Tuesday Fulham Stuff (30/10/12)...

[WhiteJC]

 
All Square At Compton Park

Under 18s draw with Fulham.

After falling behind to a Fulham penalty, Wolves under 18s levelled with a spot kick of their own and then went in front only for the Londoners to hit back and take a point.

It was Fulham that inflicted a 7-1 thrashing on Wanderers shortly after the commencement of the current campaign.

Coach Mick Halsall said: "This was always going to be a big test for our players as they had been beaten very convincingly in the previous encounter between the teams earlier in the season.

"I thought that both sides made a bright start and that we should have taken the lead early on but Dominic Dell did not get a good enough contact with his head to a cross from our right side.

"Fulham then settled into a rhythm and gave us a reminder of what a good side they are as they moved the ball about quickly and kept possession well.

"They went in front from an obvious penalty which was down to a couple of our players giving the ball away too cheaply when in possession and letting the opposition force the play.

"We responded well to get level through a penalty of our own after Ibrahim Keita chased a pass into the Fulham box and was fouled by their centre half. Robbie Parry put the penalty away for us to go in all square at half-time.

"During the break, we urged our players to up their game as Fulham had dictated for long periods during the first period. But it was the same pattern in the second half although we took the lead through Keita after some good work from Dylan Stringer-Moth who played a lovely ball across the six yard box.

"But Fulham started to boss the game again and although we defended well at times we conceded a poor goal for the game to end in a draw. To finish level against such a good side, considering the result in the away game against them, was down to some hard work and endeavour from our lads. But, in general play we were way below the standards of the previous weeks."



http://www.wolves.co.uk//news/article/academy-291012-455006.aspx?

[WhiteJC]

 
Captain's Verdict

It shows how high our standards are when Captain Brede Hangeland is frustrated that the Team only lie seventh in the table after nine Barclays Premier League games.

The towering Norwegian could not hide his disappointment as Martin Jol's side watched two points slip away against Reading, after the Whites twice took the lead in the closing stages at the Madejski Stadium.

Hangeland spent Saturday embroiled in physical battles alongside defensive partner Aaron Hughes against the imposing figures of Jason Roberts and Pavel Pogrebnyak and, although neither of the Royals strikers found the net, they made their presence felt.

After Chris Baird and Dimitar Berbatov both scored what felt like potential winning goals, Reading substitutes Gareth McCleary and Hal Robson-Kanu fed off the scraps to ensure the spoils were shared.

A perfectionist at heart, Hangeland doesn't forget late goals quickly and insists there is potential in the team to improve, and kick on even further up the table.

"It's been an alright start but if you look at the goals we've lost towards the end of the games we can actually be a lot higher," said Hangeland.

"Man City at home, Southampton away and the Reading match, we could have nicked more points than we did.

"That's disappointing but it's also a good sign. It's a sign we're not a bad team."

Hangeland's tone suggests that is an under-statement. The Whites are the division's third highest-scoring team behind leaders Chelsea and Manchester United, and have scored more goals than the Champions Manchester City so far.

As Hangeland eluded to, it's not just the quantity of goals that is impressive, but the quality. But if that that isn't enough to guarantee we collect three points, the Captain will not rest until the winning formula is nailed down.

"It was a class goal by Berbatov," he added.

"You see throughout the game he's just a really good player and we're disappointed that goal could not be the match winner.

"When you are twice in the lead after 80 minutes you'd like to win the game so we will have to work something out."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/october/29/captains-verdict?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham eye Japan ace



Fulham boss Martin Jol is prepared to battle with his former club Hamburg for the signature of Catania's Takayuki Morimoto.

Jol is believed to be on the lookout for a new forward despite new recruits Mladen Petric and Dimitar Berbatov impressing since their summer moves to Craven Cottage.

And the Dutchman is thought to have identified Japan ace Morimoto as the man to complete his attacking options.

The 24-year-old holds the record for the youngest player in J. League history, having made his senior bow for Tokyo Verdy at just 15 years, 10 months and six days.

His form earned him a move to Catania, but he has fallen out of favour at the Italian club in recent months and could leave on loan in January.




Read more: http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/121029/fulham-eye-japan-ace-184128?#ixzz2AknYCwSO
Follow us: @talksport on Twitter
Read more at http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/121029/fulham-eye-japan-ace-184128?#EITmcKKUdwwcAmYZ.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Reading 3-3 Fulham: Player ratings
by DAN on OCTOBER 29, 2012



Saturday's frenzied final fifteen minutes at Reading was the ultimate test, as a friend of mine put it yesterday, of whether you consider your pint half empty or half full when it comes to Fulham. After a first half where the Whites simply failed to get started (it rivalled the false start on the south coast in terms of effectiveness), Martin Jol's side came roaring back and looked set for all three points until a fraility that is now becoming familiar – defending set-pieces – reared its horrid head once again.

Schwarzer: Questions are starting to be asked again about our Australian goalkeeper, although the fickle nature of football means that will always happen when you throw away a late lead. Schwarzer could do nothing about Leigertwood's superb strike that opened the scoring, but he feels to dominate his six-yard box in the manner that marked his arrival from Middlesbrough four years ago and coincided with the dramatic improvement in our defensive record. With all the criticism flying around, it is worth remembering that his injury-time double save from Hal Robson-Kanu prevented a Reading winner. 6

Riether: Just as we were all lauding Riether's all-around excellence since swapping the Bundesliga for the Premier League, along comes a display to make you thing again. He failed to deal with Jobi McAnuff's raiding down the Reading right and the Royals' captain often found gfar too much space in behind the Fulham rearguard. Riether certainly wasn't the only one culpable for allowing McAnuff to roam infield in the run-up to the opening goal – but he also wasn't involved in the final third until well into the second half, although he did make a crucial clearance with Jason Roberts baring down on goal. 6

Riise: The Norwegian's second season back in English football has started far better than his first but he doesn't have the legs to recover as swiftly from those lung-busting gallops up the left flank as he used to in his Liverpool days. Jimmy Kebe, like McAnuff on the other flank, was afforded far too much time and space – both in front of the back four and, more worryingly, behind the full back, to influence proceedings and Fulham were fortunate not to have paid a higher penalty. 5

Hughes: This wasn't the Northern Ireland defender's finest hour and a half. Instead of being confident and assured, Hughes – much like his fellow centre back – looked hassled and harried, competing both with Pogrebnyak, who should have punished some sloppy marking to give Reading the lead early on, and Roberts for possession. There was an alarming amount of space between the two central defenders during the first period – and when one of them needed to be commanding to help preserve the three points with in the closing stages, they were found wanting. 5

Hangeland: Certainly the most error-strewn display we've seen from the new captain since Andy Carroll ran riot at Upton Park. Ironically, Fulham appeared to have dealt well enough with Pogrebnyak for the Russian to be substituted with ten minutes to play, but late substitutes Adam Le Fondre and Robson-Kanu found worrying amounts of space in the Fulham box. Calls for Hangeland to dropped are laughable – but he'll need to up his game for when Fulham face Fellaini, Jelavic and company on Saturday. 5

Baird: Far from his ususal composed self in the first 45 minutes, but few in black emerged from a torrid first period with any credit. He was more involved in breaking up the play after the interval, saw a free-kick that was threatening McCarthy's far corner deflected just wide and capped a more than competent display with a fine header to give Fulham the lead – although the injury he sustained during the joyous celebrations wasn't part of the plan. Manfully limped back to the half way line and tried his best to carry on but had to be replaced by Steve Sidwell. 7

Diarra: Didn't impose himself on the match as match as Jol would have wanted and was certainly outhustled by Jay Tabb and Leigertwood in the first half. His presence on the ball and decision making make the Malian such a vital part of the side Jol's trying to build, though, and Diarra was much more influential in the second half. Seemed to fade in the final ten minutes or so, which is understandable give his recent fitness problems. You get the feeling that Fulham's season will be shaped by how regularly he's in the starting line-up. 6

Duff: Full of eager running, although most of it was sideways or towards his own goal in a dismal first half – and Duff was visibly dismayed to have sent a decent chance to equalise wide from a Richardson cross just before the break. Looked much more effective when he received the ball in advanced areas in the second half and cleverly created the space for Ruiz's excellent equaliser with a quick give-and-go. The effects of his illness meant he was also likely to be taken off early – but Duff's been possibly the most consistent performer in a Fulham shirt so far this season. 6

Richardson: My theory on Richardson's inclusion for this game – and by extension the ignoring of Alex Kacaniklic's creditable claims for a starting spot for the second week in succession – is that Jol was worried about the pace and threat of Jimmy Kebe. Richardson's not going to give you express pace or dynamic ability in the final third (especially as he seems to have spent the latter part of his spell at Sunderland as a full back) but he will work hard. Unfortunately, application wasn't enough on Saturday as Kebe found far too much space and Fulham lacked an outlet on the left to stretch Shaun Cummings. Richardson did deliver a couple of dangerous crosses from which both Rodallega and Duff should have done better, but it was far from a convincing display. 5

Berbatov: Brilliant. I'd be tempted to end my assessment of the Bulgarian's display there if it didn't feel like cheating. Very much the leader of the team in forward positions, forever pointing, prompting and cajoling, but the frustration was that Fulham failed to provide him with enough of the ball to make a telling impact until the hour mark. Playing in that slightly deeper role, Berbatov's control, shielding of the ball and distribution were exceptional – and his finish for what looked like the match-winner was utterly sublime. The way he wheeled away in ecstacy to celebrate with the travelling fans showed that he's not just at Fulham to pick up another pay cheque or have a laugh with Jol too.9

Rodallega: Frustrating, if you're being kind, woeful – if you aren't. Rodallega's an enigma. When it works, he's a genius and a bit of a cult hero (see Wigan away) and when it doesn't, you're left wondering what all the fuss is about. He scored with a header at his old club last month but sent two tame headers straight into Alex McCarthy's arms from a similar position this time around. There was little in the wayu of an inventive movement or searing pace in behind to compensate for those misses either. 5

Substitutes

Ruiz: Bryan Ruiz's introduction was greeted by a particularly foul-mouthed tirade from a 'gentleman' a few rows behind me. A single swish of his left foot three minutes later shut that 'supporter' up and the rest of the away end enjoyed dancing to a disco ditty in the Costa Rican's honour for the rest of the afternoon. Playing in the classical number ten role, Ruiz released Berbatov to play further forward and his influence on the game simply can't be understated. Not content with scoring a goal to rival those audacious 'scoops' against Everton and Bolton, he swung over the corner that led to Fulham's second and must have ended any debate about his quality in the space of a brilliant half hour. 9

Dejagah: Another impressive effort from the bench, injecting pace and a desire to run at tiring defenders just when it was necessary. He wasn't able to exploit as much space as he had against Aston Villa the previous Saturday because Reading had been able to observe his eye-catching debut, but the Iranian's impressive start to life in England must have been one of the reasons why Jol felt comfortable with sending the fit-again Kerim Frei to Cardiff on loan. 6

Sidwell: Dropped from the starting line-up to compensate for the return of the fit-again Diarra and that must have been a big disappointment to Sidwell on his return to his old stomping ground. Replacing Baird with ten minutes to play was unexpected and it might have been difficult for him to get up to speed with a game that had just been cranked up to more than 100mph, but it didn't seem like that. The 'special one Iniesta' prodded through the pass from which Berbatov seemd to have snatched all three points and the devastation on his face after Reading's third was matched by the disconsolate looks around the around end. 6



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2012/10/reading-3-3-fulham-player-ratings/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Ruiz Talks About that 3-3 Thriller!
   
The introduction of Bryan Ruiz, on Saturday, certainly gave Fulham that something extra.

His delicate skills opened up the Reading defence and his goal got us back into a game we could / should have won.

After the event Ruiz entertained reports with a few words, all of which made perfect sense, when he commented,

"It was nice because it was my first of the season, it made it 1-1 and after that I think we got extra power."

"It`s good for the team that we have so many attackers, the manager has a really big problem because we`re all doing our best to try to get into the team. It`s good."

But as for allowing Reading back into the ground, he may well have a few of our big defenders giving him a few sharp words when he added,

"We`re doing good, we`re keeping possession, we`re doing so many good passes and so many good moves."

"We`re really god in the front, but in the defence we maybe need to be better at set plays."

"It`s not just the defenders, it`s all of us."

"We have to defend I numbers. We have to work at that. But I think we can improve on last season."

Well we`re going about it the right way, we`re even picking up points on the road!



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=298087#ixzz2AkoDxQqg

[WhiteJC]

 
Liverpool and Newcastle eye Fulham contract rebel Brede Hangeland
Liverpool and Newcastle have been alerted to the availability of Fulham star Brede Hangeland, with Martin Jol revealing that the powerful defender could be the next big name to quit Craven Cottage.

Fulham boss Jol is desperate to sign 31-year-old Hangeland to a new contract, having seen the likes of Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey  head for the club's exit in the last few months.

However, despite lengthy negotiations that have lasted almost six months, Hangeland is no closer to renewing his contract, and Jol admits he is worried the centre back could be on the way out.

'Our culture is that we always like to keep the players we want to keep,' Dutchman Jol explained.

'Brede is the only problem, but we've been talking to him for the last five or six months. We've made him a good offer so if he wants to stay that would be fantastic'.

It's thought that Hangeland will make a decision on his future in the new year,  where he would be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement, with both Liverpool and Newcastle expressing significant interest in the player in recent weeks.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers wants Hangeland to act as cover for Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel, and may even allow Uruguayan Sebastian Coates to move to Fulham on-loan as a potential make-weight.

Newcastle are yet to show their hand, but with a regular run in the team more likely in the north-east they may be able to tempt the Texas-born defender away from Anfield.



Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/916350-liverpool-and-newcastle-eye-fulham-contract-rebel-brede-hangeland#ixzz2AkoXtcTV

[WhiteJC]

 
Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s 1-2 Fulham U21s

Alex Smith struck a late winner to clinch an impressive 2-1 victory for a youthful Fulham U21 outfit against a far more experienced Wolverhampton Wanderers side.

Dino Islamovic had opened the scoring for Kit Symons' Team but Bjorn Sigurdarson hit back for the West Midlands side before the interval.

The Whites, with all of their outfield players aged under 21, proved more than a match for the hosts in the second half before Smith pounced to net the decider with five minutes left on the clock at AFC Telford's New Bucks Head Stadium.

Manager Kit Symons said: "We performed very well against a very experienced side and that's all you can ask for really."

"But to get the victory right at the very end is the icing on the cake.

"That'll give the lads a lot of confidence to beat a team containing eight or nine players that have been involved with Wolves' first team.

"It was a victory built on hard work and it shows if you put the hard graft in, you'll get what you deserve.

"It was a strong all-round performance and we showed very good character to keep competing until the end.

"Lasse [Christensen] did excellently playing out of position at right-back and every player put in a shift to earn the win."

Symons' best laid plans were disrupted before kick-off when Alex Brister fell ill and a re-shuffle saw Lauri Dalla Valle step into a forward roll while Lasse Vigen Christensen was forced to retreat to an unfamiliar right-back role.

In a side containing over-age players Dave Edwards and Richard Stearman, the hosts had goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey to thank for keeping the Whites at bay early on as Fulham started strongly.

And the visitors struck the goal they had been threatening when Swedish striker Islamovic, who netted our consolation goal in the 2-1 reverse against Wolves at Motspur Park in August, was on target with a composed finish on 34 minutes.

However, Fulham's lead only lasted for five minutes, when Sigurdarson headed a corner past Hungarian keeper Csaba Somogyi to level the scores leading in to the interval.

The home side stepped up a gear after the break but the Whites soaked up the pressure and picked their moment to seal the victory.

The accomplished Christensen broke forward and delivered a pin-point pass for Smith to add the finishing touch on 85 minutes and bring all three points back to south west London.

Fulham U21: Somogyi; Christensen, Grimmer, Musa, Pritchard; Minkwitz, Smith; Islamovic, Banya, Altman; Della Valle. Substitutes: Bettinelli, Tankovic, Sambou, Kavanagh.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/october/29/u21-wolves-report?

[WhiteJC]

 
Everton hopeful Kevin Mirallas will be fit for weekend trip to Fulham

EVERTON are confident fears over the fitness of Kevin Mirallas are misplaced – with the winger expected to be available for the weekend trip to Fulham.

Mirallas was the outstanding performer in Sunday's dramatic 2-2 derby draw against Liverpool at Goodison until an ankle injury forced him off at half-time.

There were initial concerns the Belgium international could be sidelined for a fortnight with the problem.

But after checking on the player at Finch Farm yesterday, Everton believe Mirallas should make the journey to Craven Cottage on Saturday.

With Steven Pienaar having served his one-match suspension and Marouane Fellaini made his comeback last weekend, David Moyes is now only missing Darron Gibson in midfield.

Fellaini had missed the draws at Wigan Athletic and Queens Park Rangers after suffering a knee injury while on international duty with Belgium earlier in the month.

And he revealed: "I worked hard for two weeks to get back for the derby.

"I stayed in Belgium for one week's recovery. I'm not 100% but I gave my maximum."



Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/sport/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2012/10/30/99623-32127100/?#ixzz2AnbzbsVX

[WhiteJC]

 
In defence of Dimitar Berbatov
by DAN on OCTOBER 30, 2012



After another sensational performance on Saturday – and a sublime finish that so nearly secured all three points for the Whites – this isn't the piece I was expecting to write this morning. However, Sachin Nakrani's contribution to yesterday's Guardian's 'ten talking points' piece reflecting on the weekend's Premier League games was to suggest that Dimitar Berbatov is some sort of languid layabout, who really should be putting in a bit more effort.

Now, Nakrani's usually engaging and worth reading so perhaps he's controversial. Even if he's overlooked the real lesson from Saturday's mad finish at Reading – that Fulham need to quickly bolt the back door so as not to squander their attacking promise – his strongly-worded, and in my view misguided, caricature of Berbatov as someone who thinks he's above all the hard graft makes for good copy. The problem is that it is full of suppositions that can't be proved as well as inaccuracies:

We have all played with someone like Dimitar Berbatov, the guy who knows he is gifted, far more talented than those around him, and, as such, almost sees it as an insult that he should be expected to do basic things like run around and close down the opposition. Leave that, he believes, to the carthorses. The Bulgarian was at it again on Saturday, quite literally walking around the pitch while his team-mates looked to assert themselves against Reading. But ultimately it was he who shone brightest, delivering a performance of sublime control, movement and finishing to leave those watching wondering what he could achieve if he bothered a little bit more.

With respect to Fulham, Berbatov should be at a top-level team, indeed he was until Sir Alex Ferguson ran out of patience and decided that despite his impressive scoring record, he did not fit in at Manchester United. Fulham swooped at the end of the last transfer window and signed Berbatov for a bargain £4m. It is telling that no bigger clubs targeted Berbatov, and that can only be down to his lack of energy and effort on the pitch. If he could add that to his obvious talents there is no doubt that he could still become a key player at a team with ambitions of winning the Champions League. It is as if Berbatov needs to convince himself that he is not as good as he actually is.

Where do you start with this? Perhaps the best place to begin is with something that a few people might not have noticed unless they were at the game on Saturday. Like most of his early appearances for Fulham, Berbatov started against Reading in a deeper role that the one he fulfilled with some distinction for Manchester United. Jol has been trying him in the hole behind a lone striker lately, offering the Bulgarian a free role from which to come and influence the play. The fact that it didn't work on Saturday was, I contend, more down to Hugo Rodallega's ineffectiveness as the lone front man than any lack of effort on Berbatov's part.

The idea that to be a top player who have to charge around the field like a man possessed is something that really should be consigned to the dark days of English football alongside the long ball and memories of Carlton Palmer in an England shirt. The concept still persists and it is one of the reasons why Bryan Ruiz has had a tough time since arriving in England from some Fulham 'fans'. Getting 'stuck in' is all well and good, but it is no substitute for technical excellence, and if a player as good as Berbatov is out of puff after an hour because he's spent all his energy chasing down the goalkeeper as he prepares to clear a back pass, Martin Jol would be justified in feeling aggrived that his star striker wasn't on the pitch to influence proceedings in the closing stages.

Nakrani also omitted from his piece – or hadn't observed – that Berbatov was quite seriously injured by a robust challenge in the first half. A suspected broken rib might have been the reason for his limited mobility that the journalist's keen to lambast. Here's Jol from the post-match press conference:

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.

Even while he was clutching his back regularly before the break, Berbatov was still the man orchestrating most of Fulham's attacks and, just as he did prior to the kick-off against Aston Villa last week, he could be seen in animated conversation with both of his central midfielders before the start of this game, going over the tactical plans one last time. Hardly the actions of a disinterested professional.

After his well-meaning 'no disrespect to Fulham,' Nakrani also asserts 'it is telling that no bigger clubs targeted Berbatov'. Did he miss the frenzied final few hours of the transfer window? Both Juventus, who currently sit top of Serie A and certainly have ambitions of regaining their place amongst Europe's elite by having a serious dart at the Champions' League, and Fiorentina were seriously in the running for the player's signature and were disappointed with the Bulgarian – to put in midly. The-then interim Juve coach attacked Berbatov as 'unreliable' after he opted to sign for Fulham and Fiorentina issued a furious statement, angrily denouncing the man who 'did not deserve' to wear their shirt and demanding that he pay for flights that had been booked in his name.

Perhaps Nakrani doesn't consider the two Italian sides bigger clubs than Fulham, which would be some testimony to the club's rise in recent seasons. Anyone who doubted Berbatov's desire should have seen him spin away to cavort in front of the delirious travelling supporters like he'd just scored the winner in the World Cup final. Berbatov's been the subject of snipes from the sidelines for all of his career – but the timing of this attack on his attitude was befuddlingly bizarre coming only hours after his starring role on Saturday.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2012/10/in-defence-of-dimitar-berbatov/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham set to offer unhappy Bent a Capital return

Premier League side Fulham are set to offer £12 million for Aston Villa forward Darren Bent as his future at the club looks increasingly bleak.

Fulham boss Martin Jol is a long standing admirer of the striker and despite Bent himself dismissing talk of a transfer the rumor mill is set to go into overdrive on this one with his former manager seriously interested in once again linking up with the player he worked successfully with at Spurs.

Bent himself has moved to distance himself from speculation surrounding a move in the transfer window after falling down the pecking order under Paul Lambert, claiming "It won't come from my side. I won't ask for a transfer, of course I wouldn't do that."

However with the England International not getting any younger and becoming privately more and more frustrated with life at the struggling club how far these sentiments will go should a bid actually come in for the player in January remains to be seen.

From his side, Jol has been making all the right noises, stating that "If your club wants to be top ten, you need strikers such as Darren Bent, who'll score 15-20 goals a season." Fulham have made an impressive start to the season and with Villa struggling to keep their heads above water, Bent may well find the "bigger clubs" he professes to want to play for come calling in January and make him an offer too good to refuse.


http://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/fulham/fulham-set-to-offer-unhappy-bent-a-capital-return?

[WhiteJC]

 
Cardiff City have Premier look about them, says Frei

CARDIFF City new boy Kerim Frei not only believes the Bluebirds have the quality to reach the Premier League, but that they are good enough to stay there.

And the 18-year-old wideman, who is on a month's loan at Cardiff, should know having already started making a name for himself in the top flight with parent club Fulham.

Frei made 16 Premier League appearances under boss Martin Jol last term but, after a pre-season injury, is now looking to get back on track in the Welsh capital.

And after coming on as a late substitute in the Bluebirds' 4-0 demolition of Burnley on Saturday, Frei admits he already likes what he sees.

"Straight away I can see what a good side Cardiff are. You only have to look at some of the players here," said Frei.

"It's a very professional club and everyone has been really helpful and will go out of their way to do something for you. I already feel very settled.

"On the pitch, Cardiff want to play football and that is great. That is what is important in the Premier League. We want to score goals and you could see that against Burnley.

"Cardiff are top of the league now and they definitely have the quality to go up and when they do, in my opinion, they will stay there."

After his first taste of Bluebirds' action Frei, who recently opted to play for Turkey at international level, wants more during the seven games left in his loan spell.

"I came here to play football and I'm hoping that's what will happen," he said.

"I had about 10 minutes against Burnley and I had a couple of nice moments. I hope maybe the Cardiff supporters saw a little bit of what I am about.

"I really want to enjoy my time with Cardiff and I think I am going to do that."

Don't miss Steve Tucker's full exclusive interview with City new boy Frei in tomorrow's Echo.



Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city/cardiff-city-fc/2012/10/30/91466-32126976/?#ixzz2Anf7NN96

[WhiteJC]

 
Radiant Ruiz ready to rubbish his detractors
by DAN on OCTOBER 30, 2012



Ask a Costa Rican, Belgian or a Dutchman to tell you about Byran Ruiz and you'd better have a spare couple of hours. I know because I've done it. They'll regale you with tales of 'the Weasel's' early emergence at Alajulense, how he announced his arrival at Ghent with an astonishing hat-trick against Lokeren or tore apart traditionally tight Eredivisie's defences as FC Twente won their first ever league title. His silky skills are proven beyond doubt and it is a measure of the man's undimmed professionalism that was candid in declaring his first season in English football a disappointment:

I don't think the Fulham fans have seen the best of me yet. Last season was hard for me to do my best in the Premier League. I did  a few things to show people what I have and, for sure, this season I'll do my best for the fans.

Ruiz's introduction to the Premier League, where everything's far more hurried and physical than he's ever experienced before, was a torrid one. He was substituted at half time on his debut against a dogged Blackburn, watched Fulham's frustrating Europa League exit from the sidelines and, having shown glimpses of his class with two audacious goals against Everton and Bolton, saw his season disrupted – and eventually end prematurely - due to niggling injuries. He looked a little lost on the right side of midfield, where he proved so effective in Holland, and played some of his best football behind a central striker in the second half of the season. While some fans bemoaned Ruiz's contribution, Martin Jol remained convinced that his big signing would come good. For Jol, that old English maxim held true: form is temporary, class is permanent.

After a full pre-season, a stronger and more confident Ruiz emerged in the early weeks of the summer. After sparkling in the sunshine on the opening day against Norwich, he played a key part in Fulham's second half revival at Old Trafford – creating one goal and only being denied an injury-time equaliser by an outstanding save from David de Gea – and settled the game when introduced as a second half substitute at Wigan, making Fulham's crucial second goal for Damien Duff, when he refused to let a mazy dribble be halted by a robust challenge on the edge of the box. Those who still sigh at his supposed lack of application should recall that Ruiz ran further than any other player in the 2-2 draw at Southampton last month.

By rights, Ruiz's ridiculous equaliser at Reading just 180 sections after replacing the ineffectual Hugo Rodallega should settle any debate about his worth to the side. It was a goal of real beauty, combining the Costa Rican's eye for a pass – he played a sumptuous give-and-go with Duff – with his eye of goal, demonstrated by the way he curled a delicious finish into the far corner from 20 yards. But there's more to Ruiz's game than eye-catching goals. It is difficult to do justice to the way his intelligent running and distribution tilted a game that appeared well out of Fulham's grasp in the visitors' favour, a process helped by his clever near-post corner, which was clinically converted by Chris Baird to make it 2-1.

Ruiz's influence on a Fulham side he has barely featured for this term is underlined by some astonishing statistics. The 27 year-old has created thirteen chances and made four goals – more than any other member of Jol's squad – despite only making six appearances for Fulham this season. He's only started four fixtures for Fulham so imagine what 'the Weasel' might be able to magic up as a regular in the side. Ruiz has insisted that there's plenty more to come – and on the early evidence of this exciting season – you'd be very foolish not to take the man at his word.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2012/10/radiant-ruiz-ready-to-rubbish-his-detractors/?

[BestOfBrede]

Excellent stuff Dan and I hope supporters can see this and stop with the bemoaning the things that don't work - they are few and far between!