Sunday Fulham Stuff (18/08/13)...

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Sunderland 0-1 Fulham: Martin Jol happy with 'perfect away result'

Fulham manager Martin Jol says the 1-0 victory over Sunderland was the "perfect away result" but that it was far from being a perfect performance.

The Black Cats, with five debutants, were the better team throughout a scrappy game but Pajtim Kasami headed home from close range for his first goal for Fulham and the only goal in the match.

Jol admitted that his team "struggled to control midfield" but that the game was "slightly easier" than he had expected.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23741024?

[WhiteJC]

 
Riise left out of Fulham squad for Sunderland trip

JOHN Arne Riise has been left out of the Fulham squad for this afternoon's clash with Sunderland.

The Norwegian defender's future at Craven Cottage is in the balance, with Kieran Richardson starting the season as Martin Jol's first choice left-back.

Boss Jol insists he's happy for the former Liverpool man to remain in SW6 as back-up, but youngster Matthew Briggs was on the bench for the trip to the Stadium of Light, with Riise not among the 18.

"John is a fantastic player and deserves to play," said the manager earlier this week.

"If he's a second choice at this club I'm not sure he'll be a happy customer.

"If he was here I would be happy because if something happens to Kieran I've got a fantastic other left-back."



Read more: Fulham Chronicle http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2013/08/17/82029-33739223/?#ixzz2cIxW6Qx7

[WhiteJC]

 
Sunderland 0 - 1 Fulham

Paolo Di Canio's summer revolution fell flat at the Stadium of Light as Pajtim Kasami headed a second-half winner to snatch three improbable points for Fulham.


Derek Boateng and Jozy Altidore battle for the ball

Swiss youth international Kasami converted the simplest of chances to score his first goal since joining the Cottagers in 2011, rising at the far post to nod in a corner from Damien Duff.

It was Fulham's only real chance of a game which the home side had dominated, with a number of the five new Di Canio signings on show coming close to breaking the deadlock in the first period.

Cape Verde international Cabral looked most impressive, drilling two long-range shots wide, while right-back Ondrej Celustka hit a rising half-volley which was tipped over by Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

But for all their first half fluency the Black Cats clearly lacked some cutting edge and they faded in the second period as Martin Jol's men, marshalled superbly by captain Brede Hangeland in the centre of defence, hung on for victory.

Cabral, a talismanic influence in the middle for the home side, hit an early chance wide before Fulham's hopes were hit by the loss of former Sunderland defender Kieran Richardson due to injury with just 19 minutes on the clock.

Richardson's exit seemed to sentence Fulham to even deeper defending as they were pinned back for long periods by the pace of Adam Johnson and Italian Emanuele Giaccherini down the flanks.

But if front men Stephane Sessegnon and Jozy Altidore - fresh from a midweek hat-trick for the United States - lacked a little cutting edge up front, the same could not be said for Cabral, who hammered another long-range effort narrowly wide after 27 minutes.

Giaccherini, lively but occasionally lost on the left, drifted in-field to pick up a pass from Johnson and hit a hard left-foot effort straight at new Fulham keeper Stekelenburg just past the half-hour.

And the quietly efficient Celustka came close to turning up the volume two minutes later when he unleashed a rising half-volley from 25 yards which Stekelenburg had to stretch to tip over the bar.

And as if to emphasise the paucity of the visitors' efforts, their almost anonymous debutant Adel Taarabt flipped a feeble free-kick into the Sunderland wall in the last act of what, from their point of view, had been a forgettable half.

But the visitors snatched their lead out of nowhere on 50 minutes when Duff floated in his set-piece from the left and Kasami rose highest to nod past Keiren Westwood - who had been rendered a virtual spectator until that point.

The goal shocked Sunderland back into action and they responded with a succession of near-misses, Johnson shovelling a shot wide, Duff picking the ball off Altidore's feet in the box and Sebastian Larsson plopping a poor free-kick into the Fulham wall.

And Sunderland spurned an even better chance in the 65th minute when Altidore was picked out by John O'Shea in the box and the striker swivelled past Aaron Hughes before firing just wide of Stekelenburg's right-hand post.

Stekelenburg denied Altidore at close range in the 75th minute but it was to be his last act of the game as he appeared to injure his shoulder in the process and was replaced by the visitors' substitute keeper David Stockdale.

Sunderland's attacking forays became more unfocused as time ticked by but substitute Ji Dong-won wasted a golden chance to equalise in the last minute of normal time when he headed wide.



http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/match-report/287292/-?

[WhiteJC]

 
Derek Boateng makes dream Premier League debut in Fulham win

Ghana midfielder Derek Boateng made his dream English Premier League debut on Saturday when he played in Fulham's 1-0 away win over Sunderland in their first game of the season.

The 30-year-old started the match in the opening game of the season for the Cottagers sealing his utmost desire to play in the English top-flight.

However he got his first yellow card his Premier League career after 23 minutes and was substituted by Karagounis in the 65th minute.

Boateng was shown the yellow card for persistent infringement after fouling Emanuele Giaccherini and Celustka.

The Ghanaian joined the Cottagers in a dream move in the summer after his career took him to several countries.

But it was his utmost desire to play in the English Premier league before he retires after several previous attempts to sign for Middlesbrough and Aston Villa failed.

He got his wish in June when he signed a two-year contract with Fulham after Martin Jol persisted to sign the Ghana international.

The 30-year-old was a long-standing target of Jol, who had attempted to bring in the Dnipro midfielder on several occasions before.

The Ghana international midfielder had looked set to join the Cottagers in the January transfer window but the move fell through when Dnipro pulled the plug just before the deadline.

Boateng's transfer had to be put on ice previously due to contract disputes with his Ukrainian club, but the deal was completed in the summer paving the way for him to play in his favourite.

The former Getafe, Cologne and Beitar Jerusalem man penned a two-year deal at Craven Cottage.

Boateng has been capped 46 times by Ghana and has brought a big work-rate and plenty of energy into the Cottagers' midfield this season.



http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/derek-boateng-makes-his-dream-english-premier-league-debut-with-fulham/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Pajtim Kasami gives Fulham a 1-0 lead over Sunderland

In the lineup for Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz in the attacking midfield position, Fulham youngster Pajtim Kasami connected on a corner to open the scoring at the Stadium of Light in the 52nd minute.

On the heels of a scoreless first half, Damien Duff powered a corner to the far post, and Kasami out-muscled Sunderland defender Valentin Roberge to get a head on the ball and put it past goalkeeper Kieren Westwood.

Ruiz has just recently returned from international duty, so he was replaced by Kasami in the starting lineup for the season opener.

Jozy Altidore remains goalless, but he's working hard to link up with fellow new signing Emanuele Giaccherini to get Sunderland on the board.



http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/17/pajtim-kasami-gives-fulham-a-1-0-lead-over-sunderland/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Sunderland 0 Fulham 1 match report: Pajtim Kasami Martin Jol's hunch as he stuns Sunderland
Despite making 10 new signings, Paolo Di Canio's side come away with nothing



The new dawn belonged to a player from Fulham who only started because Bryan Ruiz was tired. Martin Jol acted on a hunch. Sometimes science finds football impenetrable. That was the case yesterday. Sunderland had five new players in their starting eleven. They have signed 10 during the summer. There has been a revolution at the Stadium of Light; recruitment, standards, training and diet have all changed and everywhere you looked the dawn of a new era was heralded.

"Emotionally gruelling," was how Ellis Short, the Sunderland owner, summarised last season. There has been a desire to step away from that - Sunderland's average Premier League finishing position since promotion in 2007, is 14th - from all quarters inside the football club.

Sunderland however, have forgotten how to win at the Stadium of Light. They have done that just once since January. In the 52nd minute, in the pivotal moment of this game, the Swiss central defender Valentin Roberge switched off, drawing criticism from his manager, when Damien Duff sent over a right wing corner. Roberge could get nowhere near Pajtim Kasami and the 21-year-old powered his header past Keiren Westwood. From there he ran into the arms of Martin Jol. "Patjim did not play for almost a year," said Jol. "For a young kid to score his first goal, a winning goal in the Premier League is what I want from him, to be happy and to enjoy his football and to develop himself. Bryan is jet-lagged so I started with him. I was pleased with the result but we have to do better, although we worked really hard and defended well. It is almost perfect to have three points."

Only injury to goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg clouded his day. He could be out for two weeks. That injury came saving at the feet of Jozy Altidore, damaging his shoulder as he did so. Stekelnburg also excelled int he first half to tip over a rising drive from Ondrej Celustra. Sunderland had 20 shots on target but it would be misleading to suggest Fulham were particularly rattled. Only three were on target.

"One corner kick can cost you," said Paolo Di Canio. "If we learn this we improve quick. We have to be nasty. We have to mark. If my central defender loses a younger guy at the back post without a jump, it can be a problem. It may be not fair to point the finger, but who made the mistake? Not Paolo di Canio.

"I'm not worried. We are here to improve. If we don't learn from it, we will have a problem in the future. We can take many positive things from the game. We dominated and spent 80 minutes in their half.

"We weren't freely ferocious. One goal lets you think negative. For 80 minutes we kept the ball.  The only team that tried to play football and create was only Sunderland. We were in their half for 80 minutes. We had some good chances, not incredible. There was only one team that deserved to win and that was Sunderland.

The negative things are individually."

There remains a desire to strengthen, to add more players to his squad. Di Canio insisted he did not want to sell Stephane Sessegnon, but then admitted that he would do so only if he was guaranteed a top class forward and midfielder would be bought as replacement. He needs goals. Ji Dong-Won and Connor Wickham were upfront by the finish. They have three Premier League goals between them.



http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/sunderland-0-fulham-1-match-report-pajtim-kasami-martin-jols-hunch-as-he-stuns-sunderland-8772460.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Sunderland's revolution slowed by Pajtim Kasami's winner for Fulham


Fulham's Pajtim Kasami, second right, celebrates scoring against Sunderland in
the Premier League at the Stadium of Light.
Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Reuters

Revolutions are rarely painless and, sure enough, the opening fixture of what Sunderland term "a whole new era" reacquainted their supporters with the horribly familiar feeling of defeat.

"The first game can give you a picture," Paolo Di Canio said beforehand with some prescience. "But we don't have to forget that in a period of change you can take steps back as well as forward."

Permitting Fulham a rare away win courtesy of a concentration lapse on the part of the debutant centre-half Valentin Roberge at a corner certainly counts as a step back but it does not necessarily mean the Sunderland manager's revolution is doomed. Rather his revamped side look a promising work in progress. "We can take many positives from the game," Di Canio said. "In terms of us playing football I'm more than happy. We dominated and I didn't see any other chance for Fulham to score. I'm not worried but if we think this was only accidental we have a problem."

Had Sunderland scored first they would almost certainly have won but, with Fulham frequently pulling 10 men behind the ball, Di Canio's players could not quite elude the formidable Brede Hangeland and company. It is easy to appreciate why Di Canio would be prepared to sell the gifted but erratic Stéphane Sessègnon to suitors in Qatar if such a transfer funded the recruitment of a central midfield playmaker and a prolific striker.

The Wearsiders looked exceptionally fit and sharp but, judging by the way they built from the back, passed slickly and interchanged cleverly the physical boot camp Di Canio has put them through this summer seems to have created a platform for a much more tactical and technically pleasing game. Encouragingly it also seems to have brought Adam Johnson back to life. Ideally, Sunderland's manager wants to deploy essentially a 4-2-4 formation when attacking and Johnson and Emanuele Giaccherini operated as genuine wingers as Sunderland strove to stretch Fulham's midfield quintet.

An Italy international acquired from Juventus, Giaccherini is the marquee signing of a whirlwind summer that has resulted in 10 new senior players arriving at the Stadium of Light. Five of them started and while Giaccherini tended to be involved in Sunderland's best moves, it was Ondrej Celustka – a Czech right-back recruited on loan from Turkey's Trabzonspor – who featured in the best moment of the first half when Marten Stekelenburg did very well to tip his ferociously swerving half-volley to safety.

If Di Canio was frustrated by his side's struggles to get behind the opposition's back line, Jol became increased vexed by his team's failure to get Adel Taarabt on to the ball. No matter. The similarly tightly shepherded but subtly, impressively, industrious Dimitar Berbatov made what little possession he had count in the 52nd minute. It was Berbatov who won Fulham the corner from which they eluded the otherwise barely involved Keiren Westwood. That dead ball was delivered superbly by Damien Duff and, with Roberge awol, was headed emphatically beyond the goalkeeper by Pajtim Kasami, who celebrated by sprinting 50 yards to the touchline and hugging Jol.

As chances came and went at the other end, realisation must have been dawning on Di Canio that Giaccherini, Cabral and the powerful Jozy Altidore had left their shooting boots in the dressing room.

Altidore eventually made his mark but unfortunately it was, accidentally, on Stekelenburg's shoulder, prompting his replacement by David Stockdale.

That third visiting substitution meant there would be no cameo from the bench for the widely jeered Darren Bent, once of Sunderland but newly signed on loan from Aston Villa by Fulham.

Jol – pleased with the win but disappointed with his side's performance – said Stekelenburg could be sidelined for some weeks. It could be a similar timespan before Sunderland start seeing the full benefit of their exciting revolution.



http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/17/sunderland-fulham-premier-league?

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Martin Jol says Fulham's win at Sunderland was 'perfect' way to start the season

Martin Jol says that Fulham's 1-0 win at Sunderland was the 'perfect' way to start the season.

Jol watched on as Sunderland enjoyed the majority of the possession but was thankful to Pajtim Kasami for popping up with the winner.

Jol said: "It was what we needed. Three points with our schedule is perfect for us.

"At times you would have to say we would have been happy with the draw.

"They pressed us in the first half and we didn't do enough, but in the second half we did better but I think it's fair to say it was a scrappy win."

Kasami has had limited opportunities since joining the club in 2011 and Jol says it is exactly what the youngster needed, adding: "He did well but needs momentum.

"With people coming back from international duty he really stepped up this afternoon and we came away with a good result."

Fulham goalkeeper Martin Stekelenburg had to go off with a shoulder injury in the second half and Jol says it is too early to say how long he'll be out for.

Jol added: "Hopefully he will be okay but we'll have to wait and see."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8875529?

[WhiteJC]

 
Kasami gives Fulham perfect start
by DAN on AUGUST 17, 2013



Pajtim Kasami certainly made the most of his unexpected opportunity. The Swiss midfielder, making his first Fulham league start in two years, headed his first goal for his club and secured a scrappy away victory for the Cottagers at the Stadium of Light this afternoon. But victory may have come at some cost for Martin Jol with Kieran Richardson limping off with a recurrence of his troublesome hamstring injury and Maarten Stekelenburg sustaining suspected ligament damage as he repelled a late Sunderland attack.

Kasami, surprisingly drafted into the starting line-up in place of Bryan Ruiz, headed a deep Damien Duff corner in the top corner at the far post after shrugging off the attentions of Valentin Roberge. The 21 year-old playmaker immediately wheeled away to celebrate with manager Martin Jol on the touchline – and Kasami's tireless running typified the kind of energetic displays that prompted the Fulham boss to part with £3.5m to bring him to Craven Cottage in 2011. His Fulham career failed to ignite – and fell out of favour with Jol after ignoring team instructions and missing a penalty at Chelsea in the League Cup defeat – but Kasami followed up an impressive pre-season with a performance of real character here.

This was a backs-to-the-wall display more in the Roy Hodgson mould than the more attractive, flowing performances that Jol favours, but that won't bother the Dutchman one bit. He cut a quietly content figure in the technical area as Paolo Di Canio grew gradually more frustrated with his charges. Sunderland enjoyed far more of the possession and had dominated the contest up until Kasami's header, but, for all their late pressure, the Black Cats failed to seriously test substitute goalkeeper David Stockdale. Substitute Ji Dong-Won spurned the best chance in the last minute of normal time, glancing a downward header wide from Adam Johnson's inviting cross.

Di Canio named five of his ten summer signings in a much-changed starting line-up and his side wasted little time in imposing themselves on proceedings. Stekelenburg was forced to punch away from underneath his crossbar as Sunderland earned an early corner and holding midfielder Cabral sent a speculative shot narrowly wide from 23 yards. Fulham were forced to an early reorganisation when Matthew Briggs replaced the injured former Sunderland full-back Richardson and with debutante Derek Boateng, booked after a succession of mistimed challenges, struggling to adapt to the pace of the contest, the visitors were struggling to contain Sunderland's bright start.

The lively Jozy Altidore's combination of raw pace and power kept both Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes, deputising for the injured Fernando Amorebieta, occupied although the closest the hosts came to breaking the deadline was through a rising drive from on-loan right-back Ondrej Celustka from fully thirty years which Stekenlenburg splendidly tipped over at full stretch. Fulham gradually gained more of a foothold in the game, but Sunderland started the second half in a similar manner and Johnson bent a curling effort wide of goal after a swift counter-attack.

The hosts were to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal when Duff's inswinging corner was emphatically headed home by a delighted Kasami, who found a yard of space at the far post, to beat Kieren Westwood. Jol's 4-2-3-1 was perfectly designed to soak up the sustained spell of pressure that followed. Altidore looked far more threatening than on his last Premier League outing with Hull but with Hangeland heading away a host of dangerous crosses and Hughes making a couple of crucial interceptions, chances were at a premium. When the American striker did manage to turn Hughes and get a sight of goal, he dragged his shot wide of goal from the edge of the penalty area.

Altidore was bravely foiled by Stekelenburg when he went in turn in the loose ball after Hughes had blocked Emmanuel Giaccherini's shot. The Dutch goalkeeper successfully smothered the danger, but damaged his right shoulder as he dived at the American striker's feet, bringing his encouraging debut to a premature end. Ji joined Connor Wickham as Di Canio searched in vain for a late equaliser but the South Korean striker couldn't repeat his last-minute heroics against Manchester City back on New Year's Day 2012 with another late goal as the visitors held on to record their third away win of the calendar year.

SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1): Westwood; Celustka (Wickham 86), Colback, Roberge, O'Shea; Larsson, Cabral; Johnson, Giaccherini; Sessegnon (Ji Dong-won 72); Altidore. Subs (not used): Mannone, Moberg Karlsson, Cuellar, Diakite, Ba.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Stekelenburg (Stockdale 76); Riether, Richardson (Briggs 20), Hughes, Hangeland; Boateng (Karagounis 65), Sidwell; Duff, Taarabt, Kasami; Berbatov. Subs (not used): Senderos, Ruiz, Rodallega, Bent.

BOOKED: Boateng, Berbatov, Duff.

GOAL: Kasami (52).

REFEREE: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).

ATTENDANCE: 43,905.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2013/08/kasami-gives-fulham-perfect-start/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Post Parma Pessimism ?
by barryhaylesgoalmachine



When you watch your team a week before the start of the season the least you are hoping for are a few assurances that everything is on course to be ready for the big kick off. After the defeat to Parma I still felt unsure as to how we would line up at Sunderland and could only speculate on the staring eleven based on some of the sub par performances I had witnessed throughout the previous 90 minutes.

In what was not an unfamiliar site from last season, Berbatov played as the lone striker with Ruiz in behind. Mesca started on the left following another impressive pre season while Ashkan Dejagah started on the right. Sidwell and Boateng continued in the middle and at the back Richardson was preferred at Left Back to Riise. Aaron Hughes also came in alongside Hangelend in the absence of Amorebieta.

As was common place last term, Our 4-4-1-1 quickly changed to a 4-6-0 with Berbatov holding the ball up in midfield areas and no white shirts in front as options. Ruiz was playing his usual role in between the midfield and Dimi which essentially put him level with Sidwell and Boateng. It is understandable how he sometimes gets lost in the midfield when Berbatov plays so deep, Giving less chance to exploit his final ball and more time playing short passes in a crowded area. There is no doubt his combativeness has improved but it is hard to appreciate him winning the ball back when more often than not it is he who is dispossessed in the first place. As much as I am not one who believes that he is be a viable option in centre midfield , I believe he would stand more of a chance if Berbatov was to hold a higher line. There is not a chance in hell that Hugo Rodallega will score 10 goals this season but what he did so well last year,when partnering Berbatov, was dragging the Bulgarian up the pitch and playing on the last defender. With a couple of targets to aim for, Ruiz would be much more effective and bring creativity without the need to constantly look for a one two in his own half.



Mesca, on the left against Parma from the start may well feature against Sunderland given the injury to Kacaniklic. The fact that Kerim Frei was an unused sub on Saturday seems to add to the general consensus that he will be leaving the club shortly and that Mesca has done enough in training to move above him in the pecking order. The youngster looked lively again throughout although seemed to constantly receive the ball with his back to goal rather than having the opportunity to run at the full back. The one occasion this did happen not only showed the benefit of giving Ruiz a longer pass but also what Mesca's pace brings to a team that has so lacked in this area in recent seasons.

Central midfield seemed solid enough although still lacks any depth. Most seem to feel a new signing is needed to play alongside Derek Boateng instead of Sidwell given his performances in pre season. Despite being substituted just after the hour mark Boateng was for me the stand out player for us against Parma and was it not for an excellent block on the line in the first half we would have found themselves going in level at the break.



Of course it was Sidwell who provided the goal in the first half following a lot of harsh criticism from our own fans this summer. By no means am i saying that we can't buy a better quality partner for Derek but Sidwell is undervalued. He brings a great work rate to the team and is very much going to play a big part this season for us. He doesn't have the same excitement and flair that Taarabt or Ruiz do but when it comes to the mid week games on a rainy night in Hull, It will be the likes of Sidwell who you will always rely on to give 100%.

Richardson seemed fairly solid at left back and will more than likely be our first choice full back in the first few games as long as he can keep off the treatment table. Riise is rumoured to be leaving the club in the near future to get his wages off the budget and it appears Matthew Briggs will once again be loaned out so we are likely to see a new face come in from somewhere.

The second half was testament to the fact that if Berbatov was to get injured this season then with the current squad we would have little in the way of a replacement option. The Bulgarian went off at half time with a "knock" (Hopefully just precautionary) and was replaced by Rodallega who failed to register a single effort on or off target in 45 minutes of football. We have all been crying out for a "Dembele replacement" for a long time but given the Taarabt loan surely now another Striker is the main priority. I have always been of the belief that a forward was the priority even prior to the addition of the Moroccan. I can't see this being in place before the weekend but i can imagine a new goal scorer is to far away. As the window draws near even those adamantly against Darren Bent being the right man seem to be looking at the deal with more sympathetic eyes. The feeling now is anyone will do although I still get the feeling a couple of late unmentioned options may emerge.

Throughout the 2-1 defeat there were a few shaky moments defensively but nothing overly concerning. It may sound harsh but i really felt Aaron Hughes was the weak link for us.  There is no doubt he has been a fantastic servant over the years but he seems to have lost another yard of pace and at times his anticipation of the ball was not as we have come to expect. Amorebieta has looked good in pre season particularly when having the ball at his feet so I can't look past him as Hangeland's main partner this season. Stekelenburg had little to do bar a good save in the first half and picking two headers out of his net. Being in the Hammersmith end I didn't have the best view of who's man it was although I have been informed on both occasions it was the aforementioned Northern Irishman.



There were some positives to take away from The Cottage and no more so than the Taarabt cameo. On several occasions he gave us a taste of what is hopefully to come with some nice touches and demonstrating his ability to beat a man with relative ease. His debut was nearly crowned with the chance to grab a late equaliser but despite some tidy footwork he was unable to get a shot away. It again remains to be seen where we intend to play him and if he will even start against Sunderland. He may well be preferred to Mesca on the left if deemed match fit although i suspect it may well come to soon. Chris David also made a brief appearance and produced one of our better chances in the second half when he whipped an inviting freekick across the six yard box.

It would be fair to say that we will not exactly be brimming with confidence come next Saturday at 3 pm even if there is a flurry of transfer activity before then. With the exception of Amorebieta in for Hughes I can't see much changing in terms of how we kick off our season. Whether or not we are able to tweek the system to prevent becoming so narrow remains to be seen and while we may struggle to create chances , If Boateng plays as well as he has been then we won't be shipping them at the other end either. As he was last year Berbatov will be key to the outcome on Saturday. His goals are priceless but as is the line that he holds. In Mesca, Dejagah and Kacaniklic we have pace on the wings that may lend itself to a counter attacking style of play which could see us get more points on the road. This can only work though if our forward men are on the end of the delivery.

We have the basis of a good side and a few more new names will evidently renew the positivity we felt back in July. In a way the lack of spending since the change of ownership has served well to keep expectations in place for the season ahead. I have a feeling we will nick a point on Saturday in what will be a relatively low scoring game safe in the knowledge that a 1-1 will bag us the illustrious 11.50pm slot on MOTD and the synopsis from all involved that Fulham will be "fine" again this year.

COYW !



http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=375

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol - Perfect Away Result
   
The smile on the face of Martin Jol when the final whistle went told a story.

The Dutchman knew we`d got a win we should value and he had this to say to the media afterwards,

'I think it was a perfect away result but not a perfect performance. We had to grind out the result. It was a very scrappy game for us."

'Sunderland put so many players up front - they had four attacking players. We didn't do well at times. We have to try to control the midfield - we didn't do that in the first half. We couldn't keep it. Against an energetic Sunderland team, it was a bit easier than we thought, in hindsight."

'We showed good team spirit. Adel Taarabt had to play 90 minutes despite not having a pre-season, similar for Pajtim Kasami and Matthew Briggs.'

With Arsenal having been beaten, by Aston Villa today, our fixture at the Cottage against them next week looks to be an enticing one.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=328998#ixzz2cJ1uzH8N

[WhiteJC]

 
Sunderland 0-1 Fulham: Cottagers Scrape To A Lucky Win

(images from game to come)

Sunderland lost to Fulham 0-1 in the sides' first Barclays Premier League on Saturday afternoon at the Stadium of Light.

Pajtim Kasami's early second-half headed struck misery on Wearside after an impressive display by the 'revolutionary' side.

The Black Cats started the brightest with Altidore having an audacious long-distance shot deflected for an early corner, a corner which was dealt with easily by new Fulham keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

The efforts continued to come from the new-look Sunderland side with Emanuele Giaccherini and Cabral pinging shots towards the Cottagers goal though, Stekelenburg was not tested.

The game started to level out as it neared the quarter-of-an-hour-mark at the Stadium of Light with Fulham entering a 'purple-patch' though neither side had troubled either keeper.

Though the patch didn't last long at all.

Stephane Sessegnon and Giaccherini started to link up neatly with each other and as expected, started to cause the Whites several headaches.

The pair then added the inqusitive play of Adam Johnson and the brutal work of Jozy Altidore which resulted in a free-kick opportunity for Sebastian Larsson and, an eventual yellow card for Derek Boateng.

The set-piece master curled the dead-ball into the wall but could only win a corner for the dangerous Black Cats.

The play from the foursome continued as they created several opportunities for the impressive Cabral, though his latest effort went narrowly wide.

Already booked Boateng didn't look as if he would last the half with a fourth foul in the opening half-an-hour, but a role around on the floor gave the midfielder a get out of jail free card.

Paolo Di Canio's revolution continued their vigorous pressing with Giaccherini, Altidore and the newest addition to the squad, Ondrej Celustka, having his first shot in England just touched over the bar, brilliantly from Dutch man Stekelenburg.

Sunderland were on top of everything and at half-time came in with 58% of the first-half possession, something which is relatively unheard of for the home side, at the Stadium of Light.

The second-half appeared to take off the same way as the first-half ended with Johnson having a shot sail just above the bar however, it didn't last.

Veteran Fulham winger Damien Duff took the Cottager's first corner of the new season and in the 52nd minute, they took the lead.

The ball was floated over by Duff and against the run of play, Pajtim Kasami headed in at the far post.

The mood inside the ground changed dramatically after that, both on and off the pitch. The ground fell silent and the players began to get frustrated.

Johnson thrashed another shot at the goal which went wide and fellow midfielder Cabral, did exactly the same.

The Wearsiders pressed for the equaliser and were starting to recover their neat play which was seen in the first half, though Fulham's defence was holding firm.

It was Altidore who appeared to be Sunderland's man of danger as the game neared it's end as he continued to cause problems for the Whites back line.

Fulham lost their goalkeeper and Sunderland lost their shape with 15 minutes to go until full time.

Panic set in for Paolo Di Canio's side even though the Italian tried to calm them down, they needed something special, a bit of impetus, but it never looked like turning up.



Read more at http://whatculture.com/sport/sunderland-0-1-fulham-cottagers-scrape-to-a-lucky-win.php#hLlEvhObpU21HK2E.99

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Jol salutes Fulham's resilience
by DAN on AUGUST 17, 2013



Martin Jol praised his players' resilience after Fulham ground out a narrow opening day win at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.

Jol was delighted with his team's application and determination to keep a clean sheet after Pajtim Kasami's first goal for the club clinched a 1-0 win over Sunderland. The Swiss midfielder headed his first goal for the club from a Damien Duff corner, but the visitors had to withstand concerted Sunderland pressure to hold on for all three points:

I think it was a perfect away result but not a perfect performance. We had to grind out the result. It was a very scrappy game for us.

Sunderland put so many players up front – they had four attacking players. We didn't do well at times. We have to try to control the midfield – we didn't do that in the first half. We couldn't keep it. We showed good team spirit. Adel Taarabt had to play 90 minutes despite not having a pre-season, similar for Pajtim Kasami and Matthew Briggs.

Jol was also pleased for Kasami, who has seen his first-team opportunities limited since he missed a crucial penalty in a League Cup defeat at Chelsea in his first season with the club:

He did well but needs momentum. With people coming back from international duty he really stepped up this afternoon and we came away with a good result.

The Fulham manager says it is too early to assess the full of extent of Maarten Stekelenburg's injury after the Dutch goalkeeper was forced off having injured his shoulder in saving bravely at the feet of Jozy Altidore.

Hopefully he will be ok but we'll have to wait and see.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2013/08/jol-salutes-fulhams-resilience/?

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Martin Jol says Fulham have work to do after grinding out Sunderland

Martin Jol has praised his Fulham side's ability to grind out a result against Sunderland, but admits that he wants to see more of their usual passing game.

Following their 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light, Jol said: "Our game is a passing game and if you're not brave enough to earn the right to play football you struggle a bit. Although we struggled, we still ground out a great result, that's fantastic".

The Dutchman added that his team still have plenty to work on before their next Premier League fixture, a tough home game against Arsenal.

"Most of the time last year we had more possession than the opponent and today we couldn't do that, so we need to work on a few things and hopefully can do that in the next couple of days."

Finally, Jol revealed that while new owner Shahid Khan did not attend the Sunderland clash, he has promised to make an appearance for the Arsenal encounter:

"The new owner promised me to come against Arsenal, so it's always better to have three points on the board if you play against them!"



Read more at http://talksport.com/football/martin-jol-says-fulham-have-work-do-after-grinding-out-sunderland-win-13081756039#LkxhKEtPvsfDBzBk.99

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Fulham verdict: Cottagers finally show guts on their travels to see off Sunderland

One game down, three points up, and our away duck already broken. What a wonderful start to the Premier League season for Fulham.

And yet it could have been so different, for this was no vintage display from a side accustomed to home comforts. Sunderland controlled this game and from that we cannot shy away.

Their profligacy helped matters, undoubtedly, but this was a surprisingly graft-filled shift for a club now blessed with such creativity as Adel Taarabt, Bryan Ruiz, Dimitar Berbatov and, now that he can be spoken of in such high regard, Pajtim Kasami.

It was yet another game to highlight the need for a central midfielder that can pick out a pass with at least a morsel of accuracy and vision.

A defence hit by injuries to Maarten Stekelenburg - Jol says the extent is unknown – Kieran Richardson and Fernando Amorebieta left a back line that was by no means makeshift but certainly wasn't full strength.

In spite of this, however, we pulled out a defensive performance that would be envied across the league and had the audacity to chip in at the other end, thanks to a headed goal from Kasami, filling in for the rested Ruiz.

The solidity shown, and an ability to 'win ugly', made for strangely pleasurable viewing because, were this a year ago, or merely three months ago, a 1-0 win would not have been forthcoming. We would have capitulated in typical Fulham style.


Pajtim Kasami gave Fulham three points on the road (Picture: PA)

But no, not this time.  Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland were up to their old tricks, keeping a plucky but nonetheless toothless Sunderland out. They had 21 shots on goal, to Fulham's 5, which tells its own tale.

Despite the pleasant surprise, however, there were reoccurring themes that provide at least some cause for concern. Richardson's injury, for one, suggests a player becoming more fragile with age, even if his attacking nous is hugely beneficial to an otherwise stagnant and slow back four.

We weren't hugely creative, either, despite the wealth of attacking talent at our disposal. It was yet another game to highlight the need for a central midfielder that can pick out a pass with at least a morsel of accuracy and vision.

We all knew that anyway though, really, so what's changed at Fulham?

Oh yeah, we won away.



http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/17/fulham-verdict-cottagers-finally-show-guts-on-their-travels-to-see-off-sunderland-3928022/?

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Jol Delighted With Result

Manager Martin Jol was pleased that Fulham was able to come away with all three points from our away trip to Sunderland.

Fulham scored a second half goal and put in a robust defensive performance to ensure that we left the Stadium of Light with the win.

"There is always a worry before the season that you have to have a good start," he said. "So it's very pleasing to win especially if you see our schedule. It's pleasing to get the three points. It's always tough against Sunderland and last season we did well here.

"They are an energetic team and they put pressure on you. You have to play your football, you have to get out from the back and get the ball to your best players; we couldn't do that today so I was a bit disappointed. But, in hindsight, I'm very pleased with the result."

With Arsenal next to come at the Cottage next weekend, Jol believes that his side need to up their game if they are to continue the good form into the rest of the season.

"We have to do better in the future to get results," he said. "The second half was even, we had to work hard and we defended well. We had a few problems, [Fernando] Amorebieta wasn't available and Kieran [Richardson] came off after 15 minutes after having a great pre-season.

"Briggs, who never played for us in pre-season, had to come on. And the keeper came off so it was not the best scenario so when you look at it, it's almost perfect to have come away with three points here."

Maarten Stekelenburg's injury came about when he dived bravely at the feet of Jozy Altidore, but he sustained a shoulder injury and had to be replaced by David Stockdale.

"Stekelenburg says it is a bad injury but hopefully it's not as bad as it looks now," Jol said. "He had it before on the other side and it's not dislocated but it is painful and could take more than a couple of weeks. Kieran Richardson has a hamstring injury."

The Manager also reserved some praise for 21-year-old Pajtim Kasami who scored the winner after being given a surprise start.

"If you saw the line-up before you would not have thought we could have done it, with Kasami and Matthew Briggs, who have not played for most of the year," Jol added. "For a young kid to score his first Premier League goal and a winning goal, of course, it is what I want for him.

"I want him to be happy, and to enjoy his football, to develop him. I sent him to Switzerland last year on loan because I think he is talented. He is a strong kid. He came back, did well in pre-season and because Bryan Ruiz didn't come back until Friday, I thought maybe it was good to start with Kasami for the first time. He was happy that I chose him, and I was happy with him."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/17/manager-reaction?

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Sunderland AFC: Paolo Di Canio's "Revolution" Not Evident vs Fulham

It was the day Sunderland fans had waited for all summer. Opening day against Fulham at home seemed like a great opportunity to pick up three points and kick the new league campaign off with a bang. Unfortunately for said fans, they left the Stadium of Light disappointed.

Paolo di Canio had talked of a "revolution" at Sunderland AFC, but the opening day result didn't show it. While his side won the possession battle 52-48 and shots 20(5)-4(1), they were unable to convert on any of their chances and honestly didn't create many real ones.

New singing and USMNT striker Jozy Altidore had a pretty good game coming off a hat trick midweek in an international friendly against Bosnia. He held the ball up well and was a strong presence, which was sorely needed against big center-half Brade Hangeland. Against smaller center-backs in the league, he will cause lots of problems.

The other big summer singing, Emanuele Giaccherini had a decent first match as well, showing some flashes of the clever play he's known for. Once the Italian adapts to the very different English Premier League he should be able to turn that clever play into setting up goals.

I thought Adam Johnson also impressed for the home side. His speed and crafty play caused problems on the flanks.

For Fulham, of course, Pajtim Kasami is the talking point. He worked a solid 90 and took his chance when it came on a set piece, Fulham's only shot on target the entire game.

Sunderland dominated but lacked that cutting edge, and defending on set pieces often decides games. After all that big talk the Italian better hope they figure it out soon.



http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1741417-paolo-di-canios-revolution-not-evident-vs-fulham?

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Fulham win marred by injuries

Martin Jol's delight at Fulham's 1-0 win over Sunderland was soured by injuries to Maarten Stekelenburg and Kieran Richardson.

Goalkeeper Stekelenburg was substituted midway through the second half, which saw Pajtim Kasami net the winner, after sustaining an apparent shoulder injury saving from Jozy Altidore and Jol admitted the Dutchman could now face a spell on the sidelines. Jol said of Stekelenburg's injury: "Hopefully it's not as bad as it looks now. It's painful and it could take more than a couple of weeks." Former Black Cats man Richardson sustained a hamstring injury after just 19 minutes and Jol added: "Kieran had a great pre-season so it is not the perfect scenario but it is almost perfect to have the three points. "When you play against Sunderland you have to get out from the back and I was disappointed with the way we wanted to win the game - in hindsight I was very pleased with the result but we have to do better in future." Jol expressed delight with Kasami's first Fulham goal, which came after the player spent the latter half of last season on loan at Swiss club Luzern. He added: "For a young kid to score his first goal and the winning goal in the Premier League is of course what I want from him. "I want him to be happy and enjoy his football and develop himself. I sent him to Switzerland last year because he's a good talent and a strong kid. I thought it was a good chance to start Kasami and I'm glad I chose him."



Read more at: http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/fulham-win-marred-by-injuries-1618927.html?

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Kasami Army!
by LRCN on AUGUST 17, 2013



Anyone who follows me or like-minded Fulham fans will be aware of the Kasami Army, a brother/sisterhood (siblinghood?) dedicated to supporting the Swiss beast that is Pajtim Kasami. Not only were the believer's faith rewarded with a start for the midfield wizard, but he blessed his supporters with a goal, and a winning one to boot, to leave Fulham starting the season with a surprising, but satisfying, win away at Sunderland.

Alright, that's a little tongue in cheek (although the Kasami Army thing is real), but there's definitely a chunk of supporters who have wanted to see more of Kasami ever since he was frozen out after missing that pen against Chelsea back in 2011. After looking bright initially, the ex-Palermo man – only 19 at the time – saw less and less minutes on the pitch, and with Ruiz embedded firmly in the first XI and a loan move to Switzerland manifesting itself last season, you'd have been forgiven for thinking that Kasami's time at Fulham was up.

However, he was given quite a few minutes in pre-season. Still firmly stuck behind Ruiz mind, but enough to suggest there was a part for him to play in the first team squad. Nothing suggested a start in the first game of the season however, so it was a surprise with Jol named him in the XI against Sunderland, ahead of Ruiz in the pecking order, playing in his favoured attacking midfield position. I felt as if he took his opportunity with both hands besides the goal, showing impressive strength (noticeably more than Ruiz), touch and positional awareness. He perhaps should have dropped deeper to be involved with play more, especially since we struggled on the ball, and this is an element in which Ruiz excels, but on the other hand it was nice seeing Berbatov with support once in a while.

I feel Kasami is a player of considerable potential, battling with Pastore for a first team slot at Palermo before attracting interest from (and rejecting a move to) Juventus in 2012. Going forward he has very few weaknesses to his arsenal: he can dribble, pass and strike a ball on top of being athletically very impressive, and it's always been a case of honing that ability. Perhaps Jol doesn't trust him in a deeper midfield position – it was telling that Taarabt dropped in to the centre of midfield as we attempted to tighten up against Sunderland, with Kasami moving out to the left, but it again showed Kasami's versatility of being able to play out on either wing – which is a shame because it is in the centre that we really need a player like Kasami, and whilst that continues Ruiz, Dejagah, Taarabt will all likely be ahead in the pecking order.

When you are given opportunities you have to take them and that's precisely what Kasami did. I loved the energy and exuberance he provided, and his personality is really endearing. However, while the Kasami Army have won this battle, have we won the war?  This season will tell us. There doesn't seem to be an issue between manager and player (I really loved how when Kasami scored he ran straight to the manager and gave him a huge hug), and I just hope that Jol will reinstate him to the bench as a valid option at least for the squad since the number of minutes he's received in the last 20 months have been criminally low. But let's also remember he's still only 21, the same age a rejuvenated Kacaniklic made his breakthrough after a loan spell, and perhaps we have been a little impatient to see him. It was a huge statement of trust to put Kasami in ahead of Ruiz, or even Bent or Karagounis, despite international fatigue, and I hope that Kasami can make a real impact on the first team. I really would like to see him succeed, and can only wonder if scoring his first goal for the club is symbolic of a new dawn.

Seize the day Kasami, and best of luck for the season!

LRCN



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2013/08/kasami-army/?

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Daniel Levy tells Fulham they must double offer for Scott Parker

FULHAM boss Martin Jol suffered a shock during his attempts to sign Tottenham's England midfielder, Scott Parker.

The club thought that after matching QPR's successful £2million offer for the player they would be be granted permission to talk to him.

But they had not allowed for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy's tough negotiating stance. Levy told Fulham that they would have to pay double the fee agreed with QPR to take Parker from White Hart Lane.

Levy insisted that the £2m figure was a reduced price because QPR were in the Championship. Premier League clubs would be asked to shell out £4million.

But that has not put off Jol, who is still hoping to beat QPR boss Harry Redknapp to the signing.



http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/422925/Daniel-Levy-tells-Fulham-they-must-double-offer-for-Scott-Parker?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-football-news+%28Daily+Express+%3A%3A+Football+Feed%29