rooted to the bottom of the table with just five points from 11 games.

This comes with Jokanovic having used 22 different players so far, of which 21 have started at least once in the English top flight, including three different goalkeepers.

Only backup forward Floyd Ayite hasn't featured from the start, while Jokanovic has used five different formations as he searches for the right fit.

As pressure mounts on the Serbian ahead of a clash with the league's fourth-most prolific side, he faces a difficult task to plug a defence that has conceded more than any other (29).

And regardless of the personnel he fields, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Jokanovic urged his players to give their all at Anfield:

    "I don't look for the best four [individuals] at the back, or find the 'best' XI.

    "I am not trying to find best players, I am finding the best team, who have possibility to win the game.

    "So far we haven't had good results. It's not a question about the 'best' players, it's a question about what is the best team.

    "Liverpool are an important team in the Premier League, they are dangerous with important weapons.

    "We must work together and show people we are a team and must be available to go into battle and be brave.

    "We must defend, at the end of the day this is the aim.

    "I need people to sprint to attack space, I need people to sprint to regain the ball, be strong to win the challenge and sprint to cover their team-mates, and this is the way to improve and find solutions.

    "If we are jogging on the field and people think they will get a present, this is the wrong way and we must show more effort."

Jokanovic, who was bullish is responding to questions over his future, paid respect to opposite number Jurgen Klopp, and rejected the prospect of facing a weakened Liverpool side.

Despite the 2-0 loss to Red Star on Tuesday, Jokanovic insisted he "doesn't believe they are so affected from the last game," again stressing that Fulham need to "fight":

    "Liverpool are coming from a defeat and are hurt, but we are hurt more than Liverpool and they will show some more imagination than the last game they lost against Red Star.

    "We need to be more motivated and be ready for a fight, be ready for battle, don't give up and in our plans there exists a way to win the points.

    "My people will be ready for the fight and to make our supporters proud.

    "OK, the result and the points are more important, but if you are not available and don't meet this level to win the points, there only exists a way to lose the points.

    "We need to immediately improve in a way to win the game.

    "If we are confused, scared and play like kids, it's not easy for any team."

Fulham arrive at Anfield on the back of six consecutive losses in all competitions, with their last win coming away to Millwall in the League Cup in September.



https://www.thisisanfield.com/2018/11/slavisa-jokanovic-still-yet-to-find-his-best-team-ahead-of-fulhams-trip-to-liverpool/

 
Former Premier League Winner Storms Into Frame For Fulham Job As Slavisa Jokanovic Nears Sack

A whole host of managers with Premier League experience are in the running for the Fulham job as many believe Slavisa Jokanovic could be coming to the end of his time in charge of football.  He is the current favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave and with a trip to Anfield hanging over Fulham this weekend, a heavy defeat could spell the end of his time in charge.

Despite achieving promotion last season, Fulham have lost their last six games in all competitions, scoring just three goals in that time. This has put Jokanovic under a serious amount of pressure as Fulham were targeting a top half finish this term, similar to something that Wolves are aiming to pull off.

Now many other managers are in the running to take over, if Jokanovic is dismissed this weekend. The current favourite is former Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce, followed up by former Manchester United manager David Moyes.

Moyes dragged West Ham out of trouble last season and could be entrusted with a similar task in London this year. Next in the betting is an exciting name in former Leicester boss and Premier League winner Claudio Ranieri. Having been let go by Leicester, he then had a spell in Ligue 1 with Nantes before leaving in the summer.

One name that could be of interest is firefighter for relegation-threatened clubs, Sam Allardyce. Big Sam would love another chance to jump into Premier League football and the Fulham job could be perfect for him. At 10/1 he could be the value bet to take over the reins at Craven Cottage.

Fulham fans may be used to a free-flowing football under Jokanovic, but if they want results and to stay in the Premier League, they may have to swap style for substance and Jokanovic for Allardyce.



https://www.thesportsman.com/articles/former-premier-league-winner-storms-into-frame-for-fulham-job-as-slavisa-jokanovic-nears-sack

 
'Stop playing like kids!' Slavisa Jokanovic calls for fight as Fulham prepare for Liverpool test

Fulham were beaten by Huddersfield Town on Monday night and head to Liverpool desperate for three points

Fulham need to stop being scared and playing like kids in matches if they want any chance of taking three points, according to Slavisa Jokanovic.

The Whites head into the game at Anfield on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield in what was billed as a must-win game, with the players putting in a more than below par performance at the John Smith's Stadium.

That has seen pressure increase on Jokanovic, with speculation over his future at Craven Cottage only increasing after the side slumped to the bottom of the Premier League with the most goals conceded this season.

Jokanovic has spoken of the need for his players to be ready for battle in games now as they hunt for three points, but with Liverpool up next, any chance of getting a win at Anfield looks very slim.

Fulham's players have yet to perform to the required standards this season, and Jokanovic believes if they play likes kids it won't be easy for them to find their next victory.

He said: "Liverpool are coming from a defeat and are hurt, we are hurt more than Liverpool and they will show some different imagination than the last game they lost against Red Star.

Fulham's players have yet to perform to the required standards this season, and Jokanovic believes if they play likes kids it won't be easy for them to find their next victory.

He said: "Liverpool are coming from a defeat and are hurt, we are hurt more than Liverpool and they will show some different imagination than the last game they lost against Red Star.

"We need to be more motivated and be ready for a fight, be ready for battle, don't give up and in our plans there exists a way to win the points.

"My people will be available for the fight and make our supporters proud.

"Okay, the result is more important and points, but if you are not available and don't catch this level to win the points, there exists a way to lose the points.

"We need to immediately improve our way to win the game.

"If we are confused, scared and play like kids, it's not easy for any team.

"I use this word [effort], but what I try to explain is we need more, to be available for the the fight.

"No presents exist, last game against Huddersfield we find 25 times in a situation 3 vs 3 and we didn't win any challenge and after winning the ball we didn't win any second phase.

"They were always more strong than us, the effort wasn't strong enough.

"We didn't make enough effort, normally you lose the game and this defeat is ugly, because we can do more things and we didn't do enough."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/slavisa-jokanovic-playing-like-kids-15394511

 
Fulham's Slavisa Jokanovic: I'm a fantastic coach – my team must work harder
• Manager tells players to show more effort at Liverpool
• Jokanovic dismisses 'gossip' that he may be sacked

Slavisa Jokanovic has come out fighting amid speculation that he is close to losing his job as Fulham manager, describing himself as a "fantastic coach" and claiming the club's slide to last place in the Premier League has been down to a lack of effort and application by his players.

Fulham travel to Liverpool on Sunday, having lost their past five Premier League games, the most recent being Monday's 1-0 reverse at relegation rivals Huddersfield. It is a woeful run underpinned by consistently poor defending and has put Jokanovic under mounting pressure less than six months after he led Fulham to promotion via the play-offs.

The club's former captain and current first-team coach, Scott Parker, has been linked with the manager's job should Jokanovic, as has been reported, be sacked during the international break that follows Fulham's trip to Anfield. The Serb dismissed such talk as "gossip" on Friday before going on the offensive.

"After the Huddersfield game, I told them [the players]: 'Listen, I am a fantastic coach. I did a fantastic job with my staff and the analysts because everything we expected, we found it during the game,'" said Jokanovic. "But we did not stay with any ball, we did not run the space, we were not available for second phase. So the message is clear: we must make effort to fight for the result. We must show the spirit, we must push all together. This is the way to be positive and find the solution.

"My job is to organise the team, it's not screaming at people to make them run and sprint and attack the space. I know they feel a little hurt after my words but they must be adult people and take responsibility. We cannot sell our skin so cheap."

Fulham go to Anfield without Kevin McDonald and Joe Bryan, both of whom have hamstring injuries, and with the worst defensive record in the Premier League having conceded 29 goals in 11 games. That is hardly ideal for what is sure to be a testing afternoon against players such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino.

But Jokanovic, having seen Liverpool lose to Red Star Belgrade in midweek, insists Fulham can also overcome them and secure Fulham's first victory at Anfield since May 2012. The 50-year-old also delivered a somewhat pointed message to the club's hierarchy, led by the owner Shahid Khan, should they be considering dismissing him.

"I am working many years with this team, the board of the club know how I am working and they know I never surrender and that I am never scared about speculation," he said. "I am not happy about going to any place, any stadium and being a victim and not having an opportunity to win the game. To the players I say: 'Give me an opportunity to win by being brave and pushing hard, and independent of the result you will make me proud and make yourself and your family proud.'"



https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/09/fulham-slavisa-jokanovic-players-work-harder-sack-liverpool

 
Fulham and Newcastle United in French trip, both keen on in-form forward

It's that time of the year again when scouts are sent across Europe to watch some Europa League and Champions League games, keeping an eye on their manager's targets ahead of the January transfer window.

Back in September, Newcastle and Fulham were both touted to be interested in Bordeaux's Francois Kamano, who had stepped his game up to fill the void left by Malcom's departure to Barcelona.

The 22-year-old has scored seven goals in his first 12 games in the league, with a total of 10 in 21 appearances in all competitions.

This form clearly caught the eye of the recruiting staff at St James' Park and Craven Cottage, and they've been following him throughout the campaign.

Thursday night was no different, as Girondins4Ever revealed prior to their game against Zenit St Petersburg in the Europa League that scouts from both Newcastle and Fulham would be present.

As well as Kamano, the Cottagers could have also been keeping an eye on an old target: Maxime Poundjé.

Last season, when his contractual situation was up in the air, the player decided not to pursue Fulham's interest in his services, as he 'didn't want to leave for the sake of it'.

He put pen to paper on a three-year contract a few months later.

That doesn't necessarily mean Fulham will have given up hope of signing him, though.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-newcastle-french-scouting-trip-keen-form-forward/

The Case for Keeping Slavisa Jokanovic
It's time for a debate

(https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1Kf-i29NIG01NzT4_8I7-pikhg0=/0x0:4804x3234/920x613/filters:focal(2018x1233:2786x2001)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62255827/962740504.jpg.0.jpg)
Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

So my country just went through quite an important election this week. Last Tuesday, any American who is registered and over 18 years of age had the ability to cast a vote and make a decision for who would be best to run their government and what are the best choices to many of the country's most important issues. Some will say it's an imperfect system. Some will say that, lately, democracy has divided America to so much civil discourse that it may not be able to recover from it for generations. But for now, being able to have the people make decisions and the have the people be able to voice opinions and spring debate is why democracy is considered the best way to govern.

Why am I bringing this up? Because even with Fulham Football club, there's always debate over what is best for what we love, especially with the club's biggest issue at the moment. Should Slavisa Jokanovic stay or go before the international break?

We all know why this has to be discussed. Fulham are sitting bottom of the Premier League table, are on pace to give up the most goals in a season in league history and have not even collected points, let alone recorded a win, since their draw with Watford on September 22nd. Oh, and Fulham's next fixture is against Premier League contenders Liverpool: a game that could probably see them get whipped off the park regardless of the managerial circumstances. So with 26 games to go once Sunday's fixture comes to a close, should Jokanovic stay? With the powers of voicing two sides of the argument, let's present one side where the man that brought us back from temporary football wilderness and back to England's top flight should stay.

Anybody remember what he's done for us before

It's very hard to look at an entire body of work for a manager when they are on the verge of getting sacked. But for Jokanovic, it does need reminding that this is a boss that has guided not one, but two clubs from the Championship to the Premier League. This is the first season in which Jokanovic has been able to test himself in England's elite since Watford essentially let him go before giving him the chance for 2015/16.

But if you were to look at his body of work, the former Serbian International has been successful most of the time than not. He even guided Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Group Stages of the 2015/16 Champions League; the first time the club has ever made it that far and was a Championship winning manager in Thailand with Muangthong United in 2012 and in Serbia with Partizan Belgrade in 2008 and 2009.

The point is, the man knows how to win and is not susceptible to that much failure while in charge.

Poor starts aren't new for him

The reason for that is, despite only claiming five points in 11 Premier League fixtures, it's not like Fulham haven't been in this position before. By about this time last season, the club were 17th in the Championship before their ridiculous 5-4 victory at Sheffield United kick started the rest of the campaign. The same also happened in the start of the 2016/17 season when Fulham were sitting 14th after a defeat to Aston Villa back in October 22nd. After a 5-0 drubbing to Huddersfield Town at Craven Cottage (hey, remember when we used to drub teams like Huddersfield Town?), Jokanovic was able to regroup his team towards a sixth place finish. There are plenty of reasons why Fulham seem to time and again start off so slow, but one of them looks to be outside his control.

Don't blame it on Slav, blame it on the board

That's right. I've poked the bear that Fulham supporters just love to argue about whenever they have the chance. Tony Kahn has been a fan favorite and a fan villain all at the same time during his tenure at Craven Cottage. The son of owner Shahid has been in charge of Fulham's recruitment strategy for quite some time and his been responsible for a data-driven approach to their transfer window strategy that has resulted in less power from the manager on this side of his responsibilities.

In the year, 2018, this is necessary for either a director of football or somebody else to oversee these matters instead of the manager due to the ever-changing world that is going around the sport. However, if the manager and the board don't see eye-to-eye, that's where chaos ensues. Surely enough, that is what happened with the sacking of Craig Kline this time last season during the lowest point of Fulham's season. In that summer before Kline's departure, 11 players came in as transfers or loan deals. Of those 11, only six of them played over 1,000 Championship minutes and only Aboubakar Kamara and Rui Fonte were able to do so while coming in permanently. Neither of those two players have played enough to be a part of Jokanovic's rotation in the Premier League this season.

This summer, 12 signings and loanees have come in but five of them came in during the transfer deadline date. As a result, Jokanovic was not able to have has entire senior team gel as much as he would've liked to and he has basically been behind schedule in terms of picking out his best system and his best starting XI.

Or maybe, blame it on the players

Even if you were to not blame the board on this issue, it's not like health has been kind to Jokanovic's squad either. Both Tim Ream and Alfie Mawson started the season off injured, which put an end to any of Fulham's chances for finding out who their best back line was before the season ever started. It's been all chop-and-change since and Tom Cairney's absence completely plummeted the production of the midfield since his ankle injury in the Burnley fixture while Joe Bryan has been sorely missed due to his hamstring injury to Everton. Oh, and let's not forget the persistent injuries Floyd Ayite and Neeskens Kebano get as well, limiting Fulham's options in attack surrounding Aleksander Mitrovic.

Even if you don't want to blame injuries to the club's performances, Tim Ream couldn't have just called out his teammates on Sky Sports for no reason whatsoever. There's no denying that there is plenty of change in the Fulham dressing room, which leads to completely different personalities infiltrating the club and a completely new dynamic that we're used to seeing than last season. That's not to say that what Ream did was right either. We only need to look at his performance at Cardiff for him to get his complete comeuppance after he decided to take the internal locker room strife and put it out in the public like that.

But somewhere along the line, the experiences of these players, whether it is playing in a Europa League final at Marseille or in a World Cup Final for Germany, have to come through and instill confidence in a club that is begging for mercy for it. Last time I checked, senior players compile of almost always grown adults. So if you can't get motivated beyond a 50-year old getting on your case to play better in a sport you've had a passion for for most of your adult life, I don't know what to tell you anymore.

We've all been in this road before

So beyond just looking at the current state of the club for why Jokanovic has to stay, we only need to remember the worst of times when Fulham seemed like a club in crisis. There's no denying that Fulham's best years in the Premier League era happened when there was stability in the dugout. Between 2000 and 2010, Jean Tigana, Chris Coleman and Roy Hodgson held the managerial role for more than nine of them.

Lawrie Sanchez rounded out that tenure, but that was when Fulham seriously looked like they were to be relegated before Hodgson saved the day with the great escape. Afterwards, Fulham have dealt with Mark Hughes, Martin Jol, Rene Mulensteen, the Felix Magath experience, Kyt Symons, Stuart Gray before rounding it all out with the man we know and love today. Between 2013/14 to 2015/16, there were five official managers in charge of Fulham during that time. That's right, five men with five differing ideas of man management, training regiments and tactics in three years.

Plenty of other circumstances were in play as to why that took place, but you walk around the River Thames and wonder why there's so much loyalty to Slav, that's why. The memories of this past decade are still all too fresh in the minds of many and the last thing they want to see is any instability after finally seeing it for the first time in years.

Are we sure there are better options out there?

Lastly, are you kidding me with these odds?!?!? Haven't we all seen how much Everton couldn't stand Sam Allardyce? How about Sunderland and West Ham under David Moyes? We all know England's favorite punch line on social media. You know you're not a bottom half of the table Premier League club if you haven't been managed under Allardyce, Moyes, Mark Hughes, Alan Pardew, Steve Bruce or Tony Pulis. They're the by-default cream of the crop when it comes to English managerial talent that is always available and always do a job of keeping your club from being relegated...most of the time.

Even when your club does stay up, their style of football is always generic, boring and miserable. In the year 2018, that's unacceptable for any football fan. Nowadays, its a requirement for a manager to come in and not only bring results, but bring in an identity. Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and even peak Mauricio Pochettino have done that with Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham, respectively, with their breakneck pressing and possession style football. We all know Eddie Howe brings the town passion and a sense of belonging at Bournemouth with his style of play. Even Brighton, Wolves and Cardiff (very loud sigh) have an identity.

If you remove Slav, you remove what Fulham stand for. That only gets to be recreated if a Leonardo Jardim, Roger Schmidt or even a Ralph Husenhüttl. But why would any of that trio want to go from reaching the heights of European football to come to a Southwest London club that isn't the only club in town and not guaranteed Premier League survival? The pickings are downright slim and not in any of Fulham's favor. That's why Jokanovic has to stay.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/11/9/18075196/the-case-for-keeping-slavisa-jokanovic

 
How Liverpool trip could get "ugly" and why Fulham won't see the best of Ryan Sessegnon

Liverpool welcome Fulham to Merseyside this weekend, but the struggling west Londoners' supporters are not expecting to get anything at Anfield.

Pressure is on the Reds to produce a big performance, following Tuesday's insipid 2-0 defeat away to Red Star Belgrade.

They come up against a Fulham team propping up the rest of the Premier League table, with just one win to their name in 11 matches.

Only a win will do for Jurgen Klopp's side, with the German's opponent Slavisa Jokanovic finding his job under real threat.

With the match looming, we spoke to Fulham fan Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) to get his views on both sides and how Sunday's meeting will play out.

Fulham sit bottom of the Premier League – what do you make of their start after so much summer optimism?
This season has been nothing short of a disaster to this point.

There is a serious divide about the managerial situation, with some fans sticking by the man who brought them up and others asking lots of questions.

It was clear when the team was promoted that the squad was not Premier League quality, and somehow, after a massive investment, that remains the case.

Coupled with questionable decision-making at the helm, it's shocking how the team has struggled.

It's not like Fulham have been the recipient of a lion's share of bad luck—they are being thoroughly thwacked in every fixture.


What has been the key reason for your struggles?
There's a multitude of reasons and if you ask 10 different people they may give you 10 different answers.

The obvious answer is our defending—this team cannot defend. Got a 649-minute home goalless streak? No worries, Huddersfield: Fulham have you covered.

It's tragic at times and the mistakes are pathetic, and while Jokanovic has taken plenty of heat—and deservedly so—the heavy defensive reinforcements brought in this summer were just plain bad.

Tony Khan has got far more right than wrong in his time as vice chairman and director of football operations, but he could have done much better in the summer in that department.


Which three players have stood out most for Fulham, and why?
It's going to be nearly impossible to find you three players I've been impressed with this season so far, so I'll give you one: Ryan Sessegnon.

While many players mope about the pitch and bring a bad attitude to the matches, Sessegnon has been singled out by Jokanovic for his hard-nosed attitude and his development.

Jokanovic has often been forced to play Sessegnon at left-back for squad weakness and injury reasons, but he has developed into a true two-way player.

His defensive abilities have come a long way and he is one of the only bright spots so far this season.

Many asked if he could cut it in the top flight after obliterating the Championship last season and it's a resounding yes.

He has often been the main focus of opposition teams because Fulham have so few other weapons, so that coupled with his defensive responsibilities have kept him quiet in front of goal.

The lowered goalscoring numbers should not fool fans into thinking he has regressed, though.


What have you made of the Reds' start to 2018/19? Genuine title challengers now?
Liverpool are not just title contenders, they are clearly one of the best teams in Europe, and the world. They are an impressive side with an impressive manager.

The Reds can contend with Man City far better than anyone else in England—that's a testament to the long-term approach taken by Klopp.

I'm highly impressed with how Liverpool have looked this calendar year.


Anyone you fear for Liverpool on Sunday, in particular?
Obviously that attack is a huge threat, especially with Fulham's defence looking like Swiss cheese, but I'm going a different route here.

With Sessegnon somewhat pinned back at the moment in Joe Bryan's absence, Fulham's only true goalscoring threat is Aleksandar Mitrovic.

I do, therefore, fear Virgil van Dijk, who will be a formidable match for Mitrovic in the air. I fear Fulham being kept off the scoresheet for that reason.


Looking ahead to the game, where do you see the key battles taking place?
Aside from the one I just mentioned, I am very excited to see how Sessegnon handles Mohamed Salah and I think he will be up to the challenge.

If Fulham can use Sessegnon properly to try and pin Salah back a bit, that could be effective, but that would require the midfield holding up against the Liverpool machine.

That's a tall order, given they struggled to keep the ball against the Huddersfield midfield.


Finally, hit us with a prediction...
It's going to be ugly.

I think Liverpool go 3-0 up before shutting things down, as Klopp is known for doing.



https://www.thisisanfield.com/2018/11/how-liverpool-trip-could-get-ugly-and-why-fulham-wont-see-the-best-of-ryan-sessegnon/

 
Relegation Candidates – How do we compare?

I think it's time for me to come to terms with the fact that we are in one hell of a relegation battle this year. While the first few games of the season were encouraging, the last five or so games have been diabolical. I thought that losing 4-2 at Cardiff was going to be our rock bottom this season, but Monday night's horrendous display away to Huddersfield was possibly the most gutless performance I have witnessed of the Slavisa Jokanovic era. It was worse than Sunderland last year and I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt winded by it. I've said this to a lot of people, that it wasn't the defeat but the manner of the defeat. Apart from a few bright sparks, the majority of that team can't possibly have walked off that pitch satisfied with their performance. We need things to turn fast, something that will be very difficult given our games between now and Christmas include Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United away. Those games should be ones that we cherish, but right now I am just in fear of what the combined scoreline will be.

If you have read my work before you will know that I love a stat, and often can find something to be positive about amongst the overwhelming negatives right now, so here is a comparison of some key statistics between Fulham and some of our fellow relegation candidates. Should be fun, eh?

Goals conceded

I'll start with the worst to get it out of the way. We top this one, and not just in the Premier League but in England. Not helped by constant defensive changes and injuries, our record at the back is the single biggest worry many Fulham fans have. The picture isn't particularly pretty for Burnley or Cardiff either though.


Tackle Success

Remarkably we have a defensive area where Fulham aren't the worst! We do have players who can stick the boot in and win the ball back, but my worry is that when we win the ball back we tend to give it straight back again. It's another alarming stat for Burnley defensively, while Southampton fans also won't find this easy reading.


Goals scored

This makes better viewing for Fulham fans. While at the back things are bad, we do have more goals in our team than most of our rivals. While we haven't scored in three games running in the league, we do have players who should be capable of sticking the ball in the net so we have to hope that this will be enough to keep us up.


Big chances created

Goals win you games, so the more chances you create, the more you will score. We are quite a bit better than others in our precarious position for 'big chances created', so again we can take a bit of confidence in this.


Pass Accuracy

What's impressive about Fulham's high pass accuracy is that we also have about 900 attempted passes more than the next best on the list. To have an 81% pass success rate when we have attempted 5,534 is very positive and shows that if we could get our style to click then good things could come for this team. Not only do Cardiff have the lowest successful pass percentage, they have also only attempted 2,900. Not great.


What does this teach us?

While the most important stat is the amount of points accumulated at the end of the season, we can take from these stats that we have strengths in our game where others don't. I'd like to think that as games go on, we will pick up points because of our attacking game. We need to tighten up defensively, but over time our strengths should show.

The average position (based on best to worst, so for goals conceded we are 7th, not 1st as it has in the table) for each of the teams paints another interesting picture. I've tried to include stats that cover all areas of the pitch so our weaknesses are covered as well as our strengths so hopefully it gives a balanced view.


A friend of mine said at the start of the season that Cardiff, Huddersfield and Burnley were his teams to go down. Maybe he'll be right. Hopefully over time Fulham's strengths will show and points will be gained.

#COYW



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/11/relegation-candidates-how-do-we-compare/

The Case For Sacking Slavisa Jokanovic
You didn't think I'm completely happy with Slav, did you?

All season, let alone today over here at Cottagers Confidential, there has been constant debate as to whether Slavisa Jokanovic should stay as manager and see this season through. Or should he get sacked in hopes that a change in manager can stem the tide of horrible defending and poor results. In this piece, we discuss the reasons for the latter of those two arguments.

Lack of a cohesive system

If you were to look at any of my game previews, I have stated that what is out on the pitch simply isn't working anymore. The defense has been run ragged every weekend with the fullbacks constantly told to be pushed too far up. The attackers surrounding Mitrovic are just not gelling properly to provide a constant threat at goal and the midfield is out of sorts with the absence of Tom Cairney and the ineffectiveness of everyone else. In short, you know you're failing as a manager when you can't turn a Championship playoff winning squad, plus over £100 million of new recruits into something substantial in the Premier League.

I've suggested before that a 3-5-2 could be Fulham's best formation. Jokanovic has only used that once and it led to a 5-1 drubbing to Arsenal and Cyrus Christie being ordered to mark his opposite FULLBACK. Even then, Fulham's ball progression and cohesive attack just looks so predictable right now with little threat going forward. If you were to take Andre Schurrle's four goals (in spite of 1.95 expected goals) and Mitrovic's five goals, only Jean-Michael Seri and Ryan Sessegnon have scored in the Premier League for this club. That's not efficient at all and it completely goes against what Jokanovic was instilling into his team over the past two seasons. Besides Joe Bryan, everyone in the first team are healthy and ready to go, but the results are staying the same.

Turnover in the Coaching Staff

One of the more underrated issues surrounding the club is that the same coaching staff that won the Championship playoff last season haven't been completely a part of this current iteration of Fulham football club this season. Stuart Gray was a real mainstay during the club's dark years as head coach and he even took over as caretaker boss between the departure of Kyt Symons in 2016 to the hiring of Jokanovic.

However, in stepped in Scott Parker as a new member of the coaching staff and supposedly took over as head coach. Without hesitation, Gray resigned before the season even started and it has been all chaos ever since.

Along with that, there seemed to be a difference in opinion with how Fulham's goalkeeping was going to turn out. When Fabri arrived this Summer, it was believed that this was under the advise of coach Jose Sambade Correira, who was a part of the Spaniard's development while at Deportivo La Coruna and Besiktas. But once Marcus Bettinelli reclaimed being Fulham's number one, Correira left without notice and in came Luca Squinzani without even a press release from the club! The Italian arrives with experience coaching Juventus' youth team and, eventually, first team goalkeepers, but I don't think it was that difficult coaching Gianluigi Buffon. That is my expert opinion. His latest position was over at Al Sadd in Qatar. With all due respect to Al Sadd, that's not really a place to get enough experience as a top flight goalkeeping coach within such a quick turnaround.

Usually, when you have so much instability in your backroom staff, it's almost a guarantee that the performances worsen as well. Add in the fact that two key figures are coming to Fulham with not enough experience under their belt and you wonder why Jokanovic is craving for something much better around him.

Their strength has somehow become their weakness

And because of that, Fulham are just not implementing Jokanovic's system the way it properly should. In the previous two seasons, Craven Cottage was constantly entertained by a mobile back four, especially out wide, with a midfield that is guaranteed to dictate the tempo of any match. Along with that, their attack was full of committed dribblers out wide with a target man bossing everything around him up front.

If anything, only that final piece to Jokanovic's puzzle has been a consistent success. Otherwise, that midfield of Tom Cairney, Stefan Johansen and Kevin McDonald has no longer been such a back bone to the club as it was during their Championship success. This was a bit predictable as Johansen was viewed as someone that just couldn't compete defensively at Premier League level and McDonald was no longer young enough to stop teams in his tracks like he does a tier below. That lead to the signings of Jean-Michael Seri and Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa to hopefully stem the tide of this potential issue.

Instead, Seri has no where near been effective enough with him mainly playing as a part of a double pivot instead of as a box-to-box number eight that was deemed the next Xavi. As for Anquissa, the former Marseille man just hasn't gotten enough game time to prove his worth. And when he has, he's seen as a bit too clumsy with the ball at his feet (despite leading the club in xG Buildup per 90 minutes) and not one to have the same nous as a more experienced player to handle a holding midfield role at Premier League level (despite what his past radar tells you). And did I mention already that Tom Cairney missed significant time to injury again?

Yeah, that's not great at all over here at Craven Cottage.

Stubbornness in working with what is in front of him

It's been the theme all tenure for Jokanovic. When things go against him, the man in charge digs his feet in the ground even harder and demands that things will work out. It looked like things weren't working out in 2017/18 before a turnaround started around this time last season after the sacking of Craig Kline. But that wasn't until Jokanovic looked like he did whatever he could to sabotage the club with some of the dumbest lineup decisions we've seen in a while. Johansen up top? Rui Fonte out wide? Five-foot-nothing Denis Odoi at center back? The latter worked out somehow, but that's beside the point.

Fulham just aren't built to make a 4-3-3 work at the moment and there are a multitude of games to prove it. But instead of reverting to a different system that works for everyone, Slav decides to dig his heels even harder and maintain that his footballing philosophy works. Good on him to have standards and morals, but it's been said countless times that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again.

And this comes from even his relationship with the board. Even with the sacking of head data man Kline, it's beyond obvious that everything short of complete control of recruitment is Jokanovic's only way of doing business. Instead, Fulham's board haven't backed down and the results have worked out when you pay attention to the summer of 2016 and the January 2018 transfer windows.

However, there were examples of Fulham just playing a bit of pin the tail on the donkey in hopes that one of them would land on the bullseye. In other words, the statistical radars of Calum Chambers, Luciano Vietto and Andre Schurrle didn't bring "instant success" to mind. Along with that, what on Earth is going on in goal?! It just seems like Jokanovic time and again wants to put an end to Marcus Bettinelli's career with the introduction of David Button, Fabri and now Sergio Rico. Whether that is as a result of the board or Jokanovic demanding to pick out their iteration of their number one for the club is up in the air, but now Fulham are stuck with three goalkeepers with senior level experience and with no desire sitting on the bench.

Again, this might be an issue with the board more so with the manager himself, but surely Jokanovic has to be looking at what is going on throughout the rest of European football and realizing that others have to take over in the role of recruitment and other facets of the club. It's why the rebuild of Arsenal has taken so long since the turn of this decade and why Chelsea (I know, I know) have been so successful despite so much turnover in the dugout. I mean, just look at how things have worked out at our next opponents, Liverpool, now that a board and manager are working in the same concert.

This is what Fulham have been demanding to have since the sacking of Mike Rigg. It should be working under Jokanovic without any fuss whatsoever, but for some reason, it's just been wave after wave of turmoil.

Self Confidence is out the window

As a result of egos getting in the way, five transfers and loanees have come in on deadline day and all of them have needed time to understand their roles within the club. Last time I checked, it's November 9th and that understanding hasn't come to fruition at all. As a result, you are seeing divisions in the club between players from the previous campaigns and the players still trying to figure things out. Along with that, Jokanovic has constantly changed his 18-man squad without a sign of consistency in sight. For the exception of a couple of players, no one knows if they'll be coming into a match as a starter with Jokanovic's belief that he can play well or with a sense of stress knowing that he might get benched as soon as one bad pass or missed tackle takes place. Nineteen players have gone on to play over 200 Premier League minutes and that number doesn't seem to decrease anytime soon.

The dreaded vote of confidence

We've all seen Shahid Kahn's post over at the club website and in the program before the previous home fixture against Bournemouth. This comes from a man begging for stability and a fake smile that all is well. But once the camera's point to him to see his beloved football club ship in another three goals, the expression said it all. These are dark times for Fulham and you should almost never have anyone above you shout that you're not going to get sacked anytime soon. Because when that usually happens, things get worse pretty fast. Three defeats, no goals scored and six goals conceded later with possibly more to come, only Kahn knows what comes next.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/11/9/18079440/the-case-for-sacking-slavisa-jokanovic

 
Under-pressure Slavisa Jokanovic labels himself a 'fantastic coach' and blasts Fulham players for not showing 'fight'

Slavisa Jokanovic, the under-pressure Fulham head coach, has accused his players of failing to show enough effort and playing "like kids" in a run of five consecutive defeats that has left them at the foot of the Premier League table.

In a scathing attack on his squad, Jokanovic revealed he had this week told his players that he is a "fantastic coach" whose pre-match instructions are being ignored on the pitch.

Jokanovic also warned Fulham's summer signings that they must no longer allow their performances to be affected by their "adaptation" to their new club, adding that he will not be afraid to "clean" the dressing room of those who will not fight for the shirt.

Fulham travel to Liverpool this weekend attempting to improve on Monday's lifeless defeat by Huddersfield Town, when they equalled a Premier League record by conceding 29 goals in their opening 11 games.

"To be honest, after the Huddersfield game, I told them: 'Listen, I am a fantastic coach,'" said Jokanovic. "I did a fantastic job with my staff and the analysts because everything we expected, we found it during the game."

Asked how he can change his squad's doleful body language, the Fulham head coach said: "They need to change the body language. They are professional. I do not defend a corner. I do not press any players. I do not run into the space. I am working for them so they can do this."

Jokanovic added: "We did not make enough effort [against Huddersfield]. We need to be more motivated and be ready for a fight, be ready for battle. My people will be available for the fight and make our supporters proud. If we are confused, scared and play like kids, it is not easy for any team."

Fulham spent around £100m on 12 signings this summer but many of the new faces have struggled to impress. Arrivals such as Jean Michael Seri and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, two midfield players who were signed for a combined fee in excess of £50m, are among those who have been unable to find any consistency in their performances.

Jokanovic has overseen multiple overhauls of the playing squad in his three years at Fulham, with more than 35 players leaving the club during his spell as head coach.

"So many times I clean the dressing room and find the players who have the ambition to work, who have the ambition to compete," Jokanovic said. "I give the people time for adaptation and for making step forward, now it is time for them to understand that we do not have time for waiting for some miracle.

"I never played for any coach. I always played for myself, my family, my team-mates, the fans. This is what they must understand and they must start working in this direction. I do not need anyone to fight for me. If they are adult people they need to fight for themselves and for their family, for the club and push strong and hard for a solution."

Telegraph Sport revealed earlier this week that Scott Parker, who is currently one of Jokanovic's first-team coaches, could be given the chance to save Fulham's season if the Serbian is sacked.

"I hear names, when we are here at the bottom of the Premier League I hear many names," Jokanovic said. "It is a normal situation for all coaches in this situation. It is not a distraction for me, it is part of this business. If I am thinking all the time about gossip then I will lose the focus about my work."



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/11/09/under-pressure-slavisa-jokanovic-labels-fantastic-coach-blasts/

 
Jokanović: All About Effort

Slaviša Jokanović knows that Fulham's energy levels need to be upped when they take on title challengers Liverpool.


The Whites' defeat at Huddersfield Town on Monday was a difficult one to stomach, and Jokanović wants to see more hunger from his team at the weekend.

"In the last game, we chose a really ugly way to lose the game," he said. "In the end, we must be competitive, fight until the last moment and make an extra effort.

"Right now, we haven't shown this effort and must wake up. We cannot sell our skin for cheap. We must be available for the battle and must show it on the field.

"I've said it a few times before games that we're ready, but we haven't shown enough effort and ambition, and we must immediately change this.

"In the end, it's all about effort - we need to sprint to attack the space, sprint to regain the ball, we must be strong to win the challenge, sprint to recover for teammates.

"If we are jogging on the field and believe people will give us a present, it's a completely wrong way. We must show more effort, definitely.

"We need more. We need to be more available for the fight. If I think about the Huddersfield game, we weren't available for the second phase. We weren't strong enough to recover each other.

"This kind of defeat hurts, because we can do more things and we didn't do enough."


Despite our current position at the bottom of the table, Jokanović remains optimistic about Fulham's chances this season, saying too much hard work has been done to throw in the towel.

"Behind of us is a really long two-and-a-half years in the Championship, so we cannot give up after a few months," he stated. "The battle will be tough. At the start of the battle, we haven't shown enough power and our weapons.

"There's space for improvement and we must make the people around us proud. Sometimes when you lose a game, people can still be satisfied, but we haven't offered this kind of performance.

"I am always confident in myself. I believe in my players, staff and the people around us. We are where we are. We're in the Premier League, a tough competition.

"All of us must make steps forward and we can't be satisfied with our start to the season, but the gap between the bottom teams isn't so big and we must show confidence, keep going forward, work hard, and look for a solution.

"My mentality is always the same. I always push my team to win the game. I want to find brave people around me.

"We must know where we are and must accept this situation and go completely outside of our comfort zones because this situation hasn't brought us good results.

"We must shake our heads and push harder. I don't believe it's impossible."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/november/10/slavisa-jokanovic-all-about-effort

 
Fulham's reported Tiemoue Bakayoko interest shows they have learned nothing

Premier League bottom club Fulham have reportedly attempted to sign Tiemoue Bakayoko on loan from Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Have Fulham learned nothing from their heavily flawed summer splurge?

The Cottagers invested over £100 million on new talent during the summer transfer window, but a club that was expected to take the Premier League by storm after promotion has tanked in spectacular fashion.

A 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town on Monday leaves Fulham bottom of the table after 11 games. Suddenly, the decision to pay massive fees on unproven players like Jean-Michel Seri, Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa and Maxime le Marchand looks like a big, and expensive, mistake.

So reports from Calciomercato that they have enquired about signing the £36 million Chelsea flop Tiemoue Bakayoko on loan in the January transfer window are nothing short of baffling.

After all, Bakayoko struggled badly in England after joining Chelsea from Monaco and was quickly farmed out to AC Milan in the summer, with Maurizio Sarri wasting no time in omitting the clumsy Frenchman from his plans.

And Bakayoko's struggles show no signs of ending. The 24-year-old has started just two Serie A games for Milan, and rumours emerged suggesting that Gennaro Gattuso's side could even look to send him back to Stamford Bridge.

From a Fulham perspective, Bakayoko feels like another overpriced big name completely unsuitable for a club in a relegation battle. The 2017 Ligue 1 winner looked out of his depth at Chelsea and there is little reason to suggest he would thrive a few miles from Stamford Bridge.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/11/10/do-weekend-fulhams-reported-tiemoue-bakayoko-interest-shows-they/