Saturday Fulham Stuff - 02/03/24...

[WhiteJC]

Pajaziti hits hat-trick as U21s put seven past Reading
Adrion Pajaziti hit a hat-trick as Fulham's under 21s thrashed Reading 7-1 to return to winning ways at Motspur Park this evening.

The Albanian under-21 international was the provider for Fulham's opening goal as the young Whites hit the front in the seventh minute. Pajaziti's corner was perfectly delivered for Kristian Šekularac to head over Harvey Collins and in via the far post from six yards out.

Terrell Works nearly doubled Fulham's lead shortly afterwards but his curling effort drifted fractionally wide before Collins saved smartly from Callum Osmand and Josh King. The Reading keeper was beaten by Works on 26 minutes when the lively winger picked his spot in the bottom corner having been teed up by Matt Dibley-Dias after a patient pattern of probing passes.

Harvey Araujo ended a promising run from Jahmari Clarke as the Royals briefly threatened, but Collins was quickly back in action saving superbly from Osmand after the Welsh striker's rasping drive from Giorgos Okkas' cross appeared destined for the top corner. Fulham's fluent football fashioned a third ten minutes before the break when Pajaziti was played in by Šekularac and rounded the goalkeeper with little fuss. The midfielder got his second of the net by converting a Devan Tanton cross to make it four three minutes before the interval.

There was still time for another goal before the break. Works punished some poor defending from a set-piece by beating Collins from an acute angle – meaning that the hosts went in at half-time 5-0 to the good. It soon became six right at the start of the second period, with Pajaziti completing his hat-trick by confident tucking away a penalty after King had been impeded in the area.

Substitute Bradley Slade produced a timely sliding tackle to prevent Clarke from pulling a goal back after he had skipped around Alfie McNally. Devan Tanton drilled in a seventh but the visitors did get a consolation as Jeremiah Okine-Peters powered home a cross from Adrian Akande. Lemar Gordon was twice denied by Collins in the closing stages, whilst Aaron Loupalo-Bi had a shot scrambled off the line.

FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): McNally (Underwood 88); Tanton, Okkas, de Fougerolles (45), Araujo; King, Dibley-Dias (McCoy-Splatt 65); Šekularac (Loupalo-Bi 88), Works (Gordon 65), Pajaziti (Loupalo-Bi 86).

GOALS: Šekularac (7), Works (26), Pajaziti (35, 42, pen 46), Works (45+1), Tanton (56).

READING UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Collins, Clarke, Abdei Salam, Purcell (Tuma 57), Borgnis; Senga-Ngoyt, Holzman; Tuma (Okine-Peters 52), Akande, Wellens; Jahman Clarke (Barough 57). Subs (not used): Rhine, Stickland.

BOOKED: Abdei Salam.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/03/pajaziti-hits-hat-trick-as-u21s-put-seven-past-reading/

[WhiteJC]

Up next: Brighton and Hove Albion (h)
Fresh from ending their eleven-game winless away league run with a superb stoppage-time success at Manchester United last weekend, Fulham will be hoping to extend the feelgood factor with a victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at Craven Cottage this afternoon. The Red Devils might not be the force they were, but winning in Fergie time is still something to be savoured – especially as Marco Silva's side have endured plenty of heartbreak against United over the past two seasons. The win, voted the LMA's performance of the week, was thoroughly deserved and contained a whole host of outstanding performances with Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi returning to the starting line-up after their AFCON exertions with crucial goals, Sasa Lukic sensational in midfield and Rodrigo Muniz, now up for the Premier League player of the month award, magnificent up front again.

Consistency has proven elusive for Silva's side this season. Fulham will go in search of back-to-back league wins for only the second time this term today and will hope to end something of a barren recent run at home. Victory over Bournemouth last month, inspired by Muniz's brace, is only their own win in the last five fixtures at Craven Cottage. They are undefeated in seven Premier League outings against the Seagulls, who have endured something of a patchy start to 2024 winning just two of seven matches since the turn of the year.

Roberto de Zerbi's injury-ravaged outfit were rather powerpuff in a meek midweek FA Cup exit at Wolverhampton Wanderers, managing a mere two shots on target as they were knocked out by an early goal from former Fulham midfielder Mario Lemina. Albion are still seventh in the top flight and travel to Roma in the last sixteen of the Europa League next week, having won their last four games to qualify for the knockout stages in some style. de Zerbi, linked with replacing the embattled Eric ten Haag at Old Trafford this week, insisted his focus remains with Brighton and admitted that he was hoping to see the 'true' Evan Ferguson again at Craven Cottage. The Irish international is contention to return from an ankle injury at Fulham having failed to score in his last sixteen matches.

de Zerbi confirmed during his press conference on Thursday that Tariq Lamptey, Joel Veltman and Danny Welbeck are all available to join Ferguson in his matchday squad but the Seagulls are still without the services of João Pedro, Solly March, Jack Hinshelwood, James Milner, Solly March and now Kaoru Mitoma, who will be out for the remainder of the season with a back injury. Former Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour will serve the second game of his three-match suspension after being harshly red-carded against Everton last weekend.

Fulham's injury concerns have dissipated somewhat with only Raul Jimenez still sidelined with a hamstring problem. Harrison Reed has recovered from the nasty eye injury that forced him off at United, whilst Willian was back in training later this week. A previously threadbare matchday squad now seems much stronger and the impact made off the bench, in different ways, by captain Tom Cairney and Adama Traore at Old Trafford was eye-catching. Silva made six changes last weekend to great effect – surprising a sloppy United with their intensity and ambition – and the Fulham boss will weigh up whether to go with the same starting line-up again after Harrison Reed and Willian were passed fit to feature. Cairney's clever ball retention could be valuable against a side that likes to retain possession – Brighton saw 72% of the ball at Molineux – whilst there must be a temptation to bring Willian straight back into the starting line-up given what a big difference the Brazilian continues to make to this Fulham side.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Bassey; Reed, Cairney; Iwobi, Willian, Pereira; Muniz. Subs: Rodak, Tete, Ream, Diop, Lukic, Wilson, Traore, De Cordova-Reid, Broja.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/03/up-next-brighton-and-hove-albion-h-3/

[WhiteJC]

Pre-Brighton Press Conference

After showing "a great reaction" against Manchester United last time out, Marco Silva is ready for a fresh challenge when Brighton visit Craven Cottage on Saturday.

"We are in a good moment, we are confident after that great reaction from us after the defeat against Villa," he explained. "It was a great reaction from us as a team.

"And now we are going to be back at the Cottage against a very good side, against a team that is not easy to play against.

"They like to take the ball from the opposition side, they have the capacity to have long moments with the possession, they have the capacity to take some energy from you, because they hold the ball really well.

"They have a certain way to play, and of course it's a game that is going to demand from ourselves the right timings to press, we have to be aggressive in some moments, other moments we have to be really in a good organisation as well.

"This is going to be a great challenge for us at home, with our fans behind us. We feel really well, we are stronger in this moment, and of course after a good performance you want to continue in this way.

"Just the three points are in our mind, but huge respect with Brighton – the way they play, the capacity they have, the individual players that they have as well. Of course, it's going to be a tough game for us."

Roberto De Zerbi took over at Brighton back in September 2022 and immediately led them to Europa League qualification, with a trip to AS Roma in the knockouts to look forward to next week.

Asked by a journalist what he makes of the job De Zerbi has done on the south coast, Silva replied: "A great, great job. He made a huge impact straightaway when he came in.

"Okay, they were in a good moment when they had that change when Graham Potter left the club. They were in a very good position, but we have to be fair with Roberto – he made a huge impact in that club.

"The football players, the way they play, clear idea of how to play, a really brave idea, too. And they have that capacity, as I said, of having long moments with possession, some moments that take some energy from the opposition side.

"But, in answer to you about his job, he's been great."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/march/01/pre-brighton-press-conference/

[WhiteJC]

Marco's Brighton Preview
Marco previews the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion to Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/march/01/marco-s-brighton-preview/

[WhiteJC]

In-form star earns first call-up since 2018 after £10m Manchester United exit
Andreas Pereira has been a man revived since leaving Manchester United for Premier League rivals Fulham and his form could be rewarded with a first Brazil appearance since 2018.

The last and only time the midfielder represented his country – a 5-0 hammering of El Salvador six years ago – the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Arthur Melo and his now-Fulham team-mate Willian were key figures in the Selecao set-up.

It is a different Brazil these days, new head coach Dorival Junior calling up youngsters Endrick, Yan Couto, Andre Trindade and the Manchester City-bound Savio ahead of March's friendlies with England and Spain.

Andreas Pereira, meanwhile, is back in the international fold, the former Manchester United man rewarded for what has been an impressive 18 months or so at Craven Cottage.

Andreas Pereira returns to beat Manchester United
Pereira, who left Old Trafford to the tune of £10 million during the summer of 2022, has seven assists in all competitions for Fulham this term, with a masterful display in December's 5-0 hammering of Nottingham Forest one of the finest individual performances of the Premier League campaign.

The former Lazio and Valencia loanee also marked his return to Old Trafford with a famous win last weekend, Fulham triumphing 2-1 away from home as Erik ten Hag's side suffered their first defeat of the new year.

Ten Hag a big fan of Fulham ace
"Andreas Pereira is a really good player," Ten Hag said in February, having coached the midfielder during their time together in the PSV Eindhoven youth system.

"I am really happy for him and that he is progressing that well. I think (leaving Man United) was the right step for him as I think he has to play on a regular basis. He didn't do it over several years at Manchester United. Then, there comes a point where you have to switch.

"Maybe (it is best) to take a step back in order to progress in the future. And I think he is doing a good job, that is quite obvious. As is Fulham. They are playing in a good way."



https://www.unitedinfocus.com/news/in-form-star-earns-first-call-up-since-2018-after-10m-manchester-united-exit/

[WhiteJC]

[Barrett487]

Paessler PRTG Always Keeps The Ball Rolling At Fulham FC
Founded in 1879, the Fulham Football Club (FC) is the oldest active professional soccer club in the British capital of London. Fulham FC currently plays in the second highest English league to around 25,000 fans at the legendary Craven Cottage stadium.

It's no easy task getting the club ready for its bi-monthly home games. Among other things, Fulham FC must maintain a massive IT network spread across several locations. For more than 250 employees, this is the hub of their day-to-day activities. The guardian of the network is Alex Malinov, Head of IT at Fulham FC. As he puts it: "In spite of having live football at its heart, Fulham FC is a 365-day-a-year organisation.

The stakes
The Fulham FC soccer club is located in the London district of Fulham. Since 1896, the "Cottagers" have been playing their home games at Craven Cottage stadium nestled on the banks of the River Thames. In order to make sure games run smoothly, the club not only needs 11 players – but also a functioning IT network. If certain systems go down, then games may have to be canceled. Fulham FC needed a monitoring tool to help them keep a constant eye on their network. PRTG Network Monitor, monitoring software developed by Paessler, proved to be the perfect solution.

The IT infrastructure at Fulham FC is extremely complex – it contains two data centers, and is spread out across three different locations. It is backed by VMware components, EMC storage units, Juniper switches, and a Veeam solution for backup and off-site replication – not to mention an equally complex virtual private LAN service (VPLS) solution from the British provider Exponential-e. If individual systems or applications fail, then the club's operations can become severely disrupted.



https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU2403/S00003/paessler-prtg-always-keeps-the-ball-rolling-at-fulham-fc.htm

Haha, great journalism !