Friday Fulham Stuff (07/08/15)...

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Fulham striker set to join QPR favourite at Benfica

Mitroglou ready to fly to Eagles

Now you see him - now you don't.

It looks likely Kostas Mitroglou will join Benfica and link up with former QPR favourite Adel Taarabt, days after the Greek striker featured for Fulham against Crystal Palace.

Sources insist the Eagles from Lisbon have struck a deal to take over Mitroglou's contract, worth around 1.4 million euros a year, with an option to by him outright for six million euros next summer.

It would see Fulham required to take a £6m hit on the most expensive player in the club's history, and one who only featured three times for the Whites before getting loaned back to Olympiakos last season.

Mitroglou was set to join Benfica's fierce rivals across Lisbon, Sporting, but the World Cup international is now headed to the original Stadium of Light.

This was the misfit forward arriving in Lisbon last night.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-striker-set-join-qpr-9800490?

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Opposition View

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen McPhail played for Cardiff City 222 times from 2006 to 2013, so we caught up with him to discuss the Bluebirds, Saturday's game, and his new teammate at Shamrock Rovers – a certain Damien Duff.


How do you look back on your time at Cardiff?

It was great, I loved it. I settled into the club and the area really quickly and luckily enough the fans took to me. I was there for around seven or eight years so it was an amazing time. We had some great highs and I really enjoyed it.

One of those highs must surely have been captaining the team in the 2008 FA Cup Final?

Yeah, that was a proud moment, obviously, for a Championship team to get to the cup final. It was a great achievement, but to captain the team through all the rounds and then in the Final was special. I'll never forget that, it's what you dream of as a kid so to captain such a great club in a fixture like that was definitely the highlight of the time I was there.

Do you still look out for their results?

First and foremost they're one of the ones I look out for. I get back quite a bit, a couple of times a year, to watch them. I've got lots of friends there and I always look out for them, hoping they do well.


Which of their players are you a particular fan of?

I love Peter Whittingham, I love watching him. I played with Whitts during my time at Cardiff – he came and signed the same time as me. He's a special talent and a gifted footballer who makes it look so easy. Him and David Marshall are two really good players. It will be interesting to see if Marshy hangs around, but the two of them have done great for the club over the years.

Cardiff haven't had the busiest summer – do you expect them to bring some new faces into the club before the window shuts?

It's a tough one really. I don't know if maybe they're trying to cut the squad down because they had quite a big one last year. I know they've been trying to offload a few players so I think it depends on that. If they get rid of a few between now and then, they'll probably have to replace a couple so I think it will all be down to who goes out before anyone comes in.

What do you think is a realistic target for Cardiff this season?

I'm sure they'll be looking at that top six. They'll be aiming to hang around those Play-Off spots after missing out last year and ending up in that mid-table area. I'm sure they'll want to build on that and look to push for a Play-Off spot.


And how to you expect Fulham to fare?

I think Fulham will be strong. I've seen Ross McCormack over the summer and I'm sure they're going to be strong. They're a good club who haven't long been out of the Premier League and have some good experience in the squad, so I expect them to be in that top six as well.

You played with Ross in Cardiff didn't you?

Yeah, and he did really well for us before going on to do really well for Leeds United, and yourselves as well. Ross is a great lad and a super footballer so I expect him to be right up there this year with the top goalscorers in the league.

How do you see Saturday going?

It will be a good game. The first match of the season is always great and one that everyone's looking forward to. I watched the Fulham game in Cardiff last season and it was quite tight. I hope Cardiff nick a win but I'm telling you it will be quite tight again.

And if we had to push you for a score prediction?

It's not good for you guys, but I'd go for 2-1 to Cardiff.

Are you still enjoying your football?

Yeah, I'm still playing away back home in Dublin for the club I supported as a kid, Shamrock Rovers, and I'm really enjoying it. Our season's the opposite way around so I get to see quite a bit of football when I'm off in the winter so I enjoy coming back to England and Wales to watch Leeds and Cardiff, my old clubs. It's good, I'm enjoying it.

You've got a Fulham hero on your books now, too. How's Damien Duff getting on?

Great. He's been here a few weeks and he's taken to it well. He's back home now – like me he'd been away for 20-odd years living and playing abroad, so it's good to be back home. His family's back home, he's brought his kids home to settle down here, so he's enjoying it.

Tickets for Saturday's game will be available for supporters to buy from the ground on the day.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/august/06/opposition-view?

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Report: Newcastle interested in Lewis Dunk, Fulham to table new offer

Newcastle and Fulham want to sign the Brighton defender this summer.

As reported by the Mirror, Newcastle and Fulham are battling it out to sign Lewis Dunk from Brighton and Hove Albion, with the Cottagers set to table a new offer for him in the coming days.

Dunk, 23, is considered one of the best centre-backs in the second tier, and he netted seven times in 44 games last season to show a dominance in the opposition box - as well as his own.

The Mirror reported that Steve McClaren wanted to bring him to Derby last season when he was head coach at the iPro Stadium, and he has retained that interest despite moving to St James' Park.

One centre-back has already arrived at the club, in Chancel Mbemba, but with doubts remaining about the future of Fabricio Coloccini, and the injury record of Steven Taylor, McCaren wants to bring in another starting defender.

Dunk has been highlighted as that player, but the Magpies face competition from Championship side Fulham, who are preparing a new £4 million offer for him having seen earlier approaches rebuffed.

There is no indication as to whether Newcastle are set to table a formal approach for the centre-back, but they may have to move quickly if they intend to sign Dunk ahead of Fulham.


http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2015/08/06/report-newcastle-interested-in-lewis-dunk-fulham-to-table-new-of/?

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Team News

In Thursday's pre-match press conference, Kit Symons revealed his disappointment at not having Luke Garbutt available for the start of the 2015/16 campaign.

The on-loan left-back hurt his ankle blocking a cross from Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha in Fulham's final pre-season fixture on Saturday, and is expected to be out for between four and six weeks.

"Luke's going to be out which is a blow for us and a blow for the lad," the Fulham Manager admitted, "but we'll get the right medical treatment for him.

"Hopefully it won't be too long, but it's not going to be an immediate return, that's for sure. So we're a bit disappointed with that. He came in, settled in really, really well but it's just one of those things."

Scott Parker and George Williams will also miss out at Cardiff City on Saturday as they continue their recoveries from injury, while Fernando Amorebieta is absent having undergone surgery.

"Fernando's just had his operation as well," Symons explained. "A problem was flagged up so he had some rehab, some treatment on that, then went to see a specialist and decided he needed the operation, which he's had now.

"Ryan Tunnicliffe's suspended. Other than that, Tags [Adam Taggart] has got a bit of a hamstring problem. Then there's a few niggles and a couple of concerns, so they might be alright travelling tomorrow, they might not – we're not sure yet."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/august/06/team-news?

[WhiteJC]

 
Parker among five absent for Fulham opener

Scott Parker is one of five Fulham players who will miss the opening day of the season at Cardiff.

Manager Kit Symons has confirmed the former England midfielder has not yet recovered from the ankle injury he had surgery on over the summer.

Everton loanee Luke Garbutt faces six weeks out with ankle ligament damage while midfielder George Williams, defender Fernando Amorebieta and the suspended Ryan Tunnicliffe will also miss the game. Goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli and striker Adam Taggart are doubful.

Symons said: "Scotty is still coming back from his injury. He's out running on grass but still someway short so he won't be available.

"Luke is obviously out and we are getting the right medical treatment for him. Hopefully it won't be too long but it won't be an immediate one.

"Fernando has had surgery and we haven't seen him since he came back from his international games.

"George Williams is out, Adam has picked up a bit of a hamstring and Marcus has been back in training after missing the friendly last week."


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/football-wls-fulham-missing-five-players-for-cardiff-opener

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham press conference: Kit Symons and his five major quotes

Today's news hot from the Whites training ground at Motspur Park

njuries
Fulham boss Kit Symons revealed that Marcus Bettinelli (hip flexor) is struggling to be fit to face Cardiff in Saturday's opener.

There will be definitely no appearance from Ryan Tunnicliffe (suspended); Scott Parker (rehab), Luke Garbutt (ankle); Fernando Amorebieta (recovering from op), and Adam Taggart (calf).

'There is one other, but I don't want to say who it is because we're looking at him tomorrow," added the gaffer

Kevin McDonald
Any deal to bring the Wolves midfielder is past tense after Fulham signed Sakari Mattila on Tuesday.

Symons said: "I think that's (McDonald bid) dead now."

Mitroglou to Benfica
Symons agreed Kostas Mitroglou was headed to the exit on loan. The striker arrived in Benfica last night, as exclusively revealed by getwestlondon.

"He (Mitroglou) made it plain he didn't want to play in the Championship. And maybe, we can have him back next season if we make the Premier League," added the manager

Contract offers to Marcus Bettinelli, Emerson Hydman, and Moussa Dembele
All three bight young things are in the last year of their current deals, and Symons admitted there had been 'discussions' with the talented trio.

"We hope they will sign," he added.

Cardiff City on Saturday
"Let's hope it's as good for Fulham as it was for me the last time I was there," Symons said referring to his coaching role with Wales who scored a sensational win over Belgium in June.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-press-conference-kit-symons-9804066?

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Another Dunk Bid Imminent
   
Over in the land of the tabloid publications, two of the leading exponents are both inferring that Fulham has unfinished work when it comes to Lewis Dunk.

Trailing through the transfer tittle-tattle pages this morning, both The Sun and The Mirror are of the opinion that Brighton and Hove Albion can expect to be contacted by Fulham Football Club with an increase doffer for the central defender.

Reports, already covered earlier this summer, have already suggested that two previous bids for the 23-year-oldd centre-back have been turned down flat by the south-coast club, but it remains to be seen, if our sources are correct, whether the Seagulls are prepared to accept a bid, said to be in the region, of £4 million for the player.

However, the Daily Mirror is quick to point out that the price for the more-than-capable defender could rise further suggesting that with the Premier League outfit Newcastle also interested Brighton could be quite capable of playing one club off against the other.

Can Fulham finally sign Lewis Dunk and bring him to Craven Cottage or has the sudden declaration, as suggested by our source, of a Premier League club kyboshed our hopes?


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=407979#ixzz3i6y2qVeC

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Kit's Cardiff Preview

Kit Symons is anticipating a tough season opener at Cardiff City on Saturday, but is keen to see his Fulham side get off to a good start in the Sky Bet Championship.

A horrendous run of form at the beginning of 2014/15 put a massive dent in the Whites' hopes for the campaign, and our Manager is keen to avoid such pitfalls this time around.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he said: "It's first game of the season so it's not like this is a must-win game as such, but you want to get off to a good start as it makes everybody's life a lot, lot easier.

"If you can go out and win your first one then that's brilliant. But getting a good start to the season is something we're fully focused on. Last season, because of that one point after eight games, it was very, very tough from thereon in. I don't want us to be in that situation again.

"I've obviously seen all the video footage [of Cardiff] and the reports and I went to watch them against Bournemouth on Friday. They're a very strong outfit and they've got some good, quality players as well.

"They've got a real goal threat, they've got an awful lot of different options up front that they can use, so they're a good side, and they'll be a real test for us. It will be a good opening game of the season. Last time I was in Cardiff [for Wales' win against Belgium] I had a good time so I'm hoping for the same again!"

Symons has previously stated that promotion to the Premier League is the target for his side, and he was asked on Thursday afternoon if that's still the case.

"Yeah," he responded, "but I think if you go and talk to every other Championship manager at this stage then at least three-quarters of them will be saying 'we're all set for promotion.'

"But we are. That's our target, that's our aim. The acquisitions we've made I've been absolutely delighted with – they're really good, quality players, great lads as well. So the whole dynamic around our squad is really strong at the moment, so I'm really pleased."

On the subject of transfers, Fulham continue to be linked with further potential additions to the squad, and Symons did not rule out bringing in some more new faces.

"We're still looking at strengthening, without a doubt, if we can do and if the players are available," he said. "If the right players that we want are available and their clubs are willing to sell and we can agree a price that we think is right, then we'll do it.

"The Chairman and the ownership have been very, very supportive and backed us really well this close season, which I've been delighted about, and they'll continue to do so I'm sure. Without naming specific names, if we can improve and bring in better players for this squad then we'll do it all day long."

There has already been one incoming transfer to Craven Cottage this week, after midfielder Sakari Mattila signed an initial two-year deal.

"He's very disciplined, he's a Finland international," Symons said of his latest signing. "He's very versatile, can play at centre-back at a push as well, he's got a good range of passing, a good striker with both feet, he's scored quite a few goals from free-kicks.

"We've got a lot of competition now for deadball specialists, so he's another one. He's a player flagged up very well by our stats department. Mike Rigg went over and watched him a few times so we had plenty of reports on him, and it's another good acquisition for the squad."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/august/06/kits-cardiff-preview?

[WhiteJC]

 
Player Futures

Kit Symons confirmed in Thursday's press conference that Kostas Mitroglou is set to depart the Club on loan.

The Fulham Manager had said that he would look to utilise the striker if a deal could not be agreed, but Mitroglou now appears to be close to signing for Benfica.

"There's a good chance that Kostas will be off on loan," Symons said. "Nothing's confirmed as yet but there's a good chance he won't be with us for the Cardiff game.

"All along he was very open and very straight. He enjoyed his time in Austria and the training sessions with us, and I think he'd be very keen to play for Fulham if we were in the Premier League.

"He's said all along he didn't want to play in the Championship and he was very consistent with that, and I was understanding of that. He put in a decent performance on Saturday [against Crystal Palace], he looked quite bright when he came on and I think he quite enjoyed himself.

"He's a good player and I wish him well if he was to be elsewhere. Hopefully he'll get his wish and we'll get promoted this season and he can come back and play for us in the Premier League."

Symons was also asked about the futures of three youngsters whose contracts are due to expire at the end of the campaign; Marcus Bettinelli, Emerson Hyndman and Moussa Dembélé.

"We've talked to all of them, certainly," he confirmed. "I'd like them all to stay at the Club – they're three real bright, good young players, and we'd like them all to stay. But you saw with Pat Roberts that's not always the case.

"Ultimately, the players have got to want to be here, you can't force anyone to sign a contract and there'd be no point doing that. I want players who are totally committed to this Club.

"Like I say, hopefully those three players will all sign and show that level of commitment that's required. I'd be delighted if that was the case, but also I'm realistic. That's not always how it happens, people come and go, so we'll have to see what happens with it, but I'm confident at least some of them will sign, if they all don't."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/august/06/player-futures?

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Fulham striker set to join QPR favourite at Benfica

Mitroglou ready to fly to Eagles

Now you see him - now you don't.

It looks likely Kostas Mitroglou will join Benfica and link up with former QPR favourite Adel Taarabt, days after the Greek striker featured for Fulham against Crystal Palace.

Sources insist the Eagles from Lisbon have struck a deal to take over Mitroglou's contract, worth around 1.4 million euros a year, with an option to by him outright for six million euros next summer.

It would see Fulham required to take a £6m hit on the most expensive player in the club's history, and one who only featured three times for the Whites before getting loaned back to Olympiakos last season.

Mitroglou was set to join Benfica's fierce rivals across Lisbon, Sporting, but the World Cup international is now headed to the original Stadium of Light.

This was the misfit forward arriving in Lisbon last night.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-striker-set-join-qpr-9800490?

A strange moment in the business history of FFC. At least we got a few games out of Marlet.

Not only parting the club,I noticed Mitro swapped sides with his parting,

[WhiteJC]

 
Kit: Points On The Board

'Points on the board' is the early-season aim, according to Kit Symons, who expects Fulham to make an improved start in the 2015/16 campaign.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HXpdvsvnLY

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/august/06/manager-video?

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Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder not set to join Fulham this summer

Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Kevin McDonald will not be joining Fulham this summer, according to West London Sport.

The Cottagers have made it clear they have wanted McDonald to join their squad but have failed to make a good enough offer to their Championship rivals.

Fulham have been keen on the 26-year-old for some time and have the advantage that the player is entering his last year of his contract, and McDonald was not happy with the contract terms his club offered him so his future is uncertain.

The Scottish playmaker is now likely to feature for Wolves as the club look to go one better than a seventh place finish last season, meanwhile Fulham, who have already added in McDonald's central midfield position to their ranks this summer, will definitely expect to finish higher than last season's 17th place finish.


Read more at http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/wolverhampton-wanderers-midfielder-not-set-to-join-fulham-this-summer/?#AsqZA5fHC5xuVrHg.99

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Preview: Cardiff City vs. Fulham

The Championship season kicks off for the 2015-16 season for Cardiff City and Fulham with a showdown at Cardiff City Stadium.

Both teams failed to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt last season, but will determined make a stronger push this term.

CardiffCardiff manager Russell Slade looks on ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Cardiff City at The Den on October 25, 2014
The Bluebirds had a difficult time in the early stages of last season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, leading to his sacking in September.

Russell Slade took the helm in October and phased out the Scandinavian additions brought in by Norwegian during his tenure and the club slowly started to pick up their form.

Cardiff endured a poor run of form under Slade, which put his position at the club in jeopardy, but he managed to right the ship and end the campaign with a respectable 11th-place finish.

A few notable players left the club over the course of the summer including Adam Le Fondre, Kevin Theophile-Catherine and Kevin McNaughton, but Semi Ajayi and Sammy Ameobi have been brought in to bolster the ranks.

Slade's men had a strong pre-season as they remained unbeaten in their six matches, which also included victories over Premier League teams Watford and Bournemouth.

The Championship can be unpredictable, and although not many pundits have predicted a promotion-winning campaign from the Bluebirds, their supporters will be looking for Cardiff to open the season with a victory.

Pre-season form: DDWWWW

FulhamJoe Mason of Cardiff City during the pre season friendly match between Cardiff City and Watford at Cardiff City Stadium on July 28, 2015
Like Cardiff, Fulham did not adapt well to life in the Championship in the early stages of the campaign following their relegation from the Premier League.

Felix Magath paid the price as his side collected just one point from their opening seven matches and was replaced by Kit Symons, who was installed as caretaker manager.

The Cottagers began to find their way under the tenure of the Welshman and he was eventually confirmed as their permanent manager late in October.

The battle of the bottom of the Championship kept Fulham in the mix for relegation right until the final few weeks of the campaign, but they did just enough to retain their place in the second tier with a 17th-place finish.

There have been a few high-profile exits at the club this summer as promising youngster Patrick Roberts joined Manchester City, while veterans Maarten Stekelenburg and Bryan Ruiz also departed.

Tom Cairney, Jamie O'Hara and Luke Garbutt are the names that have arrived at Craven Cottage to boost Symons's men for the campaign.

Fulham had a strong start to their pre-season campaign with victories over Aston Villa and Crawley, but they left their tour of Germany without a win following a draw against Hertha Berlin and a defeat to Frankfurt.

Last week's draw against Crystal Palace will give Symons and his players belief they can gain a positive result from their trip to Cardiff.

Pre-season form: WWDLD

Team NewsHarry Cornick of Bournemouth is challenged by Scott Malone of Cardiff City during a Pre Season Friendly between AFC Bournemouth and Cardiff City at Vitality Stadium on July 31, 2015
David Marshall is reportedly close to sealing a move away from the club to Premier League side West Bromwich Albion so Simon Moore is likely to start for the Bluebirds on Saturday.

Defender Bruno Manga is out with a knee injury, although he could return to action in the Capital One Cup next week. Fellow centre-back Ben Turner will also miss the game due to an ankle problem, while Kenwyne Jones has not recovered from a muscle issue.

Matthew Connolly and Sean Morrison are poised to start in the heart of the Cardiff defence, while Eoin Doyle and Joe Mason may lead the line at Cardiff City Stadium.

Loanee Garbutt is out for the Cottagers after sustaining an ankle injury in his side's draw with Palace last week, while fellow defender Fernando Amorebieta will miss the match after undergoing surgery.

Midfielders George Williams and Scott Parker are also out of the match due to injury and Ryan Tunnicliffe is suspended. Konstantinos Mitroglou is poised to leave the Cottagers and is unlikely to feature against the Bluebirds.

Cardiff possible starting lineup:
Moore, Peltier, Connolly, Morrison, Malone, Pilkington, Digkacoi, Whittingham, Ralls, Mason, Doyle

Fulhampossible starting lineup:
Lonergan, Richards, Hutchinson, Burn, Bodurov, Cairney, Christensen, O'Hara, Pringle, McCormack, Woodrow.

Head To Head
Cardiff won the last meeting between the teams in January at Cardiff City Stadium as Sean Morrison scored the only goal of the match to hand Slade's team the victory.

The Bluebirds also did the double over Fulham in the 2013-14 Premier League season, which means they have a four-match unbeaten run over the Cottagers heading into the match.

Over the course of history, Cardiff have edged the contest winnings 24 of the 54 matches between the teams, while Fulham have won 22, while eight of the matches have ended in draws.

We say: Cardiff 2-0 Fulham

Both teams struggled immensely at the start of the last campaign and will be desperate to begin the new season with a victory. Cardiff have been in good over pre-season and may have enough to see off the challenge of the Cottagers to start the term with three points.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/cardiff-city/preview/preview-cardiff-city-vs-fulham_237658.html?

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Mitroglou's Benfica Loan

The Club can confirm that Kostas Mitroglou has joined SL Benfica on a season long loan deal.

We would like to wish Kostas the best of luck during his time in Portugal.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/august/06/mitroglous-benfica-loan?

[WhiteJC]

 
'He scores goals' Championship boss reveals interest in Palace striker

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka says Crystal Palace forward Dwight Gayle is on his wanted list.

The Spaniard is busy plotting a squad capable of promotion to the Premier League and he is keen to add Jordan Rhodes to his squad that already contains Stuart Downing following his arrival from West Ham.

Gayle's chances of regular starts at Selhurst Park look limited with the arrival of Connor Wickham and also Patrick Bamford's loan move from Chelsea and it seems Boro are prepared to offer him first-team football.

Speaking to Gazette Live Karanka admitted he would be keen on bringing the former Peterborough man, who socred 10 times last season, to the North East. "He's a striker, he scores goals, another on the list, a good player," he revealed.

"On our list, they (Rhodes and Gayle) are the best but we have other alternatives, we have other positions so we are working really well, the club is working really well. "The players who will arrive, I'm not thinking about them."

It remains to be seen what fee Palace would be looking for with Gayle having not publically admitted he wants to leave the Premier League club.



Read more at: http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/crystal-palace/he_scores_goals_championship_boss_reveals_interest_in_palace_striker_1_4184043
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