Friday Fulham Stuff (10/10/14)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Dembélé On Target

France kicked off their UEFA Under-19 Championship qualifying campaign in perfect style on Wednesday, with Moussa Dembélé hitting what proved to be the winner against Macedonia.

In the first of their three matches in Macedonia in the space of six days, Les Bleuets took the lead in the 19th minute when Nice striker Neal Maupay found the net after being set up from the left by Lucas Hernandez.

Dembélé doubled the advantage four minutes before the break, with Atlético Madrid's Hernandez again the architect, although Macedonia reduced the deficit through substitute Tauljant Sulejmanov's 71st minute penalty.

Fulham's Dembélé then went close to restoring the two goal lead, only to see his shot pushed onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Dushan Gjorgjev. The 18-year-old departed the action on 84 minutes as France held on to secure the three points.

They face Liechtenstein on Friday and Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday, with the two highest placed teams in Group 12 ensuring progression to the Elite Round.

Elsewhere at Under-19 level, the Republic of Ireland secured a 1-0 friendly win over Sweden in Sollentuna, with Noe Baba playing the full 90 minutes.

After a bright start by the hosts, Ireland grew into the game and almost went ahead when Sean Heaney's effort was cleared off the line. They took the lead soon after, though, when Fiacre Kelleher headed in from a Dessie Hutchison corner just before half-time.

The two nations go up against each other again on Friday – this time in Strängnäs, which is about an hour's drive west of Sollentuna.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/october/09/dembele-on-target?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham watching Italian wonder kid

Fulham scouts have been watching Pescara rising star Ferdinando Del Sole and the Cottagers may be lining up a January move.

There are reports in Italy suggesting that Fulham are interested in exciting young talent Ferdinando Del Sole.

Del Sole plays for Serie B side Pescara and is seen as a massive prospect for the future.

The left-sided youngster was rejected by AC Milan at the age of 12 for being too slight but Pescara beat competition from Roma to bring him into their ranks.

The promising flair player is winning praise from everyone who sees him play and he is said to be a target for not only Fulham but also Schalke.

"He's one of our most talented youngsters," Antonio Di Battista, technical director of Pescara's youth teams said.

"He has great technical ability and a great sensitivity with the ball at his feet. For me he has always been a top level player.

"Del Sole is a natural left footer who is very versatile and can play alongside the strikers on in behind. His passion, hard work and humility are crucial."

However, any prospective suitors may need to wait for Del Sole to mature as he was only born in 1989 and still needs to learn the ropes in his homeland before he is ready to play abroad.

The fact that Del Sole is owned by Pescara and not one of Italy's giants means that he could be available at a bargain price once he is ready for a new challenge.



http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/10/09/fulham-watching-italian-wonder-kid/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham's selection panel meeting in London to compile shortlist for next boss
Danny Murphy, Brian McBride, Niall Quinn, Huw Jennings and David Daly make up the panel
Caretaker manager Kit Symons one of the favourites to be appointed
Chris Hughton, Steve Clarke and Glenn Hoddle set to be considered

The five-man Fulham search committee charged with identifying the club's next manager will hold its second meeting on Thursday.

The panel, which includes former Cottagers captain Danny Murphy, will convene in London for talks to whittle down a long list of applicants to a shortlist of four or five.

The front runners for the post are current caretaker boss Kit Symons, Chris Hughton, Steve Clarke and Gianfranco Zola.


Former Fulham captain Danny Murphy is one of the five men on the panel to choose Fulham's next manager


American striker Brian McBride - who played for Fulham between 2004 and 2008 - is also on the panel


Former Sunderland chairman and striker is one of the members of the panel

Billy McKinlay, who left the Fulham coaching staff when Martin Jol was sacked last season, is the bookmakers' favourite to replace Felix Magath after being abruptly sacked as Watford boss, but it is not certain that he will even be named on the shortlist. Glenn Hoddle and Neil Lennon are among those who will also be considered.

Murphy is joined on the committee by fellow former player Brian McBride, Fulham academy director Huw Jennings, senior Nike director and Fulham fan David Daly, and former Sunderland chairman and Republic of Ireland international Niall Quinn.

   
Fulham caretaker manager Kit Symons is one of the leading contenders for the job along with Chris Hughton

They have had an initial meeting to establish the parameters of the search and will now discuss the credentials of those who have applied to be the new manager.

The group will then interview those who have been shortlisted before making their recommendation to Fulham owner Shahid Khan and his right-hand man Mark Lamping, president of Khan's NFL team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a non-executive director on the Fulham board.

Khan sacked Magath last month and is searching for his fourth manager since buying the club last year from Mohamed al Fayed.

He knows it is vital to get the next appointment right and bring stability to Fulham, who were relegated from the Barclays Premier League in May and are second from bottom of the Championship with only seven points from 11 games.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2786612/Fulham-s-selection-panel-meet-London-Thursday-compile-shortlist-boss-Craven-Cottage.html#ixzz3Ffcb3sgy
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[WhiteJC]

 
Hugh Grant tells talkSPORT: I want Danny Murphy as Fulham manager!

Hugh Grant says if Fulham owner Shahid Khan has any Sense and Sensibility he will appoint Danny Murphy as the club's manager.

Murphy is part of a five-man committee set up by Khan to determine who should succeed Felix Magath, but Grant insists he be should acting out the role of boss.

The ardent Fulham fan, star of a host of Hollywood hits, told talkSPORT: "Why can't it be Danny?

"I want him to do it. He has proper Fulham blood in him and I think he would be perfect.

"He gets Fulham. He was talismanic when he was playing and has a kind of natural authority. I think he should resign from talkSPORT!"


Read more at http://talksport.com/football/hugh-grant-tells-talksport-i-want-danny-murphy-fulham-manager-141009118046#iPWsP3YFBEDdmmLC.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham XI 3-3 Cardiff City XI

A Fulham XI played out a 3-3 draw with their Cardiff City counterparts in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Thursday afternoon.

The Whites – who fielded several First Team players – found themselves trailing in the opening stages after conceding a scrappy goal, but went into half-time level courtesy of a Matt Smith strike.

Fulham then turned the game on its head after the restart through a fine Chris David effort and Smith's second of the afternoon.

But Cardiff left Motspur Park with a share of the spoils as two late goals – the first from the penalty spot – earned them a draw.

There were just three minutes on the clock when the Welsh side took the lead. Jaye Bowen lobbed Marek Rodák with a decent effort from range that came off the bar – the follow-up was then pushed onto the post by a blue shirt before Macauley Southam finally managed to turn it over the line.

Fulham responded with a Thomas Eisfeld shot that was blocked after he'd been cleverly found by David, before Smith headed wide after connecting with Josh Passley's cross – although the flag was already up for offside.

Southam had a chance to double City's lead in the 11th minute after rounding Rodák, but the angle was against him and he could only find the side-netting with his strike.

On 20 minutes a chipped ball from David was chested down by Smith in the area, but he was closed down quickly by a recovering defender who managed to block the subsequent shot.

Fulham had really grown into the game and went close again shortly after the half hour mark when a fantastic Eisfeld pass picked out Smith who had beaten the offside trap. The imposing striker got the ball under control but then lost his footing on the sodden surface, allowing goalkeeper Ben Wilson to collect.

But the deserved equaliser arrived moments later. Dino Fazlic fed Jordan Evans down the left hand side and his low cross was expertly swept into the far corner by the left boot of Smith.

Two minutes later Eisfeld almost added his name to the scoresheet but his wicked effort didn't quite have enough dip to find the target.

Cardiff were struggling to cope with Fulham's fluidity in attack and Smith almost scored a brilliant second on 36 minutes after spotting Wilson off his line, but his attempted chip from long range just cleared the crossbar.

More good play from Evans shortly before half-time saw him control a high ball in the centre circle before playing in Smith who was denied by a good Wilson save.

Three new faces entered the action for Fulham at the interval, with Magnus Norman, Ange-Freddy Plumain and Dean O'Halloran all introduced.

Five minutes after the restart, Bowen drew a good save from Norman as the young keeper kept out his angled effort at the second attempt.

At the other end a minute later, Plumain turned his man and squared to David who unleashed an unstoppable left-footed dipper than beat the keeper from 25 yards, hit the underside of the bar and landed beyond the line. It was an effort reminiscent of his goal against Crystal Palace, just from a more central position.

It was another 10 minutes until the next chance, and Shaun Hutchinson might feel he should have done better when he headed Evans' exquisite free-kick off target.

O'Halloran went close just after the hour mark with a low shot that sailed wide, but it was 3-1 moments later when Smith was put through. He kept his cool to round the keeper before calmly slotting into an empty net from a tight angle.

It could have been four a minute later when a dangerous Passley cross was met on the volley by Smith, but Wilson was out quickly to smother the shot.

Cardiff should have reduced the deficit on 70 minutes when Southam squared to a teammate for a simple finish, only for Hutchinson to make a brilliant sliding tackle to deny him.

A vicious David shot from 30 yards was then parried by Wilson, before Plumain rode two challenges to create some shooting space, drawing a fine acrobatic stop from the Cardiff keeper who tipped his well struck effort over the bar.

At the other end, Jazzi Barnum-Bobb saw his rising shot pushed onto the bar well by Norman, who then kept out and held Tommy O'Sullivan's deflected attempt.

The visitors were given a way back into the match with seven minutes remaining, though, as Danny Johnson sent Norman the wrong way from 12 yards after Stephen Arthurworrey – a second half replacement for Tiago Casasola – was penalised for a lunge in the area.

And they were level two minutes later. Norman initially saved the incoming shot but a City trialist was there following up to make it 3-3.

Plumain had an opportunity to restore his side's lead late on, but he skewed his strike into the side-netting after finding space in the left side of the box.

Fulham: Rodák (Norman 45); Passley, Hutchinson, Casasola (Arthurworrey 59), Evans; Fazlic, Fotheringham; Na Bangna (O'Halloran 45), David, Eisfeld (Plumain 45); Smith



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/october/09/fulham-xi-3-3-cardiff?

[WhiteJC]

 
Barnsley Unsuccessful in Trotta Swoop!
   
Earlier this week the intimation was that Barnsley Football Club were going to increase their Fulham contingent.

The Yorkshire club were looking to add our Italian striker, Marcello Trotta to a squad that already contains Ryan Williams.

However, whilst the Tykes remained confident of sealing a deal it appears that Fulham had reservations.

Speaking about their lack of success in getting Trotta to Oakwell, the Barnsley Chief Executive, Ben Mansford has remarked,

'Marcello is someone we wanted to bring to the club and we had good dialogue with Fulham. But, for one reason or another, they felt things weren't right at their end and the deal is off."

We can only ponder why the loan deal didn`t go through!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=373124#ixzz3Fi7yFi3X

[WhiteJC]

 
Us or Schalke?
   
Rumours doing the rounds suggest that Fulham and Schalke are both eyeing up a possible January move for an exciting Italian youngster.

The youngster in question is Ferdinando Del Sole who is currently on the books of the Italian Serie B side, Pescara.

Del Sole plays on the left side and has overcome a rejection, at the age of 12, by AC Milan for being too slight.

However, he is fast maturing into an exciting talent with someone associated with his current club, Antonio Di Battista, remarking about the lad,

'He's one of our most talented youngsters.'

'He has great technical ability and a great sensitivity with the ball at his feet. For me he has always been a top level player."

'Del Sole is a natural left footer who is very versatile and can play alongside the strikers on in behind. His passion, hard work and humility are crucial.'

With Schalke, managed by Roberto Di Matteo now, also said to be interested it remains to be seen if he does move on in the January transfer window or whether he stays where he is.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=373126#ixzz3Fi879imz

[GoldCoastWhite]

"However, any prospective suitors may need to wait for Del Sole to mature as he was only born in 1989 and still needs to learn the ropes in his homeland before he is ready to play abroad."

Born in 89 makes him twenty four or twenty five ?  :49: