Sunday Fulham Stuff (10.04.11)

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http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/news/2011/04/10/andy-jonhson-set-for-summer-move-to-west-brom-102039-23049957/


Andy Jonhson set for summer move to West Brom


Apr 10 2011


by Steve Bates, The People


ANDY JOHNSON is heading to West Brom this summer in a £3million switch from Fulham, with Baggies boss Roy Hodgson set to lose Peter Odemwingie to Juventus.

Former Fulham boss Hodgson is keen to link up again with 30-year-old Johnson, even though the ex-England striker has been hit by injuries over the past two seasons.

And with Odemwingie, 29, being targeted for an £8m summer move to Turin, Hodgson plans to draft in Johnson. Losing Odemwingie will be a big blow if Albion stay up.

But the Nigerian flyer, signed from Lokomotiv Moscow for only £1m last summer, has attracted plenty of interest after hitting 10 goals in 23 league games this term.

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http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/2011/04/10/manchester-united-2-0-fulham-united-close-in-on-prem-crown-102039-23050388/



Manchester United 2-0 Fulham: United close in on Prem crown


Apr 10 2011 by Steve Bates, The People




THE big prize might have eluded Sir Alex Ferguson's horse ­yesterday – but his team have their own winning post in sight.

Dress the parade ring, bring out the ribbons – and get Chelsea to load the Premier League trophy on to their team bus heading to Old Trafford on Tuesday.

For with six games to go and 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal, Fergie's thoroughbreds are galloping towards a record 19th league title.

What A Friend may have pulled up tired and short of victory in the Grand National, but Ferguson's squad seem to be getting stronger as the days tick by.

And if the opposition are all as soft as Fulham, United could have it as good as wrapped up by the time they host Chelsea in the Premier League on May 7 – two weeks before the season ends.

Wayne Rooney watched from his box while he served the first game of his two-match ban for letting fly at the cameras last week, but he was not missed.

Conviction

Fulham were just what United needed before Tuesday's big Champions League game with Chelsea.

The Cottagers have given United a rough ride at Craven Cottage the past few seasons, but at Old Trafford they often display the hallmarks of a team who lack conviction.

Fulham have lost all but one of their nine Premier League games at United and have won once on their travels this season.

On that form, Fergie had a better chance of riding his horse to victory in the ­National than Mark Hughes' stars had of picking up three points here.

"We're Man United, we do what we want" sing their fans – and when defenders allow Ferguson's stars a free passage to goal, like Fulham's did, there is no one better at taking advantage.

All the pieces fell into place for Ferguson yesterday and he had the luxury of playing only three of the team likely to face Chelsea – Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic and Antonio Valencia.

It helped, of course, that Fulham were not inclined to tackle but still, Nani, Paul Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov, Anderson and Chris Smalling are hardly B-list stars – and they were way too good for the visitors.

Nani was the star turn with a delicious display loaded with pace and quality, but having played the whole game it is likely he will be left out in favour of Ji-Sung Park's industry, and the winger will keep Berbatov company on the bench for the Euro tie.

The Bulgarian striker opened the scoring with a silky finish, his 21st goal of the ­season. And that must have tasted sweet.

Berbatov had not started the previous three games against Chelsea, West Ham and Bolton despite being United's top scorer, and at times he looks as if he cannot believe he is not playing every game.

His crisp finish came after wonderful work by Nani. The Portuguese winger danced past three powder-puff tackles before playing a one-two with Anderson and slipping in Berbatov to strike the ball into the far corner.

The striker looked level at best but ­referee Michael Jones waved play on and Fulham's only protest came from Hughes after the final whistle.

The goal was a blow for the visitors who had started brightly. United's stand-in keeper Tomasz Kuszczak made smart saves in the opening five minutes to deny on-loan Chelsea youngster Gael Kakuta and Moussa Dembele.

And Bobby Zamora, a two-goal hero in the 3-0 win over Blackpool last Sunday, fired a superb eighth-minute chance over the bar.

But having edged in front United never looked like losing their advantage. The only danger posed was from themselves – with Brazilian midfielder Anderson shockingly wasteful in front of goal.

His shooting ability borders on the ­comical – but no one was laughing when Berbatov bamboozled Hangeland and laid the ball on a plate for the Brazilian inside the box.

Somehow, Anderson missed the target, dragging his shot wide. Thankfully for United, Valencia knows where the net is and he effectively finished the contest on 31 minutes.

The Ecuadorian star has made a ­fabulous recovery from his early-season ankle break and has returned quicker and hungrier than ever with a workrate few can match.

Evra played a super ball down the left flank for Nani, who easily beat the ­onrushing Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer before going for goal.

Avalanche

Chris Baird slipped as he attempted to keep the winger's shot out and could only head the ball into the air, allowing Valencia to mop up with a point-blank header for his first league goal of the season.

That should have signalled an avalanche but United took their foot off the gas and gave Fulham some encouragement.

Schwarzer pulled off a decent save as Anderson finally got his shooting radar right moments after half time but Fulham sub Eidur Gudjohnson was a whisker wide with a terrific effort.

Zamora and Baird both went close and although Nani was always a danger United seemed happy to let the game fizzle out, to Ferguson's dismay.

But the United boss does not need to take the whip to his stars – at this rate they will win with plenty to spare.

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Fulham to jump for Jol again if Hughes leaves in the summer


By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 10:47 PM on 9th April 2011


Martin Jol is lined up to be the new Fulham boss if Mark Hughes leaves Craven Cottage at the end of the season.

Jol, close to taking the job before Hughes was appointed last summer, eventually stayed with Ajax but left the Dutch club in December.

The former Spurs boss has told friends he expects to work in England again.


Fulham bound?: Martin Jol make take over in the summer


Hughes signed a one-year deal with an option for a second, but took the Fulham post prior to Martin O'Neill quitting Aston Villa, a job for which he would have been a strong candidate.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1375318/Fulham-jump-Martin-Jol-Mark-Hughes-leaves-summer.html#ixzz1J4YS2LfP

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/apr/10/michael-jackson-statue-fulham

Los Angeles fires dig at Mohamed Al Fayed and Michael Jackson statue

The LA Times criticises Fulham's 'lunatic' owner over 'the ugliest statue in Britain' at Craven Cottage


Share   Giles Richards The Observer, Sunday 10 April 2011 Article history


Mohamed Al Fayed poses in front of the statue of Michael Jackson at Fulham's Craven Cottage. Photograph: Str/EPA


Go to hell. Or go to Chelsea. The stark choice posited by the Fulham owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, to detractors of his Michael Jackson statue, unveiled last week. But before this fairly large demographic ("the ugliest statue in Britain" said almost 70% in a Guardian poll) takes the easy option and joins the Evil One for an eternity of suffering, it turns out that there is another potential destination: Los Angeles.

La la land, somewhat inexplicably, seems to have taken against Fayed's folly more enthusiastically than domestic fans weighing-up Drogba or Dante. Reporting on the proposed statue in March, the LA Times set a tone it was to develop with gusto: "One wonders what Fulham soccer greats of the past – Johnny Haynes, for instance – would make of all this fuss. Well, at least the pigeons will appreciate it." A gentle dig, written before the city of angels had a look at the actual piece. 'Statue outside Fulham soccer stadium even more appalling than feared,' read the first banner in reference to what the article called "the thing" that was "grotesque" and "up there with the worst of London's many visual atrocities".

A little harsh for admirers of St Paul's, but it turned out to be only the opening salvo: 'Statue is an affront to decency and an insult to fans', read the next headline. "I thought we had some crazy sports owners here", the piece continued, "but not one of them would have been so unaware and obtuse as to erect a giant statue of a man accused multiple times of child molestation." It then asked: "What's next? A huge bas-relief of Gary Glitter on the walls of Craven Cottage?"

Yet the humorous tone soon turned mournful: "Things looked rosy for the Cottagers heading into this season ... That is gone now. The grim realization that their club is owned by a raving lunatic with piles of cash is unavoidable. Oh, I almost forgot. If you aren't into Fayed's pederast on a pedestal, he has a personal message for you: Go f*&$ yourselves." Which surely means hell. Or Chelsea.

[White Noise]

Gael's Top Ten Target


Saturday 9th April 2011




Gael Kakuta made an impressive first start for Fulham on Saturday afternoon in what proved to be a disappointing trip to Old Trafford.

The 19-year-old who joined the Whites on loan from Chelsea in January gave a lively demonstration of his ability in what was a positive full 90 minutes for the youngster.

"It was good to get a whole game under my belt," said Gael to fulhamfc.com. "It's something I have waited a little while for, so of course, this was very pleasing.

"What wasn't pleasing was the result, it wasn't the best of afternoons for the team. Manchester United are a very good side and they showed why they are at the top of the league today.

"Old Trafford is a great place to make your first start, it's just a shame I couldn't celebrate the occasion with three points.

"I had a few good moments, but I think I could have done better - but the game will have done me a lot of good."

A 2-0 defeat saw Fulham slip to just their second league defeat in eight games, with the Whites slipping to 11th place in the table.

"We have been on a good run of form so it was frustrating that we couldn't extend that," added Gael. "We moved down a place in the league, but our ambitions of finishing in the top 10 are still on track.

"We have six games left, so there's plenty of points up for grabs to make sure that happens. Having played today, of course, it's my hope to be involved in more games as the season draws to an end.

"I'm enjoying my time at Fulham, where I feel I have improved further as a player, and would love to play my part in what will hopefully be a strong finish to the season."


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/April/KakutaUnitedReaction.aspx#ixzz1J4ZUiGRT

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Fulham star recalls how Jackson's visit was less than a Thriller


Published 23:00 09/04/11 By Paul Smith - EXCLUSIVE




Michael Jackson could never have known the notoriety his one and only visit to Craven Cottage would create.

It was back in 1999 that the pop superstar turned up for Fulham's game against Wigan.

Twelve years on and owner Mohamed Fayed has ­unveiled a controversial statue in honour of Jackson, who died in June 2009.

Nobody can dispute the cash and commitment Fayed has poured into Fulham ­although his verdict that anybody who didn't like the wacky statue of Jacko could either go to hell or follow arch-rivals Chelsea has ­disturbed some loyal ­Cottagers.

Now a former Fulham star, who played against Wigan that day, claimed Jackson's ­appearance in the home ­dressing room stopped just short of turning into a major ­embarrassment.

He said: "When they said Jackson was at the ground most of the players fell about laughing. We thought it was a ­complete wind-up. We half expected someone to turn up wearing a Jacko mask and ­silver glove. But when we were told the chairman was bringing him down to meet us the whole thing ­descended into farce.

"One player claimed it was a stupid joke and threatened to pull the mask off the ­imposter's face when he ­appeared. I'm not sure whether he lost his bottle or became sceptical once the dressing room door opened and ­Jackson was confronted by another player doing a moonwalk ­impression. Half the players didn't even know where to look let alone what to say to him. We did wonder whether it was one of those lookalikes who makes a living out of ­impersonating stars.

"His face looked real enough and he did sound a bit like Jackson. It's not an experience you tend to forget in a hurry that's for sure."

Fayed, who is the multi-­millionaire chairman of the west London club, unveiled the bizarre 7ft 6ins statue of Jackson last ­Sunday ahead of his team's clash with Blackpool.

The 78-year-old Fulham ­supremo ­commissioned the statue ­following the singer's death and had originally planned to place it in Harrods ­before selling the store.

Opinion on the placing of the statue outside the ground remains divided but the vast majority of ­Fulham fans are not ­impressed.

One fan even claimed it looked more like Man ­United winger Nani.

Other disgruntled fans have gone on Fulham ­message boards threatening to tear the thing down.



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Former-Fulham-player-recalls-how-Michael-Jackson-s-visit-descended-into-farce-article721448.html#ixzz1J4aZBVJn

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http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/185553/Leicester-4-Burnley-0-Man-power-gives-Sven-play-off-lift-/

LEICESTER 4 BURNLEY 0: MAN-POWER GIVES SVEN PLAY-OFF LIFT

 
10th April 2011 By Peter Oakes


LEICESTER 4 -- BURNLEY 0



SVEN GORAN Eriksson is banking on his future being orange after Diomansy Kamara gave the kiss of life to the Foxes' play-off hopes.

The Senegal striker stood out from the crowd on his home debut – and it wasn't just his colourful boots that caught the eye.

Kamara, on-loan from Fulham, guided a shot beyond Brian Jensen after a neat one-two with Yakubu.

The hitman was too hot for the Clarets to handle, also winning a 52nd-minute penalty scored by Paul Gallagher, after tempting Andre Bikey to dive in.

Eriksson said: "Kamara had a good home debut. He can score goals, he's shown that.

"He was very good for us and can't do too much better than he did today."

The lively Gallagher doubled his season's tally with a powerful 25-yard drive and Patrick Van Aanholt opened his Foxes account from the edge of the box.

Burnley boss Eddie Howe said: "They were by far the better team. Once the second goal went in it was a tough afternoon. It was pretty hard to watch."

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http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/04/09/manchester-united-2-0-fulham/

Manchester United 2-0 Fulham

Filed under: Match reports — rich @ 6:39 pm

What to make of that? First, we must always remind ourselves that playing away to the champions elect is not an easy thing. Against that, Fulham turned in one of the more empty performances of recent times. It was as if United were playing against their own U18 side at half pace on a Tuesday afternoon.

Which is also weird because for the first few minutes we looked fantastic. Some of the movement between the lines was nice, the passing angles were clever, unusual. We had three decentish half-chances. Then...

Nani waltzed through a few tackles, slipped in Berbatov, goal. Why couldn't anyone stop Nani in the buildup? Really, really, disappointing. The cries for offside may have been correct, but it was close – Salcido and Berbatov looked level enough to me.

Then another. Schwarzer came out and didn't get a long ball, eliminating himself from the defence. Nani chipped a falling Aaron Hughes, whose glanced header only diverted the ball to Valencia, who headed home from a yard out.

Two ridiculous goals, and from there it was if Fulham decided that it wasn't their day after all and stopped trying. These are professional footballers, I know it doesn't work like that, but it's so disappointing? They can do much better.

The United team was: O'Shea, Smalling, Vidic, Evra, Scholes, Gibson, Anderson, Nani, Valencia, Berbatov. Of course these are good players – they're about to win the league – but they shouldn't be able to completely nullify a Fulham side that's close to full strength and that wanted to have a go. Perhaps with the two goal donation United just didn't take risks, and there was nowhere for Fulham to play. Perhaps the heat was stifling. Perhaps it's just one of those things.

Again, let's remind ourselves: United away. But these games offer players the chance to show what they're made of, the chance to show that they can compete with the best. Who in the Fulham side earned 7/10? Hangeland did well, as usual, Dempsey showed up, Murphy tried, but Zamora was too isolated, Dembele disappointed, Kakuta (after a very lively start) showed why at the moment he's best suited to 10 minutes at the end of games, and everyone else really failed to make an impact. Gera came on and at least showed some effort, but effort isn't enough, is it?

These games happen, but it seems a shame that Manchester United away has become such a waste of a fixture.

[White Noise]

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/239802/Manchester-United-2-Fulham-0-United-romp-with-home-straight-in-sight

MANCHESTER UNITED 2, FULHAM 0: UNITED ROMP WITH HOME STRAIGHT IN SIGHT  



Manchester United 2, Fulham 0


Sunday April 10,2011


By John Richardson 


MANCHESTER UNITED 2, FULHAM 0: WHAT A Friend might have not have delivered at Aintree but Sir Alex Ferguson's United romped 10 points clear of the Premier League field.

The going is now certainly good for a United side wearing blinkers – their trainer anxious to protect them from the outside world which he believes is conspiring against them.

Never mind What A Friend – it's more like what a lead for Ferguson's team as they enter the final furlong of the season.

Ferguson's froth at his five-game touchline ban and a two-match suspension for Wayne Rooney, who watched yesterday's stroll in the sun from his private box, continued with a stirring message in his programme notes.

"We are a club who can overcome all difficulties and attempts to knock us off our perch," he wrote.

He wouldn't have been too impressed with comments from former keeper Peter Schmeichel, who told a Danish newspaper that United would be better off selling Rooney. "I think it would be good for him to get away and play for another club, " observed the great Dane.

Yesterday they didn't need him as United did the damage in the first half.

But Ferguson rapped: "I don't think it was a job well done at all. We were a bit casual, lackadaisical and took chances.

"In the first half there was some very good football and we could have scored a couple more.

"But at this time of the season winning is the name of the game."

Nani, all tricks and a real treat for the watching United hordes, was simply unstoppable in a first half show which put this game to bed.

Without a doubt Nani, on the PFA shortlist for the Young Player of the Year award, is maturing into one of United's A-list performers. Fergie's patience, when many were doubting the winger's pedigree, is being rewarded.     

Nani burst into life after Fulham had threatened to create a stir of their own, with three clear-cut opportunities in the opening 10 minutes, Gael Kakuta and Moussa Dembele forcing Tomasz Kuszczak into action, while Bobby Zamora lost his composure to slice wide.

Nani, though, displayed cool precision to set up Dimitar Berbatov for the Bulgarian's 21st Premier League goal of the season.

Brilliant footwork – by the slaloming Ryan Giggs' standard – took out two challenges before a consummate one-two with Anderson had the Fulham alarm bells ringing.

They were deafening in the away dug-out when the linesman's flag stayed down as Nani found Berbatov, who had wandered offside.

The striker – who has been in the shadows in recent weeks – hasn't lost his finishing finesse, rifling past Mark Schwarzer.

Fulham boss Mark Hughes said: "The first goal was offside but we didn't have enough ability to ask questions of them."

The second Nani-inspired United strike was completely legal. Patrice Evra sent Nani racing free down the left flank. Schwarzer's rush out of goal was negated by Nani's speed and agility and it was Antonio Valencia who prospered, with his first goal of an injury-ravaged season, heading in at the far post.

Fulham's early sparkle was now a distant memory.

There was a scare – when sub Eidur Gudjohnsen went close with a long-range effort which had the United boss reaching for the phone from his stand seat. Although it was around the time the Grand National was due off, so you never know.Ref: M Jones Att: 75,339MAN UTD: Kuszczak; O'Shea, Smalling, Vidic, Evra; Scholes, Anderson (Fabio 77); Valencia (Owen 73), Gibson, Nani (Carrick 87); Berbatov.

FULHAM: Schwarzer; Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido; Kakuta, Murphy (Greening 82), Etuhu (Gera 68), Dempsey, Dembele (Gudjohnsen 56); Zamora.

MAN of the MATCH:

Nani – coming to the boil just at the right time for Manchester United. A key component of his club's title charge.



Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/239802/Manchester-United-2-Fulham-0-United-romp-with-home-straight-in-sightManchester-United-2-Fulham-0-United-romp-with-home-straight-in-sight#ixzz1J69j0i1j

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http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11681_6862039,00.html


Hughes - We were off colour

Boss believes the Cottagers weren't at their best at Old Trafford


Last Updated: April 9, 2011 6:43pm


Mark Hughes believed his side had not played as well as they can in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Nani provided both assists as first half goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia sunk the Cottagers.

The defeat and results elsewhere saw Hughes' side drop to 11th in the table on 38 points - six above the relegation zone.

"We gave ourselves too much to do today," Hughes told Sky Sports, adding he believed his side had started brightly enough.

"Once we'd conceded the first goal which I'm a little bit disappointed about because it obviously was offside and shouldn't have counted.

.Body blow

"But the second goal coming almost immediately after that was a real body blow for us and at that point - 2-0 down - it is very difficult for us to have an impression on the game because United have been in this situation many, many times before.

"They get people behind the ball and just play counter-attacks from that point of view, so that's the situation we found ourselves.

"Obviously we were better second half but really that was more to do with United seeing the game out comfortably."

Hughes is confident his side can stay up this term.

"It is up to us to get the points on the board, we are more than capable. Today we didn't hit anything like the level we know we're capable of but we have got other games where we played exceptionally well.

"Today we were up against a very good team so we have to hold our hands up and we weren't good enough today."

[White Noise]

http://manutd.theoffside.com/manchester-united/a-fine-win-against-our-bogey-team-vs-fulham.html

A fine win against our bogey team (vs Fulham)

By: Shaun | April 9th, 2011


Considering our recent history against Fulham, this was a thoroughly encouraging and enjoyable display from the men in red.

Impressions:

1. First goal was a delight to watch although it was tarnished by a hint of offside. Nevertheless, Nani's trickery and movement followed by Ando's touchback to him and Berba's finish summed up what United are capable of at their best.
2. Nani must have been itching to get out there today (after being left on the bench against Chelsea) and had his way down the left. At times, he frustrated Berba with his reluctance to release the pass earlier, but overall, he was in storming form. His touch to get past Schwarzer and composure to not shoot immediately after was commendable.
3. Valencia creates a buzz every time he receives the ball because there is nothing superfluous about his touch or movement. His nature of play is to be incredibly direct whenever possible and he got the better of Calcido today down the right. His goal, while all down to Nani, was well deserved considering his injury plagued season and his return to form almost immediately after coming back into the team. It's good to see him back and in fine form for squeaky bum time.

4. Playing one up front worked well today since our attack flowed so predominantly down our flanks. The issue with Berba as a lone forward has always been his tendency to drop too deep to receive the ball at his feet effectively giving us a more packed midfield, but without a target man further forward to keep the defense honest. With Nani and Valencia in such a rampant mood today, we were able to attack down the flanks repeatedly and reduce our need to run all our attacks through Berba.

5. Games like today will hopefully convince Scholes to come back next season. With Gibson and Ando (especially) providing him protection and muscle in midfield, he was free to move the ball around at will. If we can upgrade in the offseason with even more bite in the middle of the park, he would be free to contribute with what he does best without having to worry too much about having to cleanup in front of the back four.

6. It was weird to see Ando as the farthest forward of our midfielders at various points in the game since his composure and passing in the final third aren't exactly top class. Considering some of the space in which he found himself today, you wonder what someone of Sneijder or Ozil's quality/creativity could have conjured up. Ando is more the battering ram that puts his head down and runs through the crowd to create chances.

7. One of the biggest positive from today's game was that we finished the 90 without picking up any injuries. That's a big plus in light of our love affair with the treatment table recently.

8. Evra didn't grab any headlines today, but his overall defending, movement and distribution were outstanding. It's taken a long time, but the debacle in South Africa looks to finally be off his shoulders and mind.

In other news, Chelsea won today thus keeping themselves in the hunt. We're now 10 points clear of Arsenal although you feel like they will cut that back down to 7 after their game tomorrow against Blackpool.

Ultimately, we know that winning our remaining league fixtures will see the title return to OT regardless of how the other 2 teams perform. Squeaky bum time indeed.

[White Noise]

Mark Hughes BBC video interview -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/9452920.stm

[White Noise]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/8439565/Michael-Jackson-joins-our-hideous-collection-of-public-sculpture-courtesy-of-Mohamed-Fayed.html



Michael Jackson joins our hideous collection of public sculpture, courtesy of Mohamed Fayed



Our streets and stations are home to a rogues' gallery of spavined mannequins, laments Michael Simkins.

Striking: the statue of Michael Jackson Mohamed Al Fayed has bestowed upon Fulham FC Photo: Action Images


By Michael Simkins 7:00PM BST 09 Apr 2011
62 Comments

Many people have condemned the statue of Michael Jackson plonked outside Fulham FC last week by the club's owner, Mohammed Fayed, as a monstrosity. Call me a barbarian, but I find myself rather taken with it. With its garish hues and skin the consistency of modelling putty, it may have more than a touch of Toys R Us. But at least it accurately resembles the singer, if only for a brief period in the mid-1990s, in between various surgical enhancements.

What is it about British sculpture nowadays? Anyone walking through central London, where outstanding examples from the last three centuries abound, could be forgiven for thinking we're world leaders in the field. Yet in recent years, we seem to have lost the manual. How else can you explain the rogues' gallery of spavined mannequins that litters our streets and squares?

Whether it's the figure of Bessie Braddock at Liverpool Lime Street, or The Family in Milton Keynes, which resembles a group of refugees from Thunderbirds, too many recent examples seem (to my untutored eye) to be at best lumpen and lifeless, and at worst utterly unrecognisable.

The grosser aberrations may have hoovered up much of the publicity and opprobrium – I'm thinking here of the 2007 statue of Southampton footballer Ted Bates, which was removed from outside the ground after fans accused it of looking like one of the Krankies – but there are many less obvious miscreants.

Among my personal bêtes noires is the statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel at Paddington that's closer to Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger; The Commuter at Birmingham Snow Hill, who brings back happy memories of the Homepride flour graders (users of the line assure me the figure is actually the petrified remains of a real passenger, still waiting for the delayed 18.07 to Droitwich); and the hubristically titled The Spirit of Cricket, which stands outside the Priory Meadow shopping centre in Hastings.

Related Articles
Al Fayed defends his tribute to Jackson
04 Apr 2011
This last figure is intended to commemorate more than 100 years of the professional game, as it was once played on the site. But far from evoking the artistry of Compton and Hobbs, it seems to depict the BBC's economics correspondent, Hugh Pym, in a sunhat, treading on his stumps while attempting a particularly cack-handed paddle shot. (I'm assured by mutual friends that Mr Pym is actually a pretty useful cricketer, who would never dream of giving his wicket away in such hapless fashion.)

The one glorious exception to this doleful litany is the figure of Sir John Betjeman on the concourse of St Pancras station. It perfectly captures not only the man himself (the tubby frame, with one hand raised to hold on to his trilby) but his spirit as well, as he stares up, with a mixture of absorption and awe, at the magnificent vaulted roof of a building he was instrumental in saving.

Yet even here, we've managed to bugger it up. Poor Sir John is dwarfed by a nearby monstrosity 10 times his size called The Kiss, depicting two lovers locked in a sleazy embrace, the whole 10-ton edifice looking as if it's just been transported from the pre-Glasnost Soviet Union. That Sir John should have to gaze upon it morning, noon and night is surely too much to bear.

The American intellectual Susan Sontag once wrote: "Much of modern art is devoted to lowering the threshold of what is terrible." Perhaps Mr Fayed should consider putting her statue up beside Jacko's.

[White Noise]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8436127/Manchester-United-2-Fulham-0-match-report.html


Manchester United 2 Fulham 0: match report


Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on Saturday April 9.

MANCHESTER UNITED2 - 0
FTFULHAM Saturday, April 09 15:00
Premier League
Old TraffordBerbatov (12)Antonio Valencia (32) (HT 2-0)
ATT: 75,339 


On top: Dimitar Berbatov celebrates scoring Manchester United's first goal in their defeat of Fulham Photo: GETTY IMAGES

By Mark Ogden, Old Trafford 4:45PM BST 09 Apr 2011

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Dimitar Berbatov pressed his claims to maintain Manchester United's Treble bid in the absence of the suspended Wayne Rooney by putting the league leaders on course for victory against Fulham at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson's team moved ten points clear of second-placed Arsenal, who face Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on Sunday, by cruising to the three points against Mark Hughes's team.

With Antonio Valencia scoring the second before half-time, United were able to conserve energies ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea.

And they also proved they can cope without Rooney, who will also miss next Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley.

Berbatov may be United's club record signing following his £30.75m arrival from Tottenham in Sept 2008, but the Bulgarian continues to struggle to claim a regular starting place in Ferguson's team.

This was only his third start in 12 games and, had Wayne Rooney been available rather than beginning a two-match ban for swearing into a television camera at West Ham last week, Berbatov might have been forced to watch another game from the dug-out.

It has been a mystifying fall from grace for the 30 year-old. He remains the Premier League's leading goalscorer and his match-winning goal against Bolton last month, after coming on as a substitute, was a crucial strike for United on a day when Arsenal dropped points at West Bromwich.

Berbatov's measured performance, again as a substitute, during the second-half fightback at Upton Park last Saturday was another example of his ability to turn games in United's favour, but he was back on the bench for the Champions league victory at Chelsea in midweek.

If he is unhappy with his reduced involvement, though, Berbatov does not show and public utterances of discontent has been conspicuous by their absence. He is letting his football do the talking and, once again, he proved a point with another goal against Fulham.

Although it came as early as the twelfth minute, it was a turning point nonetheless. Fulham had started brightly, with Gael Kakuta, Moussa Dembele and Bobby Zamora all going close inside the opening ten minutes.

An unfamiliar United starting XI, without Rooney and the rested Edwin van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick, could have wobbled had they suffered the blow of conceding early.

But Berbatov's opener settled nerves and snuffed out Fulham's early confidence. The fact that the forward was offside when he received the ball from Nani might also alleviate the sense within Old Trafford that United have no luck when it comes to officials making tight calls.

Nani's dribble 30 yards out saw him play a one-two with Anderson before he threading the ball to Berbatov. The striker peeled away from his marker before guiding a right-foot shot past Mark Schwarzer to register his 21stgoal of the season and, from that point on, United were firmly on control.

Anderson should have extended their lead on 20 minutes when he shot from 12 yards, but Nani, overlooked for the seven-man shortlist for PFA Footballer of the Year, made another key contribution on 32 minutes when he teed up Valencia for the second goal.

With the exposed Brede Hangeland playing Nani onside, the Portuguese winger sprinted free down the left before racing past the stranded Schwarzer, who had attempted to deal with the situation on the edge of the penalty area.

Having rounded the Australian, Nani clipped the ball to Valencia at the far post, where the Ecuadorean headed in his first goal since returning from a six-month ankle injury lay-off last month.

Valencia almost created a third for United two minutes into the second-half following another dart past the overworked full-back Carlos Salcido.

Valencia's pass picked out Anderson, but the midfielder's shot was saved by Schwarzer.

United struggled to create the opening for a decisive third goal, however, and Fulham twice went close to halving the deficit.

Eidur Gudjohnsen brought a fingertip save from Tomasz Kuszczak with a 25-yard strike before Zamora sent a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar.

United never appeared in real danger, however, and it appeared as though they were happy to coast through the final half hour in order to conserve energies ahead of their next encounter against the other half of west London on Tuesday evening when Chelsea head to Old Trafford for the Champions League quarter-final second-leg.

If United can wrap up that game as quickly as this one, the quest for the Treble will gather increasing pace.

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http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/84492.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Ferguson critical of 'casual' United


ESPNsoccernet staff


April 9, 2011


Sir Alex Ferguson watched his side go ten points clear of title rivals Arsenal but was far from happy with the nature of Manchester United's performance during their 2-0 win over Fulham.

Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia grabbed the goals as United eased past the Cottagers at Old Trafford, but despite increasing their lead at the top of the table Ferguson wasn't impressed with his players.

"It was a result but I wouldn't say it was a job well done at all," he said. "We were a bit casual and lackadaisical.

"In the first half we played some very good football and could have scored a couple more, but we became wasteful with our possession in the second and might have suffered for that."

Arsenal can reduce the gap to seven with a win at Blackpool on Sunday, but with games running out, United's lead looks to be formidable.

Berbatov's strike was his 22nd of the season and Ferguson purred over the move that led to the opener. "That was a great goal,'' said Ferguson, who made eight changes in total, although he denied he had taken Fulham lightly. "You trust the squad. It wasn't a risk when you know the players. I picked the right team.''

Ferguson has already confirmed Valencia will start against Chelsea in the second leg of United's Champions League quarter-final with Chelsea on Tuesday. The Ecuador star has stepped superbly back into the heat of combat after spending six months on the sidelines with a major knee injury.

He nodded home the loose ball after Aaron Hughes had cleared Nani's goalbound shot, his first goal since August's Community Shield. "Valencia is a marvellous footballer," Ferguson said.

"We chose the right time to take him off and get him fresh for Tuesday. He will have an important role to play then."

It was the brightest part of Ferguson's afternoon given his well-fancied horse, What A Friend, failed to complete the Grand National at Aintree. "Apparently What a Friend was lying seventh three fences out," he said, "but he came home tired."

Mark Hughes said his old club are on course for the Treble, even if he accepts United still have plenty of work ahead of them to emulate the heroes of 1999. "They could win everything," he said.

"They are ticking games off and when you get to this stage of the season, they have been here, understand what needs to happen and what it takes. It is a big ask. Sir Alex would say himself it is very difficult to do, but trust me, it is something they will try and achieve. Good luck to them.''

If all goes to plan, United's season still has 12 games to go and will reach its conclusion in the Champions League final at Wembley on May 28.

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Hughes' United Reaction


Saturday 9th April 2011




Speaking after Saturday's Barclays Premier League encounter between Fulham and Manchester United at Old Trafford, Mark Hughes gave his post match assessment of the Whites' two-nil defeat.

"I thought we started brightly enough," said the Fulham Manager. "We had a couple of opportunities early on. I was reasonably pleased with the start that we made but obviously the first goal was a poor one to concede.

"We shouldn't have allowed that situation to develop, we had opportunities to get our foot in, get bodies across and stop that opportunity at source.

"At one-nil down you need to get back into the game quickly but we conceded another poor goal, it was a comedy of errors really. From their [United's] point of view, they could get people behind the ball and just play counter attack, which they did.

"We're disappointed with our first-half performance, when you come to United you have to give yourself a platform by having everyone playing well.

"But we got ourselves together in the second-half and made a better fist of it, but we never really looked like we were going to get back on level terms. On the day they were worthy winners."


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/April/HughesUnitedReaction.aspx#ixzz1J6ZfmIxJ

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Manchester United Photo Special


Saturday 9th April 2011

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/April/UnitedPhotoSpecial.aspx

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Manchester United 2 - 0 Fulham

With just two defeats in their last 11 league games, Mark Hughes' side entered the game in confident mood. Well aware of the Whites' fine form, his counterpart, Sir Alex Ferguson, took nothing for granted in naming a strong starting XI despite his team's imminent Champions League Quarter-Final second-leg.

Manchester United were missing the suspended duo Wayne Rooney and Jonny Evans, but Paul Scholes did return after serving his own ban, while former Fulham centre-back Chris Smalling came in for Rio Ferdinand.

Fulham without winger Damien Duff, as a result of a sore Achilles and an injured Simon Davies, saw on-loan French youngster Gael Kakuta make his first start for the Club.

The Whites had last won at Old Trafford in October 2003, when Lee Clark, Steed Malbranque and Junichi Inamoto were on target in a 3-1 victory, yet despite a positive start this was another trip to forget.

Mousa Dembélé cut in from the right to shoot, and his low strike forced a decent save from Tomasz Kuszcak, while the Belgian's strike partner, Bobby Zamora, also unnerved the United defence, losing the attentions of Smalling before firing wide.

At the other end Nani had one shot expertly blocked by Aaron Hughes, while Brazilian midfielder Anderson fired over from a good position as the hosts began to control the early exchanges.

And it was from one such spell of possession that United took the lead, with a clever interchange on the edge of the Fulham box creating room for Dimitar Berbatov, who casually slotted the ball into the bottom right corner of the net on 11 minutes from close range.

United's opener was unquestionably debatable, with the Bulgarian striker seemingly edging into an offside position, however, referee Michael Jones waved away Fulham's appeals.

Nani teased a ball into Schwarzer's box as the home side sought a second, but fortunately the Australian stopper beat the on-running Berbatov to the ball.

However, the 'keeper was beaten to the chase on 31 minutes, with Nani pushing the ball past Schwarzer's advances and chipping at goal from the angle. With the ball goal bound, Hughes could only direct its elevation into the path of Valencia, who headed home United's second with the simplest of finishes.

As United finished the half on top, Hughes had to make a fantastic last ditch intervention from another teasing cross from Valencia, with Berbatov lurking in the Fulham goal mouth.

The second-half opened with an imposing run at goal from Clint Dempsey, although within three minutes Schwarzer was needed to beat away a chance for Valencia, while Darron Gibson fired high and wide from the resulting corner.

Dempsey made a good block to deny Gibson a further strike at goal when getting his body in the way of an in-swinging cross from Nani, while Hughes blocked another opportunity, this time from Valencia's delivery from the right.

Fulham did unsettle their hosts in patches, with Dempsey seeing one strike from distance deflected wide, and substitute Eidur Gudjohnsen going close with a fantastic curled effort on the hour.

The lively Kakuta won a fortunate free-kick on the edge of the United area with 20 minutes left on the clock as the Whites threatened once more, but Zamora's subsequent set piece curled wide of the upright.

With Zoltan Gera replacing the more defensive Dickson Etuhu, Manager Mark Hughes underlined his intentions of taking the game to the club where he had a distinct reputation as a player.

And he was almost instantly rewarded when Dempsey and Zamora combined to find Chris Baird unmarked on the right, but the Northern Ireland international's stinging shot dipped over the hosts' goal.

Relatively untroubled in the second period, Schwarzer did well to hold late efforts from Berbatov and John O'Shea, while Brede Hangeland did well to stop a threatening run from the impressive Nani.

The Whites could well have had more to show from an improved second-half showing, however, it was seemingly one of those afternoons for Mark Hughes' side. At Craven Cottage, Fulham have discovered a knack of upsetting United, with two wins and one draw in their last three encounters but it appears Old Trafford is a different proposition.

Unbeaten in the league at home this season, Manchester United look good to claim a record 19th league title. For Fulham, it may have been a day to forget, but with games against Wolves, Bolton and Sunderland on the horizon a top 10 finish is still very much the ambition.

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/MatchAndTeam/MatchCentre/Matches/1011/Premiership/ManUnitedAway.aspx#ixzz1J6b9ljkc

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Fulham powerless to stop Man United red tide

By Yann Tear


Apr 9 2011




Man United 2-0 Fulham

FULHAM showed plenty of spirit at Old Trafford, but not enough firepower to seriousy discomfort the league leaders - who never looked in danger of surrendering an early lead.

Dimitar Berbatov netted after 12 minutes after being set up by Nani and the same provider put in a cross for Antonio Valencia to head home number two in 32 minutes.

United made eight changes from the team which played Chelsea in the midweek Champions League tie and they did not need to strain tehmselves ahead of the return leg on Tuesday night.

Eidur Gudjohnsen went close for Fulham at the start of the second half, while a Bobby Zamora free-kick and Chris Baird strike might have brought reward, but it was mostly comfortable for the champions-elect, who hardly missed the suspended Wayne Rooney.

Mark Hughes gave a rare start to Gael Kakuta (pictured), who had one good effort from long distance, but Fulham looked a long way off repeatingn their famous win of 2003 at United.

The Fulham boss said: "We gave ourselves too much to do in that first half. We're a little bit disappointed with the first goal because we felt it was offside and after that we conceded a really poor goal after a comedy of errors really. 2-0 played into United's hands and they could very comfortably see the game out.

"We were better in the second half, but never really had that threat in behind because United could play counter-attack football and soak up any pressure we could try to create."

"Our record at Old Trafford is poor to say the least and anything we would have got today would have been a bonus.

"When you come to the home of the champions elect is very difficult to get a positive result. I don't think anyone else apart from one team has managed that and we didn't look likely to change that."


Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/04/09/fulham-powerless-to-stop-man-united-red-tide-64767-28491873/#ixzz1J6bSh8QK

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http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11681_6862039,00.html

Hughes holds hands up


Boss believes Cottagers were below-par at Old Trafford


Last Updated: April 9, 2011 6:53pm



Mark Hughes held his hands up and admitted Fulham were not good enough in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Nani provided both assists as first half goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia sunk the Cottagers.

The defeat and results elsewhere saw Hughes' side drop to 11th in the table with 38 points - six above the relegation zone.

"We gave ourselves too much to do today," Hughes told Sky Sports.

"Once we'd conceded the first goal - which I'm a little bit disappointed about because it obviously was offside and shouldn't have counted - but the second goal coming almost immediately after that was a real body blow for us and at that point - 2-0 down - it is very difficult for us to have an impression on the game because United have been in this situation many, many times before.

"They get people behind the ball and just play counter-attacks from that point of view, so that's the situation we found ourselves.

"It is up to us to get the points on the board, we are more than capable."

Mark Hughes

Quotes of the week

"We were better second half but really that was more to do with United seeing the game out comfortably."

But Hughes is confident his side can stay up this term.

"It is up to us to get the points on the board, we are more than capable," he said.

"Today we didn't hit anything like the level we know we're capable of but we have got other games where we played exceptionally well.

"Today we were up against a very good team so we have to hold our hands up and we weren't good enough today."