Saturday Fulham Stuff (12.02.11)

[ScalleysDad]

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

606 on the long drag that is the M4 corridor to the M5 used to be essential listening before Savage got involved. We sometimes give it ten minutes before the urge to punch the radio becomes overwhelming. If Parry stays he needs to make the show about the fans again. War of the Worlds saw us home after Stoke and made the unlit stretch just past Swindon quite scary . . . . .

[White Noise]

606 on the long drag that is the M4 corridor to the M5 used to be essential listening before Savage got involved. We sometimes give it ten minutes before the urge to punch the radio becomes overwhelming. If Parry stays he needs to make the show about the fans again. War of the Worlds saw us home after Stoke and made the unlit stretch just past Swindon quite scary . . . . .

Why do they think the show needs 'outspoken' presenters? Its about the fans for goodness sake! The reason Danny Baker has won more radio awards than any man alive or dead is because he knows you have to create a context for other people to shine.

[White Noise]

http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/02/12/great-time-to-play-chelsea-says-fulham-boss-82029-28161062/

Great time to play Chelsea says Fulham boss

By Paul Warburton


Feb 12 2011


 

FULHAM boss Mark Hughes reckons Monday's west London derby against Chelsea has come just the right time – and this despite £50million Fernando Torres set to bear down on his defence.

On Valentine's Day there will be no love lost between Whites fans and their fierce rivals down the Fulham Road – and it's the one match above all others they want to win.

Their manager reckons such is the Cottage industry at the moment with five wins and two draws from the last eight games – his side couldn't have timed it better.

In contrast, Hughes' counterpart Carlo Ancelotti has given up on the title, and the Fulham man can see why.

He said: "The bench mark has always been that if you lose six games in the Premiership, then it's going to be difficult to win the title.

"Chelsea have done that, and if they lose any more they may find it difficult to beat two other sides ahead of them."

"But we're pleased the derby is here and now. It's a great opportunity."

Three former Blues could figure against their old club on Monday night, with Damien Duff and Steve Sidwell almost certain to start - and Eidur Gudjohnsen likely to come off the bench at some point.

Hughes reckoned the time Duff spent at Stamford Bridge has helped make him the player he is.

He added: "Duffer had a great time at Chelsea, and he's grateful for that. That kind of experience shapes you – and he's reaping the benefits."
Fulham are without the injured Philippe Senderos, Matthew Briggs, and Bobby Zamora – although the striker is set to play an hour in a friendly on Tuesday, with a view to an entire 90 minutes if his rehabilitation allows it.

Dixon Etuhu is also still suffering with a hamstring problem and misses the match.


Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/02/12/great-time-to-play-chelsea-says-fulham-boss-82029-28161062/#ixzz1DluQPtMd

[White Noise]

http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/2011/02/fulham-fans-launch-campaign-to-support-john-pantsil/

Fulham fans launch campaign to support John Pantsil

Posted On Saturday, 12th February 2011


Welcome to Ghanasoccernet.com, Ghana's most authoritative football news website.


John Pantsil need Fulham support

Supporters of Fulham have launched a campaign to support John Pantsil in the wake of a rough time for the Ghanaian defender.

The right-back's confidence has taken a knock since he was relegated to the club's bench by coach Mark Hughes.

His contract expires in June but the coach has refused to open talks with the Ghanaian over a new deal which seems to be affecting the player

Pantsil has scored three won goals this season which has made matters worse for him but the supporter of the club absolutely love the player for his commitment to the club.

Now a page has been open on the club's official website for fans to show their support for Pantsil which has generated a lot of positive response.

"Definitely signed, great player and great guy," Mats Risberg wrote after signing up to support the Ghanaian player.

Another Fulham fan Ste Kirkham pointed used Pantsil's commitment to the fans as his reason for backing the right-back.

"It's rare a player engages with the fans as much as JP has with us. I really like the way he takes time out in his interviews to personally thank us lot too, top fella," Kirkham said.

Another fan said: "John Pantsil, is soo loyal to us fans! So its time we show our loyalty to him!"

"Panistil is faultless at the Cottage. He gives great individual performances. I'm sure he will do his best as always on Monday night," Lewis Johnston wrote.

[White Noise]

Team News


Saturday 12th February 2011



Fulham's international players returned fit and well from international duty this week, with Dickson Etuhu (injured) the only player unavailable for Fulham's derby match against Chelsea on Monday night (KO 8pm).

One player who stepped up his return from injury this week was striker Bobby Zamora and Mark Hughes revealed on Saturday that the striker is making a good recovery.   

"Bobby played 45 minutes for the Reserves this week and scored a goal," said Hughes. "It was a tap in but they all count! He'll be pleased with that even though it was only 45 minutes.

"We've got another game arranged for him on Tuesday and we'll give him more like an hour of play in that game. He's doing well and came through the 45 minutes he played very well and he's enjoying it. He's bang on track."

Hughes' Team are clearly in confident mood at present and on Monday night Fulham will be looking to secure their sixth successive win at the Cottage. Fulham's Manager believes on current form his Team have every chance of keeping up their impressive start to 2011 against Chelsea.

"I've always stated that the second half of the season would be better for us," said Hughes. "The results are backing up the performances we've been producing. It was always going to change because we were getting players back and Dembele and Johnson are playing really well for us at the moment.

"We've got a real cutting edge now which we were lacking earlier in the season and as a consequence we're winning more games. Confidence is high at the moment and given the opposition on Monday I would suggest we're in as good a state as we could possibly be, confidence wise, going into the game."


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/SW6DerbyTeamNew.aspx#ixzz1DmHmc24g

[White Noise]

http://blogs.soccernet.com/fulham/archives/2011/02/belief_will_beat_the_blues.php


Belief will Beat the Blues

Posted by Phil Mison 8 hours, 1 minute ago



Counting down to our biggest game of the season, the local derby Monday against the champions has Whites fans salivating and arriving from all parts to support the boys.

First up, welcome once again to all our loyal supporters from overseas who make the effort and the financial sacrifice to attend these games. Will Nick the Swede be looking out for the moron who swung a punch at him on the walk back from the Bridge last October?

It's Valentines Day after all so here's hoping the rival fans can spread a little love, regardless of the result. Lobbing heart-shaped chocolate bonbons at each other we could just about tolerate, but no hard centres please. To continue the theme, a massacre on the night is unlikely to be headlines come Tuesday.

Why? At home Fulham's defence is back to its miserly best. Roy's fortress has been well and truly restored. The side are going for their 6th straight home win in 2011, with no goal conceded in our last three league home wins. In fact, against WBA, Stoke and Newcastle chances created by the opposition were all but non-existent, while the Cup win over Spurs was a stroll in the park.

This suggests the same-again back four sent out at Villa Park. Forget the aberration of Pantsil's oggies this campaign. Before being injured last season in our narrow loss at the Bridge (own goal that day too, Smalling the unfortunate son), John had Drogba in his pocket. Go back further. In 2007 Bairdinho did such a number on Didier at their place, the Ivorian's frustration boiled up and he got sent off.

Chelsea, and Drogba are in decline. The club conceded their title chances had gone after last week's home loss to Liverpool. Drogba's season has been blighted by malaria, an ever lurking curse for players from West Africa. It's a disease difficult to eradicate from the body, and leaves you drained, playing as if with a heavy cold. I saw George Weah struggle with it for half a season at PSG in the 90's - his magnificent physique rendered torpid as a tortoise.

Will Hughes be sweating under the duvet Sunday night trembling at the threat of Torres? Why should he? He's done nothing against us recently and failed utterly to raise a performance against his old club last week. He and Luiz are just two further megabuck signings to a squad of superstars. Both are still feeling their way into a side that has at times lost its way on the road this season. As for that vital ingredient from your 12th man - 'motivation' - I sense the hunger may not be there for this visit as it has been in recent years.

Enough of the opposition. Hughes won't under-estimate them. But Monday sees an opportunity for Fulham to get on the ball from the off and really dictate the game. We don't want to see an improvement after the interval, as at Villa last week. We need to go for the throat at a high tempo from the off and really shake Chelsea to their boots. In contrast to last October, we have goals in the side now. Confidence levels, so vital in expressing yourself on the pitch, must be sky high. Monday is the perfect showcase for Hughes to demonstrate our 'top 10' credentials.

Ignore the record books and our dismal showing in London derbies, it's all in the mind. At the risk of repeating my optimism ahead of the Liverpool trip, Fulham must be fearless in their pursuit of a win Monday night. It is very achievable. A final plea to the footballing gods, how about an OG at the other end for once? And to the man on the whistle, Mr. Dean, 'keep it real!'

Away from Fulham stuff, it's been a week to make me chuckle. Laughing at others misfortune diminishes our humanity, but is deliciously irresistable. In their current striker crisis Newcastle have turned to 34 year-old semi-retired journeyman Shefti Kuqi to give them a 'bulk and presence' up front. Why not stick a shirt over the St James Park heavy roller? Both have the same amount of mobility.

Roy makes a quick return to management at West Brom. Nice club, good fit. Can he keep them up? Possibly. What's good about the appointment will be the exodus of Fulham players to the Hawthorns this summer. If the Baggies do drop, I'll be rushing to get money on them to walk the fizzy pop league next season with the likes of Gera, Davies, Kamara, Dikgacoi and Pants added to the 5 decent players they've got now.

COYW! The essence of a proper football club


Twitter@fulhamphil