Friday Fulham Stuff (30/12/16)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Has Chris Martin Demanded Fulham Grant Him A Rams Return?

Various media outlets have been reporting today that Chris Martin is demanding to be released from his season long loan deal with Fulham and be returned to the Rams.

If the reports are to be believed – Martin has been left out of Fulham's squad for tonight's match against Reading after informing the club of his desire to return to his parent club.

Details of the deal have been in the past reported as all three parties having to agree for the deal to become permanent following this season – and a recall possible if both the player and Fulham agree in January.

How Fulham play it from here will be interesting as it is likely McClaren and DCFC would welcome Martin back with open arms – especially as Martin has been in very good form, having scored 11 goals for Fulham in recent matches.

The Rams have been on a brilliant run but have struggled to find an answer up top with neither of the first choice strikers delivering bags of goals during their recent unbeaten run.

Darren Bent has been doing well in the role but there is no doubt McClaren would see Martin as an obvious answer to the problem, especially as the pair have worked very successfully together before.

In other news - reports have surfaced today that a fee has been agreed to between Stoke and Derby for Lee Grant. Nothing has been officially confirmed as yet by either club who were recently debating what he was worth with the clubs seemingly well apart in their valuations.

Lee Grant was begging the Rams to help him make his dream move to the top flight a reality - so perhaps all parties have finally found common ground for the Rams second choice keeper.

More information on both stories will no doubt be available soon and RamZone will give the latest overview and reaction as soon as it becomes available.

COYR!!


http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/derbycounty/news/44615/

[WhiteJC]

 
Jokanovic insists Reading is his only focus, not play-off push
While the Fulham boss acknowledged that it would be good to reel the Royals in this evening, he insisted that his focus was only ever on the next match

Slavisa Jokanovic has insisted that his immediate focus is getting three points in tonight's match against Reading rather than harbouring play-off ambitions.

While the Fulham boss acknowledged that it would be good to reel the Royals in this evening, he insisted that his focus was only ever on the next match.

He said: "It is good to beat teams above you, but it is more important to be in the play-offs on the 7th May than right now. The play-offs is our last target.

"Our first target is to get the three points without thinking where they are in the league. I cannot control what Reading do after our game. The next game is the most important step and that's it.

"We cannot calculate how many points we need this season. The priority is three points. Some years you don't need as many points to get promoted as you do in other years."

It has been clear this season that Fulham have come on leaps and bounds under Jokanovic's tutelage and the Serbian is pleased with the progression of his side, but wanted the players to improve further.

He added: "We have six clean sheets so far this season and at this point last season we had four I believe. However, it is not enough. We cannot be satisfied, we cannot sleep. We need to show ambition and push still harder."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jokanovic-insists-reading-only-focus-12387247

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham boss believes former Manchester United man has brought his philosophies to Reading
Jokanovic gives his Reading verdict

Slavisa Jokanovic does not expect a repeat of the 5-0 drubbing that the Whites dished out to Reading at the beginning of December, but believes that his side have the ability to take maximum points off the Berkshire outfit for the second time this month.

Going into that game, the Royals had won five league matches on the bounce but were comprehensively beaten at Craven Cottage in a game which included a brace from Chris Martin, as well as goals from Stefan Johansen and Sone Aluko.

Jaap Stam's men have otherwise been strong and boast the second-best home record in the division behind leaders Brighton, who happen to be Fulham's next opponents on January 2.

Jokanovic said: "Reading are a good team that play good football. We played them one month ago [and won 5-0] but I don't expect a similar result.

"They might try and change things, play 3-4-3 or something like that, but we have to be ready for everything that they throw at us."

Jokanovic came up against his Dutch counterpart as a player at the 1998 World Cup and praised the strong start that he has made to his managerial career in England.

He added: ''He was a very good footballer and is showing that he is a very talented coach. I'm looking forward to taking him on again.

"I want to discover the weaknesses of his squad and he will want to discover the weaknesses of my squad. Their strengths are similar to our strengths.

The Serb explained further: "Stam is a Dutch guy and they like to play a Dutch way, trying to open the field and force the opposition team to work and run without the ball. We don't want to be running without the ball, we want to have the ball.

"I believe that we are going to win and have more time with the ball in our possession, but we have to be clever. Possession doesn't guarantee anything.

"Our target is to arrive in the box, create the chances and score the goals. We believe this is the best way to defend ourselves."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-boss-believes-former-manchester-12387200

[WhiteJC]

 
Derby County striker Chris Martin 'pulls out of Fulham game and demands Rams return'

Derby County striker Chris Martin has reportedly told loan club Fulham he wants to return to the Rams.

According to The Sun, Martin has pulled out of Fulham's Sky Bet Championship match against Reading on Friday night and told the London outfit that he wants to end his spell at Craven Cottage.

The Scotland international is on a season-long loan at Fulham after being allowed to leave Derby by previous manager Nigel Pearson.

Fulham have an option to make the move permanent, either during the January transfer window or at the end of the season.

However, it now appears that he could be heading back to Pride Park.

As we understand it, all three parties - both clubs and the player - must agree if Martin is to be recalled.

Martin scored 61 goals in three seasons for the Rams after joining on a free transfer from Norwich City.

During that time, he enjoyed success under Steve McClaren, who is now back for a second spell in charge of Derby.

Martin has netted seven times in 17 appearances for Fulham this term.


Read more at http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/derby-county-striker-chris-martin-pulls-out-of-fulham-game-and-demands-rams-return/story-30020546-detail/story.html#r62rwuIWZqYLvvxq.99