Monday Fulham Stuff (21/09/15)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham boss unimpressed with Whites' defending but hails experienced summer signing

Fulham boss Kit Symons was left reeling as his west London side conceded sloppy goals in their 3-2 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

Fernando Forestieri marked his home debut for the Owls with the opening goal, climbing above Jazz Richards to head firmly past goalkeeper Andy Lonergan from Ross Wallace's corner.

The equaliser came when Jamie O'Hara beat Keiren Westwood with a low shot from around 20 yards.

Wednesday regained the lead when Tom Lees got away from Moussa Dembele at a corner and found the net with a header.

It was 3-1 to Wednesday soon after the restart when Michael Turner stooped to meet Wallace's free-kick from the right, beating Lonergan with a close-range header.

Tom Cairney reduced the arrears with a header from point-blank range following a right-wing cross from O'Hara.

There was a chance for Fulham in stoppage time when Cairney's through ball found substitute Dan Burn, but Westwood got down bravely to make a vital block. Fulham boss Kit Symons admitted:

"Poor defending from set-pieces and balls into our box cost us very dearly. That side of our game wasn't good enough.

"Take them (the goals) out of it and we played pretty well, so I'm torn between two stools. I'm annoyed with the defending from set-pieces and balls played into the box but I'm proud of the way the players performed, especially in the second half.

"We've got a new back four, but as a team we normally defend better. We obviously work on set-pieces in training because it is a big part of the game. "We'll always score goals and we need to start getting a couple of clean sheets now.

"Jamie (O'Hara) has been excellent. He's done really well for us. He's a very good player with a real drive and desire to win games."



Read more at: http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/fulham/fulham_boss_unimpressed_with_whites_defending_but_hails_experienced_summer_signing_1_4239826
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[WhiteJC]

 
Kit Symons: 'Poor defending cost Fulham'

Kit Symons says that Fulham's poor defending cost them during their 3-2 loss to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

The Lilywhites conceded from three set pieces, with Ross Wallace setting up all three goals for the Owls.

"Poor defending from set-pieces and balls into our box cost us very dearly. That side of our game wasn't good enough," Symons told BBC Sport.

"Take them out of it and we played pretty well, so I'm torn between two stools. I'm annoyed with the defending from set-pieces and balls played into the box but I'm proud of the way the players performed, especially in the second half.

"We'll always score goals and we need to start getting a couple of clean sheets now."

Fulham are sitting in 16th in the Championship table after Saturday's results.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/symons-poor-defending-cost-fulham_247365.html

[WhiteJC]

 
AGYEI-TABI PENALTY NOT ENOUGH AS ARSENAL U18S LOSE TO FULHAM

U18 Premier League- Fulham 2 Arsenal 1

After winning their previous two fixtures, Arsenal U18s saw their recent good form come to a halt yesterday as they were beaten 2-1 by their Fulham counterparts at Motspur Park.

This was Arsenal's first return to the venue where they were thrashed 5-1 on the final day of last season; a result that condemned them to finishing in bottom place in the lowest division of the U18 league.

Coach Frans De Kat made several changes to the side that beat West Ham United last time out, with Hugo Keto, Kristopher Da Graca and Reiss Nelson all being rested after their involvement in the UEFA Youth League, whilst Yassin Fortune dropped to the bench.

In their place, Ryan Huddart started in goal, centre-back Kostas Pileas made his first official appearance for the club, Josh Dasilva also started and Tyrell Robinson returned to the side on the left wing. Meanwhile, midfielder Harry Donovan, who is still expected to leave the club in the near future, was amongst the substitutes after receiving his first call-up for over a month.

Huddart

Osei Tutu-Pileas-T. Bola-Chatzitheodoridis

Gilmour-Mourgos

Eyoma-Dasilva-Robinson

Nketiah

Subs: Barden, Fortune, Tella, Agyei-Tabi, Donovan.

Arsenal started well and struck the woodwork twice in the opening period, but Arsenal were thankful for Huddart, who saved a penalty early on.

Fulham did eventually take the lead, though, with Dennis Adeniran heading past Huddart. Adeniran was also involved in Fulham's second goal as he initiated the move that culminated in winger Stephen Humphreys making it 2-0.

Arsenal managed to reduce the deficit, with Marcus Agyei-Tabi scoring a penalty at the venue where he made his U18 debut after fellow substitute Nathan Tella was fouled in the area.

The young Gunners have won three, drawn one and lost two of their fixtures so far and are next in action against their Tottenham Hotspur counterparts at London Colney on Wednesday.

*Info via Robert Wood.


https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2015/09/20/agyei-tabi-penalty-not-enough-as-arsenal-u18s-lose-to-fulham/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Richards: Must Sort It Out

Jazz Richards was left deflated following a narrow loss to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday afternoon at Hillsborough and he lamented the inconsistent nature of the Whites, which led to Fulham falling to defeat after a three-match unbeaten run. 

A visibly downbeat Richards caught up with fulhamfc.com after the match and said: "It's just something that we need to sort out. We play well for 45 minutes and then not so well for 45 minutes.

"We just need to get the hang of doing well for the full 90. We are just killing ourselves at the moment."

The Owls' first goal came when Fernando Forestieri climbed above Richards at the back post from a Ross Wallace corner, and throughout the match set-pieces proved the Achilles heel of the Whites as they attempted to gain control of the game. This predicament was not lost on Richards who acknowledged that "all teams within this league are dangerous from set-pieces and direct play."

He added: "We conceded three set-pieces, three free headers and we have to clean up these lapses in concentration. They did very well with attacking their set-plays in the first half. We have to move on, deal with that and do a better job of defending set-pieces in the coming games."

Despite a pivotal role in Fulham's second goal, Jazz said: "I have not looked at my own performance. I am just disappointed with the loss really. We pushed on in the second half and really showed the desire to get more goals, but we have to go on and get wins in these sort of games. We just couldn't do it this time."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/september/20/richards-sort-it-out?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday want Norwich striker

According to a report, Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday are still interested in signing Norwich striker Gary Hooper.

Norwich were looking to sell the striker in the summer transfer window and it is understood that both Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday were interested.  Hooper was close to leaving Carrow Road in a loan with a view-to-buy move.

However Norwich changed their mind at the last minute due to uncertainty over whether fellow striker Lewis Grabban would be leaving the club or not.  Therefore both Championship clubs missed out on the former Celtic striker.

Despite this setback, both clubs are understood to still be interested in loaning Hooper and were optimistic in their efforts to sign him.  However Hooper has now suffered an ankle injury in Norwich City training, ruling him out for a few weeks.

This news could lead both Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday to explore other targets as they both look to improve their squad as they challenge for promotion.


http://the72.co.uk/36964/fulham-and-sheffield-wednesday-want-norwich-striker/?