Friday Fulham Stuff (17/03/17)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Three Fulham Players Who Might Face The Axe In The Summer

Fulham are right amidst the scheme of things in the 2016-17 season of the Sky Bet Championship as far as the promotion hopefuls are concerned. A last minute equaliser from Blackburn Rovers might have come in their way of leapfrogging sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, but they are still within touching distance to earn a playoff spot as merely a solitary point separates them from the Owls.

Slavisa Jokanovic has done a scintillating job so far this campaign and the momentum they have gathered for themselves is enabling them to surge forward. However, the continuation of such form (irrespective of their promotion) next season holds paramount importance and to facilitate the same, some changes are also needed. The Serbian would need to clear the deadwood in the summer and here are three players who might be sold to free up some space for bringing in new faces.

Ryan Tunnicliffe
When Fulham signed the Manchester United youth product in the shape of Tunnicliffe all the way back in 2014, it was expected that he would be a sensation at the Craven Cottage. More than a couple of years down the line, the 24-year-old has failed to impose himself as a contender for the starting eleven of the Cottagers and had been shipped off to Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers without much success.

The versatile midfielder, however, had made 7 appearances for the London-based club this season before being shipped to DW Stadium in the January transfer window after falling out of favour under manager Jokanovic and is likely to be struck off the books in the summer.

Cauley Woodrow
Once touted as 'the next big thing' by the Fulham faithful, Woodrow never became one. The 22-year-old forward hasn't played since his side's goalless stalemate against Wigan Athletic on 17th September 2016 which has really tarnished his image.

He needed to step up this season but after garnering merely 5 appearances this season, it appears as if his days at the Craven Cottage are severely numbered.

Jozabed Sanchez
One of the most criticised aspects of Fulham is their poor transfer recruitments. Sanchez was one of the club's big-money signings in the summer but proved to be overhyped, as a result of which he was farmed out on loan to La Liga outfit, Celta Vigo, in the January transfer window. The 26-year-old was handed merely 7 appearances by Jokanovic, 6 of which came as a substitute and might be allowed to leave the club at the end of the ongoing campaign.

Statistics Credits: Squawka.


http://the4thofficial.net/2017/03/three-fulham-players-might-face-axe-summer/

[WhiteJC]

 
Southbanker: Reading FC need to show drastic improvement to stand strong among top six
Royals supporter Anthony Fenn discusses Reading's play-off chances

I'm getting that nasty end of season Fulham feeling again!

Cast your mind back to spring 2008 in Steve Coppell's second season with the Reading FC in the Premier League.

Royals appeared to have done enough to retain their top-flight status.

Derby were well on the way to picking up the "Worst Team in History" trophy with the irritating bunch from Craven Cottage sinking fast behind them.

That seemed to leave one relegation spot to be filled by one of Birmingham City and the perennial bottom feeders, Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland and Wigan Athletic.

I'm getting that nasty end of season Fulham feeling again!

Cast your mind back to spring 2008 in Steve Coppell's second season with the Reading FC in the Premier League.
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Royals appeared to have done enough to retain their top-flight status.

Derby were well on the way to picking up the "Worst Team in History" trophy with the irritating bunch from Craven Cottage sinking fast behind them.

That seemed to leave one relegation spot to be filled by one of Birmingham City and the perennial bottom feeders, Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland and Wigan Athletic.

Huddersfield Town are the only team now with a realistic chance of catching the season-long front runners.

That leaves three play-off spaces with four teams in genuine contention, not allowing for a late charge from Norwich City, Preston North End or Derby County.

In the mix with Reading are Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday and of course Fulham.

So, Friday night's excursion to Hillsborough is a six-pointer if ever there was one!

If Reading win, they widen the gap between themselves and Wednesday to five points with eight games remaining.

But, God forbid, Reading lose on Friday and Fulham overcome Wolves on Saturday then we will all wake up on Sunday morning with a seventh-place hangover!

Having lost the last three away games without troubling the scorers, Reading will have to improve drastically on the last hour's performance at Deepdale if they are to get a result on Friday.

Having bossed the first 30 minutes, Reading failed to take their chances and then hit the self-destruct button and allowed Preston to coast to a comfortable win.

On my first ever visit to Preston in October 2002, I recall in the aftermath of the 1-0 defeat, questioning my sanity of following the Royals.

It had taken me seven hours to get there, I missed the entire first half, Reading didn't turn up after the break, we lost and the only consolation is that I shaved an hour off the return journey!

Hopefully Royals fans will be in a better frame of mind on Friday night.


http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/sport-opinion/southbanker-reading-fc-need-show-12751204

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham star reportedly set to snub Liverpool

Liverpool's pursuit of Fulham left back Ryan Sessegnon look set to be over at a very early juncture. The 16 year old, yes 16 year old, has impressed at Craven Cottage this season with fine performances for the London club.

Fulham are in the thick of a promotion playoff push, and according to Sports Mole will be hanging on to Sessegnon a little longer as he's reportedly signed a pre-contract agreement with the club.

Sessegnon scored twice last weekend against Championship leading Newcastle United in their 3-1 win. Sessegnon has scored six times in 22 appearances, which is very impressive for a left back, particularly such a young one at that!

One thing to keep in mind is that this will not come easy to teams looking to bring him in. Fulham let Moussa Dembele leave for Celtic for next to nothing. That will not happen again. Mark that down here.

For now, Sessegnon is probably better off where he is. To play that well and that often at such a level as the Championship will only help him develop better and become a better player for when he does eventually move to a bigger side.



http://futnsoccer.com/2017/03/16/fulham-star-reportedly-set-to-snub-liverpool/

[WhiteJC]

 
Norwich City Under-23s set to take on Fulham at Colney in Premier League Cup

Norwich City Under-23s are back in action today when they taken on Fulham at Colney.

The young Canaries face the Cottagers in the first knockout round of the Premier League Cup, in a 2.30pm kick-off.

City reached the last 16 after finishing second behind Portsmouth in Group D, having beaten Everton home and away, before thrashing Wolves 5-0.

Academy manager Richard Money and coach Matt Gill are in interim charge of the U23s following the recent exit of Dmitri Halajko. The development squad currently sit joint bottom of Division Two in Premier League Two and have three league fixtures to try and change that but are unbeaten in four matches in all competitions.

They also have the semi-finals of the Premier League International Cup to look forward to, with that clash with Sunderland being played at Carrow Road on Friday, March 31 – with free entry for supporters. For full details see canaries.co.uk.


http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/norwich_city_under_23s_set_to_take_on_fulham_at_colney_in_premier_league_cup_1_4935614