Saturday Fulham Stuff (21/12/13)...

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Premier League: Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini wary of Fulham

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is refusing to take Fulham lightly as he prepares his side for Saturday's match at Craven Cottage.

City defender Pablo Zabaleta will miss the game with a hamstring injury incurred in the midweek Capital One Cup victory over Leicester.

The Argentinian joins fellow right-back Micah Richards, Sergio Aguero, Matija Nastasic and Stevan Jovetic on the sidelines.

But with Premier League leaders Arsenal not facing Chelsea until Monday night, City could move to the top of the table if they better Liverpool's result at home to Cardiff in the lunchtime kick-off.

Pellegrini remains cautious of a Fulham side that will be looking to impress new manager Rene Meulensteen and move out of the relegation zone for Christmas, but he took comfort from their improved form away from home.

"For different reasons, it is always very hard to play all teams in the Premier League, but the important thing is the way we play the game," he said.

"I think the results of the first games playing away was not what we deserved. It's very important for this team to win away.

"We won the three games in the Champions League playing away, that's important.

"We won the two games playing away in Capital One also and in the Premier League the last two games we drew and we won, so I hope we will continue in the same way."

Pellegrini revealed the injury to Zabaleta is not as serious as was first feared and confirmed striker Aguero will be out for a few more weeks yet.

"I think Pablo is not so big an injury. Maybe he will be back soon. Maybe a week or two, but the doctor will decide. I am not a doctor!," he added.

"Aguero could be (out for) eight weeks, could be four. We will see the way he is working, but he is improving every day."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11679/9081940?

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Transfer news: Clint Dempsey undergoes a medical at Fulham ahead of Craven Cottage return

Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen confirmed this afternoon that former striker Clint Dempsey had undergone a medical at the club and is set to return on loan.

Meulensteen is also confident Dimitar Berbatov will stay to help the club in their relegation battle despite the Bulgarian claiming last month he was unhappy at Craven Cottage.

Dempsey, who scored 50 goals in 184 league matches for Fulham between 2007-2012, is set to return for a loan spell in January and February from Seattle Sounders in the MLS in the United States.

Meulensteen said: "Clint will be a boost for us."

On Berbatov, Meulensteen said: "I had a chat with him and he is committed to the games in front of us. Let's revisit the situation in January."

Asked whether he had convinced Berbatov to stay beyond January, Meulensteen said: "I could well have done. Look at his performances, he has been excellent for us."

PA



http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/transfer-news-clint-dempsey-undergoes-a-medical-at-fulham-ahead-of-craven-cottage-return-9018407.html

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Premier League: Rene Meulensteen focused on 'massive task' against Manchester City


Rene Meulensteen: Fulham boss focused solely on Manchester City

Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen is not daunted by the prospect of facing Manchester City on Saturday.

City arrive in West London full of confidence after demolishing Arsenal 6-3 last weekend, and having beaten European champions Bayern Munich 3-2 in their previous match.

Fulham's salvation hopes will more likely rest on the sort of games which follow against Norwich, Hull, West Ham and Sunderland, but Meulensteen wants his squad to be single-minded.

"The key is that we focus on what is right in front of us," said Meulensteen, who is used to battles against City from his days at Old Trafford working on Sir Alex Ferguson's staff.

"If you start looking ahead, you lose focus and by tomorrow, quarter to five, you then think we could have done better, we could have got something out of this game, because you lost the focus.

"We know we have a massive task in front of us. It doesn't matter who you are playing in this situation.

"It can be a trigger for a great motivation because teams in the bottom three have picked up points against teams nobody expected.

"I love it, I really do. We are shaping something. We need the break that we deserve because the energy has been good."


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/9081952?

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LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Fulham v Man City

Fulham were not as bad as the 4-1 scoreline suggested in their defeat by Everton, but they were up against a side who are probably the form team in the Premier League.

It does not get any easier for the Cottagers, because now they are up against probably the best team in the division.

City have got injury problems at right-back with Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards both out injured but a bigger blow is that Sergio Aguero has been sidelined for up to two months.

Aguero is up there with Luis Suarez as one of the best strikers in the country at the moment. He was part of the reason City looked like scoring every time they attacked in their 6-3 win over Arsenal last weekend.

Even so, with the chances being created by Manuel Pellegrini's side, I don't see Aguero's absence being a great problem for them in the next couple of weeks.

We know that Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko will score goals, and they should be too good for Fulham. City will need Aguero to be fit to face Barcelona in the Champions League in February, though.

Lawro's prediction: 0-2
David Cameron's prediction: 0-3
Troops' prediction: 1-5


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25448738

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Fulham v Manchester City: match preview
Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Fulham and Manchester City at Craven Cottage on Saturday Dec 21, 2013, kick-off 15.00 (GMT).

Saturday, December 21, 2013
Fulham v Manchester City
Craven Cottage
Kick-off: 15.00 GMT.
TV: Highlights, BBC ONE Match of the Day.

Fulham (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Stekelenberg; Riether, Senderos, Hughes, Riise; Parker, Sidwell; Karagounis, Kasami, Duff; Berbatov.
Out: Rodallega (groin/pelvis), Hangeland (back), Briggs (hernia).
Test: Amorebieta (hamstring).

Manchester City (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Hart; Boyata, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy; Fernandinho, Toure; Milner, Silva, Nasri; Negredo.
Out: Zabaleta, Richards (both hamstring), Aguero, Nastasic (both calf), Jovetic (illness).

Referee: Kevin Friend. Matches: 13, R1 Y42.

Betting: Home 7-1, Away 4-11, Draw 4-1.

Team News Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen has no new injury worries for his side's clash against Manchester City at Craven Cottage. Striker Hugo Rodallega has resumed training after his lengthy lay-off with a muscle injury but is unlikely to be rushed back into the squad. Central defender Brede Hangeland is making good progress after surgery on his sciatic nerve complaint as is defender Matthew Briggs after his hernia operation.

Manchester City have a problem at right-back for their Barclays Premier League trip to Fulham this weekend with Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards (both hamstring) injured. Possible alternatives include central defender Dedryck Boyata, midfielder James Milner or left-backs Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov. The forward line is also weakened by the absence of top scorer Sergio Aguero (calf) and Stevan Jovetic (illness) is not ready to return. Defender Matija Nastasic (calf) is also still out.

Match Notes After Everton put an end to the brief flurry of recovery that accompanied his appointment, new Fulham coach Rene Meulensteen will look once more to Dimitar Berbatov to spearhead his attack. Earlier in the season, City might have been the perfect opponents to welcome when looking for home points. But, despite being without leading scorer Sergio Aguero until the new year, victories over Leicester and Bayern Munich in their last two games away from the Etihad suggest they have overcome their travel sickness.

Stat of the game: 11 – If only away games counted this season than Manchester City would only be 11th with eight points.

Jim White's prediction: 1-3.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/10492598/Fulham-v-Manchester-City-match-preview.html

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Fulham U21s 2-4 Crystal Palace U21s

Fulham Under-21s suffered a 4-2 defeat by Crystal Palace in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Friday afternoon.

After going behind to an excellent free-kick, the Whites responded through Ange-Freddy Plumain, although they found themselves 4-1 down as Palace turned the screw in the second half.

Fulham did pull one back through Lyle Della Verde's sublime strike, but there wasn't enough time remaining to attempt a fightback as the Eagles left Motspur Park with the victory.

The away side began the game strongly and squandered a great opportunity in the third minute. Quade Taylor threaded a ball in to Osman Sow in the area who squared it to Sullay Kaikai, but the giant striker placed his effort wide when hitting the target was the minimum required.

The Whites responded quickly and a neat one-two between Muamer Tankovic and Lasse Vigen Christensen almost created a shooting chance two minutes later but the ball was smuggled behind for a corner.

Following that set-piece, Della Verde tried his luck with a powerful effort that Palace goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons managed to claim at the second attempt, with the visitors then going up the other end and sending Sow scampering clear, but Max Oberschmidt was out quickly to beat him to the ball.

But the next attempt found the back of the net, and in some style too. The Eagles won a free-kick 25 yards out and Ibra Sekajja stepped up to plant a sumptuous effort into the postage stamp of the goal.

Tankovic sent a speculative effort wide five minutes later when he controlled Della Verde's cross on his chest with his back to goal and sent an ambitious overhead-kick a yard off target.

It was 10 minutes before the next chance of note and it again fell the way of the hosts as Della Verde drilled a curling effort some way wide. And the winger was involved again shortly after as he stood up a brilliant cross to the far post that Plumain headed downwards, only to see Fitzsimons push it behind for a corner.


Fulham were rewarded for their dominance just after the half-hour mark with the equaliser arriving after Josh Passley made a driving run before squaring to Vigen Christensen. He, in turn, fed Plumain who struck a composed finish across the keeper and into the far corner of the net.

Palace looked to regain their lead before the interval but efforts from Kaikai and Sow were never hitting the target, although they came very close four minutes after the restart when a free-kick was flicked on and drew a fine reflex stop from substitute keeper Magnus Norman who tipped it onto the post.

Their advantage was restored moments later, though, when left-back Alex Wynter galloped forwards and hit an unstoppable strike across Norman and into the far top corner of the net.

And the Eagles had their third not long after when Kaikai bullied Jack Grimmer off the ball in the area before playing a simple pass to the waiting Derek Tieku who made no mistake from 12 yards.

Della Verde offered a response three minutes later but saw his powerful shot beaten away by Fitzsimons, before Tieku drew a stop from Norman at the other end.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, Tankovic hit a well-struck effort from distance that had plenty of curl, but not quite enough for it to bend back on target as it sailed wide of the far post, before Chris David shot straight at Fitzsimons who held the strike comfortably.

Palace's fourth goal arrived with five minutes remaining when Gus Sow twisted and turned in the area before squeezing the ball under Norman, although the Whites grabbed another consolation when Della Verde cut in from the right and sent a fine effort over the keeper and into the top corner.

Former Fulham Academy member Tieku then smashed the game's final opportunity wide in stoppage time.

Fulham: Oberschmidt (Norman 46), Passley, Buatu (Arthurworrey 46), O'Reilly (Grimmer 46), Kavanagh (Richards 46), Della Verde, Trialist (Minkwitz 46), Vigen Christensen, Plumain, David, Tankovic.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/december/20/fulham-u21s-2-4-crystal-palace-u21s?

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Fulham - Defender Raid Imminent
   
Rumours are rife, today, Fulham could be on the verge of signing a central defender come the opening of the transfer window.

The player in question being Benjamin Angoua

With Brede Hangeland still absent and with the contracts of Aaron Hughes and Philippe Senderos coming to an end, it`s being reported that Rene Meulensteen is looking at making the Ivory Coast star, who plays for Valenciennes, his first signing.

At 27 years of age, a fee of £1.8 million shouldn`t break the bank and could land us a decent centre back in the forthcoming transfer window.

We`ll endeavor to keep you abreast of the situation.



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=342463#ixzz2o4rwvJcs

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Southampton 1-1 FFC U18s

Watch the goals as George Williams struck late on to secure a share of the points for the young Whites.

Southampton 1-1 Fulham, Barclays U18 Premier League

A late George Williams penalty earned Fulham Under-18s a richly deserved point at Staplewood as the Whites were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton on Wednesday.

The Fulham winger had the first real opportunity of the match with 20 minutes on the clock when he fired wide from Dean O'Halloran's pass, before Sam Gallagher missed the target at the other end.

Gallagher's lob at the end of the first half just lacked the accuracy needed to break the deadlock, with Patrick Roberts squandering a chance to open the scoring four minutes after the restart when his 20-yard effort flew just wide.

Mekhi Leacock-McLeod then saw his strike deflect behind, before Williams, Josh Smile and Liam Donnelly all tried their luck as Fulham turned the screw.

But it was the home side who drew first blood as the imposing Gallagher rose highest to head in the opener in the 81st minute – although their lead was short-lived when Williams was upended in the area by goalkeeper Harry Isted.

Williams planted his spot-kick into the top corner to ensure the Whites didn't leave Hampshire empty handed as his side ended 2013 on a three-game unbeaten run. They are next in action at home to Arsenal on Saturday 4th January.

"It wasn't our best performance but in the second half we got on top," Academy Director Huw Jennings told fulhamfc.com. "We conceded against the run of play, but certainly justifiably got a draw with the penalty about five minutes before the end.

"It's another solid result away from home and keeps our consistent run going in terms of results. It's nice for the lads to have a breather now as they've been working hard since July so I think it's very important for them to have a break."

Fulham: Norman, Donnelly, Adebayo, Burgess, Evans, Baba, Smile, Sambou, Roberts, Williams, O'Halloran.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/december/20/soton-u18s-video?

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Dempsey Passes Medical
   
Speculation that Clint Dempsey has moved a step closer to a temporary return to Fulham increased today.

News broke, on the BBC Sports text feed that Dempsey has undertaken a medical with our club and is looking to return for the months of January and February.

In his first spell at Craven Cottage, Dempsey made 184 league appearances scoring 50 goals.

If Clint`s return is confirmed then he`ll be a welcome addition to the squad as we attempt to alley any fears of relegation in the coming months.

We`ll endeavour to inform you once the deal is officially confirmed.



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=342475#ixzz2o4sVOvyE

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Meulensteen hopeful over Berbatov stay

Fulham head coach Rene Meulensteen has played down talk that Dimitar Berbatov could leave the club in January.

Berbatov, 32, joined Fulham in 2012 after four years with Manchester United, but his agent had said last month that he was "not happy" at Craven Cottage and was considering his options.

That story emerged shortly after Meulensteen was promoted to head coach in place of Martin Jol, and the Cottagers boss told his news conference on Friday: "That was before I took over. I had a chat with him.

"I know he is very committed to this football club and the games we have in front of us. That's what we both said -- concentrate on the games we have up to January and then review the situation as it comes."

Berbatov has enjoyed an upturn in form since Meulensteen took charge and the Dutchman, who had previously worked with the Bulgarian during his time on the coaching staff at United, hopes he has persuaded him his future is with Fulham.

He said: "I could well have done because look at the performances he has put in. He has been excellent, absolutely fantastic for us."



http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1658259?&cc=5739

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Ashkan Dejagah v Jesus Navas: Head-to-head analysis ahead of the clash between Fulham and Manchester City



Check out all the vital statistics concerning the two sides' wingers ahead of this weekend's Premier League meeting at Craven Cottage

Ahead of this weekend's Premier League meeting, between Fulham and Manchester City, see how the sides' wingers Ashkan Dejagah and Jesus Navas compare.

Data and graphic provided by whoscored.com



http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ashkan-dejagah-v-jesus-navas-headtohead-analysis-ahead-of-the-clash-between-fulham-and-manchester-city-9018814.html

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Fulham plot Paolo Hurtado transfer from Pacos de Ferreira in Portugal

The Peru international winger is available for £3.34million and has been compared to countryman Nobby Solano


Hurt so good: Fulham target Paolo Hurtado in action for Peru earlier this season
Chung Sung-Jun
Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen heads a clutch of Premier League bosses interested in Peruvian winger Paolo Hurtado.

Hurtado, 23, is available for £3.34million at his club Pacos de Ferreira, who are facing relegation from the Portuguese Primeira Liga.

The ace has been likened to former Peru international Nolberto Solano, who played for seven English clubs including Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa.

As well as the Cottagers, Sunderland boss Gus Poyet is also believed to be keeping an eye on Hurtado.





Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fulham-plot-paolo-hurtado-transfer-2947744#ixzz2o4tc6GOW
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