Saturday Fulham Stuff (12.02.11)

[White Noise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/11/squad-sheets-fulham-chelsea


Squad sheets: Fulham v Chelsea


Share13  guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 February 2011 17.46


This time last week, Chelsea were crowing after spending £76.5m to sign David Luiz and Fernando Torres from Benfica and Liverpool respectively. Then came last Sunday's visit of Liverpool, a 1-0 home defeat and a horrendous debut for Torres against his old club – proof, perhaps, that accommodating the Spaniard alongside Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in the starting lineup will not be easy for Chelsea's manager. With Fulham enjoying a fine run of form, Ancelotti must discover a solution sooner rather than later. Jacob Steinberg

Venue Craven Cottage, Monday 8pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Fulham 0 Chelsea 2

Referee Mike Dean

This season's matches 20 Y75, R2, 3.85 cards per game

Odds Fulham 4-1 Chelsea 4-5 Draw 11-1


Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: Graphic Fulham

Subs from Etheridge, Stockdale, Kelly, Salcido, Riise, Halliche, Greening, Gudjohnsen, Etuhu, Gera, Dikgacoi, Kamara, A Johnsen, Dalla Valle

Doubtful Etuhu (hamstring)

Injured Briggs (hamstring, 20 Feb), Senderos (achilles, 20 Feb), Zamora (match fitness, 27 Feb)

Suspended None

Ineligible Kakuta (terms of loan)

Form guide DWLWDW

Disciplinary record Y30 R0

Leading scorer Dempsey 9

Chelsea
Subs from Hilário, Turnbull, Bruma, Bosingwa, Ramires, Malouda, Ferreira, Kalou, Borini, McEachran

Doubtful Bosingwa (unknown)

Injured Alex (knee, 19 Feb), Benayoun (achilles, Apr), Zhirkov (calf, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide LWWWLD

Disciplinary record Y36 R1

Leading scorers Drogba, Malouda 9

Match pointers
• Fulham have won only one of their past 15 meetings with Chelsea at Craven Cottage in all competitions


• Chelsea have the most woodwork strikes this season (13) while Fulham have the fewest (one)


• Fulham have picked up one point from six London derbies this season


• Chelsea have kept one clean sheet in their past nine Premier League matches away from home


• 39% of Fulham's goals this season have been headers – the highest proportion in the top flight

[White Noise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/11/david-luiz-chelsea-carlo-ancelotti?INTCMP=SRCH


David Luiz can give Chelsea a new dimension, says Carlo Ancelotti


• Brazilian centre-back's technique heralded by manager


• Italian wants a 'solution' to playing Drogba and Torres together


Paul Doyle guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 February 2011 22.29 GMT


David Luiz can help Chelsea play the ball out from the back, according to Carlo Ancelotti. Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Chelsea's manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has declared that David Luiz, the centre-back whom he signed from Benfica for £21m on last month's transfer deadline day, will bring a vital new dimension to the way Chelsea play and prove himself to be one of the world's best defenders.

The Brazilian made his debut as a 73rd-minute substitute in last weekend's defeat by Liverpool and Ancelotti will give the 23-year-old his first start on Monday against Fulham as he seeks to integrate him rapidly into the team. David Luiz's versatility means he could slot into any of the positions but Ancelotti pointed out that one of the player's most appealing attributes is his ability to initiate attacks – to an even greater degree than Ricardo Carvalho used to for Chelsea before he moved to Real Madrid last summer.

"Carvalho is fantastic man-to-man and tactically, David Luiz has more ability with the ball," said Ancelotti. "He has very good technique and can help us build our play from the back." Ancelotti believes this is important because, when opposing teams have successfully stifled Chelsea, it has usually been by shackling their midfielders. "Sometimes the opposition give more space to our backs while they maintain good control of our midfielders, so now we can have space to build the play from the back."

Ancelotti is also continuing his search for the right tactics to get the best out of Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba, who hardly thrived together against Liverpool. "Step by step we are trying to find the right solution to put them together," he said. "Didier Drogba and Torres are fantastic strikers and we have to try to do everything to put them together to play."

The Italian feels that, if there are times over the coming weeks when they do not play together, that will not be because he has given up hope of ever finding the right formula. "Sometimes I will choose one player or another but that will not be a sacrifice, it will be because in the future we will have very important games, so I want to use rotation of players in the next games. We have very important aims to reach."

Ancelotti accepts that, realistically, those aims no longer include the Premier League title. "For us it is difficult to think that we can come back and fight for the title, we have to be honest about that. But we absolutely have to reach fourth place at a minimum. The best thing for us now is to take it game by game."

[White Noise]

Gudjohnsen set for Fulham start against Chelsea


Published 17:25 11/02/11


By MirrorFootball



Eidur Gudjohnsen could make his first Fulham start in the Barclays Premier League match against Chelsea on Monday.

The Iceland striker made his Cottagers debut as a late substitute in the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa and will be pushing for a spot in the first XI against his former club.

Dickson Etuhu (hamstring) and Philippe Senderos (Achilles) are likely to miss out again, while Bobby Zamora is still two to three weeks away from fitness after recovering from a broken leg.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Stockdale, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Baird, Briggs, Davies, Riise, Murphy, Sidwell, Duff, Dempsey, Gudjohnsen, Kakuta, Kamara, Gera, Dembele, Salcido, Greening, Johnson, Halliche.



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Fulham-Chelsea-team-news-Gudjohnsen-could-make-first-Fulham-start-against-Chelsea-but-Zamora-Etuhu-Senderos-still-out-article694999.html#ixzz1Dj45xztj

[White Noise]

[White Noise]

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti gives up on the Premier League title

By Laura Williamson


Last updated at 12:17 AM on 12th February 2011


Carlo Ancelotti has written off Chelsea's hopes of retaining the Barclays Premier League title.

The champions are 10 points behind Manchester United with just 13 games left - and could find themselves fifth and a further three points off the pace by the time they go to Fulham on Monday night, when David Luiz will make his first start.


Ready for action: David Luiz will start at Craven Cottage

'For us it's difficult to think we can now come back to fight for the title,' said Ancelotti. 'Obviously the gap is very difficult. We have to be honest about this.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1356187/Chelsea-boss-Carlo-Ancelotti-gives-Premier-League-title.html#ixzz1Dj5o9g5k

[White Noise]

If West Brom go down the plughole, so will Roy Hodgson's reputation...


By Dan Ripley


Last updated at 2:42 PM on 11th February 2011


It's only been a month since his split from Liverpool but Roy Hodgson is back in the Premier League after West Brom handed him the task of keeping keeping them up.

Despite enduring an awful six months at Anfield, it seems his stock has not fallen outside of Merseyside. The Baggies were very keen to make the world aware they have appointed the 'Manager of the Year'. But is he the right man to save them from an instant return to the Championship?

Hodgson has certainly faced tougher tasks: one of them attempting to keep Fulham up in 2008, having only been appointed at Christmas with the Cottagers in the bottom three.


Brighter moment: Roy Hodgson walks out at Anfield after his Liverpool unveiling

And it wasn't a dream start. It took until February for Hodgson to record his first win and he only won once more as Fulham stared relegation in the face with five games to go. But in an astonishing boost in form, he led his side to four wins in those final five matches to keep them up by the skin of their teeth on goal difference. It was no fluke.

The incredible escape act was underpinned by an stunning comeback at Manchester City, where they scored three times in the last 20 minutes. Diomansy Kamara memorably found the back of the net twice, including the winner in injury time.

With the team starting to click under Hodgson at last, it took him just a year to transform the club from relegation favourites into European contenders. Following a run to the Europa League final last season (that produced yet more heroic comebacks) he become hot property in the top flight and was appointed by Liverpool to replace Rafael Benitez last summer.

But the move turned sour quickly, with the challenge of turning the Reds back into a Champions League club just too much for the former Inter Milan boss.

At Fulham he found success in the transfer market with bargain buys such as Brede Hangeland, Chris Smalling and David Stockdale. But at Anfield, Hodgson's quest for world-class players was seriously flawed with Raul Meireles his only notable success among summer signings that included Joe Cole, Christian Poulsen, Milan Jovanovic and Paul Konchesky.


Smiles better: Hodgson lines up before Fulham's Europa League final defeat

He possesses a knack to purchase players that can play a well-disciplined organised game, but gets frantically lost when trying to find a match-winning playmaker. As such, he turned Liverpool into a very ordinary side.

Another problem for Hodgson was his slow start - and following a humiliating home defeat to Northampton in the Carling Cup, he was already feeling the wrath of the Reds fans. He struggled to get anything near the best out of star players Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Cole, and was accused of playing his only transfer success (Meireles) out of position in a short reign that brought very few highs and plenty of lows.

Hodgson's achilles heel is away games, something he even struggled with at Fulham where he only won once on the road in his final season. A similar pattern emerged at Liverpool where he also won only once away and another limp performance in a 3-1 defeat at Blackburn last month ultimately led to his Anfield departure.

It's not just Liverpool where Hodgson saw an empire crumble around him. Rovers fans had seen it all before themselves and remember how just four years after winning the Premier League title in 1995, they were surprisingly relegated with Hodgson playing a big role.


Not much to shout about: Hodgson is his days with Blackburn Rovers

Again a string of bad buys and poor tactics led to Hodgson's dismissal early in the season. Although replacement Brian Kidd hardly did any better, Hodgson would not be trusted in the Premier League for another nine years.

Judging by his first few months at Fulham and Liverpool, Hodgson is not one to hit the ground running and relies on being given time to get used to his squad. But his transformation of the west London club showed that with patience and that crucial time he does possess the skill needed to turn a team's fortunes around.

So with just four months of the season left and games running out fast, he can ill afford the starts he has previously made but with very few options elsewhere, Hodgson may be the Baggies' only hope.

As well as West Brom's Premier League status, his pride is also at stake and no doubt he has already circled April 2 on his calendar - the day Liverpool travel to the Hawthorns. Just last year he was being touted as a replacement for Fabio Capello in the England set-up, but now faces the last roll of the dice to prove himself in England's top flight.

If West Brom go down the plughole, Hodgson's reputation will follow.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1356005/Roy-Hodgson-If-West-Brom-plughole-reputation.html#ixzz1Dj7Cu7R8

[White Noise]

Mike Parry, the popular talkSPORT presenter who was immediately replaced by Andy Gray and Richard Keys after leaving the station's morning show over a contract dispute, is making a quick comeback on BBC 5 Live.

Parry, whose departure has upset plenty of talkSPORT listeners, will host the flagship 606 phone-in programme with Robbie Savage after the Manchester United v Crawley FA Cup tie next Saturday.

Meanwhile Sky Sports, who face a difficult task finding a co-commentator as good as Gray, will try out Glenn Hoddle in Monday's Fulham v Chelsea game.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-1356171/Charles-Sale-Lance-Formans-looking-land-big-1m.html#ixzz1Dj8CpEU5

[clint23]

White Noise, you're brilliant!  :045:   :clap_hands:

[White Noise]

Cheers.  :59:

[White Noise]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/8319562/David-Luiz-set-for-influential-role-for-Chelsea-after-Fernando-Torres-hype.html

David Luiz set for influential role for Chelsea after Fernando Torres hype


David Luiz's father Ladislau gave up his dreams of becoming a professional footballer to provide for his children in downtown Sao Paulo, so when the centre-back makes his full debut for Chelsea at Fulham on Monday it's no surprise his thoughts will turn to home.


Ready and able: David Luiz set to start for Chelsea on Monday Photo: GETTY IMAGES


By Chris Hatherall 10:00PM GMT 11 Feb 2011


Luiz, a £25m signing from Benifca, has been told he will definitely start the match at Craven Cottage after making a brief appearance as a substitute against Liverpool last week and the prospect has put him in philosophical mood.

When he was introduced at a press conference at CobhamDavid Luiz there was none of the hype that greeted Fernando Torres a week earlier but, judging by reports from Portugal and from Chelsea's training ground, his arrival could prove every bit as influential in the long term.

The centre-half, 23, has potential to provide Chelsea with ball-playing quality from the back and could be a perfect foil for the brawn and fiery determination of his defensive partner John Terry.

Luiz's outer calm hides an inner determination, too, partly fired by memories of a tough up-bringing in Brazil where his mother and father made real sacrifices to kick-start his career.

"My dad is my hero," he said. "He played until the age of 20 but had to stop to work for the family.

"His career was going very well. He played at Atletico Mineiro, which is a good club, and he was a number 10. But the income was not enough to support a family at home or to support his own parents. So he stopped for financial reasons." Ladislau went on to become a respected teacher, a profession also shared by his wife Regina Celia, and Luiz has never forgotten the backing he received..

"Since the age of 14 when I moved out of the house to start my career 36 hours away from home, I told them I would come back to offer the life my parents deserve. Thank God I managed to do that, giving them a better life and better stability so they can enjoy what life has to offer. Now I am the main source to support the family and I'll always do that."

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has high hopes for his new signing saying: "He is a very good defender because he has ability and skills to play all the positions in the back four. He's Brazilian so he has very good technique. He can help us to build our play better from the back. I think he will be one of the best defenders in the world in the future."

Meanwhile, the Italian appears to have all but given up on the title with his team 10 points behind leaders Manchester United.

"It's difficult to think we can come back to fight for the title, it's better to think game by game," he said. "We have to reach minimum fourth place to keep Chelsea in the Champions League. To close the gap is very difficult; we have to be honest about this."

[White Noise]

http://www.sportingpreview.com/matches/10112041.php

FULHAM v CHELSEA

UPDATED TEAM NEWS


SportingPreview.com: 12 February 2011


Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that £25million signing David Luiz will start for Chelsea for the first time at Fulham on Monday night.

Centre back Jose Bosingwa has a knock so Luiz is expected to come in for him, with Branislav Ivanovic moving to right-back.

Ancelotti looks set to persevere with his front three of Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

Fulham's Eidur Gudjohnsen could make his first start for the Cottagers. The former Chelsea striker made his Fulham debut as a late substitute in the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.

Dickson Etuhu and Philippe Senderos are likely to miss out again, while Bobby Zamora is still two to three weeks away from fitness after recovering from a broken leg.

Fulham Squad: Schwarzer, Stockdale, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Baird, Briggs, Davies, Riise, Murphy, Sidwell, Duff, Dempsey, Gudjohnsen, Kakuta, Kamara, Gera, Dembele, Salcido, Greening, Johnson, Halliche.

Chelsea Squad: Cech, Ferreira, Bosingwa, Terry, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cole, Mikel, Essien, Lampard, Ramires, McEachran, Kalou, Malouda, Torres, Anelka, Drogba, Turnbull.

[White Noise]

Ancelotti: Luiz will start against Fulham

Published 17:25 11/02/11


By MirrorFootball



Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed £25million signing David Luiz will be given his first start for the club at Fulham on Monday.

Centre-back Luiz is expected to come in for Jose Bosingwa, who has a knock, with Branislav Ivanovic moving to right-back.

In attack, the Italian looks set to persevere with a front three of £50million former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

Team (from): Cech, Ferreira, Bosingwa, Terry, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cole, Mikel, Essien, Lampard, Ramires, McEachran, Kalou, Malouda, Torres, Anelka, Drogba, Turnbull.



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Fulham-Chelsea-team-news-Luiz-to-start-after-Bosingwa-suffers-knock-Torres-Drogba-Anelka-will-play-up-front-again-article695253.html#ixzz1DjAOahyg

[White Noise]

http://www.sportingpreview.com/matches/10112027.php


FULHAM v CHELSEA

BIG MATCH STATS AND FACTS


SportingPreview.com: 11 February 2011


Clint Dempsey has scored four goals in his last six Premier League appearances.

• Fulham are the only team in the Premier League who have not earned a red card in the Premier League this season.

• Fulham have won their last three Premier League home matches without conceding a goal.

• Fulham have beaten Chelsea just once in the last 28 league and cup meetings, spanning 31 years. That solitary success was 1-0 at Craven Cottage in March 2006, when Luis Boa Morte got the only goal.

• Didier Drogba has scored in three of his last four Premier League games against Fulham.

• Chelsea have scored four goals in each of their last two Premier League away games.

• The Blues have kept just one clean sheet in their last nine Premier League games on the road.

• Didier Drogba has scored in three of the last four Premier League games against Fulham.

• Four of the last five goals Fulham have scored against Chelsea in the Premier League have been netted in the opening 10 minutes of matches.

• Fulham have picked up just one point from six London derbies this season.

• Fulham have won their last three Premier League home matches without conceding a goal.

• The Cottagers have picked up just one point from six London derbies this season.

• They are the only team in the Premier League who have not earned a red card in the Premier League this season.

• The next goal Chelsea score will be their 150th in the Premier League under Carlo Ancelotti.

• The Blues have kept only one clean sheet in their last nine Premier League away games.

• Branislav Ivanovic will be hoping to celebrate his new contract with his 100th appearance for the club.

[White Noise]

http://www.fsf.org.uk/news/Fans-travel-an-average-1,970-miles-a-season.php?id=

Fans travel an average 1,970 miles a season


11th February 2011


Football fans are going the distance in support of their team - and it's an average 1,970 miles a season for domestic games across the Premier League and Football League, according to Virgin Money's Football Fans' Inflation Index.

The most miles a season are clocked up by West Bromwich Albion fans who claim to put in 3,290 miles a season going to league matches - an average of 86 miles for every Premier League game beating the 2,471 miles - or 65 miles a game - clocked up at Manchester City. Across the city Manchester United fans put in 2,238 miles a season or 58 miles a game.

Premier League fans travel an average 1,920 miles a season compared with 1,854 miles a season in the Championship and 2,072 miles a season in Football Leagues 1 and 2. That works out at 52 miles a league game in the Premier League, 45 miles a game in Football Leagues 1 and 2 and 42 miles a game in the Championship.

The research - which showed fans travelled 1,899 miles a season in 2009 and 2,031 miles in 2008 - underlines the expense of attending matches as outlined by Virgin Money's Football Fans' Inflation Index. It shows the average match day cost for fans is now £101.67 after a 4.2% rise in the past three months with the increase being driven by costs outside the clubs' control, including petrol and train tickets.

Virgin Money say football clubs have cut costs –  with average ticket prices across all divisions said to be £24.32 while replica shirt costs have dropped to £32.54 - but petrol prices are at near record highs, while rail ticket prices also continue to rise. The average distance travelled by fans doesn't tell the whole story - Virgin's research with the Football Supporters' Federation shows 15% of fans travel more than 4,000 miles a season and a hardcore 4% put in more than 10,000 miles a season.

Grant Bather, spokesman for Virgin Money, said: "Football fans literally do go the extra mile supporting their club and it's good to see that clubs are doing what they can to keep costs down. But travelling to games is a major cost for fans whether it is in a car or on trains. When you add in the travel problems the whole country has suffered in the snow, it's impressive that supporters clock up as many miles a season as they do and that's without counting in any European travel."

Malcolm Clarke, chair of the FSF, commented: "These travel figures show the incredible commitment of match-going fans in supporting their teams - a commitment which is essential not only for the live game but for the television product as well. With both fuel prices and rail fares recently rising to unprecedented levels, it will become even harder for fans to maintain this commitment, and clubs should recognise this in their ticket pricing policies."

PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB - AVERAGE MILES TRAVELLED PER SEASON

West Brom - 3,290 miles
Manchester City - 2,471 miles
Chelsea - 2,416 miles
Liverpool - 2,262 miles
Manchester United - 2,238 miles
Newcastle United - 2,234 miles
Sunderland - 2,161 miles
Wolves - 2,071 miles
Everton - 2,048 miles
Blackpool - 2,021 miles
West Ham United - 1,837 miles
Tottenham Hotspur - 1,722 miles
Arsenal - 1,662 miles
Stoke City - 1,636 miles
Aston Villa - 1,567 miles
Birmingham City - 1,483 miles
Fulham - 1,344 miles
Wigan Athletic - 1,323 miles
Bolton Wanderers - 1,323 miles
Blackburn - Rovers 1,312 miles

The Virgin Money Football Fans' Inflation Index, which measures the match day costs, shows the average price of going to a live game is now a hefty £101.67 compared with £97.50 in August 2010 but still below the high of October 2008 when it hit £106.21. The match day costs include a pint of lager, a match ticket, a replica shirt, and a match programme as well as some travel expenses.

Virgin Money's Football Fans' Index has tracked the cost of football since January 2006 and is aimed at helping supporters keep track of the rises and falls in the costs of supporting their team. The company identified the match day essentials fans buy and keeps tabs on increases and decreases. At the launch of the index in 2006, the so-called "match day basket" cost £77.95.  However the most recent analysis puts the cost at £101.67 - a rise of £23.72 since 2006.

The figures are taken from a survey carried out by the FSF between 30th November and 15th December 2010 which questioned 4,150 football fans.

[White Noise]

http://www.twtd.co.uk/news.php?storyid=17899


U18s at Fulham


Town's U18s are in action at Fulham's Motspur Park training ground on Saturday morning (KO 11am). The young Blues will be looking to complete a quick double over the Cottagers having beaten them 3-2 at Playford Road only a fortnight ago.

On that occasion defender Josh Meekings (pictured), Northern Irish U19 international midfielder Cormac Burke and Welsh U17 international striker Jack Simmons were on the scoresheet, and all three are in tomorrow's squad.

Fulham's website warns that "access to U18 and U16 home games is only on production of a valid season ticket or membership card".

U18s: Cody Cropper, Callum Bennett, Joe Whight, Aaron Jones, Josh Meekings, Tom Winter, Elliot Scotcher, Cormac Burke, Josh Carson, Carel Tiofack, Jide Maduako, Conor O'Donnell, Lewis Acott, Byron Lawrence, Jack Simmons.

[White Noise]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9391010.stm?

Fulham    v    Chelsea


Barclays Premier League
Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Monday, 14 February Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on Sky Sports 1 and highlights on Match of the Day; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

TEAM NEWS
Fulham's Bobby Zamora scored for the reserves in midweek but is still a few weeks away from making a first-team return from his broken leg.

Gael Kakuta, on loan from Chelsea, is ineligible under Premier League rules.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed £21.3m defender David Luiz will make his first start after coming off the bench against Liverpool.

Ancelotti has also revealed that Portugal defender Jose Bosingwa is a doubt with an unspecified knock.

Fulham
Doubtful: Etuhu (hamstring)
Injured/unavailable: Kakuta (ineligible under loan rules), Senderos (Achilles), Zamora (fitness)

Chelsea
Doubtful: Bosingwa (unspecified)
Injured: Alex (knee), Benayoun (Achilles), Zhirkov (calf)

MATCH PREVIEW
Craven Cottage hosts this Valentine's Day union between west London neighbours Fulham and Chelsea, with the home side eager for a victory that would break Chelsea hearts.

The champions' hopes of retaining their title are hanging by a thread, with last weekend's costly defeat against former club Liverpool leaving Carlo Ancelotti's champions 10 points off leaders Manchester United. With seven defeats already, an eighth here would surely prove terminal to their title hopes.

Fulham are a team in form, unbeaten at home in 2011 and up to 12th in the table after taking 11 points from a possible 18 since the turn of the year. With Bobby Zamora making a goalscoring return in the reserves in midweek following five months out with a broken leg, the feel-good factor is high at Craven Cottage.

This fixture sees several Fulham stars reunited with their ex. Steve Sidwell, Damien Duff and Eidur Gudjohnsen will all be keen to show Chelsea what they are missing, while Fulham boss Mark Hughes was a popular figure during his three years as a player at Stamford Bridge.

Blues fans, however, have a new love in £50m striker Fernando Torres, who will be desperate to make his mark following a disappointing debut against former club Liverpool

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Fulham have beaten Chelsea just once in the last 28 league and cup meetings, spanning 31 years. That solitary success was 1-0 at Craven Cottage in March 2006, when Luis Boa Morte got the only goal.
• Didier Drogba has scored in three of his last four Premier League games against Fulham.

Fulham
• Fulham have won their last three Premier League home matches without conceding a goal.
• The Cottagers have picked up just one point from six London derbies this season.
• They are the only team in the Premier League who have not earned a red card in the Premier League this season.

Chelsea
• The next goal Chelsea score will be their 150th in the Premier League under Carlo Ancelotti.
• The Blues have kept only one clean sheet in their last nine Premier League away games.
• Branislav Ivanovic will be hoping to celebrate his new contract with his 100th appearance for the club.

LEADING GOALSCORERS
Fulham
Dempsey: 10 goals (9 league); Kamara: 5 goals (2 league)

Chelsea
Anelka: 14 goals (6 league);
Drogba & Malouda: 10 goals (9 league);
Kalou: 10 goals (7 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistant referees: Mike Mullarkey & Ron Ganfield
Fourth official: Kevin Friend

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Fulham (D2-2 v Aston Villa, a): Schwarzer; Pantsil (Salcido 62), Hughes, Hangeland, Baird, Duff (Davies 67), Murphy, Sidwell, Dempsey, Dembele, A Johnson (Gudjohnsen 90). Subs not used: Stockdale, Gera, Kakuta, Greening.

Chelsea (L0-1 v Liverpool, h): Cech; Bosingwa (Luiz 73), Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Mikel (Malouda 71), Essien, Lampard, Anelka, Torres (Kalou 66), Drogba. Subs not used: Turnbull, Ferreira, McEachran, Sala.

[nevzter]

David Luiz = Sideshow Bob

Thanks again, White Noise.

[Tom]

David Luiz = Sideshow Bob

I can totally see that.  :011:

[White Noise]

David Luiz = Sideshow Bob

Thanks again, White Noise.

Great call nevzter.

[White Noise]

http://nln24.com/news/story/bromley-boss-secures-double-signing

Bromley boss secures double signing


Sunday 13th February 2011

BROMLEY manager Hayden Bird has confirmed the signing of Charlie Ide and the loan signing of Courtney Harris from Fulham.

"I'm delighted to have signed Charlie and Courtney," he told the club's website.

"At 22, Charlie is a striker with bags of potential. Having progressed through the ranks at Brentford, he made 46 league appearances.

"Having worked with Charlie at Sutton United and Carshalton Athletic, I believe he is a player that will prove a great asset to Bromley. He is a natural goal scorer, who will be a great addition to our forward line.

"Courtney Harris has joined us initially on a 28 day loan, but I hope he will be with us for the rest of the season. Courtney is highly rated at Craven Cottage, so much so at only 19 years of age he has already made the Europa Squad.

"Having progressed through the ranks at Fulham since an eight year old, he has had an excellent football education and will be another exciting addition to Bromley.

"I would also like to thank Fulham, who have been a great support this week in making this deal happen."