Friday Fulham Stuff (15/10/10)...

[White Noise]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6445764,00.html

Redknapp focused on Fulham

Spurs boss targets top-four finish


Last updated: 15th October 2010   

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has urged his players to put Wednesday's UEFA Champions League trip to Inter Milan at the back of their minds when they face Fulham on Saturday.

Spurs continue their European adventure against the defending champions next week, however a trip to Craven Cottage is their more immediate priority this weekend.

Redknapp's side currently sit fifth in the Premier League and the Tottenham boss wants his players to concentrate on collecting league points in a bid to finish in the top four for the second consecutive season.

"It is hard balancing the Champions League with the Premier League," said Redknapp.

"But they've got to concentrate on the trip to Craven Cottage. That is the key now.

"The league position is all important because unless we win the Champions League we are not going to qualify for the Champions League next year.

Fantastic
"If we want to play Champions League football like Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal invariably do every year we have to finish in the top four again. That is our priority.

"We also want a good run in the Champions League but if you go out of the Champions League and finish halfway up the table, at the end of the year if you are not in European football it is not good.

"These next two league games for me are massive."

Redknapp will leave it as late as possible before he decides whether to play central defender Ledley King at Craven Cottage.

King, because of his chronic knee problem, cannot play two games in quick succession.

Redknapp said: "The only juggling act I've got is Ledley. He's a fantastic player but if I play him tomorrow he doesn't play on Wednesday. If I play him tomorrow he could play again next Saturday so I get two league games out of him."

Younes Kaboul and William Gallas, meanwhile, are back in training and David

Bentley is on his way back from injury.

Long-term absentee Jonathan Woodgate, who has travelled the world in his search for a cure to his chronic injury problems, has had another injection in his troublesome groin and Redknapp says: "We are staying positive and hoping he will play again."

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[White Noise]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9085479.stm


Fulham    v    Tottenham


Live text and stats


Saturday, 16 October 2010
Premier League
Home Team Score Away Team Time
Fulham v  Tottenham 15:00

   

FULHAMTOTTENHAMPossessionFulham 50%Tottenham 50%Attempts on targetFulham 0Tottenham 0Attempts off targetFulham 0Tottenham 0CornersFulham 0Tottenham 0FoulsFulham 0Tottenham 0

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Saturday, 16 October Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day


TEAM NEWS
Fulham's Moussa Dembele could play a part as he steps up his return from an ankle injury suffered against Stoke.

Andrew Johnson is in line to make his comeback after spending nine months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Tottenham will be without winger Aaron Lennon following the back problem that forced him out of the England squad.

Younes Kaboul and William Gallas may return after injury and Niko Kranjcar is pushing for a starting spot after scoring three times for Croatia.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fulham

Doubtful: Dembele (ankle), A Johnson (knee)

Injured: Kelly (calf), Senderos (Achilles), Zamora (leg)

Tottenham

Doubtful: Assou-Ekotto (knee), Gallas (groin), Kaboul (hamstring)

Injured: Dawson (knee & ankle), Defoe (ankle), King (knee), Lennon (back), O'Hara (back), Woodgate (groin)




MATCH PREVIEW
The only time Mark Hughes has experienced defeat in his last 19 league matches as a manager came at the hands of Tottenham when he was in charge of Manchester City back in December 2009.

We look a really dangerous team and it has been a shame that we have not gone on and won a couple more games

Fulham's Simon Davies
His reign as Fulham boss has got off to an excellent start and the unbeaten Cottagers have lost none of the solidity that made them such a force to be reckoned with under Roy Hodgson.

Turning draws into victories is now their priority and they will be confident going into Saturday's London derby, given that they have not lost to Spurs at home in the league since 2002.

Harry Redknapp's men could be excused for having one eye on Wednesday night as they get the chance to test themselves against the very best Europe has to offer when they play defending Champions League winners Inter Milan at the imposing San Siro.

Rafael van der Vaart is suspended for that game so the deadline day capture from Real Madrid, who has been an absolute revelation since signing for the club, will be sure to try even harder at Craven Cottage.


MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

• Three out of the last six encounters between Fulham and Tottenham in all competitions have been 0-0 draws.

• Both sides have won six of their previous 18 Premier League meetings, with six draws.

• This is the 73rd league meeting between the sides. Tottenham have won 35 times, Fulham 11 and there have been 26 draws.


606: DEBATE
Have your say on this match 
Fulham

• Danny Murphy stands fourth in the table for the total amount of passes made this season (470). Only Paul Scholes, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien have made more.

• If selected to play against his former club, Simon Davies will be making the 300th league start of his career.

• Mark Hughes has now drawn 14 of his last 18 matches as a manager, six out of seven games with Fulham and eight out of his last 11 fixtures as Manchester City boss.

Tottenham

• Against Aston Villa, striker Peter Crouch assisted two goals in a league match for the first time in what was his 232nd game in the top flight.

• Tottenham have only been ahead at half time in one of their seven league fixtures this season.

• No player has created more chances (20) than Gareth Bale this season in the league, but he is still yet to be credited with an assist.

• Spurs have kept just two clean sheets in 12 games in all competitions this season.


LEADING GOALSCORERS

 
Fulham

Dembele: 3 goals (2 league); Zamora: 3 goals (1 league)


 
Tottenham

Van der Vaart 4 goals (3 league);

Pavlyuchenko: 4 goals (1 league);

Crouch: 4 goals (0 league)


MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Dean

Assistant referees: Simon Beck & Martin Yerby

Fourth official: Andre Marriner


LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Fulham (D1-1 v West Ham, a): Schwarzer, Baird, Hangeland, Hughes, Salcido, Davies (Riise 90), Etuhu, Murphy, Duff (Gera 69), Eddie Johnson (Kamara 77), Dempsey. Subs not used: Etheridge, Pantsil, Greening, Halliche.

Tottenham (W2-1 v Aston Villa, h): Gomes, Hutton, Huddlestone, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Van der Vaart (Sandro 90), Jenas, Modric (Palacios 77), Bale, Pavlyuchenko (Lennon 46), Crouch. Subs not used: Cudicini, Keane, Kranjcar, Corluka.

[White Noise]

http://blogs.soccernet.com/fulham/archives/2010/10/back_to_action_spurs_preview.php

Back to Action - Spurs Preview

Posted by Phil Mison 51 minutes ago


Anticipation ahead of the derby sell-out v Spurs is sky high with Danny's incendiary remarks still making smoke. Time to let our football do the talking and send Spurs packing with a solid performance.

In no sense do I underestimate the quality of Saturday's opponents. We couldn't beat them in four attempts last season and Spurs are much improved from the joke side they had become two years ago, when we took four points from them in the league. We had the better of both home encounters last season but couldn't find a finish, while on a bitter January night at the Lane we were punchless, injury weakened and victims of bad luck in conceding two poor goals. The cup replay was bizarre - at HT I was convinced we were en route for Wembley at 1-0 up. Harry's subs punctured our balloon in short order after the break.

Are Spurs going to have one eye on their Champions League trip to Milan next week? Surely yes. While we lament the absence of BZ the Spuds also have a raft of big players unavailable. No hint as to our starting line-up, but no additional injuries reported from the returning internationals. Having Dembele starting will be a big boost, we hear he may need a late fitness test. AJ on the bench is distinctly possible. Clint's been in fine form recently.

We're still short of being the finished article under Hughes. He's done well to keep us unbeaten to date, but the inability to turn draws into wins is becoming a might worrying. The players however say they are all going in the same direction, and we assume the side gets stronger week by week under our new regime.

How do we keep Spurs in their place and continue the winless run at the Cottage? Five wins and three draws in our favour since 2002, although the bookies all favour the draw. We must not let Huddlestone dictate the midfield, we must get penetration down the flanks, we need to eliminate soft goals being conceded from the back four and whoever keeps goal on Saturday.

Mike Dean please note we are long overdue a penalty, one of just six clubs remaining without an award to date this campaign.

It's a derby for heaven's sake, we're all champing at the bit after the break. We need some of the bulldog spirit shown against United - but no leg-breaking challenges please - we're attracting enough flak as it is. Let's treat this one like a cup-tie, and if you're lucky enough to have a ticket, make some noise!

COYW

London's oldest professional football club, Fulham FC

[White Noise]

http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~2185470,00.html


Robbo on the attack


Posted on: Fri 15 Oct 2010


PAUL Robinson was 'surprised and disappointed' by derogatory remarks about Rovers from Fulham skipper Danny Murphy.

Murphy recently inferred that Rovers, along with Stoke and Wolves, were a 'dirty' team and Sam Allardyce was among the top level managers who pumped up his players too much - something Murphy reckoned was contributing to the alleged rise in dangerous tackles.

But Rovers' goalkeeper Robinson, a one-time colleague of Murphy's at Spurs, said: "It is very disappointing when a fellow professional feels the need to criticise other players. It came out of the blue and there was no relevance to it.

"I usually don't think we need defend ourselves, our record over the last two or three years speaks for itself, but there are some things that you just can't let pass.

"When you look at the statistics over the past two or three years since the manager has come in our record has been excellent. We've had one player sent off this calendar year.

"Our yellow and red card count last season when we finished tenth than was much better than the same when Rovers finished tenth under Mark Hughes, so we are pleased with the way we go about our business here and we conduct ourselves correctly.

As for suggestions that professional football has got less tough despite a recent flurry of high profile tackles, Robbo added: "The game has definitely got less tough over the years, there are a lot less thing you can do.

"But it would be criminal to outlaw tackles in the game. It is a physical contact sport, a man's game.

"The more things are analysed by the media the worse they start to look. That makes it harder for referees and increases pressure with players wanting other players sent off.

"We should all just get on with the game and then there would be fewer and fewer injuries. The comments were out of order but we should move on."

[White Noise]

http://www.sportingpreview.com/matches/10110556.php


FULHAM v TOTTENHAM: BIG MATCH STATS AND FACTS

SportingPreview.com: 15 October 2010

Mark Hughes has drawn 14 of his last 18 matches as a Premier League manager.

• Spurs have only won one of their nine Premier League away games against Fulham and none of the last eight.

• Fulham have failed to score in the last three Premier League games against Spurs.

• Five of the last eight matches between Spurs and Fulham have ended as draws, three of them goalless.

• Fulham have failed to score in four of their last five matches against Spurs in all competitions.

• Tottenham have conceded exactly one goal in each of their last six Premier League matches.

• Three out of the last six encounters between Fulham and Tottenham in all competitions have been 0-0 draws.

• Both sides have won six of their previous 18 Premier League meetings, with six draws.

• This is the 73rd league meeting between the sides. Tottenham have won 35 times, Fulham 11 and there have been 26 draws.

• Danny Murphy stands fourth in the table for the total amount of passes made this season (470). Only Paul Scholes, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien have made more.

• If selected to play against his former club, Simon Davies will be making the 300th league start of his career.

• Mark Hughes has now drawn 14 of his last 18 matches as a manager, six out of seven games with Fulham and eight out of his last 11 fixtures as Manchester City boss.

• Against Aston Villa, striker Peter Crouch assisted two goals in a league match for the first time in what was his 232nd game in the top flight.

• Tottenham have only been ahead at half time in one of their seven league fixtures this season.

• No player has created more chances (20) than Gareth Bale this season in the league, but he is still yet to be credited with an assist.

• Spurs have kept just two clean sheets in 12 games in all competitions this season.

[White Noise]

http://twitter.com/fulhamfc

"Mousa Dembele is available for Saturday's match against Spurs but unfortunately Dickson misses out with an ankle injury."

[White Noise]

http://sport.virginmedia.com/football/article/2010/10/15/duo_out_for_cottagers


Duo out for Cottagers


Damien Duff and Dickson Etuhu will miss Fulham's Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham.

Duff is being rested in an attempt to overcome a niggling calf injury while Etuhu will be out for between two to three weeks with an ankle problem.

Mousa Dembele is available after recovering from his ankle injury but Andy Johnson (knee) is still one week away from a first-team return.

[White Noise]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/1015/fulham_tottenham.html


Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur

Friday, 15 October 2010 14:21


Damien Duff and Dickson Etuhu will miss Fulham's Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham.


Duff is being rested in an attempt to overcome a niggling calf injury while Etuhu will be out for between two to three weeks with an ankle problem.


Mousa Dembele is available after recovering from his ankle injury but Andy Johnson (knee) is still one week away from a first team return.


Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp will leave it late to decide whether to play central defender Ledley King at Fulham or save him for Wednesday's Champions League encounter against Inter Milan.


Younes Kaboul and William Gallas, meanwhile, are back in training and David Bentley is on his way back from injury.


Long-term absentee Jonathan Woodgate, who has travelled the world in his search for a cure to his chronic injury problems, has had another injection in his troublesome groin and Redknapp says: 'We are staying positive and hoping he will play again.'

Fulham squad: Schwarzer, Etheridge, Kelly, Pantsil, Salcido, Baird, Hangeland, Hughes, Halliche, Gera, Murphy, Riise, Dempsey, E Johnson, Greening, Davies, Dikgacoi, Kamara, Dembele.

Tottenham squad: Gomes, Hutton, Huddlestone, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Van der Vaart, Sandro, Jenas, Modric, Palacios, Bale, Pavlyuchenko, Lennon, Crouch, Cudicini, Keane, Kranjcar, Corluka, King.

[White Noise]

http://sport.virginmedia.com/football/article/2010/10/15/hughes_leaps_to_murphys_defence


Hughes leaps to Murphy's defence


Mark Hughes has defended Danny Murphy in response to the furore over the Fulham captain's comments that some managers send their players out too pumped up.

Stoke, Wolves and Blackburn were named by Murphy, who branded some tackles "ridiculous" and "brainless" and insisted managers should take responsibility.

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce led the backlash by demanding an apology but Hughes refused to condemn his player.

"You must recognise that Danny is at the coalface," said Hughes. "In his view in certain games against certain opposition, opponents have over-stepped the mark. You have to accept that because even as a manager you don't know the intent of somebody.

"As a player I knew when someone was over-stepping the line or just making a fair and competitive tackle. There's a lot been said about Danny being disrespectful to the manager but having had conversations with him he has huge respect for the managers of the teams he mentioned.

"Maybe the fact we had recent history against the teams he mentioned was fresh in his mind and he was giving examples. We're disappointed by the reaction to it. You must respect he has an opinion. He was being honest. He's probably been surprised by the reaction. He wanted to make a point. Whether he did that in the right manner is open to debate."

[White Noise]

http://jimmyg2.blogspot.com/2010/10/oh-to-be-in-fulham-now-that-spurs-are.html


Oh to be in Fulham now that Spurs are there.


Well you can't say you weren't warned though few suspected that England could be quite so dire. Crouch who contrived to miss his only opportunity was poor.. However he played without support from Rooney who spent most of the game too deep in midfield, and without service from two wingers who rarely beat their fullbacks on the outside and who between them failed to get one cross on target. If Crouch had headed the ball back in, across or down there would have been no-one there to profit.


Barry and Gerrard were too deep and most of their 40yd. Hollywood passes were intercepted. The back four played at a pace that even snails would have been ashamed of. The Montenegran defence had time to brew up, wash up and put the crockery away before getting into position. At least Huddlestone and Lennon our other conscripts were spared the ignominy of turning out for what should have been Capello's last match. Anyone who wasn't being paid even more than some top flight footballers would have done the honourable thing by now. Too well paid to resign and too expensive to to be sacked.


The replacement of Crouch by Davies, the angel faced thug of the Premiership, Heskey without the finesse, was possibly the low water mark of English football in a very dry season indeed. He committed five fouls in as many minutes, got booked as he does regularly, and at 33 is unlikely to make another appearance, thus securing his legacy as a Trivial Pursuits question.


What message does it send to aspiring players that a man who has more yellow cards than goals to his name is selected? I know that Defoe, Bent and others were injured but if there isn't a better English prospect somewhere in the league than an ageing bovver boy who like Heskey rarely scores then we might as well give up now. Michael Owen or Andy Carroll would have been better calls.


And now thank god we can return to the serious, proper football with the visit of Spurs to Fulham with just Defoe and Dawson still suffering wounds from the international front line. Everyone else has returned without mishap as far as I can discover, some like Kranjcar with their reputations enhanced. Gio, Van de Vaart and Modric also did well.


The Fulham game will be played once again with one eye on the trip to Italy in the Champions' League and some players may be rested for this. Playing with one eye on the game after next may explain the failure of our strikers to hit the target. Again I would prefer to play our strongest squad against Fulham and let the Inter Milan game take care of itself. Ledley might be kept for Italy but to be honest second guessing Harry is a mugs' game. Van de Vaart is banned for midweek and will probably play off Crouch against Fulham.


A point will certainly do against Inter but we will be looking for more than this against Fulham who have yet to lose this season. They have however only won once in seven and lie two points behind us in 9th. Mark Hughes starting at the top as team manager of Wales is slowly making his way down the league. He has replaced Roy Hodgson and has yet to work any sort of magic on draw specialists Fulham who are struggling for goals in the absence of Zamora.


Last season we played them four times, drawing 0-0 twice in the League, the same in the Cup before finally beating them 3-1 in the replay at WHL. Despite there being few goals the games were entertaining and our record against Fulham in the Premiership is pretty evenly balanced. It's a game that we need to win to maintain our League position and to build momentum for Wednesday. It's a game that we could certainly win on paper. Yeah, yeah, I know matches are not played on paper.


Our injury list is the biggest in the Premiership according to 'The Physio Room' and I await the team news with a little trepidation. Hutton, Kaboul, King, Gallas, Ekotto, and Lennon are all recovering from injury in addition to our long term injured. So Corluka could return at right back and Bale play at left back. Bassong and Huddlestone may appear at centre half. I expect a low scoring game at Fulham but think we will run out 1-0 winners.


Against Inter I think we will see a defensive strategy with a 0-0 or 1-1 the likely outcome. Harry might just try a little bluff accepting that Spurs play better at a high tempo and concentrate on attack. But he has had his fingers burnt already this season and might settle for a waltz rather than a quickstep. Two draws wouldn't be a disaster but against Fulham with Van de Vaart buzzing and perhaps Kranjcar in good form we might just be keen to take the league pressure off in this game.

[White Noise]

Latest Team News


Friday 15th October 2010


The Whites return to Barclays Premier League action on Saturday when Spurs visit Craven Cottage for an eagerly awaited encounter.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's match, Fulham Manager Mark Hughes revealed the latest team news.

"We haven't got Dickson Etuhu available unfortunately. He's got a problem with his ankle," Hughes said. "He's likely to be out for about two to three weeks. It's a bit of a blow, he just had a situation in the last game where he has gone over on his ankle and as he's gone over the lad's stepped on his foot and that's given him a problem with the ligaments. It's a disappointment for him and for us.

"Damien Duff isn't available either, he has obviously had an ongoing issue with his calf which we think needs a little bit more rest and once he has that and a bit more treatment then he will be fully recovered.
"He's been playing with the injury and that hasn't helped him so we're going to give him extra time to get over it and get a full week's training into him and then he'll be fit and well for the rest of the season we hope."

There was better news regarding Mousa Dembele who will be available for selection. Andrew Johnson is also close to full fitness, although this weekend's match may come a bit too soon for the Fulham striker – as Hughes explained.

"Andy [Johnson] is very, very close, he won't be involved this weekend, we feel it's more appropriate that he gets another ninety minutes, well he actually hasn't had ninety minutes yet.

"I feel it's better for Andy if he has a full ninety minutes, we've got a game on Tuesday at Southampton, which he'll play in. Hopefully he'll come through that, there's no reason why he shouldn't do because he's been training well with the group for a couple of weeks now but I think that will be the final tick in the box and from that point onwards he'll be available for selection."
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Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/October/HughesSpursTeamNews.aspx#ixzz12R5HADHg

[White Noise]

http://www.thepost.ie/breakingnews/sport/eyqlqlidmhoj/


Pulis slams 'selective' Murphy


15/10/2010 - 14:59:48

Stoke boss Tony Pulis today accused Danny Murphy of picking on "easy targets" and suggested the Fulham captain may have deliberately shied away from criticising bigger clubs when speaking about dangerous tackling last week.

Murphy claimed players are being injured because certain managers are sending their teams out too fired up, with the Potters one of three clubs – along with Blackburn and Wolves – that he named specifically.

His comments have created a storm and after Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce yesterday challenged Murphy to publicly apologise for the remarks, Pulis has now had his say on the matter.

Reading a statement aloud at today's press conference, Pulis said: "Two challenges this season have been committed by top players who represented their countries at this summer's World Cup.

"One challenge on Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa by Nigel de Jong of Manchester City recently led to a broken bone.

"Another by Joe Cole, one of our most technically gifted players, resulted in a sending off for one of our most celebrated clubs in the country, Liverpool, who are currently managed by Roy Hodgson, someone I have great respect for.

"Even the technically best players are prone to making mistimed challenges. But have they really been sent out to hurt a fellow professional? I don't think so.

"How ironic it is that Danny Murphy chose not to discuss either challenge or manager in respect of those tackles. How selective can someone be?

"Maybe Murphy's pursuit of a new career in the media does not allow him to criticise, or fall out with the Premier League big boys.

"Instead, in my opinion, he has selected easy targets that are based on his own perception and not facts."

[White Noise]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=832439&sec=england&cc=5739


Wenger sees some truth in Murphy's claims


By ESPNsoccernet staff

October 15, 2010
Arsene Wenger agrees with Danny Murphy's claim that managers have a influence over the way players behave but stressed that they are responsible for their own actions.

Fulham midfielder Murphy caused controversy in England when he said managers may be to blame for some of the more forceful challenges in the Premier League as the players are so fired up to defend.

Wenger believes managers do play a part in the mindset of their players but feels that the ultimate responsibility lies with those committing the tackles.

"I believe Murphy said we as managers have a responsibility regarding the behaviour of our team, and I agree, I do not deny it," he said. "I am not in the other dressing room, so I do not know [what goes on].

"I never ask any player if he has been wound up by his manager. I always say the same thing - the referees have the rules for them and [have] to get the game respected, the players have to respect each other, no matter what they are instructed to do."

He added: "I am a strong believer you are responsible for what you say and what you do. When I make a mistake, I do not look at anybody else, to say 'it is his fault'. It is my fault and if I behave wrongly, it is my fault, it is not somebody else's.

"If a player does bad tackling, it is too easy to hide behind the manager's instruction because you are responsible for how you behave.

"I do not want to add anything to what I have said many times - I like commitment and physical games, but it has to be in a fair way because it can only work if everybody goes into it in a fair way."

Wenger also confirmed he has no plans to offer a contract to Robert Pires. The former Arsenal winger is a free agent after leaving Villarreal at the end of last season and has been training at London Colney.

"We have enough players," he said. "We have a big squad - we have 25 players. We will respect our wages bill and we will not go above what we have planned financially with the players.

"It is time for us to get the players back on the pitch because we pay as well the players who don't play. We want them back on the pitch and we have medically to make a big effort to get everybody back.

"You want your players to perform on the football pitch."

Wenger also said he was not concerned by Cesc Fabregas' comments that Arsenal are lacking a winning mentality.

"It can be misinterpreted. I think everybody has a great desire to win, but you get a winning mentality as well when you have won," Wenger said. "What is at stake for us is not the desire to win, but to make history and to win trophies.

"As long as you have not won you are not completely certain that you can do it - but that does not mean that you lack the desire to win. This team has a great desire to win, but you have to show it week in week out.

"This life, at the top level today, in the best league in the world, is to turn up every single game at full cylinders."

[White Noise]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11681_6446234,00.html

Harry - We respect Murphy

Harry's men meet Murphy's Fulham this weekend


By Adrian Del Monte   



Last updated: 15th October 2010   

Harry Redknapp has denied any ill feeling towards Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy after his controversial comments earlier in the week.

Murphy put the increase in reckless challenges and serious injuries down to managers who send out their players too "pumped up".

Despite the comments, Redknapp has affirmed that Murphy is a respected player in the Premier League, and that he will not receive any harsh treatment from his players this weekend.

"Will they kick lumps out of him? I don't think so. Danny is a good ambassador of the game," Redknapp said.

"I've never come across a manager who said to people go into reckless challenges, break someone's legs or kick lumps out of them. I don't think that goes on.

"With some teams you have to get in their faces because if you let them pass it they'll murder you. But no one wants to see crazy, reckless challenges."

Redknapp believes that repeat offenders are those who need to calm down, to avoid serious injuries occurring so frequently in the future.

"It is the same people who keep getting sent off for making rash challenges that have to calm themselves down a bit," he added.

[White Noise]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6446301,00.html


McCarthy hits back at Murphy

Molineux chief blasts 'silly' comments


Last updated: 15th October 2010   

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy has hit back at Danny Murphy's verbal attack on his management style.

McCarthy was among three Premier League bosses to incur the wrath of the Fulham skipper, after the midfielder candidly accused the Wolves boss, as well Blackburn's Sam Allardyce and Tony Pulis of Stoke, of sending their players out 'too pumped up'.

But the former Republic of Ireland coach feels Murphy has no justification for his condemning comments, after revealing the pair have only ever had a 30 second conversation following Karl Henry's challenge on Bobby Zamora which left the striker with a broken leg last month.

McCarthy has already spoken with Allardyce, the League Managers' Association and PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor over Murphy's statement and the Wanderers tactician hopes referees will not be influenced by the midfielder's perception of his team.

He said ahead of Saturday's clash with West Ham at Molineux: "I've only had one conversation with Danny Murphy and that was after the Fulham game when he said 'don't worry, I'll make sure Zamora knows it was a fair tackle' and I said 'great'.

"If Danny Murphy can decide on, or analyse my team talks or beliefs from that one 30 second conversation, then he is a better man than me.

"I find it incredible coming from someone who has never been in the dressing room with me, has never worked with me. Apart from that 30 seconds, we have never had a conversation.

"For him to pontificate like he has done, is completely wrong.

"It has not made me angry. It was a silly comment without a great deal of knowledge. It has created a huge furore and the media have had great mileage out of it."

Respect
McCarthy added: "It is dammed hard to pick up points. It is made harder by comments like that.

"I hope it doesn't affect referees. I am one of those managers who go into their room before the game and listen to them and treat them with respect. I don't send in my assistant or the physio.

"We will continue to play the same way but hopefully with less yellow cards.

"I don't think Danny has the info, information or experience to say something that would hurt me.

"It has not hurt me, it has made life harder for us but if people push against us, you have to push back."

McCarthy revealed: "I spoke to Sam Allardyce, the LMA, Gordon Taylor, people's opinions I care for.

"It is sad we have to defend ourselves because the three of us have done all right in the game.

"We should not have to defend ourselves against a player who has got no knowledge of us.

"If I started making accusations about players, I might get a call from the PFA and deservedly so."


Discipline
McCarthy does concede that his team have to improve their disciplinary record after collecting two red cards and 20 yellows this season.

He said: "I agree with the sentiment of all managers that none of us send a team out to kick or to injure people. We all abhor tackles that hurt people.

"I was the first one to come out and say Henry's tackle at Wigan was a ridiculous tackle and a red card. I said that straight after the game.

"I never said 'I didn't quite see it' or 'there was sand in my eye' like some do. I came out and said it as it was and I'll always do that

"We are bottom of the disciplinary league with 20 yellows and two reds but if you look at the last four years we've finished 9th, 10th, 3rd and 13th.

"I have never sent teams to do that (be dirty). My teams always try and play football. We can't stop being competitive.

"I would like to improve the discipline record and we are trying to do it."

McCarthy is under no illusions about the importance of tomorrow's game with the Hammers after four successive defeats.

He said: "It is a huge game. There is no hiding from that but we were in a similar position last season and turned it around.

"I don't like the position we are in, I don't like the bashing the club is getting, but if we can maintain our belief after losing four games, we will be fine."

.

[White Noise]

http://threeandin.com/2010/10/15/pulis-misses-the-point/


Pulis misses the point


Posted by Hogger


On October - 15 - 2010


Today Tony Pulis entered his press conference, unfurled a prepared statement in Benitez-esque fashion, and responded to Danny Murphy's recent comments about his side's overt physicality.

Pulis has a history of releasing statements when his club come under fire.  His club are remarkably touchy about criticism.  It's almost as if the comments are all too often, like the impact of some of Stoke's tackling, unnervingly close to the bone.

Pulis began his statement by accusing Murphy of discriminating against smaller clubs:

"One challenge on Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa by Nigel de Jong of Manchester City recently led to a broken bone.

Another by Joe Cole, one of our most technically gifted players, resulted in a sending off for one of our most celebrated clubs in the country, Liverpool, who are currently managed by Roy Hodgson, someone I have great respect for.

How ironic it is that Danny Murphy chose not to discuss either challenge or manager in respect of those tackles. How selective can someone be?"

Leaving aside Pulis' understanding (or lack thereof) of irony, he's plain wrong on this count.  Like the victim of a Ryan Shawcross tackle, he's barely got a leg to stand on.  Whilst Cole and De Jong have both made awful challenges, Murphy's point was that some sides are repeatedly and systematically violent.  Neither Liverpool nor City fall in to that bracket.

Pulis moved on to question Murphy's motives:

"Maybe Murphy's pursuit of a new career in the media does not allow him to criticise, or fall out with the Premier League big boys. Instead, in my opinion, he has selected easy targets that are based on his own perception and not facts."

Ah, perception.  The enemy of football.

The hilarity of accusing Murphy of seeking media-attention, whilst at the same time protecting a kabal of managers led by Sam "I could manage Real Madrid" Allardyce, needs little comment.  You could even call it 'ironic'.  But that would only confuse Pulis.

[White Noise]

http://www.allactionnoplot.com/2010/10/fulham-spurs-preview-bigger-than-inter-at-the-san-siro-944/



Fulham - Spurs Preview: Bigger Than Inter at the San Siro

Don't quite remember what life was like before this interminably long international break, but I think the gist of it is that we gather every centre-back on our books and lock them in the treatment room, while the rest of our heroes daydream about the Champions League and wait for Bale and VDV to do their thing. 

I read earlier this week that we are yet to win two consecutive league games this season, which sums up our slightly hotch-potch start to the campaign in rather damning fashion. No doubt our Champions League distractions have been largely responsible for this, and with a trip to the San Siro on the horizon I fear the worst at Craven Cottage tomorrow. 'Arry has rather nobly been suggesting in the build-up to this one that the game against Fulham is bigger than Inter Milan away. While the myriad ways in which that is wrong could probably be turned into a short book, I certainly see his point, for one way or another our heroes need to be reminded that if we continue to fritter away Premiership points we will fall well short of the top four come May. Such tough-but-winnable games as Fulham away are the stuff of which a top-four finish is built.

Team News

Bassong is likely to be partnered by either Corluka or Hudd, and Defoe I think remains out, but the rest are all in working order.

'Arry again has to choose between 4-4-2 with VDV giving the world's worst impression of a right-winger, or 4-5-1 with the magnificent Dutchman in more natural habitat.

As for the other lot, my fantasy league research tells me that Bobby Zamora is still injured, while jaws at AANP Towers are still begin scraped from the floor in disbelief at the news from back in the summer that ex-lilywhite Simon Davies is now old enough to retire from international football. Cripes. A draw at Craven Cottage is no bad result, but this one is winnable.

[White Noise]

http://fulham.theoffside.com/team-news/spurs-preview-passers-passing.html


Spurs Preview; Passers Passing

By: timmyg | October 15th, 2010

No Dickson Etuhu or Damien Duff, but Moussa Dembélé is allegedly back to fitness.

Damien Duff and Dickson Etuhu will miss the game. Duff is being rested in an attempt to overcome a niggling calf injury while Etuhu will be out for between two to three weeks with an ankle problem. Mousa Dembele is available after recovering from his ankle injury but Andy Johnson (knee) is still one week away from a first team return.

Yet according to PhysioRoom.com, Stephen Kelly is "very doubtful" with a Calf Muscle Strain. Oh, and AJ may make an appearance on the bench.

No matter what, expect to see Chris Baird start the game — be it at right back or center mid. Clint Dempsey will probably replace Duff on the right. Dembélé could very well start the match, but I have a lingering feeling we'll see Gera up front behind EJ.

On the flip side, here's an interesting story about Peter Crouch over at ZonalMarking. I don't have a total tally, but if memory serves me right he's scored quite a few goals against us. Hopefully 'Arry rests him for the trip to Inter on Wednesday.

On a side note, I took some data from The Telegraph and tabulated how well our players are passing. The problem right away is that we don't know what type of passes these are (i.e. backwards or forwards), considering our open-passing nature (compared to the directness of a Stoke or Blackburn). But it does offer some insight to our side: Danny Murphy is still the puppet master, Dembélé and Gera are not only the same player but evidently the same passer, and Schwarzer offers better service than Stockdale.



Most notable though is our worrying lack of passing acumen at right back. Between the two, Kelly and Pantsil are averaging just a 70% completion rate. If this continues until January, I'd imagine we'll see Hughes go fishing in the transfer market.

[White Noise]

http://www.just-football.com/2010/10/blackburn-dirty-danny-murphy-allardyce-hughes/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Just-football+%28Just-Football%29

Blackburn, dirt and Danny Murphy – Time to apologise to Allardyce?

15 Oct, 2010 Jonathan F England, Europe, Latest, Premier League

Maybe it was the company. Danny Murphy was speaking at the Leaders in Football conference, a collection of some of the game's most prominent and influential figures both on and off the pitch, when he decided to aim a stinging volley at Stoke City, Blackburn and Wolves. Perhaps his chest swelled with authority as he sat, suited and booted in the corridors of power, and spoke out.

Maybe it was a prelude to a career in management. Murphy is supposedly a student of the game and is busy collecting coaching badges. Perhaps this was an early dip of the toe into the waters of kidology.

Either way it caused controversy.

"The pace some of the players are going into tackles at is ridiculous," began Murphy. "There are no brains in the players doing that. I don't believe they are going out to break the legs of their opponents but there's no logic or intelligence in what they are doing.

'Yeah this feels good!' Murphy must have thought to himself. I'll go on. "Players need to be more intelligent, especially the ones who are doing it repeatedly. They are culpable in that."

"You get managers sending teams out to stop other sides from playing, which is happening more and more," he said. "Stoke, Blackburn and Wolves — you can say they're doing what they can to win the game — but the fact is that the managers are sending the players out so pumped up that inevitably there are going to be problems.
'This is great, I feel like king of the world!' Have some more:

"The thing I think people miss is that it's the managers who dictate what the players do and how they behave. If you have a manager in control of his team, who doesn't allow these things to go on you have a more disciplined team.

"Fulham under Roy Hodgson were top of the Fair Play League because he wouldn't accept talking back to the referee or stupid tackles. You can look at the players and blame them. But every team has a captain and a manager who is in charge."
Murphy's opinions certainly provoked. In a town where media banality is sheriff, the 33-year-old played villain in publicly criticising specific teams and managers.

But does he owe one of them an apology?

The problem with spraying out accusations is that, like 40-yard passes, if they are not accurate they are of no use. And in the case of Blackburn and Sam Allardyce, Murphy's mud fails to stick.

Allardyce was furious with the comments made by Murphy. "People like Danny Murphy are giving a perception that's not true and I hate perception. There is far too much of it in the game, we should stick to reality.

"I was very, very angry indeed when I saw it. The players are very angry – was it brainless or mindless he said? An outrageous statement to make. They are very angry about that."

Blackburn consequently issued a detailed press release charting the club's recent disciplinary record – one that proves that, under Allardyce, Murphy's accusations against Blackburn were not warranted.

Without regurgitating the whole press release here are some key points.

In 2009/2010, Allardyce's first full season in charge at Ewood Park, Blackburn's finished 8th in the Fairplay League with only two red cards issued all season. Blackburn's disciplinary record was better than the likes of Chelsea and Murphy's former club Liverpool – both of whom finished below Rovers with 5 red cards each. During that season Blackburn also did not have a single player suspended for five bookings.

This record has carried on into Allardyce's second season. Blackburn are currently 4th in the Fairplay League after 7 games of 2010/2011, sitting above Murphy's own club Fulham with 11 bookings from 7 games and no red cards.

Indeed, this calendar year Blackburn have only had one player sent off in the league – Christopher Samba against Stoke back in February.

All this demonstrates just how perception can often unfairly blind fact, and gives Blackburn supporters and Sam Allardyce reason to feel rightly aggrieved by Murphy's comments.

The perception of Blackburn as a dirty side has its roots in the seasons between 2004/5 and 2007/8, when they finished bottom of the Fairplay League every single season for four consecutive years. But, and here's where it all takes a deliciously juicy twist, who was Blackburn manager during all four of those seasons?

Mark Hughes. Murphy's current boss at Fulham.

Further irony was added to this already well-iced cake when Hughes then came out and defended Murphy's comments. "We're disappointed by the reaction to it. You must respect he has an opinion. He was being honest."

In this instance, the facts fail to back up Murphy's so-called honesty. He may have considered it honest given public perception of Blackburn as an overly physical side, but in actuality Murphy only really provided another example of this horrible trend of typecasting-above-analysing which many in British football too often fall foul of.

Bashing Sam Allardyce seems to be quite a popular pastime for many football pundits and commentators at the moment, but in this case it is far from warranted. Blackburn may not play with Barcelona-esque finesse, but if we're looking to identify dirty teams, plenty are guiltier than Big Sam's. Including a few quite close to home for our Danny.

[White Noise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/oct/15/squad-sheets-fulham-tottenham-hotspur


Squad sheets: Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur
   
guardian.co.uk, Friday 15 October 2010 18.42 BST

Fulham are still unbeaten in the league, albeit with one win and six draws, while Wednesday's Champions League trip to Milan to face Internazionale will not be far from Tottenham's thoughts. So if there is to be winner it is more likely to be Mark Hughes's team, although another draw looks the safer bet. The visitors will look to Rafael van der Vaart carrying on where he left off against Aston Villa a fortnight ago and Harry Redknapp must be relieved that his injury-stricken defence will be spared the attentions of Bobby Zamora, recovering from a broken leg. David Lacey

Venue Craven Cottage, Saturday 3pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Fulham 0 Tottenham 0

Referee M Dean

This season's matches 6 Y18, R0, 3.00 cards per game

Odds Fulham 19-10 Tottenham 8-5 Draw 12-5



Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: Graphic Fulham
Subs from Etheridge, Kamara, Riise, Dalla Valle, E Johnson, Stoor, Greening, Halliche, Dikgacoi, Elm, Briggs

Doubtful Stoor (groin)

Injured Duff (calf, 23 Oct), Etuhu (ankle, 23 Oct), A Johnson (knee, 23 Oct), Kelly (calf, 23 Oct), Stockdale (ankle, 30 Oct), Senderos (achilles, Feb), Zamora (broken leg, Feb)

Suspended None

Form guide DDDWDD

Disciplinary record Y12 R0

Leading scorers Dembélé, Dempsey 2

Tottenham
Subs from Cudicini, Pletikosa, Corluka, Gallas, Palacios, Kranjcar, Giovani, Bentley, Kaboul, Pavlyuchenko, Keane

Doubtful Assou-Ekotto (knee), Bentley (match fiteness), Gallas (groin), Kaboul (hamstring), King (groin/knee)

Injured Dawson (knee, 30 Oct), Defoe (ankle, Nov), O'Hara (back, Nov), Woodgate (groin, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide WLWDLW

Disciplinary record Y9 R0

Leading scorer Van der Vaart 3

Match pointers
• Mark Hughes has drawn 14 of his last 18 matches as a Premier League manager


• Tottenham have scored 99 away goals in Premier League London derbies


• Fulham have the best crossing accuracy (27%) in the Premier League this season


• Tottenham have not won at Fulham in the top flight since March 2002


• Fulham have made more defensive clearances (328) than any other side in 2010-11


• If selected, Jermaine Jenas will be making his 250th Premier League appearance