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Parker set to complete loan signing of brother-in-law Arter

Fulham are set to complete the signing of Harry Arter on a season-long loan from Bournemouth.

The Republic of Ireland international, 29, is the brother-in-law of Whites boss Scott Parker.

Arter, who joined Bournemouth from non-League Woking in 2010, spent last season on loan at Cardiff City.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/parker-set-to-complete-loan-signing-of-brother-in-law-arter

Tottenham Ready To Use Nigerian Midfielder As Makeweight In Deal To Sign

Tottenham Hotspur will attempt to sign Fulham super kid Ryan Sessegnon by offering Nigerian midfielder Josh Onomah in the deal, according to reports.

The Daily Mail says Tottenham have been chasing Sessegnon's signature all summer and are now set to include academy graduate Josh Onomah in the deal.

With three days to go before the close of the transfer window, manager Mauricio Pochettino is hoping to close the deal this week.

Onomah has been declared surplus to requirements by the Argentine manager and did not take part in any of their pre-season fixtures.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed successive loan spells at Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday and is behind Harry Winks, Erik Lamela, Victor Wanyama, Moussa Sissoko, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen in the pecking order of midfielders at The Lilywhites.

A key member of England's U20 World Cup winning side in 2017, he has made 32 appearances for Spurs' first team.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=33168

Fulham rivalling Sheffield United to sign Leicester City midfielder

Fulham are keen on signing Leicester City midfielder Daniel Amartey.

The Cottagers will rival Premier League new boys Sheffield United for his signature, according to a report by Football Insider.

Amartey, who is 24 years-old, is set to leave the Foxes before the end of the transfer window on Thursday for more first team opportunities.

Fulham lost their opening game of the Championship season against Barnsley at Oakwell on Saturday and are keen to add to their ranks this week. Scott Parker's side have so far managed to sign Anthony Knockaert and Ivan Cavaleiro on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion and Wolves respectively.

Amartey has now emerged on their radar as the London side aim to boost their midfield options.

The Ghanaian international joined Leicester in January 2016 from FC Copenhagen for a fee of around £6 million and was part of the Foxes side who won the Premier League title in his first season at the club.

He has made 64 appearances for the top flight outfit since his move to the King Power Stadium and has not been a regular starter. Therefore, he could be on his way now.

Prior to his move to England, Amartey had spells at International Allies, Djurgårdens IF Fotboll and Copenhagen.

The versatile midfielder would be a smart signing for Fulham but they will have to rival Sheffield United if they are to bring him to Craven Cottage.



https://the72.co.uk/141374/fulham-rivalling-sheffield-united-to-sign-leicester-city-midfielder/

Sheffield United and Stoke-linked Harry Arter reportedly set for Fulham transfer

The Bournemouth midfielder had been linked with Sheffield United, Stoke City and Fulham.

The Sheffield United and Stoke City-linked midfielder Harry Arter is set to join Fulham from Bournemouth, according to the Sun.

The newspaper reports (on the 48th page of its 5 August edition) that Arter has already completed a medical ahead of a season-long loan deal, which will become permanent if Fulham are promoted back to the Premier League.

The Sun had previously credited Sheffield United, Stoke and the Cottagers with an interest in the Republic of Ireland international, whom it claimed Bournemouth would sell for £8 million.

But there is no suggestion that either the Blades or the Potters made any formal attempt to sign him.

Arter is the brother-in-law of Scott Parker, the current Fulham manager. And the pair's relationship may have been a factor, if there were indeed offers on the table from Sheffield United or Stoke.

Both Fulham and Stoke suffered defeat in their opening Championship fixtures, while Sheffield United's Premier League campaign does not kick off until Saturday, ironically with a trip to Bournemouth.

Bournemouth recently signed Philip Billing, the former Huddersfield Town midfielder, for £15m,  but recently lost another player, Dan Gosling, to injury in his and Arter's position, casting doubt on the latter player's availability.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/08/05/sheffield-united-and-stoke-linked-harry-arter-reportedly-set-for/

Sheffield United: Race heats up for Leicester City midfielder as Fulham look to beat Blades to Ghana ace
Fulham are believed to have entered the race to land Leicester City midfielder Daniel Amartey, following reports last week that Sheffield United had made an enquiry for the Ghana international.

(https://www.thestar.co.uk/jp-ct.co.uk/image/onecms:c1c4eda4-1898-4590-876f-e0e951f713ee:5b4b0391-8a04-4d2f-b453-d8c0278c2701/image.jpg?crop=60:45,smart&width=990)
(Photo credit: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

With the summer window closing on Thursday evening, transfer activity is set to go into overdrive this week, as managers look to put the finishing touches to their squads ahead of a gruelling 2019/20 season.

According to Football Insider, the Cottagers are ready to go head-to-head with United to sign the combative midfielder, who has struggled for game time with the Foxes in the past, and missed most of last season after suffering a horror ankle injury last October.

Fulham are also said to be in the running for Bournemouth midfielder – and, as it happens, manager Scott Parker's brother-in-law – Harry Arter, with a loan deal believed to be close to completion.

A strong characteristic of Chris Wilder's transfer policy this summer has been to sign footballers who are desperate to prove a point - be it overlooked Lys Mousset at Bournemoth, or Dean Henderson looking to stake his bold claim for the England no.1 shirt - and Amartey is no different, given his frustration at struggling to break into the first team at Leicester in recent times.

The Star revealed last month that the Blades boss is looking to add a midfielder to his squad, and the 24-year-old, should he be able to put his injury concerns behind him, could prove a fine signing if Wilder looks to pursue him.

Meanwhile, United have been linked with two Premier League defenders, with both Arsenal's Calum Chambers and Everton's Mason Holgate tipped for a Bramall Lane switch by the national media.




https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united-race-heats-up-for-leicester-city-midfielder-as-fulham-look-to-beat-blades-to-ghana-ace-488240

Ryan Sessegnon to Tottenham could be hijacked despite £30m deal edging closer
TOTTENHAM's proposed deal to sign Ryan Sessegnon from Fulham could stall as French giants Marseille consider a late move for the youngster.

Tottenham were confident of getting a deal for the 19-year-old over the line before Thursday's transfer deadline as they were the only side showing concrete interest.

However, news has emerged in French media that Marseille are considering a late bid for the England Under 21 international - which could derail Spurs' plans.

Mauricio Pochettino publicly criticised Tottenham's transfer policy last week by revealing that he has little say in both incoming and outgoing deals, with Spurs' summer spending so far limited to just Tanguy Ndombele and Jack Clarke.

In a new blow for Spurs fans, Sessegnon could opt for a new challenge in Europe and follow in the footsteps of Borussia Dortmund sensation Jadon Sancho.

According to La Provence, Marseille bosses are considering a late bid for the versatile left-sider after their deal for Dario Benedetto gets over the line, as they prepare a new-look front line ahead of the Ligue 1 season.

Sessegnon is still recovering from the hamstring injury he received while playing for England at the European Under-21 Championship, and has not played a single minute for Fulham in pre-season.

Scott Parker still retains hope of keeping the youth prospect for the ongoing Championship season, and spoke of the possibility of doing so after Fulham lost to Barnsley in their opening fixture.

"Future-wise, I'm not sure," he said when asked about his player.



https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1161895/Ryan-Sessegnon-Tottenham-transfer-news-Fulham-Marseille-Mauricio-Pochettino-Scott-Parker

Ligue 1 side after Fulham prodigy – DoF 'convinced' of potential, can only offer €15m

Having all but acquired their centre-forward in Dario Benedetto, Marseille can now focus on other areas of the pitch they need to address, like left-back.

They currently only have Jordan Amavi, the former Aston Villa player, with top league experience in the role, which needs to be addressed.

According to La Provence, a number of players are being looked at, with the most ambitious of those being Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon.

Attracting a huge amount of interest in the Championship in the Craven Cottage club's promotion campaign, the youngster struggled a bit more in the Premier League, and was unable to replicate his scintillating form as the club returned to England's second-tier.

La Provence state the player wants to leave the club if he can, preferring not to spend another year away from the elite, with Tottenham still circling.

While described as 'prioritising' a stay in England, Sessegnon firmly remains on Andoni Zubizarreta's list, who is 'convinced of the player's potential'.

However, finances could be a problem, as Fulham are said to hope for at least €20m for their starlet, while Marseille are only able to offer around €15m.

Tottenham could still pounce in the next few days, but if they don't, then the Ligue 1 club will have a freer run at Sessegnon once the transfer window closes for both the Premier League and the Championship.

That might allow for more leeway in negotiations.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/ligue-1-side-fulham-prodigy-dof-convinced-potential-can-offer-e15m/

Talking Points: Barnsley

We look at five talking points that came out of Fulham's narrow opening day defeat at Barnsley.

1. New rules

The 2019/20 season has seen the introduction of several new rules, including the allowance of defenders in the penalty area for goal-kicks. Fulham took advantage of this on Saturday, with the centre-backs in close proximity to Marcus Bettinelli, demonstrating that Scott Parker seems keen to play out from the back in the manner that we've become accustomed to by the team in recent years.

2. Knocking on the door

Anthony Knockaert's performance after coming off the bench in the 65th minute was a bright spark in what was otherwise a disappointing afternoon. The winger caused Barnsley all manner of problems with his direct running and eye for goal, and he'll be hoping he showed enough in his cameo to have earned a start against Blackburn Rovers.

(https://ffcw001.azureedge.net/-/media/19_20_player_action_shots/pa-44463470.jpg)



3. A long way to go

While none of us wanted to see the Whites come away from Oakwell empty handed, it's worth remembering that it's only one game. With 135 points still to play for, it's far from panic stations for Parker and the lads.

4. Away support

Fulham's relegation from the Premier League has not deterred the faithful from travelling in their droves to support the lads. Around 1,700 away fans made the long journey to South Yorkshire for the curtain raiser, with many having to navigate severely disrupted train routes to do so.

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5. Barnsley's home record

The Tykes went the entirety of the 2018/19 season unbeaten at home – the only side in all four divisions to not lose a match in any competition on their own patch. That Oakwell resilience was apparent on Saturday, and one would expect them to have an enjoyable campaign back in the Championship if they can come close to replicating that form.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/august/05/talking-points-barnsley

Nkoudou may be stranded, as Fulham move appears to be off

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly nearing a deal for Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon.

According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on a £30million deal for Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon – and it will include Josh Onomah heading to the Cottagers.

Spurs have been chasing Sessegnon for much of the summer, and with the transfer deadline just a few days away, they appear to be nearing a deal.

The 19-year-old only hit two goals and six assists last season, but appears to have done enough to convince Mauricio Pochettino to sign him before Thursday.

Fulham will reportedly receive £30million plus playmaker Onomah, and it's stated that, barring any late issues, the teenager will be a Spurs player imminently.

This works out well for everyone; Sessegnon gets to return to the Premier League, Spurs get their attacking left back of the future, Fulham get £30million and a player for someone who would have been out of contract next summer, and Onomah gets to go and settle and play first-team football whilst staying in London.

The big loser of the situation may well be winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou though, as he may find himself stranded at Tottenham.

The Telegraph recently suggested that Onomah and Nkoudou could head to Fulham in the Sessegnon deal, but that no longer appears to be the case, with the winger's best shot at an exit from Spurs vanishing.

Nkoudou may yet garner more interest, but Fulham were his chief suitor. With Ivan Cavaleiro and Anthony Knockaert signed up, Nkoudou would struggle for playing time there too, so that's really not ideal for him after three years of struggling with Spurs.

Thankfully, Spurs will have until August 31st to get Nkoudou a move to Europe, but with a Fulham move seemingly off the table, Nkoudou could be stuck at Spurs for a little longer yet – and pushed even further down the pecking order with Sessegnon's arrival.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/08/05/nkoudou-may-be-stranded-as-fulham-move-appears-to-be-off/

Request For Information

The Club is investigating an extremely serious incident which occurred at Saturday's match against Barnsley and we would encourage anyone who has information relating to it to contact us.

If you witnessed or heard anything that you believe may assist us, regardless of it being before, during or after the game, please contact our supporter relations team on 0343 208 1222 or [email protected].
We are liaising with the relevant authorities to ensure that it is dealt with appropriately and as swiftly as possible.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/august/05/request-for-information

Tottenham 'offer £30m plus Josh Onomah' for Fulham star Ryan Sessegnon

Spurs have stepped up their interest with another bid for the winger

Tottenham have offered £30million plus Josh Onomah for Fulham star Ryan Sessegnon.

According to Goal , the Champions League runners-up are hopeful this latest bid will be enough to secure the signing of Sessegnon ahead of Thursday's deadline.

Spurs and boss Mauricio Pochettino identified the 19-year-old winger as one of their primary targets this summer and the north London club are hopeful this player plus cash deal will be enough to get the deal done.

It is understood that the talented England Under-21 international is keen on move to the club and return to the Premier League to make his mark.

Progression of the talks this summer has been slow to say the least, however the inclusion of 22-year-old midfielder Onomah, who is in Fulham's interest, could finally be a breakthrough.

Fulham's defender turned winger is regarded as a top English talent and was picked for England Under-21 duty this summer for the European Championships.

Sessegnon first burst onto the scene at the tender age of 16, where he scored 21 goals in 75 appearances over the course of two seasons.

However, after promotion to the Premier League, Sessegnon struggled to regain his form, scoring just twice in 35 games.

According to the same report, Onomah is keen to move to Fulham, after only making a total of 32 appearances for his boyhood club.

Onomah's chances of securing a first-team spot took a hit after the club's record signing of Tanguy Ndombele further put him down the pecking order.

The Spurs academy graduate spent last year on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and spent the season before at Aston Villa, who Spurs face in the opening game if the season.

New Fulham boss Scott Parker left the winger out of their opening day defeat to Barnsley, due to an injury and reiterated his desire for Sessegnon to stay at the club.

"Future-wise, I'm not sure," he told reporters at Oakwell.

"In terms of why he's not here with us is due to the fact he's coming back from a hamstring injury, which he's rehabbing. He's back on the grass jogging. He's progressing well.

"Obviously I've read all the speculation, we've all seen the speculation over the summer, but to this point now there's been nothing that would suggest to me that that [Sessegnon leaving] would be the case.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tottenham-offer-30m-plus-josh-18831185

Tottenham in Ryan Sessegnon talks with Fulham

Tottenham are in talks with Fulham over the signing of Ryan Sessegnon, Sky Sports News understands.

All parties are believed to be hopeful a deal can be concluded for the 19-year-old before the transfer window closes on Thursday.

The versatile left-sided player is a long-term target for Mauricio Pochettino, who has already added Tanguy Ndombele to his squad this summer in a record-breaking deal for the club.

Sessegnon has returned to the Championship with Fulham this season following their relegation from the Premier League.

He scored two goals and assisted six more last season in what was his debut top-flight campaign.

It's Transfer Deadline Day for the Premier League and Championship on Thursday August 8 and Sky Sports will be bringing you all the latest news on who your club is signing.

Start your day with Deadline Day Breakfast (6am) ahead of a special Good Morning Transfers show (9am), with Deadline Day - The Countdown (4pm) taking you to the 5pm deadline. The Transfer Show - Deadline Day at 6pm will analyse the big moves before Deadline Day at Ten rounds up all the transfer headlines.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11778004/tottenham-in-ryan-sessegnon-talks-with-fulham

Sam Ricketts: Tayo Edun's style fits the bill for Shrewsbury Town

Shrewsbury manager Sam Ricketts refused to rule out a move for Fulham midfielder Tayo Edun after describing the former England youth international as fitting the bill for Town.

Edun, 21, is entering the final year of his contract at Fulham and, having been linked with the midfielder before, it is reported Shrewsbury are again pursuing a move for the midfielder.

The London-born star had a loan at Paul Hurst's Ipswich in the Championship cut short by injuries last term, and has found minutes hard to come by at Craven Cottage despite his promise having emerged through the youth ranks.

Ricketts said: "I know of Tayo. He's played for England all through the age groups. He's a good player and I think we'll always get linked with good players.

"He probably fits the type of player we like to sign which is young and with potential.

"He's a player I know, as well as so many others."

Edun was a member of the England Under-19s squad that won the European Championships in 2017 and was named in the team of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Ricketts revealed he has held honest conversations with Luke Waterfall and told the defender he cannot guarantee him first-team action this season.

Waterfall was left out of the Town 18 that beat Portsmouth 1-0 on the opening day of the League One season amid reported interest from League Two Grimsby Town.

Ricketts admitted there has been interest in Waterfall but nothing sufficient to suit club and player.

The boss said: "

He's still part of what we're doing here. I can't guarantee him football and he's obviously aware of that.

"There's been a little bit of interest in him because he's a good player."



https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2019/08/05/sam-ricketts-tayo-eduns-style-fits-the-bill-for-shrewsbury-town/

Bristol City contact QPR, Fulham, Millwall, Brentford and Charlton over Leeds United controversy

The Robins have taken a stand for the 2019/20 season

(https://i2-prod.football.london/incoming/article16702870.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_GettyImages-1166072355.jpg)
Mateusz Klich in action for Leeds against Bristol City (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Bristol City have told their Championship rivals that they will not be kicking the ball out of this play this season, unless a player has suffered a genuine head injury.

Speaking to Bristol Live , head coach Lee Johnson revealed the unusual steps in the aftermath of their 3-1 home defeat to Leeds United on Sunday.

Johnson made the statement after a flashpoint at Ashton Gate which saw Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich go down with the Robins playing on.

Following some heated exchanges on the touchline, City finally gave in to knocking the ball out when Kasey Palmer appeared to throw it at the opposition bench in frustration.

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson then clarified that he spoke with Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa at half time to clear the matter up.

"It's fine. We sent an email out to the clubs because this happens often," said Johnson.

"Somebody goes down and sometimes it's tactical, because people try and gain an advantage and sometimes it's genuine.

"So we just decided as a club that we're going to make a rule for the 46 games that we're going to let the referee manage the game.

"So therefore if that's our player injured or the opposition player injured, there's a consistency there.

"If the referee sees a head injury he will stop the game but if it's not a head injury he will play on.

"And our players are coached to play with 10 men in certain environments. And that's what I was trying to explain [to Bielsa]. Obviously that's not easy with the language barrier but in the cold light of day we were able to sit and talk it through."

Johnson went on to play down the confrontations on the touchline after the incident, stating that almost any club would do the same if their player went down and the game carried on.



https://www.football.london/championship/bristol-city-contact-qpr-fulham-16702909

Fulham express interest in signing Daniel Amartey before transfer deadline

English Championship side Fulham have expressed interest in signing Ghanaian defender Daniel Amartey from Leicester City ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline.

Amartey has been linked to several Premier League sides including Sheffield United following his impressive performances in the last seasons.

His versatility as a defender and a midfielder makes him sought after with Fulham, the lastest to express interest in the 24-year-old.

According to reports, the Cottagers have enquired about the player's versatility and a hopeful of a deal could be sealed this week.

Amartey joined Leicester in 2016 from Copenhagen for a fee of around £6 million and featured heavily in his first season at the King Power Stadium.

He suffered a leg break in October which ruled him out for the rest of last season.

He made a return this summer and has featured in pre-season friendlies but he seems not to be in the plans of manager Brendan Rodgers.



https://footballghana.com/championship-side-fulham-express-interest-in-signing-daniel-amartey-before-transfer-deadline

Fulham join Premier League club in the race to sign Leicester player

Fulham are prepared to do battle with Sheffield United for Leicester midfielder Daniel Amartey, according to Football Insider.

Scott Parker is keen to strengthen his midfield options before the transfer deadline on Thursday and has identified the 24-year-old as one of his top transfer targets.

This latest report states that Fulham have made contact with Leicester over Amartey, although the 2015/16 Premier League champions are yet to make a decision on whether to allow the midfielder to leave.

Sheffield United are also interested in signing Amartey and have also made contact with Leicester, with Chris Wilder looking to strengthen his squad following the Blades' promotion to the top flight last season.

Amartey joined Leicester from FC Copenhagen in January 2016 and made five Premier League appearances that season as the Foxes went on to win the title.

The Ghana intentional has struggled to hold down a regular place in the starting XI since his move to the King Power Stadium and has made a total of 64 for appearances for Leicester.

Amartey made ten appearances for the Foxes in all competitions last term, before suffering a season-ending ankle injury against West Ham in October.

Fulham are one of the favourites to challenge for automatic promotion this season following their relegation from the Premier League last term, but lost their opening game of the campaign to Barnsley at the weekend.

The Verdict

This would be a good signing for Fulham. Amartey can play in central midfield and at centre-back, so his versatility would make him a very useful option for Parker to have in his squad, as he looks to build a team who can challenge for automatic promotion.

He's not afraid to get stuck in on the pitch and he's also got plenty of experience in English football, so he should be able to make an impact in the Championship.

Amartey has played several games in the Premier League too, so his experience in the top flight would make him a very useful player for Fulham to have if they are able to win promotion this season.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-join-premier-league-club-in-the-race-to-sign-leicester-player/

Tricker Signs

The Club can confirm the signing of Ben Tricker following the expiry of his deal at Watford.

The commanding centre half joins on a one-year deal until 2020 following a successful trial during pre-season.

The 18-year-old has featured in the Under-23s' pre-season friendlies against Bromley, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and QPR.

After putting pen to paper, Tricker told fulhamfc.com of his delight at a new challenge.

"I think when I came here initially, it really helped having a pre-season with the boys." He said. "You get to have a feel of the club and after speaking with the boys you get to build a relationship and a friendship which has also helped my performances. I've really enjoyed pre-season.

"I've been at Watford for ten years. Coming here is a breath of fresh air which is what I needed. This has made me more focussed than ever. My communication skills are a big part of my playing style. I don't like it when the pitch is quiet, when we talk, we are showing a togetherness. Hopefully I can flourish here.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/august/05/tricker-signs

Danny Murphy on Ryan Sessegnon, Scott Parker and why he'd have been furious if he was Tom Cairney

EXCLUSIVE: Danny Murphy spoke about his former club and explained why they were lucky to keep hold of Tom Cairney

Fulham are under pressure to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking following last season's brief and entirely disastrous cameo appearance.

Scott Parker has done his best retaining the core of the squad, parting company with those who didn't want to stay: Jean Michael Seri and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

And to the club's credit, Tony Khan has done his bit in ensuring Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrovic - two players integral to promotion two season's ago - are still dressed up in black and white, at no doubt a great financial cost.

Fulham have also made some astute signings this summer by bringing in Anthony Knockaert, Ivan Cavaleiro and the soon-to-be-announced Harry Arter - players ready-made for the top flight.

(https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article18836436.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_McDonalds-Liverpool-v-Manchester-City-FA-Community-Shield-04-Aug-2019.jpg)
Danny Murphy spoke to Mirror Football about his former club Fulham (Image: Fiona Hanson for The FA)

But the hard work starts here, and the Whites were brought back down to earth with a bang on the opening Championship weekend in south Yorkshire, where they were beaten 1-0 by newly-promoted Barnsley.

Mirror Football spoke to Fulham favourite Danny Murphy to discuss his former club's chances of an immediate Premier League return and what he makes of Parker's permanent appoint.

"I like the fact that Fulham have given Scotty an opportunity," Murphy told Mirror Football, speaking from The FA & McDonald's Grassroots Awards National Ceremony.

"And I like that Scotty has stuck to his principles on how he wants to play - he deserved his chance. It's good to see the club giving a young English manager a chance.

"Scotty is a very calm man, I like his calmness. I can't talk about his tactical ability because I haven't seen him in action but what I can say is his mentality makes me believe he can do a really good job.

"What I'm hearing is that he's very popular with the players, and Scotty has some great players there so he will have to get in the play-offs at least. Anything else is a failure really."

Big things were expected of Fulham last season following their huge splurge in the transfer market ahead of the 2018/19 campaign.

But three separate managers and a handful of formations and personnel were unable to find a winning formula to keep them in the division.

(https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article18836923.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Barnsley-v-Fulham-Sky-Bet-Championship.jpg)
Fulham came back down to earth with a bang against Barnsley (Image: Getty Images)

One man who was rotated perhaps a little too often was Fulham captain Cairney.

And Murphy thinks the club were fortunate to tie the Scotland international down to a new deal as he would have been furious if he had been treated the same way.

Murphy added: "Fulham got lucky with Cairney, he's a wonderful player. He didn't play enough last season and if I was him I'd have been absolutely fuming because he was the reason they went up.

"He's a brilliant footballer and he deserved more opportunities in the Premier League.

(https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article18836926.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Barnsley-v-Fulham-Sky-Bet-Championship.jpg)
Fulham retained the services of Aleksandar Mitrovic (Image: Getty Images)

"Cairney has an affinity with the fans and he's obviously happy now that he's playing again and believes he can get them promoted. I know Scotty is a big fan of Cairney."

There are three days left in the transfer window and while Fulham's business appears to be wrapped up, question marks remain over the future of one man, Ryan Sessegnon.

Tottenham have been strongly linked with a move for the young left winger and while the Whites are undoubtedly better with him in the side, Murphy thinks it's probably the right time to let him go.

"I think with all the speculation surrounding a young player it can affect you, so for his sake and for the club's sake it would be better to just get it done and for everyone to move on," said Murphy.

"He's a wonderful talent, and he would learn more playing another full season in the Championship but it's difficult to focus when you've had your head turned.

"For me, it might be best for Fulham to just get the best deal done and let him learn at a Premier League club."

* Danny Murphy was speaking at The FA & McDonald's Grassroots Awards National Ceremony. The awards reward the volunteers who keep the grassroots game going. To participate in the Fun Football programme, go to mcdonalds.co.uk/FunFootball



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/danny-murphy-ryan-sessegnon-scott-18834573

Mid-table mediocrity or Promotion Pushers?

After Fulham's return to the Championship began with a bump, rookie writer Jake Fenner takes a look at the sides who were relegated last season. Are there lessons which Fulham can learn?

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Last season could not have ended quickly enough for Fulham fans like myself. It seems that the swashbuckling Fulham team which waltzed down Wembley Way are now merely defined as the team which spent £100 million and went down.

However, after a really difficult year, things now seem to be on the up for the Whites. Though we will likely lose our prodigal son in Ryan Sessegnon, our summer once again can be hailed as positive on the whole. The retention of key players, and the shrewd additions of Cavaleiro and Knockaert on loan, have been hailed by fans and pundits alike. In fact, the bookies are so impressed they've given Fulham the (dreaded) "favourites" tag.

Therefore, despite the opening day loss to Barnsley, things are looking good. Right?

Genuine Contenders?
Unfortunately, I feel we may need to press pause on the 2019/2020 Fulham promotion party for one moment. It's often the case that those sides pipped for promotion tend to struggle, and less than a quarter of relegated teams bounce straight back up to the Premier League.

Therefore, I want to explore the fortunes of three sides expected to well last years season: relegated sides Stoke, Swansea and West Brom. All three were tipped for immediate promotion, and all three failed in this quest. Is there anything we can learn from their plight?

Stoke City – A season of struggles
After a torrid season in the Premier League, Stokes' approach to catapulting straight back consisted: of employing Gary Rowett, keeping big names, and outlaying a staggering £54 million on new ones. This led to many expecting a Stoke side to take the Championship by storm.

However, in reality their season can be summed up by the Stoke Sentinels' Martin Spinks. Spinks described their promotion push lasting a mere 'precious 20 minutes' against in a September clash at Hillsbrough. They didn't even win the game – they drew 2-2.

By the turn of the year, many Stoke fans were calling for a change in manager – a request the Potters board duly accepted. Up until January, Rowett had won only 9 games, which was deemed not enough to keep his job.

Trying a different tack, the Stoke board hired the impressive head coach from a Luton Town side storming League One. However, the appointment of Nathan Jones did not resurrect Stokes' promotion ambitions. In fact for someone who is associated with playing attacking football, his toothless Stoke side only scored 17 goals in 21 games, including six 0-0 draws.

Moreover, Stokes' woes were not just confined to just on the pitch: the financial implications of being relegated have also taken hold. It was announced recently that the owners had to provide the club with a £47 million loan to deal with running costs and the Potters also stated that they made a loss of £30.2 million last season.

So, what are the learnings to take from this? Overall, if Stokes' season can tell Fulham anything then it is that high profile Championship pedigree as well as serious financial clout does not give you a divine right to get promoted.

Are Fulham mirroring the Baggies' approach?
West Broms' approach to last years season can be described as very similar to Fulhams' current plan. For a start, Darren Moore and Parker have a lot in common, both are inexperienced as managers, both want to play attacking football, and both share the same remit of achieving promotion.

Under Moores' stewardship, West Brom gained plaudits for their transfer dealings such as securing Dwight Gayle on loan and many raved over the deadly striking duo of Jay Rodriguez and Gayle. However, even though the Baggies finished as the second highest scorers with 87 goals, they conceded 62 thus their defensive frailties really did hamper them from seriously challenging for the league.

Birmingham Mails' Paul Stuart rightly summed up the season as an 'underachievement' as he felt that they should have made a better fist of challenging for automatic promotion. Looking at the squad they had at their disposal, this is an appraisal which is hard to disagree with.

So here the learning is a simple one. Scoring goals is great, but if you don't have the defense to match you will struggle to get promoted.

Superb or Steady Swans?
Finally, we turn to Swansea City: a team who's approach to life in the second tier is similar to Maggie Thatchers' reign as PM. Why is it similar? They both share the idea that selling all your assets is the best way to deal with a financial predicament. The Swansea City Board announced last summer that they had a £30 million void that needed plugging, thus signaling their intentions to sell key players. Out went Sam Clucas and a certain Alfie Mawson.

Under the new guidance of Graham Potter, the Swans won many admirers by giving the most minutes to players under the age of 23 and by playing an attractive brand of football. However, it has also been said that despite their solid 10th finish, Swansea had difficulties at the back with them averaging 1.35 goals conceded per game thus some could say that they could have achieved more.

Clearly, conducting a firesale of you star men is clearly not the way back to the promised land either.

How does this relate to Fulham?
The three teams mentioned all went about their first season back in the second tier differently, but the one thing they all have in common: none of them achieved promotion at the first time of asking.

So, what can Fulham learn from these teams?

Well, firstly my fears for this season will intensify if we do not get off to a good start. Similarly to Stoke, Fulham may face financial restrictions that if promotion is not immediately achieved. If we make a slow start, will panic levels start to rise? If Parker is struggling to hit the ground running, will the Fulham hierarchy have the patience to stick with Scott? Or will they ditch him, like Stoke did with Rowett?

Moreover, West Broms' appointment of Darren Moore can be seen as an emotional one. A heart over head decision, not unlike Parkers' at Fulham. Ultimately, lack the experience and tactical ability cost Moore his job, and a failed promotion attempt.

Also, even though Swansea may have been limited last season due to financial constraints, I feel that Fulhams' lack of squad depth and defensive frailties could lead us to mirror Swanseas' campaign.

Final thoughts
So, is this a bad omen for Fulham? Well, firstly, Tony Khan is clearly trying to learn from the blatant mistakes of last year. This summer, his Del Boy style of wheeling and dealing has arguably secured Fulham the best attacking quartet in the league. It is safe to day that if Parker can get that front four firing then we will have a serious chance of returning to the Premier league at the first time of asking.

However, the current squad depth in key positions such as CB, RB and CM does create a real cause for concern. If these gaps are not filled, I do not think it is an outrageous statement to suggest that Fulham may struggle to have the real consistency to win automatic promotion.

You may feel that I have significantly dented the pre-season swirl of optimism surrounding the Cottage, but, hopefully I can eat my words in 12 months time when we are parading the trophy down Fulham Palace Road. However, unfortunately this is Fulham FC we are talking about, ultimately, forecasting FFC's final position is like predicting how long your Ryanair Flight is delayed for.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2019-08-05-mid-table-mediocrity-or-promotion-pushers/

Why Brighton, not Fulham should have been relegated from the Premier League last season

Fulham suffered an immediate return to the Championship after top-flight relegation but new data shows a different side

(https://i2-prod.mylondon.news/incoming/article16267423.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_GettyImages-1148630092.jpg)
Scott Parker ahead of Fulham's game with Newcastle United (Image: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United)

Fulham's 2019/20 campaign in the EFL started in the worst possibly fashion on Saturday, as the Cottagers lost 1-0 to newly-promoted Barnsley.

It was a huge crash down back to earth for the West London side, who are considered among the favourites for an immediate return to the Premier League after their relegation last term.

It is fair to say that Fulham's short stint in the top-flight did not go to plan as, despite heavily investing in their squad before the start of the season, the Cottagers struggled to settle and were demoted as a result.

However, new data suggests that should not have been the case and that Fulham should have in fact secured safety, with Brighton the side who should have been relegated.

The ESPN Luck Index backed by Betfair Exchange has revealed that bad luck was a deciding factor in Fulham's relegation last term and that the Cottagers should have finished with a points tally five higher.

Brighton, on the other hand, benefited hugely from luck last season to secure eight more points than they should have - and that 13-point swing would have see Fulham retain their top-flight status.

A research team working in collaboration with former Premier League referee Peter Walton analysed footage from every game of the season to see which major incidents – such as disallowed goals, incorrectly awarded penalties, improper red cards, deflected goals etc. – should have been overturned.

The full results, which can be seen here , show that only five Premier League sides had their final position unchanged by the bad luck index - with Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Southampton and Huddersfield Town retaining their spots.

While it was also identified that the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace were also unlucky, there is no denying that Fulham suffered the most due to bad luck.

All that could change this season though with the introduction of VAR, although that will not be any consolation to Fulham as the EFL remains without the technology for the foreseeable future.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/fulham-premier-league-bad-luck-16702922

Cottage Talk Post Match Show: Barnsley vs. Fulham

Take a listen to a podcast that focuses on Fulham Football Club.

In this episode, we broke down the 1-0 loss for Fulham at Oakwell against Barnsley. We discussed the key moments, and the reasons why we feel Fulham lost this match.

However, to start the show, we addressed the disgusting incident involving Cyrus Christie's sister. You will hear our throughts on this dispicable act at Oakwell.


Lastly, I want to mention that you can also listen to the show by following this link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2019/8/6/20756190/cottage-talk-post-match-show-barnsley-vs-fulham

Tottenham's prospective Ryan Sessegnon deal lauded by Alasdair Gold

This article is part of Football FanCast's Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers...

Football.London's Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold is excited about the prospect of the club signing Ryan Sessegnon this summer.

What's he said?

The club are reportedly closing in on a £30m deal to sign the 19-year-old, with attacking midfielder Josh Onomah likely to go the other way in part-exchange.

Confirmation of the deal would bring to an end a long-running summer saga, with Mauricio Pochettino finally landing one of his top targets.

And Gold, who covers Spurs every single week, is excited by the prospect of seeing the teenager develop in north London.

He tweeted: "For me, Ryan Sessegnon under Pochettino's tutelage is one of the most exciting match-ups of the summer.

"Sure he didn't destroy the Premier League in a struggling team but 2 goals & 6 assists for a then 18-year-old who wasn't starting every game isn't too shabby. So much potential."

Nail on the head

Sessegnon could blossom under the tutelage of Pochettino.

Look at the likes of Harry Winks, Dele Alli and Juan Foyth; they have all become first-team stars under the management of the Argentine.

Sessegnon stuck out like a sore thumb in a very poor Fulham team last season and he could become one of the finest wing-backs in the league if he is given the right opportunities and the right management.

There can be no better coach for him than Pochettino and, while £30m may be steep, it is an investment in the future.

He can grow in north London; Gold has hit the nail on the head.



https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/tottenham/tottenhams-prospective-ryan-sessegnon-deal-lauded-by-alasdair-gold