Marco Silva's 'almost perfect' verdict shows how Steve Cooper will use Bobby De Cordova-Reid
Leicester City's new signing arrives on a free transfer from Fulham, where manager Marco Silva was a huge fan of the Jamaica international's versatility and tactical knowledge
Playing under Steve Cooper at Leicester City is "the perfect fit" for new signing Bobby De Cordova-Reid, and it's easy to see why.
There's a strong chance Cooper will introduce a back-three system at City, one he utilised to guide Nottingham Forest to promotion and then turned to on occasion in the Premier League. In that formation, there is fluidity in the front three.
While the back three, two wing-backs and two central midfielders provided a consistent base, Cooper regularly changed the configuration of the front three. In the Championship, he opted for a number 10 behind two strikers. In the Premier League, one of those strikers would be comfortable playing out wide, and so could drift to the flank, a role taken on by Brennan Johnson and then Anthony Elanga.
There were other points where Cooper played narrow, with two attacking midfielders behind a striker. Sometimes it was a standard front three, with two wingers and a sole frontman.
That's where De Cordova-Reid comes in. Because no matter what shape Cooper goes for, he fits into all of those positions.
In his time at Fulham, the Jamaica international has played on the wing, behind the striker, or up front. On occasion, he was even drafted in at right-back.
It was easy to move him around the pitch, Fulham boss Marco Silva said, because he had such a good tactical understanding of the game. Whatever the manager wants, De Cordova-Reid can deliver.
"Tactically, Bobby is almost perfect," Silva said last year. "His game understanding is really good. He understands what the team needs.
"The Premier League is not just individual quality. It's the understanding from a tactical point of view. Bobby can understand all of these situations. Sometimes it doesn't show in the highlights. He's scored some important goals but in all moments, he's important.
"Bobby's knowledge about the game is really, really good. He can play in so many positions, and he can play well in them. Sometimes as a right-back if he has to, or as a winger or behind the striker, his more natural position.
"Bobby may not look it, but he is one of the guys with leadership. He doesn't need to be vocal. He's important in our squad. That's why I made him one of the group captains."
De Cordova-Reid was in the Fulham squad for every Premier League match last season, and Silva nearly always turned to him, starting him in 17 games, and substituting him on in 16.
There was only once where he completed 90 minutes though. Although the 31-year-old thinks he's got the versatility to stay on, knowing he can adapt to any changes in shape.
De Cordova-Reid said at the start of the year: "I think it's good for the manager because he may not have to make a sub – he can just move me around different positions. I consider myself a good listener, so when we're doing tactics I understand what different roles need, and I think the manager understands that and has trust in me.
"He (Silva) has trusted me to do a lot of roles and trusts me on the pitch as a leader. I'm thankful for that and I want to keep repaying him with good performances."
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/marco-silvas-almost-perfect-verdict-9393729
Fulham preparing improved Smith Rowe bid
Fulham are set to resume their attempts to sign Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith, according to Alan Nixon.
The Whites were the first club to approach the Gunners about signing the England international earlier this summer and have seen two bids rejected to date. Arsenal are willing to sell the 23 year-old in this window to improve their PSR position and Marco Silva has reportedly identified Smith-Rowe as one of his top targets.
Smith Rowe, who can operate as a winger or a number ten, has attracted interest from a host of Premier League and continental clubs. He has scored eighteen goals in 115 appearances for Arsenal and has won three senior international caps for his country, finding the target for Gareth Southgate's side in San Marino in November 2021.
The departure of Bobby De Cordova-Reid, who joined newly-promoted Leicester City on a free transfer yesterday, and Willian's decision to reject Fulham's offer of a new deal has made the recruitment of a new left winger a priority.
https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/07/fulham-preparing-improved-smith-rowe-bid/
Why are Bournemouth, Fulham and Brentford's women's teams so behind?
Next season, for the first time in the WSL's 13-year history, every club in the top division of the English women's game will be affiliated to a men's Premier League team. It didn't take long, did it? From starting off as a division which saw Lincoln finish fourth and Birmingham City as runners-up, the makeup of the division has been already transformed completely with Premier League brands.
To some football purists, perhaps, this looming landmark will have seemed inevitable for years, and will represent a gradual and somewhat depressing mirroring of the men's game; alas, the days when long-established women's teams such as Doncaster Rovers Belles could challenge for major honours seem long gone. If you found it refreshing that Yeovil Town could reach the top flight – they were in the WSL as recently as 2019 – then presumably this makes you rather gloomy.
To others, warmly welcoming investment in the women's game from the richer clubs, this moment actually will be a positive sign, now that more and more top-flight men's teams have been starting to take the women's game seriously. There can be no doubt that cash injections from Premier League clubs have helped the women's game take some enormous strides in professionalism, on and off the pitch.
Yet, wherever your heart lies in that debate, something else is true: just because all 12 WSL teams are now linked to men's Premier League clubs, that certainly doesn't mean that every Premier League club is funding a full-time women's team. Far from it.
Some of the others aren't too far off the top level, theoretically. In the Championship, Southampton finished fourth last term, just seven points off promotion to the WSL, while newly promoted Newcastle have reached the second tier for the first time. Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Ipswich are all top-half sides in tier three, and all three narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship in the 2022-23 campaign, albeit they all dropped off the pace slightly last term, and in Ipswich's case, as their men have only just returned to the top tier after a 22-year absence, it doesn't seem fair to judge their investment in the women's team in the same way as more longstanding Premier League member clubs.
By division for the 2024-25 season
Tier One WSL: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, West Ham
Tier Two Championship: Newcastle, Southampton
Tier Three National League Northern/Southern Premier Division: Nottingham Forest (northern), Wolves (northern), Ipswich (southern)
Tier Four National League Division One South West: Bournemouth
Tier Five London and South East Regional Premier Division: Fulham
Tier Six London and South East Regional Division One North: Brentford
There are, however, three men's Premier League-affiliated women's teams still languishing in tiers four, five and six of the pyramid, with Brentford in tier six ultimately being the lowest-ranked women's club linked to a Premier League team. Bournemouth and Fulham in tiers four and five respectively are playing catch-up too, and all three clubs might well be a touch embarrassed that Hashtag United are among the clubs flying high in tier three with a more-developed women's side.
Nevertheless, even at lower levels, passion for the women's game among senior club staff appears to be growing, and it might not be long before all the remaining Premier League brands are competing in the upper echelons of women's football too. Especially because, in recent years, the aforementioned trio of Bournemouth, Fulham and Brentford have all been somewhat hindered by what lots of lower-league clubs feel are bottlenecks in the pyramid, because of the lower leagues' one-up, one-down promotion and relegation system.
Bournemouth, in tier four, for example, went unbeaten throughout last season but even that was not enough for promotion, with Exeter City pipping them by two points. Playing in tier four still represents a huge improvement on where Bournemouth were eight years ago, though, when they were in the third tier of their local county league on park pitches with only friends and family spectating. More recently the women's team have drawn in crowds of 6,000 at the Vitality Stadium, while last season they awarded female player contracts for the first time, and the club has created a full youth pathway for girls and an FA "emerging talent centre".
"Since being brought under the club's direction in June of last year following Bill Foley's takeover, our women's team has seen a significant increase in funding," a Bournemouth spokesperson told the Guardian. "We were proud to record an unbeaten league campaign and we are now looking forward to further supporting the team to compete again, this coming season and beyond."
In tier five, Fulham have finished third in their division three years on the trot, but to long-serving fans, that will seem especially disappointing for those old enough to remember Fulham's women's side winning the FA Cup in 2003, a year when they were also league champions. England stars Rachel Yankey, Mary Phillip and Rachel Unitt were among their big names. That came after they had made history by turning professional in 2000, only for former chairman Mohamed Al Fayed to cut the team's funding and revert them to part-time status in 2004. The club was not truly reformed for a further decade.
By 2022-23, 2,245 women and girls were involved in Fulham's programmes, up 31% on the year before, and the women's side now train at the club's Motspur Park training centre. It is still a far cry from the FA Cup final, but green shoots of recovery are emerging.
Seemingly similarly suffering from the "bottleneck' issue in the lower tiers, Brentford narrowly missed out on promotion to tier five in both of the past two seasons, most recently finishing second by a single point, competing in an amateur division with a broad range of abilities. They cruised to a 14-0 victory in one league game and scored six goals in three other separate games, certainly displaying a capability to be playing at a higher level already. Nonetheless, it will be a source of frustration to many Brentford fans to see themselves in the same league as Ashmount Leigh, Actonians Reserves and Denham United.
That is largely because Brentford's women's teams were only integrated into the club in 2020-21. Their first team has achieved one promotion since then, and the women's B team has moved up two tiers, but the club's strategy has been to try to nurture organic growth and put in foundations for the long-term rather than to buy their way up through the divisions rapidly. They are investing more money in the women's and girls' programme, year-on-year, but it's been focused on aspects such as staffing, medical support and strength and conditioning, rather than moving towards paying players to play. They train three evenings a week.
The club staged fixtures at the 2022 Women's Euros, including a quarter-final, and hosted a Lionesses friendly against Australia in 2023, while their stadium has also hosted two women's club games, drawing in around 5,000 fans. Some of their games are played at Wheatsheaf Park, the former home of Staines Town, which also used to be the home ground of Chelsea when they won their first WSL title in 2015. Emulating that achievement is clearly still a long way off for Brentford, but they do have aspirations to move up the pyramid.
Could they all do more? Arguably. Speak to almost any club across the land about their women's football expenditure and they will quickly point to the women's game "not yet being financially sustainable". That should always be taken with a pinch of salt, though, given that it is a matter of public record that Premier League clubs spent more than £400m on agents fees alone in the year to February 2024, up from £318m in the previous 12-month period. There is enough money to go around within the sport. Women's teams just are not always high on the priority list for spending. But at least they are on board the women's football train, and the ultimate destination is the WSL.
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/why-bournemouth-fulham-brentford-women-110006395.html
Arsenal transfer with Fulham roars towards completion, with tempting bid inbound after both clubs say yes
Fulham are ready to launch a new and improved bid to sign a classy Arsenal star who has reluctantly been given the green light to leave, and one report strongly suggests a deal WILL be agreed.
The Gunners are aiming to reinforce what is already a deep and star-studded squad this summer. David Raya has joined in a permanent deal following a successful loan spell last season. Arsenal triggered their £27m option to buy in the goalkeeper's loan agreement from Brentford last week.
Riccardo Calafiori has agreed personal terms and discussions over the transfer fee are now in full swing.
Chelsea had given consideration to entering the frame and torpedoing Arsenal's move, though the Blues have completed an alternative deal that now paves the way for Calafiori to join the Gunners...
Elsewhere, a new winger is wanted amid surprise reports Arsenal have served up Eddie Nketiah in a cash-plus-player bid for Barcelona ace Raphinha.
TEAMtalk has been told a move for Wolves talisman Pedro Neto is a more realistic outcome with regards to making an addition on the flanks. Talks with the player's agency have already taken place.
But to free up room and help balance the books, plenty of exits are anticipated too.
One of the most lucrative sales Arsenal are willing to sanction is the exit of homegrown star, Emile Smith Rowe.
Game over for Emile Smith Rowe at Arsenal
The sales of academy graduates represent pure profit on the balance sheet and as such, greatly enhance a club's spending power.
Smith Rowe had looked like he could play a starring role for the Gunners upon establishing himself in the first team a few seasons ago.
However, injuries have largely put his career on hold and during that time, Arsenal have evolved in his absences.
Martin Odegaard is the creator-in-chief, while Kai Havertz has also proven himself an excellent operator in a box-to-box midfield role. The club's embarrassment of riches on the flanks also ensures Smith Rowe has very little chance of receiving minutes out wide.
As such, Arsenal have reluctantly greenlit Smith Rowe's sale, with reports stating they'll cash in if bids in the £25m-£30m range are tabled.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Sky Sports reporter, Dharmesh Sheth, recently confirmed a move within London is probable.
"Emile Smith Rowe could be one to watch as well," began Sheth. "A couple of clubs like Fulham and Crystal Palace are definitely interested in Emile Smith Rowe.
"I know Mikel Arteta has always talked him up, but he's just had a few injury problems at the wrong time for Arsenal, and has seen other players come in.
"Effectively, he's not going to be able to get back into the team on a regular basis."
According to the Sun's Alan Nixon, Smith Rowe's likeliest next destination is Fulham.
Tempting Fulham bid inbound
The Cottagers have reportedly already seen two bids knocked back, though Nixon stated they 'won't take no for an answer.'
Fulham are hellbent on signing Smith Rowe who has a huge admirer in the form of manager Marco Silva.
As such, Fulham reportedly intend to lodge a new and improved third bid that they hope will be enough to seal a deal.
How much they will put on the table wasn't made clear. Nonetheless, given it will be bigger than bids one and two and both clubs are keen to strike an agreement, a deal is clearly there for the making.
https://www.teamtalk.com/news/arsenal-transfer-with-fulham-roars-towards-completion-tempting-bid-inbound-both-clubs-say-yes
In-N-Out: João Palhinha leaves Bayern Munich again to clarify details with Fulham FC despite completed medical
Ah, transfers. ALWAYS so ridiculously complicated...
Bayern Munich has surprised some with the secrecy the club has been able to get away with.
Nicknamed FC Hollywood for a reason, it seems as if every news outlet had been able to very accurately predict the Bavarians' next move. But then Bayern signed Hiroki Ito and Michael Olise seemingly out of nowhere. The move for João Palhinha was much more publicly reported than the prior two pursuits, yet now it seems Palhinha had his medical without any news outlet catching wind until the day after.
That is, according to Florian Plettenberg, who added that the Portuguese immediately flown back...again. Why would he do that after finishing his medical and an agreement between his still current club Fulham and Bayern is still in place? Plettenberg says "the player's side still needs to clarify details with Fulham to arrange Palhinha's exit."
Transfers such as this are never easy, are they? Still, once the transfer is over, Bayern fans all over the globe will be able to breathe a sigh of relief that this saga is finally over.
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2024/7/7/24193588/joao-palhinha-bayern-munich-fulham-premier-league-portugal-euro-2024-hiroki-ito-michael-olise
Fulham set to make fresh offer to Arsenal player and his club
Fulham are set to make fresh offers to Arsenal and Emile Smith Rowe for the 23-year-old's transfer, with the midfielder so far preferring to stay in north London.
Journalist Alan Nixon reports on his Patreon that Fulham are set to make a new offer to Arsenal for Emile Smith Rowe, and they'll also increase their offer to the player himself.
Fulham have been linked with a move for Smith Rowe all summer, but they've failed to agree a deal so far.
The last report from Nixon had suggested that Arsenal were looking for £25m, but the player himself was still quite keen to stay. As well as Fulham, Crystal Palace are believed to be interested in the midfielder.
Elsewhere, Charles Watts reported in late June that there is also interest in Smith Rowe from Germany and Italy, but he prefers to remain in the Premier League.
Football insider Team News and Ticks claimed Arsenal were actually looking for as much as £40m.
Smith Rowe has been in training with a few other Arsenal players and Mikel Arteta in Marbella, in a sort of unofficial early pre-season.
The 23-year-old reportedly arrived early for the mini training camp, clearly keen to be prepared for the new campaign.
The England international made 19 appearances for Arsenal this season.
https://dailycannon.com/2024/07/fulham-smith-rowe-arsenal-offer/
Joao Palhinha undergoes medical at Bayern Munich with Portugal midfielder still to finalise details of £47m move from Fulham
Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha has undergone a medical at Bayern Munich
Bayern have agreed to pay £43.2m up front for Palhinha plus £4.2m in add-ons
Bayern Munich gave a medical to Joao Palhinha over the weekend ahead of his £47m switch from Fulham - though the Portugal midfielder has still to finalise details.
Vincent Kompany's Bayern have agreed to pay £43.2million up front for Palhinha with a further £4.2million in add-ons.
If the deal goes ahead then it will represent a club record sale for Fulham.
Bayern attempted to sign Palhinha last year but the transfer collapsed at a late stage.
Palhinha is free to focus on his club future after Portugal were knocked out of Euro 2024 with a defeat to France on penalties.
(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/07/23/87047653-0-image-m-29_1720391666104.jpg)
Bayern Munich gave a medical to Joao Palhinha ahead of his £47million switch from Fulham
(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/07/23/87048251-13610027-image-a-46_1720392946808.jpg)
Palhinha has yet to finalise the details of his move to join Vincent Kompany's team
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Palhinha can focus on his club future following Portugal's elimination from Euro 2024
Palhinha is poised to sign a four-year contract with Bayern.
After joining Fulham from Sporting in 2022, Palhinha went on to play 79 games for the Cottagers, while he scored eight goals.
He has 31 caps for Portugal since making his international debut in 2021.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13610027/Joao-Palhinha-undergoes-medical-Bayern-Munich-Portugal-midfielder-finalise-details-47m-Fulham.html
Palhinha takes Bayern medical
Joao Palhinha underwent a medical with Bayern Munich this weekend following Portugal's elimination from Euro 2024 – but has flown back to London to finalise the details of his departure from Fulham.
It was widely reported last week that the 29 year-old defensive midfielder was set to complete his move to the German giants ten moves after a previous deal collapsed on the final day of the summer transfer window. Bayern Munich have apparently agreed a £47.4m deal to sign the former Sporting Lisbon midfielder and German reports have suggested that Palhinha is poised to sign a four-year contract after new Bayern boss Vincent Kompany gave the green light to the deal.
Palhinha, who was part of the Portuguese side that was beaten on penalties by France in the European Championship quarter final on Friday night, has been a key part of the Fulham outfit that has successfully adapted to life in the top flight after Marco Silva guided the Whites back to the Premier League in his first season at Craven Cottage. He topped the Premier League's tackling charts for two seasons in a row as well as scoring eight goals in 79 appearances for Fulham.
https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/07/palhinha-takes-bayern-medical/