Sunday Fulham Stuff (23/12/12)

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Jol is a Bo selector



Published: 22nd December 2012


FULHAM are set to sign Standard Liege keeper Sinan Bolat for £800,000.

The Turkey international, 24, is wanted as No 2 to Aussie keeper Mark Schwarzer, 40.


Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4710854/Fulham-are-set-to-sign-Sinan-Bolat.html#ixzz2FrL5opnT

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http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/martin-jol-the-new-frontrunner-in-chase-1503120


Bent move: Jol the new frontrunner in chase for Villa forward



22 Dec 2012 23:43



PLUS: Fulham will sign Sinan Bolat on January 1 and are in the chase for a midfielder from France


Richard Heathcote


Darren Bent is expected to be fit to make a move from Aston Villa in the January transfer window – with Fulham favourites to sign the England striker writes the Sunday People.

Bent, 28 injured his hamstring on a rare outing in the Capital One Cup quarter-final at Norwich earlier this month. But he is due to return to full fitness by mid-January and Villa remain open to offers.

Read more stories from the Sunday People   

Fulham boss Martin Jol could meet Villa's £8million asking price, though Bent might have to take a minor cut to his £65,000-a-week Villa wages to move to Craven Cottage.

Jol has money to spend after the £15m sale of Mousa Dembele and, although Fulham have four senior strikers in their squad, the Dutchman is keen for an out-and-out goalscorer.

QPR boss Harry Redknapp could also join the bidding, although his spending power at Loftus Road is limited.

Redknapp and Jol, both former Spurs bosses, are also chasing defensive midfielder Yacouba Sylla.

The 22-year-old, a France Under-21 international, has produced the goods at French Ligue 2 side Clermont Foot.

Sylla's deal still has 18 months to run and French outfits Saint-Etienne and Valenciennes are also interested.

However, neither side will make their move until next summer, leaving the door open for QPR and Fulham when the transfer window opens.

Clermont Foot will listen to offers of around £750,000.


New Sinan


Fulham are poised to sign Standard Liege goalkeeper Sinan Bolat in an £800,000 deal.

The Turkey international has spent time at Craven Cottage recovering from knee surgery.

Bolat, 24, won the Belgian title with Liege in 2009. He was their first choice until suffering cruciate damage in April.

The keeper (above) will be out of contract next summer. Liege technical director Jean-Francois De Sart said: "We have reached an agreement with Fulham for Sinan."

Fulham boss Martin Jol wants the former Genk trainee to understudy Aussie veteran Mark Schwarzer, 40.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/dec/22/liverpool-fulham-premier-league


Liverpool's Stewart Downing scores pick of goals in 4-0 rout of Fulham

   

Joe Lovejoy at Anfield

The Observer, Saturday 22 December 2012 19.32 GMT

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Brendan Rodgers's improving team overpowered feeble Fulham at Anfield to ascend to eighth place in the Premier League, their goals coming from Martin Skrtel, Steven Gerrard, Luis Suárez and, most handsomely, Stewart Downing, who was back to England form.

Liverpool were in charge from the first minute to the last against bedraggled opposition, who defended in abject fashion and have won only one of their past 10 Premier League matches.

Rodgers was delighted with his players' reaction after last week's 3-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa and singled out Downing for individual praise. He revealed having "an honest conversation" with the player "a little while ago", during which he had threatened to offload him in January.

The manager said: "I pointed out that he was an England player two years ago and if he couldn't get in our team this season it was time for him to move on. Since that conversation his response has been quite outstanding. I thought he was brilliant in every aspect of his game and if he keeps playing like that he'll be going nowhere."

Fulham were dreadful. Martin Jol said: "We need more conviction" and there will be a few Cottagers more than willing to convict after this. The poverty of their performance was such that the margin would have been doubled but for some notable second-half saves by Mark Schwarzer, especially to deny Suárez.

Fulham had lost the previous weekend against QPR, and switched from 4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1, discarding a striker, Hugo Rodallega, in the process. Jol was also without Steve Sidwell and Mahamadou Diarra in midfield, and sought security by deploying Kieran Richardson and Chris Baird as a two-man screen in front of his back four.

That security lasted eight minutes. Then Gerrard's corner from the right fell nicely for Skrtel, beyond the penalty spot, to thrash it, right-footed, into the roof of the net. Downing quickly threatened to improve Liverpool's lead with a pulverising 25-yarder that Schwarzer, flying to his left, clearly saved, only for Mark Clattenburg to award a goal-kick.

Fulham tried to play their customary passing game but in the absence of Sidwell and Diarra they struggled for possession and the only surprise about the second goal was that it was delayed until the 36th minute. Then a characteristic run by Gerrard was picked out by Downing's lovely reverse pass, the England captain finishing with accurate aplomb, from right to left.

Suso, supplied by Suaréz, ought to have made it 3-0 before half-time, but screwed his shot horribly wide.

Jol introduced Rodallega at the start of the second half and reverted to 4-4-2 but Liverpool resumed where they had left off and within two minutes they should have had their third, Suárez of all people failing to score at the far post from Downing's inviting cross. No matter, Downing promptly demonstrated how such things should be done, cutting in from the right on to his left foot and letting fly at a velocity that left Schwarzer powerless to intervene.

Trailing by three with 51 minutes played, Fulham were in danger of a real hiding. Glen Johnson was too close for Schwarzer's comfort and Downing inches over from 25 yards. The outcome long since settled, Rodgers sent on Raheem Sterling to receive the applause of a crowd delighted that the precociously gifted 18-year-old had signed a five-year contract. An even bigger cheer greeted the introduction of the old warhorse Jamie Carragher. By this stage Rodgers could easily afford to play Santa Claus.

Rodallega had Pepe Reina at full stretch in added time but Liverpool had the last word, Suárez getting in on the act with a crisp finish from six yards

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http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8352589


Martin Jol: Fulham outclassed by Liverpool


Last Updated: December 22, 2012 10:29pm



Jol: Unhappy with performance


Fulham boss Martin Jol admitted his side were second best in every department after their 4-0 thrashing by Liverpool.

The Reds were untroubled as they cruised to victory with goals from Martin Skrtel, Steven Gerrard, Stewart Downing and Luis Suarez.

Jol conceded Fulham had let themselves down.

"We conceded cheap goals and then we played against ourselves because there were too many disappointments," said the Dutchman.

"Overall it wasn't good enough."

Fulham have now won just once in their last 10 matches and this was their second successive defeat.

Jol could be forgiven for looking anxiously over his shoulder, with just five points separating the Cottagers from the drop zone, but the Dutchman is confident his side will steer clear of trouble.

"We're on 20 points and we have a bit of a cushion," he said.

"We've had a lot of injury problems, but once those players are back we will be fine. We played some very good football before and I'm confident we will do that again.

"But there's no doubt that we have to pick up the points and do better than we did today.

"The next two games are very important. We've got Southampton and then Swansea City; both at home, but we need to show more conviction."

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http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2012/12/22/82029-32481835/


FULHAM suffer red faces at Liverpool



Dec 22 2012


By Paul Warburton


Liverpool 4-0 Fulham


NEVER mind Santa - Martin Jol could do with a few little helpers of his own to overturn a dismal seven days.

The Fulham boss had to suffer a second poor showing on the trot as Liverpool coasted to victory from as early as the eighth minute.

That's how long it took before Martin Skrtel made up for his own-goal gaffe in the same match last May.

Any chance of a repeat was nullified when the defender was left free to ram home as he latched on to a Steven Gerrard corner amongst the defensive chaos.

In fact, Brede Hangeland and Dimitar Berbatov (pic) collided mid-air to allow Skrtel a path beyond both Ashkan Dejegah on the line and keeper Mark Schwarzer.

However, all could have been right on 28 minutes had Pepe Reina not stuck out a foot to divert a swerving 25-yard shot from Dejagah.

At the other end, Schwarzer was also required to deal with a fierce long-range effort from Stewart Downing, whose 20-yard rocket was tipped behind by the Aussie.

But while they trailed by just one – Fulham were still in it.

The second from Gerrard killed that almost as soon as it hit the back of the net.

A great reverse pass from Downing inside the box on 36 minutes saw the midfielder instinctively fire back across Schwarzer and into the corner of the net.

Jol rang the changes at half time bringing on Hugo Rodallega for the ineffective Alex Kacaniklic even though the Swede was returning to his old club.

Fat good it did the manager.

Luis Suarez could have put his side three ahead as many minutes into the second period, but Downing made sure the game was beyond the Whites with a fierce left-foot drive just after that.

Poor Berbatov would have achieved more had he done a bit of last minute shopping than wander like a lost soul upfront on his own.

Jol paid tribute to a striker who has covered more than 12kms in games to make up for injuries and suspension in the final third of the pitch. Had he ran a marathon in this one, he would have been no nearer to a clean strike. Rodallega came closest with a curling free kick that graised the outside of the post, but a siz yard tap-in from Suarez in the final minute was salt in the wounds.

This is far from a crisis, but Fulham are now only one win in the last 10, and have visibly sagged since they edged a close 2-1 win over Newcastle 12 days ago.

Anything less than three points against Southampton on Boxing Day, and the Dutchman might just be under the pressure that accompanies a side within five points of the relegation zone.

Fulham: Schwarzer; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise; Dejagah, Karagounis, Baird, Richardson (54 Frei), Kacaniklic (46 Rodallega); Berbatov. Subs not used: Senderos, Kasami, Stockdale, Briggs, Tavares

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http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/match-report-stewart-downing-finally-finds-his-feet-as-liverpool-run-riot-against-fulham-8430108.html


Match Report: Stewart Downing finally finds his feet as Liverpool run riot against Fulham


Liverpool 4 Fulham 0


Jack Gaughan


anfield


Saturday 22 December 2012



Even Stewart Downing managed to score and muster an assist. Those facts – both were the winger's first for the club in the Premier League during 45 much-maligned games – neatly encapsulate how Brendan Rodgers' philosophical insistence might just be beginning to bear fruit towards the end of a torrid calendar year at Anfield.

If it is taking Downing a long time to prove his £20m worth, reinforcements are in the offing. Daniel Sturridge is expected at Anfield to discuss the formalities of a deal in the next two days.

This is only one result, and against notoriously poor travellers, but Liverpool linked the bossing of proceedings with a renewed cutting edge that their midfield excellence has demanded for many months.

It was, however, made all too easy for them in parts, helped by an obnoxiously awful Fulham. Even so, this performance would have daunted the best of them.

Fulham were more bothered with occupying Daniel Agger than his partner Martin Skrtel from an early corner, giving the Slovak the time to set himself and lay to rest the own goal ghost that had gifted Fulham victory here in May.

The defeat by Aston Villa last week was a distant memory. "I knew we would get a reaction today, because we have a group of very honest players who are working hard every day," Rodgers said. "The pressing was outstanding and the quality of the football was brilliant."

Liverpool have been waiting for goals to match superiority for what seems an eternity, and it all came together when Downing's wonderful reverse through ball found the onrushing Steven Gerrard (pictured below, with Luis Suarez) to slide past Mark Schwarzer.

If this can become consistent in the new year, Rodgers' belief in what is being built, will be more than mere rhetoric.

Worryingly for Fulham, Martin Jol seemed to have had it sussed on the road, but they have gone backwards this season, only winning once, and need to get over the inferiority complex imposed upon them when venturing beyond SW6.

In a role reversal of the second goal, Gerrard found Downing, driving into the box to crash an effort past Schwarzer. The goalkeeper will be upset to have been beaten at his near post, as was his manager, growling and gesticulating as he turned away from the action in disgust.

"We almost played against ourselves," Jol sighed, before turning his attentions to the table: "We've still got a good cushion and should be fine."

There was even the chance for Raheem Sterling to receive a rapturous ovation when he entered for a cameo as substitute, a day after penning a five-year deal. Everything, it seems, is starting to look slightly rosier, and Suarez's late opportunism added gloss.

Downing's slick display could see the club fend off January suitors, even though he had been made available for transfer a fortnight ago. "His reaction from that moment has been outstanding. If he keeps playing like that he'll be going nowhere," Rodgers said.

The Hillsborough charity single 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' is likely to be crowned Christmas No 1 later today. If Liverpool had seen off opposition properly from August, they too might have stood a chance of being towards the top of the charts.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina; Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique; Lucas (Carragher, 83), Gerrard; Suso (Sterling, 71), Shelvey (Allen, 74), Downing; Suarez

Fulham (4-4-1-1): Schwarzer; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise; Dejagah, Karagounis, Baird, Kacaniklic (Rodallega, 46); Richardson (Frei, 54); Berbatov

Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Man of the match: Suarez (Liverpool)

Match rating: 7/10

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Video of BBC Martin Jol interview -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20829567

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/9759154/Liverpool-4-Fulham-0-match-report.html



Liverpool 4 Fulham 0: match report


Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Liverpool and Fulham at Anfield on Saturday Dec 22 2012.



By Jason Burt, at Anfield


5:30PM GMT 22 Dec 2012


181 Comments


This was one of those evenings when the stars aligned for Liverpool... and Stewart Downing finally scored in the Premier League. Miracles do happen. Well it is Christmas.

It was certainly one of Liverpool's most dazzling performances of the season as Fulham were imperiously brushed aside. And it was no coincidence that it also came with probably the best display of Liverpool's biggest star, Steven Gerrard, for quite some time.

Here was the Gerrard of legend: pinging passes, snapping into tackles, eating up ground – and scoring with panache. That he was aided and abetted by Downing, such a previously callow figure since his £20m move to Liverpool, was the greater surprise. His goal was the first he has struck in the league for Liverpool. Not Drowning, but waving.

Downing can go in January, manager Brendan Rodgers wants him out, but surely not if he plays like this even if, in fairness, Liverpool will not often face opponents as drained of confidence and belief as Fulham who beat them twice last season.

How Liverpool have craved an early goal. How emphatically they achieved it. After Jonjo Shelvey's flick was deflected for a corner, Gerrard took the kick which evaded Daniel Agger's leap and landed at the feet of his central defensive partner, Martin Skrtel. He controlled instantly and hammered the crispest of right-foot volleys into the net. 

So often Liverpool's early dominance of matches had not reaped such a reward and then, soon after, Downing, yes Downing, almost added a second with another well-struck drive which was tipped around the post by Mark Schwarzer – even though no corner was awarded.

Nerves were settled. Fulham, on a dire sequence of results, had come to contain and then strike by stealth with Dimitar Berbatov as a lone forward. He was booed – maybe a recognition of his threat but more likely his Manchester United association – and he almost then got on the end of a near-post cross as Sascha Riether too easily beat Suso.

Berbatov was Fulham's source of hope although maybe manager Martin Jol would have been better served by being bolder and using the pace of Hugo Rodallega, too. Fulham were, otherwise, frankly shambolic – summed up by a square pass by Giorgis Karagounis to Chris Baird that was allowed to drift to Downing who was then fouled.

Familiar wastefulness, though, affected Liverpool for a while when Gerrard's scissor kick of a volley rebounded to Luis Suárez who crossed low for Agger to somehow sky over the crossbar.

The game opened up. Pepe Reina, with a touch of the unorthodox, kicked out Kieran Richardson's low shot while Riether, just, toe-poked Suárez's shrewd through ball to safety as Suso ran clear. An even cuter pass, this time from Downing, did lead to a second Liverpool goal.

The winger picked out Gerrard's driving run from outside the box and the captain drove the ball back across goal to beat Schwarzer.

Incredibly, according to the stats, it was the first time Gerrard had scored and assisted in the league in the same game since May 2009 and he was a more dynamic presence than of late.

Fulham were in danger, if it hadn't already happened, of being overwhelmed and Suárez was left pulling his shirt up to his face in frustration as the ball broke to him – only for the striker to drag a low shot wide. Suárez got another sight of goal – this time though, after controlling Glen Johnson's threaded pass, he was pushed wide and his eventual shot was easily saved.

Home form has been tough for Liverpool this campaign and Rodgers decided to follow the announcement of Raheem Sterling's new contract by resting him, along with another of his young tyros, Joe Allen.

Anfield has not been a fortress with league victories garnered previously against sides in the bottom four.

Fulham are not in that predicament but on this display they should be looking over their shoulder.

The dip is becoming a perilous lurch. The deficit should have been even greater soon into the second-half when Downing's cross was deflected to Suárez. Through on goal he, inexplicably, poked the ball wide. As Fulham's resistance continued to crumble, that third goal came – and Downing claimed it.

The brio with which Downing took his goal was all the more stunning as it was so unfamiliar. He collected possession on the right, ran at John Arne Riise and was allowed to come back inside on his left-foot and strike a shot that was too powerful for Schwarzer at the near post.

Fulham were beaten but Rodallega, a half-time replacement, went close when he rose to meet a cross only for the ball to deflect off his head.

Despite Liverpool's dominance it served as a warning, although at least now Fulham were showing some attacking intent and Berbatov had some support. Soon after, Reina had to push out a low shot from Ashkan Dejagah.

Liverpool steadied and normal service resumed with Shelvey and then Downing going close from distance before Schwarzer blocked Gerrard's close-range side-foot with his legs before Suárez bundled his way clear to also be denied, just about. Reina then parried two Berbatov efforts but the game was long gone.

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http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_boss_laments_poor_performance_against_liverpool_1_1751765



Fulham boss laments poor performance against Liverpool


Saturday, December 22, 2012

10:47 PM




Fulham manager Martin Jol was bitterly disappointed with his side's 4-0 defeat to Liverpool.

The Cottagers, who have won only once in their last 10 games, conceded two goals either side of half time at Anfield.

"You could say if we concede goals like we did today you are almost playing against yourself," said Jol.

"We wanted to put them under pressure but we didn't do that in the first half.

"It was as if we had played together for the first time.

"We still have a good cushion (to the bottom three) with 20 points but I feel when everyone is back we will be fine.

"We have the same points as last year but we have to do better than today."

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Jol Sky Sports video -

http://www.eplayer.performgroup.com/dailyMailPop