Saturday Fulham Stuff (25/04/15)...

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Kit: Big Finish

Manager Kit Symons is challenging the Whites to sign off in style in SW6 by returning to their free-flowing best against Middlesbrough.

Kit: Big Finish

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/april/24/manager-video?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham boss keen to keep ex-Charlton and West Ham chief Alan Curbishley on board
KIT SYMONS would like to keep Alan Curbishley within his coaching set-up next season.

The former Charlton and West Ham boss rejoined Fulham as a coach on a short-term deal last month - just one year after being axed by the Whites as technical director.

Symons enlisted Curbishley to draw on his years experience in a bid to aid the club's battle against relegation from the Championship.

Millwall's midweek defeat at Blackburn secured Fulham's place in the second-tier next season and Symons is keen for Curbishley to stay on board.

The Fulham boss said: "I speak to Curbs on a regular basis and all the time I'm at this football club in the capacity as manager I'd love Curbs to be alongside me.

"He's been excellent this year. We've had some really dark times and he's been fantastic for me and my young staff.

"We've needed a bit of help and he's brought that experience and he's been brilliant so I've been really pleased with his input.

"He's been great for us all and I'd love him to stay on but that conversation has not been had yet."

Fulham host promotion contenders Middlesbrough at Craven Cottage on Saturday.


http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/438495/Fulham-boss-keen-keep-ex-Charlton-and-West-Ham-chief-Alan-Curbishley-board

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Fulham v Middlesbrough - Early Team News
   
As the penultimate fixture of the season fast approaches, we have some early team news in relation to our visit from promotion chasing Middlesbrough.

First up Fulham

The Cottagers will be hoping that Scott Parker returns after the former England player missed the fixture at Blackpool after picking up a slight knock.

Now that Fulham cannot, mathematically, be relegated, Kit Symons could ring the changes with Shaun Hutchinson, Cauley Woodrow and Jack Grimmer all looking for a place in the starting eleven.

Second up Middlesbrough

Our visitors` strike-force could be weakened. The Football League Player of the Year Patrick Bamford picked up a knock last time out against Norwich, as did Albert Adomah.

Definitely out though is Jonathan Woodgate who has a hamstring injury.

COYW`s


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=397634#ixzz3YIkTDEP7

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'We must stop Ross McCormack', Aitor Karanka warns his Boro players

Boro boss admitted he's surprised by the plight of free-spending Fulham this season, having spent £11m on McCormack


Ross McCormack

Free-spending Fulham's plight this season shows how "strange" the Championship really is.

That's the view of Boro boss Aitor Karanka, as he prepares to lead his troops into a promotion battle at Craven Cottage.

Last summer the West London club broke the bank to sign Ross McCormack from Leeds United for £11m, using funds recruited from the sale of Ashkan Dejagah and Pajtim Kasami.

The former Boro target was one of 13 permanent signings made by Fulham before a ball was kicked, while throughout the course of the season the Cottagers have added seven new faces on loan and one permanent addition.

But it's been a season of struggle for Fulham since being relegated from the Premier League, languishing in 18th place and a massive 26 points off the play-off spots.

Boro boss Karanka admitted he is surprised by Fulham's position, considering their hefty business in the transfer market.

"It shows how strange the league is. Fulham paid £11m for McCormack, but they only became safe (from relegation) in their last fixture," Karanka said.

"We didn't really spend one pound, but we are fighting against the top of the table teams.

"That is football, and we are working to do our best. In football, it is always 11 against 11.

"Most of the time, the money is important. You only have to look at (Troy) Deeney or (Odion) Ighalo, or other players in the league where their teams have spent a lot of money.

"But in football, anything can happen.

"McCormack is an amazing player, and has scored a lot of goals in the last two or three seasons. It is going to be difficult to stop him."

In contrast, Boro go into the game flying high in third place, level on points with Bournemouth and one point adrift of leaders Watford.

Boro have won 25 Championship games so far, the second best total in the division and the club's most victories in a season since 1997/98.

This season Boro recruited eight players on a permanent basis, with Kike Garcia (£2.7m), Adam Clayton (£1.5m) and Adam Forshaw (£2.2m) the notable expenditures.

Boro have also added nine loanees throughout the course of the season - but Karanka rejected claims that Boro have spent big when asked back in January.

"We haven't spent that much money," Karanka said.

"All the players we've brought here are from the money we've brought in from selling (Lukas) Jutkiewicz and (Marvin) Emnes.

"Everybody always says 'it's Boro, Boro are spending', but we haven't spent much. The money we have spent was on Clayton and Kike, and that was the same amount we sold."


http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/we-must-stop-ross-mccormack-9108765?