Sunday Fulham Stuff (12/10/14)...

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Fulham Ask for Schwarzer Loan?
   
Over at the Daily Express they`re suggesting that Fulham Football Club have made moves to bring a former favourite back to Craven Cottage.

For some strange reason, even though Bettinelli and Kiraly have provided excellent coverage between the posts, they`re suggesting that Fulham have approached Chelsea with a view to bringing Mark Schwarzer back on a season long loan deal.

They`re also suggesting that the deal was turned down flat by Chelsea Football Club who don`t want to lose the 42 year-old Australian even though they have ample cover between the posts with Thibaut Courtois and Petr Cech.

Personally, I`m trying to work out if the suggestion is based on fact or is merely the figment of a journalists` over-active imagination!

What are your views on the subject matter?


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=373252#ixzz3FrOWxD4Y

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Roberts Stars for U19 Side
   
Domestic football may, at our level, be on hold, but several of our squad are still very active.

Last night Patrick Roberts was part of the England U19 side that took on their Belarus counter-parts in the opening game of an U19 tournament that ends in Greece next summer.

Roberts had a more than decent game, scoring England`s second goal in the 53rd minute and earning a penalty in the 63rd minute that was scored by a fellow team-mate Bradley Fewster, as England triumphed 3-0.

Next up is a clash with Luxembourg tomorrow before a final group game against Belgium.

Here at Vital Fulham we`d like to wish the England U19 youngsters every success and all the luck in the world.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=373258#ixzz3FrOl1dxV

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U18 REPORT: Southampton 4-0 Fulham

A Marcus Barnes hat-trick ensured Saints Under-18s cruised to a resounding 4-0 win over Fulham at Staplewood on Saturday morning.

The striker's header and two close-range finishes, coupled with a well-guided nod from Callum Slattery, sealed a comfortable win for the hosts – their first of the season.

Southampton began brightly, Josh Sims cutting inside from the left flank in the third minute to hit a fizzing, 20-yard effort that rose narrowly above the crossbar.

Fulham threatened to open the scoring themselves in an eventful start to the game when Lucas De La Torre slid through for Stephen Humphreys, whose shot was parried by Harry Isted.

The Cottagers were made to rue a failure to convert the more inviting chance as Barnes chalked a first in the 11th minute. The striker rose well to meet Harley Willard's corner and nod home at the near post.

The tempo slowed somewhat, with neither side troubling the opposition too much – Armani Little resorting to a speculative, prevented 30-yard shot shortly after the half-hour point highlighted that.

The restart brought a much fiercer tempo once again as Mattias Kait looked to level with a low shot that was dragged narrowly beyond Isted's far post after the former had surged into the area.

Reminiscent of the manner in which Saints' first goal came, a second came off the back of another Fulham chance as Josh Debayo's cross was met with a Slattery header into the near corner.

The visitors were nearly victims of another headed goal on the hour mark but they managed to get in the way of Niall Mason's back-post attempt, only to see Barnes tuck in a deflected rebound.

The striker was denied his third when a clever Slattery flick opened space for him to hit a shot that came off the leg of a sliding challenge, sending it curling inches around the post in agonising fashion.

Barnes was then afforded a glorious opportunity to complete his hat-trick soon after when Fulham cheaply surrendered possession to Sims, who pulled back for Saints' number-nine to slot in from close range.

Southampton U18s: Harry Isted, Niall Mason, Ollie Cook, Kyle Clinton, Josh Debayo, Armani Little (Colm Deasy 75), Joe Lea, Callum Slattery (Stuart Wilkin 83), Josh Sims, Harley Willard, Marcus Barnes (Olufela Olomola 72). Unused substitutes: Neal Osborn, Mark Irvine.

Goals: Barnes (11, 60, 67), Slattery (52)

Fulham U18s: Magnus Norman, Shane Elworthy, Adetayo Edyn (Ravin Shamsi 70), Elijah Adebayo, Ryheem Sheckleford (c), Foday Nabay, Joshua Smile (Marlon Fossey 70), Lucas De La Torre (Dennis Adeniran 70), Mattias Kait, Stephen Humphreys Josh James Walker. Unused substitutes: Taye Ashby-Hammond, Darren Junior Buffonge.



Read more at http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20141011-saints-u18s-4-0-fulham-report-2010344.aspx#PgjATzVY13jbMdEH.99

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Interview Special: Jol on Tottenham, Fulham, Levy, Comolli, Bale and more

Former Tottenham and Fulham manager Martin Jol joined Matchday Live to look back across his career in England so far.

The Dutch boss discussed, amongst many things, his appointment and his success at Spurs before he was cruelly sacked in 2007 and lifts the lid on his relationship with chairman Daniel Levy.

And Jol also talks about his time at Craven Cottage and reveals what he felt went wrong during his time in west London.


Read more at http://talksport.com/football/interview-special-jol-tottenham-fulham-levy-comolli-bale-and-more-141011118378#Lfk2zVoOZQkOEy8B.99

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Report: US national team to face Croatia at London's Craven Cottage in November

How about a week-long vacation in the British Isles?

That's what US national team supporters might be entertaining after the Croatian soccer federation on Saturday revealed that it would be playing the USMNT in an international friendly on Wednesday, Nov. 12 in London's Craven Cottage.

U.S. Soccer confirmed to the Washington Post on Saturday that it was in talks with the Croatian federation about a game, but that two sides have not reached a deal to confirm the date. USSF has already announced a Tuesday, Nov. 18 friendly against Robbie Keane and the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

The latest reported matcup would not only be one between two teams who reached the World Cup this summer - the US are currently ranked No. 17 in the world and Croatia No. 19 - but it has an even greater significance for Croatian supporters. The nation's first-ever international match came on October 17, 1990 against the USA, a 2-1 Croatia victory in Zagreb (WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS HERE).

"I am extremely glad to have reached an agreement with my colleagues from US Soccer," said Croatian federation president Davor Suker in a statement published on the federation's official site. "We are all aware what the 1990 match signified for Croatia and Croatian football. Nearly a quarter of a century later, USA has an excellent squad, their football is expanding and this encounter will promote both US and Croatian football."

The MLS Cup Playoffs will break during the FIFA fixture dates scheduled for Nov. 10 - Nov. 18. The postseason resumes with the first leg of the conference championships on the weekend of Nov. 22-23.


http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/10/11/report-us-national-team-face-croatia-londons-craven-cottage-november?