Tuesday Fulham Stuff (20/10/15)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Burn Targeting Leeds

Dan Burn believes the point gained at Middlesbrough stands the Whites in good stead to kick on at Craven Cottage against Leeds United.

"It's a big point going into two home games," he told fulhamfc.com. "Leeds on Wednesday is a massive game to pick up three points and keep climbing that table and get to where we want to be."

United have been struggling towards the bottom end of the Sky Bet Championship table this season, with Uwe Rosler dismissed following the weekend's home defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion.

But nonetheless, Burn is wary of the threats the Yorkshire side pose.

"We all know Leeds have a good squad," he said. "Last year at home we played really, really well but ended up getting smashed [3-0].

"So we know what they can bring, and we will be working on that over the coming days and on a game plan as well."

The point gained at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday was much more welcome than the one that was taken from Charlton Athletic last time out, and Burn was pleased with the improvements shown by his side.

"I think after the Charlton game we needed to tighten up defensively all over the pitch," he explained. "We had a game plan against Boro where we were going to sit off a little bit and when they came in our half press them a lot more.

"I thought that was quite effective and we could have even nicked it at the end, so it was a hard earned point.

"We've been working on our defending almost non-stop. We were really passive in the last 10 minutes at Charlton in our half and we didn't put much pressure on them and made it easy for them.

"So, we wanted to change that and not invite pressure on us, but as soon as they passed the halfway line we wanted to press the ball.

"It was pretty effective - they had a few chances because they've got quality so that was always going to happen but I thought we dealt with the most of it quite well."

Saturday's game marked the return to the First Team for Burn, who replaced the injured Tim Ream, and the centre-back now hopes he can nail down a spot in the starting XI.

"I just want to play games," he admitted. "I'm disappointed I haven't been playing but that's just football.

"A clean sheet can help my cause, so hopefully I've put a good word in for myself and can try and stay in the team for a while."

Tickets for Wednesday's meeting with Leeds United are still available for fans to purchase, priced from just £20 for adults and £10 for juniors.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/october/19/burn-targeting-leeds?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham and ex-Leeds striker set to make emotional return against old club

Former Leeds man on track to play a part on Wednesday night after knee injury


Return: Matt Smith (L) ready to rekindle partnership with Ross McCormack

Matt Smith looks set to be involved against former club Leeds on Wednesday night - just as the stricken striker predicted.

The Fulham forward was half the catastrophe that saw he and Marcus Bettinelli left writhing in pain at Hull six weeks ago after they collided.

The young keeper is expected to be out for the rest of the season, but following specialist injections in Spain, Smith played a comeback hour in the Whites U21 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Friday night.


Pain: Matt Smith at Hull

Boss Kit Symons revealed the man who made the switch last season to link up with Ross McCormack and reincarnate their Elland Road glory days always had his sights set on the Leeds clash.

"I've spoken to Matt about this," the gaffer added. And he was given a rough time frame. Straight away as you might expect, Matt pencilled in the Leeds game.

"I'm not going to put pressure on him. We'll see how he comes out of the Newcastle game, and feasibly he could be involved."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-ex-leeds-striker-set-10289994?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham defender Dan Burn eager to collect Leeds scalp

Whites defender has second defeat planned for Steve Evans

The Fulham game plan worked a treat at Middlesbrough on Saturday (see gallery) - and Dan Burn is keen to do another number on Leeds who sacked manager Uwe Rosler this morning.

The former Brentford boss got his marching orders after 12 games in which he claimed only two wins, and was instantly replaced by Steve Evans - himself a victim of the manager merry-go-round at Rotherham last month.

It will be the second time in seven weeks Evans faces the Whites, but Burn is ready to give the new United man as much as Fulham gave him the first time - nothing.

"I think after the Charlton game (2-2) we needed to tighten up defensively all over the pitch," he explained to the club website. "We had a game plan against Boro where we were going to sit off a little bit and when they came in our half press them a lot more.

"I thought that was quite effective and we could have even nicked it at the end, so it was a hard earned point.

"We've been working on our defending almost non-stop. We were really passive in the last 10 minutes at Charlton in our half and we didn't put much pressure on them and made it easy for them.

"So, we wanted to change that and not invite pressure on us, but as soon as they passed the halfway line we wanted to press the ball.

"It was pretty effective - they had a few chances because they've got quality so that was always going to happen but I thought we dealt with the most of it quite well."

Saturday's 0-0 draw at the Riverside marked the return of Burn to the first team, in place of the injured Tim Ream, and the centre-back now hopes he can nail down a spot in the starting XI.

"I just want to play games," he admitted. "I'm disappointed I haven't been playing but that's just football.

"A clean sheet can help my cause, so hopefully I've put a good word in for myself and can try and stay in the team for a while."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-defender-dan-burn-eager-10290624?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jesse Joronen: Stevenage keeper 'baffled' by Wycombe goal

Stevenage goalkeeper Jesse Joronen says he was "baffled" after scoring against Wycombe in League Two on Saturday.

Joronen, 22, hit the ball upfield from the edge of his area before it bounced over opposite number Matt Ingram in the 10th minute of Boro's 2-1 win.

"For me it was just a clearance. There was not much else to it, I got lucky with the wind and that was basically it," he told BBC Look East.

"When it bounced, I thought it could go in - I was a bit baffled that it did."

He added: "People are very excited about it - it happened and hopefully after Tuesday and another round of games people can move on."

It was the first goal by a goalkeeper in England's top four divisions since Asmir Begovic netted for Stoke against Southampton in November 2013.

But Fulham loanee Joronen, who said he scored once before while playing in his native Finland, said he sympathised with Ingram.

"I felt bad for him, not for us winning the game, but what happened is very unlucky and hard to read," he added.

"I said to him afterwards 'unlucky mate' - he seemed to take it quite well and he's just going to forget it and move on."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34573544

[WhiteJC]

 
Under-16s Retain Crown

This weekend saw Fulham win the Under-16 Premier League International Cup for the second consecutive year.

Managed by Academy coaches Kevin Betsy and Colin Omogbehin, the young Whites successfully emerged from a qualifying stage to reach the final tournament at Liverpool's Academy, where a series of strong displays across 50-minute matches saw them retain the trophy.

Speaking to fulhamfc.com, Betsy said: "We had to qualify for this event from a group with Chelsea, Southampton and Brighton. The top team and the best runners-up from each region went through, so we came top of the group to qualify, and Southampton also qualified as best-runners up.

"The Premier League then invites four international teams for the final tournament and spreads them out across the groups. We drew PSV, Liverpool and Stoke in our group, and in the first game against PSV on Friday afternoon we won 2-0, with Matt O'Riley scoring two goals.

"In the second game on Saturday we played Liverpool and won 2-1, and in the third we beat Stoke 3-1. All the group games were tough, against some very good opposition who had different styles of play and different tactical organisation. But we managed to come out of the group on nine points."

That put Fulham within two games of glory, and they comfortably saw of the challenges that stood in their way.

"We drew Southampton in the Semi-Finals and we managed to win that 4-0 having played very well," Betsy stated. "It was probably one of our best performances.

"Liverpool was also a good display but Southampton gave us a different challenge tactically as they defended in a deep block, and the boys produced an outstanding intelligent display.

"Then in the Final we played Reading, who had seen off Arsenal on penalties after drawing 0-0 in the other Semi, and we beat them 3-0.

"We scored 14 goals and only conceded two in the tournament. And of those we did let in, one was a penalty and one was a direct free-kick, so our defending in open play was very positive and there were some exceptional performances from all the individuals within the group.

"To retain the title when you go to a prestigious international finals, where a lot of top teams are competing, is a phenomenal achievement. Quite a few of our boys played and won it last year, and they were well complemented by the new lads who came in. They all did tremendously well to retain the title and show the level of our players within the Academy."

While the former Fulham forward was full of praise for the efforts of his team as a group, there were two players – from the same family incidentally – who were awarded individual honours.

"Ryan Sessegnon won Attacker of the Tournament," Betsy revealed. "He was the best attacker there, which was fantastic for him, and his twin brother Steven was named best defender. They've both been with us since the Under-9s and they've both played numerous positions during their development in that time.

"So those were two excellent performances which were recognised by the organisers, but there were outstanding performances from all of the boys. We had quite a few Under-14s and 15s playing who did extremely well – it was a real collective effort."

He continued: "I said to the boys that as coaches – Colin and myself – we weren't overly placing importance on winning the tournament. For us it was about the style of play and the manner of our conduct on and off the pitch – both of which were outstanding.

"Before the Semi-Final we relayed these messages to the boys and said, 'We don't care if you win. Although of course we want you to win because you're great kids and your style of play and manner in which you perform is outstanding.'

"If we win the tournament then fantastic, but in terms of the long-term perspective, there's positive signs that individuals are developing and learning, even without winning a trophy. But to top it off they pulled off the achievement, which was great for them."

Betsy also played tribute to the backroom staff who represented the Whites in Liverpool.

"I must mention the staff, we had a fantastic group," he said. "Even before the tournament there's lots of planning and preparation that go into such an event.

"Colin won this tournament last year with YDP Coach Dan Thomas as well, so his experience was invaluable this time around.

"Charlotte Bellamy in admin does a great job with the organisation and logistics, and our transport manager Steve Garman was fantastic in organising the travelling up there.

"We took a video analyst, Joe Moore, who did a great job in filming all the games and making sure the clips were turned around in time for our debriefs, which is vital for their development.

"In sports science we had Jamie Douglas who did a great job in terms of preparation and recovery which is especially important during a three-day event.

"Natalie Kelly was our physio - she's our lucky charm as she was physio when we won last year, too. We had a couple of players who were touch and go for the finals but she did a great job in the week prior in terms of their rehabilitation, and they were flying come kick-off in the first game."

To win such a high-profile tournament not once but twice is a huge credit to all involved, and a considerable source of pride for everyone at the Club, as Betsy explains: "This is great recognition of the work done by a great deal of people within the academy, as the environment and development programme we create is very much tailored to  individual development.

"The experience they will have gained in this team competition will hopefully give them more exposure to challenges they will face in the professional game.

"We hope to see as many of these players in our First Team in years to come but they must continue to work hard, be humble and have a willingness to improve and develop in the way that they are."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaoD0gHkTCs

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/october/19/under-16s-retain-crown?

[WhiteJC]

 
Heading for the Play-Offs?
   
The point gained up at the Riverside Stadium, in a game that could have gone either way, was a most welcome point.

I`m assuming that not many other Championship teams will leave Middlesbrough with anything as the Teeside club hope to secure a promotion place that evaded them last season.

After a poor start, Fulham are slowly getting their act together, the slow start probably coming about due to the number of new recruits brought in by the club, in the summer, having to gel.

One player who came into the side and performed so well he was awarded the man-of-the-match award, Dan Burn, has the same views we hold when he remarks.

"The play-offs has to be the aim. The club has invested heavily and with the players we`ve brought in, the squad is ten times better than it was last year.

"With the quality Boro have in their squad, we`ve been proved we can mix it with the best in this league.

And as for the result on Saturday, Dan added,

"It was disappointing we didn`t win. Ross usually scores those for fun. It would have capped off the perfect away performance."

Indeed it would, but the gallant effort, like Dan said, shows we can live with the best in the division.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=418033#ixzz3p5cXLbmT

[WhiteJC]

 
Jazz Richards hopes Fulham can capitalise on Leeds' shock managerial change

JAZZ RICHARDS is hoping Fulham can profit from Leeds' latest managerial change.


AXED: Leeds owner Massimo Cellino axed Uwe Rosler as manager on Monday

Uwe Rosler was given the boot by owner Massimo Cellino just two days before the two sides meet at Craven Cottage.

The axe fell after the German picked up just 11 points from the same number of Championship fixtures and he has been swiftly replaced by former Rotherham boss Steve Evans.

The appointment of a new manager occasionally sees a struggling side enjoy an instant upturn in results.

But the instability caused by the upheaval could give Fulham the upper-hand, according to Richards.


CAPITALISE: Jazz Richards hopes Fulham can profit from the decision

"There's positives and negatives," the Whites right-back said.

"It can work for them and it can work against them.

"I guess they are all going to want to try and impress their new manager but we are not really looking into that.

"Obviously, we are just going to focus on what we've got to do ourselves but, hopefully, it works the negative way for them and we can take advantage of that."

Leeds have tumbled down the table after picking up just four points from their last six games.

Their poor form leaves them nine points from the play-offs and Richards believes the change of manager could define their season.

Asked whether the decision could boost Leeds' promotion hopes, the Wales international said: "It's hard to say. I think it depends on the manager and what he's going to come in and do and his style of play and whether it will work for them or not.

"I think Leeds are a big club and a good team so I can't see why they can't go on and do well but like I said there are positives and negatives."

Tickets for Fulham FC's two home fixtures this week against Leeds United on Wednesday 21st (7.45pm) and Reading on Saturday 24th (1.30pm) are on general sale.
Visit www.fulhamfc.com/tickets or call: 0843 208 1234.


http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/471014/Jazz-Richards-Fulham-can-capitalise-Leeds-shock-managerial-change