Friday Fulham Stuff (02/03/18)...

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Clubs StartIng To Line Up To Sign Aleksandar Mitrovic

Impressive Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic has already made up his mind that he wants his Serbian compatriot – the Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic – at Fulham on a permanent basis.

Mitro went on loan to Fulham in late January and has scored two goals for the Cottagers, but the striker seems exactly what Jokanovic needed – a goalscoring target man up front.

Mitro has been getting good reviews from London, but in order to sign the Newcastle striker, Fulham will need to get promoted to the Premier League in May.

That's what the Northern Echo are reporting today, and Fulham reached the playoffs last year after beating Newcastle twice in the league.

Currently, the Cottagers are in 5th place and could even have a small chance of finishing the league in the top two and automatic promotion.

With 12 games to play, they are 8 points behind second-placed Cardiff City.

Anderlecht and some other clubs were keen to take Mitrovic on loan in January, and the striker will almost certainly be sold by Rafa Benitez this summer.

For whatever reason, the Newcastle manager hasn't played Mitro much since he came to Newcastle – just 36 games in the last two years.

There are clubs in Europe also interested in the striker and maybe some Premier League clubs too.

Mitro is almost certain to be in Serbia's squad for the World Cup in Russia this summer.

And a good performance there could raise his price above the £14M we paid Anderlecht for him almost three years ago.

Mitro has played 33 times for his country with 11 goals, and his goals were vital to Serbia qualifying for the World Cup finals.

He has scored 17 goals in 72 appearances for Newcastle since he was signed from Anderlecht with some fanfare.



http://www.nufcblog.com/2018/03/01/clubs-starting-to-line-up-to-sign-aleksandar-mitrovic/

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Fulham keen on deal for Newcastle United striker if they get promoted

Fulham are keen on making Alexsander Mitrovic's move from Newcastle United permanent, as per a report by HITC Sport.

However, a deal hinges on whether the London club will be promoted to the Premier League or not.

The Serbian striker joined Fulham on loan until the end of the season in January and has impressed so far for them. He has scored 2 goals and has been a hit at Craven Cottage.

He offers them something different and someone who can hold the ball up for them and then bring others into play. That is why Slavisa Jokanovic sees him as a great long-term option and one who he wants to sign on a permanent basis.

Mitrovic has had experience of getting promotion from the Championship before which will help Fulham for the rest of this campaign. He was part of Rafa Benitez's Newcastle United side who won the league title last season. However, since getting promoted his chances in the first-team have been limited, hence why they were eager to send him out on loan.

The 23 year-old had previously played for Teleoptik, Partizan and Anderlecht before he moved to England in 2015 to sign for Newcastle. The Magpies paid around £13 million to lure him to St. James's Park. You would not say he has been a flop at Newcastle because he has had some decent moments for them, but Benitez never seemed to be a fan.

Promotion with Fulham and a move back to the Premier League would be the perfect scenario for Mitrovic. This is certainly one to keep an eye on.



http://the72.co.uk/99030/fulham-keen-deal-newcastle-united-striker-get-promoted/

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Tom Cairney gives his view on VAR after yet another debacle in Tottenham FA Cup win

Everyone was left confused after VAR was used in Tottenham's win over Rochdale, and the Fulham skipper had his view on it too

Tottenham Hotspur progressed in the FA Cup against Rochdale last night, but not before another Video Assistant Referee (VAR) debacle reared its head at Wembley.

A goal was disallowed, a converted penalty overturned - Son Heung-Min was given a yellow for 'feinting' during his run-up while Fernando Llorente was penalised for fouling in the build-up to Erik Lamela's goal.

It seems that whenever VAR is used, controversy follows, with managers having no idea what's going, while fans are left well in the dark on what's happening on the pitch whenever VAR is used.

After the game, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino felt the system isn't going to help and that football is an emotion, saying: "The first half was a little bit embarrassing for everyone, I am not sure that system is going to help.

"I think football is about emotion, if we are going to kill emotion, it's not so happy what we have seen today. My opinion is we have the best referees in Europe. The referee is the boss on the pitch and has the last word always."

And that's something the Fulham captain agrees with, taking to Twitter to have his view on VAR, saying: "We've already got the best game in the world don't try fix it if it's not broken... VAR needs to do one!!

"Just let us play football the talking points controversy and human error is what makes it so special!"

Meanwhile, despite exiting the FA Cup, loan man Stephen Humphrys scored at Wembley last night.



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tom-cairney-gives-view-var-14352667

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Curtis Davies hoping Fulham underestimate Derby ahead of clash at Pride Park

The Rams have won just once in their last nine game while Fulham are unbeaten in 12 and are making their way up the table

Curtis Davies is hoping Fulham come to Pride Park and underestimate his Derby County side on Saturday after their recent poor run of form.

The Rams have won just one game in their last nine league matches - form that has seen them drop out of the top two and allowed the Cottagers to haul them to within one point.

Contrast that to Fulham, who have lost just twice in 18 games since these two sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Cottage in November and are currently unbeaten in 12 games.

Aston Villa and Wolves were both beaten by the Cottagers, and Curtis believes it will be one of the biggest tests his side face this season but hopes Fulham underestimate them after their recent run of form.

He told the Derby Telegraph : "This will be the biggest test we've had in a long while, based on our poor form and Fulham being the form team in the division.

"They're very much in form, they're always a difficult team to play, because they are a very good footballing team and very fluid in the way they play.

"But I'm hoping they come to our place and underestimate us, and think that we're in a bad rut so they can just take it easy. Then maybe we can surprise them.

"But this league is the weirdest league in the world, so nobody would put it past us to beat Fulham. We'll just have to wait and see."



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/curtis-davies-hoping-fulham-underestimate-14352843

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Academy Matches Postponed

Due to the weather the country is currently experiencing, we can confirm that the PL2 away match to Norwich City on Friday 2nd March has been postponed until further notice.

The Under-18s' & Under-16s' were due to travel to Aston Villa on Saturday 3rd March, those matches have been rearranged to Saturday 10th March with a midday kick off.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/march/01/academy-matches-postponed

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Premier League referee in charge of Fulham's clash with Derby

Mason last took charge of a Fulham game when they lost 2-1 to QPR at Craven Cottage - given two penalties to the home side in the process

Premier League referee Lee Mason has been put in charge of Fulham's clash with Derby County on Saturday.

Mason has officiated 19 games this season, with the majority of those coming in the Premier League, and has produced 48 yellows and three red cards so far this campaign.

He hasn't been in charge of a Fulham game since last season, where he oversaw the 2-1 defeat to QPR at Craven Cottage on October 1, 2016, where he gave the Cottagers two penalties - both of which were missed.

Mason has previous with Derby too - he officiated that ill-fated Championship Play-off final against QPR, where they lost 1-0 despite Rangers being down to ten men after Mason sent off Gary O'Neil on the hour mark.

He'll be joined by Andrew Halliday and Daniel Leach as his linesmen, while Christopher Sarginson will be the fourth official.



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/premier-league-referee-charge-fulhams-14352912

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Has Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez given away why he doesn't pick Aleksandar Mitrovic?

Newcastle United's Aleksandar Mitrovic has been sent out on loan to Fulham.

Rafael Benitez may have just given away why Aleksandar Mitrovic hasn't fitted in at Newcastle United, with his comments about Dwight Gayle to the Chronicle.

Newcastle fans have been left frustrated by Benitez's decision to continuously overlook Mitrovic in favour of the likes of Gayle, Joselu and Ayoze Perez.

The Serbian striker, who joined Newcastle for £13 million from Anderlecht, is now out on loan at Fulham, where he has made a positive impression.

But Benitez's decision appears to stem from Mitrovic just not being able to fit into his system at Newcastle.

Benitez has stressed the importance of working hard to defend from the front, which is a quality he believes Gayle brings to the side.

"It's important for the strikers to score goals, but at the same time when the team doesn't get much possession like us in the Premier League, they have to help the team defend too," Benitez said.

"They have to help the team with their movements.

"Sometimes the striker's movements create space for other players.

"That's what we have at the moment, players working very hard for the team and you don't see them on the score-sheet sometimes but that doesn't mean they aren't doing a great job for the team."

Gayle's nippy and agile movements do indeed help create spaces for teammates, and he is also a tireless runner.

Gayle has no qualms about pressing opposition defenders, and never gives them a moments peace.

Mitrovic, on the other hand, has more difficulties getting around the pitch.

For all his qualities, Mitrovic is not the most mobile of forwards. And while he remains a talent, Newcastle fans will be best off forgetting about the Serbian international, as he simply doesn't have what it takes to fit in with Benitez's side.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/03/01/has-newcastle-united-boss-rafael-benitez-given-away-why-he-doesn/

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Humphrys: Indescribable Feeling

Stephen Humphrys fulfilled a childhood dream on Wednesday night by scoring at Wembley Stadium.

The striker equalised for loan side Rochdale in their Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round Replay against Tottenham Hotspur, but the home side rallied after the break to secure a comfortable 6-1 win.

And while the night didn't end how he would have liked, Humphrys at least left the home of English football having made his mark.

"It's an indescribable feeling," he told fulhamfc.com. "It's the best feeling I've ever had but I can't really put it into words.

"I can't remember the goal, I can't remember what happened. I didn't even look at it hit the back of the net. As soon as it went past Michel Vorm I just sprinted off!

"Everything went silent and I was just thinking, 'has this goal been given?' I turned around and saw that it had, and while I can't really describe what that felt like, it was definitely the best feeling I've ever had."

Humphrys can be proud of his strike, as he showed great movement and technique to get on the end of Andrew Cannon's ball over the top before rifling confidently beyond Spurs captain Vorm.

Things could have got even better for Dale when the pair reversed roles as Humphrys teed up his teammate at the end of the first half, only for Cannon to strike the base of the post.

"That's what I work on, I pride myself on scoring goals," he explained. "I'm thankful that I got the pass from Andy and the rest was up to me.

"I'm just thankful and grateful to the manager for picking me. He's showed faith in me to play the minutes that I did and I can't thank him enough for giving me the opportunity.

"It's a different game if that we score again in the second half. It's a great effort by Andy Cannon.

"If that goes in then we probably would have just sat back and booted the ball as far away from our goal as possible, but it is what it is.

"They're obviously much fitter and they're world class footballers at the end of the day.

"My family, friends, uncles, aunties, grandma, granddad, everyone was there, so to give them that moment in the first half, I'll remember that for the rest of my life."

Tottenham did rest players but still boasted a side full of internationals, with Humphrys finding himself up against three England defenders in Kieran Trippier – whose shirt he received at the end of the game – Eric Dier, and Danny Rose.

Humphrys did not let the occasion overawe him, however, as was evident when he came out on top of a crunching but fair challenge with another England man, Harry Winks.

"To be fair, I didn't even know it was Harry Winks," he stated. "I just saw the ball and went in for the 50-50.

"I don't pull out of those challenges, I've got 90 kilograms behind me so it will take some doing to stop me getting the ball in that situation!

"You've got to respect these players but you can't be overawed by them or else they'll just pick you apart. At the end of the day, people are only human, even if they are world class footballers.

"I'm an England fan so to play against England internationals is really what you're a footballer for. I was a little bit starstruck but you've got to get your head in the game and concentrate."

Earlier in the season, walking out at Wembley must have seemed like a pipedream for Humphrys as he battled through injury, but he paid tribute to the staff at his parent club for helping him get through that difficult period.

"The first five months of the season were a nightmare for me, but I can't thank the physios and fitness guys at Fulham enough for helping me get back to full fitness," he said.

"They really gave me this opportunity as much as the manager here has, so I'm really grateful for that and hopefully I can stay fit and keep doing what I'm doing."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/march/01/stephen-humphrys-wembley-tottenham-hotspur

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Fulham make their move to sign Aleksandar Mitrovic permanently – but only on one condition

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has already made up his mind on Aleksandar Mitrovic according to North-East reports today, with the Championship side ready to push for a permanent deal for the Serbian in the summer – providing they seal promotion to the Premier League.

The Northern Echo report that Fulham may have to earn promotion to make a deal possible, however, with the extra cash windfall of a return to the top flight seeming essential to pull off a deal which may cost them upwards of £15m if he continues to impress.

Mitrovic has settled in superbly well at Craven Cottage, scoring two goals in his last two appearances and impressing fans in each and every one of his five appearances for the club so far.

The Serbian is seen as the ideal target man to aid their attacking style of play and give them a focal point up top, with his signing helping them move five points clear of 7th place in the play-off race.

The Echo claim that former club Anderlecht still hold an interest in bringing him back to Belgium, but whether they could pull off a permanent deal is another matter.



http://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2018/03/01/fulham-make-their-move-to-sign-aleksandar-mitrovic-permanently-but-only-on-one-condition/

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Saluting Stefan Johansen – Fulham's midfield engine
by alandrewett on March 1, 2018

Stefan Johansen's celebration after clinching Fulham's win over Nottingham Forest last month set a few tongues wagging. The Norwegian midfielder wheeled away to the Hammersmith End with his finger to his mouth, which reminded some Craven Cottage regulars of how Bobby Zamora reacted to scoring for the Whites – and might have been a retort to some criticism of his displays earlier in the season. Given the all-action midfielder's energy was pivotal in Slavisa Jokanovic's side reaching the Championship play-offs last year and he played through the pain of a groin injury for much of this campaign, I believe Johansen's industry as the beating heart of Fulham's midfield trinity isn't lauded loudly enough.

The Norwegian captain would freely admit that he's struggled to hit the heights that he reached at the end of last season. Even whilst he was considering to be underperforming last year, Johansen's quality and drive still saw him a regular on the scoresheet. For a while – with those superb free-kicks at Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest – he might have usurped the likes of Tom Cairney and Ollie Norwood as the first team's dead ball specialist. His ability with the ball at his feet is not in doubt, but some of his work out of possession doesn't get the same recognition. In recent weeks, his hassling and harrying of opponents has unsettled Aston Villa and Wolves, who both arrived in the capital full of confidence.

As Jokanovic's designated box-to-box midfielder, Johansen has consistently covered every blade of grass almost effortlessly. That coolly taken clincher against Forest encapsulates his tireless running as pinched the ball from Joe Worrall on the halfway and raced in on goal having looked out on his feet only seconds earlier. Johansen's energy enlivened a midfield that looked a little one-paced prior to his arrival and the man himself has come a long way since his debut, when he was hauled off after just 32 minutes after a home defeat by Birmingham City.

Beloved for his brilliance at Celtic, Fulham moved quickly when it became clear that Johansen had fallen out of favour in Glasgow. Whilst Cairney – and more recently Ryan Sessegnon – have hogged the headlines for their goalscoring contributions from midfield, Johansen's sixteen goals in 64 appearances – a return of one in every four appearances – is remarkable. Even when he isn't popping up with a winner – and his precise finish to beat QPR at Loftus Road still sticks in my own memory – Johansen often pops up with a match-winning moment. Two of those came last weekend against the league leaders when he twice found Aleksandr Mitrovic in shooting positions and tilted the contest away from Wolves.

Johansen wasn't the only Fulham player to start this season slowly. Indeed, many of the first-team squad might be wondering whether the Whites could have been closer to second-placed Cardiff City, if they could have found greater consistency in August and September. But, as the old adage reminds us, form is temporary and class is permanent. Watching Johansen's insane intensity, commitment to the high press that would border on the suicidal if lesser mortals tried it and will to win, it isn't difficult to see why Jokanovic rates his Norwegian tyro so highly.

Captaining his country, it is clear that Johansen is highly thought of in his homeland. He's a role model off the pitch, as demonstrated by his commitment to equal pay when he signed a historic agreement with the Norwegian women's captain Maren Mjelde in Trafalgar Square in December. Fulham fans will hope he will be as fondly remembered as his compatriots Brede Hangeland and Erik Nevland. If he can can continue to have a major say in the Championship promotion race over the remainder of the season, then Johansen will be able to write his own chapter in Fulham folklore.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/03/saluting-stefan-johansen-fulhams-midfield-engine/

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Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic believes Derby, Cardiff and Aston Villa are under pressure - not his side

The Whites are hunting down those teams above them and Jokanovic insists his side have not felt any pressure

Slavisa Jokanovic does not believe his side are under any pressure in the promotion race and instead reckons the pressure is all on Derby, Cardiff and Aston Villa.

Fulham take on the Rams at Pride Park on Saturday in yet another game between promotion rivals having played Villa, Bristol City and Wolves last week - coming through unbeaten.

That's now 12 games without a loss, and some would point to that figure, as well as the chase for the final automatic spot as cause for pressure, but Jokanovic has said the only pressure he feels under is for the Derby game and not the promotion race.

He said: "Listen, I am not under any pressure, there is pressure for Derby, for Cardiff, for Aston Villa, I can't win some position, and I do they will have a loss, for Cardiff too.

"At the end, these people ask me if we can be promoted, if we want to be promoted we must finish first or second, even third or fourth and at the end they must be under pressure and fighting for these places in front of them.

"We are relaxed and ready for fight, we are going to be really strange to say they will lost this match what is front of us.

"Eight point is a huge number of points, they are in fantastic position and we are going to try, but they must lose the games for us to catch this position.

"It will depend on us, but we can win all the games but at the end of the season if they win all the games there won't be any solution for us.

"Anyway, they are under pressure and this is how I observe this situation."


(Image: Paul Burgman)

Derby have won just one game in seven coming into the game, with Curties Davies hoping the away side underestimate them coming into the game on Saturday.

But Jokanovic has insisted that won't be the case, saying Fulham will be ready for everything they encounter at Pride Park.

He added: "It's important, this competition is really tough and long and we are in good momentum right, they were in some different momentum.

"It's a good moment for us going there, we are full of confidence and trust we can push hard to win the game and now is the last quarter of the Championship, now all the points are more important than at the beginning and we know it's tough test in front of us.

"Saturday afternoon will be more important game for us, but it isn't last game for us and we must be ready for everything that will be ahead of us."



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-boss-slavisa-jokanovic-believes-14355739

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'Relaxed' Jokanovic insists pressure is on Fulham's rivals

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic insists all the pressure in the race for promotion remains on their rivals as he prepares to take his side to fourth-placed Derby County.

The Whites are on a 12-match unbeaten run ahead of the visit to Pride Park to face the Rams, who are one point and one place in front of them.

Fulham were 12th in the Championship before their current good form lifted them into the play-off spots and Jokanovic believes coming from behind suits his team.

"I am not under any pressure. I am relaxed," he said.

"The pressure is for Derby, for Cardiff, for Aston Villa. Eight points [to second-place Cardiff] is a huge number. They are in a fantastic position.

"We can win all the games but if they win all the games, there doesn't exist any solution for us."

Jokanovic revealed he had a full-strength squad free of injuries to take on Derby and vowed to attack, rather than soak up pressure and hit on the break.

He said: "Staying in the shape, waiting for the 0-0, either catching them on the the counter attack or not, is not our plan.

"Our ideas are a little bit different. We are going to try and win the game."



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/pressure-derby-aston-villa-cardiff-insists-relaxed-fulham-boss

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Brentford Game Televised

Fulham's match against Brentford at Craven Cottage will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

The date of the fixture does not move (Saturday 14th April), however, the match will now kick-off at the later time of 5.30pm.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/march/01/brentford-game-televised

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Head Coach press conference

Fourth face fifth in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon, with Fulham heading to Pride Park aiming for the victory which would lift us above Derby County in the table.

The Whites are in the better form of the two of late, but Slaviša Jokanović anticipates a stern test against a strong outfit.

"It's a tough opponent," he admitted in Thursday's pre-match press conference. "They are fighting for promotion and the Play-Offs, like us.

"We're probably going to find two different styles, but with the same intention of winning three points. We know what they are going to try, they know what we are going to try, too.

"They are a team with strengths and weaknesses, like us. We must be focused, concentrate and show ambition to win the game.

"An important week is in front of us. The first really important step is against a team who, at the moment, made a better job than us.

"They are on one more point than us. We must respect them and trust in our possibility to push hard and fight for three points.

"I am always worried about the opposition team, but in my hands is my team and the preparation of my team is more important, to share and give them information about what they can expect against different opponents.

"Matej Vydra is top scorer [in the Championship], a very good player, I am aware of his quality. We have a special plan for that, he is part of this team and can be very dangerous for us and we must be careful."

Aleksandar Mitrović has been on target in his last two outings for Fulham, but his Head Coach believes there is more to come from each of the three strikers he has at his disposal.

"He's scored only two goals with us, we expect he can score more and work harder still," Jokanović explained. "He can support the team and he can be a really important player.

"We were looking for this kind of striker for a long time and in the end we found someone who I believe can be very important for our team.

"Aboubakar [Kamara] scored eight goals, Rui Fonte scored goals too. Many games are in front of us and I expect all of them are going to fight in every training session for a position in the starting XI."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/march/01/head-coach-press conference

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Fulham boss Jokanovic backs Tottenham target Ryan Sessegnon to make England's 2020 Euro squad

The Fulham boss wouldn't be surprised to see Ryan Sessegnon make the squad for 2018 either - recalling Michael Owen and Theo Walcott's inclusion

Slavisa Jokanovic has backed Ryan Sessegnon to make England's Euro 2020 squad amidst rumours that the 17-year-old is being considered for a shock place in the 2018 World Cup squad.

Steve Holland has been watching the wonderkid, as have many others, which have led to suggestions he may be called up to the England squad that travels to Russia for the World Cup in the summer.

Sessegnon, who is Fulham's top scorer with 13 goals this season, has yet to receive a senior cap for his country, although he has won the U19 European Championships, with brother Steven winning the U17 World Cup.

Jokanovic has backed him for the next major tournament England compete in, but has nodded towards favouring a call-up for this tournament, speaking up his achievements for the Young Lions and his Fulham side.

He said: "I must respect another professional in football, this is not my opinion.

"My opinion is that this man has showed the quality to compete in senior football, this man showed the quality with the U19 national team to be champion of Europe with generation two years older and at the same time be one of the top scorers of the tournament.


(Image: Paul Burgman)

"The decision is not in my hands, I trust this kid can make important things and at the end if he goes to the World Cup, I cannot take this decision, but it won't be the first time - remember Michael Owen, Theo Walcott were part of the tournament at similar age so this won't be the first time for England.

"At the end, if they decide not to bring him this time, I am sure he will be part of the next European Championship, I won't say 100% but 99.9% he will be there."



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tottenham-target-fulham-sessegnon-england-14356002

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'Relaxed' Jokanovic says pressure is on Fulham's promotion rivals
by Dan on March 1, 2018

A relaxed Slavisa Jokanovic believes his in-form Fulham side are not feeling the heat of the promotion race and insisted all the pressure is on second-placed Cardiff City.

The Fulham head coach still feels his side are big outsiders to win automatic promotion from the Championship with the Bluebirds have built up an eight point lead over the Londoners. Jokanovic told his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's trip to Derby County that his squad were full of confidence as they head to Pride Park having gone twelve games unbeaten.

    Listen, I am not under any pressure. there is pressure for Derby, for Cardiff, for Aston Villa, I can't gain a position, and if I do they will have to lose. People ask me if we can be promoted. If we want to be promoted we must finish first or second, even third or fourth and at the end they must be under pressure and fighting for these places in front of them.

    We are relaxed and ready for [the] fight. Eights point is a huge number of points, they are in fantastic position and we are going to try, but they must lose the games for us to catch this position. It will depend on us, but we can win all the games but at the end of the season if they win all the games there won't be any solution for us. They are under pressure and that is I how observe this situation.

In the build-up to another crucial clash, Derby defender Curtis Davies has voiced his hope that Fulham might underestimate the Rams on account of their indifferent run of form – but Jokanovic won't be doing anything of the sort.

    It's a tough opponent. They are fighting for promotion and the play-offs, like us. They are a team with strengths and weaknesses, like us. We must be focused, concentrate and show ambition to win the game. An important week is in front of us. The first really important step is against a team who, at the moment, made a better job than us.

    They are on one more point than us. We must respect them and trust in our possibility to push hard and fight for three points. I am always worried about the opposition team, but in my hands is my team and the preparation of my team is more important, to share and give them information about what they can expect against different opponents.

Saturday's trip to the Midlands will see Jokanovic reunited with Czech striker Matej Vydra, who scored fourteen goals in 2014-2015 as the Serbian head coach led Watford to the Premier League. The Fulham boss is well aware of the danger that Vydra, who has seventeen goals to his name for Derby this term, will pose at the weekend.

    Matej Vydra is [the Championship's] top scorer, a very good player, I am aware of his quality. We have a special plan for that, he is part of this team and can be very dangerous for us and we must be careful.

Jokanovic confirmed that he has no new injury worries ahead of the trip to Pride Park and his biggest selection dilemma may be over who to field up front. Aleksandr Mitrovic, fresh from two goals in his last two appearances, will be favourite after his excellent strike against Wolves and the Fulham head coach has been delighted with the different option the on-loan Newcastle striker has given his side.

    He's scored only two goals with us, we expect he can score more and work harder still. He can support the team and he can be a really important player. We were looking for this kind of striker for a long time and in the end we found someone who I believe can be very important for our team.

The Serbian is confident that his striking options and the unforgiving nature of the Championship run-in will afford Mitrovic, Aboubakar Kamara and Rui Fonte opportunities to feature in the crucial final weeks of the campaign.

    Aboubakar [Kamara] scored eight goals, Rui Fonte scored goals too. Many games are in front of us and I expect all of them are going to fight in every training session for a position in the starting eleven.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/03/relaxed-jokanovic-says-pressure-is-on-fulhams-promotion-rivals/

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Countdown to the Fulham clash: See how Derby County have fared against the Championship's top six

The Rams have still to play Fulham, Cardiff, Wolves and Aston Villa

Derby County take on Fulham on Saturday looking to improve on a record that has seen them win just one game against the Championship's current top six teams.

The Rams have played six matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Cardiff City, Aston Villa, Fulham and Sheffield United.

They have recorded one win, three draws and two defeats - six points from 18.

The victory was against Villa at Pride Park Stadium in December when Andreas Weimann and Johnny Russell scored in a 2-0 win.

Derby have drawn with Cardiff (0-0), Fulham (1-1) and Sheffield United (1-1). The defeats came against Wolves (2-0) and the Blades (3-1).

Gary Rowett's team has still to play four of the top six, starting with Fulham's visit to Pride Park on Saturday.

They also have to face Cardiff at home, and both Wolves and Villa away.

Second-placed Cardiff also have four games left against teams currently in the top six.

Derby are fourth on 60 points, seven behind Cardiff.

Saturday's opponents, Fulham, are one point behind the Rams.

FIXTURES STILL TO BE PLAYED BETWEEN THE TOP SIX TEAMS:

Wolves: Aston Villa (a), Cardiff (a), Derby (h)

Cardiff City: Derby (a), Sheffield United (a), Wolves (h), Aston Villa (a)

Aston Villa: Wolves (h), Cardiff (h), Derby (h)

Derby: Fulham (h), Cardiff (h), Wolves (a), Aston Villa (a)

Fulham: Derby (a), Sheffield United (h)

Sheffield United: Fulham (a), Cardiff (h)



https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/derby-county-top-six-championship-1281449

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Ryan Sessegnon tipped for shock England place at 2018 World Cup as Man City and Spurs target Fulham wonderkid

Sessegnon, 17, part of England's Under-19s Euro winning squad, has been in sensational form in the Championship this season


Ryan Sessegnon has been in superb form for Fulham in the Championship (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Fulham prodigy Ryan Sessegnon has been backed to make a late push for England's World Cup squad.

Sessegnon, 17, part of England's Under-19s Euro winning squad, has been in sensational form in the Championship this season and Tottenham, Manchester City and Monaco are all tracking his progress.

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic believes the attacking left back can emulate previous England teenagers and make a late push to be in the squad for Russia.

Jokanovic said: "My opinion is that he has shown the quality for Fulham, he's shown the quality for Under-19s, won the Euros, top scorer in the tournament, it's not my decision.


Manchester City and Tottenham are both keeping tabs on the teenager (Image: Paul Burgman)


Sessegnon's form could land him a shock place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for the World Cup (Image: Getty Images Europe)


Sessegnon inspired England's Under-19s to glory last year at the Euros (Image: Eurosport)

"If he goes to World Cup, won't be my decision, but Michael Owen and Theo Walcott they were similar age.

"But if they decide not this time I'm still sure he will be part of Euros or next World Cup. 100 per cent.

"If not, then 99 per cent he will be there."



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ryan-sessegnon-tipped-shock-england-12110758

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Newcastle must seal £10million-plus exit for attacker after high flyers hunt claim

COMMENT

Newcastle United must slap a price tag of at least £10million on the head of striker Aleksandar Mitrovic if he is to depart for Fulham or elsewhere in the summer transfer window.

The Serbian powerhouse, currently on loan at Craven Cottage after exiting St James' Park in January, is claimed by the Northern Echo to have impressed the London side's manager Slavisa Jokanovic and that his fellow countryman is keen to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

Mitrovic arrived on Tyneside in the summer of 2016 for a fee in the region of £13million but has endured a difficult time, suffering relegation in his first season before falling out of favour under current manager Rafael Benitez.

While a permanent exit in the summer seems likely, it is important that the Magpies take every penny possible from a deal, and should not accept anything less than £10million.

Benitez will know that whatever funds are raised from the Serbian's sale will be part of the funds to replace him, but in today's transfer market the best strikers are available only for a premium price.

Accepting anything less than £10million would mean the Spanish boss would struggle to bring in a player who could offer the Magpies what they need, and it would be worth keeping Mitrovic if they could not find the right buyer for him.

Fulham seem to have got the best out of the 23-year-old, having seen him score two goals in his five appearances, three coming as starts, helping them fly high in the Championship, currently sitting fifth in the table.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/newcastle-must-seal-10million-plus-transfer-exit-attacker-second-tier-hunt/

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Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon named Young Player of the Year at London Football Awards

Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon has been named Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards.

The 17-year-old continues to thrive at Craven Cottage, with 13 goals to his name in the Championship this season as Slavisa Jokanovic's side recover from a poor start to push for a play-off place.

Sessegnon has eight goals in 10 games since the turn of the year and has attracted interest from a number of top-flight teams including Tottenham.

Spurs were represented in this category through Davinson Sanchez and Harry Winks. The centre-back arrived in England last summer for a club-record fee of £42million and has enjoyed a hugely promising first season.

Winks continues to impress under Mauricio Pochettino's tutelage, notably shining in a midfield battle with Real Madrid's Luka Modric and Casemiro as Spurs beat the Champions League holders at Wembley in November.

Arsenal's Ainsley Maitland-Niles also got the nod, having shown both composure and maturity when given his first-team opportunities. The 20-year-old is a central midfielder by trade but has adapted quickly to a wing-back role

Andreas Christensen returned for a two-season loan spell with Borussia Monchengladbach is cement a first-team spot at Chelsea, a rarity in modern football, ahead of captain Gary Cahill, Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulhams-ryan-sessegnon-named-young-player-of-the-year-at-london-football-awards-a3778271.html