Thursday Fulham Stuff (30/06/11)

WhiteJC · June 30, 2011, 12:59:49 PM

Jol wary that Fulham may be set a test of endurance

Kicking off: Fulham captain Danny Murphy prepares to face Euro minnows Runavik tonight at the start of a long season

Martin Jol admits his squad will be tested to the limit by their early start to the season tonight but has no complaints that his Fulham reign will kick off six weeks before the Premier League.

The Dutchman's maiden game in charge since replacing Mark Hughes is a Europa League first-round qualifier against NSI Runavik of the Faroe Islands at Craven Cottage.

Two years ago, under Roy Hodgson, Fulham entered the competition at the third-round qualifying stage and went all the way to the final, where they suffered the heartbreak of a 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid, the Spaniards scoring the winner just four minutes from the end of extra-time.

That match was Fulham's 19th in Europe that season and their exertions during that glorious campaign affected their fortunes domestically.

Another run to the final would add 23 matches to Fulham's fixture list and Jol is conscious of the potential pitfalls.

The former Tottenham manager said: "If you have a big squad then the Europa League is a nice competition to play in but if you have a small squad it can be a problem.

"In the past Fulham had a problem when they were in Europe: They were 12th in the league when they reached the final, and the season before they were seventh.

"Last season they weren't in Europe and finished eighth. But you play football to be in Europe and test yourself and your players at that level, so I'm always happy to be playing. But Roy and Mark did a fantastic job and it will be difficult to do better."

Jol expects his team - captained by Danny Murphy and which is likely to include youngsters Lauri Dalla Valle and Kerim Frei - to go all-out to prove themselves to him.

He added: "The analyst said they are a hard team to beat but I hope it will be a normal side from the Faroe Islands in terms of quality. I hope there will be no problem. You can't take it lightly because it is a European game and these lads want to prove themselves to me. This is a happy club and we want to keep it that way over the next couple of weeks."

Aaron Hughes was part of the Northern Ireland team who had to come from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw against the Faroe Islands last October.

But despite almost coming a cropper during the Euro 2012 qualifier, the Fulham defender does not expect his side to be under too much pressure.

He said: "It is as much about focusing about what we do and making sure we do all the basic things right, which should be enough to take us through."

Bookmakers have priced Fulham at 100-1 on to win the first leg against a side who are fourth in their country's top division.

Runavik hail from a town of just 4,000 inhabitants and are made up of part-time players, including a teacher and trainee telephone salesman.

Captain Christian Hogni Jacobsen has admitted that Fulham would need to have an "incredibly bad day" for them to have any chance of victory.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23966055-jol-wary-that-fulham-may-be-set-a-test-of-endurance.do?

Blingo · June 30, 2011, 01:15:18 PM

Quote from: WhiteJC on June 30, 2011, 07:54:10 AM

Not taking this lying down

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Ridiculous.

http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/not-taking-this-lying-down/?

+1

WhiteJC · June 30, 2011, 01:28:14 PM

Jol confirms Fulham legend Lewington as assistant

Fulham boss Martin Jol has confirmed that Ray Lewington will be kept on as his new assistant and that Hans Segers has been appointed goalkeeping coach.

The Dutchman takes charge of his first match since succeeding Mark Hughes as Fulham host NSI Runavik in their Europa League qualifying clash tonight.

But the former Spurs manager has been busy behind the scenes, promoting club legend Lewington from a youth role to his number two, and bringing in Segers, who spent 17 years as a player in England.

"Ray Lewington is my assistant," said Jol. "We started off with him because he's probably a main figure here, at this club, he knows everything.

"He was here when Roy (Hodgson) was here and working here for the academy, and when Mark (Hughes) was here, so I think he's a key figure here.

"Hans is the goalkeeping coach. He comes from PSV Eindhoven, and I worked with him in my time at Spurs so I know him very well."

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/8699/0/jol-confirms-fulham-legend-lewington-assistant?

WhiteJC · June 30, 2011, 01:29:15 PM

Europa League Betting: Fulham v NSI Runavik

Fulham are overwhelming favourites for their Europa League qualifier against NSI Runavik, but Michael Lintorn thinks the Faroese minnows are capable of scoring.

Roy Hodgson's first home game in charge of Fulham was against Chelsea, while Mark Hughes' was another glamour tie against Manchester United, so Martin Jol could be forgiven for feeling a little underwhelmed that he debuts in the Craven Cottage dugout against Faroese side NSI Runavik.

The Cottagers' prize for the good conduct that made them the highest-placed team in the Fair Play League not to have already qualified for Europe courtesy of their league position was a spot in the Europa League preliminary rounds and the opportunity to start their season in June.

But despite being forced into action more than six weeks earlier than most of their rivals for a top-half finish [2.4] in the Premier League, Jol has shown enthusiasm about the chance to participate in European competition and why not, given that his new employers are 1.05 to stroll to victory.

NSI Runavik lack the pedigree at this level to panic the 2009-10 finalists. They finished third in the Faroe Islands Premier League last term and are a distant fourth early in the new campaign, while 11 of their last dozen continental fixtures have ended in defeats to far less established clubs than Fulham.

That uninspiring record also includes six losses in six on the road, with three or more goals conceded in five of those and 20 leaked in total, which is why over 2.5 goals is rated a 1.22 near certainty.

Intriguingly, the minnows have enjoyed a surprisingly amount of success down the other end though, scoring in each of their last two European away matches and three of their last five, with one of the sides they struck against being the reasonably well established Rosenborg.

That provides hope of an away goal and there are hefty odds of 3.0 available on both teams finding the net. Lauri Dalla Valle and Kerim Frei will reportedly make debuts for the hosts yet even if they do experiment, a comfortable but not emphatic win is to be expected, with 3-1 the standout score pick at 17.0.

Best Bet: Both teams to score @ 3.0
Other Recommended Bet: Fulham to win 3-1 @ 17.0

http://betting.betfair.com/football/uefa-cup/europa-league-betting-fulham-v-nsi-runavik-300611.html?

WhiteJC · June 30, 2011, 02:04:22 PM

A warning from history

Birmingham decided to change their shorts for the 2008-09 season, but were relegated before they got the chance to wear them.

Middlesbrough decided to change their shorts for the 2009-10 season, but were relegated before they got the chance to wear them.

Reading decided to change their shorts for the 2008-09 season, but were relegated before they got the chance to wear them.

It's as if the powers-that-be (not the Premier League, much higher than that. The real powers that be. The omnipotent puppet-masters who run the world) are quite scornful of medium sized clubs trying to change for the sake of it. Just one more reason why this switch is a mistake.

http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/a-warning-from-history/?

WhiteJC · June 30, 2011, 02:06:30 PM

Jol to blood youngsters in European clash

Fulham will be without Carlos Salcido and Clint Dempsey for Thursday's Europa League first round qualifier against NSI Runavik.

The Cottagers return to competitive action against the Faroe Islands part-timers as they begin their quest to get back into the Europa League, just over a year after they reached the final of the competition.

With last season having finished just over a month ago, Fulham's players have only recently returned for pre-season training under new manager Martin Jol.

The Dutchman will be unable to call on Salcido and Dempsey for the match at Craven Cottage due to their involvement in the Concacaf Gold Cup in America.

Jol is likely to give a number of youngsters the chance to impress, with Lauri Dalla Valle and Kerim Frei expected to start in the absence of some first-team regulars.

http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/jol-to-blood-youngsters-in-european-clash-1232934.html?

WhiteJC · June 30, 2011, 02:07:37 PM

Fulham v NSI Runavik preview
Cottagers heavy favourites to overthrow Faroese minnows

Fulham will get their Europa League qualification campaign off to an early start when they meet Faroese minnows NSI Runavik on Thursday night.

The Cottagers, who booked a spot in the qualifying rounds through the Fair Play League last season, will host NSI in the first leg of the first round tie at Craven Cottage.

The Londoners only returned to pre-season training last week, just a month after the end of last season.

The clash will mark new manager Martin Jol'sfirst match in charge following Mark Hughes' exit at the beginning of the month.

Fulham will be looking to repeat their impressive run in the tournament in the 2009-10 season, when they overcame the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk, Hamburg and Juventus before eventually succumbing to Atletico Madrid in the final.

Jol's men are overwhelming favourites to win the encounter, which comes as no surprise given NSI hail from a town of just 4,000 inhabitants and are made up of part-time players, including a teacher and trainee telephone salesman.

Cottagers defender Aaron Hughes admits he does not know too much about Thursday evening's opponents, but is not expecting to come out on the wrong end of an upset.

Preparation

"I don't know a great deal about them," he said. "We have not had a chance to look at them too much this week because it has more been about preparation on the football pitch and a little bit of top-up on fitness.

"I guess in the meeting before the game anything that the lads inside have found they will highlight and give us an idea before we go out.

"It is as much about focusing about what we do and making sure we do all the basic things right, which should be enough to take us through."

New manager Jol feels Thursday's encounter will be a good opportunity to give some of the less experienced members of his squad a chance to show what they can do.

"We have got a few youngsters in the squad so of course there is four or five players not here, they are on holiday so it is a nice opportunity for these youngsters to show and prove themselves," he said.

"I can't imagine going out in the first round but it is football so you never know.

"You could say that it is 90 per cent sure that we go through but you still have to do the business and our players know that."

Carlos Salcido and Clint Dempsey are among those unavailable for the clash as they featured in the recent Concacaf Gold Cup in California.

Moussa Dembele is also missing, while youngsters such as Kerim Frei and former Liverpool man Lauri Dalla Valle may get an early chance to show Jol their potential.

http://www.skysports.com/football/match_preview/0,19764,11065_3411769,00.html?

WhiteJC · June 30, 2011, 02:49:10 PM

QPR kick off race for Campbell

QPR have reportedly made a £1.25million bid to sign Blackpool striker DJ Campbell, with Fulham, Stoke and Sunderland expected to follow suit.

QPR boss Neil Warnock is yet to make a move in the transfer market since winning promotion to the Premier League and is now stepping up his bid to bring in new recruits.

Warnock revealed earlier on Thursday that he expected to sign a 'few new players' over the next couple of weeks and has made an offer for Campbell.

The forward enjoyed an impressive campaign in the top flight last season as he scored 13 goals during Blackpool's ultimately unsuccessful battle to avoid relegation.

Campbell has a clause in his contract allowing him to leave Bloomfield Road for £1.25m and QPR are understood to have met that figure.

However, QPR may yet face competition for the former Birmingham City frontman with several clubs understood to be keen on Campbell.

Fulham, Stoke City and Sunderland have all been linked with offers, but QPR will hope to win the race for his signature.

http://www.teamtalk.com/queens-park-rangers/7011525/QPR-kick-off-race-for-Campbell?

WhiteJC · June 30, 2011, 04:15:38 PM

Jol confims duo have left Fulham

Zoltan Gera and John Pantsil have both left Fulham and are looking for new clubs, Martin Jol has confirmed.

The duo were out of contract at the end of last season but there was increased speculation that Jol would offer them new deals after succeeding Mark Hughes.

But the Dutchman says the pair, both of whom became cult heroes at Craven Cottage, have already gone and are free to find new employers - and he admits that could affect his transfer plans.

"Zoltan is s going, because his contract is expiring, so it was finished and he's looking for another club," said Jol.

"Pantsil is not here any more, so I feel for these players as well we are looking for a few additions."

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/8700/6/jol-confims-duo-have-left-fulham?

WhiteJC · June 30, 2011, 04:30:08 PM

U.S. international forward Eddie Johnson considering a return to MLS among other options

Once a dominant Major League Soccer forward, Eddie Johnson might return to the North American league after struggling to find a home abroad.

Johnson, who signed with Premiership club Fulham three years ago and has been loaned to various clubs, has had a rough run in Europe and his agent Richard Motzkin says the 27-year-old American is looking for a place where he can play an important role.

"Eddie is taking some time off after the season to get in the right frame of mind when making this decision," Motzkin told Goal.com. "We are speaking to various clubs around the world that have expressed their interest and he wants to make sure that he makes the right choice."

Johnson struggled to find the offensive touch in Europe that saw him score 41 goals in 127 MLS games. Once a prolific U.S. national team stalwart - Johnson scored seven goals in seven 2006 World Cup qualifiers - he has all but excluded him from international consideration.

It might make sense to return to the league that brought him his early career success.

Motzkin says that Johnson would be open to rejoining MLS if the opportunity fit what he was looking for. Motzkin, however, claims that Johnson still has an option to play in Europe as offers from Scandinavia to Germany have materialized.

Motzkin believes that his client will make a decision in the next two weeks.

Here are the top options for the forward who has scored 12 goals in 42 appearances for the U.S. national team.

1. English Championship: After a successful loan with Preston North End, largely coming off the bench in a wing position, there are several clubs in England's second division that could be interested in bringing Johnson on. He has shown that he can be successful in the Championship. But there are downfalls: Is he willing to sign for teams in a random English town without any guarantee of playing in his preferred role at forward?

Likely Destinations: Blackpool, Portsmouth, Burnley

2. Major League Soccer: Following in the path of Charlie Davies and Benny Feilhaber, Johnson could flourish in a return stateside. Having a chance to go back to where he was most prolific, success could mean a return to the national team if he can replicate his previous MLS form.

Considering his salaries both in MLS and England, he will most likely want to be a Designated Player and there aren't many MLS teams that have those financial resources. DP status would allow Johnson to choose the club that he wants to play for, whereas going through the allocation process could see him tied to a team that doesn't fit his strengths.

However, rejoining MLS would signal to some observers that he couldn't succeed abroad. Entering his prime, Johnson might not want to give up on his European dream quite yet.

Likely Destinations: Houston Dynamo, Seattle Sounders FC, Chicago Fire

3. Germany: An athletic league that is usually friendly towards Americans thanks to a relaxed policy toward work visas, Johnson could find a spot on a newly promoted Bundesliga side or a second division side like fellow U.S. international Edson Buddle.

However, signing with a German club presents some issues. Johnson would not likely get a guarantee of his role in Germany. Would he want to face a similar situation to the one he had at Fulham in which a bad start could see him spend years on the bench? Very unlikely.

Likely Destinations: Various.

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=goal-usinternationalforwardeddie

Mr Fulham · June 30, 2011, 05:03:26 PM

Quote from: WhiteJC on June 30, 2011, 02:04:22 PM

A warning from history

Birmingham decided to change their shorts for the 2008-09 season, but were relegated before they got the chance to wear them.

Middlesbrough decided to change their shorts for the 2009-10 season, but were relegated before they got the chance to wear them.

Reading decided to change their shorts for the 2008-09 season, but were relegated before they got the chance to wear them.

It's as if the powers-that-be (not the Premier League, much higher than that. The real powers that be. The omnipotent puppet-masters who run the world) are quite scornful of medium sized clubs trying to change for the sake of it. Just one more reason why this switch is a mistake.

http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/a-warning-from-history/?

This is ridiculous.

News:

Thursday Fulham Stuff (30/06/11)

Blingo

Mr Fulham