Wednesday Fulham Stuff(08/08/12)...

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Mark Schwarzer looks ahead to the new season with Fulham

Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer joined the Breakfast boys to look ahead to the new Premier League season.


Read more at http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/sports-breakfast/120807/mark-schwarzer-looks-ahead-new-season-fulham-178097?#aOz4iOVTF6KoS72z.99

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Bright Futures

As our Under-21s and Under-18s gear up for the coming season, fulhamfc.com caught up with four of our young talents, Dan Burn, Charles Banya, Derek Tieku and Jordan Evans - all of which are at various stages of their development...



Starting with Jordan, having joined the Club this summer, how have you found your first pre-season? And as one of a number of new players recruited for this season's Under-18s, why was Fulham the club for you? 

JE: This is my first pre-season at the Club and it has been a good experience so far. I really enjoyed the trip to Portugal and working with my new team-mates, and the older boys in the Under-21 group. It has been hard, having played for Wrexham before moving to Fulham this summer, it is obviously a step up but I think it has gone well so far. Obviously, the Academy has had a lot of success over the past few seasons and I want to be part of that going forward. Hopefully the new group can do as well, and I'm really looking forward to getting the Under-18 campaign up and running. There's a real togetherness about the Club and working in that kind of environment makes things a lot easier.



Derek, over the summer you have worked with both the Under-18s and Under-21s, what is your assessment of the two squads going into the new season?

DT: First of all, you can see that there is a lot of quality in both teams, with strength from front to back. I've been more involved with the younger group, but it is good experience to mix with the older players too. The idea is to make the step up as smooth as possible, so working with both groups will help with that. The new players that have come in look good and I think they will help us have another good season. Last year was my first with the Under-18s having come up from the Under-16s, and it went really well. I'm one of the older players in the group now, so of course you have a bit more responsibility. It's an important year for the second year scholars because we all want to impress and move up to the Under-21s next season.



Charles, having impressed for the Under-18s over the last two years, you have of course now moved up to the Under-21 group...

CB: Yes, and I'm looking forward to getting the new season started too. We have played some good games so far, and a lot of the stuff has been real pass-and-move football which is good. I enjoyed the past couple of seasons with the Under-18s and the two league successes and last season's national final win were obviously the highlights. But on top of that, I think I have improved as a player and I'm now ready to test myself at a higher level. Of course, I'll be working with Kit Symons again, which is really good, because he's one of the reasons why I have improved as a player. I know most of the players already and I think we could have a good season ahead of us. I think the continuity will stand us in good stead.



Dan, you now enter your second season with the Club, and having impressed greatly last term, the 2012/13 season is an important one for you in terms of development isn't it?

DB: I've had that settling in period, and after adjusting to the step up having joined from non-league Darlington I like to think that my first season was a good one. I played a lot for the Development Squad and have trained with the First Team on a few occasions, but this is a new season and with that come new expectations. I felt I finished last season strongly, and having worked hard throughout the summer, I want to start the new campaign in similar fashion. I'm really looking forward to working with Kit, he has done really well with the Under-18s and I'm sure he will do well with the Under-21s too. As a former defender, I'll no doubt learn a lot from him. Hopefully I can play as much as possible, and continue to improve as a player. There's a lot of hard work ahead, but I determined to take any chance that I am given. The opportunity is certainly there for us young players, and that is the most important thing.

Pre-season is a gruelling time for a footballer, even for you younger players isn't it?

DB: It is, yes. I think people expect that to be the case for the senior pros, but in many ways it is worse for the younger boys. We're expected to be at a similar level and are worked harder to make that happen – because if we need to step up we don't want to look out of place. For many of the boys, this is a new experience in the sense they might have come up from the Under-16s or joined from a lower league club. I know when I came in from Darlington last summer, it was difficult to adjust.

JE: It is a different level here. As I said, I used to play at Wrexham and although we were worked hard there, the programme at Fulham is a lot more intense – and it has to be. The fitness coaches conduct a lot of tests over pre-season and you're continually monitored and checked. It's a step above what I was used to but, at the end of the day, it's for the better. I already feel stronger physically.

Charles and Derek, you are two players that have been at Fulham for a while now; in comparison to when you first joined the Club, how far do you think the Academy has come?

CB: I've been here since I was 12, so I feel that I have really come up through the ranks. For me, that has been a real achievement and I'm still very happy to be here. A lot of players have come and gone in that time, so it shows that I have done well. The Academy is totally different to the one I knew when I first came in and there have been so many changes. Every year the standard has become higher and higher, and as a result of that quality, us players have had to be at the top of our game. I think the Academy has made a lot of progress in that time, and having won our section of the Premier Academy League for the past two seasons shows that our Academy is now one of the best in the country. 

DT: I've been with the Academy since the age of 10 so, like Charles, I have come up through the different age groups. I agree, there have been so many changes, including the way we now train and play. It's so professional and our programmes basically mirror those of the First Team. For me, the biggest thing is the fact we are now starting to see more and more young players stepping up and getting closer and closer to the First Team – for us younger players, that is so good to see. Whether those changes are big or small, they are all steps in the right direction.

As part of the new Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), a new Under-21 league has been introduced to create a more competitive environment for our young players – is this a good thing?

DB: Of course it is, and it is a really exciting move. Having played in the Development Squad last season, I have to say, the old system just wasn't competitive enough. You never really knew what kind of team the opposition would play, but with the new ruling, a team can only field three players over the age of 21 and an overage goalkeeper. Straight away that puts an emphasis on young players and, in playing more regularly, development is the key. There were times when we could go a couple of weeks without a game, now we should be playing every week, and against top teams it has to be said.

CB: We are up against the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Wolves, Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough – all of which are very good teams. These are some of the leading clubs and they produce a lot of good players. We have done well too, so it promises to be a very interesting season.

And what about the Under-18s, are you confident that you guys can build on the Academy's recent success?

DT: I think we have to. We are up against the same clubs as the Under-21s, so again, these are teams with great reputations at youth level. But we are amongst the best, and we want to show that we can continue to compete. Okay, some of the players have moved up to the Under-21s, but that was the same at the start of last season. It's a cycle and the new group have to show what we can do now. We probably should have done better in the FA Youth Cup, so already that is another target for the coming season.

JE: As a new player coming in, it is an exciting challenge and of course, we all want to build on the success of the past few seasons. The Fulham Academy has a really strong reputation and hopefully we can take it even further.



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

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Jol calls for patience
   
Buomesca Tue Na Banga, or "Mesca" as he is known, it a real talent who looks destined for a good future with Fulham but patience it needed.

Martin Jol, as he told The Fulham Chronicle, knows that the Portuguese youngster, who was snapped up from Chelsea last year, is "a terrific talent" and "exciting" but also knows that expectations shouldn't be too high too soon.

It looks as though the 19-year-old will have a part to play this season but it's the years ahead that will see the best of Mesca so Chelsea's loss will be Fulham's gain!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=289240#ixzz22vGJQhQq

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Defender heading to France?
   
When Rafik Halliche came to Fulham the defender came to the club with high expectations of him doing something special.

£2.5m in today's market isn't massive but at the same time isn't pocket change either but this fee has proven to be money misplaced really with just the two sub appearances to the Algerian's name since his arrival from Benfica in 2010.

Halliche was unable to earn himself a loan deal with Celtic after a trial spell at the end of last year but a move to French outfit Lens could be on the cards with Fulham believed to be recouping close to £400,000 of the fee paid for the 25-year-old...


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=289242#ixzz22vGa0M7Q

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McFadden lifeline?
   
James McFadden could make a return to the premier league with "sky sports understanding" that Fulham are preparing to offer him a lifeline?

The Scotsman is a free agent after his short-term contract with Everton ended at the end of last season and has been training in Scotland but no deal has come about with a Scottish club.

Turkish outfit Bursaspor have "enquired" about the 29-year-old so perhaps a move to Turkey could appeal to him more at this stage of his career?

McFadden's talent can never be doubted but his ability to stay fit is what has cost him so much in recent years, a fit McFadden is definitely worth a punt though but there lies the biggest question mark, can he stay fit?


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=289243#ixzz22vGh83Cn

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Introducing Jefta

When you think of the management infrastructure at Fulham Football Club, the names that immediately spring to mind are the likes of Martin Jol, Billy McKinlay and Michael Lindeman. But the number of key backroom staff at the Club is vast, with a range of specialist roles now fulfilled at Motspur Park.

One example is the relatively new position of Skills Coach – a role which saw Dutchman Jefta Bresser arrive at the Club in November 2011 after being offered the opportunity by his compatriot Martin Jol.

We caught up with Jefta to find out more about what being a Skills Coach entails, as well as getting to know the man himself.

Jefta Bresser – Skills Coach

Jefta, can you start by telling us what you do on a day-to-day basis?



I came in as a Skills Coach which means I mostly work on the technical development of the individual players and that involves everything you could think of in terms of technical skills. From the First Team - mainly the younger players in the First Team - down to the Under-8s.

I spend about 50 per cent of my time with the Academy and 50 per cent with the First Team, but it depends so much on the schedule of what's happening. Of course the First Team is always the priority but it doesn't mean that the Manager needs me every day. Sometimes he only needs me for a top-up at the end of the training session, sometimes just to take one or two players out. It depends on the situation.

What exactly do you mean when you refer to technical skills?

Technical skills are the basics to play the game. It's quite simple; you cannot drive in central London if you do not control the car. You cannot play in the Barclays Premier League if you do not control the ball. So, if you look at technical skills, it's mastering the ball in every football situation.

So, sometimes it has to do with stealing the ball – tackling – sometimes it has to do with outplaying your opponent, sometimes it has to do with keeping the ball as an individual. And those are all individual skills but also skills that you have to use within the team.

Martin Jol has done a fine job of getting Fulham playing attractive football which is famously a Dutch tradition. Is that a philosophy that you share?

Playing good football is more or less our culture. Of course we didn't see it in the European Championships with the national team though! But that doesn't change our history or our culture. Everybody knows what kind of football the Dutch want to play and that is something that is very prominent in our culture.

Can you give us an insight into your career Jefta – did you start out as a player?

Yes – in fact, I started at a young age. When I was 12 I was playing in the academy at De Graafschap and I also played professionally with Hércules. I got injured when I was 20 or 21 and had several knee operations and then unfortunately had to stop. I was already starting my courses to get my coaching licence so when I had to stop I already had my UEFA B Licence. I went back to De Graafschap to begin coaching in 1993 and I worked there for 12 years before moving to the PSV Eindhoven academy.

I've been delighted to have worked with great players. At Graafschap I worked with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for a couple of years and I've also worked with people like Siem de Jong and Luuk de Jong. Especially in my final years at PSV, some very good players came through the academy.

You spent many years coaching in your home country; what differences have you noticed between how people train in the Netherlands, compared to England?

There is a big difference between how people train here and how we train in the Netherlands. It has nothing to do with the First Team, it has more to do with how the academy teams approach things, especially the younger academy teams – so the early phase of being a professional football player. It's a different kind of approach; the English mentality is stunning, it's a winning mentality that you can see all over the classroom. That makes you so strong.

I think that's very important because it's all well and good if your academy teams are winning, but if the winning teams are not producing players then what is the use in the winning? Because, in the end, the academy needs to be the feeder for the First Team. The Academy at Fulham is doing a great job and that has been recognised after we were awarded Category One status.

How did your move to Fulham come about?

It was through Hans Segers who is the Goalkeeping Coach here. I worked with him at PSV and he was the link for me towards the Manager, and the Manager has always worked with a Skills Coach. He did so at Tottenham Hotspur when he worked with Ricardo Moniz, and also in Hamburg he worked with him. So he's used to that.

Fulham haven't had a Skills Coach before so it was a big step to take an extra coach within the system because it was a completely new job. I think it's starting to work out really well. My job is very good because I get to see every aspect of the football at Fulham.



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

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Dempsey ordered to train alone as Liverpool move stalls
Wantaway midfielder will be kept separate from the first-team squad as his future remains up in the air, but the Merseysiders are undecided about making a move for the American

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Clint Dempsey has been ordered to train on his own by Fulham as his dream move to Liverpool stands on the brink of collapse, Goal.com can reveal.

Dempsey has been told by manager Martin Jol to stay away from the first-team squad while he awaits developments on the transfer front.

As revealed by Goal.com last week, the USA international was left behind to train with the youth team in London after pulling out of the club's pre-season training camp in Switzerland.

But Dempsey's hopes of Liverpool following up their enquiries for him with a concrete bid have failed to materialise and the midfielder has been left in limbo by the Merseysiders.

The 29-year-old has made it clear to Jol and senior Fulham figures that he wants to quit the club for Liverpool, whose manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that he has made enquiries about signing the player.

"Liverpool are now undecided whether they think the Dempsey move is right," a source told Goal.com. "There is some doubt whether, at his age, he can deliver the consistency of performance for the next few years."

It is understood that Dempsey, who is fully fit and not carrying an injury, took part in a number of sessions with the youth team at Fulham's Motspur Park training base at the start of last week before being told to train on his own.

The senior squad has now returned to London and Dempsey will be kept apart from the first teamers in the build-up to the new Premier League season.

Insiders have told Goal.com that Dempsey is not expected to figure in Jol's plans for the curtain-raiser at home to Norwich City on Saturday week, or at any point until the transfer window closes.

Jol will pick a young team for the pre-season friendly at MK Dons on Tuesday night but is set to select a full-strength team against Charlton Athletic minus Dempsey, and that will give a strong indication of his starting XI for the Norwich match.

Dempsey told Jol 11 days ago that he did not want to take part in the Switzerland trip, which led to a heated debate between the player and manager at the training ground.

As revealed by Goal.com last month, the attacking midfielder, who scored 17 Premier League goals last season and 23 in all competitions, has rejected Fulham's offer of a new three year-contract that includes an option for a fourth year.

Dempsey, who moved to west London five-and-a-half years ago, believes that Liverpool's interest could be the last opportunity he gets to play for one of the elite Premier League clubs.

Fulham value Dempsey at £9 million but a combination of his age – 29 – and his contract situation – he has just entered the final year of his current deal – mean that they will settle for a fee of around £5-6m.

The Londoners do not want to lose their free-scoring midfielder but also will do their best to avoid a protracted saga, so they have enough time to bring in a replacement.



http://www.goal.com/en/news/596/exclusive/2012/08/07/3292382/-?

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FULHAM'S TOP-HALF CREDENTIALS HINGES ON DEMPSEY DECISION

The first season in charge of Fulham for Martin Jol was a hugely successful one, building on the solid foundations Roy Hodgson had built prior to Mark Hughes' brief stint as manager at Craven Cottage.

Finishing 9th – one position below their 8th-placed finish of the 2010/11 campaign, but with a higher points total – Jol could deem his first season back managing on British soil a success. Their 52 point haul was The Cottagers' second highest ever tally. The Dutchman quickly made an impression in London – his second spell in England's capital, having formerly managed Tottenham Hotspur – by splashing out £10.6m on Costa Rican forward Bryan Ruiz from FC Twente.

Although the new arrival, who joined with a strike rate higher than one goal every other game in the Eredivisie, failed to replicate his impressive goal-scoring record for his new side in his inaugural season, he did play his part in Fulham's top ten finish with numerous assists. With Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora both having left Fulham for London rivals QPR, the share of the goals may fall more Ruiz's way in the forthcoming campaign.

Instead, the goals were divided among three key men over the course of the entire season at Craven Cottage – Bobby Zamora (7), Andrew Johnson (11) and Clint Dempsey (23). Pavel Pogrebnyak did indeed see Fulham over the line in the second-half of the season – but even his input was rather sensationalised. Having scored 5 in his first 3 Premier League games, including a perfect hattrick against Wolves, the Russian striker then only scored 1 in his remaining 11 games for the club. Jol had got the best out of The Pog at minimal cost and was therefore happy to let him go at the end of the season when his demands were high and Mladen Petric and Hugo Rodallega were available on a free.

Fulham, however, were perhaps on the last draws of a cusp of a wave – their squad was becoming old with an average of 31.2 years of age. Yet their cohesion and organisation, still withstanding from the Hodgson days, was a vital by-product of this aging squad. When Fulham scored first in Premier League games last season, they won 81% of the time and never lost. Furthermore, they'd turned Craven Cottage, a small and imposing stadium, into a fortress, achieving the seventh best home record in the league. Only Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham had a better home record. Or in other words – the top six.

Preseason

In physical terms Fulham's preseason looks kindly upon the approaching campaign: they've so far scored 13 in 5 games, conceding just two, with seven of their goals coming in the past two fixtures: a 3-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers and a 4-0 win against Ligue 1′s OGC Nice.

A man particularly amongst the goals is Mladen Petric – the last of Croatia's key men in the qualification for and participation in Euro 2008 to make the move to the Premier League, following in the steps of Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar and Ivan Klasnic. The former Hamburg striker scored one goal in his first two appearances for Fulham – both as a substitute – before scoring 4 in his 3 starts since. Therefore 5 of Fulham's 13 goals to date in preseason have come through the Croatian striker, who has partnered numerous strikers during preseason, such as Marcello Trotta and Bryan Ruiz, as well as leading the line alone.

Mladen Petric is certainly not Fulham's only capture of the summer so far – he is perhaps the best though. Also coming in through the doors at Craven Cottage is Colombian international Hugo Rodallega, formerly of Premier League rivals Wigan, German defender Sascha Riether on loan from Koln and George Williams from MK Dons. Rodallega is yet to feature in Fulham's preseason, whilst Riether started Fulham's last friendly – the 4-0 win over Nice, and Williams is one for the future, joining Fulham at just 16 years of age.

The busier set of Fulham transfers have been outwards, with seven players leaving adding to the January departure of Bobby Zamora. Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu have both joined relegated Blackburn Rovers, Andrew Johnson has teamed up with Zamora at QPR and Bjorn Helge Riise was released, among Fulham's most poignant outgoings.

Most promising for Fulham fans is Jol's assessment of the summer post-match at Nice: "We are getting there but there is still three weeks to go and it's very encouraging," said the Dutchman, "It was Nice's final game before they started the league and we looked the better team. But there are always little things that can make us better. We've got Trotta coming through, and then next week Rodallega can join us, and Clint Dempsey can join us, and then we'll be making big steps."

"The transfer window is open until August 31 – its no secret that I would like to play Champions League one day in my career."

That comment is perhaps more daunting than Jol's was encouraging, though. It came from the mouth of Fulham's top goal-scorer last season Clint Dempsey. With the American, Jol's side has every hope of a top-half finish. Without him, despite him missing much of Fulham's preseason preparations, Fulham will be hard-pushed to finish in the top ten.

Fulham claim Dempsey missed the Switzerland-based training camp for fitness reasons: "Clint and Hugo Rodallega are both staying in London to work on their fitness at the training ground," clarified a Fulham spokesperson, "Neither were scheduled to feature in the weekend friendly against Nice which is the reason neither travelled."

Faced with the opposing claim that Dempsey sat out of the camp in order to see through a move elsewhere, Fulham stated that, "We are not to prepared to comment on any further speculation."

Simply put, Fulham wont achieve their predicted 10th place finish without Dempsey: their four top scorers from last season would all be gone; four of their five most prolific scorers at the club would have left since January, leaving just Simon Davies as their most prolific scorer, who only featured six times last season; and their two most experienced players would have both departed this summer – Dempsey and Murphy. Their current Player of the Season, who has won the past two awards, has Fulham's top-half credentials hinging on his decision. If he does go, their impressive home record may be their saving grace.

Prediction: 10th


Read more at http://thisisfutbol.com/2012/08/blogs/fulhams-top-half-credentials-hinges-on-dempsey-decision/2#uRTJcQiauR6dsXiP.99

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Rodallega scores on Fulham debut

MK Dons 0 Fulham 1

Summer signing Hugo Rodallega scored a late winner on his Fulham debut.

Alex Kacaniklic's corner fell to Zdenek Grygera, whose goalbound shot was turned in by Rodallega with eight minutes remaining.

The breakthrough came after Shaun Williams had fired over from the penalty spot following a foul by Fulham keeper David Stockdale on Luke Chadwick.

After the deadlock was fnally broken, MK Dons almost levelled when Dean Bowditch's effort hit the bar.

Earlier, Rodallega sent a header wide and tested goalkeeper David Martin with a free-kick.

Martin also did well to keep out an effort from Matthew Briggs.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/rodallega-scores7-on82-fulham-debut?

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Jol reveals target areas
Cottagers boss looking for midfielders and strikers

Martin Jol admits he is looking to bolster Fulham's midfield and striking ranks before the new season gets under way.

The Cottagers have yet to spend any money during the summer transfer window, with three free agents and a loanee drafted in so far.

Jol is, however, hoping to bring further fresh faces into Craven Cottage.

Much of his effort so far has been spent trying to keep key players out of the clutches of a rival, but the Dutchman is ready to run his attention back to additions.

"If everything stays as it is I am pretty satisfied, and we are still working to get two or three players in," Jol told Sky Sports News HD.

"It depends on what happens. You've heard all the rumours about the big players, our good players, so hopefully they will stay. We want them to stay, that is important."

Targets

Pressed on which areas of his squad he feels are in the most need of strengthening, Jol admits that creativity and goals figure prominently on his wish list.

He added: "You saw Danny Murphy go. I wanted him to stay but he went to Blackburn, they offered him a two-year deal.

"Then Dickson (Etuhu), he wanted to play games and was asking me for the last couple of months, so we had to let him go as well.

"We need at least a midfield player, in the midfield area.

"Up front, we lost four strikers - Orlando Sa went, Bobby Zamora, the Pog (Pavel Pogrebnyak), Andy Johnson went.

"We have got two, (Hugo) Rodallega and (Mladen) Petric, so at least we need one or two strikers as well."


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/7971777?

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Match report: MK Dons 0-1 Fulham: Rodallega taps in after Williams misses from the spot

A LATE Hugo Rodallega strike saw Dons concede their first goal in their final pre-season match as they went down 1-0 to Premier League Fulham on Tuesday night.

In their last big warm-up game before the proper stuff begins on Saturday, Dons more than held their own against Martin Jol's side and probably should have won the match in the second half.

Shaun Williams blazed a penalty high over the crossbar after Luke Chadwick was tripped by Fulham stopper David Stockdale, before Dean Bowditch hit the bar with five minutes to go after Rodallega tapped home Alex Kacaniklic's corner.

It was a Dons team resembling that of last season as Karl Robinson threw experimentation out of the window and opted for tried and tested with his starting line-up against the Cottagers.

Williams took up the centre back role in the absence of Mathias Doumbe while Charlie MacDonald returned to the starting line-up in place of Alan Smith. He joined Ryan Lowe on the five-man substitutes bench, which also featured two academy players.

And it was a start to the game which resembled that of last season too – with Dons on the front foot from the off, closing and pressing the Fulham midfield and attacking with pace from the flanks.

Bowditch saw more of the ball in the opening 15 minutes than he did for an hour against Norwich, sending in three dangerous crosses towards MacDonald.

Fulham though forced the first save of the game when Marcello Trotta twisted and turned in the box before firing a low effort on goal, which David Martin could only throw a leg at to keep out. Rodallega couldn't direct his header from the resulting corner.

From there though, it was fairly one-way traffic as the Premier League boys began to flex their muscles, dominating possession and pinning Dons back into their own half.

In a rare venture into Fulham's half, Darren Potter probably could have done better with 10 minutes to go before half time when Adam Chicksen picked him out unmarked on the edge of the box, but last season's player of the year scuffed his shot, resulting in a comfortable save for Stockdale.

And Chicksen nearly picked out Bowditch in the centre five minutes later, but the cross was just too high for him to direct a header towards goal as the sides went in 0-0 at the break.

Dons looked alive as the second half got underway, but so did Fulham as both sides looked keen to break the deadlock. Rodallega forced a low stop from Martin and Pajtim Kasami looked likely to test the keeper from close range before Chadwick made a vital interception as he was about to pull the trigger.

At the other end, Dons were enjoying some success down the right flank as Chadwick and Jay O'Shea doubled up on Matthew Briggs, but struggled in the middle as the giant Dan Burn loomed over MacDonald, giving him no chance in any aerial battle.

Martin was worked again on the hour mark when Rodallega's free-kick looked to be sneaking in at the near post, but the keeper gathered it comfortably.

But it was Dons who had the best chance of the game on 69 minutes, and it came from a superb counter attacking move. Buomesca Tue Na Bangna looked certain to score for Fulham as he neatly rounded Martin, but Williams did brilliantly to intercept and spray the ball wide to Bowditch. He in turn fed Chadwick through the centre, but he was pulled back by keeper Stockdale, leaving referee Pat Miller no choice but to award the spot-kick. Williams stepped up to take it, but blazed it over the bar to ensure the game remained goalless.

Substitute Ronny Mikwitz had two minutes to forget when he first fired a shot straight at Martin and then seconds later, when he was first to a rebound, he smashed the ball high over the bar into the Fulham fans gathered behind the goal.

Dons fans may have wanted to see a goal at some point in the pre-season campaign, but they probably wouldn't have wanted to see it from a man in a Fulham shirt as Rodallega opened his account with his new club, tapping in from close range after Dons failed to clear Alex Kacaniklic's corner with 10 minutes to go.

Dons really should have pulled level though with five minutes to go when Lowe put in a perfect ball, again from the right flank, but Bowditch – sneaking in front of his man – couldn't keep his shot down as it clipped the bar on its way over.

Dons can feel slightly hard-done-by with the result at stadium:mk, given that they created more in front of goal than their Premier League rivals – they just couldn't hit the target.

But given that Rodallega's goal is the only one they have conceded in six matches, Robinson will be confident going into Saturday's League Cup clash with Cheltenham, ahead of the League 1 opener against Oldham a week later.

Referee: Pat Miller (Bedford)

Attendance: 4,727 (894)

MK Dons: Martin, Lewington, MacKenzie, Williams, Chicksen (Hickford 88), Gleeson, Potter, O'Shea (Smith 77), Chadwick, Bowditch, MacDonald (Lowe 61)

Subs not used: McLoughlin, Lobjoit

Fulham: Stockdale, Briggs, Burn (Grygera 70), Baird, Kelly, Sidwell, Kasami, Frei (Mikwitz 45), Rodallega, Trotta (Kacaniklic 61), Tue Na Bangna

Subs not used: Brister, Kavanagh, Somogyi



http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons/match-report-mk-dons-0-1-fulham-rodallega-taps-in-after-williams-misses-from-the-spot-1-4137963

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Jol could add four more

MARTIN Jol could add up to FOUR more players to his squad before the transfer window closes at the end of the month – but is remaining tight-lipped about his list of targets.

The Fulham boss has so far bolstered his side with the signings of right-back Sascha Riether, Mladen Petric and Hugo Rodallega.

Jol wants to bring in another striker and a midfielder at the absolute minimum, but revealed there could be even more coming through the door at Craven Cottage.

However, the Dutchman wants to keep his dealings on the quiet.

"We're talking and doing everything behind closed doors," he told the Chronicle.

"Hopefully we can present the fans with a couple of good players."

He added: "We got Mladen and Rodagella in, but we need at least one [striker], maybe two other ones.

"We also let Danny [Murphy], [Marcel] Gecov and Dickson [Etuhu] go, all defensive midfield players.

"We've got [Mahamadou] Diarra and Steve Sidwell, but we need one or two midfield players."



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2012/08/08/82029-31573738/?#ixzz22xihAlTx

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham boss explains Etuhu exit

MARTIN Jol insists Dickson Etuhu left Fulham to get first-team football – and played down reports of a bust-up between the pair.

The Nigerian midfielder quit Craven Cottage this week to sign a four-year deal with Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers.

Etuhu had grown frustrated with his lack of action in SW6 and was keen to move on to get regular football.

But boss Jol insists he had no problem with the former Sunderland star.

"I read in the paper we had a fall out again," the Dutchman told the Chronicle. "Everyone who leaves us seems to have a fall out, it's not true.

"He wanted to play games. He's 30-years-old, they offered him a long contract so good for him.

"They will probably play him every week and he was not playing in our team every week.

"That was a problem for him, not just the past few weeks but the last four or five months. He was really frustrated and wanted to play.

"He could've stayed but when Blackburn came in we decided to let him go."



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2012/08/08/64767-31573732/?#ixzz22xizrvfP

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol rules out move for former Everton frontman

MARTIN Jol has rubbished reports linking Fulham with a move for former Everton frontman James McFadden.

The Whites boss is still in the market for another striker after losing Andy Johnson, Pavel Pogrebnyak and Orlando Sa in the summer.

Jol has added Mladen Petric and Hugo Rodallega to the ranks, but told the Chronicle last week that he is keen to bring in more firepower.

McFadden is the latest name to be linked with a switch to Craven Cottage following the Scottish international's release from Goodison Park.

However, Jol insists the 29-year-old isn't among his list of targets.

"That's ridiculous," he told the Chronicle. "We never react so they link us with these players but it's not true as usual."



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2012/08/08/82029-31573706/?#ixzz22xjGwXmW

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol pleased with signings but must keep hold of Liverpool target

Transfer news: The Fulham boss is pleased with his work so far

Fulham manager Martin Jol is pleased with his three summer signings so far but the most important business is not done yet.

The Whites have brought in Mladen Petric and Hugo Rodallega in on free transfers and have also signed Sascha Riether on a season long loan.

"From what I have seen so far, they look really good. Sascha is a strong defender while, further forward, Mladen has done well too. He has scored a lot of goals so far, and hopefully he can continue to do so.

"It can be difficult joining a new club so if I can help the players that have come in after me then I will. There are a few new faces in the dressing room already and in Sascha and Mladen we have two very important additions.

"Hugo has come in as well, and we're looking forward to seeing him in action. He did well in his time at Wigan and, as a result, has Premier League experience. He'll be hoping he can make an impact too, and I'm sure he will be a success.

"It's nice to welcome new players. The spirit of the team is really good and we are all looking forward to getting the season started. We had a good year together last season, and we want to do good things again."

None of those deals will be the business of the season for Fulham as they look to keep hold of Clint Dempsey.

The west Londoners have claimed that they have not received any bids and none will be welcome but the American appears to have decided that a move to a bigger club is where his future lies.


http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/jol_pleased_with_signings_but_must_keep_hold_of_liverpool_target_1_1474913?

[WhiteJC]

 
Premier League preview No5: Fulham
Martin Jol must try to keep established stars while boosting attack to maintain west London club's serene progress
• Amy Lawrence and Paolo Bandini discuss Fulham's chances

Guardian writers' predicted position: 10th (NB: this is not necessarily Dominic Fifield's prediction, but the average of our writers' tips)

Last season's position: 9th

Odds to win the league: 750-1

Fulham have been a fixture in the Premier League for more than a decade, so the drill ahead of the new campaign should feel well established by now. This club can appear vulnerable from the outside looking in but will simply go about their business serenely under the radar, their progress largely untroubled until, come May, they have settled comfortably into the top half while sides with far loftier reputations grumble in the logjam below. That standing is invariably achieved with a minimum of fuss while everyone's attention is fixed on the intrigue around them at each end of the division.

The most eye-catching news to emerge from Craven Cottage last season was arguably the adoption of a brood of chickens to supply eggs down at the Motspur Park training ground. Yet, on the pitch, Martin Jol's side achieved a first league double over Liverpool and beat third-place Arsenal and fifth-place Newcastle on the banks of the Thames – the latter a 5-2 thumping – and ended up ninth. For a club whose first team are overseen by Jol, such a larger than life and jovial figure, it still feels odd that such progress went so understated, but Fulham would probably not have it any other way. There is nothing mediocre about mid-table these days, and everything to admire about the way this club tends to achieve its targets. After all, they boast a Category One academy under the Premier League's new Elite Player Performance Plan and, last month, were granted planning permission to redevelop the Riverside stand and increase capacity to 30,000. They feel progressive.

And yet, for the first time in a while, their current predicament might just be cause for a flurry of anxiety behind the scenes. This summer will have tested Jol, who finds himself fighting to retain his current talent and still attempting to add to his options. The hugely talented Moussa Dembélé is coveted by clubs who can offer Champions League football, and will surely be pursued through until the transfer deadline on 31 August, for all that Fulham will resist his departure. Then there is a Clint Dempsey, who has made his desire to make a mark on a bigger stage all too clear, with the United States international apparently set on joining Liverpool even if no bids have, as yet, been deemed acceptable.

Dempsey contributed a staggering 23 goals last season and his sale would inevitably leave a void, particularly as the quality of the Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz has only been seen in flashes, Pavel Pogrebnyak has opted to join newly promoted Reading, and Dembélé, for all his gliding menace, has never been prolific. Those who have departed have at least effectively gone with the club's blessing as part of a process of this side's evolution since the heady days of Roy Hodgson's tenure. Danny Murphy, Dickson Etuhu and Andy Johnson were stalwarts of that team and have moved on since last term, veterans who might have only enjoyed bit-part roles in future duly trimmed from the roster.

Yet reinforcements are required regardless. At the time of writing, the management have brought in only free transfers as replacements who, while they may prove astute additions, might equally end up feeling nondescript and even free for a reason. While the right-back Sascha Riether has joined from Cologne on a season-long loan and, therefore, hardly constitutes a risk, Mladen Petric did well in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg but is 31 and will have to adapt. Hugo Rodallega has raw talent, bustling energy and experience of the Premier League with Wigan, but has tended to miss as many opportunities as he has scored. Certainly, even with that pair in the ranks, the need for a natural goalscorer feels pressing.

The hope is that, by the time the window slams shut at the end of the month, Fulham will have been sufficiently bolstered. Certainly, attempts are on-going to that effect. There is interest in the Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Matt Jarvis, who flirted with England recognition for a while when life was rosier at Molineux, Arsenal's Andriy Arshavin, the Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku and the Huddersfield Town forward Jordan Rhodes. The Scotland international, who is also courted by relegated Blackburn Rovers, had been unstoppable in League One and would need to prove himself at a higher level, but that pursuit does at least offer an indication that Jol recognises the need to strengthen. Everything will no doubt be done on a budget, but this club has unearthed gems before and can do so again.

Their academy should provide plenty of cause for optimism in reserve. Last season offered the likes of Kerim Frei opportunities to showcase talent in the first team, a chance the Swiss seized with relish to the tune of 25 appearances and six Premier League starts. Paulo Ferreira, Jose Bosingwa and Branislav Ivanovic – all experienced international right-backs – were exposed by the diminutive winger in the various scraps with their west London rivals in league and cup. Alex Kacaniklic, Mesca Na Bangna and Marcello Trotta will hope to emulate their club-mate's senior involvement this time around, while Matthew Briggs might also realistically hope for more of a role, with Jol having already shown a willingness to blood the youngsters at this level.

The manager would presumably be happy to do so again, though not before a few more experienced heads have been added to his options. But there is no reason to suppose Fulham are about to veer from their prescribed script. They will remain awkward opponents at Craven Cottage and will ruffle a few feathers among those at the top of the division before the campaign is out. For now, the immediate objective is to strengthen and fend off the vultures circling for their prized assets; achieve that much and a fruitful season surely awaits.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/aug/08/premier-league-preview-fulham?

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Ruiz hopes to make mark

Bryan Ruiz is a firm believer in his own abilities and has promised Fulham fans there is plenty more to come from him this season.


The 26-year-old moved to Craven Cottage last summer from Dutch side FC Twente for a fee believed to be in excess of £10million.

Manager Martin Jol was delighted to get Ruiz on board but, although glimpses of his undoubted talent were evident, it was a debut season that flattered to deceive.

The Costa Rica international scored two Barclays Premier League goals last year, including a sublime chip in a 2-0 win over Bolton, and claimed a number of assists.

But this season Ruiz has revealed he wants to produce more in the attacking third of the pitch as Fulham look to improve on their ninth-placed finish.

"As a player that plays further up the pitch, it is one of my responsibilities to help in that area. Whether that is through assists or scoring goals, that's what I am here to do," Ruiz told the club's official website.

"It would be nice to score a few more as the new season progresses though and that's something that I know that I am capable of doing.

"I think there is more to come. I know that the manager has talked about me making a greater contribution and that he has faith that I can.

"Is that pressure? I don't think so. It is exactly what I want to hear because I came to England to show my qualities."



http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2012/08/08/Ruiz-hopes-to-make-mark/gnid-150148/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Season preview: Fulham still strong

Kris Balkin believes Fulham's squad is stronger than many realise and is targeting a run in one of the cups this season.

Before the new Premier League season kicks off on August 18, we will be hearing from a fan of every club about their expectations for the new season. Next up is Kris Balkin, the Editor of Fulham fan site Cottagers Confidential.

The summer so far: Last season was very up and down for us. It started bleakly – the team seemed incapable of making the transition between Mark Hughes' more conservative era to Martin Jol's more expansive playing style, and this saw us drop out of the Europa League in the early stages after a cruel draw with Odense BK. Things did eventually pick up, though, and Jol's attacking philosophy has won plaudits from afar. We did the double over Liverpool – for the first time, ever! – and we pushed on well in the final stages to finish ninth. Ultimately, it was a successful season and we, as fans, were as happy as we expected to be.

Despite that, we're certainly wanting more from the team, year on year. Deep down we know that avoiding relegation is the prime concern but there's always one eye on the top 10 and everyone at Fulham is craving some silverware. I wouldn't say we are expecting a trophy, but an extended cup run would do us all nicely and would add some much-needed spice to mid-table monotony. As of yet, though, the signings we've made haven't quite matched that ambition. We've yet to spend a penny with Hugo Rodallega and Mladen Petric coming in on frees, while Sacha Riether is merely a loan deal. Rodallega has talent but he's not quite the goal scorer we sorely require while Petric will still have to prove himself at Premier League level. If he's anything like he's been in pre-season though – as I write he's on five in five, having scored a scissor kick against OGC Nice – he'll be huge for us. We've lost Andy Johnson, Dickson Etuhu, Marcel Gecov, Orlando Sa and Danny Murphy, only the latter of which being particularly disappointing. The major concern is over the futures of Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey, both of whom are being tracked across Europe.

What's left to do: With the departures I've mentioned, we're short in midfield and up front. A striker is undoubtedly required, though if Petric does live up to his billing, perhaps a backup player will suffice. Bryan Ruiz can play up there and so can Clint Dempsey while one of our younger players, the Italian Marcello Trotta, has looked distinctly impressive. In that sense, it's not as much of a necessity as some are painting it to be but, then again, if Dempsey does go, as most suspect, it becomes more urgent. The same applies, really, to centre midfield. As it stands, even after losing Murphy, the partnership of Mahamadou Diarra and Dembele is very strong but, as mentioned, Dembele is attracting a lot of interest. Someone similar to Murphy in that position – so, incredible vision, pin-point passing and a palpable influence on a game's rhythm – would be nice but someone with those qualities won't come cheap and, also, won't be young, which opposes Jol's ideology of a new, youthful Fulham side.

We've had a vast clear-out already so there are few players that anyone would like to see go. There's a lot of worry over the qualities of Philippe Senderos, but he has enough about him to help us out when required. Rafik Hallice is the one player we don't need – a, quite frankly, useless Mark Hughes signing. As for players coming in, someone like Jordan Rhodes would please me, personally. It's a gamble but as I've explained, we have room to make a gamble with our strikers. In central midfield I'd like to see real quality to partner former Madrid man Diarra – we've been linked with such talents as Aaron Ramsey and even, believe it or not, Nuri Sahin. Neither will happen but we can dream.

Fans' expectations: Another top 10 finish would be grand but we're getting bored of those. A nice cup run to keep us entertained is what is needed. As Fulham fans, we don't particularly mind if it's the FA Cup or the Carling Cup – we're not used to success and we'll thrive on it. Most importantly, though, we don't see anything that can hold us back in that respect. If Birmingham City can do it, so can we. Yet, Most importantly, and this is key with the integration of some new youngsters and Martin Jol's philosophy for our future, we just want to see progression rather than stagnation.

Key player(s): Bryan Ruiz looks set to have a brilliant campaign. He got lost in a maze of injury concerns and lack of form in his debut season, and we were all bemoaning what was a significant fee for the Costa Rican's services. He showed glimpses, though, and boy were they stylish glimpses. His lob over Tim Howard against Everton was mesmerising and some of his play is truly beautiful. If he can find some consistency then he will be an absolutely huge player. Dembele is of a similar ilk – technically crafted and wonderful with the ball at his feet – so, if he stays, he'll be vital too.

One(s) to watch: Definitely keep an eye out for both Kerim Frei and Alex Kacaniklic. The former was brilliant last season, despite being only 18 years old. Just like Ruiz and Dembele, he's brilliant when in control of the ball – something Jol is clearly encouraging. Kacaniklic was brought in from Liverpool in a swap deal with Paul Koncheskey – ha! Seems hilarious now – and has never looked back. He impressed in the Championship with Watford to such an extent that he was called back early to help our push into the top half of the Premier League.

Likely XI: Mark Schwarzer; John Arne Riise, Brede Hangeland, Aaron Hughes, Sacha Reither; Alex Kacaniklic, Mahamadou Diarra, Moussa Dembele, Damien Duff; Bryan Ruiz; Mladen Petric.



http://www.footyplace.com/news/premier-league/season-preview-fulham-deceptively-strong/

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Ruiz - More to come this term
Costa Rica international reckons he can handle the pressure


Bryan Ruiz: Fulham midfielder is capable of scoring some amazing goals

Fulham attacker Bryan Ruiz has promised their fans the best of him is yet to come.

The Costa Rica international arrived at Craven Cottage last year with a £10.6million price tag sitting uncomfortably on his shoulders.

Not surprisingly, it took some time for the stylish playmaker to adjust to the exacting demands of the Premier League.

He only managed two goals last year; however, one was a sumptuous chip against Bolton which highlighted his undoubted quality.

Responsibilities

Following a season of acclimatisation Ruiz now knows what to expect and is confident he can produce his eye-catching quality on a more consistent basis this year.

"As a player that plays further up the pitch, it is one of my responsibilities to help in that area," he told the club's official website.

"Whether that is through assists or scoring goals, that's what I am here to do.

Pressure

"It would be nice to score a few more as the new season progresses though and that's something that I know that I am capable of doing.

"I think there is more to come. I know that the manager has talked about me making a greater contribution and that he has faith that I can.

"Is that pressure? I don't think so. It is exactly what I want to hear because I came to England to show my qualities."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/7973243?

[WhiteJC]

 
Hugo scores late to beat Dons
   
Fulham left it late but a debut strike from Hugo Rodallega was enough to see off league one outfit MK Dons on Tuesday night.

Rodallega and Matthew Briggs, who could well leave Fulham on loan again this season, had earlier chances but it was MK Dons that had the best chance to break the deadlock. David Stockdale brought down Luke Chadwick to give the hosts a penalty but Shaun Williams fired over!

Fulham secured a 1-0 win when Rodallega put the finishing touch to a Zdenek Grygera effort, that was also on target, to win it in the final 10-minutes.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=289355#ixzz22xm5CYpm