Tuesday Fulham Stuff (09.02.10)

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http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1775_5927563,00.html?

Laws: Hodgson perfect for England

Brian Laws thinks Roy Hodgson would be "the perfect choice" to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager as he "knows the game inside out".
 
Laws' Burnley side travel to Craven Cottage in the Premier League on Tuesday night to take on Fulham, whose fortunes have been transformed by Hodgson over the last two years.

The Cottagers were struggling in the relegation zone when Hodgson was appointed manager in December 2007, but after keeping the club up in his first season, the former Blackburn and Inter Milan boss led them to seventh place and qualification for Europe in the following campaign.

Fulham are currently 10th in the table and have made it to the knockout stages of the Europa League, with Hodgson signing a new 12-month rolling contract in December.

But the 62-year-old, who has international managerial experience with Switzerland and Finland, has frequently been touted as a successor to Capello when the Italian's time in charge of England comes to an end, and Laws believes Hodgson has the ideal credentials.

"He's very experienced, he knows the game inside out and I think he'd be the perfect choice," said Laws.

"I don't think you can be England manager without all those ingredients.

"You have to have had those experiences and I think you have to be at a certain age. It's not one for a young manager; I think you have got to be seasoned.

"You need that aura about you and he has certainly got that."

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article7019392.ece

Zat Knight (Bolton Wanderers): 1 league point, 90 minutes played.

Dispensed of by Fulham a couple of years back, Knight produced an outstanding performance in central defence against his old club at the weekend to earn Bolton Wanderers a point at the Reebok Stadium that would have been three had Kevin Davies not had a last-minute "goal" controversially ruled out. Knight has found himself back in favour at Bolton following the appointment of Owen Coyle as manager and can expect plenty more playing time now that Gary Cahill's season appears to be over.

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http://www.footballfancast.com/football-blogs/pass-10-noticed-weekends-pl-action

10. Whatever will be will be - Another bore fest at Bolton was almost reprieved when Kevin Davies headed home a last minute winner, only for it to be disallowed for absolutely nothing at all. Presumably the referee, and Fulham, were under the impression they were playing Pompey’s version of non touch football?

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http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1775_5926686,00.html


Cottagers boss wary of complacency


Roy Hodgson hopes it will not be a case of deja vu when Fulham host relegation battlers Burnley in the Premier League on Tuesday.

 
 
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 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.

"We should be making sure we keep doing the things which have got us four points from the last two games."

Hodgson added: "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, (the problem) is 'have we got 18 fit players to fit the 11 spots and fill the substitutes bench?'.

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

"It is not easy to finish mid-table and we cannot ignore the fact that playing FA Cup matches and Europa League matches, when other sides are out, places a further burden on our resources, making the league match which follows much more difficult for us."

Striker Bobby Zamora has recovered from a virus and is expected to come back into the starting XI tomorrow and midfielder Simon Davies is also fit again after overcoming an ankle problem.

However, South Africa international Kagisho Dikgacoi has been ruled out for up to six weeks because of ankle ligament damage suffered at Bolton.

With striker Andrew Johnson, recovering from knee surgery, out for the rest of the season, and Paul Konchesky, Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil all still sidelined, Hodgson admits his squad is at full stretch as he prepares for the weekend's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Notts County as well as the resumption of the European campaign.

"Bobby is fine and has recovered from his sickness, and will be back in contention tomorrow, as is Simon Davies," said Hodgson.

"The game at Bolton was once again an expensive game for us, because we got a point, but have lost another player as Dikgacoi will be out for five to six weeks."

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8503958.stm


Fulham    v    Burnley


Live text and stats


Content will update automatically

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Premier League

Home Team Score Away Team Time
Fulham v  Burnley 20:00
 
   

FULHAMBURNLEYPossession
Fulham 50% Burnley 50% Attempts on target
Fulham 0 Burnley 0 Attempts off target
Fulham 0 Burnley 0 Corners
Fulham 0 Burnley 0 Fouls
Fulham 0 Burnley 0
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Tuesday 9 February 2010 Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio & highlights on Match of the Day on Wednesday


TEAM NEWS
Fulham welcome back top scorer Bobby Zamora after illness while Simon Davies also returns.

But midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi will be out for up to six weeks after damaging ankle ligaments in the weekend's draw with Bolton.

Burnley defender Stephen Jordan could be fit to play after a fortnight out with a hamstring strain.

Chris McCann (knee), Graham Alexander (calf) and Steven Caldwell (groin) remain sidelined.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fulham

Doubtful: Gera (knee)

Injured: Dempsey, Johnson & Pantsil (all knee), Dikgacoi (ankle), Konchesky (ankle)

Burnley

Doubtful: Jordan (hamstring)

Injured: Alexander (calf), Caldwell (groin), McCann (knee)




MATCH PREVIEW
After notching up his first win as Burnley manager, Brian Laws revisits the ground where he scored his first goal as a Clarets player.

 February is going to be a very difficult month.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
An 18-year-old Laws opened the scoring in Burnley's 2-0 win at Craven Cottage in an old Division Three match in October 1980 that is also the last time the Clarets tasted victory at Fulham.

Now the Burnley manager must hope such omens inspire his team, who have the worst away record in the Premier League, with just one point earned all season.

Striking statistics about Fulham are of a more literal kind - Roy Hodgson's side have scored just once in their last five league matches.

And with Andrew Johnson ruled out for the season, Clint Dempsey battling with a knee injury and Bobby Zamora recovering from illness, Hodgson must be wondering where the much-needed goals will come from.


MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

• Burnley have not won on their last seven league visits to Craven Cottage - their last win there came in an old Division Three clash in 1980.

• The teams drew 1-1 at Turf Moor in the reverse fixture in December.


 606: DEBATE
Have your say on Tuesday's match 
Fulham

• Fulham have lost just one of their last nine league games at Craven Cottage.

• The Cottagers have scored just one goal in their last five league matches.

Burnley

• Burnley have not won away from home in the league all season and have lost their last six away league matches.

• The Clarets have picked up just one point away from home - at Manchester City in November - from a possible 36.


LEADING GOALSCORERS

 
Fulham

Zamora: 11 goals (6 league); Dempsey: 7 goals (6 league)


 
Burnley

Fletcher: 10 goals (6 league); Alexander: 6 goals (5 league)


MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Chris Foy

Assistant referees: Mike Bull & Ron Ganfield

Fourth official: Dean Whitestone


LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Fulham (D0-0 v Bolton, a): Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Shorey, Duff, Dikgacoi (Etuhu 55), Murphy, Greening, Elm (Okaka 76), Nevland (Smalling 76).

Subs not used: Zuberbuhler, Kelly, Riise, Stoor.

Burnley (W2-1 v West Ham, h): Jensen, Mears, Cort, Carlisle, Fox (Edgar 86), Elliott, Bikey, McDonald, Blake (Paterson 72), Nugent (Thompson 88), Fletcher.

Subs not used: Weaver, Duff, Eagles, Cork.


MOST RECENT MEETING

Burnley 1-1 Fulham (12 December 2009)

Burnley scorer: Elliott 60

Fulham scorer: Zamora 50

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http://www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk/burnleyfc/Burnley-FC-winger-Chris-Eagles.6052516.jp

Burnley FC winger Chris Eagles still have a part to play


08 February 2010

By Chris Boden


BRIAN Laws sprung a surprise on Saturday by leaving Chris Eagles out of the side.
But he has assured the hugely talented wide man he is a big fan of the 24-year-old, and he will have a major part to play as the Clarets look to stave off relegation.

Eagles started the season on the bench, but his impact as a substitute, notably against Sunderland and Blackburn, earned a first start against Wigan, and he had started the last 16 games before the weekend.

However, as Laws starts to tweak the style and shape of the side, he is met with the conundrum of making the side more solid, while retaining that attacking flair.

And with West Ham playing a narrow midfield, with Julian Faubert bombing on down the right from full back, Laws went with Robbie Blake and Wade Elliott in the wide positions, utilising the pace and overlapping qualities of debutant Danny Fox and Tyrone Mears.

Asked whether it was a tough decision to leave out Eagles, arguably the side's stand-out player of late, Laws said: "Absolutely. Every decision we make is a tough one.

"Chris hasn't done anything wrong, I just think the gameplan, with how West Ham were going to play, suited the players better than Chris.

"He'll be disappointed, I'd be very disappointed if he wasn't, however, justification is winning the game."

Laws insists it is very much a case of horses for courses as he looks for the results to keep the Clarets in the top flight: "It's not just about leaving Chris out, it's about doing things right and, going into the next game, it could be someone else who is left out, even though we won the game.

"We've got to take each game on it's own merits.

"Players don't like being left out of the side, but you have to do what you have to do.

"They are uncomfortable decisions, but you have to make them.

"Chris is a good player, no question about it, and he'll find himself back in the team sooner rather than later, so he's got nothing to worry about.

"He's a fans' favourite, and we know what he's capable of.

"Just this particular game I felt suited someone else."

Laws has wrestled with Burnley's propensity for open, expansive football, while noting a need for more organisation and discipline, and he added: "We knew what was at stake when we came into the job, and I couldn't have asked for a worse start with Manchester United, Chelsea, but there were elements within those games that we were developing and improving, becoming much more solid.

"The way the team had been playing was very cavalier, very open, and it looks pleasing to the eye, but you're 2-0 down.

"To add that little bit of shape and knowledge has helped them, and now we've got that result under our belt now we can march on and go to Fulham believing we can get a result there.

"We said these five games will be the turning point, which direction are we going in?

"We've got a win in the first one, and it's onwards and upwards.

"We believe this is the start of our season."

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http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23803606-roy-hodgson-hopes-to-spend-big-to-breathe-life-into-fulham.do


Roy Hodgson hopes to spend big to breathe life into Fulham


David Smith


09.02.10



Roy Hodgson believes Fulham's academy has unearthed two more gems with the potential to be just as valuable as Chris Smalling, the England Under-21 defender who is bound for Manchester United for a fee that could reach £12million.

But since Wayne Brown and Robert Milsom have still to mature into regular first-team squad members, Hodgson has revealed he will seek the agreement of chairman Mohamed Fayed to go on a summer spending spree.

Hodgson is desperate to breathe new life into a team so decimated by injuries that he has already conceded last season's club record seventh-place finish in the Premier League is almost certainly beyond reach.

South African midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi, who limped out of Saturday's goalless draw at Bolton, has now joined John Pantsil, Paul Konchesky, Clint Dempsey and Andy Johnson on the long-term injury list.

Bobby Zamora, who missed the game with a virus, and Simon Davies, who was out for much of December, are back for tonight's game at home to a Burnley side boosted by new manager Brian Laws' first win over rival relegation strugglers West Ham at the weekend.

But Hodgson acknowledges he will need to spend in the summer despite 21-year-old Brown earning rave reviews for a loan period with Finnish side TPS Turku and fellow midfielder Milsom, 23, having recovered from a cruciate ligament injury.

Hodgson said: “Brown is now doing well on loan at Bristol Rovers and we like Milsom very much. We think they've got a chance to be players.

“But 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 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.

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

“That hasn't helped the chairman, because all the money he has put in in the past hasn't been.

“However, I'm still asking him to put money onto money.”

Hodgson is already poised to turn left-back Nicky Shorey's loan from Aston Villa into a permanent move after the former England international's impressive performances in place of Konchesky.

And a striker will be on the shopping list, even though Hodgson is confident Johnson will return fully fit for the start of next season following knee surgery conducted this week.

Towering Swede David Elm is tonight set to make his second start as Zamora's strike partner.

[White Noise]

http://hammyend.com/?p=5320

Where Fulham could be in a few years

by Dan on February 9, 2010

Rich has a post up over at CCN suggesting that we don’t see many teams built and staying together in modern football these days. His list is a bleak assessment of the prospect of Roy Hodgson putting together a side at Fulham any time soon. But, taking a little more long-term view, you could see the seeds of this future Fulham line-up being sown in the next few months:

Stockdale

Marsh-Brown —– Hughes —– Hangeland —— Shorey

Duff ———- Dikgacoi ——– Brown ———- Dempsey

A. Johnson ————- Zamora

Not bad, eh?

Aaron Hughes has already made 111 appearances for Fulham, whilst Hangeland’s ten shy of bringing up his ton. As Rich says it would be nice for them to carry on together for a few more years. Say, we didn’t hang onto Nicky Shorey for whatever reason, and you could play another centurion in Paul Konchesky at left back.

The interesting one for me is Wayne Brown in central midfield. Touted by a few as a possible long-term replacement for current captain Danny Murphy, Brown’s currently out on loan at Bristol Rovers and he’ll have to work hard to get into the central midfield picture given all the quality we have in that area now. If that was a sentimental pick, there’s plenty of experience on the flanks in Damien Duff and Clint Dempsey (Fulham’s longest serving player in the current squad has notched up 122 appearances for the Whites).

If any of Marcello Trotta, Richard Peniket or Danny Hoesen progress to match their talent then we could have an Academy scholar partnering Bobby up front in due course too.

[White Noise]

http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/default.aspx?Tab=1&Page=6&Article=1384

Club Focus - Fulham - Sturdy at the back yet limp in attack


By Matt Domm

At long last the gods of luck have been distracted and the Whites are beginning to get just a little of their attention. Enough interest to provide four points from two somewhat undeserving performances, that is, yet they still refuse to allow Roy Hodgson’s injury list any respite.


Kagisho Dikgacoi is possibly the most patient man in west London. He waited the best part of a calendar year to join the club after Work Permit appeals and problems persisted. He waited until his new manager thought he was fully match fit before he made his debut. He waited - with newspaper interviews claiming his intent - for injuries or suspensions to allow him to make his first start, so he could stamp his authority on the side. Now, after sitting through all that, he faces five to six weeks on the sidelines due to an injury picked up at the Reebok on Saturday. It seems someone does not want him to play for the host nation in the World Cup this summer, despite him showing what he is capable in the 55 minutes he did manage at the weekend. In yet another below-par team performance, Dikgacoi was the best outfield player in his minutes on the pitch. He mopped up well in front of the over-active defence and kept things ticking over tidily. Although Chris Baird has become a completely new player in the holding midfield role, Dikgacoi - a natural in the position - helps the side going forward more than his Northern Irish counterpart. Baird’s versatility helps him perform where needed, but Dikgacoi offers enough more that, if not for his injury, he would be fighting with Dickson Etuhu for the slot permanently. So, for Hodgson, instead of having a natural holding midfielder available to ease his injury woes, he will have to make do with a utility man for a while longer.


Despite luck not favouring Hodgson in terms of injuries this year, the new month has seen a more solid defence creating their own. The fortune at the weekend was having a referee who appears to know the rulebook, which clearly states that no pushing or pulling - or wrestling, Zat Knight - can go on in the penalty box. Some officials will ignore Bolton’s sparring, but others, Mark Clattenburg included, are intent on stamping out unfair play, which was emphasised by his handing out of six yellow cards to Owen Coyle’s side. Although the referee claimed he disallowed the hosts’ last-minute winner due to the push by Kevin Davies on Brede Hangeland (which was somewhat fortunate), other incidents in the box from the Bolton players make the decision a good one. With that verdict came Fulham’s second clean sheet in as many games, a statistic that will please their manager, who had previously seen his side concede 11 goals in just five games. Fans will be pleased, too, but they will also be looking for more potency going forward, as those same games provided just three goals, with a further one strike arriving this month, to make the total four in seven.


Top-scorer Bobby Zamora should return to the starting XI against Burnley tonight, which should make the Whites far more of a threat going forward, but otherwise the manager has limited options in the attacking department. Against Bolton David Elm got his first start, and despite him being alongside a more frequently seen face in Erik Nevland, even he is used far more often off the bench than in the starting line-up. The return of Zamora will probably see Elm return to the bench, but with Hodgson’s preferred trio of partners for the big man, Andy Johnson, Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera, all out, Nevland - who is a super-sub by trade - will most likely continue. Coming on in the second halves of games, the Norwegian would be fancied to score against any opponents, but when on the pitch from kick-off his man threats, surprise, intelligent running and exquisite finishing are somewhat wasted. That said, a home tie against Burnley, a side with an even worse away record than Fulham, is as good an opportunity as any for the struggling forwards to rediscover their goalscoring touch.


It is likely to be another scrappy, hard-fought contest tonight, but the Burnley fixture offers a real chance for the sturdy defence to gain even more confidence and the limp attack to find some of their own.

[White Noise]

http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/hodgson-pins-hopes-fit-hitman-1020222.html

Hodgson pins hopes on fit hitman


Fulham, 09:33, February 9, 2010

Striker Bobby Zamora is fit following a virus for Fulham's home clash against Burnley on Tuesday but Kagisho Dikgacoi is out.

Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson has endured a nightmare time with injuries for the majority of this season and his problems continued on Monday when South African midfielder Dikgacoi was ruled out for up to six weeks because of ankle ligament damage.

Striker Andrew Johnson is out for the season following knee surgery, while Paul Konchesky, Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil are all still sidelined.

However Fulham are boosted by Zamora's return from illness and Simon Davies is also fit following an ankle injury. And Hodgson is hopeful that Zamora can help inspire the side to victory against Brian Laws' Clarets, who occupy a place in the relegation zone.

He said: "There is a lot of responsibility on him, but Bobby is used to responsibility and has taken it on his shoulders ever since he came to the club.

"When we were playing well before Christmas, getting through in Europe and doing well in the Premier League, he was in splendid form.

"There will be a lot of weight on his shoulders, but he is big enough to carry it."

[White Noise]

http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/page/LatestHeadlines/0,,10413~1959852,00.html


FULHAM v BURNLEY: The Preview


Posted on: Tue 09 Feb 2010


Barclays Premier League

Fulham v Burnley

Craven Cottage 09/02/10

Kick-off: 7.45

 
OVERVIEW

The Clarets head for Craven Cottage buoyed by Saturday's win over West Ham which has breathed new life into their battle for Premier League safety.

A first away win is the next major obstacle to overcome, although even a point would represent progress under Brian Laws.

Fulham have lost just once at Craven Cottage in their last nine games, but this still looks an opportunity for Laws' new-look Burnley line-up to break their away-day duck and climb further away from trouble.

Roy Hodgson has again worked wonder on the banks of the Thames but injuries have taken their toll and the Cottagers are not at the top of their game.

They are tenth in the table and stopped the rot of a recent run of five straight defeats with four points from their last two games.

But they came against Portsmouth and Bolton and with just one goal in five games the evidence suggests they are not firing on all cylinders and have FA Cup and Europa Cup ties to come as their sapping season continues.



Bobby Zamora celebrates his goal at Turf Moor

ONE TO WATCH

Bobby Zamora couldn't buy a goal last season but has hit 11 this term to lead the Cottagers' scoring charts - including one at Turf Moor in December. The former Tottenham and West Ham striker is having to carry much of the goalscoring burden with Clint Dempsey out with a knee injury and Andrew Johnson ruled out for the season.

STAT OF THE DAY

Brian Laws scored his first goal for the Clarets at Fulham in October 19080 - the last time Burnley won at Craven Cottage.

LAST MEETING

12/12/09 Burnley 1 (Elliott 60), Fulham 1 (Zamora 51)

Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Jordan, Carlisle, Caldwell, Alexander, Bikey (McDonald 77), Eagles (Guerrero 86), Fletcher, Blake (Nugent 57), Elliott. Substitutes: Penny, Kalvenes, Gudjonsson, Thompson.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Paintsil, Hangeland, Baird, Nevland (Gera 77), Duff, Hughes, Dempsey, Zamora, Greening. Substitutes: Stockdale, Murphy, Riise, Smalling, Elm, Dikgacoi.

Referee: Mike Jones

Attendance: 18,397



Wade Elliott earned Burnley a point in December

FORM GUIDE (last ten league games)

Burnley: LDDLDLLLLW

Fulham: DWDLLLLLWD

TEAM NEWS

Burnley: Stephen Jordan could return to the Clarets' squad after missing four weeks with a hamstring problem but Chris McCann has not yet fully recovered from his knee problem.

Graham Alexander and Steven Caldwell remain sidelined so Clarke Carlisle will carry on as skipper with boss Brian Laws doubtless considering few changes from last Saturday's winning line-up.

Fulham: Fulham have been hit by major injury problems in recent weeks with the absences of Clint Dempsey and Andrew Johnson potentially the most damaging after Roy Hodgson allowed Diomansy Kamara to join Celtic on transfer deadline day.

The Cottagers are also without midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi and defenders John Pantsil and Paul Konchesky for the visit of the Clarets, while Zoltan Gera is a doubt.

But top scorer Bobby Zamora returns after missing Saturday's goalless draw at Bolton through illness and winger Simon Davies is also set to return.

Referee: Chris Foy



David Nugent helped send Burnley off as winners

LAST TIME OUT

Burnley 2 (Nugent 14, Fox 55), West Ham 1 (Ilan 80)

Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Cort, Fox (Edgar 85), Bikey, Nugent (Thompson 88), McDonald, Elliott, Fletcher, Blake (Paterson 73). Subs: Duff, Eagles, Cork, Weaver.

Bolton 0, Fulham 0

Fulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Shorey, Duff, Murphy, Dikgacoi (Etuhu 54), Greening, Elm (Okaka 75), Nevland (Smalling 75). Subs: Kelly, Riise, Stoor, Zuberbuhler.

THEY SAID

Brian Laws: "We've only had one point away and so there's only one way we can go, and that's upwards. After a good win on we are in the mood."

Roy Hodgson: "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."

Premier League fixtures (7.45pm unless stated)

Tonight

Fulham v Burnley (8.00)

Man City v Bolton

Portsmouth v Sunderland

Wigan v Stoke

[White Noise]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=738898&sec=england&cc=5739

Coyle defends Davies following Clattenburg claim


By Soccernet staff

February 9, 2010
 
Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle has urged the Football Association not to take action against Kevin Davies despite the striker claiming referee Mark Clattenburg has a personal grudge against him.

Kevin Davies feels there is "something personal" with Mark Clattenburg

Davies was controversially denied a late winner in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Fulham when he was penalised for what Clattenburg deemed to be a push on Cottagers defender Brede Hangeland as he headed home.

The Bolton striker subsequently claimed that there was "something personal" behind Clattenburg's decision and that "when I saw who was the referee I didn't expect to get anything off him".

It is reported that the FA will scrutinise the comments and that disciplinary action could follow, but Coyle has defended Davies' outburst.

"He certainly shouldn't be reprimanded," Coyle said. "Kevin is a very honest player. He is a physical player, that's the way he plays the game. But he probably gets hit more than anyone else as well. You need a balance.

"He is a terrific captain and a terrific player, who scored a perfectly good goal. It is only right he feels aggrieved. If people are going to get into trouble for being honest, it is a sad day."

[White Noise]

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/sport/news/Burton-adapting-League-life/article-1814195-detail/article.html

Burton adapting well to League life

Tuesday, February 09, 2010, 08:00

BURTON Albion have made a solid start to life in the Football League following their promotion from the Blue Square Premier last season.
Paul Peschisolido took over from interim boss Roy McFarland in the summer and has guided the Brewers to 12th place in League Two.
They have won three out of their last four games.

Peschisolido is a former Fulham team-mate of Cheltenham Town striker Elvis Hammond.

They defeated Port Vale 1-0 on Saturday, courtesy of Tottenham Hotspur loanee Jacques Maghoma's 39th-minute strike.
 Shaun Harrad leads the way with 10 goals this term, while Greg Pearson has scored nine.

Robins boss Mark Yates sold Russell Penn to Burton from Kidderminster Harriers last summer and he also tried to sign long-serving full-back Aaron Webster during his time in charge at Aggborough.

Cheltenham and Burton last met in a competitive fixture in May 1997.

It was the final day of the Southern League Premier Division season and a 0-0 draw gave Cheltenham the result they needed to secure promotion to the Conference.

Darren Stride remains at Burton from that season and is the club's record appearance maker.

[White Noise]

http://hammyend.com/?p=5316


Up next: Burnley (h)

by Dan on February 9, 2010

Tonight’s game against Burnley is vital for Fulham. Not just in the short-term sense of keeping up our improved form, with four points from attritional fixtures against Portsmouth and Bolton in four days, but also in determining the direction of the rest of our season. How so? Well, we saw last season how Roy Hodgson became more adventurous in his tactics – particularly away from home – once safety was achieved. There’s no reason to doubt that, injuries permitting, the wily old fox would be more willing to fully commit to our FA Cup and Europa League runs if a couple more wins nudged us closer to the 38-40 point mark.

Recent signs have been encouraging for Hodgson. Fulham were much tighter defensively at the Reebok on Saturday than they were in an alarming first half against Pompey at the Cottage and clung on at the end for a big point. It’s no secret that Roy plays with much less caution down by the Thames and a Burnley side that could justifiably sniff a chance of recording their first away win in the Premier League will be typically obdurate opponents.

Just how Hodgson sets up his side will depend on the ongoing injury nightmare. At least Bobby Zamora will be back to lead the line, having missed the trip to Lancashire with a virus. Simon Davies could be in contention to play down the right as well, which could be very timely indeed if Zoltan Gera fails to recover in time from the injury he picked up in training last week. Whether Hodgson will risk the Welshman, who was forced off early against Aston Villa with a recurrence of the foot problem that has plagued him for the past eighteen months, is something of a moot point.

There can be no denying that Fulham are without a number of key players, though, and Kagisho Dikgacoi is the latest to face a lengthy lay-off having been forced out of the Bolton game with an ankle injury. The Whites are fortunate that Dickson Etuhu is able to step straight into the South African’s place as the anchor of our midfield quartet, especially as Chris Baird – excellent in that role so far this season – is likely to pressed into service at right back again, ahead of the underperforming Stephen Kelly.

Of course, the possible return of Davies or Gera could mean that Jonathan Greening returns to the substitutes bench, which would be harsh on the on-loan midfielder. He’s played a more noticeable role since having a shave (though I’m sure the two are unrelated!) and has demonstrated his versatility by filling the left midfield berth in the last two matches. He popped up to score his second goal from a strikingly similar position against Portsmouth in as many seasons and covered plenty of ground at Bolton a few days later.

Hodgson’s conumdrum is who to play alongside Zamora up front. Stefano Okaka should be fairly fresh after the briefest of runs up at the Reebok and must be the favourite to play alongside Bobby, especially in the light of Erik Nevland’s disappointing display on Saturday. Okaka, though still incredibly inexperienced, looks like a lively customer, showing his spirit for the fight with a lengthy bit of tracking back to recover possession at Bolton, which he followed with a mazy dribble.

A few people have been perturbed by Hodgson’s admission that he hasn’t studied Burnley too closely. While it strikes me as a public statement that’s very unlike Roy, the point he was trying to get across was that the Clarets’ style hasn’t changed much despite the switch from Owen Coyle to Brian Laws in the dugout. Laws had made some excellent additions in the transfer window and Danny Fox, whose fledging career went backwards north of the border, made a real impact against West Ham at the weekend. Hangeland and Hughes will also need to watch out for the rejuvanated David Nugent, capped for England under Steve McClaren, who looks to have rediscovered that precious poacher’s instinct.

MY FULHAM XI (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Baird, Shorey, Hughes, Hangeland; Etuhu, Murphy, Greening, Duff; Zamora, Okaka. Subs: Zuberbuhler, Smalling, Kelly, Davies, Riise, Nevland, Elm.

[White Noise]

http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/local/Fulham-v-Burnley-Laws-backing.6054180.jp


Fulham v Burnley: Laws backing rival Roy for England role



Date: 09 February 2010

Brian Laws thinks Roy Hodgson would be "the perfect choice" to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager.

Laws' Burnley side travel to Craven Cottage in the Barclays Premier League tonight to take on Fulham, whose fortunes have been transformed by Hodgson over the last two years.

The Cottagers were struggling in the relegation zone when Hodgson was appointed manager in December 2007, but after keeping the club up in his first season, the former Blackburn and Inter Milan boss led them to seventh place and qualification for Europe in the following campaign.

Fulham are currently 10th in the table and have made it to the knockout stages of the Europa League, with Hodgson signing a new 12-month rolling contract in December.

But the 62-year-old, who has international managerial experience with Switzerland and Finland, has frequently been touted as a successor to Capello when the Italian's time in charge of England comes to an end, and Laws believes Hodgson has the ideal credentials.

"He's very experienced, he knows the game inside out and I think he'd be the perfect choice," said Laws.

"I don't think you can be England manager without all those ingredients.

"You have to have had those experiences and I think you have to be at a certain age. It's not one for a young manager; I think you have got to be seasoned.
"You need that aura about you and he has certainly got that."

Laws has no fresh injury concerns ahead of tonight's contest and defender Stephen Jordan is pushing to be in contention after two weeks out with a hamstring strain.

Chris McCann's recovery from a knee problem is progressing well but the match has come too soon for him, while Graham Alexander (calf) and Steven Caldwell (groin) remain out.

Meanwhile, Burnley have unveiled ambitious plans for the redevelopment of Turf Moor as part of a project that also includes the country's first 'Football University'.

Clarets chief executive Paul Fletcher is leading the 'Premier Plan' in conjunction with Burnley Borough Council and The Prince's Charities.
The proposals would see a "StadiArena" stand erected in place of the David Fishwick Stand at Turf Moor, which would be employed to stage concerts and conferences in addition to its use for football.

[White Noise]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/4995964.Jensen_looks_for_first_away_win/

Jensen looks for first away win


8:37am Tuesday 9th February 2010

By Suzanne Geldard »


BRIAN Jensen is targeting back-to-back wins to kick-start Burnley’s season, and keep the Clarets out of the bottom three.

Having spent more than a week in the relegation zone, Brian Laws’ men climbed back up to 15th by picking up three points for the first time since October with Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Ham United.

Jensen aims to build on that by claiming a first Premier League away win at Fulham tonight, and he believes a more resolute approach instilled by new boss Laws will soon pay dividends.

“We are more organised,” said the Danish goalkeeper, who has his sights set on a first clean sheet since beating Hull City three months ago.

“It’s different. You’re trying to find a balance now where we’re playing a lot of positive football going forward. Maybe we didn’t focus too much at the back and defensively before now. But the gaffer is trying to add a little bit of that, to try to be more organised and tactically maybe go a little bit differently about it, especially in away games.

“We know what to do. But we also know in this league, you can try to prevent it, but if the service is good and the run is good - like you saw with John Terry when we played Chelsea - it doesn’t matter.

“We do look more solid but we still have to find the balance between playing good football and being organised at the same time. We’re slowly getting there.”

And Jensen feels a long-awaited win could speed up the process.

“Of course it gave us a boost – we hadn’t won for ages.

“Hopefully it was a turning point on Saturday and fingers crossed we can do even better at Fulham. That could kick-start our season again,” said the 34-year-old, who revealed the frustrations of a winless three-month spell.

“It’s tough, definitely,” he continued.

“We’re in the best league in the world now, playing against the best opposition and in the best grounds in the world.

“If you don’t get the results and you’re not confident it will always be tough.

“Confidence is everything in football.

“If you’re not confident and you don’t have a strong mentality you might as well just pack it in.

“It’s a tough season. We just have to keep on our toes and see if we can get that clean sheet again, that would be nice because it’s been a while now,” added Jensen, who has made the most saves in the Premier League according to the Opta statistics.

“I’m there to make the saves. We just want the points on the table and stay in this league.”

And manager Laws has urged his players not to dip below the standards they set in securing his first win since taking charge last month.

“We’re fighting against good players and good clubs. If we can’t match them for ability then what we can do is work extremely hard, as we did on Saturday against a very good West Ham side,” he said.

“You throw your body in the way, you work hard, and the stats don’t lie.

“On the ProZone stats we’ve worked harder than they have, we’ve run further than West Ham. It shows you that you have to put in the groundwork.

“The players know it was a fantastic win but that’s the start. We’ve set the bar and set the targets and now we’ve got to change the mentality away from home, and if we can get a result away from home that will just embrace everything that we’re doing at the moment.

“We can’t afford to drift off the high standard because anything less then we won’t win a game in the Premier League. We have to be at our best, on full throttle, and hope the opposition are below that. There’s a weakness in every team.”

Lapses in concentration have proved to be Burnley’s Achilles heel this season, but Laws admitted he is working hard to iron out such errors.

“The lads have made some elementary mistakes, which you get away with in the Championship, but you get murdered in the Premier League,” he said.

“The opposition might only have two or three opportunities, but they’ll bury them.

“I watched Birmingham against Wolves, who were in full control with 10 minutes left, and they lose 2-1 with two slip-ups, not getting tight.

“Give a player time and space, the likes of (Kevin) Phillips, and it’s in the back of the net.

“We’re renowned for passing, but getting nothing at the end of it I don’t want to be renowned for.

“We’ve got to change and mix our game up. We still want the football element, absolutely, that’s the way I like to play, on the floor, attractive football, but there’s the dirty side of the game, making sure the team works to the degree where we know exactly what we’re doing.

“That gung-ho approach hurts you at this level, but we’re getting stronger.”

[White Noise]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sportheadlines/Blades-loan.6054189.jp


"Toni Kallio, who we brought here from Fulham, was originally down as a full-back but had to play in the middle and Jordan Stewart, who is a midfielder rather than a full-back, is being forced to do a job for us down the left.

"I thought we were over all of this but the problems with injuries have really come back.

"There's nothing we can do to stop them because the boys are picking-up problems that we just can't legislate for."

[White Noise]

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/33887/French_veteran_alerts_trio_after_contract_termination.aspx

French veteran alerts trio after contract termination

Author:  Nigel Brown


Posted on:09 February 2010 - 10:05


Former Leeds United and Everton midfielder Olivier Dacourt is available on a free transfer after the Frenchman left Belgian club Standard Liege by ‘mutual consent.’ It is thought that Fulham and West Ham United are possible destinations for free agent Dacourt, while a number of Leeds United fans are calling for Dacourt to make a sensational return to Elland Road.

Dacourt has developed the reputation as a journeyman after representing 8 clubs in 12 years after beginning his career at Strasbourg, before stints at Everton, RC Lens, Leeds United, Roma, Inter Milan, Fulham and Standard Liege.

The Frenchman was signed by the Belgian giants as cover for their star man Steven Defour, however, due to a lack of first team football Dacourt was eager to terminate his contract in order to find a new club to finish the current campaign.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is a big admirer of Olivier Dacourt and could be tempted to re-sign the centre midfielder who he brought to the club on-loan last year, where the French combative midfielder made nine appearances.

However cash strapped West Ham United could also be another destination for Dacourt with boss Gianfranco Zola still considering options to add numbers to his squad. Hammer’s boss Zola is feeling the pressure with West Ham currently in 18th position one point behind Bolton Wanderers.

However, Leeds United fans have reportedly made a plea for Dacourt to return to his old stomping ground and help the Yorkshire club into the Championship. Dacourt was signed by former manager David O’Leary and played 57 times for the Elland Road outfit scoring on three occasions. The fans of Leeds United have never forgotten the tenacious Dacourt with the ‘general’ gaining cult status. It is believed that Dacourt once stated that he would like to finish his playing days at the Yorkshire club.

[White Noise]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/4995982.Clarets_Blog__We_should_be_Ful_of_confidence/


Clarets Blog: We should be Ful of confidence

8:43am Tuesday 9th February 2010

By Stephen Cummings »


It might have been scrappy. It might have been ugly at times. But on Saturday, Burnley managed to do what they hadn’t done since the last weekend in October. Burnley won a game of Premier League football.

And what a crucial victory it was. Had the Clarets failed to claim three points from their encounter with West Ham, the psychological damage would have been enormous.

As it is, the win has given the players, the manager and the supporters an incredible and timely boost.

After a run of 12 league games without coming out on top, the switches marked ‘belief’ and ‘hope’ have been flicked. And, to coin a phrase, we can dare to dream again.

By and large, the game was not one for the purists, But it should be borne in mind that a team which has not recorded victory for over three months is unlikely to have confidence flooding through its veins.

Gianfranco Zola’s Hammers were strong for certain periods of the game and a neutral observer might argue that they deserved a share of the spoils.

Yet in the final analysis, the ultimate statistic shows that the Clarets did what the visitors failed to do by scoring twice.

David Nugent’s goal will have done him the world of good after he picked Matthew Upson’s pocket so adeptly.

And whilst the ball which gave Nugent (right) the platform to open the scoring might be described as an agricultural hoof, there was no getting away from the sublime quality of Fox’s superbly executed goal.

As has been noted elsewhere, Burnley have not made the most of the dead ball situations this term. Fox’s footwork may yet prove a vital weapon in the Clarets’ quest to survive.

Fox was rewarded for his efforts with the man of the match gong. Yet for this writer’s money, he was overshadowed by Kevin McDonald.

At his best, the giant Scot is unplayable. His sheer physical bulk means he is not easy to knock off the ball whilst he has a pleasing knack of being able to keep possession.

Along with his team-mates. McDonald will have to be at his best tonight. Fulham at Craven Cottage is a tricky proposition, as the likes of Manchester United will testify. Under Roy Hodgson’s stewardship they have shipped just eight goals at home all season.

A point would be a welcome return. And with the confidence from Saturday still swilling around their system, they must believe they can get it.

[White Noise]

http://blog.sport.co.uk/Football/595/Top_Ten_Players_outside_the_Big_Four.aspx

Top Ten: Players outside the 'Big Four'

Sam Williams


Posted on: 09 February 2010 - 09:31



6. Mark Schwarzer (Goalkeeper, Fulham):

With a respectful nod to Brad Friedel, Fulham’s Schwarzer is the Premier League’s second best ‘keeper from outside the ‘Big Four’, behind only Shay Given.

In fact, the 37-year-old’s career has many parallels to that of Given, as both gave over a decade’s worth of loyal service to a club whose defence often left a lot to be desired (Middlesbrough, in Schwarzer’s case) before moving on.

Since moving to Craven Cottage in May 2008, the ever-reliable Schwarzer has played a key role in Roy Hodgson’s transformation of the club from perennial strugglers to a Europa League outfit.


9. Brede Hangeland (Centre-back, Fulham):

Another Roy Hodgson masterstroke.

Hangeland, along with Mark Schwarzer, provides the foundation on which Fulham’s recent success has been built.

The Norway captain was reunited with Hodgson, who he had previously played under at Viking Stavanger, in January 2008, and is now widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

After an outstanding first six months in England, it was no surprise to see Hangeland heavily linked with clubs such as Arsenal last summer.

Tall, quick, dominant in the air, reads the game well, superb distribution…what more could you ask for in a top-class centre-back?