Friday Fulham Stuff (28/02/14)...

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Siddy: Bring The Noise

Steve Sidwell remains confident that Fulham can fight their way out of relegation trouble, but insists the team's 12th man has a huge role to play between now and the end of the season.

The Whites were roared on by a vociferous travelling support at The Hawthorns last Saturday in the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion, and Sidwell was full of praise for their impact on the game.

"The fans at West Brom were absolutely brilliant," he told fulhamfc.com. "What a difference they made to us, especially as it was away from home. The West Brom fans were quiet and all you could hear was our supporters.

"It really did make a big difference; all the lads mentioned it during and after the game. So if they can continue that support until the end of the season, home and away, then brilliant.

"Obviously we'd like to have won that match for them but a draw was probably a fair result. First half I thought we dominated possession, got the goal, and looked comfortable.

"Second half we started well and then obviously they just piled the pressure on and unfortunately they got their rewards for it. So a draw was a fair result – not really the result we were looking for – but it could be a vital point come the end of the season."

Next up for the Whites is the SW6 derby at Craven Cottage this weekend, with Chelsea just as desperate for three points, albeit for very different reasons.

Sidwell – who Jose Mourinho signed for the Blues in 2007 – knows that many spectators outside of the Fulham family will be expecting an away victory, but the combative midfielder has confidence in his team to spring a surprise.

"We're at the foot of the table so every game that we're going into we'll be the underdogs," he explained. "Everyone's going to be expecting to beat us, which will obviously start against Chelsea on Saturday.

"But we know what we've got in the squad, the belief that we've got between the players and the staff, and we know that we're capable of getting out of it, but we need to start picking up points sooner rather than later.

"You'd like to go into the Chelsea game with no pressure on you because you're underdogs, but there is pressure because we need to pick up points. We know our gameplan and we know what we need to do, so we'll stick to that."

He continued: "It's going to be tough, not just because it's Chelsea but because of the position we're in. But, as I say, we've got enough in the dressing room, enough belief, that we feel that we can do it.

"The intensity in training's gone up because everyone wants to impress the new manager, and it's going well. We're working well, we're working hard, but we need to put it onto the pitch."

While it's been a disappointing season on the whole for Fulham, Sidwell has been a stand-out performer and can count 2013/14 among the most productive years of his career with seven goals to his name.

And although he rightly takes pride in his contributions this campaign, the 'special one Iniesta' would rather it had coincided with a more prosperous position in the standings.

"It's been good, I've been pleased," Sidwell said of his own form. "It's just a shame that it's come in a season with us down the bottom.

"But there's still 11 games to go so there's a lot of points to play for and a lot of games to keep improving and keep putting performances in like I've been doing. Hopefully the performances that I can put in myself, as well as others, can lift us out of the bottom three and up the table."

A limited number of tickets are still on sale for Saturday's game. Season Ticket Holders and Members can purchase up to two each, while tickets are on General Sale to fans who have a booking history within the past three seasons.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/28/siddy-bring-the-noise?

[WhiteJC]

 
Chelsea's Mark Schwarzer: Fulham's season has been a disaster and owner is to blame


Opinion: Former Fulham keeper March Schwarzer

Returning to a former club is usually an occasion to look forward to but Mark Schwarzer will feel a sense a sadness when he goes back to Craven Cottage tomorrow.

The Australian spent five happy  seasons as Fulham's first-choice goalkeeper before leaving as a free agent last summer and joining west London neighbours Chelsea.

While Schwarzer, 41, is enjoying being part of a squad challenging for the title, he is in despair at the sight of Fulham at the bottom of the table and looking strong favourites to be relegated after 13 years in the top flight.

It was not supposed to be like this. The arrival of new owner Shahid Khan, who bought the club from Mohamed Fayed last summer, inspired renewed optimism that the club were about to take a step forward in their development.

Instead, it has been a campaign of turmoil. Martin Jol was sacked as manager in December and his replacement, Rene Meulensteen, was dismissed two months later after only 13 Premier League games at the helm.

Now, former Bayern Munich coach Felix Magath is in charge and has just 11 games left to lead Fulham to safety.

As far as Schwarzer is concerned, the plight of his beloved Fulham began the moment Fayed ended his 16-year reign  at the club.

He told Standard Sport: "I think a lot of people underestimated the nous that Mr Fayed had in running a football club and knowing what it takes to stay in the Premier League, what decisions to make in terms of personnel, players, coaches and everything else. He had football directors alongside him and they ran the club very, very well.

"A new guy has come in and bought the club with no experience in football whatsoever and is relying on other people to give him advice. Unfortunately for the club it hasn't worked. This season has turned out to be a disaster.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing. When someone goes, people do think maybe it's great to have a change and have another chairman come in with a lot of ambition. But what Mr Fayed did for the club was truly remarkable when you think about where they came from when he took over [they were in what is now League Two] to establish themselves as a top-flight team for over 10 years.


Mistakes: Schwarzer believes that Shahid Khan has made errors

"This season there has been three managers and again that has a lot to do with the advice the chairman is getting. If you look at it, Mr Fayed and his board of directors were very astute, calm and knew what they were doing when it came to running a football club. It's obvious to me that at the moment they are lacking in direction and knowing who is really making decisions."

It was the decision to appoint  Meulensteen as Jol's replacement that particularly set the alarm ringing for  Schwarzer. The Dutchman had forged an impressive reputation during his  six years working as first-team coach at Manchester United but had experienced only brief managerial spells, at Brondby and Anzhi Makhachkala.

He was fired after a run of just three wins in 13 League games and Schwarzer added: "I was surprised he was sacked but I was surprised first and foremost when he was given the job, given the predicament they were in and the lack of experience he has of managing a football club.

"There is a very big difference between being a first-team coach and managing a football club. People underestimate how big a job that is.

"Some have said the decision to sack him was very harsh, others have said it was probably too long in the making. Only time will tell. Now they have a manager who has huge experience in Germany and tremendous success there. I know of him from my background playing in Germany [Kaiserslautern and Dynamo Dresden in the mid-nineties].

"He has got results wherever he has gone and more often than not he has made an immediate impact. He could be the right man this time. He knows how to get clubs out of trouble and is very strong willed. He has an opinion on how he wants to play, what he wants to do and how to run the club.

"If he has a bit of luck, he can perform a miracle for them."

Should Magath fail in his mission, Schwarzer fears the worst for a club that, like many others, depend heavily on the income Premier League football provides.

"I don't know the finances," he said. "But every club in the Premier League need the Premier League with the way wages are and the clubs are run at the moment.

"There is always a big issue when clubs go down about cutting costs, whether players stay or don't stay, sometimes you have to practically rebuild the team.

"It is a very tough League to come back into. There are a lot of good teams in the Championship trying to get back in the Premier League. It's where everyone wants to be and it is not a given for anyone. It doesn't matter who they are, what names they are, it is a real dogfight."

Apart from tomorrow for obvious reasons, Schwarzer will be cheering on his former team-mates, many of whom he has kept in contact with throughout this difficult period.

"All the experienced players will be key to Fulham's survival," added Schwarzer. "People like Brede Hangeland, Damien Duff, Scott Parker and Steve Sidwell.

"Those guys really need to grab everyone by the scruff of the neck and pull everyone in the same direction, to fight until the bitter end."


http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelseas-mark-schwarzer-fulhams-season-has-been-a-disaster-and-owner-is-to-blame-9159767.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Crewe Alexandra: Injured Neil Etheridge returns to Fulham

NEIL Etheridge has returned to Fulham for treatment on a thigh muscle injury which flared again on his second debut for Crewe Alexandra.

The keeper ended a loan spell before Christmas when he tore a muscle in a kick.

But he had recovered and had completed two weeks of training before coming back to Gresty Road earlier this week ready to play against Stevenage on Tuesday.

Etheridge felt pain again, however, and a scan shows damage to scar tissue rather than a new tear.

Ben Garratt is set to resume his spot between the sticks when Swindon Town come to town tomorrow, while Etheridge's future remains in the balance.

Fulham are providing physiotherapy but cannot recall the 24-year-old for 28 days of his loan spell.

Crewe are left deciding whether to sign another loan keeper in case Garratt or veteran Steve Phillips suffers injury or suspension.

George Evans (foot) and Abdul Osman (foot) are both expected to stay on the sidelines tomorrow, as well as Ajay Leitch-Smith (knee) and Uche Ikpeazu (ankle).

Ollie Turton (knee) suffered a leg injury when he played in Crewe under-21s' 1-1 draw with Derby County on Monday.



Read more: http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Crewe-Alexandra-Injured-Neil-Etheridge-returns/story-20727807-detail/story.html#ixzz2udTH96f6

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First impression is Felix Magath might just mastermind Fulham's escape from relegation


Great escape: Felix Magath

Position wise, Fulham are no better off than when Felix Magath was appointed two weeks ago but the man tasked with masterminding a great escape is still bullish about their survival chances.

"Sure we can beat Chelsea," said Magath, who hopes a victory against Jose Mourinho's side at Craven Cottage tomorrow will be a launch pad to Premier League safety. "They had the same result we had away against West Brom so why should we not beat them at home?"

Fulham remain rooted to the bottom of the table and without a win since New Year's Day. The bigger picture, though, is that the arrival of Magath, one of the game's most experienced managers when it comes to beating the drop, appears to have enhanced their survival chances.

There were enough signs from an energetic performance in last weekend's 1-1 draw with West Brom to suggest that owner Shahid Khan's final throw of the dice might pay off.

But after targeting six wins to stay up, Magath knows he needs a positive result from his first home game in charge. The German is well aware that, with West Brom's game at Sunderland postponed because of the Capital One Cup Final and Crystal Palace not playing until Sunday, they have a chance to move within striking distance of clubs above them.

Comparisons have been made with Magath's appointment at Wolfsburg in 2011, when he took over the Bundesliga club in the relegation zone with just eight games remaining and managed to keep them up. Three wins, three draws and only two defeats saw them survive on the final day of the season.

Magath has 11 games left with Fulham so it is understandable why the 60-year-old German believes he can do it again. After tomorrow, his side are at home against Newcastle, Everton, Norwich, Hull and Crystal Palace and have matches at Cardiff, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Stoke.

If he is to mastermind another escape act, Magath must build on the positive showing at West Brom and improve a defensive vulnerability that continues to undermine Fulham. They go into this game with just one clean sheet in their previous 16 fixtures in all competitions. The need for struggling teams to keep the goals against column down to a minimum is emphasised by the revivals of West Ham and Crystal Palace.

Magath has stepped up his players' fitness regime with tougher training sessions but the real hard work will be improving a back line that has conceded 59 in 27 League games this season.

Ashkan Dejagah was part of the Wolfsburg team that stayed up under Magath three years ago and the Fulham midfielder believes his boss's 20 years of managerial experience will be crucial during the run-in.

"Chelsea is a big game and a derby so we know how important it is," said Dejagah. "I know the new manager well, he is a man with a lot of experience and has worked with a lot of big teams in Germany. He is the right man for the job and, hopefully, we can come out of this situation. We had the same situation as we are in now and stayed up so I know that anything can happen in football.

"We need to pick up as many points as we can. Chelsea are the best team in the Premier League at the moment but we are going into the game to win it. We have played well against Manchester United and Liverpool, so can take confidence from that."

The players are clearly behind Magath, who this week said he will remain Fulham manager next season even if they are in the Championship.



http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/first-impression-is-felix-magath-might-just-mastermind-fulhams-escape-from-relegation-9160067.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham v Chelsea



By Guy Mowbray
BBC Match of the Day commentator

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Saturday, 1 March

TEAM NEWS
Kostas Mitroglou will play no part against Chelsea with Fulham boss Felix Magath not convinced he's ready for the demands of Premier League football.

Darren Bent is available again having missed last week's West Brom clash due to personal reasons.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has to decide whether to recall Samuel Eto'o or stick with Fernando Torres up front.

David Luiz is again out with a muscle injury, while Gary Cahill and John Terry reportedly have minor knocks.

MATCH PREVIEW
Less than 72 hours after a long trip to Istanbul, Chelsea make their shortest journey of the season to their west London neighbours. A brisk 20-minute walk by my rough reckoning.

The distance between the clubs in football terms is of course much greater - currently separated by 39 points and a whole Premier League table.

A daunting task then for Felix Magath's first home game in charge of Fulham as he attempts to halt a run of seven league games without a win.

The Cottagers' malaise goes on far longer than that though. Their form over the last 19 games reads won three, drawn two, lost 14 - that's 11 points from effectively half a season. You don't have to be a genius to conclude that 22 points from a whole campaign would equal relegation.

So is Magath the man to turn it around? Well, he's performed similar 'miracles' before in Germany, and if it doesn't happen this time it won't be for the want of hard work. When he pledged last week to "change things on the training ground" it will have meant a lot of graft for the players in the last few days.

Chelsea's travelling might have been a breeze by comparison! On paper, this game should be for them too.

Top against bottom; an opposition they haven't lost to in 16 meetings (and only once in 35); and facing the side that has allowed more shots on target against them than any other in the Premier League this season.

It is that last point that's the big one. Having bemoaned "a missed opportunity" against Galatasaray on Wednesday, Jose Mourinho will expect chances to come and be taken against the league's leakiest defence.

He might not have intended us to hear his comments about his forwards last week, but if they fail to fire at Fulham he might be shouting them to the world.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League matches with Fulham, winning seven and drawing eight.

Fulham have recorded only one victory in either league or cup against Chelsea in the last 35 years; Luis Boa Morte scored the only goal in a 1-0 league win at Craven Cottage in March 2006.

Fulham have failed to score in their last three meetings with the Blues.

Chelsea are looking for their 100th Premier League win in London derbies, having won 99 and lost 42 of the previous 200 they have contested.

Fulham
Fulham have drawn two of their last three Premier League games. They had drawn only once in their previous 24 matches.
The Whites are without a clean sheet in their last 12 leagues matches and have conceded 33 goals during that period - almost three per game.
Fulham have lost more Premier League games (18), conceded more goals (59), lost the most home games (9) and conceded the most home goals (28) in the division.
They have allowed the opposition the most shots on target in this season's Premier League (173).

Chelsea
Chelsea have the equal-best Premier League record of 2014, alongside Liverpool, with 20 points from a possible 24. They have conceded just two goals during this period.
They have dropped only seven points (D2, L1) from a possible 36 against clubs in the bottom half of the table. Eight of their remaining 11 fixtures are against sides currently in the bottom half.
The Blues were denied a fifth successive away clean sheet at West Brom in their last away fixture when Victor Anichebe equalised in the 87th minute.
Jose Mourinho's side have not conceded a first-half goal in their last eight league matches. No club has scored more than once against them in the opening 45 minutes all season.
Chelsea have allowed the opposition the fewest shots on target in this season's Premier League (81).
Branislav Ivanovic has scored Chelsea's last two away league goals.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26300995?

[WhiteJC]

 
Kieran Raring To Go

After a week of 'spot on' training, Kieran Richardson insists Fulham are raring to go for Saturday's (3pm) SW6 derby with Chelsea.

The Whites take on the Blues at Craven Cottage with both sides desperate for the three points for very different reasons.

With 11 league games remaining this term, Fulham need a win as they bid to move off the bottom of the table, while Chelsea are looking to maintain their place at the top of the ladder.

"Chelsea are going for the title so it's a must-win game for them as well," said Richardson. "It's going to be hard and Chelsea will be the favourites but when you're at home with the crowd behind you, you've always got a chance. I expect it to be a good game; they have top quality players and we'll be giving 100 per cent, as I'm sure they will."

Under new Manager Felix Magath, Richardson and his teammates have been put through their paces at Motspur Park this week and the winger said: "So far everything has been spot on. We've been working very hard in training.

"We're still relatively quite fit but, bearing in mind the position we're in, if we're required to be fitter, we'll do what it takes to remain in the Barclays Premier League. We're willing to run that extra mile to stay in the Premier League and I think the guys have got their heads around that. If it means we have to train twice a day we'll do that because we know how important this is."

Respected manager Magath was named Fulham boss two weeks ago to the day and Richardson continued: "Some of the guys [Sascha Riether, Ashkan Dejagah and Lewis Holtby] have worked with our Manager in Germany and they've been successful and won championships. He gets results and he gets the job done. Some things are hard but we don't want things to be easy, especially in the position we're in. As players we focus on playing as a team and going out there to try to get results."

Magath's first game in charge of Fulham almost got off to the perfect start. The Whites led 1-0 at West Bromwich Albion last weekend only for a late equaliser to ensure the spoils were eventually shared.

"The lads were very upset that we didn't get the three points," stated Richardson. "We thought that was a must-win game for us and to concede so late was a bit frustrating. He [Magath] was very positive in the changing room after, saying 'come on, it's a point' and we move on and go from there."

Despite Fulham's league position, Richardson insists heads haven't dropped around the Club and morale remains high.

He added: "We know the situation we're in and the table doesn't lie but we have a good bunch of players with a lot of confidence and a lot of experience. We know that only hard work can get us out of the situation.

"I've been in this situation before so it's nothing new to me. I'm not panicking right now although obviously I'm wary about the situation we're in and I'll try to do everything to put it right. The only way to get out of it is to take each game at a time, have confidence and not lose faith. When you look ahead too much you start to lose sight of what's going on right now."

A limited number of tickets are still on sale for Saturday's game. Season Ticket Holders and Members can purchase up to two each, while tickets are on General Sale to fans who have a booking history within the past three seasons.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/28/kieran-raring-to-go?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham hope to end 16-game run against Chelsea

New Fulham boss Felix Magath will be looking to earn his side's first win over Chelsea since 2006, a winless run spanning 16 games.

Luis Boa Morte was the last Fulham player to celebrate scoring a winner against Chelsea in a 1-0 win at Craven Cottage in March 2006.

Only Petr Cech, John Terry and Frank Lampard remain from the Chelsea starting line-up that day, while current Cottagers winger Damien Duff came off the bench for the Blues - none from the Fulham starting line-up remain at the club.

Fulham are in desperate need of finding a result from somewhere with the club rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, four points from safety, but did come away from a point last time out in a 1-1 draw at West Brom.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will be looking to put a relatively disappointing February behind them – a month in which Jose Mourinho's side won only two out of six games in all competitions, including an FA Cup exit at the hands of title rivals Manchester City.



http://www.footballdirectnews.com/premier-league-news/41710-fulham-hope-to-end-16-game-run-against-chelsea.php#.UxC9blwdObA

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REVEALED: Darren Bent missed West Brom clash for 'personal reasons'

FELIX MAGATH has revealed that Fulham striker Darren Bent missed the 1-1 draw with West Brom because of 'personal reasons'.


Darren Bent missed Fulham's trip to West Brom because of 'personal reasons' [GETTY]

Magath let slip that a "private situation" kept Bent out of his squad at the Hawthorns ahead of Fulham's derby clash with Chelsea.

When asked whether Bent could return against the Blues, Magath said: "It depends. Darren was out last week but because there was a private situation."

Magath refused to expand on the circumstances that kept Bent out of his team, but the club's press officer confirmed it was for "personal reasons."

Bent is yet to play under Magath since the German replaced axed Rene Meulensteen earlier this month.

Bent scored Fulham's equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Manchester United and played 90 minutes in the 3-2 defeat to Liverpool.


http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/462313/REVEALED-Darren-Bent-missed-West-Brom-clash-for-personal-reasons

[WhiteJC]

 
Why this Fulham v Chelsea SW6 derby is the most important ever


The turnstiles will be spinning at a packed Craven Cottage
(Picture: Getty)
It's the one fixture that Fulham fans have always looked forward to since securing promotion to the Premier League 13 years ago – the SW6 derby with neighbours Chelsea.

While most – or rather those who have heard Martin Tyler's elitist, contemptuous remark on Fifa 14 that 'Chelsea rather look down on Fulham' – suggest that the fixture means more to the Whites, the game is still one Chelsea want to – and more importantly need to – win.

Fulham, I hope, will approach it the way they need to approach each and every one of their remaining league fixtures – like it is a cup final.

Throw in the added incentive that it is a cup final against the team from down the road (I'm hoping Wandsworth-born Steve Sidwell can fill the others in on the importance of this fixture) and Fulham's hearts and heads should be in the right place.

When have the laws of football logic ever
been that cut-and-dried?

Chelsea, on the other hand, will not get dragged into an emotional derby day encounter.


New Fulham manager Felix Magath is set to be introduced to the passion of a Premier League derby
(Picture: Reuters)
While Jose Mourinho is a passionate character, he's a focused and intelligent one too and he'll want complete concentration from his players against the cornered animal that is Fulham, and a routine win.

And on paper this is exactly what he'll get.

In-form Chelsea should turn up, get the points, maintain their position as league leaders and prepare for their next fixture – another derby with Tottenham.

But when have the laws of football logic ever been that cut-and-dried?

The fact that this fixture means more to the Whites could be of vital importance if Chelsea, rather arrogantly, decide to approach the game like they would any other.

Fulham have nothing to lose anymore and, with a new manager, team-sheet and game plan, alongside a fan base well aware of the fact that this could be the last SW6 derby for some time, the fixture is one that we should approach fearlessly and above all else, enjoy.



http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/28/why-this-fulham-v-chelsea-sw6-derby-is-the-most-important-ever-4343098/?