Monday Fulham Stuff (13/10/14)...

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Carroll hails Fulham flop Mitroglou

Roy Carroll has warned his Northern Ireland team-mates there is plenty more to Kostas Mitroglou than his farcical Fulham stint suggested.

Michael O'Neill's side are flying high at the top of Group F having won their second Euro 2016 match in succession on Saturday, a 2-0 success over the Faroe Islands, but a tougher test awaits when they face top seeds Greece on Tuesday night.

The trip to Athens is a return to familiar territory for Carroll, who spent two years at Olympiacos before leaving this summer.

The 37-year-old goalkeeper, who made a brilliant penalty save to keep a clean sheet against the Faroes, will be coming up against a handful of former team-mates, including Mitroglou.

The striker arrived at Craven Cottage with an £11million price tag in January and the task of saving Fulham from Premier League relegation.

Instead, having struggled with injury, he fell short of Felix Magath's high physical standards and was largely treated as a pariah, starting just once and featuring from the bench twice more.

He was packed back off to Olympiacos on loan in August and announced his return with the winning goal in a Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid.

It is that Mitroglou that Carroll knows best, not the Fulham misfit.

"He's a quality player," said the veteran shot stopper.

"I know what he's like, he is a player who can score goals from anywhere, he could pop up in the first minute or last minute and score a goal against us.

"He needs good players around him, and when he was at Olympiacos he had good players around him and he scored goals in the league and in the Champions League, which proved how good he was.

"But he went to Fulham and it was very difficult because they were in a bad situation when he moved over and he got injured as well before he went. He was out for two months with a knee injury but he's back now and he's already scored a goal in the Champions League."

Carroll also has plenty of insight into the mentality of the Greek fans and believes Northern Ireland could take advantage of their fickle nature with a strong start.

"I know what fans in Greece are like and hopefully if we can keep them quiet they might turn on their players...the Greek fans can do that," he said.

"They are very passionate especially about their sports; football, basketball water polo, they live for their sports and if the players don't turn it on on Tuesday night they could turn on them.

"They could go either way, they could go crazy or they could be quiet, it depends on the game."

Carroll left Greece with a heavy heart but knew he had to look elsewhere when a change in management saw him shunted to third choice at Olympiacos.

An offer was on the table to join the coaching staff but instead he decided to return to English football, where he is now with Notts County, to keep his international ambitions alive.

"I enjoyed myself in Greece, two and a half years at a great club," he said.

"I'm looking forward to going back because I had great times there and I was disappointed to leave with the family settled but I needed to play more football so I could keep playing for Northern Ireland."


http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/carroll-hails-fulham-flop-mitroglou-645002.html?

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Walsall FC: Can you help an unheralded Midland footballer remember his FA Cup day of glory 52 years ago?

Ex-Walsall FC striker Norman Rowe was so overwhelmed by his shock late call-up for the clash that his memory of it is just a blur - now he is desperate your old footage


Norman Rowe playing for Walsall FC
Soccer ace Norman Rowe played in an FA Cup match in front of 33,000 cheering fans.

But the one-time Walsall FC striker can remember very little of his day of glory.

Norman was so overwhelmed by his shock late call-up for the clash that his memory of it is just a blur.

Now, at the age of 74, he hopes our readers may be able to come to the rescue.


Former Walsall FC forward Norman RoweFormer Walsall FC forward Norman Rowe 
Norman is appealing for any film clips of the FA Cup 4th round match between the Saddlers and Fulham at Craven Cottage on January 30, 1962.

Walsall drew 2-2 in London but lost the replay 0-2 at Fellows Park three days later.

Norman, who lives in Rowley Regis in the Black Country, was an unlikely centre forward for the crucial cup tie.

He modestly confesses that he was a fourth choice in the attacking line-up, only being picked because of injuries to other players.

What's more, he was also fielded out of position – he was normally a winger.


The team sheet which shows Norman Rowe starring for Walsall FCThe team sheet which shows Norman Rowe starring for Walsall FC 
"I was given only 24 hours' notice that I was playing," he said.

"The only thing I can remember about that day is getting off the coach at Craven Cottage. After that, nothing.

"I'm told I had a good match and that I almost scored.

"Apparently, we were attacking and when the Fulham defence cleared the ball, I fired in a shot which was goal-bound.

"But the Fulham centre-half tipped the ball over the bar and a penalty was awarded, from which we scored.

"I suppose that without my small contribution, we would have lost the match."

Sadly, hopes of FA glory were to be dashed in the replay back in the Midlands.

Halesowen-born Norman started playing football with Halesowen Town Reserves and was on the books of both Arsenal and Aston Villa as an amateur before joining Walsall FC as a professional in 1958, at the age of 19.

He played for the Saddlers for three seasons before leaving for non-league football, including stints with Nuneaton Borough, Matlock Town, Redditch United and Leamington. He carried on playing as an amateur until he was 37, when he was with Tividale FC.

Norman went on to coaching and, still fit as a fiddle, now referees at a decent level, officiating in as many as four matches a week.

Of his day of FA Cup glory day, Norman recalled: "I was drafted in because of my record in the Walsall reserves – I'd scored 27 goals in 29 appearances.

"Fulham, then in the top flight, were a formidable side. They had Alan Mullery and Johnny Haynes playing for them.

"It was the highlight of my football career. I have newspaper cuttings of the match but I would love to have some moving images of the match so I can show my family. Of course, there was no video in those days and matches were not routinely shown on TV. But, you never know, there might be some cinefilm footage out there.

"I have been in touch with both Walsall FC and Fulham and have been told they have nothing in their archives. It is very frustrating."

After quitting professional football, Norman worked in the brick and tile industry and fully retired only two years ago.

The Baggies fan – married with two sons – summed up: "Football has been my life – and it still is."

If you can help Norman ring our newsdesk on 0121 234 5269.


http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/walsall-fc-can-you-help-7921332?

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Kostas Mitroglou was a flop at Fulham but Northern Ireland should be wary of Greek striker, says former team-mate Roy Carroll
Carroll played two seasons alongside Mitroglou at Olympiacos
Striker has been in excellent form for Greek club

Roy Carroll has warned his Northern Ireland team-mates there is plenty more to Kostas Mitroglou than his farcical Fulham stint suggested.

Michael O'Neill's side are flying high at the top of Group F having won their second Euro 2016 match in succession on Saturday, a 2-0 success over the Faroe Islands, but a tougher test awaits when they face top seeds Greece on Tuesday night.

The trip to Athens is a return to familiar territory for Carroll, who spent two years at Olympiacos before leaving this summer.


Northern Ireland goalkeeper Roy Carroll spent two years alongside Kostas Mitroglou at Olympiacos

The 37-year-old goalkeeper, who made a brilliant penalty save to keep a clean sheet against the Faroes, will be coming up against a handful of former team-mates, including Mitroglou.

The striker arrived at Craven Cottage with an £11million price tag in January and the task of saving Fulham from Premier League relegation.

Instead, having struggled with injury, he fell short of Felix Magath's high physical standards and was largely treated as a pariah, starting just once and featuring from the bench twice more.

He was packed back off to Olympiacos on loan in August and announced his return with the winning goal in a Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid.

It is that Mitroglou that Carroll knows best, not the Fulham misfit.

"He's a quality player," said the veteran shot stopper.


Mitroglou (right) had a difficult spell at Fulham this year and could not adapt to the regime of Felix Magath

"I know what he's like, he is a player who can score goals from anywhere, he could pop up in the first minute or last minute and score a goal against us.

"He needs good players around him, and when he was at Olympiacos he had good players around him and he scored goals in the league and in the Champions League, which proved how good he was.

"But he went to Fulham and it was very difficult because they were in a bad situation when he moved over and he got injured as well before he went. He was out for two months with a knee injury but he's back now and he's already scored a goal in the Champions League."

Carroll also has plenty of insight into the mentality of the Greek fans and believes Northern Ireland could take advantage of their fickle nature with a strong start.

"I know what fans in Greece are like and hopefully if we can keep them quiet they might turn on their players...the Greek fans can do that," he said.

"They are very passionate especially about their sports; football, basketball water polo, they live for their sports and if the players don't turn it on on Tuesday night they could turn on them.

"They could go either way, they could go crazy or they could be quiet, it depends on the game."

Carroll left Greece with a heavy heart but knew he had to look elsewhere when a change in management saw him shunted to third choice at Olympiacos.

An offer was on the table to join the coaching staff but instead he decided to return to English football, where he is now with Notts County, to keep his international ambitions alive.

"I enjoyed myself in Greece, two and a half years at a great club," he said.

"I'm looking forward to going back because I had great times there and I was disappointed to leave with the family settled but I needed to play more football so I could keep playing for Northern Ireland."


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2789918/kostas-mitroglou-flop-fulham-northern-ireland-wary-greek-striker-says-former-team-mate-roy-carroll.html#ixzz3Fx8GkoaP
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Roberts on Target for England U19`s (Again)
   
For the second successive match as the England U19 side attempt to qualify for the finals in Greece next summer, Patrick Roberts got on the score-sheet.

Roberts, as England romped to an 8-0 win over Luxembourg, scored a brace as England closed in on a top two finish in the group to ensure qualification.

The U19 side now wait for the final group fixture, against Belgium, to confirm their qualification for the summer finals.

For the record books the other scorers were Brandon Barker (2), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (2), Charlie Colkett (1) and Bradley Brewster (1).


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=373366#ixzz3FzbuZRml