Monday Fulham Stuff (01/10/12)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Targeting Davies
   
When the transfer window opens, it would appear that Martin Jol has every intention of strengthening our midfield.

The red-top press are running a story that carries the inference that Jol is preparing a bid to lure Bolton`s Mark Davies back to the Premier League.

Davies, still only 24 years of age, is rate din the £3 million bracket and would help shore up a midfield that has lost such established players as Dembele, Dempsey, Murphy and Etuhu since the end of last season.

We`ll keep you posted on any developments.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=294998#ixzz280vIC12K

[WhiteJC]

 
Different Class
   
Although we took the lead against Manchester City, the more the game went on the more it became obvious that City were in a different class to us.

Now admitting that is no great shame, I`m realistic enough to accept that our status will always prevent us from joining the elite and I can live with that.

After the game, Martin Jol spoke briefly about the gulf in class, admitting,

"All we could do was defend because they had so much of the ball."

"And after 60 minutes or so, we could not get possession. We were getting tired. They were too good for us. But you cannot complain because they are a world class team."

Exactly, some things you just have to live with don`t you!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=294999#ixzz280vkOXJE

[WhiteJC]

 
Going Dutch
   
Martin Jol appears to be set to raid his homeland to bring some more young talent to Craven Cottage.

The word in one leading Sunday tabloid is that Jol is looking to bring Chris David and Adil Tihouna to London.

The former has already passed a medical at Fulham and is set to arrive in January whilst the latter has been granted a trial.

We should also add that both are Dutch U19 internationals so are no slouches.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=295000#ixzz280w075Op

[WhiteJC]

 
Boss takes a look at Dutch trialist

Fulham are running the rule over ADO Den Haag midfielder Hadil Tihouna as manager Martin Jol looks to bolster his squad.

Jol is particularly keen to strengthen in the middle of the park after seeing the likes of Danny Murphy, Dickson Etuhu and Moussa Dembele leave the club in recent months.

Tihouna isn't contracted at ADO as he plays as an amateur for the club but the Fulham boss believes he is a player of some potential and is keen to take a look at him at close quarters, particularly after losing Mahamadou Diarra for six months with a knee injury.

ADO assistant coach Henk Fraser told Dutch paper Algemeen Dagblad: "Hadli won't be a first-team regular for now. So we have agreed this trial."




http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/boss-takes-a-look-at-dutch-trialist-1478044.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Etheridge Voted Star Player Vs Exeter
   
New loan signing from Premiership side Fulham has been voted Star Player for his performance in Rovers 2-1 win over Exeter City.

The goalkeeper had over half of the votes from Gasheads and was some way in front of second placed centre back Gary Kenneth who had 17% of the votes. In third place was striker David Clarkson and German winger Fabian Broghammer who both picked up 11% each. The only other player with any votes was midfielder Oliver Norburn who picked up 5%.

The new poll is asking Gasheads to predict the outcome of Rovers home fixture against Cheltenham Town.


Read more: http://www.bristolrovers.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=295053#ixzz280wUvYCb

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham star wants Berbatov partnership after Man City comeback

Mladen Petric is confident he can form an effective strike partnership with Fulham team-mate Dimitar Berbatov.

Petric made a goal-scoring return to the Cottagers' starting line-up in their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday having not featured since their 3-0 loss to West Ham at the start of September.

The former Hamburg man's penalty was his third goal for the club and although he is yet to play alongside fellow new signing Berbatov, he believes they could make a deadly combination.

"I think we can be a good attacking team together," he said.

"He is a very good player and I hope that in the future we can cause some trouble for our opponents."

With first choice penalty taker Berbatov sidelined with a thigh muscle strain on Saturday, Petric stepped up for Fulham when City's Pablo Zabaleta was adjudged to have fouled John Arne Riise just inside the box.

Sergio Aguero equalised for the visitors shortly before the interval, before substitute Edin Dzeko popped up with a late winner to crush Fulham's resistance.

31-year-old Petric was pleased to mark his return to the side with a goal but admitted it was painful to come away from the game with nothing.

When asked about the penalty, Petric said: "I was not nervous, I felt confident.

"Of course it's very good for the striker to score. I had a good start and hopefully I am back now.

"But I'm not very happy because we lost the game."


http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_star_wants_berbatov_partnership_after_man_city_comeback_1_1538053?

[WhiteJC]

 
Ruiz eyes quick response

Bryan Ruiz hopes Fulham can bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Manchester City by beating Southampton on Sunday.

Although £27million matchwinner Edin Dzeko cost £10million more than the value of Fulham's entire starting XI, the Cottagers can count themselves unlucky not to have taken something from the Barclays Premier League champions on Saturday.

Mark Schwarzer was in inspired form and the Londoners wasted several chances themselves before Dzeko came off the bench to strike the killer goal in the 2-1 win three minutes from time.

Ruiz, who was making his first start since overcoming a hamstring injury, admits the loss was hard to take, and is now looking to return to winning ways at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday.

"It really was a cruel finish against City," Ruiz said. "We are not happy with the result but they are the champions, and they have a lot of quality.

"Now we have a different match against Southampton and we will play the same as we did against City. We will try to win. I think we have a strong team and next week we will go for the three points."



http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/ruiz-eyes-quick-response-1478120.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Focus - Berbatov absence could spell trouble for the Cottagers

In truth, there was a sense that Fulham's chance of getting a win against Manchester City evaporated with the news that Dimitar Berbatov would be missing for at least the next two weeks through injury. The Bulgarian's arrival has been so key to the upsurge in the Cottagers' form and confidence since the end of the transfer window and his presence and quality was sorely missed on an afternoon where City were well deserving winners despite the fact the winning goal came so late and only then from a John Arne Riise mistake.

However, even without Berbatov, Fulham remain in a highly promising eighth position level on points with Arsenal, and their next two matches see the Cottagers face highly winnable clashes away to Southampton and at home to Aston Villa. Perhaps Hugo Rodallega had been a little optimistic in the week when he suggested that Fulham could even qualify for the Champions League this season but the intention was there for all to see - this is an ambitious side that sees itself in the upper echelons of the league table.

That in itself is promising for the Fulham supporters, who may have enjoyed great success in the days of Roy Hodgson, but perhaps felt just a little ambition was lacking at times.

In a way though, Berbatov's injury has come at an easier time than it would have done say a week or so ago, when Bryan Ruiz and Mladen Petric were struggling with injury and Rodallega was still goalless for the season. However, with the former two back in the side and the Colombian with a goal under his belt and looking lively, Martin Jol will have confidence that between the three of them, his side will be able to muster the firepower to see off Southampton and Aston Villa.

The only shame is that considering how open the Saints have been this season, that Berbatov would have undoubtedly relished the space that would certainly have been afforded to him at St Mary's.

In the defeat to Manchester City, Giorgos Karagounis was given a debut from the substitutes bench and one feels that the Greek veteran's nous and eye for a pass could be key in the coming weeks. Chris Baird and Steve Sidwell have performed well in the middle of the park but just seem to lack that creative touch that while acceptable when Berbatov is fully fit and firing, just seems to blunt the Cottagers somewhat when the Bulgarian is absent. Karagounis could well prove to be a useful outlet in this regard.

Elsewhere, Jol will be expecting much more from Bryan Ruiz. The Costa Rican arrived at Craven Cottage for a club record fee with high expectations but so far has certainly not hit the ground running by any means. His potential is there for all to see though and perhaps Berbatov's injury is just what Ruiz needs to pick up the creative mantle.


http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_1_16940_fulham-focus-berbatov-absence-could-spell-trouble-for-the-cottagers.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Limited Availability for Aston Villa

Next up at home for the Whites is Paul Lambert's Aston Villa team on Saturday 20th October.

Ticket availability is now limited and supporters are advised to buy their tickets as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

Prices start from just £35 for adults and £15 for adults. There's also some great special offers for groups and families, find out more here.

Tickets are available to purchase online or by calling the Ticket Office on 0843 208 1234 (option 1).

Buy your tickets today.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/october/01/limited-availability?

[WhiteJC]

 
U21s Face Liverpool

Fulham Under-21s are in action again on Monday afternoon (2pm) as they look to extend their unbeaten league run to three matches when they face Liverpool at the Kirkby Academy.

Kit Symons' boys bounced back from defeats in their opening two games to claim four points from their subsequent matches; drawing with Middlesbrough and beating Manchester City through Pajtim Kasami's solitary goal.

They face a Liverpool side who are yet to be beaten this season and sit second in the league table, with the Reds winning two and drawing two of their matches to date.

And their squad today could feature a number of youngsters who have already made their full debuts for Brendan Rodgers' first team. Jack Robinson, Daniel Pacheco, Andre Wisdom and Samed Yesil could all play a part when the Whites arrive on Merseyside.

Liverpool's last game saw them narrowly go down by three goals to two against Inter Milan in the continental NextGen Series competition.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/october/01/u21s-face-liverpool?

[WhiteJC]

 
Ruiz: Fulham can bounce back
Bryan Ruiz hopes Fulham can bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Manchester City by beating Southampton on Sunday.

Although £27million matchwinner Edin Dzeko cost £10million more than the value of Fulham's entire starting XI, the Cottagers can count themselves unlucky not to have taken something from the Premier League champions on Saturday.

Mark Schwarzer was in inspired form and the Londoners wasted several chances themselves before Dzeko came off the bench to strike the killer goal in the 2-1 win three minutes from time.

Ruiz, who was making his first start since overcoming a hamstring injury, admits the loss was hard to take, and is now looking to return to winning ways at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday.

"It really was a cruel finish against City," Ruiz said. "We are not happy with the result but they are the champions, and they have a lot of quality.

"Now we have a different match against Southampton and we will play the same as we did against City. We will try to win. I think we have a strong team and next week we will go for the three points."



http://www.football365.com/fulham/8129748/Ruiz-Fulham-can-bounce-back?

[WhiteJC]

 
Trotta to stay at Fulham confims Jol



Fulham boss Martin Jol has dismissed the prospect of loaning out Italian hotshot Marcello Trotta.

The 20-year-old, who came through the ranks at Craven Cottage, made an impression during a memorable loan stint at Wycombe Wanderers last term, where he bagged eight goals in eight appearances.

A brief spell at Championship side Watford followed before he returned to Fulham and made his Premier League debut during a 3-0 win at Bolton in April.

Jol admits he's received offers for the Italian in recent weeks, but says the young forward will be needed in SW6 this season.

"We've had some enquiries for Marcello but as the situation is now I need him here," said Jol.

"He's making big steps and even though we've had enquiries from clubs - some from abroad - to take him on loan, I would like to keep him here."

The Fulham boss also confirmed that midfielders Kieran Richardson and Mahamadou Diarra could return to first-team action this month.

"Kieran joined us in training again this week," he added.

"Mahamadou had to have a minor procedure to his left knee last Monday, [but] he's back in light training and is expected to be available in three or four weeks.



Read more at http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/121001/trotta-stay-fulham-confims-jol-182101?#fd4Rbkl2LMfkU6ud.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Jimmy Bullard: MK Dons midfielder retires after knee injuries

MK Dons midfielder Jimmy Bullard has retired at the age of 33.

The former Wigan, Fulham, Hull and Ipswich player suffered two cruciate knee ligament injuries during his career and has decided to quit the game after seeing a specialist.

He joined the Dons in the summer on a short-term deal and featured three times for the League One club.

"My old knee injury has never allowed me to get back to where I want to be as a football player," he said.

"It's always hindered me. There are a lot of games in this league and I now know my knee won't allow me to play Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday. It's not built for that now.

"I want to be out there playing but at the same time I know my knee won't allow me to play at my best and to keep my place in the team. I'm hindering myself more than I am helping myself for the future."

Bullard made his senior debut at Peterborough United in August 2001 and went on to play 312 league games for six different clubs, scoring 39 goals.

His career was severely hampered by injuries, most notably when he ruptured the cruciate ligaments in his knee twice in three years, firstly at Fulham in 2006 and then on his Hull debut in 2009.

He joined Ipswich 21 months ago, initially on loan and then permanently after having his contract terminated at Hull.

But injuries and a disciplinary breach, which saw him and team-mate Michael Chopra turn up late for training following a night out in Newcastle, hindered his spell at Portman Road and he signed for Karl Robinson's Dons in August.

"In the summer I knew I wanted to give it one last crack and show people what I could do," he added.

"But what I think with my strong head and what I could physically do are two different things. My head tells me I can do it, but my body tells me, no Jim, you can't."



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19786814?

[WhiteJC]

 
To The Wire

Martin Jol's Team stood toe-to-toe with Barclays Premier League Champions Manchester City for 87 minutes on Saturday, before Edin Dzeko broke Fulham hearts with a late winner at Craven Cottage.

For Fulham defender Aaron Hughes, to lose a point so late in the game was a bitter pill to swallow after defending so valiantly against some of the game's brightest attacking talent, including one player who Hughes clearly holds in high regard.

"When you've defended as hard as we did on Saturday against a quality side like Manchester City, it's very disappointing to concede so close to the end of the game," Hughes told fulhamfc.com. "I thought we did okay in the first-half. Obviously they saw a lot of the ball but I thought we were comfortable.

"They're difficult to defend against and you use up a lot of energy, not just physically, but also mentally; making sure you're in the right place, looking over your shoulder and communicating with your team mates.

"In the second half we couldn't get hold of possession and you could say they deserved it because of how much of the ball they had. When you do get possession you want to just hold on to it to get a breather.

"From our point of view, to defend well for that amount of time and concede a goal so close to the end of the match was very disappointing. I have to say David Silva is arguably as good a player as I've ever come across. He was superb on Saturday, and really made City tick. He's a World Cup and European Championship winner with Spain and you can see why – but that's the quality that we were up against."

The disappointment of coming away without a point on Saturday speaks volumes for Fulham's impressive record against the Barclays Premier League elite at Craven Cottage in recent years. The 32-year-old is hoping the result will prove to be a rare home defeat over the course of the season, with his attentions now turning to targeting an away win on the South Coast this weekend.     

"At home we've shown that we can compete with any team in the League," Hughes explained. "Hopefully we can do that again this season because we've made Craven Cottage a difficult place for other teams to visit.

"It's another hard away game against Southampton this weekend and it's always difficult against teams that have just come up. They'll look at their home games as crucial in their goal of retaining their place in the top flight.

"It will be tough, but if we defend as well as we did on Saturday we will be fine. Hopefully we can do what we did against Wigan and come away with another good result away from home."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/october/01/hughescityreaction?