Monday Fulham Stuff - 12/08/19...

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Fulham boss Scott Parker hails Cairney goal as 'world class'


Tom Cairney celebrates opening the scoring for Fulham against Rovers

Scott Parker felt a 'world class' strike from Tom Cairney sent his side on their way to victory against Rovers.

Cairney fired in a 25-yard strike which nestled in the top corner 10 minutes from half-time to give the hosts the lead against his former club. Rovers had enjoyed the better of the early stages and the home fans were beginning to get restless at the lack of forward momentum from their side.

But Parker, whose side were beaten 1-0 on the opening day by Barnsley, settled more in to their stride after captain Cairney put them ahead.

"I think there was a bit of edginess, a few nerves amongst us (at the start)," Parker said.

"But saying that I probably sound like I'm contradicting myself as I thought the boys were really brave in the way I wanted us to play.

"With the way we play comes a certain risk. I thought the players were brave in taking on that risk.

"Last week at times we took the easy option and, for me, as a footballing side we're not going to win matches in that way.

"As much there was a real nervousness, there was [also] a real bravery amongst us, and obviously a world class strike eases that and from there we had control of the game.

"They caused us one or two problems with some balls into the box but I was quite comfortable in the way we ended the game."

Parker was particularly pleased with the defensive display from his side, who despite conceding possession and territory, restricted Rovers to no shots on target.

He added: "All week we spoke about the Barnsley result and how we came up short in terms of the physicality of that game, in terms of the basics of the game.

"I said to them about giving themselves a platform and a foundation, and that comes from doing the basics well.

"The defensive line was perfect, distances between our units were spot on.  We won second balls, played the way we could, and that gave us the foundations for individuals to do their work."

Cairney and Mitrovic were both on target for the hosts who also included new signing Harry Arter in their ranks,

On the impact of the trio, head coach Parker said: "I look at the team with Cairney, Mitro and Arter, who won promotion with Bournemouth.  They've been around the league before and it puts us in a good position going forward."



https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17829609.fulham-boss-scott-parker-hails-cairney-goal-world-class/

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Nigeria U20 Hopeful Concedes 4 Goals As Tottenham Lose To Fulham; Eyoma

Tottenham Hotspur U18 coach Matt Taylor will be concerned about his defence after they conceded four goals in their league opener against Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

And the scoreline could have been much worse if not for the crucial saves made by goalkeeper Joshua Oluwayemi.

In the first half, Oluwayemi produced an excellent save to deny Carvalho and got a decisive block on a shot from Stansfield in the closing minutes.

The 18-year-old conceded 13 goals in seventeen U18 Premier League games over the course of the 2018-2019 campaign while posting eight shutouts.

Though Oluwayemi has caps for England at U15 and U15 levels, his priority is to represent Nigeria and he's eligible to play for the next Flying Eagles team.

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur U23 began the season with a 4-0 thrashing of Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.

The Spurs side was captained by Timothy Eyoma and it also contained defender Jubril Okedina.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=33249

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Tony Mowbray left to bemoan a lack of "clinical edge" as Blackburn Rovers lose to Fulham

Speaking to the Blackburn Rovers club website on Saturday evening, Rovers boss Tony Mowbray has said a lack of "clinical edge" was his side's ultimate downfall as they lost to Scott Parker's Fulham 2-0.

Blackburn Rovers suffered their second defeat of the 2019/20 Championship season in successive weeks, falling to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Fulham, who have been tipped to be contenders for an immediate return to the Premier League.

A belter from former Rovers man Tom Cairney after 35 minutes sent the Cottagers into the half-time break in the lead before Aleksandar Mitrovic's late tap-in sealed all three points for Scott Parker's side, which was much-needed after a surprising opening day loss to Barnsley.

And, speaking to the Rovers media team after the game, manager Tony Mowbray was left to bemoan a lack of that finishing touch as a loss succumbed them to bottom of the league.

"Football's about getting points and we've got to find a way to turn decent performances into victories," Mowbray said.

"It's similar to last weekend against Charlton where there was not enough clinical edge, not enough efforts on goal. We didn't give the goalkeeper too much to do and yet in the first half, in particular, I thought we were the most dominant team. If anyone was going to win it then it was going to be us.

"Standing here after a 2-0 defeat feels a little bit of an injustice, but in the history books, it'll look like it was an easy win for them. But it wasn't like that for them, it wasn't easy. We were on top for long periods but didn't get the goal,"




https://the72.co.uk/142341/tony-mowbray-left-to-bemoan-a-lack-of-clinical-edge-as-blackburn-rovers-lose-to-fulham/

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Joe Bryan delivers sarcastic message as Fulham record first clean-sheet of season

Fulham got back to winning ways yesterday as they saw off Blackburn Rovers to come away with a 2-0 win at Craven Cottage.

Goals from Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrovic were enough for the Cottagers to put behind them last week's loss at Barnsley, and manager Scott Parker will hope to use the win as a springboard for success in the coming months.

Despite the excellent nature of both goals for Fulham, one of the key aspects to the win was keeping a clean sheet, something defender Joe Bryan was keen to reinforce as he took to Instagram to sarcastically mock the fact it had taken so long last season.

Fulham shipped goals by the bucket load last season as they dropped out of the Premier League after just one season back in the top flight, so getting a shut-out on the board early is something which will have pleased Bryan and his defensive teammates.

Bryan is hoping to become a key cog in the system under Scott Parker after failing thus far to find the sort of form which saw him earn a move to the Cottage from Bristol City.

The Cottagers take on familiar opposition next time out as they face Huddersfield Town on Friday evening.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/joe-bryan-delivers-sarcastic-message-as-fulham-record-first-clean-sheet-of-season/

[WhiteJC]

Scott Parker praises Fulham for taking risks in win against Blackburn

A GLORIOUS strike from captain Tom Cairney and a late goal by Aleksandar Mitrovic saw Fulham overcome Blackburn at Craven Cottage.

It was a game played in blustery conditions that contributed to the poor quality of much of the football.

Blackburn started the brighter without threatening Marcus Bettinelli's goal. And Fulham took advantage as they started to get a foothold in the game and assert their passing style of football.

In the 35th minute Cairney provided the one supreme moment of action, receiving the ball from 30 yards out.

He took a touch before curling the ball into the top corner beyond the despairing dive of Christian Walton.

Blackburn striker Sam Gallagher came close to an equaliser with a second-half header and was left to rue the miss when minutes later Fulham left back Joe Bryan broke forward and his cross gave Mitrovic the simplest of chances.

Fulham manager Scott Parker was pleased with the way his team took risks in an attempt to build play from the back. "I thought the boys were brave because there were some nerves and last week in the defeat against Barnsley, I felt we took the easy option too often, so I was happy to see them taking some risks."

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray was left ruing the failure of his team to take advantage of those nerves and the misplaced passes by the opposition. "I thought we were dominant for the whole first half. I think the second half was really scrappy. I don't think there was much in it and they scored their two goals in isolation."

Mowbray says at this point in time he is not worried by his side starting the season with two defeats. Fulham will now head to Huddersfield on Friday night looking to live up to their tag as promotion favourites.



https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/s/scott-parker-praises-fulham-taking-risks-win-against-blackburn

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Fulham show calm regrouping pays off

ONE YEAR after newly-promoted Fulham were throwing money around and buying players for fun, the Cottagers found themselves back in the more humble surroundings of the Championship. The moneyball experiment, if that's the right word for the way the club accumulated quantity over quality, was over and some of the higher profile names, notably some under-performing Ligue 1 captures, had been sent out on loan as their contracts are run down.

Craven Cottage basked in the summer sunshine and received a battering from the unseasonal winds that whistled down the River Thames. The march to the stadium seemed to have a smaller cast than last season, but then Fulham's capacity has been reduced owing to the redevelopment of the Riverside Stand.

Forty-seven years after their SW6 neighbours, Chelsea, played in front of a three-side ground, Fulham are about to do the same. Anyone who remembers how Chelsea's fortunes declined among the hard hats and steel girders will be hoping that Fulham adjust to the transition better than their more celebrated neighbours at the other end of Fulham Road.

Judging by the photos, they will have an eye-catching stand on the banks of the river. The contrast between a new state-of-the-art facility with the Edwardian-era, Archibald Leitch stand on Stevenage Road will be considerable.

Fulham hosted Blackburn Rovers for their first home game in the Championship. The construction work meant the club had to relocate their fans from the stand to the Putney End, which means away supporters are literally touching distance for Fulham's regulars. This will not be a problem for most people as Fulham's clientele are generally not punchy (the recent incident at Barnsley was out of character), although one fan did deliberately position himself among the Blackburn Rovers travelling contingent to prove a point. This made the stewards a little uncomfortable and a prolonged discussion took place with the burly Fulham supporter who didn't move easily. Millwall are Fulham's next visitors, it would seem unlikely that freedom of movement will be permitted – where have I heard that phrase before?

With parachute payments to cushion the blow of relegation, Fulham would normally start the season as one of the favourites for promotion. However, the manner in which they succumbed to the drop in what was a truly dreadful season, hardly inspired confidence. It is difficult to agree with those that point to the players and say, "it's a Premier squad" for the results in 2018-19 demonstrated that despite the significant outlay, it was far from an outfit that could give a good account of itself in the Premier. At times, the defence, which conceded 81 goals in 38 games, was appalling.

It was something of a surprise that Fulham kept hold of Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrović, but in doing so, they have two key players who could galvanise the team and mount a challenge for promotion. They couldn't hold on to Ryan Sessegnon, who joined Tottenham on transfer deadline day. Club chairman Shahid Khan clearly expects Scott Parker to work quickly. His programme notes noted that the squad is being built for "immediate and lasting success".

It's not quite that easy for relegated teams. Most have a bit of a clear-out predominantly to ease the wage bill, but psychologically, adapting to life in the second tier takes time. Fulham, of course, are a club that has played at all levels, so they have no right to Premier status – they also don't seem to expect it, certainly not among the fans, anyway. To the club's credit, there was no toxic atmosphere as the result of falling through the Premier trapdoor.

The Championship is incredibly competitive and less predictable than the Premier. In the past five seasons, 21 different clubs have occupied the top six places. In the last two, teams coming down from the Premier have not won promotion back at the first attempt. In 2018-19, for example, West Brom finished fourth, Swansea 10thand Stoke 16th. Clubs spend money in the Championship, too much in fact – the wage to income ratio is well over 100%, which suggests clubs are desperate to win promotion to the Premier.

Interestingly, Fulham seem to have found renewed faith in the players that won the Wembley play-off in 2018. The team that lined-up against Blackburn included six players who beat Aston Villa in May of that year. A year ago, when Fulham played Crystal Palace after a hectic summer bringing in around a dozen new faces, only four from the play-off took the field. In short, they temporarily discarded those that had won promotion in favour of new signings.

Fulham have brought in some new players, though, but there's been less hurrah about their acquisitions. They're mostly loan players on a one-year deal, playing to Mr. Khan's comment about a team being built for a job. They include: Ivan Cavaleiro from Wolves, a tricky Portuguese winger; Anthony Knockaert, another wide-man from Brighton and Irish midfielder Harry Artur from Bournemouth.

Artur, Knockaert and Cavaleiro all started against a Blackburn side that finished 15thin the Championship in 2018-19. Among their new signings was Stewart Downing, the 35 year-old former England international, but began the afternoon on the bench.

Both Fulham and Blackburn lost their opening day games, Fulham surprisingly going down 1-0 at Barnsley and Blackburn going down by the odd goal in three at home to Charlton Athletic.

Parker has adopted a "play from the back" approach this season and in the early stages, this almost caused problems for Fulham. Blackburn looked the better side early on, but in the 35thminute, Tom Cairney struck a superb goal from distance, calming the nerves and temporarily muting the away fans.

Blackburn did create some good chances with the two Bradleys, Dack and Johnson going close with headers. They never really tested Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli, though, despite having the better of the first period.

Fulham looked in control in the second half and the result was put beyond doubt with nine minutes to go, Mitrović tapping-in from close range after persistent work by Joe Bryan. There was no coming back for Blackburn.

A steady, if unspectacular start to the Craven Cottage season, but there was also a sense of relief about the result. Fulham don't need another crisis autumn – Scott Parker certainly doesn't want a stuttering start to the campaign. He needs no reminding that the club had three managers last season.



https://gameofthepeople.com/2019/08/11/fulham-show-calm-regrouping-pays-off/

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Cottage Talk Post Match Show: Fulham vs. Blackburn With Special Guest Benjamin Bloom

Take a listen to a podcast that focuses on Fulham Football Club.

In this post match show, Yannis Tjanetis and Max Cohen analyzed the 2-0 victory for Fulham against Blackburn at Craven Cottage. Also, to help us with this show, we were joined by special guest Benjamin Bloom, who has a popular YouTube Channel, and he posted a very interesting review of this match.

Ben shared his views from a neutral perspective, and the guys reacted to his commentary on this match. We also gave our own views on what we watched on Saturday. The breakdown of this match in this episode is very interesting!


Lastly, you can also listen to the show by following this link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2019/8/11/20800934/cottage-talk-post-match-show-fulham-vs-blackburn-with-special-guest-benjamin-bloom

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'He was incredible' – Plenty of Fulham fans rejoice after 27-y/o's weekend display



Fulham picked up their first win of the 2019/20 Championship campaign at the weekend, putting in a classy performance in a 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Craven Cottage.

The Cottagers succumbed to quite a surprising defeat last time out, losing 1-0 against Barnsley at Oakwell on the opening day of the season.

But Scott Parker's side, as expected, bounced back with a comfortable 2-0 win over Blackburn at the weekend, on a day where they had plenty of attacking quality on display.

New signings Harry Arter and Bobby Reid made their first appearance in a Fulham shirt following their arrivals from AFC Bournemouth and Cardiff respectively, with Anthony Knockaert also making his first start for Parker's side.

The latter played an influential role in the win, as goals from Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrovic secured an invaluable three points for the Cottagers.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/he-was-incredible-plenty-of-fulham-fans-rejoice-after-27-y-os-weekend-display/

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5 Thoughts: Fulham 2-0 Blackburn Rovers

Nothing quite compares to that sweet, sweet smell of redemption on a Saturday afternoon. If we're deadly serious about returning to the Premier League, a victory on home soil was imperative. Blackburn Rovers, like the Whites, had a point to prove after losing to Charlton Athletic, so we were duly in for a treat of an encounter.

Fresh faces arrived on deadline day and Scott Parker's camp now boasts depth, coherence and title-winning panache. Well, the latter's an aspiration, of course, but as we're billed as one of the favourites, we have to live up to the hype and quell the constricting pressures that grow around that expectation.

Certain members of our fan base questioned Parker's capabilities as a first-team coach. Concerns loomed over his tactical inclinations and squad selection, although he cleared his name under the Riverside's scaffolding with a rational, measured 90 minutes from his technical quadrant. The shackles are off, and with three points in the bank, we're entitled to bask in the glory of a triumph. Lap it up.

Clean Sheet Celebration
It really did happen. Fulham finally kept a clean sheet and I've just shed a tear. Having to contain Sam Gallagher and Bradley Dack is not an easy task by any means, but Parker's defensive ranks marshalled the visitors supremely with a highly refreshing all round performance.

At Championship level, Tim Ream is undoubtedly in his element. The trusty American centre-half nurtured possession to stifle Rovers' burgeoning momentum and was visibly comfortable in exercising his duties. Partnered by a revitalised Alfie Mawson, Fulham's spine was stringent, an unyielding alliance that enabled the Whites to construct meaningful phases from the back.

Where they were shell shocked and vulnerable at Oakwell on the opening day, Fulham atoned for their recent indiscretions and battened down the hatches to deny Blackburn's attackers. There's still substantial work to be in done in terms of fashioning a meticulously sturdy rearguard, especially with the questionable personnel we have at our disposal, but there's certainly tangible positives to digest and process as the schedule continues.

Arter's Amazing Artistry
After witnessing exactly what he's capable of, Harry Arter is going to be a hugely influential catalyst within our engine room. Classy, calm, collected on the ball, the Republic of Ireland international dictated the flow of the game and interrupted Blackburn's sequences with persevering blocks and interceptions. He was relentless.

Versed in his profession, Arter safeguarded his department without straying from his obligations as a midfield instigator. Stroking the ball across the park in a timely manner, the 29-year-old ensured that play remained in Fulham's grasp. His variable range of passing is a credit to his advantageous simplicity, a moderated approach that our midfield contingent has been yearning for.

I couldn't help the comparison, but it was just like watching a prime Scott P patrol across the turf. The way in which he dragged and altered Blackburn's shape out of kilter was uncanny, and his forcible grip upon proceedings is clearly a natural trait within his industrious locker. Being Parker's brother-in-law, he's definitely clipped a few tips from the former England international's handbook.

Cometh Cairney's Cracker
Whenever we need a spark of inspiration to ignite banal meetings, we can always rely on Tom Cairney's unrivalled artistry. We've been waiting for TC to introduce himself upon the Championship stage once more, and what a showstopping way to rubber-stamp his exalted credentials in front of an animated Hammy End crowd.

Collecting Arter's studied pass, Cairney nudged the ball out of his feet and braced his destructive left cannon. Unopposed, the 28-year-old selected a corner and unleashed a projectile of nuclear decimation. From the terraces, a goal appeared inconceivable, but as soon as it departed his lethal wand, Christian Walton's world was crumbling before him. Blackburn's airborne 'keeper slung himself across the face of goal like a redundant rag doll and the ripple of the net was greeted by a a roar of pure adulation. That was stupidly special.

As ever, virtually every progressive instance of play came through the skipper's administration. Cairney's our resident architect and our system is tailored to his vibrant design. Having a professional mastermind like TC on our books is wholly essential. The Scotland international stitches patterns and distributes possession expeditiously, but now he's also able to catapult destructive long-range missiles. Whether he's supplying opportunities or detonating speculative openings to draw first blood, his qualified presence is undeniably key to out welfare.

Mitro' Making Mayhem
He has arrived. Be warned, Championship defences far and wide. Aleksandar Mitrovic, after last week's flat performance, dusted himself down and tightened those devastating boot laces of his to bulldoze Blackburn's shaken centre-backs. With a steely glare and gritted teeth, Mitro' got back to work in the only way he knows, and that entails superiority in the final third.

Derrick Williams and Manchester City loanee Tosin Adarabioyo simply couldn't restrain the authoritative hitman, and though they fought to subdue the Serb', their combined efforts were painfully subsidiary. Killing lofted balls dead in his domain, the 24-year-old shunted Rovers' submissive defenders and shielded possession methodically whilst awaiting support. For a man of his stature, I've never know a striker demonstrate such a precise first touch before, whilst being pestered by multiple opponents.

Opening is account will warrant a flurry of goals, too. Striding into Blackburn's 6-yard box, Mitro' greeted ball with boot to double Fulham's lead in the 80th minute and a unanimous sigh of relief rang around the Cottage. Not for the fact that we had a 2-0 buffer, but more due to the alleviating realisation that Mitro' had rattled home his first of the campaign. It's hunting season and the division's most fatal marksman is open for business. Those that dare to rival him will be nothing more than ornamental trophies come 90 minutes.

Bryan's Bold Brilliance
I wasn't particularly nice about Joe Bryan last week. He's a firm favourite of mine, but against Barnsley, he was a little lacklustre whilst retreating. Down by the river, though, the charismatic left-back stuck two fingers up at my criticism, because he was exceptionally effective in his defensive responsibilities and, ultimately, a profitable outlet in wider reaches.

Bryan was assured and a sensible dispenser of possession. Weaving in and out of danger, the 26-year-old was a persistent threat on the break, offering his offensive colleagues a direct avenue to utilise. He'll always assist with overlapping expeditions and this week, contrary to his previous outing, he held his position and discipline faultlessly.

His drive and desire to aid offensive sieges presented Mitro' the opportunity to broaden Fulham's winning margin. Darting within flailing legs, the tenacious fullback slalomed into the danger area to fizz an inviting ball across the target. Threading the ball into a perilous quadrant, Mitro' executed systematically. Bryan was a slight hindrance against the Tykes but restitution of integrity, however, resulted from his stimulating exploits along his respective channel.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2019-08-11-5-thoughts-fulham-2-0-blackburn-rovers/

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Bobby Reid takes to Instagram to thank Fulham fans after debut victory

Fulham got their season up and running with a 2-0 home win over Blackburn Rovers yesterday.

After last weekend's loss at Barnsley, the Cottagers were desperate to put some points on the board and ultimately got all three, as goals from Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrovic were enough to see off the Lancashire outfit.

One of the players to make a big impression yesterday and make their debut for the club was summer signing Bobby Reid, who was thrust into the action by Scott Parker after arriving at the club following a disappointing spell with Cardiff City.

Reid will be hoping to get back to the level of performance he showed when playing for Bristol City two seasons back, and Fulham's open and attacking style should indeed lend itself to Reid's style of play.

The forward seems to be enjoying his start to life in London too, and he took to Instragram following the win over Rovers to thank the Fulham fans for their support and show his delight at getting the three points on the board.

Reid will hope to hit the goalscoring form which marked him out as one of the finest attacking players in the Championship when he was at Ashton Gate, and while he didn't get in on the scoring act yesterday, he looked refreshed and ready to go in a Fulham shirt.

The Cottagers take on last year's opponents Huddersfield in their next Championship encounter this Friday.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/bobby-reid-takes-to-instagram-to-thank-fulham-fans-after-debut-victory/