Monday Fulham Stuff (16/06/14)...

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IN PROFILE: FULHAM

As we countdown to fixture release, take a look at our new opponents in the Sky Bet Championship.

With the announcement of our Sky Bet Championship fixtures for the 2014/15 season just four days away, we continue our look at the division's six latest incumbents by profiling recently relegated Fulham.

Fulham

Founded: 1879

Stadium: Craven Cottage

Travel

Wigan Athletic Supporters' Club offer travel to all away games but, should you wish to make your own way to southwest London, the travel details are below:

Distance from the DW Stadium (By car): 212 miles (M6, M6 Toll, M40, A4)

By train: Wigan North Western to London Euston, Underground service from Euston to Victoria (Victoria Line), Victoria to Putney Bridge (District Line).

Last Season

After 13 seasons in the Premier League, Fulham's long-stay in the top-flight was ended in 2014 after a campaign that included a change of ownership, three managers and an FA Cup upset ended with the Cottagers failing to win in their final four games, ultimately costing them as they ended up four points from safety.

Frontman Dimitar Berbatov left the club in January to join AS Monaco and left a huge void in attack with midfielders Steve Sidwell, Ashkan Dejagah and Kieran Richardson chipping in with the odd goal to support former Latic Hugo Rodallega who notched just two league goals.

Despite the lack of a prolific frontman, it was defensively where Fulham were found wanting with a 6-0 thrashing at Hull City contributing to the Premier League's worst defensive record which averaged over two goals a game over the course of the season.

The one sign of promise for Fulham was the influence of their youth team with young striker Cauley Woodrow shining towards the end of the season after the Cottagers' youth team went close to defeating Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup final.

Key Stat

The 47 away league goals shipped by Fulham were the most out of the 92 league clubs in English football, including those who played 23 rather than 19 away league games.

Key Man

Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg

Dutch international goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg is widely regarded as one of Europe's top stoppers, though he could do little to help Fulham becoming the leakiest defence in the country.

The former Ajax and Roma man, who won two Eredivisie titles during his time at the Amsterdam Arena may attract interest from elsewhere but his experience could prove key to a push for promotion for Felix Magath's side.

Capped 54 times by the Netherlands, Stekelenburg has made 249 career league appearances.

Latics Link

Fulham midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe

Former Manchester United midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe spent the last three months of the 2013-14 campaign with Latics.

The Heywood-born youngster signed for Fulham in January under then boss Rene Meulenteen but, following the Dutchman's dismissal, opportunities were limited and Tunnicliffe moved to the DW Stadium in search of first-team football.

However, the form of James McArthur and Jordi Gomez, as well as the return to fitness of Shaun Maloney and Roger Espinoza, meant the former England youth international found starts hard to come by prior to his return to Craven Cottage.

Head-to-head

Without a win in the last 13 meetings between the two sides, Latics have struggled in their head-to-head with the Cottagers with Fulham winning 18 of the 42 clashes and Latics just 10.



Read more at http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/news/article/14-06-15-in-profile-fulham-1643773.aspx#qdHg4wcrovlKuEbE.99

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Did Money Talk?
   
Not too many days ago we reported on how Steve Sidwell, having been released by Fulham, had agreed to sign for Stoke City.

Today it is being reported that Sidwell also had the opportunity to join Crystal Palace, a move that would have kept the 31 year-old midfielder in London.

However, it would appear that Sidwell, although offered £30,000 a week by the South London club, was swayed by the offer of £50,000 a week Mark Hughes placed on the table.

Now I could go on about being enticed by money but I suppose, given the chance, we`d have probably gone down exactly the same path wouldn`t we?


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=361185#ixzz34jN0Gcu0

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Being Priced out of our Range?
   
Yesterday we reported on how Fulham Football Club had shown a vested interest in acquiring the services of the Leeds United forward Ross McCormack.

The implication was made that Fulham were waiting for a response, from Leeds, with regards to a £5 million bid they had submitted.

The inference being fed to us by the press was that Leeds were looking for more like £7 million for their Scottish international striker.

Well today the inference is there that Fulham have met the figure quoted but that Leeds United are now in a position whereby they don`t want to sell their prolific scorer.

Furthermore, they`re intimating that they have received, from another club, an offer for McCormack said to be in the region of £9 million.

Like I said, we`re being priced out of our range I`d say!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=361196#ixzz34jNGFjxi

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Almost Time for Dejagah to Shine
   
With Hodgson and Lewington, running things for England, couldn`t quite engineer the start that England would have hoped for in Brazil last night.

England slipped to a 2-1 defeat courtesy of a winner from the former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli.

Tomorrow the Fulham connection gets another airing when Iran take on Nigeria in a group that also includes Argentina and Bosnia Herzegovina with Ashkan Dejagah taking centre stage.

Dejagah, expected to start for Iran, has commented about what lies ahead, remarking,

"We are desperate to get out of the group and I feel we have a great chance. I think we can cause a few surprises for some people. We will go there and relax so there`s no pressure on us."

Can Iran get out of a difficult group? It`ll, I feel, be a tall order!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=361199#ixzz34jNa4VA2

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Fulham prepared to offer £7m for Leeds striker Ross McCormack

Fulham are prepared to increase their offer to £7 million for Leeds United striker Ross McCormack, reports the Daily Mirror.

The Craven Cottage side had a bid of £5 million rejected by the Yorkshire club on Friday but it is understood the West London side are prepared to up their offer.

Having been relegated from the Premier League last season, Fulham are keen to bring in experienced Championship players and have identified McCormack as a leading target.

Leeds want to keep hold of their star player and sources at Elland Road claim the club have already turned down a £9 million bid for McCormack from Cardiff City.

The 27-year-old has so far this summer being linked with a move to a number of clubs both home and abroad.


http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-prepared-to-offer-7m-for-leeds-striker-ross-mccormack893/?

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Cellino tries hard to keep McCormack

Leeds have rejected Fulham's £5million offer for Ross McCormack, but the Cottagers are likely to come back with an increased bid of £7million, amid other reports of interest from Norwich City, Newcastle United, Cardiff City and Derby County.

On Friday Leeds replied to Fulham's initial bid by saying we don't want to sell last season's leading scorer, but their manager Felix Magath is reported to be keen to sign player with experience of the Championship, and owner Shahid Khan has promised him the funds to challenge for a quick return to the Premier League.

There have been reports that quite a few other clubs are also chasing the Scotsman, including Derby, Norwich and Newcastle, and one paper has even claimed that we have already turned down as much as £9million from his former club Cardiff. But Cellino is reluctant to sell our talisman to another club in the same division, and McCormack has repeatedly said he is happy at Leeds and presumably would only be tempted away if he could try his luck in the Premiership.

Of the clubs to have shown interest so far it's likely that Derby will mount another promotion challenge after reaching the play-off final last time, while the three relegated clubs will have a big financial advantage thanks to the huge 'parachute payments' from the Premier League. But only Newcastle can offer McCormack Premier League football, and the St.James' Park club frequently seems to be rather dysfunctional.

So what are the chances of McCormack leaving? Much will depend on whether Cellino feels he has the resources to deal with the club's immediate financial problems and bring in the players he wants without having to sell McCormack. According to the paper in Cagliari, Cellino is after no fewer than six players from his former club and will need to have the funds in place to be able to rebuild the squad in the way he wants.

Will Leeds eventually get an offer for McCormack we find impossible to refuse?


http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/leedsunited/news/35271/?