Friday Fulham Stuff (19/01/18)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Newcastle United Striker Eyed By Fulham To Beef Up The Attack: Much Needed Inclusion For Rafa?

Fulham is preparing for a bid for Newcastle Striker Dwight Gayle.  The side from Craven Cottage is now eighth in the Championships table with 42 points from 27 games. They still harbour hopes of qualifying for the playoffs as they are only 2 points away from sixth-placed Sheffield United and a positive result for them combined with a draw or a defeat for Sheffield would see Fulham jump into the playoffs.

The Fulham board clarified earlier in January that they are not looking to sell any player this window and instead will be looking to add a couple of new faces to their squad to help the team fight for a playoff spot. However, West Bromwich Albion's interest in Cairney is booming and Fulham may be resigned to losing the midfielder. So now they are planning to use the money they get from the deal of Tom Cairney, who is being pursued by West Brom. The 26-year-old midfielder has been in excellent form this season at Craven Cottage and West Brom are ready to reward him by bringing him to the Premier League

Cairney has scored around 22 goals in over 100 appearances for Fulham and would be a good deal for West Brom, given his football dynamics. However, agreeing to a deal with a Fulham side, who will in no way want to lose their captain, will be difficult.

As for the new signing they want to bring in the form of Dwight Gayle, the Newcastle forward has harboured interest from the West London side for quite some time now with the first spark coming last summer in the transfer window. A deal was agreed between the clubs and a love was imminent only for it to crash last moment. The striker who graduated from the Arsenal youth academy was in seriously good form last season when he helped Rafa Benitez's men qualify for the English Premier League by clinching the Championship title.

He has, however, been unable to repeat his heroics this time around leaving Newcastle in a tough state. The Magpies have endured a mixed start to their campaign in England's top league. After a quick start, Newcastle United flopped and their loss in form saw them sink to the lower end of the table. They managed to pause their slump and hold their form, something which saw the club moves back to a respectable position in the league. But another slump saw Newcastle slide down again. They now stand 14th on the table and have collected just 9 of their last 42 available points.

Losing Gayle would spell more damage for Benitez at the club but the Spaniard is keen to bring in reinforcements of his own and hence might agree to sell the Englishman should Fulham meet their asking price. 



http://the4thofficial.net/2018/01/fulham-ready-bring-newcastle-united-striker-replace-tom-cairney-good-move/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham matching Swansea City in the race for Norwich City striker

Fulham are matching Swansea City in the race to sign Norwich City's Nelson Oliveira according to odds priced by Bet Victor.

While Norwich have already got rid of one striker during this transfer window after Cameron Jerome completed a move to Derby County, there are still reports that they would be happy to sell another one of their forwards with Oliveira being linked with a move away. This has alerted plenty of teams who are said to be interested in signing the Portuguese striker.

At the moment, there are two favourites to sign the Oliveira. From the Sky Bet Championship there is Fulham who are looking to sign a new striker after the deal to bring Rui Fonte to the club hasn't worked out well for either party. They have been priced at 4/1. But they are joint favourites with a side from the Premier League with Swansea City being given the same odds to sign Oliveira as the Cottagers. Their new head coach Carlos Carvalhal is looking to bring in extra recruits to make sure they don't get relegated to the Championship.

But they aren't the only teams that the bookies think could sign Oliveira during this transfer window. Just behind Fulham and Swansea is Nottingham Forest who are familiar with the former Benfica man having had him on loan during the 2015/16 season. They have been given odds of 8/1. Several other Sky Bet Championship teams have been given 8/1 odds to sign Oliveira with Wolves, Cardiff City, Sunderland, Birmingham City and Leeds United all being priced at that level.



http://the72.co.uk/96967/fulham-nottingham-forest-trailing-swansea-city-race-norwich-city-striker/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Looking To Sign Exciting Premier League Striker: The Right Man For Their Promotion Bid?



Fulham will be looking to make the most of the ongoing January transfer window in order to advance towards their ambition of securing promotion to the Premier League. The Cottagers are currently placed at the 8th spot in the league standings with 42 points to their name from 27 games with just 1 point separating them from 6th placed Sheffield United.

According to a recent report by Hull Daily Mail, the Cottagers are keen to make a move for Newcastle United striker, Dwight Gayle, before the transfer window closes. Gayle has been targeted by Fulham for quite some time now but considering that Rafael Benitez has merely three senior strikers at his disposal, it wouldn't be easy for Fulham to prise him out of St. James' Park.

Gayle dazzled for the Magpies last campaign as he smashed 22 goals in 31 games for his employers. He played an instrumental role in Newcastle United's promotion to the Premier League as he was thoroughly relied on by Rafael Benitez in the Championship last term. However, he has struggled in the top flight and is clearly lacking his cutting edge up front.

In 20 games, 9 of which have been off the bench, the 27-year-old has found the back of the net merely 3 times and the alarm bells have started to ring regarding his form. Benitez is reported to be reluctant to lose any of his first-team players until a potential replacement is found, but a transfer fee of £15million might tempt Newcastle United to reconsider their resolve.

Gayle has proven his mettle in the English second division and it is probably due to this, that Fulham are so keen to sign him up. He is a fine finisher as he seems to know exactly where the goal is and is good at holding the ball in the final third, something which is really needed to thrive in English football. Besides, his movements on and off the ball are appealing too and no wonder he is still considered a valuable commodity.

He needs the full backing of the manager under whom he plays and a bit of confidence from people around him will go a long way in restoring his form. If his move to the Craven Cottage materialises and Slavisa Jokanovic manages to do the needful as said before, Gayle could be a season-defining acquisition for them. Moreover, having earned a promotion with Benitez's side last season, the Englishman should be able to inject the winning mentality on his new side provided he makes the move.

Statistics Credits: WhoScored



http://madaboutepl.net/2018/01/fulham-interested-to-sign-this-newcastle-united-hitman-just-what-the-cottagers-need/

[WhiteJC]

 
Socceroos to play Colombia in London as part of World Cup preparations

    New coach to run rule over players on 27 March
    Game comes four days after friendly against Norway in Oslo

The Socceroos' preparations for the 2018 World Cup will take in a friendly match in the familiar surrounds of Craven Cottage against Colombia on 27 March, four days after they play Norway in Oslo in what is expected to be the still-to-be-appointed national team coach's first game in charge.

With Football Federation Australia this week confirming they aim to announce Ange Postecoglou's successor by February, the two games will provide the successful candidate a chance to run the rule over his players, three months out from the side's fourth straight World Cup appearance.

Colombia, ranked 13 in the world and drawn in a group with Japan, Poland and Senegal at June's tournament in Russia, are expected to provide a stern test for Australia, with the likes of James Rodríguez and Radamel Falcao in their ranks and having qualified fourth from the Conmebol region behind Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

FFA chief executive David Gallop said: "We are excited to have secured the match against Colombia, which offers us a good challenge against strong South American opposition leading into the Fifa World Cup."

The venue in west London, home to Championship club Fulham, will provide the Socceroos with as near a home-ground experience as possible on the other side of the world, given the sizeable Australian expat population in that part of the English capital.

The Socceroos have a good recent record at Craven Cottage, having beaten Canada 3-0 in 2013, Nigeria 1-0 in 2008 and South Africa 5-0 in 2005 there. They have played Colombia three times, all in friendlies, losing twice (1-0 in Sydney in 1995 and 3-2 in Bogata in 2001) and drawing once (0-0 in Brisbane, also in 1995).

The new coach will take his bow in Oslo on 23 March at the Ullevaal Stadion in the first meeting between the two teams since 2004, when Tim Cahill and Josip Skoko were on target in a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage.



https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jan/19/socceroos-to-play-colombia-in-london-as-part-of-world-cup-preparations

[WhiteJC]

 
Caltex Socceroos at Craven Cottage: our history at the London ground

The Caltex Socceroos are continuing preparations for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup, returning to Craven Cottage in London to take on world number 13 Colombia in a high-profile friendly in March.

This blockbuster encounter will be the seventh time Australia has played an international friendly at the ground in west London.

While the Socceroos have experienced much success in the past, with five wins and a draw, the South American team will be their toughest opposition so far.

Let's take a look back at the last fixtures in the lead up to the meeting between the two nations.

Australia 3-2 Saudi Arabia

September 8, 2014

Only their second game since the 2014 World Cup, the Caltex Socceroos were aiming to put an end to their winning drought.

And it 2-0 within 10 minutes, after Tim Cahill managed to find the net from close range before Mile Jedinak headed in Joshua Brillante's fantastic free-kick.

However, the game changed soon after, with the Saudis pulling one back after keeper Mitchell Langerak conceded a penalty in the 70th minute.

But defender Bailey Wright capped his Caltex Socceroos debut with a goal seven minutes later, before the Saudi's hit back again through Talsir Al Jassim eight minutes from time.

But Australia just held on to notch their second win in Ange Postecoglou's tenure.

Australia 3-0 Canada

October 16, 2013

With an interim coach at the helm, the Caltex Socceroos were looking to bounce back after back-to-back 6-0 friendly losses to Brazil and France, which cost coach Holger Osieck his job.

And the response was emphatic. It didn't even take one minute for Josh Kennedy to open the scoring in front of a 3000-strong crowd, after Mark Bresciano made a perfect cross straight to the marksman.

Australia continued to dominate the game in the second half, and Dario Vidosic doubled the lead in the 52nd minute with a header that edged just past the keeper.

Mathew Leckie then made it 3-0 11 minutes from the end, capitalising on a David Carney cross to head the ball into the bottom left corner.

This match also marked Jason Davidson and Leckie's first starts for the national team, as well as Oliver Bozanic and Jackson Irvine's debuts off the bench.

Australia 1-0 Nigeria

November 17, 2007

This match at Craven Cottage was marred by heavy rain, but that didn't stop 12,000 spectators from going wild in the 52nd minute, after a ripper of a goal from then-Sheffield United midfielder David Carney.

What turned out to be Australia's lone goal of the match was a sight to see, after a wrongly-cleared ball landed straight at his feet, and with one touch smashed it straight past the keeper.

Australia 5-0 Jamaica

October 9, 2005

This fixture came before the crucial play-off against Uruguay to book us a spot at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. And Guus Hiddink's Aussies didn't disappoint.

Despite an unfamiliar formation partly due to injury Hiddink's experimentation, the Socceroos began strongly and continued to dominate throughout the match.

Mark Bresciano opened the scoring after just two minutes after he found enough space to send the ball over the reach of Jamaican keeper Shawn Sawyers.

Archie Thompson capitalised on a cross-field pass from Jason Culina, before slotting a low strike in before Mark Viduka also made it onto the scoresheet two minutes into the second half.

Only 10 minutes later John Aloisi got in on the act, scoring with his first touch before Joel Griffiths rounded off a five-star display when he tucked home after Aloisi'd initial effort rebounded off the post.

Next stop, Uruguay!

Australia 1-0 New Zealand

June 9, 2005

Australia's traditional rivals put on a threatening display ahead of the Caltex Socceroos' Confederations Cup match against Germany the next week.

As the minutes edged closer and closer towards full time, Frank Farina's men looked like they would have to settle for a goalless draw.

But Simon Colosimo had other ideas, stepping up to the plate in the 87th minute and  netting a cracker inside the far post that edged past the diving hand of keeper Mark Paston.

Australia 2-2 Norway

November 16, 2004

The Caltex Socceroos were looking to end 2004 with a bang after a year full of OFC Nations Cup and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Then-coach Farina brought out the big guns for their first game at Craven Cottage, with England-based Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Stan Lazaridis, Brett Emerton, Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell joining Italy-based stars Vince Grella and Mark Bresciano on the field.

Norway was the first to hit home with Steffen Iversen in the 40th minute, but Australia soon responded after Bresciano set-up rising star Tim Cahill to equalise a minute before half-time.

Viduka was crucial in the Socceroos' second goal, his fancy footwork giving the ball to Josip Skoko who let loose a strike in the 58th minute.

The 2-1 lead didn't last for long, after Morten Pedersen's left-footed cross tricked Schwarzer and flew in at the far post with 20 minutes to go.



https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/caltex-socceroos-craven-cottage-our-history-london-ground

[WhiteJC]

 
MCFADZEAN LOOKING FORWARD TO FULHAM TEST

DEFENDER Kyle McFadzean is looking forward to playing at Craven Cottage for the first time in his career and believes Burton Albion will travel to Fulham full of confidence.

The former MK Dons man travelled with the Brewers when they drew with Fulham in London last season but didn't feature due to suspension.

The defender is excited about the prospect of playing against Fulham and says that Burton's good away form means that they are confident that they can get a result.

He said: "I am looking forward to going to Fulham because I have never played there, due to being suspended or injured.

"I travelled last season and we were unlucky, we conceded late-on and I thought we deserved to win that game, we defended really well and it is always a sucker punch when you concede in the 94th minute. You would take a point away at Fulham but we will be going there full of confidence.

"They have hit a bit of form. Fulham are a good team, they have a lot of attacking players."

McFadzean also joked that the Brewers are hoping that Tom Cairney, who has been linked with a move away from Craven Cottage, has left Fulham before Saturday's game.

"We are hoping that he (Cairney) gets sold this week so that we don't have to play against him because he is a massive player for them, so hopefully he will go before Saturday."



https://www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/news/2018/january2/1901-kyle/

[WhiteJC]

 
The Sean Davis Column

How good was that at Middlesbrough on Saturday?! To go to a team that's in and around you, get the win, keep a clean sheet away from home, brilliant. As a player, nicking three points in the last minute is always a great feeling and the lads will have come into the dressing room buzzing. Some people might say it was a smash and grab but if you stay in the game, you're hard to break down and you don't concede, then you've always got a chance of winning it. It was a calm and collected penalty from Ollie Norwood, which is what was needed in a high pressure situation, and so to win at a ground that we've never won at before was fantastic.

I was involved in a fairly eventful game at the Riverside some years ago when we scored two goals at the death to draw, but I think Saturday's result eclipses that in terms of drama. We went there in August 2002 and we were poor, but I managed to get a little tap-in and Facundo Sava sent one into the top corner, so that was smash and grab as I don't think we deserved anything from it. But one thing about that team was that we kept going until the end, and it's good to see today's side digging in and doing the same.

It boosts confidence knowing that you can go to your promotion rivals and do that. It will be a massive lift for all the players and they will certainly take that into the next game. We've been on a great run and that's seen us quickly climb the table. Last season we had some strong momentum after Christmas and ended up in the Play-Offs, but we've started earlier this time around so who's to say we can't get in the top-two? We're only 10 points off and we're playing five of the teams above us in a consecutive sequence of matches in the not too distant future. We don't want to get carried away, but the lads have given the fans that confidence that we have got a chance here, we are still in the running.

People were a bit gloomy after those defeats at Brentford and Sunderland in December, but our resurgence shows that you can't get too down on yourself because there's always a chance to turn things around. Most of the team were here last season so they'll remember how well we did on our run-in then, and know what's needed to do something similar again.

We've got Burton Albion on Saturday, and they are struggling at the wrong end of the table. You don't take anyone for granted in the Championship, but with the run we're on at the moment, you'd back us against any opposition. We put a few past Ipswich the other week and it would be nice to win by a substantial margin again, not least because you never know how important goal difference could be come the end of the campaign.

That said, I remember Burton coming to the Cottage last season, working hard and putting in a great performance, and were perhaps unfortunate to only leave with a point in the end. People love coming to our stadium, it's great to play in, and Burton will be taking confidence from the fact they beat us back in September. We'll have to be on our toes, the fans can't turn up and expect it to be a walk in the park because Burton are in the relegation zone, it doesn't work like that. To make the Middlesbrough three points even better, we need to back it up with a win at home.

Fulham are running one of their 'Kids for a Quid' schemes for the Burton match, which is always nice to see. It's important to get the younger generation of Fulham fans involved. The Club, along with the Foundation, are very good at that sort of thing. To get the young boys and girls in, and hopefully inspire them to support the Club, is vital for the future of Fulham and it will be great to see lots of fresh faces there at the Cottage this weekend.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/january/17/the-sean-davis-column