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Thursday Fulham Stuff (15/12/11)...

Started by WhiteJC, December 15, 2011, 07:52:51 AM

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WhiteJC

 
Fulham recall keeper Stockdale

Fulham have recalled goalkeeper David Stockdale from his loan spell at Ipswich after an injury to No 1 choice Mark Schwarzer.

Australian Schwarzer will be out for up to six weeks after damaging his neck during the match with Swansea last weekend.

"Following an assessment by a specialist consultant on Tuesday evening, the club can confirm that he has sustained a compression injury to his thoracic spine," Fulham said in a statement.

"He will be unavailable for four to six weeks and is expected to return to play towards the end of January."

21-year-old Neil Etheridge played in goals for Fulham in a Europa League match against Odense on Wednesday, which the Premier League club drew 2-2 - a result that saw them eliminated from the competition.

Neither Etheridge, who is a Filipino international, nor Hungarian goalkeeper Csaba Somogyi, who was on the bench against Odense, have played a Premier League game.


http://www.supersport.com/football/barclays-premier-league/news/111215/Fulham_recall_keeper_Stockdale

WhiteJC

 
Fulham coach Martin Jol attempts to hide 'big blow' after Europa League exit at Craven Cottage
Martin Jol attempted to put a positive spin on Fulham's untimely exit from the Europa League after they crashed out in stoppage time.


Down and out: Fulham were sent crashing out in stoppage time Photo: EPA

Substitute Djiby Fall secured Odense a 2-2 draw late in the game. It meant that Wisla Krakow finished second in Group K and Jol is now hoping Fulham can improve their Premier League form.

"It is awful to go out of the competition in the way we did but hopefully we will gain something from the fact we don't have to play these Thursday matches," he said.

"I think it is a big blow for the club but every disadvantage has an advantage.

"There were positive things in the first half, like how much we put them under pressure and the players that made the difference, like [Kerim] Frei with a cross and a goal.

"In the econd half our best players were probably almost worn out. They were tired.

"It is probably the 30th game for a few of them and that is not an excuse because we are a team that can defend a lead.

"We were 2-1 up and then 30 seconds from the end we did not have the cleverness or experience to keep it in their half."

The west Londoners' safe passage seemed all but secured at the interval after two goals in four first-half minutes through Clint Dempsey and Frei.

However, Fulham capitulated in the second period as Hans Henrik Andreasen's low free-kick and Fall's last-gasp header saw them drop out of the competition.

"We had so many players in there that wanted to do well," Jol said.

"Bairdy (Chris Baird), [Marcel] Gecov, Kerim Frei and even Mousa Dembele did everything in the first half.

"At the back, Aaron Hughes got his chance again so they were passionate to do well.

"It was more that we could not pressurise them in the second half and they scored pretty quickly to make it 2-1.

"And, of course, you are caught in two minds whether to hold back or look for the third one. That is always a problem in football."
Fulham's exit from the Europa League compounded a difficult day for Jol, who earlier saw goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer ruled out for up to six weeks after suffering a compression injury to his thoracic spine.

While Jol was left ruing a miserable day, Odense manager Henrik Clausen was delighted by his side's performance at Craven Cottage.

"I have to say Fulham looked very sharp in the first half and we had trouble with their deep balls and play down the middle," he said.

"But without doing that much different in the second half and scoring through the only two real chances we had, we managed to get a draw.

"I was very pleased with the performance from my players."


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/8957690/Fulham-coach-Martin-Jol-attempts-to-hide-big-blow-after-Europa-League-exit-at-Craven-Cottage.html?

WhiteJC

 
Report: Fulham 2-2 Odense

Disappointment is part of football, of course. We all know this and in some respects enjoy it: our real lives are generally on the ordinary side and furthermore it's very rare for us to be able to shout, scream, jump around or make outrageous accusations in the real world without there being consequences. So we go to football where all of those things are okay. Running up and down the scale of emotions is part of being a football fan.

Then you get games like that, where in the end there is no emotion because emotion is replaced by an otherworldly nothingness, a nothingness that occasionally gives way to fury but then comes back, bringing with it a cliched but very real sick feeling in the stomach. Have you been punched in the stomach? It feels like that.

Put another way: how could they?  How could they do that?

Put another way: we're out of Europe because...

Why?

Did they underestimate Odense?  Did they think at 2-0 that pissing around doing nothing for the second half would be fine?  Do they hate the manager so much that they don't want to play for him?  Or are they the victims of poor fortune?

Why?

Odense started brightly but Fulham took control soon enough. Kerim Frei, who presumably sat in the changing room after the game gutted that his birth as a contributing star of the future was wasted, surged down the left wing and had the gumption to find Zamora with a cross. Zamora – memories of days gone by! – turned the ball back to the edge of the box and Dempsey slammed home a first goal that oughtto have seen us on our way.

Then Dembele won the ball and slipped Frei through and Frei slotted home a second.  What a game for the lad.

It was men against boys at this point.

In the second half it got a bit sleepy.  Both teams seemed to have accepted their fate and were content to play at 75%.  But Odense won a free-kick that was promptly rifled low past young Etheridge (a decent, blameless debut for Neil), and oh dear we had a game to play again.

It is easy to go down the gears but when you lose momentum it can be very hard to get it back, and Fulham were briefly trapped in what felt like a bad dream about to start.

I don't blame Orlando Sa for their winner. Partly because I'd nipped out for a (in retrospect complacent) jimmy riddle and didn't see it, but in general because we've had six games, none of which have been particularly difficult, and thoroughly fucked them up.  We didn't lose this group in the 93rd minute we lost it over six matches, and particularly the last two.  The defeat in Twente would be understandable (away to the group winners) had the display not been so insipid.  This one?

In days gone by we'd have seen a 2-2 draw against a strongish Danish side as an exotic disappointment, but tipped our hats to our opponents and moved along.  But now the game in England, and Fulham are part of this, is so awash with money that this really should not happen. I sound like an Arsenal fan or something now, but the talent we had on the field, the wage bill required to put it there, frankly Odense, bottom of the group and away from home, shouldn't have had a sniff. They should have been stuffed out of sight. Yes, football is not like that, but it isn't as if we got ambushed by a surprisingly technical team or knocked out of our stride by some well timed physicality, or anything like that. We just stopped playing when we thought the job was done, an enfuriating counterpoint to last Saturday when we didn't *start* playing until it was too late.

It is only a game, but we give up valuable time and money for all this. We pour our wallets into the club, we pay £400 that really we don't have then we give them more for cup matches, and we get this back. I hope the players are ashamed of themselves.  I don't think I've written that before in CCN's five years. This is a low.


http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/report-fulham-2-2-odense/?


WhiteJC

 
Odense midfielder Rurik Gislason unsure why Fulham threw lead away

The Icelandic international, who was on the books at Charlton, did not think the Whites were nervous

Odense midfielder Rurik Gislason was unsure why Fulham let a two goal lead slip at Craven Cottage leading to the Whites crashing out of the Europa League.

The west London club had cruised into a two goal lead at half-time but OB came back thanks to a free-kick from Hans Henrik Andreasen and Djiby Fall's equaliser in the last second.

"I don't know if they were nervous but they might have thought they were already through because we didn't do that well in the first-half," Gislason, who was on the books at Charlton as a 16-year-old, said.

"They had more chances than we had and luckily for us they came out for the second half not quite as sharp as they came for the first-half.

"They might have thought the job was done.

The 23-year-old, however, was delighted with his Odense's comeback going into the Christmas break.

"It's a nice feeling," he added. "We have a Christmas holiday right now so it's a good feeling to go into the break. It makes it easier and we're happier.

"At the moment I'm only going to enjoy this point away against Fulham."



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/odense_midfielder_rurik_gislason_unsure_why_fulham_threw_lead_away_1_1154394?

WhiteJC

 
Hangeland heartbroken by Fulham exit


Brede Hangeland (centre) can only look on as Odense's Djiby Fall scores the equaliser

Fulham defender Brede Hangeland could not hide his dismay after seeing the Cottagers dumped out of the UEFA Europa League in heartbreaking fashion on Wednesday.

Beating Danish team Odense 2-0 at half-time and cruising through to the last 32, Fulham conceded twice in the second half to cost themselves a place in the next round, the equaliser coming with the last kick of the match.

That meant Polish side Wisla Krakow qualified instead, leaving Fulham to rue a missed opportunity and the chance to repeat their superb run to the final in 2009-10.

"It's really hard to take," Hangeland told Fulham's official website (fulhamfc.com). "We didn't play very well, but we had by far the better chances and I cannot believe we drew.

"To go out like that, with the last kick of the ball, is very, very frustrating and hard to take. We started in this competition in June and it feels like that was all for nothing at the moment, so it's very disappointing."

Because they had to qualify for the group stage, Fulham played 14 matches in the UEFA Europa League this season and Wednesday's defeat was their 30th fixture in all competitions already.

But Hangeland says he and his colleagues must pick themselves up immediately, with a host of Barclays Premier League matches coming up and the FA Cup starting in January.

"It's not a time for anything positive," added the 30-year-old. "But it's over and done with and we need to focus on the League and the FA Cup when it gets going.

"The matches are coming thick and fast now so we need to keep going. Sometimes when you have a big disappointment it's good to have a game coming up a few days later to put things right.

"It will be nice to get back into action as soon as possible after this massive disappointment."

Fulham are back in Barclays Premier League action on Saturday when they entertain struggling Bolton Wanderers at Craven Cottage.


http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/hangeland-heartbroken-by-fulham-exit.html?

WhiteJC

 
Fulham crash not so bad

Soccer: Martin Jol attempted to put a positive spin on things after Fulham's untimely exit from the Europa League on Wednesday night.

The Cottagers crashed out of Europe after substitute Djiby Fall secured Odense a 2-2 draw deep into stoppage time.

Wisla Krakow finished second in Group K as a result and Jol is now hoping Fulham can improve their Premier League form.

"It is awful to go out of the competition in the way we did but hopefully we will gain something from the fact we don't have to play these Thursday matches," he said.

"I think it is a big blow for the club but every disadvantage has an advantage.

"There were positive things in the first half, like how much we put them under pressure and the players that made the difference, like [Kerim] Frei with a cross and a goal.

"In the second half our best players were probably almost worn out. They were tired.

"It is probably the 30th game for a few of them and that is not an excuse because we are a team that can defend a lead.

"We were 2-1 up and then 30 seconds from the end we did not have the cleverness or experience to keep it in their half."

The west Londoners' safe passage seemed all but secured at the interval after two goals in four first-half minutes through Clint Dempsey and Frei.

However, Fulham capitulated in the second period as Hans Henrik Andreasen's low free-kick and Fall's last-gasp header saw them drop out of the competition.

"We had so many players in there that wanted to do well," Jol said.

"Bairdy (Chris Baird), [Marcel] Gecov, Kerim Frei and even Mousa Dembele did everything in the first half.

"At the back, Aaron Hughes got his chance again so they were passionate to do well.

"It was more that we could not pressurise them in the second half and they scored pretty quickly to make it 2-1.

"And, of course, you are caught in two minds whether to hold back or look for the third one. That is always a problem in football."

Fulham's exit from the Europa League compounded a difficult day for Jol, who earlier saw goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer ruled out for up to six weeks after suffering a compression injury to his thoracic spine.

While Jol was left ruing a miserable day, Odense manager Henrik Clausen was delighted by his side's performance at Craven Cottage.

"I have to say Fulham looked very sharp in the first half and we had trouble with their deep balls and play down the middle," he said.

"But without doing that much different in the second half and scoring through the only two real chances we had, we managed to get a draw.

"I was very pleased with the performance from my players."



http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2011/1215/1224309113541.html?


WhiteJC

 
Martin Jol remains positive despite Fulham's Europa defeat



Martin Jol attempted to put a positive spin on things after Fulham's untimely exit from the Europa League last night.

The Cottagers crashed out of Europe after substitute Djiby Fall secured Odense a 2-2 draw deep into stoppage time.

Wisla Krakow finished second in Group K as a result and Jol is now hoping Fulham can improve their Premier League form.

"It is awful to go out of the competition in the way we did but hopefully we will gain something from the fact we don't have to play these Thursday matches," he said.

"I think it is a big blow for the club but every disadvantage has an advantage.

"There were positive things in the first half, like how much we put them under pressure and the players that made the difference, like [Kerim] Frei with a cross and a goal.

"In the second half our best players were probably almost worn out. They were tired.

"It is probably the 30th game for a few of them and that is not an excuse because we are a team that can defend a lead.

"We were 2-1 up and then 30 seconds from the end we did not have the cleverness or experience to keep it in their half."

The west Londoners' safe passage seemed all but secured at the interval after two goals in four first-half minutes through Clint Dempsey and Frei.

However, Fulham capitulated in the second period as Hans Henrik Andreasen's low free-kick and Fall's last-gasp header saw them drop out of the competition.

"We had so many players in there that wanted to do well," Jol said.

"Bairdy (Chris Baird), [Marcel] Gecov, Kerim Frei and even Mousa Dembele did everything in the first half.

"At the back, Aaron Hughes got his chance again so they were passionate to do well.

"It was more that we could not pressurise them in the second half and they scored pretty quickly to make it 2-1.

"And, of course, you are caught in two minds whether to hold back or look for the third one. That is always a problem in football."

Fulham's exit from the Europa League compounded a difficult day for Jol, who earlier saw goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer ruled out for up to six weeks after suffering a compression injury to his thoracic spine.

While Jol was left ruing a miserable day, Odense manager Henrik Clausen was delighted by his side's performance at Craven Cottage.

"I have to say Fulham looked very sharp in the first half and we had trouble with their deep balls and play down the middle," he said.

"But without doing that much different in the second half and scoring through the only two real chances we had, we managed to get a draw.

"I was very pleased with the performance from my players."



http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/martin-jol-remains-positive-despite-fulhams-europa-defeat-6277377.html?

WhiteJC

 
Hangeland hoping to bounce back against Bolton

BREDE Hangeland insists Fulham must put last night's Europa League heartbreak behind them with Saturday's crunch clash with Bolton Wanderers around the corner.

The Whites crashed out of the competition they reached the final of in 2010 after Odense scored in the dying seconds at Craven Cottage to earn a draw - a result which saw Fulham pipped to second spot by Wisla Krakow.

But with Martin Jol's men just three points above the Premier League drop zone, Hangeland insists they need to regroup quickly.
"The games are coming thick and fast so we just need to keep going," he told fulhamfc.com.

"Sometimes when you have a big disappointment it's good to have a game coming up a few days later to put things right, so I'm sure we'll be up for it.

"I think we'd be up for it regardless of what happened last night, but it will be nice to get back into action as soon as possible after this massive disappointment."



http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2011/12/15/hangeland-hoping-to-bounce-back-against-bolton-82029-29959376/?

WhiteJC

 
Stockdale open to Town return
Keeper answers Fulham call following injury to Schwarzer


David Stockdale: Keeper admits he could return to Ipswich following his recall from loan by Fulham

David Stockdale is not ruling out a return to Ipswich Town in the New Year after he was recalled by Fulham following an injury to goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Veteran Australian keeper Schwarzer is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines and Stockdale has been summoned back to Craven Cottage ahead of Fulham's game at home to Bolton Wandererson Saturday.

The former Darlington shot-stopper had been on a season-long loan at Ipswich and had made 18 appearances during his time with the Championship club.

The England hopeful is now focusing on taking his chance with the Cottagers, but admits he could head back to Portman Road once Schwarzer is back to full fitness.

Experience

"There may be a chance of me coming back," Stockdale told Ipswich's official website. "That's not really up to me and at the moment I just want to concentrate on getting back and doing my best for Fulham.

"If the chance came for me to come back and it suited all parties then it is definitely something I'd look into though.

"Fulham have got some big games coming up - especially Man Utd and Chelsea - so I want to do well and show people what I've learned at Ipswich and show what I've been doing in games and training, working along some great coaches such as Malcolm Webster.

"I just want to thank everyone at Ipswich for giving me this chance and I really have learned a lot from the experience.

"It would have been nice to have stayed and tried to have got the club into the Premier League, but I've got to concentrate on doing my best for Fulham now."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7378734/?


WhiteJC

 
League Mission

Following the Club's exit from this season's UEFA Europa League competition on Wednesday night, Manager Martin Jol has spoken of his desire to lead his Team into the top half of the Barclays Premier League table.

Fulham return to League action on Saturday when they challenge Bolton Wanderers in SW6 and Jol will be looking for a clinical edge in the final third to fire Fulham up the table.

"The Premier League is our priority," said Jol ahead of Saturday's match at the Cottage. "I will try to get this club in the top 10 and then in the top eight, and maybe the top six. That's my mission.

"We have to fight until the end of the season. Hopefully we'll get 40 points as soon as possible and if you look at our performances in the League, and our goal record, they are completely different from other teams.

"We're always on the fringe doing something and sometimes it comes off, like it has against Arsenal, Wigan, Sunderland and Liverpool.

"Even against Swansea, after a bad first half and after conceding an own goal, we pushed forward and created four or five chances. It's about putting our chances away – if you don't create chances then you've got a problem.

"You need results against teams that are in a similar position in the League. It's not easy to play against the top sides but I think we've done well against the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool this season.

"We're a good organised team and the thing now is to get a good balance in the Team and try to put all our offensive midfield players together and create a culture of scoring goals."

Tickets remain on General Sale for Saturday's Barclays Premier League match against Bolton Wanderers at Craven Cottage. Under 16s can experience live Barclays Premier League football from just £1 in the Putney End when purchased in advance (prices will increase to £5 on matchday).



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/December/JolsLeagueMission.aspx?#ixzz1gbn6VFPj

WhiteJC

 
Brede Hangeland: We need a quick cure for our Euro hangover


The fall guys: Djiby Fall dumps Fulham out of Europe after scoring
Odense's last-gasp equaliser


Brede Hangeland today pledged Fulham will lift themselves from their shock Europa League exit in time for Saturday's relegation clash with Bolton.

Hangeland issued his rallying call after Fulham, inexcusably sitting back on a slender lead, conceded an equaliser just six seconds from the end of added time against Danish side Odense BK at a stunned Craven Cottage.

The 2-2 draw meant Fulham dropped from second to third in the Group K table, with Wisla Krakow, of Poland, leapfrogging into the second qualifying spot with a 2-1 win against Holland's FC Twente, who had already secured their place in tomorrow's draw for the knockout round of 32.

It was the last thing Fulham needed ahead of their home clash with the Premier League's bottom side, particularly as they themselves are only three points clear of the drop zone. But Hangeland, who wore the captain's armband against Odense following Danny Murphy's failure to recover from an ankle injury, believes his team will fight back.

"Sometimes when you have a big disappointment it's good to have a game coming up a few days later to put things right," he said. "I think we'd be up for that game regardless of what happened against Odense but it will be nice to get back into action as soon as possible after this massive disappointment."

A massive disappointment? That hardly begins to sum up a game which Fulham appeared to have taken control of as they led 2-0 at half-time.

Manager Martin Jol drafted in some younger players as he sought to cope with injuries and the needs of squad rotation in a glut of eight games during December. Neil Etheridge, a London-born goalkeeper who plays for the Philippines for whom he qualifies through his mother, got a late call to make his debut after Mark Schwarzer succumbed to a spinal complaint that will keep him out until after Christmas.

And the 21-year-old initially impressed with his confidence, sharp reactions and bravery. Marcel Gecov, a 23-year-old former Czech Under-21 midfielder making only his third start, also caught the eye with vision and playmaking that Murphy would have been proud of.

But it was teenager Kerim Frei, born in Austria but raised in Switzerland, who made the most telling impact in the 27th minute when he galloped down the left wing and crossed low to Bobby Zamora. The England striker laid the ball back to Clint Dempsey and his curling first-time shot flew between keeper and post.

Four minutes later Frei scored his first for the club, finishing off a chance created by Mousa Dembele, who dispossessed a dithering Bernard Mendy before embarking on one of his trademark jinking runs.

That brace ought to have been enough to see Fulham through to the win they needed but in the second half the Whites may as well have run up a white flag.

A poor wall and naive positioning by Etheridge allowed Hans Henrik Andreasen to curl a free-kick just inside the post in the 64th minute.

Then substitute Djiby Fall's fine header two minutes and 54 seconds into the three minutes of added time capped a remarkable comeback by an Odense side who on last night's showing would struggle in League One.

Hangeland added: "To go out like that with the last kick of the ball is very hard to take. We didn't play a good game but we had by far the better chances and I can't believe we drew."

Fulham's European adventure had embraced 14 games stretching back to their first qualifier which took place in the second week of the Wimbledon tennis championships. Hangeland said: "I've been thinking about the fact that we started training on June 23 and it feels like that was all for nothing."

Not even the potential revealed by Fulham's young talent could console Hangeland, who added: "It's over and done with and now we need to focus on the Premier League and FA Cup."



http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-24021697-brede-hangeland-we-need-a-quick-cure-for-our-euro-hangover.do?

WhiteJC

 
Fulham poll: Vote for the Player of the Year for 2011

Who has been the brightest star for Fulham in the last 12 months?

Fulham have had an up and down year with European adventures and managers leaving of their own accord.

The Whites qualified for Europe through the Fair Play league but former boss Mark Hughes left the club in the summer and was replaced by Martin Jol.

BREDE HANGELAND has been a fans favourite since signing in 2008 and he has had another strong year. The defender had already made 29 appearances this season but are his consistent performances enough to be the best Whites' player of 2011?

MARK SCHWARZER is out of contract with the Whites but has been in fine form again this year and intimated that he'd like to follow Brad Friedel in playing into his 40s. Have his performances earned him the player of 2011?

CLINT DEMPSEY became the highest scoring American in the Premier League when he netted against Liverpool on December 5 but will he pay the penalty for his miss against Swansea?

BOBBY ZAMORA has been playing well for Fulham of late and is a fan favourite but has his recent goal drought cost him the honour?

DANNY MURPHY has led Fulham very well and played a starring role in their recent win over Liverpool.

The midfielder has chipped in with five goals this season and two last year but is it enough for him to be crowned as Fulham's best player in 2011?



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_poll_vote_for_the_player_of_the_year_for_2011_1_1154133?


WhiteJC

 
Arsenal star Ryo Miyaichi wanted by Fulham and Feyenoord for January loan
Manager Arsene Wenger is '60-40' in favour of loaning out the Japanese youngster for the second half of the season, and is believed to prefer a deal with an English club



Arsenal wonderkid Ryo Miyaichi is being targeted by Fulham and Feyenoord for a January loan swoop, Goal.com can reveal.

The Dutch club have approached the Londoners about the potential availability of the 19-year-old, who helped turn around Feyenoord's season during a 12-game loan spell earlier this year.

Fulham are also monitoring the availability of the Japanese youngster as manager Martin Jol bids to reinforce his team's left flank in next month's window.

Goal.com revealed last month that Jol is keeping a close eye on Swansea City pair Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer, but he is also tracking the availability of Miyaichi after failing in a bid to land the player on loan last summer.

Goal.com understands that Arsene Wenger is '60-40' in favour of loaning out Miyaichi in the new year to help him gain further first-team experience.

The teenager has made only two substitute appearances in the League Cup during his first full season at Arsenal, which has been marked by teething problems, niggling injuries and some time spent learning his trade in the reserves.

Feyenoord have a good relationship with Arsenal after impressing Wenger with how they looked after the Japanese winger during his four-month loan spell last season, when the Eredivisie club sent the Londoners DVDs of all Miyaichi's performances and details of his entire playing programme, which included what he did in training.

But the Arsenal manager is keen for Miyaichi to gain greater experience of the physical demands of English football and is believed to favour a switch to another Premier League club.

Wenger will wait to see how his first-team squad is affected by injuries after the glut of forthcoming festive fixtures before making a final decision.

Asked recently about speculation that he will loan out Miyaichi, Wenger said: "I will decide that at the beginning of January."



http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/12/15/2803712/arsenal-star-ryo-miyaichi-wanted-by-fulham-and-feyenoord-for?

WhiteJC

 
Fulham V Bolton Wanderers – Match Preview

Rock bottom Bolton travel to the capital on Saturday to face Fulham desperate to halt a run of four consecutive defeats and begin their great escape.

Beating the Cottagers in their own back yard will be an extremely tough task considering Martin Jol's side have lost only two of their seven games at Craven Cottage this season. However their win against Liverpool a fortnight ago was only their second win on their own turf and first since thrashing QPR at the start of October. New boss Jol has had a difficult start to life on the Thames seeing his side excel in the Europa League but falter on the domestic front. Last week's defeat away at Swansea will have disappointed the Dutchman with midfielder Clint Dempsey playing a key role in their downfall. The American, who had struck the winner in their last home game against the Reds, offered the Swans a helping hand on their way to victory scoring an own goal and missing a late penalty to go from hero to villain in the space of a week. Finding the net certainly has been Fulham's Achilles heel this season with their goals for column displaying just 16 in their 15 Premier League games. A reported fall out with Bobby Zamora has further depleted Jol's striking options with Dempsey and Moussa Dembele likely to continue in attack with Bryan Ruiz still considered too raw for the top flight. Supporters will be expecting their side to arrest their poor goal scoring record as beleaguered Bolton.

The Trotters have endured a shocking campaign so far slumping to the bottom of the league after winning just three games all season. It's astonishing to think Owen Coyle's side contested an FA Cup Semi Final at the start of the year but could end up staring down the relegation barrel when 2011 reaches it's climax. There was a real sense of optimism following their opening day win against QPR but things have rapidly gone downhill since their with Saturday's home defeat against Aston Villa their 12th of the season. Apart from the three games they were successful in performances have been woeful with Coyle unable to stop the goals flying in at the wrong end. The ease in which Villa controlled the game on Saturday highlighted the frailties that exist in Bolton's back four with the experienced trio of Paul Robinson, Gary Cahill and Zat Knight offering a meagre level of protection to goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. Injuries to key players hasn't helped Coyle but the fact his players motivation appears to recede every week points the finger at his ability to provide the dressing room with the motivation necessary for them to pull themselves away from danger. He needs to get his team organised and make them harder to break down starting on Saturday against Fulham. A win could prove to a turning point in their season with winnable games against Blackburn, Newcastle and Wolves all forthcoming during Christmas.

Fulham – 14th

Last Five: Lost 2-0 v Swansea (A), Won 1-0 v Liverpool (H), Drew 1-1 v Arsenal (A), Drew 0-0 v Sunderland (A), Lost 3-1 v Tottenham (H)

Potential Starting X11: 12. D. Stockdale 2. S. Kelly 14. P. Senderos 5. B. Hangeland 3. J. Riise 11. B. Ruiz 29. S. Davies 20. D. Etuhu 23. C. Dempsey 30. M. Dembele* 8. A. Johnson

Injury News: Mark Schwarzer will miss a large chunk of the season after sustaining a neck injury whilst Danny Murphy, Damien Duff and Steve Sidwell also remain sidelines.

Key Player: Moussa Dembele

With strike partner Zamora now out of contention the goalscoring burden now lies heavily on the talented shoulders of Dembele. The Dutchman has impressed in flashes this season and will be expected to be Fulham's source of creativity along with chief net buster with captain Danny Murphy out injured. He should definitely bag at least one against a fragile Bolton back four.

Match Fact: Fulham haven't lost in their eight meetings with Bolton and have won four along and drawn the same amount.

Bolton – 20th

Last Five: Lost 2-1 v Aston Villa (H), Lost 3-0 v Tottenham (A), Lost 2-0 v Everton (H), Lost 2-1 v West Brom (A), Won 5-0 v Stoke (H)

Potential Starting X11: 22. J. Jaaskelainen 2. G. Steinsson 5. G. Cahill* 12. Z. Knight 4. P. Robinson 7. C. Eagles 6. F. Muamba 21. D. Pratley 19. M. Davies 24. D. N'Gog 14. K. Davies [C]

Injury News: Bolton can add Ivan Klasnic and Nigel Reo-Coker to an injury list that already has nine first team players on it.

Key Player: Gary Cahill

Keeping the goals from flying in hasn't been Cahill's strong point this season as he finds himself in a Bolton side struggling to fight their way out of a never-ending relegation battle. The England defender's form has been patchy this season and he'll need to be at his very best to keep the likes of Dembele and Dempsey from inflicting more misery on the Trotters.

Match Fact: Bolton haven't beaten Fulham in the Premier League since 2007 and you'll have to go back even further for their last league victory at Craven Cottage with that coming in 1992 when both were plying their trades in the Old Division Two.

Last Time at Craven Cottage

Premier League 27 April 2011

Fulham 3-0 Bolton

Dempsey (15, 48)

Hangeland (65)

Attendance: 23,222

PREDICTION

Fulham are starting to come into a bit of form going into the hectic festive period and should have enough to see off a Bolton side who continue to lurch towards relegation. Rock bottom and unable to lift the confidence it's going to be a tough for christmas for the Trotter and expect their suffering to continue on the Thames.

Score: 3-0



http://www.footballfancast.com/2011/12/football-news/fulham-v-bolton-wanderers-–-match-review?

WhiteJC

 
Premier League preview: Fulham v Bolton

Just three points above the relegation zone, Fulham host last-placed Bolton Wanderers as Martin Jol tries to steer the Londoners to safety.

Fulham have often struggled this season in league fixtures following European games, and - after crashing out of the Europa League from a stoppage time goal in their 2-2 draw against Odense - Jol will refocus his side on the English Premier League as they try to take points off sides below them.

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer's outstanding form has saved Fulham many points this season, but Jol will have to do without his star shot-stopper for the next six weeks after the Australian suffered a neck injury against Swansea last Saturday.

Philippines international Neil Etheridge, 21, was in goal for Wednesday's Europa League tie, while loanee David Stockdale has been recalled from Ipswich to provide further cover.

Steve Sidwell and Danny Murphy are doubtful against Bolton, with both left out of Fulham's Europa League squad. Sidwell is recovering from hernia operation and Murphy still nursing an ankle injury.

Chris Baird returned from injury against Odense and Marcel Gecov is likely to continue covering for Murphy in midfield.

Fulham might have won just once in seven matches in all competitions, but Jol will be pressing for all three points against a Bolton side which has lost four matches in a row.

Owen Coyle's men are six points from Fulham's 14th placing despite having the same number of wins - three.

Bolton have struggled to recapture their impressive form from last season, and a host of injuries to key players has not helped their cause.

Striker Ivan Klasnic is out with a knee injury, while Nigel Reo Coker, Ricardo Gardner and Stuart Holden are others on the casualty list.

But despite their injury toll, Bolton full-back Zat Knight is backing the side to recover some lost points before the end of the year, starting against Fulham on Saturday.

"It's still tight and there are games coming up, but we have to stop saying we can win them and instead we have to go and get something," Knight told Bolton's official website.

"That would give us something to build on and some confidence, but first of all we have to fight. If we are resilient and hard to beat then there is every chance you can win games."



http://uk.soccerway.com/news/2011/December/15/premier-league-preview-fulham-v-bolton/?


WhiteJC

 
Jol faces Dutch scrap for winger

Fulham and Feyenoord are vying to sign Japanese winger Ryo Miyaichi if Arsene Wenger allows him to leave Arsenal on loan next month.
Jol saw the 19-year-old at first hand during a 12-game loan spell at Feyenoord earlier this year where he was credited with helping turnaround the fortunes of the Rotterdam club.

Wenger is said to be marginally in favour of loaning out the player, who has made only two substitute appearances in the League Cup this term, in the new year to help him gain further first-team experience.

Feyenoord built a good relationship with Arsenal after impressing Wenger with how they looked after the Japanese winger during his four-month loan spell last season.

The Eredivisie club sent Wenger DVDs of all Miyaichi's performances and detailed his work in training.

But the Arsenal manager is keen for Miyaichi to gain greater experience of the physical demands of English football and is believed to favour a switch to another Premier League club.



http://www.eatsleepsport.com/fulham/jol-faces-dutch-scrap-for-winger-1354392.html?#.Tun975gcIds