Monday Fulham Stuff (27/03/17)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham's top five performers this season

Fulham are having a very good season under Slavisa Jokanovic and currently sit 7th in the Championship, one point away from sixth place.

With eight games left to play, Fulham are battling for a play-off place but will need to improve their form if they are to catch fifth place Reading, who are six points away.

After beating Newcastle United 3-1 away from home, Fulham had two home games against Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers, with fans expecting six points.  However, Fulham drew with Blackburn and were beaten by Wolves, losing ground in the race for the play-offs.

Here we take a look at Fulham's top five performers this season, based on stats according to WhoScored. The ratings are based on goals, assists, cards, shots, passing success, aerial duels won and Man of the Match awards. Only players with five starts or more this season have been included.

Kevin McDonald – 7.03
Signing from Wolves for an undisclosed fee last summer, McDonald has been a key player for Fulham this season.  The Scot has made 38 appearances in all competitions, picking up 10 yellow cards and one red card.

Being almost ever-present in the league this season, McDonald has been a key part of getting Fulham to seventh place in the table.  He is the anchor in the midfield and allows players like Tom Cairney to have more freedom and get forward when on the ball.

Stefan Johansen – 7.09
Up next in the ranking is another central midfielder with a very similar rating to McDonald.  Johansen is another summer signing, having signed from Celtic in August 2016.  A Norwegian international, the midfielder has made 29 Championship appearances for Fulham this season.

Johansen will be very pleased with his goal-scoring tally this season, having scored seven Championship goals and nine in all competitions.  These included a remarkable run of four goals in four games spread across two weeks.  The midfielder scored against Reading, Wolves, Rotherham and Derby.

Sone Aluko – 7.10
Aluko signed from Hull City at the beginning of the season and has missed only one of Fulham's league games this season.  The winger has played mostly down the right-hand side for Fulham this season but has also played behind the striker and even as a forward himself.

The winger's 7.10 rating has been aided by his seven goals so far this season, including a vital goal against Preston in only his second game for the club.  Aluko has also contributed nine assists.

Tomas Kalas – 7.12
Kalas is yet another player who was signed by the club last summer, but this time he is only on loan for the season.  The centre-back has played 28 Championship games for Fulham this season, missing around a month of first-team action due to a hamstring injury earlier in the season.

Kalas has had a very solid season for Fulham, with his skill at intercepting passes and holding onto the ball contributing to his overall average rating of 7.12.  Fulham will want to keep hold of the defender next season whether they go up or not, but his long-term future may be at parent club Chelsea.

Tom Cairney – 7.41
There are no prizes for guessing Fulham's best performing player of the season so far: it's midfield sensation Tom Cairney.  The midfielder is the only player in the top five who didn't sign for the club last summer, having signed in 2015.  Cairney has missed only one Championship game this season.

The midfielder's impressive performances this season have attracted many Premier League clubs, but Fulham have recently stated that he will cost at least £20 million.  Cairney has also recently made his first international appearance, for Scotland.

Cairney has scored nine goals from midfield this season and registered the same amount of assists.  However it is the nature of the goals that attracts the most attention; a rocket against Leeds United in the final minute of the game for example, or another screamer against Newcastle United in the following game:



http://the72.co.uk/77903/fulhams-top-five-performers-season/

[WhiteJC]

 
£20m is the price for Tom Cairney; should Newcastle United pay it?

Newcastle United reportedly wanted to sign Tom Cairney from Fulham in the January transfer window.

Fulham want as much as £20 million in order to part company with Tom Cairney in the summer transfer window, according to The Mirror.

It has been reported that Fulham are under no pressure to sell Cairney and have slapped a £20m price-tag on the midfielder.

According to The Mirror, Newcastle United wanted to sign the 26-year-old in the January transfer window.

However, it has been reported that manager Rafael Benitez was staggered at the fee that Fulham wanted.

Newcastle are a massive club and should get promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season, and perhaps they should make a move for the Fulham midfielder in the summer.

Cairney has been superb for Fulham since his move to Craven Cottage in the summer of 2015.

The Scotland international has scored nine goals and created 95 chances in 35 Championship appearances for the Cottagers so far this season.

During the 2015-16 campaign, the midfielder scored eight goals and created 64 chances in 38 league games for the London outfit.

Cairney is a good player, and Newcastle would be wise to make a move for him in the summer.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/03/26/20m-is-the-price-for-tom-cairney-should-newcastle-united-pay-it/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham set to battle Russian Premier League clubs for Fenerbache striker
Slavisa Jokanovic wants to bolster his striking options ahead of next season and the Nigerian international could be the perfect fit for Fulham


(Photo: Mike Hewitt - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Fulham look set to enter a summer transfer battle for Fenerbache striker Emmanuel Emenike with a host of Russian Premier League clubs.

The 29-year-old is unhappy at the Turkish side as a result of the lack of game time he has got this season, having made 17 appearance all season, scoring four goals.

He spent part of last season on loan at West Ham, where he scored twice for the Hammers after joining in the January transfer window but it looks like he is set to move on from Turkey, with Fulham interested.

Emenike is currently contracted for another year at Fenerbache but wants to leave in the summer, and Fulham will have to go head-to-head with several Russian Premier League clubs who are also interested after the former Nigerian international spent two years at Spartak Moscow, where he scored 23 goals in 42 appearances.

There are reports that Russia is Emenike's preferred destination having already played there, but he could be tempted by the Craven Cottage outfit should he be promised regular football.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fulham-set-battle-russian-premier-12798823

[WhiteJC]

 
English Championship side Fulham linked with Ghanaian midfielder Aziz Tetteh

English Premier League chasing Fulham have inquired about the availability of Ghanaian midfielder Abdul Aziz Tetteh who plays for Lech Poznan in Poland.

Tetteh, has played in 19 league games and scored one goal for Poznan who are 3rd on the Polish league table.

The 25-year-old Ghanaian has previously played for Greek side Platanias and has recovered from a shaky start to life in Poland to become one of the highly sort after midfielders in the Polish league.

Fulham coach Slavisa Jokanovic is reported to have told the clubs hierarchy that the Ghanaian is top of his transfer list haven flown to Poland to watch him twice.

The London-based club are currently 7th on the championship table but have  hopes of pushing for a play off finish at the end of the season.


http://ghanasoccernet.com/english-championship-side-fulham-linked-with-ghanaian-midfielder-aziz-tetteh

[WhiteJC]

 
Have PNE left themselves with too much to do in race for the top six?

Back in September, talk of Preston being in play-off contention seven months down the line would have been regarded as fanciful....

The 2-1 home defeat to Barnsley on September 10 left them second bottom of the Championship. Not until later that month did the recovery start in earnest, the 3-0 win over Cardiff a false dawn with that 5-0 defeat at Brentford following. North End began to get their act together with the 3-2 extra-time win at Bournemouth in the League Cup.

The rise has been steady since then, just five defeats in 30 games since. Such consistent form, albeit without long runs of victories, sees them in ninth place and five points shy of the top-six as we draw breath during the international break. Using Simon Grayson's words, it all boils down to an eight-game season, one which kicks off against Nottingham Forest this weekend. The question on the lips of all PNE fans now is whether the play-offs are a realistic target?

Will eight matches be sufficient to close the gap and overhaul what is above them? In terms of what the landscape will look like come May 7, I think it is safe to assume that top two Newcastle and Brighton will still be in situ. They have been strong throughout the season but have not been immune to a dip in form. As they head to the top table of English football, it is what happens below and who ultimately joins them which will be fascinating.

Huddersfield occupy third place but it has to be said, looked anything but in their 4-0 defeat against Bristol City before the break. I still expect them to make the play-offs, as will Leeds who are in fourth. Garry Monk's side are a strong unit, not quite as pleasing on the eye as 
Huddersfield and Reading, but damned effective. Reading, in fifth, carry a six-point cushion into the final eight games. That should be enough to see them contest the play-offs, but to say I was underwhelmed by Jaap Stam's men at Deepdale a fortnight ago is something of an understatement.

Huddersfield occupy third place but it has to be said, looked anything but in their 4-0 defeat against Bristol City before the break. I still expect them to make the play-offs, as will Leeds who are in fourth. Garry Monk's side are a strong unit, not quite as pleasing on the eye as 
Huddersfield and Reading, but damned effective. Reading, in fifth, carry a six-point cushion into the final eight games. That should be enough to see them contest the play-offs, but to say I was underwhelmed by Jaap Stam's men at Deepdale a fortnight ago is something of an understatement. Countering that stance, for them to bounce back and win at Sheffield Wednesday six days later was impressive. So is the big battle the one for sixth spot, a four-way fight between the Owls, Fulham, Norwich and North End? Wednesday are in the box seat but only just, with them a point better off than Fulham. They are wobbling though, with four defeats, a draw and just one win in their last six. Mind you, the win was a 5-1 thrashing of Norwich which perhaps shows just how unpredictable this Championship is. After Fuham's win over PNE and a 3-1 victory at Newcastle, you would have had them as odds-on to be the side to gatecrash the top six. A 2-2 home draw with Blackburn, in which they conceded a last-minute goal, followed by defeat to Wolves at Craven Cottage, have slowed them down. With a far superior goal difference and indeed a four-point lead over the Canaries and Preston, they have the upper hand in the chasing pack. Interestingly, Fulham go to Hillsborough on the final day of the season. They have Norwich and Huddersfield to play too, both away. Norwich and North End are separated only by goal difference. They meet at Deepdale on Easter Monday which could yet be a key clash. If that game still has something riding on it, things will have gone well in the four games before. So can Preston carry their season on beyond the first week in May? They and Norwich are the outsiders and clearly there is plenty of work to do in closing the gap. As Grayson has said a number of times, all the pressure is on others. A fair assumption is Reading, Wednesday and Fulham are the clubs he is referring to, Norwich too, bearing in mind all have had larger budgets to fund a promotion-push. It is likely to be the next three away games which will make or break PNE's chances – their opponents being Leeds, Huddersfield and Newcastle. Forest and Bristol City come first at Deepdale, their form at home strong in recent months and on which they have launched this late push. Then it is back-to-back trips to West Yorkshire, at Elland Road a week on Saturday and then the John Smith's Stadium on Good Friday. Norwich come north on Easter Monday, then it is off to St James' Park a week later on television. Were PNE to maintain their home form, what would they need out of that trio of away games? I would hazard a guess at four points minimum, maybe five. The campaign closes with a home game against Rotherham and a trip to Wolves – both winnable. It is the road trips to Leeds, Huddersfield and Newcastle, which have the potential to stall them. North End are seven games without a victory on their travels, although they have drawn five of those matches. The last away win was at Burton on January 2, one they achieved 'ugly' to coin a phrase. It might be they need to do similar, dig in on their travels a touch more. Last season, 74 points was enough for sixth place – it needed 78 the year 
before. In 2013/14, Brighton were sixth with 72 points. Six wins from the last eight would take North End on to 75 points, that a tough ask but not impossible. The cold view of it, is that the play-offs do look beyond reach, all things considered. I do think Preston have left themselves with a bit too much to do, bearing in mind who they have to play away. Who knows, they might yet find their form on the road. In summary, I predict Newcastle finishing top, Brighton second, with Leeds third, Huddersfield fourth, Reading fifth and Fulham edging out Wednesday for sixth. Then it is Wednesday seventh, with North End eighth. I do hope I am wrong and PNE get a crack at the play-offs.



Read more at: http://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/have-pne-left-themselves-with-too-much-to-do-in-race-for-the-top-six-1-8459564

[WhiteJC]

 
They Dominate And Hurt You – Former Leeds Boss On Who He Fears Whites Meeting in Playoffs

Neil Redfearn admits that he fears Leeds United meeting Fulham in the playoffs as he believes the Cottagers are superb at dominating the ball.

Fulham currently sit just outside the playoff spots in the Championship, but Redfearn is tipping Slavisa Jokanovic's men to make sure they are in the top six by the time the final ball is kicked in the regular season.

Leeds have met Fulham twice this season, with nothing to split two teams who played out 1-1 draws at Elland Road and Craven Cottage, respectively.

But Redfearn thinks Leeds were lucky to get out of London with a point and admits that if the Whites meet the Cottagers then he would be concerned.

"Well, they are not in there yet, but Fulham", Redfearn said on Radio Yorkshire when asked what team he fears most in the playoffs.

"I just think on the day, they've got the players and how they dominate the ball....Leeds did brilliant to get a point down there.

"I know what they are capable of. When we saw them down here at Elland Road they were probably in their infancy with what they were building for the season.

"But I just think how they dominate the ball and how well they dominate it.

"They don't just dominate it for the sake of having it and going nowhere with it. They dominate it and they go and hurt you", the former Leeds boss added.

"I've got a feeling they will sneak in it and when they are in it they are the danger team."

Fulham have endured mixed form of late, having won just three of their last seven Championship matches, while they lost at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers before the international break.

Jokanovic will be desperate for his men not to slip up next weekend when they head to the New York Stadium to play rock bottom side Rotherham United.


http://www.insidefutbol.com/2017/03/26/they-dominate-and-hurt-you-former-leeds-boss-on-who-he-fears-whites-meeting-in-playoffs/331025/

[WhiteJC]

 
Wolves need goals; challenging Fulham for Emmanuel Emenike would be a good start

Fulham are reportedly keen on the experienced striker but Wolves are crying out for a forward.

When Fosun International completed their takeover of Wolves in the summer, they announced almost immediately that promotion to the Premier League was at the top of their list of priorities. Therefore, it is fair to say their first year in charge has not exactly gone to plan.

As it stands, Wolves are just five points above the drop zone while their plight has not been helped by the absence of a reliable goalscorer, despite their £20 million bid for Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca (above) displaying their new-found financial muscle, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Therefore, if they are to progress next season, they should start by challenging Fulham for the signature of Nigerian forward Emmanuel Emenike.

According to Get West London, the 29-year-old, who impressed leading the line for The Super Eagles at the 2014 World Cup, wants to leave Fenerbahce due to a lack of game time and could be on his way to London a year after a loan spell at West Ham United.

However, although he did not exactly set the world alight in his five-month stint at Upton Park, Emenike has all the attributes to be a success in the Championship, namely natural pace and significant upper-body strength.

Furthermore, his age and the fact he has just one year left on his contract at Fener means he could be picked up on the cheap in the summer, meaning Wolves would not be forced to rely on the likes of Jon Dadi Bodvarsson or Nouha Dicko, the duo scoring just four goals between them this season.


http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/03/26/do-wolves-need-goals-challenging-fulham-for-emmanuel-emenike-wou/

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Scotland 1 - 0 Slovenia: Martin keeps World Cup hopes alive


Chris Martin celebrates scoring the winning goal. Picture: PA

Scotland's ailing World Cup qualifying hopes were given a late and much-needed boost when substitute Chris Martin scored a dramatic 88th minute winner which sealed a 1-0 win over Slovenia at Hampden Park.

Defender Russell Martin had the ball in the net early in the first half only to be punished for an infringement before striker Leigh Griffiths twice hit the woodwork.

Time seemed to be running out for Gordon Strachan's side but with two minutes remaining Martin - on for James Morrison - took a Stuart Armstrong pass and fired a low drive past goalkeeper Jan Oblak and in at the far post. It took Scotland on to seven points from five fixtures at the the halfway stage of the campaign and into fourth place, two points behind second-placed Slovakia, ahead of the visit of Group F leaders England in June. There had been a flat feeling to the occasion with the national stadium just over half full for matchday five. Strachan made nine changes to the side which drew 1-1 with Canada in their friendly at Easter Road last Wednesday. Celtic midfielder Armstrong as expected was handed his debut as one of six Hoops players in the side which saw Scott Brown regain the captaincy from Darren Fletcher, who was dropped to the bench.

More surprisingly was the decision by Strachan to move Parkhead left-back Kieran Tierney to right-back for the first time. There was a minute's silence before the game in tribute to those who had suffered in the Westminster attack in midweek. Hampden Park was quieter than usual but those Tartan Army members who did turn up got behind their team and were rewarded by a bright start. Robert Snodgrass' corner from the right just after a minute was met by the boot of Martin eight yards out but Slovenia keeper Jan Oblak parried to safety.

Six minutes later Martin headed the next Snodgrass corner into the net but Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers ruled he has pushed marker Miral Samardzic, to end Scottish celebrations. The home fans jeered when Slovenia skipper Bostjan Cesar was booked in the 22nd minute for time wasting at a free-kick. Six minutes later they almost cheered after midfielder James Morrison powered a drive in from the edge of the box but the ball missed the target by inches. The opener which should have come in the 34th minute when Snodgrass got down the left to cross for Griffiths - but the Celtic striker volleyed against the crossbar from four yards out. Moments later, Griffiths smacked the post with a low right-footed drive from Armstrong's cutback before a header from Morrison was cleared off the line by Slovenia attacker Valter Birsa.

Scotland keeper Craig Gordon had made a save from Roman Bezjak's angled drive but aside from that the visitors had threatened little in a first 45 minutes which were encouraging, but frustrating, for the Scots. There was some despair when Griffiths, which had picked up a lower back injury when challenging Oblak in the first half, was replaced by Steven Naismith four minutes after the restart. Hampden fell quiet again as the tempo dipped. The home side tried to increase the pressure but Slovenia, all work rate and little flair, would not allow Strachan's men to build any rhythm. Belief appeared to slip as the contest entered its final stages, with Slovenia seemingly happy to hold on for a point. Ikechi Anya came on for Snodgrass in the 74th minute and, with his first touch, delivered a tame finish from 12 yards after being set up by James Forrest. It was another good opportunity missed by the home side and it looked like an all too familiar hard luck story. However, with two minutes remaining, Martin - who had replaced Morrison five minutes earlier - took a pass from Armstrong inside the box and drilled a low shot past Oblak and in off the far post to bring Hampden alive, at last.



Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/scotland/scotland-1-0-slovenia-martin-keeps-world-cup-hopes-alive-1-4403993

[WhiteJC]

 
Chris Martin the hero in vital win

Scotland's World Cup qualification hopes are still alive after a Chris Martin strike provided the winner on a heart-stopping night at Hampden.

The goal moves Scotland up a place and within two points of second place.

Scotland hit the woodwork twice, had a goal disallowed and the ball cleared off the line during a lively first half but it took until the 88th minute for Fulham striker Chris Martin to slot home a memorable winner.

The result now leaves Scotland with a fighting chance of finishing in second-place ahead of the derby match against England on 10 June.

Scotland were dominant throughout with Slovenia looking frustrated and diving into challenges, trying to upset the home side but their attempts proved to be in vain.

The game was do or die and from the outset it was evident Scotland were gunning for victory in what was a whirlwind first five minutes.

Russell Martin had an early chance and saw Jan Oblak pull off a magnificent save, diving to his right and preventing a certain goal.

Slovenia burst forward at the other end with Andy Robertson putting in an expert tackle.

Scotland were playing with a buoyancy and determination, livening the Hampden crowd who were off their seats when Russell Martin hit the back of the net with a header in the first 10 minutes.

The goal was disallowed following an adjudged illegal jostle in the box involving the Norwich captain.

The game was one to keep your heart beating fast with Craig Gordon having to deal with Roman Bezjak after 16 minutes when he ran clean through on goal and the Celtic number one pulled on a solid block.

The hosts were probing all the time and James Morrison saw a wicked drive kiss the side netting as the nation hoped the ball would have travelled a couple of inches to the right.

Just after half an hour on the clock, the crowd were left in disbelief following three well-worked chances that went so close.

Leigh Griffiths thought he'd scored his first goal for Scotland when he latched on to a Snodgrass cross but saw the ball despairingly hit the crossbar.

On his debut Armstrong powered into the box just a minute later setting up Griffiths who smashed the post with a right-foot attempt.

James Morrison then saw a header cleared off the line meaning the scores were somehow goalless at the break.

Leigh Griffiths was unable to score the goal he deserved and was forced off at the start of the second half after being kneed in the back.

Wednesday's goalscorer Steven Naismith was his replacement.

The match went into a lull but on 73 minutes, Snodgrass missed a chance and was replaced by Anya who, with his first touch of the ball only had the goalkeeper to beat inside the box and hit it straight into the arms of Jan Oblak.

Chris Martin was also put onto the field of play as a last throw of the dice and the decision paid dividends for Gordon Strachan.

With two minutes to go, man of the match Stuart Armstrong played a good through-ball which Chris Martin slotted home much to the delight of the supporters inside Hampden Park.

Scotland | Gordon, Tierney, Mulgrew, R. Martin, Robertson, Brown (Captain), Morrison (C. Martin, 80) Forrest, Armstrong, Snodgrass (Anya, 73), Griffiths (Naismith, 49)

Unused substitutes: Hamilton, McGregor, Berra, D. Fletcher, Bannan, Ritchie, McGinn, Cairney, Rhodes.

Slovenia | Oblak, Samardzic, Cesar (Captain) Krhin, Llicic, Kurtic, Birsa (Beric, 68) Jokic, Bezjak (Verbic 58), Kampl, Struna

Unused substitutes: Koprivec, Belec, Sirok, Krajnc, Novakavoic, Struna, Mevlja, Omladic, Zajc, Crnic


http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1986&newsCategoryID=6&newsID=16857

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham boss pays tribute to unsung hero
Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon have caught the eye at Craven Cottage this season with their performances but McDonald has allowed them to thrive

Kevin McDonald may not be the most exciting Fulham player but Slavisa Jokanovic believes he is one of the leading lights in the Championship.

Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon have caught the eye at Craven Cottage this season with their performances.

But sitting in front of the back four, breaking play up and setting up attacks has been a role superbly done by McDonald.

And Jokanovic is fully appreciative of his midfield general.

He said: "I know supporters prefer great passes, great dribbles and great goals but Kevin has done an important job for us with the balance.


Mac attack: Kevin McDonald challenges

"Kevin is one of the top players in the Championship and is among the most successful passers in the competition."

Jokanovic hailed the former Wolves man as an unsung hero and he acknowledged that the work McDonald does is not attractive but, nonetheless, important.

He added: "This is part of football. His role is really important for us and this part of the job can go more unnoticed by supporters.

"It's not attractive work what he's doing but he's an important part of the team."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-boss-pays-tribute-unsung-12798220

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham ace Scott Malone on play-off push, awards and 'frightening' Ryan Sessegnon



Scott Malone tells Sky Sports how a mix of hard work and talent have propelled Fulham into promotion contention in the Championship...

Fulham have earned a reputation as one of the most stylish sides in the Championship this season under the management of Slavisa Jokanovic. But behind the possession, passing and slick attacking play is an underlying commitment to hard work.

Scott Malone is just one of the players thriving in that environment the Serbian manager has created on the banks of the Thames in west London.

Named in the EFL team of the season last week, the 25-year-old can claim to be the best left-back in the Championship. It's a title he's proud of.

But, as Malone tells Sky Sports, the honour was only possible because of the blend of off-field commitment he's had to show in the past and the successful system set out by his Fulham boss, who has overseen the club's rise to seventh in the Championship, one point off the play-offs.


Scott Malone has been a key figure for Fulham this season

"I've been working towards it for two to three seasons," the 2016 summer signing from Cardiff says, after a "very hard" session at Fulham's Motspur Park training ground during the international break.

"About three or four years ago I was getting little niggles and injuries which hindered me a little bit. But two summers ago, when I was at Cardiff, I only had a week and a half off before going back into the gym to do leg strength work.

"Since then, I haven't had a lower limb injury. The work I did that off-season has really helped me in the past two seasons. But so has the type of football we play at Fulham.

"That was one of the reasons why I decided to come here last summer. I saw the work the boss did at Watford, when they were one of the best sides to get out of the Championship in the last four or five years.

"If you look at our stats this season, they show we should be near the top of the league. If we could cut out some of the individual mistakes we could easily be third or fourth, but if someone at the start of the season had offered us seventh with eight to play, we'd have taken that."

Indeed, it's been a significant shift in fortunes for Fulham this season compared to their struggles in 2015/16, when they finished just a couple of places above the relegation zone.

An overhaul of the squad ahead of this campaign meant just eight players were remaining in the camp from last season. But - thanks to that recurring combination of talent and tenacity - Jokanovic has the capital club back on the right path.

Fulham are the leading team in the Championship for possession and passing accuracy, while only table-topping Newcastle have scored more goals.

"We work hard at it," says Malone. "We do a lot of possession-based training, a lot of shape work with the ball going forward, patterns of play. The pre-season was quite tough, too.

"I arrived at the club half way through pre-season but the two weeks before, the lads said it was the toughest they'd had. So the base fitness that the boss puts down before we even touch a ball has a positive effect.

"But if you look at the players in the team, the club have recruited really well. Stefan Johansen and Kevin McDonald have done really well, while the four full-backs help the style, too.

"We have to defend first and foremost but the boss likes his wide men to tuck in and for us full-backs to go round the outside. It's worked well.

"Barring Bristol City at home, I don't think any team has beaten us playing football this year. We've beaten ourselves mainly, giving away sloppy goals. I gave away two penalties at Norwich, and it has been individual errors which have cost us points this season.

"But we'd have taken this situation and it gives us a great platform to work off now. We've gelled pretty quickly."

Fulham's impressive campaign has earned them plenty of admirers. Sixteen-year-old Ryan Sessegnon has caught the eye in particular.

The left-back, who has also played on the wing this year, is tipped for a bright future in the game and Malone has been impressed by his teenage team-mate.

"Sess is a great kid," he says. "He didn't say a lot at the start of the season, but he's starting to come out of his shell now and get involved more.

"He's a great athlete for 16. What an athlete. On the training pitch, the running tests we do in pre-season and through the season, he's pretty much top of all of them.

"He's quite calm, as well. He plays the game like he's been playing for six or seven years in the Championship. It's quite frightening to think how good he'll be even at 18, 19.

"If he keeps working hard like he is doing, keeps getting minutes on the pitch then I don't think it will be too long before he's in the Premier League, to be honest."

From young prospects to new signings, that mix of skill and industry is reaping rewards for Fulham. They seem sure to be right in the mix as the race for a play-off spot in the Championship heads into the final straight.

Season Tickets for Fulham FC's 2017/18 campaign are now available to purchase with prices frozen until Monday 10 April. For further information or to purchase, visit: www.fulhamfc.com/seasontickets


http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/10812698/fulham-ace-scott-malone-on-play-off-push-awards-and-frightening-ryan-sessegnon

[WhiteJC]

 
Malone lauds Fulham's fitness and style
by Dan on March 27, 2017

Scott Malone might have enjoyed an outstanding first season at Craven Cottage – but the modest left back insists Slavisa Jokanovic deserves much of the credit.

Malone says that the head coach's record of taking Watford up from the Championship and his desire to implement an attack-focused, possession based style were key in persuading the full-back to move back to London from Cardiff in the summer, in a revealing interview with Sky Sports. The former Wolves and Millwall defender believes his excellent campaign has been a few years in the making but owes much to way his new boss has given Fulham's full backs real licence to fly forward.

    I've been working towards it for two to three seasons. About three or four years ago I was getting little niggles and injuries which hindered me a little bit. But two summers ago, when I was at Cardiff, I only had a week and a half off before going back into the gym to do leg strength work.

    Since then, I haven't had a lower limb injury. The work I did that off-season has really helped me in the past two seasons. But so has the type of football we play at Fulham. That was one of the reasons why I decided to come here last summer. I saw the work the boss did at Watford, when they were one of the best sides to get out of the Championship in the last four or five years.

The likable defender, now serenaded by an infuriatingly catchy song dreamed up by Fulham's travelling supporters, says it is only individual defensive mistakes – for which he openly admits responsibility – that has prevented the Whites from breaking into the play-off places. But, with eight games to go, Malone still insists the Cottagers are in a great position to mount a serious promotion push.

    If you look at our stats this season, they show we should be near the top of the league. If we could cut out some of the individual mistakes we could easily be third or fourth, but if someone at the start of the season had offered us seventh with eight to play, we'd have taken that.

    We work hard at it. We do a lot of possession-based training, a lot of shape work with the ball going forward, patterns of play. The pre-season was quite tough, too. I arrived at the club half way through pre-season but the two weeks before, the lads said it was the toughest they'd had. So the base fitness that the boss puts down before we even touch a ball has a positive effect.

    But if you look at the players in the team, the club have recruited really well. Stefan Johansen and Kevin McDonald have done really well, while the four full-backs help the style, too. We have to defend first and foremost but the boss likes his wide men to tuck in and for us full-backs to go round the outside. It's worked well.

    Barring Bristol City at home, I don't think any team has beaten us playing football this year. We've beaten ourselves mainly, giving away sloppy goals. I gave away two penalties at home to Norwich, and it has been individual errors which have cost us points this season. But we'd have taken this situation and it gives us a great platform to work off now. We've gelled pretty quickly.

Malone reserves his highest praise for the rapid emergence of his closest competitor for a first team spot – sixteen year-old academy graduate, Ryan Sessegnon, who hasn't looked back since making his senior debut at Leyton Orient in the EFL Cup back at the start of the season.

    Sess is a great kid. He didn't say a lot at the start of the season, but he's starting to come out of his shell now and get involved more. He's a great athlete for 16. What an athlete. On the training pitch, the running tests we do in pre-season and through the season, he's pretty much top of all of them.

    He's quite calm, as well. He plays the game like he's been playing for six or seven years in the Championship. It's quite frightening to think how good he'll be even at 18, 19. If he keeps working hard like he is doing, keeps getting minutes on the pitch then I don't think it will be too long before he's in the Premier League, to be honest.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/03/malone-lauds-fulhams-fitness-and-style/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham & The Story Of The £20m Midfielder

Fulham are making a late dash to earn a spot in the play-offs in the Championship. The Cottagers are placed 7th on the league table with 61 points and merely 1 point behind Sheffield Wednesday who have accommodated themselves on the last playoff spot. One of the instrumental figures in Fulham's decent campaign so far could be traced to the form of their sensational midfielder in the shape of Tom Cairney.

Ever since his move to the Craven Cottage, Cairney has hit the ground up and running and has emerged as one of the most valuable players which the English second tier has on offer. So far this season in 37 appearances for Fulham, the 26-year-old has bagged 9 goals, registered 9 assists and has made 2.9 key passes every game on an average. The Scottish international has been a revelation and the price tag of £20million that has been finalised by Fulham as his selling price makes perfect sense.

The Scot, who was handed his first Scottish international by Gordon Strachan this week in Scotland's 1-1 draw against Canada, is a thoroughly combative midfielder who is versatile enough to play as a central defensive midfielder, central midfielder and as an attacking midfielder as well. His composure with the ball, movements off the ball, ability to create spaces for his teammates and a killer eye for passes make him a player any top quality side would love to have in their ranks.

He doesn't confine himself to catering to the offensive needs of his side only, for he is a serious contributor with respect to the defensive duties as well. He has made 1.1 tackles, 0.4 interceptions, 0.5 clearances and 0.1 blocks per game on an average, which is a decent set of statistics considering the fact that he has played a majority of the games as an offensive midfielder. He has excelled for the London-based club and no reason why he cannot thrive for a new club.

Newcastle United enquired about the availability of the former Blackburn Rovers midfielder and he might be subject to interest from a host of clubs in the summer. Slavisa Jokanovic knows that he might get tempted to sell Cairney in the summer, and that is precisely the reason for putting such a hefty price tag across his collar. Irrespective of his whereabouts next campaign, he is a player who should be plying his trade in the promised land of Premier League.


http://the4thofficial.net/2017/03/fulham-story-20m-midfielder/

[WhiteJC]

 
Jokanovic praises 'important' McDonald
by Dan on March 27, 2017

Slavisa Jokanovic has singled the selfless work of underrated Kevin McDonald as being a vitally 'important' ingredient in Fulham's belated push for promotion.

The Serbian head coach hailed McDonald's impact at the base of the Fulham midfield in giving the side's more creative players the freedom to express themselves, whilst acknowledging that much of the work the Scottish international gets through is far from glamorous. The former Wolves and Sheffield United midfielder quickly became a key part of Jokanovic's side after moving to Craven Cottage in the summer and has made 38 appearances for the Whites this season.

    I know supporters prefer great passes, great dribbles and great goals but Kevin has done an important job for us with the balance. Kevin is one of the top players in the Championship and is among the most successful passers in the competition.

    This is part of football. His role is really important for us and this part of the job can go more unnoticed by supporters. It's not attractive work what he's doing but he's an important part of the team.

The 28 year-old's consistency in his holding midfield role allowed Jokanovic to shift to a slightly more adventurous system midway through the campaign and has also seen veteran club captain Scott Parker used more regularly as a substitute in the second half of the season. The way McDonald gelled quickly alongside playmaker Tom Cairney and new arrival Stefan Johansen as part of an all-conquering central midfield trio has arguably been one of the turning points in Fulham's fortunes.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/03/jokanovic-praises-important-mcdonald/