Friday Fulham Stuff (12/04/13)...

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Petric in line for new Fulham deal

FULHAM boss Martin Jol plans to offer a new contract to striker Mladen Petric.

The Croatian forward has made just eight Premier League starts for the Whites since making the switch to Craven Cottage on a 12-month deal last summer.

The arrival of Dimitar Berbatov back in August has restricted Petric to a bit-part role in SW6, but he has still chipped in with an impressive five goals given his lack of game time.

And Jol, who also worked with the 32-year-old at Hamburg, is ready to offer him fresh terms.

He said: "Petric is one we would like to keep.

"He wants to play and because of [Dimitar] Berbatov he couldn't.

"He was probably the most effective player in England – he scored goals and didn't play a lot."



Read more: Fulham Chronicle http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2013/04/12/82029-33157609/?#ixzz2QGiJ7tWZ

[WhiteJC]

 
Aston Villa v Fulham: match preview
Read a full preview of the Premier League game between Aston Villa and Fulham at Villa Park on Saturday April 13 2013, kick-off 15.00 (BST).


In form: Christian benteke has scored 10 goals in 2013 Photo: ACTION IMAGES

Saturday, April 13 2013
Aston Villa v Fulham
Villa Park
Kick-off: 15.00 BST.
TV: Highlights BBC ONE Match of the Day.

Aston Villa (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Baker, Bennett; westwood, Delph; Bowery, Weimann, Agbonlahor; Beneteke.
Out: Albrighton, Herd (both foot), Dunne (groin), Gardner (knee), Petrov (illness).
Tests: Bent (match fitness), Clark (shoulder).

Fulham (Possible, 4-4-2): Schwarzer; Riether, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise; Manolev, Karagounis, Enoh, Duff; Ruiz, Berbatov.
Out: Dejagah (ankle), Diarra (knee), Petric (thigh), Sidwell (suspensed).
Test: Enoh (ankle).

Referee: Phil Dowd. Matches: 20, R4 Y57.

Team News
Aston Villa striker Darren Bent is nearing a return to full fitness ahead of the visit of Fulham.

Bent made a brief appearance from the bench last weekend in the 3-1 win over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium, but is still short of match sharpness.

Manager Paul Lambert is also keeping an eye on the fitness of defender Ciaran Clark, who is back on the training ground following a shoulder injury while on international duty for the Republic of Ireland. Providing he suffers no reaction could feature in the travelling squad.

Defender Chris Herd and winger Marc Albrighton plus defender Richard Dunne remain on the casualty list.

Meanwhile, Fulham midfielder Eyong Enoh will undergo a late fitness test after injuring his ankle against Newcastle last weekend.

Manager Martin Jol is already without midfielders Steve Sidwell, Ashkan Dejagah and Mahamadou Diarra.

Dejagah will undergo ankle ligament surgery next week, joining Diarra on the sidelines for the remainder of the season.

Match Notes
Paul Lambert is inching closer to Premier League safety and on course to feel vindicated in his ambitious revamp of Villa's squad.

Three wins in the last four matches have eased the pressure and beating Fulham will represent another huge step forward in his survival mission.

Fulham are in danger of entering the comfort zone after virtually securing their own top flight place, though it could be argued Dimitar Berbatov has excelled in loungewear all season anyway.

Betting: Home 5-4, Away 21-10, Draw 11-5.

Stat of the game: Villa striker Christian Benteke is the highest Premier League scorer this calendar year after scoring his 10th goal of 2013 in Saturday's 3-1 win at Stoke.

John Percy's prediction: Aston Villa 2 Fulham 1.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/9982802/Aston-Villa-v-Fulham-match-preview.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Contract Awarded for Fulham FC's Stadium Development

Club will increase capacity to 30,000 and open up riverwalk

Buckingham Group Contracting, which specialises in building sports and leisure facilities, has been awarded the main contract to redevelop Fulham Football Club's Riverside Stand to increase the capacity of Craven Cottage by 4,300 seats.

That means work is set to begin on the development, which was given planning permission in July 26 last year,

Home to the club since 1896, Craven Cottage currently accommodates 25,700 fans but can now expand to 30,000.

The plans mean that the Riverside Stand, nearest to the Thames, will be partially demolished and extended to include a new upper tier that will wrap around the existing stand and create new hospitality space, a new riverside facade, new roof and four residential units.



The plan also allows for the partial demolition and rebuild of the western ends of the Putney and Hammersmith stands, including installation of new seats and the removal of two floodlight masts.

The riverside walk along the Thames will be opened up on non-match days and FFC will make a £600,000 contribution for the restoration of Bishops Park, plus an annual contribution of £40,000 per year for 10 years for on-going maintenance of the park and pay £60,000 to install heritage gates at the Stevenage Road entrance to Bishops Park.

FFC will make a series of payments to improve signage, CCTV, and pedestrian and road safety measures in the area, as part of the planning consent. The club will also continue to provide stewards to manage the crowds outside the ground and additional street cleaning on match days.

When planning permission was granted last summer, Alistair Mackintosh, CEO of Fulham Football Club said: "This is extremely exciting news and we are all delighted with this outcome. Craven Cottage is synonymous with Fulham FC and it is vital that the Club is given every opportunity to develop the facilities available to ensure that it can continue to prosper and compete, and remain at its home for the long term."

Cllr Nicholas Botterill, H&F Council Leader, said: " Craven Cottage is the historic home of Fulham Football Club and this modest expansion, which will be carried out in a sensitive and sensible way, will allow the club to remain competitive in the top tier of English football while removing the existing, rather ugly, Riverside Stand. Our residents will also enjoy a series of community benefits such as an opened up river walk and improvements at Bishops Park.

" We are the only borough in Britain to be the home to three top-flight football clubs and we are keen to work with all of them to get the best deal for our residents."



April 12, 2013



http://www.fulhamsw6.com/default.asp?section=info&page=fulhamfc005.htm

[WhiteJC]

 
Aston Villa v Fulham: squad sheets

With Wigan not playing until midweek, Aston Villa supporters will see this game as a chance to put distance between themselves and the team in 18th. Christian Benteke has scored 10 times in his last 11 games, while Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann have also been playing well of late. Fulham, meanwhile, were unlucky not to head south with at least a point from Newcastle last week and Martin Jol will not want to relinquish his side's position in the top 10. Dimitar Berbatov could again be a key man for the visitors. James Taylor

Venue Villa Park, Saturday 3pm

Tickets £20-37 (0800 612 0970)

Last season Aston Villa 1 Fulham 0

Referee Phil Dowd

This season's matches 20 Y57, R4, 3.05 cards per game

Odds Aston Villa 4-3 Fulham 11-5 Draw 9-4


Aston Villa v Fulham: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light.
Photograph: Graphic

Aston Villa

Subs from Given, Dawkins, Sylla, Bannan, N'Zogbia, Holman, Clark, Lichaj, Bent, El Ahmadi, Burke, Williams, Stevens, Carruthers, Ireland

Doubtful Clark (shoulder) Injured Gardner (knee, May), Herd (foot, May), Albrighton (foot, unknown), Dunne (groin, unknown), Petrov (illness, unknown)

Suspended None Form guide WLWWLL

Disciplinary record Y67 R2

Leading scorer Benteke 15

Fulham

Subs from Etheridge, Somogyi, Hughes, Baird, Davies, Frimpong, Emanuelson, Richardson, Frei, Rodallega, Petric

Doubtful Enoh (ankle), Petric (groin)

Injured Dejagah (ankle, Aug), Diarra (knee, Aug)

Suspended Sidwell (second of three)

Form guide LWWDWD

Disciplinary record Y38 R2

Leading scorer Berbatov 13

Match pointers

• Fulham have never won a Premier League match at Villa Park, picking up just four points from a possible 33 in their 11 visits

• In fact, Villa's last top-flight home defeat by Fulham came in March 1966 when they lost 5-2

• Fulham have recouped fewer points from losing positions (four) than any other team

• Villa are without a clean sheet in their past 16 Premier League matches

• Fulham have seen an opponent strike their bar or post 18 times this season, the most in the division



http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/apr/12/squad-sheets-aston-villa-fulham?