Saturday Fulham Stuff (05/04/14)...

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Arsenal to join Liverpool and Manchester United in hunt for Fulham ace Patrick Roberts

ARSENAL look set to tussle it out with Liverpool and Manchester United for Fulham ace Patrick Roberts.


Arsenal are the latest club to fix their sights on Patrick Roberts (right)[GETTY]

Roberts, who is considered one of the finest emerging talents in the country, made his Fulham senior debut as a substitute away at Manchester City last month.

Liverpool and United have also been tracking the 17-year-old and are thought to be keen to offer him a contract.

Roberts only signed his first professional contract with the Cottagers in February and he is rated very highly by Felix Magath.

And reports now suggest that while his deal runs until 2016, Arsenal remain undeterred.

It is believed that the Gunners who bought Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when they were teenagers, believe Roberts could emulate them.

Roberts has also impressed for England at Under-17 level, netting four goals in nine appearances.


http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/468593/Arsenal-to-join-Liverpool-and-Manchester-United-in-hunt-for-Fulham-ace-Patrick-Roberts

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Aston Villa v Fulham

By John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Villa Park Date: Saturday, 5 April

TEAM NEWS

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke is out for at least six months with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Nathan Baker has recovered from a foot injury and Karim El Ahmadi may return from a thigh strain, but Gabby Agbonlahor is doubtful with illness.

Fulham forward Kostas Mitroglou remains sidelined and Villa loanee Darren Bent is ineligible to face his parent club.

Scott Parker could return from a knee injury, while Fernando Amorebieta is back from suspension.

MATCH PREVIEW

The term "must-win game" is overused, but this match is just that for Fulham, who are five points adrift of safety with six games to play.

They have to win their remaining three home matches - against Norwich, Hull and Crystal Palace - but even then will probably need at least one away victory to have a realistic hope of survival.

Villa's home record is poor - in fact, only Fulham have lost more times in front of their own supporters - and the visitors have to go for it.

The Londoners played well in patches against Everton last weekend but when their opponents turned up the heat, Fulham folded.

While they may be relieved they don't have to face Villa's injured top scorer Christian Benteke, Fulham have their own problems up front, where they lack experience. Moussa Dembele, 17, led the line against the Toffees, while 19-year-old Cauley Woodrow began the previous match at Manchester City.

There has been speculation over the future of boss Felix Magath,  who somehow has to lift his players. However, I don't think team spirit has been helped by the managerial chopping and changing, with first Martin Jol and then Rene Meulensteen being replaced.

Aston Villa have lost their last two games 4-1 despite scoring the opening goal, and their campaign has been blighted by inconsistency. They are probably one win from safety, but I'm not sure their results represent progress from last season.

Villa's home form remains a conundrum for Paul Lambert. They gave a reminder of their counter-attacking menace in last month's 1-0 win against Chelsea, but were brought back to earth eight days later by Stoke.

A Villa victory would leave Fulham on the brink of the drop, but a rare away win would give Magath's men belief they can still pull something out of the fire.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 14 home league games against Fulham, whose last win was a 3-2 victory in a Division Two game on 3 March 1973.

However, Fulham did win an FA Cup fourth-round tie at Villa Park in 1999, recording a 2-0 victory.

Home and away, the Londoners have only lost one of their last seven games against Villa (W2, D4).

The last five meetings have produced a total of just six goals.

Aston Villa
The only club to have lost more Premier League home games this season than Villa (nine) is Fulham (11).
Paul Lambert's side have lost five of their last eight league games (W2, D1).
They have conceded four or more goals in back-to-back league games for the first time since December 2012, when they lost 8-0 to Chelsea and 4-0 to Tottenham.
Villa have conceded 54% of their goals in the first half - the highest proportion in this season's Premier League.

Fulham
The Whites have conceded 70% of their goals in the second half - the highest figure in the division.
They have conceded 22 goals in the final 15 minutes of Premier League games this season - more than any other side.
Fulham have exactly the same number of points after 32 matches as they did in 2007-08, when they won four of the last six matches to stay up on goal difference.
The Londoners have the lowest tally of clean sheets in the Premier League this season (four).
Fulham have only won one of their last 12 league matches (D2, L9).
They have used more players than any other team in the Premier League this season (37).


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26797091

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Steve Sidwell: "We've got six cup finals"

Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell has admitted that the club's last six games of the season must be played as cup finals if they are to make an unlikely escape from relegation.

Sidwell said that the performance against Everton in the 3-1 defeat was encouraging, and believes that the supporters can spur the players on to victory away to Aston Villa on Saturday.

"You've just got to dust yourself down and get on with it as quick as you can," he told the club's official website. "Obviously we've got six cup finals now and we need to start picking up points so we can't dwell on the fact that we've put in a good performance [against Everton].

"Mathematically we've still got the time to get ourselves out of trouble, but we need to start winning the games now because before you know it six games becomes four and then it starts to look not doable. It comes down to Saturday's game and won that we need to win.

"The fans have been brilliant, absolutely fantastic. I believe we've got a few travelling up to Villa Park at the weekend and it makes a big difference, especially away from home."

Fulham, currently bottom, are five points clear of safety in the Premier League.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/relegation-battle/news/sidwell-weve-got-six-cup-finals_148004.html

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LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Aston Villa v Fulham

After beating Chelsea, Aston Villa have caved in with two successive 4-1 defeats against Stoke and Manchester United, and it feels a bit like they are back to square one.

Fulham have got bigger problems, however. They were very competitive for long spells against Everton last weekend and shaded the first half in terms of chances.

But then the Cottagers just collapsed in the second half, something which has really been the story of their season.

Felix Magath is picking players from Fulham's highly-rated Under-21 squad, and there are some positives to that. The youngsters who have made the step up have all done alright too.

But, although the experience will do them a lot of good and will speed up their development, they are not going to keep the club in the Premier League. For a few of them, the future looks bright, but it is the present that Fulham have got to worry about.

Lawro's prediction: 2-0


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26810322

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Lee Clark: We lost two important players in Bartley and Burn

Birmingham City: Lee Clark admits Blues must tighten up the defence to avoid the drop


Lee Clark
Birmingham City will seek to tighten up and improve their defensive capabilities to help them avoid Championship relegation.

In recent weeks especially Blues have been vulnerable to sides attacking them down the flanks and into spaces and gaps left in midfield as team shape is lost.

This is why Lee Clark has demanded his players, from front to back, do better without the ball and don't allow opposition to get at them too easily.

Cutting out individual errors is another requirement for Blues, who have conceded 15 goals in the last five games.

There has been a lack of stability and continuity in the back four as well, mainly due to injuries and the departures of Dan Burn and Kyle Bartley.

"I don't think you need to be a rocket scientist to realise that the goals are coming from down the wide areas of the team," confessed Lee Clark.

"But, you know, we lost two important players in Bartley and Burn.

"They were magnificent for us in the first half of the season and it was no coincidence that they played together in that 10-game unbeaten run when we took 20 points from 30 and we were on the fringes, seven points from the play-offs.

"Great balance - right-footer, left-footer - physically both of them are aggressive. They bought into the Birmingham way as well, they didn't act like loan players, they acted like Birmingham City players.

"Sometimes that's a problem you have. You start again with a new group with loans and, you know, they don't always consider themselves to be your type of player, they keep thinking of themselves as part of their parent club, and that can cause issues."


http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-lee-clark-admits-6920353?

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Villa Park is perfect place for Fulham to begin great escape
Only visiting Fulham and Sunderland have worse home records than Aston Villa



Felix Magath has already stated that his Fulham side require four wins from their last six fixtures to prevent Premier League oblivion, which means they must grab all three points from at least one of their three remaining away games.

They won't get a better chance than in their next fixture against Aston Villa.

Despite dire stats home and away this season, the bottom-placed side can be backed with some degree of confidence at 13/5 to kick-start what would be the most unlikely of revivals.

They were in exactly the same predicament in 2007/08, on the same amount of points and somehow clawed their way above water by taking the quartet of wins Magath has cited here.

The 1/1 being offered for Villa to grab the win is too skinny considering they have now been stripped of their top scorer Christian Benteke and only their visitors and second-from-bottom Sunderland harbour a worse home record this season.

After a brief rally which saw Paul Lambert's side overcome Norwich and Chelsea, Villa arrive off the back of a pair of 4-1 drubbings, so that magical football word 'confidence' will be in scant supply.

Those who are not willing to put it on the line may prefer a safer bet on Fulham in the Draw No Bet market at 29/20.

One feature of Magath's infant tenure which bodes well is their seeming resilience not to let the game get out of sight by the break, as in the six games he's been in charge only twice have they been behind at the break and only by a single goal on both occasions.

Therefore a 7/1 punt on draw/away in the half-time-full-time market may be one to really swell the coffers on this match.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.


http://news.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/football/premier-league/villa-park-perfect-place-fulham-great-escape_192893.html

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Etheridge Recalled

Fulham have recalled goalkeeper Neil Etheridge from his loan spell at Crewe Alexandra.

The 24-year-old made three appearances for the Sky Bet League One Railwaymen earlier this season, featuring in one win and two defeats.

The Philippines international then returned to the Alex in February and made one appearance, the 1-0 defeat at Stevenage.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/april/04/etheridge-recalled?

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Aston Villa vs Fulham Preview.

For Fulham this is a must-win game if they are to have any hope of staving off relegation this season; for Villa this is a should-win game to try and instil confidence in a side that has taken a battering lately, both on the pitch and off.

The big news of this past week is that Villa's star striker, Christian Benteke, has picked up an injury that will not only see him miss the rest of this season but also the World Cup and probably a few months of next season. This is a huge loss to Villa who although may be safe are not definitely safe and we can't ignore how upsetting it will be for Benteke to miss out on the first World Cup Belgium have qualified for in a while.

Our attacking options heading into the Fulham game aren't particularly appealing as veteran forward Gabby Agbonlahor is also a doubt for the game (illness) and he's had an indifferent season as it is. Helenius may feature but we've seen so little of him fans could be forgiven for forgetting he exists, Grant Holt has been as useful as a paper contraceptive and utilised as much as one and Jordan Bowery has never been up to scratch.

Andreas Weimann is a possible and perhaps played in the correct position for a change might actually remind us why he was receiving so many plaudits last term but you can't help but wonder how his confidence might have been hit by a season in which he has been criticised more often than not, albeit largely due to playing a role in which he isn't accustomed?

The likelihood is we will see Holt take Benteke's place, with either Albrighton or Weimann played on the left, despite the fact they're both right-footers.

Our woes are not confined to the attack either. Karim El Ahmadi is another doubt in midfield, the Moroccan having provided an understated boost to the side in recent months. Lambert will almost certainly keep Bacuna at right-back despite the fact we can all see that he is not and never will be a full-back and while Albrighton will likely feature there's perhaps an unsettling feeling that we could see somebody like Sylla feature in the side.

So it is going to be a testing afternoon for the Villans. Fulham will be buoyed by the fact that in this season's earlier meeting at Craven Cottage they beat us 2-0 with a goal from former Villa boy Steve Sidwell. For a team who have conceded a whopping 73 league goals they may also take comfort in the fact that Villa vs Fulham is typically a low-scoring affair, with only 6 goals having been scored in the previous five meetings. Villa also haven't beaten Fulham in their previous three encounters, the last win coming on the 10th March 2012.

With Villa's mounting injury problems, our lack of attacking options and recent history, Fulham might fancy themselves a scalp here. Fortunately, Fulham also have trouble at Villa Park having not beaten Villa at home in 14 games (L7, D7). Villa have also been "enjoying" slightly better form in the past few games and Fulham haven't actually claimed victory on the road since a Boxing Day win over Norwich City.

I don't think we're in for a particularly exciting game. Villa's most potent attacking threat has been nullified before the game has even kicked off and while I would love to see a repeat of what we did to Norwich recently I expect a cagey affair with probably a goal difference deciding it. Fulham will throw whatever they can at us and our defence must hold better than it has but there really is no reason nor excuse we cannot take Fulham at home. If we've been bad this season, Fulham have been catastrophic and if Villa cannot produce the goods tomorrow then I think the calls to evaluate Lambert's position will be deafening.


http://www.upthevilla.com/aston-villa-vs-fulham-preview?

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Are desperate Fulham putting too much pressure on their talented youngsters?


Moussa Dembele has broken into the Fulham first team (Picture: Getty Images)

The recent over-spill of youth talent at Fulham is a rare success story in an entirely forgettable season for the club.

Dominating in both the under-21 and under-18 leagues, Fulham's youth system is nothing short of excellent.

Managed by the likes of Steve Wigley, Huw Jennings and Malcolm Elias – a trio responsible for the early development of Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Adam Lallana – Fulham have an abundance of high profile youngsters queuing up outside Felix Magath's office door.

And as a fan, that's fantastic. For me the idea of an astutely nurtured youngster donning the Fulham kit to make his debut in the Premier League is what the game is all about – it's a charming notion that perhaps big international signings have marred somewhat.

In recent months Fulham have given debuts to a number of young players, but I feel that, despite the great opportunity, the lack of assisting quality at the club has rather let them down.

As unrealistic as it may sound in modern football, I feel that youngsters need to be brought into a stabilised team.

I know that other young players have contradicted this notion – notably Andros Townsend, who performed brilliantly at the Queens Park Rangers circus last year.

But ideally a youngster needs to first test the water – have a limit to their creative freedom that an experienced head will ensure they do not exceed.

At Fulham I feel there is no real changing of the guard. Recent debutants, who have all performed fantastically, have been left to their own devices far too much and have been unfairly handed the unenviable task of keeping us up.

Cauley Woodrow is a recent graduate who has been a refreshing addition to our seriously inept frontline. While he hasn't scored, he has looked both tenacious and willing, and has held the ball up extremely well while bringing other players into the game.


Cauley Woodrow is another keen to make a name for himself (Picture: Getty Images)

Moussa Dembele also looked great in his start against Everton. Again he didn't get his name on the score sheet, but he was a handful for the entirety of his 80 minutes, battling well with his back towards goal.

Despite these good performances however, the pair have experienced some negativity from frustrated fans, increasingly disappointed by our snowballing demise.

Fans are, and I must agree, rightfully expecting us to line-up with a starting XI of finished products, as we simply do not have the time in which to trial inexperienced youngsters with a mere 6 games left to save our season.

But the catch 22 is we don't have eleven quality players capable of keeping us up.

Look at the rest of the first eleven for example. The aforementioned graduates have, inadvertently, established the new generation of 'inexperienced youngsters learning the ropes', and have prematurely ended the likes of Pajtim Kasami's and Alex Kacaniklic's transitional period – two unfinished articles.

This means that youngsters are not being allowed the time to develop correctly at the club, and that fans are expecting increasingly more from the likes of Kasami who is still only 21 and Dembele who is just 17.

As aforesaid however, we do not have that time in which to let young players learn the ropes, as due to terrible transfer-budget management we are without a quality first team striker.

We therefore find ourselves in the unfortunate predicament of needing to find the time in which to allow our youngsters – our only hope – to find their feet, without having any time in which to allow them to find their feet.

Young and old amalgamation is, however, an on-going experiment that Magath has been utilising to inspire moments of positivity from the team since his arrival.

But it is unfortunately something that is going to have to hope can come to fruition a lot quicker than is normally expected, if we are to indeed survive.


http://metro.co.uk/2014/04/04/are-desperate-fulham-putting-too-much-pressure-on-their-talented-youngsters-4689058/?

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Aston Villa v Fulham: match preview
Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Aston Villa and Fulham at Villa Park on Saturday April 5, 2014, kick-off 15.00 (BST)


Long walk: Manager Felix Magath is fighting a battle to keep Fulham in the Premier League
Photo: PA

Saturday, April 5, 2014
Aston Villa v Fulham
Villa Park
Kick-off: 15.00 BST.
TV: Highlights, BBC ONE Match of the Day.

Aston Villa (Possible, 4-4-2): Guzan; Baker, Vlaar, Clark, Bertrand; El Ahmadi, Westwood, Delph, Tonev; Holt, Weimann.
Out: Benteke, N'Zogbia (both Achilles), Gardner (foot), Herd (personal reasons), Lozak (broken leg), Okore (knee).
Test: Agbonlahor (sickness).

Fulham (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Stockdale; Riether, Heitinga, Hangeland, Riise; Sidwell, Kvist; Parker, Holtby, Richardson; Dembélé.
Out: Bent (ineligible), Briggs (hernia), Burn (muscle), Duff, Mitroglou (both knee), Karagounis (unspecified).
Test: Parker (knee).

Referee: Michael Oliver. Matches: 23, R3 Y82.

Betting: Home 10-11, Away 13-5, Draw 12-5.

Team News
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert faces a striker crisis ahead of his side's Premier League clash with bottom club Fulham.
Christian Benteke is expected to be sidelined for up to six months after suffering a serious Achilles tendon injury in training on Friday, while Gabby Agbonlahor is battling to recover from a sickness bug.
Nathan Baker has recovered from the foot injury which sidelined him in last week's 4-1 defeat at Old Trafford, while Karim El Ahmadi is also set to return to contention after a thigh strain.

Meanwhile, Fulham midfielder Scott Parker could return from a knee problem at Villa Park.
Striker Kostas Mitroglou continues to be sidelined by a similar problem but may return against Norwich on April 12.
Defender Fernando Amorebieta returns from suspension after being sent off in the 5-0 defeat by Manchester City.

Match Notes
Fulham manager Felix Magath used to insist his side could claw their way out of relegation trouble by winning home matches but with time running out, the Londoners now also require points on the road if they are to have any chance of survival.

It might just be the right time to be travelling to Villa Park, where the home side are coming off successive 4-1 defeats and the cruel blow of striker Christian Benteke's World Cup-ending Achilles tendon injury.

Stat of the game: Fulham have gone 15 away games without keeping a clean sheet in the Premier League.

Ben Findon's prediction: Aston Villa 0 Fulham 0.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/10734823/Aston-Villa-v-Fulham-match-preview.html

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Premier League: Fulham boss Felix Magath says owner Shahid Khan will stay loyal


Shahid Khan: Committed to Fulham, says Felix Magath

Fulham boss Felix Magath believes that owner Shahid Khan will remain loyal to the club despite the possibility of relegation from the Premier League.

Khan, an American-based billionaire and also owner of NFL side the Jacksonville Jaguars, purchased the Cottagers for a reported fee of £200million last summer from Mohamed Al Fayed.

In his relatively short stay so far at Craven Cottage, Khan has already sacked managers Martin Jol and Rene Meulensteen, but Fulham remain rooted to the foot of the table with Championship football next season looking increasingly probable.

The Cottagers have managed just one win from their last 12 league outings and five points separate themselves and 17th-placed West Brom.

Substantial falls in revenue would hit Fulham if they were to drop out of the top flight, but Magath insists that Khan will stay committed for the future.

"He is a successful businessman and he knows that sometimes things do not go well," he told the London Evening Standard.

"In one of my first meetings here, the owner said he wanted to make Fulham a top-10 team in the Premier League. That he wants to develop the club and the team into one that play European football. That is still the case."

Magath replaced Meulensteen on an 18-month contract in February and, despite recent speculation suggesting that he may face the axe, the former Wolfsburg boss is not fearful of his own future.

"I had a phone call with the owner on Wednesday and everything is fine," he said.

"He knows the situation and how things work. I am here to build a team - that was clear from the beginning. I will be here next season."


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9248664/premier-league-fulham-boss-felix-magath-says-owner-shahid-khan-will-stay-loyal?

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Varsity Preview

The historic Oxford and Cambridge Varsity day takes place this Sunday (6th April, 3pm), and the annual football event also returns to Craven Cottage for the first time since 2009.
As a result, fulhamfc.com caught up with team captains Anthony Childs (Cambridge) and Jack Fletcher (Oxford) ahead of the 130th football meeting.

Tell us a little bit about your respective seasons so far?

AC: After successive promotions, CUAFC have been competing at the highest level of university football this season, for the first time in the club's history. It was always going to be hard to compete against universities that recruit students specifically to play football (e.g. Loughborough and Bath), so our initial aim was to avoid relegation. In that sense, the season has been a massive success.

JF: The season started ominously, with a 5-1 defeat away at Birmingham. This poor away form continued for the rest of the league campaign with no away victories. Fortunately the team has been strong at home all season, and a 2-0 win over Birmingham to reverse the earlier defeat was a particular highlight.

Have you been to the Cottage before? How much are you looking forward to stepping onto the famous pitch this Sunday?

AC: Craven Cottage is my closest Premier League ground, so I've been quite a lot over the years. I've actually had some of my best footballing experiences at this ground - from taking part in a half-time challenge on the pitch when I was younger to watching the famous European ties a few years ago. The 4-1 win over Juventus sticks in the mind; the atmosphere that night was incredible and Clint Dempsey's goal was special. While it may not be quite as loud as that night, I can't wait to experience the atmosphere on Sunday and hopefully I'll be able to grab myself a goal!

JF: I actually grew up just down the river in Barnes, so I've been to the Cottage a few times before. It's an historic stadium and a real fixture in that part of London and, as a local of sorts, it will be extremely special to step out onto the Cottage turf. The Cottage itself is iconic and it's a humbling feeling to imagine the number of illustrious footballers who have graced the dressing rooms and pitch. I am, of course, excited and also a little terrified by the prospect!

Who should supporters look out for in the Cambridge side on Sunday?

AC: Left winger Rory Griffiths scored in the 2012 Varsity Match. Quick, with a wicked left foot, expect to see some mazy runs from him. At the back we have James Day, the only player in either squad to have been part of the fixture when it was last held at Craven Cottage. Sunday will see JD earn his sixth Blue; he's a very solid centre-back with a commanding voice and he's good with the ball at his feet. JD will be in charge of the back four and will be hoping to keep his first Varsity clean sheet.

JF: You cannot look far beyond Ezra Rubenstein; he's chalked up around 100 appearances for the club, is top scorer and top provider this season. Also watch out for a few of our international arrivals this season; Elias Adriaenssens (Belgium), Brook Tozer (New Zealand) and Mike Essman (USA).

How important is the Varsity Football match and Boat Race to students from both universities and why do you think the event still holds strong resonance amongst the British public?

AC: It's a rivalry steeped in tradition and these games are a great way to gain bragging rights over the other place for another year. Sunday will be the 130th Varsity match and the 160th Boat Race. I'd like to thank Fulham for hosting this year's event as this iconic venue is part of the reason this game still holds such prestige. I think the British public appreciate the tradition of these fixtures and I'm sure Sunday will be another memorable day.

JF: I think it's the historic feel of the two matches which contributes to their appeal; ours is the 130th Varsity match since its inception and this year's boat race will be the 160th. It's also special how close the rivalry is between the two universities; they're split by only one or two victories in the overall records for most sports.

Last year's match ended in a 3-2 victory for Cambridge at Selhurst Park, how do the two sides feel they'll fare on Sunday?

AC:  I'm predicting a Cambridge win - hopefully it will be slightly more comfortable than last year's game. We've got a lot of returning Blues this year and I think that experience will be crucial. We've prepared as best we can and now we just want to get out there and enjoy the day!

JF: I won't speak too much about last year's game (particularly as I missed it through injury), but the Varsity matches are always very tight and there's no reason to think this year will be any different. The key for us will be making sure our own preparation is right so that, physically and mentally, we're ready to go on the day. After that, what will be, will be!

Terrace tickets for the Football and Boat Race have now sold out; however supporters wishing to watch the football can buy online now, for £8.

Tickets will also be available to purchase on the gate on Sunday, please note prices rise to £10.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/april/04/varsity-preview?

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Don't Take Fulham Lightly Ryan Bertrand Tells Aston Villa

Aston Villa left-back Ryan Bertrand has warned his team against taking Premier League strugglers Fulham lightly in spite of their lowly league position.

The two teams lock horns at Villa Park tomorrow with Felix Magath's team desperately looking for points to ensure their safety in the Premier League.

The Chelsea-contracted player feels that due to their desperate situation, the Cottagers will be tough to face and therefore he has asked his team-mates to prepare well for the match.

"The emphasis on not getting relegated is far greater", Bertrand told his club's official website.

"Obviously they have been struggling but that can be a double edged sword.

"They are going to be really up for it and in our faces and they are not going to go down easily."

The 24-year-old however admits that if they can get their basics right from the beginning of the game, they can very well go on to win it.

"If we are at it, win the first and second balls and get the basics right from the start of the game, then hopefully we can go on and get the points", Bertrand added.


Read more at http://www.insidefutbol.com/2014/04/04/dont-take-fulham-lightly-ryan-bertrand-tells-aston-villa/134650/#RkR6cfcV0gxsMbba.99

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Spirit of 2008 needed


Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
Danny Murphy's goal at Fratton Park against Portsmouth helped Fulham escape relegation at the end of the 2007-08 season.

The Whites go to Aston Villa on Saturday with only a very tenuous grip now on the Premiership. My 30-odd years of football reporting tell me this Fulham side is down and out, but as a lifelong supporter we still have to pray for a miracle. It needs to happen at Villa Park this weekend, but it's been a graveyard for every single Fulham manager since the elevation to the top flight 13 seasons ago.

Fulham find themselves in the same position as in 2008, when then-manager Roy Hodgson brought the club back from the dead with four wins from the last six matches. Current boss Felix Magath has to replicate that at the very least following just one win in the last 12 -- an abysmal run since January, despite serious investment in the transfer market and a whole new management structure.

Hodgson's team, however, had characters in the side who wouldn't countenance defeat -- leaders like Brian McBride in attack and the irrepressible Jimmy Bullard. Crucially, they also had a cool head to pull the strings in midfield in Danny Murphy -- a man not known for panic. And they had that wily old fox Hodgson with his hand on the tiller.

Man for man the class of 2014 seem so much better on paper. But the parts no longer fit, and morale is shot. The current Fulham squad has a losing mentality. At heart the players go out neither expecting to score goals nor come through 90 minutes with a clean sheet. That mind-set alone makes me sceptical of seeing history repeat itself.

However, with three very winnable home games to come against Norwich, Hull and Crystal Palace, a little more composure in front of goal matched by the energy levels exhibited last week against Everton, and who knows? Fulham unquestionably have to find a maximum from their last three road trips. That is unlikely at Stoke or Spurs, but against Aston Villa this week? The boys might be in with a chance.

There's no Christian Benteke to face for a start. Villa have the worst home record in the league after Fulham and are hardly brimming with confidence, losing their last two, 1-4. Relegation is still a possibility for Villa manager Paul Lambert's strugglers, and defeat by Fulham would really spook their long suffering fans.

Is this the moment when Magath finally gets the right blend of youth and experience and the Fulham lion roars back to life? 3,000 travelling supporters will be there to give their all. Can Fulham match their faith?

Here's the tale of the tape before the gloves come off: Needless to say, the Whites have to make history if they want to keep their hopes alive. Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 14 home league games against the Londoners, the last league win on this ground came in March 1973. Encouragingly however, Fulham have only lost one of their last seven games against Villa (W2, D4). The last five meetings have produced a total of just six goals though, so don't expect a classic.

The Villans have lost nine home matches this season, compared to Fulham's eleven. I anticipate Scott Parker returning to the midfield, Darren Bent cannot play against his parent club, and it is up to Magath if he persists with Moussa Dembele up front. Why would he not after last week's promising show. My tactic for claiming a famous win? Get the best return out of an in-form Ashkan Dejagah by playing him from the start and getting him as close to Dembele as possible up the middle of the park with Lewis Holtby in the hole and width this week from Kieran Richardson.

Mistake-in-waiting Steve Sidwell should curb his buccaneering desire to be everywhere and shield an all too erratic back four. None of this I suspect will happen. If they continue to shoot themselves in the foot with woeful defending and poor concentration, then the game is well and truly up come Sunday.

COYW!!!

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