Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 05/11/19...

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Results

Monday
Stoke	0-2	West Brom

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Win adidas Boots For A Year

In collaboration with adidas, we're offering Fulham fans the chance to win adidas boots for a year, as well as the opportunity to play on the Craven Cottage pitch during half-time of our match against Queens Park Rangers on Friday 22nd November!

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, all you need to do is purchase a 2019/20 junior shirt online at shop.fulhamfc.com or instore at Craven Cottage before 11.59pm on Sunday 17th November.

Fans purchasing online will receive a link in their confirmation email to a web page which contains a form they will need to fill out in order to be entered into the competition. Fans purchasing instore will find the website link on the bottom of their till receipt.

Following the close of the competition on Sunday 17th November a winner will be selected at random and contacted shortly after.

Full terms and conditions can be found online here.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/november/04/win-adidas-boots-for-a-year

[WhiteJC]

Vote For Mitro!

Aleksandar Mitrović's prolific October form has seen him nominated for PFA Player of the Month.

The 25-year-old netted six goals in October, beginning the month with a brace at Reading, bagging our second equaliser at home to Charlton Athletic, and securing a first club hat-trick against Luton Town.

His competition for the award comes from Tom Barkhuizen (Preston North End), Said Benrahma (Brentford), Tom Bradshaw (Millwall), Kiko Casilla (Leeds United), and Eberechi Eze (Queens Park Rangers).

The award is decided by fans, and you can show your support for Mitro by voting for him below. (Voting closes 8am Wednesday 6th November).




http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/november/04/vote-for-aleksandar-mitrovic-player-of-the-month

[WhiteJC]

Player could return to Fulham in January – Talks to commence

According to TRT Spor, Galatasaray will hold talks with Fulham with regards to sending Jean Michael Seri back to the Championship club.

The Turkish champions loaned Seri in the summer for €1.5m but the Ivorian midfielder hasn't been able to establish himself as a first-team regular under Fatih Terim.

Galatasaray are looking to strengthen their squad in January after a slow start to the season and former player Henry Onyekuru could return to the club on a loan deal from AS Monaco.

Subsequently due to the foreign player quota TRT Spor report, as covered by DeMarke, that Seri could leave the Super Lig club in January and head back to Fulham.

The 28 year old is currently down the pecking order at Galatasaray, with Fatih Terim preferring to use the likes of Steven Nzonzi and Mario Lemina ahead of him.

Seri's mistakes have cost Gala some valuable points this season and he was at fault for the Turkish side's recent 1-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League.

The former Nice player is under contract with Fulham until June 2022.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-return-fulham-january-talks-commence/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham: Fans want Parker out after weekend shocker

Fulham were poor at the weekend in the Sky Bet Championship as they lost 3-0 to Hull City and many fans were from pleased with what they saw from their side.

The Lilywhites have had an okay start to the season but it has been riddled with inconsistency and that has left them short of the automatic promotion spots in the table so far.

Indeed, it's clear that they have the talent to challenge for promotion in their squad, but until Scott Parker finds the remedy that sees them go on a run, questions will be asked.

Indeed, after getting mauled by the Tigers on Saturday, some fans have begun to question just whether the former West Ham and Chelsea man is the right one for the job.

Let's take a look at some of the reaction on Twitter to the result from the Lilywhites and, indeed, some of the criticism of their current gaffer:



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/championship/fulham-fans-want-parker-out-after-weekend-shocker/

[WhiteJC]

Kevin McDonald shares birthday present which Fulham fans will surely approve of

Fulham midfielder Kevin McDonald has shared an update on Instagram after receiving a birthday present that Whites' fans will surely approve of.

On his 31st birthday, the Scot received a large framed photo depicting the moment himself and club captain Tom Cairney lifted the play-off trophy at Wembley back in the summer of 2018, after beating Aston Villa in the final.

He shared a photograph of his gift on his Instagram story a long with a series of loving emotions and it will no doubt take pride of place in his home.

McDonald made 42 appearances in the season that promotion back to the Premier League was achieved, scoring three goals along the way, but he has since fallen out of favour at Craven Cottage.

He got just 15 outings in the Premier League as they were emphatically relegated straight back to the second tier, with just three Championship appearances to his name under Scott Parker as well.

As things stand, Fulham sit in eighth place with 15 games played, two points behind Bristol City, who currently occupy the final place in the play-offs.

A 3-0 defeat to Hull City at Craven Cottage was most unwelcome and made it two games without a win for the Whites, giving this weekend's trip to Birmingham all the more meaning.

The verdict

I am sure that this will please Fulham fans no end.

McDonald may be somewhat out of the picture at the moment, but fans will love any player who really takes their club to their heart and that is clearly what McDonald has done.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/kevin-mcdonald-shares-birthday-present-which-fulham-fans-will-surely-approve-of/

[WhiteJC]

'He never looks panicked' – Fulham fan pundit gives views on youngster's start to the season

This article is part of Football League World's 'Regular Punter' series, where we gather original opinions from select, passionate fans of the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience...

Football League World's Fulham fan pundit Charles Jones has given his verdict on Steven Sessegnon's start to the season, with the youngster having made the right back spot his own this campaign.

The 19-year-old right back has really followed in the footsteps of his twin brother Ryan, with both players having progressed through the youth ranks in west London to break into the first team set up at Craven Cottage, resulting in Ryan departing the club this summer for pastures new at Tottenham Hotspur.

Steven Sessegnon has now established himself as one of the brightest young full backs in English football, making eight appearances for the Championship side this season, and it is perhaps unsurprising that Jones was quick to wax lyrical about the youngster's performances this term, with our fan pundit stating:

"Steven Sessegnon's best quality is probably the maturity he shows in his game, with it being there for all to see this season.

"He never looks panicked on the ball and he seems to know where to be at the right time, whether he's keeping in line at the back or deciding to make an overlapping run.

"His crossing ability also has to be admired, but the fact that he's so mature at a young age gives him a great foundation to build on."

Given the fact that Ryan Sessegnon was well known for his versatility during his time at Craven Cottage, Jones was quick to comment on Steven's best position, with our fan pundit saying:

"I'd say he's definitely best suited at right-back, unlike his brother he doesn't go forward and score all that often, and he's much more of a traditional full-back than his twin.

"He's still got a lot to learn in that role, but that's where I think he'll end up playing for the rest of his career."

Given the solid showings that he has put in so far, it would be unsurprising to see Sessegnon continue to hold down the right back spot this term, particularly with Fulham lacking any real competition for the role this term.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/he-never-looks-panicked-fulham-fan-pundit-gives-views-on-youngsters-start-to-the-season/

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Fulham: Fans call for young star to make senior bow

Jay Stansfield may not be a name many fans are familiar with at the moment but that could well change before too long with the form he is in at youth level.

Fulham have got a decent record of bringing through youth players into the first-team and, of course, onto clubs that play at the sharp end of the Premier League.

The Sessegnon brothers, Ryan and Steven, are examples of both in recent seasons and, by the looks of things, Stansfield has a chance of getting himself into the first-team reckoning before too long.

Indeed, he's scored three hat-tricks in a row for Fulham this season in the u18s and, though it's only youth football, that kind of record gets you noticed at any level.

He scored four against Norwich in his side's latest fixture and fans are beginning to wonder whether first-team involvement should be around the corner.

Let's see what's been said on social media about the young forward:



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/championship/fulham-fans-call-for-young-star-to-make-senior-bow/

[WhiteJC]

'It's a question of rebuild or results' – How much more time should Parker be given at Fulham? Six-Pointer

Scott Parker's Fulham lost 3-0 at home to Hull City in the Championship at the weekend, their biggest defeat of the season so far putting the spotlight on the Englishman.

The manner of Saturday's defeat to Hull City was defining factor behind Fulham fans' angst. They hosted a side who've sprung few surprises in the league this year but after 90-minutes, Hull looked like the ones who should be chasing promotion to the Premier League this season.

Parker's Fulham played right into the hands of the visitors and paid for it with all three points on the day. His tenure at Craven Cottage has come under the spotlight once again, but never before has been the spotlight been so bright.

In the latest FLW Six-Pointer we ask – How much time should Scott Parker be given at Fulham?

What's a realistic goal for Fulham this season?

The club were keen on an immediate return to the Premier League but after only a few games of the season, fans quickly realised how far away that goal is.

Realistically, there are at least two teams in the Championship better than Fulham, so automatic promotion is probably off the cards. There's a host of teams capable of finishing in a play-off spot come May though, and Fulham are one – reaching the play-offs should be Parker's aim for this season.

Does Parker fit into Fulham's long-term plans?

The long-term aim for any team below the Premier League is, or should be, to be a top-flight team.

Fulham showed last season that getting there is only half the battle, and that the real challenge lies in staying at the top.

Parker has to rebuild Fulham as not only a promotion-winning team but a Premier League one too, and given his experiences in the league, the board may seem him as an ideal candidate in their long-term outlooks.

Just how bad was the defeat on Saturday?

A defeat is a defeat no matter how you might sugar-coat it. But Fulham on Saturday were undone by three well-taken goals from Hull, and could've had plenty of their own on another day.

Certainly, a day to forget for Fulham, but it's not one to dwell over too much – they played some good football in truth and would've left hugely frustrated at the score-line.

Have Fulham showed signs of progression this season?

Parker's philosophy of possession football, dominance in the opposition's half of the field, has earned him his critics this season.

As in the weekend defeat, Parker has probably been too persistent with this brand of football but the fact is – they've played some really good stuff this season despite not getting all the points they want, and still remain within a win of the top-six.

There are definitely a few positives for Fulham fans to take from this season.

Have fans been unfair on Parker?

Slightly, but you can understand their anger.

It's easy to forget that this is Parker's first full-season in football management, let alone his first at the club.

It's learning curve for both Parker and Fulham and a few slip-ups are to be expected – with the players at his disposal though, and some good use of the transfer market in the summer, many believe Fulham should be higher up the table after this many games.

So, how much time should Parker be given at Fulham?

The ultimate question, and the answer is really down to the individuals making the decisions at Fulham.

One side would say that Parker should be given a couple of seasons at least – the club desperately needed rebuilding after relegation, and the effects of Parker's work at the club won't be truly evident for another year or so.

The other would say that Parker's job hangs on the thread of each game. With so many Premier League players in their side, results desperately need to be better and Fulham should be a side challenging for the title this season – it's a question of rebuild or results.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/its-a-question-of-rebuild-or-results-how-much-more-time-should-parker-be-given-at-fulham-six-pointer/

[WhiteJC]

11 goals in 3 games: The in-form ace who could well be knocking on Fulham first-team door: Comment

Fulham striker Jay Stansfield is turning heads for the under-18s this season – but should he given a call-up to Scott Parker's first-team?

Jay Stansfield joined the Fulham Youth Academy from Exeter's in the summer, and the forward has lit-up the club with his third consecutive hat-trick at the weekend – his 11th goal in three games, and his 17th from 11 games of the season.

He'd scored four within fifty minutes of Fulham's 5-3 win over Norwich City U18's at the weekend to continue his side's fine form in their Youth League – Eight wins and a draw from nine games to go three points clear the top, surpassing their points tally from last season already.

It's brought to light the talent that is Stansfield, and the wonder kid could soon make the leap into Scott Parker's first-team if he doesn't stop scoring.

Parker is a man under growing pressure at Fulham. His side's 3-0 loss at home to Hull City at the weekend, and Parker's managerial inexperience proves a more pressing issue with every game that they fail to impress in.

With one win in their last five Championship games, Fulham are slowly but surely slipping out of play-off contention though the table remains tight, and a couple of results would turn Parker's fortunes right round.

The Cottagers haven't lacked goals this season – they've scored 23 in the Championship, Aleksandar Mitrovic again proving why some people say he's the best finisher at this level. Ivan Cavaleiro and Tom Cairney have also chipped in with a few, so do Fulham need another goal-scorer in their team?

One can never have enough goal-scorers in a team, but promoting Stansfield right away is probably too much of a risk for Parker and the player.

He'd be battling with the likes of Mitrovic, Kamara, Bobby Reid and so on for a starting spot up-top at Craven Cottage, and Stansfield probably isn't ready for that kind of competition yet.

Stansfield looks a real talent and a top find from the Fulham academy, his best interests though like within that academy for now. He's playing football and scoring goals which for a young player at a big club, is all they can ask for.

Physically, he doesn't look ready for the first-team yet and if Parker were to introduce him into the team this quickly, it could do his long-term trajectory a world of doubt.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/11-goals-in-3-games-the-in-form-ace-who-could-well-be-knocking-on-fulham-first-team-door-comment/

[WhiteJC]

3 things we learned about Fulham after Hull City defeat

Fulham succumbed to their biggest defeat of the season at the weekend, losing 3-0 at home to Hull City in the Championship.

A first-ever senior goal for Josh Bowler have Hull a first-half lead, with goals from Jarrod Bowen and Tom Eaves in the second giving Grant McCann's side a fine away win on Saturday.

The defeat at Craven Cottage means Fulham have won just one of their last five games in the Championship, and they're slowly creeping out of top-six contention – two points separate Fulham in 8th to Bristol City in 6th.

Scott Parker has come under scrutiny at times this season but never so severe as the weekend just gone, and fans are now seeing his management inexperience costing their team.

There's plenty to ponder for Parker this week and here we take a look at three things we've learned about Fulham after the Hull defeat:

Woefully slow at the back

Alfie Mawson was ran ragged by Bowen on Saturday. He played the sweeper role against Hull with Tim Ream attacking the ball, but too often the American couldn't clear his lines and left Mawson tracking back towards his own goal.

The pair are notoriously slow at the back, and it allowed Hull to have a field day in South West London – Bowen scored his 9th league goal of the season after beating Mawson with the ball.

It was a familiar sight on Saturday, Bowen blazing past Mawson towards the Fulham goal, and it brings to light another problem-area for Parker.

Exposed on the counter

With the way that Fulham play, possession-based football in the opponents half of the field, it leaves them glaringly open to the counter-attack.

Hull are arguably the best in the league at soaking up opponents pressure before punishing them on the counter, and that showed against a high-lined Fulham who tried and failed to implement their philosophy at the weekend.

Fulham played right into Hull's hands. Parker's persistence with possession football is commendable to a point, but under what circumstances will be try something anew with Fulham?

Parker too persistent with possession-game?

That being said, for more parts of the game than the scoreline suggested, Fulham played some really nice football.

It could've been a high-scoring game for Fulham who through Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ivan Cavaleiro and co. created and wasted a host of goal-scoring opportunities on Saturday.

No doubt is cast over whether Fulham try and play nice football, but it does over Parker's reading of certain games, and stubbornness to adapt his team to each fixture subjectively.

He might well need to move on from certain ways at Fulham and reshape his team, or at least have a Plan B in place.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/3-things-we-learned-about-fulham-after-hull-city-defeat/

[WhiteJC]

Scott Parker handed wake up call after recent Fulham setback: Comment

Scott Parker's Fulham side put on a sub-par performance at the weekend as the Cottagers went down 3-0 to a rapidly improving Hull City side under Grant McCann.

The tone was set for the afternoon after just nine minutes in West London, after Josh Bowler slotted in at Marcus Bettinelli's near post with a fantastic finish on the half volley to give Hull a deserved lead.

The Tigers doubled their advantage after half-time, with a stunning effort from their in-form attacker Jarrod Bowen, his tenth of the season.

He cut inside initially then shifted onto his other side where he found a finish into the bottom left hand corner. Tom Eaves completed the scoring in the 84th minute with a tap-in.

The result drops Fulham down to 8th in the league, with Parker's men only winning one of their last five league games, conceding nine goals in the process.

It was also Fulham's first defeat at Craven Cottage since 24 August,  which was a 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest.

Fulham had a staggering 75% possession against Hull, yet did not offer much all afternoon, in what will be a deeply concerning display for the manager.

It was made worse with one of their star players going down with an injury, as Joe Bryan was forced off the pitch with just a couple of minutes on the clock.

Bryan has been one of Fulham's most consistent players this season at left-back, and a lengthy spell on the sidelines could be bad news for Fulham fans.

The warning signs have been there in their recent away performances.  A 2-0 defeat to Stoke and a 0-0 draw to Middlesbrough left a lot to be desired as Fulham failed to score in each, although the latter was played with ten men for the majority of the game.

The combination of recent results has seen Fulham fans showing their frustration on social media, with some supporters calling for the manager's head after the poor defeat.

With the side currently not reaching their potential, even though the players at Scott Parker's disposal are at top-tier Championship standard, is it time to start questioning the manager?

As it is the 39-year-old's first role in football management, his lack of experience may not be what the team needs at present in the eyes of some Fulham supporters, especially with experienced campaigners such as Chris Hughton currently available.

The next two fixtures will be key for Parker as his side take on Birmingham on Saturday, then contest the West London Derby against QPR on 22 November.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/scott-parker-handed-wake-up-call-after-recent-fulham-setback-comment/

[ScalleysDad]

Seri being sent back almost made me cry but being "emphatically relegated" turned things around. The former is a frightening prospect as we already have a fairly uninspiring bench and now somebody might have to budge up.