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Tuesday Fulham Stuff (05/10/10)...

Started by WhiteJC, October 05, 2010, 07:41:33 AM

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WhiteJC

http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/football-ealing/fulham-fc-ealing/2010/10/01/dempsey-vows-to-prove-manager-hughes-wrong-64767-27381680/?
Dempsey vows to prove manager Hughes wrong

CLINT Dempsey insists he will prove Mark Hughes wrong by winning over his fourth Fulham manager in four years and claiming a permanent spot in the first team.

Injuries to the Whites' strikers have meant the Texan has been forced to fill a slot he cannot stand - the lone front man with his back to goal. But Dempsey is ready to shoulder the burden after being sidelined at the start of the campaign.
In fact, the USA World Cup international has only had two full games since South Africa and warned boss Hughes his best is yet to come - provided he gets a run in the first team.

"The only way you can be fully fit is to play 90 minutes week in, week out," said Dempsey. "Would I like to have been given a chance from the start? Sure, but that's life - it's tough, but that's the way it goes. I've got to make the most of my opportunities and score goals. This is the fourth time I've had a new manager, and it will be four years since I came here. But it's all part of the process of proving yourself.

"Whatever position they want me, I'll do the best I can."

Dempsey was sporting a shiner after the 0-0 draw against Everton on Saturday - a souvenir from the tough encounter at Blackburn the week before where the American opened his account.

But the forward reckoned it was not going to get any easier at West Ham tomorrow (Saturday), despite facing a lesser physical outfit.

He added: "Who's to say West Ham are less tough? The positive is we're not losing away - apart from the Carling Cup game. Even when we do concede, we show our character and come back."

The man whose home borders the country of Carlos Salcido has also taken the Mexican under his wing.

Dempsey added: "I speak less than kindergarten Spanish - but we're communicating. I'm telling him places to eat and places to go.

"He's a good player and he's learning English, so he'll soon be speaking with all the rest."

WhiteJC

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/October/LambethWorldCup.aspx?
Lambeth World Cup

150 young people took to Kennington Park last month to participate in the Lambeth Summer World Cup football tournament delivered by the Fulham Football Club Foundation, in partnership with Lambeth Council.

The Foundation led scheme, now in its third year, has been running throughout the borough of Lambeth at five venues (Kennington Park, Clapham Common, Brockwell Park, Streatham Common and Norwood Park) during the six weeks of the school summer holidays. The scores and results from each match were recorded so that the winners and runners up from each venue could be invited to a finals showcase at Lambeth Activate Weekend on Saturday 18th September.

A day of activities and matches competing across two age groups – 8 to 11 years and 12 to 15 years, descended on Kennington Park during the Lambeth Activate Weekend Festival to find the best young footballers in the borough. The tournament consisted of seventeen male teams and two girls teams who all competed in a best of five series.

All participants received a medal for their involvement on the day, with the overall winners in each category being given the chance to parade on a lap of honour at Craven Cottage during the half-time interval at the Fulham v Everton on Saturday 25th September.

The Redz (12-15 yrs), Sports Fusion Development Centre (8-11 yrs), St Matthews Project (girls winners) as well as the other girls team representing Lambeth Sport and Recreation, were the victors of the day and were presented with their trophies prior to kick-off at the Barclays Premier League game against Everton on Saturday.

Kenny Dowling, Senior Sports Development Officer at the Fulham Football Club Foundation said:
"Fulham Football Club Foundation has been running the Lambeth Summer World Cup for the last three years and we are really pleased with the level of involvement we have had from young people in the local area.

The project's aim is to provide high quality coaching and competition to young people who may not normally have the opportunity or means to get involved, as well as allowing key messages about healthy living to reach them and their families. The project this year has once again been a great success and we will look to strive to achieve more initiatives in these areas as we at the Foundation look to continue to 'build better lives through sport.'

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/October/LambethWorldCup.aspx?#ixzz11SqEpR9b

WhiteJC

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/oct/04/mark-schwarzer-fulham-arsenal-move?
Mark Schwarzer still keen to 'force' transfer away from Fulham
• Goalkeeper was subject of £2m bid from Arsenal in summer
• 'A lot can happen between now and January'


Mark Schwarzer had a written transfer request turned down in the summer.
Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images


Mark Schwarzer has hinted he will try to "force" Fulham to sell him in January after being denied a summer move to Arsenal.

The Australia goalkeeper saw a written transfer request turned down by Fulham during a close season in which Arsenal offered £2m for his services. But the 37-year-old, whose contract expires next summer, looks set to make a fresh attempt to leave when the window reopens.

"A lot can happen between now and January. What will be will be," Schwarzer said. "If there's an opportunity in January then we'll explore it."

Speaking after arriving in Australia for their friendly against Paraguay, Schwarzer added: "This is the only time in my career I have ever tried to force an issue. I don't have time on my side. If you were a 30-year-old, you would walk away and say, 'Fair enough, I understand'.

"But I'm almost 38 and I want to fulfil an ambition. The sheer opportunity that was there – that was very flattering. But sometimes you've just got to grin and bear it and just get on with normal life again as much as possible. You just have to get your head down and work as hard as possible.

"It can affect your day-to-day life, and ultimately I am judged on how I perform week in, week out. If that performance drops, then no club is going to be interested in me. The bottom line is I've got to play well, wherever I am."


WhiteJC

http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=215790
Fulham - Dempsey Shines!
Asked to play in a forward role that he`s sometimes done before, Clint Dempsey gave West Ham a torrid time on Saturday.

He may have been playing with an eye that looked like he`d gone ten rounds with a leading heavyweight contender but come the final whistle the West Ham defence knew they`d been in a hard battle.

Having already been the villain of Robert Green`s peace in South Africa, it`s fair to say that the keeper had no chance with the effort that beat him this time around.

Dempsey is the sort of player that will always give 100% and having put in a shift and a half on Saturday, it was pleasing to see that at least one tabloid had recognized his efforts, on Saturday, by naming him in their Premier League team of the weekend!

Cometh the hour cometh Clint!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=215790#ixzz11SrKk03s

WhiteJC

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/1577/6/sunderland-set-sights-£5million-almeria-star?
Sunderland set sights on £5million Almeria star



Sunderland are tracking Almeria's £5m-rated hitman Kalu Uche with a view to making a bid in January.
The Nigeria international, who can operate as an out-and-out striker or in midfield, has hit three goals in his last two La Liga outings.

Uche was reportedly a target for Fulham during the summer but no bid from the west London side materialised.

The Spanish media have suggested that Sunderland scouts were in attendance when Uche struck against Malaga to secure a 1-1 draw on Sunday.

Almeria sources have confirmed that scouts are trailing their starman, famous for his acrobatic goal celebrations, but insist no firm offer has been made by anybody.

WhiteJC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/9060144.stm
Damien Duff set to miss Republic's Euro 2012 qualifiers

Fulham midfielder Damien Duff is set to miss the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Russia and Slovakia because of a calf injury.

Manager Giovanni Trapattoni said Duff is "90%" certain to miss Friday's clash with Russia in Dublin and the trip to Zilina on Tuesday.

Duff is returning to his club, as is Blackburn midfielder Keith Andrews, who has a persistent groin injury.

Trapattoni has added Stoke City defender Marc Wilson to the squad.

The same injury kept Duff out of last month's wins over Armenia and Andorra.

Wilson replaces Celtic defender Darren O'Dea, who pulled out with a knee injury.

Fulham defender Stephen Kelly also withdrew at the weekend because of a calf injury and the void was filled by Everton's Seamus Coleman, who has been handed his first call-up.

Keith Treacy and Cillian Sheridan have also been put on stand-by by manager Trapattoni.

Both were included in the original squad last week which has now been reduced.

The Republic top Group B on goal difference from Slovakia while Russia lie third.

Republic take on Russia at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on 8 October before travelling to Zilina for the Slovakia qualifier four days later.

Republic of Ireland squad: Given (Manchester City), Westwood (Coventry), Murphy (Scunthorpe); O'Shea (Manchester United), Coleman (Everton), Wilson (Stoke City) Dunne (Aston Villa), St Ledger (Preston), Cunningham (Manchester City), Foley (Wolves), McShane (Hull), Kilbane (Hull), Andrews (Blackburn), Whelan (Stoke), Gibson (Manchester United), Green (Derby), Lawrence (Portsmouth), McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Keogh (Cardiff), Duff (Fulham), Fahey (Birmingham), Keane (Tottenham), Doyle (Wolves), Long (Reading).


WhiteJC

http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2010/10/04/nice-man-wrong-job/?
Nice man, wrong job?
Filed under: General — rich
Paul Tomkins of the Tomkins Times has written this on Roy's issues.

Dunno.  Paul's site is the most thoughtful Liverpool site out there (by a country mile) but even they've lost whatever faith they might have had in Hodgson.

My own view is that a) this is very much a worst case scenario on the statistical curve, and that in a parallel universe with the same manager and the same players everything's going well and these discussions aren't happening; b) Liverpool fans overrate their players; c) the likes of Alonso and Mascherano (and effectively Torres) were far more important than people realised; d) everything some of our fans moaned about is being magnified to a factor of about a million up there; e) he's a good manager, with better players, so if people can only keep their head all will be well.  Right?

But people aren't going to keep their heads are they?

PS where have all the comments gone?   Is it the redesign?!   We've gone from lots of interesting discussion to none in a week.

WhiteJC

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1317665/Nigeria-banned-African-Cup-Nations-qualifying-FIFA-government-interference-NFF.html?
Nigeria banned from African Cup of Nations qualifying by FIFA due to 'government interference' in the NFF

FIFA have suspended the Nigerian Football Federation due to government interference, world football's governing body announced this afternoon.

FIFA have become frustrated with events in the African country and have now acted, meaning the country's national team will not be able to participate in qualifying for the African Cup of Nations until the matter is resolved.

A FIFA statement read: 'The FIFA emergency committee decided today, October 4 2010, to suspend the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with immediate effect on account of government interference.

'This decision follows the latest events linked to the NFF, such as the court actions against elected members of the NFF executive committee preventing them from exercising their functions and duties, the stepping down of the acting NFF general secretary on the instructions of the National Sports Commission, the decision of the Minister of Sports to have the Nigerian League start without relegation from the previous season, and the fact that the NFF executive committee cannot work properly due to this interference.

'The suspension will be maintained until the court actions have ceased and the duly elected NFF executive committee is able to work without any interference.

'During the period of suspension, the NFF will not be able to be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions, including at club level, and also not in friendly matches.

'In addition, neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials can benefit from any development programme, course, or training from FIFA or CAF while the federation remains suspended.'

Nigeria won their opening ANC qualifier, 2-0 against Madagascar.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1317665/Nigeria-banned-African-Cup-Nations-qualifying-FIFA-government-interference-NFF.html?#ixzz11St6fjXI

WhiteJC

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6427150,00.html?
Duff blow for Republic
Winger almost certainly ruled out of qualifiers

Giovanni Trapattoni expects Damien Duff to miss Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Russia and Slovakia.

The Fulham winger has a calf strain and Trapattoni believes he only has slim chance of being fit for the crucial qualifiers.

The former Newcastle and Chelsea man is now heading home for treatment and the Italian is not expecting to have him available.

Despite the loss of the talented winger, Trapattoni insists he has enough wingers at his disposal and will not be calling up a replacement.

Bad news

"The news is not very good today," said Trapattoni. "Damien Duff has had a scan and there is a little injury.

"It is 90 per cent he is not available. A muscle injury is very dangerous. It is not easy to recover in eight days.

"He has pulled the muscle and there is a little blood showing on the scan, so we spoke to the doctor and he is going home."

Asked if he would call up any replacements, Trapattoni replied: "No, we have enough wingers here.

"With Stephen Kelly missing, we are a defender short, so we have called up Marc Wilson."

Acceptance
Meanwhile, Trapattoni insists he has no qualms with Preston winger Keith Treacywithdrawing from selection due to fatigue.

"(Preston) said he is injured. He can play, but he needs rest," he continued. "They wanted to rest him so he could recover.

"Always after one hour, he is in pain in his groin and they think it is better he stays at home.

"After the last game, he played 60 minutes, he felt it and we hope with this rest, he gets better.

"In Italy, we have other habits. If a player is injured, our doctor speaks with their doctor, he comes in and then he goes home. In Italy, players always come.

"It's not a problem of believe or not believe. I am not a doctor."


WhiteJC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/9060523.stm

Schwarzer's departure would result in Fulham boss Mark Hughes renewing his efforts to lure Manchester City keeper Shay Given to Craven Cottage. (Daily Express)

Tom

Quote from: WhiteJC on October 05, 2010, 08:00:45 AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/9060523.stm

Schwarzer's departure would result in Fulham boss Mark Hughes renewing his efforts to lure Manchester City keeper Shay Given to Craven Cottage. (Daily Express)
Dear Santa, please bring us a new present in the form of a new goalkeeper.
Fulham for life!

White Noise

#11

Fair Play Latest


Tuesday 5th October 2010


Share The latest Barclays Premier League Fair Play tables have been released. The tables are compiled from marks awarded by The Premier League Match Delegates.

Fulham's fans currently sit in fourth position in the Behaviour of the Public table while the team is ninth in the Fair Play League.

Pos TeamPlayed   Pts   Avge
1Blackpool6538.83
2Arsenal6518.5
3Blackburn6518.5
4Fulham6518.5
5Man City6508.33
6Newcastle6508.33
7Sunderland6508.33
8Man Utd6498.17
9Aston Villa6498.17
10Everton6498.17
11Spurs6488
12Liverpool6477.83
13Chelse.a6477.83
14Birmingham6457.5
15Stoke6457.5
16Wigan6457.5
17West Brom6447.33
18West Ham6437.17
19Wolves6437.17
14Bolton6416.83

Fair Play League
Pos Played    R/Y    P/P    R/O    R/R    B/O    Pts    Score    Avge 
1the dark side 6 51 53 35 36 35 210 52.5 8.75 
2Tottenham Hotspur 6 51 48 37 37 32 205 51.3 8.54 
3West Bromwich Albion 6 48 48 37 38 31 202 50.5 8.42 
4Liverpool 6 51 46 36 36 33 202 50.5 8.42 
5Manchester United 6 48 51 35 35 32 201 50.3 8.38
6Aston Villa 6 49 49 36 36 31 201 50.3 8.38 
7Manchester City 6 47 47 34 37 35 200 50 8.33 
8Blackburn Rovers 6 52 43 35 37 31 198 49.5 8.25 
9Fulham 6 49 46 36 36 30 197 49.3 8.21 
10Arsenal 6 45 49 37 36 29 196 49 8.17 
11Everton 6 54 46 34 34 28 196 49 8.17 
12Sunderland 6 46 47 34 35 31 193 48.3 8.04 
13West Ham United 6 47 42 35 36 32 192 48
14Wigan Athletic 6 48 43 33 35 32 191 47.8 7.96 
15Blackpool 6 48 46 36 36 25 191 47.8 7.96 
16Stoke City 6 48 43 33 35 31 190 47.5 7.92 
17Newcastle United 6 45 46 33 32 32 188 47 7.83 
18Bolton Wanderers 6 43 44 32 34 30 183 45.8 7.63 
19Birmingham City 6 45 43 29 31 31 179 44.8 7.46 
20Wolverhampton Wanderers 6 38 45 31 31 31 176 44 7.33 


Key:

R/Y = Red & Yellow Cards - Maximum 10 pts per Match (Red 3 pts, Yellow 1 pt)
P/P = Positive Play - Maximum 10 pts per Match
R/O = Respect Towards Opponent - Maximum 7 pts per Match
R/R = Respect Towards Referee - Maximum 7 pts per Match
B/O = Behaviour of Officials - Maximum 6 pts per Match
.

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/October/FairPlayLatest.aspx#ixzz11TSg6RrB


White Noise


http://football.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/10/05/mark-hughes-needs-to-cut-out-the-cynicism-to-fire-up-fulham-agai/


Mark Hughes Needs to Cut Out the Cynicism to Fire Up Fulham Again


05/10/2010 3:44 AM GMT


By Matt Butler


Mark Hughes's assertion that he has put his own stamp on Fulham after three months as manager may be taken two ways. One, that he has forged an uncompromising team that is difficult to beat, is borne out by the fact they are undefeated so far this term.

The other, that they are a little dour, rough – not to mention slightly cynical – and go out to force opposition sides to submit rather than play their way through, is a little more subjective but no less valid.

Of course Hughes has had to contend with the loss of his two first-choice forwards in their last two games, so has had to compromise a little attacking flair.

But the neutrals among the crowds at their last two fixtures – a goalless stalemate at home to Everton and a 1-1 draw at West Ham – may have noticed that tackles were slightly on the wrong side of being, shall we say, enthusiastic

There was a tendency for their players to go down easily a little too frequently and the number of forward passes wouldn't have looked out of place at a rugby match, let alone a top-flight football game. Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook iPhone App - Get It Now
It is odd – because even without the services of strikers Bobby Zamora and Moussa Dembele, Hughes has a team that is more than capable of passing their way through opposition sides, as they showed last season, especially in their comeback European victories, where they flatly refused to resort to the long ball even if they were a goal or two behind.

Hughes, unsurprisingly, doesn't see that his side are developing a cynical edge, but concedes something must be done to arrest their 15-month run without a league win on the road.

He said: "I'd like to think I've put my stamp on the team, especially away from home. I'm a bit frustrated with the draws but it's only a matter of time, with the quality of what we're producing, before we are turning them into victories.

"I've got a group of good, technical players, but away from home they possibly bear the scars of not having won for so long. We have to overcome that and not get bogged down by it and go about our business."

"We're not set up to frustrate teams, we're quite open and attack-minded and we try and break the lines and cause the opposition problems and I think that's why we're unbeaten."

Open and attack-minded may be one way of putting it, but if Hughes is to break the run without a Premier League away win that goes back to August 15, 2009, he could do worse than use the likes of Danny Murphy, Damien Duff and Zoltan Gera, who are more than comfortable with the ball at their feet.

Even towering centre half Brede Hangeland has shown glimpses in the last couple of games that he can control and pass past players rather than hoof it upfield and, if he can, any of his team-mates can.

WhiteJC

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/1593/9/fulham-lining-bid-£75m-german-striker?
Fulham lining up bid for £7.5m German striker



Fulham are lining up a January move for Bayer Leverkusen hitman Stefan Kiessling.

The striker, 26, scored 21 times in 33 Bundesliga appearances last term earning him a call-up to Joachim Low's Germany squad for the World Cup.

But he only managed two substitute appearances in South Africa, most notably against England during Germany's 4-1 second-round victory.

Kiessling has scored once in four outings this season and, according to reports in German and Italian newspapers, Fulham scouts have been in attendance.

The west-London club have had to deal with injuries to strikers Bobby Zamora, Mousa Dembele and Andy Johnson this term and could be tempted to bolster their attacking options with a January swoop for Kiessling.

But manager Mark Hughes will have to compete with Roma, who are also tracking the £7.5m-rated striker.

WhiteJC

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/44728/Forlan_open_to_Premier_League_move.aspx?
Forlan open to Premier League move

Atletico Madrid hit-man Diego Forlan has alerted Premier League clubs by suggesting he could be ready to leave La Liga in January.

The Uruguay sensation endured a disastrous spell at Manchester United between 2002 and 2004, but has since hit dazzling form on the continent.

He scored twice in the Europa Cup final last season when Atletico landed the title with a 2-1 win over Fulham and was awarded with the Golden Ball at this summer's World Cup finals.

Despite having three years left to run on his existing deal, Forlan has admitted he would consider a return to England.

"If I have the chance to go, I will go. You know, it's like I always say, when I came here to Europe it's because I left my home and I left everybody so I'm not attached to a team," he said.

"(You look at) the best offer you have and if you have a chance and it is good and it is good for the team and it is good for you, I don't see it as bad, I see it is good and I will move.

"The papers say things but at the moment I am here, I have a contract with the club and there's nothing else to say.

"Everybody says things, that maybe you don't want to go back. The time I had in England was great and I enjoyed it and if I had the chance to go back I would be really happy."


WhiteJC

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/October/AaronInternationalPreview.aspx?
Italian Job

After making a fine start to their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a 1-0 win over Slovenia in Maribor at the start of September, Northern Ireland return to action against Italy on Friday night hoping to record another famous win at Windsor Park.

Fulham defender Aaron Hughes will lead Northern Ireland out in front of a sell-out home crowd, and whilst Hughes acknowledges the advantage of playing on home turf, he will not be underestimating the threat of Group C leaders Italy, who have scored seven goals in two qualifying games thus far.

"At home over the last few years we've had some really good results," Hughes told fulhamfc.com. "The England and Spain games will be talked about for years and we beat a lot of good teams that were ranked higher than us at home.

"Our home form is strong and we should go into the game with plenty of confidence but it would be extremely dangerous to go into the match thinking Italy aren't what they used to be. We face a tough test and we have to do everything we did against Slovenia in the first game and a little bit more.

"The Italian team is full of quality players. In terms of qualification, if we can get something from the game, it would be massive for us. We have two games coming up and if we could get something from the Italy game, even if we come away with a point, it's not the end of the world. Obviously we want to win the game but it we can take something it would be fantastic."

Hughes and company will be much fancied to take all three points in their third fixture of the Euro 2012 qualifiers, when they play the Faroe Islands in Toftir next Tuesday. Hughes compares the fixture to a classic cup tie and is calling for a strong, professional performance to maintain Northern Ireland's charge for the Finals.

"We'll go into the game against the Faroe Islands as favourites but it'll almost be like a cup match against a lower league team," Hughes explained. "We have to make sure we do everything right because it's the type of game you can easily slip up in. If you don't do it properly you will become unstuck so they are two massive games for us.

"In past qualification campaigns we've done well around the middle of the campaign and not got off to the best start. We've had to play catch up in the past but if we can get a strong start then we'll give ourselves a really good chance."



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/October/AaronInternationalPreview.aspx?#ixzz11UpkaRCd

WhiteJC

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/October/InternationalPreview.aspx
All Around The World

A whole host of Fulham's First Team squad will be travelling all over the globe this week ahead of their respective Euro 2012 Qualifiers, Continental Qualifiers and friendly matches.

The action in Europe kicks-off on Friday and arguably the most enthralling contest of the night takes place at Windsor Park with Northern Ireland taking on Group C leaders Italy.

Fulham's Aaron Hughes and Chris Baird are both likely to feature in Nigel Worthington's team who will be looking to record another famous victory on home turf. Fulham's defensive pair will then travel to Toftir for Northern Ireland's third qualifying match against the Faroe Islands on Tuesday.

Following their recent impressive win over Portugal, Group H leaders Norway will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2012 qualifiers on Friday night. Brede Hangeland and Bjorn Helge Riise will almost certainly feature when Norway take on Cyprus in Nicosia.

Norway's qualifying campaign stops in Cyprus but the action continues in Zagreb with Egil Olsen's side playing a friendly against Croatia on Tuesday night.

Hungary, who currently sit in third place behind Sweden and the Netherlands in Group E, can really up the ante during the current international break with the top two playing each other in Amsterdam in Friday night.

If Zoltan Gera and company can reign supreme over San Marino in Budapest on Friday, and take three points against Finland in Helsinki next Tuesday, it's game on in Group E.

Two players who will miss out on international action over the next week are Damien Duff and Stephen Kelly. The Republic of Ireland internationals are both ruled out of contention through injury.

Kelly is recovering from a calf strain picked up during Fulham's draw against Everton on the 25th September. Duff joined his international colleagues in Portmarnock at the start of the week but has returned to Fulham for treatment.

Three Fulham players feature in the Continental Qualifiers for the 2012 African Cup of Nations to be held in Gabon-Equatorial Guinea.


John Pantsil's Ghana team, arguably the best team in Africa at present, having been one spot-kick away from reaching the last four of the 2010 Wold Cup Finals, are expected to finish top of their respective group at a canter.

The Black Stars got off to a perfect start, recording a 3-0 win away to Swaziland at the beginning of September. This week Ghana take on Sudan at home in Accra on Saturday.

Dickson Etuhu, enjoying a fine start to the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League season with Fulham, was due to be involved in Nigeria's Continental Qualifier away to Guinea in Conakry.

However, Football's world governing body FIFA suspended Nigeria from international football on Monday due to the government's interference in the sport. Consequently this leaves Nigeria's game against Guinea in doubt.

After impressing individually and collectively at the 2010 World Cup Finals, Rafik Halliche and his Algerian side are now tipped as the dark horses for the 2012 African Cup of Nations.

Algeria's qualifying campaign started with a draw against Tanzania and on Saturday Halliche and his team face the Central African Republic away in Bangui.

For those nations not involved in qualifying matches around the world, the international break offers the chance some competitive action in arranged friendly matches.

Four of Fulham's First Team squad will be racking up the air miles over the next week or so for friendly matches. Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer flies down under for Australia's friendly against Paraguay in Sydney on Saturday.

Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson head west to the States for two friendly matches, against Poland in Chicago on Saturday and Columbia in Chester on Tuesday.

Carlos Salcido will also be crossing the Atlantic with Mexico taking on Venezuela in Juarez on Tuesday.



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/October/InternationalPreview.aspx#ixzz11Uq9BfKz

WhiteJC

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/October/WarriorsTitleChallenge.aspx
Warriors' Title Challenge

The Warriors, a team in the Positive Mental Attitude league, took their 2009-10 league title fight to the last day of the season! The team had to win two games to gain promotion into the Premier division, an achievement they narrowly missed out in the previous year.

The penultimate match was against Woking, who they had beaten convincingly earlier in the season, and once again the Warriors secured a good victory winning 5-1, with top goal scorer Marley Antonio scoring a superb hat-trick.

Next up for the Warriors were the Newham Kickers. Fully aware that only a win would do, the Warriors started with a high tempo which resulted in an early goal.

As the match went on, Newham Kickers started to show their quality and finally equalised with less than five minutes remaining. This knocked the Warriors out of stride and resulted in Newham Kickers scoring the winner with the last kick of the game.

The day did end on a high note for the Warriors as Manager Binder Mahami received Manager of the Year award and Warriors striker Marley Antonio received the top goal scorer award for division one.

We would like to wish the team lots of luck for their first game this season 2010-11, taking place later this month!



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/October/WarriorsTitleChallenge.aspx#ixzz11UqY92E5


WhiteJC

http://www.teamtalk.com/northern-ireland/6428136/Hughes-relishing-Italy-clash?
Hughes relishing Italy clash

Fulham defender Aaron Hughes is relishing the prospect of leading Northern Ireland out against Italy at Windsor Park on Friday night.

Nigel Worthington's side opened their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a 1-0 win over Slovenia in Maribor at the start of September.

Having tasted some famous nights at Windsor Park, which included wins over England and Spain, Hughes sees no reason why Northern Ireland cannot pull off another shock.

"At home over the last few years we've had some really good results," Hughes told Fulham's official website.

"The England and Spain games will be talked about for years and we beat a lot of good teams that were ranked higher than us at home.

"Our home form is strong and we should go into the game with plenty of confidence, but it would be extremely dangerous to go into the match thinking Italy aren't what they used to be because the team is full of quality players.

"We face a tough test and we have to do everything we did against Slovenia in the first game and a little bit more."

After their own Italian job, Northern Ireland travel to Toftir to face the Faroe Islands as they look to keep up the pace in Group C.

Hughes, though, warned against complacency.

"We will go into the game against the Faroe Islands as favourites, but it will almost be like a cup match against a lower league team," the Fulham defender said.

"We have to make sure we do everything right because it's the type of game you can easily slip up in.

"If you don't do it properly you will become unstuck so they are two massive games for us.

"In past qualification campaigns we have done well around the middle of the campaign and not got off to the best start.

"We have had to play catch-up in the past, but if we can get a strong start then we will give ourselves a really good chance."

fulhamwannabe

Quote from: WhiteJC on October 05, 2010, 03:55:04 PM

After impressing individually and collectively at the 2010 World Cup Finals, Rafik Halliche and his Algerian side are now tipped as the dark horses for the 2012 African Cup of Nations.

Algeria’s qualifying campaign started with a draw against Tanzania and on Saturday Halliche and his team face the Central African Republic away in Bangui.
it's sunday we're playnig not saturday(if anyone's interested of course!)