Thursday Fulham Stuff (11/02/16)...

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Jamie Mackie: We owe the QPR fans a derby victory to savour against Fulham

Jamie Mackie says the QPR squad owe it to their fans to get a positive result against arch-rivals Fulham after the 4-0 embarrassment at Craven Cottage earlier in the season.

Rangers were second best in every department in September as they suffered their fifth successive away defeat against the Cottagers.

It was a night to forget for all involved at QPR, but even more so the industrious Mackie, who suffered a significant tear to his right hamstring, keeping him out of action for over three months.

The forward is now champing at the bit to set the record straight against Fulham.

Mackie told the Times: "We owe it to our fans to put on a performance against Fulham. We were very poor on the night back in September and deservedly lost the game.

"It's not good enough to lose to a local rival in that manner. We need to roll our sleeves up and remember the feeling we had after the game at Craven Cottage and use that to our advantage.

"After results like that sometimes there's not a lot said, but on that particular night there was a little inquest – there were strong words said between the lads.

"On a personal note I was beyond devastated as I obviously knew I had picked up a bad injury – my head was all over the place.

"The good thing in football is that you can always put it right more times than not, so we're lucky in that respect. It's an important game for us.

"If we're at it like we were against Ipswich, we'll have a great chance of picking up another three points.

"It's a good game for the fans. We need to go out and entertain them again. I know how much this game means to them – and it means a lot to me too."

Mackie has endured little luck over the years against the Cottagers. On his return from a nine-month absence due to a broken leg in October 2011, he came on as a 72nd-minute substitute as the Rs were thrashed 6-0 at the Cottage.

Rangers then lost 3-2 on the banks of the Thames in April 2013, before this season's 4-0 drubbing.

He continued: "It's never been a great day when I've played Fulham. A lot of negative things have happened to me on a personal level and the team has struggled too.

"Hopefully I can come back and score a couple against Fulham and put it to bed, just like I did against Blackburn the following year after I broke my leg at Ewood Park!

"I haven't got any negative thoughts in my mind ahead of this game. I relish these type of games – they're the best ones to be involved in – and Loftus Road will be rocking.

"We know in our camp we owe them one, but it's down to us now to do the business and make the fans proud of us.

"I love playing at Loftus Road so any chance I can get to play in a game here is a special one for me."

Mackie is raring to go again after getting back to full fitness, and he is of the belief that he is best utilised as a striker.

"I personally think I'm more effective when I play up front – I can play in behind and open up defences with my pace," he said.

"To be honest with you as long as I'm out there I don't care what position I'm playing in, though."


http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/sport/football/jamie_mackie_we_owe_the_qpr_fans_a_derby_victory_to_savour_against_fulham_1_4412684

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Stadium Store Prize Draw

To coincide with the 10k Craven Cottage Run, the Stadium Store will be open from 9am-4pm this Sunday.

What's more, any purchase made on Sunday will see you entered into the draw to win a printed and signed Tom Cairney Home Shirt!

There is also 20 per cent off the Fulham Forever jewellery range for any last minute Valentine's Day shoppers!

There are still places available for Saturday's 10k run. For more information please visit fulhamfc.com/runffc.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/february/10/stadium-store-prize-draw?

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Deal Close: Championship side Ipswich Town set to secure deal for Fulham winger

Ipswich Town are close to securing the loan signing of Fulham winger Ben Pringle, according to The Sudbury Mercury.

The play-off contenders are looking to bolster their midfield through the emergency loan window, and will sign Pringle on a 93-day loan deal.

The Trotters were keen on a move for the winger in the summer when he was a free agent, after turning down a contract with Rotherham United.

He opted to join Fulham on a two-year deal, with the option for a further year.

Since moving to Craven Cottage, the winger has made 15 starts for Fulham – scoring two goals.

He has recently fallen out of favour at the West London club, which has paved the way for Ipswich to finally secure their summer target.

Pringle is known for his time at Rotherham United after helping them secure promotion from League Two in 2013, following a back-to-back promotion from League One in 2014.

The winger could be in line to make his Ipswich Town debut away to Bristol City on Saturday, as Mick McCarthy will be hoping to climb back into the play offs – sitting in seventh place.


http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/deal-close-championship-side-ipswich-town-set-to-secure-deal-for-fulham-winger/?

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West London Derby

Make sure you're at Loftus Road when the Whites take on Queens Park Rangers this Saturday (13th February).

A number of seats remain available to purchase, and supporters are advised that restricted view tickets will be the last ones sold.

Kicking off at the earlier time of 12.30pm, prices start from £27 for adults and from £12 for under-18s in the lower tier, and from £32 for adults and £15 for juniors in the upper tier.

Under-8s can attend this fixture for free in certain blocks, however they must be accompanied by a paying adult.

A seating plan of Loftus Road can be viewed here.

Tickets are no longer available to purchase online, and can only now be bought in person from the Fulham Ticket Office, or by phone on 0843 208 1234 (opt. 1) - with a collection preference stated at the time of booking.

Get behind the boys in W12 this Saturday - COYW!


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/february/10/west-london-derby?

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MATT SMITH TO GO ON LOAN?

Despite suggestions to the contrary, Bristol City's interest in Fulham striker Matt Smith is cooling.

The reopening of the window for emergency loan signings for Football League clubs has sparked renewed rumours linking Championship strugglers City with a move for Smith, the striker who scored 13 goals in 23 appearances in a three-month spell at Ashton Gate last season.

But the Bristol Post understands City's requirements have changed since Lee Johnson was appointed head coach last weekend. As a consequence, a return to BS3 for 27-year-old Smith now appears unlikely.

Even though Smith excelled under Johnson's management at Oldham Athletic three seasons ago and played a key role in keeping the Latics in League One, his style of play does not appear to fit in with the direction in which the new head coach wants to take City.

Johnson commenced his new role on Monday and is keen to assess the players currently at his disposal before making any firm decisions on loan signings.

He is understood to be considering a move for a forward, while the recruitment of another midfield player could also be on the cards should Ben Gladwin's knee injury keep him on the side-lines for any length of time.

His predecessor, Steve Cotterill, targeted Smith last summer, while interim manager John Pemberton renewed City's interest in January. But when it became clear Fulham were not prepared to sell, the Robins moved onto other targets, including Walsall striker Tom Bradshaw.

Given that Fulham managed to keep hold of in-demand first-choice strikers Moussa Dembele and Ross McCormack despite interest from Tottenham and Middlesbrough respectively, Smith's situation may well have changed and he could be allowed to leave Craven Cottage on loan this month.

But even were Fulham prepared to loan a player to a relegation rival, Smith would hardly meet Johnson's requirement for a quick striker.

City have until March 24 to add to their squad, but no new arrivals are anticipated ahead of Saturday's visit of Championship play-off contenders Ipswich Town.


http://www.fulhamweb.co.uk/news/matt-smith-to-go-on-loan.aspx?

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Fulham, Brentford and QPR players involved in tug-of-war for London Football League Player of the Year award

Moussa Dembele, Ross McCormack, Alan Judge and Matt Phillips go head-to-head

Fulham's Moussa Dembele headlines a list of west London nominees elected for the London Football Awards.


The Whites youngster has scored nine goals this season, striking up a deadly partnership with Ross McCormack in the process, and has been nominated for both Football League Player of the Year and London Young Player of the Year.


His Fulham strike-partner McCormack has also been nominated for the Football League Player of the Year award.


The Cottagers duo will spark a mini-west London competition with Brentford's creative midfielder Alan Judge and Queens Park Rangers' Matt Phillips also competing for the Football League Player of the Year award.


Brentford have also been listed for the Community Project of the Year award for their Deaf Sports Plus Project, but will face competition from Arsenal and West Ham for the accolade.

See the full list of nominees below...

Football League Player of the Year
(Sponsored by PUMA)

Moussa Dembele (Fulham)

Ross McCormack (Fulham)

Alan Judge (Brentford)

Jay Simpson (Leyton Orient)

Matt Phillips (QPR)

London Young Player of the Year (under-23)
Sponsored Quilter Cheviot Investment Management

Dele Alli (Tottenham)

Eric Dier (Tottenham)

Hector Bellerin (Arsenal)

Ademola Lookman (Charlton Athletic)

Moussa Dembele (Fulham)


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-brentford-qpr-players-involved-10869408?

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Fulham goalkeeper knows importance of QPR derby for fans

The former Leeds United and Preston North End goalkeeper signed for the Whites last summer and featured in the 4-0 win over Rangers at Craven Cottage


Ready: Andy Lonergan

Andrew Lonergan is confident that Fulham will keep their heads for the west London derby on Saturday against rivals QPR.

The former Leeds United and Preston North End goalkeeper signed for the Whites last summer and featured in the 4-0 win over Rangers at Craven Cottage in September.

And while the rivalry across the west London teams can be fierce, the Fulham keeper insists that the squad will remain unperturbed by the imminent rival clash.

The 32-year-old said: "It's always a good atmosphere at QPR as it's a tight ground. It'll be a good game to play in.

"I played in Preston-Burnley, Preston-Blackpool. I played for Leeds against Manchester United. Being a Preston lad growing up and despising the teams, they don't like me either.


Bagged a brace: Ross McCormack

"They're the ones I really enjoyed. Those games are only good if you win.

"Local rivalries are a big thing for the fans but, for the players, it's just another game."

The Whites are lingering in a lowly 19th in the Championship, a mere four points away from the drop zone to League One and five clear of bottom side Charlton.

But since Slavisa Jokanovic took over at the helm at the start of 2016, the Cottagers have been facing a brighter prospect.

And Lonergan is determined to be a part of a Fulham revival, which he hopes will start at Loftus Road.

He added: "We've got to look over our shoulder. We have to be worrying. We just need a win to shoot them up.

"It should be a good game. We can have a good week's training.

"The gaffer gave us a couple of days off (after the 1-1 draw against Derby) so we'll be raring to go."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-goalkeeper-knows-importance-qpr-10870758?

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City's interest in Fulham's Matt Smith cools, plus the four most-read sports stories online today



IT can be difficult to catch up with all the news when you're on the go.

So here are the top five most-read sport stories on the Bristol Post website today.



1: Bristol City have cooled their interest in Fulham's Matt Smith and Lee Johnson could move onto other targets in the loan window.



Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/City-s-Fulham-s-Matt-Smith-cools-plus-read-sports/story-28709741-detail/story.html#ixzz3zqbR1GsR
Follow us: @BristolPost on Twitter | bristolpost on Facebook

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Safer Internet Day

As part of Safer Internet Day, Fulham's Under-12 side sat down this week to learn about the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.

The Club's Safeguarding Manager Ben Potter and Academy Education Manager Sean Cullen led the session, which aimed to teach the group about the potentials risks that come with online activity.

"Nowadays young people, because they're so used to social media and being online, they're not really fully aware of a lot of the hidden dangers," Ben explained.

"So in conjunction with Safer Internet Day, which is a worldwide thing, the Football League have asked us to get involved and we're more than happy to do that at Fulham.

"We want to school the youngsters on some of the hidden dangers they might not be aware of, not just because of their age, but because of their position as footballers."

And Sean added: "We're supporting the parents as well. The current generation of the Academy are often more technologically savvy than their parents.

"Something that we hear a lot from parents is that they're not always entirely sure how best to monitor what their children are looking at. So we're making the kids aware of the dangers that are out there, and it also links in with a lot of the e-safety stuff that they'll be doing in their schools. It's making sure that they embrace the internet, but use it safely."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/february/10/safer-internet-day?

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Why this weekend could prove to be season defining for Fulham

At lunchtime this Saturday, Fulham will travel to Queens Park Rangers for the most significant match of their season. The Cottagers inexplicably languish just 4 points above the relegation zone, embroiled in a fight against the drop for the second straight year.

The already emotionally charged trip to Loftus Road has become even more important with the prospect of relegation looming. A win here would kickstart Slavisa Jokanovic's Fulham career and provide much needed momentum. But a loss would put the Whites even further down in the relegation mix and leave some wondering if Jokanovic's appointment was the right call.

Fulham and QPR have had a bitter rivalry for many years, and in the Premier League era the Cottagers have held the upper hand. But in recent years the roles have been reversed, with the Whites stuck in the second tier while the QPR have enjoyed the luxuries of the top flight. The gap between divisions had deprived supporters of a derby since 2013.

The last edition of the West London derby occurred in September, following  of QPR's to the Championship. On that Friday night more than 4 months ago, the Cottagers romped to a comprehensive 4-0 win. Fulham turned in perhaps their best performance in recent memory, led by the dynamic strike duo of Moussa Dembele and Ross McCormack. The morale boosting victory left Fulham just one point off the playoffs and left supporters feeling increasingly optimistic about the campaign ahead.

Yet the depressing fact is that Fulham have won just three times since. In the 22 matches following the demolishment of QPR, the Whites have plunged from within touching distance of the playoffs to the depths of a relegation battle. During that four month spell Kit Symons was sacked and replaced by Slavisa Jokanovic.

At the time, the Serbian was hailed by practically everyone involved as a breath of fresh air, a modern manager who employed a successful and attractive brand of attacking football. But the hard truth is that Jokanovic has failed to lead his team to a win since his appointment in late December. Since his first match in charge against Sheffield Wednesday, Fulham have played 6, lost 4, and drawn 2. Hardly inspiring stuff.

QPR sit 6 places and 10 points above the Whites, enjoying mid table mediocrity. Rangers have just come off a win over promotion challengers Ipswich, and they also sport a new manager in the form of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

The importance of Saturday's match cannot be understated. Fulham fans will travel in their thousands to cheer on the Whites in this poisonous derby, and both sides will be up for the challenge. Claiming victory over their London neighbours means so much to the supporters, and the players and manager must have that in mind in the buildup to the match.

There would be no better place for Slavisa Jokanovic to claim his first win as manager than at the home of dreaded rivals Queens Park Rangers. After working his way through an impressive transfer window where both wantaway strikers remained at the club, expectations have been raised for Fulham. Quality has been added to the squad with the grit of centre half Michael Madl and defensive midfielder Rohan Ince, in addition to the pace and trickery of attacker Zakaria Labyad.

It is clear that based on the talent at their disposal, Fulham is far too good to be mired in a relegation fight. Yet that is the unwanted predicament the Whites find themselves in.

But Loftus Road is the perfect place to turn our season around. Promotion is out of the question, but a run up the table will do wonders to improve the confidence of the players. Fulham's revival must come with a statement win on Saturday. If not, the Cottagers could be staring down relegation to League One. And that is a prospect no one at Craven Cottage dares to entertain.

Featured image: All rights reserved by FulhamOfficial


http://tbrfootball.com/why-this-weekend-could-prove-to-be-season-defining-for-fulham/?

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One you pop, you can't stop! – Town closing in on Pringle, another loanee could follow


Ben Pringle, pictured in action for Fulham

Ipswich Town are closing in on the loan signing of left-winger Ben Pringle – and it's understood there could be another new recruit to follow.

The promotion-seeking Blues certainly need a timely boost following three defeats from four games in all competitions and an injury to star man Ryan Fraser.

Recognising that, manager Mick McCarthy has called upon owner Marcus Evans to get two deals done before Saturday's game at Bristol City.

Pringle's arrival is believed to be imminent. The 26-year-old is a player that Town were interested in signing back in the summer when his contract at Rotherham expired, but he moved to Craven Cottage instead and there the busy set-piece specialist has made just 12 league starts – the last of which came on December 5.

The Newcastle-born wideman will help fill a void in the squad left following Tommy Oar's departure and Fraser's injury – the latter set for a six to eight week spell on the sidelines after tearing his hamstring at QPR on Saturday.

With midfield duo Luke Hyam (calf) and Cole Skuse (ankle) having also suffered injuries recently, the extent of which has not yet been revealed, it's also understood that McCarthy is keen to add a central midfielder to the ranks for the final 16 games.

This is the final season in which Football League clubs can sign players outside of the two main transfer windows on 'emergency' 93-day loan deals – FIFA having decided to scrap the system from 2016/17 onwards.

Town have had mixed success shopping in this market in recent years. For every Jonny Williams there has been a Zeki Fryers.

Meanwhile, it's understood that Lloyd Dyer will not be signing for Ipswich. The 33-year-old left-winger had his Watford contract terminated by mutual consent last week but talks have not been successful.

The Blues also had experienced former Charlton and West Brom winger Jerome Thomas on trial recently, but the 32-year-old has not been offered a contract.


http://www.sudburymercury.co.uk/sport/one_you_pop_you_can_t_stop_town_closing_in_on_pringle_another_loanee_could_follow_1_4414060