Saturday Fulham Stuff (13/08/11)...

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Expect match-sharp Fulham to put Aston Villa to the sword
At odds of 21/20, Fulham look good bets to beat Aston Villa given their Europa League adventures this summer.

While a lengthy Europa League campaign is widely believed to have a negative impact on a club's prospects towards the end of the season, involvement in the preliminary round of the much-derided tournament will surely help Fulham's prospects in the opening matches of the 2011-12 Premier League campaign.

The Cottagers have already played six competitive games this season having progressed from the first Europa League qualifying round to within two matches of the group stages over the last six weeks.

With this in mind, they should be significantly ahead of Aston Villa, their opponents in tomorrow's opening round of Premier League fixtures.

In Chelsea, Blackburn and Sporting Braga, Alex McLeish's side have prepared for the new season against some quality opposition.

However, there is a big difference between friendly and competitive matches and Fulham's players should be fitter and sharper than their opponents at Craven Cottage tomorrow.

When the benefits of home advantage are factored in, it should come as no surprise to the average football betting fan that Fulham are bwin's 21/20 favourites to win the match, with a Villa victory priced at 49/20 and a draw available at 23/10.

Villa's prospects also look bleak when their recent history is looked into.

The 1982 European Champions won just four times away from home last season.

McLeish's old team, Birmingham, were also poor travellers, winning just twice on the road, suggesting Villa's record is unlikely to change following the Scot's summer appointment.

That said, Villa have a secret weapon in the form of Darren Bent, who is priced at 11/2 to score the opening goal.

The striker scored three goals in the Villans' six pre-season games, suggesting he is well-placed to repeat his exploits of the last campaign, when he bagged 17 league goals.

A successful £25 free bet on Bent to score first, available to new customers who sign up for a bwin account, would return £162.50.

That said, the best bet remains on a Fulham win, and with the Lilywhites in good goalscoring form against their Europa League opposition a punt on a 2-1 success for the home team at odds of 17/2 could pay dividends.



http://bwinbetting.com/expect-match-sharp-fulham-put-aston-villa-sword,5486.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham offer Hitzlsperger contract
by DAN on AUGUST 12, 2011

According to our German sources, Fulham have offered Thomas Hitzlsperger a contract.

The former West Ham midfielder has been linked with a number of English clubs, including most recently tomorrow's opponents Aston Villa, for whom he made 114 appearances between August 2000 and July 2005.




http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/08/fulham-offer-hitzlsperger-contract/?

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JOL EXPECTS NEW JOHNSON DEAL

Fulham manager Martin Jol is confident Andy Johnson will sign a contract extension within the next month after hailing the striker's return to form.

For the past two years Johnson has failed to justify his £10.5million price tag, scoring just three times each season.

Jol has overseen a transformation in Johnson's fortunes this summer though, with the 30-year-old already finding the net three times during the club's Europa League qualifying campaign.

Jol has been impressed with Johnson and is convinced the hitman is now playing as good as he did when he tried to sign him as Tottenham manager between 2004 and 2007.

Back then Johnson was a regular in the England squad and only just missed out on a place in the 2006 World Cup squad.

Although Jol feels a return to the international fold is probably beyond Johnson, he does reckon the striker is now back to his best and he is therefore determined not to lose him when his contract expires next summer.

"When I was in England before, I was interested in signing him but he was too expensive. He was doing well at Crystal Palace and he looks the same now as he was then," Jol said.

"He's scoring goals, he's getting on the end of things, he's very good at receiving the ball.

"He is a very good second striker. He comes from midfield and he makes runs and stretches defences.

"He is doing two jobs and he is probably the only player in England who can do two jobs in one.

"He is doing very well and that's why the club are in talks with him to extend his contract."

Jol expects Johnson to sign the 12-month extension "within the next month" and is convinced the striker's well-documented injury problems are over.

"He is running like a chicken. I can't see any injuries. He is fit ," said Jol, who revealed on Friday he wants to sign up to two more players before the transfer window closes.

"I'm happy with the squad we have got, if they are fit," he said.

"That is probably not realistic though so that's why we are looking for one or two additions."

One man who Jol is convinced will feature in the England reckoning over the next 12 months is Bobby Zamora.

Zamora missed out on the 2010 World Cup thanks to an Achilles injury which he picked up after helping fire Fulham to the Europa League final.

The former Spurs striker missed a large chunk of last season after breaking his leg and he suffered yet another setback when he broke his hand last month.

Zamora has continued to play while wearing a protective cast and will do so against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Jol admits he will be key to his goal of achieving a top-half finish for the London club this term.

"The most important thing for any team is to have one or two players who can make the difference and he did that for Fulham," Jol added.

"It's not easy to find someone like him. He's a gift. He sees the ball, he can turn, he has good technique. He is a good player.

"I would like to keep him fit. Last year he had a few injury problems but this year I played him three days after (he broke his hand)."

Jol had worried that this weekend's clash at Craven Cottage - his first Premier League match in almost four years - would be called off due to the unrest in London.

With the game now being given the go-ahead, Jol is relishing his return to the English top flight after spending the summer playing Europa League qualifiers.

"We are very happy the game is on," Jol said.

"The main thing was that we wanted to play football."




http://www.sportinglife.com/football/premiership/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/11/08/12/SOCCER_Fulham_Nightlead.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol - No Jerome follow-up
Fulham boss says no follow-up for striker after initial bid rejected

Martin Jol has confirmed Fulham have not followed up their initial bid for Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome.

The Cottagers registered a formal £3million bid for the Blues hot-shot earlier this month, which Jol said was rejected by the Championship outfit.

The two clubs have since not entered into negotiations over the striker, who is also being linked with Bolton.

"We made a bid. But we haven't heard from them and they haven't heard from us," Jol is quoted as saying by talkSPORT.

He added he would like to sign up to two more players before the transfer window closes.

"I'm happy with the squad we have got, if they are fit," he said.

"That is probably not realistic though so that's why we are looking for one or two additions."

Contract extension

Meanwhile, Jol is confident Andrew Johnson will sign a contract extension within the next month after hailing the striker's return to form.

For the past two years, Johnson has failed to justify his £10.5million price tag, scoring just three times each season.

Jol has overseen a transformation in Johnson's fortunes this summer though, with the 30-year-old already finding the net three times during the club's Europa League qualifying campaign.

The Fulham boss has been impressed with Johnson and is convinced the hitman is now playing as well as he did when he tried to sign him as Tottenham manager between 2004 and 2007.

Back then, Johnson was a regular in the England squad and only just missed out on a place in the 2006 World Cup squad.

Although Jol feels a return to the international fold is probably beyond Johnson, he does reckon the striker is now back to his best and he is therefore determined not to lose him when his contract expires next summer.

"When I was in England before, I was interested in signing him but he was too expensive. He was doing well at Crystal Palace and he looks the same now as he was then," Jol said.

"He's scoring goals, he's getting on the end of things, he's very good at receiving the ball.

"He is a very good second striker. He comes from midfield and he makes runs and stretches defences.

"He is doing two jobs and he is probably the only player in England who can do two jobs in one.

"He is doing very well and that's why the club are in talks with him to extend his contract."

Jol expects Johnson to sign the 12-month extension "within the next month" and is convinced the striker's well-documented injury problems are over.

"He is running like a chicken. I can't see any injuries. He is fit," he said.

Zamora key

Jol also hailed fellow striker Bobby Zamora, who he believes will be key to his goal of achieving a top-half finish for the London club this term.

The former Spurs striker missed a large chunk of last season after breaking his leg and suffered yet another setback when he broke his hand last month.

Zamora has continued to play while wearing a protective cast and will do so against Aston Villa in the Premier League opener.

"The most important thing for any team is to have one or two players who can make the difference and he did that for Fulham," Jol added.

"It's not easy to find someone like him. He's a gift. He sees the ball, he can turn, he has good technique. He is a good player.

"I would like to keep him fit. Last year he had a few injury problems but this year I played him three days after (he broke his hand)."



http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11681_7095920,00.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol: New-look Villa a threat

Fulham boss Martin Jol expects Aston Villa to pose a threat despite making several personnel changes.

Villa have lost several players in the off-season, including England internationals Ashley Young and Stewart Downing.

But Jol said Alex McLeish's team still had enough quality to cause them problems in their English Premier League opener at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

"Of course, Ashley Young is a fine player, Downing is a good player but on the other hand they've got a few players in and they don't have many injuries in their squad," Jol said on Friday.

"With (Jean) Makoun in midfield with (Stiliyan) Petrov and (Darren) Bent up front, they're full of good players."

Villa did add Charles N'Zogbia to their squad and also brought in Shay Given to replace Brad Friedel as goalkeeper.

Jol, who took over after Mark Hughes resigned in June, said he was hopeful of leading Fulham to a higher finish than the eighth-place they managed last season.

"You've always got the hope and ambition that you can do better," Jol said.

"As I said in the first week, I think Roy Hodgson and Mark Hughes got the maximum out of this squad, but of course you hope for me."

"That is the ambition you need as a manager."

Jol expects striker Moussa Dembele to be fit, but Simon Davies and Bjorn Helge Riise will both miss the clash.




http://www.soccerway.com/news/2011/August/12/jol-new-look-villa-a-threat/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Match Preview: Aston Villa (h)

Fulham's domestic campaign starts tomorrow. Up first is Aston Villa who are an unknown quantity with a new manager in Alex McLeish. He may introduce the defensive tactics that made his previous employers Birmingham City a tough unit to score against. Although, they were unable to actually score themselves, which contributed to their relegation.



But at Aston Villa McLeish has found, and bought one, pacey attacking players in Gabriel Agbonlahor, Marc Albrighton and Charles N'Zogbia. And to benefit from these quick attackers is Darren Bent up front. Last season Bent and playmaker Ashley Young could at times link up superbly. But the latter has moved on to Manchester United, so will Bent be as prolific without him or can another playmaker like N'Zogbia fill the boots of Young?

With six competitive games already played in the Europa League, Fulham's first touch of the ball and fitness levels will presumably be better than Aston Villa's. From these games in Europa League we have also seen glimpses of how Fulham are playing under Martin Jol. He seems to be putting his trust in a Zamora-Johnson strike partnership, which hasn't been prolific but has been productive at times.

Jol has been decreasing the average age of an aging Fulham squad after buying some young players. Two summer signings that could be playing their Premier League debuts are Marcel Gecov and Pajtim Kasami. The midfielders look to have great potential after playing in the U-21s European Championship with Czech Republic and Switzerland respectively. Two teams that were very impressive in the tournament.

It all starts tomorrow then. Another test for the Fulham sqaud to cope with a long Europa League run and a domestic campaign. With an experienced European manager in Martin Jol and with a team that is almost the same as the one that reached the Europa League final, expectations are, although they may not repeat a progression to the final, that Fulham make a good account of themselves in both tournaments.

Expected line-ups:
Fulham XI
Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise, Duff, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora

Aston Villa XI
Given, Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Albrighton, Petrov, Bannan, N'Zogbia, Heskey, Bent




http://fulham.theoffside.com/match-preview/match-preview-aston-villa-h.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Squad sheets: Fulham v Aston Villa

Having finished a point apart last season, these sides have undergone transitional summers. Martin Jol will include Bobby Zamora, who sustained a broken hand in the Europa League a fortnight ago, for his first league match in charge of Fulham, though Zamora will wear a cast. Yet Cameron Jerome will not partner him in attack after Fulham refused to improve on their £3m midweek offer for the Birmingham striker. For Villa fans outraged at the appointment of Alex McLeish and dismayed at the loss of Stewart Downing and Ashley Young, debuts for Charles N'Zogbia and Shay Given will provide some cheer. Jonny Weeks

Venue Craven Cottage, Saturday 3pm

Tickets £30-42 (0843 208 1234)

Last season Fulham 1 Aston Villa 1

Referee Lee Mason

Last season's matches 23 Y104, R3, 4.65 cards per game

Odds Fulham 6-5 Aston Villa 14-5 Draw 12-5


Fulham v Aston Villa: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: Graphic

Fulham

Subs from Somogyi, Halliche, Gecov, Briggs, Salcido, Baird, Kasami, Frei, Trotta, Donegan, Senderos, Sidwell, Dalla Valle, Johnson

Doubtful Zamora (broken hand)

Injured BH Riise (hamstring, 27 Aug), Davies (knee, Sep)

Suspended None

Disciplinary record (last season) Y53 R1

Leading scorer (last season) Dempsey 12

Aston Villa

Subs from Guzan, Marshall, Ireland, Bannan, Clark, Beye, Lichaj, Gardner, Heskey, Makoun, Delfounseo, Herd, Weimann, Hogg, Baker

Doubtful None

Injured Cuéllar (knee, 20 Aug)

Suspended None

Disciplinary record (last season) Y70 R2

Leading scorer (last season) Bent 9

Match pointers

• Eight of the last 13 top-flight meetings between these sides have been drawn

• Gabriel Agbonlahor needs to score one more goal to reach a total of 50 in the top division of English football

• Fulham scorde the highest percentage of goals from headers (31%) in the Premier League last season

• Aston Villa dropped more points from winning positions (26) than any other side in the division in 2010-11

• If selected, Aaron Hughes will be making the 400th appearance of his Premier League career




http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/aug/12/squad-sheets-fulham-aston-villa?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Ffootball%2Frss+%28Football%29

[WhiteJC]

 
AJ close to new Fulham deal
by DAN on AUGUST 12, 2011



Martin Jol believes that Andy Johnson is close to agreeing a new contract with Fulham and has been impressed with the striker's return to form over the summer.

Jol feels that Johnson might now to be back to the form that saw him terrorising Premier League defences in his Crystal Palace days and gave a lengthy eulogy to the ex-England striker's qualities during his pre-match press conference this afternoon.

When I was in England before, I was interested in signing him but he was too expensive. He was doing well at Crystal Palace and he looks the same now as he was then.

He's scoring goals, he's getting on the end of things, he's very good at receiving the ball. He is a very good second striker. He comes from midfield and he makes runs and stretches defences.

He is doing two jobs and he is probably the only player in England who can do two jobs in one. He is doing very well and that's why the club are in talks with him to extend his contract

Jol also believes that Johnson's injury problems are well behind him and hopes he will continue to forge an effective partnership with Bobby Zamora, having impressed during Fulham's early Europa League fixtures.

He is running like a chicken. I can't see any injuries. He is fit.




http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/08/aj-close-to-new-fulham-deal/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Defender poised for Fulham exit

MARTIN Jol has told defender Rafik Halliche he can leave Fulham.

The Algerian international has made just two substitute appearances at Craven Cottage since his switch last summer, but still has two years left on his contract.

And with Brede Hangeland, Aaron Hughes, Philipe Senderos and Chris Baird ahead of him in the pecking order, Jol is prepared to let the 24-year-old move on.

He said: "We'll try to get something for him because he's an international player who looks good, and if I was in Europe I would take him."



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/08/12/defender-poised-for-fulham-exit-64767-29226080/?#ixzz1UtHmcYRY

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Johnson to resist QPR and sign new one-year deal at Fulham

Andy Johnson is set to end any doubt over his Fulham future by signing a new 12-month deal.

The striker, 30, is out of contract next summer and Queens Park Rangers had been sniffing around.

But Fulham boss Martin Jol said: 'Andy is doing very well at the moment and that's why the club are in talks with him to extend his contract.


Set to stay: Andrew Johnson is in talks over extending his contract at Fulham

'He's scoring goals, he's getting on the end of things.'

The season opener with Aston Villa will be Jol's first Premier League match since Tottenham's defeat at Newcastle in October 2007.




Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2025509/Andy-Johnson-set-sign-new-Fulham-deal.html#ixzz1UtHzTxtq

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Fulham's Martin Jol still looking to add reinforcements to squad
Cottagers boss looking to add to his squad before the end of the transfer window and has also played down the idea that Europa league could harm his sides Premier League success.

Fulham manager Martin Jol has admitted that he is looking to bring in more signings to his squad before the end of this summer's transfer window.

The Dutchman has said that he is particularly looking at bringing in a striker as back-up for key man Bobby Zamora who spent a large part of last season out of action due to a broken leg.

Whilst Jol is happy with the quality of the squad, he is eager to add more depth so that the club is well equipped to deal with any injuries.

"I'm happy with the squad we have got, if they are fit," Jol told reporters.
"That is probably not realistic though so that's why we are looking for one or two additions

"It will be hard to find someone like him [Zamora]. If Bobby is injured, we lack a number nine. On the other hand, Clint [Dempsey] can play that position."

Fulham begin their Premier league campaign at home to Aston Villa with both sides starting the season with new managers. Martin Jol though has already had the opportunity to see his side in competitive action though due to the fact that the clubs Europa league campaign has already begun.

"I don't see there is a lot of difference in playing friendlies [or playing in the Europa League qualifiers]" he added.

"Hopefully it will have given us enough preparation for the season."




http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2011/08/12/2617284/fulhams-martin-jol-still-looking-to-add-reinforcements-to?

[WhiteJC]

 
ANDREW JOHNSON'S CLUCKING GOOD

ANDY JOHNSON is feeling clucking great after being offered a new deal by Fulham.

Fulham boss Martin Jol reckons striker Andrew Johnson is back to his best as he prepares for today's opener at home to Aston Villa.

Johnson, 30, has been plagued by injury in recent years and feared his contract would not be extended beyond this season.

But Jol said: "Andy Johnson is doing very well at the moment and that's why the club are in talks with him to extend his contract by a year.

"I expect him to sign it over the next month.

"He is fit. He is running like a chicken.

"He is already back to the level I remember him being when I was Spurs manager. When I was in England before he was doing well at Crystal Palace and he looks the same now as he was then.

"He's scoring goals, he's getting on the end of things, he's very good at receiving the ball now.

"For me, he is a very good second striker.

"He did interest me when I was at Tottenham but he was too expensive then."

Johnson is expected to play off frontman Bobby Zamora, who has recovered from a broken hand. And Jol feels his side are ready to deal with Villa dangerman Darren Bent, who is set to return after a shoulder problem.

He said: "I know about Darren. I managed him when I was at Spurs.

"He is a quality player who can score terrific goals."




http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/205829/Andrew-Johnson-s-clucking-good/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham vs. Aston Villa, Match Preview: Time To Start Winning Us Over, Mr. McLeish

It's incredibly hard to believe that the season starts today, but unless some sort of battle between superheroes happens in near-space within the next 12 hours or so, it does. Which is exciting of course but it's also a little bit scary, at least from my perspective. A lot of that is likely down to how much I've been focusing on this squad these past few weeks. And when I say focusing I mean on their weaknesses because that's just kind of how my brain is wired. But even the most optimistic of Villa fans would have to admit, there is at least some cause for concern with this team. It's not that I am predicting doom, because I think this season will be significantly more comfortable than last. But Alex McLeish has got some very interesting challenges to deal with this season. And the quickest way for McLeish to justify the board's decision in hiring him is to find a way to work within his constraints and win a lot of games. Simple, right?

Luckily for McLeish, the size of the squad isn't likely to matter all that much this week. Everyone is healthy and available, and Villa will have a first-choice squad on the field at Craven Cottage tomorrow. That's likely to mean that we'll get to see some of the players we're most curious about get the nod. The biggest questions surrounding this team at the moment are likely concerning Stephens Ireland and Warnock, and the odds are quite good that both of them will play. With Fulham being a side Villa shouldn't expect to have to play a negative style to compete against, it also seems reasonable to expect Villa to go with a more attacking approach and that's something I think all of us are curious to see from an Alex McLeish side in a competitive match.



Fulham are a bit of an unknown quantity at the moment; Mark Hughes is gone and Martin Jol has taken over, bringing with him high hopes for Cottagers fans. In terms of transfer movement though, it's been limited. Zoltan Gera headlines the players that have left (giving you a bit of an idea of the consequence of the remainder of the departures) while John Arne Riise is the only player brought into the club likely to make an impact this season. Still, there are some very dangerous players in this side and Clint Dempsey is chief amongst them. Dempsey is pretty well known at this point; a big physical midfielder with good speed and a nose for goal, he's the prototypical American attacking player at a level above what the country has produced in the past. A healthy Bobby Zamora will also be will also present some issues, as the big English striker is just as capable of flying past Villa's somewhat lumbering central defensive pairing as he is mixing it up and wearing them down.

The Cottagers can boast a formidable back line as well, with Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes holding down the center and Riise and Mexican international Carlos Salcido the likely starters on the outside. No matter the defensive unit Fulham trot out, it will be a difficult task to break it down. That's going to put a great deal of pressure on Darren Bent, Marc Albrighton and (presumably) Charles N'Zogbia to create chances and force Fulham to go on the attack, because if the home side get into a position to set up shop it will be a tough task for Villa to make much headway.

In the end, this is a winnable game but Villa aren't far enough ahead of Fulham (if indeed they are ahead of them at all) to count any result as too great a disappointment. In fact, if asked to make a prediction I'd say the most likely outcome is a narrow win for the home side. And while that's far from ideal, it would also be far from disaster. The days of Fulham as a side happy just to scrape by and survive in the Premier League are long past. They've quietly built a very good side down in South London, and there's no reason to think they shouldn't be considered a favorite to qualify for yet another season of European football. But it's still early enough in the season that results, while of course important, aren't the only things to watch. With a new manager, some very different personnel and a new style there are plenty of things to learn from this game. The reasonable amongst us are expecting some growing pains, but those can be learning experiences. This isn't the toughest start to the season Villa could be facing, but it's certainly not Norwich at home either. This is one of those games where the process is just as important as the result.



http://www.7500toholte.com/2011/8/13/2358928/fulham-aston-villa-preview-clint-dempsey-darren-bent-charles-nzogbia-bobby-zamora?

[WhiteJC]

 
Schwarzer challenges Fulham to keep over-achieving

Mark Schwarzer says Fulham are determined to maintain their status as the 'over-achievers' of the Premier League.

The Londoners have enjoyed a great period of success in the previous three seasons, with two top-10 finishes in the league as well as an incredible run to the 2010 Europa League Final.

New Fulham boss Martin Jol takes charge of the club for the first time against Aston Villa, and Australian goalkeeper Schwarzer reckons his team-mates are on a mission to keep the Cottagers driving forward.

"The last three seasons have been excellent," said Schwarzer. "I don't think the club has ever had a better three years in a row.

"It's hard to improve on seventh in the Premier League, a Europa League final, and then eighth. But we believe in our own ability. We have good players at the club and it hasn't been down to luck.

"It's been hard work and good football, but we aim to improve and keep it going.

"The bar has been raised and, us as players, are determined to continue raising that bar. The supporters deserve it.

"We are quitely confident of having a good season. We have had a decent pre-season campaign, although it has been different because we are playing in European football.

"It's gone to plan and we are raring to go."

Dutchman Jol replaced Mark Hughes in the Fulham hot-seat at the start of June.

And Schwarzer believes the speedy appointment of the ex-Tottenham boss will aid Fulham this term.

He added: "Last season was a difficult situation, because we had a new manager two weeks before the start of the season.

"The club were very much conscious of that this summer. Martin came into the club early and has settled in well - he's been great.

"He's brought in his own players straight away and everything has gone really well."




Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Fulham-news-Mark-Schwarzer-challenges-team-mates-keep-over-achieving-after-clubs-best-three-year-run-ever-article784602.html#ixzz1UtJcOLC7
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[WhiteJC]

 
Craven Cottagers
Following the 2007/8, 2008/9, 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons at Craven Cottage - recounted by season ticket holders who aren't actually Fulham fans.

Preview 2011/12

've been trying to write this season preview for some time now, but it's been hard to know where to start. This Fulham side still feels much the same one that Roy Hodgson started off with three glorious seasons ago. There have been some additions, but only Hughes' Dembele and Jol's Riise are free of Roy's guidance. Even Senderos and Sidwell were lined up before Hughes arrived.

Last season Sparky tried to impose himself on the side, but they only pulled themselves out of trouble when allowed to play the way Hodgson pioneered at the club. It is still unclear what approach Jol will take.

It's hard to gauge what tactical innovations from the early rounds of the Europa League will stick, but one of them seems to be playing Aaron Hughes at right back so the team can adapt to three at the back when in possession. This is worrying given the strength of the Hughes/Hangeland pairing, but retaining Hughes' presence in the back line might preserve some of the advantages. If it doesn't work then Baird, Kelly or possibly Salcido (who is right footed after all) could get a run out.

And that's as exciting as it will be: who will play right back? While it's nice to be back in Europe, it is a much shallower squad now than two seasons ago. The departures of Paintsil, Kamara, Zolly Gera, Greening, Stockdale (thankfully just on loan), Elm, hell even Eddie Johnson, along with some of the Europa alumini such as Konchesky and even Seol, suggest there is not the depth to emulate 2009/10. In fact, with just three strikers in the squad, all of whom missed chunks of last season through injury, there is a need for reinforcements up top. The two new midfielders Gecov and Kasami sound interesting, but are somewhat of an unknown quantity.

What this squad has achieved at Fulham will rightly have it hailed as the club's best ever. However a few injuries this year and the team might find itself dragged into a relegation battle, especially if it advances into the Europa groups and beyond.

Fortunately there's still time to get a few more bodies in and maybe some of the youth team like Dala Valle can step up.




http://cottagers.blogspot.com/

[Lighthouse]

According to L'Equipe, the attacking midfielder Gael Kakuta could again be on loan from Chelsea this season. Fulham and Lille are contenders