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General Category => Archive => Daily Fulham Stuff => Topic started by: WhiteJC on October 09, 2019, 08:59:46 AM

Title: Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 09/10/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on October 09, 2019, 08:59:46 AM
Charlton really didn't deal with Aleksandar Mitrovic against Fulham & got lucky

(https://cdn.footballfancast.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/mitrovic-2-e1570456142871-960x450.jpg)

This article is part of Football FanCast's The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Saturday's early kick-off saw Charlton travel across London to take on Fulham, and an enthralling game ensued as the two sides partook in a brilliant, end-to-end spectacle.

Before the match, we detailed how the Addicks must keep an eye on Cottagers duo Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrovic, and it must be said that Lee Bowyer's men only really carried out half of the task in that respect.

Who did they deal with?

Well, Fulham's No.10 Cairney didn't do a great deal to threaten the Charlton backline throughout, so you could argue that the Addicks did a good job on the 28-year-old.

Cairney had three unsuccessful touches and was dispossessed twice, while also failing to grab a goal or an assist.

The attacking midfielder also failed to register a key pass – despite him being one to watch before kick off having been involved in eight goals already this term, Charlton shackled him well.

On the other hand, his teammate Mitrovic was well up for the London derby and gave the south Londoners a torrid time at the back.

How did the Serbian do?

It wasn't for the want of trying from Tom Lockyer and Jason Pearce, but Mitrovic ran them ragged throughout the 90 minutes.

Lockyer recorded a game-high seven clearances and also made one tackle, whereas Pearce made five clearances and two blocks.

However, Mitrovic prevailed and the Addicks were perhaps lucky to limit the 51-cap Serbia international to just one goal.

The 25-year-old took a huge eight shots – more than any player on the pitch – and scored the point-claiming equaliser after using his body well to shield the ball and scoop it into the roof of the net.

Mitrovic – who cost Fulham £22m from Newcastle – also smashed the crossbar with a rocket of a shot, while his excellent hold-up play and physical strength saw him win three fouls throughout the game.

Charlton most certainly struggled to live with the Championship's top scorer, and they can count themselves a bit lucky that he only managed to score once against them, having hit seven of his eight shots off target.



https://www.footballfancast.com/championship/charlton/charlton-really-didnt-deal-with-aleksandar-mitrovic-against-fulham-got-lucky
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 09/10/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on October 09, 2019, 09:01:37 AM
3 issues Fulham need to work on over the international break

Fulham have currently had a strong start to the league season, sat seventh in the league table after 11 games on 19 points and having lost only two league games all campaign.

Fulham go into the international break on the back of a 2-2 draw with Charlton Athletic after two consecutive wins over Reading and Wigan Athletic, however there are some underlying issues bubbling underneath the surface for Scott Parker, who is in his first full season as Fulham manager, the club who he made 128 appearances for as a player before retiring in 2017.

Here, we take a look at three issues that Parker has to work on over the international break...

Discipline

Fulham's discipline so far this season hasn't been great, picking up 19 yellow cards and one red card in just the 12 competitive appearances so far this season.

Fulham have a few hot headed players on the pitch who put their heart on their sleeve, namely players such as Harry Arter and Aleksandar Mitrovic who will put everything on the line to help get a result for their club.

If Parker can ensure his team calms down and doesn't go over the top when attempting to regain possession, then the more often that certain players aren't walking on tightropes Parker and his side has more chance of winning the game.

Turning possession into goals

The average amount of possession that Fulham have had so far in a Championship game this season is 63.7%.

This statistic won't specifically worry Parker, but he knows his side needs to convert that possession into more chance and possibly more goals, having only netted the 20 so far this season in the league for a side that harbours ambitions of making it back up to the top flight.

With players like Mitrovic hanging around the box and able to go in behind as well as getting on the end of crosses into the box, Fulham need to use the amounts of possession they have to found the front men.

Be stronger aerially

So far, Fulham's style of play doesn't mean that the side has to be good in the air when they adopt more of a possession-based approach.

However, when teams visit Craven Cottage, Fulham often find themselves weaker in the air when at the back as the likes of Alfie Mawson and Denis Odoi fail to put their body on the line and head the ball, instead preferring to hold the player off when he brings the ball into his chest or flicks the ball onto nobody.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/snack-poll/have-you-been-impressed-by-fulhams-performances-so-far-this-season/
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 09/10/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on October 09, 2019, 09:03:34 AM
Talking Points: Charlton Athletic
(https://ffcw001.azureedge.net/-/media/19_20_player_action_shots/shutterstock_editorial_10435091el.jpg?w=622&h=278)

Ivan Cavaleiro's strongest foot and Scott Parker's tactical changes are just two of the Talking Points we address this week.

1. Cav's ambidextrous feet

One could be forgiven for assuming Ivan Cavaleiro was right-footed, considering his first three Fulham goals all came from that boot. But he showed on Saturday that he's equally as devastating on his left peg, cutting in from the right and firing an effort into the top bins that was too hot for the goalkeeper to keep out.

2. Rooting for Bobby

Bobby Decordova-Reid rightly claimed the Man of the Match award, and he's surely so close now to opening the goal scoring floodgates. The Fulham faithful were trying to suck the ball into the goal at the Hammy End, with Decordova-Reid one of those players that everyone is desperate to see score.

(https://ffcw001.azureedge.net/-/media/19_20_player_action_shots/shutterstock_editorial_10435043ak.jpg)

3. Classic London derby

Although both Fulham and Charlton would have been a bit narked to only take a point from the game, neutrals will definitely have enjoyed the football on display. With both teams giving it a real go, the woodwork being hit twice, and plenty of hustle and bustle, it was a superb advert for the Sky Bet Championship.

4. Parker acting fast

With the first half only yielding four efforts on goal for Fulham, Head Coach Scott Parker did not hesitate in ringing the changes at half-time. Bobby Decordova-Reid and Harrison Reed each entered the action, and both played a major role in swinging the momentum in the Whites' favour.

5. Foundation success

Saturday was the annual Foundation matchday, and was a roaring success in promoting the work of Fulham's charitable arm. In addition to the Foundation logo adorning the players' shirts (which are now available to bid on), half-time saw participants from the blind & partially sighted football programme take to the pitch.

(https://ffcw001.azureedge.net/-/media/foundation/shutterstock_editorial_10435091ew.jpg)



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/october/08/talking-points-charlton-athletic
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 09/10/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on October 09, 2019, 09:06:49 AM
Fulham player issues update after linking up with international side

Fulham defender Steven Sessegnon has shared an update from the England U21 camp after linking up with his international team-mates this week.

The 19-year-old has been featuring regularly for Scott Parker's side in the Championship as he has helped them climb to seventh in the table heading into the two-week international break.

Sessegnon, who is twin brother of former team-mate Ryan, has started at right-back in eight of the Cottagers' 11 outings in the second tier following their relegation from the Premier League last term.

This is the second consecutive time Sessegnon has been called up to Aidy Boothroyd's U21 side as he also represented the Young Lions during the last international break when he made his debut against Turkey.

Sessegnon has taken to Twitter to post an image of him training with the U21 side during their latest training camp:

Sessegnon's latest experience with the U21 squad comes just days after he was substituted at half-time during Fulham's 2-2 draw with Charlton after a disappointing first-half performance.

The Verdict

It should do Sessegnon a lot of good to spend some time away with the England squad after a challenging week which saw him unceremoniously removed by Parker during the draw with Charlton.

He will benefit from being away from the Fulham spotlight for a couple of weeks and it is then possible he will return from international duty with a reinvigorated aporach.

The right-back has mostly performed well for Fulham this season so he should certainly not be judged off one performance, and Parker should also be credited for trusting in youth so early in the campaign.

Fulham fans should be hoping he does get some further international experience under his belt this week, but it seems like Sessegnon would also benefit from something of a break after a demanding start to the season.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-player-issues-update-after-linking-up-with-international-side/
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 09/10/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on October 09, 2019, 09:08:42 AM
'Not learning' 'Defence?' – Opinion was split among Fulham fans when attacker was signed but he is showing his worth

This article is part of Football League World's 'Rewind' series, this content strand is where we rewind back to a particular moment at a club, assess the initial reaction from the fans, and then proceed to evaluate and reflect on whether fans were right to react in that way....

It has been a steady start to life back in the Championship for Fulham following the crushing disappointment of their short stay in the Premier League.


The Whites were emphatically relegated at the first time of asking with Scott Parker now being tasked with ensuring their stay in the second tier is a short one.

And, at the moment, it is going ok.

The club currently sit in seventh place with 11 matches played and have shown definite signs that they have the firepower necessary to burst out of the league straight away.

It is no surprise either. During the summer, the front line was bolstered more than any other area by Parker with Aleksandar Mitrovic tied down and Ivan Caveleiro and Bobby Decordova-Reid both arriving.

Another proven Championship attacker came in too in the shape of Brighton winger Anthony Knockaert.

Here, we take a look back at how the fans reacted to his arrival and how things have panned out since...

During his previous spells in the Championship with Leicester City and Brighton, Knockaert ammassed quite the record, notching 33 goals in 148 appearances with an added 29 assists too.

However, the reaction was not exactly overwhelmingly positive...

Those who doubted the deal, however, will surely have had their worries eased by the early showings from the Frenchman this season.

He has bagged two goals and two assists in his first 11 games but has been a constant menace whenever he has gone forward.

The right decision is nearly always made when he is in possession and he knows just where to go when off the ball too, taking up clever positions and baffling defences.

His partnership with Mitrovic may be taking slightly longer than desired to come to fruition but the signs of it are there, and it does not look like it will be long until it is in full swing.

The concerns over him arriving on loan were warrented. However, the sheer entertainment value he has already brought to the team has got to have been worth it.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/not-learning-defence-opinion-was-split-among-fulham-fans-when-attacker-was-signed-but-he-is-showing-his-worth/
Title: Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 09/10/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on October 09, 2019, 09:10:15 AM
Playing for Thailand best option for Ben Davis. Father had wanted him to play for S'pore

First team debut in August as well.

Ben Davis is doing well for Fulham.

He recently notched up two assists in an U23 match against Everton.

Davis also made his senior team debut in August.

Now he is set for his first U23 match representing Thailand.

Best option

In an interview with Tru4U, Davis talked about his decision to represent Thailand, and his plans for the future.

He acknowledged that he could have technically represented four countries, England, Wales, Singapore, or Thailand.

He was born in Phuket to a Thai mother, and an English father, and soon made his way to Singapore at just five years old, becoming a citizen four years later.

The reason he chose Thailand was due to the "bright future" he sees for the Southeast Asia powerhouse. His parents are 100 per cent supportive of his decision to represent Thailand as well.

Davis also revealed that his father had wanted him to play for Singapore, but "for some reason" that didn't happen.

For why that didn't happen, read these.

Davis also laid out what he wanted to achieve in his career, specifically to one day play in the world's top leagues, such as the EPL, La Liga, and the Champions League.



https://mothership.sg/2019/10/ben-davis-thailand-u23-singapore/