Thursday Fulham Stuff - 21/11/19...

[WhiteJC]

Notes from November meeting with FFC

On Monday 11th November at 12:30, the Fulham Supporters' Trust met with Fulham FC at Motspur Park.

The Club was represented by:

    Alistair Mackintosh (CEO)
    Darren Preston (COO)
    David Daly (Non Executive Director)
    Nicola Walworth (Supporter Relations Manager)
    Carmelo Mifsud (Communications Director)

The FST was represented by board members:

    Ian Clarke
    Dan Crawford

HOW IT WORKS
Each topic below is raised by the FST in an attempt to discuss issues raised primarily by a number of our members. Individual questions from members are sent to the Club outside the meeting, and we encourage members first to raise these directly with the Club via [email protected].

If any member has raised an issue that it has not been possible to discuss in the time available then please do contact us again in good time before the next meeting.

We encourage members to provide us with as much detail as possible (e.g. time, duration, date etc.) when raising issues either with the Trust or directly with the Club.

TOPICS DISCUSSED
The following topics were raised and discussed:

    Catering
    Congestion (follow-up)
    Riverside Stand progress
    Season Ticket Exchange Feedback
    Stewarding
    Other issues and questions

CATERING
The Trust raised concerns and observations from members regarding the efficiency of the catering operation, particularly at half time, during recent matches. Issues encountered during the Hull City fixture included

    inattentive staff at the Hammersmith End turnstile kiosk
    lack of pies at half time in the same kiosk
    failure of card machines and lack of beer in a Hammersmith End bar
    staff with little training in use of tills

The Trust agreed to forward a video of the problems in the Hammersmith End bar to the Club so that they could get a better understanding of the issue.

The Club committed to raise the problems encountered with the outsourced catering supplier. They explained that while there is a high degree of churn with general catering staff this was not the case with supervisors who should be able to minimise these issues.

The Club also said that they do undertake "mystery shopper" exercises and would be happy to work with the Trust to better identify the problems. Nevertheless, it will always remain a challenge to serve everybody in a constrained space in a 15 minute half time window.

CONGESTION (FOLLOW UP)
Following last month's discussion, the Trust again raised the congestion being experienced underneath the Hammersmith End, particularly at half time, and re-iterated some of the suggestions made last month focussed on access to and use of the lower area of the concourse.

The Club said that it is still considering whether anything may be done to alleviate the issues, but commented that the ratio of concourse space available to seats had not changed from previous seasons as it is one of the licensing factors which dictates the overall capacity of the stand.

Several members have suggested additional stairs be provided down from the upper to lower concourse area. The Club said that while this seemed like an easy solution, in fact it would require an additional area of the upper concourse to be kept clear for safety reasons and could be counter-productive.

Ultimately congestion can only be reduced substantially by having fewer seats in the stand which all at the meeting agreed was not wanted.

RIVERSIDE STAND PROGRESS
Whilst supporters can see progress of the Riverside Stand demolition progressing match by match, many have requested an update on next steps. The Trust asked for an overview of the main phases of the project and the Club provided the following summary with estimated dates. These dates were recently discussed with local residents at an open information session.

    Phased demolition of old stand – underway, completion December 2019
    New river wall and walkway piling – underway, completion early 2020
    Putney Stand substructures and piling – underway
    Putney Stand steel erection – commences November 2019
    Basement excavation (18,000 m3) – commences January 2020
    Basement piling – February 2020 to March 2020
    River deck construction – November 2019 to February 2020
    Steel erection – April 2020 to October 2020
    Internal mechanical / electrical works – April 2020 to March 2021
    Glazing – commences May 2020
    Pre-cast concrete terracing – June 2020 to October 2020
    Steel roof trusses lifted in – July 2020 to October 2020
    Fit out – March 2020 to July 2021

The Club further explained that the main work being carried out aside from the building project is focused on identifying non-matchday tenants for the commercial space being created on the river side of the stand, such as restaurants and bars. The initial "vision" for the non-matchday arrangements should be made available in the next month.

In response to further questions from the Trust, the Club confirmed that no more pitch-side hoarding is required.

SEASON TICKET EXCHANGE FEEDBACK
The Trust and the Club reviewed the first use of the Season Ticket Exchange for the Hull City fixture. All feedback received so far by the Trust has been positive, with a number of members highlighting quick sale of their unused season tickets.

Asked about the level of take-up on the scheme, the Club revealed that there had been 214 transactions (season ticket seats bought on the exchange).

The Trust asked for clarification of the definition of "sold out" in response to queries from members who thought that this must mean that their previously listed season ticket had definitely been purchased. The Club explained that when the Hull City fixture was announced as sold out, this indicated that no further standard matchday tickets were available, with the only tickets remaining now being available via the Season Ticket Exchange.

Previously, online access to the fixture would have been removed when the fixture was declared sold out, but it was left open until 24 hours before the game so that supporters could continue to list and purchase season tickets. After 3pm on the Friday, any season tickets that were still listed on the Season Ticket Exchange were returned to their owners for use.

STEWARDING
Some members have commented that they felt some stewards were unaware of ground regulations, particularly in regard to smoking. The Club said this should not be the case and will reiterate with the stewarding companies. They explained that a number of companies provide services on matchday covering general, search and "red team" stewarding, the latter being SIA (Security Industry Authority) accredited. Where multiple companies are used for general stewarding they are split between stands to ensure effective communication.

OTHER ISSUES AND QUESTIONS

The Trust commented that no issues have been reported this month with the FFCtv service. However it highlighted a broken link between the (older) FFC mobile app and the new app.

A number of members have asked for an update on the tribunal decision regarding Harvey Elliott's move to Liverpool. The Club said that there was no further information nor timeline available.


The meeting closed at 14:00.



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2019/11/notes-from-november-meeting-with-ffc/

[WhiteJC]

QPR fans will believe defensive woes can end with Fulham setback ahead of Friday

Queens Park Rangers fans will be praying for a win against Fulham in the Championship this weekend, and for something else too.

Three months into the Championship season, and QPR are yet to keep a clean sheet. That's right, 16 games in and QPR have conceded in every single one of them.

Mark Warburton's side have shipped in thirty goals so far this season which is the joint-second most of any team in the league.

This weekend QPR make the short journey across the capital to face Fulham. What fans would've expected to be a long afternoon for the QPR defence has been dealt a nice hand with the absence of Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Championship's top-scorer with 12 goals this season, the Serbian striker will miss the QPR clash after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season in his side's 1-0 win against Birmingham last time out.

Mitrovic has scored exactly half of Fulham's goals in the Championship this season and without him spearheading the front-line, Scott Parker's side seem a lot less fearsome.

QPR fans will be praying that, in the absence of the Serb, their team can take advantage of a weakened Fulham and keep their first clean sheet of the season.

The longer they go without one, the more the defence will lose confidence and the fans become unsettled.

It's arguably the only thing missing from QPR's performances this season. Fans have been dazzled by some of the attacking play coming from QPR this season, and bewildered by some of the defending.

They'll see this weekend as the perfect opportunity to get off the mark in terms of clean sheets, and keeping one might be more of an imperative than a win in the eyes of some.

It'll be an intriguing watch for QPR fans nevertheless, and they'll just have to hope that someone isn't waiting to fill the Mitrovic-shaped hole on Friday night.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/qpr-fans-will-believe-defensive-woes-can-end-with-fulham-setback-ahead-of-friday/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham fans will surely be feeling cautious ahead of QPR clash due to 25-y/o's absence

Scott Parker's Fulham head into their Friday clash with west London rivals QPR in a mixed vein of form, with the Cottagers having picked up just two wins from their last five games.

The Whites will have to do without the services of top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic this Friday, with the 25-year-old having picked up a booking in his side's away win at Birmingham, meaning he is suspended for the derby clash.

The former Newcastle United man has been in stunning form this term, notching 12 goals in his first 16 Championship outings, thus putting him as top scorer in the second division.

Fulham fans will no doubt be wary of the impact that the Serbian international's absence could have on their team's performance this Friday, with the towering forward forming a key part of the way Parker likes his team to play this season, with the 25-year-old often dropping deep to link the play and create space for others.

Aboubakar Kamara and Bobby Reid are the two candidates who could in theory fill the lone striking berth, and supporters will be hopeful that one of the duo can step up to the plate against QPR, with both players having so far failed to find the back of the net this term.

The Craven Cottage faithful will surely be feeling confident about their teams chances of taking all three points, despite Mitrovic's enforced absence on Friday, with the London based club having only suffered two defeats on home turf thus far, underlining their desire to make the Cottage a fortress.

Reid and Kamara will certainly add something different to Fulham's attacking arsenal, with both capable of making runs in behind the opposition defence, thus allowing the Whites to exploit the R's lack of pace at the back by stretching the opposition backline.

With only two points separating the west London rivals in the table, this is sure to be one of the most fascinating matchups of the season so far.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-fans-will-surely-be-feeling-cautious-ahead-of-qpr-clash-due-to-25-y-os-absence/

[WhiteJC]

Match Sponsorship Available For Fulham Fixture

Our match sponsorship package is one of the best ways for your company to get exposure at Deepdale!

You can sponsor our home game against Fulham on Tuesday 10th December, with a number of benefits for you and your company!

Not only will the sponsor benefit from direct advertising on the stadium's big screen and in the matchday programme, The One And Only, but you will also sample our fantastic corporate hospitality for up to ten guests.

For this game only, one minute of advertising time on the club's pitchside LED boards will also be included in the package, meaning even more exposure for your brand with the game also live on Sky Sports!

The full package for this game includes the following:

• One minute advertising on our pitchside LED boards
• Full page advert in the matchday programme
• Big screen advert before and during the game
• Editorial on the company in the matchday programme
• Complimentary matchday programme and teamsheet for each guest
• Post-match presentation with commemorative photographs
• Centre circle photograph with captains prior to kick-off
• Sponsors' recognition on matchday within the lounge and over the public address system
• Present the man of the match award
• Presentation of a framed shirt signed by the whole PNE squad by the man of the match
• Company logo on matchday menus
• Photograph review in the following game's programme

Also included is VIP matchday hospitality for ten guests:
• Three course meal
• Complimentary bottle of (house) red and white wine
• Reserved spaces for car parking at the ground (maximum of three spaces)
• Pre and post match entertainment with a guest speaker or former player(s) - Invincibles Lounge only
• Preferential table in the Invincibles Lounge or an executive box
• Executive seating for the match
• Full Waitress Service
• Full bar account facility, payable on the day

The cost for sponsoring this game is £1,800 plus VAT, for ten people, for further details please contact the commercial department on 0344 856 1960 or email [email protected].



https://www.pnefc.net/news/2019/november/match-sponsorship-available-for-fulham-fixture/

[WhiteJC]

Parker has chance to prove himself as Fulham look to navigate player setback: Comment

Fulham host Queens Park Rangers this weekend but they'll be without their star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic. How can Scott Parker compensate for this loss?

A 1-0 win at Birmingham City last time out, courtesy of Mitrovic, saw Fulham go into this international break in 7th.

It was a much needed win for Parker and with it, some of the pressure was relieved off the gaffer – his side had only won one in five before that game.

A fine win it was and an astute defensive performance to keep Pep Clotet's Blues at bay. But Mitrovic picked up his fifth yellow card of the season that day, ruling him out of the clash against QPR this weekend.

The Championship's top-scorer with 12 this season, his absence on Saturday will be good news for QPR fans and bad for Fulham.

He's once again proved how valuable a striker he is at this level and his goals in the Championship this season have accounted for exactly half of Fulham's in total.

In two games for Serbia over the break as well, Mitrovic has scored three goals to take his international tally to 34 in 55, as the 25-year-old shows no sign of fatigue yet this season.

Compensating for Mitrovic will be a momentous task in itself for Parker. How do you replace a man who's scored 21 goals for club and country since the start of the season?

Quite simply, Parker will have to change his whole approach to this game on Friday night. Throughout the season, Parker's philosophy has been built around feeding the Serb with balls to feet and into the box, but all that has to change now.

His two most viable options to replace Mitrovic are Aboubakar Kamara and Bobby Reid – neither have scored for Fulham this season, and neither have half the ability of the Serb in-front of goal.

Parker will say that the absence of Mitrovic 'isn't all that big' and that his team is about more than just the striker, but it is all about Mitrovic this season.

The odd goal has come from Ivan Cavaleiro and Anthony Knockaert, but the Portuguese has one goal since mid-August and Knockaert the same.

Friday night's encounter will be an interesting one to see how Parker deals without his main man. He'll have a lot of readjusting to do, and expect to see a completely different Fulham to the one we've seen so far this season.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/parker-has-chance-to-prove-himself-as-fulham-look-to-navigate-player-setback-comment/

[WhiteJC]

Head Coach press conference

Scott Parker is aware that the Championship is a different breed to the Premier League, where a strong run of results can put a team back in contention for promotion.

"We've shown flashes of brilliance and performances that have been everything I've wanted," he said.

"It's a league where if you win two or three games, you're right up there.

"We've seen over the course of many seasons that this division is very different to the Premier League. In the Premier League, a six or seven-point gap and the league is done and dusted.

"The last time we got promoted, we were struggling by Christmas but then we went on a little bit of a run. If we get a run going, we'll be around it."

The West London derby presents itself with a familiar foe for the Club's rivalries in Mark Warburton, who was in charge of Brentford a couple of seasons ago.

"Mark's done a fantastic job. He's a very good manager, experienced, and knows the league well.

"He's done very well at Queens Park Rangers and of course with it being a London derby, we fully expect a tough game on Friday night. We've prepared as well as we can."

With the international break ceasing, players will be thrown back into the mix at short notice on what is likely to be a blustery night at Craven Cottage.

Parker continued: "This league is about momentum. International breaks have come at the wrong time for us, so certainly that could be pleasing. We're looking to put our foot to the floor and see where it takes us.

"Some players will be coming back late, but under the lights at the Cottage, we've done alright this year. Now the stand's gone, it could be a bit windy, so we'll try to keep the ball on the floor a little.

"We're now in the process of building a fantastic stand and it's a slight negative that we need to go through this to get to where we need to be."   



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/november/20/scott-parker-momentum

[WhiteJC]

Games for the Weekend 22/11
So we get another Friday evening game, this time it's against local rivals Queens Park Rangers.

Is it me or do there seem to be far too many "international" breaks this early in the season?
Anyhow following our good away win unfortunately, due to collecting too many yellows, we'll be without the leagues most potent attacker Mitro for this weeks game however, QPR will also be without Geoff Cameron for the same reason, clutching at straws I know but they'll be without a "key" defender, perhaps they cancel each other?
Tom Cairney and Joe Bryan could be back from illness and injury so it will be interesting to see how Scott Parker lines up the team without Mitro?

Our "head to head" against QPR so far is 6 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws, following their home draw against Middlesborough last time out, QPR boss Mark Warburton said "We have taken two points from 12 but the boys have been hard done by in a couple of games." I'm sure he'll not be hard done by playing against us but I hope it turns out to be only two points from 15.

COYWs

Games of Interest...
Friday 22nd
Fulham v QPR

Saturday 23rd
Charlton v Cardiff
Brentford v Reading
Bristol City v Nottm Forest
Luton v Leeds
Swansea v Millwall


come on over to the forum and join in the discussion...
https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0



https://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=977

[WhiteJC]

84 appearances and 19 goals for Fulham: What's Hugo Rodallega up to these days?

A memorable name in the English game, Hugo Rodaellega played 84 times for Fulham between 2012 and 2015, scoring 19 goals. But what's he up to now?

Beginning his career in the South American leagues, Rodallega first came to England with then Premier League side Wigan Athletic.

He became a cult hero at Wigan where he spent four seasons, racking up over 100 appearances for the Latics and scoring 24 goals.

The Colombian forward felt his time at Wigan had come to an end though and chose not to renew his contract ahead of the 2012/13 season, and following his release signed a three-year-deal with Fulham in-turn.

He scored some important goals for Fulham in two seasons in the Premier League, and mustered ten Championship goals in his third and final season at the club.

His contract at Craven Cottage was not renewed however and Rodallega has since been paying in the Turkish Super Lig.

Firstly with Akhisar Belediyespor, where he scored 19 goals in his first season. Two seasons there was followed by three at Trabzonspor, where he scored 35 goals in 85 appearances and now, the 34-year-old forward plays for his third Turkish Super Lig side Denizlispor.

So far this season hes scored twice in eight games under the former Turkey assistant manager Mehmet Ozdilek, seeing his place in the squad go in and out of contention with form as Denizlispor contend with relegation.

He remains though, one of best Colombian's to play in the Premier League, and a likeable name for football fans of a decade ago.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/84-appearances-and-19-goals-for-fulham-whats-hugo-rodallega-up-to-these-days/

[WhiteJC]

Stoke and Reading Tickets

Tickets for our Christmas fixtures at Craven Cottage against Stoke City & Reading will go on sale tomorrow morning.

Fulham take on Stoke City on Sunday 29th December (kick-off 3pm) before welcoming Reading to the Cottage on New Year's Day, kick-off 3pm, with tickets for both fixtures going on sale to 2019/20 Members at 10am on Thursday 21st November.

Tickets will then go on sale to 2019/20 Season Ticket Holders at 10am on Monday 25th November, with any remaining tickets going on General Sale at 10am on Wednesday 27th November.   

Supporters are able to purchase a maximum of six tickets per person for these matches, and can secure their seats online, by phone on 0203 871 0810 (opt. 1) or in person from the Fulham Ticket Office.
Supporters are reminded that the Putney End blocks P1, P2, P3, P4 are designated home seating areas. Away supporters identified in home areas at Craven Cottage will be ejected.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/november/20/stoke-and-reading-tickets

[WhiteJC]

Stats Watch: November

Believe it or not, we're now over a third of the way into the season. With 16 games played, the Whites find themselves in a pretty disappointing 7th place – albeit just 5 points from automatic promotion. Recent form has been mixed, and the jury is still out as to whether Scott Parker has the tactical nous to extract the most out of our expensively assembled squad.

So what exactly is going wrong at the Cottage? Why is HMS Piss The League's starting motor stuttering? One thing we can look at is the numbers our players are putting out, and comparing how each player is performing in important metrics against the rest of the league. With this in mind, we've brought together for you the vital statistics, and pulled out 3 key points to review.

Wingback weaknesses?
If you asked me a month ago which players I was most concerned about getting injured, I would have given two answers: Aleksandar Mitrovic and Joe Bryan. Without a natural backup to the left-back role, and with Steve Sessegnon possibly on his way out of the club, does Scott have a real problem at fullback?

The data would suggest perhaps not. The most likely replacements, Christie at right-back and Odoi at left-back, are actually putting up relatively strong numbers compared to the rest of the players in the league. Whilst there's some context to keep in mind (Christie has relatively few minutes, and some of Odoi's have come from centreback), in the core areas both are still above average. In fact, despite many seeing it as a weakness in his game, Christie is putting in more of a defensive shift than we perhaps give him credit for!

The few areas to watch out for are Christie's ball losses and low pass success rate (a sign of low confidence?) and Odoi's lack of crossing ability. If Scott can build this pair up, and make a couple of tactical tweaks to expose their strengths, they should provide more than enough as a stopgap in the short term.

Decordova-Reid: struggling to adapt?
Since transferring from Cardiff in the Summer, Bobby Reid has endeared himself to the fans with some strong performances off the bench and high work-rate. However, there's been something seemingly holding him back – and as much as we want him to he just doesn't seem to be able to score.

Looking at his numbers, it seems like Bobby is doing the simple things correctly: he pressures often, and is accurate with passes. However, in attacking transition he's really struggling to make any kind of impact. He rarely brings the ball forward, and is doing relatively little to create chances for teammates.
Tom Cairney and Stefan Johansen are far more creative than Bobby Reid

Compared to perhaps the most similar alternatives in the attacking midfield position, Tom Cairney and Stefan Johansen, Bobby is shown up to be a bit of a weak link.

Personally I think this is largely down to Bobby being played in the wrong role. Back in Bristol, he excelled as a second striker, and was an excellent goal poacher behind a more classic number 9. He's clearly struggling to translate these qualities into what's required from our central midfielders. With Mitro out suspended, could we see Bobby shine in a more advanced role?

Super Serb
Perhaps the most "well, duh..." line in this piece: Alexsandar Mitrovic is far too good for the Championship. It's not really a surprise to learn recently that he earns as much as an entire recently promoted squad in in the Championship. His finishing numbers are significantly higher than anyone else in the League – and is probably a shoe-in to end the season with the Championship's golden boot.

Fulham fans have calling out for a natural finisher for years, arguably since the days of Louis Saha. Well, now we've got one.

However, there's no such thing as a perfect player. Despite being clearly one of the most hardworking players, Mitro offers up very little in terms of defensive work. He also creates very little for teammates – increasing the load on players like Reid and Cavaleiro, who have been struggling a little since moving to West London. The clear challenge for Parker is finding ways to improve in these areas, without losing his raw attacking brilliance. Not an easy task!



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2019-11-20-stats-watch-november/

[WhiteJC]

QPR fans will surely be intrigued by 32-y/o's timely return to first team action

Given that Queens Park Rangers have conceded an astonishing 30 goals so far this campaign, many could be forgiven for thinking that Mark Warburton's side are struggling at present.

However this is far from the case, with the R's currently sitting just four points off the play-off places ahead of this Friday's clash with Fulham.

Fans will surely be seeing Friday's west London derby as another opportunity to pass judgement on summer signing Lee Wallace, who of course finally returned from injury in recent weeks to make his first appearances since arriving from Glasgow Rangers.

The 32-year-old Scotsman possesses an impressive CV, having made over 350 appearances in a career that has seen the full back ply his trade largely in Scotland, before making the move to west London this season.

The QPR faithful will no doubt be intrigued to see where the full back fits into Warburton's plans, with the form of Ryan Manning likely to restrict Wallace to playing in the back three, rather than his preferred position of left back in the coming weeks.

Supporters will have been encouraged by what they saw from the experienced ex-Hearts man against Leeds and Middlesbrough respectively, with the 32-year-old averaging two tackles and one clearance per game, plus a pass success rate of 87.3%, suggesting that he will take to the role of 'sweeper' well.

It is this versatility which will surely prolong the defender's career, and it is bound to stand him in good stead under Warburton, with the 57-year-old deploying several players in various positions this term, thus making use of the talents that his squad has to offer.

Wallace will be confident of holding down a starting spot at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, with the 32-year-old being one of the more experienced heads in the dressing room.

Meanwhile, the QPR faithful's immediate attentions will be drawn to their upcoming clash with Fulham, as they seek to end their poor run of form at Craven Cottage.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/qpr-fans-will-surely-be-intrigued-by-32-y-os-timely-return-to-first-team-action/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham ace issues dig at Ivan Cavaleiro ahead of QPR clash

Fulham attacker Anthony Knockaert has taken to Instagram to issue a light-hearted dig at teammate Ivan Cavaleiro over his playing skills.

The Cottagers are preparing for a clash with West London rivals QPR at Craven Cottage, and a victory would temporarily send Scott Parker's side up to fourth place in the Championship table.

Fulham have made a solid if not spectacular return to the second tier following their relegation from the Premier League last term, with the Craven Cottage outfit largely relying on Aleksandar Mitrovic's goals to fire them towards the upper end of the table.

Knockaert and Cavaleiro have also made strong contributions while on their loan spells from Brighton and Wolves respectively, and it appears this pair have also bonded off the pitch since linking up following their moves over the summer.

Knockaert has taken to his Instagram account to share an image which jokingly suggests Cavaleiro is as bad at video games as he is at his footballing skills.

Knockaert has netted twice during his 16 league appearances for Fulham this term, while Cavaleiro has now scored four goals in 15 outings since heading south during the summer months.

The Verdict

Fulham were on a slightly concerning run of form prior to their victory over Birmingham before the international break, and the QPR clash presents an ideal opportunity for Parker's side to seal back-to-back wins for the first time since early October.

Knockaert and Cavaleiro will most likely be key to any potential Fulham fixture, with this particularly being the case given that Mitrovic is suspended for the match, so the Cottagers' other attacking stars will need to step up to the mark.

The duo have clearly bonded well since sealing their respective loan moves to Craven Cottage over the summer, and it would be a great time for them to further endear themselves to the Fulham faithful with big contributions against their West London rivals.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-ace-issues-light-hearted-dig-at-ivan-cavaleiro-ahead-of-qpr-clash/

[WhiteJC]

Preview: Fulham vs. Queens Park Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

Seventh will welcome 10th in the Championship on Friday night as Fulham host Queens Park Rangers in the West London derby.

Fulham have 26 points to show from their 16 league matches this season, while QPR sit three positions behind on 24 points ahead of the mouthwatering contest at Craven Cottage.

Match preview
Seven wins, five draws and four defeats - that is how Fulham have performed in the Championship this season, collecting 26 points to sit seventh, just three points off fourth-placed Swansea City ahead of Friday's clash in West London.

Scott Parker's side are actually only five points off second-placed Preston North End, and a win against QPR would lead them nicely into another home game with Derby County next Tuesday.

Fulham's task has been made a lot harder, though, by the fact that they will be without leading scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic through suspension. The 25-year-old has scored 12 times in 16 Championship matches this season but picked up his fifth booking of the season against Birmingham City before the international break.

The Cottagers went six games unbeaten in the league between August 30 and October 5 but have lost two of their last five against Stoke City and Hull City, suffering a 3-0 defeat to the latter in their last fixture at Craven Cottage.

Fulham have only lost one of their five Championship clashes with QPR since September 2015, although the points were shared when they last locked horns at Craven Cottage in March 2018.

Since being relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2014-15 campaign, it has been a struggle for QPR in the second tier. Indeed, they have finished 12th, 18th, 16th and 19th in their last four seasons and are not considered to be genuine challengers for promotion this term.

The R's have made a solid if unspectacular start, though, picking up 24 points from their 16 matches to sit 10th in the table. A win on Friday night would actually move them above Fulham into seventh, leaving them just one point off the playoffs before the rest of the Championship take to the field this weekend.

QPR's high position in the table is more surprising when considering that they have conceded 30 times in their 16 league matches this season, which is the second-worst record at this stage. Indeed, only bottom-of-the-table Barnsley have shipped more goals during the 2019-20 campaign.

On the flip side, only the top two Preston and West Bromwich Albion have scored more than QPR's 26. Unlike Fulham, the goals have been shared around with Jordan Hugill scoring six, Nakhi Wells eight and Eberechi Eze six, which stands the team in good stead moving forward.

QPR have only actually beaten Fulham once in the Championship and just twice in the league since May 1983. Their last victory in this fixture came at Craven Cottage in October 2016, though, and the capital side have already picked up three away victories in the Championship this term.

Fulham form: DLWDLW

QPR form: WWDLLD

Team News
As mentioned, Fulham will be without their leading scorer Mitrovic as the former Newcastle United striker serves a one-match suspension for the West London derby.

Joe Bryan is also a doubt with a back injury, while Maxime Le Marchand is likely to face a late fitness test on the problem he picked up against Birmingham before the international break.

Tom Cairney should come back into the side having missed out against the Blues due to illness, while Bobby Reid could move into a forward area alongside Anthony Knockaert and Ivan Cavaleiro.

As for QPR, Geoff Cameron's late red card against Middlesbrough before the international break means that the defender is suspended for Friday's contest.

Yoann Barbet could return from a hamstring injury to take Cameron's spot in defence, while Hugill is in line to start alongside Wells in the final third of the field.

There are not expected to be many changes from the clash with Boro, though, meaning that the likes of Luke Amos and Dominic Ball should keep their spots.

Fulham possible starting lineup: Rodak; Odoi, Mawson, Ream, Christie; Cairney, Reed, Johansen; Knockaert, B Reid, Cavaleiro

QPR possible starting lineup: Lumley; Kane, Hall, Barbet, Wallace, Manning; Amos, Ball, Eze; Wells, Hugill

We say: Fulham 1-1 QPR

Mitrovic's absence is huge for Fulham and potentially the difference between three points and one. The league table suggests that Friday's clash will be close and we finding it difficult to separate the two teams.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/preview/preview-fulham-vs-qpr-prediction-team-news-lineups_380032.html

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Scott Parker previews Fulham v QPR and throws down target to his side

Fulham take on QPR in the West London Derby on Friday evening at Craven Cottage, and manager Scott Parker has been previewing the upcoming clash between the two rivals.

The Cottagers sit in 7th place in the Championship, earning a tight 1-0 win against Birmingham City last time out. Three points against Mark Warburton's QPR side will see Fulham climb up to 4th in the table. The away side will also be without their top scorer, Aleksandar Mitrovic.

After an inconsistent run of form of late for Parker's side, the Fulham manager is keen for his side to put together a positive run of results together to climb up the table, as he spoke to the club website in his pre-match press conference.

"This league is about momentum. International breaks have come at the wrong time for us, so certainly that could be pleasing. We're looking to put our foot to the floor and see where it takes us," Parker said.

"It's a league where if you win two or three games, you're right up there."

Parker was also complimentary of his counterpart, Mark Warburton, with QPR having a respectable start to the season.

He's [Warburton] done very well at Queens Park Rangers and of course with it being a London derby, we fully expect a tough game on Friday night. We've prepared as well as we can."

The Verdict

The upcoming West London Derby is a crucial game for Scott Parker as a loss against Fulham's rivals could turn fans further against the manager.

With the opportunity for back-to-back wins and a chance to climb the table, it is a game that Fulham fans will be expecting to win under the Craven Cottage lights.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/scott-parker-previews-fulham-v-qpr-and-throws-down-target-to-his-side/

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Loan watch: How's Fulham's Andre Zambo Anguissa faring in Spain?

Andre Zambo Anguissa was one of the many names who arrived at Fulham amidst their promotion to the Premier League last year but was loaned out to Villareal for this campaign. How's the midfielder faring in Spain?

Over £100 million was spent on the Fulham squad before they began their Premier League campaign last season.

The likes of Anguissa, Jean Michael Seri and so on were bought in, but they nor any of the other arrivals couldn't prevent Fulham from being relegated straight back down.

He arrived from Marseille in a deal worth over £22 million. He was a top player in France and remains a Cameroonian international, but for some reason at Fulham last season, it didn't work out as planned.

Anguissa played 22 times for Fulham in the Premier League last year and whilst he wasn't the worst player that fans have seen, he by no means pulled out any stops.

This season at Villareal he seems to be finding more form. He's been a prominent figure for the Spanish side having played 12 times in La Liga, featuring against both Barcelona and Real Madrid as Villareal look set for a mid-table finish under Javier Calleja Revilla.

International football has also been on Aguissa's agenda, playing in matches against Cape Verde and Rwanda just this week for Cameroon.

He looked another fine acquisition by the Fulham board, but Anguissa was part of a team that under-performed massively last season. Whether or not he'll be with Fulham next season depends on their fortunes in the Championship, but fans would love to see him have another go at the English game.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/loan-watch-hows-fulhams-andre-zambo-anguissa-faring-in-spain/

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Michael Hector shares message with Fulham fans as key date draws closer

Soon to be Fulham defender Michael Hector has sent a message to the club's fans as the January transfer window rapidly approaches in the Championship.

Fulham struck an agreement in the summer with Chelsea but because it happened after the close of the transfer window, Hector has had to wait until the January window opens to officially complete his move to Craven Cottage.

Writing on his Instagram story alongside a photograph of himself in training, Hector said simply: "Not long now" along with a host of egg timer emojis.

Fulham battled with Sheffield Wednesday throughout the summer to land the Chelsea man who had spent the previous campaign on loan at Hillsborough, impressing immensley in the process.

Throughout the 2018/19 season, Hector racked up 39 appearances and scored two goals, scooping the Owls' player of the season award in the process.

Fulham's bid to win promotion straight back to the Premier League has been steady so far, currently sitting in seventh place with 16 games played, although a win against QPR on Friday night will see them launched back into the automatic promotion picture.

The verdict

It is easy to forget just how much of a coup this is for Fulham.

Hector was one of the Championship's standout defenders last season so to be able to bring him in in January could be hugely influential in their bid to win promotion.

The Whites' defence has been their main weakness so far and there is no question at all that Hector will improve that situation significantly.

The second half of the season is going to be very interesting indeed.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/michael-hector-shares-message-with-fulham-fans-as-key-date-draws-closer/

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 Championship fans rate their club's 2019/20 season so far
The Championship returns with Fulham vs QPR on Friday, live on Sky Sports Football from 7pm; Kick-off is at 7.45pm

Fulham
Farrell Monk, @FulhamishPod

Review of the season so far?
Slightly inconsistent, yet positive. Direct comparisons to promotion season where at same stage Fulham are seven points better off this campaign. Still plenty to come. 7/10.

How is the manager doing?
Scott Parker has reverted to the playing style that brought success at this level last time round with extra bite and the players appear on board.

Best player so far?
Twelve goals already for the Serbian powerhouse Aleksandar Mitrovic, so tough to see past him. A lot of Fulham's attacking play goes through him too.

Hopes for the rest of the season?
Automatic promotion is certainly a hope but not an expectation. Unquestionably, one that this team can achieve if injuries are kind.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/11865478/championship-fans-rate-their-clubs-201920-season-so-far

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Fulham loan watch: Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa continues Villarreal spell as Jean Michael Seri hits new low and Fabri awarded rare Mallorca start

In our Loan Watch feature series, the Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how a selection of players from a particular club are faring whilst they are away from their parent side, and provide a brief update regarding their form.

Here is an update on Fulham's three loanees. Two of them met in La Liga before the international break, though Fabri's short spell on the field for RCD Mallorca was halted as they welcomed Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa's Villarreal, while Jean Michael Seri continues to strive for minutes at Galatasaray.

ANDRE-FRANK ZAMBO ANGUISSA

Cameroon international Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has continued his promising progress at Villarreal, despite the Spanish side dropping outside of the top half of the La Liga standings.

Starting every game since September's international break, Anguissa has been an integral part of the squad, though has completed just two of his temporary side's matches since October.

However, he was fully involved in their most recent game against Mallorca, though could not prevent the Yellow Submarine from falling to a 3-1 defeat.

JEAN MICHAEL SERI

Jean Michael Seri is going through a testing time at Galatasaray, with starts few and far between for the Super Lig outfit, while he has been linked with an early return to Craven Cottage in January.

With Galatasaray currently sixth in an extremely congested Turkish top flight, Fotospor (via Sport Witness) has reported that he is thought to be one of the players up for a possible January move.

Seri has started every game in an awful Champions League campaign for Gala to this point, with their 6-0 defeat to Real Madrid arguably the lowest point so far for the on-loan Ivorian, who has been in and out of the team since moving to Turkey.

FABRI

Fabri had endured the entire season on the bench for RCD Mallorca, before finally turning out for his loan side against Real Valladolid at the start of the month.

He could not stop his team going down to a 3-0 defeat as his one and only appearance so far was not one to remember, while he returned to the bench for their following game against Villarreal before the international break.

The Spaniard's outing was his first since playing in Fulham's first two Premier League matches last season.


It has not been the brightest few weeks for these on-loan Whites, but at least there has been match action for Fabri, who has had to be patient for playing time so far.

While Seri's spell at Galatasaray looks to be heading south, it seems as though Anguissa is continuing to benefit during his time away from Craven Cottage, despite a run of results that may suggest otherwise.

The run-up to the January window should give us a better indication of their immediate futures – particularly in the case of Seri – as well as Fulham's hopes of welcoming them back to Craven Cottage in 2020 as a Premier League club once again.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/fulham/fulham-loan-watch-andre-frank-zambo-anguissa-continues-villarreal-spell-as-jean-michael-seri-hits-new-low-and-fabri-awarded-rare-mallorca-start/

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QPR must make sure to capitalise on Fulham suspension this Friday: Comment

This article is part of Football League World's 'Comment' series, this content strand is where the author of the article issues their personal opinion on the topic at hand....

QPR face Fulham on Friday night, in what is set to be a cracking game of football under the lights at Craven Cottage.

Mark Warburton is in charge of the R's and he's done a terrific job with the side so far this season as they sit in the top half of the table after the first 16 games of the new campaign.

They actually had a very good start to the season and were flying until a recent run of results has seen the side drop out of the play-off places.

On Friday, it's another tough game for the R's as they travel to Fulham but there is reason to be optimistic due to a suspension to Scott Parker's side.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is the current top scorer of the Championship and he has been absolutely sensational so far this season. However, he's suspended for the fixture because he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the away victory at Birmingham before the international break.

It's a huge loss for the Cottagers but a massive gain for QPR as they still look for their first clean sheet of the campaign after a remarkable start without any. They now have a brilliant chance to record one away from home, as Mitrovic has scored 50% of Fulham's goals so far this season.

As well as this, Parker's side have also looked a bit dry in front of goal recently, and have stuttered in some of their fixtures including their last home game. They went down 3-0 to Hull, whilst a couple of games before lost 2-0 to 23rd placed Stoke City.

QPR have to see this is an opportunity rather than a bonus. This is a big chance of getting three points at one of the best sides in the league, and it has been made easier by the loss of Mitrovic from the opposition ranks.

It's set to be a cracking derby fixture under the lights, that looks like it has the components to be a thriller.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/qpr-must-make-sure-to-capitalise-on-fulham-suspension-this-friday-comment/

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The Fulham ace who has major opportunity to break his duck against QPR: Comment

This article is part of Football League World's 'Comment' series, this content strand is where the author of the article issues their personal opinion on the topic at hand...

Fulham will temporarily move up to fourth in the Championship is they can secure a victory over West London rivals QPR at Craven Cottage on Friday evening.

Scott Parker's side have made a stuttering start to the second-tier season following their relegation from the top-flight last term, but they can secure their eighth league win of the campaign against the Rs in this upcoming meeting.

The Cottagers would have been hoping to have performed better during their return season to the Championship, but the goalscoring exploits of star man Aleksandar Mitrovic have ensured that Parker's side are still competing at the top end of the table.

The Serbia international has been in electric form in front of goal this term to net 12 goals in his 16 appearances, but Fulham will need to cope without his services on Friday with the striker unavailable for the clash due to suspension.

This will be the first time Fulham will have to manage without the 25-year-old in the league so far this term, and Parker will need to ensure he establishes an effective playing strategy which eliminates his side's reliance on Mitrovic's prolific goalscoring record.

The absence of Mitrovic should mean that Cardiff loanee Bobby Reid leads Fulham's attacking line against Mark Warburton's side, with Reid having been deployed in a variety of roles behind the front man so far this term.

However, it now seems logical for Reid to be tasked with filling the void left by Mitrovic for this one match, and this makes it the perfect opportunity for him to open his account for the London outfit having not got on the scoresheet so far.

The 26-year-old has still managed to produce a number of eye-catching performances for Parker's side, but he will now be eager to get off the mark for the Cottagers given that he managed to score an impressive 19 goals during his last Championship season.

He recorded this tally while plying his trade at Bristol City during the 2017/18 season, and the fact he might well lead Fulham's line on Friday evening means he has every chance of re-discovering this goalscoring form against the Rs.

It is a big night for Reid as it would increase Fulham fans' trust in him if he can get on the scoresheet while delivering a strong performance, and this would provide reassurance that the club does have back-up options when Mitrovic is absent.

There is a risk Fulham could depend too heavily on Mitrovic this term, but an assured performance from Reid on Friday night would go some way to easing these concerns.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/the-fulham-ace-who-has-major-opportunity-to-break-his-duck-against-qpr-comment/