Wednesday Fulham Stuff (16/12/15)...

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West Brom eye ex-Fulham winger

West Brom manager Tony Pulis is contemplating a move for Besiktas winger Kerim Frei, according to the Daily Mirror.

Frei, 22, has been a regular at Besiktas  but the club are reportedly happy to sell and therefore is an option for the former Crystal Palace boss, especially if his move for QPR winger Matt Phillips falls through.

Phillips, a Scotland international was a target for the Baggies in the summer but a deal collapsed and although Pulis is rekindling his interest, the new R's manager may convince Phillips to stay.

What will he bring?

Frei is young and will bring Premier League experience if the Baggies do go ahead with a move for him, having spent time with Fulham as a youngster.

He left two years ago and has matured in Turkey, making 49 appearances and scoring five times in two and a half-seasons to date.

Alongside his prior experience, albeit somewhat limited, he will also bring real pace and creative intent, something the Baggies have lacked at times under Pulis.

Which move is more likely?

It appears at the moment that Phillips is their top target but with an asking price of £7 million and a failed move before, a move for him is definitely not certain.

A move for Frei would be cheaper and is probably more likely to go through as Besiktas are willing to sell, but expect the Midlands club to attempt to get the former Blackpool winger first before going for the Turkey international.

The only thing that appears guaranteed at the present time is West Brom's intention to sign a winger during the coming January window.


http://www.touchlinetalk.com/west-brom-eye-ex-fulham-winger/120233/?

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Napoli could derail Man United & Spurs efforts to seal transfer for French striker

According to reports from London Evening Standard, Napoli are the latest club to show an interest in Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur strike target Moussa Dembele.

Much hype surrounded the France U20 when he joined the Fulham ranks from PSG's academy in 2012 and he's starting to deliver in his heralded ability, netting seven times in his last eight Championship appearances – including back-to-back braces against Reading and Bristol City in October.

With his Craven Cottage contract set to expire at the end of the season, a number of Premier League clubs have taken an interest in the 19-year-old over the last few months – most particularly Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United – eyeing the chance to sign a prodigious striker on the cheap.

But according to London Evening Standard, Dembele's contract situation is attracting suitors from outside English football as well, with Napoli the latest club to scout the 6 foot frontman. Their interest – along with Feyenoord and Borussia Dortmund's – could prove problematic for United and Spurs.

Foreign clubs will be allowed to discuss pre-contract terms with Dembele from January onwards and would only have to pay a nominal compensation fee as it would count as an international transfer under FIFA regulations.

Spurs and United, on the other hand, would have to wait until the summer to legally offer the teenager a contract and the issue of compensation would likely be decided by a tribunal – who could command any sum deemed justifiable in the context of the modern market.

There is a four-and-a-half-year deal already on offer at Fulham, but LES claim it is becoming 'increasingly unlikely' that Dembele will sign it.


Read more at http://thisisfutbol.com/2015/12/blogs/napoli-could-derail-man-united-spurs-efforts-to-seal-transfer-for-french-striker#vubEKme72RpfgxpS.99

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Fulham 1-2 Ipswich Town: Whites fans rage despite McCormack wonder strike

Whites lose out to Tractor Boys on a night that only took 16 seconds to go stale despite leveller


Celebration time: Ross McCormack scores

A thunderous Ross McCormack free-kick proved in vain as Fulham fell to defeat at Craven Cottage.

McCormack's effort from 30 yards dipped over the wall and flew into the bottom left of the goal, beyond the despairing dive of Dean Gerken.

But it ultimately proved fruitless as Brett Pitman added to Freddie Sears' opener inside the opening minute to hand the visitors the win.

The Whites had not won seven previous games and were looking bereft of confidence when Sears raced onto a ball forward and slotted beyond the grasp of Andy Lonergan.

Sears' strike sent the Fulham faithful into a rage as they witnessed yet another defensive error as one of the league's leakiest defences breached again.


Hard work: Jonathan Douglas of Ipswich is tackled by Jamie O'Hara

Their woes may have increased had the visitors taken advantage of some nervy defending from a centre-back partnership of Richard Stearman and Dan Burn.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles, on loan from Arsenal, nearly doubled the Tractor Boys' lead when he smashed an effort from the edge of the box against the crossbar.

But Fulham found themselves back level after 14 minutes when a free-kick from 30 yards was dispatched with aplomb by McCormack.

The surprise goal gave the hosts a way back into the match which had previously seemed unlikely, and after changing to a 4-4-2 formation, started to make the most of Luke Garbutt's pace down the left side of the pitch.


Challenge: Ainsley Maitland-Miles of Ipswich tries to tackle Luke Garbutt

Ipswich were at their resilient best, however, and Mick McCarthy's men were out to hit the Cottagers on the break as they so efficiently did last season.

Maitland-Niles and Cole Skuse both came close before the interval, but could only fire straight at Lonergan.

Fulham came flying out for the second-half, and were disappointed not to score after McCormack's backheel sent Alex Kacaniklic flying forward, but Moussa Dembele could not finish a wonderful counter-attack.

And they were made to rue that missed opportunity just minutes later, when Sears burst into space down the left and fired a low cross towards the near post, which Pitman tucked beyond the keeper.

Substitute Matt Smith came close for the hosts, firing a header just wide from 16 yards, before Sears once more dispossessed Burn and whipped a wicked effort just inches wide of the far top corner.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/fulham-1-2-ipswich-town-10606474?

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Football League Review: Sears scores in 17 seconds as Ipswich beat Fulham

The Tractor Boys' striker scored the joint-fastest goal of the Championship season in his side's 2-1 success at Craven Cottage.

Freddie Sears took just 17 seconds to open the scoring for Ipswich Town as they won 2-1 at Fulham in the Championship.

Ross McCormack equalised for the home side just before the quarter-hour mark but Brett Pitman's second goal in as many matches, which came 12 minutes after half-time, won the game for the visitors.

Elsewhere, Emilio Nsue sent Middlesbrough top of the table with his 54th-minute effort in their 1-0 victory over promotion rivals Burnley at the Riverside Stadium, while Derby County ended a run of back-to-back draws with a 4-0 home win over Bristol City, as Tom Ince netted the first hat-trick of his career and Johnny Russell also registered.

Charlie Austin salvaged QPR a point with a brace in their 2-2 draw with high-flying Brighton and Hove Albion. Dale Stephens and Ravij La Parre put the Seagulls two goals up at Loftus Road before Austin'' two-goal salvo, while Brighton finished with 10 men following the late dismissal of Lewis Dunk.

Kenwyne Jones scored a late winner as Cardiff City beat Brentford 3-2. Tony Watt and Jones put Cardiff in control but Jake Bidwell and John Swift levelled prior to Jones' 93rd-minute strike.

Charlton Athletic were pegged back from 2-0 up as Bolton Wanderers shared the points at The Valley. The home side were in front inside 26 seconds thanks to Ademola Lookman and the youngster doubled the Addicks' lead in the 26th minute.

However, Emile Heskey reduced arrears with his first goal since Boxing Day before Josh Vela levelled for Bolton.

A superb individual effort from Carl Baker sent MK Dons on the way to a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. Nicky Maynard added the Dons' second before Gary Hooper scored a late consolation for the Owls.

Mustapha Carayol and Ishmael Miller got the goals which helped Huddersfield Town beat Rotherham 2-0 at the John Smith's Stadium, while Adam Reach scored his first Preston North End goal in their 1-1 draw with Birmingham City, for whom Michael Morrison equalised midway through the second half.

In League Two, Wycombe Wanderers and Notts County drew 2-2 at Adams Park.



Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/football-league-review-sears-scores-17-seconds-ipswich-beat-fulham#C3JZszPSvrsxCA1M.99

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Fulham boss Stuart Gray lambasts players for defensive woes against Ipswich

The Whites man in charge lays the blame for defeat to the Tractor Boys at the feet of those in the home dressing room


Disappointed: Fulham coach Stuart Gray

Stuart Gray rued Fulham's self-destructive habits after another frustrating defensive display left the Whites pointless at home to Ipswich.

Ross McCormack's stunning free-kick was sandwiched by goals from Tractor Boys duo Freddie Sears and Brett Pitman. Sears' strike came after just 17 seconds as he ghosted beyond a non-existent Cottagers backline to fire the visitors ahead.


And it was this early lapse in concentration which left Gray scratching his head in frustration.

The former Sheffield Wednesday manager said: "You don't expect to go a goal down after 10 seconds. Sears just went through the players as if they weren't there.

"What's been happening at this football club far too often this season is going a goal down.

"For the second, we're not marking correctly in the box, Pitman has gambled and suddenly we're 2-1 and we're chasing the game again.

"That was disappointing. The most important thing is the marking again in the box."

The Whites have now gone eight matches without tasting victory, seeing them drop to lowly 17th in the Championship.


Flat out! Ainsley Maitland-Miles of Ipswich is tackled Alex Kacaniklic

The poor run of form has also seen them utilise two managerial figures in that time, with Kit Symons' departure leaving coach Peter Grant to fill in against MK Dons, Preston and Nottingham Forest.

But current incumbent Gray, who is filling in until a permanent head coach is found, has dismissed suggestions that the Whites are affected on the field by the uncertainty off it.

"The players can't use that as an excuse, the only thing they can control is what happens when we go over that white line.

"Decisions upstairs will be made by the people in charge, our focus is on playing, I cannot fault the players application.

"The players are putting a shift in, at the moment they're just not making the right decisions in the game."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-boss-stuart-gray-lambasts-10607082?

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Gray's Reaction

Stuart Gray was frustrated with Fulham's start to the game on Tuesday as Ipswich Town took the lead with a matter of seconds played.

Ross McCormack equalised with a spectacular free-kick, but the Blues took the win through Brett Pitman's second half goal.

"I think what's been happening at this football club too often this season is going a goal down," our Senior Coach stated. "I don't expect to go a goal down after 10 seconds and Sears went through the players as if they weren't there. That was disappointing, that we're having to chase it and get back into the game.

"Then it was a fantastic goal by Ross McCormack, but the most important thing, as I said there to the players, it's marking again in the box. There's only Pitman in the box when the cross has come in. Ipswich have played to their strengths, they've got the ball forward early and played from there.

"We're not marking correctly in the box, Pitman's gambled and suddenly we're 2-1 down and we're chasing the game again.

"It's disappointing, because we felt tonight was a good opportunity, on the back of getting back into the game against Brentford, the boys were full of confidence. But to go a goal down, as it's proved this season, it's happened far too often."

Fulham showed glimpses of their quality in the match, but Gray knows they need to impose themselves on teams more, with struggling Bolton Wanderers next up on Saturday.

"There's two sides of the game, with the ball and without the ball," he explained. "At the moment, with the ball we look okay, but we're not getting that second goal and, most importantly, we're not putting teams under pressure by getting our noses in front.

"We're going to a team on Saturday where the players are fighting and scrapping for their lives because they don't know if they're going to be getting paid, allegedly, as I've read in the papers.

"I've got every confidence that we're going to score goals but at this moment in time, we're leaking far too many."

When asked how we solve the current issues on the pitch, Gray replied: "By working hard on the training ground. By pinning people, by digging people out. What's said in the dressing room stays in the dressing room but the players know they've let themselves down.

"They had a great opportunity to not get beat and, at the moment, it's not like teams are scoring great goals past us, they are always self-inflicted goals."

The usual questions about the vacant Head Coach position were also put to Gray in his post-match press conference, but he stated: "The players will not use that as an excuse.

"We cannot control that, the only thing we can control is when we go over that white line and the decisions upstairs will be made by the people in charge. Our focus is on playing, our focus is on winning games.

"I cannot fault the players' application and again sometimes people in the past have criticised certain clubs in this situation, but the players are putting a shift in. At the moment, we're just not making the right decisions in crucial times in the game.

"We've had such a quick turnaround getting the Brentford game out of the way and we've had a couple of days training [for Ipswich] so at the moment nothing has been said. I'll be preparing the team for Bolton unless I'm told differently."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/december/15/grays-reaction