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

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Bryan Ruiz Statement

The Club received a very good offer from Levante UD for Bryan to join them on loan until the end of the season.

Following a conversation with Bryan, he was interested in this arrangement.

The loan agreement is still subject, however, to international clearance and the move cannot be confirmed yet.

As soon as further details are available, an announcement will be made on fulhamfc.com.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/january/31/bryan-ruiz-statement

[WhiteJC]

 
Ruiz Leaves Fulham
   
It is looking very much as if Bryan Ruiz has departed Craven Cottage for warmer climes.

Yesterday there was speculation that the Costa Rican could be heading back to the Premier League with a switch to Swansea.

However, that now looks as that suggestion was a red herring with it now being reported that, pending FIFA clearance, Ruiz has in fact joined the Spanish outfit, Levante, on a six moth loan.

Levante have issued a statement that reads,

"Levante have signed Bryan Ruiz with the LFP, pending the authorization of FIFA, after Fulham and Levante reached a loan agreement for the player until the end of the season."

Which would suggest we`ll not see the talented Ruiz in a Fulham shirt again.

If that`s the case I`d like to wish Ruiz well as he looks to continue his career elsewhere.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=386676#ixzz3QQNfKxQA

[WhiteJC]

 
Passley can solve right-back issue

Josh Passley will be given the chance to nail down the Pompey right-back spot during his loan spell.

The Fulham defender arrived on a one-month youth loan on Thursday and was expected to go straight into the Pompey side for today's League Two trip to table-topping Wycombe.

Adam Webster has filled the role for the past five games but boss Andy Awford believes he is better suited to a central defensive role.

Matt Fish, Joe Devera and Alex Wynter have also been used at right-back this term, but Awford felt the position needed a specialist.

'It's an area that we have never really nailed,' said Awford.

'We've had Alex Wynter, Joe Devera, Matt Fish and then Webbo (Webster) recently. That is too many.

'Webbo has done alright recently but he is a centre-half so am I doing him a disservice playing him at right-back all the time?

'Josh is athletic, he's attacking, he's young and he's got good energy.

'He's not an experienced pro but he is a right-back and I felt we needed that.'

Awford sought the views of his old centre-back partner, Kit Symons, who is now Fulham boss, and also spoke to Shrewsbury manager Micky Mellon after a recent loan spell.

Awford said: 'Kit likes him. It's a big jump from development football to the Championship.

'He went to Shrewsbury and I spoke to Micky Mellon, who spoke very well about him, too. So we will have a look at him for a month and then take it from there.'

Meanwhile, young Blues forward Brad Tarbuck has joined Southern League outfit Dorchester Town on a month's loan.

Miles Storey, whose loan spell with Pompey ended recently, has joined League Two rivals Newport County on loan from Swindon.


http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/passley-can-solve-right-back-issue-1-6554275

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Blackburn 2 v 1 Fulham

Blackburn Rovers boosted their play-off hopes with an entertaining win over Fulham at Ewood Park.

Ben Marshall scored with Rovers' first meaningful attack as poor defending allowed him to power into the area and finish low.

The visitors had chances with Jazz Richards, Cauley Woodrow and Lasse Vigen Christensen all going close.

Jordan Rhodes headed home to double the lead before Ross McCormack's second-half strike gave the Cottagers hope.

And while both teams pushed for a late goal, none came, meaning ninth-placed Blackburn keep their faint play-off hopes alive by moving to within eight points of the top six.

Fulham, who drop down to 15th, created the fist chance of the afternoon as on-loan Swansea defender Richards' well-struck shot was saved well by Jason Steele.

Winger Marshall then opened the scoring when he pounced on some slack defending, driving a shot under goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli for his seventh goal of the season.

Striker Woodrow had an excellent chance to equalise for the Cottagers, but his early shot early was well wide, before Rovers winger Craig Conway struck the post with a curling effort from the edge of the area.

Rhodes ends drought
Jordan Rhodes ended his six-game streak without a goal - the last time he scored was also the last time Blackburn won in the Championship, on 20 December against Charlton

Rhodes went close with a couple of headers in the second half, before his flick from Marcus Olsson's delivery took him to 10 goals this term.

Woodrow hit the crossbar with a powerful drive, as Kit Symons' side pushed forward, and while McCormack pulled one back from close range when he took down Christensen's cross and rifled into the bottom corner, they failed to find a leveller.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30963018

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U18 REPORT: Fulham 2-0 Southampton

Southampton Under-18s slipped to their first defeat in four games, going down at Fulham on Saturday.

Anthony Limbrick's side – who had seen off West Ham, Everton and Arsenal in their previous three outings – headed into the Barclays Under-18 Premier League game at Motspur Park full of confidence.

But, amid blustery conditions in west London, a first-half double from Aaron Redford handed the Cottagers the points as attentions turn to Saints' big FA Youth Cup fifth round tie with Leicester City at St Mary's on Thursday.

The visitors, for whom goalkeeper Harry Isted and last weekend's matchwinner Carel Kayembe both started, were a touch slow off the mark in the opening exchanges, with Fulham's dangerous wideman Stephen Humphrys keeping right-back Richard Bakary busy.

The Whites almost took the lead after ten minutes, too, as towering centre half Elijah Adebayo nodded goalwards, but captain Armani Little was well placed to hack away from underneath his own crossbar.

It took until the 21st minute for Saints to register their first effort on target as Olufela Olomola shot straight at Magnus Norman and, at the other end, Isted got down well to deny strong-running forward Redford a deadlock-breaker.

Not long after, however, the hosts seized the advantage. Redford's persistence allowed him to dispossess winger Harley Willard on the edge of the box before driving goalwards and dinking delicately over the onrushing Isted, giving his team a 27th-minute lead.

Six minutes later it they made it two. Centre-half Ollie Cook – otherwise dogged in the face of heavy pressure – was adjudged to have felled Redford en route to goal. The decision was hotly disputed by Southampton's backline but, once the referee had quelled the protests, Redford stepped up to smash the spot-kick into the roof of the net, leaving returning custodian Isted with no chance of saving it.

Despite the two-goal deficit, Saints did manage to make a good fist of it after the restart. After Humphrys and Josh Walker squandered decent chances for the Whites, some incisive play on the counter involving Kayembe and Willard gave powerful frontman Olomola a sight of goal. He turned and fired goalwards, only to see his effort cannon back off the post and into the path of Willard, who then blazed over the crossbar as Limbrick's youngsters sought a way back into the game.

Alfie Jones, who was occupying a holding midfield role, tried his luck from range, but his strike flew high and wide. Southampton threw on Joe Lea and Callum Slattery with the clock ticking down in the hope that they could muster a late reply, but in the end there was to be no repeat of the 4-0 drubbing of the Cottagers that was handed out by Limbrick's side back in October.

Fulham Under-18s: Magnus Norman, Ryheem Sheckleford, Tayo Edun, Shane Edworthy, Elijah Adebayo, Foday Nabay, Stephen Humphrys, Josh Smile, Aaron Redford (Ryan Sessegnon 83), Lucas De La Torre, Josh Walker (Ravin Shamsi 63).

Unused substitutes: Josh Lukwata, Marlon Fossey.

Goals: Reford (27, penalty 33)

Southampton Under-18s: Harry Isted, Richard Bakary, Kyle Clinton, Ollie Cook, Josh Debayo, Alfie Jones, Carel Kayembe (Callum Slattery 60), Armani Little (c) (Joe Lea 60), Olufela Olomola, Harley Willard, Marcus Barnes.

Unused substitutes: Jake Hallett, Dan Demkiv.



Read more at http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20150131-under-18-report-fulham-2-0-southampton-2238556.aspx#8BAW465YBzMoPfH1.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham beaten despite McCormack strike

Blackburn Rovers 2 Fulham 1

Fulham were unable to salvage a draw despite a battling display and edging possession in an open game.

Both sides created decent chances throughout, but the Whites trailed 2-0 to Ben Marshall's strike and a Jordan Rhodes header.

Ross McCormack made it 2-1 from close range before the hosts withstood some late pressure to hold on.

Fulham threatened first with home keeper Jason Steele making a fine save from an Ashley Richards shot after good work by McCormack.

But Rovers went ahead when Marshall took advantage of some uncertain defending and scored with a neat low strike.

Rhodes could have made it 2-0 soon after but volleyed straight at keeper Marcus Bettinelli.

The visitors were enjoying plenty of possession and had two decent opportunities to level, Cauley Woodrow making a mess of a good shooting chance and McCormack smashing a shot over the bar.

Both sides were creating openings and Craig Conway was unlucky not to double the lead with a shot that hit the outside of the post.

And Blackburn did go 2-0 ahead after the break when a cross from Markus Olsson found Rhodes, who notched his 10th goal of the season with a powerful header.

Woodrow almost replied instantly, rattling the bar with a shot from inside the box after good work by Lasse Vigen Christensen.

But the Whites were not to be denied for long, with more good work by Christensen teeing up a simple finish for an unmarked McCormack – his fifth goal in five games.

McCormack had the ball in the net as Fulham pressed for an equaliser, but he was denied by an offside flag as Rovers held on.

Fulham(4-1-2-3): Bettinelli; Richards, Hutchinson, Bodurov, Stafylidis; Parker (Fofana 83); Tunnicliffe, Christensen; Woodrow (Dembele 75), Rodallega (Kacaniklic 62), McCormack.
Subs not used: Kiraly, Burn, Grimmer, Roberts.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-beaten-despite-mccormack-strike?

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Fulham boss believes his side "deserved something" from Blackburn Rovers defeat

Fulham manager Kit Symons has said that his side deserved something from their Championship clash with Blackburn Rovers, after they lost 2-1 at Ewood Park.

Goals from Jordan Rhodes and Ben Marshall gave Blackburn the three points, putting an end to a strong recent run for Symons and his team.

He told the Fulham website: "I'm very, very disappointed because we deserved something out of that game. We put in a good shift and played some good football at times so it's a tough one to take.

"But that's football, we've been there before and we'll be there again. But I'm proud of my players, the performance was good and I thought they played well so I've got no complaints with them. It just wasn't to be our day."

Fulham host Birmingham City next weekend.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/symons-we-didnt-deserve-to-lose_202549.html

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Manager Reaction

Kit Symons believes Fulham deserved at least a point from Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

The Whites created plenty of chances at Ewood Park but found themselves 2-0 down after goals in each half from Ben Marshall and Jordan Rhodes. Ross McCormack did find the net in the 66th-minute but his strike proved no more than a consolation as the Whites dropped down to 15th in the table.

"That's how football can go sometimes - we needed to take our chances," said Symons afterwards. "We created quite a few opportunities but you need to take them when they come along.

"I'm very, very disappointed because we deserved something out of that game. We put in a good shift and played some good football at times so it's a tough one to take. But that's football; we've been there before and we'll be there again. But I'm proud of my players; the performance was good and I thought they played well so I've got no complaints with them. It just wasn't to be our day."

Fulham had more possession than their hosts but failed to turn that into the stat that matters the most – goals.

Symons continued:  "Our build-up play was good. But they were two very poor goals to concede from our point of view; you let them in and you've got a mountain to climb. But the overall play was solid."

Despite the defeat, Symons was keen to focus on the positives from his side's performance.

"We've come a long way in a relatively sort space of time and this team is developing all the time," he said. "There's room for improvement without a doubt but it's coming. I've got high hopes for this group of players, I believe in them massively and they're starting to believe in themselves. Today was a tough one to take but it won't dampen what we do or my belief in the way we work."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/january/31/manager-reaction

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First defeat in five for Fulham at Blackburn

Whites go down at Ewood Park despite another McCormack goal


With vigour: Lasse Vigen Christensen challenges Jay Spearing
Blackburn Rovers 2 Fulham 1

Another Ross McCormack strike was not enough to prevent Fulham slipping to a first defeat in five games this afternoon.

McCormack, hat-trick hero against Nottingham Forest 10 days ago, pulled one back after Blackburn stormed into a two-goal lead, but the hosts held on to take the points.

The striker was one of three players resorted to the starting XI, along with Hugo Rodallega and Scott Parker, while Jazz Richards was handed a debut at right-back, and Bryan Ruiz was left out ahead of a potential loan move to Spain.

Blackburn took the lead with their first chance of the game on 12 minutes when Ben Marshall closed down Nikolay Bodurov, and the ball fell kindly for him in the box to slot home.

It could easily have been 2-0 on 25 minutes when Craig Conway bent in a brilliant strike from the left that had Marcus Bettinelli beaten, but crashed against the far post.

Chris Brown then headed into the side-netting from Conway's deep cross, while Lasse Vigen Christensen connected with Kostas Stafylidis' cross at the other end, but his header dropped just wide of the near post.

Barely a minute into the second half , Jordan Rhodes headed wide from Markus Olsson's cross, but just after the hour mark they did double their advantage when Rhodes got ahead of Shaun Hutchinson to glance in another centre from Olsson.

Woodrow almost brought his side back into the game when his fierce strike came back off crossbar, but a matter of minutes later, Christensen's low cross found McCormack unmarked at the far post for the simplest of finishes.

McCormack then had the ball in the back of the net again, but the offside flag cut short his celebrations, and it was the hosts who came closest to scoring again when Bettinelli had to beat away a strike from Conway, and Rhodes headed the rebound over the bar.

WHITES: Bettinelli, Richards, Hutchinson, Bodurov, Stafylidis, Tunnicliffe, Parker (Fofana 83), Christensen, Woodrow (Dembele 75), Rodallega (Kacaniklic 62), McCormack. Subs not used: Kiraly, Roberts, Burn, Grimmer.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/first-defeat-five-fulham-blackburn-8555906?

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Sunderland likely to rest goal hero Defoe in Fulham FA Cup replay

JERMAIN Defoe is likely to get a breather for Tuesday's FA Cup fourth round replay at Fulham, despite opening his Sunderland account.

January signing Defoe grabbed his first Sunderland goal in today's crucial victory over Burnley, as the Black Cats moved four points clear of the drop zone with only their second Premier League victory of the campaign at the Stadium of Light.

Defoe has started each of Sunderland's three games since arriving from MLS side Toronto FC, but Gus Poyet is conscious of a hectic fortnight, with the Black Cats facing a further four games in the next two weeks.



http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/sunderland-afc/sunderland-likely-to-rest-goal-hero-defoe-in-fulham-fa-cup-replay-1-7082593

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FC Twente sign Fulham midfielder on loan

FC Twente have announced the signing of Dutch midfielder Chris David from Fulham on loan until the end of the season.

David started his career in the FC Twente youth system, but decided to leave the club in 2013 to join Fulham, who were at the time coached by Dutchman Martin Jol.

The 21 year-old has failed to hold down a place in the Fulham first team and has only made seven appearances for the Championship side this season.

Twente boss Alfred Schreuder told the clubs official site, "Its nice that we can add Chris to the selection. We know him well."

"In consultation with both clubs, he decided that it was better for his development that he finishes the season at FC Twente."

Twente also confirmed that their is an option in the deal which allows them to purchase David at the end of the season.



http://www.football-oranje.com/fc-twente-sign-fulham-midfielder-loan/?

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Sunderland fans should not read too much into Gus Poyet's post-Fulham comments

Gus Poyet's comments after last weekend's draw against Fulham caused a stir, but Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips understands how he feels

Gus Poyet's comments after the draw against Fulham last weekend raised eyebrows – and a few hackles – on Wearside.

Anything that can be viewed as criticism of the fans is dangerous territory for a manager to tread.

And it is easy to see why supporters did not appreciate being told they are 'living in the past' because they yearn for the days when myself and Niall Quinn were playing.

I don't know about living in the past, but I can certainly understand why they would want to turn the clock back to a time when the club finished seventh for two seasons running.

I spent six years at Sunderland and I know all about the magnificent support up there, and how fiercely loyal they are.

They have put up with a lot in recent years, and the club's home record – just two wins, and only one of those in the league – means there has been precious little for them to cheer this season.

So I think they have every right to vent their frustration at full time after seeing their team held to a goalless draw by Championship Fulham in the FA Cup.

But I don't think Poyet set out to have a pop at the fans last week.

He was venting his frustrations, too.

Poyet does not need telling that the fans are feeling let down by their team's performances and results at home.

And you can bet he was just as unhappy at the way his team had played against Fulham, he was probably annoyed at the way Jack Rodwell had got himself sent off, and then he had to front up to the media and answer difficult questions.

Just like the Sunderland supporters, Poyet wants to see his side play good football, score goals, and win games.

That has not happened for a long time in the Premier League, and probably not on a consistent basis since myself and Niall were still playing – and we left nearly 12 years ago!

No wonder the fans are hungry for success.

Given Sunderland's home record, it may have seemed a bit rich for Poyet to ask for patience.

And yet we all accept there are no quick fixes.

I back Poyet, and what he is trying to do at Sunderland.

Yes, it's taking longer than he expected to impose his footballing philosophy at the club, but I believe it will be worth it in the end.

Signing Jermain Defoe is a big step in the right direction, and as long as Poyet can keep Sunderland out of relegation danger this season, hopefully he will be able to add more of his own signings in the summer.

But in the meantime he needs to keep the fans onside.

That is not just a question of saying the right things.

It's about getting results.

Win games, and the rest is easy.

When results are going against you, however, you need everyone pulling in the same direction to get back on course.


http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-fans-should-not-read-8554272?

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HARRISON PATON SIGNS TO FULHAM FC

Beswicks Sports is thrilled to announce that Harrison Paton has completed his move to Fulham FC.  Paton who is sixteen years-old has been at Motspur Park since the summer awaiting his international clearance after a successful trial period in early 2014.  Harry will join Fulham FC's highly successful academy program as a scholar and will look emulate Beswicks Sports other Fulham academy graduate Lasse Vigen-Christensen's progression into the first team.  Harry is also a Canadian youth international and will look to lead Canada's U17 team during CONCACAF World Cup qualifying next month.  All the best from us all at Beswicks Sports.


http://www.beswickssports.com/news/harrison-paton-signs-to-fulham-fc