Monday Fulham Stuff (29/10/12)...

[WhiteJC]

 
McDermott in awe of Fulham stars

Reading boss Brian McDermott compared Fulham to the Harlem Globetrotters following the 3-3 Barclays Premier League draw at the Madejski Stadium.

A chaotic finish produced three goals in five minutes with substitute Hal Robson-Kanu prodding home the equaliser in the 90th minute. Just three minutes earlier Dimitar Berbatov fired what appeared to be a classy winner, while Fulham substitute Bryan Ruiz had opened the second-half scoring with a terrific strike.

"You have to say Fulham looked like the Harlem Globetrotters when they brought Bryan Ruiz on," McDermott said. "Ruiz cost them £10million. We all know Dimitar Berbatov is an absolute class act."

He added: "They have Brede Hangeland at the back, Mahamadou Diarra in the middle and Damien Duff - they have a number of players of real quality."

McDermott insists it is only a matter of time before Reading's first win arrives.

"I thought we would win it at 3-3 because we had a couple of little chances. But at 3-2 down you'd take the point at that stage," he said. "My players keep going, even when they're behind and that's really good for the future. We keep on going."

Once Chris Baird had scored, Fulham looked on course for a precious away win and Jol admits they should have left Reading with all three points.

"We started the first half brightly and had a lot of possession, but there was no purpose to our game," he said. "We didn't go forward enough for our liking because we have players like Dimitar Berbatov, Damien Duff and Hugo Rodallega.

"Without playing well they scored a great goal. In the second half we did exactly what we wanted to do - created chances and scored goals.

"If you score three goals against a team like Reading, you should have done enough to win."



http://www.wexfordpeople.ie/breaking-news/sport/mcdermott-in-awe-of-fulham-stars-3276846.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham plotting £12m January bid for Villa striker Bent – report

Fulham are plotting a £12m bid for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent when the transfer window opens in January, the Sunday Mirror report.

Bent has been dropped and stripped of the captaincy by manager Paul Lambert and it is claimed Fulham will offer the player a way out of Villa Park.

It comes after Whites boss Martin Jol indicated he would like to sign Bent, saying: "If your club wants to be top 10, you need strikers such as Darren Bent, who'll score 15-20 goals a season."


http://www.westlondonsport.com/features-comment/fulham-plotting-12m-january-bid-for-villa-striker-bent-report

[WhiteJC]

 
Berbatov Injury Concerns
   
All Fulham supporters will be hoping that the apparent rib injury that Dimitar Berbatov picked up doesn`t prove serious enough to keep the Bulgarian on the side-lines.

Berbatov who helped drag Fulham back into the game and who thought he`d scored the winner, late on, before Reading made a second comeback, has a suspected broken / cracked rib.

Speaking about the situation and the sparkling performance Berbaov provided, Martin Jol has remarked,

'Berbatov was good. He can play in midfield, in the hole and up front."

'He needed an injection to play the second half and showed a lot of character."

'There was a problem with his rib which was very painful. Maybe it was broken; we'll have to take a look at it."

'We asked him to play on for 10 or 15 minutes but he stayed on the pitch and it was good to see him score the third goal.'

Let`s hope he`s a quick healer.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=297942#ixzz2AetQidD7

[WhiteJC]

 
Frei Makes Cardiff Debut
   
Despatched to Cardiff City, on a months` loan, Frei made his debut as the Bluebirds romped to the top of the Championship table.

Cardiff, who beat Burnley 4-0, called upon the services of the youngster as a late second half substitute with the game safe, in the 83rd minutes.

Well it`s a start I suppose!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=297946#ixzz2AetdbzeX

[WhiteJC]

 
Ruiz 'delighted' with goalscoring return from injury
The Costa Rican came off the bench for Fulham to contribute a goal and an assist in their 3-3 draw with Reading on Saturday, after missing the last few games due to injury



Fulham attacker Bryan Ruiz was delighted to have returned to action to help his team earn a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Reading on Saturday.

The 27-year-old last featured for the west London club against Wigan in September and had since been sidelined due to injury but was deemed fit enough to make the bench at the Madjeski Stadium and made an immediate impact, scoring within minutes of his introduction to the game.

"It felt great to come back," Ruiz told the club's official website. "Especially to come back with a goal and an assist ... I feel good.

"Hopefully I'm going to work really hard this week to be with the team for the next game."

The game also provided an opportunity for the Fulham faithful to see both Ruiz and summer signing Dimitar Berbatov in action together and the Costa Rican stressed that, although he enjoyed playing with the Bulgaria international, there is plenty of depth to Martin Jol's side.

"Yes, I did enjoy it," the Fulham star stated when asked about playing with Berbatov. "He's a very clinical player.

"We did good together but it doesn't matter if it's Berba or another player because I think we all are good players."



http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/10/28/3485351/-?

[WhiteJC]

 
Reading 3-3 Fulham

Helter skelter nonsense in which Fulham played very well for the most part but failed to take all the points because they conceded three times to a more than ordinary Reading team.

Happily a dowdy deficit was overturned by our own cause celebre Bryan Ruiz, who transformed the game as soon as he got on the pitch. It was as if someone had finally remembered where they'd left the front door key and all of a sudden everyone could go inside and have a cup of tea.

The equaliser was probably Ruiz's third best Fulham goal yet still better than most players could conceive of scoring. Predatory buildup work from a now incisive Fulham then Ruiz whacked an absolute corker against the grain into the top corner.

Then he set up Chris Baird's go ahead header, a nice corner headed in near post in pleasing style. BUT Baird injured himself just before this and the game descended into messiness. There were 22 players out there so you can't blame this on the absence of one man, but Baird is as clever a footballer as he is skilfull, and somehow things were worse without him.

Reading equalised messily (as they would again not long after), Berbatov – a fiery game from him – put Fulham ahead again, then Reading bundled in another to make it 3-3. It felt like golden era Fulham, where goals flew in all over the place and Johnny Haynes must have had entirely mixed feelings about his current stationing in life.

Ultimately you'd have to be a bit grumpy to not enjoy what Martin Jol's team are doing. In the past we have failed to beat equally poor sides so the fact that we can draw away from home with such verve must be seen as progress of sorts.



http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/reading-3-3-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham boss: We deserve as much credit as Everton

Fulham manager Martin Jol believes his side do not get the credit that they deserve, compared to Everton.

The Whites finished just behind the Toffees and are matching them this season so far.

Yet, while David Moyes team have been given a lot of credit for their performances, the west London club's progress has gone un-noticed.

He said: "I think we should have had credit last year as we did the same as Everton and we almost did the same until two or three games before the end.

"We lost our best players and we changed the midfield to a different style but we still like to play our style.

"Even with Chris Baird who was not a midfield player all the time. Dembele was more like a forward player.

"Sometimes it's a necessity to change things to go my way."



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_boss_we_deserve_as_much_credit_as_everton_1_1672781

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham star frustrated as Whites repeat Southampton & Man City errors against Reading

Fulham captain Brede Hangeland was frustrated after his side repeated the mistakes of Southampton and Manchester City against Reading.

The Whites have conceded late goals in those games, costing them five points.

What makes the games against the Saints and Reading more galling was that the west Londoners took the lead with two minutes left in the game.

"It was really disappointing," Hangeland said. "It was the same story at Southampton. It happens sometimes.

"I think we'll go back and look at those situations because it happening twice in the league is not good.

"We've changed the balance of the team. We score more but we're more vulnerable."

"When we look back at the points we've lost, against Southampton, Manchester City and Reading, we should be higher. That's disappointing but it shows we're not a bad team."



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_star_frustrated_as_whites_repeat_southampton_man_city_errors_against_reading_1_1672795

[WhiteJC]

 
Martin Jol admits he is spoilt for choice with his striking options at Fulham


Martin Jol: Admits he has a dilemma picking his best forward line

Fulham manager Martin Jol admits he has the 'luxury problem' of trying to choose his best forward line from the options at his disposal.

Dimitar Berbatov scored a late goal for the Cottagers in Saturday's 3-3 draw at Reading, while Bryan Ruiz had earlier come off the bench to fire home.

With Hugo Rodallega and Mladen Petric also among Jol's options, the manager admits he is spoilt for choice up front.

The Dutchman said: "What is my best forward line? That is still my problem - and it's already October.

"Ruiz is probably my most creative player but on the other hand Berbatov is a very good second striker.

"It's like a luxury problem.

"But it was good to see Ruiz coming on and changing our style, even though we looked fine first half.

"The thing is we started the season with Moussa Dembele, Bryan Ruiz and Mladen Petric against Norwich and it was probably our best game of my time here.

"Then we had Rodallega and Berba against West Brom and it was another great game."

He added: "Ruiz and Berbatov never played together before.

"I feel that Berba is not a typical No.9 and that is why I'm playing Rodallega because he has pace and he stretches defences."


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8204367?

[WhiteJC]

 
UNLIKELY HARD-NUT DIMITAR BERBATOV SCORED LATE FULHAM GOAL DESPITE BROKEN RIB

Given that Dimitar Berbatov traditionally pirouettes around the pitch like he's auditioning for Swan Lake, it's easy to jump to the assumption that a broken rib would see him off the pitch quicker than you can say 'Fergie should have played him more'.

Slapped wrists for us and many others, for Dimi has proved himself an Eastern European equivalent to a bloodied Terry Butcher.

The striker played the whole of the second-half with a suspected broken rib – a tough-as-nails feat topped off with a late goal against relegation candidates Reading. It was a clinical finish amid a frenetic second 45 minutes that saw the game finish in a 3-3 draw at the Madejski Stadium.

Martin Jol – whose rotund physique suggests he knows a thing or two about ribs – revealed Berbatov's gritty determination after the match.

Jol said: "It was difficult, because I think Berbatov broke his rib. We thought he may come off at half-time, but he had an injection to carry on."

The in-form forward, who seemingly has the resting heart-rate of a hibernating sloth, currently tops the scoring charts for the west London side. He has slotted (or more likely caressed) in three goals and played a key role in Fulham's blistering start to the season – one that seems them just two points off the Champions League places.


http://www.offthepost.info/blog/2012/10/unlikley-hard-nut-dimitar-berbatov-scored-late-fulham-goal-despite-broken-rib/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+offthepost%2FTLAa+%28Off+The+Post%29

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Launch £12m Bid to Sign Aston Villa Striker Darren Bent

Darren Bent is set to be ­offered a route out of Aston Villa by Fulham in the transfer window.

The England striker was left on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Norwich at Villa Park.

Bent came on after 69 minutes yesterday, but has been left in limbo over his Villa future after boss Paul Lambert offered him no explanations for stripping him of the club captaincy or dropping him for recent games.

Fulham will now look to take advantage of the situation by launching a £12million bid for Bent in January.

It remains to be seen whether Villa would be prepared to take such a big hit on 28-year-old Bent (above) after signing him in a deal worth £24m from Sunderland.

SOURCE: Daily Mirror

Darren Bent may well be considering his options but a move to Fulham may not appeal to the Londoner, who may feel he can garner a move to a 'bigger' club if he were indeed to leave Villa Park.

The 28 year old England man was once again on the bench as Aston Villa took on Norwich City in a home fixture that must surely have been considered a must-win match, the fact that he was only called upon for the final 20 minutes coupled with Paul Lambert's inability to collect three points may well create even more tension between the two parties.

Martin Jol was the man who brought Bent to White Hart Lane and is clearly an admirer of the former Tottenham forward and may well see Bent alongside Dimitar Berbatov as a mouth watering pairing but it's a deal that seems unlikely to come to fruition.

Indeed Fulham don't appear to have a great need for a striker signing given that the Craven Cottage side have scored a whopping 19 goals in nine matches thus far this season.


http://www.caughtoffside.com/2012/10/29/fulham-launch-12m-bid-to-sign-aston-villa-striker-darren-bent/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Half Term Happenings

Not only can you meet Fulham stars Bryan Ruiz and Damien Duff at the Stadium Store this Thursday, fans have the opportunity to save 20% instore all week.
With the Whites returning to Craven Cottage this Saturday to face Everton, we've lined up an exciting opportunity for you to meet Bryan and Damien at the Stadium Store from approx 1pm this Thursday!

The boys will be meeting fans and signing purchases, so don't forget to bring your camera.

And to help get yourself ready for the match, fans can also enjoy a fantastic half-term 20% discount off ALL purchases instore this week. Simply click this link to download the voucher, print and show at the till.

* Offer valid at the Stadium and Fulham Road Stores, Monday 29th October - Friday 2nd November inclusive.

Last, but definitely not least, Billy the Badger will also be instore to meet and greet our junior supporters on Thursday afternoon.

We have a wide selection of products instore especially for kids, including the Kappa 2012/13 Replica Kits, sports accessories, and a range dedicated to our mascot, Billy the Badger!

What's more, from Monday to Friday, all purchasers will also be entitled to a FREE Fulham FC wristband.

With all this lined up, what better time to pop down and visit us? We look forward to seeing you!


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/october/29/half-term?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Focus - Defensive frailties continue to haunt Cottagers' quest for success

We pointed out a few weeks ago that Fulham must overcome their problems defensively if they were to have any chance of succeeding the ambitious goals laid down to them by manager Martin Jol this season. It appears those warnings were not heeded as the Cottagers threw away two points at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday against a Reading team not exactly renowned as high scorers.

Going forward, Fulham were close to their brilliant best. Dimitar Berbatov in particular was simply majestic and is justifying the billing Jol gave to him as the biggest transfer in Fulham's history when he arrived at Craven Cottage on transfer deadline day. Sometimes it appears quite remarkable that a player of the Bulgarian's quality is plying at his trade at the usually unfashionable West London club. Indeed, when you consider the striking worries that Liverpool and Arsenal have at the moment to name but two, Berbatov's presence in the white of Fulham becomes even more stark.

However, at the back the Cottagers remain as shaky as ever and perhaps questions have to now be asked of Brede Hangeland's position as an indispensable member of Fulham's backline. There was a time when Hangeland was so dominant that the Premier League big boys were supposedly fishing around the banks of the Thames with very firm eyes on the big Norwegian.

However, one would have to say that based on his performances this season, those days have long since passed him by. It is certainly rare to see the Fulham skipper so flustered at the back. He may never have been the quickest defender in the world but his positional awareness and aerial prowess was almost second to done. Thus, seeing the 31-year-old flailing about in the wake of Reading's bright and quick, but hardly world-class attackers was a difficult sight to see for all of Fulham supporters.

Of course it would be wrong to solely pin Hangeland's poor form on his own performances, as strange as that may sound. As good as he has been in the past, his lack of pace in particular has often been covered either by the legs of Aaron Hughes or the protection of the likes of Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu ahead of him during Roy Hodgson's time as manager.

Under Jol of course, Fulham play a great deal more in the opposition half and Hangeland can often find himself standing on the half-way line and in danger of being exposed to quick counter-attacks.

This is in no way calling for the axing of one Fulham's stalwarts of their recent seasons of consolidation and success. Rather, perhaps a little more communication and realism is needed between player and manager. If Hangeland feels himself to be struggling he should as club captain have the confidence to discuss matters with Jol and vice-versa.

It could well be the difference between mid-table mediocrity and a push for Europe for Fulham.



http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_0_17343_fulham-focus-defensive-frailties-continue-to-haunt-cottagers'-quest-for-success.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Robson-Kanu ruins Fulham's fightback
by DAN on OCTOBER 29, 2012

Bryan Ruiz curls home Fulham's equaliser

The skies above the Madjeski Stadium sent down rain and hail on those unfortunate enough to be arriving and leaving on foot, but an utterly riveting game between Reading and Fulham delivered only goals. All the pulsating encounter lacked was a winner – leaving both sides a little disappointed. Martin Jol couldn't quite fathom how his side – who surrendered a late lead at Southampton a few weeks ago – were leaving with just a point having been pegged back twice in the final thirteen minutes, whilst Brian McDermott's boys looked on course for their first Premier League win until the introduction of Bryan Ruiz just before the hour mark revitalised the visitors.

The Royals would have targeted this fixture as the one to end their winless start to the league campaign and McDermott's side should have been ahead inside three minutes. Two former Fulham men almost gave McDermott, who himself had a brief spell at Craven Cottage as a player, the early goal he would have craved. Nicky Shorey galloped into yards of space on the left and his cross dropped between the static Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland only for Pavel Pogrebnyak – the scorer of his six goals in twelve games for Fulham last term – to head inexplicably wide of Mark Schwarzer's goal.

Even if Jol's side saw more of the ball, they struggled to cope with Reading's high tempo. The rugged Jason Roberts' intelligent runs were pulling Fulham's centre backs apart and Jimmy Kébé and skipper Jobi McAnuff offered both pace and penetration down the flanks. The opening goal came courtesy of a rising drive lashed in from distance by Mikele Leigertwood, once a centre half but now an imposing presence in midfield, but owed much to McAnuff's mazy meandering in from the left flank, but it didn't serve to shake Fulham from their slumber. The visitors looked ponderous in possession and their lethargy was epitomised by the proligfigacy of Hugo Rodallega, who twice headed straight at Alex McCarthy from close range, before the returning Damien Duff skewed a shot wide from Kieran Richardson's cross.

The second half followed a similar pattern with Jay Tabb and Leigertwood blunting most of Fulham's promising play before Jol replaced Rodallega with Ruiz. It took just three minutes for the Costa Rican to make his mark, exchanging passes with Duff, before curling a classy equaliser past the helpless McCarthy from just outside the box. Playing just behind Berbatov, whose brilliance was all the more impressive after Jol revealed the Bulgarian had sustained a rib injury in the first half, Ruiz was suddenly the conductor of a Fulham side signing an altogether happier tune. Such was the shift in momentum it came as little surprise when Chris Baird headed home Ruiz's corner to score his second goal in seven days, although the Northern Ireland international's joyous celebrations saw him collapse into an advertising hoarding and later limp off.

Fulham's mesmorising movement seems to have come at a price though. The resolute defence of old appears much more brittle these days and for all of Reading's commendable spirit, the Royals shouldn't have been allowed back into a game that twice appeared beyond them. Gareth McCleary found far two much room between Hughes and Hangeland to fire home his first goal since signing from Nottingham Forest after reaching a cross from his fellow substitute Adam Le Fondre and, after Berbatov's control and clinical finish to power home Steve Sidwell's pass from what seemed an outrageous angle, Jol's side failed to hold onto an advantage that would have taken them into the top four. Fulham failed to clear a Shorey free-kick and Hal Robson-Kanu punished them at the death. Were it not for a fine Schwarzer save from the Welshman in added time, the damage might have been even worse.

READING (4-4-2): McCarthy; Cummings, Shorey, Mariappa, Gorkss; Leigertwood, Tabb (McCleary 69), Kébé (Robson-Kanu 78), McAnuff; Pogrebnyak (Le Fondre 80), Roberts. Subs (not used): Federuici, Gunter, Pearce, N. Hunt.

BOOKED: Cunmmings.

GOALS: Leigertwood (26), McCleary (85), Robson-Kanu (90).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Riether, J.A. Riise, Hughes, Hangeland; Baird (Sidwell 80), Diarra; Duff (Dejagah 67), Richardson, Berbatov; Rodallega (Ruiz 58). Subs (not used): Stockdale, Senderos, Karagounis, Petric.

BOOKED: Baird.

GOALS: Ruiz (61), Baird (77), Berbatov (88).

REFEREE: Mike Jones (Chesire).

ATTENDANCE: 24,093



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2012/10/robson-kanu-ruins-fulhams-fightback/?

[WhiteJC]

 
U21s Preview

Fulham U21s Manager Kit Symons is challenging his young charges to use every moment of this evening's match as a learning curve when they take on what is expected to be an experienced Wolverhampton Wanderers outfit.

Symons and his team boarded the coach to AFC Telford's New Bucks Head Stadium without the sprinkling of senior faces who usually drop down from first-team duty to help maintain match sharpness.

Instead, the squad is packed with Academy graduates and scholars, who are hungry to prove how well they can handle themselves in the Barclays U21 Premier League.

And, although Symons expects the hosts to utilise the 'three over-age players' rule, he is backing the exuberance of our youth to deliver a competitive performance.

"It's good if Wolves do have some of their first teamers out because it's great experience for our young players to play against them," Symons told Fulhamfc.com.

"We've had a really strong week's training, which is good because we are taking a young team. Of late, Martin Jol has given us quite a few first teamers to play but we're going with mainly under 20s and under 21 players today.

"We expect Wolves to use a lot of their first team players, which teams tend to do at home, so it'll be a great test for our youngsters and one I'm looking forward to."

"We're looking for a good energetic performance. I'm looking for them to play with their hearts but play with their heads as well. To keep a good team shape and to learn from the experience.

"Wolves are a good side with good players when they only play their younger ones. They are a very competitive outfit so it should be a very good game."

The West Midlands side are flying high in second place in Barclays U21 Premier League Group 3, and have already recorded a 2-1 victory against us at Motspur Park this season.

The young Whites fell two goals behind that day before Dino Islamovic's strike gave us hope, but Symons believes his players have far more to offer in this evening's clash.

"Wolves were very good down here. We were disappointed with our performance and subsequently the result," Symons admitted.

"It's performances that are important at this level and that is what we were disappointed with so I'm expecting a better performance from our boys.

"The results and the table aren't the important things – it is at first team level – but we're very much focused on player development.

"The result is a by-product of doing the right thing so, as long as they work hard, I'll be happy tonight."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/october/29/u21s-preview?