Tuesday Fulham Stuff (09.02.10)

[White Noise]

Bobby's Back


Monday 8th February 2010

Fulham FC News Powered by LG Electronics



Bobby Zamora will return to Fulham's First Team fold on Tuesday night when the Whites take on Burnley (KO 8pm) at the Cottage after missing last weekend’s draw at Bolton through illness.

There was further good news regarding midfielder Simon Davies, who has also recovered in time for Tuesday’s game, as Roy Hodgson explained on Monday afternoon.

“Bobby’s fine and has recovered from his sickness,” said Hodgson. “He’s back in contention, as is Simon Davies, which is good.

“That’s at least two of the injured players back tomorrow. To be fair I’ve not really counted Bobby when I’ve talked about the injured players because it was a sickness which kept him out of one game.

“He [Zamora] doesn’t belong in the group of six or seven that we’ll have to do without for a long period.

“We’ve barely got 18 players to be quite honest. There’s no longer a selection problem at this Club – it’s ‘have we got 18 players to field the eleven places and the sub spots'.

“Until we get back to a situation when the squad starts to resemble a normal size and we start to get players back of the ability of Pantsil, Konchesky, Dempsey and Dikgacoi – it’s going to be difficult for us.”

Competing on three fronts this season, married with the Club’s current injury crisis, is certainly testing Fulham’s First Team squad to the limits, as Hodgson explained on Monday.

“We can’t ignore the fact that playing FA Cup matches, when other teams are out of the competition, and UEFA Europa League matches, when other teams aren’t playing, is placing a burden on our resources and the League matches that follow are that much more difficult for us.

“Burnley's personnel is roughly the same and I would imagine they’re still playing the same type of football. I haven’t studied Burnley that much. That’s one of the major problems; with the games coming so thick and fast you don’t get the week to give the next opponent the amount of thought and attention you would like to.

“Of course we’ve got our videos and scouting reports and we will prepare the Team as usual. Personally I don’t have the same feeling that I know Burnley as well as I would say know Arsenal or Manchester United if we were playing them come Tuesday.”

[White Noise]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5927194,00.html


Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is optimistic he will receive the required funds to improve the quality of his squad at the end of the season.

Hodgson has not been a major mover in the transfer market this term and has also seen injuries to key players hit his squad hard.

He is hoping the money to be received from the sale of Chris Smalling to Manchester United will boost his transfer kitty and he also expects to get the backing of owner Mohamed Al Fayed.

And, having taken Fulham from relegation strugglers to European contenders during his time in charge, Hodgson is keen to maintain that progress.

"The chairman has been very supportive throughout and I have no reason to think he won't be," said Hodgson, who has admitted an interest in signing on-loan full-back Nicky Shoreypermanently.

"We made decisions in this transfer window which were for the good of the club, not just the short term, but the long-term good.

"We are fully aware that if we are to do as well as we have done in the last year and a half then we will need some help in the summer.

"That will probably mean we will be seeking some quality additions to the squad as we've run the squad right down.

"We have between now and the summer to identify targets and persuade the chairman that all the support he has given in the past isn't yet finished, and he has to keep going."

Hodgson added: "A lot of the money that I have spent in my couple of years has actually been recouped, in part by the sale of Smalling.

"Of course that doesn't help the chairman, because all the money he has put in in the past hasn't been.

"However, I am still asking him to put money onto money and I am aware of that."

[White Noise]

Dikgacoi Update

Monday 8th February 2010

Fulham FC News Powered by LG Electronics



Fulham midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi was arguably the most impressive player on the pitch at the Reebok Stadium last weekend before his afternoon was curtailed by an ankle injury after 54 minutes.

During Saturday's post match press conference Roy Hodgson described Dikgacoi’s performance as “outstanding”, but on Monday afternoon Fulham’s Manager confirmed that the South African international will now join the Club's extensive injury list.

“Bolton was an expensive game for us because we got a point but we lost Kagisho Dikgacoi for five or six weeks. It was another costly game in terms of personnel.

“All our injuries have been trauma injuries. You’d expect that with such a long injury list someone would have a pulled muscle but they’re all trauma injuries.

“We’ve now had three injuries exactly the same - three ankle ligament injuries - Davies, Konchesky and now Dikgacoi. All have been a result of tackles and we don’t have any injuries from strains. They’ve all happened in games."

Whilst discussing Dikgacoi’s injury Hodgson also confirmed that Paul Konchesky may return to traning in the not too distant future as Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil continue their rehabilitation.

“They said Konchesky would be four to six weeks and he’s coming up to three now so there’s some hope that we’ll get him back in a week to ten days time.

“Simon Davies was as long as eight or nine weeks but he had had the stress fracture in his foot which exacerbated the situation.

“Dempsey and Pantsil are posterior cruciate ligament injuries. Dempsey’s posterior curciate injury is less acute than Pantsil’s injury. There’s some hope we’ll get him back in a month but Pantsil will be longer.”

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/DikgacoiInjuryUpdate.aspx#ixzz0ey6Kf6kA

[White Noise]

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/premiership/fulham/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=soccer/10/02/08/manual_111004.html&TEAMHD=fulham

ZAMORA TO MAKE COTTAGERS RETURN

Fulham v Burnley.


Fulham will welcome back striker Bobby Zamora from a virus for the clash with Burnley at Craven Cottage.

Simon Davies (ankle) also returns but South African midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi has been ruled out for up to six weeks because of ankle ligament damage.

Striker Andrew Johnson - recovering from knee surgery - is out for the rest of the season, while Paul Konchesky (foot), Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil (both knee) are all still sidelined.

Stephen Jordan is pushing to be in contention for Burnley.

Jordan has been out with a hamstring strain for two weeks but manager Brian Laws confirmed that the defender is nearing a comeback.

Chris McCann's recovery from a knee injury is progressing well but the match at Craven Cottage is too soon for him, while Graham Alexander (calf) and Steven Caldwell (groin) remain sidelined.

Teams:

Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Hangeland, Baird, Hughes, Shorey, Duff, Murphy, Greening, Etuhu, Nevland, Okaka, Elm, Smalling, Zuberbuhler, Riise, Stoor, Kelly, Davies, Zamora.

Burnley (from): Jensen, Weaver, Carlisle, Cort, Bikey, Jordan, Mears, Edgar, Eagles, Elliott, McDonald, Fletcher, Duff, Blake, Thompson, Penny, Guerrero, Gudjonsson, Kalvenes, Eckersley, Nugent, Nimani, Paterson, Fox, Cork.

[White Noise]

http://football.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/02/08/fulham-v-burnley-preview-roy-hodgson-concerned-over-injury-proble/?

Fulham v Burnley Preview: Roy Hodgson Concerned Over Injury Problems


08/2/2010 10:14 AM GMT


By Dean Jones


PREMIER LEAGUE: CRAVEN COTTAGE, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010. KICK OFF: 2000 GMT

FULHAM:
At a time when Fulham are struggling to fill their matchday squad, Roy Hodgson is hoping his side can show enough mettle to come through this latest test of character.

Against Bolton at the weekend, Fulham were forced to start with a forward partnership of fringe player Erik Nevland and debutant David Elm.

Thankfully, Bobby Zamora has recovered from a sickness bug to ensure he will start this fixture against resurgent Burnley, but Hodgson realises his side could still struggle as their physiotherapy team work overtime in the treatment room.

Last week Fulham edged out bottom of the league Portsmouth 1-0, and this game is likely to pan out in a similar fashion.

"On paper, it looks just like the Portsmouth game - it is one which Fulham should comfortably win, but it certainly won't be like that," said Hodgson. "If ever we needed a reminder, we only have to cast our minds back a week ago.

"Portsmouth came and played very well, and we were fortunate to get away with three points, and Portsmouth were unlucky to go away with nothing. That should be uppermost in our mind.

"We need to remain humble and modest, knowing full well we are not in the form we were in just before Christmas, which is understandable given the fact the team has changed so much.

"We have barely got 18 players. There is no longer a selection problem at this club - it is a question of whether we have 18 fit players to fill the 11 spots andl the substitutes bench.

"Until we return to a situation where the squad starts to resemble normal size with quality players back, it will be difficult for us."

Strategy: First and formost, this will be a battle. Burnley will have gained confidence from their weekend victory over West Ham and Fulham need to ensure the Clarets do not score an early goal that will boost their confidence further. A lack of depth in the squad means Hodgson's tactics will be limited, so most of their attacking play will see the ball played towards Zamora, as Damien Duff, Simon Davies and Danny Murphy look to feed off him.

Injury Update: Davies is back from an ankle problem and is likely to begin on the bench, while Zamora has proved in training that he is now match fit after his bug. Andrew Johnson, John Paintsil, Paul Konchesky and Clint Dempsey all remain sidelined with injuries though, and Kagisho Dikgacoi has joined the list after suffering ankle ligament damage at the Reebok.

BURNLEY:
Confidence is back in the camp after Brian Laws's side ended their 12 match winless run at the expense of fellow strugglers West Ham, but just as one hurdle is overcome another one remains in their path - and has done since the start of the season.

Remarkably, Burnley are still without a league victory on their travels since winning promotion to the Premier League and Laws knows this has to change if his side are to avoid relegation.

They cannot continue to rely on how well they do at home, but Laws is sounding confident about breaking the club's duck at Craven Cottage because Fulham are vulnerable following some suspect form.

Laws said: "The win over West Ham will give the players a lot of belief and we are confident we can get a positive result at Fulham.

"Getting back to winning ways can make such a difference to confidence levels and things like that. It can be the start of a good run for us.

"Any point away from home is huge in this league but we want to get all three. We are getting closer and closer. Fulham's form has not been great of late and all teams have weaknesses, so we will be looking to exploit them."

Strategy: Laws have vowed to change the mentality of the players and the way they approach away games in the hope it will see them actually win one. Laws could be set to throw caution to the wind and go on the attack more, but not at the expense of leaving his back four exposed.

He knows it is about finding the right balance and he added: "We've not won away from home this season so we need to change our mentality. All the pressure will be on Fulham because no-one expects us to win and this is the encouragement I will be giving to the players.

"If something is not right and isn't working, you have to change the elements of your preparation. It's not that easy and won't guarantee you a win, but we will look at doing certain things differently."

Injury Update: Laws picked up no fresh injury worries from the weekend. Chris McCann (knee) and Steven Caldwell (groin) remain unavailable, although Stephen Jordan returns to the squad following a hamstring problem.

[White Noise]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=269818&cc=5739

Zamora back to bolster Cottagers



Team Stat Comparison 
 Fulham  Burnley 
Matches Played  25  24 
Table Position  10  15 
Points  31  23 
Goal Difference  -1  -22 
Goals for *  1.3  0.7 
Goals against *  0.7  2.9 
Last 5  D-W-L-L-L  W-L-L-L-L 
Last 5 home  W-L-D-W-W  W-L-D-D-D 
Last 5 away  D-L-L-L-L  L-L-L-L-L 
*  Goals per match - home matches for home club and away matches for away club 
·  Club Stats:  Fulham  |  Burnley 

Competition Stats 
   Fulham  Burnley 
Goals  Bobby Zamora 6  Steven Fletcher 6 
Reds  Kagisho Evidence Dikgacoi 1  Steven Caldwell 1 
Yellows  John Pantsil 4  André Stéphane Bikey 5 
·   Club Squads : Fulham | Burnley 

Last Five Matches in Competition 
Fulham  Burnley 
A: Bolton Wanderers 0-0  H: West Ham United 2-1 
H: Portsmouth 1-0  H: Chelsea 1-2 
H: Aston Villa 0-2  A: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 
A: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0  A: Manchester United 3-0 
A: Blackburn Rovers 2-0  A: Everton 2-0 
· Club Results: Fulham | Burnley 

Next Five Matches in Competition 
Fulham  Burnley 
9/2  H: Burnley  9/2  A: Fulham 
21/2  H: Birmingham  21/2  A: Aston Villa 
28/2  A: Sunderland  27/2  H: Portsmouth 
6/3  H: Stoke City  6/3  A: Arsenal 
14/3  A: Manchester United  9/3  H: Stoke City 
· Club Fixtures: Fulham | Burnley 
Updated: February 8, 2010, 3:21 PM UK

Fulham will welcome back striker Bobby Zamora from a virus for the clash against Burnley at Craven Cottage.
Simon Davies (ankle) also returns but South African midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi has been ruled out for up to six weeks because of ankle ligament damage.

Striker Andrew Johnson - recovering from knee surgery - is out for the rest of the season, while Paul Konchesky (foot), Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil (both knee) are all still sidelined.

The Cottagers made hard work of seeing off the challenge of bottom club Portsmouth last week, when the visitors dominated for long spells before eventually being beaten by a late goal from Jonathan Greening.

Fulham had lost five successive Barclays Premier League games before the victory over Pompey, and picked up another point following a goalless draw at Bolton.

Hodgson, though, knows full well his team must not be complacent against the Clarets, despite their dreadful away record of 11 defeats and one draw.

"On paper, it looks just like the Portsmouth game - it is one which Fulham should comfortably win, but it certainly won't be like that,'' said Hodgson. "If ever we needed a reminder, we only have to cast our minds back a week ago.

"Portsmouth came and played very well, and we were fortunate to get away with three points, and Portsmouth were unlucky to go away with nothing. That should be uppermost in our mind.''

Stephen Jordan is pushing to be in contention for Burnley.

Jordan has been out with a hamstring strain for two weeks but manager Brian Laws confirmed that the defender is nearing a comeback.

Chris McCann's recovery from a knee injury is progressing well but the match at Craven Cottage is too soon for him, while Graham Alexander (calf) and Steven Caldwell (groin) remain sidelined.

Brian Laws believes the game is the perfect opportunity for them to bring their long wait for an away win in the Premier League to an end.

The Clarets beat West Ham 2-1 on Saturday in a typically dynamic performance at Turf Moor to give Laws his first win since being appointed manager last month.

Laws is eager to see his players sustain the momentum and, with Fulham having won only once in eight league games, he feels Craven Cottage could be the ideal place for the Clarets to finally overcome their travel sickness.

"We haven't won away all season so that is our objective, to change that mentality, and there is no better one (for that) than against Fulham,'' Laws said.

"They are not playing as well as they would like, I know that and I know (Fulham boss) Roy Hodgson would say the same thing.

"We've got to go into this with confidence. All the pressure will be on them, not on us, and those kinds of elements do even themselves out. That's the kind of encouragement I'll be giving to the players.''

[White Noise]

FULHAM v Burnley: Striker Bobby Zamora fighting fit for Cottagers

By Sportsmail Reporter

Last updated at 3:29 PM on 08th February 2010

Comments (0)

Fulham will welcome back striker Bobby Zamora from a virus for the clash against Burnley at Craven Cottage.

Simon Davies (ankle) also returns but South African midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi has been ruled out for up to six weeks because of ankle ligament damage.

Striker Andrew Johnson - recovering from knee surgery - is out for the rest of the season, while Paul Konchesky (foot), Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil (both knee) are all still sidelined.
Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Hangeland, Baird, Hughes, Shorey, Duff, Murphy, Greening, Etuhu, Nevland, Okaka, Elm, Smalling, Zuberbuhler, Riise, Stoor, Kelly, Davies, Zamora. 


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1249408/FULHAM-v-Burnley-Striker-Bobby-Zamora-fighting-fit-Cottagers.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0ez4xtIVW

[os5889]

ARGH!!!!!! Its only 10 o clock on Monday! Tuesday is not for another 2 hours!!!

[White Noise]

ARGH!!!!!! Its only 10 o clock on Monday! Tuesday is not for another 2 hours!!!

Fulham is a 24 hours a day, seven days a week sort of club. The sun never sets on the balck and white and all that. And I think our antipodean members would take issue with you on the whole Tuesday thing!! ;)

[White Noise]

http://www.twtd.co.uk/news.php?storyid=15991

Ferguson Calls for Youth Cup Break


Mon 08th Feb 2010 18:49

Town groundsman Alan Ferguson says he would like to see a winter break for the FA Youth Cup to prevent damage to pitches. Ferguson’s Portman Road surface was less than its usual self when the Blues took on Middlesbrough on Saturday in the wake of last Tuesday’s Youth Cup defeat to Fulham.

Ferguson wrote in his blog for Horticulture Week at the end of last week: “Most groundsmen will tell you that the damage from a kids’ game is much worse than the damage from a first team game. This is because the kids tend to slide in more often.

“We duly picked up quite a bit of damage. It will repair but the pitch won’t be in its usual tip-top condition for Saturday’s home game.

“Clubs like ours enter into the Youth Cup in good faith accepting we will have to play games in and around the first team schedule at a difficult time of the season if drawn at home. This can be problematic and is something I am trying to change.

“I am in favour of the Youth Cup taking a winter break of two months through January and February. This would allow clubs to reduce the usage during the worst period of the year.”

Ferguson says that he is a fan of the Youth Cup but is unhappy that clubs like the Blues’ fourth round opponents Arsenal are allowed to switch their games to smaller grounds such as Barnet’s Underhill: “The Youth Cup has become a sore subject for me in recent years,” admitted the Scot.

“I think the competition is great and offers the young pros a chance to play in the country’s top stadiums.

“At least that’s how it is supposed to be. In recent seasons many of the big clubs have been given permission to play the early rounds away from their main stadium, only playing at home from the quarter-final, the idea being to protect the pitches during the winter.“

Ferguson says the majority of clubs would be in favour of his proposal, which he says is fairer than the current situation: “Such a break should find favour with most clubs and should allow them to play the games at home and not a third party stadium. It would put us on a level playing field.”

Full-back Liam Rosenior says he noticed the change in the condition of the Portman Road surface at the weekend: “Our pitch has been unbelievably good. But on Saturday it was not conducive to good football.

“Our fans were maybe disappointed at the way we played, but it was not easy and I felt sorry for keeper Arran Lee-Barrett every time he had to take a back pass.

“You really had to concentrate on your first touch and a few of my crosses were not to my usual standard. This is something we are going to have to get used to.”

Rosenior, on loan from Reading until the end of the season, says that despite the Blues’ disappointing 2009/10 Town will be contenders next season: “If we stay in this division I wager we'll get promoted next term.

“The foundations are there, and if we win at Queens Park Rangers tomorrow everybody will be back saying how well we're playing.”

Meanwhile, Coventry boss Chris Coleman has escaped a touchline ban but been fined £1,000 after admitting an FA improper conduct charge relating to the comments he made about referee Michael Oliver’s time-keeping after the Blues’ 3-2 victory over the Sky Blues last month.

[White Noise]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/hodgson-seeks-fulham-war-chest-1893229.html


Hodgson seeks Fulham war chest

By Jim van Wijk, PA


Monday, 8 February 2010

Roy Hodgson is hoping he will find Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed in a generous mood when they discus how to take the Cottagers' depleted squad forward next season.

Hodgson, 62, has transformed the fortunes of the west London club since arriving in December 2007, going from successfully fighting a relegation battle to enjoying a first ever European campaign.

However, plans for another top-10 finish have been scuppered by a succession of injuries to key men which leaves Fulham down to the bare bones ahead of the visit of Burnley tomorrow night.

That is followed by an FA Cup fifth-round tie against Notts County and the resumption of the Europa League.

South Africa international Kagisho Dikgacoi is the latest new addition to a packed treatment room, the midfielder set to be out for up to six weeks with ankle ligament damaged suffered during the goalless draw at Bolton.

Paul Konchesky, Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil are all still sidelined, while striker Andrew Johnson will miss the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery in the United States.

Fulham agreed to sell England Under-21 defender Chris Smalling to Manchester United last month, with the £7million transfer set to go through in the summer.

By then, Hodgson hopes Al Fayed will once again give the club his support.

The Fulham boss said: "The chairman has been very supportive throughout and I have no reason to think he won't be.

"We made decisions in this transfer window which were for the good of the club, not just the short term, but the long-term good.

"We are fully aware that if we are to do as well as we have done in the last year and a half then we will need some help in the summer.

"That will probably mean we will be seeking some quality additions to the squad as we've run the squad right down.

"We have between now and the summer to identify targets and persuade the chairman that all the support he has given in the past isn't yet finished, and he has to keep going."

Hodgson added: "A lot of the money that I have spent in my couple of years has actually been recouped, in part by the sale of Smalling.

"Of course that doesn't help the chairman, because all the money he has put in in the past hasn't been.

"However, I am still asking him to put money onto money and I am aware of that."

Hodgson, meanwhile, sees no reason why Johnson, 28, cannot make a full recovery to be a major player for the Cottagers next season.

He added: "He is just relieved in his own mind that they have not only found the problem, they have solved the problem.

"He faces a fairly lengthy spell on the sidelines, but come next season he will join us fully fit, raring to go and with the knee in good condition.

"Andy is an enthusiastic and dedicated footballer. He is still very young with a lot of football left in him."

[White Noise]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/08022010/63/laws-seeks-end-day-blues.html


Laws seeks end to away-day blues

Mon, 08 Feb 15:21:01 2010

Brian Laws believes Burnley's trip to Fulham is the perfect opportunity for them to bring their long wait for an away win in the Barclays Premier League to an end.

The Clarets beat West Ham 2-1 on Saturday in a typically dynamic performance at Turf Moor to give Laws his first win since being appointed manager last month.

Laws is eager to see his players sustain the momentum and, with Fulham having won only once in eight league games, he feels Craven Cottage could be the ideal place for the Clarets to finally overcome their travel sickness.

"We haven't won away all season so that is our objective, to change that mentality, and there is no better one (for that) than against Fulham," Laws said.

"They are not playing as well as they would like, I know that and I know (Fulham boss) Roy Hodgson would say the same thing.

"We've got to go into this with confidence. All the pressure will be on them, not on us, and those kinds of elements do even themselves out. That's the kind of encouragement I'll be giving to the players."

[os5889]

ARGH!!!!!! Its only 10 o clock on Monday! Tuesday is not for another 2 hours!!!

Fulham is a 24 hours a day, seven days a week sort of club. The sun never sets on the balck and white and all that. And I think our antipodean members would take issue with you on the whole Tuesday thing!! ;)

Cheers Mr WN, You flustered me is all, I've been buried away in the local town hall reading journals and preparing for a job interview on Tuesday all day....

A Tuesday Fulham stuff upon arrival on the sanctuary of FoF sent a rush of panic and despair through me!

Carry on!

[White Noise]

http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=187558

Fulham - Continuity the Key?


Throughout the 2008/2009 season Fulham FC were blessed with few injuries and few international departures.

This meant Roy Hodgson had the good fortune to be able to field a similar team week-by-week, and, based on our 7th place finish in May, it was a fortune that clearly paid its dividends.

That's why, as our injury crisis amounts to be ever bigger and ever more threatening, I look upon Birmingham City with the greatest of envy.

Over the course of the season they have had few injuries to speak of and have valiantly battled up the table with a foundation of consistency on which to build.

I for one only wish we could endure a similar plight this year, but, karma has caught up with us and has punished us for such a comfortable and, quite literally, painless term the last time around.

After the Summer transfer deadline closed, I must say, I was a little disappointed with the quality Roy had brought in. Damien Duff seemed like the only purchase of his that would settle straight into a first team role, and, so far, I have been proved right on that front.

However, now I must congratulate our gaffer on the job he has done at adding a whole host of depth to the squad. We have suffered injuries left, right and centre, and yet, it's never felt like we were fielding a truly 'shoddy' team.

Foresight is the word that springs to mind when talking of Roy's summer dealings and it's it only now, as we struggle and battle onwards and upwards, that I can officially congratulate him on what he did.

[White Noise]

Hear me mumble

Filed under: General — weltmeisterclaude @ 10:27 pm

Timmy from The Offside was good enough to invite me to take part on his podcast.   I have never actually listened to a podcast, I don’t think, but thanks to the miracles of modern technology Timmy called me on Sunday night and we had a brief chat about Fulham, which he recorded.   You can listen to that recording here.   I did try to speak up, but some things aren’t meant to be, and I was my usual mumbling michael.

http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2010/02/08/hear-me-mumble/?

[White Noise]

http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2010/02/08/roy-wants-to-spend/?

Roy wants to spend


Filed under: General — weltmeisterclaude @ 10:38 pm

Roy making his usual noises about next season:

“A lot of the money that I have spent in my couple of years has actually been recouped, in part by the sale of Smalling.

“Of course that doesn’t help the chairman, because all the money he has put in in the past hasn’t been.

“However, I am still asking him to put money onto money and I am aware of that.”

It’s funny just how much football teams change isn’t it?    You’d think that, once in a while, teams would settle down.   But these days it just never happens.   Can we build a team to stay the same for five years?  Almost certainly not.

Schwarzer – will be 40 before too long
Paintsil – should be okay for a while
Konchesky/Shorey – one of them is going to have to leave at some point
Hughes/Hangeland – would be nice for them to play out their days together.  I’d like that
Duff – you’d hope we’ll keep him a while
Dikgacoi/Etuhu/Baird/Greening – presumably can’t all be happy, but all are keepable
Murphy – one of these days he’ll have gone on too long
Dempsey – Dempsey’s a risk to get plucked; Gera should be keepable
Zamora – looks set; Arsenal should buy him though
Johnson – we still need a long-term ‘answer’ here don’t we?  I like the look of Okaka but that’s just conjecture.

So the team, if it is to be ‘finished’ for a few years, is still short a playmaker and a goalscorer.    And maybe some depth.  And a goalkeeper really.

There.

[White Noise]

http://fulhamish.blogspot.com/2010/02/ffc-paintball.html?


Monday, February 08, 2010


FFC Paintball
 
A random internet search tonight plucked this gem of a picture from the jaws of obscurity. It must have been during Lawrie Sanchez' one and only pre-season prep. Lots of happy smiling faces (apart from Wayne Brown strangely). I'm looking forward to Burnley tomorrow night, they were the team I saw play against Fulham in my very first match. How far we've both come since then.

[White Noise]

http://www.fulham-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/famous_fulham_players_no_6_bob_thomas_492267/index.shtml

Famous Fulham Players: No 6 Bob Thomas
 
By Kevin Markey Tuesday, 9th February 2010
 

'Over the bar Bob'.

Bob Thomas

1947-51, 167 appearances, 55 goals

Nicknamed "Over the bar Bob," Thomas did, however, score 23 goals in Fulham's 1948-49 second division championship season, and managed 57 in 176 career games for the Whites. Worked for the Financial Times after he retired from football.
 

[White Noise]

http://fulham.theoffside.com/team-news/loaner-report-28.html?

Loaner Report 2/8/10

By: timmyg | February 8th, 2010



Diomansy Kamara started in and played 90 minutes in Celtic’s 1-0 loss at Kilmarnock last Tuesday. He started, played 65 minutes and scored a goal in Celtic’s 4-2 win at Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup on Saturday.

Eddie Johnson started and played 45 minutes in Aris Thessaloniki’s match against Panthrakikos on Saturday. The match was abandoned at halftime because of a waterlogged pitch.

David Stockdale started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth’s 1-0 loss against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. He recorded 6 saves, including a penalty.

Toni Kallio started, played 90 minutes, and received a yellow card in Sheffield United’s 1-1 draw with Derby County on Saturday.

Matthew Briggs was an unused substitute in Leyton Orient’s 3-0 win over Bristol Rovers last Tuesday and the O’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

Wayne Brown started and played 67 minutes in Bristol Rovers’ 3-0 loss at Leyton Orient last Tuesday. He started and played 90 minutes in the Pirates’ 0-0 draw at Walsall.

[White Noise]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/7189546/Fulham-v-Burnley-match-preview.html?


Fulham v Burnley: match preview


Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Fulham and Burnley at Craven Cottage on Tuesday Feb 09 2010, kick-off 20.00 GMT.
 
By John Ley

Published: 6:00AM GMT 09 Feb 2010

 Fulham manager Roy Hodgson Photo: PA
Tuesday, February 9

Fulham v Burnley
Craven Cottage
Kick-off: 20.00 GMT
TV: Highlights MotD Feb 10.
 
Fulham have scored one goal in their last five Premier League games but they have kept successive clean sheets. When the teams met at Turf Moor Bobby Zamora gave Fulham the lead but Wade Elliott responded to earn Burnley a point.

Burnley beat West Ham on Saturday to claim their first League win in 13. But they have the worst away record in the Premier League with one point from 12 games and 35 goals conceded.

Fulham’s injury problems show no sign on improving. Andrew Johnson is out for the season while Paul Konchesky, Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil are out and Zoltan Gera and Simon Davies undergo tests. But Bobby Zamora and Stefano Okaka should return to attack. Burnley test Stephen Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Christian Kalvanes, Graham Alexander and Chris McCann.

Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Shorey; Duff, Dikgacoi, Murphy, Greening; Okaka, Zamora.
Burnley (4-4-2): Jensen; Mears, Cort, Carlisle, Fox; Elliott, Bikey, McDonald, Blake; Nugent, Fletcher.
Referee: Chris Foy. Matches: 19. R2 Y48.

This season: Burnley 1 Fulham 1.
Last season: N/A.

Stat of the game: Fulham have won their last six home League games against Burnley.

Betting tip: Take 1-0 to Fulham at 4-1.