Friday Fulham Stuff (28/09/12)...

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Arsenal targeting Fulham defender Brede Hangeland with Cottagers career in limbo



Arsenal continue to look at ways to improve their defense despite already seeming to be in a lot better shape this season that last. According to Metro the club are said to be looking at the potential signing of Fulham's Brede Hangeland as the Norwegian international is in the middle of failing contract negotiations with the other London club.

The Gunners are in need of a strong defensive center half that can stand on the same level of performance as both Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen. With the injury issues that Arsenal have seemed to struggle with defensively in the past few seasons, the signing of Hangeland could potentially be all that much more of a good move.

Hangeland has proven to be capable of excelling as a defender in the league even when he was not surrounded by a massive amount of high dollar talent. A move to a club like Arsenal could see him blossom into an even better defender with stronger support around him to allow him that much more freedom to employ his skill and experience.



http://www.examiner.com/article/arsenal-targeting-fulham-defender-brede-hangeland-with-cottagers-career-limbo?

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Jol's City Update

The big news to emerge from Martin Jol's press conference on Friday afternoon was that Dimitar Berbatov will be missing from Fulham's matchday squad for the visit of Manchester City on Saturday (3pm).

The Bulgarian pulled up in training on Thursday, although there was better news concerning the severity of Mahamadou Diarra's knee problem.

"Unfortunately Dimitar is injured now and can't play on Saturday so that is the disappointing thing," Jol told the gathered media. "He will be out for the next two weeks.

"In his session he was looking good, as usual, and then his final shot he felt something and he had to go in and stop training. It appears he had – not a tear – but a sort of problem with his hip and upper thigh so we couldn't take the risk to involve him against City.

"Diarra had a minor operation but he will still be out for the next four weeks at least. They removed a few little pieces of bone from his knee and that was it so that was pleasing. There was not a lot of damage.

"If there had been more damage with his knee with his ligaments or his cruciate then he could have been out for a lot longer but it was exactly what we thought it was. But it's still four weeks."

Our Manager shed some light on our other occupants of the treatment room and revealed that several players are not far away from a return to First Team action.

"Ashkan [Dejagah] started training on Thursday," he said. "But it's not my habit to involve players two days later, because he was out for four weeks so he first has to prove he is match fit, like Kieran Richardson, like Philippe Senderos.

"They are all fit and trained on Thursday with us but they are not involved in the squad because they need maybe 45 minutes for the Reserves or maybe a bit more training next week or maybe we organise a friendly next week for the Club to give them some match practice.

"[Giorgos] Karagounis is getting fitter and fitter now. He played 60 minutes for the Reserves [on Monday] so he will be strongly involved tomorrow. [Kerim] Frei came back on Thursday and looked good so he will be involved in the next couple of weeks and compete for a place with Alexander Kačaniklić."

The visit of City will provide a real threat to the Whites' perfect record at Craven Cottage this season and Jol expects a stern test against a side challenging for the Barclays Premier League title once again.

"I think all the teams in England last year knew that Manchester City, along with Manchester United, were the favourites and in the end they nicked it," he explained. "We know they've got all the money to spend, they've got all the good players in Europe so everybody knows they will probably be the biggest title contender this year.

"Roberto Mancini is a winner and he wants to win. He must win as well because if you are at Man City then you have to win as every game is a must-win game. So that puts a bit more pressure on him probably, although in the Premier League there's pressure on all the managers."

The Dutchman also commented on his desire to further bolster his midfield as he looks to add another anchorman to his side – although he distanced himself from the names currently being touted in the media as potential signings.

"We're trying to do something in the next couple of days but not with Nigel Reo-Coker or Owen Hargreaves," he said. "It will be a central midfielder from abroad and we will have to test him to see if he's fit and then we will talk to him. I'm confident of having the deal sorted next week."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/september/28/jols-city-update?

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Fulham v Man City: Champions eagerly awaiting Cottage visit
Mancini's men are strong at Fulham where they have scored for fun in recent seasons

Man City will be thankful that their difficult week-and-a-half is scheduled to end at Craven Cottage -they haven't lost here since 2005.

Their bad results culminated in elimination from the Capital One Cup at Aston Villa's hands and they travel to west London in desperate need of a win. The only outcome that will suffice for Roberto Mancini's men can be backed at a very generous 4/5.

City have scored eight times in their past three visits to Fulham, with their Argentinean contingent particularly enjoying themselves.

Sergio Aguero was rested for the cup defeat to Villa with this game in mind and the striker netted twice in last season's 2-2 draw here. Carlos Tevez has bagged three in as many visits here in a City shirt and even Pablo Zabaleta has helped himself to a goal at the Cottage.

Aguero is the 4/1 favourite to break the deadlock in this one with Tevez a close second at 9/2, whereas Zabaleta is a 12/1 shot to add to his five City goals at any point in the clash.

The consummate ease with which City find the back of the net here makes the price of 15/8 that they'll win the game with three or more goals scored a tempting prospect.

Martin Jol's side, however, have made a strong start to the campaign and have been merciless in front of their own fans. The eight goals scored and none conceded in just two outings helps explain City's price, but they are yet to face a side of Premier League champions' calibre.

The draw, at 5/2, is their most realistic hope of a result and is certainly something they would take if it was offered now. The Fulham win or draw with more than three goals scored in the match is a good option for punters looking to get behind the underdog, given that City have netted 17 goals in eight competitive games this term.

It's too difficult to imagine Fulham keeping a clean sheet, in spite of their strong home record and, as history suggests, there is likely to be more than three instances of a keeper picking the ball out of his net here. This interesting alternative bet is available at 3/1.


http://news.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/football/premier-league/fulham-v-man-city-champions-eagerly-awaiting-craven-cottage-trip_119007.html

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Berbatov to miss Man City and Southampton clashes with injury

Fulham manager Martin Jol has revealed that former Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov has suffered an injury in training that will keep him out of action for two weeks.

The 31-year-old will miss the visit of champions Manchester City tomorrow, and their trip to newly promoted Southampton next weeked.

The news comes as a big blow for the Cottagers, as the Bulgarian had made a superb start to life at Fulham, scoring twice on his full debut against West Brom.

"Unfortunately Dimitar is injured now and can't play on Saturday so that is the disappointing thing," said Jol

"He will be out for the next two weeks.

"In his session he was looking good, as usual, and then his final shot he felt something and he had to go in and stop training. It appears he had – not a tear – but a sort of problem with his hip and upper thigh so we couldn't take the risk to involve him against City."

Elsewhere for the Cottagers, Mahamadou Diarra (knee) remains out but his injury is not as bad as first feared and he could be back in a month.

Kieran Richardson, Ashkan Dejagah and Philippe Senderos are all back in training but will not feature tomorrow according to manager Martin Jol.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Stockdale, Riether, Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Baird, Smith, Riise, Briggs, Sidwell, Duff, Kacaniklic, Kasami, Karagounis, Ruiz, Petric, Rodallega, Trotta.



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/berbatov_to_miss_man_city_and_southampton_clashes_with_injury_1_1534948?

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FULHAM v Man City: Berbatov out after injuring thigh with final shot of training

Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov will miss Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City after sustaining an injury in training.

The Bulgarian will miss the next two weeks after sustaining a problem with his hip/upper thigh yesterday in the final shot of practice.


Last-gasp injury: Dimitar Berbatov will miss Saturday's match with Man City with a thigh problem

Mahamadou Diarra (knee) remains out but his injury is not as bad as first feared and he could be back in a month.

Kieran Richardson, Ashkan Dejagah and Philippe Senderos are all back in training but will not feature according to manager Martin Jol.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Stockdale, Riether, Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Baird, Smith, Riise, Briggs, Sidwell, Duff, Kacaniklic, Kasami, Karagounis, Ruiz, Petric, Rodallega, Trotta.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2210015/Fulham-team-news-Manchester-City-match.html#ixzz27m0v7kMp
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Fulham FC v Manchester City: Premier League preview

Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has recovered from a hamstring injury and is available to play at Fulham.

The Frenchman was substituted in the first half at Real Madrid on September 18 and missed last weekend's draw with Arsenal and the midweek League Cup defeat to Aston Villa.

Jack Rodwell is missing however after injuring his groin in the warm-up before the Villa match. Right-back Micah Richards (ankle) is back in training but is short of fitness.

Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov will the game after sustaining an injury in training.

The Bulgarian will miss the next two weeks after picking up a problem with his hip/upper thigh on Thursday in the final shot of practice.

Mahamadou Diarra (knee) remains out but his injury is not as bad as first feared and he could be back in a month. Kieran Richardson, Ashkan Dejagah and Philippe Senderos are all back in training but will not feature tomorrow according to manager Martin Jol.

Fulham FC (from): Schwarzer, Stockdale, Riether, Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Baird, Smith, Riise, Briggs, Sidwell, Duff, Kacaniklic, Kasami, Karagounis, Ruiz, Petric, Rodallega, Trotta.

Manchester City (from): Hart, Pantilimon, Wright, Maicon, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, K Toure, Nastasic, Kolarov, Clichy, Milner, Sinclair, Y Toure, Barry, Garcia, Nasri, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko, Balotelli, Tevez, Razak.

What team would you send out against Fulham? Have your say.

Fulham league form: WLLWW

City league form: WDWDD

Key opponent: Hugo Rodallega - dangerous customer and scored last time out

Prediction: Fulham 0 Manchester City 1 - the Blues are desperate for a clean sheet and Mancini will be looking for a tighter performance



http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1589964_fulham-fc-v-manchester-city-premier-league-preview?