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Thursday Fulham Stuff (12/10/17)...

Started by WhiteJC, October 12, 2017, 07:35:26 AM

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WhiteJC

 
Store Opening Signing Session

Head to Craven Cottage this Friday for a FREE signing session with Head Coach Slaviša Jokanović and three First Team players!

The newly refurbished Stadium Store will re-open its doors at Craven Cottage this Friday 13th October, and fans will have the opportunity to not only check out the new store, but also meet Slaviša and squad members between 6pm and 6:45pm.

The signing session will begin promptly at 6pm and last 45 minutes. Supporters are encouraged to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

We look forward to welcoming you to our new Store!

Signing Session Terms and Conditions

    Signing Session 13/10/17 timings 6pm – 6:45pm
    Please arrive early to avoid disappointment
    Due to time restrictions only one item per person will be signed
    Head Coach and 3 First Team player appearance is subject to last minute changes or cancellation
    First Team players to be announced w/c 9th October
    Due to limited time we cannot guarantee everyone will be seen



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/october/11/meet-the-head-coach

WhiteJC

 
Away Tickets On Sale

Tickets for Fulham's away meetings with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United are now on sale to Season Ticket Holders and Members.

The Whites travel to Molineux for Friday night football on November 3rd, with tickets priced at £25 for adults, £15 for concessions and from £5 for juniors. There is also a family option for £40 which includes two adult and two junior tickets.

18 days later we're off to Bramall Lane, with adult tickets available for just £22. Over-60 tickets are priced at £15, students and 18-21 year olds £13, and under-18s £11.

Courtesy of the Club's Main Team Partner, grosvenorcasinos.com, fans can enjoy free away travel for our visit to Sheffield United! Supporters can book their place on the coach today by calling 0203 871 0810.

#FollowFulhamAway



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/october/11/away-tickets-on-sale

WhiteJC

 
Fulham on international duty: Here's how the Whites got on around the world in the break

There were tears of joy for some members of the squad, while others endured heartbreak with their countries whilst on international duty this week

It was the business end of the international fixtures as countries around the world tried to qualify for the World Cup in Russia next year, and Fulham were represented across the globe.

There were tears of joy for some of Slavisa Jokanovic's men, while others suffered heartbreak as their country failed to qualify, including Tim Ream and the US, who have failed to qualify for the first time since 1986.

As we get back to normality with the resumption of the domestic campaign, with Preston up next at the Cottage on Saturday afternoon, we've taken a look back at how the Cottager's stars fared across the globe with their countries.

Stefan Johansen - Norway

Norway and Johansen failed to qualify for the World Cup as they finished in fourth place in Group C, but they did beat Northern Ireland in their final group game thanks to a 1-0 victory.

Johansen made the goal as his cross was sweeped into the Northern Irish net by Chris Brunt, but there will be no trip to Russia for the Norwegian captain in the summer.


(Image: Trond Tandberg/Getty Images)

Oliver Norwood - Northern Ireland

Norwood got his 50th cap for his country in the 1-0 defeat to Norway, but Northern Ireland will be in the play-offs for the World Cup after finishing second in Group C behind Germany.

After a successful Euros, Norwood and co will be confident they can come through the Play-offs, despite the likes of Italy and Switzerland lurking as potential opponents.

The draw for the Play-offs is on Tuesday October 17.

Tomas Kalas - Czech Republic

Another team in Group C, Kalas played the full 90 against San Marino in their final group game of qualifying, running out 5-0 winners over the bottom of the group side.

However, like Johansen, Kalas won't be heading to Russia next summer after the Czech Republic finished in third place in the group, just behind Northern Ireland to miss out on the play-offs.

Tim Ream - USA

There was heartbreak for Ream and his countrymen as they failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 after they lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago in what was a must-win game for the States.

Ream didn't play the game having sat out the US' 4-0 win over Panama earlier on in the week, but the inquest into the USA's poor performance has already started across the pond.

Neeskens Kebano - DR Congo

It's crunch time for Kebano and DR Congo today as they face Guinea in another must-win qualifier in order to reach the World Cup.

They are three points behind Tunisia and two goals worse off on goal difference, so they need to win and hope Tunisia lose to bottom of the group Libya in order to reach Russia next year.

That game kicks off at 5.30pm UK time.

Mattias Kait - Estonia

Another international and another goal for Kait as he scored in Estonia's 6-0 thrashing of Gibraltar on Saturday.

He also played the full 90 as Estonia lost 2-1 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final game in qualifying which saw them finish in fourth place in Group H.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-international-duty-heres-how-13745084


WhiteJC

 
Fulham will be Preston's toughest test of the season so far, according to Alex Neil

The two sides meet at the Cottage on Saturday and the Preston boss has admitted he is a fan of Fulham's style, but backs his side to do the job

Preston boss Alex Neil believes Fulham will offer the Lancashire side their biggest challenge of the season so far when the two sides meet at the Cottage.

Slavisa Jokanovic's side are three points behind the visitors in the Championship as the international break ends but come into the game on the back of a three-game unbeaten run, including wins at Nottingham Forest and QPR.

In this fixture last season, Fulham came out 3-1 victors, ending Preston's five-game unbeaten streak in what was a very impressive performance from the Cottagers, and Neil is a fan of the way the Whites play but thinks his side can go and get a result.

He said: "I think this will be our biggest challenge so far of the season.

"Tactically they are really difficult to play against.

"Fulham move the ball as well as anyone in this division, but if we go there and get it tactically right and the lads perform, there is no reason why we can't win the game.

"This squad are a determined bunch, they believe and have an expectation as much as you 
allow them.

"If you tell them they can beat anyone in this league and results are beginning to back up performances, they believe that."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-prestons-toughest-test-season-13745333

WhiteJC

 
Johnny Haynes: Portrait of a football genius by James Gardner


Pitch Publishing, £18.99
Reviewed by Neil Hurden
From WSC 369, November 2017
Buy the book

Supporting Fulham can be frustrating – I refer you to our roll of honour in evidence – and in some ways my generation can lay claim to the most frustrating experience of all. I saw my first game at the Cottage less than a year after the club's greatest player threaded his last inch-perfect pass on the sacred turf, at the age of 34, just weeks after the 1970s staggered into being. The wait for subsequent glory was then what might politely be called testing.

Given the persistent sense of nostalgia that enveloped the Cottage for most of my youth, I've long been fascinated by the Haynes legend and the contradictory strands of evidence that helped create it. Unfortunately, there's very little film footage of the maestro in action apart from jerky, slow motion highlights of England's famous 9-3 victory over Scotland in 1961. James Gardner's thoughtful biography of Fulham's true "football genius" goes some way, therefore, to filling in the gaps, building layers of anecdote and skilfully co-ordinating the impressions of numerous contemporaries.

Gardner does his best to convey why Haynes was seen as the crowning glory of English football in the period from the late 1950s up to his car accident in August 1962, which prematurely restricted his England career to 56 caps and two World Cups. As a result it's possible to some extent to picture him as a composite of modern players – the sublime passing of a David Silva, say, morphed with the shooting ability and combativeness of a Steven Gerrard?

The real interest, though, comes from his vivid portrayal of the times in which Haynes wove his spell: the national thirst for football shown by a crowd of 22,000 for a boys' match in which the 11-year-old Haynes' Edmonton team took on Leicester at Filbert Street; the close social bonds between players and fans right up to the late 1960s; the amateurishness and poor facilities, notably at Fulham in the 1950s when the club managed to avoid being promoted for years even with a front line including Haynes and two other England internationals, Bedford Jezzard and Bobby Robson.

The wages too – before Haynes' weekly pay famously rocketed to £100 overnight in 1961's "year of liberation", he had received just £20 in winter and £17 in summer. On being offered £18 and £15 a year earlier, Fulham's centre-forward, Maurice Cook, was told that he had no hope of matching Haynes' pay because he was a far better player, prompting Cook's pointed retort: "Not in the loving summer, he's not!"

In the end the most powerful theme of the book is dismay at the comparative lack of recognition given to Haynes historically. Gardner explores the possible reasons well: Haynes' on-field irascibility; his one-team career at a "small" club; his later, misguided period playing in South Africa (a fault which he was very much not alone in committing); and his personal exile later in life in Edinburgh. For a man who formed the link between the Billy Wright and Bobby Moore eras and who might very well have been in the World Cup-winning team with his clubmate George Cohen, had injury not intervened, this leaves a sad aftertaste. But the essence of the player – England's greatest ever No 10 – is captured permanently in the words of so many of his contemporaries and his fans.



http://www.wsc.co.uk/reviews/64-Players/13942-johnny-haynes-portrait-of-a-football-genius-by-james-gardner

WhiteJC

 
Four areas Fulham will be looking to get right after the international break

The first quarter of the season has come and gone and we've looked at four areas Fulham will have been working on as we look ahead to Preston

The first quarter of the season has pretty much come and gone with Fulham in a decent position from the 11 games played so far, having lost just twice.

That's put them into 10th place, three points off a play-off spot and seven off Cardiff, who currently sit top of the pile in the division, although Slavisa Jokanovic won't be too concerned about that, having already played the south Wales side and matching them at the Cottage.

Still, despite a decent start there's a lot that Fulham will be hoping to improve on and undoubtedly work will have gone on at Motspur over the international break to address some things, here's what we think the side will be looking to address over the next few weeks.

Keeping a clean sheet
It's been a while since the side kept a clean sheet - the last one came against Ipswich just before the last international break, that's six games that the side have conceded goals in since.

David Button has been fantastic in goal since reclaiming his place at the start of the season, while the defence does look a bit sturdier with Tomas Kalas and Tim Ream continuing to strengthen their partnership from last season, but the inability to keep a clean sheet at the moment is a frustrating sticking point.

It seems to be something that is haunting Button and the back four at this moment in time and it will be a concern to Jokanovic that Fulham look suspect to conceding in every game at the moment.

There's no doubting that a lot of time and effort will have been put into defensive shape work over the international break, it's just about getting it right on the pitch.


Watch out: David Button is dispossessed by Mario Gomez (Image: Harry Murphy/Getty Images)

Creating chances
Last season, Fulham dominated games and created chances in abundance - there was a reason why no one wanted to play them towards the latter end of the season.

This time, it's not been quite as slick as the fans or Jokanovic would've wanted, whether that's down to teams figuring out Fulham, or the absence of Tom Cairney or other factors is up for debate, but what isn't is the need to address it.

Aboubakar Kamara stepped up in the win over Nottingham Forest, but apart from that the frontman problem has still be an issue for Fulham and creating chances for those forward players from midfield is something that needs to be addressed.


Stefan Johansen holds off the challenge of Cyrus Christie & Jonny Howson (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Presence up top
Leading on from that, Fulham need to discover how best to utilise Kamara and Rui Fonte up top in order to for the side to have a presence that opposing defenders will feel.

They both played at Forest, and Kamara's relentless drive to turn and attack his marker caused problems and that's something that has been missing for a while.

I said in a webchat that Fulham missed a Chris Martin type forward, someone who was physical and could cause problems for defenders while allowing other players to come into the game, and I think Kamara could well be the answer to that.

He missed QPR because of an injury, but with the international break out of the way and a lot of rest time under his belt, Kamara should hopefully be fully fit and raring to go.


(Image: Ker Robertson/Getty Images)

The left back problem
Fulham haven't looked particularly comfortable at left back for me this season after losing Scott Malone in the summer.

A lot of chances came from down that left win, and while he wasn't the best defensively, he caused teams a lot of problems going forward and linked up well with Ryan Sessegnon, who I feel is better further forward.

Sessegnon has been utilised as the left back for the most part this season as the club await Rafa Soares' return from injury, and while he has been good I don't think Sessegnon is the answer there.

Soares, who comes with a bit of a reputation, will probably now start to ebb his way into the side in the left back berth, allowing Sessegnon that forward left position, and in turn hopefully solving the problem the side have in that position at the moment.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/four-areas-fulham-looking-right-13746246


WhiteJC

 
Fulham full back Rafa Soares looking forward to getting stuck into first team action at the Cottage

The 22-year-old has completed his rehabilitation from an ankle injury and has been training with the first team over the international break

Rafa Soares is looking forward to getting stuck into first team action with Fulham after completing his rehabilitation from injury.

The 22-year-old joined on loan in August from Porto but hasn't featured since arriving as a result of an ankle injury but has now completed his first full week of training with Slavisa Jokanovic's side.

He's also come through a behind-closed-doors came against Southampton during the break where he completed 90 minutes and is now looking forward to getting first team action with Fulham.

Speaking to Fulham FC TV, he said: "I'm glad to be back and training with the first team.

"It was a hard and tough recovery because it was a tough injury, I never thought I'd stop for so long but now I am fit and excited to play.

"I like the training because the style of the game is similar to what I played in Portugal last season so I think I will be fine.

"The PL2 game was good for me in terms of fitness because I gained confidence and now I am much better."




http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-full-back-rafa-soares-13748009

WhiteJC

 
Cottagers eye Prem stopper

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is reportedly plotting a move for Watford defender Craig Cathcart in January.

The Northern Ireland international joined the Hornets in the summer of 2014 from Blackpool and he was integral in helping Watford to win promotion to the Premier League under Jokanovic.

Cathcart has fallen down the pecking order at Vicarage Road over recent times, with injuries also keeping him out of contention.

The 28-year-old made just 15 Premier League appearances last term and he has only earned 19 minutes of league action so far in 2017-18.

The Manchester United academy graduate only recently signed a new four-year contract but it's understood he is growing frustrated at a lack of opportunities.

Reports claim that Jokanovic is ready to swoop for his former recruit as he looks to bolster his Fulham squad in the hope of winning promotion to the Premier League.



https://www.clubcall.com/championship/cottagers-eye-prem-stopper-1865448.html

WhiteJC

 
Key Preston man talks up Fulham ahead of weekend clash

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Preston manager Alex Neil has said that he thinks Fulham are one of the best in the division at keeping the ball and using it.

The Championship is back this weekend after the international break and there's plenty of exciting games to look forward to with Fulham v Preston certainly one that could offer a lot to talk about.

Indeed, it's Neil's side that have started better but both will be looking to get themselves into the top six by the end of the campaign and Fulham certainly have the quality to do that.

Indeed, Neil is well aware of that with him saying – via Fulham's official website:

"They're a good side, in terms of retention and the way they move the ball, they're probably the best in the division.

"We are up for the challenge and we need to go there with confidence that we can win the game."

For sure, then, the men from Craven Cottage are well-respected and regarded as one of the better teams in the division but that is not to say that Neil will not be thinking that his team can get a win.

And, if the men from Deepdale do get three points in west London this weekend, they'll certainly be thinking that they are here to stay in terms of the race for the play-offs this year.

The Verdict

It's always interesting to see an opposing manager talk up another club and Neil will be hoping that his players have taken note of his words.

For sure, Fulham are a side that can beat anyone on their day but if Preston concentrate then they can get the three points come full-time.

Thoughts, Fulham and Preston fans? Let us know below!



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/key-preston-man-talks-up-fulham-ahead-of-weekend-clash/


WhiteJC

 
NEWS: Fulham lead the race to sign unwanted Wolves man

Fulham are leading the race to sign unwanted Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Ben Marshall, according to a report from the Birmingham Mail.

Marshall only joined Wolves in January of this year, after former manager Paul Lambert brought him in from former club Blackburn Rovers. However, it is said that Marshall is expected to be allowed to leave the club in the next transfer window, with the 26 year old struggling for game time under new boss Nuno Espírito Santo. He has started just one Championship game this season, with Diogo Jota, Helder Costa, Ivan Cavaleiro and Bright Enokbakhare all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Marshall started his career at Stoke City, however he never made an appearance for the club. He had 4 different loan spells in his time at Stoke; these came at Northampton, Cheltenham, Carlisle and most notably Sheffield Wednesday.

Marshall's loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday lasted 5 months, where he impressed for the Owls by scoring 5 goals. His form earned him a move to Leicester City, whom he joined in January 2012 for 750k.

The former England under 21 international made 61 appearances in all competitions for Leicester, scoring a total of 9 goals. But after a year and a half at the Foxes, Marshall was on the move again, with him joining Blackburn Rovers on a four year deal in August 2013.

He made 140 appearances for Rovers, scoring 15 goals. However, his progress as a player was halted in January 2013, when he picked up a long term ankle injury which ruled him out for a number of months.

He left Blackburn 5 months before they were relegeated to League One for the first time. His time at Wolves hasn't gone as planned for Marshall, and a move to free flowing Fulham could be exactly the move he needs to rekindle his career.



http://the72.co.uk/92763/news-fulham-lead-race-sign-unwanted-wolves-man/

WhiteJC

 
Cairney Returns, Fonte Up Front – Strongest 4-2-3-1 Fulham Line-up To Face Preston On Saturday


Predicted Fulham Line-up To Face Preston North End In EFL Championship

Fulham remain in good nick going into their clash with Preston North End at the weekend, their win against West London rivals QPR having moved them up to 10th in the table.

The potential return to the side of the influential Tom Cairney may force a change in formation. A return to last season's trusted 4-2-3-1 by replacing the 4-3-3 employed when Fulham won last time out is possible.

Formation: 4-3-3
Manager: Slavisa Jokanovic


GK – David Button

Were Fulham to take the next step and aim for automatic promotion this term, they needed a better number one, and you can't help feeling that . That said, Button is still going well at the back and should keep his place.

RB – Ryan Fredericks

The attacking full-back complimented Scott Malone very well last season and continues to do a similar job, with Ryan Sessegnon now employed on the other side.

CB – Tomas Kalas

A return to Fulham was always on the cards for the popular Chelsea defender and he is once again proving his worth in this division.



CB – Tim Ream

It's a harsh thing to write; but Fulham are not the most solid defensively and it cost them last season. Perhaps a replacement for Ream is needed?  Anyway, for now he continues at the back alongside Kalas.

LB – Ryan Sessegnon

Had Fulham signed a direct replacement for Malone then this lad would probably be in the forward line. He has talent which is wasted at the back, but his support play down the left will be vital in any case, even from this position.

CM – Kevin McDonald

Solid and reliable, the club slapped a £7million price tag on him in the summer when Nottingham Forest were sniffing around and it's simple to see why.



CM – Stefan Johansen

One of the reasons I love this formation at Fulham is Johansen. Solid in his duties in the holding two, he still gets forward to contribute plenty of key passes and even a fair number of goals. Vital player.

RW – Kebano

With Ojo out injured, expect Kebano to start in the place of the talented Liverpool youngster.

CAM – Tom Cairney

Playing this formation is entirely based on a potential return for Cairney. If he plays, they have a physical presence which gets back and helps the midfield while being fit enough to bomb forward into the no.10 position when in possession. Compliments Johansen perfectly.



LW – Yohan Mollo

Ayite, Piazon, Odoi and others are all chasing such a position (arguably one which should belong to Sessegnon) but for now Mollo is the man.

ST – Rui Fonte

Fulham desperately needed a proper No.9 and to be brutally honest, I'm not certain they've found it yet!



http://soccersouls.com/2017/10/12/cairney-returns-fonte-up-front-strongest-4-2-3-1-fulham-line-up-to-face-preston-on-saturday/

WhiteJC

 
Opposition Camp

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Preston North End manager Alex Neil says Fulham are probably the best side in division at retaining and moving the ball.

In their last match before the international period, Preston North End drew 2-2 when they hosted Sunderland at Deepdale. They currently sit sixth in the table, three points and four places above the Whites.

"The (international) break came at a good time for us," commented North End Manager, Alex Neil. "Some of the lads were flagging a bit but we are looking good and refreshed now.

"They're a good side, in terms of retention and the way they move the ball, they're probably the best in the division. We are up for the challenge and we need to go there with confidence that we can win the game.

"We have more than held our own in every game and we will go to Fulham knowing we can put in a performance and try to beat them."

On current injuries at the Club, Neil said, "Gally (Paul Gallagher) has been fine, he is back in training, as is John Welsh.

"Ben (Pearson) has been training this week but we will gauge it at the end of the week as he has been out for six weeks. We don't want to push it and he end up being out again for another period of time so we will assess him."




http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/october/11/opposition-camp


WhiteJC

 
Midfield trio bolster PNE ahead of Fulham trip

Preston's midfield is set to be reinforced for the weekend trip to Fulham – but the defence has taken a hit.

John Welsh, Ben Pearson and Paul Gallagher have been back in training ahead of the Craven Cottage clash.

Pearson will be carefully assessed though, North End not wanting to take any risks with a player who has been out for six weeks. At the back, a one-match ban rules Darnell Fisher out, while Tommy Spurr collected an injury in training. PNE manager Alex Neil told the Post: "Gally is fine, he has been training. "John Welsh is fine, his calf has cleared up and he's been training well. "Ben Pearson has been training this week, which is good to see. "Obviously we will have a gauge on Ben at the end of the week to see where we think he is at.

"He's been out for six weeks which is a long time and we need to make sure he is okay. "What we don't want is Ben coming in, breaking down and then having him miss the next batch of games." Pearson's last appearance was against Middlesbrough at the end of August. The return of Welsh last month helped cover Pearson's absence but he missed the 2-2 draw with Sunderland.

Having at least one option for the sitting midfield role will be a boost for Neil. In terms of the defence, Neil said: "Darnell picked up his fifth booking in the last game so he is suspended. "Tommy Spurr picked up a little niggle which is a bit of a blow for us. "At the moment we've got a lot of defenders missing through injury or suspended." Two of the injuries which Neil refers to are long-term casualties Tom Clarke and Greg Cunningham. Clarke is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered towards the end of last
 season.

Cunningham has been out since August after a tendon came away from the bone at the back of his knee. Said Neil: "Tom is doing some straight-line running, which is good. "It was a nasty injury and it will take as long as it takes to mend. "Greg Cunningham is at the stage where we expected him to be at." Goalkeeper Declan Rudd remains sidelined with a thigh injury which had dogged him since the first pre-season game in July. Neil said: "Dec is making good progress but I don't want to tempt fate because every time we think he is getting somewhere, he has a setback. "He's been unfortunate with his thigh because this is a reoccurrence of the same thing. "We need to get him right and get him back."




Read more at: http://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/midfield-trio-bolster-pne-ahead-of-fulham-trip-1-8799272

Holders

It's the best summary of Haynes that I've read. Spot on, Mr Gardner.
Non sumus statione ferriviaria

cmg

The JH book is presently available from Amazon at £12.88