Sunday Fulham Stuff (30/08/15)...

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Kenny Burns column: I would sell Michael Mancienne if Fulham up bid to Nottingham Forest

Michael Mancienne

If Fulham improve their bid for Michael Mancienne to £2.5m or £3m I would sell him.

Don't get me wrong, he's a decent player and he's done well for Nottingham Forest since joining them last summer from Hamburg.

But he's played close to 50 games for the club and if I'm being honest I still don't know what his best position is. Do you?

Now versatility is not a bad thing, especially in the situation Forest are in right now because of the transfer embargo, which limits them to a 24-man squad.



Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Kenny-Burns-column-sell-Michael-Mancienne-Fulham/story-27700054-detail/story.html#ixzz3kHeZ0OO7
Follow us: @Nottingham_Post on Twitter | NottinghamPostOnline on Facebook

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Blackburn Next Up

With the international period now set to commence, your next chance to see Fulham in action is on Sunday 13th September at Craven Cottage when Blackburn Rovers are the visitors.

Tickets for our meeting with the Lancashire outfit are available to purchase on General Sale, priced from just £25 for adults and £15 for juniors.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/august/29/blackburn-next-up?

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Result: Fulham easily see off Rotherham United

Fulham saw off the challenge of Rotherham United at the New York Stadium this afternoon, picking up a 3-1 win with goals coming from Ben Pringle, Ross McCormack, and Cauley Woodrow.

Pringle punished his former club and got Fulham on the board early after tapping in a Moussa Dembele knock-down. McCormack then got played in on goal by Dembele but he was well denied by the feet of Adam Collin.

Fulham doubled their advantage on 16 minutes when Greg Halford chopped down James Husband in the box and McCormack duly stepped up to smash the penalty home. Jonson Clarke-Harris then had a penalty appeal for Rotherham turned down after tumbling under some pressure from Pringle.

Paul Green went down in the box at the start of the second half for Rotherham but Matt Derbyshire's spot kick was saved by Andy Lonergan.

Clarke-Harris got Rotherham on the scoresheet with a thumping effort from 20 yards out as the Millers pushed forward, but it was not meant to be as substitute Woodrow poked the ball into the net in the 93rd minute.

The result sees Fulham pick up their first league win of the season to move up into 14th spot in the Championship. Rotherham, meanwhile, remain bottom with just one point.



http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/result/result-fulham-easily-see-off-rotherham-united_242645.html

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Millers outdone by Fulham

ROTHERHAM United will go into the international break propping up the Championship after dipping 3-1 to Fulham at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

Two goals in the first 15 minutes from ex-Miller Ben Pringle and Ross McCormack set the visitors on the way to their first three-pointer of the season and although Jonson Clarke-Harris replied, sub Cauley Woodrow capped a bad afternoon with a third goal in stoppage time.

Back at the New York  for the first time since his summer switch to Craven Cottage, Pringle gleefully tapped in the first after seven minutes when Adam Collin could only parry Moussa Dembele's header.

McCormack forced a good block from Collin but wasn't to be denied on 15 minutes. Greg Halford brought down James Husband and last year's £11 million signing from Leeds scored from the penalty spot.

While Paul Green had an effort ruled out for offside and there was a big appeal for a penalty when Clarke-Harris went down under a challenge, Rotherham could have no complaints with the half-time score as they struggled to stitch together any coherent attacks.

Steve Evans brought on Aidy White and Grant Ward at half time but there was still a lack of inspiration going forward and a chance to pull a goal back was spurned nine minutes after the restart.

Jazz Richards felled Paul Green but the resulting penalty from Derbyshire was too weak and Andy Lonergan dive to his right to palm it away.

The miss seemed to knock the home players and only the crossbar stopped McCormack increasing the damage just past the hour mark.

They needed a break and they got it 18 minutes from time. Clarke-Harris seized on a loose ball and advanced to unleash a ferocious effort that low past Lonergan.

The expected push for an equaliser never materialised and the issue was put beyond doubt when Woodrow swept the ball in from close range to leave the Millers win-less from their first five league games.

Millers: Collin, Buxton, Richardson (Ledesma 53), Halford, Collins, Maguire (Ward 46), Green, Smallwood, Newell (White 46), Clarke-Harris, Derbyshire

Fulham: Lonergan, Richards, Ream, Tunnicliffe, Dembele (Woodrow 76), O'Hara, Pringle, Husband, Burn, Cairney, McCormack (Christensen 82)

Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Tyne and Wear)

Attendance: 8,839 (704 visitors)


http://rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/sport/99586/millers-outdone-by-fulham.aspx?

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'He's one of the unsung heroes' Fulham boss delighted with goalscorer

Fulham manager Kit Symons was pleased it was his side who got their season up and running with a 3-1 win at Rotherham,

The two teams entered the match without a win in the Sky Bet Championship but it was the visitors who got their season kick-started.

Ex-Miller Ben Pringle gave Fulham a seventh minute lead and Ross McCormack made it two from the penalty spot on 16 minutes.

Matt Derbyshire had a penalty for the hosts saved after 55 minutes before Jonson Clarke-Harris fired a goal back on 72 minutes. Fulham sub Cauley Woodrow finished the game off four minutes into injury time with a smart finish.

"It was important we came and put in a decent performance and got three points on the board," said Symons.

"We made it hard work for ourselves conceding a penalty and giving away a stupid goal but overall I'm very pleased with the performance.

"Until you get that third goal it's never quite comfortable. The third goal in the game is always crucial.

We rode our luck a little bit and Lonners (Andy Lonergan) made a great save from the penalty. "We made poor decisions for the third goal."

Symons praised Pringle for his all-round play as well as for the opening goal. He added: "I was delighted for Ben.

He's a bit of a crowd favourite here as well that's why I took him off with a minute or so to go so he could get the recognition I think he deserves from the Rotherham fans.

"He's one of the unsung heroes. He works his socks off the team but he's got good qualities. "It was nice for him to pop up with the goal."



Read more at: http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/fulham/he_s_one_of_the_unsung_heroes_fulham_boss_delighted_with_goalscorer_1_4213830
Copyright © LONDON24

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Manager Reaction

Kit Symons declared himself pleased with Fulham's performance as the Whites secured their first win of the season with a 3-1 victory at Rotherham.

Ben Pringle's early goal and a Ross McCormack penalty put the Whites in the ascendency, before Andrew Lonergan saved Matt Derbyshire's spot-kick.

Jonson Clarke-Harris ensured a nervy last 20 minutes for the Whites when he scored but substitute Cauley Woodrow made sure of the points when he swept home in injury time.

"We made a little bit hard work of it but to get our first league win was important," said Symons. "We put in a decent performance. We conceded a penalty and gave away a stupid goal but overall I'm pleased with the performance.

"At 2-0, the third goal is always crucial. We rode our luck with Lonners' penalty save and you hoped we'd learned our lesson but we didn't and conceded a poor goal by making poor decisions.

"Although we defended very well it just takes one thing to drop or someone to lose their marker and all that hard work is gone. I was obviously very pleased when we scored the third late on to give ourselves a cushion."

Former Millers man Pringle scored his first goal for the Whites to set Symons' side on their way and the boss added: "I was delighted for Ben. He's a bit of a crowd favourite here so that's why I took him off here with a minute to go so he could get the recognition he got from the home fans. We're delighted to have him, he's an unsung hero; he works his socks off."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/august/29/manager-reaction

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Richard Stearman: Wolves defender set for £2m Fulham move

Wolverhampton Wanderer have accepted a bid in the region of £2m from Fulham for defender Richard Stearman.

The 28-year-old is set to move to Craven Cottage for an initial fee of £1m and up to £1m in add-ons.

"The club have accepted a bid from Fulham and Richard is discussing personal terms over the weekend," Wolves boss Kenny Jackett said.
"It is a football decision and we feel that we have some very good young centre-backs at the club."

Stearman has spent seven years at Wolves, having joined for an undisclosed fee from Leicester in the summer of 2008.

Since then he has played 234 times for Wanderers, as well as a four-month loan spell at Ipswich Town in 2013.

"Richard is a big call and for us to strengthen elsewhere we do feel that this is the right decision," added Jackett, who says he is also willing to let Dutch winger Rajiv van La Parra leave Molineux.

"Rajiv van La Parra is also in talks with two clubs over the weekend and we will see what the outcome of those talks is.

"We want to make these decisions early so we have the best possible chance going forward."

Meanwhile, striker Nouha Dicko could have suffered a serious knee injury in Saturday's 2-1 win over Charlton. He was stretchered off just after an hour.

"First impressions from the medical staff are that it seems like a serious knee injury. But we will assess it over the weekend," Jackett said.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34099786

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RUFC - A Tale Of Three Pens!

Rotherham United`s loss to Fulham this afternoon could almost be said to be a game of three penalties.

Fulham were awarded a penalty after a clumsy challenge by Greg Halford floored James Husband and Ross McCormack scored from the resulting penalty.

And the Millers had a penalty of their own after a foul on Paul Green by Jazz Richards. Matt Derbyshire unfortunately, if you are a Miller, saw his spot-kick easily saved.

And there was the penalty shout in the first half when Ben Pringle fouled Jonson Clarke-Harris which referee Geoff Eltringham waved away.

'How we don`t get that penalty is highly embarrassing for the Football League Officials,` Millers Manager Steve Evans said to Jonathan Buchan of Radio Sheffield.

'But we`re here every week aren`t we. The referee is in no shape or form the reason why we lost today but somebody watching that back and tells me that`s not a penalty well...`

A wise man once told me that you should never miss a penalty, although for a 'keeper to make a good save, was permissible! Unfortunately, Fulham's 'keeper didn't even have to make much of a save today from Derbyshire's spot-kick. Although, saying that, I don't wholly blame Darbs. After all, we probably don't bother practicing penalties as we don't very often get them.


Read more: http://www.rotherham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=411635#ixzz3kHhngLc8

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Brentford refuse to sell star defender to rivals

Fulham have been dealt another blow in their hunt for a centre-back, as Brentford are refusing to sell James Tarkowski, according to Get West London.

Kit Symons has been on the lookout for a central defender all summer, with Tarkowski and Brighton defender Lewis Dunk being his top targets.

However, Dunk has recently signed a new long-term contract and Fulham switched their attentions to the Brentford star and Nottingham Forest's Michael Mancienne.

Bees owner Matthew Benham rates the defender at around £5 million, but head coach Marinus Dijkhuizen is refusing to sanction Tarkowski's departure especially after Andreas Bjelland picked up an injury.

Fulham will now turn their attentions elsewhere as they look to add defensive reinforcements before the transfer deadline on Tuesday.

Tarkowski came through the youth ranks at Oldham Athletic and made 72 league appearances for them, before joining Brentford last summer.

He has gone on to play 50 times in the Championship, helping the Bees reach the play-offs last season.


Read more at http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/brentford-refuse-to-sell-star-defender-to-rivals/?#FeBerg41UQSjZkJt.99

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Fulham closing on deal for Lyon defender Bakary Kone

HITC understands Fulham are in talks to sign Lyon defender Bakary Kone.

Lyon defender Bakary Kone has flown into England for talks with Fulham over a move to Craven Cottage, HITC Sport understands from sources close to the club.

Fulham are desperate to bolster their centre-back options before the close of the transfer window and have lined up a deal for Kone.

Burkino Faso international Kone is well down the pecking order at Lyon and the Ligue 1 club are willing to let him leave Stade Gerland.

A host of clubs have been credited with holding an interest in Kone, but Fulham are in pole position to land the 27-year-old.

Fulham are understood to have made a bid of £1.8million for Kone and the player has been given permission to travel to London to hold talks with Kit Symons' side.

Fulham are expected to be busy before Tuesday's transfer deadline and have also made a bid for Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Richard Stearman - as revealed by HITC Sport - as they aim to bolster their defensive options.


http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2015/08/29/fulham-closing-on-deal-for-lyon-defender-bakary-kone/?

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Fulham earn first league win at Rotherham
by DAN on AUGUST 29, 2015

Even if Tuesday night's League Cup win against Sheffield United's second string in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night had lifted some of the gloom over Craven Cottage, there was still a fair bit of pressure hanging over Kit Symons this afternoon. A defeat at Rotherham could have dragged his Fulham side to the foot of the fledgling Championship table and intensified the uncertainty over his future, but a first league win of the new season saw the Londoners climbing up towards mid-table and allowed the Fulham manager to feel vindicated by a couple of crucial decisions.

His toughest pre-match headache might have been over whether to pick Lasse Vigen Christensen, one of the few undoubted bright spots of a dismal last year, or Ryan Tunnicliffe, who had starred in his first appearance of the campaign against Sheffield United, in midfield. Christensen has yet to hit the heights of last season and Symons plumped for the former Manchester United youth team skipper. He was rewarded with a performance of real quality, which supplied the bite Fulham's midfield has been missing in the early weeks of the campaign. The move to reprise James Husband's loan spell from Middlesbrough paid immediate dividends too, with the left-back offering genuine width and an attacking outlet that won a vital first-half penalty.

Fulham have far too often been cagey in the early stages this season, but not at the New York Stadium. Almost acknowledging the pivotal nature of this fixture at an admittedly early stage in the calendar, the visitors were swiftly into their stride. Tunnicliffe offered an early indication of their intentions when he dragged a shot wide after exchanging passes with Cairney after just three minutes. Fulham were ahead only four minutes later. Ross McCormack found the overlapping Jazz Richards down the right and, although Moussa Dembele couldn't propel the cross past Adam Collin with his hand, the returning Ben Pringle was on hand to haunt his former club, forcing home the simplest of finishes from close range.

The Whites should have been two goals to the good only moments later following a quick counter-attack but McCormack somehow managed to shoot straight at Collin after the impressive Dembele had burst clear and cut the ball back invitingly for his strike partner. Rotherham's reprieve proved merely temporary. Husband was chopped down in the penalty area by a wild challenge from Greg Halford – there could be no complaints about the award – and McCormack stepped up to emphatically convert the spot-kick and double Fulham's lead.

Steve Evans was already simmering on the touchline and his mood would not have improved when Rotherham saw a potential lifeline snuffed out by the assistant referee's flag. Irish international Paul Green displayed all the right predatory instincts to touch an overhead kick from Jonson Clarke-Harris beyond Andy Lonergan, but he had strayed offside. The home fans were far from happy when referee Geoff Eltringham waved away loud appeals for a penalty after Clarke-Harris went down under a challenge from Pringle, but in truth Rotherham were fortunate to be only two goals adrift at the break after both Dembele and Tunnicliffe came close to extending the Fulham lead late in the first half.

Evans made a double change at the break – bringing on Aidy White and Grant Ward – and was soon forced into a third when Emmanuel Ledesma was sent on after a nasty injury to full-back Frazer Richardson. The Millers penned Fulham back into their own half, with two of the substitutes combining to great effect. Ward's deep cross was headed back across the area by Ward and Lewis Buxton couldn't make the telling connection. The home side's sense of adventure was rewarded when Jazz Richards clumsily caught the rampaging Green inside the box, but there was only frustration when Lonergan flung himself to his right and pushed away Matt Derbyshire's penalty.

Fulham were now certainly on the back foot but almost grabbed a third through a moment of magic from McCormack, who rattled the crossbar with an impudent effort from 25 yards, but after a composed passing move that must have spanned more than twenty passes, Symons' side shot themselves in the foot. Dan Burn, who repelled Rotherham's aerial attacks assuredly throughout, was dispossessed as he sought to bring the ball down high up the pitch and Green fed Clarke-Harris, who gave Lonergan little chance with a delicious curler from 20 yards out.

The visitors sought to shut up shop as Rotherham pressed for an equaliser, switching to a five-man midfield as McCormack was replaced by Christensen, and yet still posed a significant threat on the break. Husband's rasping drive from the left was pushed away by Collin and, as seven agonising minutes of stoppage time ticked by, substitute Cauley Woodrow settled the contest. Tunnicliffe fed the marauding Jamie O'Hara, who tricked his towards the by-line with a piece of mesmerising skill that beat a couple of defenders, and his low cross was clinically swept home by Woodrow.

ROTHERHAM UNITED (4-4-2): Collin; Richardson (Ledesma 54), Buxton, Halford, Collins; Maguire (White 45), Green, Smallwood, Newell (G. Ward 45); Clarke-Harris, Derbyshire. Subs (not used): Roos, Rawson, Thorpe, D. Ward.

BOOKED: Maguire.

GOAL: Clarke-Harris (72).

FULHAM (4-4-2): Lonergan; Richards, Husband, Burn, Ream; O'Hara, Tunnicliffe, Pringle (Kacaniklic 90), Cairney; McCormack (Christensen 82), Dembele (Woodrow 76). Subs (not used): Lewis, Voser, Hutchinson, Mattila.

BOOKED: McCormack, Christensen.

GOALS: Pringle (7), McCormack (pen 16), Woodrow (90).

REFEREE: Geoff Eltringham (County Durham).

ATTENDANCE: 8,839.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2015/08/fulham-earn-first-league-win-at-rotherham/?

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Symons happy to clinch first win
by DAN on AUGUST 29, 2015

Kit Symons was delighted that his side notched their first league win of the season and moved themselves away from the bottom of the Championship table with a 3-1 victory at Rotherham earlier this afternoon.

The Fulham manager saw his team start strongly at the New York Stadium and race into a two-goal lead courtesy of former Rotherham winger Ben Pringle and captain Ross McCormack, who calmly converted a spot-kick. Although Jonson Clarke-Harris brought the home side back into the contest, it was Fulham who wrapped up the points with an injury-time strike from substitute Cauley Woodrow.

Symons felt his side were good value for the victory:

It was important we came and put in a decent performance and got three points on the board. We made it hard work for ourselves conceding a penalty and giving away a stupid goal but overall I'm very pleased with the performance.

Until you get that third goal it's never quite comfortable. The third goal in the game is always crucial. We rode our luck a little bit and Lonners (Andy Lonergan) made a great save from the penalty. We made poor decisions for the third goal.

The Fulham boss was effusive in his praise for Pringle, who left the Millers to join Fulham on a free transfer in the summer.

I was delighted for Ben. He's a bit of a crowd favourite here as well that's why I took him off with a minute or so to go so he could get the recognition I think he deserves from the Rotherham fans.

He's one of the unsung heroes. He works his socks off the team but he's got good qualities. It was nice for him to pop up with the goal.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2015/08/symons-happy-to-clinch-first-win/?

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Wolves accept Fulham's £2m offer for Stearman
by DAN on AUGUST 29, 2015

Wolves defender Richard Stearman is set to complete a £2m move to Fulham in the coming days after the clubs agreed a fee this afternoon.

The 28 year-old centre back, who was voted Wolves' player of the season last year, has spent seven years at Moulineux after joining Wolves from Leicester City for a nominal fee back in 2008. Stearman was left out of the Wolves' squad for this afternoon's win over Charlton Athletic after Wolves accepted a bid from Fulham, which is believed to be structured in the form of £1m up front and a further million in potential additional clauses.

Stearman, who has made 234 appearances in his time at Wolves and also had a four-month loan spell with Ipswich Town, will discuss personal terms with Fulham over the weekend. Speaking in his post-match press conference, Wolves manager Kenny Jackett said that the decision to accept the bid for Stearman was a 'footballing one'.

The club have accepted a bid from Fulham and Richard is discussing personal terms over the weekend. It is a football decision and we feel that we have some very good young centre-backs at the club. Richard is a big call and for us to strengthen elsewhere we do feel that this is the right decision.

Kit Symons has made signing reinforcements in central defence a key part of his summer rebuilding at Craven Cottage. Fulham concluded a deal with Bolton Wanderers for American international defender Tim Ream last week and had also been heavily linked with Brighton centre back Lewis Dunk.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2015/08/wolves-accept-fulhams-2m-offer-for-stearman/?

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Pringle: Up And Running

Ben Pringle believes two successive wins for Fulham show the Whites are starting to move in the right direction.

Fulham followed up Tuesday's resounding 3-0 League Cup win over Sheffield United with their first away victory of the season with a 3-1 triumph at Rotherham United on Saturday.

"Three goals and three points, you can't ask for much more," Pringle told the official website at the New York Stadium. "After two straight wins we want to keep going but at the same time it's good to regroup now during the international break.

"In the last two games we've looked a lot more solid. The team is starting to gel. They'll probably be a few more additions next week and I'm sure those players are only going to add to the squad."

Making his first return to Rotherham after his summer switch to SW6, Pringle got the ball rolling at his old ground, tapping the Whites in front in the seventh minute.

"It was a strange feeling initially, but don't take anything away from it, it was a goal," he smiled. "I've got a new team now and we got the three points, that was the most important thing.

"Me and Tom Cairney share a room together and he said, 'listen you're going to score tomorrow and it will be a tap in off a rebound.' I said, 'those are the best ones, those are the ones you want to score.' So I was delighted to put it in the back of the net.

"I thought we played well. We always looked dangerous going forward, we've got some good players in the midfield and up top. We always looked a threat."

Leading 2-0 after Ross McCormack scored from the spot, Andrew Lonergan then saved Matt Derbyshire's second-half penalty. Jonson Clarke-Harris pulled one back for the Millers but Cauley Woodrow sealed the points late on in stoppage time.

"Lonners is a really good goalkeeper," said Pringle. "We were hoping he would save it and he did. We always knew they'd have a spell for 10-15 minutes and have a proper go. They pulled one back but we weathered the storm and then nicked one at the end."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/august/30/pringle-up-and-running?