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Monday Fulham Stuff (14/05/18)...

Started by WhiteJC, May 13, 2018, 07:22:49 PM

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WhiteJC

 
Former Nottingham Forest man hoping for Derby County heartache at Fulham

Kenny Burns hopes the Rams get dumped out of the play-offs tonight

Kenny Burns wants Fulham to dump Derby County out of the play-offs tonight.

The former Nottingham Forest man, who last week claimed the Rams had celebrated getting into the top six "like they've won the League" wants his old club's arch rivals to be beaten at Craven Cottage tonight (7.45pm).

Derby head to west London with a 1-0 advantage after Cameron Jerome's towering header split the sides on Friday night - and the winner will face either Middlesbrough or Aston Villa at Wembley, with the latter holding a 1-0 advantage ahead of the second leg on Tuesday evening.

"It will come as no shock at all to regular readers of this column that I will be hoping for a Fulham v Middlesbrough play-off final at Wembley," he said in his regular column for the Nottingham Post .

"And I still believe there is a good chance that it will happen.

"Derby won the first leg 1-0 at Pride Park, but Fulham had so much pressure in the second half; they played such good football, that you do sense they will get the job done on home turf tonight.

"Despite the fact that Fulham currently trail Derby by a solitary goal, they are still my favourites to win promotion.

"They are the just the best footballing side in the mix still. I really fancy them to get the job done tonight – and to finish their task if they do indeed make it to Wembley.

"I am sure there are many Nottingham Forest fans who will hope I've got the first part right at least, when the Rams head to the capital tonight."



https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-nottingham-forest-man-hoping-1564814

WhiteJC

 
Play-Off Special: All Replica Shirts Just £20

Wear your colours with pride. All 2017/18 Home and Away shirts are just £20!

As the Whites look to seal their place at Wembley tonight, Fulham fans can get behind the boys and take advantage of this great offer today only!

Available on all Adult and Junior shirts, pick yours up online or from the Stadium Store located on Stevenage Road.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/may/14/play-off-shirt-offer

WhiteJC

 
Why Fulham could find it even tougher to break down Derby County in second leg

Kevin McDonald wary of another Rams rearguard action at Craven Cottage

Fulham will throw everything they have at Derby County in the second leg of their Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final - but midfielder Kevin McDonald thinks they could find it even harder to break the Rams down.

The Rams travel to Craven Cottage on Monday night with a slender 1-0 advantage from Friday's first leg at Pride Park Stadium.

Cameron Jerome's 34th-minute header is all that separates the two sides going into the second half of the tie.

Fulham dominated possession and territory at Pride Park but Derby produced a defensive masterclass to deny the usually free-scoring Cottagers.

McDonald came closest to an equaliser when his second-half effort hit the crossbar.

The Scot remains confident that Slavisa Jokanovic's men can overturn the deficit on home turf, though accepts it will be a tough task.

"Derby defended well and made it hard for us to break them down (in the first leg)," said McDonald.

"It's going to be the same on Monday. And on a smaller pitch, it's going to be even harder - but we've got to keep going.

"We've just got to pick ourselves up and go again.

"It is up to us to take it to them again in the second leg and be more clinical.

"We know it's in our hands. We'll do the same again and when we get chances, we've got to take them this time.

"We've got to throw everything at it, it's as simple as that.

"We'll do that and see where it takes us. We're confident and positive.

"We went 23 games unbeaten in the league and that doesn't happen for no reason.

"We're a good, good team.

"We've got a good set of lads and good, strong characters."

McDonald was left frustrated by Friday night's events at Pride Park but knows that Fulham are still very much in this tie.

"I'd be lying if I said I was happy but, put it this way, it could be worse," he said.

"There have been teams in a worse position. I think Derby were 3-0 down going into the second leg one year (against Hull City in 2016).

"We're 1-0 down, so we're well in the tie.

"It's 1-0 at half-time. We've been there plenty of times and won three, four and five-one.

"We'll pick ourselves up. We had a good chat in the dressing room after the game and we're confident we can go again.

"In the play-offs, form means nothing. Derby know that and it's on us.

"If we can put in a performance like we know we can do, we'll come away with a win."

McDonald called upon the Fulham faithful to take a leaf out of the Derby fans' book on Monday night.

"The Derby fans were a bag of nerves at first, until they got going a bit," he said.

"After that, they were in good voice.

"We need exactly the same from the Fulham fans. We need the Cottage to be bouncing on Monday.

"But it's only going to be that way if we put in a good performance on the pitch."

Derby kept the likes of Ryan Sessegnon, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Tom Cairney pretty quiet at Pride Park but McDonald backed his talented team-mates to come good second time around.

"They are top quality players and have had fantastic seasons, each one of them," he added.

"I don't know if there was a bit of tiredness in there or not.

"But we've got to pick ourselves up. It could be our last 90 minutes, so we've got to fight for our lives and do everything possible, every single player individually and as a team.

"We'll do that on Monday night. We'll go again and we'll be alright."



https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-could-find-even-tougher-1560453


WhiteJC

 
Football Tips Monday 14 May: Draw Can Take Derby Past Fulham And On To Wembley



Cameron Jerome's solitary headed strike was enough to give Derby County the slimmest of advantages over Fulham in the first leg of their Championship play-offs semi-final first leg at Pride Park last week.

Gary Rowett's charges held off a late Fulham charge and now travel to Craven Cottage tonight in an attempt to seal a place across the way, in Wembley, for the play-off final.

Their hosts, despite their failure to score in the last leg, are a potent attacking outfit and Slavisa Jokanovic will be hopeful of his side overturning the deficit.

They'll need every inch of the flair they showed in their latter-season promotion push to break down their visitors this evening, with young Ryan Sessegnon and Tom Cairney set to bear the brunt of those responsibilities.

There's a steely streak running through this Rams side, though, and we fancy them to do just about enough to get through to the big one.

It won't be easy, and we could envisage them needing to grind out a nervy draw and rely on some more penalty box defending late on, as they did in the first leg, if they're to get it done.

Prices of 3/1 about the draw, therefore, appeal quite a bit and should also give backers the choice to green out for some profit should the game be drawn at halftime.

That's good enough for us, then, and we'll make that our sole position tonight and hope things stay tight at the Cottage on a balmy night in London.

Fulham V Derby Odds    
Draw    3/1
Odds correct as of 14/05/18 16:48:05. Odds are subject to change.



https://www.thesportsman.com/articles/football-tips-monday-14-may-draw-can-take-derby-past-fulham-and-on-to-wembley

WhiteJC

 
Fulham owner Shahid Khan jets in for crunch play-off clash with Derby


Jetting in: Shahid Khan is in London for Fulham's crunch clash (Action Images)

Fulham owner Shahid Khan has flown in from America to be at Craven Cottage on Monday for the second leg of his club's play-off tie.

Khan could become one of the most significant figures in football if he completes a deal worth well in excess of £500million to buy Wembley Stadium.

The 67-year-old, who was unable to attend Friday's first leg, hopes to take a step towards joining the group of American owners in the Premier League including Stan Kroenke at Arsenal, the Glazer family (Manchester United) and John Henry (Liverpool).

Promotion to the Premier League would be worth around £170m to Fulham and missing out would be a setback for Khan, who has owned the club since 2013 and last watched the team when they drew 1-1 with Brentford last month.

Fulham have a record of no wins from seven games in the play-offs and lost in the semi-finals last season. They missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of this season and defender Denis Odoi says they are desperate to avoid more disappointment.

He added: "We had the feeling from last year, the feeling from the last day this season and that feeling sucks. We do not want that feeling again.

"We are confident. We do not need to pressure ourselves to think we need to score in five minutes."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-owner-shahid-khan-jets-in-for-crunch-playoff-clash-with-derby-a3838721.html

WhiteJC

 
Fulham's Denis Odoi tells Championship playoff foes Derby they are doomed if they repeat first leg tactics

The Rams start Monday's decider 1-0 up despite having just 26% possession and scoring with their only effort on target

Denis Odoi has warned Derby that negative tactics will see their Wembley dream ripped apart.

The Fulham defender watched in frustration as the Rams played defensively at home in Friday's first leg while snatching the only goal on a rare attack.

But Odoi still expects the Cottagers to be facing Aston Villa or Derby on May 26 for the chance to reach the Premier League.

Before tonight's decider in southwest London, he said: "If they play like that again we will score for sure.

"Five at the back? It felt like they were playing eight at the back! They just dropped so deep, they really had no intention of attacking.

"They got a good result for them, so they will say they are happy. They had their tactics and for them it worked well but not to sound cocky, we are still confident about ourselves. We know how we've played in the past and if they play like that again, we will get one for sure.

"I don't think we have to do so much different. We need a few extra per cent in the box and maybe a little bit stronger in holding the ball.

"We don't need to pressure ourselves into thinking we have to score after five minutes. Even if it's 0-0 after 70 minutes we still have time and if it comes to extra-time, we will see what happens but we're still confident.

"Not being arrogant, they have their way of playing, but I don't think they had any chances apart from the goal."

Derby boss Gary Rowett reckons his side has plenty of proven "big game" performers to book a Wembley spot tonight.

Rowett's team is packed full of promotion-winning experience with the likes of Curtis Davies, Bradley Johnson, Cameron Jerome (who scored the only goal in the first leg) and Tom Huddlestone.

Rowett feels they are men for the big occasion in his Pride Park squad, which includes top scorer Matej Vydra.

He said: "When you have played in those type of games sometimes it takes a big game to really motivate you in that same way.

"That is the challenge any team like us has — when you go to the smaller teams in the division away from home then occasionally your players just don't have quite the same mentality, which is just the way it is.

"Someone like Cameron Jerome has played in big games, Bradley Johnson loves the big occasions and the big games. Matej Vydra always revels in the big occasions in terms of the quality he shows - he scored two goals in a semi-final for Watford once. We have got lots of players like that."



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/fulhams-denis-odoi-tells-championship-12535316


WhiteJC

 
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic: 'Ryan Sessegnon doesn't deserve pressure'

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has attempted to ease the pressure on Ryan Sessegnon ahead of the second leg of the Championship playoff tie with Derby County.

Sessegnon has enjoyed a stellar campaign with the Cottagers, contributing 15 goals and six assists in 47 appearances, but the 17-year-old has struggled to make an impact in his last two games.

However, Jokanovic has suggested that the youngster should not have to play under the restrictions of pressure due to his lack of experience in senior football.

The 49-year-old is quoted by The Telegraph as saying: "He has a really bright future in front of him, not only for Fulham but probably for England in the future or even immediately.

"Ryan needs the help from people around him and this kid doesn't need any pressure. He's only 17 and to talk about our possibilities on the back of one kid is not right. He's shown many times that he is a great lad, great footballer and great worker. We trust he'll be at his best level."

Fulham head into the second leg against Derby facing a 1-0 deficit.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/jokanovic-dont-heap-pressure-on-sessegnon_325904.html

WhiteJC

 
Fulham fans look ahead to Play-Off match

There's a huge game in West London tonight, as Fulham host Derby County in the second leg of the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi Final.

The Rams head into tonight's game with a slender advantage, after Cameron Jerome's first half header earned them a 1-0 victory at the iPro Stadium.

It was their defensive solidarity that earned them the win, and meant that they head into tonight's game knowing they will progress to the Sky Bet Championship Final if they avoid defeat against the Cottagers.

Fulham's recent history in the Play-Offs does not stand them in good stead. They lost in last season's Semi Final to Reading, and they head into tonight's game knowing that no team has overturned a first leg deficit in the Play-Offs since Bolton Wanderers in 1995.

That being said, the Cottagers fans are still optimistic ahead of the game.



http://the72.co.uk/102587/fulham-fans-look-ahead-play-off-match/

WhiteJC

 
Fulham vs Derby LIVE: Follow all the action from the Championship play-off semi-final second leg

    Derby head into the game with a 1-0 lead from the first-leg clash at Pride Park
    The winner of last-four game will play in Championship play-off final on May 26
    Follow all the action from match on Monday night as it happens with Sportsmail
    Fulham: Bettinelli, Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett, McDonald, Cairney, Johansen, Kamara, Mitrovic, Sessegnon
    Derby: Carson, Forsyth, Keogh, Anya, Lawrence, Wisdom, Johnson, Weimann, Jerome, Davies, Huddlestone

Fulham host Derby on Monday night in the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-final.

The visitors head into the game with a one-goal advantage after Cameron Jerome's header separated the two sides at Pride Park last Friday.

The winner of the last-four clash will play for a place in the Premier League in the Championship play-off final on Saturday, May 26.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5727657/Fulham-vs-Derby-LIVE-Championship-play-semi-final-second-leg.html#ixzz5FV628ohJ
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook


WhiteJC

 
Statistical Preview: Fulham vs. Derby County - Second Leg
Can Fulham move on to Wembley?

So judgement day is upon us! Fulham are either going to Wembley Stadium for the Playoff Final or they will be ending their season wondering what might have been. This football club won't go away anytime soon, but you can truly feel the tension in the air among the supporters that this may be the end of such a bright era for Fulham. Everyone in the top flights of England and Europe are going after Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon. Ryan Fredericks could leave the club on a free transfer while the likes of Kevin McDonald, Stefan Johansen, Denis Odoi, Neeskans Kebano and Floyd Ayite have until next season to have their fates decided by the club via the transfer market if retooling has to be required. And who on Earth knows what will happen to Lucas Piazon, Aleksander Mitrovic, Matt Targett, Sheyi Ojo and Tomas Kalas now that they would return to their respective parent clubs. In short, tonight is a night that could decide where this club goes in the near future.

But as mentioned before, if these opportunities only come around such a few amount of times, we have to take advantage of it. And I include us supporters in this regard. This is the opportunity for this squad of players to give it one last go in front of a raucous Craven Cottage and make this the night of their lives. But they can not do it alone. They need all the support they can get. There will be tense times. Like last Friday, nothing will come easy for them. Expert opinion here, but they will have what it takes to get the job done if they can be able to cash in on their chances.

First Leg Stats
eams    Goals    Expected Goals    Possession    Formations    Total Shots    Shots on Target    Passes    Forward Passes
Fulham    0    0.8    73.8    4-3-3    13    2    783    492
Derby County    1    0.1    26.2    3-4-3    3    1    269    187
All data from fivethiryeight.com and fulhamfc.com

As shown in the stats from the first leg, you couldn't ask for lots more out of Fulham at Pride Park, especially in the second half. Derby took their one shot on goal with a plum. Fulham, on the other hand, had roughly three to five good looks towards goal and only one of them were on target.

You could argue that Fulham were playing way too cautious in the first half and that is certainly true, but Derby's 3-4-3 was perfectly designed to hit them on the counter-attack, as evidenced by the high percentage of passes going forward. Along with that, you can also argue that Fulham's 0.8 expected goals is simply not enough to squeeze out of the 13 total shots they had. They simply have to find a way to get through Curtis Davies and Co., get more touches in the Derby penalty area and be more threatening when the opportunities there to put one past the keeper.

Speaking of Davies, there was no denying that he was immense and put in a captain's performance in "shutting down" Mitrovic. At the end of the day, five tackles, six interceptions and four clearances is an incredible workload, but it's not like Mitrovic was non-existent either. His three shots were still near his season average of 4.34 per 90 minutes, but only one of them went on target, in comparison to the 42.3% efficiency that he has had with Fulham.

On the other side of the spectrum, you would have thought Jerome would be this colossus after scoring such an important goal for Derby County. However, the 31-year old has had such a topsy-turvy career that it would be so fitting for people to skip the narrative after last Friday. While he was with Norwich this campaign, Jerome only had one goal off of 26 shots because only five of said shots went on target. At Derby, those numbers have improved to six goals off of 20 shots with 10 of them going on target. Find middle ground between the two sets of data and you basically have Jerome's goal rate (0.32 per 90 minutes), and percentage of shots on target (35.2%) since his data has been recorded at whoscored.com ('09-'10 Season). However, it is important to notice that his usual shot rate (2.47 per 90 minutes in 18,725 league minutes) has decreased over time (2.20 per 90 minutes in 17/18). Again though, if you have an opportunity like only needing to beat a shorter Matt Targett in an aerial battle to smash a powerful header home, you have to take it and that is what Jerome did right there.

Which leaves us to one final question. Who else can step up for Fulham if Mitrovic can't score? Simply put, it is time to see what Floyd Ayite and Ryan Sessegnon are made of. Tom Cairney will do what he does best, but while one of his curling efforts from distance could see Fulham through, it's not the most sustainable shot in football to count upon every night. Stefan Johansen could be StefJo, but he's been so Jekyll and Hyde all season that supporters don't know which one will show up tonight.

As for Ayite, since he is in his age-29 season, you know what you are getting out of him: a high volume dribbler that does shoot with volume (2.59 per 90 minutes this season), but very rarely do you see him be efficient with it since he very rarely steps inside the penalty area. That said, to see 36.0% of his total shots be inside the 18-yard box is an increase to the 31.8% rate that we normally see.

Lastly, this is not the first time I have mentioned that Sessegnon has to shoot more and while the teenager has been immense all season, his goal scoring has begun to dry up. In his last twelve games, the 17-year old has only scored once. His overall production since is as follows:

Sessegnon Before & After
Ryan Sessegnon    Games    Minutes    Goals    Shots    Penalty    On Target    Key Passes    Dribbles
Since March 3rd    12    994    1    1.09    0.92    0.67    1.00    1.18
Up to March 3rd    35    3123    14    1.33    0.74    0.35    1.21    1.30
All data from whoscored.com

As you can see, Sessegnon has been so selective with his shot that he is no longer pulling on the trigger like he once was. As a result, the rest of his attacking game is dwindling while defenders are beginning to limit his space in the areas he likes to shoot in. Slavisa Jokanovic is right in that others have to help out the teenage wonder, but for Fulham to win tonight, Sessegnon has to get back to basics and remember what made him special in the first place.

Here's to hoping Fulham's wildest dreams continue to come true.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/5/14/17350980/statistical-preview-fulham-vs-derby-county-second-leg

WhiteJC

 
Top 50 Players of the EFL – 34th: Tim Ream (Fulham)

Fulham defender Tim Ream has been voted by you as the 34th best player in the EFL.

Over the last month, we have been gathering votes from you to find the best managers and players in the EFL. And after counting the votes, we have discovered you think that Ream is the 34th best player in the Football League. This is the first time that he has been on this list.

Behind every great attacking force is a great defence. And while there are plenty of Fulham midfielders and forwards that get plenty of praise, and some of which may end up appearing on this list later on, you must have a great defence to make sure that every game doesn't end up being a seven goal thriller. So Fulham fans should be praising Ream just as much as their other stars.

While the likes of Ryan Sessegnon, Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrovic were doing brilliantly up front, Ream was leading the defence and making sure they didn't leak more goals than necessary. Not only was he great at stopping attacks but he also contributed to the passing style of play that Fulham use, being able to pass the ball out of defence and start attacks from right at the back. There were some great performances to remember as well with games against Millwall, Leeds United and Aston Villa being particular highlights.

Fulham's season is not over yet as they are competing in the play-offs and Ream will hope to get them to the final.



http://the72.co.uk/102539/top-50-players-efl-34th-tim-ream-fulham/

WhiteJC

 
Team News: Fulham make one change for second leg

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has made just one change to his starting lineup for the second leg of the Championship playoff tie with Derby County.

The West Londoners head into Monday night's clash trailing by a 1-0 deficit, and Jokanovic has opted to bring in Aboubakar Kamara in place of Floyd Ayite.

There had been suggestions that Sheyi Ojo could be involved after recovering from injury, but the Liverpool loanee misses out on the 18-man squad.

Derby manager Gary Rowett has also made one alteration, with top goalscorer Matej Vydra only being selected among the replacements.

Ikechi Anya has been brought into the team, with Cameron Jerome keeping his spot in the starting lineup after netting the only goal of the game at Pride Park.

Fulham: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett; McDonald, Cairney, Johansen; Kamara, Sessegnon, Mitrovic
Subs: Button, Kalas, Christie, Norwood, Piazon, Ayite, Fonte

Derby County: Carson; Wisdom, Keogh, Davies, Forsyth; Huddlestone, Johnson, Anya, Lawrence, Weimann; Jerome
Subs: Roos, Palmer, Pearce, Vydra, Hanson, Nugent, Ledley



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/team-news/team-news-fulham-make-one-change-for-second-leg_325917.html