Premier League - News and Rumors

[rondwisan]

QPR cancel Christmas party
ESPN - December 5, 2012



Players at bottom-of-the-Premier-League QPR have decided to cancel their Christmas party as they do not want to give the wrong impression to the club's fans, according to the Daily Telegraph.


New boss Harry Redknapp is believed to have been consulted, but the players took the decision independently of their manager who has a history of playing Scrooge at this time of year and twice ordered his Spurs players to cancel their celebrations.

With winless QPR rooted to the foot of the table after a run of six points in 15 games, a club spokesman said: "We won't be holding a Christmas party this year." When asked why this was the case, added: "Have you seen the league table?"

Some high profile misdemeanours have resulted in an increased focus on clubs' Christmas parties in recent years, with West Ham's Andy Carroll interviewed by Irish police earlier this week for an alleged incident with a photographer on the Hammers' celebration in Dublin.

[rizluq]

Swansea would not sell Michu for less than £30m, says Michael Laudrup

• Spaniard has starred since £2m move from Rayo Vallecano
• Danish manager points to the £15m received for Joe Allen



Press Association
guardian.co.uk


Michael Laudrup has warned potential suitors for Swansea's top scorer Michu they will have to part with a hefty fee to secure the Spaniard's services.

The 26-year-old has been one of the stars of the season since moving to the Liberty Stadium from Rayo Vallecano for £2m in the summer.

Michu's double in the 2-0 win at Arsenal took him to 10 goals from 15 Premier League appearances, putting him level with Robin van Persie, Luis Suárez, and Demba Ba.

There has already been speculation linking the forward with a move away from Swansea in January, but Laudrup has warned any club wanting to make a move would need to spend a lot more than the £15m Liverpool paid for Joe Allen in the summer.

"I don't want to let him go, sometimes the offer can be so big you have to accept but I really don't think clubs are going to pay so much money for him," Laudrup said. "We have the example of what Liverpool paid for Joe Allen, if they have to pay double for Michu there are few clubs who could afford that.

"Joe went to Liverpool and you know more or less what they paid for him, but a guy who has scored many goals must be worth a lot more, so you work out the figures.

"I don't think anyone will come with that money so he will stay here."

The win at Arsenal was Swansea's third in their last four games and moved them up to seventh in the table, just three points off third-placed Chelsea, ahead of Saturday's meeting with Norwich.

Some Swans fans have started dreaming of European qualification but Laudrup is eager to play down expectations ahead of what he expects to be a tough test against Chris Hughton's side.

"There are other teams who will fight for that, it would not be logical for a team like Swansea to play for such places," Laudrup said. "That does not mean we are not happy at being at a good place in the table, but I look at the points.

"I am pleased with what we have now, but if we are sixth, eighth or 10th now it is not so important. We are 15 games in, there are 23 to go and it is still tight.

"If you look at the teams above and below it is very tight and you know in three or four games the situation can change very quickly.

"So we need to take one game at a time and when we get to March or April then we can see what happens."

Laudrup is likely to again be without Pablo Hernández against Norwich as the Spanish winger struggles with a muscle injury while goalkeeper Michel Vorm is back in training after a groin problem but is not likely to be risked.

[rizluq]

Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Rafa Benítez suits up, QPR look for a first win at last, a crunch south coast clash. Oh, and a derby in Manchester




Rafa fretting about his suit

Rafael Benítez has a new Chelsea suit on order from the club's official outfitters, Dolce & Gabbana after failing to find one in the Stamford Bridge wardrobes that actually, er, fitted. Will it have arrived in time for Chelsea's visit to Sunderland? It is to be hoped so because, immediately after the final whistle, the team travel to Newcastle airport where the charter plane booked to carry them to the World Club Championship in Japan will be waiting on the tarmac. Poor Benítez; as if some disappointing results were not bad enough, he has been fretting about the suit, fearing the Dolce & Gabbana cut is designed for fit young athletes rather than slightly portly middle aged men.

Sunderland may rue failing to snap up Bolo Zenden

Zenden has no problems looking good in Dolce & Gabbana. Indeed many Sunderland fans would rather their former midfielder was offering creative input to Martin O'Neill's struggling team rather than sitting in the Chelsea dug-out as Benítez's new assistant. The Dutchman is remembered as a fine passer, wonderful club captain and excellent professional. Indeed the question some Sunderland supporters are asking is whether O'Neill should have got in first and added the multilingual former Barcelona, Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Marseille winger to his staff before Benítez snapped him up? His intelligence and football knowledge aside, Zenden comes with the added advantage of being a judo black belt. With Bolo around, even Roman Abramovich might think twice about crossing Benítez.

Redknapp and QPR target win at Wigan

Will Harry secure his first win as QPR manager at the third attempt when they travel to Wigan? Considering that his team – who have sensibly cancelled their Christmas Party – have not celebrated victory in the Premier League all season they are overdue three points. Roberto Martínez's side can be awkward opponents though and Martínez will have highlighted winning this game as essential if Wigan's annual struggle for survival is to, once again, prove successful.

Premier League scouts heading to Fulham on Monday night

Liverpool's Alan Harper is foremost among those leading scouts who have repeatedly watched Newcastle United's Demba Ba this season. The Senegal striker, who has a £7.5m release clause in his contract which can be activated in January, hopes to add to his haul of 10 goals for the season at Craven Cottage. His failure to agree a new contract at Newcastle suggests he could be leaving but matters are complicated by a knee condition which means Ba would almost certainly fail a medical allied to his high wage demands and additional payments demanded by agents.

Bitten fingernails – and goals – on the south coast

Southampton v Reading looks like the perfect definition of a relegation six-pointer. Both these two, refreshingly free-scoring promoted sides could do with three points but Reading will hope to leave something in reserve for Tuesday night when they visit Sunderland for a similarly important fixture the under-pressure home manager, Martin O'Neill, is desperate to win.

Tension between neighbours

Sunday sees the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium. With the race at the top currently looking an all Mancunian affair, the outcome could have a direct bearing on the title's destination. More immediately, City will want to atone for their Champions League ignominy. What price Carlos Tevez eclipsing his old friend Wayne Rooney by scoring the winner?

Could Mourinho be heading to Manchester?

Might this be the last time he is seen prowling the away technical area at the Etihad on Premier League duty? With José Mourinho seemingly set to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and Ferguson having endorsed him as his ideal successor at Old Trafford could a summer hand-over be looming? After all Sir Alex is fast approaching his 71st birthday – and Mourinho v Roberto Mancini would provide endless hours of bitchy fun in Manchester next term.

Could Darren Bent be poised for an Aston Villa recall?

Might Aston Villa's £24m striker be on the bench for the visit of Stoke City? Could Paul Lambert shock everyone by starting him or, more likely, will Bent either watch from his private box or simply spend the afternoon out Christmas shopping?

Liam Ridgewell's toilet humour fails to impress

Arsène Wenger may yet have reason to be grateful for the distracting presence of Liam Ridgewell in the West Bromwich Albion defence when Arsenal host Steve Clarke's side. Earlier this week photographs of Ridgwell appeared in tabloids showing the defender squatting over the loo in his £1.5m home surrounded by almost £1,000 in cash and using a wad of £20 notes as toilet paper. He can expect to be reminded of this tasteless and idiotic stunt by opposition fans – (not that West Bromwich supporters are overly impressed) – for months to come, starting with Arsenal's. The word regret probably does not quite do justice to what Ridgewell is about to feel and the thought of diverting potential flak from Wenger is unlikely to offer much consolation.

José Enrique poised to remind Allardyce of his talent

When Liverpool travel to West Ham on Sunday the visiting left-back, or left-winger as he sometimes is these days, will be poised for a reunion with Sam Allardyce. The West Ham manager was the wrong man for Newcastle but one of the best things he did while in charge on Tyneside was to sign José Enrique from Villarreal for £6m. After a tentative start the Spaniard excelled at St James' and, following a bit of a blip under Brendan Rodgers appears to be winning Liverpool's manager round. With a left foot the envy of many, Enrique offers proof of Allardyce's eye for a player; Rodgers must hope he will remind Big Sam of his talent by helping undo the currently high flying Hammers.

[kaosunited]

Originally Posted by rizluq

Swansea would not sell Michu for less than £30m, says Michael Laudrup

• Spaniard has starred since £2m move from Rayo Vallecano
• Danish manager points to the £15m received for Joe Allen



Press Association
guardian.co.uk


Michael Laudrup has warned potential suitors for Swansea's top scorer Michu they will have to part with a hefty fee to secure the Spaniard's services.

The 26-year-old has been one of the stars of the season since moving to the Liberty Stadium from Rayo Vallecano for £2m in the summer.

Michu's double in the 2-0 win at Arsenal took him to 10 goals from 15 Premier League appearances, putting him level with Robin van Persie, Luis Suárez, and Demba Ba.

There has already been speculation linking the forward with a move away from Swansea in January, but Laudrup has warned any club wanting to make a move would need to spend a lot more than the £15m Liverpool paid for Joe Allen in the summer.

"I don't want to let him go, sometimes the offer can be so big you have to accept but I really don't think clubs are going to pay so much money for him," Laudrup said. "We have the example of what Liverpool paid for Joe Allen, if they have to pay double for Michu there are few clubs who could afford that.

"Joe went to Liverpool and you know more or less what they paid for him, but a guy who has scored many goals must be worth a lot more, so you work out the figures.

"I don't think anyone will come with that money so he will stay here."

The win at Arsenal was Swansea's third in their last four games and moved them up to seventh in the table, just three points off third-placed Chelsea, ahead of Saturday's meeting with Norwich.

Some Swans fans have started dreaming of European qualification but Laudrup is eager to play down expectations ahead of what he expects to be a tough test against Chris Hughton's side.

"There are other teams who will fight for that, it would not be logical for a team like Swansea to play for such places," Laudrup said. "That does not mean we are not happy at being at a good place in the table, but I look at the points.

"I am pleased with what we have now, but if we are sixth, eighth or 10th now it is not so important. We are 15 games in, there are 23 to go and it is still tight.

"If you look at the teams above and below it is very tight and you know in three or four games the situation can change very quickly.

"So we need to take one game at a time and when we get to March or April then we can see what happens."

Laudrup is likely to again be without Pablo Hernández against Norwich as the Spanish winger struggles with a muscle injury while goalkeeper Michel Vorm is back in training after a groin problem but is not likely to be risked.

ini pmain emang top,, dan bisa jadi pemain yang luar biasa,,

[rizluq]

Martin O'Neill confident of putting things right at Sunderland


• 'I've had tougher times at other clubs' says O'Neill
• 'We'll get a team the supporters are really proud of'




Louise Taylor
The Guardian

Sunderland's manager Martin O'Neill believes he can stop the downward trend and make the club a success. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters
Rafael Benítez's job must seem straightforward to Martin O'Neill. Last Monday Sunderland's manager completed a year in charge at the Stadium of Light but it was not a happy anniversary.

After two wins in their last 22 Premier League games, his team lie one point and one place above the relegation zone.

With Reading visiting on Tuesday this is a vital few days for O'Neill but the 60-year-old remains confident he can put things right.

"I've had tougher times at other clubs and come through them," he said. "When I went to Leicester City, the first 10 or 11 games I couldn't win a match to save my life.

We turned that round and were pretty successful. The first year at Aston Villa was exceptionally tough. We'll pull round and inevitably, I hope, we'll get a team that the supporters are really proud of."

Medial knee ligament damage means O'Neill must cope without his captain and midfield enforcer, Lee Cattermole, until February but he is hoping the striker Steven Fletcherwill respond well enough to a pain-killing injection in an injured ankle to be involved against Chelsea

[rizluq]

QPR trial for Tal Ben Haim as Harry Redknapp looks to strengthen squad


• Israel international is a free agent after leaving Portsmouth
• 'He's a good lad and has a great attitude', says Redknapp




Press Association
guardian.co.uk


The QPR manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed that the Israel international Tal Ben Haim is having a trial with the Loftus Road club.

Ben Haim, 30, has been without a club since leaving Portsmouth in August and Redknapp has included him in practice sessions at QPR's training ground this week.

Redknapp said: "I am having a look at him, he's a good defender, he's a good lad and has a great attitude. He looks very fit and I have let him come in and train, we will just see where we go in the next couple of weeks."

Ben Haim, who has also had spells at Bolton, Chelsea and Manchester City, has not played since Israel's 4-0 World Cup qualifying defeat against Russia in September.

Redknapp is looking to strengthen his squad after taking over a club rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and without a win in their first 15 matches.

Redknapp has presided over draws against Sunderland and Aston Villa since replacing Mark Hughes last month and his team face fellow strugglers Wigan at the DW Stadium on Saturday.

[rizluq]

Swansea fan arrested for alleged racist gesture at Sébastien Bassong

• Norwich defender alerts Howard Webb during team's 4-3 win
• Swansea say: 'Matter is with the police … we abhor racism'




Joe Lovejoy at Liberty Stadium
The Observer


A Swansea City fan has been arrested after Sébastien Bassong, Norwich City's centre-half, became the latest Premier League footballer to be the victim of an alleged racist gesture.

The incident occurred 76 minutes into Norwich's thrilling 4-3 win, when Robert Snodgrass scored their fourth and decisive goal with a 25-yard free‑kick. It was during the celebrations that followed the goal that the spectator was said to have committed the offence.

In complaining to Howard Webb, the referee, Bassong was caught on one press photographer's camera making what is commonly called a monkey gesture, scratching his right armpit with his right hand. The defender then had to be restrained by team-mates as he tried to move towards the crowd.

Straight after the match, Bassong, who had scored his side's second goal, was interviewed by police in a storage cupboard adjacent to the press room at the Liberty. At 6.15pm Swansea issued the following statement: "An incident occurred after Norwich's fourth goal and Sébastien Bassong made the referee aware that there was a racist gesture towards him from a Swansea City fan.

"From the time of that report, within 10 minutes the stewards obtained the CCTV footage, went through it and identified the alleged person in question. Also within the 10-minute period a male spectator was arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence. As a club, Swansea City abhor racism and have worked hard to keep it out of what is a family club."

Bassong was not available for comment but Chris Hughton, the Norwich manager, said: "I was made aware of the incident and all credit to Swansea City for identifying the person involved so quickly. The matter is now with the right people – the police."

[rizluq]

Sam Allardyce's eye for a player's strengths keeps West Ham on the up
Manager's ability to see the bigger picture has helped him find the right pieces for his jigsaw



Paul Doyle
The Observer


West Ham do not look like newcomers in the Premier League. While Reading and Southampton strive to find their feet, the team promoted via the play-offs are already into a stride that suggests their aim for this season should be more than merely surviving in the top flight.

Last Saturday's swashbuckling victory against Chelsea hoisted them to eighth in the table, gave them their best start to a Premier League season since 1999-2000 and has got some supporters thinking they could qualify for continental competition. In a week in which they were named as the preferred candidates to take up residence in the Olympic Stadium, West Ham seem to be going places.

Part of the explanation for the ease with which they have coped with promotion seems simple. Unlike Reading and Southampton they are packed with Premier League experience. But such simplicity is difficult to achieve. Ask Mark Hughes. He crammed Queens Park Rangers with players well acquainted with life among the elite but could not coax any cohesion from them and ended up without a win and a job. What Hughes lacked was a clarity of vision as strong as Sam Allardyce's.

Vision means more than seeing what you want to do. It also means seeing what others can do for you. Allardyce has proved something of a soothsayer from that point of view. In some cases it could be said that he benefited from foresight: he has solidified West Ham's defence by signing three players with whom he previously worked – James Collins, Joey O'Brien and Jussi Jaaskelainen – but it is worth noting that others did not rate them so highly. Jaaskelainen, for instance, was considered surplus at Bolton before Allardyce hired him in the summer to replace the QPR-bound Rob Green. This season the Finn has the best shots-to-saves ratio of any goalkeeper in the Premier League.

The best examples of Allardyce seeing what most others missed are in evidence further forward, starting with Kevin Nolan. Allardyce and Nolan have thrived together for so long that their success seems a given but it was not always so obvious. When their paths first crossed at Bolton in 1999, Nolan was showing few signs of developing into one of the most consistent midfield goalscorers of the past decade. "When I first met Kevin he was a centre-half in the youth team," Allardyce says. "We watched him and saw he was never a defender. He was only there because he was 6ft 3in and they thought you need a big centre-half. He wasn't good defensively but you saw the ability he had so we moved him up. We sort of spotted that this lad likes to get forward and, though he likes to not get too involved in the midfield buildup, he likes to support the front man and has a knack for doing that without anyone seeing him. They are thinking: 'How did he get there?'"

Nolan's ability to feed off a target man has made him West Ham's top scorer this season with five league goals and meant that strikers such as Andy Carroll and Carlton Cole have been able to play important roles – supplying Nolan – despite seldom scoring themselves. Neither Nolan nor the rest of the team can score enough, however, to get the strikers totally off the hook: West Ham have had 12 different scorers in the league this season – only Manchester United have had more – but Carroll and Cole have contributed one apiece. Allardyce demands more. Cole struck his one against Chelsea last weekend and, with Carroll injured, the manager wants him to continue in that vein at Upton Park today against Liverpool. "I think, for us, that's one of our slight weaknesses, that our centre-forwards haven't really scored enough," Allardyce says.

"Carlton, Andy, Modibo Maïga, Vaz Tê when he's been on the field, haven't really scored enough. We've had a lot of players scoring but we've not had anybody racking the goals up apart from Kevin Nolan. Our great victory last week came from clinical finishing and we want to continue that if we can."

One of last week's scorers, Mohamed Diamé, embodies another example of Allardyce's savvy. The Senegalese was regarded as a defensive midfielder before joining from Wigan for free in the summer but Allardyce has reinvented him as a more marauding sort. Diamé might have been playing against West Ham on Sunday rather than for them, as Kenny Dalglish was on the verge of taking him to Anfield before being replaced by Brendan Rodgers. "When you speak to Kenny and he says: 'Yeah, we were going to take him,' it gives you that little bit more confidence in your judgment," Allardyce says. "I always think you focus on what a player's strengths are and then you put them in that jigsaw and someone can cover their weaknesses. It's all about balancing the team and understanding, like what I said about Kevin. Some managers saw [Diamé] as a sitting midfield player, which completely takes away 80% of his game. You've got to make the right choices as a manager, to get the right system but also to play to players' strengths."

The manager refuses to say whether it is true that, as reported, Diamé has a clause in his contract allowing him to leave for a modest fee if a bigger club wants him, but West Ham fans are confident that, irrespective of that, with Allardyce in charge they will emerge from the January transfer window reinforced.

[rizluq]

FA launches inquiry after coin hits Ferdinand in the face


• City apology as defender is cut above eye
• Police arrest fan for running on to pitch





Jamie Jackson
guardian.co.uk


Manchester City issued a "wholehearted apology" to Rio Ferdinand after the defender was struck by a coin thrown from the crowd when celebrating Robin van Persie's late winning goal in the Manchester derby.

The Football Association announced it would investigate the incident, which came at the end of a tumultuous match in which a City fan was arrested after running on to the pitch following the Dutchman's injury-time winner and was intercepted by Joe Hart as he appeared to try and reach Ferdinand. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) also stated that another supporter was detained for a potential racism offence and that they are investigating alleged racist tweets.

United's 3-2 win ended the champions' 37-game unbeaten league record at home, and also handed them a first league defeat of the season to leave City six points behind them at the top of the table.

In separate tweets, the police said: "Man arrested inside stadium on suspicion of committing a racially aggravated public order offence after officers hear racist chanting." A second one read: "Thank you to everyone reporting racist tweets. We are aware and are investigating."

Of the Ferdinand incident, a club spokesperson said: "Manchester City FC security officials are co-operating fully with Greater Manchester Police in relation to events leading up to the throwing of missiles on to the field of play, and between the two sets of supporters, during today's game against Manchester United.

"Manchester City wishes to offer its sincere apologies to Rio Ferdinand. The club unreservedly condemns the actions which led to his being injured. GMP's review of all fan behaviour at today's match will be fully supported by the club, through the provision of CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts. Following this review, and any associated police action, the club will also apply its own disciplinary policies for any fans found guilty of offences."

Immediately after the match, Ferdinand tweeted: "what a result, 3points! Sweet! Whoever threw that coin, what a shot! Can't believe it was a copper 2p....could have at least been a £1 coin!"

Of Hart's intervention with the City fan, the defender tweeted: "Respect to Joe Hart for protecting that idiot who ran on!! Love the banter between fans but there is a point when it goes too far...calm it!"

Sir Alex Ferguson, though, struck a more sombre note. He told MUTV: "It's just disappointing at the end that a supporter ran on the field and Rio was hit with a coin in the eye. I don't know whether they are going to stitch it or not, we'll see. The same thing happened at Chelsea and it was all masked by the carry-on [involving Mark Clattenburg]. Half a seat came on and hit [Michael] Carrick and then coins, lighters, the lot – the game doesn't need that."

An FA statement said: "We will work with the clubs and authorities to identify those responsible and support the strongest sanctions available, including life bans. We condemn any such acts and it is simply unacceptable that any player is exposed to injury in this way. To witness Rio Ferdinand leaving the field with a cut above his eye to receive treatment is appalling."

In an unwaveringly dramatic game, Wayne Rooney put United into a 2-0 lead. Those goals took him to a record-equalling 11 goals in Manchester derbies, a total he shares with City's Francis Lee and Joe Hayes, before Yaya Touré and Pablo Zabaleta's second-half efforts drew the home side level.

After Phil Jones goaded the home crowd by celebrating before them after Van Persie's winner, and Carlos Tevez then had a touchline spat with Ferguson, Mancini afterwards insisted that they could still retain the title. "I am sure we can win the [FA Cup and Premier League] double. We have the spirit to recover six points, but we must now win four or five games in a row. For 20 minutes they didn't touch the ball and the first chance they got they scored a goal. We recovered very well and we dominated the second half."

Ferguson said: "Derby games are significant if you win them, but I hope it's really significant by the end of the season. I have not known many more dramatic days than that. You could not take your eyes off it. Today was a special one simply because they haven't lost at home for two years and both of us are contending at the top of the league."

Rooney added: "It feels fantastic. Especially with what happened last season [losing both derbies to an aggregate score of 7-1]."

Van Persie's winner came after Tevez, on for the disappointing Mario Balotelli – whose car was surrounded by United fans after the game – after 52 minutes, left the wall to make it only a three-man barrier. While Mancini said Balotelli was in danger of throwing his career "out of the window", he also questioned Tevez for leaving the wall during Van Persie's free-kick and criticised Samir Nasri, who turned away and then deflected Van Persie's shot past Hart.

"I understood before that the free-kick was dangerous. I called Carlos to return to the wall, but I was too far away," said Mancini. Of Nasri's half-hearted showing, he added: "We [only] had two and a half players there."Regarding Rooney, whose goals took him to 150 league goals and past Sir Bobby Charlton's club record derby mark of nine, Ferguson said: "He'll let us know about it." Vincent Kompany will have a test for a suspected groin problem while Jonny Evans pulled a hamstring.

[rizluq]

Martin Jol urges Fulham to launch revival against Newcastle United

• Fulham have gone 298 minutes without finding the net
• Newcastle keen to avoid last season's 'Jekyll and Hyde' display




David Hytner
The Guardian

Fulham defender Brede Hangeland will return from suspension against Newcastle United on Monday night. Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Martin Jol has been left to lament the tightness of the margins in this season's Premier League after a deeply frustrating period but he has called on his Fulham players to "pick themselves up and pick up some points" in Monday night's home game against Newcastle United.

When Fulham drew 3-3 at Arsenal on 10 November, their collective confidence was high and they were hailed for their attacking abandon. But, since then, their only reward in four league matches has been the 0-0 draw at Chelsea.

Jol believes that the cruellest cut was the 3-1 home defeat to Sunderland immediately after the Arsenal game, when the result turned on Brede Hangeland's red card while Bryan Ruiz and Alex Kacaniklic suffered injuries that have kept them on the sidelines. Ruiz, who has aggravated his hamstring problem, is now not expected to return until January.

But Fulham have also lost at Stoke City and against Tottenham Hotspur at home, and the goals have dried up – the team have gone 298 minutes without one. Jol has suggested that tiredness might have been a factor in recent weeks, as he has not had the opportunity to rotate, which has raised questions about the depth of his squad. The manager will seek to strengthen in the January transfer window. But Hangeland will return from his suspension against Newcastle while Kacaniklic is back to fitness.

"I don't think there was a big problem before the Sunderland game so for us, failure and success is an unbelievably thin line," Jol said.

"We had a loss after that against Stoke, then we had a draw at Chelsea and lost against Spurs so everything happened in two weeks. We have to pick ourselves up and pick up some points.

"Sunderland was probably the biggest disappointment because those three points could have given us 20 points. It all started on that day and we got injuries to Ruiz and Kacaniklic. After that, we had to change things, although I feel we are good enough to come up with a solution. It is always the same. Three weeks ago, we were all very happy at Fulham and two weeks later, the situation totally changes."

Alan Pardew is in a more positive mood after Newcastle ended a run of four straight league defeats with the 3-0 home win over Wigan Athletic last Monday.

The result came after an encouraging performance in the defeat at Stoke City. Pardew hopes to welcome back Hatem Ben Arta after four matches out with a hamstring injury.

"Every Premier League game brings its own difficulties, so it doesn't really matter too much who the opposition is," the Newcastle manager said.

"It's about ourselves and we produced a level of football against Wigan and Stoke that has buoyed us all on the training ground, and you can see that. There's definitely a stronger attitude to attack games."

Newcastle have lost seven of 10 league games at Craven Cottage and five of the last six, with last season's result being the dispiriting 5-2 defeat.

"They are a good side and they play very well at home," Pardew said. "Last year, we probably played our best half of football in the first half. Unfortunately, the second half was probably our worst, so we are hoping we don't put in that Jekyll and Hyde performance that we did last year."