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Friday Fulham Stuff (26.02.10)

Started by White Noise, February 25, 2010, 11:13:41 PM

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White Noise

http://www.footballfancast.com/football-blogs/top-10-group-stage-threats-england

2. Clint Dempsey – The Fulham and USA winger has been in superb form this season. Once again another playmaker who will look to get at England. Defenders must not give him time on the ball and allow him to get his shots off. He has a bundle of international experience with 17 goals in 60 games.

White Noise

http://www.skysports.com/football/match_preview/0,19764,11065_3230224,00.html

Sunderland v Fulham preview


Cattermole back for Black Cats, Fulham could be without Zamora


Last updated: 26th February 2010   

Sunderland will be aiming to ease the mounting pressure on manager Steve Bruce with a much-needed win against Fulham on Sunday.

This week, Lee Cattermole and Darren Bent have come out to show their support for Bruce, whose side sit just three points above the relegation zone, as the Black Cats are without a win in 13 Premier League games.

In contrast, Roy Hodgson's men are pushing for another European place and have progressed to the round of 16 in the Europa League, following a 3-2 aggregate win over Uefa Cup holders Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Cottagers have also been impressive in the league, taking 10 points from a possible 12, keeping three clean sheets in this time.

However, Fulham have a poor league record away from Craven Cottage, which has seen them win just one in 13 on the road and fail to score in the last three games.

Team news

Sunderland midfielder Cattermole returns from suspension after serving a one-match ban.

On-loan defender John Mensah is set to continue at centre-back after coming through 90 minutes against Arsenal last week following injury.

Jordan Henderson is out of action for six weeks because of an ankle injury, while another long-term injury worry, Andy Reid (hamstring), could miss another four games.

Fulham have not won at the Stadium of Light since 2002, and could be without top scorer Bobby Zamora who is doubtful for the clash.

The 15-goal striker limped out of Thursday night's win in Donetsk with an Achilles tendon injury.

Hodgson will consider making changes after a gruelling trip to Ukraine and can welcome back defender Nicky Shorey and forward Stefano Okaka, who were both cup-tied.

But Fulham's small squad is stretched with Paul Konchesky (ankle) still struggling and Andrew Johnson, Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil (all knee) sidelined.


Possible starting Xls:
Sunderland: Gordon, McCartney, Turner, Ferdinand, Mensah, Hutton, Richardson, Cana, Cattermole, Bent, Jones.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Kelly, Shorey, Hangeland, Gera, Duff, Murphy, Greening, Davies, Okaka.

White Noise

By leaving out Bellamy, Toshack has steered clear of a potential club-versus-country row with City, who face crucial Barclays Premier League games against Chelsea and Tottenham either side of the international.   

Wales squad to face Sweden

Hennessey (Wolves), Myhill (Hull),
Bale (Tottenham), Collins (Aston Villa), Eardley (Blackpool), Gunter (Nott Forest), Morgan (Peterborough), Nyatanga (Bristol City), Ricketts (Bolton), Williams (Swansea), Collison (West Ham), Crofts (Brighton), Davies (Fulham), Dorman
(St Mirren), King (Leicester), Ramsey (Arsenal), Vaughan (Blackpool), Church (Reading), Cotterill (Swansea), Earnshaw (Nott Forest), Vokes (Wolves) Evans (Sheffield United)

Bellamy is one of Wales' senior stars having scored 17 goals in 58 appearances. His absence is likely to mean Sheffield United's Ched Evans will again partner Simon Church of Reading up front.
The squad has a youthful look, with the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Jack Collison and Gareth Bale included, but there is also a recall for Fulham's Simon Davies.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1254007/Craig-Bellamy-picked-Wales-Sweden-John-Toshack-sticks-young-guns.html#ixzz0geJwXmoF


WhiteJC

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/NextOneUpSunderland1.aspx

Next One Up: Sunderland
Friday 26th February 2010
 
Sunderland v Fulham, Barclays Premier League
Sunday February 28th 2010, KO 3pm.
   


Fulham return to Barclays Premier League action this Sunday when they take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

We have visited the Stadium of Light on five previous occasions, but our only victory to date came in September 2002, when Junichi Inamoto was amongst the scorers in a 3-0 win. Last season the only goal of the game came from Kenwyne Jones 10 minutes after the break in a narrow 1-0 defeat.

Sunderland returned to the top-flight after a one-year absence in 2007, and have struggled in both subsequent seasons, finishing 16th last term.

In attempt to breathe new life, the club enticed Steve Bruce back to his native north east last summer, replacing caretaker boss Ricky Sbragia. And the Black Cats got off to a moderate start to the new campaign before hitting some excellent form in the autumn with goals flowing freely. Hull were hammered 4-1 at the Stadium of Light and Wolves left a few weeks later on the wrong end of a 5-2 scoreline. Only a late Anton Ferdinand own goal cost them a memorable victory at Old Trafford too, but there was better luck in the home game against Liverpool when a stray beach ball was awarded an assist to Darren Bent's winning goal.

Subsequently form has not been as hot with little to cheer following a home victory over Arsenal in mid-November. This included an astonishing 7-2 defeat at Chelsea as well as a 1-0 reverse here at the Cottage.

Three January recruits were added to attempt to bring more consistency: Defenders Matt Killgallon and Alan Hutton from Sheffield United and Tottenham respectively, as well as striker Benjani from Manchester City.

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/NextOneUpSunderland1.aspx#ixzz0gesL1g9a

WhiteJC

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/EtuhuShakhtarReaction.aspx

Playing to Our Strengths
Friday 26th February 2010



Dickson Etuhu summed up the mood in the dressing room as one of jubilation on Thursday evening after Fulham recorded a memorable UEFA Europa League victory over UEFA Cup champions Shakhtar Donetsk.

"It's a dream come true," he enthused. "A lot of people didn't think we could do it, but we always knew that if we worked hard and kept our organisation we would cause them problems, and things worked out for us, so now we look forward to the next game."

Dickson played a key role in the centre of midfield, on the frontline of two defensive banks that worked tirelessly to keep Shakhtar's creative attackers at bay. It required 90 minutes of total concentration, tracking and interceptions, but it was nothing that the Nigerian powerhouse isn't accustomed to.

"They're a great team – anyone can see that, but we're not an easy team to play against either," he assessed. "We're used to playing against the best teams in the world like Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, so we were well prepared and came with a game plan.

"The gaffer prepared us to deal with their pressure and hopefully everybody saw that. We're lucky because we've got great coaches at the Club who help us to play to our strengths against these teams."

Next up for Fulham's European heroes is a Round of 16 tie with Juventus in a fortnight's time, but, as Dickson points out, with Premier League and FA Cup fixtures to come before then, there is plenty else to prepare for before the meeting with the Italian giants.

"We're excited and enjoying the moment now, not thinking about the next game yet," he said. "Before Juventus comes Sunderland away on Sunday in the league, our bread and butter, and the most important thing. So we're happy, we'll enjoy this, but tomorrow we'll move on."

The two-legged Round of 16 provides yet another spectacle in what is shaping up to be one of the best seasons in Fulham Football Club history. A solid campaign in the top half of the Premier League, coupled with progress to the latter stages of two major cup competitions is success to savour, and the games are coming thick and fast in a season that just keeps on giving.

"It's crazy," he exclaimed. "I only got back from the African Nations two-and-a-half weeks ago and I've played six games already. But it's good to be back in the thick of things and playing every week – or every three days.

"We're all enjoying it and long may it continue."

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/EtuhuShakhtarReaction.aspx#ixzz0geskaFqp

WhiteJC

http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2010/02/26/clint-dempsey-closes-in-on-fulham-return-82029-25922184/
Clint Dempsey closes in on Fulham return

FULHAM flyer Clint Dempsey has returned to training after just five weeks out with a knee injury.

There were fears the US international would miss the rest of the season, as well as this summer's World Cup, when he got crocked in the defeat at Blackburn in January.

But we can reveal the 26-year-old began light jogging this week to hand a welcome boost to Roy Hodgson's injury-ravaged squad.


WhiteJC

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/34774/Black_Cats_hoping_to_end_barren_run.aspx
Black Cats hoping to end barren run
Sunderland may never have a better chance of ending a dismal 13-match winless sequence in the Premier League than when Fulham visit the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

A run of six draws and seven defeats since their excellent Stadium of Light success against Arsenal more than three months ago has left the Black Cats only three points above the drop-zone.

It is in sharp contrast to their hopes in November when they were outside bets to break into a Europa League spot.

Despite the poor run, Sunderland remain difficult to beat on Wearside where only Chelsea and Aston Villa have returned home with all three points this season.

Meanwhile, Fulham have only won one league game away from Craven Cottage all season and endured a long trip to Ukraine in midweek for a Europa League last-32 second leg clash against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The only three-point haul on their travels came on the opening weekend of the campaign when they beat Portsmouth 1-0 at Fratton Park since when they have drawn five matches and lost seven.

Roy Hodgson's team have recovered from a dismal January to beat Pompey, Burnley and Birmingham City this month though as well as grinding out a goalless draw at Bolton Wanderers to move back up to ninth in the table.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is able to welcome Lee Cattermole back into his squad after the former Middlesbrough and Wigan Athletic midfielder completed his suspension but David Meyler will serve the second of his three-match ban.

Andy Reid (hamstring) and Jordan Henderson (ankle) once again look set to miss out while the Cottagers will be without injured quartet Clint Dempsey, John Paintsil, Andy Johnson (all knee) and Kagisho Dikgacoi (ankle).

Last season Kenwyne Jones' goal proved to be enough for Sunderland to claim all three points from a 1-0 victory against the side from the capital.

WhiteJC

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1253990/Sunderland-v-FULHAM-Roy-Hodgson-set-Bobby-Zamora-Wearside-trip.html?ITO=1490
Sunderland v FULHAM: Roy Hodgson set to be without Bobby Zamora for Wearside trip

Bobby Zamora is doubtful for Fulham's Barclays Premier League trip to Sunderland on Sunday.
The 15-goal striker limped out of Thursday night's Europa League success at Shakhtar Donetsk with an Achilles tendon injury.

Bobby Zamora is doubtful for Fulham's Barclays Premier League trip to Sunderland on Sunday.
The 15-goal striker limped out of Thursday night's Europa League success at Shakhtar Donetsk with an Achilles tendon injury.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1253990/Sunderland-v-FULHAM-Roy-Hodgson-set-Bobby-Zamora-Wearside-trip.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0geuEQuGY

WhiteJC

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1254039/SUNDERLAND-v-Fulham-Steve-Bruce-boosted-return-Lee-Cattermole-suspension.html?ITO=1490
Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole will return from suspension for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Fulham.
The 21-year-old missed last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal after being sent off at Portsmouth. David Meyler, who was dismissed during the same game, still has two more matches to serve.
Manager Steve Bruce is otherwise only without Andy Reid (hamstring) and Jordan Henderson (ankle), and they could both be back in business within 10 days.
Team (from): Gordon, Fulop, Bardsley, Hutton, Turner, Ferdinand, Mensah, Kilgallon, Da Silva, Cattermole, Cana, Zenden, Richardson, Malbranque, Campbell, Bent, Jones, Benjani, Liddle, Noble.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1254039/SUNDERLAND-v-Fulham-Steve-Bruce-boosted-return-Lee-Cattermole-suspension.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0geue8oSL


WhiteJC

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2010/february/26/cohen_tips_smalling_for_top.aspx
England World Cup winner George Cohen tips Chris Smalling for the top

An England World Cup winner has tipped former Maidstone United defender Chris Smalling to make it all the way to the top.

As accolades go, they don't get much bigger than praise from George Cohen.

The England defender, who lifted the Jules Rimet trophy as part of Alf Ramsey's legendary 1966 side, is often dubbed the nation's greatest ever right-back.

He played every game of his professional career at Smalling's current club, Fulham, and has been keeping a watchful eye on the former Stones player.

The centre-back, a former Chatham Grammar School pupil whose family lives at Walderslade, moves to Manchester United at the end of the season as part of a multi-million-pound deal.

Cohen said: "I've seen Chris play three or four times. I have an idea he's got the right frame of mind and attitude and desire to do good and we've got high hopes for him at Fulham, even though he'll only be with us until the end of the season. But we wish him all the best at Manchester United.

"Bringing him on as they're doing is the right thing and he'll turn out to be a very good player. In three seasons you'll know whether he'll be an international player holding his own in the international side.

"He certainly looks like a good one at the moment, we may have sold him too cheap."

Cohen was in Maidstone this week as part of a promotional tour, signing the largest England shirt in the world, which will be handed to the squad prior to their first World Cup clash this summer.

He knows the county town well, having spent a spell managing Tonbridge Angels in the 1970s, leading them to Kent Senior Cup glory in 1975.