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

[WhiteJC]

 
Norwood Gets Northern Ireland Call (7/11/17)

Fulham's Oliver Norwood has been called up by Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill for the coming international break.

The next break of the 2017/18 campaign in November sees Northern Ireland face a World Cup Play Off double header against Switzerland.

The first leg takes place in Belfast on November 9, with the away leg in Basel three days later.

Having named his provisional squad, there have not been changes since but Aaron Hughes is a major doubt for the first leg despite rejoining the group. Jonny Evans is in despite being a doubt also, and Jamie Ward, Paddy McNair and Rory McArdle return.

Bradford City's Shay McCartan and Adam Thompson both drop out.

Goalkeepers:

Roy Carroll (Linfield), Michael McGovern (Norwich), Alan Mannus (St. Johnstone).

Defenders:

Aaron Hughes (Hearts), Gareth McAuley (West Brom), Jonny Evans (West Brom), Chris Brunt (West Brom), Conor McLaughlin (Millwall), Lee Hodson (Rangers), Paddy McNair (Sunderland), Daniel Lafferty (Sheffield United), Rory McArdle (Scunthorpe), Tom Flanagan (Burton).

Midfielders:

Steven Davis (Southampton), Niall McGinn (Gwangju), Oliver Norwood (Fulham), Corry Evans (Blackburn), Shane Ferguson (Millwall), Stuart Dallas (Leeds), Paul Paton (St. Johnstone), Matthew Lund (Burton), Jordan Jones (Kilmarnock), George Saville (Millwall).

Forwards:

Kyle Lafferty (Hearts), Josh Magennis (Charlton), Conor Washington (QPR), Jamie Ward (Nottingham Forest).



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=510947#ixzz4xp5QopHZ

[WhiteJC]

 
Seasons Wine Lounge - Tapas, wine and football makes Fulham an interesting day out

Fulham have introduced Seasons Wine Lounge for the 2017/18 season, and despite it being an interesting venture, it's found its home at Craven Cottage

Fulham have tried something a bit different for the 2017/18 season at Craven Cottage, and that something different comes in the form of their newest hospitality package, Seasons Wine Lounge.

Designed in a contemporary style in collaboration with BoConcept, the Danish furniture specialists, Seasons offers fans wine, food and stunning views of the River Thames, while allowing you to watch Slavisa Jokanovic's side from some of the best seats in the house in the Riverside Stand.

Wine lounges and football don't often mix, but Seasons seems to have hit a niche gap where those that enjoy hospitality can entertain business clients or treat loved ones to a special day at the Cottage, all for quite a reasonable cost of £159 per person (plus VAT).

GetWestLondon was invited to sample Seasons for Fulham's Tuesday night game with Bristol City, and despite the result, we were thoroughly impressed by what the club had to offer.

Fulham's hospitality areas open from 5.30pm on weekday matchdays, and upon arrival at the Cottage we were made to feel most welcome by the staff at reception as they found our tickets and showed us through the Johnny Haynes stand.

Seasons, as are most of the hospitality areas, was located on the far side of the ground in the Riverside Stand, so we were able to walk round the Craven Cottage pitch to reach our area - seeing as I'm normally cooped up in the press box on matchday it was nice to get a different view of the famous ground.



The entrance to Seasons is located closer to the Hammersmith End than the other hospitality areas are, and after climbing the stairs to reach the entrance we were warmly welcomed by one of the many polite hosts and hostesses who showed us to our seats for the evening.

Upon arrival at Seasons, bread and antipasti are waiting for you to enjoy at your table, something I was most looking forward to.

Our hostess for the evening, who made sure we were well looked after throughout our time at Seasons, took our wine orders and left us to enjoy our antipasti and bread.

At Seasons, two wines are inclusive of the price you pay, the white wine which was Feudi Di San Gregorio, Albente Falanghina, 2016 and the red, which was Swartland Winery, Winemakers Collection Syrah, 2015, while you can choose from an extensive list of other wines or upgrade your wine package for an extra £25.

We chose not to and went with the inclusive wines on offer, and I throughly enjoyed the white which offered a burst of lime and lemon flavours while the red was refreshing with a hint of dark chocolate, which I found most interesting.

After enjoying the antipasti of cured Italian meats, our hostess brought our tapas-style mains - paprika beef and pork meatballs with spiced tomato sauce and Sauvingon Blanc poached pear with pickled walnuts.

Seasons did their best to cater to my plus one, who has severe allergies, and although there was a good line of communication between our hostess and the chef in regards to these, I felt there was little alternatives for her to enjoy instead of the food which she was allergic to.

Nevertheless, the meatballs were outstanding and my favourite dish from the menu, while the poached pear offered an interesting taste alternative to the meatballs.

Also on offer was smoked mackerel, seared tiger prawns and spiced sweetcorn and Padron pepper fritters - all of which were cooked to perfection by the Seasons chefs and throughly enjoyable.

As part of Seasons hospitality, you are able to enjoy seats in the Directors area in the Riverside Stand to watch that match, and although what was on the pitch wasn't pretty for the game we went, the sightlines and comfort of the seats were what you would expect from hospitality.



At half time, mini desserts and chocolates were on offer, including cakes and small chocolates, which I was thoroughly impressed with.

However, as with the tapas menu, my plus one was unable to enjoy them as a result of her allergies and I once again thought there was very little substitute that she was able to enjoy that were allergy free.

Following the full time whistle, Seasons continue to caters for its guests by offering a cheese board, served with chutney, celery, grapes, fruit, nut loaf and cheese biscuits.

I felt this complimented the wine perfectly and was a great way to unwind after the match before heading home thoroughly impressed with Seasons, its staff and its food.

Having watched Fulham for the last season and a half from the press box, enjoying the hospitality of Seasons to watch the side as a regular match goer was the perfect route to go for me and my partner, and I'd definitely consider returning to the lounge to watch a game in future (if work ever allows it!)

All in all, I believe Seasons is a great addition to the Fulham hospitality packages and would recommend it to anyone who hasn't yet been able to enjoy an afternoon or evening in the lounge.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/seasons-wine-lounge-tapas-wine-13863550

[WhiteJC]

 
Transfer talk: Why QPR are unlikely to rejoin Fulham and Wolves in the race for Iranian striker

According to reputable Swedish publication Fotboll Direkt, the Hoops made a bid in the region of £1.9m over the summer for the front-man who is enjoying competing in the Europa League this term for the Swedish side.

QPR have been heavily reported with an interest in Iranian striker Saman Ghoddos.

The 24 year old, who was born in Malmo but has Iranian parents, has scored 18 goals in 49 league games over the past year and a half for Ostersunds FK, having previously featured for Limhamn Bunkeflo, Trelleborgs and Syrianska.

According to reputable Swedish publication Fotboll Direkt, the Hoops made a bid in the region of £1.9m over the summer for the front-man who is enjoying competing in the Europa League this term for the Swedish side.

However news of the offer was never confirmed from the west London side.


Ostersund's forward Saman Ghoddos celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Europa League Group J football match between Zorya Lugansk and Ostersunds FK in Lviv on September 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Genya SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Speaking to Fotboll Direkt over the summer, Ostersund Chairman Daniel Kindberg said: "I will not comment on the details, but we have received bids.

"If there is a good bid for both the club and the player, then we will listen. I would not mind 40m Krona (£3.8m), but we have not set a fee because we are not at that stage yet."

According to HITC, the Swedish club are now holding out for a fee in the region of 50m Krona (£4.5m), a fee which is surely out of reach for the Hoops in their current situation.

Spending at Loftus Road was limited over the summer as they awaited news on their Financial Fair Play hearing, and with the news that they are set to face a hefty fine, the chances of splashing this amount on a striker unproven in England are minimal.

Ghoddos's stock is rising after scoring three goals in nine appearances in the Europa League this season, but QPR are simply not in a position to enter a bidding war with the likes of Fulham and big-spending Wolves for the signature of the striker, meaning they are likely to turn their attention elsewhere in an attempt to add to the squad in the January transfer window.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/transfer-talk-qpr-unlikely-rejoin-13868646

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham captain Tom Cairney targets 2020 Euros with Scotland as he looks to replicate last season's form

The 26-year-old has made just one cap for his country but hopes to stake a place in the squad eventually and help them to the 2020 Euros

Tom Cairney is looking to replicate his form last season as quickly as possible to stake his claim in the Scotland squad as they aim for Euro 2020.

The Fulham captain has struggled with a knee injury all season, but started two of the last three games before missing the 2-0 loss to Wolves, with three games in the space of just six days coming too soon for the skipper.

Arguably one of the best players in the Championship last season, Cairney's injury has prevented him from being the same force this season, causing him to pull out of the Scotland squad in the August international break, whilst not being available since.

Scotland failed to qualify for the World Cup after they finished third in Group F behind England and Slovakia, winning half of their ten games.

Gordon Strachan, who lost his job after failing to qualify, didn't seem to favour Cairney, nor Kevin McDonald, and whilst neither are in Malky Mackay's Scotland squad for their tie with Holland, becoming a regular for the national side is something the Fulham man is aiming for.



He said: "It's a goal of mine, the World Cup is obviously out of the question now but if I can play a part in Euro 2020 and the lead up to that it will be great.

"I was never told why I wasn't playing - Kevin [McDonald] hasn't made the squad either and I don't why but it's just opinions, football is all about them and he (Strachan) didn't think we were up to starting in that team.

"He had his own players, but every manager does and there will be a new manager now and I'm guessing things will change, so I've got try and do what I did last season as quickly as possible and get involved in it."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-captain-tom-cairney-targets-13868104

[WhiteJC]

 
'Fulham fans must be worried' – Newcastle could be sitting pretty with how things are going



Fulham fans must be worried. The Lilywhites have been pretty average this season and the swashbuckling form of last year has really gone missing.

Indeed, with them drawing too many games and in the bottom half of the table, there is a real chance that their play-off hopes are already over, with so many clubs higher up in the league and looking strong. Slavisa Jokanovic should be concerned for his job, then, and supporters will be worried about the future of midfielder Tom Cairney.

The Scottish midfielder was a class act this season, helping Fulham to the play-offs, whilst he's also been a big miss this season with him being injured for much of it. Even so, he is back now but it'll be some feat if he can help turn things around this year for the club.

A move away, then, might just be that bit more likely for the midfielder and, with Newcastle having a bid rejected in the summer, they might just be the ones ready to come in for the player.

The Magpies have been going well in the Premier League this year and look ready to earn a more prolonged stay in the top flight, something that might look more distant than it did a few months ago for Fulham and Cairney.

You do get the feeling, then, that if the Magpies went in for him with a good offer they could get him to sign and so let's see if Fulham can avoid such a blow in January.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-fans-must-be-worried-newcastle-could-be-sitting-pretty-with-how-things-are-going/

[WhiteJC]

 
Visitors to Fulham reveal what they really think of Craven Cottage

We've had a look at what away fans have thought of the home of Fulham over the course of the year

A day out at Craven Cottage is seen as many away fans as one of the must-do trips in the Championship, with the away end usually full for most clubs.

As such, fans will form an opinion of Fulham's ground pretty quickly and will compare it to others they've been to - especially in London with Loftus Road, Griffin Park and The Den all popular day trips.

We've had a look at what the travelling fans really think of the Cottage thanks to the footballgroundguide.com footballgroundguide.com , which is a must-read for visiting fans planning their days out across the country.

It rates everything from the journey, the food on offer, right through the game itself.

Here's what they had to say about the Cottage.


A general view of Craven Cottage before the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Cardiff City (Image: Getty Images Europe)

A visiting Cardiff fan, September 2017

"It looks like an old ground with some unique features. In the corner near the away end is 'the cottage' that looks like a house.

"I've never seen anything like it. Also in the other corner there's a hospitality box for home fans with a balcony that overlooks the away end. Some Fulham fans spent some time waving to the Cardiff fans!

"It was a great game to watch. Exciting stuff. Craven Cottage is a nice ground with a big away end. Cardiff had over 3,000 fans in attendance, so the atmosphere was fantastic."

A visiting Bristol Rovers, August 2017

"What a lovely ground. I loved it. The away stand is not too steep and there were no pillars in our way. We had over 1,000 supporters but there was plenty of room to sit or stand.

"It was very comfortable and most of the Gasheads stood."

A visiting Sheffield Wednesday fan, August 2017

"Craven Cottage is one of the very last 'traditional' grounds that gives you the 'old school' feel about football.

"In the Championship League we're now used to visiting these wonderful new stadiums but often lose the 'old school' vibe.

"Enjoyed the day. If you've never been to Craven Cottage then get in now before the club erect some ghastly and too familiar 'modern' stadium. The ground has character and oozes tradition!"

A visiting Wolves fan, March 2017

"Whilst Craven Cottage looks old fashioned against modern stadiums it has a real charm about it - although the exterior of the Main Stand on Stevenage Road looks more like block of apartments rather than a football stadium.

"A really good day out - what can be better than to be able to walk to the ground through a park alongside a major river (helps when you win though!)."

A visiting Leeds fan, March 2017

"We particularly liked the exterior of the old Johnny Haynes Stand which looked more like a Victorian factory facade rather part of a football ground.

"As for the Putney End which housed the away fans and neutrals. then it was unusual in as much as it didn't have a concourse.

"Normally the drinks/food outlets are inside a stand but here you are outside at the back and then the steps take you straight through to the seating area. The lack of indoors means it could be pretty cold watching your team in the depths of winter.

"The view was fine although a couple of pillars mean the view could be restricted at the back of the stand. The old style ground means the other stands do have some character to them."

A visiting neutral fan, January 2017

"We sat in the Riverside Stand in one of the end blocks so we weren't affected by pillars and had very good view of the game.

"Apart from the seating at both ends the ground did very much seem a throwback to pre-Premier League days."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/visitors-fulham-reveal-what-really-13869962

[WhiteJC]

 
Ex-Rangers man believes Fulham's Kevin McDonald should be in the Scotland squad

Kevin McDonald has never got a cap for Scotland, with fans of Fulham left surprised by his lack of call-ups for the national side

Former Rangers man Kris Boyd believes Fulham's Kevin McDonald should be in the Scotland squad, brandishing the call-ups a "laughing stock".

Fulham's vice-captain was overlooked once again for the national side, this time by interim manager Malky Mackay, as Scotland prepare to face the Netherlands in a friendly at Pittodrie this week.

McDonald has never got a cap for Scotland, despite being called-up in the past, and fans at Fulham are quite surprised that their most consistent performer keeps getting overlooked for the national team.

And former Rangers striker Boyd agrees, suggesting some of the call-ups to the squad were more to do with selling tickets than ability.

He told BBC Scotland : "It's for the SFA and Malky [Mackay] to appease the fans and media who didn't like Gordon and then there's the key thing - to sell tickets. That's why they're all in the squad.

"When you go down the road, Paul Coutts, Sheffield United, flying, Kevin McDonald has come back to form for Fulham, captain, flying.

McDonald has never got a cap for Scotland, despite being called-up in the past, and fans at Fulham are quite surprised that their most consistent performer keeps getting overlooked for the national team.

And former Rangers striker Boyd agrees, suggesting some of the call-ups to the squad were more to do with selling tickets than ability.

He told BBC Scotland : "It's for the SFA and Malky [Mackay] to appease the fans and media who didn't like Gordon and then there's the key thing - to sell tickets. That's why they're all in the squad.

"When you go down the road, Paul Coutts, Sheffield United, flying, Kevin McDonald has come back to form for Fulham, captain, flying.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ex-rangers-man-believes-fulhams-13870857

[WhiteJC]

 
Young Dons impress with victory at Fulham

Second-half goals seal win for development side in friendly

Second-half goals from Paul Kalambayi and Great Nii-Okai Evans wrapped up an impressive win for the development side in a friendly at Fulham.

Egli Kaja kept up his match sharpness in the 2-0 victory, played behind closed doors at Motspur Park, with manager Neal Ardley and coach Simon Bassey watching on.

There was also 90 minutes for Joe McDonnell in goal, plus Toby Sibbick and Anthony Hartigan, and Alfie Egan gave a lively cameo performance in an attacking midfield role for just over an hour.

The young Dons edged the opening quarter on the game. McDonnell was required to get down to make a couple of saves, but midfielders Hartigan and Egan looked to thread the ball through to the forwards whenever possible.

Egan headed down into the path of a surging run by Kaja, who fired low into the keeper's hands in the 33rd minute. Six minutes before the break, Kaja whipped in a corner, with plenty of height, which curled over the goal.

The Dons took the lead four minutes after the break when another corner from Kaja was met powerfully by the head of skipper Kalambayi (pictured). Kaja fired over the top corner from distance in the 55th minute.

On the hour, Egan intercepted the ball in midfield and forced another low save out of the Fulham keeper. Straight down the other end, McDonnell had to get down well to thwart an attack and he conceded a corner when he pushed the ball round at close range.

Evans replaced Osaze Urhoghide with just under half an hour to go. Shortly after, Ossama Ashley, who has been in good goal scoring form for the under-18s, came on against his former club when he replaced Egan.

The young Dons defence of Sibbick, Dean Perana, Kalambayi and Ethan Nelson-Roberts formed a solid backline to keep the hosts at bay. Wimbledon pushed for a second goal with 10 minutes to go when Evans' shot on goal took a deflection and from the resulting corner Kaja flashed a shot wide.

Shortly after, with eight minutes remaining, Evans sealed a deserved win for Alan Reeves' side with a confident finish past the keeper after a good ball from trialist Kane Crichlow.

AFC Wimbledon: McDonnell, Sibbick, Perana, Kalambayi, Urhoghide (Evans), Nelson-Roberts, Hartigan, Egan (Ashley), Kaja. Crichlow, Pingling.



https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2017/november/development-friendly-match-report/

[WhiteJC]

 
Turnstile Talk – Our View

Our friends over at Turnstile Talk have taken the time to put together an interesting document that is meant to start a discussion with all Fulham supporters, here's a flavour of what they've said...

Supporters of Fulham FC

Please feel free to click on the link below which will take you to the 'Our View' document which was created by using feedback from supporters over a 6 month period. It's been drawn up from a cross section of fans so we could obtain a wider view.

This isn't a Turnstile Talk document, it's all of our document in some way  shape or form as it's your voice we've amplified and it should be viewed as such. It really isn't a document created by one lone supporter, it's the voices and views of the masses.

Once again, we would like to thank everyone that took the time to provide us with feedback via Facebook, Twitter, emails, texts and one to one's on Stevenage Road, within the ground and on our travels up and down the country supporting Fulham.

Feel free to comment by either replies to this post or email us at [email protected] as this will help us create 'Our View 2' which we've already started brainstorming for.

We'll take everything on board regardless of positive/negative opinions as it's 'your view' after all.

Turnstile Talk has become the voice of the 'fans' not the voice of 'Fulham Football Club' and we'll always remain totally independent from all other supporter groups and the club itself, however, we have expressed that we'll work closely with whatever group sees us in a positive light and not as a hindrance. We'll also work alongside all employees (regardless of status) and departments of FFC to do the best we can for our wonderful club and move it forward.

Best,

TT

You can read the 'full' document here
https://online.flippingbook.com/view/557151/



... and we at Friends of Fulham would ask you to either contact them via Facebook, email, text, twitter or join in the debate on the forum

http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=62356.0




http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=75

[WhiteJC]

The Adams family
by Sarah Woolmer on November 8, 2017

The news that the Fulham Supporters' Trust has organised a special evening for the supporters with the hero of my early years of following the Whites, Micky Adams, brought a massive smile to my face. I'm sure not the only one who still treasures the memories of that magical eighteen months when a man brought in from Southampton to bolster Fulham's flagging defence instead ended up shoring up the club's position in the Football League after taking over Ian Branfoot as player-manager and, after telling the press 'to judge me what I do next season,' went on to guide the Cottagers to promotion on a shoestring budget.

A much younger version of your correspondent was crestfallen when Adams was cast aside in favour of Ray Wilkins after a League Cup defeat at the hands of Wolves. After a week that has had Fulham fans agog at the stories coming out of Motspur Park, it seems strange to reflect on events from more than 20 years ago and think about how the club badly mistreated the man who engineered the revival that ended up sparking Mohamed Al-Fayed's interest in purchasing London's oldest football professional side. But they did.

Adams has written at length in his new autobiography, which I devoured in a single setting, about the circumstances that led up to his departure from Craven Cottage and you wouldn't blame him if it still rankled. The famously driven son of the city of steel had performed a minor miracle in getting Fulham, a quaint club that barely had two pennies together, out of English football's basement at the same time as transforming the fortunes of striker Mike Conroy, who went from surly Scottish forward to the terroriser of Divison Three defences seemingly in the blink of an eye. At the end of a managerial career that initially saw him as the game's answer to the emergency services as he specialised in putting clubs in crisis back on their feet, a more rounded Adams is in more reflective mood.

For supporters of a certain generation who remember the first time they clapped eyes on a shaggy-haired Darren Freeman, an injured Terry Angus leading the signing at Leyton Orient, 'Fish out' and the extraordinary scenes after Rodney McAree's wonder goal at Carlisle United, Adams is a cult hero. Let's hope, more than two decades since his abrupt departure, he gets an idea of just how fondly he is remembered by the Fulham faithful in a couple of weeks time.




http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/11/the-adams-family/

[Keynsham]

A visiting Cardiff fan, September 2017

In the corner near the away end is 'the cottage' that looks like a house.

'Kin 'ell, I hope he's not a policeman.

[WhiteJC]

A visiting Cardiff fan, September 2017

In the corner near the away end is 'the cottage' that looks like a house.

'Kin 'ell, I hope he's not a policeman.

he studied at the University of the Bleedin' Obvious