Friday Fulham Stuff (02/01/15)...

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Who can emulate Pavel Pogrebnyak and become Fulham's hat-trick hero against Wolves?

Russian striker plundered three back in 2012 as the Whites dealt out a thrashing


Hat-trick hero: Pavel Pogrebnyak
Fulham have had a topsy-turvy season this year as they have tried to adjust to life in the Championship.

Kit Symons will be hoping his side have a successful run in the FA Cup, starting with a third round home tie against Wolves on Saturday.

Two years ago Pavel Pogrebnyak scored a hat-trick as the Whites demolished Wolves 5-0 in the Premier League at Craven Cottage.


Battle: Wolves' Jamie O'Hara in action against Fulham's Danny Murphy
After the game Fulham manager Martin Jol, was full of praise for the Russian.

He said: "It's always nice to see players coming to England and coping with these stories about adjusting to England but right from the first training session he has looked strong.

"You need players who will give him the assists and then, as you can see, he scores with his right foot, his left foot and with his head."


Doubling up: Clint Dempsey
With Pogrebnyak and the rest of the squad who were present for the Cottagers having moved on and both teams now in the Championship, Fulham fans will be looking for a new hat-trick hero this weekend.

On Sunday 4 March 2012 Pogrebnyak, now playing for Reading, put the hosts ahead in the 36th minute after heading home Damien Duff's corner.

Just before half-time Kevin Foley was guilty of giving the ball away in his own half which lead to Fuham's second goal.


Match action: John Arne Riise against Ronald Zubar
Clint Dempsey played the ball out to Andy Johnson on the right, and his cross was met confidently by Pogrebnyak who beat Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey.

After the break, Danny Murphy's pass sliced open the Wolves defence and Dempsey ran onto it, before going round Hennessey and calmly converting.

Pogrebnyak completed his hat-trick mid-way through the second half after converting the rebound from a saved shot by Johnson.


Shipped five: Wolves' Wayne Hennessey in action
Recent Cottagers signing Mahamadou Diarra came on to set up Dempsey's second goal, who finished a superb flowing passing move to make it 5-0 and new Wolves boss Terry Connor, was condemned to a first crushing defeat.

Fulham's victory was the first time they had won three successive games since 2008, while Wolves conceded five goals for the second time in three to slip into the relegation zone.

The Whites went on to finish ninth in the Premiership whilst Wolves finished bottom of the league and were subsequently relegated to the Championship.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-can-emulate-pavel-pogrebnyak-8360326?

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Tunnicliffe Recalled

The Club can confirm that it has exercised a recall option in Ryan Tunnicliffe's loan contract with Blackburn Rovers, and the midfielder has now returned to Fulham.

During the first half of the 2014/15 season, Tunnicliffe made 17 appearances for Rovers and scored once – the equalising goal in a 2-2 draw with Watford.

The 22-year-old is not eligible to feature in Saturday's FA Cup Third Round tie with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Craven Cottage.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/january/01/tunnicliffe-recalled?

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Fulham recall Ryan

Ryan Tunnicliffe's loan spell with Rovers has ended today after he was recalled by his parent club Fulham.

The London side have exercised a clause in Tunnicliffe's loan contract to bring the midfielder back to Craven Cottage.

Signed on a season-long deal at the end of August, Tunnicliffe, who turned 22 on Tuesday, made 17 appearances for Rovers, scoring one goal.

Rovers would like to place on record their thanks to Ryan for his hard work and efforts during his time at the club, and wish him well for the future.



Read more at http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/ryan-tunnicliffe-blackburn-rovers-fulham-2174607.aspx#4R0sjV1jMd2uj3Ab.99

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Fulham and Millwall target move for versatile defender

Fulham, Millwall and Brighton are targeting a move for Nottingham Forest utility player Greg Halford, according to the Argus.

The 30-year-old defender spent the first half of this season on loan at the Seagulls, and he could be set to remain at the Amex Stadium if Forest and Brighton can arrange a deal.

However, Championship rivals Fulham and Millwall are also interested in the player who is notorious for his versatility.

Halford has played in literally every position on the pitch during his playing career, having had spells as a full-back, centre-back, midfielder and a striker.

The Chelmsford-born defender has been at Forest since 2012 and had gone on to make over 75 appearances for the Championship club.

Halford has an abundance of Football League experience, having had spells at Portsmouth, Wolves, Sheffield United, Charlton, Sunderland, Reading, Braintree Town and Colchester United.

New Brighton and Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton has hinted that he may re-sign Halford in the January transfer window, but is keeping an open mind in the window, saying to the Argus:

"You've always got your thoughts and targets but sometimes, with the players you would like or might be interested in, it's two different things in wanting them and getting them.

"I've used the time this season to watch a lot of games, mostly Championship games, so I'd like to think I know the division very well.

"We'll spend a lot of this month going through the targets we have and the targets that are already aligned here with the recruitment department."

Whoever captures Halford will obtain a player who can be utilised in an array of positions, and can provide adequate back-up to an injury.

But, it is unclear as to whether Nottingham Forest manager Stuart Pearce will want to let the defender leave in the window, and he could utilise the 30-year-old for the rest of the season.


http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-and-millwall-target-move-for-versatile-defender/?

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Symons believes Fulham could be FA Cup surprise package

Cottagers' boss looking to emulate his run as a player with Portsmouth in 1992

Kit Symons believes Fulham could be the surprise package of the FA Cup – and do what he did at Portsmouth 22 years ago.

The Whites manager points to the healthy tally of Championship sides reaching the latter stages of the game's most famous domestic competition, including the former centre-half's Pompey side.

Symons and co on the south coast took the mighty Liverpool to a semi-final replay in 1992 and only missed out on a Wembley showcase by the sudden death of a penalty shoot-out.

The manager reckons this could be Fulham's season to reach their first semi-final in 12 years, provided they get off to a good start against Wolves on Saturday and reverse the home defeat inflicted by Kenny Jackett's men in August.

"I love the tradition of the FA Cup – it's a fantastic competition," said Symons.

"You say we'll never win it, but in my first full season with Portsmouth we got to the semi-final as a Championship club, drew 1-1 and 0-0 and lost on penalties.

"Had we won, we would have played another second string side in either Norwich or Sunderland, and it's not as if we've got a lot of midweek games in January – they come in February.

"There will be plenty of time to recover from Monday's game and we'll treat the cup with the respect it deserves."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/symons-believes-fulham-could-fa-8362415?

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Rovers Lose Tunnicliffe To Fulham Recall
   
Blackburn Rovers might've completed the signing of one player at the start of the year, however, we've lost the services of Ryan Tunnicliffe.

When we signed the twenty-two-year-old on loan from Fulham in August we did this on a season-long loan, however, when January arrived both parties had the option to reassess this loan and end it if either wanted.

Rovers were keen to keep the midfielder but Fulham (with Manager Kit Symons expressing this desire sometime ago) had other ideas and confirmed his recall on New Year's Day so he's now back at Craven Cottage after seventeen appearances for Rovers and one goal.

It's a shame that we couldn't keep him for the second half of the season but Fulham were well within their rights to recall the former Manchester United youngster, who I'll wish well for the remainder of the season and his career.

Maybe we'll see him return to Ewood Park (for us) in the future??


Read more: http://www.blackburn.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=382425#ixzz3NeRyQmVi