Friday Fulham Stuff (27/05/11)...

[WhiteJC]

http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2011/5/26/2191504/fingers-crossed-that-hughes-signs-on?

Fingers Crossed that Hughes Signs On

It seems strange that a young man with a playing record of such success, triumph and sensation can ply a twelve year trade in management and still not advertise a single trophy to defend his brazen credentials.

Throughout five years at the helm of the Welsh National team, four years at Blackburn Rovers and a short stint with the richest team in world football, Manchester City, Mark Hughes has failed to lift a single trophy; not a Carling Cup, not an F.A Cup and certainly not a Premier League title.

His experience in the field of football management is narrow at best and the prosperities that the Welshman has enjoyed in those twelve years have been small and always insignificant compared to the dizzying heights that peers around him seem to achieve.



Despite a tender age and a relative naivety, though, he's one of a conveyor belt of coaches that have attained knowledge from a fountain of pure wisdom that most would pay to the high heavens to gain.

Sir Alex Ferguson, like any astute manager of his day, had the subliminal talents to rub off on all around him, which is why the Premier League is becoming ever more laden with managers that have risen from the Ferguson talent pool; those who have learnt his ways and understood his methods. Steve Bruce, despite fluctuating loyalties, was fresh off of the production line a few years ago and it wasn't long before he was being hailed as England's possible next saviour.

Things haven't gone quite as well for Bruce of late, though, but in Mark Hughes there is a man who not only reflects the palpably resplendent talents of Sir Alex Ferguson, but manages to incorporate those attributes to a youthful, passionate and understanding personality. This makes for a coach that is aware of the depths in the beautiful game and he can expose his intelligence with an unrivalled ruthlessness.

This rather gratifying CV, however, didn't seem to quite cut the grade for Mohammed Al Fayed last Summer. Martin Jol was first choice after Roy Hodgson departed, with his fanciful style of play and eye for a superstar. The Dutchman, though, set about embarrassing Al Fayed and the club that he so passionately owns, and, after toying with the prospect for far too long, pulled out.

The rejection, supposedly, left Fulham with 'second best'. It was as though we had been forced into a corner and Mark Hughes, probably a little red faced and slightly bitter at the time, was offered the job. He duly accepted and a rocky partnership came into fruition.

That his appointment was met with mere mumblings of support was no surprise, then. Fulham fans were pleased, but not astounded at the choice in manager and their opinions were reflected in what was a jagged, inconsistent and demoralising start to the season. Murphy, Hangeland and the like would never say so, but the team wasn't gelling as expected under the new regime and Craven Cottage was filled with the atmosphere of old; negativity and pessimism.

A shameful 3-1 home defeat in late December left Mark Hughes' men in the relegation zone and it appeared, even to the most merry of fans, that the hard work of the Hodgson era had been undone in a modest five months filled with few signings, few victories and little ambition.

Mexican left back Carlos Salcido already looked a deficient specimen, defunct of any comprehension of the pace and physicality that is so widely reported in the Premier League. John Pantsil was no longer the man he was and even the assured days of old in Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes seemed to be dissipating.

'We're going to be an end-of-season-team', consistently claimed the manager, but few took his words without seasoning them with salt.

Perhaps we all should have listened though, as the results began to flood in. A double salvo from Chris Baird at the Brittania Stadium kick started what was a stupendous turn in form. By the time forty points had been reached, even travelling Fulham fans had a reason to be jubilant and expectant as they boarded their respective coaches, as Hughes undermined the tactical negativity that Hodgson had installed on Fulham's away days, and produced positive displays at both Sunderland and Birmingham.

Given the spout of good form, Hughes began to emerge from his shell, too. His temperament may have sometimes been sticky but his commitment to the cause was ever present; no more evident than at Molyneux where a water bottle received a bout of rough justice.

And, this passion is a new thing to us Fulham fans. Roy Hodgson rarely showed it and to claim that Lawrie Sanchez had any good intentions would deem you clinically insane. Mark Hughes, despite a lack of genuine support for the club, shows such devotion, affection and intensity for our humble club that you'd think Fulham FC were his spouse.

All of this makes you think, predecessors aside, that there is no better manager to lead this club into Europe. The team is finally his own and he's aware of its extremities.

So please, Mr Hughes, put us out of our misery and sign a new contract.

[WhiteJC]

http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/05/cookie-goes-greek/?

Cookie goes Greek
by DAN on MAY 26, 2011

In a somewhat surprising development, former Fulham boss Chris Coleman has been announced today as the new manager of Greek side Larissa.

Coleman, who has been out of work since being sacked by Coventry City in May, has accepted an initial one-year contract with an option for two more and will receive a substantial bonus should Larissa bounce back to the Greek Super League at the first time of asking after their relegation this term.

Coleman has had disappointing spells at Real Sociedad and the Ricoh Arena since being sacked by Fulham in April 2007 after presiding over seven straight games without a win which left the Whites perilously close to the relegation zone. A legend at centre back during a successful playing career at the Cottage, we wish him all the best in his new job.

[WhiteJC]

http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/stats-can-tell-you-anything-you-want-them-to/?

Stats can tell you anything you want them to
Filed under: General — timmyg

Based on our current coefficients, we're better than Celtic! Wahoo!

51 Fulham FC Eng 3.3250 3.5750 3.0000 26.5856 3.6714 40.157
54 Celtic Sco 12.3500 12.0500 7.3750 5.5332 2.2200 39.528

[WhiteJC]

http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s192/st168876.htm

Ex Baggies star in shock return to the Hawthorns?

Newspapers in London are this evening reporting the possible shock return of Zoltan Gera to West Bromwich Albion.  The Fulham midfielder left the Hawthorns three years ago, and his contract is due to expire this summer.  Whilst the 32 year old has not ruled out extending his stay at Fulham, sources close to the player believe he may prefer a move away from The Cottage.

Gera has made 100 appearances for Fulham since moving from West Brom three years ago, but he is now expected to hook up with Baggies boss Roy Hodgson at the Hawthorns, the same manager who brought him to Fulham.

Fulham boss Mark Hughes is expected to hold talks with the midfielder in a last ditch attempt to keep him at the London club.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.footballtransfertavern.com/2011/05/premiership/hughes-4m-duo-will-add-attacking-flair-to-fulham?

HUGHES' £4M DUO WILL ADD ATTACKING FLAIR TO FULHAM

Having struggled without their talisman striker Bobby Zamora for part of the season. Fulham boss Mark Hughes is determined for lightning not to strike twice if the unthinkable happens again.

The Welshmen is keen to add to his attacking options, keeping tabs on Young Boy's striker Henri Bienvenu. The 22 year old has produced an impressive return of 12 goals in 23 starts for the Swiss club this season.

The Cameroonian's contract runs out in 2013, making him available for around the £2m mark. Seen as a cheaper alternative to Espanyol striker Daniel Osvaldo, with the former Manchester city manager being put off by Italo- Argentine's price tag.

Hughes is also interested in ex Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair. Having proved a revelation for Swansea this season, netting 19 times in the league for the Welsh club. The England under-21 international's sensational form has catapulted Swansea into being one game off joining the top table of English football. The Daily Mail reports Hughes is ready to make an offer, with the Swan's promotion being the only setback to a possible deal.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.epltalk.com/3-problems-with-the-europa-league-a-fulham-fan's-perspective-31911?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EPLTalk+%28EPL+Talk%29

3 Problems With The Europa League: A Fulham Fan's Perspective


Photo by nicksarebi

As the black sheep of the European Football family, the Europa League has been treated to more cold shoulders than a boob tube convention in December. But it wasn't always this way. In a doomed re-branding exercise the erstwhile UEFA Cup has become a bloated, convoluted, energy sapping chore of a competition that only retains the interest of those teams for whom European football is a novelty. But we should all still cherish it.

Today Fulham were the latest English team to enter the competition, via the Fair Play League, a tenuous and not altogether transparent qualification process that brings with it the unexpected and increasingly unwelcome prospect of a season that starts in June.

The problems with the Europa League are three fold:


1) The bloated, convoluted element referred to above,

2) the kicking it gets from the media and other commentators, and

3) the valorisation of the Champions League, as well as the riches on offer from it, to the point that it now seems like the only show in town.

It was not that long ago that a biscuit baron bought West Ham, illegitimately signed some genuinely good players, and spoke of bringing Champions League football to the Boleyn (How did that go then?). By opening the door to the Champions League wide enough to let 4 fattened footballing geese to squeeze through, suddenly everyone starts believing in going from A to C, whilst bypassing B altogether. And thus the Europa League found itself as B, like that small town that finds itself bypassed by a motorway and is only ever visited by those too tired, hungry, or lost to travel on by. And so along with the once proud competition, a philosophy of sustainable growth and having realistic ambitions were deemed surplus to the requirements of glory. In the media love-in for the Champions League that followed, thousands of football fans were effectively disregarded, condescended into believing that European football was not always, in fact, something to cheer about. Their footballing dreams were relegated by ridicule, afraid now to speak their name.

Whilst the stigma of Europa League football has been well documented, the nay-sayers have had their voices heard far too loudly. As a football fan I believe that many, like me, think the Europa League is a fundamentally flawed tournament, but cringe when they hear their club's players or manager say that to be in it would be "an inconvenience", or something that they would rather do without. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has probably been the most guilty of this in recent weeks, and whilst he has been more vocal than most, I suspect he is not alone amongst managers in feeling this way. Recently Fulham's Brede Hangeland made some innocuous comments about needing rest and how early entry into the Europa League via the fair play placings would be far from ideal. Even this tactful admission made me, a Fulham fan, wince with disappointment. Surely the Norwegian is aware that it is perfectly possible for the club to take part, for him to have his rest, the club to top up its coffers, and the fans to have a good time?

Put simply, the Europa League, Carling Cup or any trophy you care to mention, ought not be an "inconvenience" for any professional football club. That is a lazy excuse and a shirking of one's responsibilities as a player or as a manager. If your club's manager suggests qualification for any tournament is unwanted, ask yourself who he's putting first. It wouldn't wash in any other industry ("I don't care how good for business it would be if I went, or how good a networking opportunity it is. I'm tired!"). Step up to the challenge and realise it was a privilege to be asked to attend.

No-one is calling for clubs to play full strength sides all the way through, but with a squad of 25+ pros available, and fans who give more to the club than most of the players ever will, to make flippant pronouncements about playing some games of football radically misses the point and smacks of contempt for the fans. Fulham are a good albeit convenient and not altogether typical example of what second tier European football can bring. Would Harry Redknapp really prefer a year out of European football rather than experience a run to the final of the Europa like the Cottagers last year? You know what, maybe he would, and we should feel sorry for him as he must have lost his passion for the game. But you can be damn sure the fans wouldn't. Incidentally Fulham's run brought them £12million in revenue, but don't let that get in the way of what is an unashamedly romantic argument.

Even the so called big guns of Liverpool and Manchester City deigned to play Europa League football this season with good grace. Neither can be said to have been adversely effected by the experience, and the fans, I'm sure, enjoyed the experience (although for the rest of us, it did inflict "The Poznan" on England). The biggest threat to the credibility of the Europa League isn't to be found in the make up of the tournament itself, rather it is in the self perpetuating hum of scorn emanating from the media and certain managers and players alike. These voices have a unique position when it comes to setting the agenda of the chatter amongst football fans. The reality is that this tone of commentary is harmful to the game, harmful to any trophy that isn't the Premier League or Champions League, and offensive to the vast majority of hard working football fans who can speak for themselves, but who in debates over the relevance or otherwise of the Europa League, too often go unheard.

UEFA aren't blameless and the competition needs an overhaul, but in the meantime, why not respect a trophy rich in history, why not realise that a squad can be rotated, and most important of all, why not realise that it ought to be the goal of every self respecting football club to put silverware in the trophy cabinet and offer a bank of memorable experiences to the loyal fans who just want something to cheer about. I might be alone amongst fans in feeling this way. But I doubt it.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/192999/Steve-Sidwell-We-ll-give-EU-fair-crack/?

STEVE SIDWELL: WE'LL GIVE EU FAIR CRACK

STEVE SIDWELL insists Fulham are up for another Europa League campaign – even though it means being back in action in less than FIVE weeks.

The Cottagers pipped relegated Blackpool to a spot in next season's competition via the Fair Play League.

Fulham actually finished fourth in the Fair Play table, but the three clubs above them – Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United – had already qualified for Europe.

There were fears that a late flurry of yellow cards and Zoltan Gera's final-day dismissal against Arsenal might end Fulham's hopes.

But Mark Hughes' men edged out the Seasiders by the narrowest of margins – 0.01 points – in the final Fair Play table.

Blackpool's bad behaviour on the touchlines this season is one of the main reasons they missed out.

The Seasiders were awarded just 175 points – the lowest of all Premier League clubs and 21 less than Fulham – for the conduct of boss Ian Holloway and his staff in the technical area on matchdays.

Fulham enjoyed some of the most famous nights in their history the last time they entered the Europa League.

They went on a roller-coaster run, beating Juventus, Wolfsburg and then holders Shakhtar Donetsk before losing to Atletico Madrid in the final.

If qualifying again is good news, the bad news is that their opening game will be the first leg of a qualifier on Thursday June 30.

But midfielder Sidwell said: "Playing in Europe tests you and at any stage of your career it is a highlight.

"I've been fortunate enough to taste Champions League football when I was at Chelsea and also played in the Europa League at Aston Villa.

"It's a good competition and with the achievements the club made last season, I'm sure we will want to go far in it again.

"Coming back early doesn't really help because the demands of the Premier League are very tough.

"To add the Europa League does take a toll on the squad. But if you get a bit of luck along the way it can be successful."

Fulham had their fair share of trips to far-flung destinations in their previous Europa League campaign.

And they could be set for another with teams from countries such as Azerbaijan, Moldova, Macedonia, Lithuania and Liechtenstein also in the hat for the first qualifying round.

Fulham will find out who they will face when the draw is made at UEFA's HQ in Nyon, Switzerland, on June 20.

[WhiteJC]

Gera poised to rejoin West Brom after turning his back on Fulham offer

Zoltan Gera may return to West Brom after rejecting a deal at Fulham.

Blackburn, Newcastle and Sunderland are chasing Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson and Rovers want Schalke's Jermaine Jones.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1391327/Zoltan-Gera-poised-rejoin-West-Brom-turning-Fulham-offer.html#ixzz1NX7VQqM5

[WhiteJC]

http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2011/5/26/2191462/rumours-in-brief

Rumours in Brief

West Bromwich Albion are said to be close to tying up a deal with their former employee, Zoltan Gera, while DJ Campbell may have caught Mark Hughes' eye with a £1.25 million buy-out clause.

Hungarian winger Gera, despite the step back he took in midweek over claims he wants to quit Craven Cottage, looks set to re-unite not only with his former club, West Brom, but his former manager, Roy Hodgson, who certainly looks favourably upon the 32-year-old who played such a key part in Hodgson's European exploits. He had said, recently, that it wasn't 'certain' he would quit, after a season of invariably watching on from the sidelines. However, an opportunity to play under the tutorship of Hodgson again is likely to see him leave London. His contract expires next month so no fee would be required.

On the way in could be Blackpool striker DJ Campbell who has impressed the critics during his side's brief Premier League campaign. Both Hughes and Sunderland manager Steve Bruce have perked their heads up at the aforementioned news of Campbell's meagre release clause. He's scored 13 goals this season under Ian Holloway and at times has even been touted as a potential international as Capello's choices dwindle up front. Andy Johnson may well be on the way out and Mark Hughes feels the experience Campbell has gained at the highest level could provide perfect backup for the likes of Bobby Zamora and Moussa Dembele. Steve Bruce may well be more desperate to land the former non-League star, though.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2011/05/27/greening-issues-fulham-ultimatum-64767-28771234/?

Greening issues Fulham ultimatum

JONATHAN Greening has issued a plea to Fulham boss Mark Hughes to 'use me or let me go' after a frustrating season spent mainly on the sidelines.

The ex-Manchester United midfielder does not want a repeat of a campaign in which he started only half-a-dozen games.

He would rather move on in the summer if Hughes is not going to give him a bigger role.

"I've got one more year on my contract, but I've had a word with the gaffer and he understands that I'm 32 now and want to play more than I have done this year," said Greening.

"I played in the last two games, but I didn't play for six months. My last game was in October, or something like that, and I've only made five or six starts.

"When you're used to playing 50-odd games a year, it's quite hard, but I still feel I'm good enough to play in the Premier League.

"I love the club, but when you're getting to my age, the clock's ticking."

Greening added: "I'm happy to stay if he plays me more often, but we'll have to see what happens in the summer.

"I've said if you're not going to play me, it would be in everyone's best interests to let me go.

"He was fine with that. He's a real nice guy and understands. But really, the ball's in his court now.

"If he wants me around and wants to involve me in games, then that's fine. There aren't many better places to be than this place."

[WhiteJC]

http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_1_7779_season-review-fulham-âÃ,€Ã,Â"-year-of-transition-memorable-in-the-end.html?

Season review: Fulham – Year of transition memorable in the end

By Matt Domm
Friday 27 May 2011

A season of transition for Fulham ended with a remarkable second-half fight-back with the ultimate reward of European qualification, albeit via the back door, as the Whites comfortably cleared the relegation dogfight and edged out Blackpool in the UEFA Fair Play table.

The decision from Mohamed Al-Fayed to replace defensively-minded manager Roy Hodgson with the attacking, more direct tactician Mark Hughes was a statement of intent, and one which had paid off come the end of the season. The search for a new manager seemed endless, and it wasn't until just a few weeks before the season kicked off that Hughes was appointed after an ultimately fruitless flirtation with Dutchman Martin Jol.

With the players forced to adapt to a new philosophy in no time at all there is little surprise Hughes' first few months in charge were difficult, with the team drawing six of their first seven league games. Hughes' start was summed up by the early Bobby Zamora leg break which left the Welshman without his main forward for much of the season. Even early on, however, there was a notable improvement in away performances, with the fans being treated to a team that was now looking to take games to the home team and a manager who made attacking substitutions rather than resting on his laurels.

While the performances were up and down, the points were not consistently arriving. Boxing Day was to become the ultimate low-point of Fulham's season, after a humiliating 3-1 home defeat to previously bottom West Ham left Hughes' men rooted in the bottom three after a run of seven games without a win. Certain players more than others could not get to grips with the new style of play – John Pantsil struggled with the higher defensive line and would end up equalling the Premier League own-goals record with three.

The New Year, however, brought with it new fortunes, and just as the Whites were stronger in the second half of most games all season, so too were they in the section half of the league season. After the low point of the Christmas period, things suddenly clicked into place, and with 13 points gained in the next seven games the Whites were comfortably mid-table by the start of February. Roy Hodgson's solid-at-the-back philosophy remained, while the attacking contingent took to the manager's preferred use of the wings – Simon Davies in particular impressing as the season reached a climax.

There were several games from January to May in which it was clear the players were now Mark Hughes' team – the thumping win over West Brom showing the Whites could now be a force at set-pieces, and the game that saw Fulham's best football all season, the 3-0 home win against Bolton.

The FA Cup was initially a respite from the league, but a Wembley appearance became a real possibility after a 4-0 hammering of Tottenham Hotspur. Contrary to the league, however, the Whites faded against Bolton and were knocked out one step short.

The fair play Hodgson instilled remained evident until the last few games of the season, which culminated in what will be Fulham's second Europa League adventure in three seasons, a just reward for the dogged New Year determination.

Manager – Mark Hughes: Arrived late in summer after the public courting of Martin Jol with little time to make an early impact. He changed a lot, from the backroom staff to the playing style, and it took time to have an impact. But after Boxing Day his players have not looked back. The signings of Moussa Dembele and Steve Sidwell have proven shrewd.

Player of the season - Clint Dempsey: Stepped up in the absence of Bobby Zamora and his brilliance kept Fulham above water. In an unfavoured target striker role for the most part, his 12 goals and 3 assists - a direct involvement in 25% of Fulham's league goals - shows his influence cannot be understated.

Turning Point - Response to the Boxing Day defeat: The 2-0 victory at Stoke two days after the West Ham loss gave Fulham their first away win, lifted them out of the bottom three and gave them a platform on which to climb. And climb they did, with 30 points from the second half of the season, compared with just 19 before January.

Average starting XI:

Schwarzer

Baird - Hughes - Hangeland - Salcido

Duff - Etuhu - Murphy - Davies

Dempsey - Dembele

[WhiteJC]

European Nights

Having played such an integral role in Fulham's last European adventure, midfielder Jonathan Greening sees no reason why Mark Hughes' squad cannot enjoy another successful run in the UEFA Europa League this season.

Greening was at the heart of some memorable European nights during the 2009/10 season, including Fulham's remarkable 3-2 victory over FC Basel in Switzerland that qualified the Whites for the latter stages of the UEFA Europa League, and the Fulham man is relishing the challenge that awaits his Team in Europe this year.

"Last time we managed to combine all four competitions really well and I think we've got the squad of players to do it again," Greening told fulhamfc.com. "I know the manager wants to add some players as well, so why not. We've done it once, why can't we do it again?

"I don't think coming back early will be a problem. The boys are quite fit anyway and there's plenty of time when we can have days off during the season and I'm sure the lads would rather be playing against some of the best teams in Europe than sat on a beach somewhere. I know I would.

"A club like ours will relish the challenge. We know we're probably a few years off the Champions League, so we should take this chance with open arms. I was involved in most of the games two years ago and have great memories – especially the Juventus game.

"The whole tournament really was special. The performance against Shakhtar Donetsk away from home was amazing and being involved in the Final itself, apart from losing, was a great experience."



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/GreeningEuropaAction.aspx#ixzz1NXavuUtf

[WhiteJC]

Back on Tour

Fulham will be back in UEFA Europa League action next season after qualifying for the competition through the Barclays Premier League Fair Play rankings on Thursday.

The Whites were, without doubt, the story of the 2009/10 competition - reaching the Final following a memorable run that saw the Team knock out the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, Wolfsburg and Hamburg.

And with the Team set to report back to Motspur Park early for their pre-season preparations, midfielder Steve Sidwell is looking forward to a challenging campaign.

"It's a chance to test yourself and to play in Europe and at any stage of your career that is a highlight," Sidwell told fulhamfc.com. "I have been fortunate to taste Champions League football whilst I was at Chelsea. The Europa League is a good competition and obviously with the achievements the Club made here two seasons back, we want to go far in it.

"The demand of Premier League games is very tough, let alone a full Premier League season. There is no denying the fact that the Premier League is the highest league in the world, so to go into that you need a fit squad and you need a big squad.

"You've got to try and stay injury free and if you get a bit of luck along the way it can be successful. There are different ways of looking at it, but whatever the outcome is, we are professional enough to take it in our stride and give our best in every game."

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/SidwellEuropaPreview.aspx#ixzz1NXbFCW27

[WhiteJC]

Goal of the Season

A number of memorable goals were scored by the Whites during the 2010/11 campaign and now it's your chance to pick the Goal of the Season.

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/GoaloftheSeason.aspx#ixzz1NXbVfKYg

[WhiteJC]

Player of the Season

Voting for the 2010/11 Fulham Player of the Season is now open. The 2010/11 campaign saw Fulham record the second highest league finish in the Club's history.

All members of the playing squad played their part in helping the Team secure their place in the history books and we're asking you to cast your vote for the Official Player of the Season.

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/PlayeroftheSeason.aspx#ixzz1NXbpbdd4

[WhiteJC]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fulham-claim-place-in-europa-league-2289571.html?

Fulham claim place in Europa League


GETTY IMAGES
Fulham reached the final of the tournament in 2010

Fulham have qualified for next season's Europa League through the Fair Play League.

Chelsea, Spurs and Manchester United's disciplinary records were better but they had already qualified for Europe, letting in Mark Hughes' side.

The 2010 finalists' first match takes place on 30 June.

[WhiteJC]

Top Flight Memories

The completion of the 2010/11 season marks a significant landmark in the history of Fulham Football Club, as the club that was saved by Chairman Mohamed Al Fayed celebrates a decade of residence in Premier League.

The past 10 years have been some of the best in the long history of Fulham FC and to mark the achievement the Club is producing a pictorial recollection of life in the Premier League, pulling together some of best photography we can find for a lasting memento of this momentous milestone.

And we want to give you the chance to contribute your own photo memories of Fulham in the Premier League era.

Please send us your photographic memories of following the Whites, home and away, in amongst football's elite – from the first game at Old Trafford in 2001, to the recent home draw with Arsenal.

We will include the best images in the celebratory hardback publication, and if your shot is published, we will send you a free copy of the published book, signed by a member of the squad from the corresponding season.

Submit your photos to [email protected].



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/YearbookPhotos.aspx?#ixzz1NYDdW7qp

[WhiteJC]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6954570,00.html?

Sidwell up for Europa League
Cottagers midfielder believes team-mates treat Europe seriously


Steve Sidwell insists Fulham will be treating the Europa League with the utmost respect next season.

The Cottagers will be playing European football next term as Mark Hughes' side qualified via the Fair Play League.

Although Premier League action will be first and foremost among the players' minds, Sidwell does not believe the Europa League will be an unwanted distraction.

Sidwell is confident his team-mates will be keen to advance as far as possible in the competition despite the fact the extra games may take a toll on their league programme.

Highlight
"Playing in Europe tests you and at any stage of your career it is a highlight," said Sidwell.

"I've been fortunate enough to taste Champions League football when I was at Chelsea and also played in the Europa League at Aston Villa.
"It's a good competition and with the achievements the club made last season, I'm sure we will want to go far in it again.

"Coming back early doesn't really help because the demands of the Premier League are very tough.

"To add the Europa League does take a toll on the squad. But if you get a bit of luck along the way it can be successful."

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulhamweb.co.uk/news/Fulham-figure-in-Opta-highlights-of-season.aspx

FULHAM FIGURE IN OPTA HIGHLIGHTS OF SEASON

Chants are one of the few things that Opta do not keep track of these days but no doubt their boffins chuckled to themselves when Thomas Vermaelen headed a corner clear against Fulham last Sunday and the Arsenal fans giddily started singing, to the tune of White Stripes' Seven Nation Army, "We defended a corner! We defended a corner!" That was an appropriately sarcastic condemnation of the team that conceded a higher proportion of goals from set-pieces (53.5%) this season than any other in the Premier League.

It may have been Vermaelen's clearance that triggered Sunday's celebration, but that does not mean Arsenal would have defended set-pieces better throughout the campaign if the Belgian had been fit: they let in exactly the same number of goals from set-pieces this season as they did last season (23), when Vermaelen regularly featured.

That toll is almost double the number that Arsenal conceded during the 2008-09 campaign (12), so what happened in the summer of 2009 that suddenly caused their set-piece defending to deteriorate? Sol Campbell left long before that (in his last season, 2005-06, Arsenal only conceded nine goals from set-pieces) so perhaps Kolo Touré's departure to Manchester City had a bigger effect than is generally supposed? The Ivorian managed more headed clearances in his last season in London than any other Arsenal player - and his tally for that term, 129, is also more than any Arsenal player managed this season.

Craven Cottage is home to the side that conceded the fewest goals from set-pieces this season (10). Perhaps Arsène Wenger should revive his interest in Brede Hangeland and Mark Schwarzer? Hangeland, indeed, made more clearances (424) than any other player this season, with the exception of Blackpool's Ian Evatt (430)


West Bromwich Albion were one of only three teams to concede more, in actual terms, from set-pieces than Arsenal, letting in 30 goals, followed by Aston Villa (27) and Sunderland (24).


Arsenal did do some things well, of course. They were the only team to average more than 60% possession in matches and, unsurprisingly, they completed the highest number of successful passes per game (444.8. Chelsea were second with 423.1) and the highest percentage of short passes (92.3%, ahead of Manchester City on 90.3%).


What is more, Opta's statistics also provide ammunition for Wenger's sob stories and conspiracy theories: Arsenal hit the woodwork more times than anyone else this season (22) and were also the victims of more straight red card offences than any other team (9). Mind you, Arsenal were no angels themselves, earning six red cards throughout the season, behind only West Brom (7). And Arsenal were not the most fouled team in quantitative terms - in fact, 12 teams suffered more fouls than Arsenal this season, Everton being the most wronged (victims of 525 fouls, followed by Newcastle with 509).


The most prolific foulers were Bolton Wanderers (513), followed by Blackburn Rovers and the not-so-innocent Everton (both 498). Bolton, of course, were led by the royally impenitent Kevin Davies, who was the most prolific individual fouler for the seventh time in the last eight seasons; even more impressively, his 123 fouls this term broke his own record for the highest number committed since Opta records began. Cheik Tioté was the next most persistent offender this season, with 79. And Charlie Adam showed that there is more to his game than passing (as Gareth Bale already knows) by committing 70.


Adam, in fairness, was also the league's second-most fouled player (after Aston Villa's Ashley Young, who was fouled 96 times, five more than Adam), all of which goes to show that the Scot tended to be in the thick of the action. Indeed, only one player touched the ball more times this season than Adam - Fulham's Danny Murphy - and only one player had more goal assists from open play (Joey Barton with five to Adam's four).


Blackpool's scored more goals than any other relegated team in the Premier League era. They were also involved in one of the matches of the season: their 4-3 victory over Bolton in the penultimate week of the campaign featured an amazing 49 shots. The game with the fewest shots was Newcastle-Blackburn, in which there were only 15.


Chelsea attempted more shots than any other team last season (563) but they lacked precision - their shooting accuracy rate of 43.34% was exceeded by nine teams, led by Arsenal (47.5%). The sharpest individual shooter was Samir Nasri, who hit the target with 65.4% of his efforts, making him more precise than Dirk Kuyt (62%) and Peter Lovenkrands (60%). Shooting on target is not, of course, the same as scoring goals - and that is exactly what you should tell Jermain Defoe if he ever mentions that he was more accurate this term (54.8%) than Javier Hernández (54.6%).


The Mexican averaged a goal every 114.3 minutes - bettered only by two people, Robin van Persie (98.2) and, yes, Dimitar Berbatov (110.5). Carlos Tevez (126.6) was the fifth most frequent scorer in terms of minutes played, sandwiched between Leon Best (125.3) and Marlon Harewood (132), no less.


If you have to let an opponent shoot, make sure that opponent is Steed Malbranque: he had far more shots without scoring than anyone else (44, Jack Rodwell was next, with 30).



Joe Hart had the highest shots-to-saves ratio (76.4%), though Ben Foster (75.5%) had to save more shots (169). One of the reasons Foster had to make so many saves was that Birmingham City won fewer tackles than anyone else (452. Wolves were the next flimsiest, with 482 tackles won). Birmingham were similarly impotent going forward: not only did they score just 37 goals from 38 games but they also completed fewer through-balls (14) than anyone else and won fewer corners (152).


And opponents were not keen to help Birmingham: Alex McLeish's team was the only one not to benefit from an own goal this term. So what were Birmingham good at? Well, they hit a higher proportion of their passes long (18.9%) than anyone else. Except Stoke, obviously (19.9%).


Stoke averaged less possession (38%) than anyone else but they did fling in by far the highest number of throw-ins - 550 (the next highest was Bolton with 288), from which they scored four goals. Preparing for those throw-ins is quite the palaver, of course, which is why there was less action in matches involving Stoke than any other team: the average amount of time that the ball was in play for Stoke games this season was 58.52 minutes. Manchester United offered the most action, 66.58 minutes on average.


At Premier League matches on average, the ball was in play for 62.39 minutes this season - more than in the much-vaunted Spanish and German top flights (61.48 minutes and 61.22 minutes respectively), but significantly less than in Serie A (65.15 minutes).


Liverpool's transformation under Kenny Dalglish is encapsulated by the fact that under the Scot they scored 35 goals in 18 league games, whereas under Roy Hodgson they mustered 24 in 20. The tendency to play more on the counterattack under Dalglish is reflected in the fact that they averaged more possession under Hodgson (53.2% to 50.6% under Dalglish) - part of the reason that this approach has been successful is that shooting accuracy has increased substantially under the Scot (rising from 43.2% to 51.4%). When Liverpool do not have the ball, Lucas Leiva is the man most likely to win it back: he won more tackles than any other player in this campaign (111, followed by David Vaughan with 104 and Scott Parker with 93).


Fernando Torres, as we know, has not been missed at Anfield. Assistant referees tend not to miss him either: he was flagged offside 30 times this season - only five strikers were caught out more frequently: Hugo Rodallega (32), Carlton Cole (34), Dimitar Berbatov (36), Peter Odemwingie (47) and the perpetually disoriented Darren Bent (67).


Wigan Athletic's Charles N'Zogbia again attempted more dribbles than any other player this season (301, way ahead of Jonas Gutiérrez on 219). In the past two seasons he has attempted almost 300 more than anyone else (554. The next is Gareth Bale with 258, followed by Torres with 239). One player who should perhaps stop trying is Stephen Hunt: the Wolves winger beat his opponent just three times from 36 attempts all season.


It has been a long, hard season. Particularly for Martin Skrtel and Leighton Baines, the only outfield players to have played every minute of it for their clubs. Baines was especially busy: he delivered more crosses from open play than anyone else (249, six more than Stewart Downing) - and his 11 assists were beaten only by Didier Drogba (13) and Nani (14).


This was not a good season for travellers. There were fewer away wins (90) during this campaign than in any other in the Premier League era. There seems to be a downward trend, as the previous worst was last season (91). Manchester United won fewer away points (25) than any other Premier League champions. In fact, only two teams in history have won a 20-team English top-flight with fewer away victories than United's five this term: Newcastle in 1907 (four away wins) and Sheffield Wednesday in 1929 (three).

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London Legends Cup

The London Legends Cup is fast approaching with the tournament taking place at Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon. 

Rodney Marsh is a surprise late signing for the Fulham Legends side and will feature in Sunday's first ever 11-aside 20-minute each way Legends Cup F40 festival of its kind.

Marsh, pictured with Arsenal's Nigel Winterburn with the Legends Cup during half-time at Fulham's final match of the season against Arsenal, believes he has kept himself fit and can put on a performance like the old showman that made him one of the games true greats.

Although designed for more recent legends, Marsh, who made 90 appearances for Fulham and scored 28 times, has stated that he is fit enough to play and has insisted on wearing his old No 10 shirt amongst a total of 100 legends who will be at the Cottage on Sunday. 70 legends will be taking the field in the three matches, while another 30 legends will be there as guests.

Marsh, who last played a competitive game in 1991, said: "I am looking forward to proudly wearing my number 10 Fulham shirt and kicking a ball on the hallowed turf of Craven Cottage again. From the age of 16 to 21, I played my football at Fulham FC and I idolised Johnny Haynes."

Rodney Marsh has kindly made a donation to the charity auction which is in aid of Help A London Child and the Fulham Football Club Foundation.

He commented: "I have a great affection for Fulham Football Club and I am delighted to be invited to play on the Fulham team for the London Legends Cup, in aid of such a fabulous children's charity "Help A London Child".

Arguably, the greatest ever collection of legends will assemble for the first competitive 11-a-side legends cup tournament, under the new and innovative Football 40 rules. An A-Z of legends have been invited to take part, from Ardiles to Zola.

Football 40 Technical Director, Glenn Hoddle, believes the Football 40 format will go down well with ex-players from across the game, and is ideal for TV coverage and sponsorship.

"When I was approached to get involved, this just got me," said Hoddle. "I have always felt that playing 90 minutes was a problem to any player who has given up the game professionally.

"The key to Football 40 is being able to have rolling subs and being able to go out there and compete and perform for a short period of time. You know you can be taken off and then you can go back on and play at close to a level you used to be at during your peak.

"It will be great to see these legends play again in competitive tournament and I am sure it will capture the imagination of the public.

"I've played in games after your fitness levels have gone, you get frustrated that you can't do the things you could, but here you have rolling subs, a sin bin, you can go and perform for five or 10 minutes because you know you'll come off and have a rest and then you go back on fresh. It's a positive thing for the game because players can extend their careers."

Former Fulham manager, Roy Hodgson, now boss at West Bromwich Albion, is "honoured" to be returning to Craven Cottage as manager of the Fulham Legends.

Hodgson naturally hopes that when he does return to the Cottage for the Football 40 London Legends Cup that he will gain a good reception as he retains an affinity with the supporters. His affection for Fulham ensured that he immediately took up the invitation to be manager of the Legends, with a potential Final against the winners of Arsenal and Spurs.

Hodgson said: "I have terrific memories of working for Fulham, so many good, so many positive memories. I hope a few of the Fulham fans who come to see the legends team have similar memories of myself."

The Legends trophy will be presented on Sunday by Sir Trevor Brooking and the winners' medals presented by Fulham and Spurs legend and Alan Mullery. For supporters attending on Sunday there will be the first Football 40 programme on hand to purchase, which is sure to be a collectors' item.

The 10,000 plus fans at Craven Cottage on Sunday for the inaugural Football 40 Legends Cup under the new rules and 20-minute each half format, will be privileged to be able to get their First Edition Football 40 programme signed by many of the 100 legends who will there, either playing or as guests.

The lucky hundreds in the corporate sector of the ground will be personally mingling with many of the 100 legends, with the unique opportunity of having some of the legends personally sign their programme, merchandise and memorabilia that will be on sale on the day.

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/LegendsPreview.aspx#ixzz1NYGfAQyr