Monday Fulham Stuff (21/01/19)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Winks shatters Fulham hearts

This match felt like a microcosm of Fulham's miserable season. The Whites began with pace and purpose, taking the attack to a weakened Tottenham side with new signing Ryan Babel to the fore. They enjoyed a stroke of good fortune, taking the lead through Fernando Llorente's own goal, and should probably have extended their lead during a concerted spell of first-half pressure. That failure eventually cost them as Dele Alli equalised with a far-post header, but the knockout blow arrived with 15 seconds of injury time remaining, when Harry Winks arrived to nod home a delicious cross from Georges-Kévin Nkoudou to steal all three points.

This setback, coupled with Fulham's defeat at Burnley last weekend, feels terminal – even though there is plenty of football to play. Claudio Ranieri won't countenance such talk, but the psychological impact of another damaging loss was etched all over distraught Fulham faces at the death. Seven points behind fourth-from-bottom Newcastle and, with a horrendous March of fixtures to become, Ranieri's men need something to change and fast.

The Whites were workmanlike rather than wondrous, but their high-octane start certainly unsettled Spurs. Babel, who arrived earlier this week on a six-month loan deal from Besiktas, caught the eye from the outset and not just for his shock of red hair. The former Liverpool winger offered pace and power from a wide left position, immediately worrying the Tottenham back line. He linked well with Mitrovic and burst away from a ponderous Davinson Sanchez before drawing an excellent reaction save from Hugo Lloris.

Fulham proved unusually threatening from set-plays with Jean-Michael Seri's swerving deliveries posing all sorts of problems for the Spurs defence. With the visitors preoccupied by Aleksandar Mitrovic, the hosts took the lead after a corner narrowly eluded Tim Ream's near-post run and ricocheted in off the unfortunate Llorente, who endured another trying afternoon. The tall Spaniard should have made amends with a header from Jan Vertonghen's floated cross, but Sergio Rico parried a poor header and Denis Odoi thumped the rebound to safety.

Babel spurned a couple of good chances to extend Fulham's lead, heading narrowly over the bar after an electric run and cross from Cyrus Christie down the right. The Dutch international was then denied by a superb saving tackle from Vertonghen after an outrageous backheel from the energetic Calum Chambers. The home side had a second chalked off for offside when Lloris brilliantly parried an Andre Schurrle volley and Mitrovic was flagged as he forced home the follow-up.

Fulham were far more passive in the second half and were pushed deeper and deeper as Spurs controlled possession. Alli appeared to have more license to roam after the break and the England midfielder punished some more sloppy defending by poaching an equaliser six minutes into the second period. Tim Ream horribly scuffed an attempt to clear his lines and the ball dropped invitingly for Christian Eriksen, whose floated ball in was perfect for Alli to head home.

It seemed for a while as though the equaliser might open the floodgates. The visitors did begin to lay siege to the Fulham goal and Ranieri's men were indebted to an excellent challenge from Maxime Le Marchand as Eriksen drove an effort goalwards, but aside from a rasping drive from Danny Rose that rattled the crossbar, Fulham were untroubled. Tottenham struggled to create a clear opening right until the death, although the introduction of Ibrahima Cisse with ten minutes to go – perhaps a puzzling choice with Tom Cairney kicking his heels on the touchline – only invited further pressure.

It looked as Fulham would be able to collect a precious point, but they reckoned without Tottenham's late show. The home side eschewed opportunities to run the clock with Sergio Rico punting the ball downfield in the direction of a shattered Mitrovic – and were punished for their naivete. Nkoudou, who had been expected to leave Spurs during this month's transfer window, delivered the type of teasing cross that Tottenham had lacked for so long and Winks got goalside of Joe Bryan to direct his header home and spark joyous celebrations in the Putney End.

FULHAM (3-4-3): Rico; Odoi, Le Marchand, Ream; Christie, Bryan, Chambers, Seri (Cisse 81); Schurrle (Kebano 72), Babel (R. Sessegnon 55), Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Bettinelli, Cairney, Ayite, Vietto.

BOOKED: Mitrovic, Seri.

GOAL: Llorente (o.g. 17).

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (3-4-2-1): Lloris; Alderweireld, Sánchez, Vertonghen; Trippier, Rose, Eriksen, Winks; Lamela (Dier 79), Alli (Nkoudou 86); Llorente. Subs (not used): Gazzaniga, Foyth, Davies, Skipp, Sterling.

BOOKED: Sanchez, Rose, Alderweireld.

GOALS: Alli (51), Winks (90+3).

REFEREE: Craig Pawson (Sheffield).



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2019/01/winks-shatters-fulham-hearts/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 1, Tottenham 2
That. Was. Painful.

Just when you thought Fulham would snatch a famous victory and the most needed points this season, Harry Winks broke every home supporter's hearts with ten seconds remaining. But it was not without the good guys playing some inspired football for the first time in quite a while.

Ryan Babel played for the first time in Fulham colors and more than impressed on his debut. He challenged Tottenham's back three all evening with his runs to the penalty area and providing support for teammates when Tottenham were in the middle of pressing. It should suprise absolutely no one that he ended up leading all Fulham players in shots, expected goals and xG Chain today with three shots, 0.54, and 0.57 respectively. Babel's run past Davinson Sanchez and timely save by Hugo Lloris was the highlight of the bunch.

Next, Fulham were pulverizing Tottenham on corner kicks. The first should have led to a penalty after Jan Vertonghen took down Aleksander Mitrovic but referee Craig Pawson had a bad vantage point to see the tugging of the latter's shirt. But Fulham was soon rewarded after a Jean Michael Seri ball hit Fernando Llorente's right leg while flat footed and went in on goal. Yes, my friends. Fulham had a lead against a big six side!

And despite Tottenham constantly putting pressure in Fulham's penalty area the rest of the way, but only for the back three to constantly clear it out before a clean shot was toward's target. Besides a header by Llorente that went straight towards Sergio Rico, Tottenham only threatened with just 0.20 expected goals and four shots and 68.6% possession in the first half. But as half always been the case for Fulham, they could never stay consistent between one half to the next.

First, Tim Ream, being his usual self all season, swung and missed on a clearing attempt and Christian Eriksen was there to take advantage of it. From there, he found a streaking Dele Alli from point blank range to head it home and tie the contest up. Until Alfie Mawson comes back from injury, Fulham supporters will have to deal with Ream time and again making mistakes that make him never good enough to play Premier League football ever again. Consider him an MLS player in a month's time! Then, for no reason at all, Babel came off in place of Ryan Sessegnon.

I refuse to be talked out of the fact that our newest arrival was by far our best player and had no business playing anything less than the full 90 minutes. You are on the verge of relegation. Desperation has to be more valuable than managing minutes and fitness. It is downright unforgivable that a Sessegnon-Mitrovic-Babel front three wasn't given a go for a good chunk of time. If for anything else, there would have been more pace to the side and would have been perfect compliments to the rest of the team that were just getting constantly pressured on the other side of the pitch.

For those that even want to argue about fitness, Ryan Babel has played well over 2,000 league minutes in the past three seasons. André Schürrle has last done that back in 2012/13.

Anywho, Tottenham got back on the front foot some more, but it didn't look like they were able to break the deadlock. That especially looked like the case when Llorente had his own penalty shout committed by Maxime Le Marchand only for Dawson to wave it off. Also, Alli had to be substituted within the latter stages of the game due to a hamstring injury. However, Llorente had one header that really should have given Spurs the lead but missed it from point blank range. Fortunately for them, Winks took advantage of a Georges-Kevin Nkoudou cross and also punished Rico for staying stuck on his goal line instead of coming out and claiming a slow enough cross into the six yard box.

That's just the never ending story for Fulham. Even when they try their best, there's just so many basic mistakes any squad can commit before they get punished so hard that they get played off the park. In this instance, the mistakes weren't there too much, but they were enough to suffer a defeat they never should have had. And there goes another opportunity to get closer to Premier League safety. Now Brighton & Hove Albion is a must win. But we knew that already and time is running out for this football club before you know it.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2019/1/20/18190469/fulham-1-tottenham-2

[WhiteJC]

Why former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte was spotted at Craven Cottage and Fulham's training ground

The former Chelsea boss has been spending time with Claudio Ranieri in the past week

Antonio Conte was in the crowd at Craven Cottage to watch Fulham's 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon and has been spotted at Motspur Park in recent days too.

The Sky cameras picked him out sitting in the director's box on Sunday afternoon and it led fans to wonder why the former Chelsea boss was looking on as Claudio Ranieri's side lost to a last gasp Harry Winks goal.

Conte was also spotted at the side's Motspur Park training park on Friday, but the reason why he's been at both the ground and training ground is less exciting than you might imagine.

Simply, him and Claudio Ranieri are good friends and Conte was at the training ground at the invitation of the Fulham boss, with Conte watching the side's training session before having lunch with his countryman, while he was also at Craven Cottage to watch the game with Spurs at the invitation of Ranieri.

Allowing other managers watch training sessions is something that Ranieri has done frequently in the past, with Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri being one of those that has studied Ranieri's training sessions, while the current Fulham boss has also visted other coaches to study their sessions, like he did with Sarri earlier in the season when he was out of work.

Conte is currently out of work having left Chelsea in the summer despite being linked with taking the Real Madrid job in November after they sacked Julen Lopetegui.

Ranieri has previously praised Conte in the past, most notably after Chelsea won the Premier League the season after Ranieri had done it with Leicester City, saying he was proud to pass on the mantle to Conte.

He told La Gazzetta dello Sport at the time: "I am proud to pass the torch of the Premier League to Antonio Conte: from one Italian to another, a great recognition of our school of management.

"After the fairytale of my Leicester, this splendid Chelsea adventure. It was not easy to get it at the first attempt, but Conte passed his exam with flying colours on his debut in English football."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/antonio-conte-been-spotted-craven-15706850

[WhiteJC]

 
Matt O'Riley is a starlet worth considering for Celtic

Brendan Rodgers must want to strengthen his Celtic squad further during the final two weeks of the January transfer window.

After losing the Old Firm derby during the final days of 2018, Celtic's lead at the top of the table was cut short with Rangers moving level on points though the Hoops have a game in hand. Rodgers has wasted no time in adding to his roster with attacking reinforcements viewed as a priority. The Northern Irishman landed Timothy Weah, Vakoun Issouf Bayo as well as Oliver Burke on a loan deal.

Rodgers hinted that more signings would be forthcoming as Celtic look to create a gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership. One or two quality additions could give the Hoops the boost they need to secure their tenth consecutive league crown. The former Liverpool boss will also hope to progress past Valencia in the Europa League.

One man he could help them on their way is Fulham starlet – Matt O'Riley. The 18-year-old is highly regarded by the Cottagers and is considered one of the finest creative talents in the country. With Fulham struggling in the Premier League relegation zone, O'Riley could be tempted to move to Scotland with many youngsters opting to move abroad in search of first-team football.

Rodgers has a reputation for working with youngsters – as he did with another former Fulham youngster, Patrick Roberts – and could develop O'Riley into one of the best midfielders in the division. The youngster can play a number of midfield roles and has starred for Fulham's U23 in the Premier League 2. Poaching one of the Premier League's hottest prospects would be a massive statement from the Bhoys.

With Scott Brown set to leave the club in the near future, O'Riley would be an excellent replacement.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/scottish-premier/celtic/matt-oriley-is-a-starlet-worth-considering-for-celtic/