Thursday Fulham Stuff (20/08/15)...

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Arsenal transfers: Gedion Zelalem wanted on loan by three Championship sides as Rangers wait on deal

The 18-year-old has travelled to Glasgow to speak to the Scottish giants but is also considering Fulham, Charlton and Birmingham

Rangers boss Mark Warburton is facing an anxious wait to discover if Arsenal youngster Gedion Zelalem is willing to move to the second tier of Scottish football – or go on loan to the English Championship instead.

The highly-rated 18-year-old arrived in Glasgow yesterday to hold signing talks with Warburton at Murray Park, report the Daily Record.

The youngster, accompanied by his father, then returned to London last night after a whistle-stop tour of the training complex and Ibrox Stadium to decide whether or not to join Warburton's squad.

But Zelalem, tipped as a future USA star, is also mulling over similar short-term deals at Fulham, Charlton and Birmingham City. He must now decide which move will be best for his development.

While it's understood Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has already given his own approval to the idea of spending at least six months in Scotland, the player faces a big decision.

Rangers had hoped that Zelalem would slip in and out of the country without being noticed as Warburton is concerned that a player of such tender years could be spooked by the ferocious intensity of life in Glasgow.

But, ironically, this is precisely why Warburton believes Rangers are ideally placed to attract some of the most sought-after youngsters in England's academy set-up.

He has already tied up similar deals with Spurs for two players, Nathan Oduwa and Dominic Ball, by convincing the London club that the youngsters will benefit from performing under the spotlight and in front of up to 50,000 fans.

Warburton has also held similar discussions with Wenger and the Frenchman is happy for the teenager to prepare for life as a first team player at Arsenal by plunging into Glasgow's goldfish bowl.

But a source close to the talks said last night: "There's been no agreement. The talks went well but there are other options on the table and it's up to Gedion to decide which one suits him best."

Zelalem is an attacking midfielder who switched allegiances from Germany to USA after being pursued by Jurgan Klinsmann.

Born in Berlin to Ethiopian parents, Zelalem and family moved to Maryland in 2006 and he represented the States at the Under-20 World Cup in June.


http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-transfers-gedion-zelalem-wanted-6281526?

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Fulham Battling For Midfielder
   
Fulham are reportedly one of several Championship clubs, along with Glasgow Rangers north of the border, battling for Gedion Zelalem?

Reports in the Mirror have said Kit Symons is keen on signing Arsenal's Zelalem on loan, however we'll have to battle Charlton, Birmingham and Rangers for him!

It's said the 18-year-old attacking midfielder, billed as 'a future USA star' and Fulham have a rich history when it comes to American players and should be announcing another soon, has already held talks with Rangers boss Mark Warburton about a six-month loan deal at Ibrox but the teenager has now gone away to assess his options.

Arsene Wenger's thought to have given the green light to him making the move to the Scottish Championship side but as big a club as Rangers are, and they're huge, wouldn't a move to the Championship in England be better for him!

Craven Cottage would obviously be the best move on all....we'll have to watch developments on this one and see what comes of these rumours.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=410129#ixzz3jKvbDlsW

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Key players injured as Fulham are beaten at Hull

Hull City 2 Fulham 1

Fulham had goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli stretchered off before losing to a late goal for the second time this week.

Kit Symons' side looked like taking a point from the KC Stadium until the 86th minute when Sone Aluko netted from Nikica Jelavic's header.

Tom Cairney had earlier cancelled out Ahmed Elmohamady's first-half opener with a fantastic finish from 20 yards.

Elmohamady had put the home side ahead on 34 minutes when he nodded in from Andy Robertson's cross, and went close with a second header as Hull upped the tempo.

Fulham then had to take off both Bettinelli and striker Matt Smith just before half-time as the pair collided while the visitors were defending.

Kit Symons' side improved in the second period without really troubling Hull keeper Allan McGregor, as Lasse Vigen Christensen fired over and Dembele's header was off target.

On 70 minutes though, Cairney – who scored a superb goal in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday – conjured up another cracker, finding the corner from 20 yards.

But Hull conjured up the winner five minutes from time as Fulham failed to deal with Elmohamady's cross and Aluko pounced.

Fulham: Bettinelli (Lonergan 45); Richards, Hutchinson, Bodurov, Voser; Cairney, Christensen, O'Hara, Pringle (Kacaniklic 87); McCormack, Smith (Dembele 45).
Subs not used: Burn, Kavanagh, Tunnicliffe, Woodrow.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/key-players-injured-as-fulham-are-beaten-at-hull?

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Fulham dealt double blow as Marcus Bettinelli and Matt Smith suffer knee injuries following nasty collision vs Hull
Fulham lost 2-1 away at Hull City in the Championship on Wednesday
Fulham keeper Marcus Bettenelli collided with Matt Smith before half-time
Both had to be subsequently substituted with Bettenelli leaving in tears

Fulham's Championship prospects have been dealt a severe blow after manager Kit Symons confirmed that Marcus Bettinelli and Matt Smith both suffered knee ligament injuries in Wednesday's defeat 2-1 by Hull City.

The pair were entangled in an accidental collision towards the end of the first half that also involved Hull striker Abel Hernandez.

While Hernandez appeared to come out of the incident unscathed, both Smith and Bettinelli were in visible distress - with the latter tearful and having to be carried off on a stretcher.


Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli faces a long spell out on the sidelines after damaging knee ligaments


As well as the Fulham stopper, striker Matt Smith suffered the same injury during their 2-1 defeat by Hull


The incident occurred following a collision with Bettinelli, Smith (centre right) and Hull's Abel Hernandez (right)


The tearful 23-year-old Bettinelli was carried off the pitch by a stretcher and replaced by Andy Lonergan


Smith was also in visible distress and had to be replaced too shortly before the break


Fulham boss Kit Symons revealed that they won't know the extent on both injuries until further scans

And speaking post-match Symons confirmed that the pair are likely to be out of action for some time.

'Both Marcus and Matt Smith have got knee ligament injuries,' the 44-year-old said.

'Marcus is looking more serious at the minute, it looks quite nasty but until we get the scans and everything sorted we won't know the full extent for sure.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3204014/Fulham-dealt-double-injury-blow-Marcus-Bettenelli-Matt-Smith-suffer-knee-ligament-injuries-Hull-City-defeat.html#ixzz3jKxcQUMx
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

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Kit Symons: Fulham chief on serious injuries to Marcus Bettinelli and Matt Smith suffered during Hull City defeat

Whites duo set for lengthy spell on the treatment table after Molineux collision

Kit Symons was counting the cost of a tough night for Fulham at Hull City.

The Whites went down 2-1 at the KC Stadium as the Tigers dealt a knockout blow four minutes from time after Tom Cairney's thunderbolt looked to have given them a point.

And to make matters worse for Symons, he had to watch on in horror as keeper Marcus Bettinelli and striker Matt Smith collided in the first half and were carried off with knee injuries.

Symons on the injuries
"Both Marcus and Matt Smith have got knee ligament injuries.

"Marcus is looking more serious at the minute, it looks quite nasty but until we get the scans and everything sorted we won't know the full extent for sure."

Symons on the fightback
"(We had a) poor first half and conceded a very poor goal but weren't really in it, didn't play well at all," he said. "Second half, we really upped our game; played on the front foot and took the game to Hull and scored a very good goal through Tom, and we're in the ascendancy then.

Symons on the late slip
"To then go and lose it from that position is hard to take but it's only three games in and I'm sick of saying the same things already.

"It can't be down to fitness, it must just be down to concentration, not being street-wise enough. It's costing us dearly and it needs to change."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kit-symons-fulham-chief-serious-9890911?

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Manager Reaction

Speaking after the 2-1 defeat, where the Whites conceded a late goal against Hull City on Wednesday night, manager Kit Symons said that "something needs to change, and sharpish".

"Three League games in I am sick of saying the same things at the end of games already," said Symons. "We battled well, created chances and we were in the ascendancy but we've come away with nothing to show for it."

"We show in our performances that we are more than good enough. But ultimately people don't care about the performances. They care about points, and that's what I want."

Despite a lacklustre first half, the Whites came out strongly in the second half with Tom Cairney finding a stunning equaliser in the 69th minute. However, conceding a late goal against Hull City cost the Whites valuable points.

"Fitness levels are good so it's nothing to do with that," Kit Symons said trying to explain the start to the season that has seen Fulham take one point from a possible nine. "It can purely be concentration because we are outperforming teams fitness-wise in the second half, and quite often we're performing at higher levels in second half than we were in the first half. Fitness levels are excellent, I have no qualms with that at all.

"We weren't good first half again for the second game running. We're starting too slow and giving ourselves a bit to do by conceding silly goals early on. But we get ourselves back into it. We massively stepped it up in the second period and we were playing good football. It makes it even more frustrating.

"We're looking strong, looking fit, but we are conceding late goals which is killing us at the moment. Something need to change and change sharpish."

In another blow for the Whites, Marcus Bettinelli was stretchered off in the first half after colliding with Matt Smith as he defended in the box.

"Both Marcus and Matt have got knee ligament injuries which obviously we won't know more about until tomorrow when we get them back home and get to see the specialist," said Symons. "Marcus' one is looking quite nasty. Matt is certainly hopefully not quite as bad but we won't know the extent until the next couple of days."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/august/19/manager-reaction?

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Report: Tim Ream headed to Fulham

Media reports out of angle have U.S. defender Tim Ream leaving Bolton for fellow English second-tier club Fulham.
The St. Louis product joined Bolton in the middle of the 2012-13 English Premier League season after two years with the New York Red Bulls. Bolton was relegated to the Championship that season.

Tim Ream Pro Career
GP/G TEAM (YEARS)
63/1 New York Red Bulls/MLS (2010-11)
13/0 Bolton/EPL (2012)
99/0 Bolton/D2 (2012-15)

The 27-year-old was named Bolton's Player of the Season the last two years. Bolton finished 18th last season in the 24-team league while Fulham finished 17th.

The Bolton News reported that Fulham will be paying an upfront transfer fee of $2.7 million that could rise to $3.6 million with add-ons. Fulham had reportedly out-bid Queens Park Rangers for Ream.

Fulham has yet to confirm the deal.


http://www.socceramerica.com/article/65225/report-tim-ream-headed-to-fulham.html?

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'It can't be down to fitness' Fulham boss furious at late collapse

Fulham have conceded late goals in all three of their Championship matches to date and it is driving manager Kit Symons to distraction.

The Cottagers looked set for an away point at Hull after Tom Cairney's 69th-minute strike cancelled out Ahmed Elmohamady's headed opener.

Only for Sone Aluko to score an 86th-minute winner and leave Symons pulling his hair out. "(We had a) poor first half and conceded a very poor goal but weren't really in it, didn't play well at all," he said.

"Second half, we really upped our game; played on the front foot and took the game to Hull and scored a very good goal through Tom, and we're in the ascendancy then.

"To then go and lose it from that position is hard to take but it's only three games in and I'm sick of saying the same things already.

"It can't be down to fitness, it must just be down to concentration, not being street-wise enough. It's costing us dearly and it needs to change."


Read more at: http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/fulham/it_can_t_be_down_to_fitness_fulham_boss_furious_at_late_collapse_1_4201120
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