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Saturday Fulham Stuff - 28/12/19...

Started by WhiteJC, December 28, 2019, 07:58:40 AM

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WhiteJC

Parker gives verdict on Fulham's thriller with Luton Town

Scott Parker has praised the character of his Fulham team after they came from behind three times to draw 3-3 at Luton Town in the Championship yesterday.

The reverse fixture in October saw Fulham take all the points in an exciting five-goal game, and this one yesterday had fans on the edge of their seats as well.

Fulham had to come from behind three times to settle for a point at Kenilworth Road – Bobby Reid cancelled out Kazenga LuaLua's opener in the first-half but Luton had the lead at the break through James Collins.

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his first career hat-trick when Fulham beat Luton in October and scored his 18th of the Championship season in the second-half yesterday to make it 2-2.

Harry Cornick put Luton ahead with five-minutes remaining but Reid slammed home his third of the season, and second of the game in injury time to steal a point.

Speaking to www.fulhamfc.com after the game, Parker was critical of the goals conceded, but hailed his side's character to come from behind:

"I was a little disappointed with the goals we've conceded – they had three shots on target and scored three goals. We put their goal under a lot of pressure, but their keeper pulled off some fantastic saves.

"The most pleasing thing for me was the character shown by the team, coming to a tough place and going one down – my team showed massive character, massive fight and a real determination."

Fulham drop to 5th after the draw, with Brentford leapfrogging them into 3rd with their 3-1 win over Swansea City.

The verdict

Kenilworth Road is a tough place to go but for Fulham, a team supposedly chasing promotion, conceding three goals simply isn't good enough.

It was a stark defensive performance from the one against Leeds previously – if Parker can instil some consistency then he's on to a winner, but that's easier said than done.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/parker-gives-verdict-on-fulhams-thriller-with-luton-town/

WhiteJC

Games for the Weekend 29/12
Back to the Cottage this weekend for a Sunday kick-off this time to face Stoke City
After the triumph against Leeds we came down to earth with a bump against Luton Town, at least we didn't loose but we certainly didn't deserve to win so a draw against one of the worst teams in the league was fair, we didn't turn up!
So this weekend we get to play the team one place above Luton who they beat 3-0, at least we're at home this time so that should be in our favour?
Our previous games against Stoke have been reasonably even affairs, seven wins, eight losses and one draw, the majority of these games were played in the Premiership.

COYW's

Games of Interest...
Sunday 29th

Birmingham City v Leeds
Fulham v Stoke
Millwall v Brentford
Preston NE v Reading
QPR v Hull
West Brom v Middlesborough

Monday 30th
Derby v Charlton


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=1035

WhiteJC

Report: Aston Villa eyeing £22m star in the form of his life

Aleksandar Mitrovic can't stop scoring in the Championship for Fulham - can he save Aston Villa's Premier League skin?

Fulham face a challenge hanging onto the Championship's top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic with Aston Villa hoping to lure the striker back to the Premier League during the January transfer window, according to The Mail.

Heading into the New Year, it doesn't take a genius to work out where a relegation-threatened Villa side need to strengthen as they look to pull away from the drop zone following the 1-0 Boxing Day triumph over fellow strugglers Norwich City.

Summer signing Wesley Moraes has found the net just four times in 19 Premier League matches so far while neither Jonathan Kodjia nor Keinan Davis have been able to offer serious competition in attack.

So, given his outstanding form in front of goal for Fulham this season, Mitrovic looks on paper like a potentially season-saving addition with The Mail reporting that Villa are 'heavily interested' in the Serbian hitman.

Mitrovic, who joined Fulham from Newcastle in a £22 million deal some 18 months ago, has 18 goals in 23 Championship matches in 2019/20 and he has a decent track record in the top flight too. The former Anderlecht wonderkid was a rare ray of light in a miserable Premier League campaign for The Cottagers last season, finding the net 11 times.

And with Dean Smith favouring a lone striker system at Villa Park, Mitrovic looks like a perfect fit with his aerial ability and excellent link-play. With Fulham seeking an immediate return to the promised land, however, it will surely require far more than £22 million if they are to be tempted to cash in.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/12/27/do-report-aston-villa-eyeing-22m-star-in-the-form-of-his-life/


WhiteJC

Bobby Reid sends message to Fulham fans after Luton Town thriller

Bobby Reid scored twice as Fulham drew 3-3 with Luton Town in the Championship yesterday.

Fulham had to come from behind three times at Kenilworth Road, taking a point to keep them wedged in the top-six of the Championship table.

Kazenga LuaLua had given Luton an early lead but Reid levelled it soon after. James Collins then gave the Hatters a half-time lead but for Aleksandar Mitrovic to pull it back to 2-2 with his 18th Championship goal of the season.

Graeme Jones' Luton looked to have knicked it with five-minutes to play when Harry Cornick fired past Marek Rodak, but Reid did the same from close-range in the 94th-minute of the game, capping off a six-goal thriller in Luton.

The Jamaican international posted this message on Instagram after the game:

Joining Fulham on-loan from Cardiff in the summer, it took Reid 15 Championship games to score his first goal in the 3-0 win over Derby last month.

He's shown glimpses of the player that scored 19 league goals for Bristol City in 2017/18, but hasn't quite had the return he would've expected in a Fulham shirt.

Two poachers goals last night though seems to have belatedly kick-started his season and now, he and Mitrovic look like they could form a really prolific partnership for Scott Parker's Fulham.

The verdict

Reid is a player with Championship pedigree. Despite not scoring many in the first-half of the season he's always given it his all for Fulham, and fans will love to see him getting on the score-sheet a bit more.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/bobby-reid-sends-message-to-fulham-fans-after-luton-town-thriller/

WhiteJC

Talking Points: Luton Town

Five Talking Points from Fulham's eventful trip to Kenilworth Road on Boxing Day.

1. Knocking on the door

Having begun the last three matches on the bench, Anthony Knockaert will have been delighted with the impact he made when he entered the action in the 70th minute. It took just seven minutes to claim an assist when Aleksandar Mitrović headed home his dangerous corner, while he also provided the cross to Aboubakar Kamara which led to our dramatic third equaliser of the afternoon.

2. Down but never out

Considering Fulham's dominance in the game, a point can be considered a disappointing result, but a huge positive is the way we continually fought back. Three times the Whites trailed at Kenilworth Road, but heads never dropped and we were rewarded with a hard earned point on the road.

3. New ground ticked off

As Fulham haven't been to Kenilworth Road since the 90s, Boxing Day provided many fans with the opportunity to tick another ground off their list. A unique stadium as you enter through terraced housing and climb stairs over peoples' gardens to get to the bar, the term 'old school' certainly came to mind on Thursday.


4. Away end scenes

As the seconds ticked away, it looked as though it wasn't to be a particularly merry Christmas for the travelling faithful. But when Bobby Decordova-Reid stepped up in the fourth minute of stoppage time, the 1,032 fans behind the goal went crazy celebrating what was the least they deserved.

5. Purple patch incoming?

It was awful luck that on the same night he scored his first Fulham goal Decordova-Reid picked up an injury which would rule him out for a few weeks. But now back fully fit, he's showing what a menace we all knew he could be in the penalty box, and three goals in as many starts will do wonders for his confidence with a hat-trick of home matches in a week on the horizon.




http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/december/27/talking-points-luton-town

WhiteJC

Luton miss out on victory after late Fulham equaliser

Luton Town slipped into the Championship relegation zone after an injury time Fulham equaliser denied them the win.

A lively 3-3 draw at Kenilworth Road saw Luton take the lead three times against the promotion chasing West Londoners only to be pegged back each time.

The home side were gifted an early goal when Kazenga LuaLua scored after Alfie Mawson dithered in his own box.

Bobby Decordova-Reid equalised for the visitors, but Luton were up at half-time through James Collins.

Alexsandar Mitrovic scored a second Fulham equaliser, but again, Luton would re-take the lead, as Harry Cornick made it 3-2.

But with 94 minutes played, Luton couldn't hold out as Decordova-Reid grabbed his second goal. It was heartache for the home side, who were very close to a valuable win but ended up slipping into the bottom 3 on goal difference after Stoke beat Sheffield Wednesday.

Luton sprung a surprise on the high-flying Cottages early on, as LuaLua and Collins pressed Mawson, and the ball fell for LuaLua to fire past Marek Rodak.

But Fulham weren't behind for long. Four minutes passed when Decordova-Reid got a head on Ivan Cavaleiro's cross, and he headed past Simon Sluga.

Sluga was also forced into stops to keep out Joe Bryan and Tom Cairney, and these would have an impact as at the other end, Luton scored their second.

Collins was able to turn the ball home at the end of a scramble after a free-kick landed to the Irish international. It could have been even better for him, as he was also denied a second goal by an offside flag.

Fulham applied pressure after the break but Luton initially held firm, with Decordova-Reid firing wide twice and Sluga keeping out Bryan.

But moments after Ryan Tunnicliffe and Cornick failed to extend Luton's advantage on a break, the away side equalised. Mitrovic, who scored a hat-trick when Fulham beat Luton in October, headed in at a corner to restore parity.

However, Luton then surprised their guests when they took the lead again. A loose pass from an under pressure Fulham defender released Cornick to go one-on-one against Rodak, and he drilled it in to put the home side in front for a third time.

Luton could even had sealed it, with Collins and Cornick both missing with late strikes.

But Fulham were able to get back again, as Decordova-Reid poked in his second of the game after Sluga had initially made a stop. It ensured parity and late heartache for Graeme Jones' side, who are now 4 games without a win.



https://citiblog.co.uk/2019/12/27/luton-miss-out-on-victory-after-late-fulham-equaliser/


WhiteJC

Real Madrid left impressed by Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa?

Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has allegedly emerged as a potential transfer target for Real Madrid.

Before the start of last season, Fulham paid £22.3m to sign Anguissa from Marseille, only for the midfielder to fail to justify his price-tag at Craven Cottage.

As a result of relegation to the Championship and no club being willing to meet Fulham's asking price, the 24-year-old was loaned out to Villarreal.

However, Anguissa has starred in La Liga this season, making 16 starts and one substitute outing during his short stint at Estadio de la Ceramica.

According to reports in Spain, Real have taken an interest in the Cameroonian's performances ahead of possibly making a bid for his signature.

Zinedine Zidane is said to be keen on having Anguissa as cover for his current players in the middle of the park.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/real-madrid/transfer-talk/news/madrid-left-impressed-by-fulham-midfielder_384145.html

WhiteJC

'Brilliant', 'Carrying this team' – Plenty of Fulham fans were in awe of this man's performance last night

Bobby Reid scored twice in Fulham's 3-3 draw at Luton Town in the Championship yesterday, and fans think they're finally seeing the best of the Jamaican.

Fulham had to come from behind three times to take a point from Kenilworth Road.

Reid scored his first of the night after ten-minutes, cancelling out Kazenga LuaLua's early opener. But the Hatters had a half-time lead thanks to James Collins' 8th Championship goal of the season.

Aleksandar Mitrovic levelled again in the second-half but it looked to be Luton's day when Harry Cornick fired past Marek Rodak in the 84th-minute.

A classic poachers goal from Reid in the 94th-minute though salvaged a point for Fulham, which keeps them in the top-six.

The Jamaican international is now on three goals for the season and after taking a long while to get going in a Fulham shirt, finally looks to be hitting form.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/brilliant-carrying-this-team-plenty-of-fulham-fans-were-in-awe-of-this-mans-performance-last-night/

WhiteJC

Fulham v Stoke City
SUN 29 Dec 2019  Championship
Venue: Craven Cottage



Denis Odoi is back from a three-match ban for Fulham

Fulham defender Denis Odoi is available following suspension having missed the past three Championship games.

Cottagers boss Scott Parker has been waiting for brother-in-law Harry Arter to return from injury, as well as defender Maxime Le Marchand.

Stoke City have a few knocks from their thrilling 3-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day.

James McClean and Sam Clucas had been nursing hamstring and foot injuries respectively but played the 90 minutes.

Match facts

    Fulham have lost their last three games against Stoke City in all competitions, losing 2-0 away from home earlier this season in the reverse league fixture.
    Stoke are looking to complete a league double over Fulham for the first time since the 2009-10 Premier League campaign.
    Fulham have won three of their last four Championship home games (L1), as many as they did across the previous seven at Craven Cottage (W3 D2 L2).
    Stoke are on a three-game losing streak away from home in the Championship, while they last lost four in a row in the second tier in March 2006 under Johan Boskamp (a run of five).
    Aleksandar Mitrovic has been directly involved in 10 goals in 11 Championship games at Craven Cottage this season, scoring nine and adding one assist.
    Sam Clucas is the only Stoke player to have scored more than one goal away from home in the Championship this season, with four of his six league goals in 2019-20 coming on the road.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50882310


WhiteJC

3 things we clearly learnt from Fulham's draw against Luton

Fulham came back from behind on three occasions to snatch a draw right at the death against strugglers Luton Town, as the two sides played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at Kenilworth Road on Boxing Day.

The Cottagers got off to the worst possible start, as Luton winger Kazenga LuaLua capitalised on a defensive error to put the Hatters in front with just five minutes on the clock.

Bobby Decordova-Reid levelled things up four minutes later for the West Londoners, heading in an Ivan Cavaleiro cross from the right-hand side.

Two further strikes from James Collins and Harry Cornick for Luton either side of an Aleksandar Mitrovic goal made it seem that Fulham were heading for their fourth defeat in six, before Reid popped up again in stoppage time to salvage a point for Scott Parker's side.

The result leaves Fulham in 5th in the Sky Bet Championship table.

Here are three things we clearly learnt about the Cottagers from their performance against Luton...

Defensive errors costly
Scott Parker will be ruing the defensive mistakes on show for his side at Kenilworth Road, with Fulham making two errors leading to goals during the game.

The first one was with just five minutes on the clock. Marek Rodak rolled the ball out to the feet of Alfie Mawson, who was dispossessed by Kazenga LuaLua in the box, who then tapped home the first goal of the afternoon.

Old habits then crept back in the 84th minute, as left-back Joe Bryan was off balance and slipped, letting Harry Cornick run in on goal, and the Luton man made no mistake as he slotted in the Hatters' third.

Scott Parker will no doubt be alarmed, and the Fulham boss will need to address the current defensive frailties on the training field.

Fulham hard done by
Fulham felt aggrieved when referee Dean Whitestone allowed Luton's second goal of the game to stand, with the players protesting that James Collins handled the ball in the build up to his finish.

The Cottagers fans may have a case, as it looks like the Luton striker handled the ball with his left arm from Luke Berry's free-kick into the penalty area before firing it into the back of the net.

Decordova-Reid saves Fulham
Bobby Decordova-Reid notched his second and third goals of the season for Fulham, and proved to be the man that would save his side from an embarrassing defeat. The 26-year-old was awarded with Man of the Match for his efforts.

His strike in the third minute of stoppage time spared the blushes for Fulham, as he was there to smash home the rebound from Aboubakar Kamara's initial header.

Reid made four successful dribbles during the game, also winning one aerial dual and making one  tackle.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/3-things-we-clearly-learnt-from-fulhams-draw-against-luton/

WhiteJC

Report: Everton make enquiry for midfielder Jean-Michael Seri

Everton have reportedly made contact about Fulham midfielder Jean-Michael Seri, who is currently out on loan at Turkish club Galatasaray.

The Ivory Coast international left Craven Cottage in the summer on a season-long loan to join Galatasaray.

According to Foot Mercato, both Everton and Monaco have started discussions with the 28-year-old's representatives about a potential move in January.

The report explains they have enquired about his future and it's believed that Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti was already eyeing him when he Napoli boss.

It's unclear on if Seri's loan deal could be ripped up midway through the season, but it looks like he's in demand ahead of the January transfer window.

Seri is a tenacious central midfielder full of energy and also has an eye for goal when he drives forward.

TBR's View:

It would be a smart move for Ancelotti to strengthen his midfield at Goodison Park in the January window, as it seems a little lightweight at the minute and a fresh body should help the squad.

Seri is an intriguing target that is building his reputation back up in Turkey with Galatasaray and has played Champions League football with them this season.

He was an exciting midfielder that was the total package when he was previously at Lille, but his spell in England so far saw him flop with Fulham and suffer a relegation from the Premier League.

There would definitely be a risk behind bringing him to Merseyside, but Ancelotti should be backed to sign the players he wants.




https://tbrfootball.com/report-everton-make-enquiry-for-midfielder-jean-michael-seri/