Tuesday Fulham Stuff (03/03/15)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Fixture Outlook: Matches 35-37 - Watford, Bournemouth, Sheffield Wednesday

As we approach the end of Fulham's first Championship season, we countdown the matches - 3 at a time. Helping me predict the Whites' scores are: Tom (@DareToLVC) and Emma (@emma_crook) Feel free to comment your predictions down below... This week: Watford, Bournemouth, Sheffield Wednesday

Match 35/46

Tue 3 Mar 2015

17:45 vs Watford

Vicarage Road (Away)

Has Kit Symons finally dug his claws in? A brand new mentality against top of the league Derby County led to a convincing, yet shocking 2-0 victory. The players seemed to understand what to do on the pitch, and how to treat themselves off it as well. Cauley Woodrow said 'we knew we were going to win'. Symons' theory will, for the second time, be put to the test against a fourth-placed Watford side, who host the Whites in very good condition. 10 goals in their last 4 league games mean the in-form side will be all the more confident about securing a result against a Fulham side who find themselves 22nd in the form guides. However, this match presents a chance for Kit Symons to prove his side can be consistent, that a win against Derby is just the beginning and the Whites can push on from that win. It will be a tough ask... and most likely a bridge too far. Maybe a shock on the cards?

Ethan predicts: Watford 2-0 Fulham

Tom predicts: Watford 1-1 Fulham

Emma predicts: Watford 2-1 Fulham

Match 36/46

Fri 6 Mar 2015

20:00 vs Bournemouth

Craven Cottage (Home)

Another tough match comes immediately after Fulham's visit to Watford; the team that's been proving the bookmakers wrong all season - Bournemouth. However, a recent dip in form may give the Whites a chance as the club have only gained 3 points from their last 5 league games - the same as Fulham. However, they have faced far harder opposition and still look like an incredibly strong outfit, maybe even a challenger for an automatic promotion spot. They are currently 5th in the league standings and are truly prolific, netting 67 goals this season. With their sharp pass and move football and brilliance on the wing, AFC look simply unbeatable for a Fulham side who lack the defensive abilities required in this kind of match. What will impact this game most is undoubtedly the period between Tuesday nights matches and Friday, both vital for recovering fitness.

Ethan predicts: Fulham 1-3 Bournemouth

Tom predicts: Fulham 1-1 Bournemouth

Emma predicts: Fulham 0-2 Bournemouth

Match 37/46

Sat 14 Mar 2015

15:00 vs Sheffield Wednesday

Hillsborough Stadium (Away)

After last time's 4-0 demolition of Sheffield by Fulham, one may anticipate a one-sided tie. But the Championship is an ever changing league, and one which takes no prisoners... Any complacency shown by the Fulham players will be punished. Sheffield Wednesday find themselves enjoying a 2 match win streak, and while that may sound petty, a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough seems incredibly impressive. The club have turned the form book on it's head, and instead of finding themselves in a relegation scrap, are now chasing down a Play-Off position. And that is far from impossible, the club are in 10th place and just 14 points off the all important 6th place. And we all know 14 points in the Championship isn't as far off as it sounds. Meanwhile after 2 incredibly tough fixtures, Fulham can dedicate 8 days to working hard in preparation for this match, which will in no doubt be a hard fought fixture away from home.

Ethan predicts: Sheff Wed 1-1 Fulham

Tom predicts: Sheff Wed 1-1 Fulham

Emma predicts: Sheff Wed 2-2 Fulham

Total Points Haul

Ethan: 1 point

Tom: 3 points

Emma: 1 point

Note: Congratulations to the 21 of you who successfully predicted we would gain 4 points from our matches against Millwall, Wolves and Derby. Though I'm not convinced any of you were expecting 3 of those points to come from the Derby match.


http://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2015/3/2/8134729/fulham-fixture-outlook-matches-35-37-watford-bournemouth-sheffield

[WhiteJC]

 
OPPOSITION IN FOCUS: Fulham

All you need to know about tonight's opponents Fulham
FORMER Premier League stalwarts Fulham bounced back from a six-game winless run in the Championship by beating table-toppers Derby on Saturday.

Kit Symons' men are now eight points above the drop zone, after an impressive 2-0 win over the Rams, thanks to goals from Nikolay Bodurov and Cauley Woodrow.

Although the majority of the Cottagers' playing squad are developing and a burgeoning bunch, the side do have some experienced older faces in their ranks that Symons will be hoping can keep them out of trouble – including tonight at Vicarage Road.

Accomplished Cottagers Key to Salvaging Season

Captain SCOTT PARKER has had a career laden with top flight appearances and was even on the verges of the England squad back in 2013. Renowned for his energy and work-rate in the centre of the field, the battling midfielder possesses all the necessary qualities that Symons' side requires.

Parker has made 30 appearances so far this season, scoring three times, and the 34-year-old will be key to ensuring the side survives in this division.

Another player with top-flight experience is striker HUGO RODELLGA. The Colombian striker has found the net 11 times so far this campaign and his goals will be vital if the Cottagers are to preserve their Championship status.

Goalkeeper Marcos Bettinelli revealed recently that the striker had stepped up his game in order to keep the youngsters in the squad on the bench. Symons has the youthful duo of Cauley Woodrow and Moussa Dembele waiting in the wings, but the striker's form looked to have cemented him a place in the starting line-up each week prior to a recent leg injury.

Having made the £11million switch from Leeds United to West London in the summer, ROSS McCORMACK will also need to be at his best for Symons' side to survive.

Having managed 10 goals so far for his new side this season, he managed to find the net 28 times last year for his old employers in Yorkshire, and the striker is far too good to be involved in a relegation battle – it will undoubtedly be a scenario he's keen to avoid.

We've Met Before: Previous Encounters

Watford ran out comfortable 5-0 winners when the sides last met back in early December in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

A first-half goal from Almen Abdi and a brace from Troy Deeney – the first being a penalty – gave the 'Orns an impressive 3-0 lead at the break.

A stunner from Abdi and a hat-trick goal for the skipper followed in the second period to end the Hornets' run of four defeats in emphatic fashion. That win at Craven Cottage was the 'Orns' first over Fulham for 17 years.

View from the Cottage

Thomas McIlory – Chief Sports Reporter at Radio Jackie – gives his view on the Whites' season so far...

"The season's been a strange one to assess really. If you look at it from how most Fulham fans were expecting it to go in pre-season, it's been a huge disappointment. But after the awful start under Felix Magath, staying up is an achievement – it did seem for a while that we wouldn't get a win. But looking back on the season so far, at the beginning we were woefully underprepared for life in the Championship and the aim this season now is really to stay up and build from there with the aim of going up in the next season or two.

"The real problem has been a lack of Championship experience. In the squad that started the season, only Ross McCormack and Dan Burn had recent experience in this league.

"Alex Kacaniklic and Ryan Tunnicliffe have returned from loans and Jazz Richards has been brought in on loan from Crystal Palace to give the squad extra Championship experience, which is what was really lacking. Hopefully with the players more used to the league next season, it will be onwards and upwards.

"The crucial player for Fulham this year for me – and this will be controversial among a number of Fulham fans – is Bryan Ruiz. He divides opinion massively at Craven Cottage – he's either a lazy waste of space or the best technical player in the league, depending on who you talk to.

"But you can't deny his influence on Fulham, the Whites haven't won a league game in which he hasn't played. If he gets on the ball and starts dictating play, the Whites look a much better side.

"Although Kit Symons has been in charge since September, it's hard to properly judge his spell at Fulham yet. He had an undoubted honeymoon period, where he took Fulham up the table after the disastrous destruction of the club by Magath, but since then, it hasn't been great, with the club falling close to a second successive relegation.

"There were calls for him to be sacked after the draw at Millwall and heavy defeat at Wolves, which meant the club hadn't won in eight games in all competitions, but the 2-0 win against Derby on Saturday will have alleviated those calls a bit, with the Whites now sitting in a healthier position, eight points away from the relegation zone.

"There's no denying though that most Fulham fans want him to do well, and after the Magath debacle, the club needed a man who was passionate about Fulham and would undo the damage that the German had done, which did seem irreparable for a while."



Read more at http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/150303-fulham-opposition-focus-2307926.aspx#JuWkszor4XgBXEWE.99

[WhiteJC]

 
We profile Watford's opponents on Tuesday - Fulham

It is little under three months since Fulham were spectacularly routed 5-0 by Watford at Craven Cottage and whilst the memorable victory kick-started the Hornets' season, the Whites have won just five times since.

A 2-0 win over high-flying Derby County on Saturday at the Cottage was a welcome shot in the arm for Kit Symons' side, who had not tasted victory since their 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest five weeks earlier.

Having found themselves in the giddy heights of 13th in December, the Cottagers have slipped back towards the Championship relegation zone since and are currently perched in 19th, eight points clear of the drop.

Derided for paying a fee potentially rising to £11m for former Leeds United talisman Ross McCormack, Fulham are now reaping the rewards, with the Scot recently reaching double figures in the league.

With 12 goals in all competitions, the former Cardiff City frontman is the Whites' top scorer this term, though ex-Wigan Athletic forward Hugo Rodallega is just one behind McCormack, though the Colombian has only netted twice in his last 16 league and cup outings.

What has surely been detrimental to Fulham's chances of an immediate return to the Premier League has been the high turnover in players, with 34 making appearances in the Championship this season - for context, five more than the Hornets.

But with 24 players leaving the Cottagers permanently following last season's relegation from the top flight, there has been a certain degree of necessity to the revolving door selection policy.

That policy has, however, seen Symons offer olive branches to senior players frozen out by his predecessor Felix Magath. One such player is former Watford loanee Alex Kacaniklic.

The Swedish international terrified Championship defences during his 12-game loan stay in 2011 but was packed off to FC Copenhagen on loan in September by Magath. Re-called in December, Kacaniklic promptly marked his return to west London by scoring in his second outing to seal a 2-1 home win over Reading.

Fulham have the third-worst away record in the Championship, picking up just 12 of their 39 points away from the bank of the River Thames. Symons' side last won away from home on December 13 when they claimed a 1-0 victory at Leeds United.

Since then their away record reads played five, lost five; a period in which they have scored just twice and conceded 11 times.

Midfielder Lasse Christensen is a doubt for the trip to Vicarage Road owing to a hamstring complaint but Rodallega could return after suffering a dead leg against Wolverhampton Wanderers a week ago.

Not that he will be guaranteed a starting berth, with Matt Smith returning from a loan stint at League One Bristol City, where he scored 13 times in just 20 outings for the promotion-chasing Robins.

Signed from Leeds for £500,000 on transfer deadline day in September, the 6ft 6in targetman made just one league start before being loaned to Steve Cotterill's side.

Fulham starting XI v Derby County (28.02.15): Bettinelli; Richards, Bodurov, Hutchinson, Stafylidis; Christensen, Tunnicliffe, Parker, Ruiz; Woodrow, McCormack.


http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/watfordfc/watfordfcnews/11826857._/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Inside Vicarage Road

Ahead of Tuesday night's clash at Vicarage Road, Watford fan Andrew Stalbow gives us the lowdown on his team.


It's been a pretty impressive season for Watford to date, with the club now just three points off top spot – have you been pleased with how it's gone?

Expectations are quite high. The club decided to keep our leading striker Troy Deeney over the summer despite some big bids, which I think was a great sign of our ambition. On paper, we have one of the strongest squads in the Championship, and as much as anything it's been about getting the team to work together. But I'm pleased with the position we are in right now for sure, and we have a manager that the players believe in and who is starting to grind out results.

Do you think you'll win promotion this year?

We are definitely contenders, but we've been here before and were disappointed. So as the greatest football managers say, we'll take each game as it comes!

Who have been Watford's stand-out players in your opinion?

There are quite a few to mention. Almen Abdi in midfield is probably the best player in the division. His composure, technique, passing and shooting are all amazing. We miss him when he's out of the team. Odion Ighalo has been a goalscoring maestro. Troy Deeney is playing great and is a tremendous club captain. But watch out for Matej Vydra who is coming into form at just the right time.

What have you made of Fulham this season?

Well we won by a bit of a margin earlier in the season, but it's obviously a bit of a transitional time for you guys. Saying that, you had a fantastic result against Derby so the signs for the future look good.

What's the best thing about a trip to Vicarage Road?

I think it's going to be a pretty big crowd on Tuesday and Watford usually play fairly well under the lights. Hopefully you'll appreciate the new Elton John stand that's gone up - we have the makings of a proper ground now. I can recommend the pies, so it's not just a great football experience, but a great culinary one too.

Where's the best place for away fans to go for a pre-match pint?

Probably somewhere in the city centre would be best.

What score prediction are you going for, and why?

3-2 Watford. The team are playing as a unit and working for each other. We are pretty consistently scoring two or three goals a game, but we're a little leaky in defence. It should be a great game!

Tickets for the game will be available to purchase on the gate.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/march/03/inside-vicarage-road?

[WhiteJC]

 
Slavisa Jokanovic says he wants the Watford fans to show they believe in the Hornets' promotion bid against Fulham this evening

Slavisa Jokanovic wants Watford's supporters to show they match his and the Hornets' players' belief that they can achieve automatic promotion to the Premier League this season.

The Golden Boys have won 11 of their last 15 Championship games, sit fourth in the table and are just three points off top spot.

Watford welcome Fulham to Vicarage Road this evening and Jokanovic has asked the Hornets fans to vocally back the side.

"I understand that we must give a reason for the fans to support us," Jokanovic explained yesterday.

"They pay for their tickets, they are Watford supporters and they want a performance from their team.

"But what I want to say was against Norwich, I was looking around and it was a very quiet stadium.

"I had a sensation that only the players, my staff and I were believed we could achieve something important this season.

"The fans had a reason (to be quiet) that day because we didn't produce our best performance and we lost the game.

"But, and I really believe, that we can achieve important things in the period in front of us. And it would help us if everybody believes we can do this.

"I understand football is a spectacle and to get people on their feet you need to give them a reason. We didn't do that against Norwich.

"But I hope the fans understand what I say. I don't want to come across aggressive and if we play a s*** game I can understand why people are quiet.

"However, during that one moment against Norwich, I was looking around the ground and wondered 'what is happening here?'."

When Watford took on Fulham earlier in the campaign the Hornets produced one of their stand-out displays of the season. The Cottagers were beaten 5-0 that day and ended the contest with just ten men.

It is arguably one of the most important results of Jokanovic's reign at Vicarage Road.

Prior to the win in west London, Watford had suffered four straight defeats and the Serbian's ability to lead the Golden Boys' promotion bid was being questioned.

"Before that game we were nervous," Jokanovic admits. "People wondered how we were going to find our best way going forward.

"On that day we woke up. The supporters and the owner had patience with us and I believe we have given them a good answer since that Fulham win. That was a very important game for us."

But given the manner of the Golden Boys' victory when the two sides last met, is Jokanovic worried about complacency? Seemingly not.

He said: "My team will have the right level of attention as that game happened many months ago.

"That day we played a very good game and had the advantage of the opposition goalkeeper being sent off.

"That is part of our history now. Fulham are a quality team. They are a strong team who three days ago beat the top side in the Championship (Derby County).

"We must be ready for a new game. What happened three months ago isn't important."

Watford go into the game as the leading scorers across the top four divisions in English football. They have netted 30 league goals in their last 11 Championship matches.

Jokanovic admits his side's goal-scoring prowess has led to opposition teams changing their tactical approach when they visit Vicarage Road.

He explained: "Opposition teams respect that (Watford are the top scorers) and change their structure against us.

"If we want a champions' mentality we must be strong because it is not always easy to score, like against Blackburn.

"At this part of the season it is dependent on our concentration in games, our condition and our belief.

"Sometimes we lose games at home, sometimes we lose away. But if we are a team and we find difficultly, we can resolve our problems on the pitch.

"So if there is a game where they are few chances and not much space, this is the moment where we must continue to believe in ourselves and find a way to score goals.

"Against Norwich on the field we didn't believe. In the stands there people didn't believe. I believed but it was a new test for us.

"Against Fulham, we will not find the same facilities to win the game. So it is up to us to believe and find what we want on the field."


http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/watfordfc/watfordfcnews/11829818._/?

[WhiteJC]

 
The Craven Corner: Woodrow, Parker and Ruiz shone against Derby... but Fulham now need more of the same


Fulham players celebrate against Derby (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Our Fulham blogger reflects on the Cottagers' win over Derby County and hopes they can pick up where they left off against Watford and Bournemouth...

A much-needed victory at last. Three points finally arrived on Saturday with a 2-0 win over one of the best teams in the league, Derby County. Credit goes to Steve McClaren and the side he has managed to build during his reign, but we were very thankful that they simply had an off day and Fulham finally took their chances.

There was a change up top with young Cauley Woodrow partnering Ross McCormack in attack in Hugo Rodallega's absence, and the young striker seemed to strike up a strong partnership. Woodrow broke onto the scene at the tail end of last season and he always works his socks off, which is what you need in this division. In a league where hard work and pressure is paramount, it was no surprise that he managed to get on the score sheet and cause a top club problems. Considering Rodallega's contract is expiring in the summer, it was an interesting insight into a first team partnership for next season. Based on this weekend's performance, it could be a fruitful pairing should Rodallega leave the club. It was clear that Woodrow had to take his chance, especially with Matt Smith returning from an impressive loan spell at Bristol City and Adam Taggart closing in on match fitness.

Scott Parker simply dominated the midfield while he was on the pitch, his persistence and hard-work pressurising the Derby midfield into mistakes and it was from his tackle that sprang the attack leading the Nikolay Bodurov's first goal for the club. I still have no idea how a central defender could finish like that, it was an absolute peach of a finish and one that probably deserved more television time. Hats off to you Bodurov! I actually want to single out Ryan Tunnicliffe for his performance too, I don't think he gets the credit he deserves. He's still finding his feet at the club, but he is a box-to-box midfielder, he runs himself into the ground and has started to be effective at both ends of the pitch; he even had a few chances to get his first goal on Saturday too!

It may come as a shock to some Fulham fans, but even Bryan Ruiz put in an impressive shift on Saturday, making key tackles and helping the team press. Like him or not, with Ruiz in the team we are more dangerous, we carry more of a threat in the final third and his elegance and class is apparent. He may be leaving at the end of the season to play at a higher level and you can't blame him. He is pure class – a magician. Although my man of the match vote goes to Scott Parker, I know that many fans believed that Ruiz should deserve that accolade.

This has to continue until the end of the season, though. The performance on Saturday must be repeated week in, week out. It shows what this side can do and despite Kit Symons sticking with the diamond, we will see results if everyone presses. I still have my doubts about Symon's tactical ability and knowledge, especially considering the over-reliance of the diamond formation. But in his defence it paid off this weekend and with tough fixtures against Watford on Tuesday and Bournemouth on Friday, there's still a long way to go to convince fans he is the right manager for the club. If Symons manages to secure good results against the Hornets and the Cherries, then I'm sure a lot of doubters will start giving him another chance. Then again, if we lose the next game we are back where we started – looking over our shoulder at relegation. We are still 19th and we should have been in the top half of the table this season, but our standards have slipped.

My doubts remain over Symons' experience and ability, and I do wonder what sort of players he would buy should we survive in the league. Without causing any offence, it's not like he's going to try and persuade players from his other clubs to join us like many managers do. For example, with Harry Redknapp you know he's going to try and sign Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and any other 28+ English players. I would like to think that Symons would add some serious quality to our side by raiding the Premier League clubs. Players like Anthony Knockaert of Leicester would provide real genuine width and quality especially with us crying out for talented wingers. Moves for Thomas Ince, Robert Snodgrass or even Peter Odemwingie would be amazing – players that aren't guaranteed game time at their current clubs but have enough proven quality to be a success in the league below, even if they are fairly ambitious targets. But that is the sort of calibre needed to move up the division; match-winners. Apart from Ross McCormack and Bryan Ruiz, we don't have anyone with that quality in the final third to win a game for us – and we lose one of those at the end of the season regardless.

I am trying to remain optimistic for the remaining fixtures and that Symons starts to get decent results to build confidence and build a foundation for next season. Whatever happens, the summer will be incredibly important, as we clear out Felix Magath's deadwood and mould a squad around the playing style and philosophies of the current manager.



http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/fulham/the_craven_corner_woodrow_parker_and_ruiz_shone_against_derby_but_fulham_now_need_more_of_the_same_1_3977183

[WhiteJC]

 
Next Up: Watford

Fulham will be looking to make amends for a heavy defeat by Watford earlier in the season when the two sides meet at Vicarage Road on Tuesday evening (7.45pm).


The opposition

Watford's 5-0 win over the 10-man Whites at Craven Cottage sparked an upturn in form that has seen them sat in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off places ever since.

They've lost just four of their 14 league matches since that night in South-West London, winning the other 10. And they go into Tuesday's game sitting fourth in the standings and just three points behind leaders Derby County.

The Hornets demonstrated their powers of recovery in their most recent outing. Having gone 2-0 down away to Leeds United, Troy Deeney got one back before half-time and Matej Vydra struck twice after the restart to complete the turnaround.

Vydra's second was Watford's 69th league goal of the season, making them the highest scorers in England's top four divisions.

Team news

Watford are expected to welcome in-form Odion Ighalo back to the fold on Tuesday after the striker was left out as a precaution at Elland Road with a hamstring strain, but manager Slavisa Jokanovic may opt to stick with the pairing of Vydra and Deeney after it proved so deadly in West Yorkshire.

Loan signing Adlene Guedioura is available having rejoined the club on loan, following a similar spell at the end of 2014 where he made six appearances, but defender Joel Ekstrand is a doubt.


Inside the camp

Slavisa Jokanovic was keeping his cards close to his chest regarding who will start up front against Fulham on Tuesday.

Odion Ighalo has scored 17 goals this season – 14 of which have arrived in his previous 10 league games – but Matej Vydra and Troy Deeney impressed in his absence at the weekend.

"You must buy a ticket to find out," Jokanovic is quoted on watfordobserver.co.uk. "This isn't the time to tell you [if he's fit enough to start]. He's fit enough to help us.

"It's good news because Troy and Vydra have been working well and have been performing at a good level. If you ask me how hard it is [to drop one of the three], I will do my job and will try to start and finish the game with players who provide the best chance of winning.

"It's my job [to make tough decisions] and I always try to do the right thing for my team. I have spoken many times about the need for my squad and my players understand.

"In this moment of the Championship we will depend on the squad, not one player or two players. We need 20 players ready for the next game and whoever is picked needs to respond on the field."


Player to watch

Almen Abdi: Fulham fans are well aware of Almen Abdi's qualities after the attacking midfielder notched twice at the Cottage in December – the first a drilled free-kick that went under the wall, and the second an absolutely stunning curling strike just after half-time. Born in Kosovo and capped at international level by Switzerland, Abdi was one of a number of Udinese players on loan at Watford, and he impressed sufficiently for the move to be made permanent in the summer of 2013. He's now netted seven goals in 25 appearances this season, with the most recent another fantastic effort from long distance in the 4-3 win away at Bolton Wanderers.

Marathonbet match odds

Watford: 8/11

Draw: 59/20

Fulham: 43/10

Tickets for the game will be available to purchase on the gate.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/march/03/next-up-watford?

[WhiteJC]

 
Eisfeld makes worrying claim over Arsene Wenger's approach to training

Former Arsenal player Thomas Eisfeld has revealed that Arsene Wenger rarely steps in during training to correct mistakes.

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Eisfeld has explained Arsene Wenger's approach in training to Goal.com.

Eisfeld, currently owned by Championship side Fulham, has revealed that Wenger never steps in during a session even if he spots a mistake or something he doesn't like.

"He [Wenger] is very quiet, doesn't talk much. During training sessions he rarely corrects something," said Eisfeld.

"Only after having finished he will talk to you, two or three sentences. And that is what you remember for a long time."

Some Arsenal fans would have questioned why Wenger wasn't more visible on the touchline last week, as Monaco got further ahead in the Champions League game.

He cut a frustrated figure on the bench as he watched his team falling further behind in the tie.

The comments are worrying for the simple fact that Wenger not stepping in suggests to players that what they're doing during training sessions is correct; if he sees a weakness, Eisfeld suggests he lets it develop rather than stepping in and dealing with it straight away.

He can make points to players after sessions, but it is confusing why he seems to allow passages of play to develop in training, as Eisfeld suggests, before stepping in to correct the problems.

Regardless of Wenger's training methods, the club remains in a good position to secure Champions League football for next season, they are still in the Champions League and play Manchester United in the FA Cup this weekend.

He has more experience than most managers could ever wish for and relies on it to deal with developing his Arsenal teams and implementing his philosophy to a variety of players.

He's certainly not going to change now and the challenge for the players is to adapt and adhere to the advice they are given after sessions, if Wenger prefers a more withdrawn approach to training.


http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/03/03/eisfeld-makes-worrying-claim-over-arsene-wengers-approach-to-tra/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Watford (a) - Stat Attack
   
With Fulham making the short trip to Vicarage Road this evening to face Watford in a Championship match, what do the facts and figures tell us?

Do the record and form books suggest it is a fixture we should look forward to, or do they fill us with dread?

Make your own mind up when you mull over these we`ve found:-

1 - The reciprocating game, at Craven Cottage, earlier his season saw Watford emerge 5-0 victors.

2 - That 5-0 win was Watford`s first in seven games in all competitions.

3 - Fulham have a good record at Vicarage Road in recent games, unbeaten in the last three meetings winning once and drawing twice.

4 - You have to go back to October 1997 for Watford`s last victory against Fulham at Vicarage Road when they beat us 2-0 in an old Division Two fixture.

5 - Watford`s last six home games in the Championship have seen them win five and lose one, the loss being a 3-0 defeat inflicted by Norwich City.

6 - Fulham`s 2-0 win over Derby, at the weekend, was their first in nine games in all competitions.

7 - Fulham`s recent away form is poor, in the last six games we`ve lost five and drawn the other.

COYW`s


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=390981#ixzz3TLaWrNeR