Monday Fulham Stuff (13/05/13)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham flattened as Liverpool hitman Sturridge responds to "Chelsea reject" chants with stunning hat-trick

Premier League: Fulham 1 Liverpool 3

The accusations of Fulham fans thrown at Daniel Sturridge were returned with interest as the striker defied chants of "Chelsea reject" to fire a fabulous hat-trick and add another chapter to the Whites' dismal end to this campaign.

The west Londoners have limped to the finish line since notching their 40th point against relegation threatened Aston Villa last month to assure themselves of Premier League football next season.

Liverpool, in seventh position, also had nothing to play for and the first half had all the hallmarks of a meaningless dead rubber despite a dubious opener from Dimitar Berbatov and a superb solo leveller from Sturridge.

But the Reds ran riot in the final half an hour to extend the home side's losing run to five games - seven without a win - as their striker proved that the ban-serving Luis Suarez is not the only star of the show in the Anfield side's ranks.

He completed his treble in the 85th minute and were it not for home keeper Mark Schwarzer and the woodwork Martin Jol's side could have slumped to a veritable cricket score at the Cottage.

Their Dutch manager recalled Aaron Hughes, Kieran Richardson and Alex Kacaniklic after the woeful defeat to Championship bound Reading last week.

For the visitors, Jonjo Shelvey replaced the absent Steven Gerrard as Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers went all out attack.

Sebastian Coates made a rare start at the heart of the defence in a 3-5-2 system which saw Glen Johnson and Stewart Downing operate as wing-backs. Andre Wisdom also started for the Reds.

There was an early chance for Sturridge but he couldn't connect cleanly with Jordan Henderson's cross, while Shelvey saw a thunderbolt blocked by a white shirt.

But it was the former Charlton ace and his midfield partner that dictated the early pace while Reds centre back Coates almost weaved his way through the entire home team. A similarly elusive solo run and stinging drive from the outstanding Phillipe Coutinho forced a block from Schwarzer.

That was as close as the dominant Merseysiders came until Sturridge netted his first on 36 minutes.

It took until the half hour mark for Fulham's first shot on target with Eyong Enoh forcing a routine save from Pepe Reina with his 30-yard volley.

The west Londoners then fortunately took the lead against the run of play as Sascha Riether, in an offside position, crossed to Berbatov, who himself had strayed beyond the last man. The Bulgarian nodded home unchallenged.

The lead lasted just three minutes as Sturridge turned Hughes inside out twice before blasting through the flailing arms of Schwarzer and into the roof of the net. Given the striker's Chelsea past, his strike was not a sportingly received from the home supporters.

It at least added some much-needed drama and the boos of the home supporters turned to momentary cheers quickly after when Berbatov looked to have flicked a second, but it had grazed the wrong side of the upright.

Sturridge, who was unceremoniously jeered off the pitch at half time, looked in a mood to prove his detractors wrong and his chance would arrive just after the hour mark.

Before that Kacaniklic burst from the halfway line to drill a low shot that had Reina scrambling across his line, as did a Bryan Ruiz effort, but both ultimately skimmed wide.

The Costa Rican was incandescent with rage soon after when saw a clear-cut penalty was waved away by referee Mark Halsey though Lucas Leiva's arm prevented his cross from reaching its destination.

Salt was rubbed further into the home side's wounds as Liverpool raced up ther other end and a Coutinho shot squirmed through to Sturridge where the striker coolly slotted past Schwarzer.

The goalscorer should have had a hat-trick moments later but was thwarted by a fine block from Australian after Brede Hangeland had lost the ball and he'd raced clear.

His next attempt brought an element of déjà vu, only this time higher up the field, as the Whites captain's attempted interception went wrong and Sturridge homed in on goal from the halfway line only for a strong Schwarzer palm to scupper him again. In truth, he should have squared the ball where two red shirts waited for an easy tap-in - but he had a point to prove.

Liverpool were cutting through Fulham at will and had Shelvey not lost his footing at the crucial moment it surely would have been 3-1.

Reina then twice kept Fulham out; pushing away a Berbatov shot and then, from the resulting corner, beating away a Hughes header.

It was a minor blip in the Reds' afternoon as substitute Fabio Borini was denied a fabulous solo goal when his curling effort rattled the post and then the Italian saw Schwarzer pull off another fine save after Sturridge's sublime back-heeled flick had set him free.

Former Liverpool favourite John Arne Riise's first contribution after replacing Giorgos Karagounis late on was to blast a rocket of a free-kick that Reina plucked out of the sky.

But it was new Reds hero Sturridge who grabbed his hat-trick with a finish of pure class when he latched on to an equally deft flick through from Coutinho to dink over the onrushing Schwarzer.

Not bad for a Chelsea cast-off.

Fulham: Shwarzer, Hangeland, Berbatov, Ruiz, Karagounis (Riise, 81), Richardson (Emanuelson, 15), Duff, Hughes, Riether, Kacaniklic (Petric, 70), Enoh

Unused subs: Etheridge, Senderos, Frimpong, Rodallega,

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Coutinho (Coady, 88), Henderson, Sturridge, Coates, Downing, Leiva, Carragher, Shelvey (Borini, 77), Wisdom (Enrique, 45)

Unused subs: B.Jones, Assaidi, Suso, L.Jones

Referee: Mark Halsey

Attendance: 25,640



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_flattened_as_liverpool_hitman_sturridge_responds_to_chelsea_reject_chants_with_stunning_hat_trick_1_2190215

[WhiteJC]

 
Berba Named Player Of The Season

Dimitar Berbatov has been named Fulham's Player of the Season for 2012/13.

The Bulgarian, who joined the Whites from Manchester United in August, took first place in the online voting, just ahead of Greek midfielder Giorgos Karagounis, with Sascha Riether third.

Berbatov said: "I want to thank all the fans that voted for me for the Player of the Season. It is a real pleasure to play at Fulham and I am enjoying my football very much, so to get recognised in this way is very special.

"Football is a team game and obviously this is for all of them too, as we have worked hard to play together and I look forward to many more matches alongside them."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/may/12/berba-named-player-of-the-season?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool: Daniel Sturridge hat-trick pours misery on for Martin Jol

Fulham's dismal end to the season continued with a sixth defeat in seven games after Daniel Sturridge's hat-trick helped Liverpool to a 3-1 victory at Craven Cottage.

The match began with a bang but only after the visiting fans threw flares and fire crackers onto the pitch to leave the ground engulfed in a cloud of red smoke.

It is a result which, while disappointing for the Cottagers, is likely to have no impact on Fulham's safety after results elsewhere went in their favour.

Liverpool dominated the early stages and it was 24 minutes before Fulham had their first real opening. Alexander Kacaniklic set off on a driving run but Dimitar Berbatov, whose goals have proved so valuable this season, could not provide the final touch to a low ball from the right.

If there was any question over Berbatov's finishing then it was quickly reduced. Damian Duff drew in Stuart Downing on 33 minutes and slipped the ball to Sascha Riether. Berbatov then rose above the Liverpool defence and headed Riether's cross past Pepe Reina for his 14th Premier League goal of the season.

But the lead did not last and Liverpool hit back moments later. Sturridge lifted the ball over Aaron Hughes and the ex-Chelsea man turned the defender a second time before smashing his finish into the roof of the net.

There was parity at half-time and Martin Jol will be right to feel disappointed with the manner Liverpool grabbed the lead 17 minutes minutes into the second half. Bryan Ruiz tricked his way past Sebastian Coates before Lucas hand-balled his cross inside the area and escaped unpunished by referee Mark Halsey.

Play broke to the opposite end of the pitch and Phillipe Coutinho's scuffed ball fell into the path of Sturridge. The 23-year-old was left with a simple finish that angered home players and supporters alike.

Fulham looked to attack with Berbatov and Aaron Hughes both drawing top-class saves from Reina. But their defence opened up in the haste to find an equaliser and Fabio Borini's wonderful curling effort somehow deflected away from goal off the inside of Mark Schwarzer's post.

Liverpool secured the win and Sturridge secured his hat-trick after 85 minutes. The striker latched onto Coutinho's pass over the Fulham defence and lobbed Schwarzer with his tenth Premier League goal for Liverpool.



http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-13-liverpool-daniel-sturridge-hattrick-pours-misery-on-for-martin-jol-8612832.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Manager Reaction

Martin Jol insisted he couldn't question Fulham's 'effort or application' in Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.

Dimitar Berbatov put Fulham in front but a hat-trick from Daniel Sturridge saw the Whites slip to a fourth successive home defeat, although the Club's Barclays Premier League safety is all but secure.

"We were very happy to be on 40 points but we haven't been able to get a result since to be on 46 or 47," said Jol.

"If you look at the effort we've put in against Chelsea, Arsenal and even today, there's nothing wrong with the effort or application or mentality, but when we've needed to change the game to score, we've looked a bit vulnerable."

Fulham were forced into wholesale changes last year and Jol predicted further incomings and outgoings when the transfer window opens this summer as he looks to reshape his squad.

"We need four, five or six players but that's normal at any club," stated Jol. "We need to strengthen.

"Our home form was always good last year. Last year we could score out of nothing; we had Clint Dempsey to score winners. With Dimitar Berbatov, we gained somebody who could score goals but we lost things in other areas.

"Last season, we made a big step. We played fantastic football, especially after Christmas. But we had to start again. So we have to count our blessings that we had 40 points at the start of April."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/may/12/manager-reaction?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol happy with Fulham's effort
Martin Jol had no complaints with Fulham's performance despite going down to a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.

Daniel Sturridge's superb hat-trick inspired Liverpool to all three points as they came from behind to cancel out Dimitar Berbatov's opener.

It was Fulham's fourth successive defeat at Craven Cottage and means they are still not mathematically safe from relegation.

Despite the defeat Jol was happy with the effort his side put in against Liverpool, feeling their opponents took advantage of their vulnerability.

"We were very happy to be on 40 points but we haven't been able to get a result since to be on 46 or 47," said Jol.

"If you look at the effort we've put in against Chelsea, Arsenal and even today, there's nothing wrong with the effort or application or mentality, but when we've needed to change the game to score, we've looked a bit vulnerable."

Jol conceded Fulham need to bolster their squad next season if they are to avoid struggling at the wrong end of the table, feeling they do not have enough goals in the current side.

"We need four, five or six players but that's normal at any club," added Jol. "We need to strengthen.

"Our home form was always good last year. Last year we could score out of nothing; we had Clint Dempsey to score winners. With Dimitar Berbatov, we gained somebody who could score goals but we lost things in other areas.

"Last season, we made a big step. We played fantastic football, especially after Christmas. But we had to start again. So we have to count our blessings that we had 40 points at the start of April."



http://www.football365.com/fulham/8709293/-?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham still not safe but Jol says, 'we should count our blessings'

Martin Jol insisted Fulham should be grateful for their 40 points despite an outside chance that they can still be relegated from the Premier League after today's 3-1 defeat against a Daniel Sturridge-inspired Liverpool.

The West Londoners were virtually assured of safety a month ago when a 1-1 draw at relegation threatened Aston Villa saw them reach the points target that is usually the benchmark for survival.

But the Reds striker's hat-trick ensured a fifth loss in a row that hasn't mathematically ruled out a drop into the Championship.

With one game left for them but two for newly crowned FA Cup champions Wigan – who are five points behind in the last remaining relegation spot - there is a possibility of disaster but Jol doesn't see it that way.

"Sometimes I feel we should count our blessings," the Dutchman said.

"We always knew that the last seven or eight games, [with] Everton away, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, could have been a heavy schedule and it was.

"We are very happy to be on 40 points. The only disappointing thing is that although we played against Newcastle, Everton and all the teams I mentioned, we couldn't get a result to be on 46 or 47 points."

Jol also denied that his side's slump since earning their last point four weeks ago has been down to players assuming league survival is in the bag.

"If you look at the effort we put in against Chelsea, Arsenal and even today, I don't think there is something wrong with the application or the mentality," he said.

"The only thing is that we were chasing the game and if you have to score we are vulnerable."

The Whites boss was also left to rue a dismissed penalty claim moments before Sturridge scored the second of his hat-trick.

His side had taken the lead against the run of play through Dimitar Berbatov just after the half hour mark, though the Bulgarian and Sascha Riether, who provided the assist, were both offside.

But their lead didn't last for long as the Reds striker produced a solo effort of skill and power to blast an equaliser three minutes later.

Then came a moment of controversy as Bryan Ruiz's second half cross struck the hand of Lucas Leiva in the penalty area but referee Mark Halsey waved away the home side's claims.

Within seconds Sturridge had stroked the Reds into a 2-1 lead.

Jol said: "The frustrating thing was we should have had a couple of things, a couple of incidents [go] for us and it didn't happen.

"Just before they scored [their second] I think I was a penalty kick.

"[In the] first half, 1-0 up, we had a one-on-one situation in their box and five seconds later it was in our goal.

"That was the frustrating thing today."



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_still_not_safe_but_jol_says_we_should_count_our_blessings_1_2190285

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham boss eyes summer signings

MARTIN Jol reckons Fulham need as many as SIX new players this summer.

The Whites are virtually guaranteed Premier League safety next season having reached the magical 40-point mark.

Only a minor miracle would see Jol's men plunge into the Championship now but it has been too close for comfort for the Dutch manager.

Jol is keen to avoid a repeat of this season's struggle for survival and already has one eye on the transfer market.

Having seen his side slump to their fifth straight defeat to Liverpool this afternoon, as they stutter towards the finish line, the Fulham boss concedes there is work to be done.

Losing Moussa Dembele and in particular Clint Dempsey (pictured) to Tottenham on transfer deadline day last August has proven costly and Jol wants to bring in replacements during the close-season.

"We need four, five or six players but that's normal at any club," said Jol. "We need to strengthen.

"Our home form was always good last year. Last year we could score out of nothing; we had Clint Dempsey to score winners.

With Dimitar Berbatov, we gained somebody who could score goals but we lost things in other areas."

Fulham travel to Swansea next Sunday for their final game of the season.

They may already be mathematically safe before then if Wigan fail to beat Arsenal on Tuesday night.



http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2013/05/12/82029-33320681/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol laments ´frustrating´ decisions

Fulham boss Martin Jol has bemoaned the decisions that went against his side during Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.

Daniel Sturridge netted a hat-trick as Brendan Rodgers' men came from a goal down to earn a convincing win at Craven Cottage.

But Jol has cited a Lucas Leiva handball in the box and a poor Glen Johnson tackle on Eyong Enoh as moments which could have turned the match.

"The frustrating thing was that we should have had a couple of decisions for us and that didn't happen," he said.

"Just before they scored I think it was a penalty kick, we should have had a corner-kick, maybe a red card.

"First half, 1-0 up, we had a situation in their box five seconds later it was in our goal. So that was the frustrating thing today."

Fulham have lost six of their last seven games in the Premier League but the Dutchman insists he is not concerned by that run of form due to the opposition his side have faced.

"Sometimes I feel we should count our blessings," he added.

"We always knew the last seven or eight games - Everton away, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool - could have been a heavy schedule and it was.

"We were happy to be on 40 points the only disappointing thing is that we couldn't get a result against them and be on 47 points."



http://uk.soccerway.com/news/2013/May/12/jol-laments-frustrating-decisions/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Martin Jol eyes six new players

Fulham manager Martin Jol has claimed that he needs up to six new players for the start of next season.

The Cottagers are yet to secure their Premier League status this year as Sunday's 3-1 defeat at home to Liverpool has left them five points off the drop zone having played a game more than 18th-placed Wigan Athletic.

"We need four, five or six players but that's normal at any club," Jol is quoted as saying by the Ealing Gazette. "We need to strengthen."

Fulham play their final game of the campaign next Sunday when they travel to Swansea City.



http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/transfer-talk/news/jol-eyes-six-new-players_84143.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Drowning not waving

On the other side of the borough, Harry Redknapp ruled out any lap of honour from his relegated troops as QPR prepare for life back in the Championship. Rock bottom Rangers, after a season of woe for their long-suffering supporters, served up nine home defeats at Loftus Road.

After the Whites were soundly beaten 3-1 by Liverpool in their last home appearance, our fans too have now suffered the same number of nine losses at Craven Cottage - or as we used to call it, "Fortress Fulham". What a difficult season this has been to endure. The worst in five years. Without our goalie's three penalty saves this season, we would be down!

Our lads did in fact sheepishly take to the pitch for a sombre and low-key 'salute to the fans', though thousands had by then already voted with their feet and headed for home. The players wisely stayed away from the perimeter, avoided too much eye contact, and were no doubt relieved to get back into the dressing room. It all made for an uncomfortable scene.

Sliding to a 5th successive league loss, a return of one solitary point from the last 21, and a fourth straight loss at home, our worst ever run in the Premiership, means however you want to view the glass at Fulham, this has been a torrid campaign - and we've one final act still to play out before the corpse can be dragged off-stage.

Daniel Sturridge was the game changer here. He had in spades that essential commodity so sorely lacking in the Fulham ranks - raw pace. Martin Jol's not managed to inject any into his formations all season, but Sturridge had pace to burn. Liverpool could easily have run up six as Mark Schwartzer was horribly exposed and our embarrassment would have been even greater. Gazelles gambolled with donkeys. When John Arne Riise was sent on with ten minutes left and the Whites trailing, I just laughed ... it summed up the day.

Yes, we might have had a penalty, and maybe Sebastian Coates got away with a foul on Alex Kacaniklic as he sprinted through the middle, but second best we remained for 80% of the game. Liverpool twice struck the woodwork and were profligate in front of goal. All this as well without their biggest stars to boot.

Incredibly, the gaffer came out to tell the press: 'The effort we put in against Chelsea and Arsenal and today shows there is nothing wrong with our approach and mentality.' Am I losing my sanity here? Three changes to the side made no difference whatsoever in raising standards.

Agreed we were still at the races at the interval having scored first. Admittedly it was against the run of play, but Sascha Riether swung a cross right onto Dimi's head and Berbatov could not miss. Class told however, Brendan Rodgers switched his tactics at half-time to 4-4-2 and Fulham's tired legs got found out again.

In the first 45, Liverpool played us just as Reading had last week. Width offered by the wing-backs, balls played up from the centre circle into the channels while our back four stood off and defended from the 18 yard line. This build up play possible, just so long as we fail to press the midfield - where we carry two lightweights in Bryan Ruiz and Gorgios Karagounis, both culpable of giving the ball up easily, while Eyong Enoh cannot plug all the holes and make every tackle.

Once we try to chase the game and step up to a higher line, we are all too easily picked off by long balls over the top. It's all academic this late in the season now, but what is Jol doing with his substitutes?

Mladen Petric had twenty minutes game time and can anyone please flag up one single positive contribution he made? Why does Hugo Rodallega not get on the pitch at all? What is the point in even selecting Damien Duff for the first team? And how can we go into games like this without Chris Baird on the bench?

I could labour on, but what's the point? We are just repeating ourselves. Jol has long since run out of ideas and moves ever closer to the exit door. "We will need five or six players over the summer just to get the numbers up, and we may need to be very creative again in the market."

For 'creative' read desperate. Planning and logic have gone out the window. It's in the hands of the board now to do the right thing. Otherwise this time next year it will be FFC emulating Rangers. And I would still be following the team till my dying day.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

Twitter@fulhamphil


http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/fulham/id/1030?&cc=5739

[bobby01]

Drowning not waving

On the other side of the borough, Harry Redknapp ruled out any lap of honour from his relegated troops as QPR prepare for life back in the Championship. Rock bottom Rangers, after a season of woe for their long-suffering supporters, served up nine home defeats at Loftus Road.

After the Whites were soundly beaten 3-1 by Liverpool in their last home appearance, our fans too have now suffered the same number of nine losses at Craven Cottage - or as we used to call it, "Fortress Fulham". What a difficult season this has been to endure. The worst in five years. Without our goalie's three penalty saves this season, we would be down




Our lads did in fact sheepishly take to the pitch for a sombre and low-key 'salute to the fans', though thousands had by then already voted with their feet and headed for home. The players wisely stayed away from the perimeter, avoided too much eye contact, and were no doubt relieved to get back into the dressing room. It all made for an uncomfortable scene.

Sliding to a 5th successive league loss, a return of one solitary point from the last 21, and a fourth straight loss at home, our worst ever run in the Premiership, means however you want to view the glass at Fulham, this has been a torrid campaign - and we've one final act still to play out before the corpse can be dragged off-stage.

Daniel Sturridge was the game changer here. He had in spades that essential commodity so sorely lacking in the Fulham ranks - raw pace. Martin Jol's not managed to inject any into his formations all season, but Sturridge had pace to burn. Liverpool could easily have run up six as Mark Schwartzer was horribly exposed and our embarrassment would have been even greater. Gazelles gambolled with donkeys. When John Arne Riise was sent on with ten minutes left and the Whites trailing, I just laughed ... it summed up the day.

Yes, we might have had a penalty, and maybe Sebastian Coates got away with a foul on Alex Kacaniklic as he sprinted through the middle, but second best we remained for 80% of the game. Liverpool twice struck the woodwork and were profligate in front of goal. All this as well without their biggest stars to boot.

Incredibly, the gaffer came out to tell the press: 'The effort we put in against Chelsea and Arsenal and today shows there is nothing wrong with our approach and mentality.' Am I losing my sanity here? Three changes to the side made no difference whatsoever in raising standards.

Agreed we were still at the races at the interval having scored first. Admittedly it was against the run of play, but Sascha Riether swung a cross right onto Dimi's head and Berbatov could not miss. Class told however, Brendan Rodgers switched his tactics at half-time to 4-4-2 and Fulham's tired legs got found out again.

In the first 45, Liverpool played us just as Reading had last week. Width offered by the wing-backs, balls played up from the centre circle into the channels while our back four stood off and defended from the 18 yard line. This build up play possible, just so long as we fail to press the midfield - where we carry two lightweights in Bryan Ruiz and Gorgios Karagounis, both culpable of giving the ball up easily, while Eyong Enoh cannot plug all the holes and make every tackle.

Once we try to chase the game and step up to a higher line, we are all too easily picked off by long balls over the top. It's all academic this late in the season now, but what is Jol doing with his substitutes?

Mladen Petric had twenty minutes game time and can anyone please flag up one single positive contribution he made? Why does Hugo Rodallega not get on the pitch at all? What is the point in even selecting Damien Duff for the first team? And how can we go into games like this without Chris Baird on the bench?

I could labour on, but what's the point? We are just repeating ourselves. Jol has long since run out of ideas and moves ever closer to the exit door. "We will need five or six players over the summer just to get the numbers up, and we may need to be very creative again in the market."

For 'creative' read desperate. Planning and logic have gone out the window. It's in the hands of the board now to do the right thing. Otherwise this time next year it will be FFC emulating Rangers. And I would still be following the team till my dying day.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

Twitter@fulhamphil


http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/fulham/id/1030?&cc=5739

Cannot disagree with a single word of this. Will not be going to swansea to watch more drosss

[WhiteJC]

 
Michael Laudrup challenges Swansea City to ensure top-eight finish

MICHAEL Laudrup has challenged Swansea City to win their league when they face Fulham next weekend — and asked Sir Alex Ferguson to help them along.

Swansea were denied a memorable draw at Manchester United yesterday as Rio Ferdinand struck his first goal in five-and-a-half years just three minutes from time to ensure Sir Alex signed off at Old Trafford with a win.

But results elsewhere meant Swansea were left with something to celebrate as they are now guaranteed to improve on last season's 11th-placed finish by ending this campaign in the top half of the Premier League.

Realistically, Swansea are all but sure of ninth place because tenth-placed West Ham's goal difference is vastly inferior to theirs.

And Laudrup's side have an opportunity to end the year in eighth — not to mention better last term's final points tally of 47 — if they beat Fulham next Sunday.

If Swansea are victorious at the Liberty, they will leapfrog West Bromwich Albion unless the Baggies defeat United in Sir Alex's final match as a manager.

"We are 100 per cent sure of finishing in the top ten, things will have to go very badly for us not to be ninth and we even have a possibility of finishing eighth," Laudrup pointed out.

"Hopefully Manchester United can do us a favour and if we then beat Fulham, we would be eighth.

"That would be like winning the championship — that's the maximum for us when you look at the seven clubs above.

"We can say now that we will probably end up first or second in what I would call our league. When you add that to the cup win, that's an amazing season."

Swansea will be confident of beating Fulham — they have a 100 per cent record against the Cottagers in the Premier League — although Martin Jol's team will be part of a final-day relegation shootout if Wigan win at Arsenal tomorrow.

Even if they lose against Fulham, Swansea will be able to reflect on a very fine year.

"It's really amazing to be sure of the top ten," Laudrup added.

"This season will always be remembered because it was the season where Swansea won their first cup.

"But to be in the top ten when you consider we have the lowest budget in the league is amazing.

"If we can finish eighth, it may be an even bigger achievement than winning the cup."

There was some frustration for Laudrup over Swansea's failure to hold on for what would have been a second draw of the season against the champions yesterday.

United were much the stronger side in the first period, but Swansea fought back admirably after the break and were worth a point.

"They were the better team in the first half — you expect that when you play Manchester United at Old Trafford — and maybe we could have been 2-0 down at half-time," Laudrup said.

"But then we got our equaliser and we were the better team in the second half.

"We had some good chances to score again, but unfortunately in the last few minutes we conceded to another set-piece.

"That has been the weak point of the season for us — we have conceded too many goals from set-pieces and there were two more here."

Michu returned from injury along with Chico Flores to face United, while Roland Lamah was back on the bench.

Ben Davies and Angel Rangel started among the substitutes because of fitness concerns, but only Michel Vorm and Ki Sung-Yueng were ruled out completely.



Read more: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/story-18970368-detail/story.html?#ixzz2TBHFtK9Z
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[WhiteJC]

 
Are things really that bad?

If you look at the league table how many teams would actually say they've had a good season?

Then ask the same question for "not big" teams.

There are two: West Bromwich Albion, who had a good year but also a big striker on loan from Chelsea; Swansea, who have made some very clever moves in the transfer market and are generally admired throughout the land.

That's it. Everyone else is more or less in the relegation mix, or would be were it not for three measly points.

Is this what happens when the rich get too rich?

Are Fulham just one of many clubs finding this out the hard way?

Are we – gasp! – really not that bad?



http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/are-things-really-that-bad/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Kaca Rues Reds Result

Losing 3-1 to Liverpool at Craven Cottage on Sunday was not the result that Alexander Kačaniklić wanted in Fulham's final home game of the season.

In the Club's last fixture in SW6 of the 2012/13 campaign, the Whites led through Dimitar Berbatov's header. But a Daniel Sturridge hat-trick condemned Fulham to a fifth straight defeat and Kačaniklić cut a frustrated figure afterwards.

"It's a disappointing way to end the season at home," he told the official website. "Losing 3-1 is never good, especially at the Cottage. We wanted to give the fans something to cheer about in the last game but we couldn't. It was a very open game. They could have scored a couple more, to be honest, and we had some other chances too."

Restored to Fulham's starting XI, Kačaniklić was involved in one of the game's main talking points when, with the score at 1-1, he appeared to be clipped by last man Sebastian Coates as the midfielder looked to latch onto a Giorgos Karagounis ball over the top.

The incident came just moments after the Whites had seen strong penalty claims turned away by Mark Halsey when Bryan Ruiz's cross struck the hand of Lucas Leiva.

To rub salt into the wounds, Liverpool went immediately down the other end and took the lead through Sturridge, with Kačaniklić stating: "I thought it was a foul and I'm pretty sure it was handball. But I'm not the referee."

After a quiet first half, Kačaniklić improved as the match wore on, making several dangerous runs into the Liverpool box and going close with a left-footed effort which fizzed just wide.

"I was happy with my performance," he said. "I created a couple of chances and had a couple of shots, but unfortunately they didn't result in a goal."

Despite Fulham's recent slump, the Whites are safe from relegation, barring an incredible change in goal difference in the final game of the season.

"We shouldn't really have even been looking over our shoulder at this stage of the season," said Kačaniklić. "We got to 40 points back in April. We should have more points and be higher up with the team we've got and the players we've got. We've got another game to end the season and then we'll have to work hard in the summer."

Fulham head to Swansea City for the final match of the campaign and Kačaniklić is hoping the Whites can end the term on a high.

It certainly won't be easy against Michael Laudrup's side, however, with Kačaniklić adding: "It's a very tough game. They don't have too much to play for but they'll be looking to finish the season well in front of their own fans. But we want to go out on a win too and end our poor recent run so we'll be going there looking for a victory."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/may/13/kaca-rues-reds-result?

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Fulham Focus - Cottagers left relishing season's end after fifth straight defeat

It proved to be a miserable end to the season at Craven Cottage as Liverpool dismantled a poor Fulham side in West London.



It had started so brightly as well, when the ever-impressive Sascha Riether's cross was supremely headed home by the unmarked Dimitar Berbatov. Indeed, prior to the visit of the Reds the Cottagers had not lost in every single Premier League match that the Bulgarian had scored in this season.

Boss Martin Jol could point to the pair of controversial decisions in the second period which first saw the hosts denied a penalty when Lucas Leiva looked to have clearly handballed, before Sebastien Coates was judged not to have brought down Alexander Kacaniklic when a red card should have been given to the Uruguayan. Indeed, just seconds after the latter incident, Daniel Sturridge tucked home the second of his eventual hat-trick.

The loss marked Fulham's fifth on the bounce as they dropped to 15th in the table, still not mathematically sure of their Premier League position for next season, though should Wigan fail to take all three points at Arsenal on Tuesday then that will be secured.

Perhaps what is of greater importance is the sheer nature of Fulham's defeats of late. It is not just about the Liverpool result, where they were undone by a superb display of finishing from Sturridge, but the Reading, Everton, Arsenal and Chelsea defeats before that. There were also the extremely tame reverses to Manchester City, Swansea, Liverpool again, QPR, Tottenham and Sunderland earlier in the campaign and frankly, this is a team that very much needs major surgery in the summer.

Jol spoke after the game of needing as many as six players in the summer but on the evidence of this season, that would be too few a number. This is an ageing squad, one that clearly had the heart ripped out of it when Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey were sold to Tottenham way back in August and though the brilliance of Berbatov will still remain, he is also not getting any younger at 32.

Cast your eye around the rest of the Fulham squad and you will see a 40-year-old Mark Schwarzer and a back four that includes 30-somethings Aaron Hughes, Brede Hangeland and John Arne Riise. Fulham's midfield this season has often included the veteran Greek Giorgos Karagounis, as well as the likes of Damien Duff and Steve Sidwell, all over 30. Berbatov and Mladen Petric also make up an ageing strike-force.

Clearly, this squad that needs freshening up and a real injection of pace as even those below the age of 30 lack that extra bit of speed that can make the difference in the top flight, which is why the likes of Kacaniklic with his quick, direct running has so caught the eye on occasion this campaign.



http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_0_20081_-.html#.UZDylJW_wds

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Fulham - Where did it all go wrong for Mladen Petric?

Mladen Petric could leave Fulham after just one season at the club, according to reports.

It appeared when the season began that Mladen Petric could become the bargain of 2012/13, having seemingly settled instantly at Fulham.

He was brought in on a free transfer by Martin Jol, who used to manage to Croatian at Hamburg in the Bundesliga.


With Clint Dempsey in the midst of a strike amid his impending departure, Fulham needed a hero and in pre-season it appeared the new addition could just be the man.

Petric scored five goals in pre-season in five games, showing confidence and no issues at all in gelling with his new teammates.

And he carried this into the Premier League in a devastating performances against a woeful Norwich side on the opening day.

Fulham won 5-0 with Petric scoring twice and creating another, but that remains his only Premier League brace of the campaign.

In fact the Croatian has scored just three goals for the club since in the division, and is even being tipped for an exit, with the Express this weekend claiming the striker wants to headback to Germany.

Even Martin Jol was non-committal on his future, stating bluntly: "I'm not sure he will stay."

So where did it all go wrong for the striker?

Sadly for Petric, it can be traced all the way back to September 1 last year, and a 3-0 defeat on the road at West Ham.

After 45 minutes he was substituted after a limp performance, and replaced by Dimitar Berbatov who had arrived at the club just 24 hours earlier on deadline day.

Berbatov did not find the scoresheet, but his classy display won rave reviews, and the Bulgarian's arrival meant Petric would be shuffled out of the side on a more regular basis.

Petric would start just two out of the next nine games - scoring once, and he did not complete 90 minutes for Fulham until November 24, in a 1-0 loss at Stoke.

It's a theme which the forward has been unable to break, having failed to start any of Fulham's last 10 Premier League games, it appears as though his time is running out, and failing to score in the Premier League since December.

Petric was clearly enjoying being Fulham's main man early on, and manager Martin Jol decided he could simply not accommodate both he and Berbatov in the same line-up from a tactical point of view.

But the striker need also look at himself, for the 32-year-old has looked like a shadow of the dynamic footballer who seemed so dangerous back in August.

Whichever the predominant reason, the fact Petric may not hang around is a shame for he appeared to have the look of a potential star for Fulham, but at this stage of his career you can hardly blame him for wanting to move on if the alternative is spending another season on the bench at Craven Cottage?



http://hereisthecity.com/2013/05/12/fulham-where-did-it-all-go-wrong-for-mladen-petric/?

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Historic sailing clubs 'blown out the water' by Fulham FC stadium plans


Allan Munro-Faure, Christopher Edwards, Nick Price.

TWO historic sailing clubs face ruin because Fulham Football Club's stadium redevelopment will alter wind conditions on the
Thames and make the pursuit a 'frustrating lottery'.

Ranelagh, which has operated from Putney Embankment since 1889, and South Bank, which formed opposite the stadium in 1956, received emails from Hammersmith and Fulham Council to say the Premier League club had scrapped its offer of financial support to help deal with the effects its new Riverside stand will have on wind direction.

The design of the new stand at Craven Cottage, which will increase the stadium capacity to 30,000, means it will encroach
11 metres into the river and thus reduce the strength of the breeze, making sailing more difficult.

When permission was granted last year for the development, the club agreed to pay for a number of measures to help both sailing outfits, after wind experts calculated nearly half of Ranelagh's races would become 'impossible' and a large number
a 'frustrating lottery', and that the position of South Bank's start and finish line in relation to the stand would also be problematic.

But the offer was suddenly withdrawn after discussions between Fulham and the clubs broke down, which leaves them
facing an uncertain future.

Ranelagh commodore Nick Price said: "As things stand the future of the club is in jeopardy. We attract sailors from all
over the country and if we can't offer them decent conditions, they won't come any more."

South Bank commodore Allan Munroe-Faure said: "It's a struggle for us because we are run by volunteers but because of the actions of Fulham Football Club we have no idea what the future holds. The river is a public place which should be enjoyed by everyone and they have ridden roughshod over that."

The Premier League club had offered to pay South Bank £25,000 and then £5,000 a year for five years to improve facilities at the club house and alter the angle of the start/finish line to mitigate against new winds. It also suggested Ranelagh, which
sails past the stadium towards the Crabtree pub and back, could relocate to South Bank on wind-affected days and pay for a motorboat to tug Ranelagh's participants to its neighbour. Thinning of trees and shrubs was also proposed.

But both clubs questioned the practicality of sharing and said making the alterations would cost £200,000. Last week they were told council planners were recommending withdrawal of the offer because the new stand would not 'preclude the continuation' of sailing.

"We're one of the oldest clubs in the country and this is going to make things very difficult," added Mr Price. "We are consulting solicitors."

A Fulham FC spokeswoman said: "The club is keen to work with all local groups as part of the stadium plans and held extensive consultation."



Read more: Fulham Chronicle http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-and-hammersmith-news/local-fulham-and-hammersmith-news/2013/05/13/82029-33312993/?#ixzz2TBJpRVnh

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Dikgacoi in key play off game

Bafana Bafana midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi is likely to line up for his English club Crystal Palace on Monday night as they seek to continue their bid for promotion to the Premier League.

Dikgacoi was in the line-up on Friday when Palace were held to a goalless draw at home by Brighton and Hove Albion in the first leg of their promotion play off semifinal.

Palace will start the second keg at AMEX Stadium as underdogs as Brighton now have home advantage.

The winner will meet Watford in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium on Monday, May 27 with the victor going up to the top flight alongside already promoted Cardiff City and Hull City.

Palace manager Ian Holloway said: "We have to go there and they will have to watch us because we aren't bad at counter-attacking.

"Obviously we will have to stop them at their own ground, but this is where the pressure happens, this is where it all starts building.

"It only takes one thing from us and that could upset everything. It's a fantastic opportunity for us, we have to do better than we did at their ground last time," he told reporters.

Dikgacoi has been a regular for the London club this season in a campaign of two halves, with Palace leading in the first half but then fading dramatically towards the end of the season and barely holding on for a top six finish and a slot in the promotion play-offs.

The 28-year-old, who started his career at Lamontville Golden Arrows, has made 43 appearances this season with five goals.

He has already played in the Premier League with Fulham when he first moved to England in 2009. Palace paid R6-million to sign Dikgacoi from Fulham two years ago.


http://www.supersport.com/football/bafana/news/130513/Dikgacoi_in_key_play_off_game

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Fulham boss Martin Jol eyes six summer signings

Martin Jol is targeting as many as six summer signings for Fulham in the summer as the London club have had a disappointing end to the season.

Despite failing to record a single win in seven Premier League matches, Fulham look to have guaranteed survival having reached the magical 40-point mark.

Only a minor miracle would see Jol's men plunge into the Championship now but it has been too close for comfort for the Dutch manager.

Jol will be keen to avoid a repeat of the struggle his side has faced in the second half of this season and seems to already have one eye on the transfer market.

Having seen his side slump to their fifth straight defeat to Liverpool yesterday afternoon, as they stutter towards the finish line, the Fulham boss has conceded that there is work to be done.

Losing Mousa Dembele and in particular Clint Dempsey to Tottenham on transfer deadline day last August has proven costly and Jol wants to bring in replacements during the close-season.

Fulham travel to Swansea next Sunday for their final game of the season knowing that a win would definitely be enough to remain in the top flight.

They may already be mathematically safe before then if Wigan fail to beat Arsenal on Tuesday night.



http://www.footballfriendsonline.com/blogs/2013/5/13/fulham-boss-martin-jol-eyes-six-summer-signings.html?

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What now for Jol? Fulham 1-3 Liverpool

A fifth straight defeat has increased the pressure on a manager who, increasingly, is looking void of ideas

And so it continues. Our decline from the grand old days of mid-table mediocrity into lower-league layabouts. Five straight defeats. No hunger, no desire. Nothing much at all, really.

This was no cataclysmic performance, though - we've played far worse, had far more destructive results - but it isn't just this 3-1 defeat to Liverpool which has set the mood. No, morale is poor because this game was just the culmination of an incredibly dire period of time for Fulham and, for that matter, the fans.

The lack of any genuine motivation for these remaining league games has been saddening, the lack of commitment concerning. And while it's not always fair to make scapegoats, surely Martin Jol should be taking the greatest of the vitriol. His job, after all, is to galvanise his men and to dictate their shape accordingly.

Recently, though, he has been unable to do neither. He is quick to blame the premature gathering of forty points for our loss of fervour, while his tactical ideas have become predictable and thoughtless. We don't seem to adapt to suit our opposition, or adapt to form, or adapt to conditions. We just don't adapt at all.

Hence the stagnation. That word has been thrown around a lot of late but it does sum us up as a club quite perfectly. We have not moved forward or progressed but merely built for the short term, bringing players in on either loans or one-year deals.

Granted, maybe Jol has not had much to work with, but he could at least show imagination - something hardly in abundance at the Cottage on Sunday.

Liverpool were simply better, sharper and bolder. Daniel Sturridge was excellent and Philippe Coutinho was dominant, the latter proving to be just the kind of player Fulham were missing. He was elegant in midfield and passed to wondrous effect. We have craved someone of his caliber since Moussa Dembele and Danny Murphy left last summer.

It was against the run of play that Fulham opened the scoring, as Dimitar Berbatov nodded home a Sascha Riether cross from close range. Jol's men certainly hadn't been bad up to that point, but Liverpool were more adventurous, and it told with the Reds' almost-instantaneous reply.

A swift counter attack saw Sturridge attack the home penalty area and, after a brief attempt to reclaim possession, a flat footed Aaron Hughes was beaten. All that was left was for Sturridge to fire home, which he did so with aplomb.

At half time, then, things were level but the dynamic of the game was certainly working in Brendan Rodgers' favour. His team were just that little more refined, and the second period would prove as much.

Fulham had justified calls for a penalty turned down by referee Mark Halsey as Lucas Leiva handled in the box and, before long, had more reason to condemn the official's decision making. Alexander Kacaniklic was brought down when latching on to a through ball but nothing was given. Liverpool broke, and Sturridge put Liverpool 2-1 up, this time stroking the ball past Mark Schwarzer from close range.

A series of superb saves from our Australian 'keeper kept the scoreline steady but a third goal was almost inevitable. It would of course be Sturridge, claiming his hat-trick, but Coutinho was the real master here. A pinpoint through ball from the Brazilian allowed Sturridge to nonchalantly lob the ball over Schwarzer and put the tie to bed.

It was a game in which you could, to equal effect, bemoan the officials and the team. Had decisions gone our way, there would likely have been an entirely different outcome to this late season tie. But, then again, if Fulham had done things a little differently themselves, maybe Jol's situation wouldn't be so sombre.



http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2013/5/13/4325968/what-now-jol-fulham-1-3-liverpool-sturridge-coutinho?