Friday Fulham Stuff (21/09/12)...

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LAWRO'S PREDICTION


Wigan v Fulham
Both of these sides try to play football, but they are both also horribly inconsistent.

Fulham were competitive in defeat against Manchester United but then were rolled over very easily at West Ham.

After how well he played against West Brom last week, it will be interesting to see how Dimitar Berbatov performs away from home too.

Wigan take inconsistency to a different level, however. They are still the most difficult team to predict because their inconsistency comes during games, let alone from match-to-match.

Wigan were thumped by United last weekend but this is a game they really have to look to win, at home and against a mid-table team.

Prediction: 2-1


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19661629

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Wigan - Fulham Preview: Latics aim to record their first win in 12 attempts over Martin Jol's side
The west London outfit are looking to build on their 3-0 win over West Brom last weekend and face a home side short on confidence after a drubbing at Manchester United

PROBABLE LINEUPS

WIGAN
Al-Habsi
Caldwell, Boyce, Ramis, Figueroa
McCarthy, Maloney, McArthur, Beausejour
Kone, Di Santo

FULHAM
Schwarzer
Riise, Hangeland, Baird, Hughes
Riether, Sidwell, Duff, Kacaniklic
Berbatov, Rodallega

There are no fresh injury worries for Roberto Martinez following the club's 4-0 defeat against Manchester United last Saturday.

Antolin Alcaraz should make his comeback from a hip injury, but may have to settle for a place on the bench, due to the form of summer signing, Ivan Ramis.

Saturday's match could very well be a case of, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' for Martin Jol as he is set to name an unchanged team from the 3-0 defeat of West Brom.

The match could come too soon for the returns of Bryan Ruiz and Phillippe Senderos, but new midfield signing Giorgos Karagounis is pushing for a start.

   DID YOU KNOW?
Wigan's recent home form could help them to defy their dismal record against Fulham – Roberto Martinez's men have lost just one of their last seven Premier League home games.

Expect a penalty on Saturday – Wigan have conceded more spot-kicks than any other Premier League side in 2012 with 11 so far.

However, scoring may be a problem for the Latics on Saturday – they have only netted eight times in 14 games against Fulham and never more than once in any of those matches.

The game sees Hugo Rodallega make his return to the DW Stadium – the Fulham summer signing scored 23 goals in 112 appearances for Wigan.

Fulham are the epitome of a 'bogey team' for Wigan – the Latics have not beaten the Cottagers in their last 11 games between the two.

Do not expect a draw on Saturday - Fulham have not drawn a Premier League away game in 2012, winning three and losing eight.

Ali Al-Habsi (pictured right) may be a busy goalkeeper on Saturday - Fulham have had more shots on target than any other team in the Premier League, with 34.

Fulham have only conceded six goals this season, all of which have come before half-time.



http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/80857/wigan-athletic-vs-fulham/preview

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Fulham Focus - Jol preparing Cottagers to enter crucial six game period

Martin Jol must be tearing his hair out on every journey back to London following yet another away defeat. Just why is it that his side, which tears teams to shreds at home, are so feeble when on the road? Of course, this is not simply a problem Jol has encountered. Statistically, the Cottagers have one of the worst away records of non-relegated sides since they arrived in the Premier League in 2001.



Jol is an ambitious manager, and will not have taken the Fulham job to simply accept home victories, away defeats and mid-table finishes season after season. Indeed, his transfer business since he has arrived at Craven Cottage is proof of that. The likes of Bryan Ruiz, Dimitar Berbatov, Mladen Petric and John Arne Riise are not players who have signed in southwest London to only bother playing once every two weeks.

Indeed, after a Berbatov-inspired 3-0 victory over West Brom last Saturday ended Fulham's slight wobble, Jol will feel that now is the perfect opportunity for his side to push on and challenge for Europe and beyond. The fixture list appears to offer the Cottagers the opportunity to do just that.

The next six games sees Jol's men welcome Manchester City, Aston Villa and Everton to Craven Cottage, as well as away trips to Wigan, Southampton and Reading. At home, Fulham will back themselves to take points against anyone and thus, despite the undoubted challenges City and Everton will bring them, Jol will be hopeful of picking up at least seven points out of nine there.

However, it is away from home that Jol will particularly be eyeing up points. With the greatest of respect to Wigan and the newly promoted pair of Southampton and Reading, a team of Fulham's attacking talent should realistically be looking for at least seven points from those three games, if not maximum points.

Indeed, Wigan were actually one of Fulham's only victims on the road last season, while Southampton and Reading have only collected one point between them in their opening matches this season. Additionally, none of these teams will play in the 'agricultural' style West Ham and Andy Carroll used to such great effect against the Cottagers. All three will attempt to take Fulham on and as Jol's men have shown at Craven Cottage, when teams do that they are capable of cutting them to pieces.

Jol will be aware that if he can somehow get Fulham's away form right then his side even be in and around the top four in six weeks time. It is doubtful that Fulham would be able to keep that position up, but with the fixtures looking as they are, the 56-year-old Dutchman will be keen to ensure his team does not let this opportunity slip through their grasp.


http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_1_16791_fulham-focus-jol-preparing-cottagers-to-enter-crucial-six-game-period.html

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Wigan v Fulham

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: DW Stadium Date: Saturday, 22 September

MATCH STATS
TEAM NEWS

Antolin Alcaraz is Wigan's only fitness concern ahead of Saturday's game.

The Paraguayan defender sat out the loss at Manchester United because of a groin problem and will be given a late fitness test.

Fulham duo Bryan Ruiz and Mladen Petric are fit despite missing out last weekend because of injury.

Philippe Senderos is back in training but lacks match fitness and is ruled out along with Mahamadou Diarra, Kieran Richardson and Kerim Frei.

MATCH PREVIEW

With Wigan and Fulham having made solid starts, both clubs will view this as a fixture they can win to continue the early-season optimism. For Fulham in particular, six points from 12 so far is a real boost, especially as a year ago at the beginning of Martin Jol's tenure they failed to win any of their opening six league matches, making their eventual ninth-place finish even more creditable.

The new faces appear to have settled well, with both Mladen Petric and Dimitar Berbatov marking their full debuts with two goals each. Wigan know all about the Bulgarian's threat as he scored a hat-trick against them in a rare Manchester United start last season.

Berbatov could prove to be a priceless piece of business. Jol knows him well after their time together at Tottenham and it's only 16 months since he finished a season with 20 Premier League goals. If they can create the chances for him, Berbatov's undoubted quality could help them into the top-10 again.

His strike partner from last weekend needs no introduction at the DW stadium either, as Hugo Rodallega returns for the first time. The Colombian will be best remembered for his final-day goal at Stoke in the 2010-11 season which kept Wigan in the Premier League.

If Wigan are to avoid any more late dramas this season then you feel this is the type of fixture they need to win, or at least take something from, but often they have slipped up against the lesser lights.

That's why the four points they have claimed against Southampton and Stoke so far will offer encouragement, as will goals in those games for Franco Di Santo. The fact that his seven goals last season made him their top scorer illustrates their lack of cutting edge in 2011-12.

While Fulham are unbeaten in their last six visits to Wigan, they've lost both away league matches this season and have won only seven of their last 58 away from Craven Cottage. Three points for either side would be another timely boost.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
Wigan won two of their first three Premier League games against Fulham but since then they have gone 11 matches without a win against the Whites (D6, L5).

Fulham drew five successive games at the DW Stadium until they won 2-0 there last season.

Wigan
Defeat at Manchester United was only Wigan's third loss in 10 league games (W6, D1, L3).

Wigan have conceded 11 Premier League penalties since the start of last season, more than any other side.

However, Ali Al-Habsi has saved five of those spot-kicks, three more than any other goalkeeper during that period.

Roberto Martinez's side have lost five of their last six Premier League games against London opposition. The exception was their 2-1 win at Arsenal in April.

Fulham
Dimitar Berbatov has scored eight goals in 10 Premier League games against Wigan, including a hat-trick for Manchester United in last season's 5-0 victory at Old Trafford.

The Whites have lost their last four league and cup away games without scoring. The last Fulham player to score an away goal was Mahamadou Diarra, in April's 3-0 win at Bolton. They did win 1-0 at Liverpool in May, but did so courtesy of a Martin Skrtel own goal.

All six of the league goals they have conceded this season have been scored in the first half.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19615180?

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Match Preview: Wigan Athletic vs Fulham

This game is going to be one of those games, that really we need to win. Why? Well we and Fulham are fighting for the same sort of area this season. Okay they are likely to be near the top of the middle pile, but still we need to be able to go toe to toe with them and pick up so points. On paper that seems really easy, one slight thing though.

Fulham is our out and out bogey team.

Ask any Wigan fan and I bet they will say the same thing. It doesn't matter how well Fulham play, they can beat us. I imagine that if they just had a keeper, that one player would still manage to beat our eleven men. It is just one of those things that in football crops up and happens.

Now I am not a superstitious person, and I have the feeling that Martinez isn't either, so the past record will go out the window, and the players will be doing their best to go out and beat Fulham this weekend.



How are we going to hear you do that I ask. Well we are going to give Franco Di Santo the ball and let him score all those goals he has got building up. The player has two already and should be looking to add more to his tally against Fulham. The one problem he has to face his the Norwegian giant that is Brede Hangeland.

The 6ft6 and a half defender is one of the best in the Premier League, and how Fulham have kept hold of him I do not know. But they are lucky they have. He can just about do everything, and to it all at once. Whether it is last ditch tackling or making that important header, you can guess who will be there to sort it out.

So with that in mind can Franco match up?

Well against Stoke City Franco played against Ryan Shawcross, and looked fairly even. In the header department Franco was poor and wasn't winning many. Yet it was the second ball that he was picking up on, and also beating the defender for skill and/or pace.

Again I believe that Di Santo will try this. To beat Hangeland with his pace and power, when the ball is at his feet, to make the defender turn towards his own goal. You have to say, to think Di Santo is thinking tactically is a joy to be hold, after the flop we thought we had bought in the first season.

The other major battle that will take place on Saturday will be the match up between Dimitar Berbatov and our three defenders. The former United striker is one of the best striking talents about, and everyone has to be jealous of Fulham that they managed to sign him.

He really is one of those players that could score having not been in the game for 40 minutes, which knowing Berbatov is likely to happen. He can be lazy and he can be put off being in games, yet when a chance comes a begging he usually gets scoring them.

So to the match up. The important thing for Wigan, is that Alcaraz will be back fit. The Paraguayan is meant to make his return this weekend after a groin injury, if that is true then we will be better for it. His main role will be to our muscle and out compete Berbatov when the long balls come forward.

Maynor Figueroa will be the man to watch the Bulgarian's movement, in the gap behind him and Gary Caldwell. Gary hasn't had fond memories of playing against Berbatov and he is likely to be deployed deep in his covering role to allow the other two defenders more room to move.

Where we are likely to win the game is in the midfield. Since the loss of Clint Dempsy and Moussa Dembele, Fulham haven't looked as strong across the middle. That is where I feel Martinez will draw his attention to, making Shaun Maloney drop deep into the midfield to give us that extra man to really work home the advantage.

That would then leave Arouna Kone and Di Santo up front on their own, with Di Santo the target with Kone playing off him.

These of course are just ideas, but from how Fulham play, and we can play it is more than likely.

Expect a tight game, with really only one goal in it between the two teams. I have a feeling with home advantage that we could really give Fulham something to think about come Saturday.



http://www.pieeatersfootie.com/2012/9/21/3364470/match-preview-wigan-athletic-vs-fulham?

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U18s Face City

Fulham Under-18s will be looking to maintain their winning run when they welcome Manchester City to Motspur Park on Saturday morning (11am).

Steve Wigley's side have made a barnstorming start to the 2012/13 campaign, collecting maximum points from their first three matches, and scoring an impressive 16 goals in the process.

City made an atrocious start to their campaign when our local rivals Chelsea hammered them 6-1, but they have since responded with narrow victories over both Middlesbrough and Liverpool to climb to third in the table.

A strong outfit, represented through a variety of nationalities, City can boast a plethora of teenage talents, with former Real Madrid starlet Jose Angel Pozo impressing already in the early stages of the season.

A main source of goals for the Citizens in the last campaign came from Devante Cole, son of former Fulham striker Andrew, and the forward is expected to feature at the weekend.

Goals certainly haven't been a problem for the Whites so far this season, with a hat-trick scored in each match to date. Emerson Hyndman, Moussa Dembele and Cauley Woodrow have each bagged a treble, with the latter's tally currently standing at six goals from three matches played.

The two sides last faced each other in an entertaining FA Youth Cup match in Hyde during the 2011/12 campaign. City took the lead, but a masterful second-half performance saw the Whites come back to win through Woodrow's brace to book a place in the Quarter-Final.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/september/21/u18s-face-city?

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Fulham man wants to carry West Brom momentum to Wigan

Aaron Hughes wants Fulham to pick up where they left off after their 3-0 win against West Brom when they face Wigan on Saturday.

Fulham's victory over West Brom last weekend halted a run of back-to-back Premier League defeats against Manchester United and West Ham and defender Hughes is looking to build some momentum.

"It was nice to come back after the international break and get a win after the disappointment of West Ham United," the Northern Ireland international told Fulham's official website.

"So we got that and that's something we'll take into the game on Saturday up at Wigan Athletic.

"We both play good football and obviously Roberto Martinez is big on how he plays – getting the ball down and knocking it around.

"They have a nice style about them and I guess that's what we're known for as well so it should be a good football match.

"I think it will be a close one too and we'll be hoping we can get something from the game."



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_man_wants_to_carry_west_brom_momentum_to_wigan_1_1524869?

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Wigan vs Fulham – Match Preview

Wigan take on Fulham at the DW Stadium on Saturday looking to bounce back from the 4-0 drubbing they received at Old Trafford last time out.

Martin Jol's side picked up a convincing 3-0 victory at home to West Brom Albion last time out, and are one of a number of clubs knowing a victory could see them propelled into the top four, temporarily at least.

Roberto Martinez will be well aware it is games like this that will determine whether Wigan once again remain in the Premier League come May, and has spoken numerous times of the importance of making sure their home games count.

Dimitar Berbatov is once again expected to start, with Fulham's only injury concern being Bryan Ruiz. The Costa Rican forward has been struggling with a hamstring problem and is rated at 50-50.

Antolin Alcarez is an injury concern for Wigan, suffering with a groin problem. Although the centre back could well feature on Saturday.

Prediction: Wigan 1-1 Fulham


http://www.footballfancast.com/2012/09/football-news/wigan-vs-fulham-match-preview?

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Wigan prepare for return of striker Hugo Rodallega ahead of Fulham clash



Wigan will welcome back a familiar face when Fulham head to the DW Stadium for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash.

Striker Hugo Rodallega left the Latics in the summer after refusing to sign a new contract before joining Martin Jol's men in July.

The manner of the Colombian's departure from Wigan means he is likely to be in for a hot reception from the home fans, but Martinez believes Rodallega will go down in history as one of the club's favourite sons.

Rodallega's tally of 24 goals makes him Wigan's all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League, while his winner against Stoke in the final game of the 2010-11 season kept the club in the top flight.

Martinez said: "We know Hugo really well. It's one of those situations where I'm sure when Hugo retires everyone will have incredible memories of his past at Wigan Athletic and I'm sure he'll have a really soft spot for his time at Wigan.

"I think it was a really special relationship. Now he's moved on, he's got a different challenge, we've moved on, and when you play against each other you both fight for your own aims.

"But Hugo's past will always be remembered and I'm sure every fan will have a special moment."

Wigan will look to bounce back from last weekend's 4-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford with their first home win of the season.

Fulham traditionally struggle on their travels and have lost both their away games so far this season, narrowly against Manchester United and then disappointingly to West Ham.

Martinez said: "They're very strong at home, arguably the best team in the league playing at home at the moment.

"Away from home they've had a mixture but their game at Old Trafford was a game they finished really strongly and maybe they should have got something out of it.

"They have a really strong group of players that have been there for a long time and they have a really important know how about their football club. And the new players have settled in quickly so I think it's a very well-balanced side.

"Every time we've played Fulham they've always been really difficult games, very close, and they come down to small details, so I expect more of the same on Saturday."

Fulham were impressive winners last weekend, beating in-form West Brom 3-0 with two goals from Dimitar Berbatov, a summer arrival from Manchester United and someone Martinez knows his side will need to be wary of.

"He has tremendous experience and is a player who brings that big-club knowledge into a squad, and that's always important," said the Latics boss. "He looks hungry, he looks fresh and that's always a real threat. We'll have to be very aware of that."

When Fulham last visited the DW Stadium 13 months ago, Wigan were in the middle of a sorry run that saw them lose nine matches in a row.

Their home form looked set to condemn them to relegation, with Martinez's side failing to win a match at the DW Stadium between August and the end of March before a brilliant finish helped them secure a remarkable escape for the second successive season.

The Spaniard is well aware of the need to do better on home soil this time if they are to avoid the same scenario but, after a loss to Chelsea and a draw with Stoke so far, he is not in too much of a hurry.

Martinez said: "The way we finished last season was very strong and we were very consistent over the last third of the season. Of course we need to get wins and positive results but how we're going to get them is more important to me at this stage.

"We really looked forward to coming back to the DW Stadium and we've had two very different games so far. Fulham is going to be something different, too. That's what this league brings you and we need to be ready."

Wigan's only injury doubt is centre-back Antolin Alcaraz, who continues to recover from a groin strain picked up on international duty and will have a late fitness test.


http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wigan-prepare-for-return-of-striker-hugo-rodallega-ahead-of-fulham-clash-8163289.html

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Dimitar Berbatov already Fulham's 'biggest player' says Martin Jol

Dimitar Berbatov has taken just one game to make himself Fulham's most important player, according to manager Martin Jol.

Berbatov became a instant hero at Craven Cottage last week when he marked his home debut with both goals in his new side's 2-0 Barclays Premier League win over West Brom.

The 31-year-old will shoulder the goalscoring burden again tomorrow when Fulham travel to Wigan, having struggled to feature on anything like a regular basis at Manchester United last season.

Jol said: "The big difference for him is that he knows, if he is fit, then he will play a lot of games.

"He's an important part of our set-up, of course. He's probably our biggest player.

"At Man United, which of course is a bigger club, it was maybe different in the last year or so."

Berbatov's Old Trafford frustration led to the Bulgarian accusing United boss Sir Alex Ferguson of a "lack of respect", a far cry from his feelings about Jol, who he said "trusts me".

The Fulham boss, who brought Berbatov to England six years ago after signing him for Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen, insisted putting his faith in Berbatov for a second time was a no-brainer.

"Don't forget that Dimitar was the top scorer wherever he played," Jol said.

"In Germany for Leverkusen, he was top scorer. He did the same at Spurs. He was ahead of all the other players, like Robbie Keane, (Jermain) Defoe.

"Then he went to Man United. He was their top scorer and, of course, they trusted him over there because he was their top scorer.

"If you sign someone, you trust him. Otherwise, you'd better leave it.

"So I think all these managers who signed him, they trusted him.

"I don't see any difference."

Jol's modesty does a disservice to his own powers of persuasion, which saw him convince Berbatov to ditch a move to Fiorentina at the last minute this summer.

It was the second time he had talked the striker into joining him after Spurs beat off United's interest in 2006.

"He had other options at that time and he still made that decision to come to us, to me, to Tottenham," Jol said.

"So I think that is the sort of relationship I've got with him because there was probably even a bigger club then coming in for him and he still wanted to come to Spurs.

"But we shouldn't stretch our imagination and I think Berbatov could have gone to Italy.

"He was on the fringe of going to an Italian club.

"And then I spoke to him and maybe that convinced him.

"If he plays well like he did the other day, there will always be a good relationship."

Jol looks like needing all his charm in the ongoing contract negotiations with defender Brede Hangeland.

The Fulham boss admitted there was little prospect of a deal being agreed soon for the Norway star, whose contract expires next summer and will be free to talk to rival clubs in January.

Defensive partner Aaron Hughes signed a new contract last week but Jol said of the Hangeland saga: "That will take a bit longer because we don't talk to him every day but there will be another appointment as we try to keep him here for the long term.

"If that is not possible then we will try to keep him for the next two years."



http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/dimitar-berbatov-already-fulhams-biggest-player-says-martin-jol-8163313.html

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Wigan Athletic v Fulham

Wigan will be looking for their first home win of the season when they welcome Fulham to the DW Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Latics are 14th on the table with four points from the same number of games, while the Cottagers are in ninth place with six points from four outings.

The last time Roberto Martinez's side won in the league was three games ago, when they beat Southampton 2-0 at St Mary's. Since then they have drawn at home to Stoke before being hammered 4-0 by Manchester United last weekend.

Martin Jol's team go into this match on the back of a 3-0 victory over West Brom, having lost the two games before that.

In team news, center-back Antolin Alcaraz is the only concern for Martinez - the Paraguayan will undergo a late fitness test, but other than that the manager has a clean bill of health.

For the visitors, attacking duo Bryan Ruiz and Mladen Petric are back in contention after missing last weekend's win over the Baggies.

But there are several players who will not be available to Jol - Mahamadou Diarra (knee), Kerim Frei (pelvis), Kieran Richardson (hip) and Philippe Senderos (foot) are all sidelined through injury.


http://www.football411.com/story/0,22162,14287_8097680,00.html?

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Wigan Athletic v Fulham: match preview
Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Wigan Athletic and Fulham at DW Stadium on Saturday Sep 22 2012, kick-off 15:00 BST.


Familiar face: Fulham's Hugo Rodallega (left) could return to play against former club Wigan on Saturday
Photo: PA

Saturday, September 22
Wigan Athletic v Fulham
DW Stadium
Kick-off: 15.00 BST.
TV: Highlights BBC1 Match Of The Day.

Wigan Athletic (Possible, 4-3-2-1): Al Habsi; Ramis, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa; Beausejour, McArthur, McCarthy; Maloney, Di Santo; Kone.
Test: Alcaraz (groin).

Fulham (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Schwarzer; Reither, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise; Duff, Baird, Sidwell, Kacaniklic; Rodallega; Berbatov.
Out: Diarra (knee), Richardson (hip), Frei (pelvis), Senderos (foot), Dejagah (match fitness).
Referee: Lee Probert. Matches: 2, R0 Y9.

Team News
Defender Antolin Alcaraz is Wigan's only worry against Fulham at the DW Stadium.

The centre-back picked up a groin injury on international duty with Paraguay and missed the 4-0 defeat by Manchester United last weekend but could return to the starting line-up.

Alcaraz will be given a late fitness test but the other players who returned from the international break with knocks are all fully fit.

Fulham, meanwhile, welcome back Bryan Ruiz and Mladen Petric for the trip to Wigan.

Both forwards missed last weekend's 2-0 win over West Brom and will vie for a place alongside Dimitar Berbatov though Hugo Rodallega could feature against his former club.

Mahamadou Diarra, Kieran Richardson, Kerim Frei and Philippe Senderos remain sidelined, while new recruit Ashkan Dejagah is not yet match fit.

Match Notes
There is a disparity between Fulham's home and away record already, with two victories and eight goals scored at Craven Cottage and as many defeats and six conceded elsewhere.

Despite completing a double over Wigan last season, three of their four scorers were Clint Dempsey, Moussa Dembélé and Pavel Pogrebnyak - all of whom have since left the club.

Betting: Home 6-4, Away 17-10, Draw 11-5.

Stat of the game: Wigan have failed to beat Fulham in their last 11 attempts, home and away.

Si Hughes' predicition: Wigan Athletic 1 Fulham 1.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/9555730/Wigan-Athletic-v-Fulham-match-preview.html

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Karagounis needed sooner rather than later at Fulham

Mahamadou Diarra's injury turns the spotlight even more sharply on Fulham boss Martin Jol's latest shrewd free agent acquisition, Giorgos Karagounis.

Fulham knew exactly what they were getting into when they signed Mahamadou Diarra as a free agent in the Spring. The former Real Madrid man was not without a club at 31 without good reason, he had suffered badly with knee injuries.

So it was almost too good to be true when he was brought in and started playing like he could still be of use to the Spanish champions, adjusting to the Premier League with ease.


It now appears the good times are over for Fulham and Diarra, or at least suspended until further notice, with news he was injured on international duty for Mali and will be out for several months, in all likelihood for the rest of the season.

For a Fulham midfield which lost Danny Murphy over the summer and Moussa Dembele only recently, it is a blow they could have done without.

The club do have options, but the sighting of Chris Baird in midfield against West Brom underlined their situation, although marvellously the Northern Irishman put in a superb performance, and could just reinvent himself there by playing on a regular basis rather than as a stop-gap.

More likely though, the attention will now shine on another player picked up in similar circumstances to Diarra, Greek veteran Giorgos Karagounis, even if it was a financial issue with his previous club rather than injury which led to his availability.

The 35-year-old signed for Fulham 10 days ago after being released by Panathaniakos, after they were unable to agree a new contract with him. The Greek Super League's loss is the Premier League's gain, with the combative Euro 2004 winner bringing his talents to a completely new stage.

Is his age a concern? Yes of course it is, and while he showed he still has what it takes to mix it at the top level, scoring a winner against Russia at Euro 2012, we have all learned by now not to judge a player solely on the back of an international tournament.

Even so, Karagounis' pedigree, more than a decade of Champions League experience and spells at Inter Milan and Benfica, shows he can bring a lot to the club, and he is a leader on the pitch, just the type of character Fulham need to steer them through any potentially troubling patch of form.

The injury to Diarra means Fulham won't want to wait around forever for the Greek to get match fit, and will want him ready sooner rather than later.

It may well be that this weekend at away to Wigan is just too soon, and last month's defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup means there is no such tie to give him a run out in next week, and the following weekend would be a baptism of fire at home to Manchester City, but perhaps that is exactly the type of clash Karagounis is made for, and he will surely relish such a stage.

Whenever he makes his debut, Fulham should thank their manager for making such a shrewd signing, because with Diarra's injury, it is looking like a better piece of business than even first thought.



http://hereisthecity.com/2012/09/20/karagounis-needed-sooner-rather-than-later-at-fulham/?

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Hughes praises Wigan progress

Fulham's Aaron Hughes has praised Wigan's progress ahead of the two clubs' fixture at the DW Stadium on Saturday.

Hughes, 32, believes both sides play an attractive brand of football so is expecting a game for purists.

"We both play good football and obviously Roberto Martinez is big on how he plays - getting the ball down and knocking it around," he said.

"They have a nice style about them and I guess that's what we're known for as well so it should be a good football match. I think it will be a close one too and we'll be hoping we can get something from the game.

The Northern Ireland international also hopes Fulham can build on last week's emphatic 3-0 victory over West Brom.

"It was nice to come back after the international break and get a win after the disappointment of West Ham United. So we got that and that's something we'll take into the game on Saturday up at Wigan," he said.



http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1166488?&cc=5739

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Cottage pair set for Latics return

Bryan Ruiz and Mladen Petric are set to boost Fulham by returning for Saturday's Premier League trip to Wigan.

The duo both missed last weekend's 3-0 home win against West Brom because of respective injury problems, but have recovered sufficiently to be considered by boss Martin Jol for the game at the DW Stadium.

However, Simon Davies is absent, Kieran Richardson will miss out with a hip problem, Ashkan Dejagah is not yet match fit, Mahamadou Diarra has a knee injury, while Kerim Frei and Philippe Senderos are still out because of long-term pelvis and foot problems.

Aaron Hughes is looking forward to the game and expects an attractive football match against a Latics side that have not defeated the Cottagers in six years of Premier League games.

He told the club's website: "We both play good football and obviously Roberto Martinez is big on how he plays - getting the ball down and knocking it around.

"They have a nice style about them and I guess that's what we're known for as well so it should be a good football match. I think it will be a close one too and we'll be hoping we can get something from the game."


http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/cottage-pair-set-for-latics-return-1472278.html?

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Jol discusses contract talks with star defender

Martin Jol says Fulham are working on a new deal for captain Brede Hangeland but doesn't expect it to happen immediately.

The Norway international's current contract at Craven Cottage expires next summer, meaning the 31-year-old will be free to talk to other clubs in January.

His defensive partner Aaron Hughes signed a new contract last week but Fulham boss Jol expects a longer wait for Hangeland.

"That will take a bit longer because we don't talk to him every day but there will be another appointment as we try to keep him here for the long term," said Jol.

"If that is not possible then we will try to keep him for the next two years."


http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/jol_discusses_contract_talks_with_star_defender_1_1525193?

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Q&A: Wigan Athletic vs Fulham

The number five game mark is coming, and this season we face a team that I have already said, I don't like when Wigan face them. They are truly the bogey team for Wigan, whatever happens expect Fulham to play okay and yet somehow win. Not to say that we are selves (Wigan) play well.

Yet this is a new season, and under or great management staff we are looking to break records. We did a few last season, so why not end ten games without a win against Fulham. That's an awfully long time and a lot of games. Yet we can hope.

So I went over to Cottagers Confidential and asked Kris Balkin just what he thought of Fulham's season, and of course what flavor pie he most likes!



1. Fulham have started this season so well, and last weekend's 3-0 win over West Brom must have been the Icing on the cake, what do you put that down to? Has Martin Jol finally got the team together he wants? Or has the team just clicked this season?

I would say, more than anything - and this isn't me just being a pessimist - we've had a favourable start to the season in terms of our fixture list. Norwich City at home is a game I always saw us winning and winning well and we did just that. I also thought we'd take some momentum into the Manchester United game and at various points at Old Trafford we were more than their equal. We were appalling against West Ham but that game was unfortunately timed - we'd just lost Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey and they'd just gained Andy Carroll. West Brom came along next and although they've started well, we always maximise home advantage and that is a huge influence on how well we do. We're solid at Craven Cottage and I can't see that changing. As for Jol finally getting the team he wants - I genuinely think he's nowhere near it. He wants young, fresh and exuberant but the average age of our first team is far too close to thirty and - in terms of our starting eleven - above thirty.



2. With the departure of Clint Dempsy and Moussa Dembele, how well do you think you squad has reacted? And how much of the miss are the two talents likely to be? Will it hurt you later on in the season when you need that inspiration?

Whenever you lose two players of such a calibre, it's obviously going to hurt and it's going to affect things. However, in the case of Dempsey, his sale was foregone conclusion since the tail end of last season and so, I suppose, we were all prepared for being without him anyway. Plus, Dimitar Berbatov isn't a bad replacement.

We will struggle without Dembele though because he was truly one of the best players to ever play for the club. Martin Jol's decision to move him into midfield was masterful as from there he could control the tempo of the game and put in the required defensive duties that seemed to go unnoticed. Dembele won't be replaced because he can't be replaced - Spurs have themselves a top player.



3. The signing Dimitar Berbatov must be such a massive one for your club. What do you think it means to the fans? Does it show the ambitions of the Fulham staff to get them back into Europe?

I think it came as somewhat of a shock, yet not because we could attract a player of his talent but more because Al Fayed must have broken his wage structure to accommodate him. In that sense, it's a signal to the fans that both he and Jol want to take Fulham to the next level and that comes hand in hand with our ambitions of getting back into Europe. We're just about to upgrade our stadium and Mo is still pumping money into the club - a sign that he still has his huge passion for Fulham.



We'll undoubtedly remain cautious and therefore on sound footing, though, so I won't be getting carried away. I suspect we missed out on a number of deadline day targets simply because we had to put money aside for Berbatov. I don't mind so much now, however, because it's quite clear we have ourselves a top quality striker who can really allow us to push on.



4. Do you feel that Europe is a realistic target this year? If not where do you think you will finish this season?

I'm not sure, to be perfectly honest. It's realistic in the sense that it is definitely attainable but if you were to ask me where I think we'll finish, I doubt we'd make the cut. This has a lot to do with the loss of Dembele and his lack of replacement. We have recently brought in Giorgos Karagounis but he's a completely different type of player and, more notably, about twice his age. Berbatov will give us that cutting edge to such an extent that a push on the top eight isn't out of the question but, also, I'd argue it's unlikely.



5. Fulham have been a bit of a bogy team for Wigan over the year, what do you put that down to? Are there any memorable games of Fulham vs Wigan that stand out for you over the years?

I'm not sure why but last year's match at the DW stands out for me simply because we got out first away win of the season so early on. As a Fulham fan, over the last few years I've been used to our first win away from the Cottage coming well into the season, around March, but we got it in October and that felt like a distinct positive. It was also memorable, though, because we didn't actually play very well and certainly didn't deserve to win. I'd take that again this time around, though.



6. How do you think the game will be played out? And what will the result will be?

I think you'll attack us and, as such, you'll probably expose us a couple of times because we are looking fragile at the moment. You'll grab a goal (or two) but I see Jol setting us up to push forward as well. With Berbatov up there I think we'll just prove that bit sharper in what will be a closely fought game.



7. Now for the Pie Eaters Footie special, what is your favourite flavoured pie?

Chicken and Mushroom!

Cheers Kris best of luck to Fulham with the rest of the season bar this weekends game, head over to Cottagers Confidential for all the latest Fulham news and my Q&A for them!



http://www.pieeatersfootie.com/2012/9/21/3364352/q-a-wigan-athletic-vs-fulham?