Saturday Fulham Stuff (23/11/13)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Pajtim Kasami v Jonathan de Guzman: Head-to-head analysis ahead of the clash between Fulham and Swansea



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 Swansea, see how the sides' midfielders Pajtim Kasami and Jonathan de Guzman compare.

Data and graphic provided by whoscored.com


http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/pajtim-kasami-v-jonathan-de-guzman-headtohead-analysis-ahead-of-the-clash-between-fulham-and-swansea-8957908.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham v Swansea Preview: Jol's Men Must Stop The Rut Against The Swans

Fulham – Swansea
Date: Saturday 23 November

Venue: Craven Cottage

K.O: 15.00

We've stuttered through yet another international break, but from now until the New Year we can focus on domestic action, as the Premier League returns.

Struggling Fulham will look to make amends in front of their own fans after slipping into the relegation zone following a tonking by Liverpool, while Swansea will hope to sort out their own inconsistent form as they travel to London.

Team News
Fulham
Fulham will head into a match being billed as a make or break game for Martin Jol without Hugo Rodallega, who has a groin problem keeping him out for a month, while they will also be sweating on the fitness of Brede Hangeland, who has a nerve problem in his leg and may not be fit for the weekend.

Bryan Ruiz may be recalled to support Dimitar Berbatov up front to give them a more dynamic look than the side that capitulated at Anfield, as Jol will look to bring about a victory that will provide him with a stay of execution.

Swansea
Swansea's big loss is Michu, who is out for at least another week with the injury picked up in the defeat at Cardiff, while they will also be unsure over the fitness of Pablo Hernandez, who has a thigh strain.

Michel Vorm is back from suspension after missing the 3-3 draw with Stoke, and will most likely take his place back between the sticks for the Swans, with Gerhard Tremmel set to return to bench-warming duties.

Recent Form
Fulham v Swansea stats

Since thrashing Crystal Palace, Fulham have had the unenviable fixtures of Southampton, Manchester United and Liverpool, which unsurprisingly they have lost all three.

They have won just one game on home soil all season, but barring the Cardiff loss, all defeats at Craven Cottage have come against sides currently in the top six of the table.

Swansea have the same amount of victories this season as Fulham and it's only a succession of draws that keeps them clear of the drop zone, with their last three matches including two home stalemates with West Ham and Stoke to sandwich the Welsh Derby defeat.

Two of their three victories have come away from home however and the absence of European football may prove useful, as the Swans have failed to win any game after Europa League action

Players to Watch
Fulham – Scott Parker

Swansea love their possession-based football, so Fulham will require a terrier-like performance from Parker in order to upset the rhythm of their visitors.

He will need to improve massively on his tackle success rate of 49%, but his passing accuracy of 90% will ensure that when he does win his tackles, he is unlikely to give the ball straight back to the opposition, meaning Fulham can look to build attacks of their own.

save image

Swansea – Jonathan de Guzman
After a successful first loan spell in Wales, De Guzman has had his critics this season and will need to put in a performance, with this game likely to be spent mainly in the middle of the park.

A 90% passing accuracy looks good in terms of possession, but Swans fans will be hoping for a bit more dynamism, with De Guzman successfully beating his man on just five occasions this season so far, while a 40% shooting accuracy and just ten chances created leaves a lot to be desired from a man supposed be the creative hub of the team.

Jonathan de Guzman stats

Prediction
Both teams are short on form and lacking in confidence, so it wouldn't surprise me to see a conservative approach from both sides as they look not to lose a game that would bring a lot of negativity. A draw is a reasonable expectation to have of this clash.

Fulham 1-1 Swansea



http://www.squawka.com/news/2013/11/22/fulham-v-swansea-preview-jols-men-must-stop-the-rot-against-the-swans/2013112237046?

[WhiteJC]

 
Don't Expect Too Much of Moussa Dembele Just Yet

Martin Jol announced today that Moussa Dembele is in Fulham's matchday squad for the game against Swansea tomorrow due to Hugo Rodallega's injury. Unsurprisingly, this seems to have caused a lot of excitement among Fulham fans.

The young Frenchman has been linked recently with moves to Manchester United and Liverpool after impressing while playing for the under-21s, despite only being 17 years old. He made the step up rather effortlessly, and in his first 4 games as part of Kit Symons' squad, he scored 5 goals, which is rather impressive.

But, as Jol said today, Dembele is only 17. He's a kid still. We shouldn't raise our expectation levels too high. He's in the squad due to an injury and a questionable transfer policy of only having 3 senior strikers in the squad – Rodallega, Dimitar Berbatov and Darren Bent. It might turn out to be genius having Dembele as the fourth-choice striker, and if he comes on against Swansea and scores the winning goal it's brilliant, but even then we can't get carried away.

Young players are always developing, and there are hardly any teenagers playing in the Premier League. Many youngsters disappear for a while after making their debut. Matthew Briggs has only recently established himself as a member of the first-team squad after making his debut in 2007. Pajtim Kasami needed two loan spells to cement his place as a first team regular. Kerim Frei never properly pushed on after his debut before his departure this summer.

While it is frustrating that Martin Jol doesn't seem to favour playing youngsters, you can't have a team of inexperienced players battling the drop, which is the situation that Fulham find themselves in. Fulham's youth policy seems to be send them out on loan to get experience which has been the case with Dan Burn, Cauley Woodrow, Josh Pritchard and Marcello Trotta, before hopefully they're good enough to make it into the first-team squad.

We have to remember that Dembele hasn't even gone on loan yet – he's never played a senior professional game. But to have such an exciting talent in the academy, along with Patrick Roberts as well, is only a good thing. We have to try not to get too carried away by expecting him to be a world-beater, but with the fans behind him, he'll hopefully get a run-out on Saturday. In a few years time, when he's had proper experience, hopefully there'll be another top-class Dembele running rings round teams at Craven Cottage.



Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/fulham/news/22-11-2013/dont-expect-too-much-of-moussa-dembele-just-yet/857039?#ixzz2lSFpKtI7

[WhiteJC]

 
New chapter for beleaguered Whites

League action returns with Fulham on a mission: To get out of the bottom three as quickly as possible. The table does not make for pretty reading, but now the club looks for fresh impetus with the addition of Rene Meulensteen to the coaching staff.

Avoiding relegation is hardly mission impossible. We've not yet had a third of the season, but the long-suffering fans are desperate to see genuine signs of a revival. However, as we prepare to welcome Swansea to the Cottage, let's bear in mind Gus Poyet began his reign at Sunderland with a 4-0 defeat.

The international break will not have left that much quality time for Meulensteen to impart his magic on the training ground. Over-riding any result Fulham achieve in this fixture, the attitude of the players themselves is perhaps more important.

Neither team comes into the game with any kind of form. Fulham of course hit rock-bottom with their pitiful display at Anfield -- the Whites having conceded nine from their last three while scoring just once (and that a deflected goal). Swansea are without a win themselves in over a month and are only two points better off than Fulham in mid-table.

The visitors will also have to do without danger man Michu -- what a bonus that is for a home defence that simply cannot stop leaking goals. On their two previous trips to the Cottage since promotion, the Welshmen have gone away with the points each time. I have a feeling Saturday might be different.

The big news on the team front for the Cottagers is the inclusion in the squad of Moussa Dembele. The 18-year-old, I'm certain, will be starting from the bench. But reward for his 15 goals already this season, and surely the Meulensteen factor in play from the word go? How intriguing might it be to see the kid up there alongside the strolling troubadour that is Dimitar Berbatov?

I blogged it from the moment I first saw the 'new' Dembele in action for myself -- this kid is going to the top. I do hope Fulham ease him gently into the big time. There's a salutary lesson from Merseyside in the way Raheem Sterling burnt himself out last season in a side that struggled.

Brede Hangeland remains a major doubt, Sasha Riether is still banned of course, and Hugo Rodallega won't be back till Christmas. I will be watching two players closely -- one from either side. Wilfried Bony has to assume more of an attacking role for the Swans with Michu absent. Just how good is the man Fulham missed out on?

While for the Whites, Kieran Richardson has come out saying his injury woes are behind him and he's desperate to repay the manager's faith in him. Well, Richardson said the same thing a year ago, and against Liverpool he was our worst player. The left-back slot remains a priority for strengthening come January.

Any likelihood of Moussa Dembele (the 'old') returning to the fold? None whatsoever. Why come back to join a struggling club like Fulham when you have set your sights on Real Madrid? But good luck to Neil Etheridge in his loan spell at Crewe.

Here we go again boys. Four of the next six games are at home. By the end of December we should know a whole lot more about this Fulham team, and whether relegation is still on the cards. Tickets still available for home supporters as I type. Now why does that not surprise me? COYW!

twitter@fulhamphil



http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/fulham/id/1550?&cc=5739

[WhiteJC]

 
FULHAM LOOK THE PERFECT CLUB FOR UNWANTED MANCHESTER UNITED STRIKER

Manchester United winger on Fulham's January shopping list alongside Anderson

England U21 star Wilfried Zaha may have been busy bamboozling defenders in the Young Lions' 3-0 European Championship qualifier win over Finland, but his serious lack of minutes at Manchester United sees Fulham preparing a January loan bid for the winger.

Relations between Man United and Fulham just got that bit much cosier too, after the Red Devils' former first-team coach Rene Meulensteen was confirmed as the Cottagers new head coach.

Having worked at Old Trafford alongside Sir Alex Ferguson since 2006, before losing his position when David Moyes was appointed this summer, Meulensteen clearly has strong ties with the champions.

And a move away from the north-West for Zaha in January looks like it will be hugely beneficial to both parties.

Moyes clearly doesn't rate Zaha highly enough at present to give him any game time in the Premier League, but if the club are to capitalise on their £15m investment in the long run, then the former Crystal Palace man must gain top-flight experience.

In their current predicament – where Martin Jol's side find themselves in the bottom three and rated as 13/8 shots for relegation before the international break – bringing in fresh blood in January is essential to an upturn in Fulham's fortunes.

Zaha has already shown in various cameos at international level and consistently for Palace in the Championship that he is blessed with extraordinary skill, he just needs to know when to beat a player and when to pass, which will only come with more high-level experience.

Meanwhile, further reports suggest Fulham have also made enquiries about the availability of United's Brazilian midfielder Anderson, who is also out of favour at Old Trafford.

Anderson has never been able to consistently stay in United's first team and a move away to Fulham could breathe life into his stuttering Premier League career also.



http://sportingpreview.com/football2013-2/2013670.php?

[WhiteJC]

 
Defeat Not An Option For Jol And Fulham As Swansea Look To Pull Clear Of Trouble

FULHAM v SWANSEA CITY 15:00, Craven Cottage

This is a massive game for Martin Jol and Fulham, which could cost him his job if his side were defeated once again. The Cottagers have lost seven of their previous 10 matches and are inside the relegation zone. The Cottagers have also attempted a league-low of just 67 shots on goal this term and have unsurprisingly scored just 10 times this season, including four against Crystal Palace.

Fulham have scored exactly one goal in each of their last six Premier League games at Craven Cottage, which may not be enough against Swansea. Dimitar Berbatov, who was without doubt the club's most important player last season, has failed to repeat such form this time around. The Bulgarian averaged a goal every 190 minutes in 2012/13 campaign but has so far scored just once in 855 minutes this term.

Swansea had a tremendous campaign last season, finishing inside the top ten, winning the League Cup, and qualifying for Europe. It has been a far more difficult outing for Michael Laudrup in his second term as Swans manager as his side sit just two points above the relegation zone. The slump in form maybe due to a lack of energy, with the Swansea having to participate in midweek Europa League ties as well as weekend Premier League games.

On a more positive note for Swans fans, their side have averaged more passes per game than any team in the division and have the second best passing accuracy of 86.3%, behind Manchester City. Swansea have won three of their last four Premier League meetings with Fulham and in Wilfried Bony, have a striker in red-hot form having scored 10 goals in 18 appearances for his club this term.

What to watch out for: Fulham have conceded a league-high six goals from corners this term.

Possible line-ups:

Fulham – Stekelenburg, Zverotic, Amorebieta, Senderos, Richardson, Dejagh, Kasami; Sidwell, Parker, Ruiz, Berbatov

Swansea – Vorm, Rangel, Chico, Williams, Davies; Dyer, De Guzman, Britton, Routledge, Shelvey, Bony

Recent Form: Fulham: LWWLLL; Swansea: LLWDLD

Prediction: 1-2



http://www.footymatters.com/articles/english-football/premier-league/defeat-not-an-option-for-jol-and-fulham-as-swansea-look-to-pull-clear-of-trouble/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Brede Injury Update

Martin Jol has provided an update on the status of Brede Hangeland's current injury, with the Fulham Captain again ruled out of contention for the weekend's game with a sciatic nerve condition.

"He's training with us and then after you need to make a decision and that decision is, most of the time, negative," Jol explained. "He can't jump, for example, and it's causing him problems – that's the problem.

"For example, on Thursday he was in the line-up as we were preparing for the next game and we couldn't do the same on Friday because he couldn't do what he wanted to do. So he's not fully fit, he's still got the same problems and we had a few problems with him when he played – I had to take him off twice so I can't take a risk.

"Of course, you talk about it with him and I trust him 100 per cent but if he can't trust his own body with this problem with his nerve, I can't play him."

When asked what sort of timeframe could be expected for a return, Jol stated: "A couple of weeks ago I said one week, then I said two weeks and now it's probably three weeks. I think we missed him in the last couple of games."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/november/23/brede-injury-update?