Monday Fulham Stuff (20.12.10)

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/December/JuniorFansChristmasParty.aspx?

Junior Christmas Party Cancelled

Due to the adverse weather conditions the Club can confirm that the Junior Christmas Party, which was due to take place at Motspur Park on Tuesday 21st December, has now been cancelled.

We would like to apologise for any inconvenience and we hope to organise an event in the near future for all of our young supporters.

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/December/JuniorFansChristmasParty.aspx?#ixzz18fhovhTD

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/December/BoxingDayTravelNotice.aspx

Boxing Day Travel Notice

Supporters attending Fulham's Boxing Day derby against West Ham at the Cottage should be aware of significant transport disruptions on the day of the game.

Train and tube networks will be affected, including Putney mainline and underground services.  Check your route in advance. Normal parking restrictions will be in force on the day of the game.



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/December/BoxingDayTravelNotice.aspx#ixzz18fi5VzQX

[WhiteJC]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1305753/Competition-Win-tickets-Fulham-v-West-Brom--courtesy-Barclays.html?

Competition: Win tickets to see Fulham v West Brom - courtesy of Barclays

Sportsmail has teamed up with Barclays, title sponsor of the Barclays Premier League, to offer one lucky reader the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the Fulham v West Bromwich Albion clash at Craven Cottage  on Wednesday January 5 2011.

Draw specialists Fulham
need to start winning their home games to pull away from trouble while West Brom have win plenty of friends but not enough points with their attractive brand fo football.

To be in with a chance, answer the following question:
Which one of the players below has played for both
Fulham and West Brom?
1 Danny Murphy
2 Jonathan Greening
3 Damien Duff

E-mail your answer, along with your name, address and contact number to:
[email protected]
to arrive by midday Tuesday December 28.

PLEASE NOTE: You must validate your entry with the words BARCLAYS FULHAM in your subject box; the tickets are for home fans only and do not include travel to/from the ground, accommodation or hospitality;  normal Associated Newspapers terms and conditions apply - the Editor's decision is final.

If you're not successful, you can always win a pair by visiting your nearest Barclays ATM and requesting a receipt, or by going online to www.barclaysticketoffice.com – you don't even have to be a Barclays customer.

Match tickets are up for grabs EVERY 90 minutes, every day, throughout the 2010/11 season. Further information and terms and conditions are available from www.barclaysticketoffice.com


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1305753/Competition-Win-tickets-Fulham-v-West-Brom--courtesy-Barclays.html#ixzz18fiM0VqI

[WhiteJC]

http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/philippines-snow/?

Philippines & Snow
Filed under: General — timmyg 
Neil Etheridge's Philippines side lost 1-0 yesterday to Indonesia, going out of the AFF Suzuki Cup in the semi-final stage. If I wasn't working the last farmer's market of the season, I would have definitely attempted to watch it live, and give some sort of report. Highlights can be found here though.

Pretty impressive the Booters held their opponents to just 2 goals — with one being an absolute peach — over two virtually-away legs considering the Indonesians scored 13 in the group stage. Ho hum, that was fun while it lasted!

Is it still snowing in England? Will another slate of games be postponed? Old Hoss brought up a good point:

Which brings us to this amazing video montage:
Mr. Freeze's Puns

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/December/LiverpoolTicketInformation.aspx?

Liverpool Ticket Information

Liverpool Away Tickets & Coach Travel

Match tickets and coach travel tickets will be valid for the rearranged fixture date. Supporters will be emailed with the new date once it is confirmed.

Supporters should make sure that they have supplied the Club with an up-to-date email address, you can do this online by logging in at fulhamfc.com/tickets or by calling the Ticket Office on 0843 208 1234 (option 3).

Screening Tickets

If you paid by credit or debit card these tickets will be automatically refunded. If you paid by cash or cheque please contact the Ticket Office on 0843 208 1234 (option 3) to arrange your refund.



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/December/LiverpoolTicketInformation.aspx?#ixzz18fjJ88xS

[WhiteJC]

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/3868/1/wolves-and-fulham-eyeing-exeter-youngster?

Wolves and Fulham eyeing Exeter youngster

Fulham and Wolves are leading the chase to sign promising Exeter midfielder Liam Sercombe.

The sought after 20-year-old has already made 84 appearances for the League One and scored his fourth career goal in Saturday's 5-1 over Sheffield Wednesday.

The central midfielder came through the youth ranks at the Devon club and could leave in January with manager Paul Tisdale unlikely to stand in the way of a move to a club in the top flight.

The youngster would cost around £350,000, if a move in the upcoming transfer window materialises.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/December/BoxingDayTravelNotice.aspx?

Boxing Day Travel Notice

Supporters attending Fulham's Boxing Day derby against West Ham at the Cottage should be aware of significant transport disruptions on the day of the game.

Train and tube networks will be affected, including Putney mainline and underground services.  Check your route in advance. Normal parking restrictions will be in force on the day of the game.



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/December/BoxingDayTravelNotice.aspx?#ixzz18fjovOox

[WhiteJC]

http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/cottagers-chief-eyes-festive-cheer-1136548.html?

Cottagers chief eyes festive cheer

Mark Hughes has ignored reports he is facing the sack at Fulham and says they will pick up some vital points over the Christmas period.

Weekend reports claimed that the Cottagers chief will be axed if they fail to defeat bottom club West Ham at Craven Cottage on Boxing Day. However, Hughes was refusing to discuss that scenario as he opted to focus on securing plenty of points from the game against the Hammers, trips to Stoke and Tottenham, and a home clash with West Brom over the festive period.

Hughes, whose side are only out of the bottom three on goal difference after their game at Liverpool was postponed on Saturday, told Talksport: "We're fully aware of where we are and it's a real frustration for us.

"I think we're using that frustration of not having as many points as we should have done.

"I don't think there is any danger of us thinking we're OK because we are playing well.

"We're really conscious of the fact that you have to get points on the board. That's what we'll do. The Christmas period is a real opportunity to do that."

[WhiteJC]

http://www.stokecity-mad.co.uk/feat/ed95/time_to_kick_on_610451/index.shtml

Time To Kick On

The postponement of Saturday's game at the Emirates means Stoke's quest for a Premier League win in December still goes on (clearly we were a shoe-in at Arsenal) with only fixtures against Blackburn and Fulham remaining. Although there are no easy games at this level the two festive fixtures that the computer has thrown up for us should offer some hope especially given the circumstances surrounding our opponents. 

A week ago our trip to Ewood Park looked like a very tough assignment, Blackburn are a very decent side at home and were managed by a very good and experienced campaigner in Sam Allardyce. A week is a long time in football though and we now visit a club seemingly not sure what direction it is going in and who have some key players looking doubtful following their weekend draw against struggling West Ham. Away wins don't come easy in the Premier League but the trip to Blackburn on Boxing Day should definitely be looked at as a fixture we could now potentially win. 

We sign off 2010 with a home game against Mark Hughes's Fulham who have been this season's draw specialists with ten stalemates out of their opening seventeen games. It was always going to be difficult for the Craven Cottage outfit to follow on from last season's Europa League heroics and despite having some good players they are another team that (on our day) Stoke should be looking to beat at the Britannia. 

The visit of Fulham will also see the wannabe football pundit, Danny Murphy's arrival to the Potteries for the first time since his ridiculous comments earlier in the season. As we know he didn't speak too highly about the Potters and accused TP of getting our lads "too pumped up" (heaven forbid) before a game. I can only imagine our gaffer must have had a word with Fulham skipper prior to our League Cup clash in September. Why else would he have been pumped up enough to throw the ball into Ryan Shawcross's face I wonder? 

Happily other than a few predictable voices the overwhelming view was that Murphy was bang out of order but I'm sure should he be in any doubt, the Potters faithful will make sure he gets the full, unedited picture next Tuesday – enjoy your day out Danny! 

As things stand we currently sit on 21 points from 17 games, at the turn of the year last season we had amassed the same number of points but from two more games. Should the Potters enjoy a prosperous Christmas programme we will therefore be well on our way to bettering the 47 points we collected during the previous campaign which would be an excellent effort. 

If we can now put a decent run together and collect a good haul of points I'm sure that it won't do our prospects of recruiting a couple of high profile additions during January. The Chairman has indicated we are in for a quiet window and I think he right to suggest this. I'm sure the gaffer will be bending his ear (especially if a centre half becomes available!) to give him the funds necessary to improve the team. 

This weekend I managed to catch Stan Collymore's overview of the season so far and where he suggested we need to strengthen. To be honest there wasn't any great shock for the Stokies who tuned in. He thought we'd finish about where we are currently (I think we'll finish higher though) and he knew exactly where most of us agree we need improving, namely central midfield and at full back. I'm sure that if TP can pull a couple of rabbits out of the hat this current Stoke team can push on and exceed last season's achievements and attain a top half finish. 

Right now it's time for all things family and a whole day without thinking about football (well nearly) so enjoy the festivities and then get yourselves up to Ewood Park on Boxing Day. 

Happy Christmas fellow Stokies and here's to a great 2011!

[WhiteJC]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/854911?&cc=5739

Hughes can't explain draws

Mark Hughes is at a loss to explain Fulham's costly inability to turn draws into wins this season.

Arsenal have lost the same amount of Premier League games - five - as the Cottagers but while they lie just two points behind leaders Manchester United, Hughes' men are outside the drop zone on goal difference alone.

Both sides are therefore proof positive of the importance of taking maximum points, with Fulham having done so only twice in 17 matches. Their remaining 10 games have all been draws, but many of these results have left Hughes scratching his head.

"I don't know where it's come from,'' said the former Manchester City and Blackburn boss. "It's never happened to me in my career before and it's not as if we're setting up negatively or trying to get people behind the ball and taking what we can out of games. We've tried to be positive in every game we've played and I think that is too our credit. I think we've improved in that respect.''

Fulham's problems stem from their lack of firepower as a result of injuries to key forwards.

Hughes said: "I think once we get that cutting edge and threat at the top end, which we will in the new year, then a lot of the good things we are doing will still be in place. It's been frustrating because we have not converted winning positions into winning performances but we'll get there.''

Despite bemoaning all the draws, Hughes would take just that result on Saturday when his side travel to Liverpool. They have never won at Anfield, although they will be facing a Reds side who have proved inconsistent in the extreme in 2010. That has seen manager Roy Hodgson, who quit Craven Cottage for Liverpool in the summer, come under real pressure.

Hughes said: "I would suggest it's the media saying he's under pressure but I think he's done well. When you read between the lines from what Roy says, he feels he has the support of everyone at Liverpool and, as a manager, that is what you want to know and feel comfortable with.

"He's frustrated because, the way Roy works, he takes time for his ideas to bed in as it does with my own ideas. You need that period of transition, I would suggest, but sometimes it is not always available for every manager. I think that when sense prevails, you give people time and they go about their business and then success follows on.''