Monday Fulham Stuff (10/07/17)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Chris Gunter: Wales players want Chris Coleman to stay as manager

Only Neville Southall and Gary Speed have earned more caps for Wales than Chris Gunter

Chris Gunter expects Wales' senior players to attempt to persuade manager Chris Coleman to remain in charge of the national side.

Coleman has said he will step down when his current contract expires at the end of the 2018 World Cup campaign.

Wales' chances of reaching Russia hang in the balance but Reading defender Gunter insists, whatever happens, Coleman is the players' choice.

"He'll have the players trying to persuade him to stay," said Gunter.

Coleman has proved a hugely popular figure in the Wales dressing room since taking over in 2012 and led the nation to the semi-finals at Euro 2016.

Gunter, who signed a new three-year deal at his club Reading this week, maintains much of the credit for the success must be given to Coleman himself.

'We love playing for him'
"He's been a huge part of what we've done, he's done what no other manger in the past has managed with Wales and we hope he will stay because we love playing for him," Gunter told BBC Wales Sport.

"The manger knows that if he went around the squad of 23 players and asked them if we wanted him to stay, I'm sure every single player would want him to stay.

"He knows that. Hopefully, if he can be persuaded to stay then he would have the backing of every single player."

Wales' aim to reach a World Cup tournament for the first time since 1958 has been dogged by a frustrating qualification campaign.

They have now drawn their last five matches in Group D, including a creditable 1-1 result at current table-toppers Serbia last month.

With four games left, Wales remain four points behind the Republic of Ireland, who currently lie in second place. But Newport-born Gunter believes he and his team-mates are still very much in the hunt.

"One hundred per cent we are still in it," added Gunter, who at the age of just 27 is Wales' third most capped player with 79 appearances

"We've drawn more than we would have liked. Obviously we'd like to have a couple more points on the board. But we've got enough games and enough points where we can still affect the group.

"We've got tough games left, but if we can improve slightly on what we've done then there's no reason why we can't put a string of results together.

"We've shown in the past we can put a run of wins together."

Penalties 'worst possible ending'
On the domestic front, Gunter said he was delighted to sign a new three-year deal with the Royals, who he joined in July 2012 following spells at Nottingham Forest, Tottenham and Cardiff City.

And after suffering a heart-breaking defeat via a penalty shoot-out at the hands of Huddersfield in the Championship play-off final in May, Gunter said he was more determined then ever to see the Berkshire club in contention for Premier League promotion next season.

Gunter said: "There was interest from a couple of other clubs, but once I spoke to the manger here and the offer was made I wanted to stay.

"We had a good season last year, but obviously a disappointing end.

"The disappointment and the hurt we felt can only make us better and can only make us more hungry because it was the worst possible ending.

"It did hurt, but quite quickly as a footballer you flip that and turn it into a positive. We need to use the hurt in a good way to go that one step further."



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40535255

[WhiteJC]

 
Ruben Neves: Wolves sign FC Porto midfielder for Championship record fee

Ruben Neves has won two senior caps for Portugal

Wolves have signed midfielder Ruben Neves from Portuguese club FC Porto for a Championship record fee.

The 20-year-old had been linked with a £15.8m move to Wolves, whose owners, Fosun, have a close relationship with Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes.

He has signed a five-year deal and played under Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo at Porto.

The Championship club have also signed central defender Willy Boly on a season-long loan from Porto.

Although the fee is officially undisclosed, Wolves confirmed it is a club record, which would make Neves the most expensive player in Championship history.

The previous record was the £15m Aston Villa will eventually pay for Bristol City striker Jonathan Kodjia last August, after an initial payment of £11m.

Neves became the youngest captain in Champions League history when he led Porto against Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2015.

"I have always wanted to play in England and we have a good team," he told the Wolves website.

"I think we can do good things this season. It is also a good opportunity for me to work again with a trainer I worked with last year."

Wolves boss Nuno told BBC Midlands Today: "Ruben is a very good player who can bring new things to our squad.

"I know him well, I worked with him last year.

"When a player who is 18 years old is captain of a big team like Porto, in the Champions League, it says a lot."

Neves, who played for Portugal Under-21s at last month's European Championships, came through Porto's academy and has made 67 senior appearances, scoring nine goals.

It is the third time since Fosun took over as owners last summer that they have broken the club's transfer record.

Analysis
BBC WM's Mike Taylor

The owners of Wolves, the Chinese business conglomerate Fosun, have made no attempt to conceal their willingness to spend eye-catching sums since taking over last summer. But the big spending has brought considerable attention.

Concerns have been expressed about the links between Fosun and the so-called "super agent" Jorge Mendes.

Is this unhealthy? The club have suggested that the current arrangements allow Wolves to compete for the sort of player they couldn't have dreamed of attracting a year ago, and frankly many supporters will not care who is arranging what and for how much - as long as the team win more often.

It is also the case that not all of the deals done by Wolves since Fosun's arrival have been associated with Mendes, although those involving the largest reported fees do appear closely related to him.

Whether spending of this scale will give Wolves any troubles in terms of Financial Fair Play will have to be considered in future, probably in the context of whether they achieve promotion and what dealing is done in the meantime.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40513835

[WhiteJC]

 
Transfer Talk: Fulham move closer to deal for Newcastle target and Bordeaux striker Diego Rolan

Slavisa Jokanovic has identifed Rolan as their top target this summer as he looks to add some attacking fire-power to his side's promotion credentials.

Fulham are edging closer to completing a deal to sign Bordeaux striker Diego Rolan, according to reports online.

Slavisa Jokanovic has identifed Rolan as their top target this summer as he looks to add some attacking fire-power to his side's promotion credentials.

It's been reported that the West London side have agreed a fee in the region of £8.8million for the Uruguay International, meaning that only personal terms and a medical would stand in the way of a move to Craven Cottage.

The striker has also attracted the interest of Premier League side Newcastle, however Fulham appear to be leading the chase.

The 24-year-old scored ten goals in 31 appearances for Bordeaux last season, helping them to a sixth place finish in Ligue 1.

If the deal was to be completed, it would be Fulham's third signing of the summer, following the additions of Spanish defender Marcelo Djalo, and Belgian midfielder Ibrahima Cisse.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/transfer-talk-fulham-move-closer-13304517

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham close to completing £8.8m deal for Bordeaux striker

Fulham are very close to completing a deal to sign Bordeaux's Diego Rolan according to a report from HITC Sport.

The Cottagers have been looking to sign a new striker since last summer when they lost Moussa Dembele and Ross McCormack within a few weeks of each other. They would end up getting Chris Martin on loan from Derby County for the season but even that move had problems as the striker refused to play for a portion of the season as he aimed to force the loan to be cancelled so he could return to the East Midlands.

But now Fulham believe they got the striker who can fire them into the Premier League after they lost out in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs last season. After weeks of negotiations, it appears that they are very close to completing a deal to sign Diego Rolan from French club Bordeaux for a fee of around £8.8m.

The 24-year-old striker is very well-regarded having been capped 23 times by his national team Uruguay and is also coming off the back of a solid season after he scored ten goals for Bordeaux last season. But now he is set for a stern test should he be able to complete his move to Fulham in the coming days. The West London side are looking to get promoted after coming close last season and having a top quality striker up front like Rolan may just be the final piece in the jigsaw which makes sure they make their return.



http://the72.co.uk/86952/fulham-close-completing-deal-bordeaux-striker/

[WhiteJC]

 
Following Wayne Rooney's move from Manchester United to Everton; which three Fulham stars would you like to see return to Craven Cottage?

Having asked the fans on Twitter, here is the list of five former Hoops who would be welcome back on West London.

Wayne Rooney's return to Everton is one of the more heart-warming stories in football this summer.

Many will point to the money that Rooney will earn and say that is his main motivation, but it's much more than that for him.

It's a chance to finish his career at his boyhood club and to play in the blue of Everton again; to grace the field at Goodison Park and be backed by the home crowd, not jeered.

Of course, more often than not going back does not work. Players can't replicate successful first spells and it can tarnish their memory.

That does not mean there are not players and former fan favourites that many supporters would like to see return to their old stomping ground.

Slavisa Jokanovic's Fulham squad is in pretty good shape heading into the new season, but there are certainly former players that fans would love to see return to Craven Cottage.

With the help of Fulham fans on social media, we've picked out former Whites heroes who we'd love to see return.

Mousa Dembele
If there are any questions over just how good Dembele is, just remember that he's a key figure in the most consistent side in the country over the past two years.

Amazingly, it is five years since Dembele left Fulham for £15 million (triple the fee it cost to bring him to London in 2010) and his career has gone from strength to strength at White Hart Lane.

The Belgian midfielder made 75 appearances during his two years at the Cottage and it would have been more, only for a foot injury to keep him out for a period midway through his first season – an injury that still causes him problems now.

He is immensely powerful, as well as having the ability to beat opposition midfielders with quick feet, and he'd be the best player in the Championship by a long, long way.

Premier League transfer fees have gone through the roof this summer and Dembele's asking price would be at least double the money spent on him five years ago.

The chances are he'll play at the top-level for the majority of his career, but what Fulham fans would give to see him play another season for the Cottagers.

Chris Smalling
It is easy to forget that Smalling only played 19 games for Fulham before Manchester United swooped in.

After joining as a teenager from Maidstone United, Smalling only spent two years at Craven Cottage and it's at Old Trafford where he's really made his name.

Although he's had a difficult season, Smalling has played 243 games for Manchester United – and you don't do that unless you're a quality defender.

It appears his time in Manchester is limited, though, and Fulham fans would certainly welcome him back at Craven Cottage.

Unfortunately his price is probably out of reach for the Whites, as much as Jokanovic would love to have the England international at the heart of his defence.

Smalling is still just 27, though, and you never know, if Fulham can get back into the Premier League, he might return to west London one day.

Clint Dempsey
The big American spent five and a half years at the Cottage, playing 232 games and scoring 60 goals – including five appearances in a more recent, brief loan-spell.

Fifty of those goals came in the Premier League – the most any Fulham player managed during the 13-year stay in the top tier of English football.

Signed for £3 million and sold for £6 million, Dempsey was part of the side that reached the Europa League final and maintained the club's Premier League status.

One of the most impressive things about Dempsey's record in England, was that he came straight from the MLS.

Many of the American players in England come via one of Europe's top leagues, but Dempsey didn't do that and he adapted straight away.

He's returned to the MLS now and is still scoring goals for fun for Seattle Sounders; that goal-scoring knack is something he'll never lose.

It's tough to judge the standard of the league compared to the Championship, but you'd imagine Dempsey could still do a job for Fulham.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/following-wayne-rooneys-move-manchester-13305987

[WhiteJC]

 
England U19 4-1 Germany U19: Young Lions reach Euro 2017 semi-finals and knock out Germans

Nottingham Forest star Ben Brereton and Fulham wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon both bagged braces


England have reached the Under-19 semi-finals (Image: Eurosport)

England's Under-19's have reached the European Championship semi-finals with a 4-1 thrashing of Germany - knocking the Germans out at the same time.

Nottingham Forest star Ben Brereton and Fulham wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon both bagged braces as the Young Lions set up clash with Czech Republic.

Tobias Warschewski grabbed a consolation, the first goal Keith Downing's side had conceded in the competition, but it was not enough to see them through.

The Under-19's follow their Under 21 and 20 counterparts in success this summer - with Euro semi-final and World Cup glory respectively.


England celebrate with Ryan Sessegnon (Image: Eurosport)


Ryan Sessegnon celebrates his first goal (Image: Eurosport)


Ben Brereton slots in his second (Image: Eurosport)

http://i4.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article10765974.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Ben-Brereton-scores-his-second-England-goal-against-Germany.jpg
Ben Brereton starred for Nottingham Forest last season (Image: Eurosport)

Brereton, who netted three goals for Forest last season, opened the scoring with a confidently struck penalty - after he had been tripped.

He doubled his tally when he smartly diverted a low cross into the bottom corner.

Warschewski slid in to give the Germans hope, but former Liverpool target Sessegnon's cool finish regained the three goal lead.

The wide man, who is now the tournament's leading scorer, jinxed past two defenders before unleashing another stunning strike.

England will now face the Czechs on Wednesday - with Portugal and Holland facing off for the other place in the final.



http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/england-u19-4-1-germany-10765988

[WhiteJC]

 
England U19s 4 Germany U19s 1: Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon stars as Young Lions send Germans home

It's often said that the mark of a good team is finding a way to win when not at their best, but when that team is England and the opposition is Germany it is not only an encouraging sign but possibly one of a generational shift in class.

England had won their first two games in the U19 European Championships, so came into this tie knowing that a point would have secured their place in the semi-finals.

A win, however, would confirm that they topped the group and send out old foes Germany in the process.

Keith Downing was dealt a double blow early on, with centre-back Trevoh Chalobah being stretchered off before Andre Dozzell, playing at the heart of a midfield three, was injured soon after.

To lose two such key players early on rattled England who, except for some moments of individual skill from Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon and Chelsea's Mason Mount, struggled to dictate the tempo as they had in their previous games.

Ben Brereton came close to breaking the deadlock, having a goal ruled out for offside midway through the first half.

Some great footwork and a burst of pace saw Sessegnon clear on the left hand side, but the Nottingham Forest striker had strayed well offside before converting into the empty net. It wouldn't be long though until these two would make their mark on the game.

Germany came close just before half-time when Aaron Ramsdale did very well to tip Dennis Geiger's dipping long-range shot onto the bar and over. The officials gave England a goal kick, although replays showed that it was a fine save from the Bournemouth stopper.

The game was locked at 0-0 at half-time, but a quick-fire double from Brereton set England on their way. The first came from the spot after he was fouled in the penalty area, and the second was a cute finish after some delightful work by Mount.

There was brief cause for concern as Germany got one back, but two fine left-footed finishes from Sessegnon put England out of sight and Germany on the plane home. Mount's chipped ball for the third goal was pure class, as was the 17-year old's finish.

England now face Czech Republic in the semi-final and will have little to fear. This is a group of players confident in their ability and possessing a ruthless streak that has been missing in the national team for decades.

The U21s were defeated on penalties by their German rivals last month, having pluckily managed to stay in the game for that long against a team who were quite clearly superior.

This was a different story; it was England who, despite often looking lacklustre, had the obvious quality to turn the screw almost on demand to blow Germany away.

It has already been a tremendous summer for England's youth teams and, should this group emerge victorious in Tbilisi, it does feel like a new generation of players are set to finally rid the senior team of their underachievers tag. 




http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/england-4-1-germany-fulham-star-ryan-sessegnon-stars-as-young-lions-send-germans-home-a3583666.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Brace For Sess

Ryan Sessegnon scored twice as England cruised into the Semi-Finals of the Under-19 European Championship on Sunday evening.

The Young Lions knew a draw against Germany would be enough to see them into the final four, but they ended up advancing in style courtesy of a 4-1 win.

Sessegnon thought he'd claimed an assist midway through the first half when Ben Brereton tapped in the Fulham man's pass, but the Nottingham Forest striker was ruled offside.

The Germans hit the woodwork before the interval, but England took control after the restart when Brereton netted from the penalty spot after being tripped in the box.

He then doubled the lead in the 64th minute, adding a smart finish to Mason Mount's cutback.

Tobias Warschewski halved the deficit with quarter of an hour remaining, but it proved to be a false dawn as Sessegnon restored the two goal lead with a wicked angled drive across goalkeeper .

The German stopper was left cursing the 17-year-old again moments later, as Sessegnon played a cute shot through his legs to add some gloss to the scoreline.

Tayo Edun also played the full 90 for England, who will now face the Czech Republic in the Semi-Final on Wednesday.




http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/july/09/brace-for-sess

[WhiteJC]

 
Forget Scott Malone – Here Are 2 Quality Replacements Fulham Could Sign Including This QPR Ace

Two Replacements For Scott Malone Who Fulham Can Target

With another unfortunate loss from last year's impressive squad to add to the list in the shape of Scott Malone, Fulham find themselves delving back into the transfer market for replacements.

The marauding left-back played 38 times in the Championship for the West Londoners last term, scoring 6 goals and creating another 3 in an impressive attacking performance.

Newly-promoted Huddersfield Town have moved to snap him up for their Premier League campaign though and now Fulham will find it tough to replace him. That said, there are plenty more Malone type players in the sea and here are two potential replacements for Malone who Fulham can think about:

Jake Bidwell (Queens Park Rangers)
Although he was born in Southport, 24-year-old Bidwell knows his way around these parts, having played at Brentford for three years before joining QPR last summer.

He still has plenty of improvement in him given his age and experience and there's every chance he can fill Malone's shoes nicely. Though he started 10 of his 36 league games last season in midfield, Bidwell needs to improve his output going forward, having managed just a couple of assists.

He'd be at the right club to allow him to improve in that regard though, and Fulham's swashbuckling style means he will spend more time in the opposition third than he does at QPR and would enjoy his football a whole lot more, meaning, a probable climb in his goal and assist figures.

Greg Cunningham (Preston North End)
Cunningham played 40 times last season in the Championship for Preston, starting in all of them and managing a goal and 5 assists in what was an impressive attacking performance from the left-back. The current Preston number three would add some versatility to the Fulham squad too.

Starting 34 of his Championship games last season at left-back, Cunningham averaged 7.14 on whoscored.com.  When moving to centre-back however, which he did three times in all, his rating improved to a very impressive 7.69, meaning he could be a live option to play in the middle should the situation demand.

Cunningham has been a real improver in the last year or two and there's nothing to say that he won't get better again over the next twelve months. Available at a cheap price potentially, he could be a real steal for a side that was just a whisker away from promotion last season.




http://soccersouls.com/2017/07/10/forget-scott-malone-here-are-2-quality-replacements-fulham-could-sign-including-this-qpr-ace/

[aaronmcguigan]

Having asked the fans on Twitter, here is the list of five former Hoops who would be welcome back on West London.

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/following-wayne-rooneys-move-manchester-13305987

Does GWL ever get proof read? Since when are Dembele, Smalling and Dempsey, the "five HOOPS... who would be welcome???"