Saturday Fulham Stuff (09/02/13)...

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Betting: Norwich City are the favourites against Fulham but it looks very close


Grant Holt celebrates Simeon Jackson's equaliser when Norwich City and Fulham drew 1-1 in the corresponding fixture last term and a repeat of that outcome is rated an 11/2 shot.

It's often the case that punters who, when they see one side holding home advantage against longer-priced opponents, automatically place bets on an easy home victory without taking account of the visitors' form or of other factors, such as their readiness to scrap for a point.

It may, therefore, come as a surprise to learn that while neither Norwich City nor tomorrow's opponents, Fulham, have been in sparkling form of late, the Cottagers have held their own in the current form table over the past eight matches, whereas Norwich are 19th in the same hybrid league. Despite this, Fulham are 11/5 (Skybet) to win at Carrow Road tomorrow, while City are offered at 6/4 (Stan James) to register three points.

Of course, Norwich should win. Fulham were outstanding when beating the Canaries 5-0 at Craven Cottage back in August, but as everyone knows, they're a different team when they set foot outside West London. However, it promises to be extremely close, a conclusion which supplements the appeal of William Hill's 5/2 odds for it to finish all square.

Shrewder backers appear to have taken note of Fulham's recent performances and BetVictor.com report "steady" support for their 4/1 chalked in favour of it finishing as a score draw, while Coral's 9/2 for both halves to conclude with honours even has proved similarly appealing to switched-on punters.

The pair drew 1-1 in the corresponding fixture last term and a repeat of that outcome is rated an 11/2 shot by Ladbrokes. A one-goal margin of victory for Norwich is considered a 3/1 chance by bet365, while more precise folk have the opportunity to take Stan James's 13/2 odds marked about a 1-0 home success.

However, there is little reason for punters to blindly assume that because the Canaries are at home, they'll romp to a comfortable three points and Paddy Power's 8/11 about both teams scoring is worthy of further consideration.


http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/betting_norwich_city_are_the_favourites_against_fulham_but_it_looks_very_close_1_1875181

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Team news: Norwich v Fulham


Berbatov faces a late fitness test. Photo: PA

Norwich manager Chris Hughton describes midfielders Anthony Pilkington and Alex Tettey as "touch and go" for tomorrow's match against Fulham.

Pilkington and Tettey are suffering from hamstring and knee problems respectively although defender Ryan Bennett is fit again and Hughton reported a clean bill of health after his players returned from the midweek internationals.

Meanwhile, loan signing striker Kei Kamara has commenced training following his move from Sporting Kansas City in the MLS but lacks match practice and Hughton will delay assessing whether he might feature against the Cottagers.

Provisional squad: Bunn, R Martin, Bassong, Barnett, Garrido, Snodgrass, Johnson, E Bennett, Surman, Turner, Jackson, Holt, Pilkington, Becchio, Howson, Hoolahan, Fox, Tettey, R Bennett, Smith, Steer, Camp, Whittaker, Kamara.

Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov faces a fitness test on his hamstring ahead of the Barclays Premier League clash at Norwich.

Urby Emanuelson could make his first start if the Bulgarian misses out, while Martin Jol is still to assess the fitness of his 12 players who spent midweek on international duty, with Costa Rica's Bryan Ruiz only expected to return on the eve of the trip to Carrow Road.

Steve Sidwell (knee) and Kieran Richardson (calf) are available again, new signings Stanislav Manolev and Eyong Enoh are unlikely to feature after being made to wait for their work permits, while Mahamadou Diarra (both knee) and Kerim Frei (pelvis) remain out.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Somogyi, Etheridge, Riether, Hangeland, Hughes, Senderos, Riise, Briggs, Dejagah, Baird, Karagounis, Kacaniklic, Frimpong, Berbatov, Sidwell, Richardson, Duff, Kasami, Ruiz, Emanuelson, Rodallega, Petric, Davies.



http://www.itv.com/sport/football/article/2013-02-08/team-news-norwich-v-fulham/?

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Norwich v FULHAM: Berbatov faces late check on hamstring

Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov faces a fitness test on his hamstring ahead of the Barclays Premier League clash at Norwich.

Urby Emanuelson could make his first start if the Bulgarian misses out, while Martin Jol is still to assess the fitness of his 12 players who spent midweek on international duty, with Costa Rica's Bryan Ruiz only expected to return on the eve of the trip to Carrow Road.


High hopes: Fulham fans will be keen to see Dimitar Berbatov back in the team

Steve Sidwell (knee) and Kieran Richardson (calf) are available again, new signings Stanislav Manolev and Eyong Enoh are unlikely to feature after being made to wait for their work permits, while Mahamadou Diarra (both knee) and Kerim Frei (pelvis) remain out.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Somogyi, Etheridge, Riether, Hangeland, Hughes, Senderos, Riise, Briggs, Dejagah, Baird, Karagounis, Kacaniklic, Frimpong, Berbatov, Sidwell, Richardson, Duff, Kasami, Ruiz, Emanuelson, Rodallega, Petric, Davies.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2275515/Norwich-v-FULHAM-Dimitar-Berbatov-faces-late-check-hamstring.html#ixzz2KNSeH8Yd
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Norwich Focus - Fulham fixture brings echoes of a dreadful collapse

It is another big match for Norwich City this weekend in the Premier League as they entertain Fulham at Carrow Road. With no win in eight top flight matches, the taste of three points for Chris Hughton will be much welcomed. He hasn't experienced it since a victory over Wigan on December 15, which took the Canaries briefly into seventh place in the table.



Victory against Fulham is paramount. The Cottagers are in a similar position in the league, in a similar bout of form and there isn't much difference in the quality of the squads at the manager's disposal. Fulham thrashed the East Anglian outfit 5-0 on the opening day, and took four points off Norwich last season.

Although two hard-fought points have been collected in recent games against London opposition in Tottenham and QPR, three points could be essential for the winner here. Victory for either should ease any relegation fears, and allow the opportunity to strive for finishing in the top half of the Premier League. Defeat for either and make no mistake, a very long and difficult spring awaits.

With the revived form of Reading and Newcastle, combined with the fighting spirit shown in abundance at Southampton and QPR, along with Wigan's great history of escape acts and the unpredictable nature of Aston Villa, one of these teams could be in big trouble come May.

For Norwich fans, it could be echoes of what is still remembered as one of the most dramatic collapses in Premier League history.

In December 1994, the Canaries were once again punching above the weight in the third season of the league's new structure known at the time as the Premiership.

Despite selling Chris Sutton to Blackburn for £5m in the summer, and losing strike partner Efan Ekoku to Wimbledon for £900,000 three months into the season, Norwich were sitting seventh in the table - ahead of the likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa and Leeds United.

Then it went totally pear-shaped. Goalkeeper Bryan Gunn broke his ankle on Boxing Day in a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest. From that moment on, the Canaries campaign never recovered. They recorded a dismal 11 points from January to May 1995, lost another striker in Mark Robins to Leicester City and plummeted down the table.

Apart from a 3-0 victory in the East Anglian derby at home to Ipswich in March, the fans lost their patience with the then owner Robert Chase, as they wanted former manager Mike Walker back to recover the desperate situation. John Deehan resigned and Gary Megson couldn't recover the sinking ship as caretaker. With just one win in their last 20 games, Norwich's misery was complete.

Having looked like a UEFA Cup contender in December, the Canaries had tumbled out of the Premiership into Division One. They wouldn't return for a decade. Supporters will be very keen for history to not repeat itself this season. Defeat on Saturday could promote a sense of déjà vu though around Carrow Road.



http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_0_18757_-.html#.URXgmqUcIds

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Berbatov is edging towards starting role

Martin Jol is confident Dimitar Berbatov will be fit to face Norwich but will talk to the striker today before deciding whether he starts at Carrow Road.

Berbatov missed last week's 1-0 defeat against former club Manchester United with a hamstring injury but has made good progress this week.

The 32-year-old underwent a fitness test yesterday and Jol will hold discussions with Berbatov and his medical staff before making a decision.

He said: "When he got his injury eight days ago, they said it would probably take a week so I am pretty confident he will make it. When he plays in the hole, he is probably one of the best players in the Premier League so you will always miss him.

"Whether he will start tomorrow? That is something we have to discuss with him and the medical staff."

Bryan Ruiz filled the void left by Berbatov and the Costa Rica striker will be assessed today when he returns from international duty following a World Cup qualifier in Panama.

Jol confirmed  Fulham will take up an option to make Sascha Riether's loan move from Cologne a permanent one at the end of the season.

Cologne executive Jorg Jakobs says the defender does not have a future at the German club and Jol is confident of a deal.

He said: "There will be a decision to make but we have got time and I will talk to Sascha. If the player is happy it helps but we have got that option and even if he is not happy we will take that option!"

Jol also moved quickly to dismiss speculation linking Alex Kacaniklic with Dynamo Kiev.

The Ukrainian transfer window is still open and reports suggested Kiev had made a bid for winger, who signed a long‑term contract in the summer.

But Jol insists he is going nowhere and Kacaniklic, 21, appears to have committed his future to the Craven Cottage club.

He said: "Fulham are a brilliant club for a young player. I want to keep on doing what I have been doing and play as many games as I can."

Stanislav Manolev could make his debut tomorrow after being granted a work permit following his deadline-day loan move from PSV Eindhoven.

Brede Hangeland has recovered from the Achilles injury suffered against Manchester United and came through 45 minutes for Norway unscathed in midweek.


http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/berbatov-is-edging-towards-starting-role-8486946.html

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Premier League: Norwich host Fulham with both sides desperate for improvement

Fulham's visit to Norwich on Saturday gives Chris Hughton the chance to pit his wits against his mentor Martin Jol in this battle of two of the Premier League's out of form sides.

Hughton, who was assistant to Jol at Tottenham, looked to have turned around the clubs fortunes after a slow start, masterminding a ten match unbeaten run, which included victory over runaway league leaders Manchester United.

However, the Canaries have been in free-fall since, and are now without a win in their last eight Premier League encounters.

Having bolstered his striking options in the January window, Hughton will be hoping his side will start to find the net again, after netting only once in their last four Premier League outings.

On the otherhand, Fulham are struggling for form themselves, winning just three of their last 17 league matches, and without a cleansheet for 11 games, their longest run without one in the top flight, Jol will be feeling the heat.

Although they slipped to yet another defeat, The Cottagers' boss can take heart from their vastly improved performance against Manchester United last time out, but knows his side need to get back on the winning trail as soon as possible.

He will also be buoyed by Fulham's incredible record against the Canaries, winning nine of the last 11 meetings in all competitions, and victory will see his side pull three points clear of Saturday's opponents.



http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/261815/preview?

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New Norwich City signing Kei Kamara on standby after impressing in training

Norwich City boss Chris Hughton is wary of rushing new signing Kei Kamara into Premier League action too soon – despite an impressive first day in training from the Sierra Leone international striker.

Kamara, 28, completed his first training session with his new team-mates at Colney yesterday, but Hughton said he was still deciding whether or not to include him in his squad of 18 for tomorrow's Premier League game against Fulham at Carrow Road (3pm). Monday's Barclays Under-21 Premier League trip to Reading may be a more likely starting point for the player on loan from MLS club Sporting Kansas City.

It is not Hughton's only key decision to make with winger Anthony Pilkington and Alex Tettey, both of whom withdrew from international duty this week, rated "touch and go" to face Fulham.

Pilkington missed a potential Republic of Ireland debut against Poland because of a hamstring injury he suffered in the 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers, while Tettey pulled out of Norway's friendly in Spain with a knee problem.

However, defender Ryan Bennett, who missed England Under-21s' victory over Sweden with a hamstring injury, will be fit – as will returning international trio Wes Hoolahan, Robert Snodgrass and Russell Martin.

"Ryan's injury was the lesser of the three and he was able to do something today," said Hughton at yesterday's weekly Press conference. "Pilkington didn't train today and neither did Alex Tettey. We are assessing them still – we certainly haven't ruled them out but they will be touch and go."

As for City's two new strikers, it appears Luciano Becchio is more likely to see some action against Fulham than Kamara, after his 87th-minute introduction at Loftus Road.

"Becchio is the one who is certainly up to speed. He missed the FA Cup game for Leeds but came on for us last week," said Hughton. "As regards fitness and sharpness, he is very much up to speed. I thought he made an impact when he came on but I would expect that as he has had a full half-season with Leeds. He is certainly one who will be part of the squad.

"With Kei he trained with us the first time today, so we're assessing him. He has done well in training, I have to say, but he is a little bit behind because of his travelling and where they are in the MLS domestic league at the minute.

"We'll assess overnight and tomorrow. We have to make the right decision because we haven't brought him for one or two games but through to the end of the season and it's about the right impact he can make.

"Perhaps he hasn't had the match practice that keeps you up to speed. That is all part of the assessment but we only have him for a short period of time."

As for Monday's under-21 match, Hughton admitted: "Yes, there is a possibility he will play in that game."

Kamara does not need to convince Hughton about his character, though.

"He is a very good individual. That stems from the fact he is not a 20, 21-year-old who hasn't seen a fair amount of life and football," he said.

"He has been involved in a lot of charity work away from football. The first time I met him he was receptive and you can tell he is a good character which tells me he will settle in here very quickly.

"On the football side, he certainly will have attributes that we can use. We'll find that out over a period of time.

"We have four forward players in Grant Holt, Simeon Jackson and the two new lads that we would like to think are different type players. It gives us good scope and allows us have good combinations. For those who don't start it gives us a good option off the bench."

City have not beaten tomorrow's opponents for 27 years, and have painful memories of a 5-0 hammering at Craven Cottage on the opening day of the season.

But Hughton said: "That is a long time ago and there have been a lot of games since. After that bad first day we find ourselves on level points with Fulham. It is a long season, nothing is determined or gauged on one performance. There have been a lot of changes since then for both teams and that is one game that is well and truly behind us.

"At the start of the season, would we have been happy having the points we have and in a position we are in now? I think probably the answer is yes.

"You learn lessons from every game and every defeat. We have had a couple of big ones and we have had to re-group and improve and get better. That generally is what we have done on most occasions. You certainly learn more from the big defeats."



http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/new_norwich_city_signing_kei_kamara_on_standby_after_impressing_in_training_1_1879621

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Clint Dempsey saved Fulham, admits Jol

Martin Jol has admitted that the goals of former striker Clint Dempsey saved Fulham from a relegation scrap in recent seasons.

The Cottagers are still adjusting to the loss of Dempsey, who joined Tottenham last August, and Mousa Dembele, who moved to White Hart Lane in the same month, according to Jol.

"Clint Dempsey always made the difference," said the Dutchman. "I feel if Clint Dempsey hadn't been here over the last three or four years, we could've ended up with a real problem.

"If you look at the points Fulham had because of him ... Can you imagine the scenario if Clint hadn't been here over the last three or four years?

"Our strikers never used to score a lot of goals. Now I think we're fine, but we don't have Clint. If Clint had stayed I think we would've been in the top 10.

"We sold our top scorer and he (Dempsey) was the top scorer for a couple of years.

"Last year he scored more goals than any year before - and Dembele was my best player, arguably.

"We had to build a new team. If everyone is fit I still feel we're not far from the quality we had last year."

Jol expects his strikers to score, with Dimitar Berbatov carrying much of the weight of expectation this term, but Dempsey's goals from midfield were a bonus.

"I feel we will score more goals than before, but we need the important and vital goals," Jol added.

"Clint Dempsey scored all our winners last year."



http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/clint-dempsey-saved-fulham-admits-jol-8487252.html

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Mladen Petric targets big Fulham win

Fulham striker Mladen Petric said that he hopes that the club can repeat their opening-day 5-0 hammering of Norwich City when the two sides clash again on Saturday.

Petric, who scored twice in that encounter on his debut, has recognised the need for Fulham to continue to pick up points after the win over West Ham United.

"We will see what sort of game it is," he told the club's official website. "It's always different with home games and away games. Of course, I hope we can play like we did in the first game against them.

"We still need some points. The game against West Ham United was very important for us."

Fulham are currently 13th in the Premier League.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/petric-targets-big-fulham-win_68251.html

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Mother of Bulgaria's Berbatov Faces Charges of Hooliganism

Margarita Berbatova, mother of Bulgarian football star and Fulham striker, Dimitar Berbatov, is appearing before a judge Friday on charges of disorderly conduct.

The case is tried in the Regional Court of the southern city of Blagoevgrad.

Berbatova, who is the Chief Nurse at the local hospital, is appearing together with her daughter-in-law Mima, wife of Dimitar's brother, Asen Berbatov.

The two are facing the charges for attacking and beating a local journalist.

The incident happened when policemen from Blagoevgrad stopped Asen and Mima for a check on a tipoff of illegal drug's possession. A journalist from the Struma newspaper had tried to take a picture and has been attacked, kicked and beaten by the two women.

Margarita and Mima are also facing charges for inflicting light bodily harm.

After the incident, Berbatova, who is also an activist of the ruling Citizens for European Development party, GERB, in Blagoevgrad, has disappeared for several days, but it was reported she is now available to attend the court hearing.

Policemen at the scene are quoted saying they were shocked by the aggression of the two women.

Berbatov's brother has gained infamous reputation over the last few years.

In mid-2010 the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Blagoevgrad probed Asen Berbatov for credit card draining.

On April 22, the local police searched Berbatov's house and found the cash register, used as POS terminal, and evidence of some suspicious credit card payments.

He was detained at the beginning of October 2012 after police chased the car he was riding in, with Nikolay Borisov behind the wheel, on a road close to the southwestern city of Kyustendil.

The police found the cocaine hidden inside a child seat in the car. The wife Dimitrichka (Mima) was not in it.


http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=147683

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EPL: 4 Things Needed for Norwich City to Beat Fulham



It's a game that many Norwich City fans have been waiting for, as the Canaries finally get their shot at revenge for the 5-0 demolition administered by Fulham on the opening day of the Premier League season.

It was a rude awakening for Chris Hughton in his first game in charge of the club since making the switch to Norfolk in the summer, and many people must have feared the worst for his new side for the rest of the campaign.

As it turned out, it hasn't quite worked out like that with Norwich having managed to haul themselves into the relative comfort of mid-table as we move into February, but a poor run of recent results means that they are once again starting to look over their shoulders a little bit.

A win against the Cottagers would go some way to alleviate some of those fears, and here are four things that the Canaries must do to ensure that they come out on top at Carrow Road.

Forget the Past

Norwich City could be forgiven for believing that Fulham hold some sort of hoodoo over them, such has been the nature of the dominance from the Cottagers in this fixture in recent years, but that is of course not the case and the Canaries need to believe that.

Despite the opening-day humiliation, the two teams are locked level on points at this stage of the season, which in itself shows that Norwich are more than capable of registering a victory.

Although it hurt, that 5-0 defeat is history now and there is absolutely nothing that Chris Hughton and his side can do about it.

However, what they can do is play the game on its individual merit on Saturday and try to put things right.

This clash at Carrow Road should be seen as a great opportunity to draw a lie under the events that occurred at the Cottage in August as well as a chance to set themselves up for a successful end to the season in the process.

Get in Their Faces

The one thing that you can say about Fulham with certainty is that they do possess some very talented individual players, and such accomplished stars can hurt you if you give them the space to create.

During the reverse fixture in West London, the Canaries gave the likes of Bryan Ruiz and the now departed Mousa Dembélé far too much time on the ball and they found out to spectacular effect just how costly that can be.

There's litte doubt that the stiflingly hot weather conditions will have zapped the energy levels of the Norwich players on that occasion, but such an excuse will not be available in the early February chill and City must not make the same mistake again.

If Hughton can mastermind a plan to shut down the supply line provided by Ruiz and Dimitar Berbatov (if the latter passes a fitness test) then he will go a long way to eliminating a large chunk of the visiting team's threat.

If he fails to do so, history could easily repeat itself once again.

Come out of the Blocks

With Norwich City having not won for eight games, there are bound to be some early nerves at Carrow Road, and the best way to eradicate that tension is to score early and get on the front foot.

Although the Canaries didn't manage to score until late in the first half against Tottenham Hotspur in their last home fixture, they started the game brilliantly, and it's amazing how much belief such an opening to a game can formulate.

Furthermore, Fulham aren't exactly known for their fighting spirit away from home, so if Norwich can dominate early doors then there may be no way back for Martin Jol's men.

On the flip side, if the away side start in the ascendancy then they will be able to quieten the crowd, and some the of lingering doubts that may be creeping into the minds of the Norwich players throughout this difficult spell could return.

The fans will have an equally big part to play in trying to create a big match atmosphere within the stadium, and hopefully the players can feed off that energy and secure the result.

Remain Hard to Beat

There's absolutely no doubting the importance of Sébastien Bassong to Norwich City, with the Canaries having a tendency to simply fall apart when the Cameroonian defender is not in the side.

Bassong wasn't even a City player when Norwich capitulated at Craven Cottage back in August, and he missed both the 5-2 and 5-0 hammerings at the hands of Liverpool as well which just goes to show how pivotal he is.

However, with Bassong in the team Norwich are a completely different kettle of fish defensively and despite struggling for wins recently, the Canaries have still looked difficult to break down during this indifferent period of results.

Having a solid foundation is a great platform for getting results, especially as Norwich City don't score a lot of goals, so it is important the Norfolk outfit continue this trend against Fulham.

Realistically, one goal could well be enough to win the game so Norwich need to be tight at the back first and foremost in order to give themselves the best possible chance of claiming those three valuable points.



http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1521294-epl-4-things-needed-for-norwich-city-to-beat-fulham?

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Fulham eye Panathinaikos prodigy

Fulham are being linked with Panathinaikos' Greek international midfielder Charalampos Mavrias after watching him in midweek.

Mavrias, 18, came on as a substitute for the last five minutes of Greece's 0-0 draw with Switzerland on Wednesday, but has been tracked by Martin Jol since the start of the season.

Mavrias impressed in Panathinaikos' Europa League defeat at Tottenham in December and attracted a reported bid of 2m euros from Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart in the January transfer window.

Fulham have been paying more attention to the Greek Super League this season after the success of summer signing of Georgios Karagounis from Panathinaikos.

Reports in Greece claim Jol is also an admirer of Olympiakos striker Kostas Mitrologu - who scored against Arsenal with a bullet header earlier this season



http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/fulham-eye-panathinaikos-prodigy-1543333.html?

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Premier League: Sascha Riether hopes to stay at Fulham beyond loan spell

Sascha Riether is hoping to stay at Fulham on a permanent basis when his current loan deal from Cologne expires at the end of the season.

The right-back has been one of The Cottagers' stand-out players this season, and with his parent club Cologne earlier this week declaring their uncertainty about where his future lies, Riether has admitted he would like to stay where he is.

"I can't say where I will play next season," he told the FulhamChronicle.

"But I like to play in the Premier League, and here it's a great club and we have great fans. I'm proud to be here."

However, the 29-year-old knows that the decision is not down to him, and it all depends whether Martin Jol can strike a deal with the Bundesliga outfit.

"It will be the decision of the club and Cologne. They will speak together and in the end they will speak to me," he added.


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8480200?

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Wellington Phoenix get Fulham striker on loan


Photosport
Phoenix players celebrate Jeremy Brockie's goal against the Perth Glory.

The Wellington Phoenix have bolstered their struggling campaign by nabbing young Fulham striker Corey Gameiro on loan till the end of the A-League season.

Gameiro, 20, had an outstanding under-19 Asian Football Championship for Australia, remarkably scoring all six of Australia's goals at the tournament to help them qualify for the 2013 Fifa under-20 World Cup.

A hard-working speedy striker, Gameiro has recently been on loan with top Dutch club FC Eindhoven where he made eight appearances.

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert said he was delighted to secure Gameiro's services as his arrival will add pace and depth to the squad.

Herbert said the youngster's signing was another step in the further development of the club.

"It is important to establish relationships with clubs around the world and it is exciting that we are now forming one with an English Premier League side," Herbert said.

"Having players coming this way is good for the future of the club."

The Phoenix will be seeking an international clearance for Gameiro on Monday and he should be available for the trip to Brisbane Roar next week.



http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/football/8283289/?

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I'm Going Back To AC Milan In The Summer – Urby Emanuelson Stresses Fulham Loan Only Temporary

Dutch winger Urby Emanuelson has stressed that he plans to head back to Italy during the summer, when his loan stint at English side Fulham comes to an end.

Emanuelson has joined Martin Jol's Cottagers from AC Milan, where he had fallen out of favour under coach Massimiliano Allegri.

But the former Ajax man, who was a regular for the Rossoneri until November, views the loan to Fulham as a chance to show Milan and other clubs what he can do, rather than as his final destination.

"It is an excellent choice for now and after this season I still have one year left on my contract at Milan", he told Voetbal International.

"Now I need to show Milan and other clubs what I can do, so it's an important period.

"I don't know if there is any possible option to purchase, but I'm going back to Italy in the summer."

And Emanuelson revealed he has already been in touch with Milan and is still hoping that there is a future for him at the Serie A giants.

"I've had a little exploratory talk with AC Milan about the future, but there must be some perspective.

"For me to play for a big club is not everything. I felt that I was well on my way at Milan and I think I may still be important for the club.

"I was also very happy in Milan and played for two years. But then suddenly [I didn't], that's strange."

Emanuelson has already made his debut for Fulham, appearing for the Premier League club as a second half substitute against Manchester United.

The 26-year-old is clearly looking forward to getting more games under his belt with the Cottagers before the end of the campaign.


Read more at http://www.insidefutbol.com/2013/02/09/im-going-back-to-ac-milan-in-the-summer-urby-emanuelson-stresses-fulham-loan-only-temporary/79001/#Er0O5xqTt2Csro76.99

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Jol's Hughton Praise

Martin Jol locks horns with Chris Hughton on Saturday as he aims to complete a Barclays Premier League double over his former Tottenham Hotspur colleague.

The Norwich City boss was Jol's number two at White Hart Lane and he has spoken this week of his admiration for the Dutchman and the effect his former mentor had on his own career.

It's a respect that is clearly mutual, with Jol quick to praise one of his 'better friends in football.'

"It's always about getting a chance and he had his chance when he went to Newcastle United," our Manager said of Hughton's progress. "He had the chance to be the number one and he grabbed that because he did ever so well over there as he got them promoted back into the Premier League.

"Then he went to Norwich and maybe he didn't have the best of starts but, after that, they've improved and he's a perfect manager. I'm looking forward to catching up with him after the game – hopefully after a good result – that's always nice. He's a fantastic guy – one of my better friends in football and we stay in touch."

Following our opening day 5-0 triumph over the Canaries, Whites fans could be forgiven for being surprised to see the two teams on the same points come February, and Jol admits it's imperative his side continue their climb up the table.

"We are still in a good position but you never know," he said. "You need wins – if you look at all these games, even the last game of the season, there are some difficult ones for us so where do the points come from? That is what we have to do.

"They are rivals – Norwich – they are in a similar position, like West Ham United last week, so hopefully we can put in a good performance away from home and get some points on the board.

"I think there are eight or nine clubs in the league in the bottom half of the table who have all got the same target, believe me. The first thing is to stay in the league.

"After the Queens Park Rangers game – which we lost – we could have been in trouble but we beat Newcastle, we beat West Ham and we had a very difficult schedule. I think we've overcome that and we've got that cushion and, hopefully, we can add a few wins to that as well.

"I think we are aware of the fact that we have to please supporters and please ourselves to try to achieve what we wanted and we wanted to first get in the top 10. Later we had to alter our targets a bit and now the target is to stay in the league. Although the difference with [our points total at this stage] last year is probably two points so it is not a big difference."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/february/09/jols-hughton-praise?

[WhiteJC]

 
Norwich Preview: All About Validation


It was jubilation for the home side at Craven Cottage last time these clubs met, but Fulham shouldn't expect such a thrashing in their favor this time around.

I've already written about it at length, so I won't discuss how vital this match is in terms of momentum for Fulham to finish their season strong and avoid the swirling vortex that is the relegation battle.  But tomorrow when Fulham hit the road to face Norwich City, it will be a massive test.  We all know about Fulham's road record.  If they're to turn a spark into a full-blown fire, they need this match.  Fulham already beat Norwich 5-0 in the reverse fixture, although that was way back in the first match of the season.  Either way, this is how the Premier League works – that blowout needs validation, and so do the last two performances.  Was it a fluke or is it the start of a brand new season?  This match will help us find out.

State of Fulham:

It's already been mentioned a bunch of times prior, but Fulham are playing well.  The win over West Ham was convincing, and the match against Manchester United was creative, crisp, and organized.  A number of people – Martin Jol included – said it was one of the best if not the best match the club has played all year.  The only problem was it was against the overwhelming League leaders.  The only catch – those two matches were both at home.  Now it's time to show this isn't just about home cookin'.

On the injury front, the club received a huge boost with news that Brede Hangeland is fully fit from his achillies soreness.  That's a dangerous injury that nobody in sports wants to mess around with, so to hear he's ready to go is great news.  Steve Sidwell will also be returning from his short stint on the sidelines with a knee strain, and Kieran Richardson's longer absence will also come to an end.  It will be interesting to see, with so many injured players returning as well as the loanees all ready to go, who Martin Jol selects.  The big question is will Dimitar Berbatov be ready to go after his hamstring injury.  The only absentees are long-term injuries for Mahamadou Diarra and Kerim Frei.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see one of Urby Emanuelson or Emannuel Frimpong in the starting lineup, although I said that for the Manchester United match as well and neither materialized.  The buildup surrounding Emanuelson has been pretty intense, so I would imagine Jol would want to throw someone of his quality out there sooner rather than let him sit on the bench.

State of Norwich:

Last time Fulham saw the Canaries, it was a 5-0 thrashing at Craven Cottage that saw Chris Hughton shaking his head and calling for his team to wake up and start the season already.  This time around it will probably be much different.  First off, it's not at Craven Cottage, and that always means Fulham have a big mountain to climb, plus Norwich have shocked both Manchester United and Arsenal at Carrow Road this season.  In addition, Hughton's side have woken up from that day, and only trail Fulham in the table on goal differential.  Like Fulham, Norwich are looking for as many points as possible to keep themselves from ending up in the relegation vortex, and though it looks likely that neither side will be much bothered by the drop, 3 points would be just as vital to Norwich as it would for us.

Another interesting storyline in the buildup to this match, Chris Hughton is a former assistant of Jol's from his days at White Hart Lane, and said he considers learning from Martin Jol to be an integral part of his managerial career.

A key for this match could be the injury of Anthony Pilkington, who will miss out thanks to a hamstring injury he picked up in the 0-0 draw with QPR.

EA Sports Stats of the Match:

-Norwich hasn't won a single match in their last 8

-Norwich have never beaten Fulham in a top-flight game.  The last time Norwich defeated Fulham was a second-division match in March of 1986. Norwich have 1 win in their last 11 league matches against London opposition

-Robert Snodgrass has delivered the most crosses in the Premier League, becoming the first to 100 crosses, 1 more than Leighton Baines.

888sport.com Lines of the Match:

Under 2.5 goals: 5/6
Norwich City have shored up their defense mightily since Fulham last saw them in the beginning of the year, but have struggled to score.  In fact, Norwich have netted more than 1 goal just 5 times all season.  With their improved defense, the possibility on Berbatov missing out, and Norwich's lack of goals, I'm tipping very few goals in this one.

Hugo Rodallega to score first: 15/2
Hugo's scored only 3 goals this season, but they've all been important. Also, Dimitar Berbatov has a good chance of playing again, and the two of them have developed a bit of a positive on-the-pitch relationship.  Look for Hugo to start improving.

Prediction: This team has been on a hot streak.  But, they need to prove they can keep up the great play and not let it fizzle out.  They need to validate that the last two matches weren't a fluke. Until then, I won't believe they can do it.  Neither team gets what they were looking for in a 1-1 draw.


http://fulhamsfinest.com/2013/02/09/norwich-preview-all-about-validation/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol Worthy of New Fulham Contract

Martin Jol announced on Thursday that the club has activated an option to extend his contract, due to run out next summer, for another year to the middle of 2014. This is great news.

Having arrived following the hasty and badly-managed departure of the ambitious Mark Hughes, Jol inherited an ageing squad, assembled in the main by Roy Hodgson. Given the remit by Mohamed Al Fayed and Alistair Mackintosh to lower the overall age of the squad, he gradually warmed to the task, wary of the pitfalls of making too much change too soon. Now, almost 18 months on, he has created a vibrant, quick and attack-minded Fulham side, with an exciting blend of youth and experience.

It has taken time for the Fulham faithful to embrace the spherical Dutchman, not helped by the high-profile bickering that preceded Bobby Zamora's departure to join the ambitious Hughes at QPR. Much has been made of Jol's man-management skills, or perceived lack thereof, but there is little substance to these concerns. The bizarrely popular Zamora left because he and Jol didn't get on that well (a result of the former's poor attitude more than anything else) and because of the lure of heaps of cash, a long contract and a chance to rekindle his ambitions with Hughes. He is not missed.

Danny Murphy and Andrew Johnson left because the club weren't willing to offer them more than a year's contract, a valid reason given that Murphy was 35 and Johnson has a history of long-term injury problems. They also left with Jol's best wishes. The departures of Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele were completely different situations; they were players on an upward career trajectory who, sadly for us, saw Fulham as a stepping stone to greater things. Could Jol do anything to stop them? Absolutely not; Dembele had a release clause in his contract, and bear in mind that had Jol not shifted him into central midfield, no club would have seen enough to spend £15 million on him, while Dempsey forced the club's hand.

Jol has made us one of the most attractive teams to watch in the Premier League, he has brought quality in the form of Bryan Ruiz and Dimitar Berbatov, and is giving Fulham youngsters the chance when they prove they are good enough. Jol will have money to spend in January, and these are genuinely exciting times for the club as he continues to build this team. Long may his tenure continue.



Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/fulham/news/09-11-2012/jol-worthy-of-new-fulham-contract/550176?#ixzz2KPI0OCri

[WhiteJC]

 
Contract Matters Crucial to Fulham Future

Martin Jol indicated this week that the club plans to sit down with Damian Duff over the next couple of months to discuss a new contract. The club's reluctance to discuss contract extensions with players until they are in their final year continues to be a matter of much debate among fans.

Now, there are two different issues at play here: Firstly, the one of waiting until the final year of a player's contract before discussing the possibility of extending it. Essentially, by keeping a player on a long contract, a club is locking in the value of that player, so by letting the likes of Brede Hangeland, whose contract also ends next summer, and Clint Dempsey run down their contracts, their financial value is being eroded.

Dempsey left for a fraction of the going rate for a player who had scored more than 20 goals the previous season, but the club was in no position to bargain or play hard-ball because he was in the final 12 months of his contract. Such an approach seems daft given that a club's greatest financial assets are its players. As fans, we can understand losing our best players, within reason, if other clubs pay through the nose to get them, but to lose them for a fraction of their true value, or even for free, is too much to take.

Secondly, the club's refusal to offer two-year contracts to players in their mid-to-late 30s, or those with a history of long-term injuries. This was the reason Danny Murphy and Andy Johnson left in the summer; the club offered them new one-year deals but they wanted the security of two-year contracts, which is fair enough, and they left to go to clubs willing to meet their demands. As far as I'm concerned, this approach is absolutely correct. At that age, a player's deterioration comes suddenly and rapidly, and there are no prizes for paying vast sums of money to a has-been.

Duff will be 34 next summer, and should the club gamble on him maintaining his fitness until he's 36? No. Offer him a one-year deal and if he says no, then it's thank you and goodbye. On the Hangeland front, the club needs to make sure that it doesn't let its best players enter the final 12 months of their contracts. There's nothing more to it, it's that simple.


Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/fulham/news/15-11-2012/contract-matters-crucial-to-fulham-future/585964?#ixzz2KPIJBIWm

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham's Case for the Defence

Praise has been flowing Fulham and Martin Jol's way in recent weeks on the back of the club's free-scoring start to the Premier League season. There's no taking away from the fact that we've been mighty entertaining to watch, but we haven't won in over a month and since the end of September we have given up winning positions against Manchester City, Southampton, Reading, Everton and Arsenal. It's all good and well scoring goals like they¹re going out of fashion, but there¹s no point if you¹re conceding them in equal quantities.

Indeed, our last three away games have seen eight Fulham goals but we only have three points to show for it. If we want to kick on and challenge for a European, we need to start focusing on our defence as well as attack. I'm not demanding the parking of a bus, but a little bit of defensive know-how really wouldn't go amiss.

As a team this season, we look ominously shapeless in defence, and while fingers have been pointed in the direction of central midfield, I think it's all too easy to blame our defensive weakness on the loss of the likes of Danny Murphy, Dickson Etuhu and Mousa Dembele. Yes, their departures have left us short in central midfield, but Mohamadou Diarra, Steve Sidwell and Chris Baird are more than capable of providing a defensive shield for the back four. The back four have also got to take their share of the blame.

I know that Jol has plans to strengthen the midfield in January, but the centre of defence is in just as much need of reinforcements. Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes have shown alarming signs of complacency this season, making a raft of uncharacteristic errors, and they are in real need of some stiff competition at centre back. The zero-paced Philippe Senderos clearly doesn't figure in Jol's plans, while Baird is busy scoring goals from midfield. Competition, and a kick up the arse, is required soon.

Jol has done an excellent job so far at the Cottage, but putting aside some weaknesses in personnel, he needs to find himself a 'Plan B'. He has the makings of a very good Fulham side, but 'attack, attack, attack' is only going to get us so far. I never thought I'd see myself write this but please, Martin, can we put a bit more emphasis on defence.



Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/fulham/news/23-11-2012/fulham%c2%b9s-case-for-the-defence/622682?#ixzz2KPIbcePC