Saturday Fulham Stuff (03/11/12)...

[WhiteJC]

 
FULHAM v Everton: Baird fully fit following collision with advertising hoarding

Fulham defender Chris Baird is fit for Saturday's visit of Everton in the Barclays Premier League.

The Northern Ireland international injured himself when he slipped into advertising hoardings as he celebrated scoring a header in the 3-3 draw against Reading last weekend.


Back in the frame: Chris Baird (right) has regained his fitness

Midfielder Simon Davies is still recovering from a hip operation and French midfielder Mickael Tavares is out with a minor hamstring problem.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise, Duff, Baird, Diarra, Richardson, Rodallega, Berbatov, Stockdale, Senderos, Sidwell, Petric, Ruiz, Karagounis, Dejagah, Kasami.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2226942/FULHAM-v-Everton-Chris-Baird-fully-fit-following-collision-advertising-hoarding.html#ixzz2B8iV7G4V
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham boss admits difficulty in keeping stars happy


Fulham's Dimitar Berbatov. Photo: Joe Giddens/EMPICS Sport

Fulham manager Martin Jol admits his biggest problem is keeping a squad happy with so many striking options.

The Whites may have lost the firepower of Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele in the summer transfer window but Dimitar Berbatov, Brian Ruiz, Hugo Rodallega and Mladen Petric have given Jol a headache when it comes to selecting a striking partnership.

The Dutchman said: "We have scored as many goals so far as normally we would until February or April, so that is good.

"We lost our top scorers but up until now it is more productive than it was before."

Asked if it was a challenge keeping them all happy, he said: "It is difficult but that is my job. I see them as luxury problems with all these players up front."


http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_boss_admits_difficulty_in_keeping_stars_happy_1_1680055

[WhiteJC]

 
Everton at Fulham: Match Preview

This weekend Everton travel to the capital to take on Fulham, determined to end their streak of three consecutive draws.

The last time Everton went to London they played terribly and escaped bottom-club Queens Park Rangers with a point. A similar performance this around at European contenders Fulham will not reap the same returns. Three consecutive draws against teams in the bottom half of the table mean Everton have lost most of the momentum from their hot start to the season and nothing less than a win will put that charge back on track. The Toffees have struggled without Darron Gibson, who will miss out once again this week, and David Moyes must be at his wits end wondering how he can fill that position.

Fulham are traditional slow starters in the Everton mould, but this season both teams have come flying out the gates. Martin Jol has built a strong side with lots of attacking prowess, but has recently shown a penchant for conceding late goals, and you can be sure David Moyes will be reviewing the film to see where the weaknesses lie. Fulham have been strong at home though with a couple of big wins, and a close loss to defending champions Manchester City just over a month ago.

Team News -

Early news is that Kevin Mirallas is expected to be fit and should slot into his right wing spot, while Steven Pienaar returns from suspension and goes back to left wing. If Mirallas does not start than either Seamus Coleman could go out to the wing and Tony Hibbert return to right back, or else Steven Naismith could get a run at Mirallas spot and either Coleman or Hibbert get the start in defence.

Jol has a few injury worries, with only Simon Davies out long term. Striker Dimitar Berbatov has a rib injury and might play, while key link man Chris Baird is returning to fitness after a layoff and is also in contention to start.

Keys To The Game -

For the Blues, keeping it simple has been the route to success this year. Patience in bringing the ball out of defence, the short passing game in midfield to open up space, incisive runs behind the backline down the wings, and a cross to the middle to be met by Nikica Jelavic, Marouane Fellaini and co. However, the vilified 'Osville' combo platter of Phil Neville and Leon Osman have struggled with holding and distributing the ball. It could come down once again to how well the two play, and if Fellaini dropping back in support does not blunt the attack with Jelavic isolated.

Fulham on the other hand have not adequately replaced playmaker Moussa Dembele, and this has shown itself towards the latter stages of games especially with opponents swarming the midfield. Their 4-4-1-1 is quite direct, with Berbatov at the top and veteran Hugo Rodallega behind him. Brian Ruiz has struggled to make an impression in England so far, but could get a look in if Berbatov cannot go. Another veteran Damien Duff has replaced Mladen Petric on the right wing while Mahamadou Diarra has been better than Steven Sidwell in the middle of the park. A strong start and an early goal or two should ensure the three points, as they have been less prone to folding at home.

Match Facts -
Everton have won seven and only lost once in their last nine games against Fulham in all competitions.

The Toffees have one loss in their last eighteen Premier League games, failing to score just twice.

Fulham have scored ten goals at home this season, only surpassed by the top three clubs.

The Cottagers have squandered ten points from winning positions this season, second worst in the League.

Only four Costa Rican players have played in the Premier League, and two might play on Saturday - Bryan Oviedo and Brian Ruiz.



http://www.royalbluemersey.com/2012/11/2/3590528/everton-at-fulham-match-preview?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham vs Everton Preview: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Squad Sheets, Match Facts And More!



Everton and Fulham meet this weekend at Craven Cottage, with this preview courtesy of fanatix.

Everton visit Fulham this weekend in the Barclays Premier League, aware that they need to get back to winning ways after a run of draws.

The Toffees are challenging for the European places, with UEFA Champions League spots the dream and UEFA Europa League the more likely result, and may well view Fulham as rivals for the same goal.

Both teams will therefore view this match as an opportunity to edge closer to that target at the expense of the competition.
Venue Craven Cottage, Saturday 3pm
Tickets Sold out
Last season Fulham 1 Everton 3
Referee Neil Swarbrick
This season's matches 3 Y8, R0, 2.67 cards per game
Odds Fulham 13-8 Everton 6-4 Draw 9-4
Subs from Somogyi, Stockdale, Kelly, Senderos, Sidwell, Kasami, Frei, Petric, Karagounis, Ruiz, Briggs, Dejagah, Kacaniklic, Na Banga, Smith
Doubtful Berbatov (rib)
Injured Davies (hip, Jan)
Suspended None
Form guide DWDLWW
Disciplinary record Y6 R0
Leading scorers Berbatov, Duff, Petric 3

Everton
Subs from Heitinga, Naismith, Hibbert, Anichebe, Mucha, Franciso, Gueye, Vellios, Duffy, McAleny, Oviedo
Doubtful Mirallas (ankle)
Injured Gibson (thigh, 10 Nov)
Suspended None
Form guide DDDWWD
Disciplinary record Y19 R1
Leading scorer Jelavic 4
CaughtOffside predicted line-ups:

Fulham
Head-to-head
Everton are unbeaten against Fulham in their past six matches in all competitions (W5, D1).

The clubs have met 56 times overall, with Everton winning 26 to Fulham's 18 victories.

Fulham
Fulham have earned 14 points from their opening nine matches of the season – their most at this stage of the season since 2003-04.

They have accrued 32 points from 14 home matches in 2012. Only Manchester City (41), Manchester United (34) and Newcastle (33) have more.

The west London side have lost 10 points from winning positions this season – only Southampton (11) have fared worse.

Martin Jol's side have scored first in six of their nine Premier League games this season, the joint-best record in the top flight (along with Chelsea, West Brom and Tottenham).

Chris Baird has now scored as many goals in his last two Premier League appearances as he did in his first 120.

Everton
Everton have suffered just one defeat in their last 18 league games. They have only failed to score in two of those matches.

The Toffees have picked up 16 points from their opening nine matches – their most at this stage of a season for six years.

They have scored their highest number of goals (17) at this stage of a top flight season since 1985-86.

Kevin Mirallas has committed more fouls (16) than anyone else yet to be shown a card in the Premier League this season.

CaughtOffside prediction: Fulham 2-1 Everton. The Cottagers are strong at home, and in Berbatov have a forward capable of producing the magic to make the difference.



http://www.caughtoffside.com/2012/11/02/fulham-vs-everton-preview-team-news-predicted-line-ups-squad-sheets-match-facts-and-more/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Saha: I Loved It At Everton

Louis Saha has spoken of his time at Goodison Park as the Blues prepare to meet another of the striker's former sides, Fulham, on Saturday.

The Frenchman left Goodison Park in January 2012 after leading the line in attack for Everton since 2008. Now at Sunderland, Saha reflects fondly on his three-and-a-half years on Merseyside.

He told fulhamfc.com: "I loved my time at Everton and I scored a decent amount of goals, which for a striker is important.

"The spirit at Everton was a lot like what we had at Fulham all those years before; it's a very warm, family-orientated club. It has a lot of history, and they have worked hard to get where they have."

And the praise from the former Manchester United man doesn't end there. Ahead of the weekend's action, Saha believes Saturday's fixture at Craven Cottage is a contest between two of the Premier League's most exciting teams.

Knowing the top-flight all too well from a 14-year career in English football, the 32-year old admits the two sides have impressed with free-flowing football this term.

"Everton look really good again this season, and they've certainly impressed," said Saha. "They have a great manager, and some very talented players, not to mention a lot of character – for me, come the end of the season they could well be pushing for a place in the top four.

"I think Fulham can use Everton as an example of what is possible. There are quite a few similarities between the two clubs and Fulham are in form too. They're scoring a lot of goals and Martin Jol has them playing some really good football.

"It will be interesting to see how they get on, because like Everton, they're one of the clubs that is making the Premier League even more exciting right now."

Saha returns to Merseyside when the Blues welcome Sunderland to Goodison Park on 10 November.


http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2012/11/02/saha-i-loved-it-at-everton

[WhiteJC]

 
The Cottage fortress faces latest test - Preview - Everton (h)



Despite a brilliant home record, Fulham face a huge test when David Moyes' side visit on Saturday.

Martin Jol says they're the 'best of the rest' - whether that be a compliment or not. What is more certain, though, regardless of home comfort, is that Everton travel to Craven Cottage in fine form and even with only three points dropped so far in SW6, taking anything on Saturday will be no mean feat.

Normally a side that struggle in the season's dawn, David Moyes' side have sprung into life and, Tottenham aside, look like the only team truly threatening the customary top three monopoly. It begs the questions as to whether they can sustain any push up the league into the campaign's latter reaches but, if previous years are anything to go by, Everton will only get better.

Why the sudden upturn? Well, for once, they've had a summer that didn't consist of mainly player departures and Moyes himself admitted to changing their pre-season setup. They've added players of quality too - namely Kevin Miralas and, on a permanent basis, the powerful Steven Pienaar.

This retention of their core players has meant a consistent start to the season - they've beaten Manchester United and have strolled past the likes of Swansea and Southampton. But, more recently, there has been a minor cause for concern, having drawn three on the trot, exiting October with only three points to boast of.

Fulham, meanwhile, are pressing on nicely behind Everton in the table, 2 points behind and 2 spaces behind, occupying 7th place.

Upon last meeting Everton at the Cottage, Bryan Ruiz scored a sublime chip that proved invaluable and defunct, thanks to two, late Everton goals giving the away side a 3-1 victory. In the reverse tie we lost 4-0, and also lost in the FA Cup - making for particularly drab reading.

Darron Gibson will miss the tie and Kevin Mirallas is a doubt for Everton while, for Fulham, Dimitar Berbatov is expected to be passed fit after a rib injury.

Score prediction: Fulham 1-1 Everton



http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2012/11/2/3591278/cottage-fortress-latest-test-moyes-everton-h?

[WhiteJC]

 
Gibson to miss out against Fulham

Darron Gibson will again be missing from the Everton squad, that faces Fulham tomorrow, as he recovers from his thigh injury.

The 24 year old has not featured for the Blues since pulling up in the 2-o defeat to West Bromwich Albion almost two months ago, and David Moyes told the press that it was the tendon in Gibson's right thigh that was troubling the Irishman. Moyes also stated that Kevin Mirallas would be given as much time as possible to feature against the Londoners after being withdrawn at half time in last weekend's derby draw against Liverpool.

"Darron's got a tendon problem at the top of his thigh which has been worse than we thought and also making [his absence] longer than we thought," he said. "But obviously he's getting better."

Of Mirallas, Moyes added: "Hopefully he's got a chance. His ankle's still sore but it's not quite as bad as we thought.

"He's not quite there yet but hopefully he'll have a chance for the game."



Read more: http://www.nsno.co.uk/everton-news/2012/11/gibson-to-miss-out-against-fulham/#ixzz2B8lojPAy

[WhiteJC]

 
Martin Jol says Fulham would be prepared to spend big on the right player


Kevin Mirallas: Ended up making a summer switch to Everton

Martin Jol admits he was priced out of a move for Kevin Mirallas, but says Fulham would dig deep for the right player.

The Cottagers were among those to express an interest in Belgium international Miralles over the summer, but were put off by the demands of Greek outfit Olympiakos.

The highly-rated forward did end up in England, at Everton, but Jol has no regrets at having refused to splash the cash.

The Dutchman, who was able to complete a number of shrewd acquisitions, said: "We could have had him (Mirallas) but he was six or seven million. It is not like (Mladen) Petric on a free or (Hugo) Rodallega on a free or (Dimitar) Berbatov.

"Mirallas was not a bargain but they (Everton) did well to pick him up. Mirallas was top scorer in Greece up front where he played on the left and the right and he is doing well.

"Everton don't buy five or six players. They buy one or two each year and then try to fit them in. That is their strength.

"They don't have to chop and change all the time. But you can't say no-one knew about Mirallas. He was playing in this fantastic Belgium team, with all these great players such as (Mousa) Dembele and (Thomas) Vermaelen.

"I think they will be unbelievable in the future and he (Mirallas) is playing in that team."

Bargains

Jol would, however, have no problem asking his board for backing if the right target became available.

Ahead of a weekend meeting with Everton, Jol added: "Of course we would do it if it was necessary.

"I always try to find the real bargains and I think we did that. With (Nikica) Jelavic Everton probably did that."


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11671/8220656?

[WhiteJC]

 
To Friends of Ashwater

(A brief reminder about the book content is at the bottom of this mail)

We are sorry that we ran out of 'spare' Riverbank 3 copies at the Aston Villa game and that supporters went away disappointed. All spare copies went in fifteen minutes (by 2pm). We will bring up a few more spare copies tomorrow. Again though, first come, first served. Collection will save you £5.

For those collecting their Riverbank 3 books tomorrow outside the Fulham ground before the Everton game, we will be against the wall at the Hammersmith end (opposite side of the road to the ground) next door to David Lloyd and the TOOFIF crew. Traffic permitting we will be there by 1.45 and will remain at our posts until 2.45. Please try if possible not to leave it until the last minute. (If you are unsure about your collection, please e-mail us asap).

There are less than 200 copies of Riverbank 3 left now.

Also tomorrow, we will be also be bringing up several copies of the first of the Ashwater 2013 Wall Calendars. Great value at £5.95

The Ashwater 2013 desk diaries are due in early next week, (very busy printers!) and we will issue a full update on all Christmas offers during the week.


To order your copy / copies of Tales from the Riverbank Part 3 / 2013 Calendar / 2013 Desk Diary:

Visit www.ashwaterpress.co.uk (Click link)

Where you can order using PAYPAL
Or use your credit / debit card and order as a PAYPAL guest.

We can also take orders for you over the phone.

On the site, you can also download an order form and pay by cheque using the post if you wish.

For any other information, please E mail: [email protected]

Or telephone: 01344 – 624231

Or simply reply to this e-mail!

Please continue to support us

We have only mailed supporters whose e-mail addresses we hold. Please forward this mail to your other FFC supporting friends and also tell others – Thank you. If you wish, please use Twitter and 'tweet' this information to all the Fulham associates you have!

If you wish at any time to unsubscribe from our mailing list (and we hope not) – just reply to this mail and we'll see to it.


Tales from the Riverbank (part 3) – Thumbnail content:

With over 125 photographs (many of these pictures never seen before), this 224-page hardback book is a breathtaking and detailed insight into two more turbulent seasons at Craven Cottage (1969-70 and 1970-71). It's a time when Fulham start their climb back to respectability. Every game, every goal, all the comings and goings on and off the pitch; every detail relating to life at Fulham FC at that time – well over 100 matches are covered.

The shock departure of Malcolm Macdonald / Fulham go crazy with eight goals at Halifax Town / Fulham score sixteen goals in just three league games / The Doncaster Rovers thugs come to town / Johnny Haynes gets the Fulham goalscoring record / The Luton Town floodlight failure / George Cohen's testimonial match / The first round FA Cup knock out at Fourth Division Exeter City / George Cohen takes charge of the juniors / The Bristol Rovers leaflet protest / John Richardson scores one of the goals of the season in a rare Fulham TV appearance / Johnny Haynes' final Fulham game / Fulham's two wins in eighteen games, and morale at rock bottom / A great revival and Fulham push on to fifteen league games unbeaten / The Fulham youth, victorious in Düsseldorf / Jimmy Conway and Steve Earle head the league's goalscoring charts / The departure of Johnny Haynes and the arrival of Jimmy Dunne / Barry Lloyd made captain at twenty-one / The Watney Cup thriller with Derby County / All five forwards score against Bradford City / Rodney Marsh's first return to the Cottage and Rangers being rattled out of the League Cup / Cup specialists Swindon Town become Fulham's next League Cup victims / Another fifteen game unbeaten run / Stan Brown's testimonial match / Dad winning the FA Cup duel of the Dodgins / League Cup quarterfinal heartache at Ashton Gate / The Gillingham pantomime on ice / Three goals in eight minutes at Priestfield / The Fulham champagne promotion party at Bradford City / The Preston North End final letdown / Town Hall celebrations / The new Riverside stand gets the go-ahead.