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Sources: Fulham to hand Marco Silva major summer kitty to stop him quitting

Fulham will give heavy backing to manager Marco Silva if he pledges his long-term future to the club, sources have told Football Insider.

Sources told this site on Monday (13 March) that the Cottagers are set to pull out all the stops in contract talks to keep Silva – with Tottenham interested in making him their new boss.

It is believed that Fulham will hand the former Everton and Watford man a significant summer budget if he chooses to remain at Craven Cottage.

Keeping the club's existing stars will also be key to Silva's future.

Aleksandar Mitrovic, Joao Palhinha, Willian and Andreas Pereira are all considered key parts of a Fulham side who are challenging for a European place this term.

Football Insider revealed on 28 February that the Cottagers are ready to offer an extended contract to experienced winger Willian – with his current deal set to expire in June.

This site also revealed (28 February) that the Londoners are well-placed to tie left-back Antonee Robinson down to a new contract amid interest from Newcastle and Man City.

Mitrovic has notched 11 goals and two assists in 21 league outings this season – while playmaker Pereira has managed two goals and six assists.

Silva's contract is currently set to expire in June 2024.

Speaking about his future (per Football Daily, 10 March), he refused to comment on the speculation linking him with Tottenham – insisting he is "very happy" in his current role.

It is believed that the Portuguese is not at the top of Spurs' shortlist of potential replacements for Antonio Conte – but that could change if their top targets are unwilling to take the role.

Fulham are level on points with seventh-place Brighton in the race for a Europa Conference League place.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-fulham-to-hand-marco-silva-major-summer-kitty-to-stop-him-quitting/

Fulham set to back Silva this summer
Fulham are confident of keeping head coach Marco Silva at Craven Cottage – and are set to spend big in the summer as they look to build on an impressive first season back in the top flight.

Silva, linked with the possibility of succeeding Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur in recent days, spoke publicly about his happiness in SW6 before Sunday's defeat by Arsenal and talks are ongoing between the Portuguese coach's representatives and the Fulham hierarchy about extending his contract current, which runs until July 2024. The former Hull City, Watford and Everton boss has steered one of the pre-season relegation favourites to eighth in the Premier League and the last eight of the FA Cup.

The Whites are willing to green light further spending to strengthen their first-team squad in the summer once Silva signs on the dotted line. Silva is believed not to be top of a provisional Tottenham shortlist for a vacancy that is yet to exist – with Spurs seeking candidates with both Premier League and continental success on their CV.

Fulham will not entertain offers for Joao Palhinha, who will return from suspension at Manchester United in Sunday's FA Cup quarter final. The Portuguese international, signed for an initial £17.2m from Sporting CP last summer on a six-year contract, is delighted to be playing in the Premier League under his former manager and his family are settled in London. Fulham's summer recruitment strategy is based on bringing in new signings to complement the tenacious 28 year-old, who has been a revelation in the engine room and is highest successful tackler in the top flight.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/03/fulham-set-to-back-silva-this-summer/

John Fallon: Duffy decision ominous for old reliable's Ireland future
All the indications, including soundbites from Kenny himself, point towards Shane Duffy's exclusion.

Thursday's Ireland squad announcement is in danger of confirming the man who saved Stephen Kenny's job can only save his own international career under the manager.

All the indications, including soundbites from Kenny himself, point towards Shane Duffy's exclusion from the list unveiled for the opening matches of a pivotal year for Irish football.

Lowly Latvia are first up next Wednesday at Aviva Stadium, as lukewarm a build-up there could be for the arrival of Kylian Mbappé, new captain Antoine Greizmann and the rest of France's aristocrats the following Monday for the real business of European qualification points.

Duffy hasn't played for Ireland since last June, a shaky showing before his attackers blitzed Scotland at home, but more pertinently is his paucity of club games.

Switching to Fulham from Brighton and Hove Albion, initially on loan and then permanently in January, was designed to increase, rather than inhibit, his game-time but the extent of his exposure in the last five months was a sole runout at Sunderland in the FA Cup.

Jeff Hendrick's struggles at Newcastle United shatter the hypothesis of club minutes correlating to the international hierarchy but the abundance of alternatives Kenny possesses in the central defensive department adds a different layer to the argument.

Once Kenny chose not to risk Duffy for the Scotland rematch at Hampden Park, his first-choice trio of defenders was clear.

Dara O'Shea, John Egan and Nathan Collins haven't done anything subsequently — even the latter has figured for Wolves despite losing his starting lost — to jeopardise that trinity.

If anything, the competition from elsewhere has intensified.

Séamus Coleman stepped in for Egan last time out in November, the forgettable slender win over Malta, and has re-established himself as Premier League regular at Everton.

A quartet of Championship defenders also have genuine claims. Darragh Lenihan didn't get a minute on the pitch in November but is a central cog in Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough revolution while Kenny favourite Andrew Omobamidele is back from his long-term injury at Norwich City, albeit not with the recent frequency he'd like.

Luke McNally is another option on the rise, his capture from Burnley on loan coinciding with an uptick for Coventry City, while Seán McLoughlin has just been voted Hull City's Player of the Month. That's before we factor in another ex-Cork City graduate in Kevin Long of Birmingham City.

All of which shunts Duffy to the margins. Mitigation through what's he done for Kenny — scoring equalisers against Bulgaria and Azerbaijan, forcing the leveller against Serbia and forcing the breakthrough in the win over Luxembourg — won't rescue the Derryman from the shelf.

A calf strain that kept him off the Fulham bench for Sunday's drubbing by Arsenal may render the debate academic but it's a long way back for the man mountain who turns 32 in January.

Kenny has other calls to make in a squad that is likely to be closer numerically to the 26 he went with in November rather than 24 for the competitive double-header two months earlier.

Rest assured that anyone who forked out for the duo package will see Evan Ferguson I the flesh. Such has been the scale of his impact since his first cameos off the bench in November that he's a cast iron starter against Les Bleus.

He's beyond comparison when the formbook of Irish strikers is analysed.

Michael Obafemi befits that category of certainties as Well. Vincent Kompany finally got his man at the end of the January transfer window and is sensibly managing his transition into the Championship winners elect with an eye on the sterner testing ground of the Premier League next term.

A fitful season for both Chiedozie Ogbene and Troy Parrott won't cost them their places but the focus will be on whether Adam Idah profits from Callum Robinson's injury-enforced absence. The emergence of Ferguson, blessed with the similar hold-up attributes Kenny admires in Idah, creates a dilemma for the manager when the easiest thing is simply to reward the Corkman's return to action with a recall.

Beyond the conventional strikers, Mikey Johnston will add depth to the Wide attacking areas. His on-loan Vitória Guimarães last week let his maiden call-up slip, not that it's surprising given the joy in Kenny's voice talking up the new recruit.

Mark Sykes is another probable, having used his debut against the Maltese as a springboard to consolidate his berth as a Bristol City wing-back.

The Latvia audition might also see Blackburn Rovers's FA Cup hero Sam Szmodics be blooded after he finally received his international clearance, deepening the pool of midfielders with an eye for goal.

Back into midfield and the absence of Preston's captain Alan Browne at the weekend needn't trigger concerns, for he was genuinely otherwise engaged at his partner's bedside while giving birth to their child.

His goal in the November defeat to Norway cemented his status as one of the midfielders alongside anchorman Josh Cullen, with Jayson Molumby still well positioned to occupy the other.

Callum O'Dowda fared well enough against Malta to suggest he's not just a squad member but in the conversation for the left wing berth previously rotated between James McClean, Robbie Brady and Enda Stevens. Fitness problems for the latter appear to rule him out of these ones.

How many of Kenny's squad suffer knocks over the weekend could minimise the difficult decisions for France – a desirable issue Ireland haven't been burdened with much in recent campaigns.



https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41093422.html

Newcastle now want to sign rapid defender who is even faster than Kylian Mbappe

The Athletic reports that Newcastle United are interested in Fulham defender Antonee Robinson, a player who was clocked as one of the fastest at the World Cup last year.

Eddie Howe will be keen to bolster his options at left-back over the summer, with central defender Dan Burn currently filling the role.

Burn has been excellent in the position all season and the 30-year-old is proving to be an astute piece of business from the club.

But the Magpies are lacking options at left-back and with Burn being more defensively-minded, they are in need of another attacking full-back on that side of the pitch.

Of course, Newcastle have been linked with a move for out-of-favour Arsenal star Kieran Tierney. But it seems that they have also been watching Fulham's Robinson.

Newcastle want Robinson
The Athletic reports that the left-back position is a key area that Newcastle want to strengthen over the summer.

Newcastle have watched Robinson this season, while Howe is also a long-term admirer of Tierney, the outlet notes.

Robinson has been in exceptional form for Marco Silva's side this season and would go a long way to providing Howe with a more attack-minded left-back.

The 25-year-old also impressed in Qatar with the USMNT last year, despite crashing out at the last-16 stage.

According to Sky Sports, Robinson was clocked as the fourth fastest player at the tournament with a speed of 21.99mph, which bested Kylian Mbappe's top speed of 21.87mph.

Robinson would certainly provide Newcastle with another pacey option on the left-hand side, but he hasn't exactly been the most creative outlet for Fulham this season.

The defender has only managed one assist in 26 appearances in all competitions – the same amount as Burn.

Tierney seems to be the top target for Newcastle and it's easy to see why as he is proven at the highest level. With that being said, if the Scotsman decides to stay in north London, Robinson could be a good option for Howe.



https://tbrfootball.com/newcastle-now-want-to-sign-rapid-defender-who-is-even-faster-than-kylian-mbappe/

Fulham talks over Marco Silva contract stall amid Tottenham interest

Fulham are working to tie manager Marco Silva down to a new contract amid increasing interest from Tottenham Hotspur, 90min understands.

Silva has been an undoubted success at Craven Cottage since moving to west London in the summer of 2021. He led the Whites to the Championship title in his first season in charge, coming within two goals of tying the competition record for goals scored.

Fulham's reputation as a yo-yo club meant that many predicted them to be relegated from the Premier League this season, but under Silva's guidance, they have instead worked their way into the battle for Europe.

Sources have told 90min that Fulham's current priority is to agree terms over a new contract with Silva. His current deal is set to expire in 2024.

However, talks have stalled in recent weeks due to emerging interest in Silva's services from Tottenham.

Current Spurs head coach Antonio Conte is unlikely to be at the club next season with his own contract up in the summer.

90min has previously reported that Mauricio Pochettino would be interested in a return to Tottenham should the opportunity arise.

Other managers on Spurs' radar include Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi, former Spain coach Luis Enrique and Thomas Frank of Brentford.

Frank recently played down a move to Spurs, insisting he would not discuss such speculation while a manager he admired as much as Conte was still in the job.

Should Tottenham move for Silva, they would become the fifth different Premier League team to hire him. The Portuguese coach previously worked at Hull City, Watford and Everton before joining Fulham.



https://www.90min.com/posts/fulham-talks-over-marco-silva-contract-stall-amid-tottenham-interest

U21: Sparta Prague Preview

Fulham Under-21s welcome Czech side Sparta Prague to Motspur Park on Wednesday evening in the quarter-finals of the Premier League International Cup (7pm KO).

Unfortunately, due to competition rules, this game will not be available to watch live on FFCtv.
Form

Fulham:

The young Whites are enjoying a really strong run, having beaten Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur in the league before smashing Stoke City for six to book themselves a place in the Premier League Cup semi-finals.

Sparta Prague:

Our opposition are yet to concede a single goal at any stage in this competition and have picked up great wins against Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United.

Player Thoughts

Striker Callum McFarlane spoke to fulhamfc.com about his team's success so far in cup competitions.

"First and foremost, it's down to the quality we have as a team and the understanding we have of one another", he said. "The coaches have played a big role too, as they are always reminding us to be the harder working team and that's helped us come out on top against some really tough opposition.

"Every game we play at this level, we treat like a big game. We want to win this competition, so we will do our best to try and make that happen."

On the opposition's excellent defensive record, McFarlane added: "It's always a great feeling to score regardless of the opposition. But if it means that they concede their first goal and we win the game then even better."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/march/15/U21-Sparta-Prague-Preview/

Fulham In The FA Cup QFs

Fulham will play in an FA Cup Quarter-Final for the 15th time in our history on Sunday when we face Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Here's a look at the five most recent times we've reached this stage of the competition.

2009/10 - Quarter-Final

In the same season we reached the Europa League final, Fulham also enjoyed success in the FA Cup.

We dispatched League Two side Notts County emphatically in the Fifth Round, with Simon Davies, Bobby Zamora, Damien Duff and Stefano Okaka sharing the goals in a 4-0 rout.

In the Quarter-Final, we were eventually knocked out by Tottenham following a replay at White Hart Lane. Zamora had given the Whites the lead, but three second-half goals saw Spurs progress.

2008/09 - Quarter-Final

Fulham had to fight for their Quarter-Final place in 2009, needing a replay to get past a stubborn Swansea side.

After a 1-1 draw in Wales, goals from Clint Dempsey and Bobby Zamara at the Cottage eventually saw off the Swans.

Unfortunately a 4-0 home defeat to Sunday's opponents Manchester United followed for Roy Hodgson's side.

2003/04 - Quarter-Final

Another replay was required to reach the Quarters in 2004 as Fulham dispatched West Ham at the second attempt.

After a goalless home tie, goals from Brian McBride, Barry Hayles and Luís Boa Morte in the last 15 minutes at Upton Park secured a place in the last eight.

Against Man United in the next round, Steed Malbranque's penalty was cancelled out by a Ruud Van Nistelrooy double at Old Trafford, as Fulham fell to the eventual winners.

2001/02 - Semi-Final

Fulham managed to reach the Semi-Finals in 2002 despite being handed away ties in every round.

A trip to Walsall in the Fifth Round saw the Whites win 2-1 thanks to an own goal and a fabulous volley from Barry Hayles.

And we picked up another win in the West Midlands as Steve Marlet's header proved to be the difference in a 1-0 win over West Brom.

We were eventually beaten narrowly by Chelsea at Villa Park in a 1-0 defeat.

1974/75 - Final

After getting to the Quarter-Finals - including a tie against Nottingham Forest which required three replays - Second Division Fulham beat Carlisle United.

John Mitchell was then the hero in the Semi-Final replay against Birmingham, scoring the winning goal in the last minute of extra time.

Fulham's first appearance in the Final of the competition ended in heartbreak as we lost 2-0 to West Ham in front of 100,000 fans at Wembley.




https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/march/15/fulham-in-the-fa-cup-qfs/

Fulham interested in PSG's Édouard Michut

Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Paris Saint-Germain forward Édouard Michut (20), who is currently on loan at Championship club Sunderland, is attracting interest from Fulham.

The France U19 international joined Sunderland on a season-long loan from Les Parisiens in the summer, on a deal that, according to Romano, includes an option to make the move permanent.

The Frenchman has impressed during his time in the Championship, featuring 18 times for Sunderland in all competitions. The club are currently 12th in the Championship, but only six points away from the promotion places. Should Sunderland earn promotion to the Premier League, the purchase option in his contract will go up from €2.5m to €5m, according to Romano. That deal was agreed with PSG last summer.

However, other clubs are now interested in the PSG midfielder, whose contract with the reigning Ligue 1 champions runs until the summer of 2025. Notably, Premier League side Fulham are among the sides following Michut's situation.



https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2023/fulham-interested-in-psgs-edouard-michut/

Fulham scout travels to watch Silva target shining in CL – Given good reason to try again for signing

Back in the last summer, when Fulham were working to get João Palhinha signed from Sporting, they reportedly also made an effort to buy Marko Grujic from Porto.

In a heavy quest for a central midfielder, the Whites reportedly put €18m on the table to sign the Dragons' player, and that wasn't enough to get him signed.

Now it turns out that Fulham had a scout at Porto's clash against Inter Milan in the Champions League last night, and Grujic actually did very well.

The midfielder was taken by the Portuguese media as the man of the match, as local newspapers claim he had a great performance from box to box, winning several duels and creating the Dragons' best attacking plays.

He also nearly scored, and that would have made him the true hero in the home side's win.

It's newspaper A Bola who reports that Fulham scouted that game, but the truth is that they give no details on who the Craven Cottage side were actually watching.

Marco Silva's team surely could have new targets at Porto or even at Inter Milan, but if that bid for Grujic was true, his performance from last night might have left them thinking about coming back for him once again.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-scout-travels-watch-silva-target-shining-cl-given-good-reason-try-signing/

Marco Silva stalling over signing new Fulham contract after being linked with Tottenham

Fulham manager Marco Silva is now stalling over signing a new contract amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

A report from 90min has shared that the newly promoted side are keen to keep hold of the Portuguese boss.

Fulham have been one of the surprise packages of the Premier League this season under Marco Silva.

With one of the craziest relegation battles in recent history going on, it's a sign of how well Silva has done that Fulham aren't involved.

Many would have expected the newly promoted side to struggle this season, but they've still got a very outside chance of qualifying for Europe.

Much of this is down to the 'absolutely excellent' Silva, who led Fulham to the Championship title last year.

A report from The Sun this week shared that Fulham boss Silva has emerged as Tottenham's top target to replace Antonio Conte.

Fulham will be desperate to keep hold of him after the success they've enjoyed in the past two years.

However, the draw of one of the big six sides coming in for Silva may just scupper those plans.

Fulham boss Silva stalling on contract talks after Tottenham interest
The report from 90min states that their sources believe 'Fulham's current priority is to agree terms over a new contract with Silva.'

'However, talks have stalled in recent weeks due to emerging interest in Silva's services from Tottenham.'

Silva will only have 12 months left on his current Fulham deal in the summer, although that will make very little difference to Tottenham.

Managers rarely let their contracts run down in the hope of being appointed elsewhere.

However, his current club will be very worried if he is taking his time over putting pen to paper on a new deal.

Silva has achieved a lot with Fulham, and has proven he's capable of managing in the Premier League.

If he were to get the Tottenham job, it would be by far the biggest test of his career.

There are certainly parallels between Silva and Mauricio Pochettino when he was brought in from Southampton.

If he can be half as successful as the Argentinian was, he would be a worthwhile appointment.



https://tbrfootball.com/marco-silva-stalling-over-signing-new-fulham-contract-after-being-linked-with-tottenham/

What's the point of an academy?
The words above have been the refrain of Fulham fans frustrated by the departures of promising players in recent years. The loss of Ryan Sessegnon, Fabio Carvalho and Matt O'Riley – amongst others – have been keenly felt by Craven Cottage regulars and the case for a category one academy has not always seemed compelling with the senior side flitting between the top flight and the Championship on an annual basis. But a season of success under Marco Silva and two years of reorganisation of the Motspur Park youth set-up mean the vision of Mohamed Al-Fayed to see the Whites produce their own players as they did in the glorious post-war period is closer to reality.

Fulham might not have won many trophies but London's oldest professional football club has quite a history. Aside from the Cottage itself, many of the game's greats have graced the hallowed turf by the banks of the River Thames. Some stars stopped in briefly having made their names elsewhere – see the likes of Bobby Moore and George Best – but the core of a Fulham side that entertained in the top flight throughout the 1960s was homegrown. Alongside 'the Maestro' Johnny Haynes were the late George Cohen as well as Tosh Chamberlain, whilst an enterprising Bill Dodgin travelled to the north east to recruit a schoolboy Sir Bobby Robson. The entertaining Jimmy Hill was born in Balham and spent nine years as a player at the Cottage after a brief spell with Brentford.

Malcolm Macdonald's successful side that should have returned to the top tier in 1983 also had a sprinkling of homegrown talent. Westminster-born Tony Gale made 277 appearances having progressed through the youth ranks, midfielder Rob Wilson also played more than 200 matches having hailed from Kensington and a very young Leroy Rosenior, whose son Liam also starred in a Fulham shirt, made his debut in what remains one of the most frustrating campaigns in the club's history. Fulham's subsequent descent down the divisions – accelerated by the Bulstrode asset-stripping – placed the Cottage and even the club in jeopardy and the proud history of local boys wearing the white shirt appeared to be a thing of the past.

Micky Adams, who inspired a barely believable promotion from the basement on a shoestring budget, handed Sean Davis a first-team debut and the youngster who went on to put the ball in the Blackburn net became the only player to represent Fulham in all four divisions. In the early Al-Fayed era, Fulham's progress owed more to the Harrods owner's financial muscle than a progressive youth policy. Even Zat Knight was the product of a raid on Rushall Olympic for a few tracksuits.

When Alistair Mackintosh arrived fresh from his former club Manchester City surrendering a 2-0 lead at Eastlands during the Great Escape, one of the new chief executive's objectives was to build a top class academy at Motspur Park. Fulham were successful in luring Malcolm Elias, Liverpool's head of talent identification, and Huw Jennings, who had overseen the emergence of Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale at Southampton, in 2009 with an aim of reaching the holy grail of category one status. Steve Wigley joined later after a sour test of management at St. Mary's – and the project was underway.

Fulham reached category one level three years later but the fruits of Al-Fayed's investment were realised in 2014 after the Egyptian had sold to Shahid Khan. The first team suffered relegation in the first season under their new American owners, but the under-18s reached the FA Youth Cup final, with Marek Rodak in goal. A number of that squad formed the basis of a team that saved the club from a second successive relegation under Kit Symons, who was probably in A&E himself when he received the most horrible of hospital passes in inheriting the first team managerial job from Felix Magath. Symons showed faith in a number of youngsters, but when Jennings introduced the Welshman's successor, Slavisa Jokanovic, to a sixteen-year old at Coombe School named Ryan Sessegnon – the benefits of a brilliant partnership between Fulham and the nearby high school, whose education programme was overseen by a certain Sean Cullen.

Jennings, who transitioned into a crucial role as Fulham's head of football development two summers ago, is probably the most important signing the club has made across the past two decades. A successful academy is a vital plank of making Fulham more sustainable – balancing the need to meet English football's financial fair play restrictions with meeting the requirements under the Elite Player Performance Plan – because the most successful graduates can move on for big money. But Sessegnon only sought pastures new once the Whites were relegated in 2019 and one suspects Fabio Carvalho may be regretting swapping the familiarity of London for Liverpool, where he has failed to shine under Jurgen Klopp since moving to Merseyside.

The club's youth policy is more progressive now, with the brightest talents from a successful under-21 set-up overseen by Wigley offered the opportunity to taste senior football on loan, like Steven Sessegnon, who scored a screamer for Charlton on Saturday, or Kieron Bowie, recently returned from injury to power Northampton Town's promotion push. Centre half Connor McAvoy is earning rave reviews since moving north of Hadrian's Wall to join Partick Thistle, whilst Jay Stansfield is benefitting from valuable game time during an emotional return to Exeter City. The next batch of bright youngsters are making impressive strides in the under 18s and under 21s, who face Sparta Prague in the Premier League International Cup this evening.

Perhaps the brightest prospect at present is Luke Harris, who added another year to his Craven Cottage contract yesterday after being called up to the Welsh senior side at the same time. Harris, who values the influence of Elias, Jennings and Wigley on his career since moving to Fulham having been spotted in Jersey as a youngster, sees his long-term future with Fulham, despite interest from elsewhere. The playmaker trains with the first team every day under the watchful eye of an impressed Marco Silva, balancing his integration into the senior set-up with more minutes for the under-21s. It makes a refreshing change to see one of the brightest domestic talents commit to Fulham without hesitation – and the club's success in securing a second season in the Premier League can only have helped.

In a world where teams are only as successful as their last result and Premier League points can be converted in lucrative prize money, a long-term view perspective is sometimes difficult to maintain. But Fulham's academy is genuinely the envy of many across the continent. You can see that in the number of youth development agreements struck by Jennings in his new role. It is a serious success story and adds to the feeling that Fulham can be proud of their present – and possibly the future – as well as their storied past.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/03/whats-the-point-of-an-academy/

Why is Liverpool vs Fulham postponed this weekend?

Liverpool will have the chance to put their feet up this weekend with their Premier League game against Fulham postponed.

The Reds are six points behind Tottenham in the hunt for Champions League football, but with a weekend off from league action, Jurgen Klopp's men face the prospect of slipping further behind with their main rivals in action.

So, why exactly is Liverpool vs Fulham postponed this weekend?

Here is everything you need to know.

Why is Liverpool's game against Fulham is postponed this weekend?

Liverpool had been due to face The Cottagers at Anfield on Saturday, March 18.

However, the fixture had to be rearranged last month after Fulham beat Leeds in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Instead of being in Premier League action this weekend, Marco Silva's men will play Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday at 4.30pm.

A new date and time for the rearranged match has yet to be confirmed.

The rescheduled fixture against Fulham will leave Liverpool with a second game in hand over Tottenham, who are currently occupying the fourth and final Champions League spot.

Manchester City vs West Ham and Brighton vs Manchester United have also been postponed this weekend, owing to City, United and Brighton's involvement in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Seven other Premier League fixtures will take place this weekend involving teams which have already been knocked out of the FA Cup.



https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/15/why-is-liverpool-vs-fulham-postponed-this-weekend-18445791/?ito=newsnow-feed

Fulham 'one of main interested clubs' in potential free agent – Player 'has not yet decided' his future

The chase of Fulham and Nottingham Forest for Benfica fullback Grimaldo is today again mentioned in the Portuguese media.

This time, it's newspaper Jornal de Notícias who features a story saying the Eagles will do their best to keep the player.

Grimaldo's contract with Benfica expires at the end of the season, and with no agreement for an extension, the Lisbon side are set to fight until the end to try to convince him of signing a renewal.

Speaking of interested clubs, Jornal de Notícias labels Fulham as 'one of the main interested' clubs, followed by Nottingham Forest.

Spanish sides such as Real Sociedad and Valencia are also said to be interested, along with Bundesliga clubs Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund.

The newspaper says Grimaldo, who has 13 assists for Benfica this season, 'has not yet decided' on his future, despite being a 'priority' for the Eagles.

The player has been linked to Premier League sides for a while, and Fulham and Nottingham Forest could give them a new chance this summer, but with so many clubs in the race, their offer must be convincing enough.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-one-main-interested-clubs-potential-free-agent-player-not-yet-decided-future/

The Sean Davis Column

Last week was a disappointing one with those two defeats, but you need to put things into perspective. The lads have been fantastic all season, and there's going to be times – for every team in the Premier League – when you have an off day. The fact we were so disappointed with how things went against Arsenal, shows how far we've come. The best thing for it is to have another exciting game in front of us, and Sunday is exactly that, one of the biggest games the Club has had in recent history.

A lot of people will have been disappointed to see Man United away come out of the hat, but when Portsmouth won the FA Cup in 2008, we beat them at Old Trafford in the Quarter-Final, and then went on to win the whole thing. That's football for you, it's unpredictable, and the lads go there this weekend with every chance of getting a result and making history for the Club.

For me, growing up in the 80s, the FA Cup was the only thing you wanted to win, more so even than the league. I still remember watching Wimbledon beat Liverpool in the Final. The FA Cup is such a fantastic tournament, and hopefully we can go there on Sunday and give it our best shot. I think this is a fixture to get excited about. If you're going to win the competition, you're going to have to beat the best. The players have been fantastic all season, and this is a great carrot, a great bonus for them, to go there. There's no pressure on us, nobody outside of the Club is expecting us to win the game, but I fancy us strongly. There's nothing to fear here. Yes, they're a great team, they've already won a cup this season, but we've got to go there believing we can beat them. This current crop of players have got goals in them, they're normally very hard to beat – Sunday's game was an exception – and I'm sure they'll go there and give it everything. The fans should be going there full of optimism, I know I will be – I can't wait for the game.

Casemiro missing the game through suspension, coupled with João Palhinha's return to the team, makes the midfield battle very interesting. I've talked Palhinha up all season, I think he's been fantastic, and his return from suspension couldn't be more timely. I'm sure he'll want to go there and make up for lost time having missed the last two. United clearly have lots of strength in depth, but there's no doubting Casemiro is one of the biggest players in their changing room, so hopefully we can capitalise on his absence.

We managed to get to the Semi-Finals back in 2002. Like the current team, we were a newly promoted side, so to have a cup run like that was some achievement. So many teams are spending absolute fortunes, yet it's little old Fulham in the FA Cup Quarter-Finals. We've come up to the Premier League, everyone expected us to get relegated, but we've been brilliant from the first whistle. It will be a fantastic achievement if the boys can go there and get a result. Wembley has been very good to us over the last few years in the Play-Off Finals, so hopefully we can get back there again.

Losing that game against Chelsea at Villa Park was probably the most upset I've been after a game. Sitting in the changing room afterwards, I just felt like we could possibly have done a little bit more. It was a scrappy game, they scored from a set-piece, and it was devastating as we were so close to playing in an FA Cup Final. Looking back, if we'd managed that then we, as players, would have been in the Club's history books, and it's up to these players now to make new history.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/march/15/the-sean-davis-column/

Tottenham Hotspur: Lilywhites have Marco Silva on list to replace Antonio Conte

Tottenham Hotspur reportedly have Marco Silva on their list of managers to potentially replace current head coach Antonio Conte.

With the Italian's future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in doubt, it has been reported that the club are looking at other managers that could come in and lead the team should Conte find himself walking away.

It has now been revealed that the Spurs hierarchy have added a familiar name to their list of possible successors for the 53-year-old.

According to a recent report from Football Insider from journalist Pete O'Rourke, Silva is one of the names being discussed at Tottenham as a potential replacement for Conte.

It claimed: "Marco Silva is one of the names mentioned in the list of Antonio Conte's potential replacements – with it now looking extremely likely that the Italian will depart this summer.

"Fulham want to end all speculation about him being lured away from Craven Cottage.

"He's just one of a number of targets for Spurs, and from my understanding, he is nowhere near the top of the list.

"But due to his success this season, the north Londoners are just one of a number of clubs taking Silva more seriously."

Last season saw the 45-year-old take Fulham out of the Championship by winning 27 of their 46 games, drawing nine and losing 10.

Then with the Cottagers back in the top flight, they have won 11 of their 27 league matches, with six draws and 10 defeats putting them in eighth place with 39 points on the board.

The former Everton and Watford boss has also received praise from one of his fellow top-flight managers, as Wolves head coach Julen Lopetegui described what the Fulham manager has done with the Craven Cottage outfit as "fantastic" this season.

In terms of seeing Silva potentially join Spurs, this would continue the club's track record of appointing managers that have experience of managing in the Premier League such as Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Conte.

Moving forward, if Silva ends up getting Fulham into Europe at the end of the season and Conte does leave, Spurs should definitely see if the Portuguese figure would be interested in taking charge of the Lilywhites if they don't end up getting any of the other options currently higher up in their list.



https://thisisfutbol.com/2023/03/blogs/premier-league/tottenham-hotspur/tottenham-hotspur-marco-silva-antonio-conte-manager-news-premier-league/

Fulham monitoring development of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Edouard Michut?

Fulham have reportedly identified Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Edouard Michut as a potential transfer target.

Having come through the PSG youth ranks, the 20-year-old has been provided with six substitute appearances in Ligue 1.

However, Michut's most recent development has come in English football with Sunderland having signed the prospect on loan in August.

Although Michut has not always been regarded as a first-choice pick at the Stadium of Light, he has made eight starts and seven substitute outings in the Championship.

The majority of his appearances have come since the turn of the year, Michut impressing in his 67 minutes on the pitch during the 1-0 victory at Norwich City last weekend.

As part of their loan agreement with PSG, Sunderland allegedly possess the option to turn Michut's loan spell in the North-East into a permanent deal.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, those options stand at a €2.5m (£2.19m) buy option if Sunderland do not get promoted, and up to €5m (£4.38m) if Sunderland return to the Premier League.

Nevertheless, Romano adds that Fulham could pounce if Sunderland opt against pushing through the full-time transfer of the France Under-19 international.

The Cottagers are said to have joined a hotly-contested race to secure a deal for Michut, it currently undetermined whether he has any future at Parc des Princes.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Christophe Galtier looks dejected after the match on February 11, 2023

PSG are presumably happy to cash in on Michut given that a buy option was inserted in their loan proposal with Sunderland, and the Ligue 1 giants would welcome the chance to improve their standing with FFP.

That said, there is currently uncertainty over how PSG will approach the next transfer window with needing to keep the books in order being a priority to avoid a substantial fine.

From the perspective of Fulham, they are well stocked for options in the middle of the pitch, while Joao Palhinha, Harrison Reed and Andreas Pereira have formed a strong relationship as a trio.

Sasa Lukic has also been signed from Torino, yet the opportunity to sign a younger player with potential would freshen up Marco Silva's options.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/transfer-talk/news/fulham-monitoring-development-of-psg-midfielder_509078.html

USMNT & Fulham defender Tim Ream: I'll play "until I can't anymore"

Facing two Concacaf Nations League matches vs. Grenada and El Salvador, the full US men's national team will gather next week for the first time since their run to the Round of 16 at the FIFA 2022 World Cup.

And their "Grandpa," to use injured captain Tyler Adams' tongue-in-cheek tag, will still be right in the mix.

That would be Tim Ream, the veteran center back who was such a revelation in Qatar and has remained in the form of his life at Fulham FC in the months since, earning a contract extension from the London club that will keep him at Craven Cottage until at least the summer of 2024, when he'll be nearly 37 years young.

He wouldn't mind still being in the USMNT picture at that point, either. Even with an interim head coach, Anthony Hudson, in charge and the program in an awkward state of flux after controversy engulfed it after the World Cup, there are Nations League and Gold Cup trophies to defend this summer.

"Whoever you want to put in charge, we have to go and win games and we have to perform," Ream told MLSsoccer.com in a 1-on-1 conversation this week. "We can't look at what's going on or worry about what's going on off the field, because we don't affect that. That's not our area of expertise. That's not in our job description.

"That's the beauty for us. We get to play the game, while everyone else gets to worry about the business side and the hirings and firings and what have you."

No slowing down
After more than a year away from the USMNT, injuries to Miles Robinson and Chris Richards opened the door for Ream to earn a dramatic return to the fold at the World Cup. He seized that opportunity with quiet leadership and a series of excellent displays, and doesn't plan to let go of it until someone, be it a coach or a competitor for his starting role, wrenches it from his grasp.

"If someone isn't going to take my spot, then I'm going to keep performing," said Ream. "Someone's going to have to physically take it from me, or they're going to have to physically give it to someone else and tell me that I'm not the guy anymore. And that's fine, that time will come, for sure. It always does. I'm not bigger than the game. I'm not going to play forever and neither is anybody else.

"I'm of the mind that I'm going to keep going until I can't anymore. And at that point, then it's time to just hang them up completely."

Ream's commitment to living in the present is understandable. While many observers fretted about players suffering a hangover from the tournament's unprecedented autumn schedule and some European leagues' rapid return to action afterwards, he moved from strength to strength and has played all but two minutes of Fulham's surprisingly successful Premier League campaign to date.

Whether that's defying Father Time or harnessing him is in the eye of the beholder.

"Things seem in slow motion and you just see everything differently, in such a better way. And that's kind of where I'm at – and obviously that can change very quickly," explained Ream, a cerebral defender and incisive passer since his early MLS days at New York Red Bulls, one who has honed that skill set even further in England.

"I've become a lot more efficient in the way that I work, a lot more efficient in the way that I read the game, a lot more efficient in seeing patterns before they're happening. Instead of reacting, I'm already there, or a step ahead or seeing things a step or two ahead, and knowing where I need to be. So I think it's a matter of almost freeing up and then not thinking, and just going on instinct more than anything."

St. Louis return?
Both Ream and his wife Kristen Sapienza, a standout player at St. Louis University just like him, are also natives of MLS's newest market and have watched in awe from afar as expansion club St. Louis CITY SC charmed the city.

"We call it the St. Louis soccer mafia," he joked. "It's a massively interconnected web of players, families, people ... finally culminating in having a first-team, professional MLS club for families and people that I grew up with, and now younger generations to grow up watching and aspiring to be, and be able to go and see them on a weekly basis, it's pretty cool."

But despite deep family roots and regular vacation trips back to the Gateway City, he's not entertaining thoughts of an MLS swan song in his hometown.

"I've maintained through, up to now that if I can, I'm going to retire over here. I'm going to play as long as I possibly can and keep pushing myself to the absolute limit to continue my career here," he said. "There's a lot of things that I feel like I want to do after I finish playing, which, for me, the way I feel, the way I'm playing, is still probably three, four or five years down the line. And so I'm not really thinking about where am I going to settle when it's all said and done."

USMNT camaraderie
With Adams missing out on this month's camp due to a hamstring strain suffered on club duty with Leeds United, Ream's veteran perspective figures to be as useful as ever for the USMNT. There's a hint of that in his take on the discourse that erupted around one of the team's youngest players, Gio Reyna, and the revelations surrounding familial events at the World Cup.

"We handled that whole situation at the World Cup," said Ream, who will fly to Orlando to join the national team camp on Monday, after Fulham's massive FA Cup quarterfinal vs. Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. "I reached out to a few guys, Gio included, just to kind of check in on everyone, to make sure that everyone's heads were on right and thinking about Nations League and what this new cycle means – fully not knowing whether I'm going to be involved or not.

"There are things within the team setting that, as a captain of a club but as part of a [USMNT] leadership group, we have to deal with. That is just the nature of a team sport. And so that's what we'll do and we'll move past it. We are a close-knit group, no matter what anybody says. Everybody is very, very close, everybody gets on really, really well. And I think guys are looking forward to getting back on the bike and starting the new cycle."



https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/usmnt-fulham-defender-tim-ream-i-ll-play-until-i-can-t-anymore

Fulham hoping for internal agreement 'soon' with key figure at Craven Cottage

Dean Jones provides Fulham updates on the futures of Marco Silva and Joao Palhinha, and a new striker signing.

Fulham remain confident Marco Silva and Joao Palhinha will remain at the club beyond this season.

Speculation has been rife this week around the future of both men, with boss Silva linked with the Tottenham Hotspur job and midfielder Palhinha linked with Manchester United and Liverpool.

What's the latest on Marco Silva's future at Fulham?
Fulham have been in talks with Silva about a new deal and while it is true that the agreement has not yet been signed off as expected, there is hope it will soon be sorted.

The club are willing to reward him for the job he has done in winning promotion and then establishing them back in the top-flight but there has been a pause to gauge how the signing of a new deal might impact any interest from elsewhere.

Spurs are on the lookout for a new head coach for next season, with Antonio Conte set to leave when his contract expires, and Silva's situation could put him in the running for that job.

Fulham know he is enjoying his time at Fulham though and hope his new deal is penned by the end of this season so they can focus on strengthening further for next season with him at the helm.

Will Fulham be able to keep Joao Palinha?
And they hope that will include having star man Palhinha involved too. Silva was a very important factor in convincing him to join Fulham ahead of Wolves last summer and it has proved a masterstroke, with a £17million transfer proving to be one of the signings of the season.

His market value has rocketed towards £50million and while it is understood Liverpool do have him on a watchlist, Fulham believe he will be staying in West London for at least one more season.

The club will soon begin planning the next stage of their evolution by making early moves in the transfer market to reduce the fear or second-season syndrome in the Premier League.

What will Fulham prioritise for new signings this summer?
A new striker is one of the key areas of interest ahead of the summer as they consider alternate options to Aleksandar Mitrovic.

There is no suggestion the Serbia striker will be leaving, yet he has struggled a little with fitness since before the World Cup and his last goal came at the beginning of January.

There is a feeling they need to add extra depth to the squad in the striker position. Carlos Vinicius is currently the back-up option to Mitrovic but scouts are assessing other interesting options across Europe too with a view to raising the level of the squad.



https://www.givemesport.com/fulham-marco-silva-joao-palhinha-transfer-news-premier-league-craven-cottage/

USMNT center back Tim Ream reveals he's reached out to Gio Reyna and other international teammates over off-field issues before CONCACAF games vs. Grenada and El Salvador

    Ream described the team as a 'close-knit group, no matter what anybody says'
    The 35-year-old is in the form of his life with Fulham and doesn't plan to retire

Fulham's American defensive anchor Tim Ream has addressed the off-field issues surrounding the USMNT ahead of the Star and Stripes' CONCACAF Nations League doubleheader later this month, saying they aren't affecting team morale.

The 35-year-old center-back said that he's recently got in touch with those selected to be in the squad for the matches against Grenada and El Salvador, respectively on March 27 and March 25, following the release of a report related to an independent investigation on former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter and the Reynas, who's son Gio plays for the national side and had a bust-up with Berhalter in Qatar.

'We handled that whole situation at the World Cup,' Ream, who'll link up with other American squad members at the national team camp in Orlando, Florida, on Monday, told MLSsoccer.com.

'I reached out to a few guys, Gio included, just to kind of check in on everyone, to make sure that everyone's heads were on right and thinking about Nations League and what this new cycle means – fully not knowing whether I'm going to be involved or not.'

'There are things within the team setting that, as a captain of a club but as part of a [USMNT] leadership group, we have to deal with. That is just the nature of a team sport. And so that's what we'll do and we'll move past it. We are a close-knit group, no matter what anybody says.'

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/15/22/68754645-11865223-Tim_Ream_has_revealed_that_he_s_reached_out_to_Gio_Reyna_and_oth-a-2_1678920094528.jpg)
Tim Ream has revealed that he's reached out to Gio Reyna and other players amid the release of an independent investigation on ex-USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/15/22/68754687-11865223-image-a-30_1678919061898.jpg)
Gio Reyna had a bust-up with Berhalter at the World Cup & was almost sent home from Qatar

'Everybody is very, very close, everybody gets on really, really well. And I think guys are looking forward to getting back on the bike and starting the new cycle.'

Nicknamed 'Grandpa' by injured captain Tyler Adams, Ream has just earned a new contract to extend his stay in London with Fulham until at least the summer of 2024, when he'll be nearly 37-years-old.

The veteran defender claims he wouldn't mind still playing for the USMNT at that point, but prefers to stay focused on what's at stake this summer, a Nations League and a Gold Cup trophy, despite interim head coach Anthony Hudson being in charge and the U.S. Soccer program currently being in limbo.

'Whoever you want to put in charge, we have to go and win games and we have to perform,' Ream said, adding: 'We can't look at what's going on or worry about what's going on off the field, because we don't affect that. That's not our area of expertise. That's not in our job description.'

'That's the beauty for us. We get to play the game, while everyone else gets to worry about the business side and the hirings and firings and what have you.'

After a yearlong absence from the USMNT, Ream dramatically returned to the fold following injuries to Miles Robinson and Chris Richards, and just in time for the World Cup.   

He took advantage of his shot at redemption, showing leadership and neat defensive displays in Doha, and now doesn't plan on letting anyone take his spot.

'If someone isn't going to take my spot, then I'm going to keep performing,' said Ream. 'Someone's going to have to physically take it from me, or they're going to have to physically give it to someone else and tell me that I'm not the guy anymore. And that's fine, that time will come, for sure. It always does. I'm not bigger than the game. I'm not going to play forever and neither is anybody else.'

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/15/22/68754699-11865223-image-a-31_1678919106819.jpg)
Ream returned to the USMNT after a yearlong absence due to injuries and proved himself as the team's most reliable defender and leader

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/15/22/68754705-11865223-image-a-32_1678919128269.jpg)
The 35-year-old CB is enjoying a stellar first season back in the Premier League with Fulham

'I'm of the mind that I'm going to keep going until I can't anymore. And at that point, then it's time to just hang them up completely.'

Ream's mindset to live now and worry later is unsurprising, given his current hot run of form with Fulham.

He's only missed two minutes of action since returning from the World Cup and is part of the Cottagers' overachievement of being in ninth place in the Premier League in what is the team's first season back into the top flight.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11865223/Tim-Ream-says-hes-contacted-international-teammates-including-Gio-Reyna-field-issues.html

Is Marco really stalling or is this paper talk? Surely he has learned by now that the grass isn't always greener.

Quote from: demeant0r on March 16, 2023, 09:51:46 AM
Is Marco really stalling or is this paper talk? Surely he has learned by now that the grass isn't always greener.

There's plenty of reason to think he'd go to Spurs - more money, European football, a challenge, work with better players, etc. Hopefully, first of all, a bigger name says yes before Silva is asked to join and/or Khan can convince him to stay by showing ambition, especially in the transfer market.

The other view which I hate to think about is that he would be prepared to jump ship because he feels that we have over achieved and the only way is downwards.

Quote from: Stoneleigh Loyalist on March 16, 2023, 12:12:05 PM
The other view which I hate to think about is that he would be prepared to jump ship because he feels that we have over achieved and the only way is downwards.

Again it's down to Tony to convince him we are willing to invest to go for Europe next season.