Something in the Making: Lam Matteo

[Matt10]

5 2

United States take care of Netherlands as both teams exit World Cup

Group C Results: Croatia 1-0 USA, Netherland 0-3 S.Korea
Group C Final Standings: 1. S.Korea -3 pts, 2. Croatia - 3 pts, 3. USA - 0 pts, 4. Netherland - 0 pts




U.S. Men's National Team Match Report

Match: United States v Netherlands
Date: September 18, 2014
Competition: World Cup 2014 (Brazil) - Group C First Round Match, Fixture 3
Venue: Cidada de Copa - Recife
Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET
Attendance: 42,283
Weather: Sunny, 82 degrees

Scoring Summary:
USA - Davies 3 minute
USA - Feilhaber free kick 9 minute
NED - Van Nistelrooy 14 minute
USA - Donovan 20 minute
USA - Donovan 70 minute
NED - Seedorf 75 minute
USA - Matteo 76 minute


Lineups:
USA: 23-Friedel, 2-Bocanegra (Onyewu, 87); 14-Spector, 5-Bornstein, 4-Pearce, 7-Feilhaber, 6-Edu, 19-Kljestan, 16-Lewis, 10-Donovan, 11-Davies (Matteo, 66)

NED: 12-Vorm, 13-Van Der Strujik, 2-Heitinga, 16-Maguire, 15-Drenthe, 21-Wijnaldum, 19-De Guzman, 7-Sneijder (Van Der Vaart, 71); 18-Aissati, 8-Seedorf, 11-Van Nistelrooy (Vennegoor, 87)


Stats Summary: USA/ NED
Shots: 15 / 12
Shots on Goal: 10 / 5
Fouls: 4 / 9
Possession: 48 / 52

Misconduct Summary:
NED – Van Der Strujik (caution) 9th minute
NED – Drenthe (caution) 54th minute

ussoccer.com Man of the Match:
Landon Donovan

Lam Matteo Tracker:



24-minutes
1 goals
0 assist
4 Shots, 3 On Target
2 Passes, 1 Made
0 Offside

6.5 Rating

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLgvR9alfYQ"]YouTube - vNEDwc2014[/ame]

[Matt10]

Blackburn Rovers jump into Matteo negotiations after signing Liverpool captain, Gerrard

With the World Cup all but over for Lam Matteo, and five weeks remaining of the offseason, Blackburn Rovers became the 5th team interested in the Fulham striker this offseason.

Blackburn have just completed the signing of disgruntled Liverpool star, Steven Gerrard. After finishing well below than expected last year, Rovers are looking to rebuild their midfield with Gerrard, and now their relatively weak forward personnel.

Matteo's party have not accepted nor ruled out any offers as of yet, it is expected the striker will "have the process play out."

[Matt10]

An exhausting World Cup and even more transfer negotations between clubs such as Newcastle, West Brom and even NAC Breda, tore Matteo over the offseason.

A done deal
Lam Matteo will return as a Cottager in 2015

Fulham have not arranged any other offseason transfers, Roy Hodgson was quoted as saying "Matteo is our only priority at this point", when the golden-boot winner announced he wished to "test out the market".

"It's something all players need to get out of their system," says Hodgson, "I understand he wanted to see what else was out there other than Fulham football. In the end, I think he made the right choice for his future."

The dissapointed arose when Matteo was rumored to be linked to moves to such clubs as Chelsea, Manchester Untied and even Barcelona.

"Just rumors it seems," says an indifferent Matteo, "I think my product went sour at the World Cup - but that's okay, I'm playing European football now".

That's right, after their 3rd place finish in the Premiership last year, the Cottagers will be taking their game in the Uefa Cup for the first time in the club's history.

"It's fantastic," gleams Hodgson, "The boys worked hard last year, and they are going to have to work even harder this year. I am glad we have everyone back to finish what we started."

TRANSFERS
--------------------------------
*Signifcant transfers only

West Brom- (In) MF Gabriel Ozkan, CB Kadleg
Blackburn - (In) MF Gerrard (from Liverpool), CWP Kompany (from Man City), MF Pires (from Villareal)
Everton - (In) Ballack (from Blackburn)
Tottenham - (In) Baines (from Everton)
Portsmouth - (In) Santa Cruz (from Blackburn)
Newcastle - (In) Barry (from Aston Villa)

[kyhadley]

Damn, I can't believe you didn't get any offers from any big time clubs, oh well, Fulham it will have to stay.

[Matt10]

Yup Fulham it is. Mainly because of possible Champions League and uefa cup

[Matt10]

A brief look at the calendar (left) and the current starting lineup in the match against Liverpool.

Whoa, more colors
Fulham prepare for more than one match a week in 2015

With the addition of the UEFA Champions League qualifying, the Cottagers now have more than one match a week, which also includes next week's start of the Premiership Cup - a competition the Cottagers have not made past the quarter finals (mostly from facing Manchester United).

With the new setup, and relatively familiar lineup, Roy Hodgson will have to be wise in utilizing the players based on fatigue level - instead of skill like he had done last year when Lam Matteo had not sit out a game since the January transfer window.

"It's not something we are used to obviously," Hodgson chuckled, "But those poor boys will be just fine with whatever setup I put forth".

[Matt10]

Gabriel Agbonlahor opened up the scoring, but it was Lam Matteo who finished the match with a hat-trick.

Fulham 7-3 Liverpool
Season opening, Ten goal thriller ends with Matteo hat-trick and Fulham victory
-Johnson Peoples, September 2014
--------------------------------------------------
'27 Agbonlahor, '37 Leijer, '44-75-78 Matteo, '63 Obertan, '66 Murphy (PK)
Caution: Lam Matteo ('24), Hughes ('49), Giovinco ('52), Volz ('64) Sent Off:

'45 Torres, '76 Van Der Vaart (PK), '84 Van Der Vaart
Caution: Sent Off:

Standings: Fulham (1-0-0, 3 pts -- 5th)
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Welcome home. It was one heck of a tough offseason for Matteo, and to see that things have finally gelled nicely here in the Cottage - well, it makes a grown man happy/teary. Today he let out all his frustration on the ball and smacked in some absolute stunning goals. Kudos to Giovinco and Paintsil for the great supply of crosses and through balls. Next week is Champions League qualifying against Valencia - wohoo - debut time! (Btw, anyone notice the new kits? ...MY Idea)



[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZdudKNAeY4"]YouTube - vLiverpool2015[/ame]

[kyhadley]

The Hatty!

[Matt10]

QUALIFYING GROUP STAGE

[Matt10]

Fulham 1-2 Valencia
Cottagers European debut spoiled by Fernandes goal
-Johnson Peoples, September 2014
--------------------------------------------------

Gabriel
Giovinco's beauty of a free kick inspired a courageous showing from the home side, but Fernandes cool finish put the visitors in position for the victory.

'51 Giovinco (FK)
Caution: Sent Off:

'46 Lisandro Lopez, '68 Fernandes
Caution: Sent Off:

UCL Qualifying Standings:

GROUP A

1. USC Palermo -- 3 pts (1-0-0)
2. Valencia -- 3 pts (1-0-0)
3. Fulham -- 0 pts (0-0-1)
4. FC Volendam -- 0 pts (0-0-1)
---------------------------------------------------
Chances gone begging. Matteo had his chances to show he can play European football, but he didn't seem to take them as cool and collected as he usually does. I think he had some nerves brewing there, but hopefully he can regain his composure against Newcastle next week.

[kyhadley]

lol when do you play the pinkies?

[packersfan4eva]

damn, 3 goals and an assist. good job.

[Matt10]

[Matt10]

Gabriel Cesc Fabregas could thank the referee after converting two penalty kicks back to back, but Giovinco had other things in mind when he notched the match winner.

Newcastle 3-4 Fulham
Mysterious officiating gives Fabregas two goals; Cottagers avoid defeat thanks to Giovinco's late strike
-Johnson Peoples, September 2014
--------------------------------------------------
'35 Vincken, '71-73 Fabregas (PK)
Caution: Tozer ('42), Beye ('87) Sent Off:

'9 Lazaros, '30 Matteo, '60 Andreasen, '86 Giovinco
Caution: Andreasen ('71), Steve Davis ('73) Sent Off: Volz ('79, tackle from "behind")

Standings: Fulham (2-0-0, 6 pts -- 2nd)
---------------------------------------------------
Strange. Seeing a red card and two penalties back-to-back from the referee was something St. James witnessed tonight. The tackles from Volz and Andreasen, which resulted in the penalty kicks, seemed to be ball first contact - however, the referee saw it the other way around - even by sending off Volz for his "malicious" tackle on Cesc Fabregas. Matteo's goal was a striker's goal - right place, right time - good finish!



[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YIUbX4n3G4"]YouTube - vnewcastle2015[/ame]

[kyhadley]

way to clean up the mess on that one