News:

Use a VPN to stream games Safely and Securely 🔒
A Virtual Private Network can also allow you to
watch games Not being broadcast in the UK For
more Information and how to Sign Up go to
https://go.nordvpn.net/SH4FE

Main Menu


Thursday Fulham Stuff (18/08/11)

Started by WhiteJC, August 18, 2011, 07:30:06 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

WhiteJC

 
Fulham poised to end striker hunt by landing Ajax hitman



Fulham boss Martin Jol is closing in on the signing of Ajax hitman Mounir El Hamdaoui, as first revealed on talkSPORT.co.uk back in June.

Jol said he wanted to sign a striker after drawing a blank in Fulham's opening-day goalless draw with Aston Villa.

And now he has confirmed his interest in signing the Moroccan forward for the third time as a manager.

Speaking to a Dutch magazine, Jol said: "It is not an unthinkable we could sign Mounir."




http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/9973/2/fulham-poised-end-striker-hunt-landing-ajax-hitman?

WhiteJC

 
Matchday Programme

Standing just two games away from the UEFA Europa League proper, Fulham host Ukrainians FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk on Thursday evening in the home leg of the Play-Off Round at Craven Cottage.

And if you're coming to support the boys in the crunch encounter that could shape the rest of the season, be sure to pick up a copy of the Club's critically acclaimed official matchday programme.

After our run to the 2009/10 UEFA Europa League Final, programmes from each fixture have become rare collectors' items – particularly those from the qualifying stages, so pick your special edition up for the bargain price of £3 and get yourself a little piece of Fulham history.

As ever, this week's issue features insight from both Manager Martin Jol and Skipper Danny Murphy, plus an in-depth interview with midfield enforcer Dickson Etuhu and Academy starlet Kerim Frei.

Former Fulham favourite Rufus Brevett returns with his European column, plus there's everything you need to know about our Ukrainian opponents, as well as much reflection on the first game of the Barclays Premier League season last Saturday.

One lucky reader will also get the chance to win the new Fulham home shirt, in our Lucky Programme Number Competition.

The official Fulham FC programme really is the essential matchday accessory and the most traditional piece of football memorabilia you can buy, so be sure to pick yours up this week from various sellers on Stevenage Road from two hours before kick-off.



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Fanzone/FFCMatchdayProgramme.aspx#ixzz1VNSxgNI1

WhiteJC

 
Wolves look to mark death of Frank Munro ahead of Fulham game

WOLVES are involved in talks to mark Frank Munro's passing at Sunday's game with Fulham.

The Scottish international died on Tuesday at the age of 63.

Mick McCarthy led the tributes: "I met Frank at different Wolves functions and he was a lovely fella.

"He wasn't that much older than me so I see him as one of my footballing peers and it's always sad when you lose someone who has made a major contribution to the game.

"Like everyone at the club, I would like to send my condolences to Frank's family and friends."

The flag outside Molineux is at half-mast for Munro who was a member of the teams that reached the UEFA Cup Final in 1972, won the League Cup in 1974 and won the Second Division in 1977.

Dave Wagstaffe, who together with Phil Parkes was at his bedside when he died, said: "Frank was the most skilful centre-half in the country and yet he never realised it. He played the game for fun.

"He was a great team-mate and a great friend and we are all going to miss him tremendously."




Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/wolves-fc-news/2011/08/18/wolves-look-to-mark-death-of-frank-munro-ahead-of-fulham-game-97319-29257874/?#ixzz1VNmnbyqN


WhiteJC

 
Juande Ramos isn't that important, says Martin Jol ahead of grudge match

Former Tottenham manager Juande Ramos has braced himself for a grudge clash with Fulham's Martin Jol by insisting he was not to blame for the controversy surrounding the manner in which he succeeded the Dutchman at White Hart Lane.

Ramos tonight brings FC Dnipro to Craven Cottage for the first leg of a play-off to decide which side will reach the group stage of the Europa League knowing that Jol is still smarting from the manner in which he was deposed at Spurs four years ago.

Jol, the first Spurs manager since Keith Burkinshaw to qualify for European football in successive seasons, learned of his dismissal during a 2-1 defeat to Getafe in UEFA Cup back in October 2007. And it emerged that Spurs officials had already discussed his job with Ramos, then manager of UEFA Cup winners Sevilla.

Yesterday, Jol attempted to dismiss the notion that he might still feel a degree of animosity towards Ramos by saying: "He is important but not that important. The same as me. The main thing is to get to the next round."

Ahead of his first meeting with Ramos since the Spurs debacle, Jol said: "He was only there [at White Hart Lane] for 10 or 11 months and then he moved on and ended up in the Ukraine. It is something to think about, because they pay well."

Asked if he will shake Ramos by the hand, Jol responded: "I always respect people in football."

But he added: "I will forget him and we go on. He will forget me as well, as he did before."

It is against this background that Ramos will seek to ease the pressure already mounting on his new position. Dnipro have won just one of their last four domestic league fixtures.

Referring back to what happened at Spurs, Ramos insisted: "It really is not up to coaches to decide the future of their careers.

"Only clubs can make the decision of who they want to keep and who they want to send out.

"Really, it is not up to us. It really is up to the clubs."




http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23979339-juande-ramos-isnt-that-important-says-martin-jol-ahead-of-grudge-match.do?

WhiteJC

 
Hull City prepare to terminate Jimmy Bullard's contract

Hull City are preparing to bring Jimmy Bullard's stay at the KC Stadium to an end by arranging to terminate his contract, reports BBC Radio Humberside.

In a statement on the Tigers website, chief executive Mark Maguire says that they will be making no further comment.

"I can confirm that the club has given notice to terminate the contract of Jimmy Bullard," stated Maguire.

"He has a right of appeal. It would be inappropriate to make further comment that might prejudice this process."

Hull initially suspended midfielder Bullard over what BBC Radio Humberside understands was an alleged breach of club discipline on the club's pre-season tour of Slovenia in July.

The 32-year-old club record signing signed for Hull, then still a Premier League club, from Fulham for £5m in February 2009.

But the former Peterborough and Wigan player suffered a serious knee injury 37 minutes into his debut at West Ham.

He has made just 24 appearances for Hull in two and a half years, ending last season on loan at Ipswich.

And the Tigers have reportedly been trying to sell him because he is on a reported £50,000 a week.




http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14577100.stm

WhiteJC

 
Wolverhampton Wanderers V Fulham – Match Preview

Wolves enjoyed a fantastic start to the season with an away win against Blackburn and will be confident of beating a Fulham side who could only manage a goalless home draw against Aston Villa.

It was the start boss Mick McCarthy was hoping for as he looks to steer clear of another relegation battle this campaign. Martin Jol on the other hand will be disappointed his side didn't convert their chances against Villa, which was his first league game in charge at Craven Cottage. He'll be looking for much from his strikers as they squandered numerous opportunities to win the game last week and the Dutchman may opt to reshuffle is forward line if they are to overcome a confident Wolves side looking to secure back to back wins. McCarthy's men strolled to a comfortable victory against Blackburn and he will be particularly pleased with Steven Fletcher who scored one and harassed the Rovers defence all afternoon with his strength and pace.

Both teams have no new injury concerns and are likely to name near identical line-ups to the ones that were selected last week.

Key Players
Jamie O'Hara
Jamie O'Hara: A snip at £5 million the midfielder will be tasked with making things happen in the centre of the park along with delivering some teasing set-pieces.

Bobby Zamora
Bobby Zamora: The England striker was unlucky not to get on the score sheet last week and will be tasked by Jol to deliver the goals to get those vital first three points on the board.

Verdict: 1-0



http://www.footballfancast.com/2011/08/football-news/wolverhampton-wanderers-v-fulham-match-preview?


WhiteJC

 
THE MIKE NORMAN COLUMN
CELTIC, FULHAM, BIRMINGHAM EUROPA LEAGUE ACTION PREVIEWS


Celtic and Fulham have every chance of securing a first leg lead says Mike Norman, but for Championship side Birmingham, a lack of fit strikers is likely to be their downfall.

Celtic 1.57 v Sion 6.8; The Draw 4.4

Celtic will aim to avoid elimination at this stage of the Europa League for the second year running when they take on Swiss side FC Sion over two legs, starting with their re-routed first leg tie at Celtic Park. Having lost to Utrecht at this stage of the competition last season Celtic boss Neil Lennon has warned against a repeat outcome this time around, though any first leg advantage will have to be achieved without the injured duo of Gary Hooper and Beram Kayal.

The Bhoys have made a 100% start to their domestic campaign, winning three out of three in the Scottish Premier League, scoring eight goals in the process and conceding just the one. Their Swiss opponents started their own domestic campaign even earlier than the Scottish league however, Sion having played five games already, winning two, drawing two, and losing the other. Laurent Roussey's men are unbeaten on the road still, and they've scored at least one goal in all five of their league fixtures this season.

Sion are currently involved in an ongoing battle with Fifa about the length of a transfer embargo imposed on them, and that could mean that some players - perhaps defender Jose Goncalves being the most notable - will be ineligible for this tie. Celtic should win then, but not without a few hiccups along the way maybe, and therefore backing Both teams to Score at 1.92 looks well worth a wager (Over 2.5 Goals is available to back at only 1.84).

Fulham 1.68 v Dnipro 6.0; The Draw 4.0

Remarkably this will be Fulham's seventh game in this competition and their eighth game of the season all told. Having said that, despite this being Dnipro's first outing in the Europa League this term, the Ukranian outfit have played six games domestically so there should be no advantage to either side in terms of fitness and sharpness.

Similar to the Celtic v Sion game Dnipro bring mixed form to the table having won two, drawn two, and lost two of their six league games to date. But just like Sion, they are unbeaten away from home this term and they have scored in each of their six games played. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll score at Craven Cottage however as Martin Jol's outfit have recorded six clean sheets already this term and have conceded just one goal in over 630 minutes of football.

A full strength Fulham side should be too strong for a Dnipro team - managed by former Spurs boss Juande Ramos - that includes former Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic, though I don't expect the game to be a goal-fest by any means. Under 2.5 Goals - available to back at 1.8 - is a likely outcome, whilst the 2-0 option in the Correct Score market is worth an interest at 8.0.

Nacional 1.9 v Birmingham 4.7; The Draw 3.78

Birmingham boss Chris Hughton faces a striker headache for the game in Portugal as Cameron Jerome, Marlon King, and Nikola Zigic will all be absent through injury, though whether the Brum boss would have played his first choice attackers is up for debate.

Birmingham's priority this term is undoubtedly to secure an immediate return to the Premier League and Hughton will surely use the Europa League - in this tie and any future ties should they progress - to give his fringe players some football. If that's the case then this trip to Portugal will be far from easy. Ivo Vieira's Nacional have won two out of two Europa League games at home this season without conceding a single goal, and with plenty of skilful Brazilians in their squad, they ought to be too good for a Birmingham side seemingly in decline.

I don't confess to knowing a lot about Birmingham's opposition but the fact is they are still in the top flight of Portuguese football and have a similar squad to the one that beat the likes of Benfica and Sporting Lisbon on home soil last season. All things considered then, a home win looks very fairly priced at 1.9.

Recommended Bets

Back Both teams to Score @ 1.92 in Celtic v Sion
Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.8 in Fulham v Dnipro
Back 2-0 Correct Score @ 8.0 in Fulham v Dnipro
Back Nacional @ 1.9 to beat Birmingham



http://www.sportingpreview.com/columns2012/11120303.php?

WhiteJC

 
Former Spurs target links himself with Fulham

Twente winger open to west London move

After Spurs rejected the chance to make an offer, Twente winger Bryan Ruiz has linked himself with a move to west Londoners Fulham.

The Costa Rican was watched by Harry Redknapp last week, but after it seemed their interest cooled, the 26-year-old was keen to make sure Martin Jol knew about his availability.

Ruiz told De Telegraaf: "Fulham is a serious option for me.

"That is also a Premier League side and it is a fantastic league.

"Fulham already contacted my agent. If Fulham does become serious, we will definitely talk."

Ruiz has been linked with a number of clubs this summer, but he insists he is not worried about his future.

"It makes no sense to worry, because I can't do anything about it," he said.

"Of course I want a step forward, but believe me I don't have any problems for a longer stay at FC Twente. FC Twente is a fantastic club."



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/former_spurs_target_links_himself_with_fulham_1_998234?

WhiteJC

 
Up next: Dnipro (h)
by DAN on AUGUST 18, 2011

After a disappointing start against Aston Villa on Saturday, there will be no room for manoeuvre against a dangerous Dnipro side this evening. Failure to beat the Ukrainians would place Fulham's hopes of reaching the group stages of the Europa League in real jeopardy, whilst even a narrow win might cause a few hearts to flutter ahead of the second leg next week.

Martin Jol has left his side under no illusions as to his expectations. The manager's preview over on the Offal talks about the need for goals. Fulham have been free-scoring in their European campaign so far, but this is their sternest test to date. The home fans will need no warning of the strength of Ukrainian football after Shakhtar passed Fulham off the park for an hour in a spellbinding first leg a couple of years ago and Juande Ramos' side are certainly confident of going one better than their domestic rivals.

Dnipro certainly have a few players capable of stretching the Fulham defence. Oleksiy Antonov, a 25 year-old close-season signing from FC Illichivets Mariupol, has already hit the ground running, scoring four goals in a blistering start to his Dnipro career. Ramos can also rely on the mercurial talents of Brazilian Matheus, who has previously starred for Braga in Europe, and will certainly occupy Fulham's defence this evening. Playing from slightly deeper, Ruslan Rotan will attempt to dictate the tempo of Dnipro's attacks. He has played almost 200 games for the club and is a regular with the Ukrainian national side. Nikola Kalinic, until recently of Blackburn, scored on his debut, whilst Fulham fans might be cheered by the prospect of Jan Lastuvka in goal. That might be harsh on the Czech keeper who struggled in a poor Fulham side back in 2007/08 and has rebuilt his career in the Ukraine.

Jol has a few selection dilemmas to solve this evening. We will get an indication of just how highly he regards the competition as a tough trip to Wolves follows on Sunday. Jol has hinted that he will look to shake things up a little, suggesting that the likes of Stephen Kelly and Matthew Briggs may play a part. Kelly hasn't featured for Fulham under the new manager and while the Republic of Ireland full-back did very well during our last European run, I'd fear that his inclusion at the expense of Chris Baird might signal the curtain coming down on the latter's Fulham career.

Plenty of Fulham fans will be wondering whether Jol might wish to freshen up the midfield. Dickson Etuhu, after a wretched display on Saturday, might be most vulnerable if Jol feels he could do without the Nigerian's steel against continental opponents. Steve Sidwell would be the most natural replacement, but both Pajtim Kasami and Marcel Gecov will also be hoping for a run-out. Gecov's yet to see any first-team action since signing for the club, whilst Kasami has been limited to tantalising cameos against RNK Split. If Jol wishes to rest key players prior to that trip to Wolves – where you would think Etuhu's physicality is a must – then the new arrivals could be in direct competition for a starting spot.

Up front, you would expect Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson to start once again. On another day – and perhaps facing another goalkeeper – Zamora could have had a hat-trick on the opening day. His movement remains a real problem for even the most well-organised defences, even if there is still a question mark over his fitness after fracturing a bone in his hand. Johnson has been in excellent poaching form in the early rounds of the Europa League and his partnership with Zamora seems revived. With Moussa Dembele approaching match fitness, the competition for places should act as a spur for the pint-sized forward.

MY FULHAM XI (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Baird, J.A. Riise, Hughes, Hangeland; Sidwell, Murphy, Duff, Dempsey; Zamora, Johnson. Subs: Somogyi, Kelly, Senderos, Briggs, Gecov, Kasami, Dembele.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/08/up-next-dnipro-h/?