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Saturday Fulham Stuff (19.03.11)

Started by White Noise, March 19, 2011, 06:32:31 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

White Noise


Andy Johnson out to show former club Everton what they're missing


By Jacob Murtagh


Mar 19 2011



ANDY Johnson is desperate to show Everton what they're missing tomorrow.

So says Fulham boss Mark Hughes, as the Whites look for their first-ever Premier League point at Goodison Park.

AJ made 70 appearances on Merseyside, scoring 15 goals, before a £10.5million move to Craven Cottage in 2008.

And Hughes says the striker is fired up for the return to his old club.

He said: "He's an ex-player and looking forward to going back.

"Players think about going back and want to show people they have moved on and improved.

"That's the attitude players will show."


Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/03/19/andy-johnson-out-to-show-former-club-everton-what-they-re-missing-82029-28365198/#ixzz1H1aElDpE

White Noise

#1

White Noise

A statue of Jacko? You can't beat it for madness


They have a statue of Bill Shankly at Anfield; Sir Matt Busby is on guard outside Old Trafford; Billy Bremner's arms are forever raised in triumph at Elland Road and Johnny Haynes proudly keeps watch at Fulham. But Haynes is about to have some peculiar company on a nearby pedestal at Craven Cottage.

Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed plans to erect a statue of Michael Jackson, which is certainly a brave call for a club that goes by the nickname 'The Cottagers'.

Apparently, the reasoning behind this is that Wacko Jacko went to the ground once a dozen years ago and walked across the pitch in the sunshine with an umbrella above his head, which made a pleasant change from holding his child 'Blanket' above his head on some hotel balcony.



Thriller: Mohamed Al Fayed welcomes Michael Jackson to Fulham in 1999
This statue was earmarked for Harrods, but when Al Fayed sold the shop he needed another location for his leftover piece. The back garden would have been the best place to start.

But I have some questions on this strange development: Will the Jackson statue be made of plastic just like the real thing? Will it start off black and then turn white over time, just like the real thing? Will children be allowed to touch the Jackson statue, just like the, er... OK, maybe not.

We will find out the answers on April 3, when it is due to be unveiled, although Al Fayed might consider bringing the ceremony forward 48 hours to a more suitable date.

Should you believe any of this is in bad taste, I ask you to remember a statue of a pop star with a history of extremely questionable behaviour is being put up outside a famous old football club. How could I top that for bad taste?


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1367807/DES-KELLY-Maniac-Mario-Balotelli-King-Eric.html#ixzz1H1b5BBjG


FFCcravencottage

You know that Johnson is going to have a crap game at Everton today, won't score. It's only Ex Fulham players coming back to Craven Cottage that get goals.

White Noise


FULHAM BOSS MARK HUGHES: LET'S GET SPARKY


Saturday March 19 2011


by Nigel Clarke


MARK HUGHES will demand Fulham roll up their sleeves and battle at Everton today – even though they are within reach of a place in Europe next season via the Fair Play League.

Fulham and Chelsea are in joint-top place to be England's representatives in the competition, the winners of which will be in line to compete in the Europa League.

But manager Hughes wants a performance akin to his nickname of 'Sparky' on a ground where they have perhaps the worst record of any side in the top flight.

Fulham have lost their past 16 league games at Goodison Park and have taken just one point there since the 1959-60 season.

It is a wrong Hughes wants to right and an issue that only increases his hunger to make Fulham successful.

Hughes said: 'I've not spoken to the players about watching how they go. You just can't do that.

Fulham have lost their past 16 league games at Goodison Park  

"We have to improve our away form. If we get a result at Everton, it will show we have made some kind of progress."

Andy Johnson will line up in Fulham's attack against his old club and Hughes said: "He's up for it. Andy will want to show he has moved on and is a better player for it."



Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/235464/Fulham-boss-Mark-Hughes-Let-s-get-sparkyFulham-boss-Mark-Hughes-Let-s-get-sparky#ixzz1H1c6Vu6J

White Noise


http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11681_6821601,00.html


Hughes 'open' to contract talks

Fulham boss thinks he can improve on Blackburn achievements


Last updated: 18th March 2011   



Hughes: High ambitions

Fulham manager Mark Hughes would be 'open' to discussions regarding a contract extension at Craven Cottage.

The Welshman has been reported as a possible successor to Louis van Gaal at Bayern Munich, where he spent time on loan as a player in the 1980s.

Van Gaal is set to leave the Allianz Arena at the end of the season after a disappointing domestic and European campaign and it has been suggested that the German giants are interested in Hughes.

The 47-year-old only signed a two-year contract with Fulham when he took over last summer and he has admitted to being flattered by the Bayern stories, but he has indicated that he is happy in London.

"I like those types of conversations, to be perfectly honest," he said when asked about a possible contract extension.

"If the club feel I'm doing a good job and that's what they want to do then certainly I'm open to those discussions.

Capacity
"We just need to get this season out the way and maybe we can sit down and speak about those things."

Hughes' next task as Fulham boss is Saturday evening's trip to Everton in the Premier League.

Ahead of the match the manager has believes that he can achieve more with his current club than he did with former side Blackburn, who he helped reach two FA Cup semi-finals and qualify for Europe twice.

He said: "I feel that there's certainly the capacity to do a similar job here and, obviously, I've come in at a better level because the group of players here is better technically than the one I inherited at Blackburn.

"Why can't we achieve regular top-10 positions in the Premier League and, on certain occasions, who knows? Maybe we can push for sixth position, fifth position.

"In terms of achievement, given the resources this club has, it reflects greatly on everybody involved."

.


White Noise


http://www.sportingpreview.com/columns/1011019964.php


THE ANDY GRAY COLUMN

EVERTON v FULHAM


Andy Gray: 18 March 2011



David Moyes is having a really frustrating season. Once the epitome of consistency, winning most of their home league matches against sides outside the top four and causing a few upsets from time to time, this year we just never know what we're going to get from Everton.

They produced heroics in the FA Cup away to Chelsea then lost in the next round at home to Reading. They've won away at Manchester City in the league yet lost 4-1 at home to West Brom; it's been that kind of season.

Injuries haven't helped matters and they will definitely be without Mikel Arteta on Saturday and perhaps Tim Cahill too. Despite this, I'm actually going to go ahead and say that I think they'll win this match.

Fulham are a better away side under Mark Hughes than they have been in recent years and have drawn eight times, which is pretty respectable, but they've won just once on the road this season. Part of the reason for that is that whereas they often score one goal away from home, they seldom score two.

We all know how deadly Louis Saha can be on his day and the deliveries from set-pieces from Leighton Baines will give Mark Schwarzer and his mates plenty to think about. I think the Toffees can score twice and maybe kick-start a decent finish to a complicated season.

Recommended Bets:

Back Everton to win at 2.06
Back Everton to win 2-1 at 10.0
Back Louis Saha to score at 2.7

White Noise


http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/hughes-can-lead-fulham-back-europe-next-season-1515851


Hughes can lead Fulham back into Europe next season


19.03.11 | tribalfootball.com


Mark Hughes is ready to lead Fulham back into Europe next season.

Fulham could clinch a place in the Europa League next season via the Fair Play League.

Manager Hughes said: "It is between us and Chelsea - and they look like they will qualify for Europe via another avenue, so we are in the mix.

"Given the club has had a fantastic taste of European football in recent times, we would love to get that back.

"But we will not be going easy on teams. You can't do that.

"You cannot change your focus to tell your players to watch their tackles and watch out for getting booked."

White Noise


Hughes insists his Lillywhites are not dirty



Published 23:00 18/03/11


By Neil Mcleman




Mark Hughes hopes that Fulham riding high in the Fair Play League will dispel the ­belief the teams he manages are always dirty.

The Cottagers travel to Goodison Park tonight bidding to end a shocking record of 17 ­consecutive league defeats at Everton.

Despite sitting in mid-table, Fulham could still play European football next season as they are second only to Chelsea in the Fair Play League.

The English top flight were second in the last UEFA Fair Play table, with the top three ­countries being rewarded with an extra place in the Europa League.

But former Manchester City and Blackburn boss Hughes will not tell his players to ease off simply for the sake of another European campaign and wants last year's Europa League finalists to play to win.

"You can't change focus by telling players to watch out for their tackles and make sure they don't get booked," Hughes said. "It's a dangerous path to take.

"That is the type of team we are. We're a footballing team.

"We get the ball down and play. People maybe have the perception of my teams that we are usually at the other end of the Fair Play League so maybe we've knocked that one on the head. I would like to think so."

Fulham have never won in the league at Everton and last left ­Goodison Park with a point in September 1959 after a ­goalless draw.

"Our record at Everton is not very good at all," Hughes conceded. "If we can change that, it shows we are making some kind of progress.

"I think people can see the way we approach games, especially away games, that we are more positive and make more chances than we have done."

With Bobby Zamora still not ready to start, former Everton striker Andy Johnson will lead the line.

"He is looking forward to going back," added Hughes. "You want to show people you've moved on and are a better player than they once remembered.

"I think that's the attitude a lot of players will try to show and certainly AJ, with his attitude to work, is very much in that mode. He will want to show how good he is."



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Mark-Hughes-insists-Fulham-s-place-at-top-of-the-Fair-play-League-proves-they-are-not-a-dirty-team-article715217.html#ixzz1H1gMElHZ


White Noise


http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3477323/Mark-Hughes-says-he-can-achieve-more-at-Fulham-than-he-did-at-Blackburn.html

Sparky eyes joy at the Cottage

Published: 18 Mar 2011


MARK HUGHES believes he can achieve more at Fulham than he did with Blackburn.

Cottagers boss Hughes helped Rovers reach two FA Cup semi-finals and qualify for Europe twice during his near four years in charge at Ewood Park.

But despite not having the same financial resources at Fulham, Hughes reckons he inherited better group of players than those he took control of at Blackburn 6½ years ago.

He said: "I feel that there's certainly the capacity to do a similar job here and, obviously, I've come in at a better level because the group of players here is better technically than the one I inherited at Blackburn.

"Why can't we achieve regular top-10 positions in the Premier League and, on certain occasions, who knows? Maybe we can push for sixth position, fifth position.

"In terms of achievement, given the resources this club has, it reflects greatly on everybody involved."

After a difficult start to life at Craven Cottage, Hughes has managed to stabilise Fulham in mid-table in the Premier League with nine matches remaining.

And despite being seven points behind sixth-placed Liverpool, Europe currently beckons through the Fair Play League.

Sparky added: "I think it's ourselves and Chelsea in the top two positions at the moment.

"Chelsea almost certainly will qualify for Europe through other avenues, so we're in the mix for that.

"Given the club's had a fantastic taste for European football in recent times, we'd love to get it back.

"If, initially, it's through the position in the Fair Play League then we'll take that.

"But in the future, we expect to do it by virtue of our position in the Premier League."


White Noise


http://www.sportingpreview.com/matches/10112328.php


BIG MATCH STATS AND FACTS

SportingPreview.com: 18 March 2011


Everton have not had any players booked in six of their last eight Premier League games against Fulham and only one in the each of the other two.

• Everton have won their last 17 home league games against Fulham and all nine in the Premier League era.

• Fulham have won only one of their last 32 Premier League away games.

• Fulham have never won a league game at Goodison Park (D4, L18). They have lost on their last 17 trips, which is the longest ever top-flight run of one club losing at a particular ground. Their last point at Everton came in a goalless draw in September 1959.

• Fulham's last win on Merseyside was a 4-1 win at Tranmere in a second-tier match in March 2001.

• The home side in this fixture has won 17 of their 19 Premier League encounters - the only away win was Everton's 2-0 victory at Craven Cottage in May 2009.

• Everton have drawn 13 league matches this season - only Fulham (14) have had more.

• The Londoners have only lost one of their last nine Premier League matches, but that came on Merseyside against Liverpool.

• If the Premier League only counted the second half of games this season, Fulham would be fourth with 45 points.

• Fulham have conceded a league-low proportion of their goals in the second half of Premier League games this term (39%).

• The Toffees have won only one of eight league matches against London opposition this season (D5, L2). That victory was 2-1 at home against Tottenham in January.

• The last five goals scored by David Moyes's side have come in the first half of their matches. Four of them have been between the 30th and 40th minute.

• Everton have used 21 players this season - the fewest in the division.

• If selected, Louis Saha will be appearing in his 250th Premier League game.

• Mark Hughes has won only one of his last nine league matches against David Moyes - Manchester City's 2-1 win at Goodison Park in April 2009. In total, he has won two of his 11 Premier League matches against him, losing on four occasions.

• Fulham have won only one of their 14 matches against teams currently in the top half of the table - a 1-0 home win against Newcastle in February.

• The club have picked up 16 points from 10 league matches in 2011 - only Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have taken more points during this period.

• Damien Duff is one goal away from scoring 50 in the Premier League. He can become the third Irishman to reach this milestone after Robbie Keane (122 goals) and Niall Quinn (58).

White Noise


http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_6821399,00.html



Gera agent coy on Toon link

Midfielder could move away from Britain in the summer


By Juha Pal   


Last updated: 18th March 2011   


Gera: Out of contract in the summer

The agent of Fulham midfielder Zoltan Gera claims he does not know anything about reported interest from Newcastle.

Hungary international Gera is out of contract at Craven Cottage in the summer and is not expected to sign an extension.

The 31-year-old's representative, Vladan Filipovic, has said in the past that 'half of the Premier League' would want to sign his client.

Gera's agent has repeated that statement, although he would not be drawn on Newcastle's apparent interest, and has also suggested that a move elsewhere in Europe could be a possibility.

"I don't know what is in the background, but Gera's contract will expire this summer so Fulham can't get money for him," Filipovic told Origo.hu.

"I can't confirm which teams are interested, but it's not a secret that the half of the Premier League want to sign Gera.

"At the moment it's not possible to sign Gera. In England it's not possible to sign a pre-contract before the end of the contract.

"He could only sign a pre-contract if a team would like to sign him from outside of Great Britain. This may also be a possibility for him."



White Noise


http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/18/squad-sheets-everton-fulham?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Ffootball%2Frss+%28Football%29



Squad sheets: Everton v Fulham

guardian.co.uk, Friday 18 March 2011 17.56

There are hoodoos and there is Fulham at Goodison Park – the Cottagers have lost their last 17 league matches at Everton. It was perhaps appropriate that they should have been David Moyes's first opponents as Everton manager and they return amid rather downbeat celebrations for his ninth anniversary. This will be a match of makeshift midfields. Fulham are without Dickson Etuhu and Steve Sidwell while Everton are missing Marouane Fellaini, Mikel Arteta and possibly Tim Cahill, although Phil Neville is likely to shake off a hamstring injury. Tim Rich

Venue Goodison Park, Saturday 5.30pm

Tickets £30-37 (0871 663 1878)

Last season Everton 2 Fulham 1

Referee Michael Oliver

This season's matches 12 Y43, R2, 3.75 cards per game

Odds Everton 15-14 Fulham 10-3 Draw 12-5



Everton v Fulham: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: Graphic Everton
Subs from Mucha, Hibbert, Beckford, Gueye, Coleman, Anichebe, Mustafi, Duffy, Baxter

Doubtful Cahill (foot), Neville (hamstring)

Injured Fellaini (ankle, Aug), Arteta (hamstring, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide DWWLWL

Disciplinary record Y37 R3

Leading scorer Cahill 9

Fulham
Subs from Etheridge, Stockdale, Pantsil, Kelly, Briggs, Halliche, Zamora, Kamara, Gudjohnsen, Kakuta, Saunders

Doubtful Kamara (back)

Injured Etuhu (hamstring, 3 Apr), Sidwell (knee, 3 Apr), Senderos (achilles, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide WDDDWL

Disciplinary record Y36 R0

Leading scorer Dempsey 9

Match pointers
• Everton have not lost at home to Fulham in the league since February 1948


• If only the second half of games counted this season, Fulham would be fourth with 45 points


• Clint Dempsey has scored five headed goals from just six attempts on target and Tim Cahill has managed eight headed goals from only eight shots in total


• Everton have used fewer players (21) than any other side in the division


• Damien Duff needs one more goal to reach 50 in the Premier League

White Noise

http://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/everton-vs-fulham-sat-19-mar-2011

Everton Vs Fulham, Sat 19 Mar 2011

Everton Vs Fulham: Match Preview


By GMF Editor  March 18, 2011

Everton Vs Fulham    DATE:Sat 19 Mar 2011

TIME:17:30

VENUE:Goodison Park


Manager David Moyes insists he is still driven to succeed at Everton after celebrating nine years in charge this week.

The Scot is desperately awaiting his first trophy since taking over at Goodison Park but stressed he is determined to go on and win some silverware, even if that means annoying some fans who maybe think a change at the top will bring a change in fortune.

By a quirk of coincidence Fulham are the visitors as they were for his first match in charge on March 16, 2002 when he began his Toffees career with a 2-1 win.

But Moyes will not waste any time on reminiscing on his past as the third longest-serving manager behind good friend Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

"It is not fashionable to be a manager for nine years, it is fashionable to change it around and get someone in a bit more trendy," said the manager, who is looking to extend the club's 62-year unbeaten record at home to the Cottagers.

"I don't think that tends to be the case and the most successful clubs have had longevity with their managers.

"Some people will get a bit fed up and think it is time for the manager to go but I feel it is time to kick on and get better.

"I am always driving myself to get more. Even if I had won the league two times I would be saying I wanted to win it three times so the fact I have not done any of that means I want to try to win something.

"But it has to be looked on as a success to stay in a job in the Premier League for that amount of time but it is not just down to me it is down to the players and a really stable board of directors, unlike a lot we see around the country.

"I work hard to stay in my job, I don't take it for granted and I have to keep working hard else someone else will be there to take my place.

"My ambition is to take Everton as far as I can, I would like to win something."

Despite not winning a trophy there have been a number of high points for Moyes.

However, he is still grateful to David Unsworth for getting his Everton career off to the ideal start.

"I was nervous because I was a young manager coming into the Premier League and we were not in the best position in the table," he recalled of his first game.

"I was hoping to get off to a good start and it was more than that because David Unsworth scored after about 30 seconds.

"Highlights since then would have to be qualifying for the Champions League, even if we didn't make the group stage, and also the years we qualified for the Europa League.

"There was also beating Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final - there have been lots of good times but as always I think the best is yet to come."

Mark Hughes believes he can achieve more at Fulham than he did with Blackburn.

Cottagers boss Hughes helped Rovers reach two FA Cup semi-finals and qualify for Europe twice during his near four years in charge at Ewood Park.

But despite arguably not having the same financial resources at Fulham, Hughes reckons he inherited a better group of players than those he took over at Blackburn six and a half years ago.

He said: "I feel that there's certainly the capacity to do a similar job here and, obviously, I've come in at a better level because the group of players here is better technically than the one I inherited at Blackburn.

"Why can't we achieve regular top-10 positions in the Premier League and, on certain occasions, who knows? Maybe we can push for sixth position, fifth position.

"In terms of achievement, given the resources this club has, it reflects greatly on everybody involved."

After a difficult start to life at Fulham, Hughes has managed to stabilise the club in mid-table in the Barclays Premier League with nine matches remaining.

And despite being seven points behind sixth-placed Liverpool, Europe currently beckons for Fulham through the Fair Play League.

"I think it's ourselves and Chelsea in the top two positions at the moment," said Hughes, who took charge after the Cottagers reached last season's Europa League final.

"Chelsea almost certainly will qualify for Europe through other avenues, so we're in the mix for that.

"Given the club's had a fantastic taste for European football in recent times, we'd love to get it back.


White Noise


http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/ref-watch-2/


Ref watch

Filed under: General — rich @ 7:53 am

We have Michael Oliver, who wasn't in my stats thing.

But all is not lost: running the line is heroic Sian Massey, without whom, etc, etc.

Also Mike Mullarkey, who did the World Cup Final.

It's a combination that would blow Richard Keys and Andy Gray's minds.



mhatc

Quote from: FFCcravencottage on March 19, 2011, 06:40:16 AM
You know that Johnson is going to have a crap game at Everton today, won't score. It's only Ex Fulham players coming back to Craven Cottage that get goals.

Damien Duff would disagree.