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Thursday Fulham Stuff (4/3/10)

Started by WhiteJC, March 04, 2010, 07:50:24 AM

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White Noise

http://www.bettingpro.com/category/Football/Fulham-v-Tottenham-Hotspur-FA-Cup-betting-tips-2010030400122/


Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup betting tips



Craven Cottage set for an enthralling cup tie

The last time Spurs travelled across London to Craven Cottage, they left with a nil-nil draw, and then just over a month ago, they beat the Fulham two-nil at White Hart Lane. Harry Redknapp's side enjoy playing Fulham, although 6/4 (Boylesports) that they win on Saturday is far too short, against a side who are unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions.

Fulham have won nine out of fourteen at home in the Premier League this season, and they have an excellent defensive record at Craven Cottage. They are 11/5 (VictorChandler) to beat Spurs, and if they can stop Jermaine Defoe (6/1, Coral) and Roman Pavlyuchenko (13/2, Bet365) from scoring, then they have a great chance of victory.

Fulham are 11/4 (SkyBet) to keep a clean sheet, and 9/2 (SkyBet) to win to nil on Saturday, and five shut-outs in their last eight matches suggest Roy Hodgson's side are definitely capable of stopping opponents from scoring.

Bobby Zamora is playing the best football of his life at Fulham, and the former Spurs striker will be keen to maintain his excellent scoring record this season with the game's opener (13/2, SkyBet), and a Zamora goal in a one-nil Fulham win (17/2, SkyBet) is a not inconceivable outcome to the game. That double pays a respectable 33/1 with SkyBet.

Recommendation

Win Market – Fulham (11/5, VictorChandler)
Win to Nil – Fulham (9/2, SkyBet)

White Noise

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2010/03/04/1817786/alan-mullery-england-boss-fabio-capello-should-not-take

Alan Mullery: England Boss Fabio Capello Should Not Take David Beckham To World Cup 2010


Veteran's star has faded just a little too much for South Africa...

By Zack Wilson


Mar 4, 2010 2:34:00 PM

AC Milan midfielder David Beckham has no place in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad, according to former England midfielder Alan Mullery.

The former Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur player, who won 35 caps for the Three Lions between 1964 and 1971, feels that Capello has much better options on the right flank available to him now.

He also questions that Beckham would actually bring to the squad, even as merely an option from the bench.

"The crowd are very faithful to David Beckham," Mullery told Sky Sports News.

"They love David Beckham, and I've loved David Beckham over the years.

"But if he [Capello] is going to take Beckham then what is he going to take him for?

"Are you going to take him to stick him on for ten minutes or 15 minutes to take free kicks and corners and spray a few balls about?

"If he can't get in the side immediately I still think we've got players there who can go into the side immediately before David Beckham.

"It's like everything in football. You have your day and then your day goes out the window.

"He's still doing very well in Milan, he's still doing very well at LA Galaxy, but as far as an international is concerned [his time's over].

"When I looked at it last night, Fabio Capello seemed to be saying: 'Should I take Theo Walcott , should I take Shaun Wright-Phillips?'

"Is David Beckham going to get in front of those two if they go? I would doubt it personally.

"They're two young men, and there's Aaron Lennon as well if he's fit.

"He [Beckham] is not going to take Aaron Lennon's place."

White Noise

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/usa/7368983/World-Cup-2010-USA-verdict.html


World Cup 2010: USA verdict



After struggling to qualify for the World Cup finals, what chance do Diego Maradona's squad have in South Africa?

By Oliver Brown


Published: 3:26PM GMT 04 Mar 2010

 
Coach:

Bob Bradley – The straight-talking 51 year-old has managed to make the American team a family affair, given that son Michael, thriving with Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Bundesliga, has become a regular pick. He led his players to a serenely straightforward qualification for the World Cup but the burden of national expectation could be cumbersome in South Africa. Much will depend on harnessing the talents of Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey, upon his return from ankle ligament damage, if Bradley's men are to emulate the class of 2002 in reaching the quarter-finals.

Looking good:

Jose Torres emerged favourably from Wednesday night's 2-1 defeat to the Dutch, offering Bradley some sorely-needed dynamism in midfield. Of Mexican descent, Torres has been playing his club football for Pachuca, the country's champions, and produced USA's one shot on goal – a powerful effort from long distance – in the first half at the Amsterdam Arena.

The US always carry a danger in dead-ball situations, as captain Carlos Bocanegra proved by heading in DaMarcus Beasley's late free-kick against the Dutch, but their strike force appears toothless. Jozy Altidore, while fleetingly effective with Hull, is still only 20 and his partnership with Robbie Findley of Real Salt Lake, just four years his senior, reflects a worrying lack of experience.

Mood:
Take this verdict from 'The Los Angeles Times': "Unless someone sticks a sharp stick in them, the Americans remain a team that can be taken, a team that all too often sleepwalks its way through games." The team's detractors on home soil are not inspired by a return of only four wins in 26 games in Europe and are apparently united in believing England have little to fear at the World Cup.

Star man:
Landon Donovan. The winger, whose profile has risen fast thanks to his role alongside David Beckham for the Los Angeles Galaxy, has been lavishly praised by his more illustrious team-mate. Beckham claimed not to be at all surprised that Donovan has been such a success in this season's loan spell at Everton, where he has provided an energetic presence on both flanks. The imponderable is whether the 28 year-old can galvanise a mercurial national team all on his own.


White Noise

Peter Crouch - why he should and should not lead England's attack at the World Cup

By Mark Lawford


Last updated at 2:43 PM on 04th March 2010


Love him or loathe him, Peter Crouch's goalscoring record for England cannot be argued with.

His double against Egypt last night took his tally to 20 in 37 appearances for his country - half of which have been as substitute - a ratio bettered by very few Three Lions strikers.

Even legends like Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Alan Shearer, Kevin Keegan and Bobby Charlton cannot match Crouch's goals per game strike rate and he is now the sixth best in English history.
 

But still opinion is divided about the 6ft 7in Tottenham striker.

He certainly made things happen against Egypt, effectively beat Trindad & Tobago at the last World Cup, scored a hat-trick (resulting in THAT robotic dance) against Jamaica and has three goals to his name against Andorra.

Four teams that will not be at this year's World Cup, three of whom would probably not even win the Coca Cola Championship, one of whom would struggle even in the Scottish Premier League.
So is Crouch the perfect foil for Wayne Rooney or is he a fraud, a flat-track bully, happy to fill onion bags against part-timers but always found wanting against an opponent who doesn't combine football with firefighting or stacking shelves?

Sportsmail delivers its verdict...
YES, PICK CROUCHHis goals alone merit selection. The fact that it looks like comedy actor and producer Stephen Merchant has donned a kit three sizes too short for a sketch when he takes to the pitch is irrelevant.
Like all good books, not to be judged by the cover.
Crouch ensured England of qualification from the group stage of the last World Cup with his late goal against Trinidad & Tobago, netted the winner against Macedonia in a Euro 2008 qualifier and brought England level at 2-2 during that infamous 3-2 defeat at home Croatia in November 2007.
It's there: Peter Crouch scores against T & T at the 2006 World Cup
He also opened the scoring against Ukraine in the 2010 qualifier at Wembley and bagged a brace against Belarus.
The fact is, international defenders neither like him nor know how to deal with him.

Now that's funny: Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch have just been reminded of Emile Heskey's goalscoring record for England
Referees were instructed at the last World Cup to penalise him more because he wins so many headers - odd given his height - but his presence on the pitch fills his own defenders with confidence.

Against Egypt left-back Leighton Baines looked happier with Crouch to aim for as did right-back Wes Brown.
Neither could see Jermain Defoe and did not want to be spraying passes for Wayne Rooney to chase all night.
It could be argued that Emile Heskey is another target man worthy of a place.
As solid as the big Aston Villa man is, he does not offer goals. His return of seven in 57 caps is matched by central defender John Terry with six from 58 and nobody is suggesting pushing JT into attack.
Defoe has 11 goals from 38 England games but does not always have the full confidence of managers. He was wrongly axed for 12-year-old Theo Walcott in 2006 and would not even have been a bad bet for a place at the 2002 finals as a teenager.
Yes, he scored twice against Holland (friendly) and has six competitive goals under his belt but four of these have been against Andorra and another against Kazakhstan.
Crouch's goal record for EnglandDate                       Opponents           Final score           Status                   Goals scored

March 2006
Uruguay (H)
2-1
Friendly
1

May 2006
Hungary (H) 3-1
Friendly 1

June 2006
Jamaica (H)
6-0
Friendly 3

June 2006
Trinidad & T
2-0
WC (Germany)
1

August 2006
Greece (H)
4-0
Friendly 2

Sept 2006
Andorra (H)
5-0
E2008Q
2

Sept 2006
Macedonia (A)
1-0
E2008Q 1

June 2007
Estonia (A)
3-0
E2008Q 1

November 2007
Austria (A)
1-0
Friendly
1

November 2007
Croatia (H)
2-3
E2008Q 1

April 2009
Ukraine (H)
2-1
WC2010Q
1

June 2009
Andorra (H)
6-0
WC2010Q 1

October 2009
Belarus (H)
3-0
WC2010Q 2

March 2010
Egypt (H)
3-1
Friendly
2

England manager Fabio Capello already seems to have written off Michael Owen, Darren Bent has not scored for England in five games and looks out of his depth outside the Premier League and Carlton Cole, for all his big physical presence, has no goals in seven England outings.
If Capello favours the big man/little man combo, that would almost certainly rule out Walcott as a striker as well, and that leaves England turning to the likes of goal-a-game David Nugent, no caps Bobby Zamora, did-you-spill-my-pint Kevin Davies, no-goals-in-eight Andrew Johnson and no-goals-in-three Gabriel Agbonlahor.
So the facts and figures prove conclusively that Peter Crouch is the man for the job and that Rooney must stop playing now and sit in cotton wool until June.

NO, PICK ANYONE BUT CROUCH                                                     
Fabio Capello knows a thing or two about football and really seems to like Emile Heskey. The 6ft 2in good old- fashioned centre forward is a clever footballer who has brought the best out of natural goalscorers Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen.
Far stronger than Crouch, Heskey holds the ball up well and is better in the air. But most importantly, England players like Heskey because he is a 100 per cent team man, unselfish to the core, happy to do all the hard work and preparation but bask in none of the glory.
 
  Target men: Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole (top row) will provide the muscle while Gabriel Agbonlahor and Bobby Zamora the pace and guile

Surely worth a place just for his turntable celebration following his goal in THAT 5-1 win in Munich eight years ago, living proof you don't have to be prolific to be a great striker.
Capello clearly believes Rooney needs something totally different to him up front, something hefty and easily found.
Step forward Carlton Cole, excellent this season for a struggling West Ham side, a 6ft 3in wall of muscle and pace whose only Achilles is his injury record.
Top England strikers (20 goals or more scored)Player                    Goals                    Caps                      Goals/game         Games/goal

Tom Lawton 22
23
0.96
1

Stan Mortensen
23
25
0.92
1.1

Nat Lofthouse
30
33
0.9
1.1

Jimmy Greaves
44
57
0.8
1.3

Gary Lineker
48
80
0.6
1.6

Peter Crouch
20
37
0.5
1.8

Geoff Hurst
24
49
0.49
2

Alan Shearer
30
63
0.47
2.1

Bobby Charlton
49
106
0.46
2.1

Mick Channon
21
46
0.46
2.2

Michael Owen
40
89
0.45
2.2

Wayne Rooney
25
57
0.44
2.3

David Platt
27
62
0.43
2.3

Pre-World War I: John Woodward 29 goals, 23 caps,  Steve Bloomer 28 goals, 23 caps

Cole has seven caps to his name but has yet to score a goal - not important if he is setting up Rooney or has Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard netting from midfield - and not important if all your caps have been awarded by the man set to name the World Cup squad.
And just try knocking him off the ball...
Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agonlahor averages a goal every three games at club level and is one of the main reasons Villa are still challenging on two fronts this season.
The 23-year-old is blessed with prodigious pace and is used to winning - he is also outscoring all his rivals for the No 2 slot with 14 goals this season, Heskey (5), Crouch (10) and Cole (9) trailing in his wake.
   On the (too) short list: Theo Walcott, Michael Owen and Jermain Defoe

Yes, no real experience, yes no goals but yes, he's gotta start somewhere and he's bigger than Owen and Defoe.
With 15 goals this season, Fulham's Bobby Zamora is above them all, and has earned rave reviews - plus a viewing from Capello - as the West Londoners have made the last 16 of the Europa League.
Also seems to have become a dead ball specialist so would keep Stevie G, Lampard and David Beckham on their toes as well.
The fact is Crouch only seems to score against poor sides and only in England - just four of his goals have been overseas - Heskey is stronger, Cole is tougher, Agbonlahor is quicker - so there's a queue forming and the 6ft 7in man is being muscled out of it.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1255399/Peter-Crouch--should-lead-Englands-attack-World-Cup.html#ixzz0hE8oo6py

White Noise

http://www.uefa.com/under21/matches/season=2011/round=2000006/match=2000082/report/index.html


Italy keep Wales in their sights


Published: Wednesday 3 March 2010, 20.48CET


Italy 2-0 Hungary


The hosts moved to within three points of qualifying Group 3 leaders Wales thanks to goals from Stefano Okaka Chuka and Luca Marrone in Rieti.

The hosts moved to within three points of qualifying Group 3 leaders Wales thanks to goals from Stefano Okaka Chuka and Luca Marrone in Rieti.
Read moreGoals from Stefano Okaka Chuka and Luca Marrone earned Italy a victory against Hungary which lifted the Azzurrini above their opponents into second place in UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 3.

Okaka opened the scoring in the 25th minute in Rieti, controlling a long ball from Giuseppe Bellusci, dribbling past two defenders and finding the corner with a low, right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area. Having been set up by Fabio Borini for an effort on goal moments before Pierluigi Casiraghi's team went ahead, Ezequiel Schelotto returned the favour to the Chelsea FC striker five minutes after the break with a cross which Borini directed narrowly over.

The traffic was one way with Lorenzo De Silvestri the next to threaten, the defender shooting wide after being teed up by Mario Balotelli. However, Italy − who started the evening in fourth − did get their second nine minutes from time when the visitors' defence failed to clear a low cross by De Silvestri from the right and Marrone fired in a powerful left-footed shot from the edge of the box.