Friday Fulham Stuff (11/08/17)...

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McDonald could be fit for Reading game

Kevin McDonald is back in training and could be available for Fulham's game at Reading on Saturday.

The Whites midfielder missed Saturday's opening-day draw against Norwich because of a slight calf problem.

Boss Slavisa Jokanovic was confident that McDonald would make a swift return to action.

And there appears to be every chance that he will be in the squad for the game against the Royals.

However, keeper Marcus Bettinelli still out with a hamstring injury.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-star-looks-likely-fit-reading-game

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Go For It Jokanovic – 2 More Crucial Signings Fulham Need To Complete Before The Transfer Window Closes

Two More Signings That Fulham Need To Complete Before The Close Of The Transfer Window
Fulham showed an old frailness on Saturday when relinquishing a lead at home and failing to see out their game for three points against Norwich.

The club have kept some continuity by ensuring that they held strong and said no to big money for the likes of Kevin McDonald (Nottingham Forest), Tom Cairney (Newcastle) and Ryan Sessegnon (Liverpool and Tottenham), as well as re-signing Chelsea players Tomas Kalas and Lucas Piazon.

The main area of concern as far as I'm concerned is at left-back, as Scott Malone was sold to Huddersfield Town. It's that area we look first.

Left-Back
Malone was brilliant last season and the manager knew fully well he would be important but difficult to replace.  Ryan Sessegnon has indeed played there plenty of times but he really is better than that and should go back up the field to play as one of those three men behind the striker.

Not only would Sessegnon be slightly halting his career by playing in the back four, but also his presence at the front end for Fulham in the final third of last season coincided with their best form; a run which led to them usurping Leeds for 6th place.

Maxime Poundje

Bordeaux's Maxime Poundje has been linked with the club in recent weeks and could be the answer to this situation, allowing the young England hopeful to step forward and complement Piazon, Aluko, Ayite and Kebano.

Striker
Fulham were a high scoring unit last term but the managed that with swashbuckling full-backs and high scoring wide and midfield players, such as Cairney, Aluko and Johansen. They cannot rely on that all over again though and their penchant for throwing away a half-time lead is for me directly related to them not having a 20-goal striker.

Cauley Woodrow is still young but has been tried and doesn't really look like the answer. Aboubakar Kamara hasn't set pulses racing with his arrival. While the likes of Ayite and Aluko can fill in, they aren't enough of a presence in the No.9 position.

Diego Rolan

Diego Rolan has been linked with the club all summer along with Che Adams and Atdhe Nuhiu, and any one of those would represent some sort of improvement on what is already available to Slavisa Jokanovic. It's an obvious statement perhaps, but finding a prolific striker is hugely important for a promotion bid and Fulham already missed the boat with some players. How good would Ashley Fletcher have been at Craven Cottage?



http://soccersouls.com/2017/08/11/go-for-it-jokanovic-2-more-crucial-signings-fulham-need-to-complete-before-the-window-closes/

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Rovers to Face Fulham in the Carabao Cup

Darrell Clarke's side will face Fulham in the second round of the Carabao Cup at Craven Cottage.

Rovers will travel to Fulham F.C in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

Rovers progressed to the second round thanks to Tuesday's 4-1 victory over Cambridge United at the Mem.

All second round fixtures are scheduled to take place on the week commencing 20th August.



https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2017/august/carabaocupdraw/

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Fulham arrange free travel for fans charged £37 for Leeds away match
FULHAM have arranged for free match day travel for away fans having to stump up £37 to watch their clash at Leeds United on Tuesday.


Fulham's fans will get free travel to Leeds

Away ticket costs is a major controversy in English football, with the Premier League last year capping prices for travelling fans at £30.

That was after supporters complained tickets to some of the league's biggest clubs were setting them back over £50.

But there is no cap for the Football League and Leeds charge as much as £42 for an away ticket if bought on the day.

Leeds are by no means the only club to charge more than £30 for an way ticket.

The twelve clubs that charged over that mark last season were Aston Villa, Barnsley, Brentford, Brighton, Derby, Ipswich, Leeds, Newcastle Norwich, Nottingham Forest, QPR and Sheffield Wednesday.

The average price of a Championship away ticket last season was £31.57.

And grosvenorcasinos.com have stepped in to help with Fulham's away travel, offering Cottagers fans free rides to matches at Cardiff, Sheffield United, Bristol City and Leeds on Tuesday.

"Our supporters always turn up in great numbers and bring their singing voices with them, so we hope this initiative will help give the players an extra boost as we embark on another exciting season," said Fulham captain Tom Cairney.

Fulham's highest away following in the 2015/16 season was 3,158 at MK Dons.



http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/839471/Fulham-arrange-free-travel-fans-Leeds-away-game

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Bristol Rovers In Round Two

Fulham will host Bristol Rovers at Craven Cottage in the Second Round of the Carabao Cup.

The Whites booked their place in Round Two with a 2-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday, while League One Rovers did likewise after beating Cambridge United 4-1.

Date confirmation and ticketing details will be released in due course.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/august/10/bristol-rovers-in-round-two