Tuesday Fulham Stuff (09/04/13)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Poor Return on the Road
   
The manner in which we were beaten, an injury time goal, up at St James Park yesterday afternoon, was a bitter pill to swallow.

But, as we all appreciate, in football things sometimes happen like that, it all adds to the thrill and excitement of the game.

However, those Fulham supporters who continue to follow the side on the road and who made a lengthy journey up to the north-east yesterday, may becoming a little jaded with our away form.

The record books now show that in our last 72 away games we`ve won a mere 10 of them, which equates to a success rate of just 14%, a very poor return for such dedication on the road methinks!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=315538#ixzz2PvuzNCEl

[WhiteJC]

 
Interesting!
   
Tuning in to watch how our local neighbours Queens Park Rangers were doing in their annual relegation fight proved rather interesting yesterday afternoon.

I say interesting but what I really mean it was only interesting in parts, namely the period whereby QPR took the lead and then were deprived of a last gasp winner by that splendid free-kick equalizer by Sean Maloney.

As for the only other interesting part of the game, that came early on when Bobby Zamora decided that it`d be a good idea to raise his boot high into the air dump it down behind the ear-hole of Jordi Gomez.

It was obvious that it was a red card and Zamora`s facial expression, as he pleaded his innocence was a picture in itself.

It seems the move across West London has worked out perfectly for Bobby doesn`t it - lol!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=315539#ixzz2PvvHCn8w

[WhiteJC]

 
Everton U21s 1 FFC U21s 1

A superb late strike by substitute Muamer Tankovic earned Fulham Under-21s a 1-1 draw against Everton at Southport's Merseyrail Community Stadium on Monday night.

After Shane Duffy had put Everton in front just before the hour mark, Tankovic stepped off the bench to level matters with just 11 minutes remaining.

Apostolos Vellios had gone close to giving league leaders Everton the lead early on, but his header from Luke Garbutt's cross flew just wide.

Fulham's first effort of note came just before the half-hour mark but Ryan Williams' shot was saved by Mason Springthorpe. Chris David then sent a free-kick whistling inches over seconds prior to the interval.

Fulham went even closer five minutes into the second half when Williams' effort clipped the post after Everton had failed to clear their lines.

But five minutes later it was the Toffees who were in front, Duffy meeting Garbutt's floated delivery to head home at the far post.

Duffy went close three minutes later in similar circumstances, while, at the other end, Springthorpe saved bravely at the feet of Lasse Vigen Christensen.

The Whites deservedly levelled matters on 79 minutes, though, when Tankovic curled a brilliant effort past Springthorpe.

Fulham's joy was very nearly short-lived – John Stones nodded just wide, before Duffy saw a long-range drive cannon back off the crossbar having collected a loose ball and drove forward.

But the Whites held on to earn an excellent point, setting themselves up nicely for the visit of Middlesbrough to Motspur Park on Thursday evening (7pm).

Under-21s boss Kit Symons told the official website: "Overall I'm reasonably pleased with a point but I'm a bit disappointed we didn't win it to be honest. We played quite well in difficult conditions; the pitch was dry and bobbly. But we worked hard to do the right things and played some very good football at times. We lacked a bit of a cutting edge at times but we created some good opportunities.

"I thought we were on top throughout the second half and their goal came against the run of play. It was a free-kick wide on the right and the big centre-half Duffy got a touch in front of Stephen Arthurworrey and it just trickled into the net.

"So it was a disappointing goal to give away at a time when we were on top but we kept going, kept playing and Tank came on and scored a very good goal for us."

Fulham: Joronen, Passley, Kavanagh, Christensen, Arthurworrey, Grimmer, Altman, Minkwitz, Woodrow, David, Williams.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/april/08/everton-u21s-1-ffc-u21s-1?

[WhiteJC]

 
Craving Cottage: Fulham target Stoke's Asmir Begovic now Manchester United have backed off

With 40-year-old Schwarzer seeking assurances he'll be No.1 next season and Stockdale iffy about another year on the bench, Jol looks elsewhere


Potter gold: Stoke could trouser £4m by selling Begovic
Getty

Asmir Begovic is a £4million summer target for Fulham, writes Bill Cooper.

Craven Cottage boss Martin Jol wants a keeper as a priority signing and has put the highly-rated Stoke star at the top of his wish-list.

Jol is currently in talks with Mark Schwarzer about a new deal, but the veteran Australia international won't re-sign with the west Londoners unless he gets a guarantee that he will be first-choice again next season.

Reserve keeper David Stockdale, who is currently on loan at promotion-chasing Championship outfit Hull, has hinted at making his move to the Tigers a permanent one as he doesn't want another year as Schwarzer's understudy.

Jol has been linked with a close-season swoop for Dutch side FC Twente's Nikolay Mihaylov, but Begovic is his top choice.

And Begovic will push for a move from the Britannia Stadium this summer - irrespective of whether the Potters win their relegation battle.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international, 25, is unsettled following the £3.5million capture of England international Jack Butland from Birmingham in January.

Begovic, who cost Stoke £3.25m from Portsmouth in 2010 and still has three years left on contract, knows that Butland has been bought to start next term as first choice.

The 6ft 5in shot-stopper - who has been linked with Manchester United, although that interest has reportedly cooled, and Arsenal - is not prepared to settle for bench duty, and would relish the chance of a switch to Fulham.

Leeds-born Stockdale, meanwhile, has revealed he would be happy to go back to his native Yorkshire after starring in Hull's bid for a top flight return.

The 27-year-old, who would command a £2m fee, confirmed: "Staying at Hull permanently is a possibility. I have to think about it, especially if they go up.

"It has been very frustrating at Fulham. There have been bits here and there, but that is not down to me - it's because they have a keeper in Mark Schwarzer who is doing very well.

"But there is a fantastic group of lads at the KC Stadium, and the team also plays great football."

* FULHAM will offer a trial to free agent Simon Vukcevic ahead of a potential summer move, writes Ed Malyon.

The former Sporting Lisbon and Blackburn midfielder, who impressed for Montenegro in last month's World Cup qualifier against England, left Ukrainian side Karpaty Lviv by mutual consent this week.



Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/transfers-fulham-target-stoke-keeper-1818884?#ixzz2PvwD696J
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[WhiteJC]

 
David Stockdale hints at Hull City stay

David Stockdale has revealed that he would consider joining Hull City on a permanent deal if they are playing in the Premier League next season.

The England under-21 international goalkeeper is currently on loan at the Tigers from Fulham, where he has found first-team opportunities hard to come by.

With Hull currently occupying the second Championship automatic promotion spot, they could be in a position to hand Stockdale his top-flight chance next season, if they are prepared to match Fulham's £2.5m valuation.

"Staying at Hull permanently is a possibility. I have to think about it, especially if they go up," he is quoted as saying in The Mirror.

"It has been very frustrating at Fulham. There have been bits here and there, but that is not down to me - it's because they have a keeper in Mark Schwarzer who is doing very well.

"But there is a fantastic group of lads at the KC Stadium, and the team also plays great football."

Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has been linked with a move to Fulham, an arrival which would bring Stockdale's future at Craven Cottage into question.



http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/hull-city/transfer-talk/news/stockdale-hints-at-hull-stay_78533.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Football transfer rumours: Fulham to pip United to £4m Asmir Begovic?
Today's tattle: to the centre of the city in the night, waiting for you


Fulham are making a fuss to take Stoke's Asmir Begovic from under the noses of Manchester United.
Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Having lost the Manchester derby it appears Manchester United could also lose out on Asmir Begovic after Fulham decided they were going to make a big fuss of trying to sign the Stoke goalkeeper this summer.

Begovic has been linked with United for some time, with speculation heightened in January after Stoke agreed a deal with Birmingham that would see their goalkeeper Jack Butland move to the Britannia Stadium for £3.5m at the end of the season. Fulham, however, are intent on making a firm bid for the 25-year-old, said to be in the region of £4m, after their manager, Martin Jol, made buying a goalkeeper a priority ahead of the new campaign, despite the excellent form of Mark Schwarzer.

Now, given a straight choice between United and Fulham you would presume any player would chose the former, but apparently Begovic is not much taken with the idea of sitting next to Mike Phelan on the bench at Old Trafford next season and watching David de Gea play in goal and so would in fact chose a move to Craven Cottage instead.

Also on his way to that part of west London is Simon Vukcevic, the former Sporting Lisbon and Blackburn midfielder who is going to be offered a trial by Fulham ahead of a possible long-term deal having left the Ukrainian club Karpaty Lviv last week. What's that you say: "I haven't heard of Vukcevic, is he any good?" Well he was one of the Montenegro players who made England look like a bunch of punch-drunk flyweights during that 1-1 draw in Podgorica last month, so yes, he can play a bit.

More news now on Liverpool's attempt to put a run of wins together and, you know, not draw at home to West Ham. Brendan Rodgers has apparently set his sights on the Sporting Lisbon winger Diego Capel and is prepared to pay up to £10m for the 25-year-old, who has also interested Tottenham and Marseille. Capel came through Barcelona's youth academy so should in theory be much better than Stewart Downing.

Other Premier League players who aren't that good include Adel Taarabt, Esteban Granero, Djibril Cissé, Bobby Zamora and Rob Green and so it is perhaps no shock that Queens Park Rangers are ready to let them all leave should they, as expected, be relegated to the Championship. Júlio César and Loïc Rémy, who are actually quite good, will also be sold but only because neither has any desire to play at Turf Moor on a wet Tuesday evening in November. Oh and because QPR could really do with getting them off their wage bill and preventing the onset of a financial meltdown.

Hang on a second, The Mill can hear laughter. It appears to be coming from Chelsea supporters. Oh, they must have heard the news that Arsenal are interested in signing Salomon Kalou. Yes, that's right, the one-time Stamford Bridge substitute could be on his way back to London having scored 10 goals in 24 starts for Lille this season and subsequently caught the eye of Arsène Wenger. Just think Arsenal fans, Kalou and Gervinho in the same side – the title is practically guaranteed.

Back to Manchester and Carlos Tevez looks set to join Real Madrid in the summer. The Spanish club are apparently happy to pay a lot of money for the Argentinian should he complete his 250 hours of community service in time for the UK courts to give him permission to leave the country. Now's there a sentence The Mill never expected to type.

Speaking of less-than-lithe strikers, it appears Norwich's Grant Holt could be on his way to Celtic with Gary Hooper moving in the other direction as part of a swap deal. The Canaries have long been interested in Hooper and made a few attempts to sign him during the last transfer window only to fail and buy Luciano Becchio instead. But Chris Hughton has not given up on his No1 target and will move for him again at the end of this season, this time offering Holt in exchange. The 31-year-old was Norwich's top scorer last season but has only found the back of the net on five occasions this campaign and not at all since late February.

And finally, Alan Curbishley has emerged as a strong contender to replace Neil Warnock as Leeds manager. Yorkshire, prepare yourselves for the arrival of the Less-Than-Interesting One.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/apr/09/football-transfer-rumours-fulham-united?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol tips Fulham youngsters to shine

MARTIN Jol has challenged Fulham's young guns to break into his first-team squad next season.

The future looks bright at Craven Cottage, with the Under-18s top of the league and the U19s having won the prestigious Dallas Cup in the USA earlier this month.

And boss Jol hopes some of Steve Wigley's charges can force their way into the first-team set-up next campaign.

He said: "We've got a terrific youth team, champions of England, the year before they played in cup finals as well.

"We are doing very well. I can see some of them breaking through next season, but I don't want to talk about individuals. There's three or four very good talents."



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2013/04/09/82029-33142201/?#ixzz2PyWmBgQF

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham winger in fitness fight ahead of Aston Villa trip

ASHKAN Dejagah faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday's clash with Aston Villa.

The Fulham winger missed Sunday's defeat at Newcastle after picking up an ankle injury against QPR earlier this month.

However, boss Martin Jol is hopeful the Iranian international will be ready for the trip to Villa Park.
He said: "Ashkan's sprained his ankle. I'm hoping he can join us for Aston Villa."

Mladen Petric (hamstring) is still out while the Whites are assessing an ankle injury to Eyong Enoh after he limped off on his debut against Newcastle at the weekend.



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2013/04/09/82029-33142433/?#ixzz2PyXDUA7v