Sunday Fulham Stuff (13/11/11)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Norway find motivation difficult after play-off woe

NORWAY captain Brede Hangeland admits that some of his squad have found it difficult to motivate themselves ahead of today's friendly against Wales after their Euro 2012 qualifying bid ended in bitter disappointment.

A 3-1 win over Cyprus in their final Group H fixture last month was not enough to secure a play-off berth for Egil Olsen's side, who missed out on second spot in their group on goal difference.

They now face a rejuvenated Welsh side that have won three of their last four games and can call on the in-form pair of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, who have been the focus of media scrutiny this week after appearing in promotional images for a Team GB supporters' shirt.

Fulham defender Hangeland is hopeful that his side can deliver, but acknowledges it has been difficult to get the squad up for a game that coincides with the first leg of the play-offs they so narrowly missed out on.

He said: "Obviously we want to win the game, and produce a good performance, but it is hard to convince everyone that this is a massively important game after a qualifying campaign.

"It is a friendly and we will try and use it to prepare as best we can for next year's Wold Cup qualifiers."

If Norway are to emerge victorious at Cardiff City Stadium then Hangeland and his backline will need to be at their best.

Wales' recent good run has been based around the pace, power and creativity of Bale, Ramsey, Joe Allen, Craig Bellamy and Steve Morison and Hangeland knows that quintet will ensure he is in for a tough afternoon.

He said: "It's not really a surprise to see how well they are doing when you look at the players they have.

"They have guys doing well in the Premier League and it is a strong team that I expect to go on to better things in the future.

"Everyone who follows the Premier League knows Ramsey and Bale have been doing well lately and if they play we know it will be tough.

"Bale is a good all-round player, he has that pace which is something every defender will have trouble with. We know he can cause trouble but hopefully we can deal with it.

"Bellamy is another guy who is a great attacking option and we know we will have our work cut out."



http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-news/wales-football-team/2011/11/12/norway-find-motivation-difficult-after-play-off-woe-55578-29762528/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Line Up Replacement For Dembele Who Looks Tottenham Bound

Fulham, according to reports in today's press, are lining up former Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair, who currently plays for newly promoted Swansea, as a replacement for Moussa Dembele who looks like he may be joining Tottenham.

The Daily Mirror are the ones running with this story and even by their standards it really is a stretch.

There are so many variables to this speculation that it really does look like there is more chance of Messi and Ronaldo setting up camp at Blackburn Rovers.

For this all to happen, Tottenham would have to first sign Dembele and there is absolutely no indication of that happening, Swansea would have to agree to see Sinclair and both Dembele and Sinclair would have to agree to the moves.

Maybe one part of this could happen, but for all the components to fall in to place that will enable Fulham to land Sinclair just seem to far fetched, but hey, that is what is being reported and with just over seven weeks until the transfer window opens, we will not have long to wait to see how close to accuracy this really is.



http://www.footylatest.com/fulham-line-up-replacement-for-dembele-who-looks-tottenham-bound/25301?#

[WhiteJC]

 
Well Done Lads!

We`d like to offer our congratulations to Stephen Kelly and Damien Duff.

Both Fulham players were part of a magnificent Irish performance, in Estonia, that saw the hosts routed 4-0 and put the Irish firmly on the path to participate in the finals of Euro 2012.

The second leg should be nothing more than a formality, although us Fulham supporters are hoping the knock Damien Duff received in a collision with a team-mate won`t stop him resuming his Fulham duties, at Sunderland, next weekend.



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=262251#ixzz1dZGce94Q

[WhiteJC]

 
Dembele Out - Sinclair In?

If Fulham are going to lose Moussa Dembele to Spurs, then the grapevine has wasted no time in presenting the name of a possible replacement.

Already in the frame, and being touted as somebody Martin Jol wants, is the Swansea winger, Scott Sinclair.

Sinclair, a former Chelsea youngster signed by Swansea for a mere £1.5 million, has 18 months left on his Swansea contract and having scored 27 goals in their promotion season last term, has already made a few people sit up and notice.

Could it be a deal in the offering?



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=262252#ixzz1dZGnFWaG

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Target £8m Swansea City Star to Replace Tottenham Bound Dembele



Fulham, according to reports in today's press, are lining up former Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair, who currently plays for newly promoted Swansea, as a replacement for Moussa Dembele who looks like he may be joining Tottenham.

The Daily Mirror are the ones running with this story and even by their standards it really is a stretch.

For this all to happen, Tottenham would have to first sign Dembele and there is absolutely no indication of that happening, Swansea would have to agree to see Sinclair and both Dembele and Sinclair would have to agree to the moves.
SOURCE: FootyLatest

Last summer Scott Sinclair took the brave option to take a step down after failing to break into the Chelsea starting eleven and it's a move that has stood the Swansea City striker in good stead. Last term the England Under 21 international notched up 27 goals and helped his side into the top tier and this term has impressed with his performances leading the line at the Liberty Stadium.

Now it appears that £8m rated Swansea City man has the chance to return to London as Martin Jol takes an interest in the 22 year old and sees the Bath born attacker as a possible replacement for Moussa Dembele, who may or may not be of interest to Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.

Aside from interest in Dembele the Craven Cottage boss may need to bring in further attacking options as Andy Johnson is still to sign a new deal and could be free to leave for nothing next summer.



http://www.caughtoffside.com/2011/11/12/fulham-target-8m-swansea-city-star-to-replace-tottenham-bound-dembele/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Kelly: Estonia win mind-blowing

Stephen Kelly found himself in dreamland as the Republic of Ireland planted one foot firmly in the Euro 2012 finals.

Friday night's 4-0 rout of nine-man Estonia in Tallinn left Giovanni Trapattoni's men on the brink of play-off victory, with just 90 minutes at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday night standing between them and a trip to Poland and Ukraine next summer.

While Ireland headed for the former Soviet Republic with high hopes of returning with a foothold in the tie, Fulham defender Kelly admitted they could hardly have asked for anything more than they got.

He said: "You couldn't have wished for something as good as that.

"To come away with a 4-0 win away from home is just mind-blowing. It hasn't even really sunk in for all of us. We were coming off the pitch saying, 'Was that a dream?'.

"It was an all-round good performance - and it was nice for once to get the decisions we deserved to get.

"All the decisions the ref had to make, he got them spot-on and for us, it was so good.

"To come away with a 4-0 win going into the second leg is just amazing. It really is a fantastic feeling."

Those decisions equated to a rash of yellow cards which will deprive Estonia boss Tarmo Ruutli of goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko and central defensive pairing Andrei Stepanov and Raio Piiroja in Dublin.

More significantly, however, four of them meant that neither Stepanov or Piiroja finished last night's game, and with Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai also awarding a late penalty - converted by Robbie Keane - for Ats Purje's trip on Stephen Hunt, the home side felt more than a little aggrieved.

However, they received little sympathy from a ruthless Ireland side, who exploited their deficiencies to the full as goals from Keith Andrews, Jon Walters and Keane's double secured a seemingly impregnable first-leg lead.

Full-back Stephen Ward said: "So many times, it is so close and nervy, but this time we got four goals which, coming away from home, it's not very often you do, so everyone is delighted.

"But we will do things right on Tuesday and be professional about our business.

"But it's no more than we deserve after coming through a tough group.

"With the draw, it was never going to be easy, but we came out here and we have done exactly what we came to do, and we will have to do the same job on Tuesday night."



http://www.teamtalk.com/fulham/7305257/Kelly-Estonia-win-mind-blowing?

[WhiteJC]

 
Kelly delighted with 'dream' win
by DAN on NOVEMBER 12, 2011

Stephen Kelly says the Republic of Ireland's 4-0 win in Estonia last night – that has all-but secured qualification for the European Championships – was mind-blowing.

The Fulham defender saluted Ireland's professionalism and admitted that the evening went as close to perfect as it could have.

You couldn't have wished for something as good as that. To come away with a 4-0 win away from home is just mind-blowing. It hasn't even really sunk in for all of us. We were coming off the pitch saying, 'Was that a dream?'

It was an all-round good performance – and it was nice for once to get the decisions we deserved to get. All the decisions the ref had to make, he got them spot-on and for us, it was so good. To come away with a 4-0 win going into the second leg is just amazing. It really is a fantastic feeling.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/11/kelly-delighted-with-dream-win/?

[WhiteJC]

 
U18s lose at Chelsea
by DAN on NOVEMBER 12, 2011

Fulham's Under-18s saw their fine run come to an end in their local derby against Chelsea this morning. Kit Symons' side lost 4-2 at Cobham.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/11/u18s-lose-at-chelsea/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Zamora to start against Sweden
by DAN on NOVEMBER 12, 2011

Fabio Capello has told a post-match press conference that Bobby Zamora will start England's friendly against Sweden on Tuesday night.

The Fulham striker and his club team-mate David Stockdale were unused substitutes as England inched past world champions Spain at Wembley this evening thanks to Frank Lampard's second half header. Capello also indicated that captain John Terry, dropped to the bench today, Daniel Sturridge and Kyle Walker would also be in the starting eleven against the Swedes.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/11/zamora-to-start-against-sweden/?

[WhiteJC]

 
AJ breaks contract silence
by DAN on NOVEMBER 12, 2011



Andy Johnson has finally spoken out about his contractual negotiations with Fulham and says he will leave the west London club in the summer if they don't offer him a deal he feels he deserves.

The 30 year-old's stay at Craven Cottage has been frustrated by a number of injury lay-offs but the former Crystal Palace and Everton striker feels he is finally approaching some of his very best form. Johnson has scored eleven goals in nineteen appearances for Fulham this season, including a memorable hat-trick in the 6-0 thumping of QPR last month, but he has yet to agree a new contract with the club, despite his current deal expiring in July.

Johnson is guarded about the specifics of the situation – recent media reports suggests that he and Fulham were closer to an agreement than they were earlier in the season – but is taking into consideration that this will probably be the last contract he signs.

They have made me an offer to stay and I don't feel it's ­appropriate to go into the ­details of that offer.

But I have to take into ­account many things before I can commit my future to the club and I feel the contract should reflect my worth.

It will be the last big ­contract of my career and ­primarily I have to do what is right by my family. And if that contract doesn't reflect that then I will weigh up my options.

Johnson also paid tribute to knee specialist Richard Steadman, whom he credits with reviving his career.

There is no doubt I owe him my career. The odds were stacked against me making a full ­recovery.

He openly admitted it was the second biggest area he had ever had to repair, performing state of the art microsurgery that repairs and re-grows the cartilige in your knee. I remember walking into his office and his walls were covered in shirts from famous sports stars thanking him for saving their careers.

The former England international admits he found his recuperation from setbacks particularly tough.

It was hard. Without dedication and support from my family and the medical staff at Fulham I would never have come through this.

At one point I had to sit on my sofa with a machine that rotated my knee 80 to 90 ­degrees for 8 hours a day. And even after that, when you have become the ­forgotten man in many people's eyes, you have to go through ­arduous rehabilitation.

I think that's natural [doubting yourself]. You are hesistant initially and after a very serious injury it takes time to recover and restore your confidence.

Johnson, who is delighted with his performances this season, holds the Fulham fans in high regard.

Naturally I'm delighted with my form but I have ­always worked extremely hard to be the best that I can and that will never change.

I will never forget returning against Wigan last Christmas when the whole stadium gave me a standing ovation. You can't buy support like that.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/11/aj-breaks-contract-silence/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Andrew Johnson wants new Fulham contract to reflect his worth
The striker maintains his family's welfare will be the priority after being offered an extension at Craven Cottage


Getty Images

Fulham striker Andrew Johnson has admitted he could leave Craven Cottage if the club fail to offer him a deal that reflects his worth.

The 30-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season but Fulham have already offered a new deal to the striker following his 11-goal haul in 19 appearances this term.

Johnson, who's returned this season after 14 months on the sidelines with a knee injury, insists he is considering Fulham's proposal but admits he will look for a better offer if the club do not meet his demands.

"It will be the last big ­contract of my career and ­primarily I have to do what is right by my family," Johnson told the Daily Mirror.

"And if that contract doesn't reflect that then I will weigh up my options.

"They have made me an offer to stay and I don't feel it's ­appropriate to go into the ­details of that offer.

"But I have to take into ­account many things before I can commit my future to the club and I feel the contract should reflect my worth.

"I have faced adversity in my career but I would like to think the Fulham supporters have always appreciated that I have given my best when I played."



http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/11/12/2754750/andrew-johnson-wants-new-fulham-contract-to-reflect-his?

[WhiteJC]

Fulham join chase for Huddersfield striker

Fulham have joined the chase for Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes.

The Terriers have slapped a £2million price tag on Rhodes which the Cottagers feel is too high and may test the water with a lower offer.

Hotline revealed last week that NEWCASTLE are watching the 21-year-old.



http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/football-hotline/2011/11/13/fulham-join-chase-for-huddersfield-striker-102039-23557695/

[WhiteJC]

Johnson: Give me worthy contract or I quit Fulham



There was a time when Andrew Johnson thought he might never play again.

But after battling back from a career threatening injury he appears to be heading out of the door at Fulham in the best form of his career.

Johnson's contract expires at the end of the season and despite scoring eight goals in as many games, the club are prepared to let him leave by offering him a deal that doesn't reflect his true worth to the club.

Johnson, 30, is a placid character; a model ­professional who values family life rather than ­abusing a privileged ­position in the sport.

But at a time when he is likely to sign his last big ­contract there will be no room for sentiment as he contemplates his next career move.

Johnson plays down the ­contractual row and has no wish to come into conflict with his club.

"They have made me an offer to stay and I don't feel it's ­appropriate to go into the ­details of that offer," he said.

"But I have to take into ­account many things before I can commit my future to the club and I feel the contract should reflect my worth.

"It will be the last big ­contract of my career and ­primarily I have to do what is right by my family.

"And if that contract doesn't reflect that then I will weigh up my options.

"I have faced adversity in my career but I would like to think the Fulham supporters have always appreciated that I have given my best when I played."

It is fair to say they probably do after giving him a standing ovation on his return to action some 14 months after some critics had ­completely written him off.

After back-to-back injuries and stop-start attempts to ­return, Johnson's knee was seriously damaged in a ­collision with Blackburn's Chris Samba. He had to undergo ­pioneering surgery in ­Colorado, performed by ­Richard Steadman, the world renowned specialist in his field.

"There is no doubt I owe him my career," said Johnson.

"The odds were stacked against me making a full ­recovery.

"He openly admitted it was the second biggest area he had ever had to repair, performing state of the art microsurgery that repairs and re-grows the cartilige in your knee.

"I remember walking into his office and his walls were covered in shirts from famous sports stars thanking him for saving their careers."

Following successful ­surgery the road to recovery through rehabilitation was the biggest challenge for Johnson.

He recalled: "It was hard. Without dedication and support from my family and the medical staff at Fulham I would never have come through this.

"At one point I had to sit on my sofa with a machine that rotated my knee 80 to 90 ­degrees for 8 hours a day.

"And even after that, when you have become the ­forgotten man in many people's eyes, you have to go through ­arduous rehabilitation."

Naturally, as Johnson battled to regain his fitness, there was always self-doubt even for such a strong minded ­individual.

"I think that's natural," he continued.

"You are hesistant initially and after a very serious injury it takes time to recover and restore your confidence."

Now, with the injury well and truly behind him,

Johnson is in the form of his life and showing no ill-­effects as he continues to plunder goals in the Premier League and Europe at an alarming rate.

His form has been so good that England boss Fabio Capello recently included him in his provisional squad.

"Naturally I'm delighted with my form but I have ­always worked extremely hard to be the best that I can and that will never change," he added.

It all seems a long way from Steadman's ­office in Colorado.

But it's a journey Johnson and the Fulham fans know has been worthwhile.

He said: "I will never forget returning against Wigan last Christmas when the whole stadium gave me a standing ovation.

"You can't buy support like that."



http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Fulham-striker-Andy-Johnson-looking-for-contract-of-his-worth-or-he-quits-article829660.html

[White Noise]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/ashworth-deny-west-brom-wanted-fulham-coach-lewington-2141081?utm_source=taxonomy_landing_page


Ashworth deny West Brom wanted Fulham coach Lewington


Submitted by tribalfootball.com on Sun, 11/13/2011 - 09:43


West Bromwich Albion chief Dan Ashworth insists they're not under pressure to shake-up their coaching staff.

Ashworth dismissed newspaper reports suggesting Albion are trying to bring in Roy Hodgson's former Fulham colleague Ray Lewington as a replacement for Michael Appleton.

He also stressed speculation that former Portsmouth keeper Dean Kiely could be joining 'Appy' at Fratton Park is wide of the mark.

"I know Roy and Ray worked closely together when they were at Fulham but there's nothing in that," he told the Albion website. "There's also nothing in the stories about Dean going to Portsmouth.

"As I understand it, Michael's gone into Portsmouth on his own. I don't think he's taking in any other staff. All of our staff are happy and well contracted and we think a lot of all of them.

"We didn't want to lose Michael, so we're certainly not looking to lose anybody else, especially at this stage of the season. We've also put one or two things in place which give us a little bit of protection about our staff and so on and so forth.

"It's in our control and we're keen to keep our existing, successful team together."

[White Noise]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/rosenborg-defender-mikael-lustig-confirms-celtic-fulham-interest-2140561?utm_source=taxonomy_landing_page



Rosenborg defender Mikael Lustig confirms Celtic, Fulham interest


Submitted by tribalfootball.com on Sun, 11/13/2011 - 02:11


Rosenborg defender Mikael Lustig has confirmed the interest of Celtic and Fulham.

Lustig, who is also capable of operating at centre-half, claims he is open to any offers and has no preference where he ends up.

He is prepared to talk terms with Celtic and insists he will be closing no doors as his contract in Norway runs down.

"I know Celtic and Fulham are interested but how interested is difficult to assess," Lustig said in the Daily Record.

"Nothing is clear yet but it's not like I have a hierarchy of where I want to go. I don't say Italy is number one, England is second, and so on.

"I will take it as it comes and I hope to start talking to various clubs soon."