Wednesday Fulham Stuff (04/01/17)...

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Slavisa Jokanovic outlines Fulham transfer hopes as Whites eye January deals
The Whites start 2017 in 10th place, six points shy of the play-offs with a game in hand after their game with Reading on December 30 was abandoned at half time due to fog


Contemplation: Slavisa Jokanovic at Brentford

Slavisa Jokanovic is keen to make additions during the January transfer window and revealed that Fulham have made progress in their transfer hunt.

The Whites start 2017 in 10th place, six points shy of the play-offs with a game in hand after their game with Reading on December 30 was abandoned at half time due to fog.

The Serbian felt his side were as close to their best in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton, despite having injuries to Tomas Kalas and Michael Madl, while Chris Martin continued his strike action.

Jokanovic has now urged Shahid Khan to back him in the transfer window to help lift the west Londoners into the play-off positions.


Fulham owner Shahid Khan

When asked if Fulham were further forward in their recruitment process: "Yes. Generally, we've played one game very close to our maximum level.

"Where we have problem, we need to find a solution. We lost Floyd Ayite because he can't stay one day and other clubs can keep them.

"We've lost Kalas to injury, we lost Michael Madl and Chris Martin too. More or less, I have to be happy with our performance.

"In my view, we are close to our maximum level. If we want to push higher, we have to use the window in front of us."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/slavisa-jokanovic-outlines-fulham-transfer-12396679

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QPR On Sale

Tickets for Fulham's match against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Saturday 21st January, 12:30pm, are now on sale to Season Ticket Holders and Members with 600 loyalty points or more.

Fulham have been allocated the upper and lower tiers of the School End at Loftus Road, however please note, QPR have asked us to sell tickets in the following order:

Upper Tier Gold - Sell 1st
Upper Tier Silver - Sell 2nd
Lower Tier - Sell 3rd
Restricted View - Sell 4th

Ticket prices start from £29 for adults and £14 for juniors. Under 8s can attend for free with a paying adult. Full ticket pricing and further information can be found here.

Owing to demand, supporters are advised of the following selling schedule for this match:

Date

Available To

Tuesday 3rd January   On sale to ST and Members with 600 points or more
Thursday 5th January   On sale to ST and Members with 400 points or more
Monday 9th January
On sale to ST and Members with 200 points or more
Wednesday 11th January
On sale to ST and Members with 100 points or more
Friday 13th January
On sale to all ST and Members
Monday 16th January
On General Sale


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/january/03/qpr-on-sale

[WhiteJC]

 
Williams Returns

The Club can confirm that George Williams has returned to Fulham from his season-long loan at MK Dons.

George featured 5 times during his third spell at Stadium MK. His final appearance for the Dons was a  substitute appearance in Monday's Sky Bet League One clash with Chesterfield.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/january/03/williams-returns

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OPINION: RECALLING CHRIS MARTIN WOULD BE A MISTAKE FOR DERBY COUNTY

Over the last week, rumours have surfaced speculating that striker Chris Martin will return to parent club Derby after being left out of the squad for Fulham's last two league matches.

Martin, who's scored over 50 league goals for the Rams was sent out on loan on deadline day, joining fellow Championship club Fulham after a run of poor form in a Derby shirt.

The 28-year-old had failed to score in the 5 league games he appeared in for Derby before departing for Craven Cottage, but had been in poor form during the back end of the 2015/16 season too.

Derby fans had become impatient with the Scottish international, criticising his work rate and his passion for the club.

I was one of those Derby fans who thought Martin looked uninterested in games and was not performing to the standard he had shown in previous years, I wanted him to leave the club because based on his performances it was clear that he didn't want to play for Derby.

Since Martin's departure, Nigel Pearson also left the club and Steve McClaren returned to the dugout at Pride Park.

McClaren has had a great impact on the team, the team have played much more positive, attacking football since his re-appointment and as a result of that Derby have scored more goals, won more games and shot up the league table as a result.

McClaren has also improved certain players in the team too, Tom Ince, Chris Baird, Bradley Johnson and Scott Carson have all improved massively since he has returned, and if it was guaranteed that Steve Mac would do the same with Chris Martin I'd definitely have him back at the club, but I don't think that would be case.

There were a number of factors that contributed to Derby's horrific form, and Chris Martin was one of them.

Since McClaren came back the team have played as a unit again, not as individuals, and bringing back someone who had upset the dressing room in the first place would be a mistake in my opinion.

Derby's form has dipped in recent games, being held to a 0-0 draw by strugglers Wigan on Saturday before being defeated 3-0 at Norwich in their last outing, it could just be a coincidence but I feel that the poor results could be a result of the Chris Martin rumours because the loss at Norwich and draw with Wigan came after the they'd surfaced.

If bad form has arose without him actually returning to the club, then bringing him back could be the downfall of our promotion push.

In an ideal world, he'd come back and bang in goals every week just like he did a couple of seasons ago, but I can't see that happening.

In the summer and towards the end of last season his work rate was so low, he looked uninterested and it was a clear he didn't want to be at the club.

In my opinion he can't come running back now that Steve McClaren is back and the team is back in a promotion fight, he wasn't prepared to work for the team and the fans in his last few months with the club, therefore I don't want him back now.

We've done alright without him and in my opinion if we are to sign some of the players we've been linked with in the January transfer window such as Bakary Sako and Henri Lansbury, it would improve the squad more than recalling Martin would. Chris Martin is not the answer, he's served the club well in his time but I think it's time for him to move on.


http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/opinion-recalling-chris-martin-would-be-a-mistake-for-derby-county/

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Match Review – Fulham 1-2 Brighton

Setting the scene
We saw as recently ago as the end of November what a good side Fulham are when frankly it was a bit of a daylight robbery that they didn't leave The Amex with anything for their efforts. When you throw in the fact that we've been pretty poor on the road since November's international break having squeaked past both Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers and been held by Cardiff City, then this looked like an extremely tough assignment. Still, trips to Fulham have proven to be bloody excellent in the last two seasons. A proper away end, a proper football ground and relatively easy to get to despite the best efforts of Southern Rail and the unions meant nearly 7,000 Albion fans in a near-sold out Craven Cottage.

The teams
Chris Hughton made just one change from the side that won last time out against Queens Park Rangers and it was a predictable one at that, Jiri Skalak starting as he so often does away from home in place of Solly March. Skalak didn't have his best game and it was March's introduction with 25 minutes left to play that turned the game around which goes to prove that despite his latest lengthy spell on the sideline, the England under 21 winger has seemingly lost none of his ability. Stay away, Southampton.

Goals
Lucas Piazon gave Fulham a deserved lead early in the second half when his effort beat David Stockdale after coming through a crowd of players. We seem to love a penalty in front of the away end at the Cottage as for third consecutive season a spot kick was duly dispatched when Anthony Knockaert was sent tumbling and Tomer Hemed coolly slotted in the equaliser. 120 seconds later and the game had completely turned around. God only knows what Lewis Dunk was doing popping up in the area from an open play but it was a relief he was as he managed to grab a poachers finish with his head from a rebound after Knockaert's effort had been saved by David Button.

Chances
Fulham had over double the amount of shots than the Albion mustered and some battling defending and the brilliance of David Stockdale against his former side was one of the only reasons we came away with the win. The key moment was perhaps Stockdale's breathtaking penalty save from Stefan Johansen after Bruno momentarily became confused at what sport he was playing, mistakenly thinking he was just down the road at Twickenham and basically catching the ball inside the box. The fact that the Albion captain got book for complaining about the most blatant hand ball you are likely to see this season was frankly fantastic.

WeAreBrighton.com Man of the Match
It is a very tough call between Stockdale and Dunk and we're just plumping for the latter. This was largely in part due to his determination to get booked and thus ensure one game of his two game ban for 10 cautions will be for next weeks FA Cup tie with McDons when he was likely to be rested anyway. Firstly, he kicked the ball away but the referee didn't see it and so had to go for a second attempt of holding onto the ball and slowing down the play which duly did the trick. Quite why he didn't just take his shirt off when he scored remains a mystery.

Overall
This was a fantastic day and a fantastic result when coupled with Newcastle going down to a shock defeat at Blackburn. While it is frustrating when you don't play well and make no mistake we really did steal the points here, there is something extremely satisfying against getting the job done regardless as has happened in our last three away games now. At this stage last season, this game would have been lost. That could make all the difference come the end of the season. Games like this make us believe that, poo, do you know what, 2017 could be the year.



http://wearebrighton.com/blog/2017/01/match-review-fulham-1-2-brighton-2/

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John Paintsil returns to familiar surroundings: Ex-Ghana international returns to Fulham

John Paintsil

Former Ghana international John Paintsil played at Craven Cottage with Fulham and returned to the place as a coach this week.

Paintsil who is an assistant coach with Kaizer Chief is with four young players who will be training with the championship side for the next ten days.

Chiefs youngsters Lorenzo Gordinho, Ryan Moon, Siyabonga Ngezana and Emmanuel Letlotlo jetted off to England on Monday in the company of Painstsil and will be training with Fulham for the next few days.

Paintsil enjoyed good times with Fulham with whom he played with the Championship from 2008 to 2011.


http://ghanasoccernet.com/john-paintsil-returns-to-familiar-surroundings-ex-ghana-international-returns-to-fulham

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Fulham defender extends his stay
Youngster agrees loan extension with Wealdstone


Staying put: Ryheem Sheckleford (Photo: Alan Palmer)

Championship side Fulham have agreed to extend defender Ryheem Sheckleford's loan spell at Wealdstone by a further month, to February 8, 2017.

The versatile youngster has greatly impressed during his time at The Vale and the Stones moved quickly to secure his services for another four weeks.

Stones boss Gordon Bartlett, who earlier today sent fellow loanee Nick Freeman back to Wycombe, is also hoping to persuading Accrington Stanley of letting him keep Liam Goulding for the season.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-defender-extends-his-stay-12401259

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Fulham chasing deal for Boro striker Nugent

Fulham want to sign Middlesbrough striker David Nugent during this month's transfer window.

The 31-year-old is surplus to requirements at Boro, who are close to signing striker Rudy Gestede from Aston Villa.

Leeds United are also interested in Nugent and both permanent and loan deals are potentially negotiable.

Nugent scored eight goals in 40 appearances as Boro were promoted to the Premier League last season, but has only made five appearances this term.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-want-middlesbrough-man-leeds-united-also-keen

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Fulham keen to strike Nugent deal
by DAN on JANUARY 3, 2017

Fulham have made Middlesbrough striker David Nugent one of their top targets during the January transfer window, according to a report on West London Sport tonight.

Aitor Karanka has decided that the former England international forward is surplus to requirements at the Riverside Stadium and has already moved to strengthen Middlesbrough's options up front by trying to sign Aston Villa striker Rudy Gestede. Slavisa Jokanovic's search for striking reinforcements has taken on even greater importance after on-loan striker Chris Martin refused to play for Fulham last week as he bids to return to parent club Derby County this month. The Whites will face competition from promotion contenders Leeds United for Nugent's services.

Nugent, 31, has struggled for regular game time on Teesside since completing a £2m move from Leicester City in August 2015. The former Bury and Preston striker scored eight goals in 40 appearances as Middlesbrough won promotion from the Championship last season, but has made just five appearances so far this term. Nugent has become something of a specialist at winning promotion to the top flight having helped Leicester to the Championship title in 2013-2014 and also won the FA Cup with Portsmouth back in 2008.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/01/fulham-keen-to-strike-nugent-deal/

[WhiteJC]

 
Transfer news: QPR ready to launch bid for ex-Fulham forward
He was hit and miss with Whites - but Rangers believe Colombian international might be worth a punt to get them firing on all four again

QPR are ready to make a surprise bid for striker Hugo Rodallega.

The ex-Fulham forward is now at little known Akhisar Belediyespor in Turkey, but has caught the eye of Rs scouts after hitting an amazing 50 goals in 34 games this season and last in that nation's top flight.

He scored a hat-trick against league leaders Beşiktaş in April last year, and by doing so, he became the first foreign player at Akhisar to score three goals in a match.

Check below to get a flavour of a career reborn in Turkey.

Rodallega was one nine Fulham players released at the end of the 2014-15 season after spells at Craven Cottage where he lit up the place, and others where he was all but anonymous.

However, he did hit 11 goals in 38 appearances for the Cottagers in his last season - and was something of a surprise after he topped the discarded list.

This, especially when boss Kit Symons was ready to trigger an extension in the contract for the player brought from Wigan as a Premier League forward in 2012, and changed his mind.

Rodallega, now 31, is under contract at Akhisar only until this summer, and the Turkish club is ready to do a deal if the price is right.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/transfer-news-qpr-ready-launch-12399860