Friday Fulham Stuff (23/08/13)...

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Pritchard scores Europa League winner for Tromso
by DAN on AUGUST 23, 2013

Tromso 2-1 Beşiktaş

On-loan Fulham midfielder Josh Pritchard scored the winner for Tromso as they toppled Besiktas tonight in their Europa League play-off first leg.

The 20 year-old midfielder, who spent ten years at Manchester United, as a youngster seized on a defensive mistake by Besiktas centre back Julien Escude, running fully forty yards to calmly finish past goalkeeper Tolga Zengin. It was Pritchard's first senior professional goal. The Norwegian side will take their precious first-leg lead to Istanbul for the second leg next Thursday.

Pritchard's impressive form for Tromso has seen his loan deal extended to the end of the Norwegian season in November.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2013/08/pritchard-scores-europa-league-winner-for-tromso/?

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Preview: Fulham vs. Arsenal

rsène Wenger is under pressure after no progress in the transfer market
A 3-0 midweek win at Fenerbahçe all but assured Arsenal's spot in Champions League group stage
Fulham has lost its last four league matches at Craven Cottage
Talk about two teams that started the season off on different notes. Fulham and Arsenal come into their match on Saturday (7:45 a.m. ET, NBCSN) after vastly different results in their first fixtures and sharply contrasting buzz among fans and media.

Fulham defeated Sunderland 1-0 away from home, while 10-man Arsenal crumbled to Aston Villa, 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium after Laurent Koscielny picked up two yellow cards, despite going up a goal in the first six minutes. Manager Arsène Wenger has come under a lot of scrutiny for failing to make any big summer signings, with many pointing to the result as proof of necessary change.

The home side will likely need another good defensive performance to come up with a similar result against the Gunners as it got against Sunderland. Center back Brede Hangeland (pictured) led the line for the Whites, clearing 11 balls and making three interceptions to lead all defenders in both categories.

This fixture last season was a low-scoring affair, as Arsenal big man Per Mertesacker scored the only goal of the game to lead Arsenal to a 1-0 win. With Arsenal's attack looking largely tame against Villa — although three different players scored in midweek against Fenerbahçe in the Champions League — scoring goals at Craven Cottage has become an interesting challenge in recent visits for the North Londoners.

Fulham will be without goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and left back Kieran Richardson, injured in the opening-day win, making its task of defending more difficult.

What they're saying

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on his transfer policy: "I would just like to reiterate to you that in the last 16 years, we have been very successful with transfers. If you look at the players we have, they are top quality, and you should never forget that. It is not always to think what is outside is better than what you have. What is important as well is to rate what you have, and our fans have to understand that as well. It's hard, but I can understand the impatience."

Fulham forward Darren Bent on his loan signing: "I'm not just hungry to play football again. I'm absolutely starving. I'm ready to get going. Hopefully for the next game, I'll get a piece of the action. I've missed on a couple of major competitions with England, but I just hope this is my year. I need to get back to playing regularly, scoring goals for Fulham, and that's my priority. That's what I do best."

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey on the difficult start to the season: "It wasn't the ideal start to the Premier League, but we bounced back [against Fenerbahçe]. ... I'm feeling really confident at the moment. I've overcome my injury now, I feel, and after a couple of difficult seasons, I'm very happy, and hopefully, it will continue."

Prediction

Even with all the turmoil at Arsenal, the team seems a bit too strong for Fulham. Forward Olivier Giroud provided the only goal against Villa last week, and he added another against Fenerbahçe, making him Arsenal's go-to attacking player at the moment. With the right service, he should be able to bag another against Fulham and lead his team to victory.



http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/22/preview-fulham-vs-arsenal/?

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Former Arsenal star fears Gunners could struggle at Fulham

Arsenal travel west for their first London derby of the season on Saturday with the pressure cranked up after their lamentable home defeat to Aston Villa.

Their 10-game unbeaten Premier League run – a sequence which pushed them over the line into fourth place last May at the expense of Tottenham – was shattered in emphatic fashion by Paul Lambert's side.

Fulham, who were 1-0 winners at Sunderland last Saturday, have strengthened their squad with the signing of out-of-favour Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker – an Arsenal target not so long ago – and will fancy their chances of overcoming a Gunners squad down to its bare bones.

Former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson is not overly confident about his old club's chances.

"They will be nervous going to the Cottage, very nervous," said Robson ahead of Saturday's big game.

"It was a poor start to the season last weekend – we are still waiting for fresh new blood to come into the club and the squad is looking very thin. Nerves will be stretched.

"I have been honest about where the club is at and where I think it is going, and I honestly felt that we would improve on last season.

"We're only one game in so it is early days, but it doesn't bode well.

"Fulham is a tough place to go to – I was there last season when we won 1-0 against 10 men although we really scraped that win. It was far from convincing.

"The squad has just had a midweek trip to Istanbul, and there are injuries. Add the pressure that is building up and it is a big weekend for Arsenal."

Robson has polarised the Arsenal faithful with his outspoken criticism of the club, but he claims there are serious flaws that make him sound like a "stuck record".

He added: "I feel like I am repeating myself but nothing changes – that has been the case for several seasons, I'm afraid.

"Players continue to play out of position, defenders don't do the basics properly, midfielders don't cover them ... when we don't have the ball we look vulnerable and you could see that against Villa.

"For one Villa goal the referee ran past Jack Wilshere! I love Jack, he is a great player, but he wasn't exactly chasing back hard to help his defence out.

"And on top of that we desperately need reinforcements – quality reinforcements –which is what all the other clubs are doing. Spurs have brought in several big signings while we have brought in one lad on a free!"

Arsene Wenger celebrates 17 years at the club next month, but Robson is critical of the manager's methods – echoing a growing debate among many fans.

"He has been fantastic on so many levels but now I have big concerns," admitted Robson, who made 186 appearances for the club before leaving for West Ham in January 1987.

"He has too much control and even helped hire his own boss, which simply cannot be healthy. I want to see Steve Bould take more coaching and to really have an impact on the defence – I sometimes wonder how he feels about the situation.

"I am sorry, but Wenger doesn't convince me any more despite the fact there are some quality players at the club.

"I honestly believe that if Jose Mourinho was at the club we'd finish top two easily.

"In fact, I would say the same if we had Guus Hiddink or even Rafa Benitez. We need to get back to basics and see the players do the simple things.

"With this side they can easily go and score two or three goals – and that is possible at Fulham on Saturday – but we also know we are vulnerable and can concede sloppy goals too easily.

"Which Arsenal will turn up at the Cottage?"



http://www.london24.com/sport/arsenal/former_arsenal_star_fears_gunners_could_struggle_at_fulham_1_2348149

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Statistical Preview: Can Arsenal Overcome Opening Day Loss In London Derby With Fulham?

Patjim Kasami picked a good moment to score his first Fulham goal as his second half header earned Martin Jol's side all three points on their opening day fixture.

Brede Hangeland's presence in the centre of defence will clearly once again be crucial to Fulham's chances this year. The giant Norwegian centre half already leads the Fulham squad for clearances with 13.

New signing Martin Stekelenburg will no doubt be hoping the relatively quiet introduction he got to Premier League life against Sunderland will continue this week. He only had to make two saves according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the second lowest of any keeper in the league and 3 less than the other keeper starting life with a new club in the Premier League, Simon Mignolet.

Derek Boateng has already earmarked himself as Fulham's potential midfield enforcer for this season, racking up 4 fouls in his first appearance.

Arsenal's season got off to the worst possible start as they fell to a 1-3 defeat to Aston Villa at The Emirates. Olivier Giroud's well-taken goal had seemingly set the stage for the Gunners to dominate the match but a spirited fightback from Villa saw their afternoon end in disappointment and yet more pressure heaped on an embattled Arsene Wenger.

Despite his expertly taken goal, Olivier Giroud struggled to consistently test Brad Guzan last weekend. He scored with his only on-target attempt on goal, being off-target with the other 75%. Giroud is 9/5 with 888sport.com to get himself on the scoresheet again this weekend though.

Although Arsenal fans are desperate for Wenger to spend before the close of the window, one area where they do have relative strength in depth is in creative midfielders. Despite coming out on the wrong end of 1-3 home defeat last weekend, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey still placed 2nd and 4th on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for passes completed inside the opponent's half, with 54 and 52 respectively.

The loss of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the near future to a knee injury deprives Arsenal of one of their gamer-changers and Arsene Wenger will be concerned about losing the attacking purpose the Ox brings to the team. The young winger took on Villa with a joint squad-high 4 dribbles and the Gunners will miss his surges forward in the coming weeks.

Key in replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain's attacking instincts will be Tomas Rosicky who already leads his colleagues for attacking contributions with 7 according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance. This is despite being the oldest member of the Arsenal squad.

Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ or with FIFA Ultimate Team for FIFA 14.


http://www.footballfriendsonline.com/blogs/2013/8/23/statistical-preview-can-arsenal-overcome-opening-day-loss-in.html?

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Steve Sidwell v Jack Wilshere: Head-to-head analysis ahead of the clash between Fulham and Arsenal
Check out all the vital statistics concerning the two sides' midfielders ahead of this weekend's Premier League meeting at Craven Cottage



Ahead of this weekend's Premier League meeting, between Fulham and Arsenal, see how the sides' midfield men Steve Sidwell and Jack Wilshere compare.

Data and graphic provided by whoscored.com


http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/steve-sidwell-v-jack-wilshere-headtohead-analysis-ahead-of-the-clash-between-fulham-and-arsenal-8780739.html

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Diary of a Fulham Tourist
by CHRIS GILBERTSON on AUGUST 23, 2013

The opening weekend of the Premier League season brings about a sense of nervous excitement, the eager anticipation of another season and the promise of 'what if'. It also brings about a familiar conundrum; does it clash with your summer holiday.

If I could have £1 for every time I've had to miss Fulham's opening fixture through being on holiday, I'd have at least £3 or £4 in my back pocket by now. The issue is, however, something I'm sure most of us are familiar with.

This year was different for me, having taken a fortnight off over Easter, my summer remained unfathomably clear barring a few weekend excursions and activities designed to fill the barren wasteland months that are the off-season. This meant that when the other half and I decided to go away relatively last minute, I was able to wait until the fixtures were released before choosing when to go.

The where was to be Copenhagen. The Danish capital proving an irresistible mix of place we wanted to visit with flights that were reasonably priced. Seeing as Sunderland is not high up on the list of romantic weekend getaways, Copenhagen seemed a good compromise.

Yet the reason I am writing up my travels on here, and not writing a letter to the editor of the Sunday Times travel supplement, is that I was able to ensure my weekend still included a nice chunk of the beautiful game.

Through bargaining skills good enough so that I could take up a career in hostage negotiation, I persuaded my fiancée that a good use for our Sunday evening would be a trip to Parken, Denmark's national stadium, to watch FC Copenhagen play AGF Aarhus. So herein lies the tale of our experience.

It all starts the day before the match, we were at the stadium not for football but rather for a spot of lunch. In a game of one-upmanship that makes the café at Haynes Place look somewhat insignificant, Parken is home to Geranium, a 2-Michelin Starred restaurant that was recently named the 45th best in the World. It is located on the 8th floor of one of the four modern office blocks that form each corner of the stadium. On the way to lunch we bumped into Olof Mellberg, literally, as the vastly experienced former Aston Villa, Juventus and Sweden defender came out of the lift the restaurant shares with the players' training facilities.

For the match itself we arrived at Parken by taxi as public transport links from the city centre are in somewhat short supply. Once outside the stadium we found our entrance and went in after a short security search. The moment you enter the arena of a new stadium for the first time is always something special and this was no different. Parken is a relatively large ground holding around 40,000 when full and it certainly has an aura of the impressive about it. It also feels somewhat intimate. It is an old fashioned 4 separate sided ground. There are no corners, as we established earlier, and fans are kept relatively close to the pitch.

FC Copenhagen are sponsored by Carlsberg, the famous brewery based in the city, and their advertising is hard to miss. It was emblazoned on their shirts, and over 50% of the fans seemed to be wearing replica, and it adorns the walls of the stadium both inside and out. So the first obvious difference to English football is that once you've ordered one of their famous green bottled beverages, you are welcome to drink it freely in the stands.

One aspect that I did not care for was the ability to smoke in the stand. 90 minutes of smoke inhalation against your will is enough to annoy anyone. The fan in front of me taking solace on an electric cigarette with increasing regularity as his side's performance slid into the depressive as the game wore on.

However the stands at FC Copenhagen were, overall, a social place. We were sat in the lower tier of the main 'side' stand, in a loosely similar location to our season tickets in the Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage. The entire stand did not sit down once. There were no stewards questioning the policy and no-one complaining. Children stood on chairs, everyone else stood happily, chatting, singing and booing as the situation dictated. There was a dedicated "singing" section behind the goal where flags and banners were waved, chants were sung in a manner English fans could just not replicate for fear of being un-British. There was a family stand though, and the away section was well populated. Indeed the whole place felt a lot fuller than the 13,000 attendance figure indicated.

It was evident that the people here loved their football. For a country renowned for it's expensive nature, £15 for the most costly match ticket indicates that attendances are not what they should be. The fans love the game, but they know the league is a stepping-stone to the rest of Europe. Indeed Fulham's own captain, Brede Hangeland moved to west London from the Danish capital club. In three days in Copenhagen we saw more Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester Utd shirts than we did of Copenhagen, Brondby or Nordsjaelland.

When watching a football match in person that is not the Fulham first team, my mind instinctively tries to establish ways the experience could help the club. It is as if, in my head, I am expecting a call from Martin Jol the next morning asking for my report. We all do it, don't we? Overseas football scout, that's the dream job isn't it? I blame a youth growing up playing Football Manager and FIFA for making me this way. It is also how I knew that Copenhagen's starting centre mid was a Brazilian called Claudemir who I once took to Lazio, but more on him later.

From my pseudo-scouting of the game itself, I can confirm there are no FC Copenhagen players that will be following Brede's path to Fulham anytime soon. While the experience off the field was top class, the football on it was anything but. I would hazard that most League One sides would give either of the teams we saw a decent game.

Copenhagen won the Danish Superliga last season. However, that was on the back of the goals of Andreas Cornelius. The blond haired Scandinavian super striker was sold to Cardiff City in July for a fee of over 70 million Danish Kroner [about £7.5m]. His absence has hit the team he left behind hard and a change of manager has already taken place since we were there.

The team was an eclectic mix of Danish youngsters thrown into the Lions den too early, Scandinavians who had either not made the jump to a bigger league as a teenager, or had returned from such a venture and obscure foreigners brought in with the hope of finding a diamond in the rough.

In goal there was nervous home grown 19 year old Jacob Busk, who's every touch was cheered. Only Swedish left back Pierre Bengtsson and 25 year old Icelandinc left winger Rurik Gislason, who had a brief spell in Charlton's youth ranks as a teenager, showed any real ability that may yet translate to a move out of Scandinavia. Bryan Ruiz's countryman Christian Bolanos was a particular disappointment on the right wing. I shall also never again buy the aforementioned Claudemir in a make believe world, having realised the ratings man at EA Sports was clearly on something the day he dished out a 75/100 rating to the Brazilian of FIFA.

So once it became clearly evident the match was not a scouting mission, my next idea was could Fulham benefit from loaning any players to either side to gain experience. Well, yes and no. FC Copenhagen would clearly benefit from Chris David or Pajtim Kasami in their midfield, Matthew Briggs at left back and Marcello Trotta up front, but would those players benefit from playing there. Probably not. The players who could benefit are the ones a step below them, the Under 21s who are probably a loan spell or two away from the first team.

Lasse Vigen Christensen is the obvious name that comes to mind, the Denmark Under 21 midfielder would walk into either side we saw and would benefit from playing first team football in front of a decent crowd in competitive environs. Perhaps Swedes Muamer Tankovic or Dino Islamovic would enjoy a spell in Scandinavian first team football. Manchester City are doing the same with Abdi Ibrahim in Norway, as indeed are Fulham with Josh Pritchard at Tromso [Pritchard scored his first senior goal as Tromso beat Besiktas on Thursday]. Indeed as Danish champions, Copenhagen have Champions League football assured, so an immediate loan would guarantee at least 6 games against top class opposition for any loanee.

The game itself ended 1-1. After a lively first half both on and off the pitch, the second half was a mundane almost friendly like affair. Aarhus took the lead early on, only for David Elm lookalike Nicolai Jorgensen, a promising if somewhat flat footed 22 year old, to score a tap in following a goalkeeping howler fit for a football funnies dvd.



So there we have it. Like a build up to the real thing at Craven Cottage tomorrow, my adventure in Denmark was both enjoyable, whilst serving to help me appreciate how good we have it as Fulham fans. Fulham is my football home and how lucky I am to say that.

COYW



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2013/08/diary-of-a-fulham-tourist/?

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Fulham - Arsenal Preview: Cottagers have lost only one in last five against Wenger's side

The Gunners look to bounce back from opening-day defeat by visiting Craven Cottage but do so without several key players, while Scott Parker and Darren Bent could debut at home

Arsenal are confident that they can bounce back from a shock home loss to Aston Villa when they visit Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger's men made a dreadful start to their league campaign, suffering a 3-1 home defeat to a Villa side who only just avoided relegation last term but the Gunners recovered strongly on Wednesday, posting a terrific 3-0 win at Fenerbahce in the first leg of their Champions League play-off.

Theo Walcott starred for Arsenal, creating two of the goals, and feels that his side can beat anyone at their best.

"If everyone works hard for each other, we can get the results," the forward told the club's official website. "I think at the weekend that probably wasn't the case and we knew how disappointing it was. You don't want to start a season like that.

"We've forgotten about that and we're concentrating on Fulham. And if we perform like [Wednesday], with that intensity, we can beat anyone."

GOAL PREDICTS THE PL
7/1   Bet365 offer 7/1 for Theo Walcott to score first and Arsenal to beat Fulham

Defender Laurent Koscielny suffered a deep cut to the head against Fenerbahce but was suspended for the trip to Craven Cottage anyway, while Wenger is also without club captain Thomas Vermaelen as he recovers from a back injury. Bacary Sagna is expected to fill in at centre-back.

Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) is sidelined for up to three months, leaving Wenger short of midfield options with Abou Diaby (knee) and Mikel Arteta (thigh) not expected back any time soon.

Left-back Nacho Monreal has recovered from a back problem, though, and featured against Fenerbahce.

Fulham enjoyed a far better opening day to the season as they claimed a 1-0 win at Sunderland thanks to Pajtim Kasami's second-half strike.

New signings Scott Parker and Darren Bent could make their debuts on Saturday. Parker joined from Tottenham for an undisclosed fee on Monday, while Bent, on a season's loan from Villa, did not feature from the bench at Sunderland.

Fulham will be without goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg (shoulder) and Kieran Richardson (hamstring), who both limped off at the Stadium of Light, but attacker Alexander Kacaniklic has a chance of returning from a hamstring problem of his own. David Stockdale is likely to deputise in goal for Martin Jol's side after coming off the bench for Stekelenburg.

Fulham have enjoyed a good record against Arsenal in recent times, losing just one of their last five fixtures, but Arsenal did win the most recent meeting as Per Mertesacker scored the only goal in a 1-0 away win in April that saw both sides end the match with 10 men.



http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/109200/fulham-vs-arsenal-fc/preview

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Programme Preview

The past, the present and the future all take centre stage in Saturday's (12.45pm) official matchday programme for the visit of Arsenal.

With Mohamed Al Fayed ending his 16-year spell at the Cottage this summer, we pay homage to our former Chairman with an extensive feature, including tributes from ex-Fulham stars such as Luis Boa Morte, Jimmy Bullard, Rufus Brevett and Louis Saha.

Although he will not be at the game, Mr Al Fayed said: "I am on holiday and finding that retirement is suiting me well, so I will watch the match on television here with my family. I also feel that Saturday should be about your new Chairman, Shahid Khan. He is deserving of the special experience that awaits him and I know Fulham supporters will give him the same welcome and love that I enjoyed for so many years."

Mr Al Fayed's successor, Mr Khan, will be in SW6 this weekend for the game and the new Chairman outlines his ambitions for the Club in an exclusive column.

Captain Brede Hangeland is the cover star and main interview, while Martin Jol discusses a fine start to the new season at Sunderland last weekend and the welcome addition of Scott Parker to his squad.

Other highlights in the only matchday magazine that matters - which is available to download digitally from 9am on Saturday - are:

Brian McBride recalls a famous clash against Arsenal
Bryan Ruiz takes the Fulham 50 challenge
Ex-Arsenal star Ray Parlour assesses the capital clash
The full lowdown on our visitors
Quizzes for fans both young and old
A nostalgic trip down programme memory lane in our Rewind feature
And Barry Hayles gives his thoughts on Fulham's season ahead
Priced £3.50, the 84-page publication is available from various sellers on Stevenage Road from two hours before kick-off. Fans can also save money by taking out a season subscription for just £55 for the campaign - that's a saving of £11.50 if you were to purchase each edition individually. Head to www.programmemaster.com for more details.

The programme is also available as an app with added video content from 9am on Saturday, so whether you're at home or away, you need never be without it on your iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, PC or Mac via Apple's Newsstand. The programme is also available via the Pocketmags app on Kindle Fire and Blackberry Playbook. You can subscribe for the whole season for the digital edition for just £24.99 or buy a single issue for £1.99.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/23/programme-preview?

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TOOFIF 129 on sale Saturday (including a FoF advert)...

...the excellent, unputdownable, exciting and brilliantly edited TOOFIF (David's words) is on sale on Saturday for the game against Henry Norris' splitter team from Norf Lahndan.

Featuring Strongy, Ara, Diddy D, Windy Gale - and a tribute to our outgoing Chairman Mo and a welcome to the new 'Ghengis' Khan!

Also on the back page there is an advert for an independent Fulham website and message board you may already be familiar with:-

[WhiteJC]

 
Pritchard's Europa Joy



Josh Pritchard was the hero for Tromso on Thursday evening as he scored a crucial winner against Besiktas in their UEFA Europa League Play-Off in Norway.

Portugal striker Hugo Almeida had given the visitors the lead within nine minutes, but Besiktas failed to build on their advantage despite dominating the first half.

It meant Tromso were still firmly in the tie and they levelled matters up shortly after the interval when former Rangers midfielder Thomas Kind Bendiksen emphatically planted a penalty into the top left hand corner.

Pritchard - who is on loan from Fulham until the end of December - then took centre stage in the 68th minute when he capitalised on an error in the Turkish side's defence. The experienced Julien Escudé – who has 13 caps for France – was caught in possession on the edge of the centre circle by the midfielder, who dashed towards goal with the ball before calmly slotting a finish beyond Turkey international goalkeeper Tolga Zengin.

Tromso take their slender advantage to Istanbul on Thursday of next week for the Second Leg.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/23/pritchards-europa-joy?

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The Fulham Perspective: A Gillespie Guest Post

Our man Hamish is back again with his take on Saturday's game at The Cottage....

Fulham play host to Arsenal this weekend, with an early kick-off spot and the associated TV coverage. Added media exposure is probably enough to make any Gooner cringe at the moment, but for us Cottagers this is an eagerly anticipated opportunity to see how our new squad will be received.

Off the back of a shock victory at Sunderland, Fulham have opened the season with a rare away three points: somewhat unexpected, considering our position at the end of last season. With three points from the final seven games, eight players leaving, and confirmation from Director Alistair Mackintosh that the summer budget would be nil, things looked rather bleak.

Yet somehow, Martin Jol may have kept our dreams alive, by intelligently sourcing from the loans, frees and plus-thirty market. Additions include England duo Scott Parker and Darren Bent. Parker is what we have lacked in the hold since Danny Murphy's departure, and Bent is sure to be amongst the goals, competing for the shirt with Bryan Ruiz. New keeper Maarten Stekelenburg is well proven between the sticks, and there were early signs from Adel Taarabt, that Fulham may have at last acquired a player on Berbatov's artistic wavelength, with some tasty flashes of link-up against Sunderland.

So what damage might we inflict this weekend?

Unfortunately our defensive line up looks rather weakened. Stockdale may replace the already injured Stekelenburg (shoulder), and the inexperienced Briggs might have to cover at Left back, with Richardson injured (hamstring) and Riise seeking a late move. Walcott will no doubt have an absolute field day if he is running at Briggs all afternoon. A start for Parker is also unlikely, due to his lack of match fitness. Therefore Sidwell and new signing Derek Boateng will start as holding midfielders. If you Gooners can recall the calibre of tackle that saw Sidwell sent off the last time our sides met at the Cottage, this is unfortunately exactly how Boateng likes to play. Both look good with the ball, but without – as you might expect against Arsenal – they are a bit of a liability. No doubt their lunging tackles will yield many a yellow this season.



Our attack will obviously centre on Berbatov, supported by wingers Kasami, Duff or Dejagah, and either Taarabt or Ruiz playing behind. Every cottager is also quietly waiting for the saving grace of Bent to come on late, and score with his first and only touch in the game: wishful thinking perhaps.

I can only imagine that Arsenal will inch ahead of us by successfully controlling the midfield for most of the game. Wilshere, Cazorla, and Rosicky can pick apart most defences, but the finishing touch is occasionally missing. May I take this opportunity to remind the Emirates faithful that despite your transfer window woes thus far, your midfield is world class (second only to City, and perhaps Chelsea, in this league) and the results will come. Clearly a team needs more to contend for titles and progress in the Champions League, but your current set-up stops teams outside the top four from playing. The Villa game was a blip, and you deserve to be confident going into such league games. We will hope to catch you on the counter, but opportunities will be limited – Hopefully the writing of the script for Darren Bent's first Fulham goal! Prediction: 2-1 to Arsenal.

Hamish



http://gillespieroadramble.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/the-fulham-perspective-a-gillespie-guest-post-2/?

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Premier League Preview: Fulham v Arsenal

FULHAM v ARSENAL 12:45, Craven Cottage (Saturday)
Fulham will have been disappointed to have let a 2-1 lead slip against Norwich last weekend but with new signings Darren Bent, Scott Parker and Adel Taarabt pushing for starting places the Cottagers can be optimistic ahead of Saturday's match. Martin Jol will be without first choice goalkeeper Martin Stekelenburg following the Dutchman's shoulder injury sustained against Sunderland, so David Stockdale is likely to deputise. Fulham have only lost one of their last five league matches against Arsenal and after the Gunners dismal performance against Aston Villa last weekend, the Cottagers will feel victory is possible.

Arsenal bounced back from their embarrassing 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa last weekend with an impressive 3-0 victory over Fenerbache on Wednesday. Arsene Wenger has come under huge criticism at his side's lack of signings this summer and knows he cannot afford to lose ground on the likes of Spurs and Liverpool who both won last weekend. If Arsenal are to finish in the top four this season, this is a game they should win, but a London derby away from home will be a difficult task given the amount of pressure they are currently under.

What to watch out for: Darren Bent could make his Fulham debut on Saturday and it wouldn't be a surprise if the former Spurs and boyhood Arsenal fan got off the mark.

Possible line-ups:
Fulham – Stockdale; Reither, Hughes, Hangeland, Briggs, Taarabt, Sidwell, Boateng, Duff; Ruiz; Berbatov
Arsenal – Szczesny; Jenkinson, Sagna, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Cazorla, Ramsey, Wilshere; Walcott, Giroud; Rosicky

Prediction: 1-1



http://www.footymatters.com/articles/english-football/premier-league/premier-league-preview/premier-league-preview-fulham-v-arsenal-2/?

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Steve Sidwell won't stop putting his foot in after twice seeing red


Double trouble: Steve Sidwell is about to besent off after this challenge on Mikel Arteta, which followed his dismissal against QPR

Steve Sidwell hopes he will be treated fairly by Premier League referees despite his red cards in successive games at the end of last season.

The Fulham midfielder served a three-game ban after he was dismissed for a challenge on Queens Park Rangers' Armand Traore and was then sent off for a late tackle on Mikel Arteta just 12 minutes into his return.

That red card against Arsenal, who he faces tomorrow, earned him another four-game suspension and ended his season. Arsene Wenger said the tackle could have broken Arteta's leg but Sidwell has had a good disciplinary record throughout his career.

Before the QPR match, he had not been sent off since a UEFA Cup game for Aston Villa in 2008.

Sidwell, 30, who received eight yellow cards last season, will not change his tough-tackling approach and hopes those two incidents are not used against him by officials.

"Hopefully I will not get punished for it in this coming year now," he said. "I am going to keep putting my foot in and be as committed as ever and hopefully referees do not see a late tackle and think about last season.

"The Arsenal one was a definite red card but I still think the QPR one was a bit harsh. It tarnished a really good season because I thought I played well on a consistent basis and the two red cards ruined it for me."

Sidwell came through Fulham's opening game of the season, the 1-0 win at Sunderland, without any dramas and admits he was "chomping at the bit to get back". He said: "It was hard to watch the last few games [at the end of last season] but the gaffer [Martin Jol] knows the way I play."

Fulham added further steel to their midfield this week with the signing of Scott Parker and he could make his debut tomorrow.

Parker, 32, moved to Craven Cottage on a three-year deal from Tottenham and Sidwell is looking forward to forming a partnership with him.

"We have had a few [battles] over the years," he said. "It has probably been an even match but it is nice to be on the same team now, rather than lining up against him. He has got that tenacity in his play, he closes down players and stops them. He is a box-to-box midfielder who chips in with the odd goal. It is what we have been looking for."

Sidwell started his career in the  Arsenal Academy but was sold to Reading in 2003 after a number of spells on loan at clubs including Brentford.

When asked about the plight of his former club and the criticism Wenger is receiving, he said: "It is a Catch-22 because he has nailed down Champions League football every year, which is vital. When I was there as a youth-team player I saw the Invincibles and the fans want to get back to those days because that is what they feel they deserve. It is just not ticking for them at the moment.Fans pay good money to see them play and they want to get something back for it. They do not feel they are getting that at the moment. What he has done for the club is great. Is it time for Wenger to go? I am not too sure.

"Can they get back to their former glories under Wenger? Certainly. He has proved that over the years and I see no reason why it should stop there. Any time you play Arsenal it is always going to be a hard game and we have got to be right on top of our game."



http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/steve-sidwell-wont-stop-putting-his-foot-in-after-twice-seeing-red-8781694.html

[WhiteJC]

 
STATS: Hangeland's clearances for Fulham vs Giroud's on target shots Arsenal

Fulham vs Arsenal, Saturday 12:45

- Patjim Kasami picked a good moment to score his first Fulham goal as his second half header earned Martin Jol's side all three points on their opening day fixture.

- Brede Hangeland's presence in the centre of defence will clearly once again be crucial to Fulham's chances this year. The giant Norwegian centre half already leads the Fulham squad for clearances with 13.

- New signing Martin Stekelenburg will no doubt be hoping the relatively quiet introduction he got to Premier League life against Sunderland will continue this week. He only had to make two saves according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the second lowest of any keeper in the league and 3 less than the other keeper starting life with a new club in the Premier League, Simon Mignolet.
- Derek Boateng has already earmarked himself as Fulham's potential midfield enforcer for this season, racking up 4 fouls in his first appearance.

- Arsenal's season got off to the worst possible start as they fell to a 1-3 defeat to Aston Villa at The Emirates. Olivier Giroud's well-taken goal had seemingly set the stage for the Gunners to dominate the match but a spirited fightback from Villa saw their afternoon end in disappointment and yet more pressure heaped on an embattled Arsene Wenger.

- Despite his expertly taken goal, Olivier Giroud struggled to consistently test Brad Guzan last weekend. He scored with his only on-target attempt on goal, being off-target with the other 75%.

- Although Arsenal fans are desperate for Wenger to spend before the close of the window, one area where they do have relative strength in depth is in creative midfielders. Despite coming out on the wrong end of 1-3 home defeat last weekend, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey still placed 2nd and 4th on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for passes completed inside the opponent's half, with 54 and 52 respectively.

- The loss of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the near future to a knee injury deprives Arsenal of one of their gamer-changers and Arsene Wenger will be concerned about losing the attacking purpose the Ox brings to the team. The young winger took on Villa with a joint squad-high 4 dribbles and the Gunners will miss his surges forward in the coming weeks.

- Key in replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain's attacking instincts will be Tomas Rosicky who already leads his colleagues for attacking contributions with 7 according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance. This is despite being the oldest member of the Arsenal squad.



http://www.byfarthegreatestteam.com/posts/stats-hangelands-clearances-for-fulham-vs-girouds-on-target-shots-arsenal/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Sidwell Still Committed



Steve Sidwell says he will be as committed as ever as Fulham seek to overcome the test of Arsenal at Craven Cottage on Saturday (12.45pm).

The former Gunners midfielder was sent off against his old side in the 12th minute of the Barclays Premier League game last season, as we slipped to a 1-0 defeat, but thinks that Fulham are ready to take the challenge to the opposition after an impressive start to the season up at Sunderland.

"It wasn't a pretty game for us by any means," he said. "We didn't play well. Attacking wise, we didn't create much and maybe that was down to good tactics from Sunderland. But you will take three points any time of the season, especially on the first day. It is vital to get off to a good start. We need to raise the standard of our play, which we will do over time with players settling in."

Sidwell was sent off twice at the end of last season which saw him suspended for seven games as he missed the end of the campaign but says that, while he will be careful not to cross the line, he won't be changing his style of play ahead of the Gunners' visit.

"It tarnished a really good year for me," he said. "I thought I played well on a consistent basis and the two red cards back-to-back ruined it for me. Hopefully I won't get punished for it in this coming year now.

"Obviously I am going to keep putting my foot in and be as committed as ever and hopefully referees don't see a late tackle and think about last season. The Arsenal one was a definite red card but the QPR one I still think was a bit harsh. But it was a long summer and I have been chomping at the bit to get back. It was hard to watch the last few games but the gaffer knows the way I play."

A player who also loves a tackle in the middle of the pitch is Scott Parker, with the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder arriving on a three-year deal this week.

"He has got that tenacity in his play, closing down players and stopping them from playing," said Sidwell. "On the ball he is very good, very composed. He is a box-to-box midfielder who chips in with the odd goal. It is what we have been looking for and managed to get in.

"It is easy for good players to settle in. It can be harder for foreigners to come over to the Premier League but the Premier League has been his bread and butter for a number of years. He knows the game. He listens to his body, as you do when you start getting older. For that standard of player, it is easy to settle in. It is nice to be on the same team now, rather than lining up against him."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/23/sidwell-still-committed?

[WhiteJC]

 
Arsene Wenger wary of Fulham

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he believes Fulham will be a threat in the Premier League after recruiting a number of experienced players over the summer.

Wenger has come under fire for his lack of transfer dealings so far, but Fulham counterpart Martin Jol has acted swiftly to bolster his squad by bringing in the likes of Darren Bent, Scott Parker and Adel Taarabt.

As a result, the Arsenal boss is expecting to face potent opponents when his side travel to Craven Cottage for their first away league game of the season on Saturday.

"Fulham have signed one goalscorer [Bent], a guy who can give the final ball and he has a guy in the middle of the park with a lot of experience [Parker]," Wenger said.

"Parker is not the youngest any more, but what you lose a bit with maybe physical quality, with age you can gain in positioning on the field and guiding other players. On that front, Parker has always been a very motivated player. He still has that hunger. Even for Tottenham last year, he was an important player.

"Taarabt is a guy who can give a final ball, who can create a difference. He has a very good technical level. They have made good signings and this will be a tough game for us."

Wenger hopes his side's win against Fenerbahce in the Champions League on Wednesday will reignite their confidence after last weekend's deflating home defeat against Aston Villa.

"We were disappointed after Saturday, but I said that it was under special circumstances and the result didn't reflect the game," he said. "It was important to respond quickly for certainly the most important game of the start of the season [against Fenerbache], and we did that well.

"Every time we go there [to Fulham], the pitch is small. The crowd is close. It's not only technical as they play as well a technical game, but against us they always put a lot of physical commitment in. It's usually a big fight."

Wenger confirmed that he has no fresh injury worries ahead of Saturday's game, with full-back Nacho Monreal in contention for a starting spot after returning to full fitness.



http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1531221?&cc=5739

[WhiteJC]

 
Match Discussion - Fulham (a)

So the boys managed to bounce back from a depressing first day defeat to Aston Villa with an impressive 3-0 away win over Fenerbahce which will surely see us through to the group stages of the Champions League proper.

However, with the complete lack of summer signings, zero points on the board and a big game against Spurs coming up, it`s vital we register a win against Fulham tomorrow.

If memory serves me correctly we don`t have the greatest record at Craven Cottage in recent years (someone please tell me my memory is failing) but is simply a must win game, even at this early stage.

It`s not must win in the terms of the final outcome of the season, after two games that would be ridiculous to suggest, when we look at the atmosphere around the club right now, we just can`t afford to be heaping so much pressure on to a North London derby.

I can`t even bare the thought of going into a match against Tottenham on no points whatsoever, especially a game that takes place one day before the transfer window closes.

In my opinion we have to win, unfortunately my gut feeling says it`ll be a draw.

What do you think? Will we win? Who will be in the team? Are you as nervous as I am? Have your say and more in the Vital Arsenal forum, you can find the match day thread by clicking here.

If you`ve not yet registered for the site, click the banner below and follow the instructions, it`s quick and easy and it will make you one of the most powerful people in the universe ... sort of.



Read more: http://www.arsenal.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=536831#ixzz2coHotaXy

[WhiteJC]

 
Sidwell hopes red cards won't count against him
by DAN on AUGUST 23, 2013



Steve Sidwell hopes his two red cards towards the tail end of last season won't be considered by referees during this campaign as he tries to help Fulham build on their opening day win at Sunderland.

The tigerish midfielder endured a disappointing end to last season after being dismissed twice having fought his way back into Martin Jol's first team following an injury lay-off. Sidwell was sent off in the 3-2 win over QPR for a late tackle on Armand Traore and then also saw red on his return from suspension against his old club Arsenal. Arsene Wenger felt Sidwell's challenge could have ended Mikel Arteta's career and, although the Fulham man admits that dismissal was justified, he points to a more impressive disciplinary record throughout his career.

The 30-year old says he isn't about to change his style of play in fear of receiving further red cards.

Hopefully I will not get punished for it in this coming year now. I am going to keep putting my foot in and be as committed as ever and hopefully referees do not see a late tackle and think about last season.

The Arsenal one was a definite red card but I still think the QPR one was a bit harsh. It tarnished a really good season because I thought I played well on a consistent basis and the two red cards ruined it for me. It was hard to watch the last few games but the gaffer knows the way I play.

Sidwell could well be joined in the Fulham midfield on Saturday by Scott Parker, who completed a move from Tottenham earlier this week.

We have had a few [battles] over the years. It has probably been an even match but it is nice to be on the same team now, rather than lining up against him. He has got that tenacity in his play, he closes down players and stops them. He is a box-to-box midfielder who chips in with the odd goal. It is what we have been looking for.

As a player brought through the Arsenal academy under Wenger, Sidwell has an unique perspective on the current position of this weekend's opponents.

It is a Catch-22 because he has nailed down Champions League football every year, which is vital. When I was there as a youth-team player I saw the Invincibles and the fans want to get back to those days because that is what they feel they deserve. It is just not ticking for them at the moment.Fans pay good money to see them play and they want to get something back for it. They do not feel they are getting that at the moment. What he has done for the club is great. Is it time for Wenger to go? I am not too sure.

Can they get back to their former glories under Wenger? Certainly. He has proved that over the years and I see no reason why it should stop there. Any time you play Arsenal it is always going to be a hard game and we have got to be right on top of our game.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2013/08/sidwell-hopes-red-cards-wont-count-against-him/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Premier League: Fulham v Arsenal match preview
A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Craven Cottage

The last time these two teams faced off at Craven Cottage on the second week of the season, the game ended 1-0 to the hosts thanks to a solitary Brede Hangeland goal in August 2008. Arsene Wenger and his side will be aiming to avoid repeating history as they look for a quick Premier League recovery, having succumbed to Paul Lambert's youthful Villa team at home on the opening day of the season.

Martin Jol's Fulham team enjoyed a more fruitful start to their campaign with surprise inclusion Pajtim Kasami scoring the only goal at the Stadium of Light. Arsenal go into Saturday's lunchtime kick off without many first team players, including injured Thomas Vermaelen, Mikel Arteta and the suspended Laurent Koscielny. David Stockdale will almost certainly fill in for the injured Maarten Stekelenburg, and new signings Darren Bent and Scott Parker could make their debuts.

Arsenal go into their 25th top-flight league encounter with Fulham on the back of a crucial Champions League away win against Fenerbahce, but Wenger will surely hope that this fixture doesn't live up to its red card-littered recent history, with the Frenchman already having a very small squad at his disposal.     

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 12.45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS...

Fulham 0 Arsenal 1 (Mertesacker), Premier League, April 2011

Arsenal 3 (Giroud 2, Podolski) Fulham 3 (Berbatov 2, Kacaniklic), Premier League, November 2011

Fulham 2 (Sidwell, Zamora) Arsenal 1 (Koscielny), Premier League, January 2012

STATS...

Darren Bent has scored 7 goals in his last 11 matches against Arsenal.

There have been 4 red cards in the last 3 fixtures between these two teams (Sidwell, Giroud, Djourou and Gera).

Fulham haven't lost their opening home game of the season since the 2009-10 campaign (losing 2-0 to Chelsea).

ODDS...

Fulham to win: 3.95

Arsenal to win: 2.12

Draw: 3.55

TV: Live on BT Sport 1 at 12.45pm, highlights on BBC1 at 10.20pm.


http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/premier-league-fulham-v-arsenal-match-preview-8782206.html

[WhiteJC]

 
London's top dogs Arsenal head for barometer at easy-pickings Fulham

Fulham have lost 68 home games in their 12 seasons in the Premier League and one club stands clear in inflicting the most defeats on them on their own turf: Arsenal.
In 12 visits to Craven Cottage in the Premier League, Arsenal have won eight times. They are Fulham's visitors again at lunchtime on Saturday.
Fulham, in common with Stoke, are a club who have been particularly reliant on their home form to retain their Premier League status over the years. That pair are the only two clubs among the 20 in the Premier League currently to have more than twice as many points at home for each point won away.
In short, both are woeful on the road and need to be particularly good at home to make up for it.
Fulham's 68 home PL defeats are detailed by opponent in the graphic below.
The most recent reverse for Fulham at the feet of Arsenal was by the single Mertesacker goal in April when first Sidwell and latterly Giroud were given their marching orders by the referee.
For Arsenal fans, the match this weekend might act as a barometer of the shape they're in. They must expect, on historical form, to win. As the graphic also shows, they were the top club in the inter-London fixtures and this is their first London derby of the season to boot.




http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2013/08/23/londons-top-dogs-arsenal-head-for-barometer-at-easy-pickings-fulham-230801/?