News:

Use a VPN to stream games Safely and Securely 🔒
A Virtual Private Network can also allow you to
watch games Not being broadcast in the UK For
more Information and how to Sign Up go to
https://go.nordvpn.net/SH4FE

Main Menu


Thursday fulham Stuff - 12/11/20...

Started by WhiteJC, November 11, 2020, 01:58:08 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

WhiteJC

'He'll be a big player for us' – Aleksandar Mitrovic defends Ademola Lookman after missed Panenka in Fulham's defeat at West Ham

Aleksandar Mitrovic says he's resumed penalty duties at Fulham after Ademola Lookman's missed Panenka in the side's 1-0 defeat at West Ham – but has backed his team-mate to be a 'big player' this season and learn from his mistake.

Lookman's dinked effort in the eighth minute of stoppage time was comfortably saved by Lukasz Fabianski and the 23-year-old winger had his head in his hands as referee Robert Jones blew the full-time whistle.

Fulham striker Mitrovic was the club's regular taker but failed with his previous spot-kick and Lookman stepped up in his place at the London Stadium.

The result means Fulham are hovering just one point above the relegation zone and Lookman was quick to apologise as he took 'full responsibility' for his side coming away from the game with nothing.

'After yesterday's mistake, I take full responsibility and onus for it,' Lookman tweeted.

'To my team-mates, manager and the supporters I vow to put the next one in.

'I will not let one failure hold me back.'

Asked whether he's back on penalty duties at Fulham, Mitrovic told Sky Sports: 'Yeah, it happens.

'I tried the same thing for the national team as well and missed. It was a different moment but Ade is a great guy and a great player.

'I'm sure he knows he made a mistake.

'The reason why he took the penalty is me and him practice a lot after training. He's really good at penalties.



Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2020/11/11/aleksandar-mitrovic-defends-ademola-lookman-after-missed-panenka-in-fulhams-defeat-at-west-ham-13575056/?ito=newsnow-feed?ito=cbshare

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

WhiteJC

'Who does he think he is?' – McAvennie rips into 23-yr-old after what he's seen at West Ham

Frank McAvennie has ripped into Fulham attacker Ademola Lookman for his wasted penalty attempt against West Ham on Saturday.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs, the former Irons and Celtic striker said that he was "delighted" that the 23-year-old "made a fool of himself" and gifted David Moyes's side all three points.

Fulham squandered the opportunity to equalise in the 98th minute at the London Stadium but Lookman's Panenka penalty was saved by Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

The winger, on loan from RB Leipzig, handed the hosts all three points and compounded Scott Parker's Cottagers to their sixth defeat in the Premier League this season.

McAvennie is bewildered by the former Everton attacker's penalty attempt.

"Honestly, if I was Scott Parker," he told Football Insider.

"Who does the boy think he is? He is only on loan. I do not even know why he is taking the penalties.

"I do not get this. You just need to put your foot through it. He looked like a fool. He made such a fool of himself.

"I do not think Scott Parker would have let him take the penalty if he knew he would do that. He would have a few words with him, that is for sure.

"That could have been a massive point. I am delighted that he did it though as a West Ham fan!"



https://www.footballinsider247.com/who-does-he-think-he-is-mcavennie-rips-into-23-yr-old-after-what-hes-seen-at-west-ham/

WhiteJC

Tony Khan let Scott Parker down by not securing a deal for Jean-Clair Todibo

Fulham were one of the Premier League sides heavily linked with a move for Barcelona centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo in the summer transfer window, and it could be argued that the Cottagers made a big mistake in not signing him.

Sky Sports suggested shortly before the transfer deadline that the West London side were in talks with the La Liga giants over a deal for the French defender but ultimately the transfer could not be concluded.

Instead, the 20-year-old joined Benfica on loan, where unfortunately injury problems have meant that he is yet to feature for Jorge Jesus' side.

However, considering Scott Parker's side have kept just one clean sheet in the Premier League so far this season, in the 2-0 win against West Bromwich Albion, you could certainly argue that they should have added more quality in their backline and quality is definitely something that Todibo possesses.

The youngster dazzled at times during his time on loan at Schalke last season, averaging a very solid 6.86 rating for his performances in the Bundesliga (per WhoScored).

Before he even joined Die Königsblauen, he earned the praise of German football icon Lothar Matthaus, who said: "Todibo is the best centre back I've seen in a long time. He would be a good reinforcement for Schalke and an enrichment for the Bundesliga. At 20 he is incredibly calm, he always finds interesting solutions," (per Tribuna).

Taking into account that Matthaus is considered by many to be amongst the greatest who ever played, this is high praise indeed for the youngster, and suggests that he would have been a superb addition to Fulham's squad.

Joachim Andersen is currently Fulham's best-performing centre-back in the Premier League this season according to WhoScored, as he has averaged a solid, if unspectacular, 6.64 rating across his appearances, so it can again be argued that centre-back is a position in which the Cottagers need to strengthen.

At just 20-years-old, the Frenchman has plenty of time to progress and Fulham may rue their decision to not pay up for the Barcelona man in the future, especially if he goes on to establish himself as a world-class centre-back.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-fc-news/tony-khan-scott-parker-jean-clair-todibo-barcelona


WhiteJC

Serbia boss warns Scotland that Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is not their only dangerman ahead of Euro 2020 decider

    Kai Havertz believes that winning titles at Chelsea would be 'worth more'
    Havertz has been impressed by the squad that Frank Lampard has assembled
    The midfielder has shown some encouraging signs in some of his recent display

Serbia boss Ljubisa Tumbakovic has warned Scotland that Aleksandar Mitrovic is not the only dangerman he has ready to shoot down the Tartan Army's Euro 2020 hopes.

The Fulham striker needs just two goals to equal his country's international scoring record having hit 36 in 59 appearances so far.

But Tumbakovic says Steve Clarke will be making a mistake if he thinks the 26-year-old is the only threat when they meet in Thursday night's play-off final at the Rajko Mitic Stadium.


Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is set to come  up against Scotland on Thursday night

'We have no secret aces up our sleeves,' said the Eagles boss. 'Each of the players can do equally as good as Mitrovic can.

'In the past few months, Mitrovic has been the guy scoring the goals but that doesn't mean that another player can't do the same.

'It's probably the case that our opponents aren't quite familiar with our players so they will probably try to close down all of them.'

Scotland are aiming to break a 22-year wait to reach a major finals but Tumbakovic is excited about leading his national team to his first tournament since being appointed last year.

And he has promised to bring Clarke's men to heel.

'Yes it's the biggest match of my coaching career,' said the 68-year-old for Partizan Belgrade boss.

'For someone of my age I'd say that is one of the most important matches I've been involved in.

'We have also played a number of matches that have been equally decisive but this has special importance and significance.

'We have been looking at the Scots for a long time and we will do everything possible to bring them under control.

'That's part of our strategy and if we're successful in this we will without doubt achieve the result we want.'

But Ajax star Dusan Tadic admits the clash is likely to be a tense affair, saying: 'In finals there are no favourites, it's a 50/50 match.

'We love the game, we love the pressure, we love the tension. We're used to it. Of course we want to win and we'll do our best to.'

Tumbakovic was left sweating earlier this week when it was reported four of his key Serie A-based men - Aleksandar Kolarov, Sergej Milinkovic Savic, Nikola Milenkovic and Dusan Vlahovic - would be barred from leaving Italy following the introduction of strict new coronavirus restrictions.

But all four have managed to find their way back to Belgrade and Tumbakovic was especially pleased to see Fiorentina defender Milenkovic - a target for Manchester United, Tottenham and Inter Milan - join up with his team-mates.

He said: 'Of course I was very relieved to see him join the team because Nikola is a standout performer for this team.

'Over the last 18 months and the 15 matches he has played with us, he has been a great support for both the team and myself so I was very relieved to see him here.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8938917/Serbia-boss-warns-Scotland-Fulham-striker-Aleksandar-Mitrovic-not-dangerman.html

Bassey the warrior

Quote from: whitejc on November 12, 2020, 12:01:19 AM
Tony Khan let Scott Parker down by not securing a deal for Jean-Clair Todibo

Fulham were one of the Premier League sides heavily linked with a move for Barcelona centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo in the summer transfer window, and it could be argued that the Cottagers made a big mistake in not signing him.

Sky Sports suggested shortly before the transfer deadline that the West London side were in talks with the La Liga giants over a deal for the French defender but ultimately the transfer could not be concluded.

Instead, the 20-year-old joined Benfica on loan, where unfortunately injury problems have meant that he is yet to feature for Jorge Jesus' side.

However, considering Scott Parker's side have kept just one clean sheet in the Premier League so far this season, in the 2-0 win against West Bromwich Albion, you could certainly argue that they should have added more quality in their backline and quality is definitely something that Todibo possesses.

The youngster dazzled at times during his time on loan at Schalke last season, averaging a very solid 6.86 rating for his performances in the Bundesliga (per WhoScored).

Before he even joined Die Königsblauen, he earned the praise of German football icon Lothar Matthaus, who said: "Todibo is the best centre back I've seen in a long time. He would be a good reinforcement for Schalke and an enrichment for the Bundesliga. At 20 he is incredibly calm, he always finds interesting solutions," (per Tribuna).

Taking into account that Matthaus is considered by many to be amongst the greatest who ever played, this is high praise indeed for the youngster, and suggests that he would have been a superb addition to Fulham's squad.

Joachim Andersen is currently Fulham's best-performing centre-back in the Premier League this season according to WhoScored, as he has averaged a solid, if unspectacular, 6.64 rating across his appearances, so it can again be argued that centre-back is a position in which the Cottagers need to strengthen.

At just 20-years-old, the Frenchman has plenty of time to progress and Fulham may rue their decision to not pay up for the Barcelona man in the future, especially if he goes on to establish himself as a world-class centre-back.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-fc-news/tony-khan-scott-parker-jean-clair-todibo-barcelona

This is poor journalism. Numerous rumours suggest a fee was agreed, but we fell down on persuading the player to come. It's not that appealing going from Barcelona to a relegation candidate, so we can't give Tony too much stick.

Defensively we did great business, it's the other end of the pitch where criticism would be warranted.

WhiteJC


Serbian marksman Aleksandar Mitrovic stands between Scotland and Euro history

Fulham striker has more international goals than Steve Clarke's squad

On the face of it, it is a mismatch in terms of firepower. The 25-man squad Scotland pick their XI from for Thursday's play-off for one of the last four remaining places at next summer's European championship have a combined 24 international goals between them. Up front for Serbia, their opponents in Belgrade, is a centre-forward with 36 goals from his 59 caps.

The last 13 of Aleksandar Mitrovic's strikes for his country have come from his last 11 internationals. It has been a peak year, coinciding with his emerging as the leading scoring in last season's English Championship for Fulham who, for the second time in three years, won promotion to the Premier League on the back of Mitrovic's marksmanship.

Granted, the 26-year-old has tended to find defences harder to unpick in England's top division, and a career of several yo-yos between Championship and Premier League, with both Fulham and Newcastle United means Mitrovic is sometimes viewed as a specialist in second-tier success.

That need not be a slight on his abilities. "The Championship is the most attritional league probably in the world," according to Scotland manager Steve Clarke, who selects several of his players from that division.

Attrition is Mitrovic's sphere. He is physically imposing, pugnacious, a target man of old-fashioned virtues, strong in the air, with sharp elbows and a barrel chest. He has achieved a cult status at Fulham, and an authority with Serbia that shapes the way they attack.

Three more international goals and 'Mitro' will become the all-time highest scorer since Serbia became independent of Montenegro for football purposes in 2006. Success on Thursday and he would expect to enter his first Euros with that badge of honour fixed proudly to his broad torso.

The first colleague Mitrovic thanks if and when he reaches that milestone would be Dusan Tadic, the Ajax playmaker, key service-provider to Serbia's target man. Four of Mitrovic's last seven international goals have been set-up by Tadic. If Scotland are to shackle the Serbs, that connection likely needs severing.

"We need to be switched on defensively," said Scotland captain Andy Robertson. "Mitrovic and Tadic can, in the blink of an eye, make something special happen."

Scotland centre-half Liam Copper put it more bluntly. "Mitrovic is big and horrible and tough to play against," Cooper, a regular combatant in contests across Championship and Premier League between Cooper's United and Fulham, told The Daily Record.

The Scots recognise their underdog status. Not since the 1998 World Cup have they reached a major tournament finals. In that time Yugoslavia, including Serbia; then Serbia and Montenegro; and then a sovereign Serbia, have appeared at three World Cups and a European championship. Thursday's duel is between a team ranked 30th in the world by Fifa and visitors ranked 45th.

But there is a cautious optimism from the Scots. Under Clarke, appointed last year, Scotland have become harder and harder to beat.

They take a run of eight matches without defeat to the Red Star stadium.

While there may be no devastating penalty-box predator, no Mitrovic, among the likes of Lyndon Dykes, Callum Paterson, Oli McBurnie, Oliver Burke and Leigh Griffiths, they are well marshalled, tenacious, and capable of holding their nerve.

Scotland are in the final of this Uefa play-off path after a penalty shoot-out with Israel settled a stagnant 0-0 over 120 minutes.

Serbia took a more rollercoaster route, taking a lead, set up by Mitrovic, late on in their semi-final against Norway, conceding an equaliser two minutes from the end of normal time and winning 2-1 thanks to an extra-time goal from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, the second of the match for the Lazio midfielder.

Milinkovic-Savic is among a clutch of players who won the under-20 World Cup with Serbia in 2015 and their generation expects to make an impact at a major tournament at some stage. The last senior World Cup was not it, Serbia ousted at the group phase.

Scottish impatience for creating memories on the big stage is far greater. Clarke, 57 years old and a grandfather, noted: "I was still playing the last time Scotland qualified. So it's a very, very long time ago.

"There is a generation that has definitely missed that atmosphere and feeling you get as a nation when you get to one of these tournaments, that proud feeling. Hopefully this group can deliver."



https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/serbian-marksman-aleksandar-mitrovic-stands-between-scotland-and-euro-history-1.1109897


WhiteJC

'I'm happy': £5.3m man not disappointed to miss out after reported Everton and Fulham interest

Gleison Bremer was a target for Premier League duo Everton and Fulham during the summer transfer window but, speaking to Esporte Interativo, he has no regrets about staying at Torino.

Before the European market closed its doors on October 5, the £5.3 million Brazilian was a man in serious demand.

Carlo Ancelotti had made no secret of his desire to add another central defender to his squad after losing Jarrad Branthwaite and Mason Holgate to injury. While Fulham appeared to be repeating the mistakes of 2018/19, conceding ten goals in their first three games since returning to the top flight.

But Bremer was still a Torino player after the October deadline passed.

Not that he is too disappointed, however, as he closes in on his 50th game for the Granata.

"Consolidating myself as a starter is a consequence of my work. I am happy with the goals (Bremer has scored six already in Serie A), but I am even happier to play my role in defence," the 23-year-old said.

"First I think about defending and, if I can, I also help in the attack. (Torino) are evolving and I hope to grow even more with the team.

"Representing the (Brazilian) national team is undoubtedly a dream. I try to dedicate myself on a daily basis and in games so that I can fulfil that dream.

"I'm sure that, if I keep doing what I've been doing in Torino, opportunities will appear."

Everton topped the table heading into the October international break but three successive defeats, against Newcastle, Southampton and Manchester United, have checked that progress as defensive mistakes creep worryingly back into their game.

Fulham, meanwhile, have been much improved since that dreadful start, conceding just five times in their last five matches.

The struggling Michael Hector and Tim Ream have been replaced by deadline day signings Tosin Adarabioyo and Joachim Andersen, to great effect.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/11/12/im-happy-5-3m-man-not-disappointed-to-miss-out-after-reported-everton-and-fulham-interest/