Wednesday Fulham Stuff (21/11/18)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham need time they don't have in relegation battle

Premier League new boys Fulham spent a monstrous £110million upon their return to England's top division, adding twelve players to the ranks in a bid to avoid immediate relegation back to the Championship.

Slavisa Jokanovic replicated the poor season opening that his side suffered the 2017/18 season, however he hasn't been afforded the same time to turn the tables in the Premier League, with so much money at stake.


(Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City via Getty Images)

Former Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has taken the reins in South West London, and though his resume boasts a title win within the last three seasons, he may need time he doesn't have with Fulham.

The additions of Jean Michael Seri and Andre Schurrle were particularly shrewd signings at reasonable cost, and could prove to be stunning players for the club in the long run.

The same can be said for Calum Chambers and Timothy Fosu-Mensah, two young defenders with Premier League experience and big potential – though it's unlikely their moves will become permanent.


(Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

Ranieri may even see potential in André-Frank Zambo Anguissa that could make him the N'Golo Kante of this Fulham team, but with the Cottagers three points adrift at the bottom of the league and sporting the second worst defensive record at this point of the season in history, the tables are going to need to turn quickly.

Top clubs Liverpool and Chelsea have made numerous additions to their sides this year, and though they both remain undefeated, it's been clear to see the time needed for the new players to bed in.

Fulham cannot afford the same luxury of time to their 12 new players in this relegation dogfight.



https://tbrfootball.com/fulham-need-time-they-dont-have-in-relegation-battle/

[WhiteJC]

 
A Rough Guide To Fulham

A treat for those that like going to traditional football grounds, two sides of the ground date back many years a with the Stevenage Road stand, now named after Fulham legend Johnny Haynes dating back to 1905, a rare treat to see a football ground with a stand as iconic as this these days.

Getting There

Train

The easiest and by far the quickest way is to change at Clapham Junction and take a train to Putney, from there it is a short walk over Putney Bridge from where you can see Craven Cottage nestling on the banks of the Thames.

For those that prefer to go into Central London you need to pick up a westbound district line tube going to Wimbledon and alight at Putney Bridge.

Car

There are a couple of options, perhaps the most direct is to follow the M3 as it then becomes the A316 after passing through Richmond follow directions for the A205 (South Circular) eastbound to Putney. Putney is just across the river from Craven Cottage about a ten minute walk. but will probably offer the best options for parking.

Parking

Parking around Craven Cottage is extremely limited with 1 hour parking meters being the only options, which are obviously no good for those wanting to spend longer than that watching the game.

Perhaps the best option would be to park over the river in Putney where there are many options including street parking, the farther you go away from the Bridge the cheaper and easier is the rule. and its obviously well situated to head back to the M3 aftrwards.

The Ground

Saints fans are situated in the Putney End, a stand built just over a decade ago it holds 6,000 in total divided into roughly half being allocated to visiting supporters with the other half usually being a neutral zone which often sees away supporters in that section as well. Strangely for a stand built fairly recently it does have some supporting pillars that obstruct the view but only in the rear section.

Saints have sold over 3,000 tickets for this game and probably a few have bought tickets in the neutral section.

Beer and the usual food stuff is available, but although the kiosks are covered from the rain etc they are open being just under the stand at the back so are cold in winter and for those that haven't noticed it is winter out there.

If you do like a beer in the ground etc then a good tip is go to the kiosk in the left hand corner and then you can enjoy a fine view of the Thames as it goes past the ground.

Pubs Eating Etc

The Eight Bells on Fulham High Street next to Putney Bridge is a popular pub with away fans but tends to get extremly busy, nearby there is also the Temperance Bar and the Golden Lion as well as The Kings Arms, again these are likely to be packed with Saints supporters.

If you have parked over in Putney or got the train to there, then that might offer the best chance for a pre match drink given the few options near the ground will probably be busy, there are a number of pubs near Putney Station.

Fulham

Craven Cottage

Capacity: 25,678 (all seated)
Address: Stevenage Road, London, SW6 6HH
Main Telephone No: 0843 208 1222
Fax No: 0207 384 4715
Ticket Office: 0843 208 1234
Ticket Office Fax No: 0207 384 4810
Team Nickname: The Cottagers or The Whites
Ground Opened: 1896



https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/news/49012/

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Chelsea's Danny Drinkwater in line for Fulham move

Claudio Ranieri is reportedly set to reunite with Chelsea's Danny Drinkwater at Fulham.

Claudio Ranieri has a challenge on his hands saving Fulham from the drop. Only two teams in the history of the Premier League have made a worst start to a top flight campaign than The Cottagers, who are bottom of the table with five points from 12 matches.

And, with the January transfer window just weeks away, it seems that Ranieri is looking to call upon a couple of players he knows well after being parachuted in to Craven Cottage to replace Slavisa Jovanovic.

Tuttomercatoweb has claimed that the Italian's former Roma striker Stefano Okaka is a target, with his lack of game time at Watford making him a viable option.

The Express, meanwhile, reports that Ranieri could also look to reunite with his former Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater, two years after they celebrated that remarkable Premier League title success on the King Power turf.

Drinkwater is at Chelsea these days, but barely getting a look in under Blues boss Maurizio Sarri. The Express claims that the England international is likely to leave Stamford Bridge in January and is 'in line' to reunite with Ranieri a few miles down the road in West London.

Chelsea paid £30 million to sign Drinkwater in 2017 (Mirror) so Fulham, who spent over £100 million on new players over the summer, will hope to get a bargain.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/11/20/do-report-chelsea-outcast-danny-drinkwater-in-line-for-fulham-mo/

[WhiteJC]

 
Dafabet's Donation

The Whites will don the FFC Foundation logo when they take on Southampton after Dafabet's donation of their sponsorship for the match.

In this generous gesture, Dafabet are supporting the second annual FFC Foundation Matchday on Saturday 24th November. The dedicated fixture exists to raise funds for the Foundation's programmes spanning health, inclusion, disability and employability. Fans are asked to bring £1 to the ground in a show of support.

John Cruces, Head of Marketing Operations at Dafabet, spoke of the decision, saying: "Given the fantastic work that the Club's Foundation does, it was very important that we offered our support to help raise awareness. We're sure the day will be a success and that the community will benefit from ongoing support."

Amy O'Brien, Head of Development at FFC Foundation, added: "By catapulting the Foundation's logo to the forefront in this way, Dafabet is driving awareness of the Foundation, which in turn contributes to supporter engagement in the long term. At the same time, this day is about raising vital funds for the Foundation, the Club's Official Charity Partner, which is why these match worn shirts will later be signed and auctioned."

For more information on FFC Foundation, please visit: fulhamfc.com/fulham-fc-foundation



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/november/19/dafabets-donation

[WhiteJC]

 
Acle United and Fulham Women cause County Cup shocks


Photo: fulhamfc.com

A busy County Cup programme on 18 November brought two FAWNL casualties, as Norwich City lost to a very late goal at Acle United and Denham United went out on penalties to Fulham.

Eastern League Acle United came from behind to defeat the Canaries in the Norfolk Cup 2nd Round, Grace Birchall scoring all their three goals including a last-gasp winner.

London & South East League strugglers Fulham won despite Denham United equalising to leave the scores level at 1-1 after 90 minutes in the Capital Cup clash. The Cottagers were then successful in the shoot-out to seal a first victory since September.

Abingdon United took Maidenhead United to penalties when Jane Younger levelled for a 3-3 draw. Despite a brave effort from the Southern League Division 1 side, they then bowed out of the Berks & Bucks Cup 2nd Round on penalties.

Fylde were goalless at home to FAWNL Division 1 Northern side Bolton Wanderers, before going through to the Lancashire Cup semi-finals 3-1 on penalties.

Brighouse Town were restricted to a 2-0 scoreline by Ossett United in the West Riding Cup, Lauren Doyle only making sure of the win against the North East Division 1 South leaders with the second goal on 89 minutes.

Plymouth Argyle progressed to the last four of the Devon Cup by a similar score when hosting Marine Academy Plymouth, who are two divisions their junior.



https://shekicks.net/2018/11/20/acle-united-and-fulham-women-cause-county-cup-shocks/

[WhiteJC]

Exclusive: Fulham's Claudio Ranieri appointment backed by ex-Juve youth coach Vincenzo Chiarenza

fter a disastrous start to the season, Fulham sacked Slavisa Jokanovic and replaced him with Claudio Ranieri on November 14th.

The Cottagers have managed just one win in 12 Premier League matches and are currently sitting at the bottom of the table. They have the worst defensive record after conceding 31 goals, six more than Cardiff City and Burnley, who have the second worst defensive records this campaign.

Ranieri has the experience of managing clubs in England, where he was in charge at Chelsea and Leicester City in the past and was instrumental in helping the Foxes win the title in the 2015/16 season.

During the Italian's spell with Juventus between 2007 and 2009, Vincenzo Chiarenza was in charge of the Old Lady's youth system. He's given an interview to Sport Witness and explained and applauded Fulham's decision to appoint his compatriot as Jokanovic's successor.

"I've great respect for Ranieri, I worked besides his team when he was coaching at Juventus. I had the honour to manage the youth team," Chiarenza told Sport Witness.

"I am pretty sure he will be able to change the situation [at  Fulham]. He knows football, knows the Premier League very well where he made miracles.

"I think the club made the right decision and Fulham fans will not be left disappointed with Ranieri's appointment."

The Italian's first match in charge as Fulham boss will be against Southampton on November 24th.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/exclusive-fulhams-claudio-ranieri-appointment-backed-ex-juve-youth-coach-vincenzo-chiarenza/

[WhiteJC]

 
Saints Need To Build On Run Of Draws

Saints can travel to Fulham with a little bit of confidence after losing only once in the last four games, compared to the home sides straight six Premier League defeats.

According to sarcastic media Saints have not a cat in hells chance of winning at Fulham, nor for that matter ever again, however the picture although bleak is not as bleak as some would have you believe.

In the last four Premier League games Saints have notched up three draws and lost only the once and in that game against Manchester City although yes we were poor, the result wasn't much worse than that achieved by other recent visitors to the Etihad stadium of late.

Of course the results have been disappointing but in the last four Premier League we do have something we can build on, the draw at Bournemouth was promising, the Cherries are going well in 6th place and with a decent home record it was never going to be easy, yet we got that draw with ease and with a little better luck and finishing it could have been a win.

The home draw against Newcastle was disappointing, however it should be noted that in the run up to that game the Toon had been threatening a revival and have since won the next two games propelling them up the League so perhaps offers us hope that we can turn the corner.

The aforementioned City game was a disappointment and a shambles, but the reality was that we still only dropped three points the same as we did last year and the sames as every other visitor to the Etihad.

The Watford game was always going to be difficult, after all they are now on exactly the same points as Bournemouth only prevented from being sixth on goal difference, it was never going to be the easy fixture that some thought it was, yet we deserved to win and were robbed of that by a poor refereeing decision.

But the reality is that one defeat in four is a base to build on, it shows that we can compete with other teams, but of course we can't seem to close out the win just yet and that is something that we need to do.

So we can go to Fulham with some sort of confidence, they are in disarray after those six straight league defeats including losses against fellow strugglers Cardiff and Huddersfield with their only win coming back on August 26th, indeed 4 of their 5 points came in the first 4 games of the season and their only other point was back on 22nd September.

So why should we fear travelling to West London on Saturday, we have the foundations to build on, they have only defeats, indeed perhaps the only glimmer of hope they have is that they have changed their manager and Claudio Ranieri will be taking his first game in charge.

But will this improve them, yes Ranieri has a track record in managing in the Premier League. his Premier League title win was breathtaking, but countering that the following season he was sacked with the club just one point above the relegation zone after 25 games.

Of course changing a manager can often give a club an initial boost, but not as often as you would think, all of the three relegated clubs had sacked their manager by the first week of January, yet it did not help their cause, likewise Mark Hughes lost his first three Premier league games in charge of Saints.

So although Fulham will hope that a change will benefit them, it is far from guaranteed, especially when the previous manager Slavisa Jankovic was clearly a popular man at Craven Cottage having built them into a side that could gain promotion to the Premier League, as much as Ranieri could motivate the squad, he could also face animosity from those close to the previous manager.

I know this story will face criticism from those who feel that the club is rotten to the core and for whom everything is a negative, but if we are to get out of trouble there has to be a positive vibe created,from a footballing perspective the team has to be supported even by those unable to back the "club" we can either drag ourselves down in negativity or try and take the positives and build on them.

Draws are not great but they are better than defeats yes we have to start winning and it would be ideal if that was on Saturday at Fulham, but there is still a long way to go this season, it might be one of struggle but we need to all kick in the right direction, ask ourselves where we want to see the club next season and how best to help the club achieve that.



https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/news/49013/

[WhiteJC]

 
FA investigating Fulham over serious allegations made by former director Craig Kline

After initially announcing that it was reviewing Kline's claims, the Football Association confirmed on Tuesday that it is now investigating the club

The FA is investigating serious claims of corruption made against Fulham by the club's former assistant director of football, Craig Kline.

Kline resigned from Fulham last November after a string of fallouts with a number of senior figures at the club. Last month he tweeted that he had evidence of "systematic corruption" accompanied by the hashtags "fraud", "racism", "kickbacks" and "minors", and after initially announcing that it was reviewing the claims, the Football Association confirmed on Tuesday that it is now investigating the club.

Both Fulham and Khan strongly deny all allegations of wrongdoing.

Kline has alleged an array of misdemeanours in Fulham's practices with regards to scouting players, transfers and dealing with agents, which he claims amount to fraud, child exploitation and racism.

Some of his accusations also related to Khan's proposed bid to buy Wembley Stadium, which was subsequently withdrawn, although Khan insisted his decision to pull out of the deal was not influenced by Kline's claims.

Kline, an American data expert, was a long-time friend of Khan's son Tony Khan, and worked with the family for many years before joining Fulham's recruitment team, but a turbulent relationship with fellow executives led to an acrimonious exit from Craven Cottage at the end of 2017. Fulham believe he holds a grudge and lacks credibility, but Kline claims to have witnessed major malpractice during his time in west London.



https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fulham-fa-craig-kline-investigation-allegations-corruption-a8642601.html

[WhiteJC]

 
How Fulham's transfer policy will work now that Claudio Ranieri is the new manager

Fulham news includes a look at the club's recruitment policy ahead of the January transfer window

Claudio Ranieri will become only the second manager to work with Fulham's recruitment policy after he was unveiled as the club's new boss last week, with rumours already swirling around the club.

That recruitment policy, led by Tony Khan with the help of Brian Talbot and James Lovell, has been responsible for the signings of players at the club for the past three years using both data and traditional scouting methods.

Former head coach Slavisa Jokanovic clashed with the model on several occasions, feeling his suggestions were ignored and that he had very little input on new signings.

Last summer saw £100million of new talent come into the side in the form of 12 players, including the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Jean-Michael Seri and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, but the club find themselves bottom of the Premier League.

Ranieri met with both Shahid Khan and Tony Khan and discussed transfers and the club's recruitment model before he was announced as Fulham boss.

And it was in those meetings that Ranieri showed more willingness to work under the model at the club than his predecessor did.

In January, the recruitment will work in the same way as it did with Jokanovic, where players are measured by their data and then by the traditional scouting methods before they are put to Ranieri.


(Image: Simon Cooper/PA Wire)

He will then decide from that list of players who he feels are the right fit for Fulham, with the recruitment department then responsible for the price and signing of the player.

It is similar to a European model where a Sporting Director is responsible for signings, something that Ranieri has worked under before.

Speaking about the recruitment policy at his unveiling, Ranieri said: "I spoke with the chairman about this.


Family: Shahid Khan and Tony Khan (Image: Norm Hall/Getty Images)

"There are some people that are working (on recruitment) and then they put to me some players.

"They show me the name and after I have to choose who is the right player for us. I am happy with that."

Despite numerous links with players at the moment, football.london understands that Ranieri has not identified any potential signings, nor has he asked the recruitment department about new players as yet because he wants to take a look at the current squad - one he feels has enough quality to compete in the Premier League.

However, Mr Khan Snr will back the club in the January transfer window like he did in the summer should they feel the need to strengthen in specific departments.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/how-fulhams-transfer-policy-work-15438761

[WhiteJC]

 
Young Foxes To Host Fulham In FA Youth Cup Third Round

Leicester City's Under-18s will host Fulham in the FA Youth Cup Third Round at King Power Stadium on Tuesday 11 December (7pm GMT kick-off).

- Fulham will be the Leicester City Under-18s' opponents in the FA Youth Cup Third Round
- The tie is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 11 December (7pm GMT kick-off)
- The young Foxes have already defeated the Cottagers this season in the league
- Ticket sales information and prices will be announced on LCFC.com over the coming days

The young Foxes, who exited last year's competition at the fourth round stage, currently sit fourth in the U18 Premier League South Division standings after nine matches.

Fulham, meanwhile, are just one place behind the Club's Academy side and fell to a 3-1 defeat by City's youngsters in the league earlier this season.

At Belvoir Drive, the hosts took the lead through a Luke Thomas strike in the 23rd minute before, in the second half, Harrison Myring and Dempsey Arlott-John added their names to the scoresheet.

Ticket details for the third round tie, set to be played at King Power Stadium, will be confirmed on LCFC.com in due course.



https://www.lcfc.com/news/915914/young-foxes-to-host-fulham-in-fa-youth-cup-third-round

[WhiteJC]

 
When Manchester United are finished with Antonio Valencia, Fulham should make a move



Claudio Ranieri will hope to kick off his reign as Fulham manager with a win against Southampton at the weekend.

The Cottagers are bottom of the Premier League following a slow start under Slavisa Jokanovic, and Ranieri is the man the Fulham board believe can steer them to safety. Fulham have been conceding goals at an alarming rate and solving their defensive issues will definitely be a priority for the former Leicester boss. Given the quality of Fulham's squad, fans will be hopeful of improved performances under the Premier League winner.

The January transfer window is less than two months away, and Ranieri will be given his first opportunity to tailor the squad to his needs. In order to stop leaking goals, the ex-Chelsea boss should be targeting defensive reinforcements.

One man who he could lure to Craven Cottage is Manchester United veteran – Antonio Valencia. Valued at £7.2m by Transfermarkt, the Ecuador international has been a key player for the Red Devils for a number of years after finding a home at right-back. However, the ex-Wigan man has made just four appearances in the Premier League so far and has less than one year remaining on his contract. The defender has also stated his intention to stay in England if United aren't willing to extend his stay at the club.

Valencia has bags of Premier League and European experience which would prove vital in the long-term as Fulham bid for survival. His time with Wigan will also help the defender settle into life under Ranieri as fast as possible. The 33-year-old may be approaching the end of his career, but he still has a few years left at the highest level and bringing him to London wouldn't break the bank.

Landing Valencia in January could prove to be a masterstroke from the former Inter Milan boss.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/fulham/when-manchester-united-are-finished-with-antonio-valencia-fulham-should-make-a-move/

[WhiteJC]

 
Games for the Weekend 24/11
Back to the Cottage for our game against Southampton this weekend

A new chapter starts for Fulham FC with the appointment of Claudio Ranieri and following on from the improved performance against Liverpool, perhaps we'll see a turnaround in our fortunes. We really need to get something out of this game before the trip away to Chelsea next week.

It'll be interesting to see how the "tinker man" sets up his Fulham side, how will Mitro' fit-in?, can he get the best out of Seri & Anguissa?, will Ryan play a more attacking role?, and not least how will he improve the defence? interesting times ahead.

Mark Hugs, who could be the next manager to get the sack, left as Fulham manager when he decided that we didn't have enough ambition, I wonder what he'd have thought if he'd been given £100 million worth of transfer funds?

Personally I'm sorry that Slaviša lost his job, last season we played some of the best football I've ever seen Fulham play and I'll never forget our day at Wembley, I wish you the best of luck Slaviša.

Games of Interest...
Saturday 24th
Brighton v Leicester
Everton v Cardiff
Fulham v Southampton

Sunday 25th
Wolves v Huddersfield

Monday 26th
Burnley v Newcastle

COYW

come on over to the forum and join in the discussion...
http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php



http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=484

[WhiteJC]

 
How Fulham could be hit by proposals to limit the impact of Brexit on football

Fulham news includes a look at how Brexit proposals could affect the club once the UK leaves the European Union

Fulham are one of 14 Premier League clubs at risk of being hit by proposals to limit the impact of Brexit.

The Cottagers have fielded 17 players in all competitions this season who don't meet the definition of being either a home-grown or an under-21 player.

Under new proposals to limit the impact of Brexit, however, clubs could be limited to naming just 12 such players in their squads.

A home-grown player is someone who, irrespective of nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to English or Welsh FA for three entire seasons before their 21st birthday or the end of the season during which they turns 21.

To classify as an under-21 player this season you have to have been born on or after January 1, 1997.

Fulham are far from being the only club exposed in this way.

Manchester City and Tottenham have also fielded 17 non home-grown, non under-21 players.

Brighton, Chelsea and Huddersfield have fielded 16 each, while Liverpool and Watford have both fielded 15.


(Image: Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Just under a third of the minutes played by Fulham players this season has been by home-grown or under-21 players.

That's the joint fourth lowest percentage of any Premier League club, behind Chelsea (16%), Manchester City (22%) and Liverpool (29%).

As things stand, a no-deal Brexit is still a possibility, with such an outcome potentially having huge implications for Premier League clubs.

Almost half (43%) of the minutes played for top flight clubs in all competitions have been by EU nationals or dual-nationals, excluding the UK and Ireland.


(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

For some clubs, however, that figure is even higher.

Some 83% of all the game time played by Chelsea players this season has been by EU nationals/dual-nationals, while for Huddersfield it's 80%, for Wolves it's 63% and Arsenal it's 61%.

Fulham fare much better though, with just 39% of game time going to players vulnerable to a no-deal Brexit.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/how-fulham-could-hit-proposals-15439072

[WhiteJC]

 
Fighting altogether - Behind the scenes of Claudio Ranieri's first week in charge of Fulham

Fulham news includes a look at how Claudio Ranieri's first week in charge of the club has gone

While picturing the entire squad of players munching Big Mac meals at the Hammersmith McDonald's branch after a game where they've kept a clean sheet is amusing and one that will stay with me forever, the new manager's tongue in cheek remark says a lot about how he's planning to keep the squad up.

It won't be with a constant supply of burgers into the Motspur Park canteen, but with a word he used time and time again in his unveiling last week.

'Together'.

Ranieri alluded to it time and time again in his press conference and it's clear that behind the scenes it's something the manager has been working on in the past week.

For whatever reason, that togetherness the club had last season has evaporated in a shockingly small amount of time and it's the first thing that Ranieri is looking to build again as he tries to guide Fulham to safety.

It was, perhaps, one of their biggest assets last season and it will be key again this season, but with 12 new players and a new manager, it will take time to build that up for Ranieri, but he's already set about making sure the entire club is moving forward as one.

With 'togetherness' at the forefront of his mind, the 67-year-old's first point of call was to introduce himself to each and every staff member at Motspur Park last week.


(Image: BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

That went from his playing staff right through to the cleaning staff at the training ground.

It was a small gesture, but one that went a long way to show what type of man Ranieri is and what kind of environment he wants to build at Fulham.

Next up for Ranieri was getting to terms with the players he has at his disposal at Fulham.

During the interview process and talks with owner, Shahid Khan, after he was given the job, Ranieri showed he had done his homework on the squad at the club, believing they have quality throughout the side.

Training over the past week has been centered on Ranieri getting his style of play and tactics across to the players that didn't head off on international duty.

It's clear from his words in his press conference that Fulham will be playing a defensive style of football, with defending from the front the starting block for Ranieri.

He wants his team to 'play like pirates'.

A bit of a left-field statement to make, for sure, but what it shows is that Ranieri is trying to bring some sort of fun back to a team that have been left looking gaunt after one win all season and a run of seven defeats in seven games.

But that fun will come with wins in games, and Ranieri got his first look at his players in a match situation when they took on QPR in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Friday afternoon.

The details on the score are sketchy, but Ranieri played a 4-4-2 formation as he got a look at all the players that remained at the club.

Luciano Vietto played up front for part of the game and with Ranieri telling me that he could well use Aleksandar Mitrovic as part of a front two, the Atletico Madrid loanee could well partner the Serbian in the coming weeks.

And after all this it was time for Ranieri to meet the press for the first time as Fulham manager at a packed Craven Cottage.

There was the usual to and fro about his time at Leicester City, about winning the Premier League and whether or not he could do the same in west London, but beneath all that there was a demeanour that said he won't be messing about at the Cottage.

He spoke well and came across strongly in his first press conference, but it was the repeated message of togetherness that struck me most from Ranieri.


(Image: Simon Cooper/PA Wire)

Not just from the team or the management, he wants it from the fans too and it was that constant repetition of the word that demonstrated what he was using the press conference to do.

Ranieri wants everyone to know that the players, management and fans are in this together and that Fulham will only survive if all three bind together behind the club.

His next task is to integrate those that are returning from international duty into the fold, something will be doing in dribs and drabs as they return to the club in the coming days.

With a crucial tie against Southampton at Craven Cottage coming up at the weekend, it'll be interesting to see whether or not Ranieri has had enough time to get the players on board with his style.

If the day ends with the Italian buying big McDonald's burgers for his team, it will be the perfect start to life at Craven Cottage.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/fighting-altogether-behind-scenes-claudio-15439197

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham midfielder missed national team game with 'thigh niggle', not ideal for Ranieri

Despite rarely being a regular starter under Slavisa Jokanovic, Stefan Johansen remained a valuable asset for his national team, captaining Norway throughout the UEFA Nations League.

Starting all nine of their previous games, the Fulham midfielder was expected to do the same on Monday night against Cyprus, except he didn't.

Just before the game, it was announced he would be sitting the fixture out, with Nettavisen claiming he had been struggling with a 'niggle in his thigh'.

Notway didn't exactly miss him, as they walked away with the three points after beating Cyprus 2-0, but the thigh injury is something Claudio Ranieri, recently appointed as Jokanovic's successor at Craven Cottage, probably could have done without.

The Italian has already made it clear he doesn't care how he wins as long as he wins, so we could expect some more defensive displays from the Cottagers going forward, starting with a home fixture against Southampton on Saturday.

Fulham haven't scored a goal in a game since October 20th, when they lost 4-2 away to Cardiff City.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-midfielder-missed-national-team-game-thigh-niggle-not-ideal-ranieri/

[WhiteJC]

 
Martin Jol explains one of the biggest fines he ever handed out at Fulham

Martin Jol seems like the kind of manager it would be difficult for a footballer to really upset, and that was the case when he was working with Dimitar Berbatov at Fulham.

The striker was the club's highest paid player and arrived for training three quarters of an hour late. He'd got lost on his way in through London and Jol realised that he simply had to do something and send a message out to the rest of the squad.

Even though it was the first problem he'd encountered with the former Manchester United and Tottenham player, being so late meant a fine was the only option.

"One of the highest fines I ever distributed was for Dimitar Berbatov at Fulham," Jol told Voetbal International. "Unbelievable actually. There was never anything to criticise him for until one day he was lost and three quarters of an hour late for training.

"Very annoying, the whole group knew that I never let anything run and of course I was curious what I would do. Berbatov was our best footballer and two days later we played against my old club Tottenham Hotspur. Normally you give someone a fine of a week's salary, but he earned so much that even I thought it was crazy. I only kept it at ten thousand pounds. That money ended up in a pot with which we would do something with the group. I did not suspend him, because I do not cut my own flesh."

Jol, wanting to keep his star man in a positive frame of mind, offered to pay the fine himself... as long as Berbatov scored the winning goal against Spurs.

"Two days later we play against Tottenham and before kick-off Berbatov winks at me and says: "Boss, do not worry". And what do you think? He makes it 1-0 and that score remains unchanged. It cost me ten thousand pounds, but I paid it with love."

The Dutchman could have instead cancelled the fine, but paid the money out of his pocket to go into the pot for a group event. He hasn't explained what that event ended up being.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/martin-jol-explains-one-biggest-fines-ever-handed-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

 
Unproven Sander Berge is the last man Tottenham and Fulham should target

According to reports in the Express, both Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham are interested in signing KRC Genk's Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge in January.

The 20-year-old is undoubtedly an impressive talent, yet with Spurs and Fulham both seeking instant success for the second half of the Premier League season, a rumoured £15 million swoop for Berge appears misguided.

The midfielder has shown great promise for both Norway and at club level, registering 12 caps and playing a role in 11 of Genk's 15 league matches this campaign.

Yet Berge still does not have a full season of top-flight starts in Belgium under his belt and has never played in England before.

Tottenham will be searching for proven stars to make certain the club secures Champions League football next season, and Fulham will need players with Premier League experience to stave off relegation under Claudio Ranieri.

Although Berge has the potential to be a defensive midfield star, the January transfer window is not the right time to purchase the youngster, due to an inflated price and the lack of playing time that would await him.

Tottenham and Fulham would do well to hold off on buying Sander Berge this January, as a more reasonable transfer in the summer would make more sense for all parties involved.



https://tbrfootball.com/unproven-sander-berge-is-the-last-man-tottenham-and-fulham-should-target/

[WhiteJC]

 
Signing these two players in January could help Claudio Ranieri save Fulham from relegation

Two players Claudio Ranieri should sign to save Fulham from relegation

Former Chelsea and Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri was unveiled as the new face of Fulham following the sacking of Slavisa Jokanovic. The Serb did exceedingly well in the Championship last season, guiding the Cottagers to a promotion back to the top-flight but lost the confidence of the board after managing only a single win from twelve games in the Premier League.

Just like his predecessor Slavisa Jokanovic, Ranieri will have the backing of club owner Tony Khan's financial resources in the January transfer window to save the club from relegation (h/t Football London)

Fulham are currently bottom of the Premier League standings with only 5 points from twelve games and a dismal goal difference of -20 is not going to do any good to the club's chances of survival in the top flight.

Quite clearly, Ranieri has a mountain to climb to avoid the drop and the onus will be on the Italian to turn defeats into victories when the Premier League action commences after the international break.

Here are two players that Ranieri must sign to enhance Fulham's chances of survival in the Premier League.

1. Mateo Musacchio (AC Milan)/ Medhi Benatia (Juventus)
Much of Fulham's woes this season have been down to their leaky backline that has shipped goals at an alarming rate. In fact, the Cottagers have the worst defensive record in the Premier League, having conceded 31 goals from 12 games.

Summer signings Maxime Le Marchand and Alfie Mawson have failed to add that much-needed solidity to their backline and Fulham have been found wanting for a permanent centre-back pairing. Tim Ream, Denis Odoi and Calum Chambers have all been tried out but none of them has really been able to stem the flow of goals.

Fulham need an effective leader at the back and Ranieri must shift his focus to two high-quality centre-backs- Mateo Musacchio and Medhi Benatia, who are likely to be available in January for a cut-price deal.

While Musacchio has been linked with the Cottagers (Mirror), Benatia is linked with Arsenal (Daily Star) and Fulham must look to hijack the Moroccan amidst interest from the Gunners.

Both are hugely experienced centre-backs who are capable of marshalling their counterparts at the back.

2. Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan)
Fulham need a creative midfielder who can establish that link between attack and defence, something that the Cottagers have lacked so far this season.

Jean Michael Seri had a positive impact in the opening stages of the season but the Ivorian's influence has faded away gradually. Tom Cairney, who was supposed to be one of the mainstays of Fulham's midfield, has been in and out of the team due to injuries.

To put things into perspective, Renato Augusto, who starred for Brazil at the World Cup, would be a perfect fit for Ranieri's Fulham. A technically-gifted and tactically versatile attacking midfielder, Augusto has the ability to play in multiple roles in the final third and also as a central midfielder.

The 30-year-old excelled in the Bundesliga in his earlier days and currently plies his trade in the Chinese Super League where he had a stellar season, registering 10 goals and 3 assists. He has averaged 2.6 shots, 2.7 key passes, 3.5 dribbles, 2.7 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game in the Chinese top flight, figures that speak volumes of his all-around abilities as an attacking midfielder.



https://www.mediareferee.com/2018/11/21/signing-these-two-players-in-january-could-help-claudio-ranieri-save-fulham-from-relegation/

[WhiteJC]

 
Why Fulham attacker Luciano Vietto is set to thrive under Claudio Ranieri

Luciano Vietto shocked many this summer when the Atletico Madrid attacker joined Fulham on a season-long loan, yet the Argentine has struggled to excel at Craven Cottage.

Often utilised on the wings of a 4-3-3 formation under Slavisa Jokanovic, Vietto is set to thrive in a central role in Claudio Ranieri's 4-4-2 system.

All of Vietto's 10 Premier League appearances have been out wide, and the formation resulted in success during the opening months of the season.

In Fulham's only win of the season, the 24-year-old thrived on the left side of a front three, delivering two assists as the Whites beat Burnley 4-2.

Vietto also chipped in with assists against Watford and Arsenal, yet in recent matches the Argentine has failed to make an impact on the wing and has looked largely anonymous.

The Atletico Madrid loanee has played the majority of his professional career as a centre-forward, and with Fulham's new manager indicating he wants to play a 4-4-2 formation in SW6, Vietto surely must have been delighted.

Luciano Vietto is the ideal strike partner for Aleksandar Mitrovic, providing excellent service and penetrative runs alongside the Serbian frontman.

With a central role in Claudio Ranieri's tried-and-tested 4-4-2 system, Luciano Vietto is primed to hit top form at Fulham and bag his first goal in England.



https://tbrfootball.com/why-fulham-attacker-luciano-vietto-is-set-to-thrive-under-claudio-ranieri/

[WhiteJC]

 
12 goals, 6 assists – Fulham going all out to sign this in-form Championship star would ensure survival

Why Fulham must go all out to sign Neal Maupay in January

It might have come as a shock for many but Fulham sacked manager Slavisa Jokanovic after the defeat at Liverpool and replaced him with Claudio Ranieri.

With Fulham at the bottom of the league standings with just one win to show for, some big changes were needed at the west London side and unfortunately, Fulham owner Shahid Khan started it with the axing of Slavisa Jokanovic, who guided the Cottagers to Premier League promotion last term.

Now with Claudio Ranieri at the helm, the Fulham fans could be optimistic about a change in club's fortunes. The Cottagers are at the bottom of the Premier League table and unless the team starts picking up points consistently, it would be a massive struggle for Ranieri and co. to save the Londoners from relegation. So from where should Ranieri start rebuilding his squad?

The focus should mostly be on Fulham's defensive deficiencies as the team has leaked 31 goals in just 12 games. It won't be a surprise if Ranieri decides to bring in a couple of defenders in January to stop the rut but he should also consider bolstering his team's attack that has looked slightly weak in the last few weeks.

The Cottagers spent heavily in the summer on the likes of Jean-Michael Seri, Andre Schurrle, Luciano Vietto and Aleksandar Mitrovic but none of them has managed to consistently deliver the goods this season.

The west London club have scored just 11 times in 12 Premier League matches this season, and their lack of quality options apart from Mitrovic, Schurrle and Vietto looks troublesome.

Ranieri can solve Fulham's goal-scoring problems by tabling an audacious bid for Brentford forward Neal Maupay. The 22-year-old has been sensational in the Championship and had already bagged 12 goals and 6 assists in just 15 games this season.

The Frenchman, who came through the ranks at Nice to make his debut at the age of just 16, is unproven at the top level but he has shown with during his time at Brentford that he is an exceptional talent who is ready to make the step up to the Premier League.

Though he is primarily a striker, Maupay has the ability to operate as a No.10 or even as a wide-man, too. His versatility would be a huge bonus for Fulham, which means he can play alongside Mitrovic or lead the line by himself.

Maupay could prove to be a vital addition to Fulham, who have been desperately short of goals so far this term. At just 22, the Frenchman is very young but the rate at which he has been developing, there are very few doubts about him becoming a world-beater in a few years' time.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/11/21/12-goals-6-assists-fulham-going-all-out-to-sign-this-in-form-championship-star-would-ensure-survival/