Thursday Fulham Stuff (22/11/12)...

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Martin Jol is looking to strengthen Fulham squad in the January transfer window


Martin Jol: Looking to bolster his squad in the forthcoming transfer window

Fulham boss Martin Jol is looking to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window as he seeks to build a top team which can compete with the likes of London rivals Spurs and Arsenal.

Jol lost several key players in the summer, including Clint Dempsey, Mousa Dembele and Danny Murphy, but he brought in Dimitar Berbatov among his recruits.

After a solid start to the campaign, Jol still wants to strengthen, with Norwegian defender Vegard Forren linked to the Cottagers.

He told the Fulham Chronicle: "It's a cliche but we always look for players who can strengthen our team.

"I want to build a top team and that needs a very good footballing side that can compete with the likes of Spurs, Arsenal and Everton."

Dempsey and Dembele departed for Spurs in the final few days of the last transfer window and Jol would like to avoid a race against time to strengthen in the forthcoming window.

"That would be fantastic because then you can strengthen your squad," he said.

"If you don't know what will happen three days before the end of the transfer window then you've got a problem like we had.

"But nothing is what it seems because after that we've been doing better than before."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8265867?

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Fulham recalls Etheridge from Bristol

MANILA, Philippines – Premier League side Fulham FC has recalled Philippine Azkals first-choice goal-keeper Neil Etheridge from the Bristol Rovers of League Two, casting doubts on his availability for the AFF Suzuki Cup.

"The Club (Fulham) can confirm that Neil Etheridge has been recalled from his loan at Bristol Rovers," Fulham announced on their website late Wednesday.

"Rovers can confirm that Neil Etheridge has been recalled by Fulham," Bristol Rovers tweeted. "We would like to wish Neil Etheridge all the best back at his parent club."



http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/11/22/12/fulham-recalls-etheridge-bristol?

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The Premier League's five biggest bargains so far

Swansea City, West Ham United, Fulham and West Bromwich Albion players feature in our run down of the five best bargain buys of the summer.

The Premier League is consistently the most haemorrhagic football league on the planet when it comes to transfer fees. Inflated transfer fees have seen clubs paying extortionate fees for individuals nowhere near the sums being splashed out. Jordan Henderson, Andy Carroll, Fernando Torres are all players who come to mind as great examples of this inflated market.

However some clubs have still managed to negotiate themselves some tremendous bargains in the summer who have gone on to have brilliant Premier League campaigns so far; especially in comparison to their measly price tags.


Here are our top five bargains of the summer.

Mohamed Diame

Last season he was fast becoming the butt of many football fans jokes as he missed glaring chances during the closing stages of the season for Wigan Athletic. Now the dynamic, strong and skilful midfielder has become an integral member of the West Ham revolution as they start the season by far the strongest of the promoted bunch.

Claudio Yacob

When he joined up with WBA's training camp in Sweden not many would have predicted what has come next for the Argentine international. He has become an ever present in Steve Clarke's midfield alongside Youssouf Mulumbu and has even been linked with a move to Manchester United at the end of the season.

Sascha Riether

Signed on a season-long loan from German side FC Koln he has become an ever present at right back. Craven Cottage has been treated to his energetic displays down the right flank ever since and the two time German international has been a more then competent addition to Martin Jol's side. Fulham have the option to make his deal permanent in the summer.

Michu

This is of course the most obvious of all the bargains this summer. It was incredible that Swansea managed to snap up La Liga's top scoring midfielder for just £2 million this summer from Rayo Vallecano. He has adapted to the Premier League with aplomb even playing as the leading frontman for Michael Laudrup's side despite arriving as an attacking midfielder. So far he has scored eight goals in 14 appearances, and counting.

Jonathan de Guzman

After Villarreal were relegated to the Segunda Division several of their players became available including one Jonathan de Guzman. The Dutch-Canadian was brought in by Laudrup and it has turned out to be another great bit of business from the Spanish league system for the Welsh club. A stalwart in the heart of Swansea's midfield his passing ability is of the standard expected and has done an admirable job stepping into the shoes of the departed Joe Allen at the Liberty Stadium.



http://hereisthecity.com/2012/11/20/mn-the-premier-leagues-five-biggest-bargains-so-far/?

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Trotta Loan

The Club can confirm that young striker Marcello Trotta has joined Brentford on loan.

The forward heads to Griffin Park until 13th January to team up with Uwe Rosler's npower League One side.

The 20-year-old could feature when the Bees host Sheffield United on Saturday (3pm). Brentford currently lie in seventh place in League One and just outside the Play-Off places, with the Blades sitting in second.

The Italian, who arrived at Fulham in the summer of 2009, enjoyed a successful loan spell in League One last term, scoring eight goals in as many appearances for Wycombe Wanderers.

He then returned to SW6, making his Fulham debut in the Club's FA Cup Fourth Round defeat at Everton.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/november/22/trotta-loan?

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Stocko's Loan Deal

The Club can confirm that David Stockdale has joined Hull City on loan until 2nd January 2013.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper has made 23 appearances for the Whites but the form of first-choice stopper Mark Schwarzer has limited his chances.

Stockdale arrives at the KC Stadium with City sitting fourth in the npower Championship, and he could be in line to make his debut for the Tigers when they host Burnley on Saturday (3pm).

"He's an awesome goalkeeper," Fulham Manager Martin Jol admitted. "But I made a choice with Mark Schwarzer. David was desperate for games and I think he needs to play to keep his rhythm.

"We've got a good connection with Hull. I know Steve Bruce and, if something happens to Schwarzer, I can always call him back."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/november/22/stockos-loan-deal?

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Berbatov Names 2nd Daughter after Wife

Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov, who became a father for the second time to a baby girl earlier this week, has named his daughter Elia, according to a Bulgarian media report.

Thus the baby girl and the mother, Elena, will share similar names.

Fulham forward's relatives in the city of Blagoevgrad expected the child to be named after Berbatov's mother, Margarita, but the couple has obviously decided otherwise.

Elia was born on November 19 in Sofia. The baby and the mother are feeling fine and are about to be released from the hospital and spend a few days at their home here, before Berbatov takes his enlarged family to England.

Berbatov's first-born girl is three-year-old Dea.


http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=145371

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Smith Heads For Orient

Fulham youngster Alex Smith became the third player to head out on loan from SW6 on Thursday, joining Leyton Orient until early January.

The midfielder, who made his Fulham debut as a late substitute in the Club's 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, will stay with npower League One side Orient until 2nd January 2013.

Also able to play in defence, 21-year-old Smith, who is now in his 11th season with Fulham, could make his Orient debut when the mid-table O's host Preston North End on Saturday.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/november/22/smith-heads-for-orient?

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Frei Returns

Fulham have recalled Kerim Frei from his loan spell at npower Championship side Cardiff City, the Club have confirmed.

The midfielder joined high-flying City in late October for an initial month, making his debut as a substitute in a 4-0 win over Burnley.

He again appeared from the bench in a 2-1 loss at Bolton Wanderers, before starting the 5-3 defeat to Charlton Athletic at The Valley.

But injuries to the likes of Bryan Ruiz, Kieran Richardson and Alexander Kačaniklić have left Fulham short of left-sided players so the Whites have moved to cut short Frei's time with the Welsh outfit.

However, due to Football League rules, the recall will officially take effect from Saturday and the player's international clearance will be returned to Fulham on Monday. Frei will, therefore, not be eligible to play for Fulham until that international clearance has been received.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/november/22/frei-returns?

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Jol's Stoke Preview

Fulham Manager Martin Jol knows full well what to expect when he takes his Whites side to the Britannia Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

Jol's men face a Stoke City outfit who have built up a reputation as a team who like to play direct football, and the Fulham boss is aware his charges will need to have answers to the questions posed to them by the Potters.

"We have to cope with the aerial threat," he said. "We can't come up with different solutions. We don't have another Brede Hangeland, but we've got Philippe Senderos and he will hopefully, if he stays fit, come in and replace him.

"With Aaron Hughes and the other players we've got, we are strong enough but I saw Stoke against West Ham United [on Monday] and it will be quite a challenge.

"You always hope that you can play your football and get them on the back foot but that is not easy because they try to pressurise you and they put balls into your box. They've got five or six players with a lot of size, so it's not easy but we will try to come up with something."

Jol is set to be without his Captain for the next three matches and, while he was not happy with Hangeland's dismissal against Sunderland, he has opted not to appeal against the decision.

"Hangeland is suspended," he said. "I felt that it was a very harsh decision but we haven't appealed it because there's always the risk that if you are unsuccessful then the ban becomes four games rather than three."

The Black Cats defeat last weekend cost Fulham more than just three points and a suspension, as Bryan Ruiz and Alexander Kačaniklić both departed the field of play with hamstring injuries.

Jol confirmed that the duo will be out for the next few matches, although he had better news regarding the fitness of another influential midfielder.

"Mahamadou Diarra trained with us on Thursday so he is available for selection," Jol confirmed. "Ruiz will be out for possibly the next two weeks. Kačaniklić is the same story; 10 days or two weeks out.

"Simon Davies will return to full training next week so he will be back, and Kieran Richardson will be back next week as well. [Mickael] Tavares is still injured with his hamstring so he's not involved."

In Fulham's last three matches, Jol opted to start Ruiz in behind Dimitar Berbatov up front. Following the playmaker's injury, however, the Dutchman now admits he needs to re-evaluate his striking options.

"Berbatov could drop into a number 10 role with Mladen Petrić coming in," he mused. "We could play in a 4-4-2 or we could play with a 4-4-1-1, so that is the decision we have to make.

"We know Stoke well; they are very strong, especially at home so it's only a matter of whether we go with Hugo Rodallega up front or Petrić up front. Hugo was playing on the left against Sunderland because Richardson was not there and Kaca was not there.

"Petrić came on at the weekend and he scored so he can play with Berbatov, as I said before. They do well in training together. [But] Rodallega can make a good pair with Berbatov too, and Berbatov can play on his own. Giorgos [Karagounis] can play in the hole too so there are a few options. We'll have to wait and see what option we use on Saturday.

"We've called Kerim Frei back from Cardiff City but he is not available and can't join us for the next match, but he will probably be involved in the next game against Chelsea."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/november/22/jols-stoke-preview?

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Fulham boosted by returning duo for Stoke City clash

FULHAM are set to welcome back Mahamadou Diarra and Chris Baird for this weekend's trip to Stoke City.

Baird was unavailable last time out due to a one-match ban and Diarra has been missing due to a troublesome knee injury.

While Martin Jol is boosted by the return of that duo, he will be without Brede Hangeland as he starts the first match of his three-game ban.

Hangeland was shown a straight red last week at home to Sunderland and Philippe Senderos is expected to deputise.

Bryan Ruiz and Alexander Kacaniklic were further casualties of the 3-1 defeat to the Black Cats as they pulled up with hamstring problems and will sit out on Saturday.

They join Mickael Tavares, Simon Davies and Kieran Richardson on the Craven Cottage treatment table.



http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2012/11/22/82029-32287542/?