Tuesday Fulham Stuff (25/10/11)...

[WhiteJC]

 
JOL BEMOANS DEFENSIVE LAPSES

Former Fulham striker Louis Saha returned to haunt his old club with a late goal which inspired the Toffees to a dramatic 3-1 victory at Craven Cottage.

The 33-year-old netted from an acute angle for Everton before Jack Rodwell scored in stoppage time to ensure they ended their three-match losing streak.

The scoreline somewhat flattered Everton in what was an even contest.

Everton took a third-minute lead after Royston Drenthe hit an audacious shot but it looked liked Fulham had earned a share of the spoils thanks to substitute Bryan Ruiz's exquisite chip three minutes after coming on.

Fulham thought they had grabbed a last-minute winner through Zamora after he latched on to Andrew Johnson's pass and rounded Tim Howard, but somehow he managed to hit the bar.

Fulham were made to pay for their futility immediately afterwards as Saha went straight up the other end and scored.

Fulham manager Martin Jol was left bemoaning defensive lapses.

"There was a big contradiction between the first minute and the last," he said.

"We had to change it in the second half after Drenthe, who has probably never played on the right before, scored a goal in the first couple of minutes.

"We fought ourselves back into it and in the second half the equaliser from Bryan Ruiz should have been enough to win this game.

"It is not about possession or playing better now, it is about chances.

"We really thought we could have a result from today but we didn't.

"Bobby had the winning goal on his foot in the 89th minute and then we conceded a goal in the 90 minute.

"There's nothing you can say to Bobby. He's sick and we're all sick.

"They play together and they lost together. We should have won this game and we didn't. Today should have been different."



http://www.fulhamweb.co.uk/news/Jol-bemoans-defensive-lapses.aspx

[WhiteJC]

 
QPR Set To Raid Fulham For £1 Million Bargain

Andy Johnson is being linked with a move away from Fulham, with London rivals Queens Park Rangers ready to snap him up in January.

Johnson is out of contract at the end of the season, and despite being offered a new and improved deal by Fulham he has yet to sign the contract extension. A source close to the Cottagers has indicated that Johnson is keen to move on, and QPR are keen on securing his services.

Johnson, 30, has endured his fair share of injuries at Fulham since signing from Everton in August 2008, though this season he has scored nine goals with six coming in the Europa League.

Queens Park Rangers are keen on adding a proven goal scorer to their ranks as they have scored just seven goals in their nine league games this season. In their five games at Loftus Road they have scored just three times and have yet to score more than once in front of their own fans.

A fee of £1 miillion has been mentioned for Johnson, a fee that would be small change to QPR and their new owner Tony Fernandes and it would be no surprise to see Johnson move across London in the winter.



http://www.footylatest.com/qpr-set-to-raid-fulham-for-1-million-bargain/24780#

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 1 Everton 3 on Sunday 23 October 2011
by NICK on OCTOBER 25, 2011

Football can be the cruellest of games. In no other sport can the margin between the achieving of what would be a cheering victory, or of suffering a deeply disappointing defeat be so cigarette-paper thin. Thus was it in this closely contested game, which Fulham could have won if only..................

To the uncommitted soccer aficionado this would have been a super game to watch, full of incident, played at considerable pace between two teams who aspire towards the passing & pressing game, and where the result was in doubt up to almost the expiry of normal time. Despite their early lead Everton were never able to establish dominance. Twenty minutes into the second half and with Fulham still one-nil down, Martin Jol initiated a brave tactical ploy. Danny Murphy was withdrawn and Bryan Ruiz brought on. Quiet extraordinarily the Fulham set-up went to a 4-2-4 (with Bryan on the left of Steve Sidwell in midfield), which morphed in and out of a 4-1-5 as Bryan took on a 'roam and get forward' role.

Although in no way reminiscent of Brazil of the early 1970's, who are usually associated with such a deployment, Fulham adapted well to this rare, attacking mode and even appeared to be gaining the upper hand. First, within a few minutes of the introduction of this new system, Bryan scored with a delicately calculated chip into the top right hand corner of the goal, executed from just outside the left-hand side of the penalty area. With the scores level Fulham appeared to be the more likely to prevail. Bryan had a second good effort from inside the penalty area saved. Then with a minute to go of normal time Bobby Zamora in possession close in front of goal, clear and with the keeper dummied, managed (goodness knows how,) to miss. So Fulham could and possibly should have won, though of course in the event our team didn't, with Everton scoring twice in extra time.

An unbiased appreciator of the game would also have enjoyed the opportunity to see both Everton and Fulham each respectively field a young talented footballer, both at the beginning of their Premier league careers. Everton had on from the start Royston Drenthe, a young Dutch player who has been with Real Madrid. It was he who scored Everton's first goal in third minute of the game, (a powerful 20 yard strike,) as well as playing a part in both their late goals. A stocky powerfully built player with a characteristic crouching stride and impressive short burst acceleration, he was for me Everton's most effective player. Possibly in the making what the Italians term a 'fantista,' (a player who by the application of a rare and special individual skill or ability can turn a game).

Fulham fielded Bryan for a good part of the second half. (I use the name he has stated he would prefer to be know by, as 'Ruiz' is associated with his father who abandoned him.) From this game we now know just a bit more about his talents. Although a left footed player, he is not predominately left sided in his play. This was marked by his fluid mobility off the ball, and by his quick and precise short passing which included a couple of neatly executed give-and-goes. He clearly has an eye for goal, readily getting forward into goal scoring positions, and most importantly his goal was evidence of very good technique. Although the extent and full potential of his talent is yet to be established, what we saw in this game is encouraging.

With the result of this game it is now clear that Fulham have made a poor start to the season. Unless there is an early improvement in fortune with the accumulation of significant additional points between now and Christmas, the club could well face the unhappy prospect of a prolonged struggle against relegation. It is however an allusion that safety can now be achieved by a conservative approach. Martin Jol should continue to give opportunities to the young and promising players in his squad for Premiership games. (Mathew Briggs is now an outstanding prospect. The unstinting work-rate and all out commitment of Pajtim Kasani is truly impressive. Players like these and Bryan need the experience of regularly playing with top opposition if they are to develop and fulfil their full potential for the club.) Martin Jol should be supported in his endeavours to introduce greater flexibility and a more attacking approach to play, as well as encouraged to bring-on and integrate new talented players.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/10/fulham-1-everton-3-on-sunday-23-october-2011/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Mark Lawrenson: Everton FC's win at Fulham was triumph of spirit, belief and character

WHAT a massive win that was for Everton at Craven Cottage.

I'm sure they thought the game was up when Bobby Zamora was going round Tim Howard in the last minute, but football is a funny old game, as someone once said.

David Moyes knew before the game that three points was absolutely vital. The way the league is at this stage means a win can move a side up four or five places.

Had Zamora taken his chance, Everton could have been fourth from bottom. Instead, they grabbed a priceless win, and are now looking up the table from 13th place.

Everton have been on a bad run of late, albeit having played some top sides in that period, so it was important to end that little slump. The manner of the victory on Sunday was a little 'smash and grab', but that is by no means a bad thing.

Indeed, winning in those circumstances, and in a tough away fixture, can instil as much confidence and belief as a routine home win by two or three goals.

It simply reinforces the kind of team spirit and belief that we have always known exists within David Moyes' side.

You look at teams that have started the season indifferently - teams like Bolton, Wigan, Wolves, Sunderland, Fulham themselves - and you have your doubts about their fight, their character and their quality. With Everton, those things were never in question.

Ok, they had dropped down the table on the back of the defeats aganst Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, and one or two people were suggesting that the pressure might be mounting at Goodison Park.

Well that win will have lifted plenty of it, and it comes at the start of another huge week for Moyes and his side.

First up is Chelsea in the Carling Cup, and a game that should not be underestimated in terms of importance.

Then comes Manchester United, and what a wounded beast they should be after their humiliation against Manchester City.

As a player, you see good sides getting a hammering like that, and you do think "well I bet somebody cops it next time out."

I can remember losing 4-0 to Coventry with Liverpool in 1983, and a week later we come out and stuffed Notts County by five.

So Everton will need to beware a United side bouncing back, but at the same time they can be encouraged.

After all, City's win may have been a freak scoreline, but it only proved what has been pretty obvious all season; that United have plenty of weaknesses to exploit - especially in the centre of defence.

I don't for one minute expect them to be as bad at Goodison on Saturday, mind.



Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/sport/columnists/columns/2011/10/25/mark-lawrenson-everton-fc-s-win-at-fulham-was-a-triumph-of-spirit-belief-and-character-92534-29655103/?#ixzz1bmIZlKRJ

[WhiteJC]

 
Meet The Ref - Latics v Fulham - Mike Jones

Wigan Athletic face Fulham on Saturday and a win against Martin Jol's side would be very welcome considering our current predicament, recently though we haven't had the rub of the green from the match officials, so the Latics could well be looking to the referee for a strong but fair performance, so who will be the man in the middle? Chester official Mike Jones that's who.

Mike Jones is famous or is it infamous, for being at the centre of an incident which saw one of the strangest goals of all time, Jones allowed Darren Bents beach-ball goal for Sunderland against Liverpool to stand. Unfortunately for Mike following that game at the Stadium of Light and a storm of controversy he had a little time out of the Premier League limelight and was demoted down to the Championship

He was heavily criticised at the time by former referee Dermott Gallagher for getting the laws of the game wrong, Gallagher said about the incident: 'It was a glaring error and it's difficult to fathom. Even referees in local parks should know that if there is an outside agent on the pitch then you stop the game and restart it with a drop ball.'

Well Mike Jones apparently didn't know but I'm sure that he does now.

It all sounds like a load of balls to me.

The 43 year old whistle blower started refereeing because he was awful at football and sick of being left out at school when the other boys were kicking the ball around, so he took to enforcing the laws of the game at the tender age of 15.

You almost feel sorry for him

Jones was promoted to become a football league referee in 1997 and progressed to the Premier League in 2008 when he took charge of the Hull City v Wigan Athletic game, in an interview with refworld.com Mike was asked:

What is the best game you have officiated and why?

'The best game for a sense of achievement was my First Premier League Game between Hull City and Wigan Athletic.'

A 5-0 away win for the Latics that day and one that Jonesy will remember all his life, let's hope that on Saturday we get another great victory.

Mike Jones Card Watch 2010/11:

Games - 8, yellows - 35, reds - 3

Wigan Athletic v Fulham (Kick-off 3.00pm)
Referee: M Jones. Assistants: J Flynn, A Garratt
Fourth Official: D Webb
Match Delegate: M McGuire
PGMO: R Hart



Read more: http://www.wigan.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=260165#ixzz1bnSGyDgE

[WhiteJC]

 
Hangeland keen to stay
Defender seeking contract talks after speculation over future


Brede Hangeland: The defensive titan wants to continue doing his best for the club

Brede Hangeland has reavealed an eagerness to enter contract talks in a bid to extend his stay at Fulham.

Manager Martin Jol disclosed negotiations with the Norwegian will open in December despite the defender having 18 months still remaining on his contract.

Hangeland has made over 150 appearances since his move from FC Copenhagen in 2008, reportedly attracting attention from several top clubs, including Arsenal.
But the 30-year-old insists he is happy at Craven Cottage and keen to affirm his allegiance to Fulham.
"I'm keen to talk," Hangeland told the Fulham Chronicle.

"There's been some speculation linking me with other clubs but I'm not sure how concrete it was.

"I've really enjoyed my time at Fulham and loved every minute of it.

"Maybe there's more to come.

"I just want to keep doing the best I can for the club."



http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_7264912,00.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Europa Memories

Football is a game of highs and lows, as Fulham's last two UEFA Europa League matches have illustrated well, with the joy of victory in Denmark followed by disappointment in Poland.

The next Europa fixture brings the Whites back to Craven Cottage for the return match with Wisla Krakow on Thursday 3rd November (kick-off 8.05pm) and ahead of that date, we're asking fans to share their recent European tour experiences.

Having had such a great response to our requests for your photos from the Faroe Islands, Belfast, Split and Dnipropetrovsk, we're now inviting anyone that travelled to Odense or Krakow, to send in their pictures from their journeys, around the city, or from the matches themselves.

Please send any pictures you have to [email protected], along with brief captions, and we'll feature the best in the matchday programme for the home match against Wisla Krakow.

The closing date for submissions is Wednesday 26th October at 12pm. We look forward to seeing your snaps!



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/October/EuropaMemories.aspx?#ixzz1bnSuyt6K

[WhiteJC]

 
Cause for concern - not just yet

Martin Jol: 'The man we really wanted when Hughes was appointed'. You don't get much higher praise than that.

Yet, it's been a turbulent week. One in which a third successive defeat has underlined a compounding sense of disarray on the banks of the Thames, and one in which our very own chairman launched a scathing attack on a man now well and truly consigned to the history books. It did a good job of covering up the real mess behind the scenes though, didn't it?



Jol's early Fulham tenure has been far from graceful, far from productive and even further from successful. As of yet, one Premier League victory has been achieved and while it may have been emphatic in circumstance, it still only brings three points and bragging rights aside, it's done little to boost our season.

But, the signs of a slow start were there as soon as July came. Drawing away at NSI Runavik may have seemed a respectable scoreline at the time, but with a full strength squad and an attacking mindset, we hardly unnerved the rest of Europe with a display of weakness, bluntness and passivity. Wins over Crusaders were highlights but a draw in Croatia helped little with any forward thinking momentum.

Supposedly, of course, our run in the Europa League qualifying stages would provide a solid foundation to start our domestic campaign with an instinctive nous - but it never happened. We were obtuse at home to Villa and a series of draws and defeats followed. It's difficult to muster up a sense of match day excitement in the midst of eight straight games without a win.

But we had to, as fans. And while we rallied behind our new Dutch coach, he was seemingly doing vastly the opposite in his very own dressing room. For all the covering up and for all the attempts the paper over the cracks, Jol has clearly lost some degree of control at Craven Cottage - him and Zamora have fallen out and the team seem nonplussed as to what he really wants from them. It's not a perfect scenario, but what has Jol really done incorrectly?

So far his signings have been ineffectual at best. Riise has looked assured but has yet to add any extra dimensions to our left hand side, Kasami has appeared brittle and temperamental while and Ruiz has, on occasion, illuminated the football field with glimpses of class, he has been on and off at best.

Of course, though, it's too early to go into that and each and every player Jol has brought in has potential at a minimum. As for the bust ups, we have to remember that no single player makes a team and yet a manager does. It should always be down to the players to show respect to the manager and if that is not so then words will be exchanged. If Jol wants to drop Zamora than so be it - just as long as he replaces him (and Orlando Sa doesn't count).

It's always easy to fall on the side of a player when disputes like this occur, but who really deserves the final say? A player who has, quite gratefully of course, provided us with a steady stream of goals over recent years, or a manager with a backdrop of abundant success, employed and paid by the club as first choice to lead the camp?

It's right to feel concerned at the moment, as we're playing football without an edge, without craft and without guile. But we've been here before and we'll be here again. We're in the cyclical beautiful game and things will turn around.



http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2011/10/25/2512500/cause-for-concern-not-just-yet?

[WhiteJC]

 
A Lot More To Give

A ruptured Achilles tendon a month after his arrival last year was far from the ideal start to life at Craven Cottage for Philippe Senderos.

But with that injury now fully behind him, the vastly experienced defender is ready to show what he can do and challenge Aaron Hughes, Chris Baird and Brede Hangeland for a place in the centre of the Whites' defence.

A regular for his country with more than 40 caps to his name, and an FA Cup winner and UEFA Champions League regular in his time with Arsenal, Senderos is imposing in the tackle, cultured on the ball and an astute reader of the game.

Although he has seemingly been in football for a long time, he is still relatively young, and having missed the majority of the 2010/11 season, he is now determined to make up for lost time...


Philippe, having played at two World Cup tournaments, won the FA Cup, and helped Arsenal to the Final of the UEFA Champions League, at 26 you have a remarkable amount of experience...

Well, I've been very fortunate to have experienced those highs and it's something that I am very proud of. To represent your country at a World Cup is a special thing and to play at the top with your club is also special – I'm very thankful for that.

But that's in the past, I'm a Fulham player now and I want success here because I feel that I have a lot more to give. As you say, I'm only 26, and for other centre-backs it is an age when their careers are only really just starting.

I have a lot of experience and haven't even reached my peak yet. This is a new chapter at Fulham and hopefully I can look back in years to come on another significant period.

It would be fair to say though that the chapter at Fulham didn't open quite as well as you would have hoped. With that in mind, how important is the season ahead for you?

I think it's important to not dwell too much on what has happened in the past - I like to think that the injury is behind me now. Of course, it was a frustrating period because I missed the majority of my first season at Fulham.

I featured at the end of last season and at the start of this one, so it's the present that I have to focus on. I picked up a minor knock a few weeks back, but hopefully I will be in contention this afternoon.

I'm feeling good and very much looking forward to the coming weeks. I've missed a lot of football and I need to establish myself again, so in that sense it is a very important season for me.

You have certainly impressed onlookers this term – particularly in the game against Blackburn here. Your form offers some very positive options for Martin Jol...

To be honest there is competition for places throughout the team now and that can only be a good thing. When you look around, this is a very competitive squad now, but as we're playing at home and abroad this season that is vital.

I know the challenge that I face because the partnership between Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes is very strong. They are two of the best around and have done much for the success of this Club in recent years, but that's what I have to do and I'm confident in my ability as a defender.

When the chance comes to show what I can do I have to make sure that I take the opportunity.

I've heard that you are already quite taken with Craven Cottage...

Yes, I love Craven Cottage, it's just such a fantastic ground. To be honest, I love it as much as Arsenal's old Highbury. It's an old fashioned stadium and although it is quite small in comparison to some of the others out there, it's very special.

You don't often find grounds like this now, so that makes it quite unique. I always look forward to playing at the Cottage, where the fans are so close to the pitch. It really is a lovely place and hopefully I can play here for many years to come.

How would you describe the role of a centre-back?

Well, every position is an art, and defending is no different. Of course, as you would expect, I believe that it is a very important role and it's one that I have enjoyed for many years now.

There are many qualities that a centre-back can have, but fundamentally you have to be aggressive and win your one-on-one battles. You have to be quick of thought and intelligent with your movement.

The trick is to try and keep one step ahead of your opponent, because positioning is vital. It's an area of the pitch where you get a real overview of the game. From that position we can help our team by predicting play and directing those in front of us.

It's also a position that comes with much responsibility – it's an area of the pitch that can be very unforgiving. You're part of the team's spine and, as its last line of defence, often the last man that stands between the attacker and goal.

One of your former clubs, Arsenal, are well known for promoting youth and so far this season it is evident that Martin Jol would like to do the same here at Fulham. Would you agree with the notion that if you're good enough you're old enough?

Definitely, for me age doesn't play a role. If you are good enough you should play. That was the mentality at Arsenal, where I made my debut as a teenager, and it's still a principle they adhere to now.

Of course, it does depend on the circumstances and that is where the role of the manager comes in, for instance I don't think you could throw a young player in at Stoke away.

The timing has to be right, both for the team and individual. The UEFA Europa League has provided the Manager with the right platform this season and we've seen a few of the young players involved already, particularly Kerim Frei.

Despite his age, he [Frei] has shown that he has the talent and by working hard on top of that, he has been rewarded this season. Hopefully there will be a few more that follow him into the First Team.

With your experience in the game, you would appear to be the perfect role model for a young player looking to make an impact...

Well, I've been there and know what it takes. It wasn't even that long ago that I made my breakthrough so, of course, I can draw on those experiences.

I do talk to the younger players at the Club and they know that I am here for them if they need advice. Kerim also represents Switzerland, so it goes without saying that I am following his development closely.

We've spoken a lot since I have been at the Club and I believe he could have a successful career. He's a very grounded individual and is always willing to listen and to improve. There is a lot of experience within the squad, so there are a few of us who can help him.

So what is the challenge for you at Fulham?

I just want to help make a difference and get a regular run of games under my belt. Joining Fulham was an easy choice, despite having other options.

This is a great Club, with great players, great staff and great prospects – when you put those factors together you can see that this team is capable of achieving big things.

Ambition is massive to me, and Fulham have that. They've enjoyed some of their best seasons in recent years and I want to be part of its future success.



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/October/SenderosInterview.aspx?#ixzz1bnTXyhfO

[WhiteJC]

 
WIN tickets to see Wigan v Fulham - courtesy of Barclays

Sportsmail has teamed up with Barclays, title sponsor of the Barclays Premier League, to offer one lucky reader the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to see Wigan v Fulham at the DW Stadium on Saturday, October 29.
To be in with a chance, answer the following question:

What was the score when these sides met at the DW Stadium last season?
A) 1-1
B) 2-2
C) 3-3
E-mail your answer, along with your name, address and contact number to:
[email protected]
to arrive by 1pm on Wednesday, October 26.
PLEASE NOTE: You must validate your entry with the words BARCLAYS WIGAN in your subject box; the tickets are for HOME FANS ONLY and do not include travel to/from the ground, accommodation or hospitality;  normal Associated Newspapers terms and conditions apply - the Editor's decision is final.

If you're not successful, you can always win a pair by visiting your nearest Barclays ATM and requesting a receipt, or by going online to www.barclaysticketoffice.com – you don't even have to be a Barclays customer.
Match tickets are up for grabs EVERY 90 minutes, every day, throughout the 2011/12 season.
Further information and terms and conditions are available from www.barclaysticketoffice.com


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2053233/WIN-Wigan-v-Fulham-ickets.html#ixzz1bnTr7FRT

[WhiteJC]

 
Arsenal's man-mountain target eager for talks
Brede Hangeland wants to resume contract talks to warm off interest from Arsenal



Fulham defender Brede Hangeland wants to resume talks over a new deal at Craven Cottage.

The talismanic centre back has 18 months remaining on his current deal in west-London.

And with Arsenal having previously expressed an interest, Hangeland is keen to get his future sorted.

"I'm keen to talk," Hangeland said.

"There's been some speculation linking me with other clubs but I'm not sure how concrete it was.

"I've really enjoyed my time at Fulham and loved every minute of it. Maybe there's more to come.

"I just want to keep doing the best I can for the club."

Hangeland was one of those heavy linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, as they searched for defensive cover for the injury prone Thomas Vermaelen, eventually settling on signing Per Mertesacker.

Such has been the Norwegian's form since his move from FC Copenhagan in 2008, that many have rated Hangeland good enough to feature for one of the Premier League's elite, such as Arsenal, but the 30-year-old appears adamant he will stay at Fulham.



http://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/arsenals-man-mountain-target-eager-for-talks?

[WhiteJC]

 
Al Fayed hits back at 'flop' Hughes over criticism of Fulham

Fulham chairman Mohamed al Fayed yesterday issued a withering critique of the club's former manager Mark Hughes, labelling the Welshman a "flop" and a "strange man" and questioning both his courage and ambition.

In a remarkable open letter published on the club's official website, Al Fayed excoriated the 47-year-old Welshman, insisting he did not even have the decency to offer a full explanation when he turned down a two-year contract extension at the last minute before walking out on Craven Cottage.

The retail magnate also moved to offer his support to Hughes' successor, Martin Jol, claiming he had wanted to appoint the Dutchman ahead of the former Manchester City coach last year and describing him as a "top" manager despite winning one of his opening nine Premier League games.

Al Fayed wrote: "What a strange man Mark Hughes is. Sacked by Manchester City, he was becoming a forgotten man when I rescued him to become manager of Fulham. Even when results were bad, I gave him every support -- financial, moral and personal.

"And now he insults the club, saying it lacks ambition. He is not just disrespectful but entirely wrong. We shall endeavour to prosper without him simply because, when the challenge came, it was not the club but Mark Hughes who lacked the courage and ambition to take on the task of leadership. If people are looking for a flop, they only have to look no further than the man who has lost his spark."

The Egyptian's remarks serve as a furious response to comments made by Hughes in an interview last weekend in which he suggested he was forced to leave Craven Cottage because the club refused to back his plans to turn Fulham into a top-10 side.

- Rory Smith



http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/al-fayed-hits-back-at-flop-hughes-over-criticism-of-fulham-2915269.html?