Tuesday Fulham Stuff (17/01/17)...

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Sportito becomes 'Official Fantasy Sports Partner' for Fulham FC

Sportito CEO Riccardo Mittiga has welcomed a 'great opportunity' to work with Fulham FC, after the DFS operator signed a deal to become the club's first 'Official Fantasy Sports Partner'.

Fulham FC will introduce their fans to the new Sportito fantasy sports platform, which hosts daily winning contests rather than season long contests, and promote the opportunity to connect with the team and other players through networking on social media.

The new format has also freed up fans when choosing players to draft for their teams, after removing salary cap restrictions which proved irritating for fantasy players. Cash prizes and high quality real time data are also key features of the company's innovative approach to traditional fantasy sports.

Casper Stylsvig, CRO at Fulham Football Club, said: "Sportito is an innovative new gaming brand and one that I am happy to welcome as an official partner of Fulham."

He added that it's 'an exciting collaboration, which can be mutually successful'. Moreover, he said 'we are confident that we can assist in Sportito's objectives and drive Fulham FC fans and the wider football community to sign up to and play the game online'.

Riccardo Mittiga expressed his confidence in bringing success to the partnership: "We are more than happy to partner up with Fulham FC, one of the oldest Football Clubs in the UK with a fan base spread throughout the UK and worldwide. It is a great opportunity for us to introduce Sportito to Whites fans and engage with them to show how exciting it is to play fantasy sports and win real cash on Sportive."

Having launched in August 2016, Sportito is a DFS site launched with a gambling license from the UK Gambling Commission, which offers fantasy sports contests across all major tournaments and leagues including the Premier League, Championship and World Cup.


Read more: http://www.sbcnews.co.uk/esports-fantasy/2017/01/16/sportito-becomes-official-fantasy-sports-partner-fulham-fc/#ixzz4W0Fwi9wi

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REDKNAPP: BRILLIANT TEENAGER WANTED BY TOTTENHAM THIS MONTH WILL BE THE NEXT ASHLEY COLE

amie Redknapp has hailed Fulham sensation Ryan Sessegnon as the next Ashley Cole.

The 16-year-old left-back is creating waves in the Championship on the back of a stunning start to his senior career.

Sessegnon is being closely monitored by the leading Premier League clubs, who are well aware he is not able to sign a professional contract with Fulham until he turns 17 next May.

Football Insider revealed last week that the outrageously gifted wonderkid is expected to be worth £30million in two years and the big guns believe they could save themselves a fortune if they can prise him from Craven Cottage during the January window.

A well-placed source has said Tottenham are keen on signing the teenager this month, but there is also strong interest in him from the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City.

Former Spurs and Tottenham midfielder Redknapp has also been blown away by the precocity of Sessegnon, and mentioned his impact on Monday.

"Keep an eye out for Ryan Sessegnon, the 16-year-old who is making great strides at Fulham," Redknapp wrote in a column for the Mail.

"I've watched the Wandsworth-born left back for a while and he has what it takes to be the next Ashley Cole. His twin brother Steven, who plays across the back line or in midfield for Fulham's Under 18s, isn't bad either."

Fulham have produced some outstanding players in recent years, with Celtic's Moussa Dembele and Manchester City's Patrick Roberts among those who have graduated from one of the most impressive academies in English football.

Football Insider revealed last February that Arsenal had made an offer for the England Under-19 international, who has been dubbed 'the next Gareth Bale' by sources at Craven Cottage.

Redknapp regards the youngster as more of a defender like Cole, even though he is building a reputation as a prolific goal creator and scorer, much like Bale was when he was coming through the ranks at Southampton.

Sessegnon, who does not turn 17 for another four months, has made 12 appearances for Fulham this season, spread across 869 minutes of action.

In August, the London-born ace became the youngest scorer in Championship history and he has continued to develop, scoring goals in each of his last two Fulham appearances.

In other Tottenham transfer news, a striker has signed after Spurs agreed terms.


http://www.footballinsider247.com/redknapp-brilliant-teenager-wanted-tottenham-will-next-ashley-cole/

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Slavisa Jokanovic wishes Fulham duo well at Africa Cup of Nations, but not too well
Kebano and Ayite could face each other on January 24 in their final group game but Whites boss Jokanovic hopes they will be back home after that

It may be winter but Floyd Ayite and Neeskens Kebano start their Africa Cup of Nations campaign for Togo and Congo, respectively, next week 3,000 miles away in Gabon and with Slavisa Jokanovic wanting the best of both worlds.

The Fulham players could face each other on January 24 in their final group game but Whites boss Jokanovic hopes they will be back home after that.

"I am Fulham's coach," said the Serb. "I hope they come back quickly. I wish my players all the best. I want them to score eight goals in three games and come back home after that."

Togo start their campaign against Ivory Coast at 4pm today (Monday) with Congo facing Morocco at 7pm.

Friday sees Kebano take on the Ivory Coast while Ayite will be challenging Morocco in the evening.

Were either side to progress, the quarter final is on the weekend of January 28 so the pair could miss the FA Cup tie with Hull.

The semi finals are of February 1 and February 2, meaning they would miss the trip to Burton Albion.

Were either side to reach the final, that takes place on February 5 so they would miss a visit to Birmingham.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/slavisa-jokanovic-wishes-fulham-duo-12459404

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Chelsea forward Lucas Piazon extends Fulham loan to end of the season
Lucas Piazon moved to Craven Cottage in the summer on a temporary basis
The Brazilian forward was set to rejoin Antonio Conte's side in January
Chelsea and the player believe his development will be better served at Fulham
The 22-year-old has netted four goals in 17 appearances in all competitions

Chelsea's Lucas Piazon has extended his loan at Fulham until the end of the season.

The Brazilian forward moved to Craven Cottage in the summer on a temporary basis and was set to rejoin Antonio Conte's side in January.

However, Chelsea and the player believe his development will be better served remaining at Fulham, where he has netted four goals in 17 appearances in all competitions.


Chelsea's Lucas Piazon has extended his loan at Fulham until the end of the season

Piazon has made one substitute appearance for Chelsea in the Premier League and started twice in the League Cup but has been unable to properly break into the first team.

The 22-year-old joined Chelsea from Brazilian club side Sao Paulo in 2012 and was expected to eventually become a regular in the team.

Fulham is now his fifth loan club, spending time at Malaga in Spain, Vitesse Arnhem in Holland, Eintracht Farnkfurt in Germany, and Reading in the Championship last season.

Piazon will stay to help Slavisa Jokanovic's side push for a play-off place. They sit eighth in the table, six points behind sixth-place Sheffield Wednesday but with a game in hand. When he returns to Stamford Bridge in the summer he will have only one year remaining on his deal there.


Chelsea and the player believe his development will be better served remaining at Fulham


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4124192/Chelsea-forward-Lucas-Piazon-extends-Fulham-loan-end-season.html#ixzz4W0HrMxpt
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Sessegnon set to stay with Fulham
by DAN on JANUARY 16, 2017

Fulham are confident of holding onto young starlet Ryan Sessegnon, who has signed a pre-contract agreement that will see a professional contract begin in May on his seventeenth birthday, and have yet to receive an official offer from any of the full-back's many suitors.

The England Under-17 international has burst onto the scene with a series of impressive performances at left back this season and has impressed everyone at Craven Cottage and beyond with his composure and maturity. Sessegnon, who made an appearance as a late substitute in Saturday's 2-0 defeat of Barnsley, scored his third senior goal for Fulham in their 2-1 win over Cardiff in the FA Cup third round – becoming one of the famous competition's youngest ever goalscorers in the process.

Slavisa Jokanovic, who has been keen to get the hype over Sessegnon to a minimum to allow his talented youngster to continue his prodigious progress, confirmed to GetWestLondon after the Barnsley game that Fulham have yet to receive a formal offer for the sixteen year-old and that he is simply focused on helping Sessegnon, who has become a genuine rival to Scott Malone for a first-team slot, continue his development. Sessegnon has made 12 first-team appearances since making his debut at Leyton Orient in the EFL Cup back in August.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/01/sessegnon-set-to-stay-with-fulham/

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NO WONDER CHRIS MARTIN WAS CONFUSED

Fulham loan striker Chris Martin, who returned to action with Fulham on Saturday and scored in a 2-0 win over Barnsley, could have been on £28,000 per week at Craven Cottage had the club granted a request made by his agent, it has been claimed.

The striker is on loan at Fulham for the season from Derby County, who recently tried to take him back to Pride Park to bolster manager Steve McClaren's attacking options.

However, Fulham wanted Derby to pay to terminate the loan early and the Rams refused to meet the stated figure, which meant they instead snapped up David Nugent from Middlesbrough.

The situation regarding Martin led to his agent asking for a £28,000 per week pay packet from Fulham, according to journalist Simon Austin.

It is claimed that when Martin moved from Derby to Fulham on loan he increased his weekly salary from £14,000 to £17,000.

And with Derby wanting Martin back, the player's agent asked Fulham to increase his client's salary to £28,000 per week on a permanent deal; Fulham would have had to activate the permanent purchase option in the loan agreement.

Fulham declined and a two-week standoff began, something which appears to have now ended with Martin playing and scoring for the Cottagers.

Martin cost Fulham a fee of over £1.5m to sign on loan from Derby, with the Cottagers being desperate to land a striker before the transfer window closed as Ross McCormack had joined Aston Villa and Moussa Dembele headed to Celtic.


http://www.fulhamweb.co.uk/news/no-wonder-chris-martin-was-confused.aspx

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Weadstone Bring in Ex-Cottager

Wealdstone have signed 21-year-old central midfielder Solomon Sambou from Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division neighbours Hayes & Yeading United.
Sambou joined United earlier this month from Southern Division One Central outfit Bedford Town.

Sambou was born in The Gambia and spent several years in the academy system at Sky Bet Championship side Fulham where he scored in the 2014 FA Youth Cup Final defeat to Chelsea.

After his release by the Cottagers he signed for Bedford last season before joining United this term, making his debut at Kings Langley on January 2nd.


http://www.footballconference.co.uk/news/details.php?news_id=19766

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Bad luck for Joronen as Fulham youngsters are held by Norwich

Fulham's Under-23s had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Norwich on Monday after conceding an unfortunate own goal and a penalty.

The Whites youngsters were denied a half-time lead by the woodwork – as Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson struck the bar early – and some fine goalkeeping from the Canaries' Ben Killip.

But they finally went in front on 56 minutes when Tayo Edun – who made his first-team debut in the EFL Cup in August – scored from outside the box.

Norwich equalised less than 10 minutes later with an unfortunate own goal as Fulham keeper Jesse Joronen's punch cannoned in off a defender.

Fulham regained the lead when 18-year-old Thorsteinsson struck, but they were pegged back again seven minutes from the end after Edun brought down Glenn Middleton.

Louis McIntosh scored the resultant penalty.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/bad-luck-joronen-fulham-youngsters-held-norwich

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Fulham consider making new offer for Cisse

West London Sport revealed last week that the Whites had opened talks over the potential signing of the 22-year-old Belgian.

Fulham had a first bid of £2m rejected by Liege, who value Cisse closer to £3m.

Cisse, a Belgium Under-21 international who can play at right-back, is keen to make the move to Craven Cottage.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-consider-new-offer-midfielder

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Relief for Fulham and Slavisa Jokanovic as Chris Martin delivers the goods in Championsip victory over Barnsley at Craven Cottage

Fulham fans will be thankful that Chris Martin's future at Craven Cottage appears to have been sorted after his two vital contributions to the 2-0 victory over Barnsley.

The striker has seen his future in limbo since Christmas, with Derby boss Steve McClaren reportedly an admirer of the tall powerful striker, keen to see his loan spell in West London brought to a close.

It left Fulham's top scorer refusing to join the starting line-ups in games against Ipswich and Brighton, and also the fog-abandoned match against Reading.

However, after a head-to-head with boss Slavisa Jokanovic in midweek, Fulham got an instant result, with a victory which took Fulham to within a point of Derby in the Championship table.

After scoring a late first-half penalty, Martin then turned provider for Scott Malone, with Fulham taking all three points at Craven Cottage.

"Chris does a great job for Fulham and the people here know how important he is for us," said Jokanovic.

"We have fought hard to get him to stay here and his performance against Barnsley showed what a great professional he is and I am very happy that he is back with us.

"We played very good football, we created many things along with a clean sheet. This is more important for us.

"He was a little bit confused and now he has cleared his mind, and I have promised to make him better and improve his quality.

"I expect him to play many more times for us, but in football you never know what will happen."

The first half was largely dominated by Fulham with Sone Aluko and Chelsea loanee Lucas Piazon making a series of dangerous raids down their right flank.

However, it was two interventions by Martin just either side of the interval whicy eventually settled the destination of the three points.

A push in the back from Barnsley's Angus MacDonald saw Martin felled in first half stoppage time, quickly getting back to his fee and quickly got back to his feet to convert the penalty.

And it was to get better ten minutes after the break, Martin proved he could be a provider as well.

As part of a counter attack, the 28-year-old could have made a direct run at the Barnsley goal, but chose instead to send a deep cross into the area which Malone powered home for Fulham's second and his own third of the season.

That was the end of Barnsley's challenge and it was only a series of reaction saves from Davies that prevented Fulham from doubling their advantage.

"The penalty was a killer for us because you don't want to go behind at Fulham," said Barnsley boss Heckingbottom.

"But to be fair I thought we were second best throughout the match – I was very disapponted with the way we started the game."


http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/sport/15026975.Relief_for_Fulham_and_Jokanovic_as_Martin_delivers_the_goods/

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NEWCASTLE WON'T GIVE UP ON CAIRNEY

Newcastle haven't given up hope of signing Tom Cairney despite being quoted £20m for the midfielder.

According to a report in The Chronicle Rafa Benitez remains hopeful that a deal can be agreed in the final fortnight of the transfer window.

The Newcastle boss has identified central midfield as one of the key areas to strengthen with Fulham man Cairney high on his wanted list.

Benitez made enquiries about Everton duo Tom Cleverley and James McCarthy but was given no encouragement with Cleverley moving on loan to Watford and McCarthy not prepared to go outside of the Premier League.

Cairney is aware of Newcastle's interest and would be favourable to a move without wishing to push for a transfer Payet style!.

Fulham paid Blackburn £3m for the 25-year-old in 2015 and face a game of poker between now and the end of the transfer window with Aston Villa also keen on Cairney.


http://thisisfutbol.com/2017/01/blogs/championship/newcastle-united-championship/newcastle-wont-give-up-on-cairney/