Fulham – Sports Africa

Fulham and West Brom’s relegations show problems of stepping up to Premier League

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LONDON, May 11 (Xinhua) — Fulham’s 2-0 defeat at home to Burnley ended any lingering question marks over which three sides would be relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season.

It is the first time the relegation issue has been resolved with three games still to play, and there hadn’t been many doubts about who would go down this season, with Sheffield United starting the season with 15 defeats and two draws before winning their first game.

Meanwhile, West Brom, whose relegation was confirmed by defeat to Arsenal at the weekend, never looked like ending their reputation as a ‘yo-yo’ team by starting the season with 10 games before their first win (against Sheffield United) and then embarking on a run which brought them just one win in their next 15 league games.

Fulham, meanwhile, had to wait seven games before their first three-point claim on returning to the top-flight (with that win coming against West Brom) and then also had a run of 15 matches before their second victory.

Coach Scott Parker built a tidy, neat team capable of passing the ball effectively, but ultimately a lack of goals and expensive defensive errors cost them dear and the same could probably be said of West Brom.

Despite other teams, such as Burnley, Brighton and Newcastle United all having their problems this campaign, the fact is they all had too much for the bottom three, as Burnley showed in the 2-0 win at Craven Cottage which sealed Fulham’s relegation on Monday night.

A combination of the difference in class between the Premier League and the Championship, combined with a lack of money for transfers and a short pre-season as a result of Covid-19, meant it was always going to be hard for Fulham and West Brom to make the step up.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United’s campaign was ruined by a breakdown in relations between former coach Chris Wilder and the club owners, combined with ‘second season syndrome’ and poor summer recruitment.

Speaking after his side’s relegation, Parker laid bare the realities of the situation. “We knew it was always going to be a challenge, but it is bitterly disappointing not to do that. The performance levels have been there, the fine margins and gulf in class in this division are so small. We’ve been so close at times but yet so far. Over the last five or six games, we’ve just fallen short,” he said.

“My players have given absolutely everything this year, and I have seen that again tonight. Endeavor, desire, effort, but we have fallen short on quality at times,” continued Parker.

Norwich City and Watford will be in the Premier League next season and they know the challenge that awaits them, with the task of emulating Leeds United rather than West Brom, Sheffield United and Fulham.

Pogba magic keeps Man United top, Man City also win

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LONDON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) — Manchester United came from a goal down to win 2-1 away to struggling Fulham and retain their lead at the top of the Premier League on Wednesday night.

Manchester City’s earlier 2-0 win at home to Aston Villa had temporarily lifted them to the top of the table, but that lead lasted just two hours as Edinson Cavani and Paul Pogba overturned Ademola Lookman’s 5th minute opener for Fulham.

Cavani scored as United kept the ball alive after Bruno Fernandes’ shot was blocked, while Pogba sealed the win in the 65th minute with a wonderful piece of control that saw him bring the ball down, drift past two defenders and score with a powerful shot.

There were some nervous moments in the closing minutes as Fulham worked hard for an equalizer, but United held on for another away win.

A sterling performance from Aston Villa’s England international Tyrone Mings meant that Manchester City had their patience tested before late goals eventually saw them claim a 2-0 win.

Although Pep Guardiola’s side produced another silky passing performance and dominated the game from nearly start to finish, it wasn’t until the 79th minute that Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez was finally beaten.

Rodri won the ball and Bernardo Silva held off several rival players before scoring, and Ilkay Gundogan’s last minute penalty sealed the win. Kyle Walker and Kevin de Bruyne both had to leave the pitch with injuries, with Guardiola saying afterwards that he didn’t know whether or not they were serious.

Watford condemn Fulham to premier league relegation with 4-1 defeat at Vicarage Road

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Fulham’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed on Tuesday night after a heavy defeat at Watford.

Scott Parker’s side produced a spirited first-half display at Vicarage Road but eventually succumbed to a 4-1 defeat as Will Hughes, Troy Deeney and Kiko Femenia scored during a blistering 12-minute spell.

Watford took the lead in first half through Abdoulaye Doucoure before Ryan Babel equalised for Fulham, but the host turned the heat on Fulham in the second half scoring thrice to stretch the lead to 4-1.

The Cottagers were the third biggest Premier League spenders last summer as £105.3m was spent on 12 new players following promotion from the Championship.

But Slavisa Jokanovic was sacked in November and immediately replaced by Claudio Ranieri after a run of one win from the opening 12 league games left Fulham bottom of the table.

The Italian was also sacked after less than four months in charge at Craven Cottage having managed just three wins in 17 matches in all competitions.

Scott Parker was placed in caretaker charge – but with the side already 10 points from safety following four successive Premier League defeats, the former midfielder was always facing an uphill task prolonging the club’s return to the top flight beyond one season.

Subsequent defeats to Chelsea, Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester City placed Fulham on the brink of the drop – and that has been confirmed in Hertfordshire.

Fulham will be joined in the Championship next season by Huddersfield, whose two-year stay in the Premier League was ended last weekend.

Roma name Ranieri as new manager a day after sacking Di Francesco over CL exit

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AS Roma has named Claudio Ranieri as coach, one week after he was sacked by relegation-threatened Premier League club Fulham where he had been in charge for only three months.

Ranieri replaced Eusebio Di Francesco who parted company with Serie A club Roma on Thursday following their Champions League elimination by Porto the day before.

“I’m delighted to be coming back home. When Roma call you, it’s impossible to say no,” Ranieri said in a statement.

The 67-year-old Ranieri, born in Rome, returns to the club where he began his playing career in 1973 and where he came agonisingly close to winning the Serie A title in a previous stint between 2009 and 2011.

Roma led the 2009-10 championship with four matches to go before being overtaken by Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan, who went on to win the title and also beat Ranieri’s team in the Coppa Italia final.

Roma are currently fifth in Serie A, one place and three points outside the Champions League slots.

There have been some impressive performances but they have suffered defeats to SPAL, Udinese and Bologna, all in the lower half of the table.

Ranieri’s biggest achievement was when he led rank outsiders Leicester City to the English Premier League title in 2016, although he was fired the following February with the club hovering above the relegation zone.

“At this stage of the campaign, it was important to bring in a coach who knows the club, understands the environment, can speak the language and is able to motivate the players. Claudio ticks all of those boxes and he’s very excited to take on this challenge,” said Roma President Jim Pallotta.

The widely-travelled Ranieri has coached more than a dozen clubs in a career that began in 1987 at Campania Puteolana.

They include Italian clubs Juventus, Napoli, Cagliari, Fiorentina, Parma and Inter Milan, English sides Fulham, Chelsea and Leicester City, Spain’s Atletico Madrid and Valencia and Ligue 1 sides AS Monaco and Nantes.

He has also coached the Greece national team.

Acid test for Ranieri’s successor, Scott Parker as Fulham face Chelsea, Man City in EPL

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Scott Parker faces a tough start as Fulham’s caretaker manager after taking over from Claudio Ranieri who was sacked over poor perfomance.

The former Tottenham midfielder has been asked to steady the club by owner Shahid Khan after Ranieri was sacked following a run of four straight defeats.

But that may be easier said than done, with Parker now preparing for arguably the Cottagers’ toughest run of Premier League fixtures all season.

Parker’s first game in charge will come against his former club Chelsea on Sunday, before fixtures against Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Former Fulham manager Claudio Ranier. The Italian parted ways with Fulham after a series of poor performance. ***PHOTO: COURTESY***

Ranieri parted ways with Fulham after less than four months in charge.

Confirming the departure Fulham chairman Shahid Khan said in a statement: “Following our discussion this afternoon, Claudio Ranieri agreed to my decision that a change was in the best interests of everyone.

“Claudio’s tenure at Fulham didn’t produce the outcome we anticipated and needed when I appointed him as manager in November, but be assured he is not solely to blame for the position we are in today.”

The Italian replaced Slavisa Jokanovic at Craven Cottage in November, but has managed just three wins in 17 matches since taking over.

Following his departure, Ranieri told Fulham’s official website: “I am obviously disappointed with the recent results and that we could not build on the good start we made following my appointment.

“Finally, I would like to thank the club, the players and the fans for the support they have given me during my time at the club.”

Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat to Southampton left the club 10 points from safety in the Premier League, with 10 matches to play.

Chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ greeted Ranieri’s second-half substitutions at St Mary’s, while a banner containing the words ‘Risk free? Are you watching Tony Khan?’ was unfurled in reference to comments made by the club’s vice-chairman following Ranieri’s appointment.

West Ham playmaker Lanzini set to return against Fulham after long-term knee injury

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West Ham could welcome playmaker Manuel Lanzini back in the team against struggling Fulham after a seven-month injury absence with a serious knee problem.

The Argentine midfielder ruptured his knee in June last year and was ruled out for World Cup in Russia.

The Hammers have lacked creativity since then and his return will be a boost for manager Manuel Pellegrini ahead of their Lonndon derby at home against Fulham.

However Pellegrini will miss Samir Nasri after failing to shake off his calf injury in time to face Fulham on Friday night.

The midfielder has made just three appearances since he moved to West Ham on a free transfer in December at the end of his 18-month doping ban.

Fabian Balbuena is also back in contention following a knee problem.

The Paraguayan centre-back, a summer signing from Corinthians, has not featured since the 2-0 home defeat by Watford on December 22. With both teams having been eliminated from the FA Cup before the fifth round, Friday’s fixture represents a first for West Ham and Fulham since February 9.

The hosts have climbed to 10th after consecutive 1-1 draws against Liverpool and Crystal Palace, while Claudio Ranieri’s struggling side are 19th and eight points adrift of safety after back-to-back defeats.

Resurgent United thump struggling Fulham to move fourth in the premier league log

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Manchester United moved into the Premier League’s top four with a 3-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

United moved above Chelsea on 51 points with their recent stunning form pushing them into the hunt for an end-of-season Champions League spot.

Anthony Martial was in sensational form, making the first for Paul Pogba and scoring a wonderful second as United secured their 10th victory in 11 games under interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Pogba wrapped up the points in the second half when he scored from the spot after Juan Mata was fouled in the area.

United were strong despite a much-changed defence and were rarely tested by a Fulham throughout the match.

Pogba’s resurgence under Solskjaer has been well documented and his performance at Craven Cottage epitomised the way he has played under the Norwegian.

Two more goals took his season’s tally to 13 – seven of them have been scored in nine Premier League games under Solskjaer was the spark in Manchester United romp.

With just 13 minutes on the clock, he latched onto Martial’s through ball and from a tight angle smashed the ball high into the top corner of Sergio Rico’s net.

He continued to stroll around the pitch with the swagger and skill expected of a £89m World Cup winner, dovetailing neatly with Martial to strengthen the case that he is the best midfielder in the Premier League at the moment.

And after Mata was clumsily pulled down by Maxime Le Marchand on 64 minutes, Pogba picked up the ball and coolly slotted the penalty into the bottom right corner.

With the game won, Solskjaer withdrew his star man to protect him for big tests coming up, not least Paris St Germain in the Champions League last 16 at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Claudio Ranieri’s side have now lost five of their last six games and a return to the Championship looks all the more likely after this display.

UNITED BOOST: Rojo set to return to first team training as Solskjaer pushes for top-four finish

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Marcos Rojo is set to return to first-team training this week in another boost for Manchester United.

The Argentine defender has been out of the squad since December with a mystery injury.

Rojo, 28, picked up the problem during the Champions League clash away at Valencia during the middle of the festive period.

The ex-Sporting Lisbon ace has been given the go-ahead to resume ball work over the next few days.

Interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will not rush Rojo back to first-team football after what happened during the Arsenal game at Old Trafford where he was thrown into the team immediately, but he will have his workouts intensified.

“Rojo will be back in training in the next 24 hours or so but a firm comeback date isn’t set,” sources from Old Trafford told The Sun.

“He is running and will now start ball work. He won’t be rushed back but it’s another boost for the squad.”

Chris Smalling and Captain Antonio Valencia have shaken of injuries and will be back soon. Despite not featuring during the Leicester City match, Smalling is up and running and could be in contention to return against Fulham on Saturday if called upon.

Rojo signed a new deal last year but has been ravaged by injuries over the last couple of seasons.

United takes on Fulham in the early kick-off on Saturday.

Fulham sign former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel to bolster attack

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Fulham have signed Dutch striker Ryan Babel on a permanent transfer from Besiktas in a deal running until the end of the season.

Claudio Ranieri has been eager to add more firepower to his squad to aid his side’s battle for Premier League survival with Fulham scoring just 20 league goals this season.

According to Evening Standard, former Liverpool winger Babel will wear the number 12 shirt at Craven Cottage.

“My first impressions are good and I’m very excited, the 32-year-old told the club’s official website.

“I definitely have faith that Fulham can stay up. That’s one of the reasons that I’m here, to try and help that to happen. I’m ready to go, I’m excited and I can’t wait.”

Babel cost Liverpool £11.5m in 2007, but despite a promising first season he was not a success at Anfield.

He made 146 appearances before joining Hoffenheim in an £8m deal in 2011.

Babel lost his way during spells at Ajax, Kasimpasa in Turkey, Al Ain in the UAE and Deportivo La Coruna, but rediscovered his form at Besiktas.

He is now a regular in the Netherlands side and is in line to start against England in the Nations League semi-finals in June.

FA shocks: Minnows Newport bundles out Leicester as Fulham, Sheffield Utd also suffer defeats in hands of lowly ranked teams

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Newport County stunned 2016 English champions Leicester City 2-1 on Sunday to follow fellow fourth-tier side Oldham Athletic and minor league Barnet into the fourth round.

Newport had led from the 10th minute but their dream appeared to have been snatched away when Rachid Ghezzal smashed in a late equaliser, only for Padraig Amond to score a late winner from the spot to bundle out Leicester.

This is the first time since 1964 when Newport beat Sheffield Wednesday that the Welsh team are eliminating a side from a division above them.

Oldham came from a goal down to defeat Premier League side Fulham 2-1 away at Craven Cottage while minnows Barnet won 1-0 at four-times Cup winners Sheffield United.

Newport, who are currently 13th in League Two, frustrated Leicester before going ahead through forward Jamille Matt header when he met Robbie Willmott cross in the box.

Leicester broke through in the 82nd minute when Ghezzal hammered a vicious shot past keeper Joe Day and looked set to turn the tables on their opponents in the last minute before conceding a late penalty after Marc Albrighton handled in the box.

Amond stepped up calmly to send his penalty past Leicester second choice keeper Danny Ward who was once a teammate at Morecambe.

“He faced a few of my penalties in training so I was hoping he wouldn’t remember,” Amond said.

The FA Cup has lost some sheen in recent years but Oldham and Barnet, along with third-tier Gillingham who beat top-flight Cardiff City on Saturday, revived the magic.

Woking’s adventure ended in disappointment, however, as the sixth-tier club, the lowest-ranked survivors, succumbed 2-0 at home to Premier League Watford.

There seemed little chance of an upset along the Thames when Denis Odoi put Fulham in the lead in the second half, but Sam Surridge equalised from the penalty spot.

Fulham were awarded a soft penalty but Alexsandar Mitrovic, brought off the bench to take the kick, had his effort superbly saved by Oldham keeper Daniel Iversen.

Callum Lang then sent 4,000 travelling Oldham fans wild with a headed winner in the 88th minute.

Sheffield United were outplayed by their lowly opponents Barnet for whom former Tottenham trainee Shaquile Coulthirst won it with a 21st-minute penalty after Richard Stearman brought down Ephron Mason-Clark.

“I am really proud of them,” Currie, who made more than 100 appearances for the club just north of London, said.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City joined Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal in the fourth round with a romp.

Raheem Sterling scored early on and youngster Phil Foden’s first home goal for the club and Semi Ajayi’s own goal made the result a formality before halftime. Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane completed the hiding.

Championship leaders Leeds United suffered a 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers, third-tier Doncaster Rovers upset Championship side Preston North End 3-1, while Millwall beat Hull City 2-1.

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