Friends of Fulham

Why Aleksandar Mitrovic's late Fulham winner didn't send shivers through Leeds United's Luke Ayling
Aleksandar Mitrovic's 94th-minute winner for Fulham failed to send shivers through Luke Ayling on Wednesday night.

The Leeds United defender was sitting in the ice bath at Middlesbrough's Riverside stadium, with three points and a clean sheet already secured, when he learned of the Cottagers' late, late show.

Mitrovic's powerful header ensured the gap between second-placed Leeds and third-placed Fulham remained five points, just when it looked like the Whites would creep a little further clear of the play-off places.

Ayling admits to keeping tabs on results elsewhere, but the Fulham score was not his immediate priority when he entered the dressing room following the victory over Middlesbrough.

"I sat in the ice bath and I looked at the Champions League results first," he said.

"Then I got told that [Fulham had] scored a 94th-minute winner.

"Us boys have learnt from that last year.

"I feel like we looked at other teams fixtures quite a lot but us boys have learnt from that so, hopefully, we can continue our good form and keep winning games.

"We're bound to look at their games and the table but we know where we are and we know if we keep winning it's in our hands."

Leeds have every right to be confident, with three 1-0 wins on the trot restoring some wiggle room between them and the chasing pack and bringing to an end their shakiest spell of the season.

During that dip in form it felt like they had lost some of their defensive solidity, which meant their traditional struggle to convert chances became even more of a problem.

Opposition teams have still managed to create chances, albeit few of them, since Marcelo Bielsa's men returned to winning on a regular basis and Kiko Casilla has been called into action to make a small number of vital saves, but it is now 335 minutes since they last conceded a goal.

"Three clean sheets on the bounce is always nice," said Ayling.

"We went a long time without getting one and it can fill us with massive confidence.

"I think [Boro] only had one shot on target which was late on and came off our player.

"I think that's a big positive for us. In the last four games I don't think teams have had many shots against us.

"We know that if we have a good base back there that the boys up top will take care of the rest."

The atmosphere around the club feels a lot cheerier than after the 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, when what was once an 11-point lead over the play-off places was wiped out entirely and only goal difference separated Leeds from Fulham in third.

Bielsa expressed the opinion during that rocky patch that the fans had lost faith in the team, but he, the staff and the squad believed more than ever.

Ayling gave a post-match interview on the City Ground pitch after the Forest defeat and his demeanour was decidedly downbeat.

But he insists Leeds believed, like Bielsa, the wins would soon return.

"Us boys in the dressing room knew we could come out of that little spell," he said.

"After that game it was a real low point for us.

"We looked back at the game and I think we actually played better than what everyone thought.

"Our gaffer pretty much said that we played really well so we took a lot of confidence from that then came out at Brentford and probably played one of our best games of the season and should've got more than a point.

"We've scored a few goals now and kept clean sheets. Now we're on a little bit of a roll but us boys know that it can change quickly in this league.

"There isn't any resting, we've got a big game on Saturday.

"It's a 12.30pm kick-off and we need to be ready for that."

The preparations for a trip to the KCOM began at The Riverside and will overlap the debrief from the midweek game.

There's little in the way of time for the turnaround.

"We come in straight after the [Boro] game, we all sit in an ice bath for 10 minutes and then we go in [to Thorp Arch] Thursday and go out for a jog," said Ayling. "We'll get back in the ice bath and then have a video to go over this game to put it to bed.

"We'll come in on Friday and do a light session to be ready for Saturday."

Getting physically ready is only part of the challenge for Leeds.

Saturday brings a Yorkshire derby, against another team with plenty to play for.

Hull City have slipped to within four points of the drop zone and Ayling knows the Whites will have to be ready to scrap and battle if their run is to continue.

"You've seen in the Championship that any result can happen," he said.

"Hull are scrapping for their lives.

"It's a derby game so I'm sure there will be a few more fans in the stadium.

"It's going to be a hard game; they're all going to be up for it.

"Hull are scrapping for their lives and they're desperate for three points – but so are we.

"Hopefully it will be a good game and we can show some fight like we did [at Boro] and get a few more goals."



https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/why-aleksandar-mitrovics-late-fulham-winner-didnt-send-shivers-through-leeds-uniteds-luke-ayling-2002169

2 potential Fulham transfer scenarios we could see play out in the summer

Fulham picked up a big win on Wednesday night as they kept up their pursuit of automatic promotion with a 1-0 win against Swansea City.

Fans of the club expected nothing less than promotion at the start of the season and it was easy to see why; they had more proven Championship quality than anyone else in the division.

But you can bet that one eye will already be on the summer at the club with plans being put in place for if they are promoted and if they remain in the Championship.

Here, we take a look at TWO transfer scenarios that could play out...

Mitrovic leaves
Retaining the clinical Serbian surely hinges on the Whites winning promotion straight back to the Premier League.

He has already netted 23 goals in 32 Championship appearances and is clearly too good for the second-tier. He was linked with moves to Aston Villa and Spurs during the January window and there are sure to be more interested parties in the summer.

Even loads of Fulham fans will admit that it would be a travesty for a player of such ability to stay in the Championship for another season.

Bryan leaves
The left-back has been the club's best defensive asset this season, both at the back and going forward.

He put in a brilliant defensive display on Wednesday night but it has been on the front foot that he has impressed most, racking up seven assists and one goal.

In January he was linked with moves to both Southampton and Watford which hints that a step-up the divisions could still be on the cards in the summer if Fulham fail to win promotion.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/2-potential-fulham-transfer-scenarios-we-could-see-play-out-in-the-summer/

All the latest Fulham injury news ahead of Preston clash

Fulham host Preston North End in the Championship tomorrow.

Scott Parker's side returned to 3rd-place in the Championship table with a midweek win over Swansea City. It took until the 93rd-minute of the game and a missed penalty for Aleksandar Mitrovic to head home the winner, as his 23rd Championship goal of the season.

It was a tough evening for Fulham and tomorrow's bound to be a tough afternoon hosting top-six rivals Preston. Parker will be without two first-team players tomorrow in Josh Onomah and Terrence Kongolo.

Onomah is the most recent injury blow for Fulham, having been ruled out for six weeks. The 22-year-old picked up a knee injury in the 3-0 defeat to Barnsley earlier in the month and underwent surgery last weekend.

Terrence Kongolo meanwhile had played only ten-minutes of Championship football for Fulham before being ruled out for the remainder of the season, and the remainder of his loan deal at Fulham with a foot injury.

Those two will not feature tomorrow, and it's doubtful that Maxime Le Marchand or Harrison Reed will either. Le Marchand has been Fulham's long-term casualty this season, having picked up a back injury in November and not featuring since.

Reed, however, hasn't played since New Year's Day. He's picked up a calf injury, but both are expected to make a return to action next month.

It'd be a huge statement if Fulham could win tomorrow. They've got lucky in a few games this season, relying on Mitrovic to nick them a goal, but the quality is definitely there, and they're still in with a very real shout of automatic promotion.




https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/all-the-latest-fulham-injury-news-ahead-of-preston-clash/

Fulham's 1-0 Victory Over Swansea And Their 3rd Position Shows Just How Poor The Championship Really Is

My pre-season prediction of West Brom and Leeds for auto-promotion seem to be heading in the right direction.

A normal stutter from Leeds should have witnessed the bunch of sides below them when the gap in points dropped, with Fulham actually in a position to take second spot above them.

It wasn't to be, as the teams chasing the leading two all threw wobblies at the same time. I am astonished how Fulham have still managed to hang on to third place, with some very sloppy performances. With their remaining fixtures left, I feel that they will be lucky to end in the top six, however, nerves have taken hold of many of the rest of the chasing pack too.

Out of the all the Championship teams this season, West Brom seem the most likely to stand any chance of holding their place in the Premier League next year, although I predict it will be a struggle. Leeds may find it tough to survive and will be in the relegation dogfight. Whoever makes it in the
Play-Offs will also struggle.

All in all, the Championship is more exciting than the Premier League as any team can beat any other team. Who has the best manager often determines the sides that get promoted. I do not believe that Scott Parker, in his first full season with Fulham, is the right boss to get the side back in the top level.

West Brom and Leeds, in my opinion, have the Championship's best managers this season. That is why they should get automatic promotion. The third-place could be any of the chasing sides. Who holds their nerve the most, will get the final place.

Fulham would do better to remain in the Championship for at least another season. Whether we lose our top players and have to rebuild once again, is something we will address if and when it happens. The question mark would be if the Khan's want to give their support to Scotty for another bash or bring in a proven manager with Premier League experience. If that was to happen, I would love to see Parker kept at the Cottage to work alongside the new gaffer, to gain some more vital experience.

When should Fulham get promoted?

I think we will all know when our team looks like a side capable of holding their own in the Premier League, managed by someone that knows what it takes to keep a team mid-table, and not fighting relegation once again from day one.

Although all Fulham fans want success and playing regularly in England's top division against the elite teams is an exciting thought, surely we never want another season like the last one, when at times we looked a push-over. Let's get back there when we build a squad and obtain the services of a manager the way Wolves have done.

For the first time since the 1960s when I first became a Fulham supporter, I would rather they did lose a few of the next matches and finish out of the Play=Off positions. It would save a lot of stress for me, the players and fans alike watching our team struggle to get to Wembley, as they do not seem ready this time around.

If we did end up getting promoted, how would things alter following our last showing? You cannot buy a new team overnight. You need an experienced manager on board and tactics that would work with the players you have. Quite honestly, would you not prefer another promotion fight next season, rather than another relegation scrap?



https://fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/fulhams-1-0-victory-over-swansea-and-their-3rd-position-shows-just-how-poor-the-championship-really-is/

Ex-Fulham ace Michael Brown issues assessment of Scott Parker's managerial ability

Former Fulham midfielder Michael Brown believes Scott Parker is 'only getting better' as a coach.

After a 1-0 win over Swansea in midweek, Fulham returned to 3rd-place in the Championship table. It was Aleksandar Mitrovic in the 93rd-minute who won it, and it's taken some pressure off of Parker who was coming under the spotlight after some disappointing results of late.

But the 43-year-old, who played 44 times for Fulham between 2005 and 2007, believes the ex-England midfielder is showing clear signs of progression in what is his maiden season in first-team management.

Michael Brown, speaking exclusively to 888sport, said:

"Scott Parker has got a wonderful squad. Obviously his strike-force is magnificent. He's in a good position with a good return of points and as a young manager he seems to be enjoying it.

"And why not? They've got a great opportunity and a great chance. I think he'll get stronger too with more games and more experience. He was left with some good players and he is moulding them to how he wants to play."

Parker has been no stranger to criticism this season. Critics have often said that he's got by far the best players at his disposal in the league, and that Fulham have under-performed to be sitting in 3rd at this stage of the season.

But there's still enough points to play for, and hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League are still very real. Parker has persisted, sometimes to his detriment, with his possession-based, 'Parker-ball' style of play, and at other times they're a joy to watch.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/ex-fulham-ace-michael-brown-issues-assessment-of-scott-parkers-managerial-ability/

All the latest Preston North End injury news ahead of Fulham clash

Preston North End travel to Fulham on Saturday looking to recover from the 2-0 defeat they suffered at league leaders West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night.

Despite the defeat at West Brom Preston remain three points clear of seventh placed Bristol City heading into the weekend, so Alex Neil's side will be hoping they can produce an improved performance against promotion rivals Fulham and secure a win that would close the gap on the London club to just a point.

The Lilywhites have lost two of their last three matches, having gone unbeaten in their six league games prior to their recent run, so Preston will be needing to get themselves back on track to avoid allowing the teams below them to close the gap on them in the race for the play-offs.

Neil's side will be hopeful they can have Josh Harrop back available to return to the squad, after the Preston manager confirmed that he had missed out on the defeat at West Brom with a hamstring injury, with the Lilywhites not having wanted to risk the forward at the Hawthorns on Tuesday.

Preston will though remain without the presence of Billy Bodin, with the forward having been out of action for over a month now with an Achilles injury, although Neil confirmed in his press conference ahead of the Lilywhites' meeting with Fulham, that the 27-year-old is continuing to make good progress in his recovery.

The Lilywhites will also remain without Tom Bayliss, with Neil having confirmed in his press conference ahead of last weekend's clash with Hull City that the midfielder could be set to miss the rest of the season, having had surgery on an ankle injury he suffered in training last month.

Other than that though, Preston managed to get through the game against West Brom with no more injury concerns, which means that Neil should have a fairly strong squad to select from at Craven Cottage, as the Lilywhites look to get back on track.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/all-the-latest-preston-north-end-injury-news-ahead-of-fulham-clash/

Tom Cairney sends message to Fulham fans following dramatic midweek win

Fulham captain Tom Cairney has sent a personal message following his side's dramatic 1-0 win against Swansea City on Wednesday night.

Aleksandar Mitrovic saw a late penalty saved before netting an even later winner to keep the Whites' play-off hopes alive, and it was a result which clearly pleased Cairney.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the 29-year-old, who was back to his best at Craven Cottage, wrote: "Anything better than a last minute winner 🤷‍♂️😃".

Scott Parker's side were well on top during the opening half an hour with Anthony Knockaert, Cavaleiro and Bobby Reid all seeing efforts saved by Swans' shot-stopper Freddie Woodman.

Andre Ayew and Jake Bidwell came the closest to finding the net for the visitors but it always looked like it would be Fulham who nicked a result, if anyone was going to.

But when Mitrovic saw his 88th minute penalty saved by Woodman, after Neeskens Kebano was fouled by Connor Roberts, it looked like that would be that – only for the Serbian to fire home a brilliant header in the fourth minute of stoppage time to claim all three points.

The verdict

Having Cairney back to his best could be the difference between Fulham winning promotion and not.

Over the last few weeks, he seemed bereft of confidence in midfield and probably needed to be withdrawn at one point, but he was back to his best on Wednesday night.

He kept everything ticking over for the Whites and barely misplaced a pass all game, always looking to go forward when he got the opportunity.

He was the key on many occasions earlier in the season and fans will now be hoping he can return to that form.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/tom-cairney-sends-message-to-fulham-fans-following-dramatic-midweek-win/

Weekend betting: Preston North End fancied to uspet Fulham
Local betting expert Joe Whitaker casts his eye over the weekend's sporting action in the Premier League, Championship and horseracing.

Preston found themselves a bit outclassed at West Bromwich on Tuesday, though Alex Neil will be telling them Fulham are a different proposition.

The Cottagers haven't looked great in recent weeks and North End need to go out and get at them from the off.

The crowd backed PNE in the second half at home to Hull and it worked wonders and I have a feeling the away end could be well rewarded this weekend.

A 1-0 away win can be backed at a decent price of 12/1, whilst penalty taker Daniel Johnson looks overpriced to score first at 11/1.

As February draws to a close, the leagues are all starting to take a bit of shape, though teams scrapping for every point can make it very tough for punters.

This is especially true in the top flight where as many as seven or eight teams can still go down.

Two of these are rivals Brighton and Crystal Palace who face each other this weekend.

The home side Brighton are unbeaten in three games, though they haven't yet won this year, so the 11/10 for the home win looks no value at all.

Palace got back to winning ways last weekend and they look great value at 3/1 to pick up three points.

Another home side who could do with a win is Newcastle at home to Burnley.

Whilst the Clarets are pretty much safe, the Toon could do with a bit more yet.

At 13/8 they don't look like much value, with Burnley at 2/1 being much more tempting.

The pressure is off Sean Dyche's side and I have a feeling they could enjoy their day out in the North East.

With two decent prices in the treble, we can afford to play a bit safer for the third and I was surprised to see the price of Chelsea at 4/5 away to Bournemouth on Saturday.

They don't get it right every week and they are just off the back of a bad result at home in Europe after being beaten at home by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

However, Frank Lampard's side should find it much easier going on the South Coast.

The treble would pay a handsome 20/1 and doesn't look too far fetched at all.

It's starting to get towards Cheltenham countdown, though there is some decent action at Doncaster this weekend.

The Grimethorpe Handicap Chase (3:35) sees Paul Nicholls' WORTHY FARM aim to make it three in a row after two wins at Wincanton.

He looks like one who just loves the mud and he should get plenty of it this weekend. At 6/1 given the form he's in and the ground, he looks to have a great chance.

Have a great weekend!



https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/weekend-betting-preston-north-end-fancied-uspet-fulham-2001435

Alex Neil says Preston North End must keep a tight hold of Fulham ace Mitrovic
Preston North End will face old foe Aleksandar Mitrovic at Craven Cottage tomorrow with Alex Neil of the view the Serbia striker is just what is needed for a Championship promotion push.

Mitrovic has scored seven goals in four appearances against PNE for the Cottagers and Newcastle since 2016.

He is the division's leading scorer with 23 goals, the latest a stoppage-time winner against Swansea on Wednesday night.

North End manager Neil said: "Top strikers in the Championship will score you 20-plus goals a season.

(https://www.lep.co.uk/sttms.blob.core.windows.net/images/QVNIMTEzODQ4NDcx.jpg?&width=640)
Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic (left) after scoring his side's late winner against Swansea on Wednesday night

"If you want to get out of this league you go and sign a Dwight Gayle or a Mitrovoic, someone like that."

Mitrovic scored four goals in two matches – five days apart – for Newcastle against PNE in October 2016.

In March 2018, he netted both of Fulham's goals in a 2-1 win at Deepdale.

Then earlier this season, Mitrovic struck what proved to only be a consolation in Fulham's 2-1 defeat to PNE.

Said Neil: "In the game at our place I thought that we shepherded him as well as anyone has done this season, we dealt with him great.

"Mitrovic is the reason why Fulham are where they are in terms of his goals.

"I've said it before that goals get you out of this division.

"Most teams at the top end of the table have a talisman who will pitch in with between 15 and 25 goals per season.

"I think that is why it is remarkable where we are in the table – we have had to spread that out over five different players."

Neil is not surprised to see Fulham challenging to make a quick return to the Premier League.

Theirs is an expensively assembled squad, Mitrovic for example costing £22m from Newcastle.

"You look at their squad and you expect them to be a good, competitive team in this league," said Neil. "They spent £100m last year in the Premier League and retained a lot of players they wanted for this year.

"Fulham would have expected to be in the top two or three with that squad.

"Equally as other teams have shown, if you go there and play as well as you can against them, you can get a result.

"It will be a tough game down there, Fulham move the ball well, are slick and really dangerous.

"They are the type of side like West Bromwich and Brentford who are capable of scoring four or five.

"We need to make sure we are set up well there."

Fulham's last-gasp victory over Swansea came on the back of a shock 3-0 home defeat to Barnsley and a 1-1 draw at Derby County last Friday night.

PNE's clash with them at Deepdale on December 10 saw Sean Maguire and David Nugent on target.

Both sides played much of the game with 10 men, Denis Odoi sent off for elbowing Patrick Bauer in the 28th minute. Joe Rafferty was then red carded late in the first half for a foul on Joe Bryan.



https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/alex-neil-says-preston-north-end-must-keep-tight-hold-fulham-ace-mitrovic-2002266

Fulham v Preston North End
SAT 29 Feb 2020  Championship
Venue: Craven Cottage


Fulham manager Scott Parker could recall Stefan Johansen, Kevin McDonald, Steven Sessegnon and Aboubakar Kamara to freshen up his side.

However, Josh Onomah, Alfie Mawson, Maxime le Marchand and Harrison Reed are all sidelined by injury.

Preston midfielder Josh Harrop hopes to return from a hamstring problem.

Darnell Fisher will be available after his midweek red card was overturned while Billy Bodin is closing in on a return.

Third-placed Fulham will start four points and three places above the visitors in the Championship table.

Match facts

    Fulham have only won one of their last four home league games against Preston (D2 L1), though those four games have been spread between 2000 and 2017.
    Preston haven't completed a league double over Fulham since the 1994-95 season.
    Fulham have won six of their last eight home games in all competitions (L2), winning each game by a one-goal margin.
    Preston have lost three of their last four away league games in London, winning the other 1-0 against Charlton in November.
    Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 23 league goals this season, the most by a Fulham player in a single season since Louis Saha scored 27 in 2000-01 when the Cottagers earned promotion to the Premier League.
    In their 2-0 defeat to West Brom, Preston failed to land a shot on target for the first time in a Championship game this season.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51547892

The likely Fulham XI Parker is set to field v Preston this weekend

Fulham host Preston North End in the Championship tomorrow.

Scott Parker's side returned to 3rd-place in the Championship table with a midweek win over Swansea City.

It took until the 93rd-minute for Fulham to break a well-drilled Swansea side, and it was Aleksandar Mitrovic who of course scored the winning goal – his 23rd in the Championship this season.

Next they host another play-off contender in Preston. Alex Neil's side went six games unbeaten after New Year's Day but have since lost two of their last three, clinging onto their 6th-place play-off spot for now.

Here we take a look at the expected line-up that Parker will field tomorrow:


With a clean sheet in the bag on Wednesday night, expect an unchanged back-five of Marek Rodak in-goal, with Joe Bryan at left-back, Dennis Odoi on the right and Tim Ream and Michael Hector in the middle.

Parker fielded an unfamiliar 4-2-3-1 against Swansea, and after picking up the win, expect the same formation tomorrow with Tom Cairney sitting in-front of the defence, and Kevin McDonald to return to the frame alongside him.

This formation allows Parker to play all of his best-attacking players – expect Ivan Cavaleiro, Bobby Reid and Anthony Knockaert to keep their spots in the forward midfield-three, from left to right respectively – though Aboubakar Kamara will feel as though he is knocking on the door.

Up-front will no doubt be Mitrovic – the Serb has 34 goals for club and country this season, and looks to be the man who'll fire Fulham into the Premier League if they do get promoted.

Preston are a good team no doubt, but they're beatable. Fulham need to stop relying on late, scrappy goals and to start blowing teams away – a big performance tomorrow would send a message to the rest of the top-six, that Fulham are here to compete, and that they're not a one-man team.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/the-likely-fulham-xi-parker-is-set-to-field-v-preston-this-weekend/

Parker: Tough Test

Scott Parker has been impressed with what Preston North End have achieved so far this season.


The Lilywhites won the bad tempered reverse fixture 2-1 earlier in the season, and they still occupy a Play-Off spot going into the business end of the campaign.

"It's obviously a tough test," Parker told FFCtv. "They've done very well this year. They're a very well organised team with a togetherness, they're workmanlike but they've got some quality as well, some good players who can cause your team some problems, like we found at their place.

"How they've done this year and where they sit in the league suggests that. But we need to build from [the Swansea] result, build on what we've done over the last couple of weeks, and keep improving.

"We need to take all the good stuff that came from Wednesday and implement that again on Saturday and put our stamp on this game. Hopefully that will be enough, I'm sure if that happens it will be enough to get the points."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/february/28/scott-parker-tough-test

Preston boss Neil discusses the threat of Fulham star Mitrovic

Speaking to the Lancashire Post, Preston North End manager Alex Neil has highlighted the threat of Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic ahead of this weekend's tie between the two sides.

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is currently the top scorer in the Championship, sitting in 23 goals in 32 games, laying on one assist in the process. His form is a big reason behind Fulham's successes so far this season, with the Cottagers sitting in 3rd place as it stands.

The next side tasked with stopping the prolific Serbian striker is Preston North End. Alex Neil's side were able to get the better of Fulham earlier this season, winning 2-1, but Mitrovic managed to get on the scoresheet.

Now, ahead of the game, Neil has spoken to the Lancashire Post about Mitrovic, highlighting the importance of his role in Scott Parker's side. He said:

"Top strikers in the Championship will score you 20-plus goals a season. If you want to get out of this league you go and sign a Dwight Gayle or a Mitrovic, someone like that.

"In the game at our place I thought that we shepherded him as well as anyone has done this season, we dealt with him great. Mitrovic is the reason why Fulham are where they are in terms of his goals. I've said it before that goals get you out of this division.

"Most teams at the top end of the table have a talisman who will pitch in with between 15 and 25 goals per season. I think that is why it is remarkable where we are in the table – we have had to spread that out over five different players."




https://the72.co.uk/157949/preston-boss-neil-discusses-the-threat-of-fulham-star-mitrovic/

'Much better from you', 'Back to your best' – Loads of Fulham fans send 29-y/o messages after impressive display

Loads of Fulham fans have reacted to Tom Cairney's latest post after the midfielder put in a sterling performance on Wednesday night as the Whites beat Swansea City 1-0 at Craven Cottage.

Scott Parker's side were well on top during the opening half an hour with Anthony Knockaert, Ivan Cavaleiro and Bobby Reid all seeing efforts saved by Swans' shot-stopper Freddie Woodman.

Andre Ayew and Jake Bidwell came the closest to finding the net for the visitors but it always looked like it would be Fulham who nicked a result, if anyone was going to.

But when Aleksandar Mitrovic saw his 88th minute penalty saved by Woodman, after Neeskens Kebano was fouled by Connor Roberts, it looked like that would be that – only for the Serbian to fire home a brilliant header in the fourth minute of stoppage time to claim all three points.

But although he was not directly involved in the goal it was Cairney in midfield who stole the show for many fans and they were quick to praise him after he shared his thoughts...

taylor.ffc Great game from you TC 🔥 push for 2nd now 💪

george.rossiter8 Much better performance from you skip 🙌

tobyfrilliffc Come on tc ⚪️⚫️🖤 fully deserved bro

olivetree_14 You played really good yesterday tom

n.welchh1 Best game you've had in a while 👍🏻

samgauntt Back to your best

paul.ffc back to yourself 🇨

pit_lane1944 You played so well mate!



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/much-better-from-you-back-to-your-best-loads-of-fulham-fans-send-29-y-o-messages-after-impressive-display/

Ex-Fulham midfielder hails 29-y/o for 'outrageous' midweek performance

Former Fulham midfielder and Soccer AM host Jimmy Bullard has sent a message to current Whites maestro Tom Cairney following his impressive midweek display.

The 29-year-old was instrumental as the Whites saw off Swansea City 1-0 at Craven Cottage in dramatic circumstances, Aleksandar Mitrovic heading home in 94th minute after missing a penalty moments earlier.

But it was Cairney's cool head in midfield which caught Bullard's eye, replying to his Instagram post on Thursday: "See ya last night son didn't give the ball away all night... outrageous 🔥🔥🔥🔥".

Now 41, Bullard spent three years at Craven Cottage between 2006 and 2009, netting seven times in 41 appearances and assisting six more but has since retired, taking up presenting duties with Sky.

Scott Parker's side were well on top during the opening half an hour on Wednesday night with Anthony Knockaert, Ivan Cavaleiro and Bobby Reid all seeing efforts saved by Swans' shot-stopper Freddie Woodman.

Andre Ayew and Jake Bidwell came the closest to finding the net for the visitors but it always looked like it would be Fulham who nicked a result, if anyone was going to.

But when Aleksandar Mitrovic saw his 88th minute penalty saved by Woodman, after Neeskens Kebano was fouled by Connor Roberts, it looked like that would be that – only for the Serbian to fire home a brilliant header in the fourth minute of stoppage time to claim all three points.

The verdict

It is easy to think of Bullard solely as a loveable TV figure these days, but it is worth remembering that in his pomp he was a really good midfielder.

So I am sure it will mean a lot to Cairney, even in the peak of his own career, to receive such praise from someone like Bullard.

Hopefully, he can now carry it forward and show what he can really do in the remaining weeks.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/ex-fulham-midfielder-hails-29-y-o-for-outrageous-midweek-performance/

Report suggests sum Fulham want for Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott

A compensation package for the services of the winger will be determined by a tribunal.

According to the Daily Mail, Fulham want Liverpool to pay £7 million in compensation for the services of youngster Harvey Elliott.

The winger signed for the Anfield-based club during the summer and although he joined on a free, his age stipulates the Cottagers will be owed compensation.

Championship outfit Fulham are now hoping to recoup £7 million for Elliott who has enjoyed first-team exposure this season.

The 16-year-old is actually set to sign a new deal with Liverpool in the summer. A new three-year extension will keep the player on Merseyside until 2023.

Elliott turns 17 in April and he has made his first-team debut this season, coming off the bench in a 2-0 win over Sheffield United.

Despite not playing excessively in the league he has featured in every single domestic cup game that Liverpool have played this season.

The Daily Mail also think Elliott might be close to earning an England under-21 call-up next month.

Excessive

The numbers being brandished around by Fulham though do almost defy logic.

Although Elliott has featured for the Liverpool first-team this season, he was only handed three first-team appearances during his time at Craven Cottage.

The player who can operate on both sides has been called 'an unbelievable talent' by boss Jurgen Klopp and he clearly rates him highly.

It does seem somewhat excessive, however, for Fulham to demand £7 million based purely on his efforts for the Cottagers.

Nonetheless, it is small change for a club like Liverpool and it's probably anticipated they will pay it.

Elliott looks set for stardom at Liverpool and it will be interesting to see what happens when the tribunal does take place.



https://tbrfootball.com/report-suggests-sum-fulham-want-for-liverpool-starlet-harvey-elliott/

2 changes: The Preston North End XI that Alex Neil should select against Fulham

Preston North End travel to Fulham on Saturday looking to bounce back from suffering a second defeat in three Championship matches against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.

The Lilywhites fell to a 2-0 defeat at the Hawthorns against the league leaders, with Alex Neil's side unable to play to their usual rhythm against the Baggies, who ensured Preston could not follow up their 2-1 win against Hull City at Deepdale last weekend with another three points in midweek.

That defeat was Preston's second in their last three Championship matches, with Neil's side having also been beaten by Millwall at Deepdale a few weeks ago, but the Lilywhites still remain three points clear of seventh placed Bristol City following the Robins' defeat at Huddersfield Town.

Neil's side will be looking to recover the sort of consistency they showed during a recent six-match unbeaten run in the Championship, which had seen them climb back into the top six, and they will be aiming to pick up a win which could lift them to within just a point of Fulham in third place.

However, considering that Fulham have managed to get back to winning ways with a 1-0 win at home to Swansea City in midweek, after only picking up two points from their previous three games, the Lilywhites could face a difficult task of getting back to winning ways at Craven Cottage.

Here then, we take a look at what starting XI Neil should select against Fulham...


Neil could face the decision of whether to make a few changes to the side for the trip to Fulham so that he can inject some extra fresh legs into the side, but the Preston manager will be reluctant to make too many alterations and should stick with the same system.

Declan Rudd continues to be an ever present for Preston so far this season, and that should not change on Saturday for the trip to Craven Cottage, and the keeper will be looking to record a clean sheet having failed to keep a shut-out since the 2-0 win at Stoke City a few weeks ago.

Preston could have been forced to make a change at right-back with Darnell Fisher having been sent off in the second half of their defeat at West Brom, but that decision has now been overturned, which means he should keep his place on Saturday, while Andrew Hughes should also keep his place at left-back.

At the heart of Preston's defence Neil should continue to pair both Patrick Bauer and Ben Davies together, and the pair will need to be at their best against Fulham if they are going to be able to keep Aleksandar Mitrovic quiet.

Neil could consider bringing in Paul Gallagher in place of Alan Browne at the base of midfield, with the Lilywhites potentially able to benefit from the midfielder's experience and set piece delivery in their game against Fulham, while Ben Pearson should continue to keep his place in the side.

The Lilywhites should also recall Scott Sinclair to the starting line-up, after the winger was left out against West Brom, while Daniel Johnson and Tom Barkhuizen should continue to keep their places – and those three will be key to helping Preston cause problems for Fulham's defence.

Preston could move Sean Maguire back to the centre forward position with David Nugent dropping back to the bench, with Maguire not really having been able to have had much of an impact on the game against West Brom from the wide a position.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/2-changes-the-preston-north-end-xi-that-alex-neil-should-select-against-fulham/

Fulham: Emilio Di Nello showers Tom Cairney with praise following Swansea win

Emilio Di Nello joined the Cottage Talk podcast and discussed Fulham's latest dramatic victory over Swansea in the Championship and highlighted one player who stood out from the rest.

Fulham really did leave it until the last second to get the winning goal against Swansea as Aleksandar Mitrovic's header rattled the inside of the net in the 94th minutes of the clash.

But even though it was Mitrovic who got the heroic late goal, Di Nello believes Tom Cairney was definitely the man of the match as he led the team from the front and made it all happen.

Here's what he said for the Cottage Talk podcast (27/2/2020): "Overall I think his contribution to the game was what we need to see week in week out. He leads from the front, he was hungry, determined, composed. His desire and his vision was very good. Overall great performance from him and you know, I can't think of anyone else who came close to him."

Looking at the stats, the midfielder did have quite a game against Swansea, registering an 89% pass success rate, three key passes and two dribbles (per SofaScore).

Needless to say, Cairney was the foundation on which Fulham were building their attacks and he deservedly takes Di Nello's shout for man of the match.

According to SofaScore, however, he was the joint third-highest rated on Fulham's team, only behind Anthony Knockaert and Joe Bryan and level with Marek Rodak.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/fulham/fulham-emilio-di-nello-showers-tom-cairney-with-praise-following-swansea-win/

The best and worst-case scenarios for Leeds United's promotion hopes this weekend

A round-up of how good or bad the table could look by the end of the weekend

Leeds United can put the pressure on the chasing pack when they take to the field in Saturday's early kick-off at Hull City.

There's a quick turnaround for both Leeds and Hull in the televised early game, having both just played on Wednesday evening.

The two sides are coming into the fixture on the back of contrasting results in midweek, with Hull losing 1-0 at home to relegation battlers Barnsley while Marcelo Bielsa's men beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at Riverside Stadium.

Playing before their rivals for promotion, with a win at KCOM Stadium, Leeds can at least temporarily move eight points clear of third-place Fulham and within one point of league leaders West Bromwich Albion.

The Whites have completed league doubles over Bristol City, Reading and Middlesbrough in recent weeks and can do the same against Hull as they visit Humberside.

What about the rest of the teams around Leeds? Here are the results to keep track of after Leeds this weekend.

Cardiff City v Brentford (Saturday, February 29, 3pm)
Neil Harris's Bluebirds couldn't do Leeds a favour in midweek when they lost 1-0 at home to Nottingham Forest, who stayed within six points of Leeds with that result.

The Whites have won three in a row since their 1-1 draw away to Brentford, while they have failed to win each of their games since, drawing to Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers before going on to suffer a shock 2-1 defeat to bottom side Luton Town on Tuesday.

Back-to-back defeats to Stoke City and Nottingham Forest have seen Cardiff fall away from the top six. They'll be looking to bounce back from only their second home defeat of the season in the week and they'll spy an opportunity with Thomas Frank's Bees looking out of form.

Brentford are now nine points behind Leeds and looking in danger of falling out of contention for an automatic play-off place if they don't turn their form around again soon.

Fulham v Preston North End (Saturday, February 29, 3pm)
As is the case in most weekends for the rest of the season, there's another guarantee of at least one top-six side dropping points as Fulham, third, host Preston, sixth.

Preston had turned around their away form in recent weeks, going six games unbeaten on the road and winning three going into their visit to the Hawthorns in midweek, but West Brom were too strong for them and recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory.

Things went bad to worse when right-back Darnell Fisher received a straight red card for what was deemed to be serious foul play for a challenge on Callum Robinson, but Preston lodged a successful appeal against it so he'll remain available here.

It's another tough test for Alex Neil's men here, especially as Fulham are coming into the game after the morale boost of Aleksandar Mitrovic's 93rd-minute winner against Swansea on Wednesday.

West Bromwich Albion v Wigan Athletic (Saturday, February 29, 3pm)
Leeds have first-hand experience Wigan at home isn't as easy as it looks, and the Latics go away to the league leaders in good form, winning their last two games.

Wigan put in arguably their best display of the season to emphatically beat Reading 3-0 at Madejski Stadium in midweek and that will give them plenty of confidence for this test.

However, West Brom look like they're breaking the back of their promotion charge and continue to answer any questions asked of them. The Baggies, like Leeds, look to have bounced back from their mid-season slump and have won five of their last six games, drawing the other.

Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest (Monday, March 2, 7.45pm)
Middlesbrough and Forest get an extra couple of days rest as they face off in Monday evening Championship action at Riverside Stadium.

Jonathan Woodgate's misery was compounded as his side suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Leeds. It's now four defeats from the last five games and no wins from the last nine league games since New Year's Day, a run that's dragged them right into a relegation battle, three points above the drop zone.

However, Leeds fans will take some heart from Boro putting in a competitive and relatively competent performance to make life difficult for Leeds.

Forest have struggled to beat a number of more defensive, compact teams in recent weeks, losing to Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic and only managing a goalless draw against Queens Park Rangers, and Woodgate's men will be looking to emulate that with a low block on Monday evening.

Forest's star striker Lewis Grabban has now failed to score in his last 540 minutes on the pitch.

Best and worst-case scenarios
As was the case in midweek, Leeds are guaranteed to finish this round of fixtures second in the table, such is the distance between second and third.

However, if Leeds were to win and results were to fall the right way, Leeds could move within a point of West Brom at the top and move eight points clear of third. That would require Fulham to lose at home to Preston and Nottingham Forest to fail to beat Middlesbrough on Monday.

Inversely, if Leeds lose, West Brom could move seven points clear at the top and Fulham would have an opportunity to close the gap to just two points.



https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/best-worst-case-scenarios-leeds-17835505

Fulham: Fans debate whether Cairney was worthy of his Man of the Match award

Aleksandar Mitrovic's late winner ensured Fulham took all three points versus Swansea at Craven Cottage on Wednesday night. Scott Parker's side had missed a penalty earlier on when the Serbian's strike was saved by Freddie Woodman in the visitor's goal.

The goal came from Aboubakar Kamara's cross deep into stoppage time and as a result, Fulham find themselves back in the third position, five points behind Leeds United in second.

The home side had 64% of the possession and 15 attempts at goal in comparison to Swansea City's six (via BBC Sport).

After the match, the fans were tasked with voting for their Man of the Match and Tom Cairney was voted the winner for the third time this season (via fulhamfc.com). However, most fans felt Joe Bryan, who is valued at £6.3 million (Transfermarkt), was more worthy of the award and they made their feelings known on Twitter.

What do we think?

The player ratings over at WhoScored.com back up the claim some of these supporters have made that Joe Bryan would have been a more worthy recipient of the award. His performance was rated at 7.77/10, in comparison to Tom Cairney's 7.54/10.



https://thisisfutbol.com/2020/02/twitter/fulham-fans-debate-whether-cairney-was-worthy-of-his-man-of-the-match-award/

From the opposition stand – Preston North End

Ahead of this Saturdays mouth-watering clash against high flying Preston North End, I asked Preston fan Jack (@pnetucker) a few questions about North End's season so far as well as his prediction for the clash at Craven Cottage tomorrow.

First question, what do you make of Prestons season so far?

    "If someone was to tell me at the start of the season that by March we would be sixth and with a good chance of getting to the play-offs, I would've snapped your hand off. We (the fans) are happy where we are, but we're not getting ahead of ourselves, its been a satisfying season so far but we are somewhat fearful we could slip down"

How are you feeling about your play-off ambitions at the moment?

    "Optimistic, but skeptical, being aware of the teams around us it makes all these games 'must wins' as we need to start distancing ourselves away from Blackburn, Bristol City and Swansea. We haven't done that yet, however I do believe the squad can grind important results, and it does help that some teams around us haven't been very good , but it's all down to whether we can take advantage of that or not."

What do you make of Alex Neil so far this season?

    "I think he's improved us, he's started to implement a more expansive, attacking style of play, but he still has his flaws, such as the very late substitutions and reluctance to take certain players out of the team. However, that doesn't change the fact he's performed miracles with a squad which is one of the cheapest in the league, and with very little backing from the board"

Do you have a player which Fulham fans should look out for this weekend?

    "Daniel Johnson is definitely that player to look out for. His ability to control a game and make something for us is magnificent, and he also has goals to his name, not bad for a player we wanted gone in the summer!"

Finally, can I get your thoughts on tomorrows game and a score prediction?

    "This has the potential to be a scrappy game as both teams need the points. Darnell Fisher's red card being rescinded is a huge boost for us and that gives me hope we could put on a solid defensive display, but its hard to keep a player like Mitrovic quiet. I have no idea which way this is going to go but knowing us we could very much do a smash and grab and nick a win, so I'm going to be confident and go for a Preston win."

Fulham doubts : Maxime Le Marchand, Joshua Onomah, Harrison Reed, Alfie Mawson and Terence Kongolo

Preston North End Doubts : Josh Harrop, Tom Bayliss, Billy Bodin and Louis Moult

My Fulham XI : Rodak, Odoi, Ream, Hector, Bryan, McDonald, Cairney (C), Decordova-Reid, Cavaleiro, Mitrovic, Kamara

@pnetucker's score prediction: Fulham 0-1 Preston North End

@FFCSeb's score prediction: Fulham 1-1 Preston North End



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2020/02/from-the-opposition-stand-preston-north-end/

SkySports pundit thinks one player would have already got Leeds United promoted

Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United and Fulham are aiming for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Tony Gale said on Sky Sports News (7:43pm, February 26, 2020) that Leeds United would have been promoted already if they had Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic in their team.

The former Fulham star rates Mitrovic highly, and he believes that Leeds would have already clinched automatic promotion from the Championship if they had the ex-Newcastle United striker.

Gale said on Sky Sports News (7:43pm, February 26, 2020): "If Leeds had Mitrovic, they would have been home (and dry), I think."

Stats

Mitrovic is one of the best strikers in the Championship and has been superb for Fulham so far this season.

According to WhoScored, the Serbia international has scored 23 goals and provided one assist in 32 Championship appearances this campaign.

During the 2018-19 campaign, the 25-year-old striker scored 11 goals and provided three assists in 37 Premier League games for Fulham, according to WhoScored.

During his loan spell at the Cottagers during the second half of the 2017-18 season, Mitrovic scored 12 goals and provided one assist in 20 Championship appearances, according to WhoScored.

Leeds are second in the Championship table at the moment with 65 points from 35 matches, five points clear of third-placed Fulham.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/02/28/skysports-pundit-thinks-one-player-would-have-already-got-leeds/

25 Years of Crew Soccer: A look back at club legend Brian McBride

As we enter into the 25th season of the Crew and MLS, we take a look back at one of the pillars of both club and country, U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame inductee, Brian McBride.

To celebrate the 25th season of Major League Soccer and Columbus Crew SC, a retrospective of the Black & Gold's history is warranted. Today, we will look back at the impact of the Crew's inaugural draft pick and team cornerstone, Brian McBride.

Brian McBride
Forward
Crew Career: 1996 – 2004
From Columbus to the Global Stage and Back

Brian McBride was a catalyst for the Crew's ingress to the Central Ohio market. For some of you younger or newer Crew fans, McBride may merely be a player of the past, but he was undoubtedly the embodiment of the club during its first decade. He was the club's original Frankie Hejduk or Federico Higuaín. He was not only successful for the Black & Gold of yesteryear, but he was a mainstay on the U.S. Men's National team over the span of three World Cups.

McBride's ability on the field and willingness to shoulder the brunt of the Crew's marketing efforts during the early days, were essential for the club to gain stability in the market. From 1996 through the mid 2000's, McBride was synonymous with the Crew. When Central Ohio natives heard "the Crew", it wasn't Crew Cat or hard hats they conjured up in their mind, it was Brian McBride. In one of the first transactions of its kind for Major League Soccer, McBride transferred to Fulham in 2004 for $1.5 million dollars. McBride went on to find great success across the pond, scoring 40 goals during his four and a half year run in England. It came as no surprise to anyone who knew the midwestern native's game that McBride quickly became a fan favorite and team captain in London. By the time he exited Fulham, McBride had established such a legacy, they renamed the stadium pub in his honor. So, next time you find yourself in merry old London, have a delicious pint of your favorite adult beverage at "McBride's."

The forward returned stateside in the summer of 2008 and suited up for his hometown Chicago Fire, playing two and a hallf seasons before concluding his career after 2010. As a longtime McBride fan, I can't believe he has been retired for 10 years. It seems surreal. While donning a Crew kit, he tallied 62 goals and 45 assists in eight seasons, departing as the Crew's all-time leading scorer. His contributions to the club on and off the pitch led to him earning the distinction of being the inaugural member of the Circle of Honor.

During the tumultuous time in 2018, where Crew fans, including myself, believed the team would be taken from them, McBride was the one voice I wanted to hear from, given his pulpit on ESPN as a soccer analyst. He and fellow Crew alum Alejandro Moreno both spoke candidly about how the Crew belonged in Columbus. McBride even returned to town to play in the "Save The Crew" match with other Crew alumni near MAPFRE Stadium at the end of the 2018 season.

McBride Today

McBride has continued his legendary impact within U.S. Soccer, as he was named general manager of the United States Men's National Team just last month. Working closely with Ernie Stewart and Gregg Berhalter, McBride's primary areas of focus will be overseeing the development and management of the player pool, building and guiding the culture within the USMNT, and managing relationships with domestic clubs. Prior to embarking on his USMNT management role, the U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer spent much of his time after retirement working at the youth level, overseeing a youth sports company called Tipevo, and managing a soccer academy named after himself.

McBride Memories

Given the impact McBride left, not only as it pertains to soccer in Columbus, but across the globe, he has left a lasting legacy on so many soccer fanatics. Longtime Crew broadcaster Dwight Burgess chimed in with his thoughts on McBride. In summing up McBride as a man, Burgess emphatically described him with one word: "Class." He elaborated further by gushing that McBride's most impactful moment cannot be summed up so easily, though he did evoke his most enduring memory of McBride: "Brian dropping to his knees in tears at the end of the U.S. Open Cup win in 2002 ranks among the most significant to me. Like Lebron in Cleveland, Brian wanted desperately to bring a championship to Columbus."
CD 102.5 morning show host and Massive Report Podcast host, Brian Phillips, echoed much of Dwight's sentiments:

    "The thing about Brian McBride is he may well be the humblest star athlete on the planet. Here's a man who starred in World Cups and was so beloved by his English club Fulham that they named a pub after him in the stadium.... Whenever I've brought these things up to him over the years it's almost like to him I'm talking about someone else. He's certainly not rude about it, he just doesn't like talking about himself very much. He'd rather break down Pearl Jam songs than anything else with me.

    Part of Bri's self-deprecating nature is his wonderful sense of humor about himself. I remember giving him a hard time about the thin headbands he was selling back in the day. He'd just laugh (and count his money I'm sure!). One time for an April Fools gag I got Bri and the late great Coach Fitzie to both go on the air to confirm that the Crew's star striker had been traded to the Galaxy because his girlfriend had been accepted to the USC School of Law. A total fabrication that both men were kind enough to see through to the end. He played it totally straight. He may well have a future in acting if he wants one!

    Along the way McBride would show me his gnarled feet (totally gross) and I'd worry about his fractured cheek bones. A testament those were to his boundless toughness and willingness to do the dirty work. I'd put his work ethic up against anyone's."

As for me, during my adolescent years, I grew up idolizing the man for his vigor and tenacity on the field. He was one of my main catalysts for entrenching myself into the sport of soccer over the last quarter-century. I was blessed to have a post-match meet up with the man when I was a young 14-year-old scamp, back during the old Ohio Stadium days. It was a true thrill in which I still recall fondly. He was every bit the class act you would expect and incredibly friendly. He thoughtfully answered my questions and was gracious enough to pose for a photo.

I grew out my hair with the part down the middle, for no other reason than it was what McBride did. I wore the shoestring headband, for no other reason than it was what McBride did. I played the sport with the intent of mimicking his play, even though I lacked the height and aerial prowess, I made it a point to emulate McBride's toughness, team-first attitude and will to compete against anyone at any time.

He embodied the Columbus Crew for so long and still remains a stalwart of the franchise. His highlight-reel goals were things of beauty. Whether it was his diving header goal in the 2002 World Cup versus Portugal or his side-winding volley at Ohio Stadium, his ability to find the back of the net with his head or his feet was second to none.

Even more so, his toughness and willingness to sacrifice his body for the betterment of the team will go down in the historical scouting reports as his most notable traits. Who could forget the golf-ball sized protrusion above his eye in the original "Dos a Cero" game at Crew Stadium? Or the blood streaming down his face versus Italy in World Cup 2006. Those two images encapsulate Brian McBride phenomenally. The man has metal plates in his face for crying out loud. Metal plates! He became partially a cyborg while representing our country. Talk about sacrifice.

I can go on and on about the effect McBride has left on soccer in Columbus, U.S. Soccer as a whole and even myself, but I want to hear from you Crew fans. What are some of your favorite McBride memories? Leave a comment down below and let us know.

McBride in a Nutshell

    5th all-time leading scorer for the USMNT with 30 goals
    Earned 96 caps with the USMNT
    Member of the USMNT 1998, 2002, and 2006 FIFA World Cup squads
    First American player to score at two World Cups
    U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee: 2014
    MLS All-Time Best Team: 2005
    U.S. Open Cup Champion: 2002



https://www.massivereport.com/2020/2/28/21151690/columbus-crew-sc-brian-mcbride-mls-25th-anniversary-world-cup-2020

The shambolic officiating in Fulham vs Swansea City game proves something must be done - and the solution is already there

Fans were left dumbfounded by decisions at Craven Cottage and our columnist says things must change for the good of the game

VAR has been heavily criticised this season but Swansea City's defeat at Fulham proves that for all its faults, video technology is needed in football, particularly in the Championship.

This is the first season in which VAR has been used in the Premier League, although it has been used for a number of years in other countries, international tournaments and even sporadically in the FA Cup.

Many fans, pundits and players have championed video technology for years, insisting it has to be introduced to improve the quality of decision-making in games and reduce the number of matches decided by refereeing errors.

The stats prove this added support for officials has resulted in fewer game-changing mistakes. Results are by and large no longer being decided by refereeing blunders which is something you'd imagine everybody would celebrate, right?

Wrong!

Premier League fans have been bellyaching all season about the long waits for decisions, the way the process is communicated and the occasional inconsistencies in decision-making. Some even complain that the technology is too accurate when it comes to offsides, ridiculously arguing there should be some leeway if a player is only marginally offside.

Some simply moan that disallowing illegal goals isn't very fun.

Sometimes VAR seems about as popular as a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Nevertheless it's high time it was introduced in the Championship.

Wednesday night's farce at Craven Cottage is a perfect example of why it's needed.

Swansea were on the wrong end of a number of controversial calls by referee Tim Robinson.

They included the unfathomable decision to award Fulham a penalty when Neeskens Kebano ran into the back of Connor Roberts, flooring the Welsh international but winning a spot-kick in the process.

This came after the Swans were refused a penalty when a Fulham defender blocked a cross with an elevated arm. There was also a blatant foul on Andre Ayew inside the box which was waved away, much to the Ghanaian's amazement and fury.

The referee had a stinker. Some Swansea fans called it was the worst refereeing performance they had ever seen, which says a lot.

Mr Robinson's performance was particularly poor but it wasn't the only mid-week game in which refereeing errors played a decisive role.

Promotion-chasing Nottingham Forest were deserving winners at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday but Cardiff were denied a penalty late in the first half when Josh Murphy was floored by Matty Cash. Had the Bluebirds taken the lead at that point in the match it could have ended very differently.

Struggling Middlesbrough were also left bemoaning a refereeing mistake as the officials missed a handball in the box in their 1-0 defeat to Leeds.

These were huge decisions which had a critical impact on the final result.

Of course referees are human and just like players, they can have off days.

But football is a sport of fine margins where big refereeing decisions will often have a significant impact on the end result. Now that video technology is available to assist refs, it makes no sense to ignore it.

Deciding whether or not to award a penalty or whether a player deserves a red card is a huge decision which can have enormous ramifications. In the long run these big calls can decide promotions and relegations so it's vitally important that every effort is made to get the correct calls.

This is particularly necessary in the Championship because let's face it, the standard of refereeing is not the best. Shockers like Mr Robinson's performance on Wednesday night are an extreme example but week in, week out Championship fans are having to witness sub-standard refereeing which often has a dramatic impact on games.

Championship referees need all the help they can get.

The technology is available and has been proven to reduce the number of big mistakes in games so there's no excuse for voluntarily remaining in the dark ages.

Steve Cooper summed it up well in his post-match press conference on Wednesday: "If that's a Premier League game tonight then it's a completely different game."

Performances like Mr Robinson's are no longer really possible in the Premier League because video technology is on hand to let referees know when they have made an obvious error.

VAR clearly isn't perfect and the half-hearted and unenthusiastic way it's been introduced by the Premier League has definitely caused problems. Its implementation needs to be improved in a number of ways to ensure greater consistency and have less impact on the viewing experience for fans in stadiums.

VAR has its flaws but it's so much better than the alternative we have to live with in the Championship.

I am willing to put up with the odd mid-game pause or the frustration of having Swansea goals ruled out every now and again if it means injustices like Wednesday night become a thing of the past.

Games should be decided by players, not officials. Video technology guarantees a greater level of fairness. It's been rolled out in Germany's second tier so why not do the same in the Championship?



https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/swansea-city-fulham-var-championship-17833837

Alex Neil discusses PNE nemesis Aleksandar Mitrovic ahead of Fulham trip

The Serbian scored an injury time winner in Fulham's last match


Preston North End manager Alex Neil isn't dreading facing Aleksandar Mitrovic, despite knowing the threat he poses at Championship level.

The Cottagers forward has proven to be a prolific goal scorer in the second tier, in both a Fulham and Newcastle shirt.

And PNE fans know that all too well ahead of this afternoon's match - Mitrovic has scored seven goals in five games against North End.

While Neil recognises his quality, the Preston boss wasn't entirely singing his praises from the rooftops in Thursday's press conference.

He said: "In the game we played at our place, I thought we shepherded him as well as anyone.

"I don't want to sound too disparaging but he's been relegated twice from the Premier League and that's just the fact."

"I thought we dealt with him great, but he's the reason they are where they are in terms of his goals.

"In the Championship he's a top striker, he'll score 20 plus goals a season.

"If you want to get out this league you go sign a Dwight Gayle, or a Mitrovic, because they've done it so many times."

Neil complimented West Brom forward Hal Robson-Kanu after North End's midweek defeat at The Hawthorns.

With Mitrovic, the PNE manager expects an equally tough, but largely different task for his centre backs at Craven Cottage.

"He'll (Mitrovic) hold it up really well and is a big target man," said Neil. "He's much more of a target than Kanu.

"Kanu is competent in the air but he doesn't get up and nod things down.

"Whereas Mitrovic is a beast, he can take the ball in and link things.

"But he isn't going to want to run away from the ball too often and so balls in behind for him aren't gonna be too much of a threat."



https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/alex-neil-mitrovic-pne-fulham-17836833

Fulham team news: Four missing but four could return for Cottagers

Fulham entertain Preston North End in a big Championship clash on Saturday afternoon and could have four men back for the clash, according to BBC Sport.

The Cottagers go into the match five points off second placed Leeds United in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League, and a win here would do their chances of going straight up the power of good.

Fulham embark on the contest off the back of a last-gasp win over Swansea City on Wednesday evening, and if they can build on that victory they will crank up the heat on the two sides above then heading into the final 10 matches of the campaign.

Given the short turnaround between the game with the Swans and this one, Cottagers boss Scott Parker is expected to make a few changes to his starting XI, in a bid to keep everyone fresh for the run-in to the end of the season.

Among the players who could come into the Fulham side are Steven Sessegnon, Aboubakar Kamara, Stefan Johansen and Kevin McDonald.

Parker will have to do without four Cottagers players when his team entertain a Preston side who are pushing for a place in the play-offs themselves, and should they win at Craven Cottage they would move within a point of the Londoners.

The Fulham boss will miss Alfie Mawson, Harrison Reed, Maxime le Marchand and Josh Onomah, all of whom remain on the sidelines with injuries.

The Cottagers have won six of their last eight matches in all competitions, a run which has seen them move back into third place in the Championship table.

All of those victories have come by a solitary goal however, so Parker could be looking at his side to be a little more convincing over the remainder of the matches, in order to make their lives a little easier.



https://ninetyminutesonline.com/fulham-team-news-four-missing-but-four-could-return-for-cottagers/

Sky pundit names the player he thinks would have got Leeds promoted already

Leeds United would have already been promoted from the Championship if they had Aleksandar Mitrovic in their ranks, Fulham legend Tony Gale has told Sky Sports.

Marcelo Bielsa's charges are currently second in the Championship table, five points clear of the Cottagers, following a three-game winning streak.

However, Leeds were more than 10 points clear of third earlier in the season, and began the year nine points clear following their 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion.

A loss in form saw the chasing pack edge ever closer to the Elland Road side, and with 11 games left this season, things are tighter for the Whites than they would like.

Leeds have struggled with converting chances into goals this season, while Mitrovic has been clinical for his side this term, weighing in with an impressive 23 goals in 32 league games.

"If Leeds had Mitrovic, they would have been home (and dry), I think," Gale said on Sky Sports (7:43pm, February 26, 2020).

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Gale isn't alone in believing Leeds would have been streets ahead if they had Mitrovic, or a striker of his calibre, in their ranks.

When you think of the amount of opportunities the Whites have created but haven't put away, that's a lot of points that haven't been accrued.

Quite a few Leeds fans took to Twitter after Mitrovic netted against Derby last week, wishing they had the Serbia ace in their ranks and reckoning they could have been "20 points clear" by now if that were the case.



https://tbrfootball.com/sky-pundit-names-the-player-he-thinks-would-have-got-leeds-promoted-already/