Friday Fulham Stuff (09/09/11)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Cottage strike pair set for Rovers return

Martin Jol is boosted by the return to fitness of Bobby Zamora and Bryan Ruiz's availability for Fulham's visit of Blackburn on Sunday.

Cottagers' boss, Jol, recently bemoaned his attacking options following the 2-1 defeat at Newcastle in their last game before the international break.

But, the Dutch tactician will be delighted with the news that star striker, Zamora, is fit after overcoming an ankle injury which forced him to miss the last three games which the Cottagers lost.

Add to that the news 26-year-old £10.6million deadline day striker signing from FC Twente, Ruiz, secured his work permit earlier in the week and he can also feature against Blackburn, who have no points from their three Premier League outings to date.

Fellow new boys Zdenek Grygera and Orlando Sa are also set to be in the squad, while Bjorn Helge Riise and Matthew Briggs have overcome knocks.




http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/cottage-strike-pair-set-for-rovers-return-1280379.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
FULHAM v BLACKBURN
BIG MATCH STATS AND FACTS

Clint Dempsey has scored three goals in his last four appearances against Blackburn.

Fulham have found the net three times in their last two games at home to Rovers.

The Whites have scored at least twice in five of their last six league games at Craven Cottage.


Blackburn have lost only two of their last 10 games against Fulham, although they have been beaten on their last two trips to Craven Cottage, conceding a total of six goals.

This fixture has not produced a goalless draw since 1983 when the sides met at Ewood Park in a Division Two game.

Martin Jol's men have lost only one of their last 10 PL matches at home.

Blackburn are on a run of three straight league defeats, they have not lost four in a row since December 2008 under Paul Ince.

Fulham have used only four substitutes in the top-flight this season, fewer than any other side.

Fulham have kept clean sheets in 10 of their last 16 competitive games (including Europa League qualifiers). However, they have conceded four goals in their last two league games.

This will be their 12th match of the season.

Fulham's only home league defeat in 2011 is their 5-2 loss to Liverpool on 9 May.

Damien Duff needs one more goal to reach 50 in the Premier League.

Rovers have lost their opening three Premier League games for the first time.

The last time they began a top-flight season with three successive defeats was in 1947-48, when they were eventually relegated. That year they drew their fourth game 0-0.

Victory would give Rovers their 300th away win in the top flight.

Blackburn have lost seven of their last 10 away league games (W1, D2, L7). Their only win was the 3-2 victory at Wolves on the final day of last season.



http://sportingpreview.com/football2012/11120706.php?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol eyes Gignac deal

Martin Jol has confirmed that he will renew his bid to sign Marseille forward Andre-Pierre Gignac in the January transfer window.

The Cottagers' boss was hoping to snap up the Frenchman on transfer deadline day, but the move fell through when Marseille refused to sell after failing to secure the services of a replacement.

Gignac admitted on Thursday that he was hoping that Fulham would come back in for him, while Jol has now revealed that is his plan, despite signing Bryan Ruiz in a £10.6million deal from FC Twente.

Jol said: "We had the player here and thought we would get him on loan but Marseille decided they needed him back.

"We have established a good relationship with the player and the club so we will see what happens in the future."




http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2011/09/09/Cottage-chief-eyes-hitman-deal/gnid-108429/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Team News

Following Friday morning's training session at Motspur Park, Manager Martin Jol revealed some positive team news ahead of Sunday's game against Blackburn at Craven Cottage, with all of Fulham's international players joining Fulham's recent signings out on the training pitch.

"Everybody who came back from international duty is okay, so in that respect we don't have any problems," said Jol on Friday afternoon.

"Bobby Zamora is fine. The only one who had a little problem is Matthew Briggs but I think he'll be fine by tomorrow (Saturday)."

Fulham will be gunning for all three points on Sunday against Blackburn and with the Team's strike force strengthened with the recent additions of Bryan Ruiz and Orlando Sa, Jol remains focused on improving on last season's impressive 8th place finish. 

"I feel every game for me is a must win game because I want to be higher up in the League," Jol explained. "I want to do better than last year and the start hasn't helped, but then again, last year and the year before it was almost the same."

After returning to SW6 for his first training session on Wednesday, Bryan Ruiz took part in his second full training session on Friday morning and whilst Manager Jol would not be drawn on whether Ruiz would feature in his starting eleven on Sunday, he has clearly been in impressive form during training this week.

"He [Ruiz] looked well in training this week," said Jol. "We played four versus four in different groups and he scored three goals in six minutes so that was a good start!

"We will wait and see [if he starts on Sunday]. Sometimes you have to throw a player in and play him, but other times you have to let them settle in and cope with the style, let them have a good luck at what we do and get to know the other players. I feel he's one of those who could start."

Tickets are now on General Sale for Sunday's Barclays Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers (KO 4pm).



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/September/BlackburnTeamNews.aspx#ixzz1XTROjomT