Friday Fulham Stuff (27/09/13)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Leicester City should try a new ticketing plan for Fulham game – Gary Silke column

Although it took a couple of regular first-teamers in Anthony Knockaert and Danny Drinkwater to conjure up the goals that eventually beat Derby on Tuesday night, the facts are that we started that Capital One Cup (I still call it the League Cup to be honest) tie with eight changes to the starting line-up and no less than six full debuts.

And we still had enough to beat the Rams, who made only three changes to their side.

As usual, the cup draw denied us any sniff of a glamour tie, with the word 'winnable' the main one used after a pairing with Premier League Fulham at the King Power Stadium.

With a place in the quarter- final at stake, Nigel Pearson will have a big decision as to his team selection.


Read more: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/story-19852686-detail/story.html?#ixzz2g5GG1XZ0
Follow us: @thisisleics on Twitter | thisisleicestershire on Facebook

[WhiteJC]

 
Dan Burn is sure things are looking up for Birmingham City

Birmingham City: Dan Burn says last two games have filled Blues with confidence


Birmingham City's Dan Burn celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the game against Swansea City

Dan Burn is certain Birmingham City are on an upward curve.

A resounding victory over Sheffield Wednesday in a crucial game followed up by the vanquishing of holders Swansea City in the Capital One Cup has put Blues in fine fettle.

Lee Clark's side head to Reading tomorrow for another stern test in the Championship.

But Blues are high on confidence, and flush for goals.

"We have played really well all season, take away the Burnley game," said Burn, who notched his first Blues goal in the 3-1 defeat of Swansea.

"We have put in some good performances.

"But now we're starting to get results, you can see the confidence is starting to build on the team.

"The lads are more confident on the ball, you see different players starting to score.



http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/birmingham-city-dan-burn-says-6101483?

[WhiteJC]

 
PFA want boot safety checks after Rooney injured by Fulham ace and Man Utd team-mate in space of 12 months


Manchester United's Wayne Rooney was injured by the boot of Hugo Rodallega.
Picture: Dave Thompson/PA Archive

Players' union chief Gordon Taylor has called for new safety checks to be carried out on football boots to guard against the type of wound Wayne Rooney sustained to his head in training.

England striker Rooney suffered the blow in a collision with Phil Jones during a Manchester United session, a deep gash causing him to be initially sidelined from duty with club and country, and, once he was passed fit to return, forced to don protective headwear.

Taylor fears players are left vulnerable to such injuries by the prevalence of 'hybrid' boots, which on their underside have a tread that is the meeting point between studs and blades, that can often become sharp.

The Professional Footballers' Association chairman wants the sport's world governing body FIFA involved in looking at the in-vogue boots, and claims from his discussions with manufacturers that they would not object to new standards being introduced.

As well as his recent injury blow, Rooney also suffered a grisly leg injury after being caught in a tackle by Hugo Rodallega last season.

Taylor told The Independent: "Wayne is a very high-profile player and both these incidents could have ended his career.

"It's put it into perspective because if you get an injury to a top player it gets a great deal of publicity, but you wonder how many times it has happened lower down the scale where there isn't so much focus.

"I think the boot manufacturers are becoming more and more aware there is a problem but I think it's something that needs to come from football with regard to health and safety issues. This has happened enough times for it not to be coincidence. It's very dangerous for us to ignore it.

"This is something we want to pursue with FIFA. Manufacturers are willing to take part in this because in a litigious day and age it could be a problem for them in the future."



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/pfa_want_boot_safety_checks_after_rooney_injured_by_fulham_ace_and_man_utd_team_mate_in_space_of_12_months_1_2816202

[WhiteJC]

 
Cauley Woodrow loan spell at Southend United set to be extended from Fulham

CAULEY Woodrow's loan stint at Southend United looks set to be extended by manager Phil Brown.

The 18-year-old's initial month long spell expires after tonight's game against Bristol Rovers at Roots Hall.

But Brown is keen to the striker at the club for longer.

"Cauley's has performed sufficiently well to warrant an extension to his contract," confirmed Brown.

"This first month he's had has flown by because transfer deadline day was on a Monday and we had to get him in before then.

"Normally when you sign someone on a month's loan you do it for the Friday but we ended up having a week wasted there.

"I think Cauley's a player of real promise and if he gets a start tonight or comes off the bench and gets a goal then his career will really be up and running."

Woodrow has made two starts and one substitute appearance while with the Shrimpers but has yet to hit the back of the net in that time.

He will be looking to break that duck tonight and help Blues end a five match winless streak which has seen them slip to 14th in the League Two table.


But 19th placed Bristol Rovers have also been in disappointing form and Brown insists his team are positive despite their own indifferent form.

"We're feeling positive after ending our run of defeats with a draw against Bury last weekend and we've had a good week's training too," said Brown.

"The season Bristol Rovers have had so far is surprising because I think everyone thought they would be up there this year.

"We took them on towards the end of last season and drew 0-0 but we definitely should have won.

"We created four or five great chances and Barry Corr could have come away with the match-ball.

"Their manager, John Ward, admitted at the end of that game it was one his team got away with and I agreed with that.

"But would I take a draw again tomorrow? Definitely not, we want all three points."



http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/10702078._/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Aston Villa and Fulham Join Everton in Admiration For Wantaway Spartak Moscow Winger Aiden McGeady

Spartak Moscow have the luxury of choice with regards to Aiden McGeady's future as Everton, Fulham and Aston Villa square up for a winter-transfer battle.

According to Izvestia, Spartak are mulling over their options for January given that Ireland international McGeady is unlikely to pen a contract extension beyond the summer of 2014.

And adding fuel to that fire is McGeady's agent, who is open to considering serious offers from England, even amid a potential disparity in respective evaluations.

Agent Ian Draer told Izvestia: "While all of his thoughts are associated only with [Spartak], if Aiden gets a really serious offer from England, which suits the Russian club, we'll review it.

"To date, talk about anything specific is premature. My client has a contract with Spartak.

"As a true professional, he will see it out, and give his all in every match."

It is believed that former Celtic winger McGeady is being valued at around €7.5m, with offers of €4m deemed too low by his Russian employers.

Everton are not new to the McGeady race, having been linked with a move in the summer transfer window, though Zenit St Petersburg had ideas of their own.

Spartak's rivals had been considering giving McGeady the temptation of a €3.5m annual salary to keep him in Russia, but that has since faded from view.



Read more at http://www.insidefutbol.com/2013/09/27/aston-villa-and-fulham-join-everton-in-admiration-for-wantaway-spartak-moscow-winger-aiden-mcgeady/101682/#67Wip4E2AbHisRlp.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham v Cardiff: Cottagers can build on capital gains
Seven of Fulham's 11 Premier League wins arrived at the Cottage last season



t may only have been the Capital One Cup third round, but a win over a previously undefeated Everton side ahead of this match could be just the tonic to help kick-start Fulham's faltering campaign.

When you're odds-on to be the next London manager to leave their post at 4/7, it's probably fair to say the results have not quite been up to scratch.

However, a few results in football can be all it takes to swing the tide, and for Fulham boss Martin Jol this home game against Premier League new boys Cardiff equals their best opportunity to win back-to-back games in all competitions, for the first time since April Fool's Day.

After all, it was only a sucker-punch injury-time header from West Brom defender Gareth McAuley which prevented Fulham collecting their second league win of the season on their last appearance at Craven Cottage.

When you consider the Welsh visitors have picked up just one away point on their travels from two games, and that against fellow promotees Hull, Fulham's odds of 11/10 to take the spoils appeals.

A burgeoning partnership between Dimitar Berbatov and Darren Bent, who both scored in that confidence-boosting win over Everton, is a major plus point for the hosts' campaign going forward.

Both players have fine goal-scoring records in the top-flight and their opposing styles seem tailor-made for a fruitful partnership, with Berba dropping into the hole, leaving Bent on the shoulder of the last defender, waiting to benefit from the Bulgarian's guile.

Berbatov is a 5/1 shot to grab the first goal, as he did against the Toffees, while Bent is 11/2 to draw first blood in what should be three valuable points bagged for Fulham.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

Cardiff odds Dimitar Berbatov odds Fulham odds Premier League odds
All posts by this author

[email protected]



http://news.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/football/premier-league/fulham-v-cardiff-cottagers-can-build-on-capital-gains_173127.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Stekelenburg Injury Update

In his pre-match press conference ahead of Cardiff City's visit, Martin Jol provided an update on the fitness of Maarten Stekelenburg, who has been out of action since withdrawing prematurely from his debut against Sunderland on the opening day of the season.

The Netherlands international hurt his shoulder in the 1-0 victory, and aggravated it further by falling on it in training, with the Fulham Manager admitting it may still be some time before we see him back between the sticks.

"He will be out for the next two weeks and then we will make an assessment," Jol said. "He's got a few injections in his shoulder – it's quite sensitive and if it's not right in two weeks time he probably needs an operation.

"But the strange thing is that he trains with us. It's only a matter of over stretching all the time and then he feels a lot of pain. He had an operation on his other shoulder so we have to be very careful."

The repercussions of Stekelenburg's absence have been softened by the strength in depth that Fulham boast in the goalkeeping department, as the reliable David Stockdale continues to enhance his credentials in his fight to become the Whites' first-choice stopper.

"I think Stockdale – and I told him as well – shouldn't consider himself as a number two," Jol explained. "But if there is another keeper ahead of you then you are a number two. But he was playing for Hull City [on loan last season] and he was the number one.

"I think he should behave as a number one; be vocal, be a personality in goal. Every time when he came in for Fulham – before I was here as well – he did very well. But a goalkeeper is always vulnerable."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/september/27/stekelenburg-injury-update?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham v Cardiff



By Alistair Mann
BBC Match of the Day commentator

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Saturday, 28 August

Fulham pair Aaron Hughes and Bryan Ruiz face fitness tests on their respective thigh and ankle injuries.
Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, Ashkan Dejagah and Matthew Briggs are all still sidelined.

Cardiff forward Peter Odemwingie could be rewarded with his first Premier League start for the club after scoring on his full debut in the midweek League Cup defeat at West Ham.

Fellow striker Andreas Cornelius remains out with an ankle problem.

MATCH PREVIEW
When Fulham beat QPR on 1 April, it virtually ensured their Premier League status and, with eight games still left to play, it seemed another top-ten finish was within their grasp.

However, they subsequently ended the campaign by claiming just four more points, losing six of those final matches and scoring just seven more goals in the process.

That stuttering form has again plagued them at the beginning of this season too. Fulham have earned just one point since the opening-day win at Sunderland, leaving them in the bottom three of the fledgling table. Only three goals scored indicates their most significant failure.

Fulham's April Fools Day success remains their last three-point haul at home. A heartening midweek victory in the Capital One Cup against Everton did at least bring some respite at Craven Cottage - the fact that the scorers were Darren Bent and Dimitar Berbatov was equally significant too.

The weekend visitors have also been disappointing of late; Cardiff are winless in the last three, having failed to capitalise on their stunning efforts in humbling Manchester City.

Like Fulham, Cardiff have also found goalscoring a problem - drawing a blank on three occasions already. Top scorer Frazier Campbell's brace against Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City side is his only successful day so far.

With such statistics, it's perhaps heartening to note that there's never been a goalless draw in the history of a fixture which dates back to the 1920s!

The football annals also offer a particularly good omen for the visiting supporters, as the last time Cardiff won an away game in the top division was back in 1961 at...Craven Cottage.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
The clubs last met 15 years ago, with Fulham winning 2-1 in each leg of their League Cup first-round tie.

Cardiff won the most recent league encounter 4-1 at Fulham in January 1997 when both clubs were in the Football League's lowest tier.

There has never been a goalless draw in 25 league and cup matches between the two clubs at Craven Cottage.

Fulham
Fulham are winless in their last six league matches at Craven Cottage. The draw with West Brom a fortnight ago ended a run of five straight home defeats.
That is their only point in four matches since winning at Sunderland on the opening day.
They have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 home matches in the Premier League (1-0 v Stoke on 23 February).
Martin Jol's side are the joint-lowest scorers in the division with three goals in five matches.
Last season's 15-goal top scorer Dimitar Berbatov has yet to score in four league appearances this campaign.

Cardiff
Cardiff's last top-flight away win came against Fulham in November 1961. They have since drawn four and lost 11 of their 15 away fixtures in the division.
The Bluebirds didn't manage a single attempt on target during last Sunday's defeat by Tottenham, who had 29 shots - the most by any team in a Premier League game this season.
They have only led a Premier League match for 11 minutes this season - in the 3-2 home win over Manchester City.
All four of their Premier League goals have come after half time.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24185239?

[WhiteJC]

 
Refortification
by barryhaylesgoalmachine.

The only thing that has been lingering over Craven Cottage longer than the lack of a home win is the atrocity that was the Michael Jackson statue. After what has admittedly been a rather bumpy start to the season I am delighted to say that within the space of 24 hours this week we have effectively relieved ourselves of both burdens.

It is rare that a League cup victory would inspire such a jovial mood but given that fortress cottage seems to have turned in to more of an open house of late we perhaps had every right to celebrate. Yes Everton did field a weakened team but as the old saying goes you can only beat what's put in front of you.

What was said at half time that inspired the turnaround remains a mystery although I would suspect that Jol may have had a few choice words to say to his players (Picture Mike Bassett at half time against Mexico). The reaction following the draw at home to West Brom clearly hurt him and perhaps prompted a more frank approach to the half time team talk on Tuesday. I have always been a believer that we are most vulnerable in the first ten minutes of the second half but the way in which we acquitted ourselves this week was a breath of fresh air. There is no doubt that the pressure has been building but it seems that the players who cited him as the main reason behind joining the club in the first place finally seem willing to show some fight for their Manager

Of course a League Cup victory is nothing to write home about but it feels like it may be the turning point our season needs. The honeymoon period of a new owner, new players bedding in and the novelty of a new kit is well and truly over and now is the time to get down to business.

The removal of the Michael Jackson statue as much as anything is a symbol of out with the old and in with the new as well as being a sign that the opinions of the supporters are being taken on board by the new regime. There is no doubt that the legacy of Al Fayed runs much deeper than just a Madame Tussauds cast off but Khan is finally starting to stamp his authority on the club.

The mood around the ground come Saturday when Cardiff visit will hopefully be one of optimism and that we may once again make Craven Cottage a hard place to come to. Had we not recovered in mid-week then the atmosphere could have really turned nasty although now it feels there may finally be some light at the end of the tunnel.

Let's get behind Martin and the team on Saturday because as much as anything else it is we the fans who help make the Cottage the fortress it was and soon will be again.



http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=428

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham v Cardiff City - Five players under the spotlight

Fulham and Cardiff meet at Craven Cottage on Saturday as both teams to grab an important three points.

Both teams sit in the bottom half of the league table and while it is only early in the season it will be important for both to get some points on the board and start moving away from the relegation zone.

Martin Jol will hope that his side can take their Capital One Cup win in midweek and use it as a boost for their league form. They had a tough game against Chelsea last time out so they will see this as an opportunity for three points.


Cardiff, meanwhile, will be hoping to take anything from the game to help in the fight against relegation.

Both teams are struggling to expect this one to end in a draw, in the grand scheme of things I think Cardiff will be happier with a point away from home.

Odds: Fulham 6/5, Draw 12/5, Cardiff City 14/5

Last season's meeting: N/A

Five players to watch on Saturday:

Craig Bellamy

Bellamy will bring some much needed Premier League experience to this Cardiff side, as they look to get their first win away from home this season. Despite his advancing age he will still cause defences problems with his direct running and pace. Expect him to be attacking at every opportunity against a vulnerable Fulham backline.

Peter Odemwingie

Cardiff's deadline day acquisition hasn't netted for his new team but this could be the week he finally finds his scoring touch. He has had time to settle in to the new club and may even start the game, if Cardiff can create some chances for him then he can be very dangerous this season. Much like he was during his first season with West Bromwich Albion.

Darren Bent

Bent has never truly lived up to his potential though he will have a chance at Fulham to get some regular first team football. He scored on his debut against Arsenal but his team needs him to contribute more, he had a great chance against Chelsea last week but fluffed his lines and couldn't beat Cech.

Adel Taarabt

The immensely talented Taarabt gets his chance at another team and under the manager who brought him to this country. There's no doubt that he has the ability to change a game in an instant, sadly he hasn't done it enough in his career. If he can find his best form for Fulham then they have got themselves a very good player. Can he show that this week?

David Marshall

Marshall had a fabulous game in the Cardiff goal last weekend and was unlucky to be on the losing side against Tottenham. He made a string of outstanding saves to keep out the North London side, he was finally beaten in the 93rd minute by Paulinho. It will be interesting to see how he can back up his fantastic performance from last week against Fulham, was it just a one off?



http://hereisthecity.com/2013/09/27/fulham-v-cardiff-city-five-players-under-the-spotlight/

[WhiteJC]

 
Six decades of Cardiff City v Fulham games.

Some of the preamble to a couple of the questions this week may not be correct because I'm relying on my memory having not been able to find information on the Internet to back it up. However, I don't believe that any errors I might have made make a difference to the actual questions themselves – answers tomorrow.

60's. Fulham suffered a second consecutive relegation in 1968/69 despite having a World Cup winner, an England international who won 56 caps for his country and a member of the Tottenham 60/61 double side in their squad. From memory, all of them were in the team we beat 5-1 at Craven Cottage in December 1968 in my first City away game, but can you name them?

70's. From my research it looks like George Best only ever played twice at Ninian Park. The second time was for a Fulham side beaten 3-1 here in September 1977, do you recall the first time he played in Cardiff?

80's. This international only played for the one club and retired from the game in the early part of this decade. In the late 70's he scored a winning goal for City against Fulham and in the 90's he was delivering mail to my house – who am I talking about?

90's. As far as I can gather, this last happened in a City match in a home win over Scunthorpe in February 2001, but it also did in the 3-3 draw with Fulham at Ninian Park in April 1990, what unusual   occurrence do I mean?

00's. During this decade Fulham were managed by an ex English international, an ex French international, an ex Welsh international and an ex Northern Irish international, can you name them?

10's. This player has a Cardiff City connection, who is he playing for now?






http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/six-decades-of-cardiff-city-v-fulham-games/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Cardiff to capitalise on Fulham's unhappiness and make Malky Mackay the hero of Putney Green

I awoke this morning with the grim pessimism that seems to have flooded my soul ahead of our next Barclays Premier League jaunt.

Putney and Fulham await. And although at the season's commencement, I would have had myself believe that Fulham were perfectly beatable, I have now found myself brow-beaten by our last two defeats.

But, through a newspaper article about Jol's falling popularity at the Cottage, my heart leapt back into optimism corner.

Alas, it would seem that Jol is on his way out suffering from Dave Jones disease; an inability to claw himself away from players he has previously been associated with.

And while we are on the downturn of two defeats, this game now seems ours for the taking.

A decent performance at West Ham on Tuesday should be the basis for a victory tomorrow.

I fully expect Malky Mackay to reverse the eleven changes he made on Tuesday, with the gallant losers of last Sunday returning, but I would urge him to reconsider two.

Bellamy, as much as a talisman he is, should be replaced.

Bellers has been great for us this season but we should capitalise on the attacking intent that Theophile brings and bring Noone in ahead of him.

And while we are on the downturn of two defeats,
this game now seems ours for the taking.

A scorer on Tuesday, he brings so much attacking intent that pairing him up with our new right back will give the right side a great threat going forward.

It would balance itself away from the left side, which doesn't bring much pace with it and give us something we have been missing.

I would also keep Odemwingie in ahead of Campbell.

Frazier has been an absolute star for us this season; his performance against Man City was a joy to behold.

But when Odemwingie came on against Sours, it invigorated us and he also got a goal on Tuesday.

We signed him to give us Premier League experience and to score and that's something we have lacked in our last three league games – one goal against Hull.

Defensively, we are resolute; indeed, Ben Turner has been so impressive this season that an England call-up potentially awaits.

It's going forward that needs a shape up.

For all our build-up play, the final third is where we have been lacking.

A shake-up against Fulham would bring us the much-needed three points. A quick goal, the crowd gets on the Fulham players' backs and Malky would be the hero of Putney Green.



http://metro.co.uk/2013/09/27/cardiff-to-capitalise-on-fulhams-unhappiness-and-make-malky-mackay-the-hero-of-putney-green-4124110/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham v Cardiff City preview: Team strengths, tactics and stats
Check out all the vital statistics ahead of this weekend's Premier League meeting at Craven Cottage



Ahead of this weekend's Premier League meeting, between Fulham and Cardiff City, see how the sides compare on possession, pass accuracy, tactics and much more.



http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fulham-v-cardiff-city-preview-team-strengths-tactics-and-stats-8842239.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Preview: Fulham – Cardiff: Can The Cottagers Pick Up Their First Win In Four Games?

Fulham — Cardiff City
Date: Saturday, 28 September, 2013

Venue: Craven Cottage, London

Start Time: 3pm KO

Both Fulham and Cardiff have endured starts to the season far from what they would have desired. Yet here they are, and the three points on offer this weekend could very well be the difference between finishing the weekend inside the relegation zone or outside of it.

Team News: Fulham
Summer signing Maarten Stekelenburg is still out with a shoulder injury in what will be his fifth straight missed game for Fulham. Ashkan Dejagah (calf) and Matthew Briggs (groin) are also out. Bryan Ruiz (ankle) and Aaron Hughes (groin) are both expected to undergo late fitness tests to see whether they'll be right for this one. Hughes—who ranks second amongst Fulham's players so far this year in Squawka's Performance Score—would definitely be a huge loss for the Cottagers.

Team News: Cardiff
There are few injury concerns for the Bluebirds, with Andreas Cornelius' foot injury (which will keep him out of this one) the only injury to note for Malkay Mackay's team.

Recent Form:

Fulham chalked up a big victory away from home in the opening week against Sunderland, but are yet to pick up a win after that. They managed to gained a draw against West Bromwich Albion in their most recent Premier League game at Craven Cottage.

For Cardiff, they have been very strong at home this year (beating Manchester City, holding Everton and almost doing the same to Tottenham), but are yet to deliver the same form away from home. Cardiff have lost to West Ham in the opening week before suffering a 1-1 draw when they played Hull City at home.

Players To Watch: Brede Hangeland
Fulham's man-mountain at the back, Brede Hangeland will be very important in ensuring that the Cottagers' defence remains strong against Cardiff. Standing at 1.95m, Hangeland has played every minute for Fulham this season and has averaged a staggering 11 Defensive Actions per game—numbers that the Londoners will be hoping that he repeats this weekend against the Bluebirds.

Cardiff: Aron Gunnarsson
Gunnarsson has been somewhat of a surprise star for Cardiff this year, and is proving to be a real handful at both ends of the field. Coming into this one as the club's highest ranked player, the midfielder has played every minute for the club this year. He leads the team in chances created this year with seven, and is also averaging six Defensive Actions per game for the Bluebirds.

Prediction:
Fulham haven't been playing all that well this season, but it's hard to go against them given how poor Cardiff have been on the road. If Aaron Hughes passes his fitness test and is cleared to go in this one, then the Cottagers should be far too strong across the back and will not give the Bluebirds the time and space that they need to succeed—picking up all three points on offer here.

Prediction: Fulham 2-0 Cardiff City



http://squawka.com/news/2013/09/27/preview-fulham-cardiff-can-the-cottagers-pick-up-their-first-win-in-four-games/2013092722972?

[WhiteJC]

 
Meulensteen Still on Fulham Radar
   
It`s a story that just refuses to die.

Once again the suggestion that Fulham are very interested in recruiting the Dutch coach, Rene Meulensteen, to work alongside Martin Jol has raised its head.

Here at Vital Fulham, we`re hoping that if the rumour is true then a deal gets sorted ASAP, we`re getting bored reading about it now!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=333737#ixzz2g6exLzm7

[WhiteJC]

 
Stekelenberg - An Operation Is Likely!
   
When we entertain Cardiff City this Saturday, it is looking highly likely that David Stockdale will be between the posts.

In fact, it`s looking like the reliable Stockdale could be between the posts for the foreseeable future as it is now being reported that our Dutch summer signing, Maarten Stekelenberg, may well require surgery on the shoulder injury he picked up on the opening day of the campaign with Martin Jol commenting on the situation,

"If it is not right in two weeks, it probably needs an op."

One might wonder why it`s taken so long to reach this assumption!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=333738#ixzz2g6f7gvTq

[WhiteJC]

 
Burns Hopes for Fulham Future
   
Sometimes it is hard to keep track of those Fulham players that go off on loan.

But, on Wednesday one moment of inspiration, by one of those out on loan, reminded me big time.

Our promising young defender, Dan Burns, is out on loan at Birmingham and this week Birmingham pulled off the shock of the Capital One Cup third round by knocking out the holders, Swansea, 3-1 at St Andrews.

Burn got on the score-sheet, hence the sudden reminder, and the 21 year-old in talking to the media hinted that he`s hoping to get a new deal at Craven Cottage, remarking about his ambition,

"It`s my aim to play in the Premier League with Fulham."

Well I`d say he`s halfway there with an attitude like that!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=333739#ixzz2g6fO8Jft

[WhiteJC]

 
Baird Wants Longer Deal at Reading

Having recently decided to throw his lot in with the championship outfit, Reading, Chris Baird is looking for a longer stay in Berkshire.

Our former defender / midfielder originally joined the Berkshire club on a four month deal.

However, the Irishman is hoping that his performances will see Reading offer him a longer term deal, possibly until the end of the season.

We wish him well in his quest.


http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=333741