Saturday Fulham Stuff (24/11/12)...

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Fulham winger Ashkan Dejagah: Stoke City are very direct


Ashkan Dejagah: Fulham winger admits playing against Stoke City will be tough

Fulham winger Ashkan Dejagah believes that his side should focus on winning against Stoke City and not on playing football.

The Cottagers have been one of the more entertaining teams in the Premier League this season with 25 goals in 12 matches.

However, summer signing Dejagah says that they will struggle to play their usual game against their "very direct" hosts at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

"The players tell me that Stoke are very direct and it's not easy to play at their ground," the 26-year-old told Fulham's official website.

"They have some big players and they like to play long balls.

"We must fight in this game - it's not a match to play football. If we fight for each other we can win this game."

"The right is my favourite but I've played on the left before for Wolfsburg. The manager is the boss and he will decide who will play there on Saturday."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8274168/?

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Fulham Focus - Time for Rodallega's Craven Cottage career to catch fire

The signing of Colombia international Hugo Rodallega for Fulham on a free transfer from Wigan slipped under the radar somewhat amidst the raft of big-money summer purchases around the Premier League. However, those who had picked up on it, particularly those residing at Craven Cottage, believed that Martin Jol had picked up a real coup.



Rodallega may have been coming off the back of a poor final season at the DW Stadium, where the form of Franco Di Santo, Wigan's preferred system of a single-striker as well as contractual disputes limited him to just a handful of goals, but there was still no doubting the striker's quality and predatory goalscoring instincts at this level.

Indeed, prior to last season's poor tally of two, the 27-year-old hit 10 and nine league goals in the previous two seasons respectively, including vital strikes towards the end of both campaigns to keep Wigan in the Premier League. Besides his goals, an impressive tally for a team that would often struggle to make chances at the bottom of the table, Rodallega's general play in terms of his work-rate, pace, ability to hold the ball up and bring others into play, made him a target for the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal, let alone Fulham.

However for whatever reason, the move to the Cottage so far has not quite taken off. Having perhaps arrived in West London lacking in both fitness and confidence, Rodallega has first seen Mladen Petric hit the ground running in terms of goal-scoring, only to see Dimitar Berbatov brought in to play as Fulham's single striker, the position Rodallega would occupy with such distinction for Wigan. Indeed, with his appearances mostly restricted to fleeting ones from the bench, it is no surprise that Rodallega has only scored once for the club so far, ironically at former club Wigan.

There is an argument that perhaps alongside the rather languid likes of Berbatov, Petric and Bryan Ruiz, that Rodallega perhaps does not quite compliment their talents. While the former all like the ball to feet, Rodallega prefers balls to run on to and scraps to feed off. Undoubtedly, that is not Fulham's way under Jol. However, with his pace and desire, Rodallega offers Fulham something their play often lacks in terms of pure speed and directness.

Perhaps all he needs is a few more goals. After all, Rodallega's Wigan career did not begin spectacularly and it was only after he began to find the net did his true quality begin to show. As Fulham prepare to face Stoke at the Britannia - the scene of arguably Rodallega's greatest moment as a Wigan player as he scored the goal that kept them up in the 2010-11 season - the Colombian will most probably begin the match on the substitutes bench. However, the stage could just be set for him to come on and finally set his Fulham career alight.


http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_0_17690_fulham-focus-time-for-rodallega's-craven-cottage-career-to-catch-fire.html

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Stoke defender a doubt for Fulham visit

Fulham could face a depleted Stoke defence at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow as Andy Wilkinson is a doubt for the Premier League clash.

Wilkinson had to come off in the first half of Monday's 1-1 draw at West Ham due to a back problem and has undergone a scan. If he is ruled out, his replacement at Upton Park, Ryan Shotton, is likely to deputise once again at full-back.

Midfielder Dean Whitehead is back available after being suspended for the match against the Hammers, but striker Michael Owen is not expected to be ready to make his return from a hamstring complaint, while midfielder Rory Delap (hernia) and defender Marc Wilson (broken leg) remain sidelined.

Provisional Stoke squad: Begovic, Sorensen, Huth, Shawcross, Cameron, Upson, Shotton, Whelan, Etherington, Palacios, Jones, Jerome, Crouch, Walters, Kightly, Adam, Edu, Nzonzi, Ness, Whitehead.



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/stoke_defender_a_doubt_for_fulham_visit_1_1706804

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Fulham foursome out of Stoke trip


Alex Kacaniklic. Photo credit: Joe Giddens/EMPICS

Fulham will again be without a number of key players for Saturday's trip to Stoke.

Alex Kacaniklic and Bryan Ruiz are both out for the next two weeks with hamstring injuries picked up against Sunderland, while Mickael Tavares and Kieran Richardson miss out with similar complaints.

Fulham can call upon Mahamadou Diarra (knee) and Chris Baird (ban) again, although captain Brede Hangeland (ban), Simon Davies (hip) and Kerim Frei (loan return) are also unavailable. David Stockdale, Marcello Trotta and Alex Smith left the club on loan yesterday.

Provisional Fulham squad: Schwarzer, Etheridge, Riether, Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Senderos, Riise, Sidwell, Dejagah, Diarra, Baird, Karagounis, Kasami, Duff, Rodallega, Petric, Berbatov.


http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_foursome_out_of_stoke_trip_1_1706811

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Fan Landmark

The Barclays Premier League is preparing to welcome the 250 millionth fan through the turnstiles. Just over 20 years after the world's most popular league launched on Saturday 15 August 1992, Barclays are looking to reward fans from Fulham with an 'ultimate matchday experience'.

The quarter-billion fan mark is expected to be reached on Tuesday 27th November when Sunderland host Queens Park Rangers at The Stadium of Light and Aston Villa take on Reading at Villa Park.

Since its formation, the Premier League has been growing in popularity with average attendance figures increasing from 21,125 in 1992/93 compared to 34,646 during the 2011/12 season.

Over the last 20 years stadium capacities have grown across the country allowing an extra four million fans a season to watch their favourite teams. More fans have watched the Premier League at Old Trafford than any other club ground with the 12-times Champions Manchester United accounting for nearly a tenth of the total number of fans to have watched the League live (24,322,356).
To mark the occasion, Barclays, title sponsor of the Premier League, is launching a 'Find the Fan' competition to reward a supporter and three friends from each of the 20 clubs with a VIP trip to see their team in a Premier League match, including hospitality and first class travel and accommodation.

Barclays' photographers will be at all 20 Premier League fixtures on November 24th, 25th, 27th and 28th, and will be taking exclusive pictures of both home and away fans on the matchdays to find a fan from each club to represent the 250 million fans. The images will be uploaded onto the Barclays Football Facebook site facebook.com/BarclaysFootball where fans will be asked to identify themselves to be eligible for the VIP prize draw.

Barclays are also taking a look back at the past 21 seasons by sharing some of the best images of those action packed years across their social media channels and are inviting fans to post their memories of these historic moments. Fans should go to facebook.com/BarclaysFootball for more details.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/november/23/fan-landmark?

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Stoke City v Fulham: match preview
Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Stoke City and Fulham at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday Nov 24 2012, kick-off 15:00 GMT.

Saturday November 24
Stoke City v Fulham
Britannia Stadium
Kick-off: 15.00 GMT
TV: Highlights BBC ONE Match of the Day.

Stoke (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Begovic; Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Shotton; Walters, Whelan, Nzonzi, Etherington; Adam; Crouch.
Out: Owen (hamstring), Delap (hernia), Wilson (broken leg).
Test: Wilkinson (back). .

Fulham (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Schwarzer; Riether, Hughes, Senderos, Riise; Diarra, Sidwell, Baird, Rodallega; Petric; Berbatov.
Out: Davies (hip), Hangeland (suspended), Kacaniklic, Richardson, Ruiz, Tavarez (all hamstring).

Referee: Michael Oliver. Matches 7, R1 Y13.

Team News
Stoke could be without defender Andy Wilkinson at the Britannia Stadium.

Wilkinson had to come off in the first half of Monday's 1-1 draw at West Ham due to a back problem and has undergone a scan.

If he is ruled out, his replacement at Upton Park, Ryan Shotton, is likely to deputise once again at full-back.

Midfielder Dean Whitehead is available after being suspended for the match at Upton Park but striker Michael Owen is not expected to be ready to make his return from a hamstring complaint, while midfielder Rory Delap and defender Marc Wilson remain sidelined.

Fulham, meanwhile, will again be without a number of key players.

Alex Kacaniklic and Bryan Ruiz are both out for the next two weeks with hamstring injuries picked up against Sunderland, while Mickael Tavares and Kieran Richardson miss out with similar complaints.

Fulham can call upon Mahamadou Diarra (knee) and Chris Baird (ban) again, although captain Brede Hangeland is suspended, while Simon Davies (hip) is also unavailable.

In addition, three players left for loan spells on Thursday: David Stockdale (Hull), Marcello Trotta (Brentford) and Alex Smith (Leyton Orient).

Match Notes
Fulham have been encouragingly entertaining away from home this season; Stoke have been depressingly dreary at the Britannia.

Tony Pulis's team have conceded just one goal in five home league games so Fulham have their work cut out.

Stoke have struggled for goals though, with Peter Crouch looking isolated recently, and Michael Owen is still not quite fit enough.

They will be helped by the absence of Fulham's defensive rock Brede Hangeland.

Betting: Home 11-10, Away 23-10, Draw 23-10.

Stat of the game: Fulham substitutes have scored seven goals off the bench, the most in the Premier League.

Arindam Rej's prediction: Stoke City 0 Fulham 1.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/9696438/Stoke-City-v-Fulham-match-preview.html

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Pulis: Berbatov is best buy of the season

Stoke boss Tony Pulis feels Fulham's Dimitar Berbatov has been one of the stand-out stars of the Barclays Premier League season so far.

Berbatov, having fallen out of favour at Manchester United, joined the Cottagers on transfer deadline day in August, becoming manager Martin Jol's most high-profile recruit of the summer.

A day later the 31-year-old Bulgarian striker made his debut as a substitute, since when he has scored five goals in seven starts, and Pulis - whose side host Fulham at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow - has no doubt Jol has made a very shrewd move.

"He is a good manager and he is very well respected around the country," Pulis said of his counterpart.

"Fulham have some good players and I think Berbatov has been the outstanding buy for them.

"He is the glue that knits it all together.

"He looks as if he is really, really enjoying himself having found a home where he is the main player. Looking at him, he is just showing the class that he possesses."

Asked if there had been a better signing made by a Premier League club over the summer, Pulis said: "It doesn't look like it at the moment."

He added: "I think our supporters will see one of the best players in the Premier League on Saturday on the ball.

"He can win games by himself and has been a great signing for Martin.

"Berbatov is one of the outstanding players in the Premier League this year. It is worth the admission fee just to see him play."

Fulham, currently ninth in the table on 16 points, have been free-scoring in general, netting 25 times in their 12 top-flight games this term.

They have also conceded 22 goals, though, and their defence will be missing suspended team captain Brede Hangeland tomorrow after the Norway international was sent off in last Sunday's 3-1 home defeat to Sunderland.

Pulis, whose Stoke side are 14th on 13 points, is aware of the Cottagers' apparent strengths and weaknesses, but is not about to make any assumptions ahead of the clash at the Britannia Stadium.

"I've watched their games and they have conceded goals, but they don't half look good going forward," Pulis said.

"We know it is going to be a tough game.

"We respect everybody in the Premier League and we certainly won't be taking Fulham for granted, whatever anybody says about their attacking, defending or whatever."

Stoke could be without defender Andy Wilkinson for tomorrow's match.

Wilkinson had to come off in the first half of Monday's 1-1 draw at West Ham due to a back problem and has undergone a scan.

If he is ruled out, his replacement at Upton Park, Ryan Shotton, is likely to deputise once again at full-back.

Midfielder Dean Whitehead is back available after being suspended for the game against the Hammers, but striker Michael Owen is not expected to be ready to make his return from a hamstring complaint, while midfielder Rory Delap (hernia) and defender Marc Wilson (broken leg) remain sidelined.



http://www.itv.com/sport/football/article/2012-11-23/pulis-berbatov-is-best-buy-of-the-season/?

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Lost spark: why Mark Hughes should never have walked out on Fulham
A manager's role is to make good decisions but most of Hughes's recent ones at QPR looked bad. He is still only 49 but his best managerial achievements are well in the past

Mohamed Al Fayed was right: Mark Hughes has lost his spark. The Welshman may figure out how to rekindle it now that Queens Park Rangers have condemned him to indefinite free time to think things over but at the moment it is difficult to see how he can regain his once-glowing reputation. A managerial career that for a while seemed destined to elevate him to the exalted heights where he thrived as a player has taken a downward turn that could prove terminal.

A manager's role is to make good decisions and most of Hughes's recent ones look bad. His last act as QPR manager was, by his own admission, to pick the wrong team and lose at home to the side immediately above them at the bottom of the league. But, beyond any regrets he may have about his time at Loftus Road, Hughes may wonder whether he should even have wound up there in the first place: voluntarily walking out on Fulham a little more than a year ago looks especially misguided now.

At the time Hughes – or rather his adviser Kia Joorabchian – justified the departure from Craven Cottage on the grounds that such a high-calibre manager belonged at a club with grander ambitions. Aston Villa had a vacancy and so, as usual, did Chelsea. But neither knocked on Hughes's door and he had to wait six months before QPR came calling, desperate to avoid relegation.

Hughes kept them up on the final day of last season and vowed that the club would never again find itself in such a predicament while he was in charge. But after an extravagant summer spending spree he was unable to wring even one league win from his hifalutin team. You cannot unring bells, but you can unring telephones and Hughes's is likely to be silent for a while, at least when it comes to calls from the quality of club he thinks should be courting him.

He is only 49 but Hughes's best managerial achievements are in the fading past. He was granted his first post in 1999 when he was named temporary joint manager of his country alongside Neville Southall and Bobby Gould. He took full charge for the 2002 World Cup qualifiers and Wales finished second bottom of their group after winning one of their 10 matches.

The next campaign, however, was when his managerial star began to ascend, as Wales won their first four qualifiers for Euro 2004, a streak that included a memorable 2-1 triumph over Italy. But they lost three of their next four matches and drew the other one at home to Finland, condemning them to contest a play-off against Russia, where they suffered a narrow aggregate defeat.

The afterglow of the victory over Italy lingered, however, and Blackburn Rovers, having just jettisoned Graeme Souness, invited him to leave international management and pursue his Premier League ambitions, albeit with the first mission being to lift the 18th-place club out of the drop zone.

What Hughes did next stands in stark contrast to his QPR misadventure. He kept Blackburn up comfortably and the next season inspired them to a sixth-place finish in the league. His team were dynamic, robust and organised and Hughes earned a reputation for astuteness in the transfer market, spotting bargains such as Christopher Samba, Ryan Nelsen and Roque Santa Cruz. He solved puzzles such as David Bentley, who became an England international under Hughes, and Craig Bellamy, who was bought by Liverpool on the back of his performances for the Ewood Park club.

Hughes kept his and Blackburn's standing high for nearly four seasons, making him an obvious candidate to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2008 when Manchester City jilted the former England manager. The rigour and fortitude for which his Blackburn team were known only appeared in patches at City, where, ominously, big-money signings raised pressure and seemed to blur focus. Results were so-so, as shown by a 10th place in his only full season there. He failed to find a system or style and his team, especially in defence, often looked muddled.

His man-management was called into question as he struggled to work with certain prominent players, including record signing Robinho and even the midfielder Elano, previously the club's most influential performer. Trusty old charges failed to fire, particularly Santa Cruz, no longer the bargain he had been at Blackburn after Hughes forked out £17.5m to bring him to Manchester.

City were not terrible but nor were they terrifying. That was not good enough for the club's new Abu Dhabi owners, who appalled Hughes by sacking him just before Christmas 2009 with City sixth in the league. Hughes had met people even more impatient to get to the top than himself.

After seven months out of work he was hired to replace Roy Hodgson at Fulham. Hughes is clearly an intelligent and articulate man but those merits have at times been obscured. He ruffled the feathers of Fulham fans from the outset with a demeanour that suggested this modest club was lucky to have a manager as marvellous as him. On the pitch, Hughes was fortunate to have inherited a fine team. He did well enough to convince the chairman to offer him a new contract at the end of his first season. Then he angered Fayed by declaring he no longer wanted the contract and was leaving in search of something better. He did not find it.

Maybe the Loftus Road gig does have the potential to propel some manager into Europe, which was Hughes's prediction for QPR at the start of this season. But he did not get them anywhere near there. Four draws and eight defeats represent a piffling return on lavish summer investment in transfer fees and wages. Most of the glitzy acquisitions, such as José Bosingwa and Park Ji-sung, have flopped so far, with others only flickering. Rob Green was awarded a huge salary when he joined from West Ham and then demoted by Hughes within weeks, as soon as the chance to buy Júlio César came up.

If QPR have a wealth of goalkeeping talent, they look impoverished in other areas, such as central defence and centre-forward. An imbalanced squad may have been one of the contributing factors to QPR's awful start, but Hughes is not sure: he confessed after last week's home defeat against Southampton that he had no idea where things were going wrong. He was talking specifically about his QPR team but he may now be wondering the same thing about his career.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/nov/23/mark-hughes-lost-spark-qpr?

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Stoke City v Fulham: Squad sheets

Fulham's surprise collapse against Sunderland last week means Martin Jol will be demanding a strong response from his players. But it will not be easy – while the visitors' goal haul is second only to Manchester United, away from home they have leaked goals in every match. With Stoke holding the best defensive home record in the league, it could be a tough ask for Dimitar Berbatov to inspire Fulham's depleted squad. Stoke have their own injury concern – Andy Wilkinson may miss out after limping off at West Ham on Monday with a back problem. Rob Clyne

Venue Britannia Stadium, Saturday 3pm

Tickets £25-35 (01782 367599)

Last season Stoke 2 Fulham 0

Referee Michael Oliver

This season's matches 7 Y13, R0, 2.00 cards per game

Odds Stoke 5-4 Fulham 11-4 Draw 9-4


Stoke City v Fulham: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light.
Illustration: Graphic

Stoke

Subs from Nash, Sorensen, Whelan, Palacios, Jones, Ness, Upson, Kightly, Wilkinson, Arismendi, Jerome, Edu

Doubtful Wilkinson (back)

Injured Delap (hernia, 8 Dec), Owen (hamstring, 28 Nov), Wilson (broken leg, Jan)

Suspended None

Form guide DWLDLD

Disciplinary record Y27 R1

Leading scorer Crouch 4

Fulham

Subs from Etheridge, Somogyi, Kelly, Diarra, Karagounis, Kasami, Na Banga, Williams, Rodallega, Frei

Doubtful Diarra (knee)

Injured Richardson (hamstring, 1 Dec), Tavares (hamstring, 1 Dec), Kacaniklic (hamstring, 10 Dec), Ruiz (hamstring, 10 Dec), Davies (hip, Jan)

Suspended Hangeland (first of three)

Form guide LDDDWD

Disciplinary record Y12 R1

Leading scorer Berbatov 5

Match pointers

• Only two teams have ever drawn more of their opening 12 Premier League games than Stoke (seven) have this season – Norwich in 2004-05 and Leeds in 1998-99 (both eight)

• There have been fewer goals scored at the Britannia Stadium so far this season (five) than at any other top-flight ground

• Fulham are unbeaten in their past four Premier League away games, only twice before – in August 2004 (six games) and November 2006 (five games) – have they been on longer runs

• Peter Crouch scored four times in his first six games but has failed to find the net in six subsequent appearances

• In the past six league meetings between these sides, all six of Fulham's goals have come in the first hour and all four of Stoke's have been scored in the final 15 minutes of matches


http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/nov/23/stoke-city-fulham-squad-sheets?

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Funny Feeling Friday: Mladen Petric


Petric could become Berbatov's sidekick with Ruiz out

Dimitar Berbatov is the obvious fantasy selection at Fulham, the 7.6m rated former Golden Boot winner is owned by 17% of fantasy managers – and is a super stud.

And with Bryan Ruiz now injured with a hamstring problem, Berbatov's teammate Hugo Rodallega is a potential cut price option up front – but we have featured Rodallega time and time again as our 'Funny Feeling Friday' over the past 2-3 years. Rodallega is old news.

But the cheapest option is Mladen Petric. At just 5.6m, the striker comes in 2m less expensive than teammate Dimitar Berbatov. For those who can't afford the silky smooth Bulgarian, Petric could be a potential alternative.

Fulham are at Stoke this weekend, so it certainly won't be easy, but the 4% owned Croatian international and former Hamburg star has scored consistently whenever he's played throughout his career. At just 5.6m in the official FPL game – with Berbatov assuming a deeper role – Petric could take control of the target man role and start putting in the goals on a consistent basis for the Cottagers.

Perhaps he'll start at Stoke.

There you have it. Mladen Petric. A Martin Jol special. Your Funny Feeling Friday.


http://www.nevercaptainnickybutt.com/2012/11/funny-feeling-friday-mladen-petric.html?

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PHILIPPE SENDEROS IN GIANT BOOST

PHILIPPE SENDEROS has been tipped to relaunch his Fulham career by walking tall against Stoke's giants.

Senderos has played a bit-part role during his injury-hit two years at Craven Cottage.

But boss Martin Jol is ready to throw the Swiss defender straight in to deal with the Britannia bruisers today.

Senderos, 27, will make his first start of the season in place of the suspended Brede Hangeland.

And it does not get much tougher than the aerial bombardment he can expect from Peter Crouch and Co.

Jol said: "I saw Stoke against West Ham the other night and it will be quite a challenge.

"Senderos will come in. He's played a few reserve games so hopefully he is ready.

"He played last year and did well and got injured again. But maybe it will be a great opportunity for him as he is quite a battler."

Senderos has been forced to play the waiting game this season – but that is nothing new for him.

He sustained an Achilles injury after joining Fulham in 2010 and has only just recovered from a long-term foot problem.

But the Cottage's forgotten man can expect an extended run with derbies against Chelsea and Tottenham looming.

Jol added: "He has been unlucky but he also found Hangeland and Aaron Hughes a good pair so it was not easy for him to get into the team.

"He will show what he is capable of."


http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/284245/?