Friday Fulham Stuff (19/12/14)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Heated Debates on a Freezing Afternoon – Thoughts on Fulham

If we could do time travel this is Vinny taking out Dawson.

More ferocity in tackling our midfield issues than our midfield produce in their tackles.

I always look forward to the last home game before Christmas. It's one of the few occasions of the year when all my mates get together and have a good drink before and after the game. There's usually something that happens though that spoils the day, be it a packed pub, a crap game, early departures or a massive fallout. On Saturday pretty much all of the above happened, with an unhampered day at the bar the only completely positive aspect of the day.

It was the football that caused the most friction this weekend, as Leeds produced possibly the weakest performance so far of the Neil Redfearn era (or at least this seasons incarnation). I didn't see the Ipswich game, so I'll stand corrected by those that did, but the collapse once we conceded what turned out to be the winner saw me spend most of the last half hour listening to constant whingeing and whining from those around me in the South Stand and ended with me having a stand up blazing row with my best mate for the best part of an hour both in the stand and in Billy's afterwards.

For an argument to happen, people generally tend to have different opinions, but this one was slightly different. It started when it became apparent that Leeds' youthful midfield was unable to get a grip and influence proceedings as the entire team went into its shell in that last half hour. I sat there for the most part in silence as he berated Bianchi for being absolutely useless, Cook for doing nothing, Mowatt for being bullied and Dawson for being totally invisible after he replaced Adryan. All the old classics were coming out including "kick the f***ers" and "get some blood on your boots Leeds." As we entered stoppage time, my mate said that if Redders didn't start making changes to the midfield, then Leeds were going to go down. At this point, I snapped and asked him "who else is he going to bring in?" and even now, some two days later, I still don't think he has given me a straight answer.

I totally agree with his premise. Leeds are too lightweight and lacking in experience in the centre of the park to feel secure about our safety in the Championship. As he pointed out, it's all very well playing this lovely pretty football but at the end of the day, it's not creating anything and we are beginning to be overrun by the opposition, especially when we fall behind. However again I ask the question: "who else are we going to bring in?"

"What about Austin" was the response on the day, and he is in the only player in the squad with a genuine bit of bite in him. However he was unfit on Saturday, and even if he was I'm not sure he can play that enforcer role. Rudy is at his best when he can rampage around without any responsibility. In fact let's not forget that last season the responsibility of being the captain of the team was too much for him, handing the armband over to Ross McCormack (more of him later).

So if not Rudy, who else have we got. All I could come up with was David Norris and Luke Murphy. Murphy has proven him to be prehaps the most lightweight of all the midfielders in the squad, whilst Norris is prehaps the most useless. That leaves us with Casper Sloth, Michael Tonge and Zac Thompson. Sloth and Thompson are both young players, and whilst Thompson might have the grit required, he has proven to be incapable of performing at this level. Tonge has the experience, but again is hardly the ball winning destroyer that we so clearly need.

With January coming up, a midfielder in the mould of David Batty would be at the top of the shopping list, but players of that calibre are not available to teams playing in the lower reaches of the Championship. And even if they were, Leeds are incapable of making any significant moves in the transfer market, following the Football League's ruling on Monday which placed us under a transfer embargo.

The Financial Fair Play rules are far too complicated for my tiny mind to get around, but suffice it to say, it was a judgement that we all so coming. So even if we could identify the man to sort our midfield woes, unless he wants to come and play for us for practically nothing, then he won't be coming in before the summer without a major clearout of the deadwood in the Leeds squad, and that is something we have been unable to do for the last 18 months.

So what does Neil Redfearn do? Personally I would revert to five in midfield, with Adryan pushed in behind the lone striker Mirco Antenucci like so:

Silvestri

Byram                         Bellusci                         Cooper                         Warnock

Cook

Bianchi                         Mowatt                        Austin

Adryan

Antenucci

Alternatively you could go three at the back with Byram and Warnock as wing backs.

Silvestri

Bellusci         Pearce           Cooper

Byram                Cook              Mowatt          Austin        Warnock

Adryan

Antenucci



It's clearly not a change in personnel, more a change of shape and that's because I still genuinely feel that we have two real gems in Cook and Mowatt. As young as they are, they have been our key players this year and if Leeds are to survive this season, then they will have a key part to play.

The fixtures certainly don't come any easier over the Christmas period, and a lot of us certainly saw Fulham as our banker in the matches to be played in December. Quite frankly they should have been, they were as poor as anyone I've seen at Elland Road this season (Blackpool excepted) and it did make you wonder why Ross McCormack had joined them in the summer, huge transfer fee and wage rise not withstanding.

McCormack got a rougher and rougher ride as the game went on, with the heckles really rising with the idiotic minority of our support when he had the temerity to clap his travelling fans when he went to take a corner. For me it was as mild a show of support for his new club as he could and was willing to show, but for some it was far too much, particularly as it was right in front of the "loony left" of the South Stand.

As for his contribution to the game, it was minimal. He barely threatened our goal and was at his most effective when he was holding the ball up to wind the clock down in the later stages. Always good with his PR he spoke glowingly about the club after the game, admitting the way he left the club wasn't the best. It wasn't the Leeds United he fell in love with. We all know how he feels.


http://leechapmanssofa.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/heated-debates-on-a-freezing-afternoon-thoughts-on-fulham/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Promotion party! Fulham get a point off Sheffield Wednesday to secure Division One title


Party time! Fulham's Sean Davis and Rufus Brevett celebrate after winning promotion
Fulham fans will never forget the last time Sheffield Wednesday came to Craven Cottage ahead of this weekend's visit of the Owls.

The date was Monday April 16, 2001, and that was the day Sean Davis gave Fulham the point they needed to win the old First Division championship in dramatic fashion.

It was fitting that it was Davis who should net the injury time winner to secure the title, bending a superb effort beyond the reach of Wednesday's Kevin Pressman.

Davis led Fulham from the old Division Three right the way back to the top flight and is the only player in the club's history to have played for the club in all four divisions.

Gerald Sibon looked to have put the promotion party on hold with what looked to be the winner before Davis popped up with the late fireworks in west London.

The former midfielder who played nearly 200 games for the club, says fans always remind him of the moment that goal nestled in the back of the net when he returns to the Cottage.

Davis wrote in his official column in August: "When I speak to the fans at games they always remember going to Carlisle United away the season we got promoted, or the year we won the title they always talk about the Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday matches.

"I was a part of that and it makes you feel special, it makes you feel like you achieved something, so if the players can grasp that and push on then I'm sure they can achieve it, too."

Davis signed for Tottenham Hotspur in July 2004 for £3.5million, before spending time at Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers and Bristol City prior to his retirement last year.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/promotion-party-fulham-point-sheffield-8299989?

[WhiteJC]

 
Hands off! Fulham striker Ross McCormack is NOT for sale

Former Leeds United striker will be staying at Craven Cottage despite rumours


Staying with Fulham: Ross McCormack
Fulham have no intention of selling Ross McCormack when the January transfer window opens.

Reports this week claimed the Cottagers were willing to listen to offers for the striker just six months after paying Leeds United £11million for his services.

However, a club insider has rubbished the rumours and insisted the 28-year-old Scottish international is more than happy to remain in west London.


Action Images / Peter Cziborra
White heat: Ross McCormack celebrates after scoring for Fulham
He returned to Elland Road with Fulham on Saturday as Hugo Rodallega's goal fired the visitors to a hard-earned three points.

The in-form Colombian made it six in eight games with a second-half winner in Yorkshire to push the Whites further away from the relegation zone.

McCormack skippered the side in the absence of Scott Parker and was jeered by some sections of the home supporters.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/hands-off-fulham-striker-ross-8308303

[WhiteJC]

 
Alex set for Fulham return

It has been widely reported in the last few days that Fulham will be exercising the option to bring back Swedish midfielder Alex Kacaniklic from FC Copenhagen.

While there is yet to be an official announcement, with the player himself coming out and confirming the news, we can only assume that his return is imminent. Whether the player should have been loaned out in the first place remains questionable, but when taking into consideration a number of other comings and goings during the Magath regime, the decision was by no means the most surprising.

Symons appears to be doing his best in the short term at least to undo much of the damage caused by Felix, and that includes the unnecessary loaning of players who not only had first team exposure in the Premier league, but were more likely to be able to prove a real asset in the Championship. Kacaniklic is yet to really deliver on the potential that he has showed since joining the club back in 2010 as part of the Paul Konchesky to Liverpool deal (Thank you Roy). Some of his better performances actually came during loan spells within the Championship at the likes of Burnley and Watford. Hopefully now he will be given the chance to prove his worth and in the scale of things, he brings a bit more experience to the squad despite still being only 23.

The fact that we have recalled him would suggest that Kit sees Alex in the first team although I would have to question where? To accommodate the Swede we would likely have to adopt a more flat four in the midfield than the diamond we have been using to date. The likes of Williams, Hyndman, LVC and now Fofana are all fairly combative and have a decent short passing game, things I would not necessarily attribute to Kacaniklic. To get the best from him and utilise his pace we would to play with wingers. Looking at the squad as a whole wide players are something we really lack and is probably part of the reason we went for a diamond in the first place. On the right hand side, young Pat Roberts is well reported as a prospect but would not be one to start week in, week out. While exciting when on the ball, he is fairly lightweight and does not have the defensive capabilities required by a team like ours from our midfield.

The fact that we are actually looking to bring Ryan Tunnicliffe back from Blackburn as well for me is probably more worthwhile than with Kacaniklic. Tunnicliffe is still only 21 but again is going to bring a bit more experience with him. His versatility will prove a real asset but whether or not he is A) The "Experienced head" we are looking for too relieve pressure from Parker or B) the right-sided wide man to balance a flat four in midfield remains to be seen. Personally I am hoping for neither.

Both players returning to the squad should certainly be viewed as a positive though, and shows that Symons is being very proactive in utilising what we have at our disposal before looking at external options, something Felix should have done back in the summer. The atmosphere around the dressing room has improved since then though and perhaps both players will flourish in a league better aligned to their current abilities.

Another great result away at Leeds and a home win against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday could see us solidify a mid-table place going into Christmas, albeit we would have to win by a clear four goals to leapfrog the Owls.

COYW


http://www.shoot.co.uk/category/team/alex-set-for-fulham-return/

[WhiteJC]

 
iPro Sport Partnership

Fulham Football Club is delighted to announce a partnership with iPro Sport as the Club's official isotonic sports drink supplier for the 2014/15 & 2015/16 seasons.

iPro Sport - the dynamic new sports nutrition company determined to capture a large share of the sports drinks market in the world of professional football - has made further inroads in the world of professional football.

The deal will see iPro Sport get brand exposure during Championship fixtures at Craven Cottage, home of Fulham FC.

The Club's First Team and Under-21 squads will be provided with isotonic drinks supplied by iPro Sport throughout the term of the partnership.

Alistair Mackintosh, Chief Executive Officer of Fulham FC, said: "We are delighted that iPro Sport has joined us as a partner for the next two seasons. We look forward to developing this relationship further both on and off the field by using our official Club platforms to create iPro Sport brand awareness, and through our strength and conditioning team who will be assisting in the development of a case study to highlight the effects of the isotonic drink in enhanced performance."

Lisa Marraffa, Marketing Director of iPro Sport said: "The relationship with Fulham FC is a significant and strategic step in iPro Sport's plans to extend into football and other sports.

"We want to help the club move forward by supplying an isotonic drink that we genuinely believe is better than the competition, and we know the players will notice the difference on the pitch."

iPro Sport is a natural and healthy sports drink that contains no artificial sweeteners, flavours or colouring. It includes Stevia - a natural sugar replacement with no calories and 188% of the reference intake of B12 and 200% of the daily recommended intake of Vitamin C.

Lisa Marraffa added: "In an industry where the main focus is on health and fitness it is vital that companies do not supply products that have the potential to damage the value of exercising. iPro Sport aims to lead by example in helping both professional sportsmen and the amateur enthusiasts achieve their goals."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/december/18/ipro-sport-partnership?

[WhiteJC]

 
Behind Enemy Lines

The Sheffield Star's Sheffield Wednesday correspondent Dom Howson gives his journalistic take on Saturday's match against the Whites.


It's been a steady season to date for the Owls – what's been your take on their campaign?

I think they've slightly punched above their weight. They haven't got one of the biggest budgets in the league – they're 13th right now and I think around mid-table would be a very good finish for the team with the resources they've got. They had a very good start to the season and then things fizzled out a little bit after they lost 7-0 at Manchester City in the League Cup. They couldn't get a win for 11 matches so that definitely affected them, but they've responded pretty well in the last four or five weeks, picked up back-to-back victories, and they really ought to have got something from Saturday's home match at Wolves [which they lost 1-0]. They outplayed them in the first half but didn't take their chances – not for the first time this season. Overall I think they can be pretty satisfied with how things have gone so far.

So is where they are now a realistic target come the end of the season?

If they can go on a good run – they'd have to string three or four wins together – then they'd be an outside bet for a top-six tilt, but I think a top-half finish is probably more realistic. But there's no reason why, with the Championship being as unpredictable as it is, they can't force themselves into the Play-Off and promotion picture, if they can get a few wins on the trot.


How does manager Stuart Gray set up his side?

Away from home they're very organised and difficult to break down. Throughout the season they haven't conceded too many goals – they've got one of the meanest defences in the division and their back five picks itself. He likes playing two strikers up front, so where possible he likes to play a 4-4-2 formation, home and away. He likes his strikers to set the tone by pressing the opposition's back four high up the pitch, and that triggers the midfield to do the same. He likes high-tempo, in-your-face play to force errors out of the opposition and ideally he wants them to win the ball in their half and to counter-attack very quickly.

Which Wednesday players have stood out for you this season?

The top performer so far, without question, has been the goalkeeper Keiren Westwood. He's kept nine clean sheets and he's won a number of points for the team single-handedly with some absolutely outstanding saves. There's not too many better goalkeepers in the Championship right now. Another summer signing, centre-half Tom Lees, has been very impressive, too. I would say those two have been really key performers in Wednesday's very respectable, solid first half of the season. They've played a big part in why they've been so strong and difficult to beat, particularly away from home.


What sort of game are you anticipating on Saturday?

They'll be looking to keep it very tight in the first 15-20 minutes. Stuart Gray tends to, as much as possible, devise plans to nullify the threats of the opposition, as well as getting them to play to their own strengths. So I'm pretty sure he'll be aware that it's likely that Fulham will keep more of the ball, and so he'll want Wednesday to set up to be compact and make life as tough as possible for Fulham and then hit them with pace on the break with the likes of Royston Drenthe (pictured), Jeremy Helan and Chris Maguire, depending on which personnel he decides to go with. That will be the game plan, with balls over the top for Stevie May who's going to lead the line.

Which Fulham players do you think might cause Wednesday some problems?

I think the key to the game on Saturday is going to be how Wednesday handle Fulham's strikers. Hugo Rodallega's in very good form and they'll be aware of that, and obviously there's Ross McCormack and one or two other dangerous players that you guys have got. Glenn Loovens, the skipper, and Tom Lees are going to be very important. They need to be organised and make sure they don't concede early on. I think they're going to be desperate to try and keep Rodallega quiet – he's in great form and he's the one that they will be particularly keen to keep close tabs on throughout, and to not give him a sniff.

It's a long time since the sides met in London – have you been to the Cottage before?

I haven't actually – this will be my first time at Craven Cottage and I'm looking forward to it.

What score prediction are you going for?

Wednesday are the draw specialists and so I think it's going to be a score-draw; 1-1. I can see Fulham scoring but it wouldn't surprise me if Wednesday were to take the lead, only to not quite be able to hang onto it. So I think they'll grind out a 1-1 draw but I expect it to be reasonably entertaining.

Join us at our Christmas fixture at the Cottage on Saturday, when Fulham take on Sheffield Wednesday, with junior tickets just £1! 


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/december/18/behind-enemy-lines?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham striker Ross McCormack not for sale in January

Fulham striker Ross McCormack is not for sale despite reports that Fulham would be willing to listen to offers in January, Get West London reports.

Reports in the Daily Mail had said that McCormack who was bought by the London club for £11 million from Leeds United was set to be on his way out after just six months, but a club insider has told GWL that McCormack is more than happy to stay at Craven Cottage.

McCormack has found goals hard to come by playing for the Cottagers after only scoring four goals in 20 appearances this season since he joined the club.

The 28-year-old striker played against his former club Leeds on Saturday and helped the club win 1-0 courtesy of a solitary goal from Hugo Rodallega.

Fulham are currently 14th in the Sky Bet Championship with 25 points from 21 league games this campaign, and their inconsistent form has put their dreams of a play-off push somewhat on hold.

There is without doubt no way Kit Symons' team woud be able to recoup the extortionate £11 million they forked out for the striker, and they would be lucky to receive even half of that expensive sum

So Fulham say McCormack is not for sale but will the former Leeds man ask for a transfer away from the club?


http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-striker-ross-mccormack-not-for-sale-in-january/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Back in for Baird?
   
As the January transfer window draws nearer and nearer, it would appear that an old rumour has appeared on the transfer grapevine.

Earlier this season it was suggested that Fulham Football Club were interested in bringing Chris Baird back to Craven Cottage.

At the time nothing came of it.

Today though the inference is there that Fulham could indeed be approaching West Bromwich Albion with a view to bringing the Northern Irish utility player back to us.

Would signing Chris Baird meet with your approval?


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=380614#ixzz3MHJbDN1P

[WhiteJC]

 
He`s Coming Home!
   
I was probably amongst many who thought that some of Felix Magath`s decisions, when he was kind of in control, were flawed to say the least.

It seemed strange to me that having suffered relegation from the Premier League, Magath chose to offload several players that could have made a promotion bid, from the Championship, so much easier.

One player who was sent off on loan, presumably to trim the wage bill was Alex Kacaniklic with the Swedish midfielder being sent to the Danish side, FC Copenhagen.

Well it would appear that Alex is coming back to Craven Cottage. Although we`ve heard nothing official from either club, the player has heavily hinted that is the case and that Kit Symons has orchestrated a move that will see the loan spell Alex is currently on, cut short.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=380620#ixzz3MHJlzeli

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Derby to make stunning January move for Ross McCormack

Derby County are reportedly set to make an ambitious bid for Fulham's Ross McCormack in the January transfer window.

Derby County are set to make a bid for ex-Leeds United man Ross McCormack in the January transfer window, according to a report in the Daily Mail.

McCormack only moved to Craven Cottage this summer, in an £11 million switch from Leeds, but rumours that he could be set for a swift exit are already surfacing.

The club's Communications Director Sarah Brookes has already moved to publicly deny these reports, but Derby seem unperturbed with talks apparently set to commence in the near future.

The chances of them actually pulling off the transfer look slim, given the fee that Fulham paid to sign McCormack just six months ago, but it would be a statement of intent if they were able to.

The Rams have looked one of the Championship's best teams this season and the hope would be that a proven scorer such as McCormack would push their promotion bid over the line.

Steve McClaren is said to be hopeful of getting a deal done because the Cottagers have still not paid the entire fee promised to Leeds.

For the Whites to receive the full payment for McCormack they were relying on them getting promoted this season and Derby would be looking to do a similar sort of transfer.

McClaren's men reportedly would be putting a sizeable initial fee towards signing McCormack, but they would only be prepared to repay the full £11 million if they did reach the Premier League.

It means that it could offer Fulham a chance to make an unlikely profit on the Scotland international, who has not scored as regularly as hoped at Craven Cottage.

Although he remains a huge attacking influence on the side, McCormack has only netted five times and, in that sense, he has been a disappointment.

Derby already have Chris Martin in their ranks, but McClaren is thought to be aiming to bolster his forward ranks in the new year. Luc Castaignos, who plays for Dutch side FC Twente is believed to be on their wishlist, while Blackburn Rovers winger Ben Marshall is also being tracked.


http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/12/18/report-derby-to-make-stunning-january-move-for-ross-mccormack/page/1/

[WhiteJC]

 
The Future Of Hugo Rodallega

Will Hugo be waving goodbye at the end of the season? - Ker Robertson/Getty Images

Why extending Hugo's contract would be a good bit of business, maybe more so than signing other players in January.[/i]

Hugo Rodallega, it was not that long ago that you could have been forgiven for forgetting that he played for Fulham. After signing for Fulham in 2012, he hardly set the world alight, and his goal scoring record was hardly inspiring.  However, something changed at the end of last season, he was not exactly banging the goals in, but you can see just how much he cared in a season where there was little to cheer about. Hugo, in the goals he did score gave Fulham fans hope. Whether, it was scoring the winner against Aston Villa away to keep the survival dream alive. He even provided Fulham's last winning goal in the Premiership against Norwich. Rodallega has become important to Fulham, in a team full of youth his experience is much needed; Rodallega has led by example and hasn't failed to deliver, scoring nine goals in the Championship so far. That being said, Rodallega's contract expires this summer, and with Kit Symons publicly acknowledging that he wants Rodallega to stay longer, it's a bit of business that needs to be done sooner rather than later.

Hugo will attract a range offers especially if he keeps scoring the goals like he's done throughout the season so far. Hugo was rumoured to reject an offer from his home country Columbia at the start of the season to stay at Fulham. The only issue that could possibly come between Hugo and Fulham is money. It was always said that he was on a high wage when he first joined the club, with Everton who also tried to sign him proclaiming they were priced out of signing him due to his very high wage demands. Whether he's still on that high, a wage is unsure, as it was suspected many Fulham players had a relegation wage drop clause in their contract. However, with it looking highly likely that Fulham will experience a second season in the Championship, finances, especially regarding wages should be kept as low as possible. Hugo, as it currently stands, deserves to be one of the highest earners in the squad, but by how much is the question?

A lot about the decision on how much Fulham are willing to pay will surely revolve around who can replace him. Whether that could be Kit believing that by next year one of the  younger strikers is ready to take on the goal scoring responsibility perhaps Moussa Dembele, or maybe he believes Matt Smith will return from his loan ready to be a first team player for Fulham. If Kit doesn't believe in the options at the club, it will be case of who can Fulham attract. Then it's working out whether the potential cost is more justifiable than simply giving into Rodallega's wage demands.

The point remains if Fulham act quickly before interest grows in Rodallega, they may be able to keep his wage demands within an acceptable range, and he could play a key role in firing Fulham back into the Premiership next season.


http://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2014/12/18/7402115/the-future-of-hugo-rodallega

[WhiteJC]

 
Leeds United unlikely to get full £11m Ross McCormack fee - Report

Only if Fulham get promoted will Leeds receive the full fee owed for Ross McCormack, according to a report.

The £11 million fee agreed between Fulham and Leeds for Ross McCormack's transfer created national headlines, with many criticising the amount settled on for the Scotsman.

The striker has scored only four goals since his summer move, and recent speculation he could be offered around to Premier League clubs has been denied by Fulham.

A fresh report this Thursday has however suggested Fulham are unlikely to have to pay Leeds the full amount in any case.

The Mail write that: "Some of the fee to Leeds was based on them gaining promotion."

They are vague about the exact amount, but even under five per cent of the fee would be a substantial six-figure sum.

Despite Fulham beating Leeds 1-0 at the weekend, the west London side sit in 14th in the Championship. They are 10 points off the play-offs and 14 off automatic promotion.

In a league as unpredictable as the Championship nothing is insurmountable at this stage, but some bookies offer odds as long as 16/1 on their promotion.

Right now for Leeds, missing out on any financial windfall owed is a blow, no matter how small.

Recent accounts published have them £20 million in debt, landing a transfer embargo from the Football League. To make matters worse, a £23.5 million investment has been shelved until the situation regarding Massimo Cellino's ownership disqualification has been resolved.

Cellino had said originally he wanted to use the funds from McCormack's transfer to go towards buying back Elland Road, and while Fulham gaining promotion was always likely to be a bonus part of the fee, at this point it's hardly looking like cash in the bank.


http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/12/18/leeds-united-unlikely-to-get-full-11m-ross-mccormack-fee-report/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Sheffield Wednesday: Giles Coke wants Owls to frustrate Fulham support

Giles Coke says the Owls must start strongly at Fulham – with the main goal of getting the Craven Cottage crowd on the backs of the home team.

The midfielder thinks if Wednesday get on top early, the Cottagers' support will quickly become frustrated as high expectations and inconsistent performances come head to head.

After an initial burst of good results when Kit Symons took the reins from the controversial Felix Magath, Fulham have lacked consistency which has slowed their rise up the Championship table.

And Coke – who will miss the trip due to his continued Achilles problem – believes the Owls can use any discontent to their advantage.

"If we can start the game well and hopefully get their fans on their case, it might make them a bit shaky and hopefully we can capitalise on that," Coke said.

The 28-year-old admits he is surprised Fulham's star-laded squad are struggling.

Prior to winning their last two on the road, the Cottagers' away form was woeful and they have struggled on home soil as well, losing as many as they have won.

Symons' switch from Academy coach to the top job at Craven Cottage has seen a steadying of the ship with just five defeats in his 16 games in charge over both his caretaker and permanent spells.

"I'm surprised they are not higher up," Coke said.

"It is always hard when you get relegated to bounce straight back.

"They've got a lot of pressure on them.

"It is a bit strange to see them down there but in this league anyone can beat anyone. It's an exciting league so anything can happen."

After the Owls' winning resurgence was halted by Wolves last weekend, Coke has backed his team mates to respond well at Fulham.

He said: "We can definitely bounce back. We have been playing well. Even though we were down, we were still happy with how we played.

"Our away record is very good so we will go to Fulham looking for the win."


http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheff-weds/sheffield-wednesday-giles-coke-wants-owls-to-frustrate-fulham-support-1-7012526