Saturday Fulham Stuff (26/01/19)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Fulham contact Atalanta ace Rafael Toloi over transfer

Fulham are reportedly looking to strengthen their backline.

Fulham are weighing up a potential deal for Rafael Toloi, report Tuttomercatoweb.

Toloi, 28, is a centre-back who is a regular in the Serie A side's defence.

He has made 23 appearances this season, scoring once and making five assists.

Tuttomercatoweb report Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri is considering a move.

The report claims Fulham have made contact with Toloi's representatives to find out whether he would be interested in a switch.

The Brazilian defender is out of contract in 2020 so Atalanta could look to cash in.

Fulham need to sign defensive reinforcements as they look to climb up the Premier League table and avoid relegation.

Toloi has made more than 100 appearances for Atalanta since joining in 2015.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/01/25/report-fulham-contact-atalanta-ace-rafael-toloi-over-transfer-1/

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Newcastle and Fulham eye move for Ibrahim Amadou



According to reports from Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo, Newcastle and Fulham are keen to sign Sevilla midfielder Ibrahim Amadou, in the January transfer window.

The 25-year-old joined the La Liga outfit from Lille just last summer for a fee of £9 million, but the Frenchman has struggled to make a strong impact. He has made just two La Liga starts for Pablo Machin's side, with injuries restricting his involvement.

However, he was brilliant in Sevilla's 2-0 win against Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa Del Rey semi-final on Wednesday. His performance has drawn attention of Premier League duo – Newcastle and Fulham.

The report claims that that the Frenchman is keen to remain at Sevilla for now, and therefore he will reject the chance to move to the Premier League.

Both Newcastle United and Fulham are fighting to avoid relegation this season, and Amadou would be a very good signing for them.

Fulham have struggled badly in the league and find themselves 19th in the table. Newcastle are just two places above them.



https://sportslens.com/report-newcastle-and-fulham-eye-move-for-ibrahim-amadou/257505/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham look set to terminate Kamara's contract, club will now snap him up on a free

Fanatik claim Fulham will terminate the contract of Aboubakar Kamara after he was reportedly arrested following an altercation with a staff member of the Premier League side.

The Turkish newspaper report this will be good news for Yeni Malatyaspor as they expect Kamara to sign for them once he's been released by Fulham.

It's reported Kamara will join the Turkish club on a free transfer and he's expected to arrive in Turkey in the next couple of days to complete his move. The player had expected to be in the country earlier this week, but Monday's episode changed things.

Earlier this week we covered reports from Turkey that Yeni Malatyaspor president Adil Gevrek was in London to hold talks with Fulham officials and he's been informed about Kamara's current situation.

Kamara's Fulham teammate Neeskens Kebano has also been linked with a move to Yeni Malatyaspor and the Super Lig club are hoping they can confirm the arrivals of both forwards before the transfer deadline.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-look-set-terminate-kamaras-contract-club-will-now-snap-free/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Flutter

Fans can now win cash and Fulham experiences when they play the new Fulham Flutter online matchday raffle.

In support of Fulham FC Foundation, the online matchday raffle makes winners of FFC fans. The Flutter will create three winners every home match and proceeds raised through ticket sales will support the Foundation and the work it does in the community.

Each home match, fans will have the chance to win a cash jackpot, which will be 30 per cent of the pot total. The more fans who play, the bigger the jackpot. Two additional winners will take home prizes such as match tickets, signed merchandise, and behind the scenes experiences.

This Tuesday 29th January when we host Brighton & Hove Albion, there are three prizes up for grabs:

● An Audi chauffeur-driven Match Day Experience for Fulham v Manchester City: Two tickets on the halfway line, with a chauffeur driven Audi A8 to collect you from your house and return you home (must live within a London borough)

● Cash Jackpot: 30% of the total pot to one lucky winner

● A signed Ryan Sessegnon home shirt

Buy your online ticket from £2 for Fulham v Brighton

Purchase your tickets and help us in our aim of building better lives through sport. Fulham Football Club Foundation is the award-winning charitable arm of Fulham FC, and home to FFC Women. As the Official Charity Partner of the Club, we build better lives through sport by delivering education, health, inclusion and sports participation programmes, and in doing so engage more than 12,000 people each season. Read more about the Foundation's programmes here.

Please gamble responsibly. Be Gamble Aware.

T+C's Apply 16+



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/january/25/fulham-flutter

[WhiteJC]

 
Next Up: Brighton

Secure your seat as the Whites get ready to return to Premier League action on Tuesday evening against Brighton.

Join us under the Cottage lights for the midweek clash, kicking-off at 7:45pm on Tuesday 29th January, as Fulham seek to push back the Seagulls.

Tickets for the match are available to purchase now on General Sale and can be purchased online, by phone on 0203 871 0810 (opt. 1) or in person from the Fulham Ticket Office.

Come On You Whites!




http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/january/25/brighton-tickets

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham interest in player backed up, and then a clear statement about his future

This January transfer window has felt like a struggle for Fulham.

They're linked to endless players and then soon after there's usually an article published in some European newspaper explaining why the target won't be signing for Claudio Ranieri this month.

It's reminiscent of the January 2017 winter market and Fulham's increasingly chaotic search for a striker.

On Thursday evening we covered claims of Fulham interest in Rafael Toloi, who currently plays for Atalanta.

The Brazilian defender was of so much interest that Fulham were said to have contacted his agent to speak about a transfer before the deadline.

Friday's Corriere della Sera, the Bergamo area edition, backs up that Fulham are indeed keen on signing Toloi.

Corriere give that as their own information, without referring to Thursday's claims from elsewhere. That's the good news.

The bad news is that soon after the interest is backed up, it's stated the player 'will not move'.

No reason is given for it, the newspaper is just rather adamant it's not happening.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-interest-player-backed-clear-statement-future/

[WhiteJC]

 
Premier League confirm Emiliano Sala tribute with 'moment of silence' at upcoming matches

Search and rescue teams called off the search for the missing Cardiff City striker and pilot David Ibbortson on Thursday

The Premier League have confirmed that next week's matches will all host a "moment of silent reflection" in tribute to Emiliano Sala.

The Argentine striker joined Cardiff for a club record £15million at the weekend, but went missing on Monday evening when the light aircraft carrying him from Nantes to the Welsh capital went missing over the Channel Islands.

Search and rescue teams have been searching for Sala and pilot David Ibbotson, but rescuers called off efforts on Thursday.

A statement from Guernsey Police has labelled the chances of survival as "extremely remote".

Lionel Messi, Sala's compatriot, has led calls for rescue teams to continue their search, as have residents Sala's hometown of Progreso, in the Santa Fe province in Argentina.

There have also been a host of messages and tributes paid, and the Premier League have issued a statement on the matter.

"The Premier League is deeply saddened to learn that the active search for Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson has ended. Our thoughts are with the two men and their loved ones," it read.

"We will continue to support our friends at Cardiff City Football Club at this incredibly sad time.

"As a mark of respect there will be a moment of silent reflection for Emiliano and David at all Premier League matches next week."

Cardiff head to Arsenal on Tuesday night in their first match since Sala's disappearance.

The club's CEO Ken Choo has previously opened up on Sala's happiness at signing for the Bluebirds, revealed they have plans to honour their striker at the Emirates then again in their home return against Bournemouth next weekend.

"We're going to plan a tribute on Tuesday at the Arsenal game for the fans to join in, and again at the home match against Bournemouth on Feb. 2," Choo told Sky Sports .

"We're still planning the details and we'll speak to the family as well. We'll announce details in the next day or two."

Midweek Premier League fixtures

    Arsenal vs Cardiff City (29/1)

    Fulham vs Brighton & Hove Albion

    Huddersfield Town vs Everton

    Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Ham United

    Manchester United vs Burnley

    Newcastle United vs Manchester City

    Bournemouth vs Chelsea (30/1)

    Southampton vs Crystal Palace

    Liverpool vs Leicester City

    Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/premier-league-confirm-emiliano-sala-13906051

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Wolves, Everton and Claudio Ranieri all want Italy ace Gianluca Mancini

Atalanta's Serie A centre-back Mancini could reportedly be on his way to the Premier League with Everton, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers keen.

Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton and Fulham are all interested in signing Italy centre-back Gianluca Mancini, according to Calciomercato.

The 22-year-old is one of a number of players who has made his name at Gian Piero Gasperini's overachieving Atalanta over the last few seasons and, like Bryan Cristante, Franck Kessie and Roberto Gagliardini, could now be rewarded with a big-money move away from the Bergamo.

Reports on the continent are claiming that three Premier League sides are interested in Mancini, who has been called up for the Italian national team on numerous occasions without ever making his debut.

Wolves are reportedly interested in a defender who has scored five goals in 13 Serie A starts this season while Everton and Fulham, who have looked shaky at the back over the last few months, are also keen.

Fulham have the worst defensive record in the Premier League and are seven points from safety in the bottom three.

Calciomercato add that Bayern Munich are also keeping tabs on Mancini despite agreeing a deal for another highly-rated defender, Stuttgart's France World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/01/25/do-report-wolves-everton-and-claudio-ranieri-all-want-italy-ace/

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Fulham eye move for Rafael Toloi

According to reports from Tuttomercatoweb, Fulham are looking to sign Rafael Toloi in the January transfer window.

The Cottagers are struggling in the Premier League this season, despite pumping in loads of money during the summer transfer window.

Fulham are 19th in the Premier League table, and desperately need points to get themselves away from the drop zone.

Defence is one area where Fulham need to bolster in January. They have conceded 51 goals this season already, and needless to say, where the priority lies for Claudio Ranieri.

The report claims that Ranieri is considering to make a move for the 28-year-old defender.

The Cottagers have already made contact with Toloi's representatives to know whether he is interested in making the switch to the Premier League.

Toloi joined Atlanta in 2015, and has made over 100 appearances for the Serie A outfit.

The Brazilian defender is out of contract in 2020, so Atalanta could be tempted to offload him if they get a good value for him.

He has made 23 appearances this season, scoring once and making five assists.



https://sportslens.com/report-fulham-eye-move-for-rafael-toloi/257562/

[WhiteJC]

Televised Fixtures

All of Fulham's home matches in March have been selected for live television coverage on Sky Sports.

We have the SW6 derby against Chelsea to commence the month, which will now take place on Sunday 3rd, with a kick-off time of 2.05pm.

After a trip to Leicester City which remains unaffected, we welcome Liverpool to the Cottage. Again this has been shifted to the Sunday – 2.15pm on the 17th.

And March concludes with a clash against champions Manchester City. This will still be played on Saturday 30th March, but kicks off at the earlier time of 12.30pm.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/january/25/televised-fixtures

[WhiteJC]

 
West Brom and Aston Villa eyeing up loan move for experienced Fulham midfielder

According to the Telegraph, West Brom and Aston Villa are both keen to bring Fulham midfielder Kevin McDonald in on loan for the rest of the Championship season.

Championship duo West Brom and Aston Villa are both believed to be interested in taking Fulham midfielder Kevin McDonald on loan for the remainder of the Championship season.

It was also reported last week that Middlesbrough were keeping tabs on the midfielder, However, since then, they have signed former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel from Chinese side Tianjin TEDA for the rest of the campaign.

The Telegraph writes that West Brom manager Darren Moore is looking to bring in some new faces before the end of the January transfer window next week. Throughout the window, West Brom have been linked with moves for central midfielders, with Newcastle United's Isaac Hayden reportedly one of Moore's top targets.

However, Newcastle midfielder Ki Sung-yueng has picked up an injury whilst on international duty with South Korea playing in the Asian Cup. Now, it is expected that Hayden will remain at St James' Park, despite making no secret of the fact that he wants to leave to move down south in order to be closer to his family.

McDonald seems to be surplus to requirements at Craven Cottage. The midfielder was a key figure in Slavisa Jokanovic's side last year, winning promotion to the Premier League via the Play-Offs. However, the arrivals of Jean Michael Seri and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has seen the experienced midfielder fall down the pecking order under Claudio Ranieri.

He is vastly experienced in the Championship and would be a decent acquisition for any side and has racked up over 500 appearances so far in his career. McDonald has played for 194 times in the Championship, playing for Burnley, Scunthorpe United, Wolves and Fulham in the second tier. He also played 91 times for Sheffield United while in League One.



https://the72.co.uk/124127/west-brom-aston-villa-eyeing-loan-move-experienced-fulham-midfielder/

[WhiteJC]

 
West Brom looking to finalise impressive double deal

West Bromwich Albion are hoping to sign Stefan Johansen from Fulham over the course of the next week, whilst they've also enquired about Aboubakar Kamara.

Darren Moore's side are the Championship's top goalscorers this season, but their attacking options have been picked apart so far this month.

Harvey Barnes has been recalled by Leicester City, whilst Bakary Sako, a fringe player for much for the season, looks to be heading to Crystal Palace before February comes around.

According to Dean Jones at Football Insider, West Brom are hoping to bring playmaker Johansen on board before the transfer window shuts, whilst they've also been in contact over the controversial Kamara who was involved in a training ground incident recently.

Both players were part of the Fulham squad that won promotion from the Championship last season, with Johansen scoring eight goals and registering nine assists and Kamara scoring seven times.

The pair started Fulham's 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the play-off final in May, but have seen their opportunities cut in the Premier League, as Fulham battle relegation under Claudio Ranieri.

The club in pursuit of them, West Brom, are looking to bounce back instantly following relegation from the Premier League last season.

The Verdict

This would be an impressive double signing for the Baggies, with both players having the ability to make a difference at this level.

Johansen has a skill set that's been missing at West Brom this season and he'd add something completely different to Moore's attack.

Kamara is powerful and will score goals, only adding to an impressive attacking line-up.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/west-brom-looking-to-finalise-impressive-double-deal/

[WhiteJC]

 
Marcus Bettinelli in line for Fulham recall as Claudio Ranieri bids to solve defensive woes

Ranieri has stuck with Sergio Rico since taking charge but Bettinelli could get the nod against Brighton on Tuesday

Claudio Ranieri is considering bringing back keeper Marcus Bettinelli to try and solve Fulham 's defensive worries.

Fulham boss Ranieri has stuck with Spanish keeper Sergio Rico since taking charge in November but the relegation strugglers have still been leaking goals.

The latest defeat to Tottenham last Sunday has left Ranieri pondering a change in goal for Tuesday's clash with Brighton to try and shake things up and turn results around.

England prospect Bettinelli, 26, is a firm fans' favourite while Rico does not speak fluent English which has been seen as an issue.


Marcus Bettinelli of Fulham celebrates (Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Bettinelli's stats measure up favourably to on-loan Rico as the England under-21 international has averaged more than three saves per game.

Bettinelli, who has twice been called up by England boss Gareth Southgate, has better distribution and has made more claims and punches in half the amount of games Rico has played.

Fulham have the worst defensive record in the Premier League, conceding 51 goals in 23 games, and have a goal difference of minus 30.

But Ranieri has had little success in the transfer window as their No1 choice Gary Cahill has not been done as he is on £150,000-a-week at Chelsea and Fulham have been unable to agree a loan deal.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/marcus-bettinelli-line-fulham-recall-13907518

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Fulham signing this €3.5m Polish star before deadline day would immensely help them in the next few months

Why Dawid Kownacki can help Fulham survive relegation this season

Fulham and Claudio Ranieri have a tough road ahead as they try to battle the inevitable drop back to the Championship.

The Cottagers spent heavily in the summer, recruiting the likes of Jean Michael Seri, Andre Schurrle, Luciano Vietto and a few others, but still see themselves at 19th position in the Premier League. To make things worse, they are eight points from safety and play Manchester United, West Ham United and Crystal Palace over the next few weeks.

This means that the Craven Cottage side need to add at least two new faces to their side before the January window closes. That list has to include a striker, someone who can help take the burden off top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic's shoulders.

The Serbian international has been in good form and leads Fulham's goal-scoring charts with 8 goals, but that has come on the back of two separate six-game droughts. This has caused major issues, which is why Fulham should make a last-ditch attempt for Sampdoria striker Dawid Kownacki.



The Polish star has struggled to get game time this season, thanks in part to Fabio Quagliarella's renaissance, with the 35-year-old scoring an incredible 14 goals in 19 appearances. This form has made the Sampdoria captain undroppable and it has led to 21-year-old Kownacki's downfall.

However, the Polish starlet has scored two goals this season despite making 13 of his 15 appearances off the bench. This not only shows his desire to get goals but also his ability to never give up when times get tough.

In his debut season for the Serie A side, Kownacki finished with 8 goals and 3 assists. A great return for someone who only cost €3.5million, but now after the arrival of Manolo Gabbiadini, things may get worse.

The former Southampton man is the new third-choice striker at the club and it does mean the end of Kownacki. However, for Fulham, with Aboubakar Kamara out of favour, the 21-year-old Polish striker is the perfect replacement. Dawid Kownacki's ability to play as a winger and a centre-forward does help his cause, but it's his finishing ability that Fulham really need.

While it would no doubt take him time to adjust to the Premier League, few youngsters will be able to outdo him once he settles down. It only takes one goal to get your confidence back and once he scores that, he'll become a bargain buy for the Cottagers.



https://soccersouls.com/2019/01/26/fulham-signing-this-e3-5m-polish-star-before-deadline-day-would-immensely-help-them-in-the-next-few-months/

[WhiteJC]

 
In Defence of Denis Odoi

It has long been said that, to a man with a hammer, everything starts to resemble a nail. Tim Clarke has a few words for those who want to hammer Denis Odoi every week.

You may have seen this attitude in the flesh: Someone has an idea (a hammer), and they begin to boldly provide their solution. Nuance means very little. New evidence is right out. The capacity to change your mind is irrelevant when you have a hammer. And down in SW6, we have a hammer problem.

Regrettably, Denis Odoi is the nail.

    Fans have a problem: The team isn't performing.
    They have already decided: Odoi is not good enough.
    Only possible solution: Denis is at fault.

But is this actually true? It almost doesn't matter how he plays in any given match. Search his name in Twitter, and you will find the obligatory "Another Odoi brain explosion!" or even "Denis Odoi is the cancer of the Fulham defence." And these were both after clean sheets. Rather than an honest appraisal of his performance, we are witnessing confirmation bias at its best.

Confirmation Bias: The psychological event of interpreting, recalling, and searching for events which confirm our pre-existing beliefs.

Essentially, our pre-existing belief is the hammer, and we interpret everything to suit us. And for months now, Odoi has fallen victim to this. Make no mistake, Denis is not perfect. He can misplace a pass, and his positioning is not always right. It would be confirmation bias the other way to neglect these aspects of his game.

However, he mops up a good number of genuine chances each week, wins headers he has no business winning, and is more comfortable on the ball than any other defender we have at the moment. His ability to beat two players, surge forward and put Cairney in on goal against Huddersfield is testament to what he offers. Yet this, and his cleaning up of loose balls in the box barely seems to register on the Twittersphere.

It's lucky he seems to have no social media presence, because the steady stream of hate he has received, even during our unbeaten streak last year would be enough to put anyone off their game (especially given that his emergence into the starting XI coincided with the longest unbeaten run in our club's history).

It may be that he has an absolute shocker at the weekend. And if he does, he needs to face the music, just like Cairney or Kamara have (though ideally with no racist trolling this time). I'm not suggesting he needs to be canonised, or that he is above critique, but he does need to be judged fairly.

Those with a hammer need to see him objectively, to have the self-awareness to recognise their implicit bias against him. They must look out for the things he does which does not fit into their mental picture, and then modify the way the way the perceive him. It may be tricky, or uncomfortable. But it's a necessary part of life.

If nothing else, both Slav and Ranieri have trusted him, while chopping and changing almost everyone else. If you have more insight into his ability, and have more footballing knowledge than them both, then please throw your hat into the ring when Ranieri retires after Fulham win the league* in 2019/20.

* Premier league. Not Championship, for all the comedians in the room...



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2019-01-25-in-defence-of-denis-odoi/

[WhiteJC]

Mathew Ryan could be back for Fulham trip

Matthew Ryan and Australia have been knocked out of the Asian Cup.

They lost 1-0 to hosts United Arab Emirates in today's quarter-final.

The result means Ryan is likely to be available for the Seagulls' trip to Fulham in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Seagulls winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh remains involved in the tournament with Iran.

Hughton told The Argus yesterday: "We will get them back as quickly as possible but then you have to assess.

"Travelling distance is not too bad.

"Maty's position is a little bit different to Alireza but the moment we can get them back, we will do."

David Button was expected to play against Fulham, the club he left last summer, before Australia were beaten today.



https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/17386623.mathew-ryan-could-be-back-for-fulham-trip/

[WhiteJC]

 
The history of Brighton & Hove Albion v Fulham

Brighton and Hove Albion might have developed a habit of being able to get a result from Fulham even when they play badly over the past five years, but it hasn't always been this way.

In fact, it is the Cottagers who are by far and away the most dominant side in the fixture. They've won over half of the 70 meetings between the two and have scored 34 more goals than the Albion have managed.

Nobody reading this should need an introduction to what has happened since regular games between Brighton and Fulham recommenced in the 2014-15 season after an 18 year hiatus. Brighton have lost just one of those seven encounters, with trips to Craven Cottage constantly proving to be the scene of wild celebrations.

In December 2014, it was Nathan Jones going mad at the final whistle as he led the Albion to a vital 2-0 win in his second caretaker game in charge. Eight months later and Tomer Hemed scored his first Brighton goal with a last minute penalty in front of a 7,000 strong away following to secure a 2-1 win. On our last visit in January 2017, David Stockdale saved a penalty before two goals in the space of 90 seconds from Hemed and Lewis Dunk took the Albion from trailing 1-0 to winning 2-1 in a game in which they were completely outclassed by the Cottagers.

That has made the trip to Craven Cottage one of the most popular away days in the calendar. It was also the most popular home day in Albion history, the 36,747 crowd that packed into the Goldstone for Fulham's visit on December 27th 1958 setting a record that, given the Amex cannot be expanded, is unlikely to ever be surpassed. For good measure, those in attendance were treated to the best Brighton display of the season as Billy Lane's side defeated their promotion chasing visitors 3-0 through goals from Adrian Thorne and a Tommy Dixon brace.

One person who holds less fond memories of Fulham is Chris Cattlin, who was said to be close to quitting as Albion manager in April 1986 after the bottom-of-the-table Cottagers won 3-2 at the Goldstone to all but end Brighton's promotion hopes. To make matters worse, Alan Mullery – that most revered of Albion bosses who just so happened to be seeking new employment at the time – was watching from the stands. It was a sign of what was to come as Cattlin was dismissed just three games later, with Mullery installed in his place for a second spell at the helm ahead of the 1986-87 season.

Cattlin isn't the only one to not like the Cottagers – the Albion's board had extremely strained relations with their Fulham counterparts in February 1905. The Cottagers were playing Reading in an FA Cup Replay two days after their scheduled Southern League Division One match with the Albion at the Goldstone.

As a result, Fulham rotated their squad around 100 years before squad rotation even became a thing and sent their reserve team down to Sussex to fulfil the fixture. That meant a completely different starting XI to that which had been printed on the day's match-card, with Fulham then refusing to reveal the names of those who would be playing to either the Albion or the press. The Brighton Board were furious about this and reported the matter to the Southern League, who fined Fulham £20 for fielding a second 11. Needless to say, Fulham's reserves had the last laugh by running out 4-1 winners.

Finally, Fulham remain one of only two current Football League clubs – along with Wycombe Wanderers – who the Albion played in a competitive game at the County Ground. They beat the Cottagers at the current home of Sussex County Cricket Club 2-0 in Southern League Division Two on Saturday 30th November 1902. Clem Barker and Frank McAvoy were the scorers.



http://wearebrighton.com/albiondatabase/the-history-of-brighton-hove-albion-v-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

 
Weekend Read: Jean Michaël Seri

It's Friday afternoon at Motspur Park and we set up camp in the player liaison office ahead of our interview with Jean Michaël Seri, as it sits adjacent to the canteen where the midfielder is having lunch.

While we wait for him to finish up, discussions return to the heart-breaking defeat by Tottenham Hotspur. It's five days ago now, but the nature of the loss still rankles with us. And so, while we were planning on going straight into a Brighton preview, we're inclined to get Seri's thoughts on what unfolded at the Cottage last Sunday. Like the majority of us, he was powerless watching on – having been substituted – as Harry Winks completed a 93rd minute smash-and-grab.

"Ah," he sighs when asked to recall his emotions at the time. "The feeling that I had was just, 'wow, again?' We cannot concede a goal like that at the end, because we need points, and we have to be compact and solid until the end. We conceded that goal but I think really, to be fair, this game is one example of this season.

"We played very, very well, especially in the first half. That was an example of how compact we were together. We deserved to win this game, but what happened, happened. We have to keep going and look forward. That's it. We have to take each positive point we can, and keep going."

Results have not gone Fulham's way of late, but Seri's performances in the middle of the park have caught the eye. Like any player coming from abroad, it has taken time to adjust to the rigours of the Premier League, but his undoubted quality has certainly been on show in recent displays, helped by a burgeoning understanding with Calum Chambers in the engine room.

"I think we are doing a good job together," Seri said. "He's more defensive than me, so I can join the attack, I can go forward, and I know that he's going to stay to cover me. It's a good partnership.

"Physically I'm good. I put in my mind that I have to be stronger, because we have to stay compact first, defend all together well, and attack after. So I have to be prepared and ready for this effort. I think we are doing well in the training sessions, and I prepare myself for every game because every game is difficult in this league. This league is very special, very, very difficult, and you have to be ready. Every game, every week, you have to be ready. You have to be ready in the training sessions, you have to be ready when the game starts. If you are not ready, you cannot perform, so I try to be ready before every game."

With the fat now substantially chewed, attentions turn to the main reason we're catching up with the 27-year-old – Tuesday's vital clash with Brighton & Hove Albion. And with Fulham currently seven points off safety, the evening kick-off is as 'must-win' as a January fixture can be.

Our meeting at the Amex back in September was another shrouded in frustration as we let a two-goal lead slip to draw the game. It's one Seri puts in the 'should-have-won' category, but he expects an entirely different type of encounter this time around.

"I think it's not the same," he explained. "It's a different philosophy and a different manager. Now we play with a different tactic and it's not going to be the same as it was in Brighton's home, but we have to fight. We have to fight if we are going win. And we have to win this game. There have been games where we fought, we fought, and we deserved to win, but we lost or we drew. In this game we have to keep going, do the same good things, and see what happens.

"When we played them there [in Brighton], we found some opportunities to score, but we drew. It was a good game, though. We'll try to improve and find a solution, but we have to be calm and not be crazy and attack, attack, leaving space in our team. We have to be compact, like we were first half against Tottenham, and then I think we can win this game.

"Tuesday is important, like all the games we have to play. We have to put our mind on this game, and then after when we play against Crystal Palace away. So we have to prepare for and take each game as it comes – each game, each game, each game. And after, we will see what happens."

What happens come May is the most important thing. There are still 45 points up for grabs, and when asked if the players are confident they can ensure Fulham's survival, Seri was emphatic in his response.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah," he insisted. "We believe, we believe. We work hard in every training session and we have that desire in the games to be strong. We have to give everything we have, and we can make it, yes."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/january/26/jean-michael-seri-feature-interview

[hovewhite]

In Defence of Denis Odoi

It has long been said that, to a man with a hammer, everything starts to resemble a nail. Tim Clarke has a few words for those who want to hammer Denis Odoi every week.

You may have seen this attitude in the flesh: Someone has an idea (a hammer), and they begin to boldly provide their solution. Nuance means very little. New evidence is right out. The capacity to change your mind is irrelevant when you have a hammer. And down in SW6, we have a hammer problem.

Regrettably, Denis Odoi is the nail.

    Fans have a problem: The team isn't performing.
    They have already decided: Odoi is not good enough.
    Only possible solution: Denis is at fault.

But is this actually true? It almost doesn't matter how he plays in any given match. Search his name in Twitter, and you will find the obligatory "Another Odoi brain explosion!" or even "Denis Odoi is the cancer of the Fulham defence." And these were both after clean sheets. Rather than an honest appraisal of his performance, we are witnessing confirmation bias at its best.

Confirmation Bias: The psychological event of interpreting, recalling, and searching for events which confirm our pre-existing beliefs.

Essentially, our pre-existing belief is the hammer, and we interpret everything to suit us. And for months now, Odoi has fallen victim to this. Make no mistake, Denis is not perfect. He can misplace a pass, and his positioning is not always right. It would be confirmation bias the other way to neglect these aspects of his game.

However, he mops up a good number of genuine chances each week, wins headers he has no business winning, and is more comfortable on the ball than any other defender we have at the moment. His ability to beat two players, surge forward and put Cairney in on goal against Huddersfield is testament to what he offers. Yet this, and his cleaning up of loose balls in the box barely seems to register on the Twittersphere.

It's lucky he seems to have no social media presence, because the steady stream of hate he has received, even during our unbeaten streak last year would be enough to put anyone off their game (especially given that his emergence into the starting XI coincided with the longest unbeaten run in our club's history).

It may be that he has an absolute shocker at the weekend. And if he does, he needs to face the music, just like Cairney or Kamara have (though ideally with no racist trolling this time). I'm not suggesting he needs to be canonised, or that he is above critique, but he does need to be judged fairly.

Those with a hammer need to see him objectively, to have the self-awareness to recognise their implicit bias against him. They must look out for the things he does which does not fit into their mental picture, and then modify the way the way the perceive him. It may be tricky, or uncomfortable. But it's a necessary part of life.

If nothing else, both Slav and Ranieri have trusted him, while chopping and changing almost everyone else. If you have more insight into his ability, and have more footballing knowledge than them both, then please throw your hat into the ring when Ranieri retires after Fulham win the league* in 2019/20.

* Premier league. Not Championship, for all the comedians in the room...



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2019-01-25-in-defence-of-denis-odoi/

great article this and I like odio in the team at CH and he has been the most reliable CB,he's not perfect but reliable.