Friends of Fulham

Pep Guardiola must drop £53m Man City player for Fulham clash, he failed to impress in midweek – opinion
Manchester City are back in action on Saturday with a Premier League clash against Fulham.

Following their 1-1 draw against Newcastle United last weekend, City then secured their first Champions League win of the season on Tuesday night with a 4-0 thrashing of Slovan Bratislava.

This time around, with Pep Guardiola's side turning their attention back to the Premier League, they will be back on home turf when they take on the Cottagers at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

For the match against Bratislava, the City manager made five changes to the starting XI that drew at St. James' Park, having the likes of Rodri, Nathan Ake, Kevin De Bruyne and Oscar Bobb out injured.

Looking ahead to the Fulham match, one player who got a chance to impress in midweek didn't end up doing enough to warrant a place in the starting XI this time around.

Pep Guardiola must drop Matheus Nunes for Man City vs Fulham
After scoring his first goal for the club in their 2-1 win over Watford in the Carabao Cup, Matheus Nunes started and completed the full 90 minutes in City's midweek match in Slovakia.

Even though he created two big chances against Bratislava, the midfielder still lost possession 14 times in total as well as losing six of the 10 duels he was involved in.

Despite the home side only having 24% possession and three shots at goal throughout the game, Nunes still failed to register even one tackle or interception.

This display ultimately earned the Portuguese international an overall match rating of 7.4/10 from SofaScore, making him the second-lowest-rated outfield City player on the night.

Taking all of that on board, even though City will be without Rodri for the rest of the season as a result of the knee injury he picked up against Arsenal, Nunes didn't show Guardiola in midweek that he deserves to start against Fulham.

Who should Guardiola start against Fulham instead of Nunes?
In terms of who Guardiola could pick to play in midfield instead of Nunes for the upcoming match against Fulham, Ilkay Gundogan's performance against Bratislava – which earned him a SofaScore match rating of 8.6/10 – showed why he should keep his place in the team.

Beyond that, the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva, who have started all six of City's league games this season, didn't feature in midweek and therefore should be fresh enough to take on Fulham.

As for Nunes, who City paid £53m to sign from Wolves back in 2023, he may have to wait for the next Champions League or Carabao Cup game to show that he deserves a more regular spot in the team.



https://www.manchestercity.news/pep-guardiola-must-drop-53m-man-city-player-for-fulham-clash-he-failed-to-impress-in-midweek-opinion/

"I didn't expect that" – Player on Fulham exit, held talks with duo before securing summer transfer
João Palhinha was at Fulham for two seasons and left them for Bayern Munich in the last window.

The Portugal international could have joined the Bundesliga side in the summer of 2023. Bayern had agreed a deal with Fulham but couldn't complete the operation before the window closed.

Palhinha has now given an interview to Bayern's club magazine, 51. He has expressed his delight to have given another opportunity to join Bayern in the summer window, a year after the failed transfer.

"There's a saying in my home country: sometimes a train doesn't come twice. But in this case, the train came a second time – and the doors opened again," he said.

"I didn't necessarily expect that, and I think it's extraordinary that this big club never lost contact. It all showed me once again what a special club FC Bayern is, and that they really believe in me in Munich."

The defensive midfielder has revealed he held talks with two former Bayern players, João Cancelo and Renato Sanches, before joining the German club.

"I spoke to João Cancelo and Renato Sanches and they both told me the same thing: that they felt very comfortable in Munich, that they loved playing for Bayern. I liked that and it confirmed my decision," Palhinha explained.

Bayern paid €56m to the Premier League side to secure the 29-year-old's services and offered him a contract until 2028.

The former Sporting man was a regular under Marco Silva, making 79 appearances in all competitions for Fulham, but is yet to cement a place at Bayern. He's been limited to 153 minutes from five matches under Vincet Kompany so far.

When asked if he feels pressure, Palhinha insists he's eager to prove himself at Bayern.

"Bayern wanted to sign me twice, and now it's up to me to take responsibility for the club, to become a big player for this club," he added.

"I don't worry about how much money the club has spent on me or what the expectations are as a result. My focus is on what I can do on the pitch. I'm here now and I'll give it my all, in every training session, in every game. That's how I've always done it in my career."




http://sportwitness.co.uk/i-didnt-expect-that-player-on-fulham-exit-held-talks-with-duo-before-securing-summer-transfer/

Before The Whistle: Manchester City v Fulham

16 games. 16 losses. 14 years. 49 conceded. Seven scored.

The numbers are bleaker than bleak. And they're only since our last point against Manchester City. Even then we had to come back from two down to grab the unlikeliest of 2-2 draws. You have to go back to 2009 for our last win – a Clint Dempsey double either side of a Dickson Etuhu goal gave us a 3-1 win at the Etihad. 'Poker Face' by Lady Gaga was top of the charts that day.

So, back to Manchester we go like lambs to the slaughter. Except this time, things feel different. We're on a five-game unbeaten run. We've won our last two in a row. We've got the joint-second most resolute defence in the league. City, meanwhile, have drawn their last two games. The slugs.

Jokes aside, there's probably not a harder game in world football right now. And despite the champions missing Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne, they've got more than enough at their disposal. But when the pressure's off and the expectations are low, anything can happen.

Marco's starting XI has proven quite successful so far this term, and there's little to suggest that he'll change that now, despite the opposition. City might have an embarrassment of riches, but we've got some quality on the bench as well, and as Silva's shown of late, he's got plans in place to change games, or – dare I say it – hold onto leads.

So, strap in and enjoy the ride. It might be a weekend to grimace and move on from, but then again...

ℹ️ MATCH DETAILS

Kick-Off: Saturday, 3.00PM
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Competition: Premier League
TV Channel (UK): None
🚦 LEAGUE FORM

Man City: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ⬜ ⬜
Fulham: ❌ ✅ ⬜ ⬜ ✅ ✅

⚖️ MATCH PROBABILITY

Man City: 72.6%
Draw: 15.9%
Fulham: 11.5%
🥊 MOST RECENT MATCHES

May 24: Fulham 0-4 Man City
Sep 23: Man City 5-1 Fulham\
Apr 23: Fulham 1-2 Man City



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2024-10-04-before-the-whistle-manchester-city-v-fulham/

Maidenhead beat Fulham U21s in National Cup opener
Fulham's under 21s lost their first National Group group fixture this evening as they were beaten 2-0 at Maidenhead United.

The Cottagers fell behind to first half strikes from Shawn McCoulsky and Sam Barratt as the National League outfit made the stronger start. The hosts could easily have gone behind from the hosts' very first attack at York Road but McCouslsky somehow contrived to miss the target altogether when he connected with a cross from Soul Hale six yards out.

Fulham goalkeeper Alex Borto gratefully grabbed a header from Kevin Lokko as United continued to press and a long-range effort from Barratt flew just wide of the near post. Borto did well to keep out a free-kick from Tariq Uwakwe that deflected off the head of Chibby Nwoko and nearly wrongfooted the American goalkeeper.

The young Whites had shown little as an attacking force until Lemar Gordon pinched the ball off the Maidenhead backline and progressed towards goal. The winger tried to find Jayden Quashie but, after a defensive interception saw the ball bounce to his feet, went for goal himself but was denied by a good save from Harvey Collins.

Borto then made himself big to brilliantly thwart McCoulsky in a one-on-one, whilst at the other end Callum Osmand failed to hit the target after latching onto a lovely ball from Brad de Jesus.

Alan Devonshire's side hit the front ten minutes before the break when McCoulsky finally beat Borto by bundling in a cross from Barratt at close quarters. The striker almost doubled the lead from United's next attack by pulling the trigger from a long way out and seeing shot fly just wide of the far post.

Barratt did make it two just before half time through a composed finish and driving beyond the Fulham goalkeeper after seizing on a mistake at the back.

Fulham had a number of decent chances to reduce their arrears after the break but couldn't find the goal to bring them back into the contest. Aaron Loupalo-Bi saw a header from Quashie's corner cleared off the line by Alan Massey before Jon Esenga went close with a looping cross that almost embarrassed Collins and the goalkeeper grasped a snapshot from Loupalo-Bi after the striker had turned sharply in the area.

Hayden Mullins' men will look to bounce back from this derby in Friday night's PL2 SW6 derby against Chelsea.

MAIDENHEAD UNITED (4-2-3-1): Collins; Cochrane, Hale, Lokko (de Havailland 45), Massey; Ferguson (Petitt 45), Uwakwe (McMenemy 65); Ajose, Barratt, Carvalho; McCoulsky (Abrahams 45).

GOALS: McCoulsky (35), Barratt (45).

FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; de Jesus, Slade (Esenga 45), Park, Nsasi; Nwoko, Donnell (Sekularac 45); Olyott (Works 64), Gordon (Ali Wahid 64), Quashie; Osmand (Loupalo-Bi 45). Subs (not used): McNally, de Fougerolles.

BOOKED: Donnell, Nwoko.

REFEREE: Ross Martin.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/10/maidenhead-beat-fulham-u21s-in-national-cup-opener/

Osmand nominated for PL2 player of the month

Fulham forward Callum Osmand has been shortlisted for the PL2 player of the month award for September.

The Welsh youth international made two goals for Fulham's under 21s in the 4-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur before claiming a goal and an assist in the young Whites' 5-2 victory over Sunderland having come off the bench in the second half last Friday night.

The 18 year-old faces competition from Manchester City pair Farid Alfa-Ruprecht and Jacob Wright, Brighton and Hove Albion duo Jamie Mullins and Freddie Simmonds, Ethan Wheatley of Manchester United, Everton's Charlie Whitaker and West Bromwich Albion midfielder Harry Whitwell.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/10/osmand-nominated-for-pl2-player-of-the-month/

Raul nominated for player of the month

Fulham centre forward Raul Jimenez has been nominated for the Premier League's player of the month award after a sensational September.

The Mexican veteran scored in all three of his league appearances for the Whites having been restored to the starting line-up at the start of the month. He scored a close-range goal against West Ham United, opened the scoring in the win over Newcastle United with a fabulous finish and clinched the win at Nottingham Forest with a second half penalty – which was also his 50th Premier League goal.

Jimenez is up against Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes, Liverpool striker Luis Diaz, Arsenal defender Gabriel, Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, the Everton winger Dwight McNeil, Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins.

The winner will be decided by a public vote. You can vote for Raul until 12pm on Monday.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/10/raul-nominated-for-player-of-the-month/

Former Preston North End and Fulham midfielder joins club after 464 days as a free agent
The seven-time England under-21 international is back in professional football.

Former Preston North End midfielder Josh Onomah has ended his period of free agency by signing with their fiercest rivals Blackpool.

The 27-year-old has signed a short-term deal with the Seasiders until the start of January. Onomah had been training with the Bloomfield Road club for the last month, and his former boss Steve Bruce has taken the plunge, and signed the midfielder for the next three months.

Onomah had worked under Bruce at Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday, but it was during Neil Critchley's time in charge that he was brought in to train. He will provide another option to Bruce in midfield, and could make his debut against Mansfield Town at the weekeend.

"It's been a long journey after training with the lads over recent weeks, but it's been great to be in and around football again," said Onomah to the official club website.

"This is a great bunch of lads and I've been involved in promotion-winning sides before, so I'm hoping to bring that experience here. I've worked with the gaffer before and have a good relationship with him, so I'm happy to be here and to start playing."

Onomah spent the entirety of last season without a club, despite undergoing a trial period at Stoke City. Alex Neil was in charge of the Potters during the time he was bidding to earn a contract, but a move never materialised.

Onomah was only at North End for a short period, having joined on a short-term deal in January 2023. He made 13 appearances for the Lilywhites in total, helping the club to a 12th-placed finish.

The midfielder's departure from Deepdale was announced on June 27, 2023, but since then he's been without a club. He was offered a contract but according to Ryan Lowe despite terms being agreed, there were complications with the deal.



https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/josh-onomah-blackpool-preston-north-end-fulham-4810038

Silva shortlisted for manager of the month

Fulham head coach Marco Silva has been shortlisted for the Premier League's manager of the month award for September.

Silva steered the Whites to seven points from nine over the past four weeks and ended the unbeaten runs of Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest in successive weekends to leave Fulham sitting sixth in the table.

The Fulham boss is joined on the shortlist for the award by Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery, Enzo Maresca and Arne Slot. You can vote for Silva here.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/10/silva-shortlisted-for-manager-of-the-month-3/

Smith Rowe eyes England return, says Silva

Marco Silva believes Emile Smith Rowe's strong start to his Fulham career is partly fuelled by a desire to return to the England squad.

The former Arsenal attacking midfielder has scored twice and created a further goal in his first six Premier League appearances since his summer move to Craven Cottage and his creativity has helped the Whites climb to sixth in the table after an excellent start to the new campaign.

Silva told his pre-match press conference at Motspur Park this afternoon:

"He is motivated [by England] definitely. He's enjoying his football, enjoying his team-mates, enjoying the way we've been playing. He fits really well in the way we want to play, fits really well in some aspects where he's been decisive for us. He's going to improve. We have to be really pleased with the impact he's already had in our squad. But I think he is going to improve more and more and more.

About the national team, of course it's always a proud moment for any English player. We are here to help him. It has to be a goal for him, definitely. Some time ago he was there. It was just one or two caps, but he was there. He felt the moment for sure. It has to be a goal for him to fight for it. The competition in his position is top.

He has this goal, and we are here to help him to reach his best level for this football club. Of course, when you play at a top level in your football club, you are always there, knocking on the door to be called up by your national team."

Silva confirmed that Fulham have no new injury worries ahead of Saturday's trip to Manchester City.

"No big changes from last week. Jorge Cuenca is still out. Carlos Vinicius is still out. All the other players are going to be available for the match."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/10/smith-rowe-eyes-england-return-says-silva/

Louis Saha identifies Arsenal transfer mistake - 'He's incisive'
Away trips to Craven Cottage have long been regarded as a pleasant day out, but Louis Saha believes the capture of Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal has turned Fulham into dangerous dark horses

Louis Saha says Arsenal have made a mistake by letting Emile Smith Rowe leave - but the Gunners' loss will be Fulham's gain.

Smith Rowe has made a vibrant start at Fulham, and former Cottagers striker Saha believes he could even fire them into Europe as the Premier League's surprise package.

 Saha, who score 63 goals in 142 appearances for Fulham between 2000-2004, told cryptocasinosuk.net: "I hope that Arsenal regret letting Emile Smith-Rowe leave because that would mean that he has been a great signing for Fulham. You can tell when you watch Smith-Rowe that he was educated at Arsenal in terms of his speed of thought, the way he does things. He's incisive and he makes Fulham play with more purpose and speed.

"I absolutely love Fulham Football Club. They will always have a special place in my heart, and it makes me happy to see that the club are able to sign top, top talents, players that don't see moving to Fulham as a step down, but more like a trampoline and an opportunity for them to boost their careers."

Saha says Fulham are the Premier League's dark horses who play expansive football under Marco Silva - and they are capable of giving all the top sides a difficult 90 minutes.

Speaking to cryptocasinosuk.net, he claimed Fulham could be candidates for European football next season, saying: "Andreas Pereira, for example - he was finding it difficult to establish himself in the Manchester United team and now you see him at Fulham, and he's blossomed into a proper playmaker.

Having Smith-Rowe and Pereira in your midfield adds a lot of creativity and gives Marco Silva some great options. Fulham have wingers that want to attack, and Smith Rowe will complement the way that they can hurt opponents. These days, Fulham are playing a type of football where they will give anyone a game.

"They can cause problems to anybody in the Premier League. It's amazing to see them use this approach.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/emile-smith-rowe-fulham-arsenal-33819790

Paul Merson urges Pep Guardiola to start £300k-a-week Man City star v Fulham
Manchester City have another fixture ahead of them in what is already a busy season for the club.

Following on from their 1-1 Premier League draw away at Newcastle United and their 4-0 victory against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, City are back in action this weekend.

Specifically, Pep Guardiola's side will be taking on Fulham at the Etihad Stadium for their latest Premier League outing.

Out of their six league games this season, the Blues have won four, drawn two and scored 14 goals in the process, conceding six along the way as well.

In comparison, Marco Silva's side have won three, drawn two and lost one of their six matches, bagging eight goals and conceding five along the way, putting them in sixth place just three points behind City.

In the build-up to Saturday's meeting between the two sides, one pundit and former Premier League player has urged the City boss to include one particular player in his starting XI.

Paul Merson says Pep Guardiola must start Jack Grealish in Man City vs Fulham
While previewing all of this weekend's Premier League fixtures in a recent column for Sportskeeda, Paul Merson said this about the one player he thinks should be in City's starting XI against Fulham.

He said: "Jack Grealish must start this game for City, in my opinion.

"One thing that people forget about him is that he works his socks off, maybe more than any other player in his position.

"I'm honestly not a fan of Jeremy Doku and I'd prefer Grealish over him against Fulham."

Grealish showed his class in Newcastle draw
Looking back over the draw against Newcastle where Grealish completed 81 minutes before being subbed off for Doku, he was able to show Guardiola what he's capable of producing on the pitch.

For instance, as well as providing the assist for Josko Gvardiol's goal, the £300k-a-week winger made more key passes (5) than any other City player on the day.

However, in the 4-0 win in Slovakia on Tuesday night, Doku racked up the highest number of touches in the opposition box (26) than any player in a Champions League game since the 2008/09 season.

The Belgian also made five key passes and delivered one assist, mirroring Grealish's efforts in last weekend's game at St. James' Park.

So while Merson may be adamant that Guardiola should start Grealish ahead of Doku against Fulham, it may not be as easy a decision for the City boss.



https://www.manchestercity.news/paul-merson-urges-pep-guardiola-to-start-300k-a-week-man-city-star-v-fulham/

Chris Sutton predicts Manchester City v Fulham and asks 'big question' of Pep Guardiola's men
Manchester City take on Fulham this weekend looking to get back to winning ways in the league after drawing their last two league games against Arsenal and Newcastle.

Pep Guardiola is making do without influential midfielder Rodri and he must find a way for his team to get back to normal without the Spaniard.

Of course, a home tie against Fulham – despite their good form – is something Guardiola and City should relish right now.

City hammered the Cottagers last season and more of the same will do nicely this weekend.

And according to Chris Sutton, City will indeed get back to winning ways, albeit with a challenge thrown in.

Chris Sutton predicts Manchester City v Fulham
Making his prediction for the BBC, Sutton has insisted that City's run of conceding goals will come to an end this weekend.

"I've got Fulham wrong a few times this season by underestimating them... I am still not going to back them to get anything at Etihad Stadium though," Sutton said.

"Manchester City were not quite at it against Newcastle last weekend, whether that was down to Rodri's absence or not, and they will have to do better this time – which is what I am expecting to happen.

"Fulham have got a nice balance to them, but can they keep City out? They lost this fixture 5-1 last season with Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick and, while they might suffer less damage this time, I can still only see one outcome.

"The big question for me is whether City keep a clean sheet. They have conceded in their past five league games, but based on the law of averages – so nothing scientific – I think that run will end here."

City will be well up for it after recent draws
Fulham are playing well and in Emile Smith Rowe, Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez, they have players who can hurt City.

However, at The Etihad, there's just no way City will be losing this one or dropping more points.

With Arsenal now above them, every game matters more and more for City and they will want to avoid another slip up to allow the Gunners a sniff.

Sutton, then, is probably right on the money here with a comfortable win for Pep's men.



https://tbrfootball.com/chris-sutton-predicts-manchester-city-v-fulham-and-asks-big-question-of-pep-guardiolas-men/

Man City XI vs Fulham: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League
City without midfield stars again as they look to return to winning ways in Premier League

Manchester City remain without Kevin De Bruyne for their Premier League clash at home to Fulham on Saturday.

The midfielder picked up a thigh injury against Inter Milan last month and has not featured since, missing four matches already as City dropped points against Arsenal and Newcastle.

De Bruyne will not play for his country in the upcoming international break, after which City hope he will be fit, and Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco has revealed the 33-year-old has also asked to be left out of the squad in November.

"I had a long phone conversation with Kevin," said Tedesco.

"He has asked to skip this camp and also November, to be able to take care of his body."

Pep Guardiola confirmed that Erling Haaland is fit to face Fulham, having started and scored against Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday night despite taking a knock to his ankle against Newcastle last weekend. Rodri, Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb remain long-term absentees.

It leaves Guardiola with decisions to make in midfield, with Rodri out for the rest of the season after suffering an ACL injury.

Ilkay Gundogan played in a deeper role in the midweek Champions League win and could be given that role again, with Mateo Kovacic alongside him and Phil Foden potentially being handed his first start in the Premier League this season.

Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji appear to be the preferred centre-back pairing, meaning John Stones could miss out once more, while Rico Lewis will hope to keep his place at right-back over Kyle Walker.

There were starts for Jeremy Doku and Savinho on Tuesday night, but Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva are likely to return to the lineup against Fulham.

Predicted Man City XI: Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan; Silva, Foden, Grealish; Haaland

Injured: De Bruyne, Rodri, Ake, Bobb

Time and date: 3pm BST, Saturday, October 5, 2024

Venue: Etihad Stadium



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/man-city-xi-vs-fulham-confirmed-team-news-predicted-lineup-injury-latest-2024-premier-league-b1185905.html

Four players are out of Manchester City's clash with Fulham
Following their 4-nil win over Slovan Bratislava Manchester City will take on Fulham in Premier League action at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow. The world champions will be hoping to pick three points against Marco Silva's side in Manchester City's last match before the international break. Pep Guardiola told the media today that his team will head into tomorrow's game with four players unavailable.

The City manager was asked about the condition of his squad during his pre-game press conference earlier today. Guardiola told the media that he has four players out of the game due to injury. He said: "Everyone else except Nathan, Kevin, Rodri and Oscar. The rest are OK. Kevin is not ready for tomorrow."

News broke earlier today that Kevin De Bruyne would miss Belgium's upcoming fixtures. Guardiola explained that Manchester City's inspirational midfielder is still injured. Therefore his non-selection for Belgium makes sense. Guardiola added: "How can you play for the national team when you have not played? I never understood that. He did not say he will retire from Belgium to me. For that game he is injured so is not available."

Rodri, Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb are out with long-term injuries. Although there may be hope that Ake may return after the international break. But that remains to be seen. Oscar Bobb should return late this year or early next year from a fractured leg. Rodri is out for the season after suffering an ACL injury in his right knee.

Manchester City will be without four players for tomorrow's clash with Fulham. But that was already known so it is good news for City that every other player is available for tomorrow's match.



https://esteemedkompany.com/2024/10/04/four-players-are-out-of-manchester-citys-clash-with-fulham/

Don't tell me! Pep not interested in winning run against Fulham
Pep Guardiola has no interest in City's winning streak against Fulham ahead of our latest Premier League clash.

Our current run of 16 successive wins against the Cottagers in all competitions is the longest ever recorded by one English league side against another.

If City avoid defeat against Fulham on Saturday at 15:00 (UK), we will also go more than two years without defeat at home over 90 minutes.

Brentford were the last side to leave with three points on November 12, 2022 although the Bees raced into a first-minute lead against City earlier this season before losing 2-1, while John Stones late equaliser against Arsenal snatched a point.

But the boss in focused on trying to pick up another victory going into the international break and dismissed any talk of records.

"I don't like these questions, don't tell me!" Guardiola said when asked about the potential landmark.

"Last time it was the last time you lost was Brentford, and we were 1-0 down in the first minute, although I would say we are always 1-0 down against Brentford in the first minute!

"But don't ask me these questions, please."

Instead, Guardiola is preparing his side to face a Fulham side that have made a strong start to the new campaign.

Marco Silva's team currently sit sixth in the Premier League, just three points behind the Blues and without a defeat since the opening day of the season.

And the boss has been impressed by what he has seen from the London Club and is expecting a difficult afternoon.

"I would love to say we have won the last 60 games in a row and we will start the game 2-0 and we are going to win," he added.

"Only thing I've seen is the last six games and since defeat in the United game and they didn't lose.

"Marco Silva has already spent a few years there in London and they bought interesting players there, especially [Joachim] Andersen and other experienced guys.

"It's always a team that creates a lot of problems. They have a lot of weapons, speed - [Alex] Iwobi, the form he is playing, the speed from Adama Traore always creates a problem, the structure defensively, that is my only concern.

"What they do, not what happened in the past."



https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/pep-guardiola-fulham-premier-league-written-63863636

Pre-Man City Press Conference
Marco Silva is well aware of the size of the task that faces his side at the Eithad Stadium this weekend, despite Manchester City being without Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne.

The Premier League champions, who are also without Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb, are currently unbeaten in the league, but are without a win in their last two outings.

Saturday's game represents an opportunity to pick up our first win at Man City since 2009, but Marco is well aware of the quality at Pep Guardiola's disposal, even with key personnel missing.

"To be clear, and I think Pep has already spoken about it, if any team in the world loses a player like Rodri, you are going to miss something," Marco said in his pre-match press conference.

"It's almost impossible to find another player like him. They have players who perform at a top level, but for them Rodri is a special one and even in the Euros he was a top player.

"They have other solutions; you see how [Mateo] Kovačić is playing there, they have [Ílkay] Gündoğan now and he's player who Pep has used well in many different ways, and now they have [Phil] Foden coming back in a good shape.

"We need to show massive respect to them because if it's not Rodri it'll be another one, if it's not De Bruyne it'll be another one. They have so much individual quality in their squad."

Following an undefeated September, Silva was nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Month award earlier this week. It could potentially be a Fulham double scoop, as Raúl Jiménez received a Player of the Month nomination following his goalscoring streak in September.

Despite receiving recognition, Marco says the nominations are due to the collective effort of the team rather than individuals.

"It's more about the team and the Club," he said. "It's a consequence of our performances over the last few games. We have to be pleased with the way we are playing, especially because a number of new players have been settling in.

"We still have big room to improve game by game, training session by training session in order to compete at the best level, because the Premier League is so demanding.

"We always have to look forward. We are pleased with what we've done, with the nomination, and the one for Raúl, who is in good shape as well, but the main focus is on the pitch, how we can improve as a football Club and how we can make the players confident on a matchday."

Marco ended the press conference by confirming that Jorge Cuenca and Carlos Vinícius remain unavailable for selection, but there are no fresh injury concerns among the squad.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/october/04/pre-man-city-press-conference/

Man City predicted lineup vs Fulham - Premier League

    Man City welcome Fulham to the Etihad in the Premier League this Saturday
    Cityzens looking to end two-game winless run in the league before international break
    Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Nathan Ake to miss out

Manchester City take to the field for the final time before the October international break on Saturday afternoon as they host Fulham in the Premier League.

Rather astonishingly, Man City have won their last 16 encounters with the Cottagers heading into the weekend and will be aiming to extend that record to get back on track after successive Premier League draws. Pep Guardiola's side have an impeccable home record but are currently without the influence of Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne.

Fulham are in encouraging form and will pose the reigning champions some issues, but there can be no excuses for any more dropped points in the race for a fifth successive Premier League crown.

Here is how Man City could line up this weekend.

Man City predicted lineup vs Fulham (4-2-3-1)
GK: Ederson - Rested midweek as understudy Stefan Ortega earned a start, Ederson will hope to be less involved than he has been in recent weeks. It was the Brazilian who handed Newcastle their equalising penalty last Saturday.

RB: Kyle Walker - Walker's minutes must be managed as he reaches the latter stage of his career and that's exactly what Guardiola has done at the start of 2024/25. The 34-year-old has youthful competition in Rico Lewis.

CB: Manuel Akanji - Injury to Nathan Ake meant Akanji was relied upon midweek in Slovakia but he didn't have to work too hard in the 4-0 demolition. He played just an hour, leaving him fresh for a battle with in-form Raul Jimenez.

CB|: Ruben Dias - John Stones played the entirety of Tuesday's victory which suggests he will be the centre-back to miss out against Fulham. Dias would take some shifting from Guardiola's strongest XI.

LB: Josko Gvardiol - The Croatian defender got back on the scoresheet against Newcastle with an extremely well-taken goal. Walker's presence allows him to roam further forward and it's worth noting he bagged a brace at Craven Cottage last term.

DM: Rico Lewis - Guardiola desperately needs to fill the Rodri void and young Lewis could offer a unique solution. While far from a midfield enforcer like his Spanish teammate, his tactical intelligence makes him a dab hand at a variety of functions in the engine room.

DM: Mateo Kovacic - Having started five of Man City's Premier League matches this season, Kovacic's influence will only become greater in Rodri's absence. His defensive responsibilities will increase over the coming months and he'll be tasked with stifling Emile Smith Rowe this weekend.

RW: Bernardo Silva - Despite travelling to Slovakia, Silva was given the night off during a comfortable Champions League triumph. Fresh for Fulham, he may be utilised from the right-hand side in place of Savinho.

AM: Phil Foden - Having struggled with illness early in the campaign, Foden showed glimpses of his genius in Bratislava. He returned to the scoresheet in his most productive attacking midfield role and may have done enough to start against the Cottagers.

LW: Jack Grealish - A difficult 2023/24 couldn't come to an end quickly enough for Grealish and the former Aston Villa man appears reinvigorated at the beginning of the new campaign. He's earned another international call-up following some encouraging City displays.

ST: Erling Haaland - Haaland scored one of his trademark Etihad hat-tricks in this fixture last season and has already produced two in the Premier League this term - one coming away from home at West Ham United. You would be foolish to bet against another feast for the Norwegian this weekend.



https://www.90min.com/man-city-predicted-lineup-vs-fulham-premier-league-5-10-24

Manchester City vs Fulham: Preview and Prediction
Manchester City will host Fulham at the Etihad on Saturday, eager to return to winning ways in the Premier League after two successive draws.

Manchester City are second in the Premier League table after two successive draws, and they will look to climb to the top of the table with a win over Fulham at the Etihad on Saturday afternoon. The reigning champions have a formidable record against the Cottagers, and they will be the favourites to win here.

Meanwhile, Fulham are sixth in the standings, and they have made an impressive start to the season as well. The West London outfit are unbeaten in five of their last six league games, and they will look to pull off an upset here.

Fulham will need to be at their best to get something out of this contest. Manchester City have a formidable record against the West London club, and they are nearly impossible to beat at home. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
The home side will be without Rodri (ACL), Kevin De Bruyne (groin), Oscar Bobb (leg), and Nathan Ake (thigh). Manchester City will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Fulham, with Ederson Moraes in goal. Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol will be deployed as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Manuel Akanji will start at the heart of the defence alongside Ruben Dias.

As for the midfield unit, Ilkay Gundogan will start alongside John Stones in the double pivot. The England international will look to protect the back four and break up the opposition attacks, and Gundogan will look to add creativity and control.

Phil Foden will be deployed in the attacking midfield role, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities with his passing and vision. Savinho and Jeremy Doku should feature in the wide areas here, with Erling Haaland leading the line for Manchester City against Fulham.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Gundogan, Stones; Savinho, Foden, Doku; Haaland


Fulham
Carlos Vinicius is the only injury worry for the away side this weekend. Fulham are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Manchester City, with Bernd Leno in goal. Kenny Tete and Antonee Robinson will be deployed as the full-backs. They will look to protect the side defensively and help out during transitions. Joachim Andersen will start alongside Calvin Bassey in the central defensive pairing.

Sasa Lukic and Andreas Pereira will add defensive cover and creativity from the deep as they pair up in the double pivot in the middle of the park. Emile Smith Rowe will start as the central attacking midfielder and he will look to open up the Manchester City defence with his passing and vision.

Adama Traore will likely start in the wide areas along with Alex Iwobi. They will add pace and flair to the Fulham attack. Finally, Raul Jimenez should lead the line for Fulham against Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Pereira; Traore, Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez


Key Stats

    Manchester City have won their last 16 matches against Fulham in all competitions.
    Manchester City have scored at least 2 goals in their last 17 matches against Fulham in all competitions.
    Manchester City are undefeated in their last 29 matches  in the Premier League.
    24 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two sides.
    Both teams have scored in four of the last five matches between these two sides.

Player to Watch
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian international is in phenomenal form right now, and he is our key player to watch out for. Haaland is in red-hot form right now, and he will look to add to his goalscoring tally for the season.

Manchester City's star striker has the quality to punish the Fulham defence here, and the home side will expect him to step up and deliver here. Haaland could cause all sorts of problems for the Fulham defence with his movement, link-up play, physicality, and finishing ability.

Prediction
Manchester City 3-1 Fulham
Both teams are in impressive form, and this is likely to be an exciting contest. Neither Manchester City nor Fulham are expected to sit back and defend, and this could be an open game with a fair few chances.

Manchester City are the better team here, and they should be able to grind out the win. However, a high-scoring game is on the cards here. Manchester City are formidable at home, and they have a phenomenal record against Fulham. They should be able to extend that run. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Pep Guardiola and his charges.



https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2024/10/04/manchester-city-vs-fulham-preview-and-prediction/

Manchester City vs Fulham: Premier League Preview and Latest Team News
Manchester City vs Fulham: Premier League Clash Analysis

Manchester City will look to return to winning ways as they face Fulham at the Etihad Stadium this weekend. After a rare dip in form, City will aim to reaffirm their dominance in the Premier League following successive draws. On the other hand, Fulham, under Marco Silva, are enjoying a solid start to the season and could pose a tricky test for Pep Guardiola's men.

City's Struggles: A Blip or Cause for Concern?
For a team of Manchester City's calibre, back-to-back draws feel like an anomaly, even if they came against strong opposition. Their recent 1-1 draw with 10-man Arsenal, secured by a late equaliser, showed resilience but also highlighted some cracks. Following that with a controversial Carabao Cup tie against Watford and another league draw with Newcastle, City's momentum appears to have faltered slightly. They now sit a point behind league leaders Liverpool, making this clash against Fulham all the more critical.

Kevin De Bruyne's absence has been felt heavily, with the Belgian maestro sidelined by a groin injury. Guardiola will also be without influential midfielder Rodri, whose season-ending knee surgery leaves a significant gap in City's midfield. Nathan Ake (hamstring) and Oscar Bobb (leg fracture) are also out, adding to the growing injury list. As Guardiola stated, "We have to adjust and adapt, we're missing key players but it's part of the game." Fulham might see this as a rare opportunity to face a weakened City side, though the reigning champions are rarely vulnerable at home.

Fulham's Impressive Start
Marco Silva's Fulham team have enjoyed a strong start to the season, collecting three wins from six matches and sitting just three points behind City. After an epic penalty shootout loss to Preston in the Carabao Cup, they bounced back with significant victories over Newcastle and Nottingham Forest. Fulham's ability to grind out results against top teams this season shows their potential to disrupt City's plans.

Though Fulham have a clean bill of health, they will miss striker Carlos Vinicius, sidelined with a calf injury, and summer signing Jorge Cuenca due to an ankle issue. Silva will still rely on his team's defensive organisation and midfield creativity to pose a challenge. Silva remarked, "It's always difficult at the Etihad, but we believe in ourselves, and we'll give our best."

Manchester City's Home Fortress
City's record against Fulham is nothing short of dominant. The Cottagers have not beaten Manchester City since April 2009, when Clint Dempsey scored twice in a 3-1 victory. Since then, City have won 19 of the last 22 meetings, including 16 consecutive wins. It's a daunting task for Fulham, but with the league as unpredictable as ever, anything is possible.

Despite City's recent struggles, they remain a formidable force at home. Their 4-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League midweek was a reminder of their attacking power. Playing at the Etihad is never easy for any team, and City's fans will expect a statement win after two consecutive league draws.

Prediction: City Set for a Comfortable Victory
While Fulham's form and confidence make them a tough opponent, City are unlikely to falter at home. Guardiola's squad, even with notable absences, has enough depth and quality to handle the threat posed by Fulham. The hosts will be eager to get back to winning ways in the Premier League and stay within touching distance of Liverpool and Arsenal, their main title rivals.

A focused and determined City should have too much firepower for Fulham, and the home side is predicted to win comfortably. A 3-0 scoreline in favour of City seems likely, given their history and superior quality. However, Fulham's resilience will ensure it won't be an easy ride for the defending champions.

Our View – Manchester City's Determination
Despite recent slip-ups, Manchester City's overall form suggests they are still the team to beat this season. Pep Guardiola's side may be dealing with some key injuries, but their depth is unrivalled, especially when playing at the Etihad. Fulham, although in fine form themselves, will likely struggle to break City's home dominance.

Fulham fans should remain hopeful, though. Marco Silva has built a solid squad that has proven its capability to trouble big teams, and if they can hold off City's inevitable early pressure, they might have a chance to leave Manchester with a point. That said, City's attack is too potent to back against them in this scenario. It's another huge test for Fulham, and although they have shown promise this season, City are expected to edge this encounter comfortably.



https://eplindex.com/121121/manchester-city-vs-fulham-premier-league-preview-and-latest-team-news.html

Pep Guardiola raves about four Fulham stars as Man City boss lauds £22m man's form
Pep Guardiola usually has a few words of praise for Manchester City's opposition and this week was no different with the Premier League champions hosting Fulham.

And while his claim that Fulham usually represents a tough game for his star-studded Man City side does not really stand up to scrutiny when you look at the stats, Pep Guardiola certainly has reason to fear two members of Marco Silva's side.

Fulham have not beaten Saturday's opponents Manchester City since Clint Dempsey scored twice in a 3-1 win at the Etihad Stadium back in April 2009. The score between the two sides last season ended 9-1 in City's favour.

But, with Silva reviving the ailing careers of Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez, Guardiola will need no introduction to the talents of a partnership which burned brightly if briefly at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

While Traore would often set up Jimenez for his trademark crashing headers, the latter turned provider as the former hit a famous brace in a 2-0 win for Wolves at the home of the perennial champions five years ago this month.

If the now-Fulham duo were to repeat the trick this weekend, it would bust coupons up and down the land. But Guardiola, ever the obsessive, is in no mood to downplay the chances of a Cottagers side unbeaten since that opening day loss at Old Trafford.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola hails four Fulham stars
"The only record I see is the past six games [was] the first defeat against [Manchester] United. They didn't lose [since]," Guardiola says during his Friday press conference.

In addition to Traore and Jimenez, the former Barcelona boss also lauds the £30 million return of Joachim Andersen.

Guardiola praised the towering Dane repeatedly during his time at Crystal Palace and was keen to do so again.

The excellent early-season displays of Alex Iwobi also have Guardiola purring. He believes that the former Arsenal and Everton man – like so many in Marco Silva's selection – is currently playing the best football of his career.

"They bought interesting players there, especially Andersen. An experienced guy," Guardiola enthuses. "They are a team who always, always, always create problems, especially at home in the first-half.

"They have a lot of weapons and speed. Iwobi, I have never seen him in the form that he is playing. And of course the speed of Adama always creates problems. Jimenez is back [and he] always has been tough."

"The structure defensively... it has always been a tough game [against Fulham]."

Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez in top form for Fulham
Fulham defeated Nottingham Forest last time out to move up to sixth place.

A European charge may prove to be beyond the West London outfit in the long haul but, after an impressive campaign last season, the progress Fulham continue to make is credit to a coach who has come a long way since his dismal final few months at Everton.

Silva has Traore playing his best stuff in recent memory, helping to add a long-awaited ruthlessness to the winger's iconic acceleration. TBR understands that one-time Barcelona flyer Traore could be rewarded with a new deal at Fulham.

With three goals in three starts, meanwhile, veteran hitman Jimenez is well on his way to reaching double figures in the Premier League for the first time since 2019/20.

"We still have big room to improve game by game, training session by training session in order to compete at the best level," Silva said, hoping to break that so-called Manager of the Month curse after adding September's award to his collection. "Because the Premier League is so demanding."

"We always have to look forward. We are pleased with what we've done and the [Player of the Month] nomination of Raul, who is in good shape as well.

"But the main focus is on the pitch. How we can improve as a football club and how we can make the players confident on a matchday."



https://tbrfootball.com/pep-guardiola-raves-about-four-fulham-stars-as-man-city-boss-lauds-22m-mans-form/

Marco Silva wary of setting Fulham targets after fine start to season
Fulham sit sixth after winning three of their six first games

Marco Silva is not setting concrete targets for Fulham's season after an impressive start to the campaign.

Fulham, who finished 13th last season, have won three and lost only one of their opening six Premier League games to sit sixth in the league ahead of Saturday's trip to the Etihad to face defending champions Manchester City.

In the 2022/23 season, newly-promoted Fulham were tipped for an immediate return to the Championship but Silva instead masterminded a 10th-place finish.

Silva, who believes his side are better now than they were then, said: "I like to be ambitious and want us to grow. The Premier League is so demanding.

"You have the top six, but now you talk about the top eight and top nine. The competition is so hard every single week."

Fulham are currently in a European place, but Silva tempered expectations over what his side can achieve this season, adding: "We have to be there for the good moments but when the setbacks come you have to respond. But it is clear we want to do better than last season and that is our target."

Fulham won 1-0 at Nottingham Forest last weekend through a Raul Jimenez penalty, but it later emerged that Andreas Pereira had been the designated penalty-taker before Jimenez insisted on taking the spot-kick instead.

"We have to wait for the matchday", Silva said, when asked who Fulham's regular penalty taker currently is. "We have some good penalty takers in our team and it is up to me to decide who is the taker.

"I can decide from one game to the other and if I have to change something then we would have already spoken about it. It was not something that was good to see. We have spoken about the moment already and we have sorted it."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/marco-silva-fulham-fc-season-targets-b1185912.html

Man City vs Fulham: Premier League Preview, Gameweek 7, 2024
The Citizens welcome an in-form Fulham side to the Etihad

Pep Guardiola's side look to regain top spot in the Premier League table as Fulham visit the Etihad Stadium in their hardest test of the season so far.

Marco Silva's side conquered Newcastle United less than a month ago with a 3-1 victory at Craven Cottage. Fulham have made an emphatic start to the season, joining the big names at the top of the table as they currently sit in sixth place.

Man City have failed to win in their previous two fixtures, including a dramatic 2-2 draw against Arsenal and a below-par performance against Newcastle at St James' Park, which resulted in a 1-1 stalemate.

City have struggled without one of their best players in Rodri, who suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury against Arsenal and has since been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Guardiola's efforts in replacing the defensive midfielder have been temperamental after using  a combination of Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes, with Rico Lewis almost certain to make his mark after a sublime display in Bratislava on Tuesday night.

Emile Smith Rowe - who joined Fulham from Arsenal in a deal worth £34m - has made an excellent start to life in West London, scoring against both Newcastle and Leicester City.

The visitors are quite clearly the underdogs in this tie, but there's little doubt that Silva will bring his best tactics to Manchester on Saturday.

    Team News

Manchester City

Nathan Ake remains a doubt with Kevin de Bruyne and Oscar Bobb expected to be out for some time.

Bobb suffered a fracture in his leg during training which ended his involvement in City's preparations as the Blues look to win a fifth Premier League title in a row.

Erling Haaland is likely to feature. He has 11 goals in all competitions so far this season and recently reached a milestone of 100 goals in English football after just 105 appearances.

The Norwegian forward equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's record at Real Madrid for the fewest games to reach 100 goals in a major European League.
Fulham

Head coach Silva reported that there were no new injury concerns among his squad, though Jorge Cuenca and Carlos Vinicius remain sidelined by injuries.

Vinicius has missed four games for the Cottagers so far this season with a calf problem, whereas Cuenca suffered an ankle injury towards th

Former Wolves strike Raul Jimenez's presence is inevitable, with Smith Rowe also likely to start.

    Predicted Lineups

Manchester City

Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Grealish, Foden, Doku; Haaland

Fulham

Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Pereira, Lukic; Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Adama; Jimenez

    Key Players

Man City - Phil Foden

Foden has had a slow start to the 2024-25 season but following his magnificent performance against Slovan Bratislava, he could begin to show his top-flight form again if Guardiola choses to include him.

The 22-year-old has only made three Premier League appearances so far this season - accumulating only 89 minutes of football from a possible 270.

But after being awarded PFA Player of the Year in August, there's no doubt he will begin to play his part again.

Fulham - Emile Smith Rowe

After making his mark for Fulham following a shock transfer from the Gunners, Silva has put the midfielder to great use after his arrival to Craven Cottage.

Since the age of 10, Smith Rowe has been an academy product of Arsenal but had become frustrated with his lack of minutes for the North London club.

His arrival to Fulham sparked great doubts, though the 24-year-old understandably wanted minutes which he has since received under Silva.

Smith Rowe poses a great threat to City—not only due to his inevitable presence but also to Rodri's absence, which Fulham will hope to take full advantage of.

    Match Details

Where is the match being played?

The match will be played at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester - home of Man City.

What time is kick-off?

The game kicks off on Saturday 5th October and will start at 15:00 GMT.

How can I watch?

Due to the 15:00 blackout, the match will not be available to view in the UK. However, highlights will be accessible on the Sky Sports YouTube channel from 17:15 GMT, and Match of the Day on BBC One from 22:30 GMT.



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/10/04/premier-league/1198893-man-city-vs-fulham-premier-league-preview-gameweek-7-2024.html

Fulham's post-Palhinha revamp offers pointers for Guardiola's Rodri puzzle
Fulham were widely expected to regress this season. As much as they tried to prolong it, they lost the very public battle of retaining João Palhinha, the important cog in their midfield opting to sign for Bayern Munich in the summer. Adding to the challenges, they have not had a reliable goalscorer since Aleksandar Mitrovic's departure a year earlier and lost several first-team players in the past transfer window. Yet early results have dispelled concerns of a decline. Fulham sit sixth in the Premier League – up from 11th at this stage last season.

The departure of Palhinha posed a unique challenge: try to replace an irreplaceable player or adapt without him. Marco Silva opted for the latter. Without their midfield destroyer, the manager has pushed Fulham higher up the pitch, now deploying the fifth-highest defensive line in the league, behind only Manchester City, Brighton, Tottenham and Arsenal (Fulham ranked 17th last season).

The former Crystal Palace centre-back Joachim Andersen has become the linchpin in the system revamp. The Dane has transformed Fulham's buildup play, using his passing range to pick out Alex Iwobi, Emile Smith Rowe and Adama Traoré with long diagonals. His technical prowess also ensures the opposition rarely disrupts the new high line.

"We really pushed the board [to sign Andersen]," says Silva. "The club made the effort and we are delighted to have him with us because of his leadership, maturity, understanding and knowledge about the Premier League. We need to assemble a team with certain types of attributes. Andersen has them all to be honest.

"The quality is there, the way we want to play, the way we want to build from the back with a back four. He is already a great tool for us to use, and I think he is going to be a really important signing for us. He has already shown that."

Rather than pairing a ball-winner like Palhinha with a traditional box-to-box midfielder, Silva has restructured the midfield to allow Sasa Lukic and Andreas Pereira, along with Traoré, Iwobi and Smith Rowe, to win the ball back collectively, rather than relying solely on one player to recover possession in deeper areas.

"When you don't concede the goals, it is not just because of the back four or the goalkeeper," says Silva. "It is up front with the way our striker and offensive midfielder start to press. The organisation from our midfielders is really important to help the back four. We've been improving in that respect."

Having players that have featured at other clubs in the Premier League, especially together, has made this system change a lot smoother. "It took a little bit of time for Adama to be at his best level [after he first signed]. This season it is completely different," says Silva. "He had a proper pre-season and now he has to try to keep his level because he is not an easy player to stop when he's at his best.

"His partnership with Raúl [Jiménez] is special. We all know what they had in the past at Wolves. So many assists from one to the other to score. They connect with each other well, even off the pitch, and that is always going to be a good help for us."

Fulham are off to their best Premier League start in 20 years, with just one loss, and that against Manchester United on the opening night of the season. Though Silva has downplayed talk of European qualification, a top-half finish seems well within reach. However, a major test awaits against Manchester City on Saturday. The champions have won their last 16 meetings with Fulham in all competitions – the longest streak of any English side against another. Fulham have not won at the Etihad Stadium since 2009 and last season they conceded nine goals in their two league meetings.

A defeat to City would certainly not derail Fulham's progress or diminish the impact of Silva's system overhaul. But their performance will be a crucial measure of whether the team is ready to take the next step. Although Pep Guardiola is missing Rodri, the Fulham manager has noted a new "unpredictability" to City's play, especially in how they create chances for Erling Haaland.

"Any team in the world would miss something if you lose a player like Rodri because he is a player that is almost impossible to find another one like him but, clearly, they have other solutions, and if someone is going to have solutions it is City," says Silva. "Rodri is a special player, and of course that is not good news for Pep. But that is Pep's problem. We have to look at ourselves and see how we will approach the game.

"With a striker like [Haaland], they decide if they want to press a bit more or attack straight with him from behind. They have the capacity not just to start from the back but they have a No 9 that can link them and hold the ball for long enough before others come. We are aware of it and let's hope we will be able to play our game."



https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/fulham-post-palhinha-revamp-offers-213005569.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jLm5ld3Nub3cuY28udWsv&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGSSSCbmyzz7hlgnAR-g1oo7ORfP7Izl12jcn6IdnWYjcoFB07-9XEh4Ns1ihuJReCbLtxmAfSej2Ek34EqMRJulvX6NpnGHy-oRYL7DEXi43EYZcxh9kW7GNu4z5NzX9RiJX-1PJhqPFPmRcnlfMMkdI6mHox9jExTaj7xOfYPP

PL2: George and Olise among the scorers for Chelsea in 6-0 win against Fulham
Tyrique George and Richard Olise were on target as Chelsea beat Fulham 6-0 in a Premier League 2 fixture played at Motspur Park on Friday evening.

It was a drab first half as no goal was scored, but the game came alive in the 52nd minute when Donnell McNeilly pounced on a mistake from the Fulham defence, having been assisted by George.

Five minutes later, the Anglo-Nigerian forward got himself on the scoresheet, striking a powerful shot into the far corner to net his first goal of the season in the competition.

The 18-year-old was also involved in the third goal. He set up McNeilly, whose shot was parried away by the goalkeeper Alexander Borto, but Olise was there to tap in the rebound.

In the 75th minute, George was brought off for Zain Silcott-Duberry while Deivid Washington replaced McNeilly.

Washington got himself on the scoreboard on the stroke of the stoppage time with a brilliant solo effort and Jimmy Jay-Morgan rounded up the scoring in the stoppage time.

Chelsea's victory tonight was their second in the Premier League 2 this season, inflicting on Fulham their first loss of the campaign.

With his contributions today, George has now registered one goal and three assists in the Premier League 2 this term, while Olise registered his first goal involvement of the season.

Former Chelsea schoolboy Chibuzo Nwoko entered the game as a substitute in the 75th minute.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=53190

Man City out to equal club-record unbeaten run in Fulham clash
Manchester City will have the chance to equal a club-record unbeaten run when they play host to Fulham in Saturday's Premier League clash.

The Citizens are set to return to league action after enjoying a successful outing in Tuesday's Champions League away game against Slovan Bratislava.

Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and James McAtee all got on the scoresheet to fire their side to a dominant 4-0 victory in the Slovakian capital.

While they emerged victorious in midweek, Man City have had to settle for draws in their last two Premier League matches against Arsenal and Newcastle United.

With that in mind, their main focus will be to clinch all three points in their home meeting with Fulham, but they also have the chance to equal a club record.

Man City on verge of equalling club record
Man City require just a point from Saturday's contest to equal a club record for the longest unbeaten league run in their history.

The Citizens have gone 29 top-flight matches without defeat, having recorded 23 wins and drawn six matches since they lost 1-0 to Aston Villa in December.

Pep Guardiola's charges previously avoided defeat in 30 consecutive Premier League games from April 2017 to January 2018.

The Premier League champions also have the chance to join an exclusive club after avoiding defeat in each of their previous 49 home matches in all competitions.

They are now just one game away from becoming the fourth English top-flight team to go 50 straight competitive matches without defeat.

Man City looking to extend incredible winning streak against Fulham
Man City will certainly fancy their chances of avoiding a surprise loss on Saturday, having fared well in their recent meetings with Fulham.

In fact, the Citizens have won each of their previous 16 head-to-head meetings, making it the longest winning run ever recorded by an English team against a single club.

Man City have won 15 and drawn three of their previous 18 encounters since suffering their most recent defeat against Fulham in April 2009.

If Man City are to claim a positive result, they will have to do it without the services of playmaker Kevin De Bruyne.

Guardiola has confirmed that the Belgium international is sidelined along with Rodri, Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-city/news/what-club-record-can-man-city-equal-in-fulham-clash_554756.html?newsnow

An in form Fulham will take on Manchester City at the Etihad
Manchester City will take on Fulham today at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola's side will be aiming to continue their unbeaten start to the 24/25 season against Marco Silva's side. But a tough test awaits the world champions based on how strongly Fulham have started the new campaign.

The Cottagers head into today's game sitting 6th on the Premier League table. Since their defeat to Manchester United on the opening weekend of the season they are unbeaten in their past 5 Premier League fixtures. Perhaps their best result of the season was their 3-1 win over Newcastle at Craven Cottage last month. Marco Silva's side will head into today's game full of confidence based on their impressive start to the season.

Looking at Fulham one of their strengths has been their defence. The Cottagers have only conceded 5 goals in 6 Premier League games this season. That defence gives them a solid foundation from which to attack. It was this defence that held Nottingham Forest last week in Fulham's 1-nil win at the City Ground.

But Fulham also has weapons of their own in midfield and upfront. Antonee Robinson provides pace and width from left-back. The American international is one of the better left-backs in the Premier League. In midfield, Fulham are blessed with a host of quality options. Andreas Pereira and Sasa Lukic give Marco Silva a solid pairing in midfield. Alex Iwobi and Adama Traore provide width and the odd pieces of brilliance when they're at their best. Up front Raul Jimenez is a proven Premier League performer who can be a threat on hist day. New signing Emile Smith Rowe has added even more quality to Fulham's ranks.

Manchester City will have to be at their best to beat Fulham at the Etihad later today. Marco Silva's side has made an impressive start to the new season. They are strong defensively and have a host of options that could punish City if they aren't at their best. If Pep Guardiola's side are too continue their impressive start to the new campaign they'll have to fight hard to overcome a tough Fulham outfit.



https://esteemedkompany.com/2024/10/05/an-in-form-fulham-will-take-on-manchester-city-at-the-etihad/

Man City vs Fulham: Preview, predictions and lineups

    Man City continue their Premier League title hunt by hosting Fulham
    Cityzens beat Slovan Bratislava handsomely midweek in the Champions League
    Cottagers have made an encouraging start to the season with three league victories

Manchester City will be keen to bring a run of two successive Premier League draws to an end on Saturday when they host Fulham.

The Cityzens have dropped points to Arsenal and Newcastle United in their most recent league outings, with Rodri's season-ending injury forcing uncomfortable questions regarding their significant reliance on the Euro 2024 winner. Pep Guardiola's side tend to be strong finishers rather than fast starters, but they can ill-afford any more slip-ups in the coming weeks.

Of course, their 4-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League midweek has offered some respite from a difficult period - by Man City's standards anyway - especially considering the returning Phil Foden grabbed a well-taken goal in an impressive display.

Fulham will prove challenging opposition for the reigning champions, however, with the west London outfit having won three of their opening six games. Just one defeat sees them residing in sixth heading to the Etihad Stadium and a settled starting XI may be able to unnerve a City side fatigued from their trip to Slovakia.

Here is 90min's guide to Man City's clash with Fulham this weekend.

What time does Man City vs Fulham kick-off?
    Location: Manchester, England
    Stadium: Etihad Stadium
    Date: Saturday 5 October
    Kick-off Time: 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT
    Referee: Peter Bankes
    VAR: Graham Scott

Man City vs Fulham H2H Record (Last Five Games)

    Man City: 5 wins
    Fulham: 0 wins
    Draws: 0

Current form (all competitions)

Man City	Fulham
Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Man City - 01/10/24	Nottingham Forest 0-1 Fulham - 28/09/24
Newcastle 1-1 Man City - 28/09/24	Fulham 3-1 Newcastle - 21/09/24
Man City 2-1 Watford - 24/09/24	Preston 1-1 (16-15p) Fulham - 17/09/24
Man City 2-2 Arsenal - 22/09/24	Fulham 1-1 West Ham - 14/09/24
Man City 0-0 Inter - 18/09/24	Ipswich 1-1 Fulham - 31/08/24

How to watch Man City vs Fulham on TV and live stream

Country	TV channel/live stream
United Kingdom	BBC Radio 5 Live (audio only)
United States	Peacock
Canada	fuboTV, Fubo Sports Network 4 Canada

Man City team news
Naturally, Rodri is the big miss for Man City on Saturday and will be for the rest of the season, but the Cityzens also find themselves without Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake.

Kevin De Bruyne has missed recent matches with a groin injury sustained against Inter in mid-September and is likely to return after the October international break. The Belgian has made himself unavailable for the next two international meet-ups as he aims to manage his workload.

Phil Foden's impressive performance midweek puts him firmly in Guardiola's thoughts ahead of the weekend, while Ilkay Gundogan also dazzled at the base of midfield. The likes of Ederson, Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker should return against Fulham having started on the bench on Tuesday.

Man City predicted lineup vs Fulham
Man City predicted lineup vs Fulham (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Silva, Foden, Grealish; Haaland.

Fulham team news
Carlos Vinicius and Jorge Cuenca are the only players sidelined for Fulham's trip this weekend and a near full-strength squad is exactly what they need to stand a chance against the Premier League champions.

Fortunately, they have a striker in impressive form, with Raul Jimenez having taken Rodrigo Muniz's starting spot and scored four goals in his last six outings. The Mexico international will be joined by the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Adama Traore - who has a good record against City - in the final third.

Fulham predicted lineup vs Man City
Fulham predicted lineup vs Man City (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Pereira, Lukic; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez.

Man City vs Fulham score prediction
Man City will be eager to make a statement at the weekend after successive draws in the Premier League and the arrival of one of their favoured opponents may be exactly what they need.

The Citzyens have triumphed in their last 16 meetings with the Cottagers, winning last season's battles 9-1 on aggregate. No matter Fulham's form, it's tough to look beyond their shocking record in this fixture.

In Haaland, Man City also have a man who rarely fails to score on home turf. The Norwegian drew his first blank of the league season last weekend and will be looking to make amends with one of his now customary hat-tricks at the Etihad.

Prediction: Man City 4-0 Fulham



https://www.90min.com/man-city-vs-fulham-preview-predictions-lineups-5-10-24

Manchester City v Fulham: Gut Feelings
How Our Team See Saturday's Match

Manchester City take on Fulham at the Etihad Stadium before once again, breaking for pointless internationals. You know, there was a time when footballers would play for their national side without the need to break at the weekend.

Anyway, City will be looking to defend their unbeaten start to the season and face a team lying in sixth place after a decent start to the season. This fixture has been traditionally a guaranteed City win, but City have gifted early goals twice to visitors this season, and they'll need to be wary of doing he same think with the Cottagers.

As usual, our team are here to give their views, opinions and predictions in a hopeless attempt to win points that yield no reward except bragging rights at the end of the season.

Saul
Need a win and need it big. City return to form in the league. 4-1 City.

City 4-1 Fulham

Will
Manchester City got back to winning ways against Slovan Bratislava, and will look to continue their run before the international break with three points against Fulham.

It won't be easy, however, as Fulham have started the season very well with the old Wolverhampton Wanderers duo of Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez thriving again whilst City are struggling defensively at the moment.

I still think City will win due to their own attacking threats, but it'll be a tight and high scoring game unless their defence comes together better than it has done recently.

City 3-2 Fulham

Thomas
The Cottagers are the next club to try their luck at the Etihad. City took care of business in the UCL midweek and now look to collect all three points against Fulham after back-to-back draws in the Prem. Foden starts a second consecutive match and finds a goal running into the forward spaces created by Haaland. We'll give the big fella a goal as well.

City 3-1 Fulham

Pete
City haven't failed to score against Fulham for quite a while now and I don't think they'll fail to do so on Saturday. However, City have failed to keep a clean sheet at home all season and Fulham do often score. So I'm going for a comfortable City win and a clean sheet, just for the hell of it.

City 4-0 Fulham



https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/2024/10/5/24262344/manchester-city-v-fulham-gut-feelings

"I didn't want to" – Adama Traoré says Wolves insisted on 'curious' injury prevention
Adama Traoré spent five years at Wolverhampton Wanderers before arriving at Fulham on a free transfer in August 2023.

Wolves took him from Middlesbrough in 2018 and he started picking up shoulder injuries in his first few years at Molineux.

According to Transfermarkt, the winger had shoulder problems on three occasions during the 2019/20 season.

The 28-year-old was a guest of DAZN España's show, Erasmus FC, where he opened up about the 'curious' method employed by Wolves to help him avoid getting injured. He was applying baby oil on his body to prevent opposition from harming his shoulders.

Traoré has claimed he was initially not in favour of this approach. He eventually decided to go ahead with it, which he says was due to the insistence of his former club.

"The oil thing is because I had a shoulder injury before, when I came back, I had like a strap that was holding my shoulder," he said.

"Opponents knew I had that problem and what they did a lot of times when dribbling or one on one, they grabbed my arm to make me uncomfortable.

"So, what they did is they gave me oil. First it was in a game, they insisted a lot and I didn't want to, I felt uncomfortable. It was quite funny the first action I did when the defender came to me and said: 'hey, what's that on your hand, I feel it's slippery'."

The Spain international was able to avoid further shoulder problems at Wolves, but he struggled with hamstring injuries. This has plagued him even at Fulham, forcing him to miss 142 days last season.

Traoré has been a regular under Marco Silva's orders this season. He's scored a goal and registered two assists from seven matches for Fulham.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/i-didnt-want-to-adama-traore-says-wolves-insisted-on-curious-injury-prevention/

Liverpool target reveals crafty Mo Salah chat with Slot readying January signing of Man Utd target
Mo Salah would seemingly be behind a Liverpool move for Antonee Robinson after the Fulham man detailed an extraordinary on-field chat with the Reds attacker and amid reports a January move to Anfield could be on the cards.

Liverpool have taken to life brilliantly under new coach Arne Slot, having won eight of his nine matches in charge so far to make a mockery of claims they would suffer a dip following the exit of charismatic former manager Jurgen Klopp.

Their start under the Dutchman is all the more remarkable given they only effectively have one new signing in their ranks, with Federico Chiesa the only concrete arrival coming into the Reds ranks this summer.

With money to spend in January, Robinson is understood to be a firm target for the Reds with a £35m move being weighed up and with the Daily Express claiming any move could ultimately push Andy Robertson down the pecking order, with the Scot no longer having the same impact he once did.

Any approach from the Reds would almost certainly be endorsed too by talismanic Liverpool attacker Salah, with the Egyptian seemingly a massive admirer of the USA international full-back.

Detailing a chat between them in a 2022 clash, Robinson told The Athletic: "We played Liverpool in the first game of the season two years ago. We drew 2-2. I remember saying to my friends, who are all big Liverpool fans and came down because it was around my birthday, 'Lads if Salah scores or gets an assist this game, I'll pay for dinner tonight', so I put a bit of added pressure on myself.

"And he did, annoyingly. But I remember him saying to me midway through the game, 'How old are you?'. So he didn't really know who I was. I must have been 24, 25.

"He just nodded and carried on with the game. Then, after the game, I asked for his shirt, so we swapped shirts and we were just chatting and he was like, 'You were the best player this game, keep up what you're doing'. That was very nice of him."

Liverpool keen to beat Man Utd to Antonee Robinson
Scotland defender Robertson, now 31, can rightfully claim to be Klopp's best value-for-money signing, having arrived for a £8m snip from Hull City in summer 2017.

Now 31, Robertson has won seven major honours for Liverpool and has 11 goals and 65 assists across 305 games for the club.

However, there have been signs in recent times that his effectiveness is on the decline and this season he is yet to have a goal contribution.

By contrast, Robinson already has two assists to his name this season.

And with Kostas Tsimikas not seen as good enough to be anything more than a squad man, it is logical that Liverpool are looking to Robinson as their top target for the position.

Competition for the player, though, is growing with Manchester City among those linked to his signature.

However, we understand he has also been identified by Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth as they look to address their problematic left-back situation that has effectively seen them without both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia for the best part of a calendar year.

Any move by United, though, is more likely to come next summer.

And with cash to spend in January, Liverpool could well have a key advantage in the race for the 46-times capped USA international.

PSG stance on Mo Salah swoop revealed / Milan star urged to reject Liverpool
Elsewhere, TEAMtalk reporter Rudy Galetti has confirmed that PSG are indeed keeping tabs on the situation around Salah and with the Liverpool star's contract due to expire at the end of the season.

Salah has been the Reds' top scorer in each of his seven seasons at Anfield so far and already has six goals from nine matches so far this campaign.

But with the player eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas sides from January 1, Liverpool are in growing danger of losing the Egyptian king on a free transfer.

Now Galetti has informed us that PSG do intend to sign a new winger in 2025 and are keeping an eye on the situation around Salah, though are more likely to sign an alternative option instead.

Meanwhile, one man linked with Liverpool if Salah were to leave is AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic. However, the former Chelsea winger has been told exactly why he should snub an offer from the Reds and stay exactly where he is.

Elsewhere, Fabrizio Romano has also provided a new update on Real Madrid's pursuit of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

While Madrid hold concrete interest in the Liverpool right-back, the reporter insists they are not actively trying to prise him out of Merseyside as things stand.

Robinson boasts impressive stats vs another Liverpool target Milos Kerkez
(https://images.teamtalk.com/content/uploads/2024/09/23081914/Antonee-Robinson-Milos-Kerkez-stats-1320x742.jpg)

With Liverpool clearly looking into their future selections at left-back, another player we understand who has caught their eye is Bournemouth's Hungarian star Milos Kerkez.

At just 20, he is seven years the junior of Robinson and 11 years younger than Robertson.

The 21-times capped Hungary international has impressed since moving to the Premier League, but is far more raw a talent that Robinson, who looks the safer and more experienced addition.

And a look at last season's metrics shows that the USA international led the Hungarian across a number of key stats, underlining exactly why Robinson is likely to be the player they push for.



https://www.teamtalk.com/liverpool/agent-salah-gets-to-work-liverpool-plot-january-move-beat-man-utd-premier-league-defender

Predictions v Fulham

Our last game before the second of THREE international breaks before the turn of the year, for flip's sake...🙄

A quick, non-footballing comment regarding last Tuesday's game before I continue. Didn't our lads look dead smart in our all-maroon kit? Far, FAR better than that dirty-lookin', f'in Noel Gallagher "inspired" effort, hey?

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).

A very fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:

____________________Haaland____________________

 

 

Grealish_________________________________Savinho

_______________________________Foden___________

____________Silva_______________________________

 

_____________________Stones____________________

Gvardiol___________________________________Lewis

____________Dias_______________Akanji___________

 

 

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Ortega, Walker, Wright, Kovacic, McAtee, Gundogan, Nunes, O'Reilly and Doku.

After a surprise [for me at least] to see Ederson dropped for a Champions League fixture in midweek – nothing whatsoever against Stefan, I'm just sayin' – I would imagine that the Brazilian 'gets the nod' to start this league match.

I'm going for a back-4, occasional 3, of Josko, Ruben, Manuel and Rico.

To Stones or to Kovacic? That is the question. It might not be either.

At home, it would be another good opportunity to give Mateo another go at claiming the 'Rodri position'...at least until January; a month where we keep being linked with a variety of defensive midfielders in the transfer market. However, despite him playing the whole 90+ minutes last Tuesday, I've just got a slight feeling that our manager might want to keep John's momentum going ahead of the imminent international break; giving him a go in that position this weekend.

Ahead of the England international I'm going for Jack, Bernardo, Phil and Savinho to start.

Erling is the furthest forward of 'em all.

Stefan returns to the bench as reserve stopper; Kyle would be the only defender on the side in my predicted matchday squad. Jacob, Mateo, James, Ilkay, who I COMPLETELY omitted from my last blog posting in error 😬, Matheus and Nico make up SIX midfielders on the bench; while Jeremy is the only natural wide man sat alongside them.

Then again, in our last league outing Pep chose to field just 8 instead of a full-9 on the bench and two of those were goalkeepers with no youth players in sight... 🤷

Notable absences:

-       Nathan Ake – Bit of an update on the last few weeks: Our manager said, yesterday, that he still expects Nathan to return just after the international break but that it will take time [or him to be fully ready to take part in games]. It sounds like Nathan will be back amongst his teammates on the training pitch after the domestic break but it could be a couple of weeks following that where we see him in contention for a place on the pitch. However, Pep was also of the understanding that Nathan had already started to train on grass alone, so progress is being made just ahead of the internationals. 👍

-       Rodri – Injured Anterior Cruciate Ligament and will be missing for the remainder of the season.

-       Kevin De Bruyne – Injured with a groin / pelvic / hip issue and could return just after this break in domestic football. Guardiola went further to say that Kevin now has to really manage his body following major hamstring surgery last season and that two games in three days is definitely no longer possible for the 33-year-old.

-       Oscar Bobb – Out injured with a fractured leg that he received in training. Expected return is anywhere between mid-November and mid-December, going off the initial assessment / information released at the time.

Result?
So, our last game before another annoying set of internationals and we need to end our opening seven-league-game-salvo on a high, for sure, in order to keep with the lead runners.

On Saturday, we face a side who, after their narrow, 1-0 opening-day defeat have since remained unbeaten in the league with 3 wins and 2 draws. Our visitors, therefore, need to be taken most seriously indeed and they sit just 3 points behind us in 6th place.

Apart from banging in 3 goals at home to Newcastle United, they don't appear to be big goal scorers; with 8 from 6 league games in total. However, with just 5 conceded in those same matches it does suggest a tight, organised side.

Yes Blues fans, it's likely to be another one where we'll have to get past two thick-defensive walls before we get sight of their goal...

As for us, forgetting last Tuesday night's training match in Slovakia (yes, that did sound rather arrogant but that's how that game largely played out), I find myself looking at September's results and while on the one hand I applaud the fact that we were undefeated in five games in all competitions; I find myself squinting and frowning just a little whilst scrutinising them in more detail.

-       Brentford: Hit us hard and fast and took the lead in an opening 15 minutes where they could easily have had another couple. Credit to them but why we started so cold and didn't appear to learn from past lessons against The Bees only Pep and the players themselves will know. Thankfully, we took a grip of the game and got there in the end with a 2-1 win.

-       Inter Milan: The Italian side came to defend very professionally and then tried to hit us with moments of magic. They succeeded in keeping a clean sheet but failed to score against us. A rare clean sheet for us 👍 and European points shared.

-       Arsenal: Another 'park the bus' performance from The Gunners at our place but despite that, they still breached us twice; albeit with one goal being surrounded in controversy. Another game where we couldn't keep a clean sheet, and at home too, but points shared nonetheless.

-       Waford: Some personnel changes but still a strong 11 put out by Pep, we managed to seal the win. However, once again we let in a goal and a better finish from our visitors right at the end could have seen 'the 90' end 2-2! 🙄

-       Newcastle United: A really patchy performance form us – good in parts, really sloppy and slow in others with some individual performances best forgotten. Again, there was some controversy with our opponent's goal but, once again, we couldn't keep a clean sheet and ANOTHER points shared.

We certainly do like sharing, don't we? And we sure are far too generous when it comes to letting the opposition score... 😖

As I say, it's well done to us for a month of zero defeats but 3 draws and 2 narrow, 2-1 wins is hardly excellent form, do you agree? I know we have a bit of a reputation for starting campaigns a little slowly before building really good momentum further down the line but I'd like to see us deliver an improved performance and a clean sheet this afternoon.

I'm sort of looking at this game as being somewhat of a 'springboard match'...it's just a shame we're jumping off that springboard into another international break.

Still, all things considered, I'm going for a City win...with a possible clean sheet thrown in for good measure.

Last season's, corresponding pre-match prediction and result:

Prediction: Win

Result: Won

Expected weather conditions during the game: After one of the wettest days in a fair number of years in the region on Monday, which was then followed by a still-damp Tuesday; dry, sunny weather has broken out and it's set to continue today. Hurray! 15C, which is almost 60F in old money, with a good amount of the yellow round thing in the sky too. Even the 11MPH breeze is a southerly one and should simply add to the overall pleasant feeling on an early October afternoon. 🌤😎⚽🍺🥧



http://blue-chews-daze.blogspot.com/2024/10/predictions-v-fulham.html

"That was my plan" – Player explains why he rejected Fulham this summer, wants to make 'fans happy'
Towards the end of the summer window, Fulham made an approach to sign Lyon's Ernest Nuamah.

The Premier League side offered €19m for the winger and their proposal was accepted by the French club. The move was very advanced, but the deal didn't take shape in the end.

Last month, L'Equipe reported Fulham sent their medical team to France to carry out the 20-year-old's medical. It was also explained he was seen crying during the tests and then 'disappeared into thin air' when it was time to sign the contract.

The Ghana international spoke to the reporters yesterday, explaining why he snubbed Marco Silva's side and decided to stay at Lyon. His comments are relayed by But! Football Club.

Numah has a desire to succeed at Lyon, where he has featured in the Europa League this season. On the other hand, Fulham haven't qualified for the European competition.

"I wanted to stay and develop here as a player, play in Europe and help the team. That was my plan. The environment is favourable to my development. I like the style of play, that was my decision. I like the stadium, I like everything here," he said.

"Now I just need to express myself more on the pitch, score goals and help the team. I think that's what will make the fans happy."

Last month, Lyon owner John Textor revealed that he has apologised to the attacker for trying to sell him to Fulham.

Numah has made five appearances in all competitions for the Ligue 1 side this season.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/that-was-my-plan-player-explains-why-he-rejected-fulham-this-summer-wants-to-make-fans-happy/