Wednesday Fulham Stuff (12/02/14)...

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Which Way Will It Swing?
   
With the fixture against Liverpool declared as definitely being on, after the proposed Tube strike was called off, we`ve a few facts for you to mull over.

• The record books show that when Phil Dowd is in charge of Premier League matches, at Craven Cottage, Fulham have never lost.

• On the other hand, it transpires that with regards to Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager has won all 5 previous Premier League games when Fulham were the opposition.

• Apparently, in 12 games between the two clubs, at Craven Cottage, there has yet to be a drawn fixture.

What`s the verdict?

Which way will this fixture swing?


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=349406#ixzz2t82uLYzK

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Kostas Mitroglou shows his fitness with two goals for Fulham's U21 side

January signing Kostas Mitroglou put his name in the frame for a Fulham first-team debut with two goals in a topsy-turvy 5-3 win over Aston Villa in an Under-21 fixture.

The 25-year-old has been struggling with a knee injury since his record £12.5m arrival from Olympiakos last month and played in the fixture at Villa's Bodymoor Heath training complex to try and build up his fitness.

Mitroglou opened the scoring on 19 minutes from the edge of the box and provided one of a number of highlights from a thrilling game with a looping effort from 25 yards to make it 2-0 four minutes later.

Fulham's Liam Donnelly got Villa back into the game with an own goal on 29 before Mitroglou was denied a hat-trick by a superb save from home keeper Benjamin Siegrist.

Fringe Villa first-teamer Jordan Bowery set up Callum Robinson to level the scores just after half-time and Mitroglu again came close to a treble for the Cottagers when he smashed a low shot against the post.

Bowery was tripped inside the box to hand Villa a penalty 21 minutes from time, with Daniel Johnson converting from the spot to put them in front for the first time.

But they capitulated completely after that with former Southend United loanee Cauley Woodrow scoring on 78 and 82 minutes to restore Fulham's advantage.

And even worse would follow five minutes from time when Fulham keeper Marek Rodak launched a long goal-kick and Siegrist watched in horror as it got caught on the strong wind and was carried over his head into the net.


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9163122/kostas-mitroglou-shows-his-fitness-with-two-goals-for-fulhams-u21-side?

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Expect a flood of goals when Liverpool take on rock-bottom Fulham
The Premier League's second-highest scorers face its leakiest defence, so expect plenty of striking action.

While there's been scant time for Liverpool to take stock of their shock 5-1 thrashing of Arsenal in the Premier League, Brendan Rodgers' crack strikeforce should be handed plenty of chances to further sharpen their shooting against basement dwellers Fulham.

The pick of the bets at Craven Cottage has to be over 3.5 goals at 11/10, considering the red-hot form the visitors have been showing and the generous nature of the hosts' defence.

Liverpool have managed at least four goals by themselves in three of their last five Premier League fixtures.

Nobody could claim Arsenal weren't warned of the Reds' striking prowess before their Anfield agony, as Everton and Stoke were both hit for four and five respectively by Brendan Rodgers' rapidly improving outfit in recent weeks.

Punters new to bwin.com can register today and claim a £20 free bet, which could turn into £22 profit if wagered on over 3.5 goals.
The top-flight's highest and joint-second-highest scorers Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have fired 38 league goals between them so far this term.

After finding the net a phenomenal 22 times in his first 16 league games of the campaign, Suarez has quietened down a tad of late, with just the one in his last four top-flight outings.

However, strike partner Sturridge has carried the goalscoring torch with aplomb since returning from injury, with seven in his last six games in all competitions.

The former Chelsea and Manchester City star fluffed his chance of a third goal from the spot after bagging a brace against the Toffees, but his only Premier League hat-trick so far came at Craven Cottage in this fixture last term.

Rock-bottom Fulham are officially the division's whipping boys, having conceded 11 goals more than second-worst defenders Cardiff.

Young Cottagers centre-half Dan Burn may have won plenty of plaudits for his stout defensive performance in the 2-2 draw at Manchester United, but the 21-year-old also featured in Fulham backlines against Arsenal, Swansea and Southampton prior to the Old Trafford clash.

Rene Meulensteen's side conceded seven times in those trio of league fixtures and considering they've let in four more than any other team in the top-flight at home during this campaign, Liverpool's visit could well become a massacre.
Fulham v Liverpool - over 3.5 goals @ 11/10


- See more at: http://bwinbetting.com/leagues/premier-league/expect-flood-goals-liverpool-rock-bottom-fulham,51870.html?#sthash.tYtuk1st.dpuf

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René's Reds Challenge

René Meulensteen is looking forward to seeing his Fulham side test themselves against in-form Liverpool at Craven Cottage on Wednesday evening (8pm).

And when asked if he was apprehensive about facing the free-scoring Reds, he replied: "I'm not nervous – the last time I was nervous was when I had to go to the dentist, they can really hurt you!

"It [facing Liverpool] definitely is a challenge you relish and as much as you try to set up your team in the best possible way, you can't walk away from the talent you're up against. At times you see those players doing something which no team can defend and you just need to hold your hand up and say 'that was an excellent piece of football.' But you need to try to limit that as best you can and, at the same time, try to hurt them.

"We need to make sure that we get enough energy, enough quality and commitment in there to make sure that we stay up. That's what I think you saw, especially from a defending point of view, on Sunday.

"But, pleasingly to see, we could have been 2-0 up at half-time, and we still managed to score after we went 2-1 down. That showed good character, good resilience and quality at the right times."

Liverpool haven't always been the most consistent side on the road this season – they have won only once in their last four league matches away from Anfield – but will go into the game against the Whites with real confidence following their recent 5-1 triumph over Arsenal.

"I don't think that was a freak result because you've had these results so much more in the Premier League [this season]," Meulensteen stated. "It's part and parcel of the Premier League. You don't expect them and, suddenly, bang! They do happen, and when you least expect it, but that's what Liverpool is capable of.

"You always have to prepare for the team that probably will play at their best – that's what you need to prepare for because that's when they are at their most dangerous, and that's when they can hurt you the most."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/12/renes-reds-challenge?

[WhiteJC]

 
Villa U21 3-5 Fulham U21: Youngsters lose eight-goal thriller
Late Fulham rally dents Villa's chances.



Villa finished up empty handed after table-topping Fulham scored three late goals in a ding-dong encounter at Bodymoor Heath.

The two sides somehow coped with the horrendous conditions to produce an eight-goal thriller at Villa's training headquarters.

Fulham's big-money deadline day signing Konstantinos Mitroglou conjured up two superb finishes to give the visitors an early lead.

But Gordon Cowans' team overturned the two-goal deficit thanks to a Liam Donnelly own goal, Callum Robinson's strike and a penalty from Daniel Johnson.

There was still plenty of time for more twists, though, and after getting back on level terms, Fulham added to further strikes including a freak goal from keeper Marek Rodak.

It took just 19 minutes for Greek forward Mitroglou to show his class when he fired past Benjamin Siegrist from the edge of the box.

Then six minutes later he added a second - a wonderful dipping 25-yard strike.

The hosts were handed a lifeline just before the half-hour mark when Donnelly's header from a Jordan Graham corner ended up in his own net.

Four minutes into the second half, Robinson was well placed at the near post to convert Jordan Bowery's cross from the right.

Bowery was instrumental in Villa's third goal too, winning a penalty after being fouled by Mananga Jonathan Buatu.

Skipper Johnson stepped up to score from the spot and give his side the lead.

Then came the late Fulham onslaught. Cauley Woodrow scored twice in the space of four minutes.

Firstly, he met Lyle Della Verde's corner on the volley to beat Siegrist 12 minutes from time.

Then Woodrow converted from close range after a good run and cross by Donnelly.

The final goal of the game arrived in bizarre circumstances.

Rodak's long clearance bounced once before catching the strong wind and carrying all the way into the Villa net.

VILLA: Siegrist, Webb, Kinsella, Stieber, Lewis, Toner, Graham, Robinson, Bowery, Johnson, Burke. Subs: Lyden, Watkins, Calder, Sellars, McKirdy.

FULHAM: Rodak, Donnelly, Richards, Della Verde, Buatu, Burgess, Roberts, Christensen, Mitroglou, Woodrow, Plumain. Subs: Oberschmidt, Brister, Evans, Sambou, Hyndman.


http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3666534,00.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Up next: Liverpool (h)
by DAN on FEBRUARY 12, 2014

The euphoria over our last-gasp point at Old Trafford has just about subsided now, along with the howls of protest that greeted the prospect of this game being postponed due to the Tube strike. The unexpected draw at the home of the champions' – plus the valour with which Rene Meulensteen's men defended for so much of the game – has lifted some of the gloom around Craven Cottage and there may well be some momentum with which to play with ahead of the visit of Liverpool this evening.

Meulensteen might well be considering adopting a similar strategy to the rope-a-dope that worked so well at Manchester United, with Brendan Rodgers' boasting a fearsome strike force. Dan Burn was outstanding in dealing with United's aerial bombardment on Sunday and, taking his opportunity from a benched Brede Hangeland, Johnny Heitinga was quietly assured on his Fulham debut. Just as importantly, William Kvist organised excellently in front of the defence and Steve Sidwell had a terrific all-action game in central midfield to give Fulham a fighting chance. A similarly conservative approach could work against Liverpool – but I'd be very surprised if Meulensteen isn't a little more progressive.

However fearsome they might be at Anfield – and Fulham can attest to their ability to rip sides apart following their own humbling last year – Liverpool aren't quite the same force on their travels. They have lost four times away from home already this season and, despite looking favourites for fourth place following Saturday's clinical demolition of Arsenal, will be desperate to improve on a poor run of just two wins in their last nine league away games. Rodgers will rely on Daniel Sturridge, who struck a hat-trick on his last visit to Craven Cottage, and Luis Suarez, who has scored four goals in four appearances against Fulham, to inflict more misery on the league's weakest defence.

If Fulham are to come out of their shell more than many expect tonight, it might provide an opportunity for Lewis Holtby, impressive on his debut against Southampton, to display more of the kind of delicious range of passing that found Sidwell in oceans of space for the opening goal at Old Trafford. Holtby's all-action displays have quickly made him a popular addition to the ranks and, crucially given the lack of time left to rescue Fulham's frankly forgettable season, the German midfielder has hit the ground running. Meulensteen moved into an advanced central role against United and that terrific through ball saw the visitors take an early lead. Keeping Holtby in a central position will be vital if Fulham are to come close to winning the midfield battle.

Meulensteen was brave enough to leave out some of his senior players for a game that could have cut his side adrift on Sunday. Whilst this might be the type of game a character like Scott Parker will relish, his return could be harsh on the likes of Ryan Tunnicliffe, who did nothing wrong on his Premier League debut. Tunnicliffe, more of a box-to-box central midfielder, was workmanlike and willing in a wide role against his former employers and deserves another opportunity to impress again this evening. The same energy which Meulensteen underlined as crucial at Old Trafford will be needed against another opponent that plays a high-octane brand of football.

Perhaps the Dutchman's biggest decision will be who will lead the line against Liverpool. There's little chance of seeing Hugo Rodallega's raw pace after his reaction to being substituted against Sheffield United last week – and his subsequent criticism of his manager to the Colombian media – whilst Darren Bent's brittle confidence will have been boosted by his late equaliser (which was exactly the kind of goal poaching we've not seen enough since he joined on loan from Aston Villa). But young Muamer Tankovic has soon little sparks of class in his recent run in the first team, such as the clever run to lose Vidic for Sidwell's goal and the sprint and pass to release the impressive Kieran Richardson just before half time, and it would be harsh to exclude him now. I'd be tempted to plump for an unchanged side.

MY FULHAM XI (4-4-1-1): Stekelenburg; Riether, Riise, Heitinga, Burn; Kvist, Sidwell, Tunnicliffe, Richardson; Holtby; Tankovic. Subs: Stockdale, Hangeland, Parker, Kacaniklic, Duff, Cole, Bent.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2014/02/up-next-liverpool-h-3/?

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Liverpool Can't Afford To Overlook Fulham

Don't look now... but for the first time in years, the Reds are in the thick of things in the Premier League. They have an opportunity to move Liverpool soccer into a new era, with the potential of putting their successive seasons of mediocrity out of mind. It's not audacious to think the league title is within grasp for them, as they are only seven points off the pace, with thirteen left to play, and have remaining home games against top opponents. At the same time, Liverpool must continue their good play in order to remain ahead of Tottenham in the fourth spot.

Last weekend against Arsenal, Liverpool came out with a fire and steamrolled the visiting North Londoners 5-1. They now have a short turnaround at Craven Cottage, taking on Fulham, a side that plays south of Arsenal geographically in the city and stands at the polar end of the table as well.

Obviously, this matchup seems quite favorable when you look at Fulham who: are last in the table, concede the most goals of any team, are winless in their last six, and had no answer for Liverpool in the first meeting which ended 4-0. However, this is actually a precarious situation for a Liverpool side that, coming off a big win against Everton recently, went to West Brom the next match and failed to hold onto a win against the relegation zone team.

It would be unwise to expect that Fulham will lie down for them either. Last weekend at Old Trafford, Fulham demonstrated a great deal of pride and fight by scoring an injury time equalizer, leaving Manchester with both the point and a boost of confidence. Liverpool can't afford to overlook this fixture for the looming rematch versus Arsenal in the FA Cup this weekend.

Is this the year that Liverpool takes the step back to Premier League supremacy? Having the focus to seize THREE points against inferior competition late in the season may be the key. While the Arsenal victory was nice, they cannot expect to dominate top opponents like that down the stretch. We already know they have the skill of a top team, but do they have the discipline of one? If Liverpool can show up and win this game in a controlling fashion, it would be a good sign that they are ready to be a true contender.


http://futnsoccer.com/2014/02/12/liverpool-afford-overlook-fulham/?

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Villa U21s 3-5 FFC U21s

Wearing a Fulham shirt for the first time, Kostas Mitroglou scored twice to help our U21s to a 5-3 victory against Aston Villa.

Having slipped to their first league defeat of the season last week, following a 2-1 loss against Chelsea, Kit Symons' side returned to winning ways – and in some style.

A positive start from the hosts saw Graham Burke, Jordan Bowery and Callum Robinson all go close, however, it was our new Greek striker that opened the scoring when firing in a confident finish on 19 minutes.

The 25-year-old, eligible as one of our three permitted overage players, then showed his class again moments later when sending a stunning looping shot over Villa keeper Benjamin Siegrist.

Villa responded, although they had Fulham defender Liam Donnelly to thank, when the Northern Ireland youth international turned Jordan Graham's corner into his own net on the half hour mark.

At the other end, Mitroglou went close to a hat-trick, but saw his volley turned to safety by Siegrist, while Marek Rodak made an even more spectacular save to keep out Burke.

Villa were, though, on level terms not long after the break, with Robinson steering in via Donnelly from Bowery's teasing cross.

In an attempt to restore Fulham's lead, Mitroglou cut in from the right before striking the foot of the post with a cleverly placed, low shot on the run.

As both teams created chances, it was the home side that made the breakthrough on 69 minutes when Daniel Johnson slotted in a coolly taken penalty after Lyle Della Verde had brought Bowery down in the box.

Della Verde made amends, though, flighting in a brilliant corner from which Cauley Woodrow expertly converted with a volley to set up an exciting final 10 minutes.

Having scored in the defeat against Chelsea, Woodrow netted his third goal in two games when keeping his composure to shoot beyond the reach of Siegrist following Donnelly's powerful run and cross.

Fulham all but wrapped up the points on 85 minutes when, helped by the strong wind, goalkeeper Rodak's clearance sailed over his opposite number in the Villa goal.

Under-21 Manager Kit Symons told fulhamfc.com: "It was a crazy game, and although the pitch was fantastic, the conditions were quite bad at times. In spite of that, though, I thought we kept the ball well and aside from the first 20 minutes of the second half I thought we played some fantastic football.

"We showed good character, particularly after they [Villa] got themselves in front, so the approach and mentality was there. After Kostas took his two goals well, Cauley did the same and suddenly we were 4-3 up. Then of course came the freak goal from Marek, which isn't something you often see.

"There were good performances all round, which was very pleasing and I thought the players that stepped up from the Under-18s did really well. Obviously, Kostas got a run out as he looks to get up to speed and to full fitness. He didn't want to come off the pitch, so that was encouraging to see, as was his general application.

"After the defeat against Chelsea, it was good to get back to winning ways so quickly, and we'll go again when we face Leicester City on Monday."

Fulham U21s: Rodak; Donnelly, Buatu, Burgess, Richards; Roberts, Della Verde, Christensen (Sambou 78), Plumain (Evans 68); Woodrow, Mitroglou (Hyndman 62). (Subs not used): Oberschmidt, Brister. 

*Image courtesy of www.avfc.co.uk



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/12/ffc-u21s-villa-u21s?