After the ‘international break’ we welcome West Brom to the Cottage for an ‘early’ 12:30 kick-off.
So after 6 league games we’ve won 3, lost 2 and drawn 1, West Brom have won 3 and drawn 3, they are one of only three teams not to have lost a game so far this season. Fulham have a +5 goal difference whilst West Brom have +3, “on paper” this should be a very tight game.
It looks as if Gareth Barry won’t be fit, which will be good for us, however we’ll not have Harry Arter, good for them, due to suspension so both teams will have a ‘key’ player missing. With Mitro getting 3 goals in the 2 international games he’s back on fire, Stef Jo’ got a goal for Noway and Steven Sessegnon had really good outings for the England U21s.
West Brom, on paper, are the toughest team we’ve had to face this so far season, it should be a good game.
COYWs
Games of Interest…
Friday 13th Derby v Cardiff
Saturday 14th Fulham v West Brom Blackburn v Millwall Charlton v Birmingham Preston NE v Brentford QPR v Luton Stoke v Bristol City Swansea v Nottm Forest
Sunday 15th Barnsley v Leeds
come on over to the forum and join in the discussion… https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0
Another Friday evening away trip, this time we travel down to Cardiff.
So after a couple of defeats, at home to Forest and the League Cup game in the week against Southampton its time to try and get back to winning ways in the league against Cardiff City. We didn’t play badly in either of the games against Forest and Southampton, however we didn’t deserve to win either, perhaps a hangover from the Millwall game?
Neil Warnock is always a difficult manager to play against and unfortunately we don’t have Ryan, who always liked to score against them, but perhaps his brother, Steven Sessegnon, can carry on the family tradition? wouldn’t that be nice.
COYWs
Games of Interest…
Friday 30th Cardiff v Fulham
Saturday 31st Brentford v Derby Leeds v Swansea Reading v Charlton Sheff Wed v QPR
come on over to the forum and join in the discussion… https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0
Back at the Cottage for a 3 o’clock kick-off, this time we welcome Nottingham Forest.
So after Wednesday evenings derby we get to play at a more traditional kick-off time against a Forest team who gained a draw on their travels to Charlton mid-week. The performance of our front three of Mitro, Cavalerio and Knockaert showed why most Championship teams will not be looking forward to a trip to the Cottage.
Forest had good results over the previous 3 games, beating Birmingham City 3-0 and drawing two away games against Leeds and Charlton, so they’ll be full of confidence.
COYWs
Games of interest…
Saturday 24th Derby v West Brom Blackburn v Cardiff Charlton v Brentford Fulham v Notts Forest QPR v Wigan Stoke v Leeds
Sunday 25th Swansea v Birmingham City
come on over to the forum and join in the discussion…https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0
Another evening game, this time back at at the Cottage against Millwall.
Following on from two successful games we now face a visit from South London rivals Millwall. The second half against Huddersfield showed how good we can be, Ivan Cavaleiro had a mixed game, very average 1st half, unplayable 2nd and what a goal! Another highlight for me was Steven Sessegnon, what a debut from the young man. After getting an early booking he could have suffered however, as the game went on he looked more and more at home. It’s early days but if Friday night’s performance is anything to go by then he’ll turn into a fine player.
Millwall have won 2, drew 1 so a good start to the season for the Lions. Old boy Matt Smith was on target against Sheffield Wednesday and you just know he’d love to score against us!
COYWs
Games of interest…
Tuesday 20th Derby v Bristol City Sheff Wed v Luton
Wednesday 21st Cardiff v Huddersfield Charlton v Forest Fulham v Millwall Leeds v Brentford QPR v Swansea
come on over to the forum and join in the discussion… https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0
Friday evening see’s the boys travel to fellow relegation sufferers Huddersfield Town’s John Smith’s Stadium.
Friday night in Huddersfield, little thought given to the travelling fans so I can’t see us taking many to the game. Shame really as our performance against Rovers showed signs of improvement with a MoM from Harry Arter and good debut’s from Harrison Reed and Bobby Reid. We looked far stronger in the midfield, Tom’s goal is an early contender for goal of the season, and whilst we didn’t completely control the game we were certainly far better than against Barnsley. Mitro got a tap-in, hopefully this will start him on a spree.
Huddersfield lost to Derby on the opening day and drew against QPR last time out so they’ll be looking for a result against us especially after our trip to the Kirklees Stadium last season. Having signed Fraizer Campbell on a free, if he gets to play he’ll want to make a mark, he could be one to be wary of.
COYW’s
Games of Interest…
Friday 16th Huddersfield v Fulham
Saturday 17th Barnsley v Charlton Bristol City v QPR Millwall v Sheff Wed Stoke v Derby Wigan v Leeds
Sunday 18th Reading v Cardiff
come on over to the forum and join in the discussion… https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0
Our first home game of the season will be against Blackburn Rovers at 15:00 Saturday afternoon.
Last weekend’s opener against Burnley didn’t go the way we’d hoped but this time we’re back on home turf, let’s see if Craven Cottage will once again become our fortress? We have signed Ben Ticker however at 18 he’s going to be one for the future, and Harry Arter, Scotties brother-in-law, on loan and there have been plenty of other rumours, Onomah as part of the ongoing Sess’ deal, Amartey from Leicester, Jacob Murphy from Newcastle etc. but so far nothing concrete, I’m guessing it’ll be another last minute rush. Our front three of Mitro’, Knockaert and Cavaleiro should give most Championship teams pause for thought, especially if we can bring on AK47 for the last 10-20 minutes to run at tired defences, I hope we get to see evidence of how good they are starting this weekend. Will we have strengthened the defence? we can only hope so otherwise it could be a very long season.
Back to the week-end, like us, Rovers also lost by a single goal against a newly promoted team, Charlton, and you just know that Tony Mowbray will have his team fired-up to play against us.
COYWs
Games of Interest…
Saturday 10th Leeds v Forest Cardiff v Luton Charlton v Stoke Derby v Swansea Fulham v Blackburn Middlesbrough v Brentford QPR v Huddersfield West Brom v Millwall
come on over to the forum and join in the discussion… https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0
We start the news season with an away trip to Barnsley
After last season’s disappointment we start this season as one of the favourites for promotion, we’ll see as the season unfolds. We’ve had a reasonably quiet transfer window, Cavalerio and Knockaet look to be good loan signings however, at the time of writing, with the lack of additions/strengthening to the back 4 we could be in for another high scoring, high conceding season? it’s also a worry that Alfie Mawson was injured against West Ham.
Barnsley have a very good home record and I’m sure will be looking to get off to a good start and will be aiming to take ‘the scalp’ of one of the leagues big boys.
Games of Interest…
Friday 2nd Luton v Middlesborough
Saturday 3rd Barnsley v Fulham Blackburn v Charlton Brentford v Birmingham Millwall v Preston NE Stoke v QPR Wigan v Cardiff
Sunday 4th Bristol City v Leeds
Monday Huddersfield v Derby
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come on over to the forum and join in the discussion… https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0
So now that Fulham have promoted Scott Parker to ‘Head Coach’ having been in the ‘Caretaker Manager’ role since February, replacing Claudio Ranieri, we thought we’d give you a brief rundown of Scott’s football career to date.
Scott Parker enjoyed a successful playing career with six different Premier League clubs before going into coaching. A Charlton Athletic academy graduate, Scott made his professional debut in 1997 and went on to make 368 Premier League appearances, over 18 seasons, for Charlton, Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham, Tottenham and Fulham.
Scott won the Football Writers’ Player of the Year award in the 2010/11 campaign, his first season with Spurs.
Charlton Athletic – 1997-2004 Scott began his career at Charlton Athletic after graduating from Lilleshall and made his first-team debut against Bury (First Division) on the 23rd August 1997. In October 2000 Scott was loaned to Norwich City for a couple of months, on returning to the Valley he was called into the first team to replace the injured Mark Kinsella.
Chelsea – 2004-05 January 2004 Scott signs for Chelsea on four and a half year contract for a reported £10 million fee. Scott’s only goal was scored in a 2-0 win against Portsmouth at Fratton Park. At the end of the 2003-04 season he was named ‘PFA Young Player of the Year’. Scott found it difficult to break into a regular first team spot however, he was a regular starter in League Cup matches where he played in three consecutive victories against West Ham, Newcastle and Fulham, Scott would play for all three teams later in his career.
Newcastle United – 2005-07 July 2005 Scott joined Newcastle Utd for £6.5 million where he became a first team regular. Scott’s first goal came on 25th March 2006 in a 3-1 defeat to Charlton. In July 2006 he was made captain by manager Glenn Roeder. His first goal as Captain was against Wigan Athletic, his second came against Fulham, September 2006, after he was substituted Newcastle conceded 2 goals and lost the match.
West Ham United – 2007-11 June 2007 Scott signed for West Ham United for a £7 million fee. His first goal was a last minute winner against Middlesborough on 22nd December 2007. 2008-09 Scott was voted ‘Hammer of the Year’ by the clubs supporters and became the first player since Julian Dicks to retain the award after winning again in May 2010.
Tottenham Hotspur – 2011-13 August 2011 Scott joins Spurs for a reported fee of £5.5 million. Scott did not score for Spurs. Signing for Spurs gave Scott the unique record? of playing for clubs in North, East, South and West London in the Premier League. At the end of his first season Scott was named ‘Player of the Year’
Fulham – 2013-17 August 2013 Scott joined on a three year contract with fulham for an undisclosed fee and went on to make 128 appearances in three seasons. Scott scored his first goal against Swansea City in a 1-2 loss at the Cottage. Fulham were relegated at the end of the season and Scott retired from playing in June 2017. Whilst at Fulham, Parker completed his UEFA badges and coached for the Fulham FC Academy.
International Career Scott has represented England at every level from under-16 to the senior team.
Managerial Career Scott retired from playing in 2017, taking up a coaching role with Spurs’ Under-18 side. A year later, Parker made the next step in his coaching career, joining Slavisa Jokanovic’s first-team coaching staff at Fulham. He was reunited with Ranieri, the man who signed him for Chelsea in 2003, following Jokanovic’s departure on 14 November 2018.
Please complete by Tuesday 21st May 23:59 (UK Time)
It’s fair to say that 2018/19 has been a season Fulham fans would prefer to forget. What did you make of last year’s recruitment policy? Were there any highlights this season? Are you hopeful about the future of the club? Is Scott Parker the man to turn things around?
We want to hear what you think. It’s time to cast your votes in the Cottage Talk 2018/19 End-of-Season Awards, in 2 brief surveys. If you can please spare a few minutes to answer the questions and share these links with your fellow Fulham fans, this will be much appreciated.
So we’ve come to the end of our Premiership adventure, apart from the last few games its largely been a season to forget for us Fulham fans. However we still have one last game against Newcastle, I’m sure that Mitro will be looking to prove a point! I’ve got a sneaking suspicion he’ll be back on fire for this game, fingers crossed he gets his first Premiership hat-trick against his old club.
COYWs
Games of Interest…
Sunday 12th Brighton v Man City Liverpool v Wolves Fulham v Newcastle Man Utd v Cardiff Southampton v Huddersfield
