Thursday Fulham Stuff (09/05/19)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Newcastle given lucky omen ahead of final Premier League clash of the season

Sunday will see Rafa Benitez take the Magpies on the road to Fulham as the Spaniard looks to see out his third – and potentially final – full campaign in charge of the Toon with a win.

The boss has been gifted a lucky omen by the FA ahead of our trip to Craven Cottage, as it has been confirmed that Kevin Friend will take charge of our clash with Fulham.

Constantine Hatzidakis and Matthew Wilkes will join the 47-year-old as his assistants, while Graham Scott will serve the final game of the season as the fourth official.

Our trip to Fulham will be Friend's fourth Newcastle encounter of the campaign, having taken charge of our trip to the Etihad Stadium in September, along with home ties against Blackburn in the FA Cup and Huddersfield in the league.

He was, however, the fourth official during our last home game – against Liverpool – and some of our players shared words with him at half-time after Trent Alexander-Arnold went unscathed having handled the ball on the line as Christian Atsu fired home the rebound.

Our record with Friend in the middle, meanwhile, has been mixed, too, as Manchester City edged a 2-1 win over us back in September, while Blackburn held us to a replay, but Huddersfield fell to a 2-0 defeat.

Friend also issued Terriers' captain Tom Smith a straight red card in our February win, which was his second off three straight dismissals this term – Shane Duffy and Anthony Knockaert have both been sent off by Friend this season.

The Leicestershire-born official is not afraid to wave a yellow card, either, with 91 cautions issued in the Premier League alone this season – Friend has also issued 13 in four Championship games, eleven in four FA Cup ties, and eleven in three EFL Cup fixtures.

Having one win, one draw, and one loss to our name with Friend in possession of the whistle this term may not seem like much of a lucky omen, but the official – who first refereed a Premier League game in 2009 – has overseen two games between Fulham and us in the past, and we won both times.

The last time we faced Fulham with Friend in charge came at St James' Park in 2013, when a single goal by Papiss Demba Cisse deep into stoppage-time settled the encounter.



https://newcastle.vitalfootball.co.uk/newcastle-given-lucky-omen-ahead-of-final-premier-league-clash-of-the-season/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Forward Set For Turkish Move

I'm guessing it's not so much a case of a rat leaving a sinking ship but more of a case of cutting our financial accordingly as we contemplate life in the Championship after our relegation from the Premier League.

With our fate sealed we'd hoped we could keep the better players in the squad with us as we hope for an immediate return to the Premier League, but, sadly, it was never going to happen.

This morning speculation in the press, suggests that somebody the Craven Cottage support had taken to, during his brief time with us, is heading for the exit.

According to the red-top publication, the Sun, Ryan Babel is set to join the Turkish side, Galatasaray.

Babel, 32-years-of-age, is available on a free transfer after his Fulham contract expired.

During his brief time with us, the Dutchman scored five Premier League goals and provided three assists.

Now whether keeping Babel didn't fit in with the clubs' financial plan for next season or whether the winger simply wanted to leave, I'm guessing we'll never know.

But, as is always the case, we wish him well on the next leg of his career.



https://fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/fulham-forward-set-for-turkish-move/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Linked With Acquiring A Defender But All Is Not As It Seems

This summer, we're expecting the Fulham squad to undergo some drastic changes.

Who leaves and who the club decides to bring in should make for an interesting summer as we prepare for, we all hope, a successful promotion campaign.

This morning, a piece of speculation has appeared in the tabloid publication, the Sun, implying that Fulham are looking towards bringing in a central defender and one who has experience of playing in the Championship.

The player in question being Michael Hector.

Hector, 26-years-of-age, is one of those in a strange group of players who are on the books of our neighbours, Chelsea, but has little or no chance of playing for the Premier League side.

Last season, Hector played for Sheffield Wednesday and enjoyed a successful season.

But what are the chances of Hector playing for Fulham next season?

Well, it appears the situation is a little confusing.

Yesterday, the news source, the Star, ran an article whereby Hector, on the back of a decent season at Hillsborough, was hoping to make his loan move a permanent deal with the player quoted by our referenced source as remarking:

    "I have made it clear that I would be happy to stay but things need to be sorted out now the season has finished.

    "There's not much I can say to Chelsea, it's just whether the clubs can sort something out and hopefully I can continue here next season."

Clearly, Hector would prefer to remain an Owl which, in my mind, sees any chances of the player coming to Craven Cottage remote.



https://fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/fulham-linked-with-acquiring-a-defender-but-all-is-not-as-it-seems/

[WhiteJC]

 
My Matchday: Diddy David Hamilton

Diddy came back for the Cardiff City game and caught up with fulhamfctv beforehand to relive some of his great stories about the Club.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/may/08/diddy-david-hamilton-my-matchday

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham: Appointing Scott Parker Is Key Ingredient to Success Ahead of Promotion Push

It's not often that a side gets relegated with five games to play and can end the season feeling optimistic.

But a recent resurgence in west London has seen the mood around Fulham switch since the sacking of Claudio Ranieri, under the guidance and watchful gaze of caretaker boss Scott Parker.

A pitiful 4-1 defeat away at Watford confirmed the club's inevitable relegation to the Championship at the beginning of April, but since then the Cottagers have been on an excellent run and their fans will be hoping that it is a sign of things to come as they seek to make an immediate return to the top flight.

The defeat at Vicarage Road was followed by three wins and three clean sheets on the spin, a run which will surely lead to Parker securing the role on a full-time basis.

    106 - Claudio Ranieri lasted just 106 days in charge of Fulham - only six managers in Premier League history have had shorter permanent tenures at a single club. Finito. pic.twitter.com/Av8HfTPobV
    — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 28, 2019

A 1-0 loss against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend put a stop to the run of victories but the blueprint for success is now clear for Parker and his squad.

The key question is, of course, will they be able to maintain that level of form over the course of next season.If they are to do that then they will need to keep their most important players at the club.

There is no doubting the identity of one man they must strive to keep this summer; Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Serbian international has scored almost a third of all their league goals this season, grabbing 11 in a campaign in which, more often than not, he has been feeding off scraps. The former Newcastle striker has missed only one league game all season and his ability to hold the ball up and bring others into the game is vital for the way this Fulham team wants to play.

The problem they will have is convincing him to stay at Craven Cottage.



The 24-year-old has proved he can score goals regularly in the top flight and there are many teams who would love to bring in a striker who can get into double figures in the Premier League.

Parker, who has made the side a lot more resilient since taking over from Ranieri at the beginning of March, will also be keen to keep captain Tom Cairney and teenage winger Ryan Sessegnon at the club having brought them back into the starting XI in recent weeks.

Both players looked like leaving after being left out by Ranieri and previous boss Slavisa Jokanovic but Parker has got them back into the fold and, with the pair being so important in getting Fulham promoted last season, he will be hopeful of building the team around them again in the Championship.

If the former England international does get the manager's job permanently he will also be tasked with getting rid of some members of their bloated squad.

On-loan Andre Schurrle will surely be first out the door with his two-year loan deal set to be terminated at the end of the campaign; the German World Cup winner already revealing he does not want to play in the second division next season.

Fellow loanees Calum Chambers, Timonthy Fosu-Mensah, Luciano Vietto, Havard Nordtveit and Sergio Rico are set to return to their parent clubs and Ryan Babel is also due to move on with his short-term contract expiring in the summer.

Parker would be well advised to sell high-earning central midfielders Jean Michael Seri and Andre-Frank Anguissa to clear space on the wage bill and generate some funds for him to spend in the transfer market.

While new players are important and inevitable, owner Shahid Khan signed 15 players for the club during the course of their one season back in the top flight and he must make sure they do not have such a massive turnover again this summer.

With that in mind, Parker should be allowed the opportunity to work with the majority of the players he currently has at his disposal.

If he is able to retain the likes Mitrovic, Cairney, Sessegnon, Alfie Mawson and Joe Bryan, then there is the nucleus of a side who can compete at the top end of the Championship.

The 38-year-old has shown in recent weeks what he is able to do with these players and he deserves the opportunity to try and get them straight back to the Premier League.If they go in a different direction, things could take a dramatic turn for the worst.



https://www.90min.com/posts/6363053-fulham-appointing-scott-parker-is-key-ingredient-to-success-ahead-of-promotion-push?utm_source=RSS

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham reportedly seek a deal for Sheffield Wednesday loan star Michael Hector

Fulham have been linked with Sheffield Wednesday loanee Michael Hector.

According to a report in the Sun, Fulham have set their sights on signing Chelsea's Michael Hector this summer despite the player announcing his interest in re-joining loan club Sheffield Wednesday.

The former Reading defender has struggled to break through at Chelsea and he has spent the season on loan at Championship club Sheffield Wednesday, building up a rapport with the fans at Hillsborough.

The 26-year-old recently won the Player of the Year award for the Owls, and in his acceptance speech he called for a potential return to the club when asked if he would like to move to Wednesday permanently.

"I've enjoyed my time here at Sheffield. Hopefully something gets sorted," Hector said via a video that was shared on Twitter.

Hector has little chance of making the grade at Chelsea, and his contract at Stamford Bridge expires in the summer of 2020.

The Blues would surely prefer to sell him this summer rather than allow him to move out on loan again and subsequently walk away on a free transfer in 12 months.

Fulham have endured a difficult stay in the top flight as they suffered relegation back to the Championship. It was said the Cottagers spent over £100 million on new players last summer to no avail.

The West London club will be looking to make several sales this summer, but they will also be looking to strengthen the squad with players of Championship experience and Hector represents a fine option.

Fulham would probably have the means to cover his reported £17,000-a-week wages, while the player himself wouldn't be moving far with Craven Cottage located just a few miles from Stamford Bridge.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/05/08/tt-fulham-reportedly-seek-a-deal-for-sheffield-wednesday-loan-st/

[WhiteJC]

 
FourFourDrew: The Children Of The Revolution

When it comes to our famed academy, it's time we started converting potential in point-winners, according to Drew Heatley.

At 16 years and 30 days old, Harvey Elliott is rightly grabbing all the headlines after becoming the youngest player to grace a Premier League pitch. It's a record he took from former Whites player, Matthew Briggs.

Briggs's fortunes since Cookie subbed him on at the Riverside 12 years ago have been well documented by the media this week. Nevertheless, Elliott's emergence is great publicity for the club and for our academy.

Questions are now being asked: will Elliott get more minutes against Newcastle? Will he force his way into our starting XI next season? Look, it's exciting that we've got a young player our management team deem good enough to make it – I just hope that Harvey's six minutes at Molineux were the start of a bigger plan and not just a stunt to drive his price up at a tribunal.

We were asked on the pod a couple of weeks ago how many academy prospects would become first team regulars next season. My answer was "not many" – and I still believe that'll be the case. Simply put: we're great at cultivating talent in our academy, but not as great at turning these prospects into first team assets.

Stevie Humphreys, Cauley Woodrow, Emerson Hyndman, even Patrick Roberts. The list of starlets who have failed to live up to their potential at Fulham (and beyond) in the last five years is substantial. Ryan Sessegnon is, of course, the exception to that rule. You could include Moussa Dembele too, if you'd like, but the fact we lost him for a paltry fee places him in the "sh*t the bed" category, for me.

We were asked on the pod a couple of weeks ago how many academy prospects would become first team regulars next season. My answer was "not many" – and I still believe that'll be the case. Simply put: we're great at cultivating talent in our academy, but not as great at turning these prospects into first team assets.

Stevie Humphreys, Cauley Woodrow, Emerson Hyndman, even Patrick Roberts. The list of starlets who have failed to live up to their potential at Fulham (and beyond) in the last five years is substantial. Ryan Sessegnon is, of course, the exception to that rule. You could include Moussa Dembele too, if you'd like, but the fact we lost him for a paltry fee places him in the "sh*t the bed" category, for me.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2019-05-08-fourfourdrew-the-children-of-the-revolution/

[WhiteJC]

 
City Cruises

We Fulham fans love being by the river, and now you can further your River Thames experience by taking advantage of an exclusive offer from City Cruises.

The leading operator of tourism and leisure passenger services on the Thames, City Cruises offer a variety of packages, from sightseeing tours to their upcoming Tunes on the Thames season.

Kicking off in May, this will see music-lovers dance, sing, relax and geek out to their favourite DJs and acts, from Silent Disco nights to Hip Hop Karaoke, 80s vs 90s and a Champagne Sunday Brunch.

Whites supporters can take advantage of our relationship with City Cruises with a special 50 per cent off all sightseeing cruises. To secure your discount, either head to your chosen pier (Westminster, London Eye, Tower, or Greenwich) and quote 'FULHAMFC,' or book online at citycruises.com/promo using the code 'FULHAMFC.'



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/may/07/city-cruises

[WhiteJC]

 
Newcastle Tickets Limited

Fulham end their 2018/19 season against Newcastle United at Craven Cottage this Sunday, 12th May, kick-off 3pm.

The Whites go into the match aiming to end the season with three home wins in a row following victories over Everton & Cardiff City.

With tickets now limited in availability, make sure you're there to watch the Premier League action unfold!

Tickets can be purchased online, by phone on 0203 871 0810 (opt. 1) or in person from the Fulham Ticket Office.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/may/08/newcastle-tickets-limited

[WhiteJC]

 
Games for the Weekend 12/05
Our final game of the season is against Newcastle

So we've come to the end of our Premiership adventure, apart from the last few games its largely been a season to forget for us Fulham fans.
However we still have one last game against Newcastle, I'm sure that Mitro will be looking to prove a point! I've got a sneaking suspicion he'll be back on fire for this game, fingers crossed he gets his first Premiership hat-trick against his old club.

COYWs

Games of Interest...
Sunday 12th
Brighton v Man City
Liverpool v Wolves
Fulham v Newcastle
Man Utd v Cardiff
Southampton v Huddersfield


come on over to the Friends of Fulham forum and join in the conversation...
http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0



https://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=660

[WhiteJC]

 
Newcastle first-team ace set to miss Fulham clash

We will be looking to end the season on a high against Fulham come Sunday, but Rafa Benitez will have to organise his Magpies without DeAndre Yedlin.

Our regular right-back has confirmed via his Instagram that he underwent successful surgery earlier this week, having pulled up with a groin problem ahead of last weekend's defeat at home to Liverpool.

Like against the Merseyside outfit, Javier Manquillo will likely step in to fill our full-back slot at Craven Cottage, in what will be his 22nd game of the term and 45th since joining the Toon.

It is currently unclear as to how long Yedlin will be forced to sit out after going under the knife, but with our season about to end, it would be unlikely that the 25-year-old will miss more than our trip to London.

Internationally, however, Yedlin would have been hoping to avoid ending the domestic campaign on the sidelines, as the United States are set to face Guyana in the CONCACAF Gold Cup on June 16, before facing Trinidad and Tobago on June 23, and Panama on June 27.

Like at St James' Park, Yedlin is a regular for his country and captained the USA for the first time when they drew 1-1 with Chile in March, but the 57-cap ace is not nailed on for a starting spot under Gregg Berhalter even when fit.

Yedlin also missed the entire Gold Cup back in 2017, when he was not selected for the squad in any of the USA's six cup ties on route to winning the competition.



https://newcastle.vitalfootball.co.uk/newcastle-first-team-ace-set-to-miss-fulham-clash/

[WhiteJC]

 
Contact initiated – Club look to swoop in for 'bargain' transfer at Fulham

With Fulham being relegated to the Championship, agents will have been at work for some weeks looking for new clubs for their clients.

Not all will move, even those who want to, because there's not a lot of players at the London club who have impressed enough over the past season, or who have built up a big enough reputation to make others keen.

One player who has got a good reputation, still, is Jean-Michael Seri.

Not so long ago he was the subject of a failed move to Barcelona, and now he finds himself at a club he distrusts (over the transfer fee), having failed in English football, and looking at second division football unless he moves.

France Football wheel out AS Monaco interest again, and explain the French principality club are looking at signing the midfielder, who still has a good reputation in Ligue 1.

They're not just looking, contacts have already been initiated.

France Football say the Fulham player 'should be one of the bargains of the next transfer window'.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/contact-initiated-club-look-swoop-bargain-transfer-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

 
Higher Sports Academy Update

Recruitment for the ground-breaking international player development programme is continuing to gather momentum, and with only three months until we kick off the inaugural 2019/20 programme, scholars are beginning to prepare and finalise preparations for the launch.

Two scholars who have begun their preparations are Arvin Aji George and Supharat Tantanarungsee. Both players spent a short period of time in the UK this season, learning and honing their skills in preparation for the Fulham programme. 

Arvin, a goalkeeper from India informed the Higher Sports Academy: "My time in the UK was an important learning curve in my preparations for the Fulham programme." He added: "The experience I gained was invaluable as I was not used to the intensity of the training and the pressures you face being a goalkeeper in such a fast-paced environment."

Supharat, a midfielder hailing from Bankok, Thailand had a similar experience: "I feel my time in the UK prepared me for the rigours of training day in day out as if you were a full-time professional player, as well as teaching me how disciplined you need to be in order to give yourself an opportunity to fulfil your aspirations.

"I am looking forward to improving my knowledge of the game as well as my technical and tactical awareness to hopefully progress my career to the next level. I am extremely grateful to Fulham FC for presenting this opportunity to me."

Not only will both players will spend the year bettering themselves on the football field, they will be furthering their education and learning a new language whilst with us on the programme.

We still have limited places on the programme, so don't miss this fantastic opportunity to better yourself, not only as a player, but also broaden your horizons as a person.

For further information about the programme or the application process students/players should contact: [email protected].



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/may/07/higher-sports-academy-update

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Fulham and Aston Villa looking at released Sheffield Wednesday striker Gary Hooper

Fulham and Aston Villa join Celtic in being credited with an interest in the departing Sheffield Wednesday favourite.

Fulham and Aston Villa are looking at Gary Hooper after the striker's release by Sheffield Wednesday, according to The Sun. Hooper, who is also said to be interesting his former club, Celtic, is leaving Wednesday after an injury-hit three-and-a-half-years at Hillsborough.

But he could yet return to haunt the Owls next season with either Fulham or Aston Villa, whose Championship play-off campaign begins on Saturday.

Hooper was a target for the Cottagers shortly before his 2016 transfer to Sheffield Wednesday (Sky Sports) and scored against the Villans at the start of last month.

Despite his recent injury record, the 31-year-old has scored prolifically throughout his career - most notably at Celtic - and famously found the net in each of England's top six divisions, the Scottish Premiership and Champions League.

While news of his release came as a disappointment to many of a Sheffield Wednesday persuasion.

Celtic's interim manager, Neil Lennon, was also Hooper's boss throughout the Englishman's three-year spell in Glasgow.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/05/08/report-fulham-and-aston-villa-looking-at-released-sheffield-wedn/

[WhiteJC]

 
Scott Parker inching closer to being named Fulham manager on permanent basis

    Scott Parker is edging closer to becoming Fulham's manager permanently
    Conversations between Parker and the Fulham hierarchy have been positive
    Steve Clarke and Lee Johnson are over possible options for the Cottagers

Scott Parker is inching closer to getting the Fulham job full-time.

Conversations between the Cottagers hierarchy and the interim boss have continued to be positive ahead of the relegated club's final Premier League fixture of the season this Sunday.

Parker has made no secret of wanting to become permanent manager, though the 38-year-old has had to be patient while Fulham consider their options.


Scott Parker is inching closer to getting the Fulham manager's job on a full-time basis

As revealed by Sportsmail, Fulham attempted to lure Arsene Wenger back into management but the former Arsenal boss has turned them down for a second time.

Steve Clarke, the former West Brom boss, and Bristol City's Lee Johnson are other options.


Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger turned Fulham down for a second time

   
Former West Brom boss Steve Clarke (left) and Bristol City's Lee Johnson are other options

Meanwhile, Parker has overseen three wins as caretaker and his side face Newcastle this Sunday.

The former midfielder has continued to be heavily involved in plans for their rebuild this summer.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7008007/Scott-Parker-inching-closer-named-Fulham-manager-permanent-basis.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Southampton plot £30m bid for Fulham star Aleksandar Mitrovic - EXCLUSIVE
SOUTHAMPTON are planning a £30 million summer move for Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl is planning a major revamp of his squad after steering them to Premier League safety this season – and big, aggressive goalscoring centre forward is one of his targets.

Mitrovic has netted 11 goals this season in a struggling team as Fulham were relegated from the Premier League, and the Serb, despite the prospect of a new deal being offered by the club, looks set to leave Craven Cottage, with West Ham also interested, as well as several Chinese Super League clubs.

Saints will make Danny Ings' loan signing from Liverpool permanent this summer for an £18 million fee, but Charlie Austin has struggled for fitness, and fellow striker Shane Long has scored only five goals this season.

Fulham want to keep Mitrovic, whose goals were instrumental in helping them win promotion to the Premier League.

The £30m fee the Cottagers have placed on the striker may though prove a stumbling block for some clubs.

Crystal Palace are also understood to be monitoring his situation.

Midfielder Tom Cairney last week signed the new deal offered to him, but the Serb striker has more options to consider.

Cairney has penned a new deal until 2024 and have even claimed he's ready to end his career at the club.



https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1124575/Southampton-30m-Fulham-Aleksandar-Mitrovic-Premier-League-Ralph-Hasenhuttl

[WhiteJC]

Cottage Talk: Which Way Will They Go?
Take a listen to a podcast that focuses on Fulham Football Club.

In this episode, we first looked back at Fulham's loss to Wolves on Saturday. After that, we discussed which direction Fulham could go in with their managerial position.


You can listen to the show by following this link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2019/5/9/18537567/cottage-talk-which-way-will-they-go