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Friday Fulham Stuff (10/01/14)...

Started by WhiteJC, January 09, 2014, 06:17:10 PM

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WhiteJC

 
Ravel Morrison Wants West Ham Exit: Fulham Prepare £5m Bid

Craven Cottage side target Upton Park youngster.

England Under 21 international Ravel Morrison wants to leave West Ham this month and Fulham are leading the chase to sign the talented midfielder according to the Daily Mail.

The Hammers are keen to keep hold of Morrison but the 20 year old has no intention of signing a contract extension, with his current deal having 18 months to run.

Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen, who worked with Morrison at Man United, will look to tempt the Upton Park star to make the move from East to West London and is ready to make an opening offer of £5m for the player.

West Ham can not afford to lose such a pivotal player at such a crucial point in what has already been something of a disastrous season for Sam Allardyce's side.

Allardyce watched his side crash out of the FA Cup following an embarrassing 5-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest and then came the 6-0 hammering against Man City in the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg clash on Wednesday.

West Ham sit second from bottom and Morrison's progress is perhaps the only pleasing aspect of the 2013/14 campaign.



http://www.caughtoffside.com/2014/01/10/ravel-morrison-wants-west-ham-exit-fulham-prepare-5m-bid/?

WhiteJC

 
Riise Wants Momentum

John Arne Riise wants Fulham's unbeaten 2014 to extend to a third game when Sunderland arrive at Craven Cottage on Saturday (3pm).

Last weekend's 1-1 cup draw at Norwich City was preceded by a vital three points at home against West Ham United, and the Norwegian left-back fully appreciates the magnitude of the clash with the Black Cats.

"The West Ham game was very important for us and obviously this game on Saturday against Sunderland is going to be very important as well because they're desperate for a win, too," Riise admitted.

"It's a chance for us to get back-to-back wins and that would give us some breathing space from the bottom three. When you play a team in mid-table or down at the bottom where we're at home, people expect us to get the three points a bit more. These are tough games because there's a little bit more pressure on you.

"We go into every game to try to win the game and that is René Meulensteen's message to us in every session; he prepares us to win every game, and that's the right way to approach each match."

Like the Whites, Sunderland have seen a new Head Coach take the reins mid-season, with former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Gus Poyet the man tasked with steering the club to safety.

"I think he's trying to get his philosophy through to the team," Riise said of the Uruguayan. "It's difficult for the players because they know that they're in a fight and they might be more nervous than normal, and that adds to the pressure.

"From our point of view, I think we're too good to be fighting for these positions but we lost seven straight games and that's not the Fulham I know, or have known for many years. René has done exceptionally well to make the players believe that we're good enough to stay up."

Aiding Meulensteen, as he attempts to put more distance between Fulham and the relegation zone, are new recruits Alan Curbishley and Ray Wilkins in their roles as First Team Technical Director and Assistant Head Coach, respectively.

The pair can each boast a plethora of footballing wisdom, having enjoyed enormous success in the game, and Riise admitted it's been a boost having them around.

"They're very highly respected, both of them," he said. "They've been brilliant in the dressing room and they've been helping René a lot with their experience because he wants to learn from different people.

"We don't see much of Curbishley as he's more observing, whereas Ray's in the dressing room and talks before the games and in training. He's very quiet but he gets his message across.

"René, Alan and Ray all respect each other and I think that's the most important thing. It wouldn't be good if one has one idea and the other has another. They support René's ideas and I think they're trying to fulfil René's potential as a coach.

"I think they sit and talk a lot about ideas, that's why René brought in the two of them; to learn from them and to become a more complete Head Coach than he already is."

Another new arrival at the Club is that of Clint Dempsey who returned to Fulham on a two-month loan from Seattle Sounders.

The American scored 60 goals for the Whites in his first spell in SW6, and Riise's looking forward to linking up with him on the field once again.

"It was great playing with him when he was here because he was left wing and I was left-back and we had a great relationship on the pitch," he said. "He's aggressive and he knows the Premier League. I think he'll give us a boost and he's keen on doing really well here.

"He likes to fight and he hates to lose and loves to win. He's versatile on the pitch and can move in any position in the midfield – I think he could give us a few goals that we've been missing.

"He played 90 minutes in the cup game and he felt good after that but obviously it had been a while since he had a game. He's a guy who always stays fit and I think he knew he was going to come back here on loan.

"People think that when you go to the States you're on your way downwards and want to have a quiet life, but he's stayed on top of his game and you can see that in training."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/january/10/riise-wants-momentum?

WhiteJC

 
PSV and Betis battle for Bryan Ruiz

Dutch newspaper Voetbal International has learned that Fulham forward Bryan Ruiz has been the subject of interest from PSV Eindhoven and Real Betis.

The Costa Rican does not seem to be in the first team plans of new boss Rene Meulensteen and he is widely expected to quit the Cottagers in the winter transfer window.

According to Voetbal International, PSV Eindhoven will offer him a chance to return to Dutch Eredivisie, where he has enjoyed the best years of his career.

The Philips Stadium outfit are looking for attacking reinforcements as they are set to stay without Swedish forward Ola Toivonen.

However, PSV Eindhoven could face a stiff competition for the player's signature from Real Betis, who are desperate to add more firepower to the squad.

Having scored mere 15 goals in 18 La Liga fixtures, los Verdiblancos sit five points adrift of safety, and are priced at 8/13 to get relegated.



http://www.soccernews.com/psv-betis-battle-bryan-ruiz/135825/?


WhiteJC

 
The stats that prove Fulham are a succulent price to slay Sunderland
Amidst their woes the Cottagers have kept their heads, stepping on those of their relegation rivals.

The story of Fulham's season may seem as if it has been penned in the senseless scrawl of madman, but amidst it all there's a thread of victories over their fellow relegation battlers running through the plot to keep their fans sane.

Rene Meulensteen's west Londoners are a generous 23/20 to down Sunderland's colours for the second time this season.

For those who insist on ignoring Fulham's habit of winning the matches that count the draw is 11/5 and a second away win of the campaign for the Mackems 12/5.

Fulham top a mini-league based on the current Premier League bottom six.

The Cottagers have won four of their six duels in the dogfighters' division-within-a-division and will be buzzing ahead of this clash after defeating West Ham on the banks of Old Man Thames in their last league game.

Sunderland have been shut out in six of their 10 away games this season.

A bashful road attack is likely to aid Fulham's pursuit of maximum reward as Cardiff's late capitulation against the visitors was the sole occasion in which they've scored more than once away all season.

By way of contrast, loyal Cottagers have yet to be sent away from Craven Cottage without a consolation goal at the very least in 12 league games.

What's more, after scoring exactly once in their first seven top tier outings of 2013/14, they've shown some improvement in front of goal lately, notching twice in each of their last three.

The Black Cats would still prop up the league if only the bottom six sides were involved.

While they may have developed a taste for the blood of the fee-fi-fo-fummers of the domestic game, beating both Manchester sides and Chelsea this season, they've yet to get a win on the board against their fellow flailers.

Gus Poyet's mustered only three goals during those clashes too so if Fulham can stick to their newfound penchant for two home goals then victory looks assured.

New bwin.com customers signing up today receive a £20 free bet which could turn a quick profit of £23 smackers if Fulham oblige.

Fulham to beat Sunderland @ 23/20


- See more at: http://bwinbetting.com/leagues/premier-league/stats-prove-fulham-succulent-price-slay-sunderland,50644.html?#sthash.Ay4MVmwk.dpuf

WhiteJC

 
Heitinger Update
   
Yesterday there was a strong rumour, stronger than usual, relating to the possible acquisition of the Everton defender, Johnny Heitinga.

Those who read the article will know that the link came about because of Rene Meulensteen`s friendship with Heitinga`s agent.

Today the scenario appears to have dramatically changed with tabloid reports now inferring that Heitinga, despite advances from West Ham and Norwich City, is set to return to Holland to ensure that, at thirty years of age, he can get to rescue his World Cup dream and play in the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

But, we suspect the situation could change again, it`s that kind of move we`re surmising!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=344957#ixzz2q0WsM7qt