Friday Fulham Stuff (18/12/15)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Miller to Referee Bolton v Fulham

Nigel Miller will referee Saturday's Championship fixture between Bolton and Fulham at Macron Stadium.

Wanderers go into the game on the back of a 2-2 draw at Charlton Athletic on Tuesday, while Fulham were beaten 2-1 at home by Ipswich Town on the same evening.

Miller, who will take charge of the game, has officiated 15 matches so far this season - issuing 49 yellow cards and three red.

His most recent outing was on December 6, when he was the man in the middle for Peterborough United's 2-0 victory over Luton Town in the second round of the FA Cup. The County Durham official produced two yellow cards in that game, with both going to the visiting side.

Miller's last match in charge of Bolton was on March 21, when they secured a 1-1 draw at Wigan Athletic. Two players entered the book that afternoon, with Wanderers' Craig Davies having his name taken.

The last time he refereed a Fulham fixture was on January 10, when they were beaten 1-0 at Cardiff City. One player was cautioned that day, with Whites defender Shaun Hutchinson on the receiving end.

Below is the full set of officials for Saturday's game between Bolton and Fulham:

Referee: Nigel Miller
Assistant Referees: Scott Oldham and Simon Clayton
Fourth Official: Scott Duncan


http://www.burndenaces.co.uk/2015/12/17/miller-to-referee-bolton-v-fulham.html

[WhiteJC]

 
QPR Game Televised

Fulham's Sky Bet Championship match against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday 13th February, originally scheduled for 3pm, will now kick-off at 12.30pm for live television coverage.

The match at Loftus Road will be broadcast on Sky Sports.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/december/17/qpr-game-televised?

[WhiteJC]

 
Craven Corner: Fulham need consistency to copy Leicester and Brighton


Stuart Gray looks on ahead of Fulham 1-2 Ipswich. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

No win in 7 games, still no head coach and still problems in defence for Fulham as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich. Fan blogger Adam Brons-Smith gives his take on the latest events.

From a fan's perspective, it was great to see the return of Dan Burn to the side, and it meant an introduction for Tim Ream to play on the left-side, where in fact he had a really strong game.

Sadly the game remained goal less for just 17 seconds, with Freddie Sears allowed to roam free and hit the back of the net.

A complete mix-up in defence between Burn and Richard Stearman allowed the former West Ham forward to give the travelling fans something to cheer about just after kick-off.

As much as some fans want to blame the defenders for the early mistake, it must be incredibly tough for them when over the last month they have had training sessions coached by three different people, and the starting 11 is constantly changed, with players being swapped in and out every weekend.

The club is crying out for consistency, and it's something that I spoke heavily about at the start of the season, but sadly the topic remains a priority in December and half-way through the season.

While, I appreciate the fact that Stuart Gray has joined the club to help work on the defensive side of the game, it's been over a month since Kit Symons has been sacked.

Since then, Alan Curbishley, Peter Grant and Stuart Gray have all run training sessions, and the philosophies and game-plans will change once again when the new head coach is appointed.

The key factor to promotion from this division is consistency.

It's not a matter of having the most amount of money or the best players, it's about finding a team that works and keeping faith in that set of players to gain the best results possible. Just look at the sides that are 1st in the top two divisions – Leicester and Brighton.

Both teams on paper, don't have the most talented squad in the league and some of their rivals have spent way more than them, but Leicester have only lost once and Brighton remain unbeaten.

Why? The answer is simple – consistency and good coaching, two key elements that Fulham drastically lack.

There's no doubting the talent that Fulham possess with arguably the best player and best young player in the league in Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele. Ross has scored 23 goals in 42 appearances in 2015, making him the third highest scorer in England this calendar year – he also has over 10 assists, an outstanding achievement.

At the back, we have Stearman, Ream, Luke Garbutt and Jazz Richards – two player of the year award winners, an international for Wales and one of the top English talents, yet we can't keep clean sheets to save our lives.

This is not down to the players at all, it's down to the guidance, the management and the level of coaching that has been available to them.

Players can be extremely talented but never deliver the goods they should if they are coached badly.

Everyone needs to have that coach who can teach them the tactical side of the game, understanding where to be and the right time and we've not had that at the game since Roy Hodgson and Mark Hughes.

Finally, if there is someone to blame for the mess that we are witnessing, it solely lies with Mike Rigg.

At the start of the season, he knew that Kit Symons would be sacked should he fail to be in the play-offs in November. But he failed to line up a replacement to reduce the disruption or let our 'promotion challenge' slip away.

Initially, he wanted a manager in for the MK Dons game, that was over a month ago and he's failed to have a plan B,C,D,E or F – during that month, the club has been dashed with incredibly bad media due to failed public pursuits, yet the club have remained quiet failing to provide any clarity to the fans.

Replacing a manager before they have been sacked isn't impossible – you only have to cast your mind back to the appointment of Felix Magath.

The club met with him while Rene Meulensteen was grinding out a 2-2 draw away at Manchester United, just days after funding the Dutchman through the January transfer window.

Clarity and consistency is needed, Fulham need to admit their mistakes, provide the truth behind this head coach fiasco and furthermore, hire a head coach that would be worth the month's wait, one that can bring an exciting atmosphere back to the Cottage.

Read more at: http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/fulham/craven_corner_fulham_need_consistency_to_copy_leicester_and_brighton_1_4351509
Copyright © LONDON24

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham prepared to wait for Guardiola

Cottagers are fine to be patient for Pep, Back of the Net can reveal...

Fulham have announced that they are happy to wait for Pep Guardiola to leave Bayern Munich before appointing him as their new manager, according to reports from Craven Cottage.

Fulham have been without a manager for over a month, and the team's form has suffered without a man in a suit telling them which way to shoot or what colour shirts to pass to. The club's younger players have also taken advantage of the absence of an authority figure to stay up late playing video games, and some have reportedly been caught experimenting with rabonas.

Chairman Shahid Khan has rebuffed applications from Steve Clarke, Nigel Pearson and Alan Curbishley, the latter in a variety of wigs and fake moustaches, instead drawing up an shortlist appropriate for a club of Fulham's stature.

No way Jose
"If you look at my track record at Craven Cottage over the past two-and-a-half years, it is obvious that I will only accept the very best," said Khan. "I ruled out Jose Mourinho, obviously, and I'm not convinced by Laurent Blanc yet.

"I was prepared to consider Diego Simeone, Luis Enrique and Joachim Low, but they're not quite at the level we expect at Fulham. In the end, it came down to Carlo Ancelotti or Pep Guardiola. Of course, Carlo is available now, but we're going to wait a little bit longer for Pep to get back to us. I truly believe he would be an upgrade on Kit Symons.

"He's not responded yet, which means he hasn't said no. But he'll make a decision on his future next week, so I naturally assume means he'll be joining Fulham at the end of the season."

Khan added that once Guardiola was on board, it would pave the way for Fulham to sign Lionel Messi, who he had identified as just the player to bring the most out of Cauley Woodrow.


Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fulham-prepared-wait-guardiola#forZjXuAsbPCfPj4.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Gray's Bolton Preview

Stuart Gray is expecting to come up against a hungry Bolton Wanderers team at the Macron Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Trotters currently sit bottom of the Sky Bet Championship with their financial situation well documented, but our Senior Coach will not be underestimating Neil Lennon's side.

"One thing I do know about Bolton is their off-the-field issues," he said in his pre-match press conference. "So I'd imagine we'll be facing a very galvanised Bolton team that are very hard working.

"They're a strong, physical side – a bit like Ipswich – but with a thing to prove. The players are playing for their livelihoods so we have to match that as well.

"We've got a busy period coming up and it's an important period where there are lots of three points available. But we can't keep talking about it, we've got to do it, and that starts with Bolton on Saturday."

The Whites go into the weekend's encounter on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town, in which we found ourselves behind with just a few seconds on the clock.

Fulham haven't taken the lead in a game since the 4-1 triumph over Bristol City at the end of October – a pattern that Gray hopes will change on Saturday.

"We're trying to put everything right on the training ground," he said. "What we can't do is end up conceding a goal after 17 seconds and suddenly having to chase the game. It would be nice to actually get our noses in front, and hopefully that'll happen on Saturday.

"We're disappointed with the run that we're on but confidence is high and they've worked very hard in training. Like I said to the players, there's only us that can put it right as another game comes round, and we're getting prepared for Bolton."

The target at the start of the season was to end up in the Play-Off positions, and Gray is still looking up the table rather than over his shoulder.

"The Championship's so tight," he explained. "My glass is always half-full – I always look up and see how far we can get, but we have to start doing that with three points on the board on Saturday against Bolton, and then building from that.

"The mood is excellent. The players enjoy their training and they've been working hard, but the crucial thing is getting prepared. We've got to look forward to the Bolton game and then after that we'll look at the game against Derby."

Scott Parker was absent against Ipswich, but Gray is optimistic he'll be back in contention at the Macron, stating: "It was probably just one game too early for him because he was getting over his injury and getting to full fitness but he's joined in training today so hopefully he'll be available for selection on Saturday."

And as is often the case in Fulham press conferences these days, he was asked about the search for a new Head Coach, to which he replied: "I keep batting the question back to you but the brief at the moment is I'm taking the team for Bolton until told different.

"We can't control what goes on upstairs, all we can control is what happens on the pitch. The players won't use that as an excuse. We know we're underachieving a little bit at the moment, but it can quickly turn and hopefully it turns on Saturday."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/december/17/grays-bolton-preview?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham boosted by return of inspirational midfielder for Bolton trip

Whites have former England player back in contention for the away day at the Macron Stadium where he faces the Championship's basement boys


Back: Parker

Fulham midfielder Scott Parker is back in the squad to face Bolton after he missed the 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich on Tuesday.

Caretaker boss Stuart Gray admitted the midweek outing was one too many for the 35-year-old having played 79 minutes against Brentford on Saturday.


It's an open secret the former England player's ageing limbs are unlikely to withstand three games a week in what is likely to be his last season before retirement.

Gray added: "Because of Stuart's age we had to leave him out against Ipswich, but he was back in training today and will be in the squad for Saturday.

"We can't get enough minutes out of him, and unfortunately he's at that age when he picks up a few knocks – but he's still got a big contribution to make.

"When I use to come up against him from afar I always used to worry, but now I've got a chance to work with him even just for a short time."

Gray is hoping he can put one over the bottom side and cut out the defensive mistakes that have cost the club dear.

The coach added: "We're scoring but we're also conceding, and that's the problem defensively; we're not doing enough."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-boosted-return-inspirational-midfielder-10616443?

[WhiteJC]

 
Gray: Expect Better

Stuart Gray is demanding the Whites improve their defensive solidity and expects to see progress against Bolton Wanderers.

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

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/december/17/gray-video?

[WhiteJC]

 
Dear Jose
by CHRIS GILBERTSON on DECEMBER 17, 2015

Dear Jose

Sorry to hear about you getting the sack from Chelsea. They always were a bunch of ingrates. Anyway if you're looking to get straight back on the horse, Fulham have been keeping the Head Coach role vacant for just such an occasion. Here's a list of reasons why you should think about taking over at Fulham:

• You wouldn't need to move house.
• You don't need the money by the sounds of things so you could focus on taking a job for the love of the game.
• You could immediately promote your son to the first team.
• You'd be away from the spotlight, Sky Sports don't even have directions to Motspur Park.
• Ross McCormack > Radamel Falcao
• Weekly Geordie Shore viewing parties at Dan Burn and Shaun Hutchinson's houses.
• No John Terry
• Instead of a Russian owner who thinks he knows everything, we have an American owner who doesn't claim to know anything.
• You get an Owners Box ticket to the Jacksonville Jaguars v Indianapolis Colts next October.
• Unlimited cups of Bovril for only £2.20 a cup.
• We never win anything so you wouldn't need to worry about John Terry stealing everybody else's thunder at the trophy presentation.
• Sightseeing trips to Bolton, Rotherham and Preston.
• We classify a 1 goal home defeat to Bournemouth as a good result.
• You can select your own pre-season tour venue, as long as you don't mind 3* hotels and dressing rooms where only the cold water tap works.
• You don't have to play Cesc Fabregas, but we'll look the other way if you bring him with you and stick him in the reserves.
• Instead of an underground music venue that sometimes hosts jazz concerts, we have a defender called Jazz, therefore cutting out the middle man. You can have all Jazz all the time.
• The referees are all too rubbish in the Championship to be biased against you.
• Lilly Allen used to support Fulham and then switched to Chelsea. Need we say more.
• Fulham can beat Juventus in Europe.
• You'll get two opportunities to beat Chelsea next season.
• Cauley Woodrow's banter.

Well, I think that's fairly conclusive.

See you soon

Yours, Fulham x


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2015/12/dear-jose/?

[WhiteJC]

 
EXCLUSIVE: FULHAM MAKE STANISLAV JOKANOVIC APPROACH AND HAVE BACK-UP CANDIDATE

EXCLUSIVE By Editor Wayne Veysey| Former Evening Standard, Press Association and Goal chief correspondent with 17 years experience of breaking big stories, including exclusives like this

Fulham have made an approach for Stanislav Jokanovic but have lined up Tony Mowbray as a back-up option in case talks break down, Football Insider sources understand.

The Londoners have turned their sights on Maccabi Tel-Aviv boss Jokanovic after his team were eliminated from the Champions League last week.

A senior Fulham source has told Football Insider that the club have made contact with Maccabi about holding formal talks with Jokanovic.

Discussions are set to take place about a deal that would take Jokanovic to Craven Cottage although the Championship club have taken the precaution of lining up Coventry manager Tony Mowbray as a back-up candidate.

Fulham chiefs have struggled to find a replacement for Kit Symons and, as revealed by Football Insider, appointed Stuart Gray as caretaker manager earlier this month.

A deal was agreed in which Gray will stay on as a coach at Craven Cottage and work alongside the new manager if he did not land the manager's job on a full-time basis.

Money man: Shahid Khan is closing in on appointing a new manager

Jokanovic guided Watford to Premier League promotion last season and his stock is still very high in England. He would also like the chance to work in this country again.

Fulham have already held talks with a number of managers but suffered a series of setbacks as discussions with Steve Clarke, Gary Rowett, Nigel Pearson and Mark Warburton collapsed.

Fulham owner Shahid Khan is keen to appoint a head coach who can work under transfer chief Mike Rigg.


http://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive/fulham-make-stanislav-jokanovic-approach-and-have-back-up-candidate?