Monday Fulham Stuff (23/09/13)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol eyes Berbatov, Ruiz recalls

Martin Jol has revealed that he will look to recall Dimitar Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz for Fulham's League Cup clash with Everton on Tuesday.

Berbatov missed Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea with a hamstring injury, while Ruiz was left out after failing to recover from an ankle problem.

But manager Jol is hopeful that both will return for the visit of Roberto Martinez's men.

He said: "Of course we have got a lot of players (out) as well. Berbatov will come back and Bryan Ruiz will probably come back."

The Dutchman also backed his men to climb the table following a difficult start to the campaign, which has seen the Craven Cottage outfit take just four points from five games, leaving them in the bottom three.

"We had three away games up until now, and the home game was against Arsenal, so that wasn't easy," he added.

"I think we need a win to get back in the top 10.

"All the teams in the bottom half, especially now – I think we are 17th or 18th – have to get out of there."


http://uk.soccerway.com/news/2013/September/22/jol-eyes-berbatov-ruiz-recalls/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Kasami's Verdict

Pajtim Kasami believes the first goal was always likely to prove decisive during the SW6 derby. Watch his Chelsea reaction.

Kasami's Chelsea Verdict



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/september/22/kasamis-verdict?

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Fulham to bring in Rene Meulensteen

Fulham are not considering sacking Martin Jol, but reportedly want to recruit former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen to work alongside him at Craven Cottage.

Jol's future with the West London outfit has come under question because of just one win in their opening five Premier League games of the campaign, and of his reluctance to develop the club's young talent.

Of the eight players, including Darren Bent and Scott Parker, signed by the Cottagers this summer, only Queens Park Rangers loanee Adel Taarabt is under the age of 26.

With Jol's contract due to expire at the end of the season, Fulham are reportedly hoping to add Meulensteen to their coaching staff with a view to replacing his Dutch compatriot, but have issued Jol with a vote of confidence for now.

A statement from owner Shahid Khan published in The Mirror read: "Mr Khan and the Board support the manager in his decisions regarding the team and were encouraging of the decisions to bring in, among others, Adel Taarabt, Darren Bent and Scott Parker, over the summer transfer window.

"The club's priority is to remain in the League and Martin believes a balance of youth and experience is integral to achieving this.

"There are some exciting young prospects who featured in our Academy, including Alex Kacaniklic who has made the transition to the starting line-up recently."

Meulensteen was recently sacked by Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala after just 16 days in charge.



http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/report-fulham-to-bring-in-meulensteen_106430.html

[WhiteJC]

 
It's cold by the river
By benpweeks

It's been a while. That's partly personal (moving house, Sky are terrible etc), but mainly because a real collection of thoughts has been required regarding Fulham's start to the season.

I didn't want to throw myself in with either the Jol In or Jol Out crowd too quickly, and that really is what has dominated FFC related chatter since..well..since Dembele and Dempsey left, maybe. It's no wonder he's so fond of squeezing every last drop of juice out of those names – they're associated with a different time at Fulham. A time when Fulham fans were proud of being "Fulhamish", with the inconsistencies in our performance but also the evidence of hard work and a real passion to, at least, wear the badge with honour.

It has – undeniably – changed. Let's not overreact: Fulham are doing ok, there have been some very good additions to the squad (Amorebieta in particular) and there should be no real fear of relegation. But there has been a change in the atmosphere that surrounds Craven Cottage on matchdays. Frustration, anger...even apathy – these are the three emotions that I'm experiencing most around me from my seat in the Hammersmith end. It's not necessarily related to how the game is going either – even one nil up against West Brom, there was little of the satisfaction and feeling of content that is so familiar by the river. This, for me, is the problem.

It's a thankless task for Shahid Khan, if he even attempts to, to identify the chief factors responsible for this negativity.  It is evident, however, that something needs to change, because the apathy from the fans is being reflected by the players. The second half against Chelsea was, in a word, sad. Losing 0-2 away to Chelsea is by no means embarrassing, but to go in at half time having done actually rather well and play like Fulham did in the second half...it was almost as if they had decided amongst themselves that losing away to Chelsea is acceptable anyway, so what did it matter. This has to be at least partly due to Martin Jol. Whatever his team talk template is, he needs to throw it away. Motivation is utterly lacking – losing 0-2 *would* have actually been acceptable, had the team continued to play in the manner that they had shown in the first half.

A writer and Spurs fan that I hold in high regard recently observed that "Jol has a shelf-life. Players just stop playing for him at some point." I don't think this is necessarily 100% true, but this does seem extremely poignant right now. If the players stop playing for the manager, the fans stop caring for the team. Remember that Jol is in the final year of his contract, and as the film Moneyball made abundantly clear, a manager in his last year doesn't quite know where he stands. What is he trying to achieve? He'll be gone next season anyway, right? Maybe, just maybe..what needs to happen is not the running down or immediate termination of Jol's contract, but an extension. A signal of faith. The answer surely can't be a continuation of this uncertainty.

The conclusion is really what we've known all along, but don't quite have the answer to – something has to change. Something, I would suggest, coming from a higher level than Martin Jol. Sack him or back him Mr Khan, give us an indication of where we're going, and lets hope that the Fulham Family spirit returns soon.




https://ffcme.wordpress.com/2013/09/22/its-cold-by-the-river/

[WhiteJC]

 
Murphy on the Comeback Trail?
   
Our former captain, Danny Murphy, could be on the comeback trail.

Now 36 years of age, Danny has been doing his coaching badges after being released by Blackburn Rovers but the word on the street is that the midfielder wants to lace his boots on again.

One possible destination being touted around is Wigan with their boss, Owen Coyle ready to infuse his squad with Murphy`s know how, experience and midfield bite.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=333157#ixzz2fhDPY8py

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol Wanted by Hamburg?
   
As Fulham, courtesy of that 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, slip into the relegation zone, the tabloid press have gone into overdrive this morning about Martin Jol`s future.

Whilst one tabloid publishes some quotes from the bard that they are backing Jol, others suggest that the Dutchman could be set for a return to Hamburg.

Jol`s contract is into its second and last year with Fulham having exercised the option of that second year, but the suggestion is that no talks are currently planned to discuss a further extension.

Hamburg, last week, sacked their manager Thorsten Fink and Jol is amongst the front-runners to succeed him, along with Markus Babbel.

Whilst it is anticipated that Fulham would reject an approaches from Hamburg, the tabloid press seem to be championing the possibility that the former Brighton boss, Gus Poyet, would be the favourite to jump into the Fulham hot-seat.

We can only wait and see.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=333158#ixzz2fhDiNCQp

[WhiteJC]

 
Golden Oldies to Stay!
   
It would seem that Fulham, through Martin Jol, are keen to tie two of our older generation to Craven Cottage.

Steve Sidwell (30) and Damien Duff (34) are both in the final year of their current contracts and Jol, with Sidwell being the subject of interest from other clubs, does not want to run the risk of losing the player, remarking to the media,

"We are talking to Steve about extending and we think he wants to stay here."

And as for extending Duff`s four year stay, Jol remarked,

"Damien is a true professional and we will give him an extension if he can play on"

What`s the verdict then?

A good move or a bad move?

Your thoughts would be most welcome.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=333159#ixzz2fhDyTGdh

[WhiteJC]

 
Hamburg line-up Martin Jol for vacant manager's job as Fulham eye Gus Poyet

Germany calling for Cottagers boss and London side could move for ex-Brighton boss Poyet


Is Martin Jol set to turn his back on Fulham?
Getty

Martin Jol is on Hamburg's shortlist as they step up their search for a new manager, writes Tom Hopkinson in the Sunday People.

And if the Dutchman does head back to his old club then his departure would pave the way for a Fulham move for former Brighton boss Gus Poyet.

Jol is in the final year of his deal at Craven Cottage – the club took up an option to extend it for a further term during the last campaign – but no talks to extend it beyond this season are planned by either side.

The Cottagers chief was linked with a summer return to Hamburg last season, but that was ruled out when Fulham activated the clause to keep him.

The Bundesliga side, however, who Jol managed in the 2008-09 season, sacked boss Thorsten Fink last week after winning just four points from their first five games – and Jol is one of the names in the frame to replace him along with former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel.

If Hamburg sporting director Oliver Kreuzer were to approach Fulham for permission to speak to Jol then Sunday People Sport understands it is unlikely the west London club would deny them.

Jol's relationships with senior figures and many players at the club have deteriorated, and boos were aimed at him by fans after last weekend's home draw with West Brom.



Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/hamburg-line-up-martin-jol-vacant-2292275#ixzz2fhEa4wrf
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

[WhiteJC]

 
Excuses, Excuses
   
After a defeat at the hands of our neighbours saw us drop into the relegation zone, supporters looking for some words of comfort from Martin Jol might be a little disappointed.

In his post-match interview, Jol gave the reason for the loss, explained why it all went wrong but offered little in the way of corrective action, commenting,

'The first 50 minutes they were really worried. They couldn't find the space, they couldn't find a solution and that is probably the moment you have to punish them and we couldn't do that. "

'The second half they stepped up a gear, they were more aggressive than us and that is what showed."

'If you play the way we played, you have to create more. We will in the future. We needed a little bit more. "

'We need a win to get back to the top 10. We're 17th or 18th, we have to get out of there.'

Is that an air of discontent enveloping our club?


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=333163#ixzz2fhExBBya

[WhiteJC]

 
Lack of plan b costs Fulham again against Chelsea

Some people would call Fulham's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday a game of two halves. Those of us who are less naive would look at it more realistically, taking the result as an inevitability. An away fixture, against a top Premier League side? We were never going to impress.

Martin Jol's side were not awful, though, and that's from where the small glimmer of hope emanates. In the first half we defended well, with a mixture of both valiance and tactical awareness making for a difficult 45 minutes for an otherwise creative Chelsea front line.

Fernando Amorebieta, in particular, looked impressive. He's the kind of premium-quality defender Fulham have craved for quite some time now. The Venezuelan puts Philippe Senderos to shame.

It was almost as if the side had not planned on being behind

The back four remained tight and compact while a midfield pairing of Steve Sidwell and Scott Parker proved surprisingly fruitful. Their distribution was decent, if not quite wonderful, while their niggly, dogmatic closing down was invaluable to the team.

The second half wasn't quite so solid from a defensive perspective, but it took an error from stand-in goalkeeper David Stockdale to gift Chelsea their lead. It was from that goal that the problems began to resurface, however.

Most sides, regardless of opposition, take the conceding of a goal as an opportunity to attack; to put their opponents under pressure in the hope that they will crack. Not Fulham. Not Martin Jol. It was almost as if the side had not planned on being behind.

Instead, we continued to defend, happy to soak up pressure and protect a result that is by no means flattering or positive, from any, peculiar angle.

The introduction of Adel Taarabt at least showed that Jol was happy to add some spark to a flat team, but it was a minimal risk and given the amount of time the Queens Park Rangers loanee had on the ball, it came with scant reward.

Most are prepared to accept defeat at the hands of a side who have invested so heavily over recent years. I am one of those, but it doesn't mean we should rest on our laurels.

This team is showing a distinct lack of heart and desire and it needs to be addressed. So few have come out of the opening weeks of the season with anything to shout about – Scott Parker has been superb, as has the young Pajtim Kasami – and the squad, quite literally, needs waking up.

Can Jol do that? You have to doubt it. But you have to give him the chance.



http://metro.co.uk/2013/09/22/chelsea-v-fulham-lack-of-plan-b-costs-martin-jols-side-once-again-4061997/

[WhiteJC]

 
West Ham, Fulham And Norwich Target Hamad

Premier League clubs West Ham, Fulham and Norwich are all interested in Malmo captain Jiloan Hamad having caught eyes both in the Swedish leagues and the Europa League.

According to the Express, all three are interested in signing the 22-year-old winger, although Reading, Sochaux and Genoa are also monitoring the Swede.

He becomes a free agent in January meaning he could be the perfect free signing for one of the smaller Premier League clubs as they start the run for home at the end of the season.

The Azerbaijan born midfielder has scored seven times in the Swedish league as well as goals in both of Malmo's ties over Scottish side Hibernian which ended 9-0 on aggregate.

Interest is expected to soar come January and Hamad could be tempted by the lure of the Premier League should one of the three clubs linked to his signature make an official approach.



http://www.sportsvibe.co.uk/news/football/west-ham-fulham-and-norwich-target-hamad-28216/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Crisis at the Cottage?

Another disappointing performance led to defeat at Chelsea yesterday.

Fulham seem to always be the team that other club's end their bad form against. So far this season, Fulham have ended Arsenal's 'crisis' gave Newcastle their first win and gave West Brom their first goal.

Yesterday, it was Chelsea's turn to end their 'crisis' against Fulham, and even John Obi Mikel scored his first league goal for Chelsea on his 184th attempt.

It feels like Fulham are facing their own 'crisis'. No win since the opening day of the season, and only three league goals and four points in five league games.

Where Craven Cottage was once a fortress, teams no longer have fear on the banks of the Thames. There's been no home win at Craven Cottage since April 1st, and Fulham haven't played well at home since half-time in that game against QPR, nearly throwing away a 3-0 half-time lead.

Jol has brought in players that Fulham could never have dreamed of signing, such as Dimitar Berbatov and Maarten Stekelenburg, but while Berbatov carried the team at times last year, he seems frustrated at the moment, and isn't playing particularly well. Stekelenburg is yet to complete a full match this season.

While the quality of the players is arguably improved under Jol, the spirit doesn't seem to be there. Fulham seem to lose all confidence when the opposition take the lead. Fulham haven't come from behind in the league since January 2012.

It seems that Jol is liable to falling out with players too. Key players in previous regimes such as Bobby Zamora, Danny Murphy, Chris Baird and Mark Schwarzer all seemed to fall out with Jol before leaving.

In the current squad, John Arne Riise seems to be frozen out after disagreements with Jol, while Ashkan Dejagah is mysteriously absent after impressing so much last season, when he formed a great partnership with Sascha Riether down Fulham's right. Fulham's poor form seems to coincide with Dejagah's absence from the team – he went off injured against QPR last April, and Fulham haven't looked the same side since.

Fulham need to kick-start the season against Cardiff on Saturday. The opening fixtures have produced disappointing performances and results, but they weren't particularly easy fixtures – before the season, four points would have been the minimum Fulham fans expected, but Fulham are only one point worse than in the corresponding fixtures last year. Yet, Fulham are now in the bottom three, and while it's early in the season, it's not somewhere you want to find yourself. Martin Jol said before the West Brom game that it was a must-win game, yet Fulham drew. Cardiff at home is truly is a must-win game.



Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/fulham/news/22-09-2013/crisis-at-the-cottage/848065?#ixzz2fhGNxreX

[WhiteJC]

 
Transfer news: Martin Jol keen to keep Fulham pair Steve Sidwell and Damien Duff


Damien Duff: Will be given an extension if he can play on


Steve Sidwell: In talks to prolong his Fulham stay

Fulham boss Martin Jol hopes Steve Sidwell and Damien Duff will still be at the club next season.

The Cottagers have opened talks with the veteran pair, who are currently in the last year of their contracts.

Duff has proved a hit since joining from Newcastle in 2009, with the 34-year-old winger signing a contract extension in February to keep him at the club until of the summer of 2014.

Jol wants the experienced star to stay on if his fitness allows, telling the Sunday People: "Damien is a true professional and we will give him an extension if he can play for another year."

Midfielder Sidwell has established himself as a key player since arriving from Aston Villa in January 2011 and Jol had already revealed the club has opened talks.

He re-iterated the club's desire to keep hold of the 30-year-old, saying: "We want to keep our best players. We are talking to Steve about extending and we think he wants to stay here for longer."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8935890/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol has lost Fulham fans' support

Fulham FanZoner Henry Walmsley isn't happy with the job Martin Jol is doing, and would happily see him replaced as manager.

First of all, what I am about to say is by no means based entirely on Saturday's game, I am not someone who will scream crisis, just because we lost 2-0 to a Chelsea team full of world class players. It is based on the last three years, in which time we have lost all of the cherished values which Roy Hodgson instilled into our team.

Football teams usually fall into one of two categories. Either they are a workman's team, full of players who will fight for 90 minutes for the badge and leave everything on the pitch, or they are a team full of players full of flair who will pass teams off the pitch. Perhaps in Hodgson's stint as manager we were spoilt, because for a team of our quality, we had both.

Now we have neither.

For sure, we have players who fall under each category, your Scott Parkers and Steve Sidwells typify hard working players, and players like Adel Taarabt, Bryan Ruiz and Dimitar Berbatov are very silky, but we have no identity anymore. None.

I've always held the opinion that you shouldn't sack a manager unless you have someone better to replace him, and I still do, but I can't wait to see the back of Jol. He will say that the resources he's had available have been very limited, and to keep the team in the premier league each year is a success, and to be fair I would agree with him, but for too long he's just given the impression that he doesn't care about the club and can't wait to leave, which is why the relationship between him and the fans has reached breaking point.

On Thursday night, I watched a team full of very humble players not only beat Valencia 3-0 in the Mestalla, but completely control the game. It wasn't the big European nights that I was jealous of, it was the way they played. Under excellent stewardship, and without spending more than they should have, they've created an excellent team, and one which their fans can be proud of. Am I proud of the performances our team has been churning out over the last three years? No, not really, perhaps a result of getting to the Europa League final as Jol says.

I don't expect Jol to be sacked before the end of the season, but I'm looking forward to the end of his tenure. In the last three years we certainly have lacked a bit of ambition, but that does not mean we're not an ambitious club, many fans will be happy with staying in the Premier League, which is fair enough considering where we were 15 years ago, but I'd like us to at least have an identity.



http://www.teamtalk.com/fanzone/16970/8935931/Jol-has-lost-Fulham-fans-support?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham's Martin Jol now favourite to get chop as Paolo Di Canio gets boot at Sunderland

Sunderland boss, Paolo Di Canio was given the sack on Sunday evening after less than 9 months in charge after his move from Swindon last season.

A poor run of results have left winless Sunderland mired at the bottom of the Premier League table after five games, with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of West Brom seemingly the last straw.

The Black Cats announced the news on their website.

A statement read: "Sunderland AFC confirms that it has parted company with head coach Paolo Di Canio this evening.

"Kevin Ball will take charge of the squad ahead of Tuesday night's Capital One Cup game against Peterborough United and an announcement will be made in due course regarding a permanent successor.

"The club would like to place on record its thanks to Paolo and his staff and wishes them well for the future."

Greeting the news, betting expert Joe Ross from www.footyinsider.co.uk said:

'It's no shock - it's not just the results but his style of management that have hastened his end. When the market re-forms, Fulham's Martin Jol looks certain to be the new favourite as the next Premier League boss to leave his club. Defeat at Chelsea on Saturday saw the the Cottagers drop into the bottom three and the new owners will not be happy.'


http://www.footballtradedirectory.com/news/2013/september/fulhams-martin-jol-now-favourite-to-get.html?