Monday Fulham Stuff (27/02/17)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Cardiff 2-2 Fulham- five vital things from point gained or two lost?
Whites miss out on four wins in row in south Wales - here are a few indications why

Reflections from a rainy day in Cardiff.

Stefan Johansen has had better first halves – despite his goal
Passes astray, shots way over and worse still after he took a great goal, the midfielder let a ball escape from under his feet as he looked up to make the next pass.

Keep your eye on the ball, eight-year-olds are told on a Sunday morning and Kenneth Zohore did to equalise.

It was very uncharacteristic.

In fact, the Fulham defence suffered in the rain
Both goals were highly preventable. The second saw Whites dither around 25 yards out, and Zahore, as you have gathered, likes gifts.

Jokanovic admitted both sides made mistakes, which was just as well.


Zohore tangles with Fulham's Scott Malone (Photo: Tom Martin/WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Cardiff would have been of sight had they taken chances
City were a different side to the January FA Cup outfit that surrendered 2-1 in front of a paltry Sunday morning crowd.

The Bluebirds knew the trick was to harass Fulham the second they got the ball. Press hard, press tight and you stand a chance.

Fulham have seen that coming most of the season. A fair number of games have seen them still shift the ball around like a pinball machine notching up scores before hitting jackpot.

It was one of those days when the ball all but disappeared down the slot.


Nice, but...Cardiff City Stadium

Grounds for staying the same
For those who think Craven Cottage is outdated, the Cardiff City Stadium is a reminder of careful what you wish.

City's ground since 2009 is modern, easily accessible, boasts terrific viewing – and it's soulless.

The modern stadia all look like city centres. You can't tell one from the other.

The DW Stadium, The King Power Stadium, The KCOM Stadium, The XYZ Stadium soon to be built – they're pretty much interchangeable.

Yeah, the urinals and the 'toilets' in the Stevenage Road stand of the Cottage are an experience, but the ground still boasts a terrific walk through Bishop's Park, if you're coming that way.

It also looks different, because it is, and long may it stay that way.

How much will Fulham miss Lucas Piazon over the next few games?
The victim of a broken jaw as he tangled with Lucas Nadeem on the touchline and was also booked for his pains, and pain it looked, has become an integral part of Whites on the midfield left.

It couldn't have come at a worst time.

However, this is where Floyd Ayite or Neeskens Kebano steps up to the plate that facilitates a return for Chris Martin. Hmmm...maybe both in the side, rather than the lacklustre Derby loanee.

And the match...
It rained on Fulham's parade as a fourth win on the trot was denied them by a much better Cardiff than the side Whites beat in January.

That FA Cup win was beguiling, because this Bluebirds under Neil Warnock were a lot tougher.

Whites had to come from behind with a leveller from Neeskens Kebano to get their point after goals from Kenneth Zohore, and a first equaliser from Stefan Johansen saw points shared.

Unusually, Whites were under the cosh for the first five minutes.

Tomas Kalas did just enough to put off Junior Hoilett who fired over from all of five yards.

Back at his old club, Scott Malone back cleared as the ball flashed across goal and then David Button spread himself to deny Sol Bamba from even closer than Hoilett's chance.

The latter had the easiest chance yet three minutes later, but again Button was down left to push away.

But out of nothing Fulham counter-attacked in numbers. The ball was fed wide to Johansen who cut in and fired low and true for 1-0.

However, Whites lost Lucas Piazon in a tackle for which the midfielder was also booked to add salt to his wounds.

And then a dreadful mistake from the man who put Whites ahead.

Johansen let the ball slip under his feet as last man and Zohore ran on to put it past Button, even though the keeper got a hand to the shot.

Fulham were nearly ahead a second time as McDonald got a back post header cleared off the line. From the rebound Floyd Ayite forced Allan McGregor into a fine one-handed save.

Kebano completely shanked a decent sight of goal inside the box - and held his head in his hands to underline it.

Craig Noone wasted another decent set-up on 55 minutes when he thrashed over inside the box.

Another mess-up at the back, and Cardiff were ahead a second time. Whites defence lost the plot and Zohore got on his bike to ram a tremendous hit past Button.

But the second leveller was pure Fulham.

Eye of the needle passes and a final defence splitter from Cairney played in Kebano who rolled it home for 2-2.

David Button made a fantastic save at his near post as the clock counted down - and none of the travelling support could complain at the result.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-2-2-cardiff-five-12658627

[WhiteJC]

 
Chelsea & Fulham's Lucas Piazon posts update from hospital after breaking jaw

Cardiff 2 – Fulham 2

Fulham's recent momentum was halted somewhat on Saturday in Wales.

The Cottagers took an early lead in Cardiff but were stunned by a bad injury to Lucas Piazon and then two goals for the home team either side of half-time.

In the end, Fulham were thankful for a point, that leaves them in seventh just outside the play-offs, via Neeskens Kebano.

Lucas Piazon posts Instagram update

On Saturday evening, the on-loan Chelsea playmaker, who seems to have an affinity with Fulham, posted an update on Instagram.

In Portuguese he wrote: "Thank God the operation was successful, jaw is already in place again, soon I will be back in the field! #Godisgreat".



http://www.101greatgoals.com/news/chelsea-fulhams-lucas-piazon-posts-update-hospital-breaking-jaw/

[WhiteJC]

 
Lucas Piazon vows to play again for Fulham following broken jaw

Fulham forward Lucas Piazon has vowed to come back from a broken jaw and play for the Championship club again before returning to Chelsea.

The 23-year-old, on a season-long loan at Craven Cottage, suffered the injury while committing a foul against Kadeem Harris in Fulham's 2-2 draw with Cardiff City on Saturday.

Cottagers manager Slavisa Jokanovic described the injury as the "worst news" for his side, but Piazon has taken to social media to tell supporters that he has unfinished business at the second-tier outfit.

The Brazilian shared an image and wrote: "Thanks God the operation was fine! Will be out for a while but I am coming back, can't finish my season for the whites like that."

Piazon has scored six goals in 25 games across all competitions for Fulham this season, having made just one Premier League appearance for Chelsea in his career, which came in the 2012-13 campaign.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/chelsea/injury-news/news/piazon-i-will-play-again-for-fulham_292618.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Piazon Update

Following an injury sustained in the first half of our 2-2 draw with Cardiff City, the Club can confirm that Lucas Piazon underwent surgery on his jaw on Saturday evening.

A rehabilitation period of approximately two months is expected. Further information will be detailed on fulhamfc.com in due course.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/february/26/piazon-update

[WhiteJC]

 
Liverpool in pole position to sign in-demand teenage sensation

Fulham teenager Ryan Sessegnon is the latest name to seemingly pop up on a weekly basis when it comes to Liverpool's latest transfer rumours.

It is still only February unfortunately so we expect this isn't the last time we'll be hearing about him between now and the summer.

The 16-year-old left-back has impressed in the Championship so far this season and already reportedly has a number of Premier League sides chasing his signature.

According to the Daily Express, Liverpool have moved 'to the front of the queue' of the clubs trying to sign him.

We certainly have our doubts, for a number of reasons as well. First and foremost, we can't for one second imagine Jurgen Klopp or anyone at the club would have publicly expressed an interest in a player of Sessegnon's age given how protective Liverpool have been over the hype surrounding Ben Woodburn.

Besides this, we dare to question what 'to the front of the queue actually means at this stage.

He is an exciting talent and finding a long-term solution to our left-back problems poses as a priority so a move for the youngster would certainly make sense. It would be within Klopp's nature to target a player he can help mould into a star.

The England youth team player cannot sign a professional contract until he is 17 in May and, judging by similar transfers in the past, any deal could involve him going back to Fulham on loan.


http://www.empireofthekop.com/2017/02/26/liverpool-in-pole-position-to-sign-in-demand-teenage-sensation/

[WhiteJC]

 
Derby and Fulham's Chris Martin: 'He's made his bed, now he has to lie in it' says Sone Aluko
Whites loanee is left at home - but that's just the way it goes says team-mate and now he's needed to score more goals

Slavisa Jokanovic confirmed Chris Martin was dropped for the 2-2 draw with Cardiff on Saturday.

Martin's performance against Wigan three games ago bordered on the disinterested before he was hauled off after 57 minutes.

And he was only used as a 62nd minute sub at Bristol City midweek for a tiring Floyd Ayite.

The debate rages as to whether Fulham's insistence the Scotland international honours his season-long loan after signing a new deal with parent club Derby last month was the right thing.

Most fans are happy Whites made a telling stance.

As boss Jokanovic put it: "I had a flat in Putney 15 years ago, but I sold it. I can't have it back now just because I want to."


'Interesting': Sone Aluko (Photo: Getty Images Europe)

Team-mate Sone Aluko insists Martin has to make the best of it and regain form to help Fulham on the Championship run-in.

"It's an interesting situation," Aluko ventured.

"At the end of the day we're footballers, and when you go out on the pitch all that other stuff is forgotten. You just want to score goals. He's done well.

"Ultimately, he's made his bed and he has to sleep in it."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/derby-fulhams-chris-martin-hes-12659917

[WokinghamWhite]

"Ultimately, he's made his bed and he has to sleep in it." - SJ has clearly made the right call by excluding Martin. Doesn't sound like there's a whole lot of sympathy for him from the other players.

[Holders]

"Ultimately, he's made his bed and he has to sleep in it." - SJ has clearly made the right call by excluding Martin. Doesn't sound like there's a whole lot of sympathy for him from the other players.

I was interested to read that he's "disinterested" rather than "uninterested". If the distinction was intentional, it sums it up perfectly.

[Fulham1959]

"Ultimately, he's made his bed and he has to sleep in it." - SJ has clearly made the right call by excluding Martin. Doesn't sound like there's a whole lot of sympathy for him from the other players.

I was interested to read that he's "disinterested" rather than "uninterested". If the distinction was intentional, it sums it up perfectly.

"Disinterested" means impartial, so I'm not sure I agree with your observation.

[Holders]

"Ultimately, he's made his bed and he has to sleep in it." - SJ has clearly made the right call by excluding Martin. Doesn't sound like there's a whole lot of sympathy for him from the other players.

I was interested to read that he's "disinterested" rather than "uninterested". If the distinction was intentional, it sums it up perfectly.

"Disinterested" means impartial, so I'm not sure I agree with your observation.

If he's playing for Fulham he should, surely, be partial to our cause. That's the very point.