Sunday Fulham Stuff - 07/07/19...

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Leeds United Set To Confirm Sale of Fulham Target Pontus Jansson

Leeds United are set to confirm the exit of defender Pontus Jansson, who has been linked with Fulham, within the next 48 hours.

Jansson has been told not to report for pre-season training at Leeds until 12th July, a date which would mean him missing the club's tour to Australia.

It has further added to speculation that the centre-back will be on the move this summer and it appears Leeds are set to sell him soon.

There is an offer of £5.5m on the table for Jansson from an unnnamed English club, according to former Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay.

The Whites are set to now confirm Jansson's exit from Elland Road within the next 48 hours.

Losing the powerful centre-back will be a blow for the Championship side and it remains to be seen if they have zeroed in on a replacement.

Jansson's committed displays for Leeds have seen him win the favour of many fans.

However, it is claimed that there has been a breakdown in the relationship between the player and the club.

He has been linked with Fulham this summer, while a switch to the Premier League has often been talked up for the Sweden international defender.



Read more: http://www.insidefutbol.com/2019/07/06/leeds-united-set-to-confirm-sale-of-fulham-target-pontus-jansson/427614/#ixzz5syZ1Hq00

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MATCH REPORT | FULHAM 1 CAMBRIDGE UNITED 3



Cambridge United opened their pre-season fixture schedule with a 1-3 win against Fulham at the Cottagers Training Ground, Motspur Park.

A brace from Jabo Ibehre and a goal from Harvey Knibbs at close range gave the U's a first half lead, which they held on to despite a much stronger second half from the hosts who scored through Luca De La Torre.

Ibehre opened the scores on seven minutes when the striker was quick to pounce on an underplayed back pass from the Cottagers, and he coolly slotted past Bettinelli from 12 yards out with his right foot.

The U's showed good shape and discipline and restricted the host's number of clear cut opportunities, with Tyrese Francois and Floyd Ayite dragging a pair of Fulham efforts wide of Callum Burton's goal.

Ibehre's curling attempt from midrange was comfortable for Bettinelli midway through the half, the Fulham keeper could do very little to stop the U's doubling their advantage soon after though. Quick thinking from a hastily taken free kick between O'Neil and Norville-Williams allowed Tom Knowles the opportunity to slide a neat pass across the six yard box for Knibbs to finish off at the back post on 31 minutes.

Ibehre again showed the quickest reactions inside the Cottagers area a minute before the break, and slammed home the U's third with his laces, and were it not for an excellent outstretched save from Bettinelli, Tom Knowles' whipped free kick on the stroke of half time looked certain to make it four.

Both sides switched personnel for the second half and it became a much tougher defensive task for the U's with the likes of Tom Cairney increasing the quality of Fulham's attack.

Left winger Neeskens Kebano was a real handful for United to deal with in the second period too, and came within fractions of pulling a goal back when his drilled shot towards the near post clipped the outside side netting. He did create the Cottager's only goal of the game though, fizzing a cross into De La Torre who made clean contact with his shot to beat Mitov from six yards.

A fine save from the U's Bulgarian shot stopper, tipping a superb curling effort by Cairney from the edge of the area onto the cross bar, kept the two goal advantage intact for United. Colin Calderwood's men did enough to soak up the growing Fulham pressure for the remainder of the game to hold on and come away with a win.

Next up United travel to Nottingham Forest to face their U23s next Friday to conclude their third week of pre-season.

Cambridge United XI First Half: Burton, Knoyle, Taylor, John, Trialist, Knowles, Lewis, O'Neil, Norville-Williams, Knibbs, Ibehre

Cambridge United XI Second Half: Mitov, Davies, Darling, Taft, Dunk, Worman, Lambe, Hannant, Trialist (Bennett, 60 mins), Neal, Knibbs (Darcy, 60 mins)

Fulham XI First Half: Bettinelli, Christie, Odoi, Le Marchand, Mundle-Smith, Francois, McDonald, Edun, Ayite, Harris, Santos-Clase

Fulham XI Second Half: Rodak, Sessegnon, Mawson, Opuku, Bryan, De La Torre, Cairney, O'Riley, Kebano, Harris (Rui Fonte, 60 mins), Santos-Clase (Kamara, 60 mins)



https://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/2019/july/report-fulham/

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Report: Bromley 0-0 Fulham XI

Colin Omogbehin stood alongside Mark Pembridge for the first time this season as they watched a mature performance from a young Fulham side who held Conference outfit Bromley to a stalemate.

The first clear sight of goal came to the hosts. The direct approach led to Reeco Hackett-Fairchild dragging a shot wide of Taye Ashby-Hammond's near post.

The technical flair of the youthful Fulham side showed its first glimpses of threatening the Bromley goal shortly after. A neat interchange between Fabio Carvalho and Timmy Abraham almost handed the visitors the lead, had it not been for the excellent coverage from Sam Wood.

The polar opposite styles continued to exchange blows. The direct, physical approach versus the measured build up. The Astro turf pitch throwing up black rubber with every explosive movement.

Ashby-Hammond was called into action following a nice spin and shot from Luke Coulson. The stopper's hands solid as ever following his contract extension earlier this week.

The Young Fulham side looked competent and controlled the game nicely. Carvalho again at the heart of the next move as he tried to place a shot in the corner that flew wide.

Good work down the right from trialist Tushaun Walters presented Abraham with his first sight of goal only for him to drag his shot straight into the arms of Mark Cousins.

Walters fed off Carvalho's good work and whipped one towards the far corner which was deflected inches wide. The inexperienced Fulham side showing great maturity for large parts.

The screw continued to turn as the lively Carvalho rattled the post. Moments later Abraham used his own physical poise to bundle his way through on goal but lifted his chip wide of the post.

The conference side re-grouped and had their best spell of the game leading up to the interval but the hosts were fortunate to go in level at the break.

From kick off Billy Bingham had Ashby-Hammond scrambling as his shot direct from the restart nestled onto the roof of the net.

A fresh new eleven for the hosts showed. However, the same assured Fulham side came out passing again. Carvalho grew closer to his deserved goal as he bent one wide of the Bromley goal.

The 'keeper was in action again at full stretch. Sonny Hilton advanced towards goal and struck a shot headed for the top corner if it weren't for the left palm of Cousins.

Bromley's fresh side showed their first glimpses of troubling the Fulham goal. Korey Henry's powerful run ended with a 25-yard shot hitting the supporting frame behind the goal.

Substitute Terry Ablade combined well with Ryan De Havilland down the near side as a cross found Sylvester Jasper. He came back inside to force a save from the new trialist in the Bromley goal.

A fellow trialist went up the other end and jinked past Luca Murphy but from a tight angle as he grazed the crossbar.

Henry was looking to force the game in his side's favour as he wrestled past trialist Ben Tricker and dragged a shot across the face of goal.

The last kick of the game presented Bingham with the chance to win the game from 20-yards in a dead ball situation. Ashby-Hammond got his palms to it to see Fulham come away with a draw.



Bromley: 1st half: Mark Cousins, Sam Wood, Jordan Higgs, Jack Holland, Luke Coulson, Frankie Raymond, Michael Cheek, Chris Bush, Trialist A, Adrian Clifton, Reeco Hackett-Fairchild.

2nd half: Trialist B, Marc-Anthony Okoye, Billy Bingham, Trialist C, Korey Henry, Billy Crakse, Spencer Cripps, Briggs Ojemen, Prince Ogunmekan, Trialist D, Trialist E.

Subs: Ollie Tanner, Trialist F, Alex Brefo

Fulham: Taye Ashby-Hammond, Zico Asare (Murphy 66'), Ben Tricker, Connor McAvoy ©, Vashon Neufville; Sonny Hilton (Page 66'), Ryan De Havilland, Tushaun Walters (Ablade 60'), Fabio Carvalho, Sylvester Jasper; Timmy Abraham.

Subs: Toni Stahl, Terry Ablade, Luca Murphy, Jonathon Page.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/july/06/report-bromley-vs-fulham-xi

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'Worse than I imagined' – Plenty of Fulham fans aren't happy with recent pre-season showing

Fulham will be preparing for life back in the Championship after they were relegated from the Premier League last season.

But their pre-season didn't get off to the best of starts, as they were beaten by League Two side, Cambridge United 3-1 on Saturday.

It was a mix of youth and first-team players, but Scott Parker's side will have been expected to pick up the win, which will leave the Fulham boss with some thinking to do ahead of the new Championship season.

The Lilywhites have kept the majority of their squad from the Premier League heading into the summer, although it remains to be seen as to whether there will be any transfer business in the coming weeks as the new league campaign edges closer.

It's safe to say that plenty of Fulham fans weren't happy with their side's latest performance.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/worse-than-i-imagined-plenty-of-fulham-fans-arent-happy-with-recent-pre-season-showing/

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Fulham humbled by Cambridge in first pre-season friendly

Scott Parker's pre-season preparations got off to a worrying start as Fulham were beaten 3-1 by League Two Cambridge United at Motspur Park this afternoon.

The Whites were ruthlessly punished for a slow start and some sloppy defending. With just seven minutes on the clock, Jabo Ibehre seized on a poor backpass to sprint through on goal and beat a helpless Marcus Bettinelli from twelve yards out. Fulham gradually began to get into the game but both Tyrese Francois and Floyd Ayite both failed to hit the target from promising positions.

Bettinelli did well to keep out a speculative curler from Ibehre, but was left stranded again just after the half hour. A quickly-taken free-kick sent Tom Knowles away down the left and Harvey Knibbs crept in unattended at the back post to tuck away the cut-back and double the U's lead. Things went from bad to worse a minute before half-time when Ibhere again punished some slack defending to hammer a loose ball past Bettinelli, who made a stunning save to from a brilliant Knowes' free-kick to prevent the visitors from going in 4-0 to the good at the break.

Some stern words from Parker and a host of alterations at least sparked a response in the second period. They almost had a dream start two minutes in when Dimitar Mitov juggled Neeskens Kebano's cross at the feet of Luca de la Torre, recovering just when the American seemed set to convert the loose ball. The lively Kebano rippled the side-netting with a low drive and then created the Fulham goal with a rampaging run and cross that de la Torre steered home.

de la Torre stuck the outside of the post a minute later and Fulham continued to pile on the pressure. Kebano was denied by a superb saving tackle from Harry Darling  before substitute Rui Fonte saw a drive deflected wide and, from the ensuing corner, Alfie Mawson fired over. Mitov made a superb save from Tom Cairney, turning the Fulham skipper's drive onto the crossbar with twelve minutes left, and Fonte spurned two good chances in the closing stages.

FULHAM (4-3-3): Bettinelli (Rodak 45), Christie (S. Sessegnon 45), Mundle-Smith (Bryan 45), Odoi (Mawson 45), Le Marchand (Opoku 45); Francois (de la Torre 45), McDonald (Cairney 45), Edun (O'Riley 45); Harris (Fonte 60), Ayite (Kebano 45), Santos-Clase (Kamara 60).

GOAL: de la Torre (57).

CAMBRIDGE UNITED (4-4-2): Burton (Mitov 45); Knoyle (Davis 45), Trialist, Taylor (Darling 45), John (Taft 45); Lewis (Lambe 45), O'Neil (Hannant 45), Knowles (Worman 45), Norville-Williams (Dunk 45); Ibehre, Knibbs (Neale 45).

GOALS: Ibhere (7, 44), Knibbs (31).



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2019/07/fulham-humbled-by-cambridge-in-first-pre-season-friendly/

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Fulham youngsters held at Bromley

Sonny Hilton starred as Fulham's U23s drew with Bromley this afternoon

A young Fulham side showed a combination of composure and impressive technical ability as their began their pre-season programme with a goalless draw at Bromley this afternoon.

On a muggy afternoon and playing on an unfamiliar 4G pitch, Fulham took a while to settle against experienced and physical opponents. Bromley began on the front foot with former Charlton forward Reeco Hackett-Fairchild creating space for himself inside the area but dragging a shot disappointing across goal after three minutes. Taye Ashby-Hammond easily fielded an effort from Luke Coulson and when the England youth international palmed out Adrian Clifton's strike, Michael Cheek's follow-up was ruled out for offside.

Fulham's under 23s, jointly managed by Mark Pembridge and Colin Omogbehin for the first time, were pleasing on the eye and eager to play out of the back. Sonny Hilton ran the show almost effortlessly from a deep-lying playmaker's role, whilst Fabio Carvalho's clever movement constantly caused problems for the Bromley defence. Carvalho and Timmy Abraham, who was watched from the stands by his older brother, almost linked impressively to open the scoring but Sam Wood splendidly read the danger.

Captain Conor McAvoy, whose excellent progression through the youth ranks was rewarded with a professional contract at the end of last week, looked assured at centre back alongside a new partner in Ben Tricker. Fulham's patient probing football began to fashion a few further chances as the first half ticked along. Carvalho worked some space on the edge of the box and curled an effort fractionally wide before Abraham steered a shot straight at the goalkeeper after a strong run from Tushaun Walters.

Fulham's best two openings of the game arrived within a minute of each other just before the break. First, Hilton and Carvalho combined with the latter's powerful drive from just outside the box coming back off the post. Then, Carvalho sent Abraham scampering through on goal and, although the nippy forward guided his finish past Mark Cousins, he failed to hit the target.

Bromley emerged an almost entirely different eleven after the break and Billy Bingham almost caught Ashby-Hammond unawares from the restart when his shot from the centre circle landed on the roof of the net. The pattern of the first half took hold again with the visitors dominating possession and playing precise passing football. Carvalho curled one wide from 25 yards before Hilton jinked his way past a defender and bent an effort towards the top corner, drawing a superb save from Cousins.

Terry Ablade, introduced as a second half substitute down the right flank, almost had an immediate impact as his pace unsettled the Bromley defence and his deep cross found Sylvester Jasper unmarked at the back post but the winger's shot lacked the conviction to beat a newly-introduced trialist in the Bromley goal. Fulham lost some penetration and impetus after Hilton was replaced midway through the second half and it was the hosts who finished the stronger.

The lively Korey Henry posed real problems for the Fulham back line. He fed Trialist E, who stepped inside Luca Murphy, and skimmed the crossbar with a rising drive before outmuscling Tricker and shooting agonisingly wide. Bingham almost won the contest with virtually the game's last kick, an excellently flighted free-kick from the edge of the box, but Ashby-Hammond produced a fine reaction save to palm it away to safety.

BROMLEY (4-4-2): Cousins (Trialist B), Wood (Okoye), Higgs (Bingham), Holland (Trialist C; Brefo), Coulson (Henry), Raymond (Craske; Trialist F), Cheek (Cripps; Tanner), Bush (Ojemen) , Clifton (Ogunmekan), Hackett-Fairchild (Trialist D), Trialist A (Trialist E).

FULHAM XI (4-3-3): T. Ashby-Hammond; Asare (Murphy 66), Neufville, McAvoy, Tricker; de Havilland, Hilton (Page 66), Carvalho; Walters (Ablade 60), Jasper, Abraham.

REFEREE: Lee Brennan



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2019/07/fulham-youngsters-held-at-bromley/

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3 Fulham players who really have to step up and perform early on in pre-season

Fulham are in the process of building for life back in the Championship after a hugely underwhelming lone season in the Premier League, where they were relegated despite spending large sums of money.

The club went through a number of managers, and many players failed to live up to the billing they had going into the season, with many tipping Fulham for a solid mid-table finish at the very least.

With Scott Parker in charge, as well as a couple of additions set to join the squad in the coming weeks, the Cottagers will enter the season as one of the favourites to go up.

Whether or not they will challenge for the top two is unknown, but Parker will surely look for signs in pre-season that the squad is confident after a poor season, and ready to go again in the second tier.

Here, we list three players at the club that really need to step up and perform early on in pre-season, with a big campaign ahead of them on a personal level.

Do you agree, or can you think of a player we've missed who needs to up his game in pre-season ahead of a huge season for the club? Let us know in the comments section below. 

Joe Bryan
Joe Bryan rejected a move to Aston Villa around this time last year in search of Premier League football, making a last-minute U-turn to join Fulham.

At the time it looked a great move for both parties, but Bryan failed to find his true form in the top flight, and may be kicking himself when he realises Villa will be in a higher division this season.

Bryan must use this pre-season to get back on track and make this a huge season on a personal level.

Ryan Sessegnon
Ryan Sessegnon was tipped for big things in the Premier League, after winning multiple individual awards in Fulham's promotion season.

He was linked with big money moves away from Craven Cottage, but Fulham did well to hold on to him.

Now, after a poor U-21 Euro's on the back of an underwhelming Premier League season in which he managed just two goals, Sessegnon will be hoping to rediscover his form and excel in the Championship once more.

Alfie Mawson
Alfie Mawson joined the club from Swansea last summer and was hailed as a smart move for Fulham, but he struggled in the Premier League.

The 25-year-old was tipped to be a regular for Fulham, but managed just 15 Premier League appearances, in what was a highly disappointing first season at the club.

Now dropping down a division, Mawson will hope to find his form and help Fulham back to the top flight of English football.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/3-fulham-players-who-really-have-to-step-up-and-perform-early-on-in-pre-season/

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The picture above of Sonny Hilton looks like a fathers verses sons match.