Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 21/04/20...

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'They're scared, managing their minds is a fragile situation': Fulham manager Scott Parker reveals some players fear even exercising outside... with a return of football clearly still some way off

    Fulham use a psychologist and have ordered gym equipment for players to use
    Scott Parker admits that managing the minds of his players is difficult at present
    There's still no return date for football in the UK due to the coronavirus pandemic
    Parker says some won't train outside and his 'young, foreign lads' are struggling

Scott Parker has admitted that some of his Fulham players are 'scared' of exercising outside because they fear they will contract the coronavirus.

The Cottagers, like every Championship club, have their players training individually at home while football is shut down due to the deadly pandemic.

But while Fulham are doing plenty to help the squad cope in the circumstances - including making a psychologist available and ordering gym equipment - Parker has revealed that managing his stars' minds is a 'fragile situation'.


Fulham boss Scott Parker has revealed that some of his players are struggling with lockdown

As much as the whole situation is scary for a lot of the players, the ones who seem to struggle the most are the young ones, foreign lads,' Parker told The Times.

'We have to work out where they are mentally, and keep them in a place [mentally] where they are comfortable. We talk, we zoom, there's regular communication with the players but there's no denying that it's a tough period.

'We knew that if players weren't allowed out, or some players weren't comfortable going out, they would have some facility for exercising in their rooms. The majority of them are going out exercising.


Parker, pictured on the touchline earlier this season, is speaking to his squad via Zoom

Some players don't want to go outside to exercise. They are scared of that. In terms of managing their minds, and them, it is a fragile situation which me the and staff need to be fully aware of and respect.'

Fulham were third in the Championship table prior to the indefinite postponement of all football in the UK, and were still in with a chance of automatic promotion.

However, former West Ham and Chelsea star Parker admits that the coronavirus outbreak has made him take a step back and think about what is really important, with the return of the sport still uncertain.

He added: 'Football's a massive part of our lives, the be-all and end-all the majority of our time, but it's not until moments like this, really down moments, that you sit back and really think about it.'


Fulham were third in the Championship before football was shut down due to the coronavirus



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8235957/Fulham-manager-Scott-Parker-reveals-players-fear-exercising-outside-amid-coronavirus-crisis.html

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Adult Home Shirts Now Half Price

Fulham fans are now able to take advantage of some great offers at the Online Store, with 50% off all Adult 2019/20 Home Shirts!

Adult home shirts are now just £27.50 with home shorts also reduced to £20 and home socks just £8. Juniors can also grab a bargain with home shirts reduced to £25, home shorts now £15 and home socks just £8.

And to keep you entertained at home, why not also take advantage of our buy one get one free offer on all FFC footballs, including the Protostar Limited Edition and adidas Team Glider balls.

T+C's

    All items subject to availability.
    Cheapest item free in FFC footballs offer.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/april/20/half-price-home-kit

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Win A Teng Tools Toolbox

Teng Tools are offering Fulham supporters the chance to win a personalised FFC toolbox and a signed Fulham FC 2019/20 home shirt!

But first you'll have to unlock the toolbox's combination code, by telling us what minute three Fulham goals from the current 2019/20 season were scored in.

We'll need the exact minute of Ivan Cavaleiro's curler away at Huddersfield Town in August, Harry Arter's screamer against Aston Villa in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round in January and Aleksander Mitrovic's winner against Swansea City at Craven Cottage in February.

The competition will run from Monday 20th April at 10am until Wednesday 22nd April at 5pm. Please fill out your details and answer the questions in our form below for the chance to win this exclusive prize, with one toolbox and three signed shirts up for grabs!

Good luck!



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/april/20/win-a-teng-tools-toolbox

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Rovers to face Fulham in the EFL Football Manager Cup

Rovers' virtual manager Luke Beniston set to face This Country actor Charlie Cooper who is representing Fulham FC in the Football Manager tournament.

The match is expected to take place on Tuesday with further details to be released in due course.

Football Manager have joined up with Mind and the EFL to bring supporters the EFL Football Manager Cup. Fifty four clubs from across the EFL, each represented by a virtual manager, will face off in a straight knockout competition with the final two teams left standing facing off in the showpiece final in mid-May.

EFL FOOTBALL MANAGER CUP SCHEDULE

    Round One match dates – Monday 20 April to Thursday 23 April
    Round Two – week commencing 27 April
    The 'Round of 16' – week commencing 4 May
    The Quarter Finals – 11 May to 14 May
    The Semi-Finals – Saturday 16 May
    The Final – Sunday 17 May



TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

Fifty-four teams across the EFL's three divisions compete in a knockout tournament with the aim to crown one club as the EFL Football Manager Cup winner.

Due to there being 54 teams taking part, 10 teams will be given a bye into Round Two. This will be determined by random during the first round draw and has been implemented to ensure 32 teams take part in Round Two.

TOURNAMENT RULES

    Matches to be played on FM20 Touch Versus mode, teams must play as themselves.
    This is a straight knockout tournament, with all ties comprising one game. Each tie will go to extra-time and penalties, if necessary, to produce a winner.
    The 'home' team of each tie will host the match .
    Suspensions/injuries won't carry over to the next round.

As well as supporting their teams during the tournament, supporters can also show support Mind, the mental health charity. In these tough times their services are needed more than ever so while you're being entertained by the action, please consider donating here.



https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2020/april/rovers-to-face-fulham-in-the-efl-football-manager-cup/

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West Ham United: Fans react to club's post on Scott Parker

Fans of West Ham United have been reacting to a club post from the Hammers which shared images of their former midfielder Scott Parker.

On Sunday, the Irons relayed four images of the Fulham manager to social media from his time playing at Upton Park (per West Ham), which had some fans praising him.

The 39-year-old Englishman was with the Hammers for four years between 2007 and 2011, having arrived from Newcastle United and departed for Tottenham Hotspur (per Transfermarkt).

So, while some supporters remembered their former midfielder fondly after the Twitter post (per West Ham), his departure from the club still rankled with some fans.

What do we think?

As can be judged from the responses of West Ham supporters, it is clear to see that there is a divide between those who remember Parker's time at Upton Park fondly and those who do not.

After 12 goals and 11 assists over 129 appearances for West Ham (per Transfermarkt), though, it may be better to remember what he did in a Hammers shirt than what he went on to do elsewhere.



https://thisisfutbol.com/2020/04/blogs/premier-league/west-ham-united-fans-react-to-clubs-post-on-scott-parker/

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Five Fulham Players That Could Leave on a Free Transfer This Summer


Neeskens Kebano of Fulham and Kyle Naughton of Swansea City going for the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Swansea City at Craven Cottage, London on Wednesday 26th February 2020. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Five Fulham players are out of contract this summer as the club aim to win promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. None of them are first-team regulars, but they could be good additions for other EFL clubs who are hoping to pick up a bargain in the summer. Last Word on Football takes a look at the five Cottagers with uncertain futures.

The Fulham Players That Could Leave on a Free

Neeskens Kebano
Pacy attacking midfielder Neeskens Kebano has found himself out of the team for most of this season. He's only featured eight times so far for Scott Parker's men, and seven of those appearances were from the bench. The Congolese international, who can play on either flank, joined the Cottagers from Genk in 2016. In his first season, he played 30 times and scored six goals as Fulham went on a terrific run in the second half of the season – culminating in a play-off semi-final defeat to Reading.

The year after, Slavisa Jokanovic's men went one better and won the play-offs. Kebano made 22 appearances, netting three goals. However, he struggled for minutes last season as Fulham went straight back down to the Championship. The 29-year-old signed a contract extension last summer but despite that, but it seems likely he'll be on his way out this time around.

Magnus Norman
Twenty-three-year-old goalkeeper Magnus Norman hasn't made a single senior appearance for Fulham, and he'll surely be keen to find another club this summer when his contract expires. Norman, who has one cap for England at U18 level, has had loan spells at Southport and Rochdale in previous seasons. He's played twice for Fulham's U21s this season in the EFL Trophy.

Luca De La Torre
USA winger Luca De La Torre only has eight minutes of Championship football under his belt this season. Now 21, he joined Fulham's academy as a highly-rated 15-year-old from San Diego Surf, a youth development organisation in his homeland. De La Torre represented his country a combined 34 times at U17, U19 and U20 level. He even earned a senior cap in June 2018, coming off the bench in a 2-1 defeat against Ireland.

Despite that, he's never managed to nail down a first-team spot in West London and has made just seven league appearances since joining Fulham.

Matt O'Riley
Nineteen-year-old central midfielder Matt O'Riley made his league bow for Fulham on New Year's Day, replacing the injured Harrison Reed in a 2-1 defeat at home to Reading. Prior to that, he'd made four appearances for Fulham in the EFL Cup, dating back as far as August 2017. The youngster has also played twice for the U21s in the EFL Trophy this season.

Fulham Have the Option to Extend Jordan Archer's Contract By a Year
Scott Parker opted to bring in experienced goalkeeper Jordan Archer on a free transfer from Oxford United back in January. The former Millwall man signed a short-term deal that does run out this summer, but the club have the option to extend it by another year. Archer hasn't played for the London outfit yet, but he's a solid third-choice keeper at Championship level.




https://lastwordonfootball.com/2020/04/20/five-players-fulham-could-lose-on-a-free-this-summer/