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General Category => Archive => Daily Fulham Stuff => Topic started by: WhiteJC on November 08, 2019, 04:49:43 PM

Title: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 08, 2019, 04:49:43 PM
Preview: Blues v Fulham

Our full match preview ahead of Saturday's Sky Bet Championship fixture between Blues and The Cottagers at the St. Andrew's Trillion Stadium (3pm kick-off).

Pep Clotet asked how pleased he was with the way that Blues have been picking up points, particularly at home...
"We all feel very confident within the Club because the last three games we were the best team at home and we're playing at St. Andrew's before the international break. But we know that every game is very difficult, and we focus a lot on the game by game. Our recent form is one of the best that we've had. But as soon as the game starts that means nothing and we want to make sure that we put our football on the pitch first , second that we have the backing of our fans and thirdly that we fight for those three points because it is critical for us."

Pep Clotet asked about being nominated for October's Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month award...
"I think the most important thing is to realise that all the work this Club is putting in around a group of players. That includes the fans as well with their backing. This work is being recognised. At the end of the day we're not here to win awards, we're here to win football games. That's what makes me more interested about trying to win games. Whoever wins that award I congratulate him. It's very nice having done all the work that we've done under the circumstances that they were, getting that recognition is a proof of all of the players, the Club, the staff has put in to help Birmingham get through everything."

Pep Clotet on the work that is being done on the defensive aspect of his side's game...
"We try to establish a higher press and are pressing as soon as we lose the ball with a lot of intensity to try and disrupt the supply. We know for example on Saturday against Fulham we will be playing against a team that is very comfortable in possession and they will make it very difficult for our pressing. And we not only have to do the pressing very well, but we need to understand when we lose the ball, we need to get reorganised and defend the ball and make it very difficult for them. Fulham is a team in this league that has the most shots on target, so that poses a big difficulty for us, but we're very confident in what we do. They've had 73 shots on target this season, it's a lot if you compare it with Huddersfield who have had around 45. So, it's almost double. It's going to be difficult to defend but we're not far off with more than 60 (attempts on goal). But obviously we know that we have to keep progressing. The defensive side is going to be important and we have to trust our pressing, our youth and our intensity and we need the help of the fans to back us all the way to make things very difficult."

Pep Clotet asked if he was expecting an open encounter against Fulham...
"I'm expecting this game to be a fight for the possession of that ball because Fulham need possession of the ball to establish their game. And when we do not have the ball obviously, we cannot attack, and we want to attack as much as possible. We're not as focused as them on keeping possession of the ball we're much more focused on using that possession to create problems and when we lose it to win it back as soon as possible. Obviously, we know that the more possession that we have the less time that Fulham has to attack, so probably the game will be around the possession."

Fulham manager Scott Parker's 's comments ahead of the game...
"They're (Blues) a good side with some good players. At home they're a very good team, we all understand that. Every time I've played there it's always been a tough game, a very hostile place to go. They've got players who can cause teams one or two problems, which we've seen this year. We've seen over the first 15 games that there are no easy matches at this level and come Saturday it'll be the same. As long as we're of a positive mindset and we go into the game fully prepared, which we will be, then we'll be okay. I think it will be an open game. We're going to have to weather the storm a little bit at times, especially with it being on their patch. They'll come on the front foot, put us under a little bit of pressure. They pack the midfield; they've got a lot of numbers inside the pitch. There's going to be times on Saturday when they're going to cause us some problems and we need to weather that storm and come out the back end of it."

Blues team news...
New signing Jeremie Bela comes into the reckoning after the French forward received international clearance on Thursday afternoon. Blues captain and central defender Harlee Dean will miss the game as he begins a three-match suspension following his red card in the defeat at Cardiff City. Midfielders Gary Gardner (knee) and Maikel Kieftenbeld (knee) remain out. Jefferson Montero is fit and available for selection.

Fulham team news...
Midfielder Harry Arter is a doubt because of injury, as is full-back Joe Bryan.

Last five meetings between Blues and Fulham...
Championship 06 May 2018 Blues 3 Fulham 1
Championship 09 Dec 2017 Fulham 1 Birmingham 0
Championship 04 Feb 2017 Birmingham 1 Fulham 0
Championship 10 Sep 2016 Fulham 0 Birmingham 1
Championship 19 Mar 2016 Birmingham 1 Fulham 1

Total meetings between Blues and Fulham...
Blues wins: 34
Draws: 28
Fulham wins: 28

Form guide...
Blues: WLWWL
Fulham: DLWDL

Line-ups last league game...
Cardiff City v Blues (4-4-2): Camp, Colin, Pedersen, Dean, Roberts, Crowley (Bailey 80), Bellingham (Gimenez 69), Sunjic, Villalba, Mrabti (Maghoma 65), Jutkiewicz
Subs (not used): Trueman, Harding, Clarke-Salter, Davis.

Fulham (4-3-3) v Hull City: Bettinelli; Odoi (Kamara 61'), Mawson, Ream, Bryan (Le Marchand 6'); Johansen, Reed, Cairney; De Cordova-Reid (Knockaert 45'), Aleksandar Mitrovic, Cavaleiro
Subs (not used): Norman, Steven Sessegnon, McDonald, Onomah

Blues remembers...
We're proud to acknowledge Remembrance Say at the Fulham game on Saturday. Blues will be remembering those who have served, sacrificed and changed our world. A number of activities will take place ahead of kick-off and fans are asked to make their way into St. Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium in good time.

Timetable of events:
The two teams will be led out by two former military personnel, who served in the Falklands War.
Prior to kick-off, there will be a period of silence before a bugler will play the last post.
A specially commissioned 'Blues Remembers' crowd flag will be unveiled in the Tilton.
Our players will once again wear special-edition shirts embroidered with a poppy. The match-worn shirts will then be signed and made available to purchase in an auction after the game, with all proceeds going to the Royal British Legion.
Volunteers from the Royal British Legion will be selling poppies and the Birmingham City football pin 2019 outside the stadium prior to kick-off.

BluesTV...
BluesTV will be streaming the match live to International Subscribers. Those in the Great Britain and Ireland can get exclusive audio commentary. Commentary will be provided by former Blues defender Darren Purse alongside Jonathan Bell. Dale Moon will be joined in the studio by ex-Blues captain Kevan Broadhurst from approximately 2.40pm. For more details about BluesTV, click here.

Match officials...
Jarred Gillett will take charge of this game. So far this season the Australian-born official has refereed 10 games, where he has produced a total of 32 yellow cards but no reds. This is his second season refereeing in England and Saturday's match will be the first time he has refereed either Blues or Fulham. Prior to arriving in the UK to study at Liverpool's John Moore's University, he was one of Australia's most experienced match officials, where he was named the A-League Referee of the Year five times. On the international stage, he has been a FIFA International Referee since 2013. Mr Gillett will be assisted at St. Andrew's by Mark Dwyer and Geoffrey Russell, with Lewis Smith acting as the fourth official.

Tickets...
This is a grade b fixture and tickets are on general sale. For prices and purchasing details, click here.

Supporter message...
The Club urges all supporters to be responsible in their behaviour and actions. Birmingham City knows that the overwhelming majority of our supporters do not indulge in anti-social activities and are passionate about the players and the Club. We appreciate this. We adopt a zero-tolerance stance on anti-social behaviour and spectator misconduct. This includes - amongst other things - drunkenness, throwing of missiles and use and carrying of pyrotechnics (flares, smoke bombs), racist and/or homophobic chanting. Pitch encroachment is forbidden and against the law. Please DO NOT encroach onto the pitch. Any person found to be encroaching on the pitch will automatically be served with a banning order - regardless of the circumstances. It is important that bottles, coins, flares and other items not thrown at our matches. Again, we would like to thank the overwhelming majority of supporters for their backing and their understanding.



https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2019/preview-blues-v-fulham/
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 08, 2019, 04:52:06 PM
Pundit makes Birmingham City v Fulham prediction that Blues fans will love

Latest Birmingham City news | Blues take on Fulham in their Sky Bet Championship clash at St Andrew's on Saturday

Birmingham City resume their Sky Bet Championship campaign this weekend as they face Fulham at St Andrew's.

Blues go into the fixture in mixed run of form with two wins and two defeats in their previous four matches.

Pep Clotet 's side lost 4-2 to Cardiff City in the last outing, after recording back-to-back wins over Luton Town and Blackburn Rovers.

The defeat to Neil Warnock's side leaves Blues in 12th place in the Championship table, and have an opportunity to close the gap on the top six.

Blues will have a new player available for selection after the signing of free agent Jeremie Bela, who signed a three-year deal at St Andrew's on Wednesday, with the option of another season, after settling his legal dispute with former club Albacete Balompie.

Fulham have also had an up-and-down start to life back in the Championship following their relegation from the Premier League last term.

Scott Parker 's side are in eighth place in the table and go into Saturday's match against Blues on the back of a 3-0 at home to Hull City.

Ahead of Saturday's match at St Andrew's, former Nottingham Forest midfielder and current Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has made his weekly Blues prediction.

Prutton reckons Blues will claim a 2-1 win over the Cottagers, and move on to 25 points in the Championship table going into the final international break of the calendar year.



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-fulham-prediction-pundit-17222607
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 08, 2019, 04:53:18 PM
Fulham hotshot wins Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month award

Fulham have confirmed on their official club website that star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has beaten his opposition to the title fo Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for October.

Huddersfield Town midfielder Juninho Bacuna, Sheffield Wednesday centre-back Julian Borner, Fulham hotshot Aleksandar Mitrovic and Millwall striker Tom Bradshaw all enjoyed thoroughly a successful October, and their performances were recognised by the EFL as they were nominated for Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month.

Now, it has been confirmed that Fulham forward Mitrovic has taken home the award after a fruitful month in front of goal. The Serbian international scored six goals in five games, including a brace against Reading and a hat-trick against Luton Town, taking him to 11 goals in 15 games for the season so far, making him the league's top scorer.

The striker has been speaking to Fulham's official club website upon the confirmation of his award, saying:

"It's always nice when you win personal awards. It means that I did something right, that the team did something right as well, so it's a nice feeling."

The award comes just a matter of days after he was named as the PFA's Championship Player of the Month, winning comfortably over some tough opposition. He beat the likes of Leeds United 'keeper Kiko Casilla, Preston North End man Tom Barkhuizen, Queens Park Rangers playmaker Eberechi Eze, Millwall striker Tom Bradshaw and Brentford forward Said Benrahma to the PFA accolade.

Now, with November underway, Mitrovic will be hoping to continue his hot run of form to try and push Fulham up the table, with Scott Parker's side currently sitting in 8th.




https://the72.co.uk/148414/fulham-hotshot-wins-sky-bet-championship-player-of-the-month-award/
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 08, 2019, 04:54:58 PM
Fulham set to be without key duo for Birmingham City clash

Birmingham City vs Fulham | Blues resume their Sky Bet Championship campaign against the Cottagers in their final match before the international break

Fulham boss Scott Parker will have to deal with one or two potential absentees when they take on Birmingham City this weekend.

Blues welcome the Cottagers to St Andrew's on Saturday in their next clash in the Sky Bet Championship.

Pep Clotet 's side lost 4-2 to Cardiff City in the last outing, after recording back-to-back wins over Luton Town and Blackburn Rovers.

Fulham will have goalkeeper Marek Rodak available for selection after he served a one-match suspension.

Rodak was sent off during Fulham's goalless draw at Middlesbrough last month, with Marcus Bettinelli coming in for last weekend's 3-0 home defeat to Hull City

Full-back Joe Bryan is not expected to feature having been forced off early on against Hull following an awkward fall.

Midfielder Harry Arter continues to be assessed after missing the past three matches with an unspecified injury.

Blues will also be without captain Harlee Dean after the defender was shown a straight red card by referee Andrew Madley in the defeat to Cardiff last weekend.

Clotet will now be without his captain for the next three matches, starting with Saturday's home clash against Fulham.
Dean will then also miss the away trips to Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday after the international break.



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-injury-news-birmingham-city-17223128
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 08, 2019, 04:55:36 PM
Player now likelier to return to Fulham after failing to take final chance

This week we covered claims from Turkey that Galatasaray are planning to send Jean Michael Seri back to Fulham in the January transfer window following a disappointing start with the Super Lig side.

Today Turkish newspaper Fanatik has reported on the latest developments regarding the future of the 28 year old, and they say he was given one final chance by Galatasaray manager Faith Terim to prove himself against Real Madrid on Wednesday night.

However, the Fulham loanee failed to perform during Gala's 6-0 loss and a return to the London side is now looking more of a possibility in January.

Fanatik also report Galatasaray will hold talks with Fulham in the near future with regards to sending him back to the Championship club.

The Turkish side paid a €1.8m loan fee to secure Seri for the season, and it's unclear what Fulham would make of a return.

This season the former Nice player has played 11 games for the Istanbul side, scoring one goal. His contract with Fulham will expire at the end of June 2022.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-now-likely-return-fulham-failing-take-final-chance/
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 08, 2019, 04:56:56 PM
Scott Parker demands this one key attribute from his Fulham side on Saturday

Scott Parker has stated that it's vital that his Fulham side react at the weekend having lost 3-0 at home to Hull just one week ago.

Fulham travel to Birmingham aiming to bounce back from a humbling defeat at Craven Cottage last weekend.

The Cottagers haven't quite hit the heights that many had hoped they would have at the start of the season, and that has seen Parker answer up to his critics.

They have won just once in their last four, and will be hoping to head into the international break with a victory, but Parker knows his side must react.

Speaking to FFCtv, Parker said: "We need to react. What's done is done. The weekend was disappointing but ultimately it's a 46 game season, a long road, and we're game 15 at this present moment in time.

"Of course we're disappointed, but there's only one way I know to react. We react with a positive frame of mind, a positive attitude, a positive demeanour about us, and a positive effort.

"Like I always say, come the weekend we can lose a football match, but I want to see a team that's dynamic, that's trying everything in their power to win, and I'm sure we'll get that at the weekend."

The Verdict

It's vital that Fulham see last weekend's thrashing as a wake-up call, and not to let it get them down. This game will tell us a lot about whether the Cottagers are promotion worthy or not, as it's about how you bounce back from results such as the Hull one.

Parker has to get his side to react, and he is emphasising that a lot throughout the week, and I'm sure the players will be ready.

It's a tough place to go in Birmingham, and if the atmosphere is good it can be an intimidating place to play football. It should be a good game, and pressure could begin to mount on Parker should they be defeated once more.




https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/scott-parker-demands-this-one-key-attribute-from-his-fulham-side-on-saturday/
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 08, 2019, 05:03:37 PM
2 in, 2 out: The Fulham XI that fans will surely want to see against Birmingham City this weekend

Fulham travel to Birmingham City this weekend as the Londoners look to end a run of one win in five in the Championship.

15 games into the season and it's that time of year where managerial positions start to come under the spotlight. One of those managers who's tenure has come under scrutiny of late is Scott Parker.

The former Fulham player and now manager has the club in 8th-place – two points off Bristol City in 6th and seven off leaders West Brom.

Many feel that, given the players at Parker's disposal, his team should be much higher up the table. The season is still a long way of it's conclusion and Parker could well turn things around at Craven Cottage, and he could start by getting a win at Birmingham tomorrow.

Here we take a look at the likely XI for tomorrow's clash:

(https://cdn.footballleagueworld.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/lineup-16.png)

Parker gave a first league start to goalkeeper Marek Rodak against Luton Town last month, but the Slovakian stopper was shown red in the following game at Middlesbrough.

Marcus Bettinelli stepped back in for the defeat at home to Hull City last time out, but expect the younger Rodak to return at St Andrew's tomorrow.

Fulham's back four has been relatively unchanged all season, and expect to see the familiar four of Joe Bryan, Tim Ream, Alfie Mawson and Dennis Odoi in defence.

4-3-3 is the preferred tactic for Parker, and the midfield three could see a slight mix-up from the one that faced Hull last weekend.

Expect Harrison Reed and skipper Tom Cairney to start, but Parker could throw a wildcard and put Josh Onomah in the line-up.

Stefan Johansen started the last game in midfield for Fulham, but Onomah could well be a better fit for the match tomorrow with his powerful runs from midfield.

Fulham have only beaten Birmingham once in their last seven attempts, and haven't won at St Andrew's since 2014.

With the strike-force that Fulham have this time round though, they stand a good chance of rectifying their previous blunders in Birmingham.

Expect the league's top-scorer Aleksandar to be the first on the team-sheet tomorrow, with Ivan Cavaleiro to his left.

Knockaert started the last game against Hull but was replaced by Bobby Reid at half-time. Neither have had their goal-scoring boots on this season though – Reid is yet to score a goal for Fulham.

It's a toss-up who starts between these two but Parker will likely persist with Reid, who once he gets off the mark, fans feel will be a real threat for Fulham.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/2-in-2-out-the-fulham-xi-that-fans-will-surely-want-to-see-against-birmingham-city-this-weekend/
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 08, 2019, 05:04:34 PM
Boss - Mitrovic is a real threat to any team

Pep Clotet says that Blues will need to be on their mettle to snuff out the threat of Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic in Saturday's Championship fixture at the St. Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium.

The 25-year-old Serbian international, who was signed by The Cottagers from Newcastle for £13.5m in July 2018, currently leads the Championship's scoring charts with an impressive 11-goals.

And Clotet says it will be up to his Blues players to act collectively in order to try and stop him adding to that tally.

"He's (Mitrovic) a big threat," admitted the Blues boss.

"The fact of having a player in your team, that you know is going to score more than 20 goals a season makes everything easier.

"That includes the defenders because they know if they make a mistake or something, they will always have a chance because of him, as well the other players going forward.

"Of course, Fulham were in the Premier League last season, but they're now in the same league as us and the numbers are similar in performance (points).

"When it comes to the game, we will try to shorten that distance on the pitch as much as possible.

"The fact that they have a very good striker obviously gives them a little bit of an edge, because good strikers always have the ability to create chances.

"So, we have to be mindful of affecting his supply, and how he is and be very focused on the day.

"For me the way to combat him is being very good collectively."



https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2019/boss-mitrovic-is-a-real-threat-to-any-team/
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 09, 2019, 06:32:03 AM
Birmingham City v Fulham
SAT 09 Nov 2019   Championship
Venue: St. Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium


(https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/1459E/production/_109585338_am.jpg)
Aleksandar Mitrovic is the Championship's top scorer this season - but he has not scored on either of his two previous trips to St Andrew's with Newcastle United and Fulham

Birmingham City are without captain Harlee Dean for the visit of Fulham as he starts his three-match ban for his red card in the 4-2 defeat at Cardiff.

New striker Jeremie Bela, who left Spanish side Albacete to join Blues, has received international clearance but has not played since June.

Fulham have goalkeeper Marek Rodak back from his one-game ban for his red card in the goalless draw at Middlesbrough.

Marcus Bettinelli came in for last weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Hull City.

Full-back Joe Bryan is not expected to feature having been forced off early on against Hull following an awkward fall, while midfielder Harry Arter continues to be assessed after missing the past three matches with an unspecified injury.

Blues start the day in 12th, a point behind eighth-placed Fulham - and just eight points off leaders West Bromwich Albion.

Match facts

    Birmingham City have won four of their past six league meetings with Fulham.
    Fulham have not failed to score in three consecutive Championship games since January 2015. Current manager Scott Parker started all three of those games.
    Only Cardiff City (17) and Preston North End (20) have won more home Championship points than Birmingham (16) this season.
    Blues have won their past three home league games - they have not won four in a row since under Gary Rowett in December/January 2016.
    Fulham have had 275 open-play sequences of 10 or more passes in the Championship this season - 132 more than any other team.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50271671
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 09, 2019, 06:33:28 AM
Fulham midfielder pushed to one side by national team – Won't be called up until he apologises

Unable to help Fulham avoid relegation back to the Championship after his £27m transfer from OGC Nice, Jean-Michaël Seri decided he would rather try his luck in Turkey with Galatasaray rather than play the likes of Luton and Millwall on a weekly basis.

It's a move that hasn't exactly paid off, as he's struggled for regular game time in the league, also getting sent off in his second game and starting just once in the last five fixtures.

If that wasn't enough, the Fulham loanee is also in a dispute with his national team, according to Sport Mania, which explains his absence in the last two squads put together by Ibrahim Kamara.

According to the website, who spoke to a source close to the player, it all dates back to the Africa Cup of Nations, after Seri was relegated to the bench two fixtures in.

Furthermore, the Fulham midfielder felt the manager 'wasn't playing him in his natural role', eventually saying he 'no longer wanted to be called up until he had a good talk with the manager'.

In fact, Seri is said to have asked Kamara to say sorry, which he has yet to do, and so the player 'boycotted' the last two games and ignored the chance to play for his country.

Understandably, the Ivory Coast FA and the national team manager aren't impressed by all this, with the former happy to see Seri pushed to one side, where he will remain 'unless he apologises to the federal association'.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-midfielder-pushed-one-side-national-team-wont-called-apologises/
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 09, 2019, 06:34:43 AM
Exclusive: Scott Minto urges patience as Fulham boss comes under fire

Scott Minto has hailed the job being done by Scott Parker at Fulham, saying that he deserves credit for a difficult job.

The Cottagers have had a decent start to season but have come under pressure with many tipping them to challenge for automatic promotion.

Parker's side currently sit in eighth place in the Championship after falling to a shock 3-0 defeat against Hull City last week.

While some have criticised the former midfielder for not hitting the ground running in the second tier, Minto said that he should be praised for doing an excellent job in difficult circumstances.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, the Sky Sports presenter said: "I don't think Scott Parker should be under pressure for his job.

"I think he will be feeling under pressure every day from the moment he wakes up to the moment that he goes to sleep because he'll be thinking football and how he can turn this style into a winning style.

"People forget that when you look at the players who have dropped down to the Championship, first of all mentally, Scott has to change the culture from what has been a losing culture.

"To be relegated players have got used to losing games so he has to change that psychologically.

"Secondly, he is asking to play a style of football that they're capable of doing but isn't easy to do in the Championship.

"One of the best performances I've seen this season was the 60 minutes Fulham played against West Brom who are certainly fighting for the top two, and it might end up being them plus one.

"So it's not that Fulham did that against one of the lower clubs, they did it against one of the top clubs in the division."

Minto reiterated: "I don't think Scott Parker should be under pressure at all for his job. It's about a young manager who's had a great career and wants to make his way in the game.

"He's not wanting to go into the media, he's wanting to go into the thick end of management and the pressure that comes with that.

"I'm telling you now, he's a better manager now than he was at the start of the season and he'll be a better manager again at the end of the season.

"Let's give him time and room to try and breathe.

"Fulham are playing well offensively but they're conceding silly goals. It's not that the philosophy isn't working, it's just moments in the game where they're conceding goals that they shouldn't.

"I'm a big fan of what Scott's trying to do at Fulham and I hope he's very successful at it."



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/exclusive-scott-minto-urges-patience-as-fulham-boss-comes-under-fire/
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 09, 2019, 06:36:08 AM
Birmingham Preview

After last week's disaster at home to Hull, it's imperative that Scott Parker and his team get a result away to Birmingham tomorrow. With the rumblings surrounding Parker's position, we are past the stage were he can get away with the team putting in a decent performance. He needs all three points tomorrow.

You can describe Birmingham's season as being inconsistent. Seven wins, which is one more than Fulham have, go alongside seven defeats and a draw leaving them down in 12th. We are just one point better off than them in 8th, highlighting once again just how tight this Championship season is. They are in pretty good form with nine points out of the last 15 available, but they did lose last time out to Cardiff City.

Goals have been reasonably hard to come by for Birmingham with only 16 scored and with top scorer Lukas Jutkiewicz having just scored four. They'll be facing us without captain Harlee Dean after he was sent off against Cardiff last weekend. Outside Dean and Jutkiewicz, a lot of the Birmingham squad are relatively unknown but we should be aware of 16 year-old Jude Bellington. We know only too well how exciting it is when you can include a youngster who has come through the youth system at a club. He may be just 16, but that doesn't mean that he should be underestimated. He's scored two goals from midfield this season and looks to be a real prospect.

For Fulham we will be missing Joe Bryan after he picked up an injury last weekend. Parker will have the same old question about who to start in goal with Marek Rodak available again after his one game ban for his red card two weeks ago. Bettinelli didn't cover himself in glory up against Hull last weekend, but I'd be surprised if he didn't get the nod ahead of Rodak. In the matches were Rodak has been included he hasn't done anything for me to suggest that he is the stronger option. It's an area that needs addressed in January, but maybe for now we stick with Betts.

Despite the fact that we have the league's current top goal scorer in Aleksander Mitrovic, we haven't managed to score in 3 of the past four games. We need to take advantage of the fact that Birmingham are without their main leader tomorrow and rattle them early on. The good news is that we haven't went three Championship games without scoring since January 2015. We don't have a great record against Birmingham though, with four losses in the past six meetings.

History and form aside, this is a must-win game for Fulham. We have dropped far too many points already this season, and the only reason we are still within touching distance of the top too is because no-one in this league seems to want to run away with it. It is still incredibly close, but soon the gap will be too hard to pull back. We are getting to the stage were Parker's job is on the line. Hopefully he has enough in his locker to get him through this.

#COYW



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2019/11/birmingham-preview/
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 09, 2019, 06:37:22 AM
Blues ready to use speedy strike force – fans will hope duo are unleashed on Fulham

No excuses will do now at St.Andrews with the previous lack of forward power at Birmingham City.

Recent developments must result in more goals.

For so long we have had the laboured use of only the brave Juke and a far lesser threat in the shape of Gimenez.

This week, and praise to the Blues Board, we have signed a pacy forward in Jeremie Bela and the return to fitness of Montero. Add these to our attacking group and we have the wherewithal to hurt teams. No ifs and buts in my opinion.

Should these additions not fire then there is no doubt our hierarchy will get a coaching team in that can get them firing. Speed has always been lacking in recent seasons in wide areas and it is this that hurt teams in the final twenty minutes of games. Whether Montero or Bela come on, it is that impact of speed to pull tiring full backs into panic.

These new additions are just what the club have yearned for and the fragile gap between us and third spot in the league must have whetted the appetite of our owners. So near you can almost hear them saying it. Whether we get the best out of them is the big question and I sincerely hope that the likeable Pep Clotet is the person to do it.

We as a club do not want to discuss issues such as who replaces who in our defence – for days on end – this week it has centred on Harlee Dean's replacement, but the talk should be about which speed merchants are going to make the first eleven against Fulham.

We are always going to concede goals but if the striking set up we now have with Bela and Montero added to the matchday squad, properly coached, can outdo the goal or goals against column.

At home, our high press tactics must start and finish throughout. Players such as Colin, Sunjic and Crowley have stood out so far this season – let's hope they are now added by the likes of Bela and Montero.



https://birmingham.vitalfootball.co.uk/blues-ready-to-use-speedy-strike-force-fans-will-hope-duo-are-unleashed-on-fulham/
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 09, 2019, 06:38:34 AM
his Fulham star is a world beater on his day, but that day doesn't come often enough: Comment

Fulham turned heads with the loan-acquisition of Ivan Cavaleiro in the summer, but has he lived up to the hype?

Signging from Wolves for on a season-long loan deal, Fulham fans couldn't wait to see Portuguese winger Ivan Cavaleiro in action.

The 26-year-old is as decorated as they come in the Championship – a domestic treble winner with Benfica in the 2013/14 season, a Europa League runner-up the same year and capped by his national side having played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

It's fair to say that Cavaleiro brought with him a lot of hype in the summer and with three goals in his first four appearances in the Championship, the hype looked to be real.

It was a run where Scott Parker's side won three of their opening four league games, and the Cottagers looked likely for Championship promotion once again.

But results have since slowed down and Fulham have only won three games since that three-long winning streak in August, and dropping down with results has been Cavaleiro's proficiency in-front of goal.

He's an ever-present in Parker's side, featuring in all but one of Fulham's Championship games this season on the left of a front-three with Aleksandar Mitrovic in the middle, and usually Anthony Knockaert on the right.

With one goal in his last ten appearances though, Cavaleiro's confidence will a bit shot heading into the run-up to New Year – capable of the spectacular, Cavaleiro needs to solidify the goal-scoring form that he and everyone knows he's capable of.

He scored nine Championship goals in Wolves' promotion-winning campaign the season before last and given his Premier League experience with them, he could easily better that return this time round and then some.

With four assists to add to his four goals, the numbers reflect fairly well on Cavaleiro. But he set the bar so high for himself with his early form that fans are expecting more.

Cavaleiro is a genuinely world-class footballer but like so many before him, inconsistency proves to the pitfall. There's been many a talent before him who could've gone on to achieve so much more but failed to do so, because they couldn't maintain a level.

Parker will be desperate to get the best out of him this year, and he can be the one who makes the difference for Fulham. On his day a world beater, but too often it's not Cavaleiro's day.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/this-fulham-star-is-a-world-beater-on-his-day-but-that-day-doesnt-come-often-enough-comment/
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 09, 2019, 06:40:09 AM
Fulham's trip to Birmingham couldn't have come at a worse time for Scott Parker's side: Comment

This article is part of Football League World's 'Comment' series, this content strand is where the author of the article issues their personal opinion on the topic at hand....

Fulham travel to Birmingham this weekend looking to bounce back from a humiliating defeat at Craven Cottage last Saturday.

The Cottagers succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Hull City, which meant that Scott Parker's side dropped to eighth in the Championship table.

Despite having a fairly good start to the campaign, expectations are high in West London, and with the squad looking very strong for this level on paper, it's vital that Fulham start picking up points in the next few weeks.

With the international break coming up, it's important that Parker's team head into the extended break with a win under their belts but it is going to be very tough as they travel to a Birmingham side who have lost just once at home so far this season.

The Blues will fancy their chances against what they expect to be a demoralised Fulham side, and Parker will know that it's possibly the worst time for his side to take a trip to an intimidating St. Andrew's stadium.

Parker could have done with a nice home game, so that they could bounce back and get another three points under their belt. Now they have to be at their very best in the fixture with Birmingham and make sure that they leave everything out on the pitch.

Pep Clotet's side can play some good football at times, but they are physical and give any side a tough game in the division based on their presence. Parker needs to find a way to get his Fulham side to match that, as the out of form Alfie Mawson comes up against a very lively Lukas Jutkiewicz. The latter will fancy himself on Saturday, especially watching the Cottager's defensive display against Hull.

Right now, Fulham just have to make sure that they can put out a performance that shows their supporters that they are up to the battle of the Championship. There won't be many harder places to go than St. Andrews, but that gives them even more reason to try and pull off a much-needed result.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulhams-trip-to-birmingham-couldnt-have-come-at-a-worse-time-for-scott-parkers-side-comment/
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 09, 2019, 06:41:33 AM
2 key battles that will decide Birmingham v Fulham

Despite sitting just two points outside the play-offs, Fulham have been somewhat inconsistent so far this season, combining a couple of scintillating displays with some abject performances.

Their record over the last six games – two wins, two draws and two losses – highlights this point.

In a highly congested table, Birmingham City sit just a point but four places below the Whites in 12th, meaning that the winner of the clash at St Andrew's on Saturday will be very close to – if not inside – the play off places, whereas the loser is likely drop into the bottom half.

Thus, the game on Saturday is a crucial one for both clubs. Here, we look two battles on the pitch that are likely to has a massive impact on which club takes home the crucial three points.

Jake Clarke-Salter v Alexander Mitrovic

Two of Birmingham's best players this season have been their centre backs, captain Harlee Dean and Marc Roberts. Both physically strong and good in the air, they mop up almost anything that has been hit long by the opposition.

Both would likely relish a battle with big-money man Alexander Mitrovic, who is physically strong himself and has already bagged 11 goals so far this campaign.

However, Dean is now banned for three games after receiving a red card in the game at The Cardiff City Stadium, so youngster Jake Clarke-Salter is likely to step in in his absence.

The Chelsea loanee has only appeared once for Birmingham so far – when Roberts missed a game through injury – putting in an admittedly solid display in a 1-0 defeat at Wigan.

Serbian international Mitrovic though, being arguably the best striker in the division, will be a different proposition to anything he faced that night, and Clarke-Salter will need to be up for a battle from the very first minute, or it could well be a long afternoon for the Blues.

Jude Bellingham v Alfie Mawson

Alfie Mawson arrived at Premier League Fulham last season in a big money move from Swansea, for a reported fee of up to £20 million.

Unfortunately for the England U21 international, he struggled for form and only played 15 league games as Fulham suffered a disastrous season and were relegated to the Championship.

This season, however, he has played every game and looked more like the player that interested the Whites initially, having made an impressive 42 clearances already.

Mawson is likely to have a tough afternoon, though, against 16-year-old sensation Jude Bellingham.

Bellingham has already started seven games since breaking on to the first team scene this season, and his impressive dribbling ability has been well supplemented by 2 goals and a high pass completion rate.

Mawson will certainly have to watch the teenager closely and be aware of his darting runs from midfield if Fulham are to have any chance of keeping a clean sheet.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/2-key-battles-that-will-decide-birmingham-v-fulham/
Title: Re: Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/11/19...
Post by: WhiteJC on November 09, 2019, 06:43:03 AM
2 ways Fulham can hurt Birmingham on Saturday

Fulham take on Birmingham City at St. Andrew's on Saturday hoping to produce a much-improved performance after last weekend's disappointing loss to Hull City.

The 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage to The Tigers last time out angered the supporters, as it was Fulham's most dismal performance of the season so far.

Therefore, the pressure is on Scott Parker to deliver, especially as they have won just one of their last five league games, dropping The Cottagers down to 8th in the league.

A win could lift Fulham back into the play-off positions, depending on results elsewhere in the division.

Their opponents meanwhile have also been on an inconsistent run of form, with three wins and two losses in their last five league games, and will be without

Here are two things Fulham should do to improve their chances of a win against the Blues...

Improve their finishing

This is a key reason behind Fulham drawing a blank in their last two games – the side are wasteful in front of goal.

According to WhoScored, the West London side average 14.3 shots per game, but only 4.9 of those are on target.

A way this can be remedied is to attempt more shots in the penalty area, where the side are having an average of 1.3 shots per game.

As Fulham play with a 4-3-3 formation, the wingers could play with more width, bringing opposition players out of position, hence creating more space for Mitrovic in the centre of the pitch. Increasing the crossing output would also benefit the Serbian in the 12-yard-box.

Be quicker in attacking transition

Fulham had a whopping 75% possession against Hull, with almost three times as many passes as their opponents.

However, they managed just one shot on target, with 50% of their shots coming outside the penalty area.

This suggests that despite keeping hold of the ball, Parker's side are not being penetrative enough in the final third, instead patiently waiting for an opening.

Although it would go against the manager's philosophy, a way to counter the problems faced by dominating the ball would be to be quicker in attacking transition. A way that can be achieved is by sacrificing some possession to the opposition, which opens up more chances to hit teams on the break.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/2-ways-fulham-can-hurt-birmingham-on-saturday/