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General Category => Archive => Daily Fulham Stuff => Topic started by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:02:45 AM

Title: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:02:45 AM
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Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:03:59 AM
Fulham believe we can avoid relegation, says debut star Josh Maja

(https://static.standard.co.uk/2021/02/15/10/SOCCER20Everton20202796.jpg?width=990&auto=webp&quality=75)

Fulham striker Josh Maja says their win at Goodison Park yesterday has given them belief that they can hunt down the teams above the relegation zone.

Maja capped a dream debut with two goals to give Fulham a glimmer of hope in their fight to stay up.

The Cottagers remain seven points from safety but they now have Newcastle, Burnley and Brighton and in sight.

Maja, who signed on loan from Bordeaux on deadline day last month, says scoring twice on his first Premier League appearance was a dream becoming reality and insists Fulham can avoid the drop.

"Yeah definitely [it gives us hope]," Maja told BT Sport. "Of course wins give the fans and players confidence and we want to take that into the next games and keep picking up more points.

"It is a big one, we came into the game wanting to win it. We have had the results we wanted in recent games and our performances didn't deserve that.

"We took the chance when they came, we are happy and want to continue like this."

Fulham have struggled to score goals all season but manager Scott Parker hopes Maja will add some quality in the final third.

"This is a night that I have been dreaming about for a very long time," said the 22-year-old former Sunderland striker.

Fulham have been playing well but until last night they had struggled to turn good performances into wins.

They now have a decent run of games against Burnley, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace that gives them a chance close the gap on the teams above them.

Parker said: "This performance has been consistent and similar, the difference is that we have managed to score and win the game. We were brilliant, superb in everything we did and I don't think we deserved anything less than the three points."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-fc-news-josh-maja-everton-b919821.html
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:05:09 AM
Former Sunderland striker Josh Maja scores brace on Premier League debut for Fulham

The former Black Cats youngster reminded fans what he's capable of

(https://i2-prod.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/article19839815.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_GettyImages-1231169357.jpg)
Fulham's Nigerian striker Josh Maja (R) celebrates scoring

Former Sunderland youngster Josh Maja scored twice on his Premier League debut for Fulham.

The 22-year-old Nigerian international joined the Cottagers on a loan move until the end of the current campaign with the option of making the move permanent in the Summer.

The Black Cats could be set to profit £900,000 from his transfer, but given his blistering start to the Premier League campaign - fans will no doubt believe that Sunderland would be a Championship side if he had stayed on Wearside until the end of the January transfer window in 2018.

The forward's performance helped Scott Parker's side end their eight match winless run and Maja said he'd been dreaming of this moment.

"It is a big one, we came into the game wanting to win it and not had the results we wanted. We are very happy with the win," Maja told BT Sport.

"We took our chances when it came and put in another good performance again, we want to continue like this. For the whole 90 minutes, the guys worked hard and stuck to the gameplan.

"This is a night I have been dreaming about for a long time, especially last night and I had a feeling it was coming and pleased it became a reality.

"Wins give the fans and players confidence and we want to take it into the next game."



https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-sunderland-striker-josh-maja-19839810
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:06:49 AM
Scott Parker and Fulham still believe they can escape

Fulham boss Scott Parker has warned he still has belief as his side aim for a great escape.

Two goals from on-loan Josh Maja on his full debut secured an outstanding 2-0 win at Everton last night.

The Cottagers are seven points from safety and eight behind Albion.

Fulham play twice more before the Seagulls return to action at home to Crystal Palace.

They have their game in hand on Wednesday when they visit Burnley and then host bottom club Sheffield United on Saturday.

Like the Seagulls, Fulham have not been getting the results some of their football has merited.

Parker said: "Large parts of the performance have happened over the course of the last 15-odd games, the difference is we have managed to score a couple of goals and win the game.

"That has always given me belief. Overall I thought we were fantastic from start to finish against a very good Everton, we did very well to nullify them.

"The first half was evident of what we have come to see a little bit. Real domination, created numerous chances, hit the post, didn't manage to put the ball in the net.

"I've always had a feeling I understand it has to change and the reason I say that is because of what I am seeing.

"You (the media) analyse it as win-loss-draw but I analyse it deeper than that and we are creating big chances.

"If we keep doing the right things and it will change. The next step is we enjoy this, get in tomorrow and then we have a massive game against Burnley."



https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/19090840.scott-parker-fulham-still-believe-can-escape/
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:08:36 AM
Projected Premier League table shows Burnley relegated after Fulham beat Everton

The Clarets take on the Cottagers in the top flight at Turf Moor this week

(https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article19840373.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_JS227274350.jpg)
Fulham take on Burnley at Turf Moor this week. (Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Burnley return to action later this week when the Clarets take on Fulham at Turf Moor.

Sean Dyche's men returned to winning ways over the weekend with a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Jay Rodriguez and Matt Lowton were all on the scoresheet for the Clarets as Burnley increased the gap between themselves and the relegation zone to 11 points.

That gap to 18th placed Fulham was narrowed yesterday, however, when the Cottagers picked up three points with victory over Everton at Goodison Park.

Josh Maja netted twice for Scott Parker's men as the Craven Cottage outfit narrowed the gap between themselves and safety to seven points, with Newcastle United in 17th.

The Clarets sit 16th and a point ahead of the Magpies.

Burnley entertain Fulham at Turf Moor on Wednesday evening as the Clarets aim to build on the victory over the Eagles.

But following yesterday's positive result for Fulham, a projected Premier League table has foreseen a negative impact on the Clarets.

In the latest calculation undertaken by the CIES Football Observatory, Burnley have been tipped to end the season in the bottom three following the latest win for the Cottagers.

Both Fulham and Burnley are projected to rack up 34 points this campaign, but Parker's side are forecast to leapfrog the Clarets and achieve safety at the expense of Dyche's outfit.

The projection is calculated using statistics which take into account shots on target and from the box attempted or conceded.

It also includes ball possession, teams' own passes and those of their opponents in the opposite third of the pitch.



https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/burnley-fulham-premier-league-table-19840238
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:09:20 AM
MW24 stats: Maja matches Nigerian record

Fulham striker stars in his first start as we look at the weekend's top facts

A number of Nigerian strikers have excelled in the Premier League, and the early signs are that Josh Maja could be the next one to take the competition by storm.

The 22-year-old, who is on loan from Bordeaux with an option for the deal to be made permanent, made his first start for Fulham at Everton on Sunday.

Impressively, he immediately equalled a record among his countrymen that had been unmatched since the Premier League's inaugural season in 1992/93.

For more on this and all the must-know facts from the 24th round of matches, read below. To see the reports and key data, click on the results.



https://www.premierleague.com/news/2024151
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:10:17 AM
Fulham's Lookman happy for Maja after goalscoring heroics against Everton

The Nigeria international capped his full Premier League debut with a brace that steered the Cottagers to victory at Goodison Park

Fulham's Ademola Lookman has expressed his delight for Josh Maja after the Super Eagles forward scored a brace in their 2-0 win over Everton in Sunday's Premier League outing.

After a goalless first-half on Merseyside, Ola Aina linked up with his compatriot Maja to open the scoring in the 48th minute and the Bordeaux loanee added another goal in the 65th minute to seal a rare win for the visitors at Goodison Park.

Maja has revelled in the dream outing with the Cottagers, however, Lookman highlighted how the overall team effort boosted Fulham's fight against relegation.

"It was a well-deserved three points. We dominated large parts of the game and created lots of chances," Lookman told BBC Sport.

"I'm happy for Josh Maja as well. Everyone knows he can score goals. We need to score goals.

"I've said before if we stick together and put the ball in the back of the net, we'll win games. We showed that today.

"We kept believing. At half time we said we'll do the exact same thing in the second half and we scored twice.

"Our defence kept it strong towards the end of the game and we saw it out.

"It gives the team a boost of confidence and we'll take that into the next game."

Sunday's win was Fulham's first win since November and it ended a 12-game winless run in the Premier League.

Scott Parker's side is 18th in the league table, 18 points from 23 games - seven points adrift of the drop zone, and they visit Burnley for their next Premier League outing on Wednesday.



https://www.goal.com/en/news/fulhams-lookman-happy-for-maja-after-goalscoring-heroics-against-/xw7dilegzrhn1ctkj98gt4nmy
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:11:54 AM
Reed runs the show

Remember back to those summer days when Fulham fans were sweating on whether Harrison Reed would make his loan switch from Southampton permanent? The heartbeat of a promotion-winning side, at ease with the ball at his feet or snapping into a tackle, there were those who questioned whether a 26 year-old with just seventeen top flight appearances to his name could make the step up to the Premier League. Not only has he flourished in a struggling Fulham side, Reed is arguably the first name on Scott Parker's teamsheet.

There's a simplicity about Reed's performances that is very endearing. Like any good midfield dynamo, he doesn't stop running but boundless energy is not the hallmark of his game. His reading of the game from a deep central midfield role is second to none, tracking dangerous runners and dropping into positions to support Fulham's ball playing centre backs and always making himself available for possession – as he did early in the move for Fulham's opening goal, a classical counter-attack that opened up Everton down their right flank.

Reed has forged a promising partnership with Mario Lemina at the base of Parker's midfield meaning that the pair have elbowed Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa out of the side after the Cameroonian international's post-covid drop in form. In many ways, the mirrors the way Reed's consistency dramatically reduced the first-team opportunities available to Kevin McDonald and Stefan Johansen last term. Lemina and Reed have offered a reassurance in central midfield that was lacking from Fulham's early top flight performances. Such was the duo's diligence that Everton's more creative players – the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, James Rodriguez and Richarlison – rarely received the ball in areas where they might have hurt Fulham during the first half. Lemina was the more defensively minded of the two – disciplined in screening the back four – whilst Reed shuttled across the field, defusing potentially dangerous situations largely before they developed – with three successful interceptions – and distributing the ball efficiently with a modicum of fuss.

Reed made the most of the space he was afforded by becoming a regular starter of an endless stream of Fulham attacks. He rarely wasted a ball, making 77 passes with the highest success rate of anyone in white bar Josh Maja, and frequently switched the play from one side of the field to the other to exploit the advantage that the visitors enjoyed out wide. There was a directness to his passing too – with six longer passes (four of them were successful) designed to utilise the strengths of Maja on his first Fulham start – and a desire to keep the ball moving in order to make Everton work harder out of possession.

He was effective higher up the pitch as well, regularly joining attacks as they reached the final third. Reed's dominant display deserved to be rewarded with a goal and he went close on two occasions. He cut across a strike from the edge of the box that flew fractionally wide in the first half and came closer still when his low drive from distance was tipped onto the post by Robin Olsen. Being the archetypal team player, Reed wouldn't have minded too much as the rebound fell kindly for Maja to grab that crucial second goal to settle Fulham nerves.

Parker, so reticent to single out individuals after what was an outstanding performance from his whole side, emphasised how Reed sets the standards on a Monday morning at Motspur Park. He will have done that again on the training pitches this morning as Fulham go in search of back-to-back wins that would transform their survival prospects. You can see why he's become so pivotal to Parker's side. It isn't a stretch to suggest he might be entering Gareth Southgate's thoughts as the unflashy defensive midfielder that every successful side needs.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/02/reed-runs-the-show/
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:13:13 AM
'A sobering night' - national media say Fulham pulled off Everton transfer 'masterstroke'

Carlo Ancelotti's men suffered a blow in their hunt for European football on Sunday night as they were beaten 2-0 at home by struggling Fulham.

Everton missed the chance to climb fifth in the Premier League table after a desperately disappointing home defeat to Fulham.

Scott Parker's relegation candidates were by far the better of the two teams over the course of 90 minutes at Goodison Park, and deservedly took a 2-0 victory.

It was Fulham's first league win at Goodison Park at the 28th attempt, dating back to 1961, and came courtesy of a second-half brace from Josh Maja.

Everton, without talisman striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin through injury, rarely mustered any threat on the visiting defence.

It means Carlo Ancelotti's side failed to draw level on points with neighbours Liverpool, but do still have two games in hand on the Reds as they chase a European spot.

Here's how the national media summed up the game.

TELEGRAPH

Scott Parker lost out to Everton for Joshua King on deadline day but landing Josh Maja instead could prove a masterstroke in the battle for survival.

The Fulham manager turned to Maja when it became clear King was heading to Merseyside and his loan signing from Bordeaux was much more than a consolation prize on his full Premier League debut, scoring twice in a victory that moved Parker's team within seven points of safety.

King was emblazoned on the matchday programme cover to remind Fulham of the player that slipped through their grasp but the damage had been done by the time he came off the bench and had a goal chalked off for offside.

After sharing 15 goals in their previous two games, it was a sobering night for Carlo Ancelotti after the dramatic results against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

While Everton have games in hand, their run of four league games at Goodison without a victory is a concern for their European ambitions.

They were coping without Dominic Calvert-Lewin for just the second time this season and their England striker cannot return quick enough.

MAIL ONLINE

Scott Parker got through the formalities of the handshakes with the opposition bench without a glimmer of emotion before he allowed his mask to slip.

For a split-second, he was alone on the Goodison Park pitch and he began to discreetly jab his fists in celebration by his side. Nobody could begrudge him this moment. It had been 76 days, 13 games ago, since he had last felt this rush of happiness and how much it was needed.

Fulham, according to those who watch them regularly, have played better this season but the timing of this success – and the venue at which it arrived – could not have been more significant. A first win since November 30 was also Fulham's first ever league win at Goodison Park.

This stadium, bar two FA Cup successes in 1948 and 1975, has been the ultimate bogey ground; 27 visits, 23 defeats, four draws – the last of which came in 1959. What a time, then, to rewrite history by finally display the killer instinct that Parker felt was within them all along.

Josh Maja was the man to provide it. Signed from Bordeaux last month, the Nigeria striker scored both goals in the second half and will secure himself a permanent £9million deal at Craven Cottage if this becomes the norm. He was ruthless, blowing a hole in Everton's ambitions.

BBC

Everton are enjoying one of their best Premier League seasons, having taken 37 points from 22 games to sit seventh and just three points off the top four.

Despite that, performances like this one highlight a frustrating issue the Toffees appear to have on home soil.

Only four of their 11 league victories have come at Goodison Park, where they have not won in the Premier League since 19 December, and this was another flat performance by Carlo Ancelotti's side.

This was a far cry from their scintillating display in the 5-4 FA Cup fifth-round win against Tottenham in midweek as they sorely missed Dominic Calvert-Lewin in attack.

They did not manage a single shot on target in the first half and only two in the second half, but both of those efforts - from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Michael Keane respectively - came when they were already 2-0 down.

This was a real opportunity for Everton to underline their credentials as top-four contenders but they came up disappointingly short.



https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/national-media-everton-fulham-defeat-19839488
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:14:07 AM
Burnley vs Fulham: Prediction, TV channel, live stream, team news, lineups, time, h2h results, odds

Burnley and Fulham both come into the fixture in arguably no better position than at any point in the season.

A huge 3-0 away win over Crystal Palace for the Clarets and two match-winning goals from debutant Josh Maja saw Fulham win at Everton.

Another three points in the week will take Burnley 11 clear of the bottom three, and Fulham, and Scott Parker will know leaving Turf Moor with anything could be potentially huge come May.

Date, time and venue

Burnley vs Fulham is scheduled for a 6pm GMT kick-off on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.

The match will be held behind closed doors at Turf Moor.

How to watch

TV channel: The match will be televised on Sky Sports.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will be able to watch the match online via the website or Sky Go app.

Team news

Burnley hope to welcome Johann Berg Gudmundsson back from a groin injury, while Chris Wood, Erik Pieters and Charlie Taylor are eding closer to a return.

Fulham have no fresh injury concerns, with Aleksandar Mitrovic and Tom Cairney still out.

Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Fulham

Both teams come into the games off the back of big wins. Crystal Palace were dreadful against the Clarets and Fulham will offer a sterner test, though it could be the visitors' defence which decides the game.

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Burnley wins: 47

Draws: 19

Fulham wins: 31

Bettings odds and tips (subject to change)

Burnley: 7/4

Draw: 21/10

Fulham: 9/5



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/burnley-vs-fulham-fc-prediction-tv-channel-watch-live-stream-h2h-results-team-news-lineups-time-odds-premier-league-2021-b919866.html
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:17:12 AM
There's still nobody like Tom Cairney
Sean says that despite yesterday's morale-boosting win, we're still in need of our Captain.


We all know the chant, but prior to this season we may have underestimated just how accurate it is. After all, if our return to the top flight has shown anything, it's that playing without a recognised striker makes it difficult to score goals, and that there's no one in Fulham's current squad quite like Tom Cairney.

Loanee Ruben Loftus-Cheek has tried to fill his boots, but it's perhaps no coincidence that when the skipper's knees started playing up in late December, Fulham quickly went from being a team on the verge of a breakout to a team on the cusp of a breakdown.

With our hopes of survival hanging in the balance, it's time to ask just how much have we missed Tom Cairney, and can he make a difference when he returns?

Missing in action
It seems like only yesterday that Tom Cairney stood on the Wembley turf, the Championship play-off trophy held aloft, celebrating Fulham's second promotion in two years. But much like the last time the Whites got promoted, it wasn't long before Cairney found himself sidelined by injury, a mere spectator while his teammates battle for Premier League survival without him.

In 2018/19, he missed just seven games, while this season it's already eight and counting. Since he last played, against Newcastle on 19 December, we've scored six goals, while picking up just eight points.

Poor finishing is largely to blame for that, as the Whites have a collective shots on target percentage of just 28.4, which is second worst in the league, and a 0.06 goals-per-shot rating, which is joint second-worst in the league. To compound matters, our average distance from goal of all shots taken is 17.7 yards, joint third-highest in the league, while our goal creating actions per 90 minutes rating is currently 1.55, fifth worst.

While this illustrates a lack of quality in the offensive third, it also suggests that part of the issue is our inability to create enough quality opportunities close enough to goal. Josh Maja's two poacher's goals against Everton aside, this is largely a symptom of how Parker's taken to setting his team up for much of the season, with the much-maligned Ivan Cavaleiro playing as a makeshift defensive striker, which in turn forces our other attacking options to play much deeper than they normally would.

This is less of a problem for Ademola Lookman, whose heatmap shows just how active he is in the opponent's half. But it clearly hampers Loftus-Cheek, especially when Bobby Decordova-Reid plays as part of the back five, forcing him to play wide right of a midfield four.

Just take a look at his passes and take-ons map from the West Ham game, courtesy of our own George Singer:



As George points out, even playing in more of a number 10-style role, a lot of his work is done on or around the halfway line.

As we all know, he should instead be operating around the edge of the opponents' 18-yard box, particularly with some combination of Anguissa/Reed/Lemina playing behind him, as he did more in the game against West Brom. When, occasionally, he does find himself in advanced positions, he can make things happen, but, as we've seen, not with any real consistency. For instance, in December's game against Brighton, his attacking instincts almost helped Lookman win a penalty out of nothing, before he failed to convert an absolute sitter of a one on one shortly after.

Even before the first Leicester game – which saw the introduction of the new, defence-first system that made us more competitive – Parker seemed to be leaning towards Loftus-Cheek in that central role regardless, presumably because he offers slightly more defensively than Cairney does. He did, after all, start that game and those against Liverpool and Brighton leading up to TC's injury, a run that saw us pick up five huge points. But ever since then, his contribution has been patchy at best.

O Captain! My Captain!
Even if Cairney were fit, there's a distinct possibility that he still wouldn't make the starting XI, given Parker's system and its reliance upon industry on both ends from all 10 outfield players.

Cairney is, as we all know, something of a defensive liability, arguably making Loftus-Cheek the more balanced option (he has, for instance, won 16 tackles this season while Cairney's managed just four), particularly in games against teams that are going to have the bulk of the ball. But given our recent shift to a back four and the now desperate need to win games, there's a good chance that Cairney might once again get the nod as and when he's able to return to the fray (something that might not be far off if this recent tweet is to be believed).   

His ability to pick apart defences could be absolutely critical in games like those coming up against Burnley, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace, for instance. All of whom tend to sit deep in order to limit opponents' chances.

Going back to the data supports his case, as despite appearing in significantly fewer games than anyone else ahead of him, Cairney has made 20 key passes this season, which is fourth-best amongst Fulham players. He's also fifth in expected goals assisted (1.4) and leads all Fulham players who have started more than five games in shot-creating actions per 90-minutes (4.15). Furthermore, in fewer games played, he's made more passes into the penalty area than Loftus-Cheek (10 v 7) and considerably more passes into the final third (61 v 32).

What's more, he's proved over the years just how good he is at finding a way through a back line, while his attacking instincts ensure that he often finds himself in good positions in and around the box and his finishing from distance speaks for itself.

RLC or TC?
Scott Parker's reluctance to start an actual striker for much of the season, coupled with our wastefulness in front of goal, have, to this point defined our league position. But it clearly doesn't help that we've been without a creative force in the traditional number 10 role for much of the campaign.

Loftus-Cheek simply hasn't been able to take games by the scruff of the neck, as we hoped he would when we brought him in. He was even a passenger for much of yesterday's win, giving Fulham little to nothing in central attacking areas.

Cairney's injury woes have clearly limited Parker's options, giving him little choice but to play RLC in a more defensive iteration of his preferred role. And while his constant praise of the Chelsea man in press conferences may be baffling to some, he undoubtedly does suit the more compact rendition of Parkerball seen frequently since that surprise win against Leicester far better than Cairney ever could.

But the Everton game may have signalled something of turning point for Fulham. Maja's inclusion in the starting line-up suggests that Parker is finally willing to give our attacking play more focus and purpose, while our wide men finally had a competent finisher to target, as the first goal illustrated.

If we're to pull off another great escape, we're going to need more creativity and guile in the centre of the park too, and that's where Cairney comes in. As soon as he's fit, he should be inserted back into the starting XI with a license to do his thing. Our survival hopes may depend on it.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2021-02-15-theres-still-nobody-like-tom-cairney/
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:17:41 AM
Can Burnley extend unbeaten home run against Fulham?

Team news

Burnley captain Ben Mee has been ruled out after suffering a head injury against Crystal Palace.
Did you know?

Burnley are unbeaten in their last 30 home meetings with Fulham in all competitions (W25 D5), their longest ever undefeated run against an opponent at Turf Moor.

Jay Rodriguez has been involved in six goals in his last three starts against Fulham in all competitions, scoring four and assisting two.

Fulham are aiming to win consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since April 2019, and back-to-back PL away matches for the first time since August 2013.

Josh Maja is looking to become the first Fulham player to score in each of his first two PL starts since Pavel Pogrebnyak in February 2012.
Match officials

Referee: Jonathan Moss. Assistants: Marc Perry, Nick Hopton. Fourth official: Martin Atkinson. VAR: Darren England. Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan.



https://www.premierleague.com/news/1951622
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:18:06 AM
Mee ruled out of Fulham clash

Ben Mee won't lead the Clarets out this Wednesday against Fulham as the club follow protocols following the head injury he sustained in the win at Crystal Palace.

Sean Dyche said today: "Ben is fine but we still have to follow medical protocols and he won't be available."

There is better news elsewhere although Erik Pieters, who came off soon after Mee, is rated touch and go although the manager reported that his injury is not serious and it is a similar situation with Matěj Vydra. He said that Chris Wood is a risk scenario so a decision will have to be made there but Charlie Taylor is back in training and Dyche said he would like to think he is back in contention.



https://www.uptheclarets.com/mee-ruled-out-of-fulham-clash
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:21:32 AM
Maja equals Ekoku's 28-year-old Premier League record with Everton brace

The Cottagers' forward is the second Nigerian player to find the net twice in his first English elite division start

Josh Maja's brace for Fulham against Everton in the Premier League on Sunday means that the Bordeaux loanee has equalled a Premier League record that has stood for 28 years.

In netting twice in the 2-0 defeat of Carlo Ancelotti's Toffees, Maja became only the second Nigerian player in the English top-flight to hit a double on his first start in the competition.

The only other Nigerian player to do this was Efan Ekoku, who achieved the feat on May 8, 1993, when he scored on two occasions as Norwich City played out a 3-3 draw at Middlesbrough.

The Cheetham Hill-born Ekoku signed for the Canaries in 1993, when the Carrow Road giants were in the thick of a battle for the English top-flight title under the management of Mike Walker.

After leaving Norwich a season later, Ekoku played for Wimbledon, Grasshoppers, Sheffield Wednesday, Brentford and Dublin City, where he drew the curtains on his football career.

Getting his first start for Scott Parker's team at Goodison Park, Maja put his side ahead – beating goalkeeper Robin Olsen after combining well with compatriot Ola Aina.

The 22-year-old got his second of the night in the 65th minute after tucking home when Harrison Reed struck a shot which hit the woodwork and fell to him.

"It is a big one, we came into the game wanting to win it and not had the results we wanted. We are very happy with the win," Maja told BT Sport after the game.

"We took our chances when it came and put in another good performance again, we want to continue like this. For the whole 90 minutes, the guys worked hard and stuck to the gameplan.

"This is a night I have been dreaming about for a long time, especially last night and I had a feeling it was coming and pleased it became a reality.

"Wins give the fans and players confidence and we want to take it into the next game."

Maja will look forward to continuing his impressive showings when Fulham take on Burnley in their next Premier League outing on February 17.

As it stands, Parker's team sits in the 18th spot after garnering 18 points from 23 games in the ongoing 2020-21 campaign.



https://www.goal.com/en/news/maja-equals-ekokus-28-year-old-premier-league-record-with/1rj37mt4ml2ci1mxwj10pa2mai
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:23:25 AM
Five Thoughts: Everton 0-2 Fulham
No win at Goodison Park in 22 worthless attempts? Carlo Ancelotti, mate, hold this freshly poured beer of ours, will you? The Italian sure knows how to clasp a paper cup of undisclosed steaming liquid but when it comes to compounding Fulham's long-standing losing streak, to press repeat on prosaic history, he's our guy. Valentine's Day isn't really for overcooked M&S steaks, wilting roses and singular points. We wanted a threesome and we bloody well got it with a clean sheet, too.


That's 6 points on the road for the Whites, two wins against Leicester City and the Toffees and building upon this freakish triumph as we head into a trio of season-defining meetings is essential, although it's important to take each occasion as it comes, without discounting the magnitude of the journey ahead. Turf Moor is not a very happy place us but if we can replicate Sunday evening's application, we'll cause Burnley, a glorified rugby team, all sorts of problems.

Enjoying Complete Control
Come on now, how enjoyable was that, folks? Of all the solid, cohesive outings the Whites have mustered this season, all for the sake of a blasted draw, that victory, our third of the campaign, was sweet, mesmerising and above all, wholly deserved. A win, once proceedings got underway, was never in doubt. Everton were flat, uninspired and impotently powerless, the Whites jammed a boot in the door and ransacked Goodison Park with a demonstrative completeness. Shading possession, racking up 545 passes, the Whites persuaded us all that they're genuinely cut out for Premier League football, Parker's work-in-progress, let loose against Ancelotti's tried and tested practice to full effect. How long this'll last? We can't be sure but for now, with crucial meetings lurking forbiddingly, we've got to revel in our achievements and we have to springboard from this victory.

Everton upped the ante in the closing stages, heaping pressure on our penalty area by slinging endless crosses and corners into the mixer, tempting dogfights, although other than a rare foray here and there past the halfway line, the hosts had absolutely nothing going their way and that's because their guests had the final say-so in every key instance. We met an out-of-sorts Toffees side and we flexed our supremacy for the duration, our press was clockwork, our passing phases were productive and our shape, man-to-man, was flawlessly formed to barricade the hosts' futile spells on the ball. I may be talking out my arse, but my understanding is that only one team in the Premier League has conceded less that Fulham in the last 13 outings – or something like that – and that is the current league leaders, Manchester City. Another clean sheet, rolled out alongside a purposeful performance and tangible confidence, oozing from every touch. At last, our system clicked into gear and now we have credible solutions and alternatives, as well as diminutive, unambiguous answers to burning questions of our suitability at this level.

Majacal, You Know?
Debut starts don't get much better than that, don't get it twisted. Josh Maja joined the club with big boots to a fill and he did the most to rid us of any lingering Aleksandar Mitrovic nonsense. That, that is what a striker is meant to do, in the right place at the right time and his work-rate, hold-up play and anticipation ultimately warranted a true bagsman's brace, equalling his overall tally for the season in 73 minutes. Two goals in Ligue 1 in 17 appearances, a double at Goodison, "Majic Maja" (said in Thomas Muller's comical Germanic tone), summoned a killer instinct, which, as we know, was formally extinct and, in turn, his audition for a starting spot will surely promise a starring role on Wednesday at Turf Moor.

Mitro's USP's his ability to hold up play constructively, although he lacks mobility, severely. Ivan Cavaleiro's attributes as a leading striker aren't necessarily refined or indeed remotely sufficient but he is athletic and Maja, purely observational, is a delicate mixture of both, meshing together intelligent movement with a compulsion to retrieve possession. We honestly thought Josh King was the answer to our goal-scoring dilemma, and though it's still early days in the grand scheme of things, we've stumbled across a young, aspiring hitman with a point to prove and a serious understanding of his responsibilities, and if we're able to marvel the bigger picture, just for a moment, I'll lose myself make-believe reality where the 'Naija Whites', spearheaded by Maja, fire us out of the relegation zone. Mitro' and Cav' will be wise to sweat on this, Josh's returned to the manor and is making both of them his side chicks.

Reed, the Landlord
Come and chat to me when you find a midfielder as complete as Harrison Reed, the landlord. I double dare you. Not one love was given as he laughed in the face of winless records and the next guy's overstated reputation, Reed steamed through pretenders and made them cough up a hefty toll in the centre circle and this isn't unusual, an anomaly, Reed serves up sturdy 8.5/10 performances as standard and against the Blues, he accrued full marks. Fulham's Mr Consistent, the 26-year-old stifled Tom Davies' influence and he denied Abdoulaye Doucoure the license to express himself, comparatively, Everton's accomplished, brawny, well-oiled midfield department was dramatically overshadowed by a man that stands at just 5'9″. Bless 'em.

The middle of the park was independently patrolled by Reed, incoming and outgoing shipments channelled through his supervision and his determination and energy was constant. I was wheezing just watching him. Deputised by Mario Lemina, Reed sanctioned punishment upon stray runners, clamping and compounding, and if Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa's planning on returning to the starting fold at some point soon, the application process will be strung out, arduous and highly scrupulous. With Reed and Lemina locking the middle third down with an iron-fisted authority, I'd blissfully forgotten all about our Covid-stricken Cameroonian general, but when you've a "special one Iniesta" and a Gabonese Prince turning heads and collecting overdue taxes from fraudulent ballers, surely we can be excused.

Fullbacks On Lockdown
We deployed a straight back four against the Hammers in our last outing and I have to say, I really, really like the way in which we can chop and change our defensive composition so smoothly. Coefficient as a back three, Fulham's revamped structure is just as secure with a traditional quartet and though Tosin Adarabioyo and Joachim Andersen astound so regularly, this week's plaudits ring out for Ola Aina and Kenny Tete. Our options, whether we appropriate wingbacks or standard, mean and two veg fullbacks are vastly competent and beneficially diverse and where these two men of the moment are concerned, equal measures of cut and thrust were administered to silence Lucas Digne, James Rodriguez and Richarlison and that is not a prospect for yellow-belly cowards.

The channels, with Aina and Tete signed on and settled, were just as secure as the central sector. Seamus Coleman escaped momentarily to crack the upright, but that was nothing more than a slight inconvenience. Aina bit back and Tete, warming to the task and hand, roamed his quadrant ominously, taking no prisoners with swift interceptions and calf-grazing impediments, in order to wrestle possession from unassuming assailants, AEW style. Antonee Robinson's superb moving forward – and this is at no detriment to the young American – but is noticeably over-animated, an exuberance that highlights his defensive nativity. Aina's ability's been examined this term, however he remained in command and on the break, being a winger by trade, the Torino loanee was exceptional and effective. He registered an assist, a sculpted one at that, so off the back of an enlightening outing, should we persist with Aina at left-back? His connection with Lookman's strong and he's not shy to advance with a motive and with that taken into consideration I, for one of many, am sold on the idea.

From the Gaffer
Post-match pressers, midweek conferences, perpetual conjecture, Parker talks up Fulham's primary objectives, our collective aspirations, and on an evening where three points were inconceivable, the Whites' performance was amorously uplifting. Parker has a team that's under no illusions of the mammoth challenge ahead if we're to mount a 'Great Escape 2.0' and if Scotty's going to guide us to salvation, leaders and disciples, both on and off the pitch, will need to sacrifice copious volumes of effort courage unremittingly. Andersen clamours with statements of defiance, Ademola Lookman's personal redemption's cemented into every outing and unanimously, we're eager to right some substantial wrongs. Various results have gone against us this season, although our collective attitude's admirable, we're rarely turned over and if we do fall to a defeat, the eventual victors have to graft for the spoils, fighting tooth and nail, there are no freebies.

Upon Merseyside, an environment Fulham seldom prosper, our attitude was positive, our bravery inflated tenfold and our game plan was followed and executed seamlessly. Goodison's an imposing arena when it's packed to the rafters although the Toffees had not won a home league match since December 19th, 2020, and Parker obviously recognised a wounded animal in the hosts. The Whites were prepared to invest everything to snatch an unlikely dub on the road and our tenacity refused to dip or plateau. First-half opportunities passed us by, agonisingly, but we knew that if we continued to bang on the door, if we trusted the system, we'd shake that overbearing curse in the final third and true to superstition, we did. Everton couldn't replicate the Whites' unique perseverance, a patience that finally paid off in improbable circumstances. This is Parker's vision and when the Whites are attentively focused on the gaffer's design, we've the quality to achieve our goals.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2021-02-15-five-thoughts-everton-0-2-fulham/
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:26:13 AM
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville issue same relegation prediction after Sheffield United defeat

Sheffield United lost for the 19th time in 24 Premier League fixtures to leave their hopes of survival hanging by a thread and Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have issued their predictions for the three teams to go down

Sheffield United's hopes of staying in the Premier League hang by a thread after their 19th defeat of a miserable 2020/21 season in a 3-0 reverse at West Ham.

Goals from Declan Rice, Issa Diop and Ryan Fredericks consigned Chris Wilder and his side to another loss to leave the Blades 14 points adrift of safety ahead of 17th-placed Newcastle United's trip to Chelsea.

And before the Magpies took on Thomas Tuchel's side, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were quizzed on the race for survival and which teams they expected to avoid the drop.

Neville appeared to write off both Sheffield United and the Blades ' fellow relegation rivals West Bromwich Albion, with Neville also convinced Fulham will make an instant return to the second tier.

"Newcastle have won two out of their last three games, so I agree with Jamie, I do think it's going to be extremely difficult for Fulham to stay up," Neville said on Sky Sports.

"They have to get to a minimum of 20 more points, I think that Newcastle will pick up 12 points minimum, I think they'll probably pick up more.

"Let's say that Burnley, Brighton and Newcastle - I think Burnley will pull clear, they're in fantastic form, but those teams will get up to that 37-point mark, no problem.

"Fulham are going to have to do everything, it would be a miracle if Fulham stayed up from here, it really would."

And his view was one shared by fellow pundit Carragher, who believes the Cottagers are the only team who have a chance of beating the drop from the trio marooned at the bottom of the standings.

"I think they're going to have to do something really special, Fulham. We always say 40 is the magical number, but more often than not, 36 points keeps you up.

"Only one team that has got more than that in the last seven years has gone down.

"You can see where Newcastle are now, in the next 15 games, they'd only need 12 or 13 more points, I think if Fulham are to stay up, then they'll have to do something that hasn't been done in a long time in terms of getting 40 points, but the big thing for them is the next few fixtures - that's where they could really put pressure on Newcastle.

"They're playing teams around them, they have Burnley, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace in the next three, I think they need five or six points out of those three games and then they could really seriously worry Newcastle."



https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/jamie-carragher-gary-neville-issue-19846423
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:26:50 AM

Cottage Talk Post Match Show: Fulham Dominate At Goodison Park

Take a listen to a podcast that focuses on Fulham Football Club.

This is our post match show of Fulham's 2-0 victory against Everton.


https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2021/2/15/22284608/cottage-talk-post-match-show-fulham-dominate-at-goodison-park
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:28:01 AM
'Fulham could be one point behind us': Newcastle United fans express relegation fears after Chelsea defeat
Newcastle endured another disappointing night as they were beaten 2-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge – and fans were quick to react to the result on social media.

First-half goals from Olivier Giroud and Timo Werner gave the Blues all three points, a result which saw the Magpies stay 17th in the Premier League table.

Here's how some reacted after the match:

@footiepassion: Too lightweight a forward line first half which impacted the whole set-up, more robust in the second with Joelinton then Carroll on but game had practically gone by then.

@CarlaDevine1: So poor defensively and had nothing going forward man

@SimplyAlmiron: Games like tonight won't determine if we stay up or not. Can see already how much of a miss Wilson will be. Wolves will be a huge game for us

@daveanufc83: Poor, really Poor #nufc. Time to bring Dubravka back.

@NormingAbout: Allan St-Maximin needs to learn when to pass the ball like, he's the kid who was best at lunchtime

@toonarmy_com: Nowhere near good enough tonight. There's no fight in this Newcastle team.

@LiamPat63442105: Why start Gayle if you're gonna play him on the wing? He's a striker who's game is all about taking chances in the box

@Gbarrnes: Fulham now have two crucial games against beatable teams that could put them one point behind us in the next week! We ARE in real danger of getting relegated and without Wilson I don't see how we are going to beat teams

@Aaron_Kainth: Tactically outdone by Chelsea. If any player is on a draught come play Newcastle



https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/fulham-could-be-one-point-behind-us-newcastle-united-fans-express-relegation-fears-after-chelsea-defeat-3135888
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: WhiteJC on February 16, 2021, 12:30:22 AM
Newcastle's brutal Fulham contrast, Thomas Tuchel proved wrong and Callum Wilson fear - 5 things

Newcastle United suffered a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and here are five things we learned from the game as Steve Bruce's side look nervously over their shoulder

Newcastle United remain in 17th place after Chelsea cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory against the Magpies at Stamford Bridge.

Substitute Olivier Giroud opened the scoring after the half-hour mark before Timo Werner doubled Chelsea's advantage on 38 minutes.

Here are five things we learned from the game.

Where was the fight?

Newcastle showed Chelsea far too much respect. Yes, Chelsea have been revitalised by Thomas Tuchel but the Blues have their own vulnerabilities.

Tuchel sprung a surprise by handing Kepa his first league start since October and the Chelsea shot-stopper will never have an easier night in the Premier League.

We all know Kepa is not the most confident of goalkeepers but the Spaniard had little to do against Newcastle and, strangely, the Magpies did not even think to test the shot-stopper from distance in the first half. In fact, gallingly, Newcastle did not even have a shot on target in the first 45.

The black-and-whites were better after the break - it would not have taken much admittedly - but the Magpies did not get a good delivery into the box until the 74th minute when substitute Ryan Fraser teed up Joe Willock, whose header forced Kepa into action.

In contrast to what we saw from Fulham and West Brom at the weekend, this was a strangely lifeless performance from Newcastle.

Newcastle facing decisive period as Fulham show signs of life

Newcastle remain seven points of the drop zone but the 17th-placed Magpies have played one game more than Fulham, who recorded an impressive win at Everton on Sunday night.

The next three games will tell us a lot about where these sides are going to end up. Fulham face Burnley, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace while Newcastle take on Manchester United, Wolves and West Brom.

A poor first half really cost Newcastle and the Magpies can't afford to start many more games like this if they are to keep their head above water.

Thomas Tuchel is proved wrong

Not so long ago, Steve Bruce's go-to formula on the road against a top-six side was to use a back five and hope to frustrate Newcastle's opponents and even hit them on the counter-attack.

Of course, the reality was often very different - Karl Darlow had to make a series of remarkable saves just to keep his side in the game against Spurs back in September - and it was an unsustainable gameplan.

Bruce's recent switch to a 4-3-1-2 and a more positive approach has paid dividends in performances and, crucially, results and the Newcastle head coach vowed the approach would not be any different at Stamford Bridge. Jamal Lewis even talked of Newcastle trying to 'impose our style of play on the game'.

Thomas Tuchel, accordingly, expected Newcastle to 'play more bravely up the pitch' and to be 'very dangerous' on the counter-attack but the Chelsea boss need not have worried.

Newcastle's defensive grenades

It is rare you see a manager make four changes to a winning team but Steve Bruce was forced to tinker with his side after Callum Wilson, Javier Manquillo and Fabian Schar all picked up injuries and Jeff Hendrick was sent off against the Saints.

As a result, the returning Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark came into the heart of defence, which allowed Isaac Hayden to play in his natural position in midfield; Emil Krafth filled in at right-back; and Gayle, of course, played up front.

However, while Newcastle had nine days to prepare for the trip to Chelsea, you simply would not have known it by the way the visitors started the game.

Newcastle were ragged at the back - Emil Krafth and Jamal Lewis needed greater protection as Chelsea's wing-backs bombed on - and beyond getting the ball out to Allan Saint-Maximin, who was quickly crowded out, the visitors lacked ideas in the final third in the first 45 in particular.

Newcastle's defending for both of Chelsea's opening goals was also poor. Timo Werner was allowed to gallop to the byline by Krafth in the build-up to Olivier Giroud's opener and the Magpies failed to deal with Mason Mount's corner when Werner doubled Chelsea's advantage after Lewis was caught napping.

The worrying Wilson question

How many times have we said it: where Newcastle would be without Callum Wilson? Wilson has been directly involved in 60% of Newcastle's league goals this season and when the summer signing scores, Newcastle always pick up points.

However, Wilson suffered a hamstring tear in the win against Southampton last time out, which will keep the striker out for between six and eight weeks, and the Magpies, somehow, have to come up with a temporary solution.

Dwight Gayle had yet to start a league game this season after a spell on the sidelines but the striker rightly got the nod against Chelsea.

Gayle ended last season in fine form and of all the options Newcastle have - Joelinton and Andy Carroll were on the bench - the 30-year-old was the most natural replacement.

It said it all about the lack of service Gayle had, however, that one of the striker's most meaningful contributions against Chelsea was a crucial defensive intervention to flick Cesar Azpilicueta's header over the bar following some sloppy marking by the visitors at a corner kick on seven minutes.



https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-fulham-thomas-tuchel-wilson-19844797
Title: Re: Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 16/02/21...
Post by: filham on February 16, 2021, 10:29:46 AM
I wonder how far away Tom Cairney is from being match fit. Interesting when he is ready to see if he is prefered to RLC, I think it could be a close call that RLC will win.