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Thursday Fulham Stuff - 05/12/19...

Started by WhiteJC, December 05, 2019, 08:43:57 AM

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WhiteJC

82% pass accuracy, 1 assist: Fulham man's performance against Swansea analysed

Fulham have lifted themselves back into automatic promotion contention in recent weeks, with their win over Swansea City last weekend moving the Cottagers up to third in the Championship table.

Their 2-1 win over Swansea last time out made it four straight wins in the Championship. Two more goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic helped Scott Parker's side to a two-goal lead before half-time.

Swansea hit back in the 65th minute through George Byers, but Fulham held on to record their tenth win of the season.

With the injury suffered to Bobby Decordova-Reid against Derby, Scott Parker handed Josh Onomah just his second start of the season, and he produced an accomplished display to help Fulham on their way to victory.

Here, we take a closer look at how Onomah performed against Steve Cooper's side last weekend...


Onomah made his 10th Fulham appearance of the season against Swansea, and repaid the faith in Scott Parker starting him by providing an assist for one of Aleksandar Mitrovic's two goals.

The 22-year-old intercepted a sloppy Swansea pass in midfield, laying the ball off for Ivan Cavaleiro. The Portuguese winger then squared it back to Onomah, who got the slightest touch on the ball before slipping, which fed it through for Mitrovic to be clean in on goal and he made no mistake.

That was the Serbian's 15th league goal of the season for Fulham. Despite it not being pleasing to the eye for Onomah, the assist was definitely his.

The initial interception by Onomah was critical to the counter-attack for the goal. It helped him on his way to three successful passes in the final third during the 81 minutes that he was on the pitch.

He also showed that he is confident in possession of the ball, notching up a passing accuracy of 82% during the match.

One statistic that he will be looking to work on is his duel success, which stood at 43%.

In spite of that, it was a positive performance from the 22-year-old on the whole, and he will be hoping to get more of a chance to showcase what he can do in the weeks to come.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/82-pass-accuracy-1-assist-fulham-mans-performance-against-swansea-analysed/

WhiteJC

Benik Afobe – Minute's Applause


Following the tragic death of Benik Afobe's two year old daughter Amora, we are encouraging all Fulham supporters to join in a minute's applause organised by our friends from Bristol City on Saturday.



    Football is the game it is because of the passion of rivalries and intensity of the competition – particularly when both teams are vying for promotion. But tragic events like the sad, sudden death of Benik Afobe's young daughter put all of that into perspective. Any fan who is a parent or sibling will struggle to comprehend the sense of loss Benik and his family are feeling now – and all decent fans will feel for them.

    That's why the simple gesture of a minute's applause at the weekend goes beyond any on pitch rivalry, and the Fulham Supporters' Trust encourages Fulham fans to join in with Bristol City supporters in a minute's applause as a gesture of condolence, solidarity and sympathy during the second minute of the game on Saturday.

    Tom Greatrex, on behalf of the FST board



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2019/12/benik-afobe-minutes-applause/

WhiteJC

Games for the Weekend 07/12
Saturday afternoon, 3 o'clock, how unusual we get to play Bristol City at the Cottage on a "normal" day and time.
Our boys must be full of confidence as we've won four on the trot and we're only five points from the top spot sitting just behind West Brom and Leeds in 3rd place.
Mitro is still on fire, 15 goals now and not looking to slow down anytime soon. Rodák has settled quickly, especially for a young goal keeper, he's on 22, as keeper's don't normally hit their prime until their late 20's or early 30's, he's a very exciting prospect.

Bristol City had a great result last weekend thumping Huddersfield 5-2. In recent years we've had mixed fortunes against Bristol City, we've only won twice and lost four times, once in a cup game.

COYW's

Games of Interest...
Friday 6th

Millwall v Nottm Forest

Saturday 7th
Huddersfield v Leeds
Fulham v Bristol City
Middlesborough v Charlton
QPR v Preston NE
Sheff Wed v Brentford

Sunday 8th
West Brom v Swansea



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=1007


WhiteJC

Football Is Everyone's Game

Fulham Football Club will show our support for Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign during Saturday's fixture against Bristol City in the Sky Bet Championship.

The meeting with the Robins is the Club's designated game in which we promote equality and diversity as well as highlight support for LGBT fans, players and staff across the sport.

Whites Captain Tom Cairney will wear a rainbow coloured armband, as he did on Friday in Swansea. There will also be rainbow corner flags and substitution boards, as well as a pennant to mark and support the campaign.

Stonewall aims to:

- Inspire sports fans and participants with the stories of LGBT people in sport and those who work hard to make sport everyone's game.

- Educate everyone about what it's like to be LGBT in sport and the challenges faced.

- Encourage people to challenge anti-LGBT language and ensure that LGBT people, across all communities, are valued, welcomed by all and can participate fully in society.

- Encourage working together, as diverse LGBT communities, and with wider communities, to change and win hearts and minds, and to tackle prejudice or discrimination within LGBT communities.

Football has the power to bring everyone together, and clubs and communities are stronger when everyone feels welcome. Football is everyone's game.

Visit stonewall.org.uk/rainbowlaces to learn more about the campaign.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/december/04/football-is-everyones-game

WhiteJC


From chaos to contenders: how Fulham have bounced back

A new-look squad has fared well in the Championship under Scott Parker and the reintegrated Aboubakar Kamara has shone


Fulham's Aboubakar Kamara, right, celebrates with Anthony Knockaert after scoring the first of his two goals that secured victory over QPR. Photograph: Javier García/BPI/Rex/Shutterstock

Twelve months is a long time in football. This time last season Fulham were sinking without trace, bottom of the Premier League after a run of eight defeats in nine matches and on their second manager of the season. A year on, and after a long look in the mirror, the team are almost unrecognisable – only four players started Friday's win over Swansea and the final day of last season at Craven Cottage. But some things never change: Aleksandar Mitrovic is still scoring goals, and lots of them. Since August the Serbia striker has scored 23 times in 24 appearances for club and country.

For Aboubakar Kamara, the turnaround has been even more remarkable. Banned indefinitely from the club's Motspur Park training base and sent on loan to the Turkish club Yeni Malatyaspor after an altercation with a member of security staff in January, Kamara was reintegrated into the first-team squad in the summer and has seemingly put a turbulent start to the year behind him.

Those at Fulham feel the forward has matured since that incident and he has been influential this season, notably scoring twice against Queens Park Rangers last month in the absence of Mitrovic, with whom he clashed with during a yoga session last season. "You've got to manage Abou differently – it's not the same as how you manage some of the others," said the Fulham head coach, Scott Parker. "Abou's not been a problem since I stepped into this role. Maybe the perception on the outside is very different to the reality and the reality is he's a well-respected, appreciated member of this squad."

There are few remnants of the supermarket sweep of two summers ago, with Fabri, Jean Michaël Seri and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa sent on loan and Ryan Babel's red hair and Lazar Markovic's long locks a distant memory. Those four survivors from that 4-0 defeat by Newcastle United in May – Mitrovic, Alfie Mawson, Joe Bryan and the captain Tom Cairney – are key pillars of Parker's side. Mawson, who spent most of last season injured, has been ever-present this season, while Bryan, who excelled in the second tier with Bristol City, visitors to Fulham on Saturday, has proved a consistent performer.

Tying Cairney and, more pertinently, Mitrovic to long-term contracts in the summer has proved a masterstroke. "He is motivated by goals," Parker said of the Serb. "His general all-round play is first class. We can mix our game up, go up to him and he can give us a platform because of his physical presence; we can also play it into his feet and build around him. I think he enjoys being at this club – it's a place where he is comfortable. We are delighted we have him on our books and he is scoring the goals for us."


Aleksandar Mitrovic (left) has scored 23 goals in 24 appearances for club and country since August. Photograph: Holly Allison/TPI/Shutterstock

Only the league leaders, West Bromwich Albion, have more goals than Fulham's 31 goals this season, a haul matched by Bristol City and Preston. Keeping the ball out of their net was Fulham's undoing last season – they conceded 81 times, the worst by any club in the Premier League since the club's relegation in 2015. However Parker has soothed their defensive frailties, with Mawson's return to fitness and form a key factor.

In January Michael Hector, outstanding on loan at Sheffield Wednesday last season, will sign from Chelsea to bolster their defensive options. Fulham, who are on a four-match winning streak, are third and well-placed to compete for the automatic promotion places, where the vice-chairman, Tony Khan, has said he wants them to be. Parker acknowledged Fulham had established a healthy platform to build on but December will provide the best barometer of their progress, with matches against four teams of the division's top seven before Christmas: Bristol City, Preston, Brentford and Leeds.

It is not only Mitrovic who is scoring, with the Under-21s striker Timmy Abraham, younger brother of the Chelsea striker Tammy, scoring in both his EFL Trophy appearances, while the England youth international Jay Stansfield is the leading scorer in the Under-18 Premier League. Stansfield is the son of the former Exeter City forward Adam, who died following cancer treatment aged 31 in 2010, and there was a hope he would go on to wear the No 9 shirt retired following his father's death. "Jay always played up a year," said Julian Tagg, the Exeter chairman. "He always gave the proverbial 110%. He is exactly the same as his father – he wants to win and is a very good goalscorer."

Exeter are proud of Stansfield's development but his departure in the summer was also galling given they received only £150,000 in compensation. For Exeter, who got an initial £850,000 from Chelsea for a 16-year-old Ethan Ampadu two years ago, it represented another sucker punch after RB Leipzig paid £500,000 to sign the Wales international on a season's loan in July. There is an air of resignation that Ben Chrisene, who made his senior debut aged 15 in August, will be next, with Liverpool, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Leipzig among those tracking the midfielder. Fulham, too, sold teenage talents in the summer, with Ryan Sessegnon and Harvey Elliott joining Tottenham and Liverpool respectively, but after a traumatic return to the top flight, the future again looks bright by the Thames.



https://www.theguardian.com/football/football-league-blog/2019/dec/04/fulham-championship-scott-parker-aboubakar-kamara-football-league-blog

WhiteJC

'Surely destined for big things' – Fulham weighing up move for midfielder: The verdict

This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Ipswich Town continue to perform well in League One this season currently second to Wycombe who they trail by five points, but who they have two games in-hand on.

But Tractor Boys manager Paul Lambert may have a problem on the horizon, with Fulham keeping tabs on his midfielder Flynn Downes, according to a report on TWTD, who has been in fine form so far this season.

So would Downes be a good signing for Fulham? Would he be a good fit in Scott Parker's side?

We discuss..........

Jordan Rushworth

"Downes has certainly been showing an ability to perform at a higher level than League One with his performances for Ipswich so far this season, having been made a key part of Paul Lambert's side as the Tractor Boys look to earn promotion to the Championship.

"The midfielder offers the sort of technical ability and calmness in possession that would see him suit Fulham's style of play under Scott Parker, and he should be able to fit straight into their midfield were he to make the move.

"However, Fulham have a lot of quality options in the middle of the park, and that would mean that Downes might well find it difficult to get himself in the starting line-up on a regular basis, so he should be cautious about moving and spending most of the time on the bench.

"Downes, though, has the potential to be developed into a high-quality midfielder, and so if Fulham can secure him now for a relatively small transfer fee then they should certainly try to make the deal happen."

Ben Lang

"Downes has been in superb form this season following Ipswich's relegation to the third tier, and the fact he was named captain over the weekend at the age of 20 is proof of both his quality and maturity at this early stage in his career.

"The midfielder is surely destined for big things in the game, and it is no surprise to see a club like Fulham now come calling, but I think Downes should be looking to stay with Ipswich during their promotion push this term.

"Downes' performances have been characterised by an impressive level of consistency this season, with the 20-year-old now becoming a well-rounded midfield talent that could definitely thrive in the Championship.

"It might be difficult for a move to be engineered in the January window given Downes' importance to Ipswich, which means it is vital Paul Lambert's side seal promotion this season to stand a chance of keeping hold of Downes."

Dean Cooke

"This is the kind of signing that I really like to see clubs make, especially a side like Fulham who have a squad full of star talent.

"Downes is just 20-years-old and has only played a handful of games for Ipswich, but he's holding his own and looks like he could be a serious talent in the future.

"It would be a good signing for Fulham, and you'd have to wonder if they would see him as a long-term replacement for Tom Cairney in the midfield.

"With Downes having captained the Ipswich side in their FA Cup game with Coventry, it shows that he also has certain abilities in leadership that could also benefit a side such as Fulham."



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/surely-destined-for-big-things-fulham-weighing-up-move-for-midfielder-the-verdict/


WhiteJC

Ousted Fulham man wouldn't be blamed for weighing up options: Comment

Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli started the season as number one at Craven Cottage, but has since lost his spot to Marek Rodak. So what's next for the Englishman?

Bettinelli, 27, is one of the longest-serving players at Fulham and has both Premier League and Championship experience with the club.

He went into this 2019/20 campaign as the number one stopper for Scott Parker but for the win over Luton Town in October, Rodak was preferred and Parker hasn't looked back since.

Despite being sent-off in his second game in goal, Rodak has quickly asserted himself as the new number one at Fulham, with some astounding performance against the likes of QPR, Derby and most recently Swansea.

The 22-year-old is keeping his senior on the bench, but how long will Bettinelli be willing to sit on the Fulham bench for?

Bettinelli, 27, is one of the longest-serving players at Fulham and has both Premier League and Championship experience with the club.

He went into this 2019/20 campaign as the number one stopper for Scott Parker but for the win over Luton Town in October, Rodak was preferred and Parker hasn't looked back since.

Despite being sent-off in his second game in goal, Rodak has quickly asserted himself as the new number one at Fulham, with some astounding performance against the likes of QPR, Derby and most recently Swansea.

The 22-year-old is keeping his senior on the bench, but how long will Bettinelli be willing to sit on the Fulham bench for?

Fulham have a few good, young keepers in their ranks – Rodak is obviously the pick of the bunch but behind him is Magnus Norman and Luca Ashby-Hammond, the latter being an ever-present member of the England U19 set-up.

Bettinelli may well be happy sitting on the bench at Fulham but Parker may see fit to move him on, and give another youngster the chance to be second-choice.

He'll likely be on a higher wage than most at the club and could even push for a move away – he's not getting any younger and having been second-fiddle in most of his career so far, may finally want to be the main man somewhere else.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/ousted-fulham-man-wouldnt-be-blamed-for-weighing-up-options-comment/

WhiteJC

Rainbow Laces

The Fulham Supporters' Trust warmly welcomes and supports the Club's participation in Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign this weekend at Craven Cottage. 


    The Trust champions diversity and equality throughout the sporting year – our efforts to make football a safe and inclusive environment for everyone should never end. Rainbow Laces highlights especially the need for LGBT equality in sport and we are proud to add our voice to theirs.

    Fulham has a wonderful reputation as a family-friendly Club, which is one of the many important reasons we love it. Families nowadays include every background, faith, gender, sexual orientation – and these things are no barrier to the welcome we offer or the generous and safe environment that we can be proud to share with every visitor to the Cottage.

    All of us at the FST look forward to enjoying the rainbow colours at the game against Bristol City, and commit to continuing to support this great initiative. If you feel we should be doing more or differently towards improving LGBT inclusivity, please let us know. Better still, join the Trust and help us make a difference.

    Sue Couch, on behalf of the FST Board



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2019/12/rainbow-laces/

WhiteJC

Korey Smith praises Fulham ahead of Bristol City clash

Bristol City midfielder Korey Smith has given his thoughts on upcoming opponents Fulham, saying the West London side have players of a 'Premier League standard'.

The Robins face a difficult test against the West Londoners on Saturday afternoon at Craven Cottage, with Fulham going into the clash on the back of four straight Championship wins.

28-year-old Smith gave his thoughts on the game in the pre-match press conference, picking up on Bristol City's good recent record against the Cottagers. He revealed that he has been in touch with Bobby Decordova-Reid.

"We always seem to do well against Fulham over the last few years. I've been messaging Bobby [Reid] for a little hint but he's not giving me anything yet. Them two (Reid and Bryan) did amazing at this club but when we get on the pitch it's every man for himself," Smith said.

Smith added that the quality that Bristol City's opponents have in their side in unquestionable.

"You know Fulham are a top team, they've got Premier League standard players. We want to show that we can do it against the top teams away from home."

The midfielder has come back into the Bristol City side following a lengthy and difficult injury layoff, that has seen him sidelined since April of last season with two broken bones in his foot and a torn ligament.

Smith featured in the Robins' last league game against Huddersfield, coming on as a second half substitute.

The Verdict

It is a difficult task for Bristol City against another side in the top six, but Lee Johnson will take comfort knowing that the Robins' recent record against Fulham is good.

The BS3 side have lost just once against the West Londoners in the last six meetings between the sides, and will take a strong travelling contingent to Craven Cottage for the contest.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/korey-smith-praises-fulham-ahead-of-bristol-city-clash/


WhiteJC

Fulham approach for Leicester City defender rejected

Fulham's approach for a January move for Leicester City defender James Justin has been rejected according to Football Insider.

The Championship promotion contenders have enquired about signing the 21-year-old on loan for the second half of the season as they look to add further reinforcements to ensure they are still competing at the top of the table come the end of the campaign.

However, the high-flying Premier League side are keen to retain Justin as he bids to remain a part of Brendan Rogers' first team plans.

Leicester believe that Justin has huge potential following his £7million move from Luton Town in the summer transfer market which could rise to a potential £10million with add-ons.

The full-back has been forced to contend with being a back-up option for Leicester due to the impressive form of Ricardo Pereira.

Justin has so far only made two appearances for the Foxes, both of which have come in the League Cup and he is said to be keen on regular first team football but with Leicester enjoying a hugely successful run and currently in third place in the Premier League it is difficult to see him breaking into the starting XI imminently.

Justin, who can play at left-back or right-back, was named in the League One Team of the Year following his impressive displays at Luton last season which ended with promotion to the Championship.

His performances earned him a move to Leicester but he will be hoping he can force his way into the team from the start in order to showcase the talent he clearly possesses.



https://the72.co.uk/150827/fulham-approach-for-leicester-city-defender-rejected/

WhiteJC

Fulham signing this 20-year-old League One starlet would be a solid long-term coup

Why Flynn Downes could be a good long-term signing for Fulham

According to Ipswich site TWTD, Fulham have been credited with an interest in Ipswich Town prospect Flynn Downes, who has been in impressive form for the Tractor Boys in the League One this season.

TWTD understands that Fulham's assistant director of football operations and chief scout, Brian Talbot, was in attendance at Portman Road for the recent FA Cup tie against Lincoln City, with the Cottagers continuing to monitor Downes at close quarters.

Downes, who became Ipswich Town's youngest ever skipper when he donned the captain's armband in the 1-1 FA Cup draw against Coventry, has made eyeballs turn with a string of impressive displays for Paul Lambert's side in the third-tier this term.

Flynn Downes has been a standout performer for Ipswich Town in League One this season (Getty Images)

The report doesn't mention whether Fulham are scouting Flynn Downes with a view to a potential transfer in January. The 20-year-old is under contract at Portman Road until the summer of 2022, with Ipswich holding the option of extending his stay by a further 12 months. 

Born in Brentwood, Downes rose through the youth system at Ipswich Town before bursting on to the scene as a teenage sensation during the club's 2017-18 season in the Championship under the stewardship of Mick McCarthy.

The defensive midfielder clocked up as many as 10 appearances for the Tractor Boys in the first half of the 2017-18 campaign before being sent out on loan to Luton Town in the League Two.

Having helped the Hatters secure promotion to the League One, Downes returned to Portman Road ahead of the 2018-19 campaign and went on to play a more substantial first-team role under Paul Lambert.

Downes spent time on loan at Luton Town during the second half of the 2017-18 campaign (Getty Images)

The 20-year-old started 21 games in the Championship the last term and featured as a substitute 8 times even as Ipswich Town eventually suffered relegation.

A drop down to the third-tier made life a lot easier for the academy prospect, who has started 13 out of Ipswich's 17 fixtures in the League One so far.

Ipswich currently find themselves in the mix for automatic promotion and Downes has been instrumental in the club's bright start to the season, scoring and assisting once apiece.

As per WhoScored, Flynn Downes has averaged 38.2 passes per game at an accuracy rate of 80.5%, including 2.8 tackles, 1.7 interceptions, 0.7 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per game in the League One, figures which lie testament to his many skills as a defensive midfielder.

That he has successfully completed 37 out of his attempted 50 tackles (74% accuracy) and 17 out of 21 dribbles speak volumes of his rapid development as a midfielder and Fulham's interest in his services certainly seem to make a lot of sense.

The 20-year-old has emerged on the radar of Championship promotion hopefuls Fulham (Getty Images)

To put things into perspective, Flynn Downes might not be the finished article just yet but Fulham should not hesitate to snap him up as a long-term prospect.

The England U20 international has already made significant strides towards fulfilling his vast potential and the Cottagers would have a gem on their hands if he goes on to live up to his potential.

Notwithstanding the fact that Fulham are currently well-stocked in their options in the middle of the park, the Cottagers will need a reshuffling of options in central midfield by the end of the campaign when some of the loan stars depart.

Flynn Downes has been tipped for a Premier League future due to his vast potential (Getty Images)

The likes of Harry Arter and Harrison Reed are only on loan from Bournemouth and Southampton respectively. A promising up and coming player like Downes could effectively sort out Fulham's midfield for the next decade, with veteran Kevin McDonald already 31.

Tom Cairney and Stefan Johansen are more suited to creative box-to-box roles rather than falling under the bracket of defensive midfielders.

Given his potential and the kind of progress he has shown of late, Downes is capable of working wonders for the Cottagers.

Verdict

Having said that, Fulham should continue to keep close tabs on the Ipswich Town starlet and make an official approach to secure his services when the transfer window reopens in January.



https://soccersouls.com/fulham-signing-this-20-year-old-league-one-starlet-would-be-a-solid-long-term-coup/

WhiteJC

Fulham signing this versatile 21-year-old on loan would be absolutely smart from Parker

Why James Justin would be a smart loan signing for Fulham

According to the Football Insider (h/t the Yorkshire Evening Post), Fulham have contacted Leicester City about signing defender James Justin on loan in January.

James Justin, 21, who can play at left-back or right-back, was named in the League One Team of the Year following his impressive displays at Luton last season, which ended with promotion. His impressive performances didn't go unnoticed as Leicester City signed him in the summer.

The 21-year-old has been forced to play second fiddle to first-choice right-back Ricardo Pereira. He is still waiting for his Premier League debut as Ricardo has been an ever-present in the Premier League this season, starting all 14 games for Brendan Rodgers' side. This has limited Justin to just two appearances for the Foxes this season – both in the EFL Cup.

Fulham, meanwhile, beat Swansea City 2-1 in the Championship on Friday night and closed the gap on the top two. It was a fourth straight win in the Championship for the Cottagers and now Scott Parker is now being hailed as one of the division's best young managers after attracting widespread criticism after his side were held at Middlesbrough and were thumped 3-0 by Hull City.

There's a lot for the fans to look forward to this season but it's still only December, and Fulham have 27 games between now and the end of the season. The west London side may have enjoyed a turnaround in fortunes of late but Parker should look to add a couple of players in January to boost his squad for the second half of the campaign.

Full-backs Denis Odoi and Joe Bryan have become integral to the line-up, impressing week in and week out. However, Parker could do well with some competition to his flying full-backs and thus, the Cottagers must sign James Justin on loan.

Justin is a talented full-back who is aggressive, attacking and always likes to play on the front foot. He never shies away from throwing himself on tackles and challenges, and possesses the creative abilities to make a difference in the final third.

At Luton Town, especially last season, the 21-year-old played majorly at left-back, managing 3 goals and 8 assists. In the video below, one could see Justin's style of play and the qualities he could bring to Fulham if a move happens.

Verdict

Justin's versatility would make him a solid loan signing for Fulham. He'll improve the Cottagers defensively, whilst bringing competition for Odoi and Bryan.



https://soccersouls.com/fulham-signing-this-versatile-21-year-old-on-loan-would-be-absolutely-smart-from-parker/


WhiteJC

Why Fulham face acid test as hot pace with West Brom and Leeds United continues at top of the division
MANAGING director Angus Kinnear is keen to clarify that Leeds United's recent last-minute winners at Luton Town and Reading were nothing to do with luck.

"Most of the top teams in any league have the ability and habit of regularly claiming the spoils in the final minutes," said Kinnear in Saturday's match-day programme ahead of United's clash against Middlesbrough

After blitzing the Riversiders 4-0 to move top of the Championship, Kinnear's words then ironically rang very true just two days later when West Brom again usurped the Whites in top spot with a 90th-minute winner at Preston North End; albeit via the softest of penalty calls.

But Charlie Austin's last gasp spot kick for the Baggies continued a remarkable run for the division's top three who will soon be kicking comfortably clear if recent form continues.

Collectively, West Brom, Leeds and Fulham have now won their last 14 games though something will have to give four days before Christmas when the Whites visit the Cottagers in a clash that could be crucial in the automatic promotion race.

Even at an earlier stage than last season, the signs at the beginning of December very much point towards West Brom, Leeds and Fulham having a three-team shoot-out for the two automatic promotion spots in similar fashion to the battle between Leeds, Norwich City and Sheffield United last term.

Looking back to the state of play after 19 games last term, there were no real signs of that trio breaking clear after 19 games with just four points separating the top four of Norwich, Leeds, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United.

Furthermore, fifth-placed West Brom and sixth-placed Derby County knew they would go level with the Blades if winning their game in hand whilst seventh-placed Nottingham Forest were also only point further back and with a game in hand.

Fast forward four months and the automatic promotion picture had become a clear three-horse race and one that United's Polish international midfielder Mateusz Klich admitted he could already envisage materialising again 12 months on in the aftermath of Saturday's triumph against Boro.

United's impressive and no nonsense 4-0 despatching of Boro made it five league wins in a row with Marcelo Bielsa's men currently four points better off than they were at this stage last season when they were one point behind leaders Norwich.

But even a four-point better haul has not been enough to put the Whites in pole position as it stands due to West Brom's achievements in dropping only 15 points so far and, like Leeds, also winning five in a row.

The Championship is notoriously full of unexpected results and surprises but Slaven Bilic's side have now taken seven victories and two draws from the nine games that have followed their sole league loss this season so far at Leeds on October 1.

As part of a huge 11 days in the Championship's automatic promotion race, the two sides will meet again at the The Hawthorns on New Year's Day and the Baggies can be expected to again rack up the points in their next five games until their showdown against the Whites.

Aside from a home clash against seventh-placed Brentford on the Saturday that Leeds visit Fulham, the Baggies' other next four opponents are all in the bottom ten with visits to Wigan Athletic, Birmingham City and Barnsley in the offing and a home clash against Middlesbrough.

Current service is likely to be continued though in any case, for Leeds, it is clearly the gap to third that matters most and a gap that stands at five points back to Fulham.

But after an inconsistent start that may yet cost the Cottagers dear, Scott Parker's side have now clocked up four-straight wins with no relent in their pursuit of the Whites and Baggies and with Aleksandar Mitrovic already on 15 goals.

Yet on paper at least, the three games that will precede Fulham's clash against Leeds promise to offer stern tests of their credentials with the Cottagers hosting fifth-placed Bristol City this weekend and then visiting sixth-placed Preston next Tuesday before the following Saturday's fixture against Brentford at Craven Cottage.

Three of the top seven and sides who along with fourth-placed Nottingham Forest may yet still have a say themselves in the automatic promotion race.

Forest, after all, would be level with Fulham if winning their game in hand while Bristol City, Preston and Brentford remain within striking distance at three, four and five points behind respectively.

Yet not on a run like Fulham's which will now face an acid test, all leading to the mouth-watering pre-Christmas cracker against Marcelo Bielsa's Whites at Craven Cottage on December 21.

If winning ways for both are continued, a five-point gap to the Cottagers could be slashed to two or extended to eight. A six-pointer if ever there was one.

But until then the picture for Leeds is simple - sixth-bottom Huddersfield Town away followed by 12th-placed Hull City and tenth-placed Cardiff City at home presenting the next three fixtures in a bid to kick further clear in the top two.

Fulham are not allowing Leeds to achieve that objective at present but given the Cottagers' next three fixtures, nine points from United's next three assignments might just widen the gap.



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