Wednesday Fulham Stuff (05/03/14)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Off the Mark: Cardiff and Fulham face off in the dysfunctional derby



It's only the first week of March, but the loser of this weekend's clash between Cardiff City and Fulham will find it very difficult to prolong their Premier League futures beyond the next two months.

That might seem to be somewhat of an overreaction given that after it there will be nine games remaining and 27 points available for both to try and climb from the lower reaches of the table, but the misery that currently engulfs both clubs makes it difficult to imagine any sort of winning run being put together, let alone a season-saving one.

Their presence together at the foot of the Premier League table – Fulham bottom on 21 points, Cardiff immediately above them on 22 – might have been established for a few weeks now, but it is made all the more interesting because both have arrived there via very different routes.

For Fulham, this is a 13th consecutive season in the top flight, a run that is only bettered by six of the current top seven (the pre-Sheikh Mansour Manchester City were in the Championship as recently as 2003) and Aston Villa.

For a long time they were almost the ghostly figures of the Premier League, drifting around, going unnoticed until you were able to pick them out of a crowd. A little like Kevin Spacey in that Oscars selfie.

But Mohamed Al-Fayed's decision to end his ownership last summer always meant that something was going to change. Shahid Khan entered and a season of struggled ensued, with manager Martin Jol paying the price when he was sacked in early December.

That was all well and good – and indeed plenty of Fulham supporters welcomed the decision – but what was key now was that the club united behind the new man as he looked to make improvements, exactly as we have seen with the likes of Tony Pulis at Crystal Palace and Gus Poyet at Sunderland. Fulham didn't do that.

The decision to sack Rene Meulensteen just 75 days after replacing Jol was a crazy one, especially as the Dutchman had just overseen credible displays against Manchester United and Liverpool. Darren Bent earned his side a hard-fought point from the former, and only a last gasp Steven Gerrard penalty denied them one in the latter.

At Cardiff there have been different, but entirely similar acts of shooting themselves in the foot.

It is a shame – although simply a fact of modern football – that it took the Welsh club's elevation to the Premier League to finally make the national press take notice of the destructive acts of owner Vincent Tan.

Plenty of the club's fans – although importantly not all of them – could get over the kit changing from blue to red, but the needless decision to sack manager Malky Mackay was a step too far.

Mackay attracted widespread sympathy when he was given the bullet in the week between Christmas and New Year, with Tan using that occasion and plenty since to show the watching world who the club's real boss is. All well and good in an ego stroking, self-publicity kind of way, but for keeping a football club in the Premier League? Not so much.

And so it has come to this.

Venerable old Fulham head for South Wales on Saturday, when they will be managed by fierce old Felix Magath. Opponents Cardiff, loud and garish this season thanks to their owner, will be overseen by the quiet, reserved and largely inexperienced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Neither look a good fit, and neither will be managing a team shaped in their image – however many Norwegians and ex-Manchester United  players Solskjaer has managed to rustle up by kick-off.

In many ways, this is the most unpredictable match of the Premier League season so far. Cardiff won 2-1 at Craven Cottage in September, but the teamsheets for this one will be virtually unrecognisable from back then. Two different managers will shake hands before the match, too.

Whoever wins will still face a huge task to stay up, but for whoever loses that task could be too great.

One or both of them looks certain to fall in May, but at least they'll be leaving behind a valuable lesson both for those that remain and those that replace them.


http://fantasyyirma.com/2014/03/05/off-the-mark-cardiff-and-fulham-face-off-in-the-dysfunctional-derby/?

[WhiteJC]

 
International Whites

A host of Fulham players will be in friendly international action for their respective nations on Wednesday.

William Kvist will be closest to home as he makes the short journey across London for Denmark's match against England at Wembley. The tenacious midfielder is one of a number of British-based players who could feature against Roy Hodgson's side.

Following a trip to hospital at the weekend after a collision with teammate Kieran Richardson in the Chelsea game, Brede Hangeland has been given the all-clear to meet up with the Norway squad for their clash with the Czech Republic in Prague, where he will likely captain the side.

Fulham have two representatives in the Greece squad as Kostas Mitroglou and Giorgos Karagounis have both been selected ahead of their match against the Korea Republic in Piraeus.

There will also be two Whites youngsters in Sweden's travelling party for their trip to the Turkish capital of Ankara. Squad regular Alexander Kačaniklić is joined for the first time in the full national set-up by Muamer Tanković, who now has six Fulham appearances to his name.

Elsad Zverotić could feature for Montenegro when they host Ghana in Podgorica, while Ashkan Dejagah has joined up with the Iran squad for their home clash against Guinea.

While all the senior matches are friendlies, our Under-21 internationals are in competitive action as the European Championship Qualifiers continue.

George Williams – who earlier spent time training with Chris Coleman's senior team – is joined by Josh Pritchard for Wales U21s' meeting with England at Derby County's Ipro Stadium. A win would move the Dragons to within three points of the Group 1 leaders, although Gareth Southgate's side are so far unbeaten.

Switzerland currently sit second in Group 5 and will have Pajtim Kasami at their disposal for their home game with Liechtenstein, who are currently bottom with no points.

Striker Marcello Trotta has been rewarded for a prosperous season out on loan at Brentford with a place in the Italy squad for their clash away to Northern Ireland. The Italians are currently third in Group 9, but have a game in hand on leaders Belgium who sit four points ahead of them.

In that match, Trotta could go head to head with 17-year-old Liam Donnelly who has once again been named in the Northern Ireland U21 squad. A win for the Donnelly and co would see them move to within three points of the Italians.

Denmark have been superb in their qualifying campaign and currently top Group 2 with three games left to play. Lasse Vigen Christensen could feature when they host fourth-placed Estonia.

Jack Grimmer has also been called up to represent his Under-21 side, as Scotland play Hungary in a friendly match at Dundee United's Tannadice Park.

Noe Baba played 90 minutes as the Republic of Ireland Under-19s lost 2-1 to Romania in Cork on Tuesday, and the two sides will meet again on Thursday. Baba's Fulham teammate Cameron Burgess could feature on Wednesday in Scotland U19s' International Challenge Match against Switzerland in Livingston.

Marek Rodák has been named in the Slovakia Under-18 squad for their two international friendly fixtures away to Macedonia, while, in Under-17 action, Shane Elworthy played the entirety of the Republic of Ireland's 2-1 win over Austria on Tuesday, with the sides facing off against one another again on Thursday.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/march/05/international-whites

[Fulham1959]

Think Positive!
   
This weekend we face a fellow relegation threatened side in the shape of Cardiff City.

Like us the side from South Wales has changed their manager, recently, with Ole Gunnar Solksjaer taking over.

But, unlike us, they`re remaining upbeat and believe they can stave off relegation with thr defender Ben Turner being quoted as having remarked,

"Of course it is possible to beat the drop."

"We have had a few games at home recently which have been must wins."

"That mean sour game with Fulham is whatever is more than a must-win."

"There are teams who have come back from worse positions than we are in. We just need a win for a springboard."

Now perhaps that`s the spirit Vital Fulham should be adopting!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=351661#ixzz2v4r0BCLc

Is that a prediction ?