Monday Fulham Stuff (10/09/18)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 1-0 ATK

A sweet hit from substitute Andre Schürrle earned Fulham a 1-0 win over Indian side ATK in our friendly in Murcia.

Fulham concluded their training camp in Murcia on Saturday afternoon with a comfortable 1-0 win over Indian Premier League outfit ATK.

A second half strike from substitute André Schürrle was enough to see the Whites pick up the win to conclude a productive training camp in sunny Spain.

Slaviša Jokanović named a strong side for the match, a starting XI which featured nine First Team players and saw a welcome return from injury for Floyd Ayité, who took his place on the left side of a front three.

It was an uncharacteristic rainy day as the referee got the encounter up and running and it wasn't long before the Whites started to dominate possession and carve out some chances in the tricky conditions.

Calum Chambers, starting in a holding midfield role, saw a glanced header parried clear in the opening 10 minutes and Ayité had a well struck free-kick saved as Fulham began to control the match from the offset.

As the rain subsided and more pockets of space opened in key areas for the Whites the deadlock was not broken. Arindam Bhattacharya was in inspired form in the ATK net, first tipping a Chambers shot from just outside the box wide before Maxime Le Marchand lashed a fizzing drive from 30 yards agonisingly past the post.

The best chance of the match fell to Aboubakar Kamara on the stroke of half-time. After a fluid counter attack down the flanks Kamara was slipped in beyond the ATK backline and looked to break on goal. After powering past John Johnson who cynically tried to hack the striker down, Abou fired low and hard, only to be denied again by a solid save from Bhattacharya.

It remained all square at half-time despite the dominance in possession and a number of good chances to break the deadlock.

Two changes were made at the half. Harvey Elliott was brought on in place of Luciano Vietto and Sergio Rico came on to take over in goal from Fabri.

After an eventful first half the second was a more low key affair with chances few and far between for both sides. However, in the 60th minute a mix up at the back for the Indian side gifted Abou another chance to open the scoring. Andre Bikey and Bhattacharya both thought the other player was taking responsibility for a speculative through ball in behind the back-four. However, neither took the ball and Kamara took a touch before sending a shot wide of the post from a tight angle.

Moments later Elliott had a left-footed shot from the outside of the box parried behind for a corner before a fine strike from substitute Schürrle opened the scoring for the Whites.

With ATK legs visibly tiring once again, too much space was allowed to a Fulham player outside the box. This time no mistake was made. After taking a firm pass and taking it under control with one touch the German curled a delightful strike into the right hand corner. A perfectly weighted strike to give Fulham a deserved lead with 20 minutes to go.

With the clock ticking down Joe Bryan almost extended the Whites lead with eight minutes remaining. Kamara showed a clean pair of heels to the ATK left-back and surged down the left wing. After looking up he played a pass back into the path of Bryan who had followed the move. After composing himself he looked to find the bottom corner with a right-footed shot. However, his shot was well saved and hooked clear.

It proved to be the last opportunity of the game as the referee blew his whistle to end the match and mid-season training camp in Murcia.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/first-team/2018_2019/friendly/atk

[WhiteJC]

 
ADEBAYO: WE DUG IN AND DESERVED IT

Adebayo's goal sealed a 1-0 win for Town against Morecambe.

Elijah Adebayo bagged his second goal in two games – the only goal, as ten-man Swindon had to fight for a first away win and clean sheet of the campaign at Morecambe.

Adebayo spoke of his manager's desire for a clean sheet but that the character and team spirit in the group is what got them the elusive first defensive shutout of the season.

"The Gaffer's told us that he likes 1-0 wins and obviously we made it a bit hard for ourselves but, like we have all season, we just plugged away and stuck together. That's the character in the group.

"We dug in and we deserved it today.

"Everyone gets along with everyone – the spirit in the camp is just positive, always positive so when we take to the pitch we know we can always trust each other. Nobody goes on the pitch and makes mistakes deliberately so we always have each other's backs so, if someone makes a mistake, his mate goes in to help him. That's what we're like as a team and that will hopefully grow and continue."

On his personal goalscoring form, the Fulham loanee is getting no plaudits from inside the changing room, even if they're coming from outside.

"I'm getting a bit of stick for not squaring it to Jermaine (in the second half) but it's two in two and, as I said when I joined, I want to score as many games as possible and when I get my chances it's critical that I take them. The luck is on my side at the moment so I'm just trying to get as many as possible."

292 fans made the trip to Lancashire to see Adebayo's goal and a solid defensive display and the young striker said that they're ones that deserve the victory.

"It's fantastic to have them behind us – it pushes us through and gets us over the line. They're screaming and shouting until the end so all the boys want to do it for them as well because they've travelled a long way.

"To come here and not get three points would have been disappointing so, for them, three points was deserved so we go again next weekend against Bury."



https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2018/september/adebayo-we-dug-in-and-deserved-it/

[WhiteJC]

 
One Sweet Strike Earns Fulham Midfielder His First Trophy Since Arriving At Craven Cottage

Back in the top-flight of English football, Fulham's main aim for the 2018 / 2019 season is to preserve their Premier League status for next season.

Of course, we'd love a decent cup run but not if it is going to be detrimental to our main aim.

However, there's no reason why the club cannot pick up a few individual accolades as the season progresses.

The first of those is, we're pleased to say, already sat on the proverbial mantelpiece with it being announced that Jean Michael Seri has won the Premier League 'Goal of the Month' award for August, courtesy of his marvellous strike against Burnley, at Craven Cottage.



https://fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/one-sweet-strike-earns-fulham-midfielder-his-first-trophy-since-arriving-at-craven-cottage/

[WhiteJC]

 
Transfer News: Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City interested in Harvey Elliott

Chelsea, Manchester City and Barcelona are among an array of clubs that are showing a keen interest in highly-rated Fulham wonderkid Harvey Elliott.

Evening Standard speculate that another Fulham prodigy is being courted by a host of top clubs. The report iterates interest from Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City while Borussia Dortmund are also keeping a close track on the progress of the youngster.

Harvey Elliott is the latest name on the lips of everyone within the Fulham academy setup. The youngster has won almost everyone over with his exploits playing in the younger age groups including club manager Slovisa Jokanovic, who has invited the star to train with the first-team.

The right midfielder has 2 assists in 9 Under-18 Premier League games so far – 1 from 3 games this season. But, it is his consistency on the right side that is earning plaudits. The English youngster is the second Fulham player to emerge in recent times after Ryan Sessegnon.

The prodigious winger has been linked to several big clubs. And like Sessegnon, Elliott is also being courted by top clubs like Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.

Barcelona have recently opened up to the possibility of recruiting bright youngsters from England, especially with several of their own La Masia stars being poached by other clubs. Marcus McGuane made the move to Barcelona in January while Ryan Sessegnon and Angel Gomes have been linked as well.

Chelsea have always been on the lookout to bolster their youth academy with domestic talents. The Blues boast of one of the best performing youth squads at the international level and despite the club's inherent inability to incorporate them into the first-team to a large extent, they remain an attractive destination for the youngsters.

Manchester City are in a similar boat to Chelsea as far as youngsters and their incorporation into the first-team setup is concerned. Jadon Sancho and Bobby Duncan have left the club already, with the former already making it to the senior setup at Dortmund – another suitor for Elliott – donning the iconic 7 number jersey.

The latest to be linked with an exit is Brahim Diaz, who is being lined up for a return to Spain by Real Madrid. City recently spent an Irish record fee to sign Gavin Bazunu and will be looking to bolster their talent lineup with Elliott as well.

However, Fulham are silently confident of getting Harvey Elliott to remain at Craven Cottage. The youngster should learn from Ryan Sessegnon, who rejected advances from top clubs to remain at Fulham and is now reaping the benefits by being a regular face in the Matchday squad at least, if not the starting eleven.

Harvey Elliott has already caught the eyes of Slavisa Jokanovic, who will likely move to infuse him into the first-team slowly. But, Fulham will have to be aware of the presence of Chelsea, Manchester City, Barcelona, Dortmund and more clubs who might join them with time.



http://www.thehardtackle.com/news/2018/09/09/transfer-news-barcelona-chelsea-manchester-city-interested-in-harvey-elliott/

[WhiteJC]

 
West Ham should have gone all out to sign this Fulham star over the summer

West Ham United have gotten off to a rotten start in the Premier League this season, and are yet to pick up a point under manager Manuel Pellegrini.

The Hammers once again invested heavily over the summer, but so far it looks like they've invested in the wrong areas or at least in the wrong personnel, and Pellegrini has quite the task on his hands to turn things around as it stands.

However, there is little in the way of excuses, and over the summer with the funds they had available, there were plenty of other options out there for the club to consider signing, including Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney, who at one point seemed nailed on to leave the Cottage.

Cairney though has stayed put, and while West Ham struggle for points, the Fulham man has taken to life in the top flight like a duck to water, and continues to build on what was a super impressive season last time out for the former Hull City man.

The Hammers will be hoping to be proved right over the course of the season, but signing someone like Cairney would have given them an almost guaranteed 7/10 performer each week in the middle of the park.

It seems unlikely Cairney will want to make a move away from Fulham now, and it looks like being a case of what might have been for the Hammers and Pellegrini.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/west-ham-should-have-gone-all-out-to-sign-this-fulham-star-over-the-summer/

[WhiteJC]

 
Why Fulham's £20m star could fire them to a top-10 finish in the Premier League this season


Aleksandar Mitrovic

Why Mitrovic can fire Fulham to a top-half finish in the Premier League

Newly promoted Fulham have made a stop-start beginning to this season – winning one, drawing one and losing two games in the league so far. This is after spending a whole lot of money on several new players, who are expected to take time to gel before firing on all cylinders.

Manager Slavisa Jokanovic has a job of finding the best XI and fielding them on a regular basis to maintain continuity.

One man who has been on fire for the Cottagers is Alexandar Mitrovic. The Serbian striker has already scored four goals in four appearances, including a brace against Burnley in the club's only victory of the season so far.

Fulham were clever to get him on loan last January from Newcastle United, and the striker responded by scoring 12 goals in 20 appearances. Fast forward to the summer transfer window, when the Magpies were looking to offload the 23-year-old for financial help, Fulham swooped in to get the player on a permanent deal.

The London club have got a bargain deal as they only had to pay £20m to get the striker. And since the start of this season, Mitrovic has looked very threatening.

He is a perfect target man for Jokanovic's system. The 23-year-old can win aerial duels and shrug off centre-backs with ease, having a success rate of 2.8 per game.

It helps the supporting cast to run past him, expecting a knock-down. So, if pacey players are fielded alongside the Serb, it makes up for a threatening frontline. It is a mixture of physicality, pace and lethal finishing in front of goal.

Mitrovic has helped Fulham raise their confidence to play in a particular style, as they know the striker more or less wins the duel to get the team up the pitch if a long ball is played towards him.



In addition, the ruthlessness shown by the 23-year-old has been the impressive part. Whenever a cross is played towards him in the box, there is always a danger of him winning the header and harrowing it towards goal.

Verdict

All in all, it was a very good deal on Fulham's part to get the striker on a permanent basis this season. If he continues to do what he has been doing in the opening few weeks, the Cottagers can expect a top-half finish this season. Jokanovic just has to figure out his best eleven as soon as possible.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/09/10/why-fulhams-20m-star-could-fire-them-to-a-top-10-finish-in-the-premier-league-this-season/

[WhiteJC]

 
Chelsea interested in signing 15-year-old Premier League wonder kid

Chelsea are interested in the services of Fulham youngster Harvey Elliot, as per the Evening Standard.

The report adds that the English youngster will turn 16 in April but was invited to train with the Fulham senior side during the international break.

The 15-year-old is admired by Cottagers boss Slavisa Jokanovic but FA rules add that a scholarship deal cannot be signed until January. Furthermore, he cannot sign a professional deal until he is 17, meaning some of the other clubs could swoop in for the youngster, as per the report.

The Fulham starlet plays mostly as a right midfielder and has featured in eight U18 Premier League games with a couple of goals to his name.

A number of other clubs are also keeping tabs on the youngster with Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund interested in the 15-year-old.

Chelsea haven't had a lot of luck regarding youngsters with only a few breaking into the first-team. Andreas Christensen is one player close to becoming a regular and we have seen a number of youngsters move out on loan.

It will be interesting to see how the player develops in the coming months and a move to a bigger club in one of Europe's top leagues will certainly help his growth.



http://astamfordbridgetoofar.com/2018/09/10/chelsea-interested-in-signing-15-year-old-premier-league-wonder-kid/

[snarks]

Chelsea haven't had a lot of luck regarding youngsters with only a few breaking into the first-team. Andreas Christensen is one player close to becoming a regular and we have seen a number of youngsters move out on loan.

It will be interesting to see how the player develops in the coming months and a move to a bigger club in one of Europe's top leagues will certainly help his growth.



http://astamfordbridgetoofar.com/2018/09/10/chelsea-interested-in-signing-15-year-old-premier-league-wonder-kid/

You can tell it's a blog by a "fan" but the arrogance of that last line, with the contradiction immediately above it tells me everything I need to know about why it would be a bad move.