Gera Wants Miners Strike

[White Noise]

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/sports/53517-gera-fit-and-ready-to-fire-for-fulham

Gera fit and ready to fire for Fulham


By Andy West


LONDON, Feb 18 —

Europa League specialist Zoltan Gera has declared himself fit and ready to aid Fulham's bid to knock out holders Shakhtar Donetsk tonight.

The classy winger, who scored his team's crucial third goal against Basle in December to secure their passage to the knockout stages after notching another winner in an earlier group stage game against CSKA Sofia, has missed the last fortnight of action with a knee injury.

But he returned to full training at the start of the week and said: "I'm feeling fit and feeling good. I'm ready to play if the manager needs me. I've worked hard to get myself back to fitness and everything's fine now, so I'm looking forward to the game."

However, the Hungarian ace is by no means taking his place in the Cottagers' starting line-up for granted, and is quick to praise the manner in which manager Roy Hodgson has developed his squad.

"We've got a big squad and we've needed it this season because we've had a lot of injuries. The manager made some great signings in the summer and we've had a really good season, even though the manager's had to keep changing the team on a regular basis.

"We're doing well in the Premier League and we're also still in the Europa League and the FA Cup, so we're very happy and looking forward to the rest of the season."

Thirty-year-old Gera is expecting a stiff test from Ukrainian side Shakhtar, the current Europa League holders. "They're obviously a very strong team, having won the competition last season, and it will be a difficult game for us.

"I know quite a lot about them and they've got some very good players, including some technically excellent Brazilians. I saw them play against Barcelona in the Super Cup a few months ago and although they lost 1-0 it was a very close game, which shows how strong they are.

"I would expect them to play safety-first at the start of the game and try to make sure they don't concede an early goal, but away goals are very important in this competition so they will probably try to attack us in the second half.

"The games against Shakhtar will probably be our hardest so far in the Europa League. Although we had tough games against Roma, who are a very good team, generally the Europa League games are easier to play than in the Premier League, where the tempo is faster and you have much less space to play."

Gera is pleased that his side will be able to rely on more excellent support from their fans, saying: "These are special games for our fans, who have been waiting for a long time to see Fulham in European competition. I'm sure they'll come again in big numbers on Thursday, and that's important because we'll need them against a tough team like Shakhtar."

Although Fulham are in the last eight of the FA Cup, where they will face Bolton or Tottenham, as well as the last 32 of the Europa League, Gera insists that he's not thinking about the possibility of lifting trophies, preferring instead to take the "one game at a time" approach.

"We just want to win every game, and our priority is always our next game — whoever it's against and whichever competition it's in. I'm not thinking about how far we can go in these cup competitions and whether we can win them — there are a lot of good teams in both competitions so let's just try to win every game and see how far it takes us."

Gera is confident that his side will be well prepared for their latest European encounter by their vastly experienced manager Hodgson, one of the best-travelled figures on the managerial circuit following earlier spells in Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden among other countries.

Gera has been impressed with what he's seen from Hodgson since joining the Cottagers from West Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2008. "Roy Hodgson is a very good manager," he said. "He just knows everything about football!

"It's been a great experience for me to play under his management — I've learned lots and definitely become a better player since I moved to Fulham. He's very intelligent and very active on the training ground. He works us hard and we spend a lot of time of the shape of the team, which makes sure that every player knows what their job is and what they need to do."

Gera also feels that his team's Europa League exploits will help raise the profile of the club on the international stage, exposing Fulham to football fans around the globe whose experience of English football often starts and finishes with Manchester United and the dark side.

"It's great to take Fulham to a new audience by doing well in this competition. We may not be the biggest club in London but Fulham is special because it's so friendly and traditional.

"We've got great supporters and it's really enjoyable to play at Craven Cottage — it's one of the oldest stadiums in the country but it's got real character and a special location, right next to the river. The stands are also really close to the pitch which helps the fans create a brilliant atmosphere — I'm sure they'll do that against Shakhtar on Thursday night."

[chez]

Good read.

Nice he mentions the importance of the supporters too, just hope his right in respect of the turn out by us tonight!

[LBNo11]

...a very interesting and enjoyable read. Gera has definately turned a corner and has the humility to see it and understand and appreciate what Mr Hodgson is doing to the players and club. It is also nice to see that he 'feels' the history of Fulham FC and it's location, I hope he scores at least once tonight...

[The Equalizer]

"The classy winger..." who plays central just behind the strikers...