Friday Fulham Stuff - 15/01/21...

[WhiteJC]

Fulham's Cairney nursing another knee problem

The bad news is that Tom Cairney is sidelined with a knee problem again.

The good news is the Fulham captain is not suffering with the same knee that kept him out for a large chunk of the 2017-18 season.

In fact, Cairney has been nursing the current injury since the 2-2 draw with MK Dons in a pre-season friendly at the Motspur Park training ground at the end of August.

The Scotland intentional stuck it out through 11 appearances so far, the last at Newcastle in December, but finally surrendered to the inevitable.

Head coach Scott Parker admitted Cairney has another problem to solve before he returns to the first-team fray.

He said: "I don't think it's the same knee (as before).

"It's an issue that came up in a friendly game a few months ago that we had at the training ground and he's been nursing it a bit.

"It's got to the point where it's little bit irritable and it's holding him back."

Fulham without Cairney intend to show the same determination at Chelsea on Saturday that gained them a 1-1 draw with Spurs on Wednesday.

"A lot of teams stay up in this division by showing that emotion that passion, that steel and siege mentality," Parked added.

"But we have got is quality; we've also got a style.

"Chelsea has attack line an abundance of quality and we need to stand up to them challenges and embrace them like we did at Spurs and at places like Leicester."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/tom-cairneys-injury-the-good-and-bad-news

[WhiteJC]

Cottage Talk Post Match Show: Fulham Earned A Well Deserved Point Against Spurs

Take a listen to a podcast that focuses on Fulham Football Club.

This is our post match show of the 1-1 draw for Fulham against Spurs.


You can also listen to the show by following this link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2021/1/14/22231760/cottage-talk-post-match-show-fulham-earned-a-well-deserved-point-against-spurs

[WhiteJC]

Benfica consider Seri move

Benfica may make a move for forgotten Fulham midfielder Jean Michael Seri this month if a bid for their top target William Carvalho falls through, according to Sky Sports.

The Portuguese giants are holding discussions with Real Betis over a deal for the 28 year-old, but are known to be admirers of Seri and consider the Ivorian international a possible replacement for Carvalho should that move not materialise. Seri, who has not been given a place in Fulham's 25 man squad this season, would be free to leave Craven Cottage if a club can match the club's valuation.

Galatasary have been holding talks with Seri and his representatives about a return to Turkey, where he spent last season on loan, but a deal appears unlikely at this point. Fulham want a loan fee for Seri and Galatasary's financial problems meant they are unlikely to pay one. Seri's preferred option is believed to be a return to France, although the crippling impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Ligue 1 clubs may mean that French sides are unwilling to risk big outlays in January.

Seri made 34 appearances as Fulham were relegated from the top flight in 2019 with his £25m move from Nice widely considered an expensive failure. His single appearance for the first team this season came in a 3-0 defeat by Brentford in the League Cup.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/01/benfica-consider-seri-move/

[WhiteJC]

Aina starring for Fulham is 'Chelsea's loss', says Parker

Scott Parker reckons Chelsea's loss is Fulham's gain when it comes to Ola Aina.

The versatile defender has improved in leaps and bounds since he arrived on loan from Torino in September – but he was one of the many on the periphery during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Aina gets a chance to show his old masters what they're missing when Fulham face Frank Lampard's team on Saturday.

After all, his wonder strike in the 2-0 win over West Brom in November won him the Premier League goal of the month.

The Whites head coach has no doubt he was the winner when it comes to the 24-year-old.

"Chelsea's loss? Yeah, definitely," Parker said.

"Chelsea have got a riches of quality at their disposal, but we're pleased to have him here."

Parker believes attention to detail has paid dividends for the Nigeria international, who previously represented England at Under-21 level.

He explained: "His concentration has improved and we wanted him to brush up on his detail in his work – the care in his body shape and the care in his passing.

"He came to us from Italy and when he first came in he probably struggled a little bit with the intensity of the training and what was asked of him.

"But we knew his quality from being a young player at Chelsea and I think everyone is seeing that now.

"He's very open-minded and willing to listen, and we're seeing the rewards of that."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/chelsea/aina-starring-for-fulham-is-chelseas-loss-says-parker

[LC]

Lots of people were quick to write him off, he's slowly improved and has made up one of the most solid defences in the league (yes I went there). His option is £10m I would probably exercise that if we stay up

[Bill2]

Lots of people were quick to write him off, he's slowly improved and has made up one of the most solid defences in the league (yes I went there). His option is £10m I would probably exercise that if we stay up

I assume you are referring to Aina and if his option is £10m I would bite their hands off. In fact if it applies to any of our loan players I would pay it quickly.

[milis]

EUROSPORT
THURSDAY'S BIG STORIES
CLEAR EYES, FULHAM, CAN'T LOSE

BY
ANDI THOMAS
YESTERDAY AT 08:31 | UPDATED YESTERDAY AT 10:13

If you assumed Fulham were going to slip quietly and sadly back into the Championship, well, you weren't alone. The Warm-Up was right there with you. Weird squad, inexperienced manager, got promoted almost by accident: doomed. Next!

It's probably time to admit that this was a little premature. Fulham have now found a system and a line-up and are making a proper nuisance of themselves. Particularly against their so-called betters: last night's point at Spurs' expense joins the ones they took off Liverpool and Southampton, and the three they took from Leicester.

Admittedly, Tottenham taking the lead and then dropping it all over the floor isn't exactly a new phenomenon, and we can file this 1-1 draw alongside the others: Newcastle, Palace, Wolves. Eight more points would have Spurs two clear at the top, incidentally. It's starting to look like that guy who said Spurs were a tiny pony in a horse race was right. Whoever that was.

Perhaps it would be unfair to accuse Spurs of fully shutting down once they had the lead. They made a few more highly presentable chances: it's just that Son Heung-min missed them. But we waited in vain for any kind of sustained pressure. Not playing Dele Alli is clearly a policy; not introducing Gareth Bale a mystery. Two shots in the last half hour is just weird.

Fulham, by contrast, got better through the game. Ademola Lookman rose from the bench and scared the hell out of Tottenham's backline, and if the visitors had nicked a winner, it wouldn't have felt too much like a travesty of justice. Of the bottom four, they look the side with the most coherent plan for getting out of trouble. Even more importantly, they're fun to watch. We can only apologise for our hasty judgement.

https://www.eurosport.com/football/premier-league/2020-2021/fulham-the-latest-to-ruin-tottenham-hotspur-s-premier-league-title-challenge-the-warm-up_sto8066516/story.shtml