Sunday Fulham Stuff (05/08/12)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Petric on target again in Fulham win

OGN Nice 0 Fulham 4

Fulham's preparations for the new season continued with another comfortable victory – and another goal for summer signing Mladen Petric.

The Croatian striker spectacularly fired the Whites ahead following a cross from Alex Kacaniklic, who added the second on the stroke of half-time.

Mahamadou Diarra drove home the third on 66 minutes, before teenager Mesca netted the fourth after being set up by Kerim Frei.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/petric-on-target-again-in-fulham-win?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham hit Nice for four
by DAN on AUGUST 4, 2012



Fulham's fine pre-season continued with a fabulous four goal win over Nice on the Côte d'Azur this evening. The Whites' dominant display, which included a fifth summer strike in as many friendlies for the potent Mladen Petric, augurs well for when Martin Jol's side begin their Premier League campaign against Norwich City in a fortnight's time.

Jol selected a strong side and their fluidity of movement and ease on the ball troubled the Ligue 1 side who seemed sluggish by comparison. The trip to the Stade du Ray was considered a stern test, with Nice due to begin their domestic season next weekend, but Fulham made the running from the outset with speedy Swede Alex Kaciniklic posing problems out wide and Bryan Ruiz looking dangerous in the hole. The pair combined with just a minute on the clock but the Costa Rican's instinctive shot flew over the crossbar. The hosts replied with a speculative shot from Guie Guie but another astonishing finish from Petric handed Fulham the lead their early adventure merited.

Mahamadou Diarra, back in France after his four succerssful years with Lyon, started a flowing midfield move that offered Kacaniklic space to gallop into. The Swede sent over a dangerous cross but Petric's finish – an acrobatic overheaded effort – was sensational. Following hot on the heels of a fine curler at Wycombe last week, it offered another indication that the Croatian could be an inspired signing, although he probably wouldn't have been allowed as much and space and time in the physical confines of the Premier League.

Nice did up the ante after falling behind. Promising teenager Thimothée Kolodziejczak extended Schwarzer for the first time in the evening and skipper Didier Digard should have levelled proceedings rather than sending a header wide. The former Middlesbrough man looked as though he had nodded home an equaliser, but his flicked header was cleared off the line by Sasha Riether.

Fulham coped well enough with Nice's spell of pressure although  Schwarzer was almost embarassed by a long-ranger from Argentinian defender Fabián Monzón, but the Whites scored a crucial second just before the break. It came courtesy of Kacaniklic, who had always looked likely to exploit a square Nice back line with his pace, and the former Liverpool winger kept his composure brilliantly to double Fulham's lead after sprinting onto a through ball from Petric.

Jol made his first changes midway through the second half, giving Kerim Frei just over half an hour to run at the French backline and offering Stephen Kelly some more match practice after his extended break following Euro 2012. The visitors were in total command and their superiority was reflected in the scoreline when Diarra lashed home a square pass from Petric twenty minutes after the interval. Mesca added a fourth a matter of moments after he replaced Damien Duff after a fine Frei through ball had disected the Nice defence to leave Claude Puel with plenty to ponder ahead of their opening league game against AC Ajaccio next Saturday night.

OGC NICE: Delle; Palun, Pejcinovic, Kolodziejczak; Coulibaly, Traore; Bautheac, Abriel, Monzon; Guie Guie.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Riether (Kelly 59), J.A. Riise, Hughes, Hangeland; Diarra (Baird 70), Dembele (Sidwell 70); Duff (Mesca 77), Kacaniklic (Frei 59), Ruiz (Davies 70); Petric. Subs (not used): Stockdale, Grygera, Briggs, Pritchard, Trotta.

GOALS: Petric (18), Kacaniklic (45), Diarra (64), Mesca (79).



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2012/08/fulham-hit-nice-for-four/?

[WhiteJC]

 
OGC Nice 0 Fulham 4: New boy Petric on target again for Cottagers

Fulham new boy Mladen Petric scored yet another goal in pre-season as the Cottagers notched up a convincing win over French side Nice.

Petric opened the scoring with wonderful scissor kick, the Croatian maintaining his record of scoring in every pre-season match since signing for Martin Jol's side.


In the goals: Mladen Petric celebrates after scoring for Fulham against Nice


Good win: Josh Pritchard celebrates with Petric

Alex Kacaniklic finished neatly just before half-time to put the west London side 2-0 up at the break.

Mahamadou Diarra drilled in a third before exciting teenager Mesca completed the rout late on.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2183754/OGC-Nice-0-Fulham-4-Mladen-Petric-target-Cottagers.html#ixzz22eW5VKyK

[WhiteJC]

 
Nice and easy for Cottagers
Mladen Petric opened the scoring as Fulham enjoyed a 4-0 victory over Nice in their friendly at the Stade Municipal du Ray.


Kacaniklic: On target for Fulham

Petric scored after 18 minutes before turning provider to release Alex Kacaniklic just before half-time to double the advantage.

Petric again provided the pass for Mahamadou Diarra on 64 minutes before substitute Mesca, who had been on the pitch only two minutes, added a fourth 11 minutes from time.



http://www.football365.com/match/3540221/report?

[WhiteJC]

 
Clint in their eye: Liverpool could lose out to Roma in Dempsey chase, but close in on £15m Allen

Fulham are demanding ­£10million for Dempsey, who has a year remaining on his Craven Cottage contract, but Liverpool have so far refused to match it


Liverpool or Rome? Fulham's Clint Dempsey may have to make up his mind soon

Liverpool's bid to sign Clint Dempsey could be gazumped by Roma if they cannot agree a fee with Fulham.

Dempsey has been left out of Fulham's Swiss training camp while he waits for his future to be sorted out.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is desperate to sign Dempsey and has made an ­enquiry about the American.

Fulham are demanding ­£10million for Dempsey, who has a year remaining on his Craven Cottage contract, but Liverpool have so far refused to match it.

Roma have been alerted to the stand-off and are now preparing their own bid – ironically with the £12m fee they received from the Reds for striker Fabio Borini.

It is understood Dempsey would prefer to stay in the Premier League with Liverpool, but has not ruled out the prospect of ­moving abroad.

Roma general manager and former England ­assistant-manager Franco Baldini is a big fan of Dempsey and has good contacts around Fulham.

And Liverpool's owners will give Rodgers their full backing in the transfer market by this week by sanctioning a £15m bid for ­Swansea's Joe Allen.

The Fenway Sports Group have bowed to Rodgers' wish that they spend what it takes to trigger a release clause in the Welsh ­midfielder's contract.

The new Kop boss has been given a further boost with an ­assurance that he will have the final say on the future of Daniel Agger, with the Danish defender being targeted by both ­Manchester City and Barcelona.

Rodgers made Allen his No.1 target when he arrived from Swansea to succeed Kenny ­Dalglish at the end of May.

Swansea are furious with ­Liverpool's approach after ­allowing Rodgers to move to ­Anfield on the understanding that he did not return to raid his former club for players. But Rodgers' ­inside knowledge of the Welsh club means he knows they will be powerless to keep Allen if his ­release clause is met.

Liverpool have had an offer of £12.5m rejected by the Swans, with Rodgers also willing to allow midfielder Jonjo Shelvey to move to the Liberty Stadium on a ­season-long loan.

Now the Merseysiders will take the decision away from new City boss Michael Laudrup by paying the extra money.

Allen will link-up again with Rodgers once he finishes playing for Team GB at the Olympic Games.

Liverpool have more cash to spend after recouping £7m from the sale of £25m misfit Alberto Aquilani to Fiorentina.   

Rodgers will now speak to Agger about growing interest from the Etihad and the Nou Camp.

The Liverpool manager's claim that the defender was left out of his Europa League squad during the week because of injury has been dismissed as a fabrication by the player's agent.

Rodgers will be loathe to lose the Dane but if Agger declares that he wants to leave, both Barca and City will be told to double their £13m valuation.



http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-could-lose-out-to-roma-1217465

[WhiteJC]

 
Liverpool Transfer News: Swansea's Joe Allen Is Better Fit Than Clint Dempsey


Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

In what has been an ever-changing scenario since the end of the Premier League season, one thought has remained constant: Liverpool are the absolute favorites to land Clint Dempsey from Fullham.

That may not be the case anymore, and that could end up being just fine with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

According to Matt Law of Mirror, the Reds are in grave danger of losing out to Italian club Roma in the Dempsey sweepstakes. But they're getting closer and closer to making a similarly enormous deal that could give them a much-needed shot in the arm.

Liverpool ownership has been working with Joe Allen and his current team, Swansea City, on a deal that could send Allen to Anfield before next season. Rodgers has reportedly offered ­£12.5 million for the Welsh midfielder.

Even if Swansea rejects that offer, Liverpool is still not far off from obtaining him. A clause in Allen's contract states that if one of the "Big Five" Premier League teams (which Liverpool is a part of) offers £15 million for him, they must sell.


J. Meric/Getty Images

Dempsey sounds like the ideal fit as he brings more goal scoring and attacking play to a team that needs it, but you'd have to wonder how long he could be a vital part of the club. Is he really going to be around four or five years from now, when 'Pool should have a much better chance of winning?

The chances are slim to none, while in Allen's case, it's almost certain that he'd be a long-term fix and would be at the top of his game at that point. Dempsey is 29 and would be in the final stages of his career when Allen is just blooming.

That's not to say that Liverpool couldn't shock us all and land both players, but it's very unlikely that they have that sort of money, and they'll most likely be content with just one of these stars.



http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1285322-liverpool-transfer-news-swanseas-joe-allen-is-better-fit-than-clint-dempsey?

[cmg]

Good win: Josh Pritchard celebrates with Petric

...and there's us thinking we hadn't seen much of the sun this summer!

(Another triumph for the Daily Mail and the accuracy of Bitish sporting jounalism.)

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol OGC Nice Reaction

Manager Martin Jol admits his Fulham side convinced him during the 4-0 triumph against OGC Nice that his best-laid plans for the new season are all beggining to come together.

The Whites made short work of their Ligue 1 opposition on the Cote d'Azur, rattling in two goals either side of the break and getting a dream start through Mladen Petric and Alex Kacaniklic's strikes.

Mahamadou Diarra and Mesca extended the advantage after the interval as Jol's Team dominated what was billed as their toughest challenge of pre-season so far at the Stade Municipal du Ray.

But what pleased Jol most was the fact that Nice were well ahead of Fulham's pre-season preperations and he insists the Whites' squad is only going to get stronger and fitter in the coming weeks.

"We are getting there but there is still three weeks to go and it's very encouraging," Jol told Fulhamfc.com

"It was Nice's final game before they started the league and we looked the better team.

"The first goal from Petric was a very good goal, and the second goal pleased me a lot because we talked about - don't be too rigid, vary your game - and Kaca did just that - a bit of penetration and he got a one-versus-one with the keeper.

"The third goal, I was pleased because we scored from midfield because that is always useful and it was a very good shot from Diarra.

"And then the little fella, Mesca, he's a talent and he came on and scored his first goal for the club.

"But there are always little things that can make us better. Petric is the only experienced goalscorer we had there up front.

"We've got [Marcello] Trotta coming through, and then next week [Hugo] Rodallega can join us, and Clint Dempsey can join us, and then we'll be making big steps."

Another feather in the cap of the Whites was that the resounding victory came off the back of a gruelling five-day training camp in Crans-Montana, in the Swiss Alps, where the players were pushed to their limits.

After working his Team so hard at high altitude, Jol admits he was impressed at how well they responded to such intense training, and puts the performance against Nice down to a breath of fresh air.

"The people in Switzerland told us we were breathing the purest air and hopefully that made the difference," added Jol.

"I think we worked the players really hard on Wednesday and we thought they would be tired, but Thursday they were fresh.

"The training camp was five days but it was like two and a half weeks because of how much we did.

"I was thinking before the match that we might need to use a lot of players, but that wasn't necessary because of how well we played in the first half."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/August/ManagerReaction.aspx

[MikeR]

We are getting there but there is still three weeks to go and it's very encouraging,” Jol told Fulhamfc.com

AM: Martin, you do know that the game against Norwich on 18 August isn't a friendly, right?

[cebu]

We are getting there but there is still three weeks to go and it's very encouraging," Jol told Fulhamfc.com

AM: Martin, you do know that the game against Norwich on 18 August isn't a friendly, right?

... and it's in 2 weeks time, not 3!    :005: